My Brother's a Jinchūriki! EXTRAS

The Lady of Serpent and Smoke

*This is CANON to Natsumi's backstory and continues where the flashback in the chapter Sister, Crybaby leaves off*

Natsumi cried behind the stack of empty crates behind the restaurant, sinking into the ground as she drew her knees closer to her.

Weak... Useless... Crybaby...

She sobbed harder, burying her face in her legs to muffle her cries.

All I ever do is get scared and cry... and then Naruto steps in and always gets hurt...

"I don't want to be weak anymore..." She bit her lip and rubbed her nose on her sleeve. But... how do I get strong? Aren't people just born that way?

Natsumi's eyes burst open and she squeaked in surprise as something brushed against her leg.

W-What's that?!

A silvery snake sat coiled at her feet and she squeaked again and moved back from it. "S-S-Snake!"

Its tongued flicked out and it maintained perfect eye contact as it remained still.

It's... not moving. Natsumi gulped and shifted to sit cross-legged. It's not a normal snake.

"Um..." Natsumi wiped her face with her sleeve and looked down at the creature. "I-I'm not really a fan of scaly animals.... So... Is there... something that you want, Mr. Snake?"

The snake nodded its head up and down slowly and Natsumi's eyes widened slightly.

It understands me! She blinked and watched as it shifted and its silver coils shimmered and resembled smoke until it was still again and began solid once more. Her eyes widened further and gently reached out to poke one of its coils and quickly drew her hand back. It's definitely make of smoke... but it feels just like a real snake, too.

She gulped again and let out a breath. "Um... so, what do you want, Mr. Snake?"

It lifted off the ground until it met her eyes and it's flicking tongue touched one of the tears on her cheek before it settled on the ground again.

"Are you maybe wanting me to cheer up?"

The serpent nodded again.

This is so weird...

It lifted its tail and began to write in the dirt and met her eyes once more.

"Strength?" Natsumi read the Kanji and looked at the creature carefully. How did it know? She nodded after a moment. "That's right... I do want to be stronger."

Its tail wiped away the symbol to write again and Natsumi read the words out loud as it finished. "Willing? Prepared? Sacrifice?"

Prepared for what?

She bit her lip. "Do you mean, am I willing to do what I have to in order to be strong?"

The snake nodded a third time and she thought for a moment. I'm not sure exactly what that's supposed to mean. It sounds almost dangerous. But... She looked down at her hands. I just can't do nothing anymore. I can't let Naruto be the only brave one anymore, and I can't let him get hurt anymore because of me.

Finally, she nodded at the snake.

"Yes. If it will make me strong, and strong enough to protect Naruto from now on... then I'll do anything."

The snake wiped the writing away and beckoned to follow with its tail. It uncoiled itself and slithered down the alley and Natsumi blinked quickly.