Train and Talk with my girls

As I left the Hokage's office and headed to the training grounds, I spotted the others engaged in training together. Even Shikamaru was participating—a rare sight. The recent attack by Suna must have made him feel some sense of responsibility, though I couldn't say how long his newfound diligence would last.

"Good morning, guys!" I greeted, waving.

"Good morning, Naruto," everyone replied, one by one.

I made my way over, giving my girls their fair share of kisses. Everyone was present except for Kurenai, who was busy with her Jonin duties, and Yugao, likely occupied with her work as an Anbu.

"Guys, I've got a surprise for you," I said, grinning.

That immediately caught their attention. All eyes were on me as I signaled Kurama to come out.

From my shoulder, Kurama leapt down and stood in his small, fox-like form. His fiery red fur gleamed in the sunlight, and his presence was both intriguing and captivating.

While the boys were curious, the girls were instantly drawn to him.

"Naruto, where did you get this adorable fox?" Sakura asked, reaching out to touch him.

"Girls, hold on," I said, stepping in. "He doesn't like being touched by strangers. It took me a lot of convincing to get him to even come out like this, so he might hurt you if you get too close too quickly. But don't worry, once he warms up to you, he'll be fine."

Kurama narrowed his eyes slightly but didn't say anything, simply observing the group with mild interest.

The girls exchanged excited whispers, clearly enamored with how cute he looked.

"Naruto, what's his name?" Ino asked, leaning in for a closer look.

"This is Kurama," I said, placing a hand on his head. "And trust me, he's not just a fox—he's way more than he seems."

Kurama flicked his tail and gave me a sly glance, clearly enjoying the attention despite his usual gruff demeanor.

Kurama, perched smugly on my shoulder, glanced at Sakura and the other girls with mild disinterest.

"Hmph, you think I'll let just anyone touch me?" Kurama grumbled, though his voice didn't carry the hostility it once did.

"Kurama, don't scare them," I said, giving him a playful tap on the head.

Sakura pouted slightly but nodded. "Fine, I'll wait. But he really is adorable!"

The other girls agreed, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. Hinata, who was usually shy, stepped forward cautiously.

"Kurama-san," she said softly, her tone respectful, "it's nice to meet you. I hope we can become friends."

Kurama blinked, clearly taken aback by her gentle approach. After a moment, he sighed. "At least this one has manners," he muttered.

"That's a good start!" I said, grinning.

Ino leaned in closer, inspecting him. "I don't know, Naruto. Are you sure he's a fox? He seems too... different."

"Hey, watch it, blondie," Kurama snapped, narrowing his eyes. "I'm no ordinary fox. I'm Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Beast. Show some respect."

Everyone froze for a second, and then the boys, who had been watching quietly, reacted.

"Wait, that's the Nine-Tails?" Shikamaru asked, his usual calm demeanor faltering.

"Naruto, are you serious?" Kiba said, Akamaru barking in agreement. "That's insane!"

"Relax," I said, holding up my hands. "Kurama's cool now. We made a deal, and he's on our side. Right, buddy?"

Kurama rolled his eyes but nodded. "For now, yes. But don't think I'm here to entertain your little friends."

Despite his gruff attitude, I could tell he was secretly enjoying the attention.

Tenten stepped forward, a small smile on her face. "You've really changed things, Naruto. I don't think anyone could've imagined the Nine-Tails would ever be... tame."

"Hey, don't call me tame!" Kurama protested, his tails flicking in irritation.

"Alright, alright," I said, trying to keep the peace. "How about we all focus on training? Kurama can hang out and watch. Maybe he'll even give us some pointers."

"Don't count on it," Kurama muttered, though I caught a hint of a smirk.

With that, everyone returned to their training, though the girls couldn't help but sneak glances at Kurama every now and then. As for me, I felt a sense of pride. Bringing Kurama into the fold felt like another step forward—not just for me, but for all of us.

We trained together through the morning, with Kurama occasionally chiming in to provide tips or scold the others when they made mistakes. Surprisingly, he seemed to enjoy being part of the group, even if he grumbled a lot.

By the time afternoon rolled around, the sun was high in the sky, and everyone's stomachs began growling.

"Alright, guys, let's take a break and grab some lunch," I said, stretching my arms. "And while we eat, I'll tell you some of Kurama's story."

Kurama's ears twitched, and he gave me a sharp look. "Brat, don't go around sharing my story like it's some bedtime tale," he growled.

I smirked. "What are you talking about? You're our friend now, and the others have a right to hear about you," I said confidently.

Everyone nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with curiosity.

"See? They're interested!" I added, nudging Kurama with my finger.

Kurama let out a long sigh, his tails flicking behind him. "Fine, brat. But don't twist my story or make me sound soft."

I smirked. "Don't worry, Kurama. I'll tell it just as you would—only with a bit more charm."

Everyone gathered around, unpacking their lunches. Hinata and Sakura handed me some food they had prepared, and I shared it with Kurama, who begrudgingly accepted a piece of meat.

"Alright, so listen up," I began, leaning back against a tree. "Kurama wasn't always a tiny, adorable fox like this. He's one of the nine tailed beasts created by the Sage of Six Paths himself. Isn't that right, Kurama?"

Kurama nodded, his expression growing serious. "That's correct. The Sage, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, divided the Ten-Tails' chakra into nine separate entities to prevent destruction. I was one of them."

"Wow," Tenten said, her eyes wide. "So, you've been around since ancient times?"

"Longer than you can imagine," Kurama replied, his tone carrying a hint of pride.

"But it wasn't all peaceful," I continued. "Over the years, people kept trying to use Kurama's power. They trapped him, sealed him, and treated him like a tool."

Kurama's ears twitched. "Humans feared us. They called us demons and sought to control us. That's why I didn't trust any of you for a long time."

The group fell silent, processing his words.

"But then Naruto came along," Sakura said, breaking the quiet. "And now you're here, sharing your story with us. That's a big change."

Kurama glanced at me, his expression softening for a brief moment. "That's because this brat is as stubborn as they come. He wouldn't leave me alone, no matter how much I pushed him away."

"That's Naruto for you," Shikamaru said with a small smile. "He's too troublesome to ignore."

"Hey, I'll take that as a compliment!" I said, grinning.

"Kurama," Hinata said softly, "thank you for sharing your story with us. It must've been hard for you."

Kurama let out a small huff but didn't respond. I could tell he appreciated her kindness, though.

"Alright, enough heavy stuff," I said, clapping my hands together. "Let's finish eating and get back to training. We've got a lot to learn, and Kurama's got plenty of wisdom to share—whether he likes it or not."

Kurama groaned but didn't argue, and the group laughed. It felt good to have him here with us, not just as a source of power, but as part of the team.