Chapter 176 Tribute

"They are support summoning beasts," Kakashi explained. "Kushina uses them to help calm or strengthen her chakra, usually when she's testing new sealing techniques. They're called 'pipe foxes' because they're so small they can fit comfortably inside a bamboo tube or matchbox."

Kakashi was surprised that he could say those words so calmly.

He felt a pang of pain every time he mentioned Kushina, Minato, or anyone else he loved and lost.

But now, it felt different, like some empty hole deep inside him was finally beginning to heal, the pain replaced by something new and tender.

Naruto listened intently, switching his attention back and forth between Kakashi and the coal-like cigarette-pipe fox.

As Kakashi spoke, he boldly stretched out a finger and gently stroked it along the fox's back, causing the fox to purr in pleasure.

As soon as Kakashi stopped, Naruto couldn't wait to ask a series of questions. His usually high energy was only restrained at this moment.

"Are all of them this small? I mean, it does make me feel... more stable, like I'm floating, are all of them like this? How did I summon it? Was it because of blood relationship? Or was it like the Kyuubi? Can I summon any kitsune? Is mom able to summon them because they're kitsune?"

Naruto's questions came in a flood, his intense curiosity not overshadowed by fatigue or sadness but rather bringing out Kakashi's teacher instincts, and Iruka would have been proud of that.

"Yes, they're usually only about this size. That floating feeling is normal, they have a natural calming effect on most ninja, like a mild sedative. From what I've heard, they all do that. I think it's more like the Kyuubi's case, since the Tobacco Fox is also a type of fox, but there is precedent for summoning beasts being inherited in bloodlines, so that may be a factor as well. Kushina may be able to summon them because of the Kyuubi, but I never asked her so I'm not sure."

Kakashi answered his questions one by one. Naruto nodded in understanding while gently scratching the fox's chin with his nails, causing the fox to purr louder in comfort.

"Okay, but why didn't I summon the little prince or anything?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi stroked his chin in thought, the image of those golden eyes flashing in the darkness reappearing in his mind.

"Did you have a nightmare?" he asked softly.

Naruto froze for a moment, his eyes wide, and Kakashi knew he was right.

"how do you know?"

"The Pipe Fox can dispel nightmares," he interrupted gently. "It is easiest to summon a spirit beast when you are dreaming. It comes because you need it."

Naruto swallowed hard and looked down at his toes without saying anything.

What a stubborn child, Kakashi thought, just like his mother.

Kakashi shifted his position and leaned against the wall next to him.

The scroll in his pocket scraped against the floor as he moved, but he paid no attention to it.

Naruto only glanced at the scroll briefly and didn't ask any further questions.

He imitated Kakashi's example and slid down against the wall until his head rested on his shoulder.

"This is stupid," Naruto complained.

"Isn't it stupid to have a fox the size of a vole sitting on your lap?" Kakashi said with a smile.

Naruto pouted, but the fox blinked its big eyes, seeming to agree with Kakashi. Foxes can't talk, at least not in the traditional sense, but they can hear, see, and are more empathetic than most animals.

"It's about Gaara," Naruto finally admitted.

Kakashi nodded, not surprised.

The news about Gaara becoming a Jinchuriki was supposed to be confidential, but after Naruto sensed his chakra and Sasuke had close contact with him, all three of them knew that it would come to light sooner or later.

Naruto nodded, his golden hair brushing across Kakashi's chin, thick like Kushina's, yet soft and fine like Minato's, brushing against his skin through the mask.

"I dreamed that Kyuubi became like me," Naruto admitted. "I wanted to save him, but I made a mistake and everything went wrong."

"So that's why you didn't ask me about your little fox?" Kakashi pointed at the pipe fox, which playfully bit his extended finger.

"Ah."

"Do you often have dreams like this?"

Naruto shook his head.

"Just tonight."

Kakashi leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, showing a rare moment of vulnerability.

"I used to have nightmares every night," he admitted, "until a little red-haired devil started putting little foxes under my pillow."

Kakashi's confession had the desired effect, and Naruto laughed in surprise.

Kakashi opened his eyes and saw him standing up from the wall, his fist over his mouth, trying to hold back his laughter.

Hearing Naruto's laughter, Kakashi felt relieved.

He couldn't help but put his arm around Naruto's shoulders and stroked his soft blond hair with his age-marked fingers.

This hair is the fruit of love between the two people he loves deeply, and now it is more precious than any memory.

"Let's go," Kakashi urged, nudging Naruto with his shoulder. "Smokepipe Foxes are a little different from other summoned beasts. They require tributes to be released."

"Tribute?" Naruto asked curiously, carefully holding the pipe fox in his palm and standing up. "What kind of tribute?"

"Usually food," Kakashi recalled, his tone warm. "Kushina's fox loved rice crackers the most."

"Rice cake?" Naruto exclaimed, looking at the pipe fox suspiciously, and then turned to look at Kakashi. "Can you eat something this small?" he retorted.

Kakashi chuckled softly, recalling an unforgettable incident more than ten years ago. That was also the only time he forgot to give tribute to the pipe fox.

As a result, the next morning, he opened the food cabinet and found that all the edible things in it had been looted, leaving only a lonely pipe fox squatting on an empty box in a domineering manner.

"You have to know that you can't judge a summoned beast by its appearance alone." Kakashi gently reminded him. "For a tobacco fox, what matters is not their ability, but their appetite."

Kakashi had thought Naruto would be more skeptical, after all, he hadn't believed Kushina when she'd first warned him, until a pipe-shaped fox ate up two months' wages of food while he was at the corner store.

However, Naruto did not refute him, but looked down at the pipe fox in his hand and walked towards the kitchen, his eyes full of surprise, which gradually turned into curiosity and respect. There was no questioning, no cynicism, but he accepted his statement without reservation.

Kakashi suddenly felt his chest tighten, the feeling was sudden and strong.

Perhaps it was because he was not used to such undisguised emotions, or perhaps it was because tonight's actions had put too much pressure on him.

But when he saw the change in Naruto's eyes and read understanding, acceptance and interest in his expression, Kakashi suddenly realized clearly that Naruto's trust in him was unconditional.

He sometimes forgot that Naruto's trust was silent.

It does not come in grand gestures or outward displays, nor does it rely on favors or deals that usually establish interdependent relationships between ninjas. It is not obvious, ordinary, or something that needs to be proven.