In an apartment kitchen inside a Konoha residential building, a boy was skillfully chopping vegetables.
The cleaver in his hand danced with practiced ease. Two whole potatoes were reduced in moments into evenly sized cubes. He glanced at the ingredients laid out on the counter, nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the pot where chicken was simmering. Judging the timing just right, he dumped the potatoes in all at once, put the lid back on, and let it stew over low heat.
…Can you believe it? I made it all the way to Konoha and I still have to cook for myself.
The boy found a place to sit and absentmindedly reached into his pocket, instinctively looking for a cigarette—only to come up empty.
Sigh. Right. I'm just a ten-year-old brat now.
With a trace of melancholy, he waited for the food to finish cooking.
His name was Uzumaki Kyūsei, ten years old. His official identities included: former deputy heir of the Uzumaki clan, student at Konoha's Ninja Academy, and—
the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki of Konoha.
Yes.
The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Kyūsei was a transmigrator. In his previous life, he'd been nothing more than an utterly average wage slave. As for how he ended up in this world…
Sorry. He had no idea.
It was like blinking once—one second he was a useless twenty-something office drone in modern society, and the next, he'd turned into a red-haired little kid in Konoha.
But what the hell was that massive fox sealed inside his body?!
Damn it, I'm not Uzumaki Naruto! Why stuff the Nine-Tails into me?! Did anyone ask for my consent?!
Flip table!
And who exactly am I supposed to be anyway?!
I'm not Naruto, and I'm not Uzumaki Kushina either!
Don't tell me I'm Uzumaki Mito?!
Was there ever someone like me in the original story?!
Where the hell did Uzumaki Kushina go?!
The real shock came when Konoha enrolled him into the Ninja Academy. The moment he saw that blonde little girl who introduced herself as Namikaze Kaoru, his brain completely shut down.
…This kid isn't—
Namikaze Minato?!
Then doesn't that mean I'm—
Uzumaki Kushina?!
I'M UZUMAKI NARUTO'S MOM?!
NO!!!
I refuse! I absolutely refuse to become the protagonist's mom!
Everyone knows the protagonist's parents are practically a sacrificial profession—destined to die just to pave the road for the hero's growth!
It took Kyūsei three full days to accept this mind-blowing, sanity-shattering reality.
The first thing he did was put as much distance as possible between himself and that blonde girl named Namikaze Kaoru.
The second thing he did—
Move house.
Immediately.
He had zero intention of getting kidnapped by Cloud ninjas and having his hair yanked until a blonde hero swooped in to save—
…Wait.
Ahem.
A beauty saving the hero.
As long as I don't provoke her, trouble won't come looking for me!
And just like that, under Kyūsei's deliberate avoidance, four years passed in the blink of an eye.
As for being monitored because he was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki?
Kyūsei's attitude was simple: watch all you want. I don't care.
Back in his old life, he slaved away to contribute his insignificant drop of value to capitalism. Here? Konoha covered food, housing, living expenses—what more could he ask for?
Besides, being monitored wasn't entirely without perks. For example—
"Hey, you squatting by the window. We're out of sugar at home. Go buy a bag of white sugar for me. Oh, and grab a pack of cigarettes too. Bill it to the Hokage."
Kyūsei pushed open the door and spoke to the petite ANBU crouched beneath his window, who was chewing on a soldier pill.
The ANBU fell silent for a moment before replying,
"You're only ten years old. You can't smoke."
Last time, an ANBU senior had helped this jinchūriki kid buy cigarettes—and got absolutely chewed out by the Hokage when it was discovered.
"Tch. The last ANBU big brother helped me just fine."
Kyūsei looked at the petite ANBU with blatant disdain.
…This brat is seriously annoying.
The ANBU stared at the red-haired kid. Beneath the mask, a vein twitched on her forehead. She reached out and poked him sharply in the forehead.
"Then do you know why that senior isn't assigned to monitor you anymore?!"
Seeing his confused expression, her irritation flared.
"It's because he bought you cigarettes last time! The Hokage personally kicked him out of ANBU!"
"Can you give people a break, you little menace?!"
"Huh?"
"Grandpa Hokage is way too petty. Kicking someone out over something so small."
Kyūsei clicked his tongue in displeasure.
He'd finally found someone willing to buy him cigarettes—and just like that, they were gone.
"Fine, fine. Then just buy me white sugar."
He spoke with obvious dissatisfaction.
Watching this kid order people around with such righteous confidence, the ANBU girl clenched her pale fists until they crackled.
Endure.
Endure. I must endure.
He's the village's jinchūriki. I have to endure!
"Can't you… go buy it yourself?"
She smiled without warmth. Kyūsei couldn't see her expression, but he could definitely feel how close she was to snapping.
Kyūsei pointed confidently toward the pot in the kitchen.
"What if my food burns? Wherever I go, you and the other ANBU follow. If I leave, no one's watching my pot."
The ANBU girl froze.
She'd heard that this generation's Nine-Tails jinchūriki had terrifying sensory abilities—but she hadn't expected him to detect the second ANBU as well.
"Fine! Fine! Just you wait!"
"I'll go buy it right now!"
With that, she vanished in a blur.
"Come back soon! ANBU auntie buying my sugar!"
Kyūsei's eyes curved into crescents as he waved cheerfully.
"Brat! Call me big sister!"
An enraged shout echoed through the air long after she was gone.
The other ANBU, perched silently in a nearby tree, rubbed his forehead helplessly.
What a ridiculous jinchūriki…
Then again… his teammate wasn't exactly normal either.
"Hmph."
"Are Konoha's ninja all this stupid now?"
The massive fox inside Kyūsei sneered with undisguised contempt.
"Relax, Little Nine. She's pretty cute—and she's buying me sugar."
Kyūsei sighed, then reached over and unplugged the rice cooker.
"Bastard!"
"I'm the Nine-Tails!"
"A tailed beast!"
"Not some 'Little Nine'!"
Kyūsei dug a finger into his ear, flicked out some earwax, and casually blew it away.
"Well, my name's Kyūsei, and you're the Nine-Tails."
"Don't you think we're kind of fated?"
"This is destiny."
"What's wrong with calling you Little Nine? You can call me Little Nine too."
A bulging vein throbbed on the Nine-Tails' forehead as his rage intensified—but sealed tightly to the stone core of the barrier, all he could do was rage helplessly.
"You little punk!"
"I'll kill you!"
"One day, I'll personally tear you apart!"
"Easy, easy, Little Nine. Getting this angry gives you wrinkles."
"You don't want other lady foxes to find you unattractive, do you?"