After being thoroughly tormented by the little ones, Kurama slipped into Shingetsu's arms. The brats, who still hadn't had their fill of petting him, crowded closer, their eager little hands reaching for the poor fox.
"You've gone too far! No more petting him!"
Shingetsu hugged the shaken Kurama protectively and ducked straight behind Madara with the little fox curled up in her arms. Though her words condemned them, her hands seized the tips of Kurama's tails and stroked them furiously.
If there was one thing these brats feared most, it was a stern-faced adult like Madara Uchiha. He was their clan head and teacher, and every one of them had taken a beating from him. The moment they noticed Madara watching them, the children all lost their nerve.
But watching helplessly as Shingetsu smugly petted the fox drove the little ones, who still hadn't had enough, mad with jealousy. They protested in unison:
"Lady Shingetsu is so stingy!"
"Hmph!"
Shingetsu laughed smugly, her eyes narrowing into slits as she continued stroking Kurama's fur. To annoy those wretched brats, Kurama enjoyed her petting while deliberately letting out contented purrs, infuriating the little ones so much that they nearly awakened their eyes on the spot!
But on reflection, the mighty Nine-Tails had not only become a little girl's pet, he was even purring like a kitten. What a disgrace to tailed beasts! If word got out, Shukaku the One-Tail, who had never gotten along with Kurama, would probably laugh himself to death!
"Where's Kagami?"
Having petted the fox to her satisfaction, Shingetsu's dark eyes darted around. Only then did she belatedly notice that Kagami Uchiha wasn't among the little ones. She blinked in confusion and asked them.
"Kagami? He went off to fight Monkey."
After hearing that Shingetsu had finally returned, Hiruzen