Naruto returned home briefly, tidying up his belongings before setting out from Konoha. Tsunade had entrusted him with a sealed scroll — an official mission request from Nadeshiko Village. The Hokage's words still echoed in his ears:
"Handle this carefully, Naruto. And don't cause unnecessary trouble."
With the scroll tucked safely in his pouch, he began the journey across forests and valleys. On the way, he unrolled the parchment and skimmed the details. The assignment itself was straightforward: assist Nadeshiko Village in dealing with a group of persistent bandits. But it also mentioned, almost as a side note, the peculiar tradition of the village — that if a woman was defeated in combat, she was bound to marry the victor.
Naruto snorted softly. A whole village ruled by that kind of rule? That's… strange. Interesting, but still strange.
The wind carried him forward, and his thoughts drifted to how such customs had shaped the village's people. He suspected things weren't as simple as they appeared.
Meanwhile, within Nadeshiko Village, Shizuka knelt beside her grandmother's bed. The elderly woman, pale but composed, rested against her pillows, her breath faint but steady.
"Grandma, you'll be fine," Shizuka whispered, clutching her hand.
Her grandmother chuckled softly. "Silly child. Birth, old age, sickness, and death — these things come to all of us. There's no need for fear."
Even with her failing health, the old matriarch's gaze was sharp, her mind still clear.
"Shizuka," she continued, "you may not be able to deal with those bandits on your own. I've already sent for outside help. Konoha should be sending someone soon. Don't take unnecessary risks. If something were to happen to you before you found someone you truly cared for… this old woman would regret it."
Tears pricked Shizuka's eyes. "Don't speak like that, Grandma. I can handle those robbers myself."
Her grandmother only sighed and patted her palm. She had watched Shizuka grow strong and independent, but beneath the steel, her granddaughter was still far too quick to shoulder everything alone.
By the time Naruto arrived at the gate of Nadeshiko, the guards were already expecting him. A kunoichi at the entrance looked him up and down skeptically.
"State your business."
"I'm from Konoha. Here on mission orders." Naruto handed her the scroll.
She skimmed it, her expression shifting as recognition lit her face. "Come with me."
He was led through the village, its streets quieter than Konoha's but vibrant with their own traditions. Soon, he was standing in the home of the village chief. Inside, he found Shizuka still seated by her grandmother's side.
Naruto introduced himself plainly. "Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha shinobi. I'll be handling your request to suppress the bandits. Please provide all the details you have, and I'll deal with them swiftly."
Shizuka blinked at his blunt tone. Who does this boy think he is? His words carried no softness, no hint of deference, as though he were giving orders instead of receiving them.
But her grandmother smiled faintly, nodding in approval. "Then we'll leave it in your hands." She explained the situation clearly, describing the bandits' attacks and movements.
Throughout the exchange, Shizuka studied Naruto carefully. He was younger than she expected, his hair wild like golden fire, but there was an unshakable calmness about him. Not arrogance, exactly — more like certainty.
Soon, she was guiding him toward the outskirts, her expression hardening as she spoke.
"Damn those thieves. They've kept our village on edge for too long. This time, I'll cut them down."
"Strength first," Naruto interjected flatly. "Resolve without the power to back it up is just empty talk."
Shizuka stiffened, glaring at him. "You have no sense of humor, do you?"
She turned away with a huff, muttering under her breath. His words stung, mostly because she knew they were true.
Tracking the bandits wasn't difficult. Nadeshiko's scouts had been shadowing them for days. Before long, Naruto and Shizuka stood at the foot of a mountain, staring at the dark mouth of a cave.
"There are seventeen inside," Naruto said without hesitation. "Most are around genin level. Three, maybe four, are chūnin."
Shizuka whipped her head toward him. "How could you possibly—?"
"Talent," he answered simply.
She had no reply. The way he said it left no room for doubt.
Inside, the bandits were gathered around a fire, greasy smoke rising from their meal. Their laughter echoed off the walls.
"We should hit the village again soon," one sneered. "Too bad we haven't managed to grab any women yet."
"Bah. Only Shizuka's worth worrying about. Hold her down, and the rest of the village is ours."
