"My name's Fū, from Takigakure. What about you?"
"Kimimaro. I'm a rogue ninja," he replied simply. "Why aren't you in your village?"
Fū twirled once and grinned. "I sneak out a lot. Some people back home don't really like me, so I avoid sticking around too much. Fewer headaches that way."
She was bright, cheerful—surprisingly so for someone speaking of rejection.
Kimimaro gave a soft chuckle. "With your attitude, it's hard to imagine anyone disliking you."
From behind him, Karin leaned closer and whispered with suspicion, "Don't tell me you're falling for her?"
Kimimaro ruffled Karin's crimson hair, his voice calm. "Don't start."
Fū didn't seem to notice their exchange. She tilted her head back, gazing up at the sky, her voice growing a little softer. "Not everyone's mean. Some people in the village are kind... but a lot of them are afraid of me. They think I'm a monster."
"A monster? Why?" Kimimaro asked, brows lifting slightly.
Fū smiled wryly and turned around. "Because I have wings!"
With a twirl, the chitinous wings of the Seven-Tails emerged behind her like a butterfly's, catching the light.
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed in curiosity.
"Impressive. I've seen strange abilities, but yours are unique."
He thought to himself—so this was the Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki. Flat-chested or not, she was striking in her own way. Why does Kishimoto always exaggerate either end of the spectrum?
"Aren't wings a good thing?" he offered. "Some people dream of flying."
"But no one else has wings like mine."
"Says who?" Kimimaro smirked. "I can have wings too. Watch."
He activated the Cursed Seal of Earth. Black marks spread across his body as large, flesh-like wings sprouted from his back—part of his second state transformation.
They weren't as elegant as Fū's, but functional enough.
Fū's eyes widened. "Whoa! You've got wings too?"
Then her expression fell slightly. "No, that's different. Yours are from a jutsu. You chose them. Mine… they're not really mine."
"What do you mean? They're part of your body."
Fū hesitated, then looked away. "It's because there's something inside me... something I'm not supposed to talk about."
Kimimaro's gaze sharpened. "A monster... don't tell me—it's a Tailed Beast?"
She blinked, startled. "Eh? You figured it out?"
Then she smiled sheepishly. "Yeah... I'm a Jinchūriki. I've got the Seven-Tails, Chōmei, sealed inside me. Scared?"
Kimimaro shook his head. "Why would I be? You're carrying a power most people couldn't handle. That's something to respect."
"That's what I think too," she said softly. "But people in the village still avoid me. They think the wings mean I've lost control."
Kimimaro looked thoughtful.
"I've met Jinchūriki who learned to coexist with their Tailed Beasts. One of them even turned that power into hope for others. It's not about control—it's about understanding. The Tailed Beast is part of you."
Fū blinked. Then she grinned again. "I don't get everything you're saying, but you sound really smart. I like listening to you. It makes me feel... not so weird."
"Then come with us," Kimimaro offered. "We're heading to the Land of Fire. Maybe you'll get to meet the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki."
"That actually sounds kind of fun."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Karin interrupted, voice rising. "You're really just going to go with him that easily? Let me tell you something first—he has a girlfriend. I was his first love, got that?"
Fū blinked in confusion, then laughed. "That's wonderful! Sounds like you're really lucky."
"Of course I am—wait, you're not jealous?"
"Jealous? Why? He seems like a nice person, but we just met."
She shrugged. "Besides, I think it's cute how you talk about him."
Karin puffed her cheeks but didn't know what to say.
"That's true…" Karin blinked. "But if you stick with us, you might start liking him over time."
"Really? Is he that interesting? Then I want to try!" Fū responded with excitement.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Karin waved her hands in panic. "I meant you should be careful! C-A-R-E-F-U-L, got it?!"
But seeing Fū's carefree smile, she sighed. "Forget it… I can't stop you anyway. Do what you want."
Fū tilted her head, hesitating. "Actually, I just remembered—I can't leave Takigakure for too long. Even if some people in the village don't like me… it's still my home. And as its protector, I can't just abandon it."
Kimimaro paused. Her words struck a chord with him. Despite being a Jinchūriki who was ostracized, she still wanted to protect her village.
She was… admirable.
"Ninja really do have strong convictions," he murmured.
"It's alright," he said gently. "Just think of it as a short trip. When you want to return, no one will stop you. You have wings—of course you should be free to fly. Besides, the Land of Fire isn't far from here. We won't stay there too long either."
Fū grinned. "Okay! Then I'll come play with you for a bit!"
"This girl's way too easy to fool," Karin muttered, pressing her palm to her forehead.
"Don't say nonsense. I didn't trick her." Kimimaro brushed it off and turned toward the captured Taketori clan members.
After interrogating them thoroughly, he finally pieced together the situation.
The Taketori clan had sent one of their senior members—an elite jonin named Taketori Takekata—alongside several chunin to locate Kimimaro. They were accompanied by a Kusagakure jonin named Matsuda Goro, apparently to oversee or assist the mission.
"Two elite jonin just for me," Kimimaro said with a cold smirk. "They sure are generous with their manpower."
But he didn't want conflict with the Taketori clan—not now. He didn't have the time or energy to be entangled with their affairs. That meant…
They couldn't be left alive.
Kimimaro disposed of them cleanly. Once it was done, he gathered their blood and bone essence for later use, then burned the corpses with the rest.
With the matter settled, the group of four set out again.
Fū quickly proved to be a source of joy. Bright, optimistic, and endlessly cheerful, she reminded Kimimaro of Naruto. Perhaps it was something shared by many Jinchūriki—people forced to carry such darkness often sought their own light.
Like Naruto. Like Killer Bee.
Maybe rejection pushed them to smile louder than anyone else.
Over the next few days, Fū and Karin surprisingly became close—best friends who shared everything. They even had whispered conversations late at night.
Once, Karin even muttered shyly to Kimimaro, "If she ever falls for you… I-I might be willing to share, just a little."
Kimimaro simply shook his head, exasperated.
Women... what are they thinking about all day? Can't they just train? Why are they always thinking about me?
Of course, he hadn't invited Fū along because he was interested in her romantically. Sure, she was cute—but in terms of looks, Karin still had the edge.
His real reason was far more strategic.
He remembered the timeline. According to the original story, the Akatsuki began hunting the Tailed Beasts seriously around three years before Shippuden began. The Seven-Tails, Chōmei—Fū's partner—was already sealed by the time the main story picked up again.
Which meant she was definitely on their radar already.
Fū had no idea how much danger she was in.
By befriending her early, Kimimaro hoped to change that part of the timeline. If he could keep her safe—or at least delay the sealing of the Seven-Tails—perhaps the entire plan to gather all the Tailed Beasts could be thrown off course.
And if that happened, the final arc—Kaguya, Madara, the Infinite Tsukuyomi—might never come to pass.
That was Kimimaro's gamble.
He didn't have confidence in fighting monsters like Six Paths Madara or Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Not yet. And he didn't intend to become Naruto and Sasuke's lackey either. His strength still had limits, and until he could push past them, he had to reduce the threats he couldn't yet face.
Of course… it also couldn't be denied that collecting powerful bloodlines—and beautiful girls—was something of a hobby.
Some habits die hard.