Minato Namikaze had just finished his special training, wiping sweat from his forehead as he prepared to put away his kunai.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from the direction of the forest.
The familiar voice carried a trace of panic.
Minato turned around to see Kushina Uzumaki rushing over while clutching a bulging backpack, breathing heavily.
Her vibrant red hair shimmered under the sunlight, seeming to tint the very air around her with its color.
"Kushina? What's wrong?"
Kushina tightened her grip on the backpack, her face slightly flushed as her words came out in a fluster: "My... it's hatching! My Ninja Beast Egg is hatching!"
Minato's expression first showed surprise, then broke into a smile.
He looked at Kushina's backpack, where the Ninja Beast Egg was emitting a soft golden-red glow. Waves of energy pulsed across the eggshell's surface, accompanied by faint cracking sounds.
"It seems the time has come. Don't be nervous, everything will go smoothly."
Elekid also poked its head out from the edge of the training ground, blinking its large eyes with electricity sparking at the corners of its mouth as it cautiously approached.
It raised its hand and patted Kushina's knee, comforting her with its distinctive Lulu Electro-Voice.
Kushina bit her lip, still appearing somewhat flustered.
"But I... I'm still a bit worried. When I first saw it glowing, I almost dropped the entire backpack."
Minato chuckled: "Don't you usually talk to it often? It already knows you've been waiting for it."
"Talking is one thing," Kushina muttered quietly, her eyes darting nervously.
"But I might have talked too much? I'm afraid it might find me annoying." Her voice grew softer as she spoke, even carrying a hint of shyness.
"I chat with it every day, telling it about how many people in the village dislike my red hair. I even told it that if it hatches, I'll definitely knit it a scarf."
Minato smiled gently, his warm expression making Kushina's heartbeat quicken.
"That's good," he said. "Ninja Beasts are most sensitive to emotions. The more you speak to it, the more it can feel your warmth."
He carefully took the backpack and placed the Ninja Beast Egg on the soft grass.
The glow gradually brightened, and fine cracks began to appear on the eggshell.
"Relax, Kushina." Minato turned his head, his tone gentle yet firm. "It can hear your voice."
Kushina crouched down, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes as she gently approached the Ninja Beast Egg.
Her breathing was slightly rapid at first, but gradually calmed under the gentle glow.
She whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "I'm here... you can hear me, right?"
She smiled slightly, her tone suddenly becoming lighter: "I promise I won't be too talkative... maybe just a little bit."
Minato watched quietly from the side, smiling without speaking.
In the shadows, Jiraiya squinted while secretly observing the scene. At that moment, Marshtomp tugged at Jiraiya's clothes, seemingly curious about what he was peeking at.
"Hey hey hey, don't follow me! Marshtomp!"
Accompanied by several faint cracking sounds, fractures appeared on the surface of the Ninja Beast Egg.
Silver-white light spilled from the cracks, with tiny fragments of light scattering into the air!
Minato looked up, his expression shifting slightly.
On a perfectly sunny afternoon, silver snowflakes drifted down from the sky.
Kushina held her breath, her eyes wide open.
"It's coming..."
She murmured, her voice barely audible.
The eggshell finally cracked, and a soft silver light burst forth.
Kushina instinctively closed her eyes, hearing only a faint "ding."
When she opened them again!
A delicate little figure was nestled in her palm.
It was a fluffy little fox.
Its fur was as white as freshly fallen snow, with icy tips on its tail.
Its ears twitched alertly, and its nose gently brushed against Kushina's palm, as if confirming a familiar scent.
But the most striking feature...
Was the six slender, crystalline tails on its back.
Soft, elegant, and shimmering with tiny specks of light.
Then, the little fox lifted its head and looked at her with eyes as clear as an icy lake.
Its beauty even stunned Marshtomp, who was watching from the shadows.
Jiraiya tried to drag Marshtomp away, but it refused to leave, wanting just one more glimpse of the little fox.
"Mmm~"
A soft, gentle whimper, like the chime of a wind bell, carried a sense of dependence and warmth.
Kushina's heart melted instantly.
Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.
Emotions surged like a tide, her eyes welled up, and her entire heart seemed captured by those icy blue eyes.
She gently cradled the little fox in her arms, as if holding a precious treasure.
Its fur was cool to the touch, yet surprisingly soft, and when it pressed against her chest, her heart felt warm.
"Vulpix... But that name feels a bit odd."
Kushina couldn't help but laugh. "It feels so icy cold."
Alolan Vulpix, the Ice Vulpix.
"So... you're my partner."
She whispered, as if confessing.
Hearing her voice, the Vulpix gently swayed its six tails and snuggled closer.
There was no denying it—the Vulpix's beauty had completely won Kushina's heart.
Meanwhile, in a different dimension, a message appeared on Shiroishi's glasses:
[Host Confirmed: Kushina Uzumaki (Alolan Vulpix)]
[Skills Activated: Icy Snow, Bind]
[Ability Activated: Snow Warning]
Shiroishi raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "An... Ice-type Vulpix?"
Logically, given Kushina's fiery personality and the fierce, flame-like Chakra within her,
she should have hatched a Fire-type Vulpix.
But instead, it was an Alolan Ice-type Vulpix.
"Snow...?"
Shiroishi pondered thoughtfully.
Back at the hatchery, following Minato's reminder,
Kushina gently closed her eyes and tried to synchronize her Chakra with the Vulpix.
Her breathing gradually steadied, and the connection between their hearts grew brighter.
In an instant!
She opened her eyes.
A flash of icy blue light gleamed in her pupils.
She simply exhaled softly.
Whoosh!
A swirling mini-blizzard erupted around her!
Silver-white snowflakes fell from the sky, drifting across the training grounds,
covering the grass, leaves, and even Elekid's head with a light frost.
Minato Namikaze's eyes widened in shock.
Elekid bristled and shook the snow off its arms.
Kushina stared blankly, looking at her own hands.
The cold, soft warmth from the Vulpix still lingered in her palms.
Snow Warning!
"Vulpix... Is this your power?"
Vulpix lifted its head, its eyes curving into a gentle arc as it let out a soft cry, its tail wrapping around her wrist.
Kushina hugged it tightly, revealing an unprecedentedly warm smile.
From the shadows, Marshtomp grew increasingly dazed as it watched.
Jiraiya felt a bit speechless and gently patted Marshtomp's head.
"Don't tell me you've fallen for that Vulpix?
But Jiraiya was also muttering to himself.
That little fox-like appearance—are we sure it has no connection to the Nine-Tails?"