Time slipped by in a steady rhythm.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the Summer Festival arrived.
Naruto had arranged to meet everyone at a food stall near the base of the temple mountain. He was in the middle of getting ready when Nine-Tails padded into the room, tail swishing.
"I'm coming too."
The fox sat up on his haunches, front paws planted firmly on his hips. There was no room for negotiation in his tone.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be finishing your cookbook?"
Nine-Tails immediately puffed up, standing as tall as his miniaturized form allowed. "The cookbook can wait! It's the Summer Festival. There will be fireworks. I'm going."
Hmph. I'm too clever to fall for this. The fox's eyes narrowed shrewdly. I wash dishes and cook all year round, and the moment there's finally an employee benefit, this brat thinks he can exclude me? Not a chance.
"Fine, fine. Let's go." Naruto shrugged. What was one more partner? Just meant bringing an extra pet along.
The afternoon sun hung low in the western sky, not quite touching the horizon but close. Old people always said that once the sun reached a certain point, it seemed like someone was pulling it down with a rope—it would vanish behind the mountains in the blink of an eye.
Naruto needed to leave soon to pick up Hinata from her house.
"Sasuke, go change your clothes."
He glanced at his roommate, who sat on the living room sofa with complete composure. Sasuke wore his usual outfit: a high-collared navy shirt with the Uchiha clan crest—a red and white fan—emblazoned on the back, white arm sleeves, white shorts, and those eternal open-toed sandals.
"Mm." Sasuke's response was utterly casual. He didn't move.
Naruto walked over to the sofa. His pectoral muscle twitched once.
Sasuke stood up immediately. "I'll change right now."
He disappeared into the bedroom and emerged less than three minutes later in more formal attire.
Naruto examined him and nodded approval.
Compared to Sasuke's initial indifference, Nine-Tails was practically vibrating with enthusiasm. The fox stood in front of the mirror, holding up a tiny red outfit and comparing it against his fur. He glanced at Naruto and Sasuke. "Well? What do you think of this one?"
"Looks good," both said in unison.
Nine-Tails studied his reflection a few more times, then tossed the outfit onto the sofa. "No. Too flashy. Doesn't suit my temperament."
He picked up a khaki-colored garment from the pile beside him and held it up. "What about this one?"
Both boys nodded mechanically.
Naruto suppressed a sigh. When the first batch of pigs had sold, Nine-Tails had taken a portion of the profits and secretly bought himself a wardrobe. Ever since, the fox had been wearing clothes daily, gradually becoming more and more humanized.
"I think you two are messing with me." Nine-Tails shot them a suspicious glare. "This khaki is too dull. Doesn't complement my beautiful fur at all."
He resumed sorting through his options.
Eventually, Nine-Tails selected a white dress paired with a small white beret, which he positioned carefully atop his head. He picked up a black walking stick—barely ten centimeters long—and rapped it against the floor as he strutted toward them.
When he reached Naruto and Sasuke, he spun in a circle. The hem of the dress fluttered, revealing his orange tail.
"Alright, we're out of time." Naruto scooped up the fox and plucked the tiny walking stick from his paws, tossing it back onto the sofa. "Sasuke, head to the food stall and meet up with Choji and the others. I'm going to get Hinata."
"Hey! My staff!"
Naruto wore a woven straw hat to shade his face and carried Nine-Tails in his arms as he made his way toward the Hyūga compound. Noble clans like the Hyūga lived in centralized residential districts, unlike ordinary civilians whose homes scattered randomly throughout the village.
As he entered the main street, lanterns hung from every shop's eaves, their gentle candlelight flickering behind colored paper. Women in elegant kimonos walked past on wooden clogs, their faces carefully made up, heading toward the temple on the mountaintop to wait for the fireworks.
The Summer Festival atmosphere was already building.
People still turned to stare as Naruto walked by—he was too tall, too distinctive to go unnoticed. But he didn't care anymore. He wasn't the insecure child he'd once been. Now he had confidence built on two years of brutal training and genuine friendships.
Besides, on such an important festival night, most people were too preoccupied to do more than glance.
Naruto reached the Hyūga compound without incident.
The moment he arrived outside the main gate, wind rushed behind him.
Naruto's body reacted on pure instinct. He spun and threw a punch.
His fist connected with a sharp thud, followed by a pained grunt. He looked back to find a person with shoulder-length dark hair clutching their stomach. When they raised their head, pale Byakugan eyes glared at him.
"Uh... sorry. You got too close." Naruto grimaced. Seeing those distinctive white eyes, he immediately realized his mistake. This had to be one of Hinata's clan members. Punching a Hyūga at the Hyūga compound was not his finest moment.
He studied the person more carefully—the long hair, the delicate features. "Are you Hinata's older sister?"
"I'm Hyūga Neji." The response came through gritted teeth. "Miss Hinata's cousin."
Neji looked deeply annoyed at being mistaken for a girl, but when he took in the sheer size of the blonde boy in front of him, his anger faltered into wariness.
"Oh, so you're Hinata's cousin." Naruto offered an awkward smile. "I'm here to pick up Hinata. Could you call her for me?"
Neji snorted coldly, turned on his heel, and walked away without another word.
Naruto stood there, thoroughly confused. Eventually he had to find a different clan member, who finally went to fetch Hinata for him.
"Naruto-kun! I'm sorry to keep you waiting!"
Hinata appeared in a light crimson kimono decorated with delicate cherry blossom patterns. White cotton socks covered her feet, and traditional wooden clogs clicked softly as she approached. When she bowed apologetically, the graceful curve of her neck showed a faint pink flush.
"No, I only waited a little while." Naruto looked at her properly dressed appearance and couldn't help but smile. "Hinata, you look really pretty."
The direct compliment made Hinata's head drop even lower. Her fair, round face turned brilliant red, the color spreading from her cheeks to her neck to the tips of her ears like watercolor bleeding through paper.
"Oh, by the way—I accidentally punched your cousin earlier. The one called Hyūga Neji. Is that going to be a problem?" Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. It wasn't his fault Neji had gotten so close without warning.
Hinata's eyes widened in understanding. "I-it's okay, Naruto-kun! I'll apologize to Brother Neji for you later."
"Thanks, Hinata. I appreciate it."
"Oh!" Hinata's attention suddenly shifted. "The little fox! It looks so cute in clothes!"
She gazed at Nine-Tails with open delight.
"Naruto-kun, wait just a moment!"
She hurried back into the compound and returned carrying a lantern in her right hand and a small bag in her left. "I brought some doll clothes that belonged to Hanabi. They should fit the fox perfectly!"
Nine-Tails' expression morphed into one of absolute horror.
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