My Brother's a Jinchūriki! EXTRAS

2020 Christmas Special Part Two

She exhaled out a puff of frosty breath and reached out to knock on the door. A boy only a few years older than herself opened the door.

"What do you want?"

"U-Um... I..." She wrung her hands nervously. "I-I was wondering if..."

A woman came up behind her son and frowned at the girl, then down at her son. "What have I told you? Don't talk to those Uzumaki."

She slammed the door hard in Natsumi's face, and she slowly turned away. She pouted, and then went to the next house, sucking in a deep breath before knocking on the door. Again and again, the door was slammed in her face before she could even speak. She sat heavily down on the sidewalk and let out a sigh.

"Why won't anyone even let me say anything? All I wanted was to see if they have any chores I can do so I can earn enough money to get Naruto a present."

She rubbed her cold, bare hands together, and felt inside her pocket.

I'll never be able to buy him something like this.

She stood, blew a warm breath onto her hands, and then continued onto the next house.

If I keep trying, maybe someone will hear me out.

After dozens more doors were slammed shut with the homeowners gossiping from within, Natsumi sighed and walked slowly down the sidewalk, sniffing as her cold nose had begun to run. She wiped her nose with the back of her freezing hand and looked around. "Isn't there anyone in the Village who will help me?"

She blinked and spotted a woman down the street walking to her house, and Natsumi quickly ran to her. The woman gave her a look and took a step away.

"Yes? Why are you at my house?"

Someone who will listen! Yes!

"D-Do you have any chores that you need to be done? I'm trying to earn money to buy a present for my brother."

"A present?" The woman repeated, and then her lips curved in a smirk. "How sweet."

"Does that mean you have a job that I can do?" Natsumi clasped her hands together and smiled.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"Really? I'll do it right away! What is it?"

The woman reached into her purse and then held out her palm to show the girl the large pile of coins there. "Fetch these coins out of the snow."

"H-Huh? But they're in your hand already."

Drawing her hand back, the woman released the coins and threw them into the unblemished snow that coated her yard. They scattered and sunk into the deep, fluffy, white material and Natsumi shuddered at the icy look in the woman's eyes.

"What are you waiting for, girl?" The woman sneered and leaned down slightly. "If you want them so badly, go get them."

Natsumi gulped and looked out over the deep snow and then looked down.

What a horrible woman... but... that is a lot of money. If I can find it, then I might be able to actually buy it.

She pursed her lips and looked over her shoulder at the snickering woman.

I have no choice, then. I've got to do this for Naruto.

Nearly diving into the snow, Natsumi began to dig. The accumulated snow came to her waist, but she ignored the way the snow soaked her clothes and the woman's laugher as she watched the girl searching frantically. The first coin she found, her face lit up and she nearly dropped it, then stuffed it into the pocket of her wet pants. She dove in again, relying on her fingers to feel the difference in shape and texture. By the time Natsumi had found five coins, the woman's laugh had become a scowl, and she went into her home without a glance behind.