The men roared with laughter, their voices dripping with arrogance and greed.
A new voice cut through the cave.
"Talking big for a bunch of weaklings."
Seventeen heads snapped toward the entrance. There stood Shizuka, blade in hand, with Naruto beside her.
"Well, well, if it isn't the princess herself," one of the chūnin sneered. "Come to offer yourself up? Two kids against all of us? Don't make us laugh."
Shizuka's grip tightened on her sword. "I came here to kill you."
Their laughter only grew louder.
Naruto stepped forward, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Shizuka, stand back. I'll handle this."
"I'm not running," she shot back instantly.
"You'll only get in the way." His words were firm, unyielding.
Before she could retort, one of the bandits barked, "Who the hell are you, brat?"
"Uzumaki Naruto. Genin of Konoha."
The cave erupted in laughter again. "A genin? That's all Konoha could spare?"
But the laughter died as quickly as it began. Naruto's shuriken gleamed in the firelight as they flew. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Screams tore through the cave.
By the time the bandits even registered his movement, five of their comrades were already collapsing to the floor, blood spraying from neat, precise wounds.
"What—what is this—?!"
Shizuka's eyes widened in shock. She had never seen such speed, such deadly precision.
The massacre continued. Naruto flickered through the cave like a phantom, steel and chakra cutting through the bandits' panicked defenses. Cries of pain echoed, one after another, until silence swallowed the cave whole.
Seventeen men had entered the night. Seventeen lay dead at Naruto's feet.
Naruto flicked the blood from his shuriken, sliding it back into his pouch. "That's that. Mission complete. Let's go."
Shizuka could only stare at him, her lips parted in disbelief. She had thought herself strong, had believed no outsider her age could stand above her. But this boy… this genin from Konoha…
On the walk back, her curiosity overflowed. "Naruto, how are you that strong? What was that technique? And—are all shinobi from Konoha like you?"
He smirked. "You've got the wrong idea. I'm not 'like the others.' Right now, I'm the strongest in Konoha."
"Cut it out." She scoffed, trying to mask her unease. "Everyone knows the Hokage is strongest. Don't let her hear you saying that or you'll find yourself locked away."
Naruto didn't answer. He didn't need to. The truth was obvious to him, whether anyone else believed it or not.
Back in the village, news of the bandits' defeat spread quickly. Shizuka's grandmother listened to her granddaughter's report, her expression thoughtful.
"Disappearing in an instant…" she murmured. "That must have been the Flying Thunder God Technique. Just like Minato of Konoha."
The memory seemed to weigh heavily on her, but she kept her thoughts private. Instead, she pulled Shizuka close, whispering a few words into her ear. Shizuka's face flushed with embarrassment, though she quickly steadied herself. In their village, traditions were never taken lightly.
Later that night, Naruto rested in the guest quarters, arms folded behind his head as he thought ahead. Orochimaru's research, the risks of the plan they were weaving together — all of it pressed on his mind. If things went wrong, even his own body might not survive intact.
A voice interrupted his thoughts. "Naruto-sama, Lady Shizuka requests your presence at the back mountain."
He rose, adjusting his cloak. "Tch. Don't tell me the plot's changing again…"
At the back mountain, Shizuka stood waiting, steel glinting in her hand. Her eyes locked onto him. "Fight me."
"Not interested."
She didn't listen. With a sharp breath, she charged, her blade cutting arcs through the night air. Naruto dodged each strike effortlessly, his expression unreadable.
"Fight back!" she snapped.
He sighed. "If I win, does that mean you'll marry me?"
Her eyes widened. "You… you know our tradition?"
His fist slammed into her stomach before she could recover. The force sent her tumbling across the ground, the air driven from her lungs. Pain shot through her body as she clutched at her side, gasping.
Naruto stepped forward, his voice steady, almost cold. "Remember this, Shizuka. You lost. That means you're mine now."
She looked up at him in shock, her mind spinning. The rules of her village bound her fate, yet the boy before her was unlike anyone she had ever met.
And she realized, with a sudden and terrifying clarity, that Uzumaki Naruto was far more dangerous — and far more fascinating — than she had ever imagined.
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