After returning home, Naruto couldn't wait to open the gift. Inside was a pair of warm gloves, similar in style to the ones he had obtained through the system before. Along with the gloves was a note filled with blessings.
Unfortunately, it was spring now, and the gloves were no longer necessary to keep out the cold, so they wouldn't be useful for the time being.
Still, this was the first time he had received a gift from a peer.
At that moment, Kurama's voice rang out, as untimely as ever, carrying his usual sarcasm:
"Kid, what are you grinning about? Could it be that you like that little girl with white eyes?"
Naruto stuffed the gloves into his pocket and replied sharply:
"Big fox, have you ever been in love? Has anyone ever given you a gift? Don't act all bitter here."
Kurama was momentarily stunned but quickly adopted the attitude of an experienced mentor:
"This old man is a tailed beast; there's no such thing as gender or love for me. But I've lived for thousands of years and seen all kinds of love and hatred. I have way more experience than you."
"If you beg, I might reluctantly become your mentor and give you some advice."
Naruto gave him a skeptical look. Unconvinced, Kurama began spouting a few so-called "love tricks," such as embracing a girl under the moonlight or sweeping her off her feet with bold moves.
Naruto stared at him for a moment, slightly surprised.
This guy has so many ideas.
However, Naruto knew better. In his experience, self-proclaimed love mentors like Kurama were more like magicians; their advice was often unreliable.
Kurama felt the disdain emanating from Naruto, and his tone slowed down. Being sensitive to malice wasn't always a blessing. While Naruto seemed to listen attentively on the surface, it was clear he was looking down on Kurama in his heart.
But Kurama was determined to save face and continued his lecture.
After half an hour, Naruto, now visibly impatient, decided to ignore Kurama. The latter retreated to his sealed space, waiting for Naruto to transfer chakra to him later that night.
After dinner, Naruto didn't take a bath or read a book. Instead, he stood by the window, gazing out at Konoha under the night sky, particularly in the direction of the Hyuga Clan's compound.
"It's normal for young people to receive gifts," Kurama chimed in again, sounding like a seasoned elder. "Don't overthink it. Don't get too excited. Just go to bed early."
Naruto shook his head.
"It's not about the gift. I just feel like something's going to happen in the village tonight, so I've taken a good position to watch the excitement as soon as it begins."
"Watch the excitement?" Kurama asked, unimpressed. "Don't tell me there's another masked man showing up tonight."
Naruto explained, "The Yunyin mission group recently arrived in the village. I think they have other plans beyond signing a peace treaty, as Shikamaru said. In short, they won't stay peaceful."
"Yun Ninja?" Kurama's tone grew disdainful. "They're a crazy bunch. There were two leaders, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who once tried to take me down. Naturally, their efforts were futile against my strength."
Naruto smirked, deliberately poking at Kurama's pride.
"If you're so strong, how did Konoha manage to seal you?"
Kurama, no longer the same as his past self, replied coldly,
"I was sealed by the First Hokage, who was invincible in his era, casually suppressing the entire ninja world. Back then, even Yunyin didn't dare to make a sound."
"And now you, Konoha, are afraid of a little Yunyin trouble."
Naruto was about to retort when he noticed a few figures moving along the distant city walls. He grinned.
"Let's not argue, Big Fox. The excitement I mentioned is starting."
Kurama extended his perception. "So many ninjas have been dispatched. It seems there will indeed be a show tonight. But since you guessed that Yunin would act tonight, why didn't you inform your old man, the Third Hokage?"
"Would he believe me?" Naruto replied. "Saying something won't change anything. It would only draw suspicion from him. It's better to watch the fun quietly and avoid unnecessary trouble."
With that, Naruto pulled out a bag of potato chips from Choji and started munching.
Kurama, receiving a chip from Naruto, watched the scene unfold while mulling over Naruto's character.
Though Naruto claimed not to inform anyone, he had still warned Hinata. This kid was always so contradictory. Kurama couldn't decide whether Naruto had inherited this trait from Kushina or Minato.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of Konoha, the Anbu assigned to protect Naruto had their own dilemma. Noticing unusual activity near the Hyuga Clan's compound, they hesitated to intervene. Their mission, after all, was to protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
After a moment's thought, Moonlight Hayate made a decision and said to Uzuki Yugao,
"Yugao, continue with our task. Lord Hokage and the others will handle this."
After speaking, Hayate coughed, his face pale and lacking blood under his mask.
Yugao nodded but looked at him with concern.
"Hayate, your lung condition is worsening. Why don't we leave Anbu together?"
Hayate shook his head. "If I stay for another two or three years, I'll become a Jonin. It's too difficult to achieve that elsewhere. Only as a Jonin can the Moonlight family prosper."
Before Yugao could argue further, they noticed several suspicious figures nearby.
Hayate frowned. "Aren't those members of the Yunyin envoy? Why are they near the Jinchuriki? Are they planning an attack?"
Yugao speculated, "Hard to say, but we must keep a close watch to prevent any incidents."
As Hayate planned to notify Kakashi, he remarked,
"At a time like this, even Captain Kakashi can't afford to slack off."
Meanwhile, the Yunyin shinobi were monitoring the Anbu as well.
One of them whispered to the team leader, "Captain, are we really going to attack the Jinchuriki? I didn't expect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to be treated so poorly by Konoha villagers. He's ostracized everywhere."
The captain glanced at his subordinate but refrained from sharing the truth:
The treatment of Jinchuriki wasn't much different in Yunyin Village. Killer Bee had faced discrimination, too. But now wasn't the time for such discussions.
"Our mission isn't to attack the Jinchuriki," the captain explained. "Starting a war isn't the goal. We're here to distract Konoha's forces and create an opportunity for the boss to obtain the Byakugan."
Though disappointed, the Yunyin shinobi nodded.
"It's a shame. If we could take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, it would benefit both him and our village."