"Being a child really isn't easy… I should replace all those expired milk bottles for him in the next couple of days…"
Yugao Uzuki thought quietly to herself. The son of a hero still needed someone to take care of him.
Then she remembered another reason she had come today.
"Naruto Uzumaki… can you properly control the power of the Nine-Tails?"
It was a taboo question.
Her heartbeat sped up uncontrollably.
During the year of the Nine-Tails disaster, she had still been a child, but the destructive power the beast displayed had left a deep impression on her. The ruins of Konoha alone were enough to show how terrifying a tailed beast truly was.
This question wasn't something the Hokage had ordered her to ask.
It was purely her own curiosity.
"Nine-Tails…? What's that?"
Naruto Uzumaki tilted his head, acting as though he had never heard the term.
Yugao Uzuki inhaled sharply.
Only then did she realize Naruto Uzumaki might not even understand what a tailed beast was.
In fact, most people in Konoha—including many lower-ranking shinobi—didn't know much about these creatures.
"That would be me…"
From behind the iron gate of the seal, Kurama spoke in a deep, dignified voice with his eyes closed.
"Oh, so your name is Nine-Tails, stinky fox."
Naruto Uzumaki nodded in understanding.
"Just call me Nine-Tails, brat!"
Kurama instantly opened his eyes, clearly annoyed.
Anyone in the shinobi world trembled at the mention of the Nine-Tails.
Yet somehow, this boy showed absolutely no sense of intimidation.
Kurama muttered under his breath, thinking bitterly that after wandering the world for so long, he had ended up with such a troublesome Jinchuriki.
On Yugao Uzuki's side, she noticed Naruto Uzumaki talking to himself.
It took her only a moment to realize he was communicating with the Nine-Tails.
"So it's called Nine-Tails… If that's the case, controlling its chakra shouldn't be too hard… By the way, Anbu sister, I still don't know your name."
Seeing Naruto Uzumaki's innocent expression, Kurama immediately sensed danger.
That brat was definitely plotting something again.
Which meant the human woman standing in front of him was about to have a very bad day.
"My name is Yugao Uzuki…"
After hesitating for a moment, she told him.
"But it's a secret. Anbu normally aren't allowed to reveal their identities. You have to keep it confidential."
"Okay! No problem, Yugao sister!"
Naruto Uzumaki pretended to be excited, as if he had just made a new friend.
"Then Yugao sister, I'll tell you a secret too… I'm actually very strong. Stronger than you."
Once again, Naruto Uzumaki began baiting her.
Yugao Uzuki had never fully gotten over the fact that she had once been defeated in a single move by a child.
Naturally, she couldn't accept such a claim.
"For example, Yugao sister… even right now, I could defeat you in one move."
"…"
Yugao Uzuki wasn't the competitive type.
But hearing such bold words from a child instinctively triggered her desire to argue back.
Behind her mask, her cheeks slowly flushed red.
Being defeated by a child…
The Hokage had entrusted her with looking after Naruto Uzumaki.
If Naruto Uzumaki were truly that strong, what would be the point of her presence?
"I'm going to use the Nine-Tails' power now, Yugao sister."
Naruto Uzumaki spoke in an innocent tone.
Then—
The wind suddenly erupted.
Boom!
The once calm room exploded with violent Nine-Tails chakra.
Visible waves of orange energy surged upward and crashed against the ceiling, forming the roaring head of a chakra fox.
"ROAR!"
The deafening roar produced a shockwave that slammed directly into Yugao Uzuki.
"Ugh!"
A moment ago she had been calm, even slightly eager to see what Naruto Uzumaki would do.
Now her expression beneath the mask was pure shock.
Her long purple hair whipped violently in the storm.
The overwhelming force pinned her in place.
Just standing upright required nearly all of her strength.
"How is this possible… chakra can actually materialize…"
Before she could react further—
Naruto Uzumaki rushed forward.
His body was now covered in a transparent orange Tailed Beast Cloak.
Bang!
The last thing Yugao Uzuki saw before losing consciousness was a pair of red vertical pupils shining like needlepoints—
—and the unnatural swelling beneath Naruto Uzumaki's clothing.
Thud.
"Brat! You hit her way too hard! Let's see how you deal with this!"
Kurama was the first to shout after Yugao Uzuki collapsed unconscious.
His gaze fell on her forehead.
Naruto Uzumaki had struck her there with a punch.
It wasn't an ordinary punch.
It had been covered with the Tailed Beast Cloak.
In this state, a Jinchuriki's attack power and defense increased dramatically.
But it also carried a dangerous side effect.
Tailed beast chakra was corrosive.
Not everyone could become a tailed beast's vessel.
This was common knowledge throughout the shinobi world.
Only those with special physiques could properly handle a tailed beast's power.
And when a Jinchuriki attacked while wrapped in the Tailed Beast Cloak, the hatred contained within the tailed beast's chakra would directly invade the target's body.
The moment contact was made, it could cause paralysis, lingering damage, and injuries that were difficult to heal.
So although Naruto Uzumaki had simply punched Yugao Uzuki—
The chakra attached to the blow would cause severe aftereffects.
Only when a Jinchuriki fully reconciled with their tailed beast and became a perfect Jinchuriki would that chakra lose its toxicity.
"You're finished, brat…"
Kurama watched with amusement.
Naruto Uzumaki, however, understood the nature of Nine-Tails chakra even better than Kurama expected.
Yes, tailed beast chakra was toxic.
But shinobi bodies were resilient.
The punch had struck her forehead.
Yugao Uzuki's brain had likely been temporarily paralyzed.
Even someone as skilled as Sakura Haruno in medical ninjutsu wouldn't be able to heal such damage immediately.
Naruto Uzumaki estimated that Yugao Uzuki would remain unconscious for at least two days.
It was troublesome.
But manageable.
Click.
He casually removed her Anbu mask.
Yugao Uzuki's delicate face appeared before him, pale and flawless like porcelain.
Her slightly furrowed brows made her look even more pitiful.
Her purple hair spread across the floor beneath her.
The Anbu uniform only added to her strange charm.
"Yugao sister fainted… It's my fault for hitting too hard…"
"So I'll have to take good care of her until she wakes up."
Kurama remained silent.
Naruto Uzumaki stepped closer and grabbed her wrist.
—
At the same time.
Far north of the Land of Fire.
Winter had arrived.
A Konoha reconnaissance squad rubbed their hands together, exhaling clouds of white breath.
They had marched nonstop for an entire day to reach the border.
Their mission concerned an unexpected message.
Their former enemy, Kumogakure, had suddenly extended an olive branch to Konoha.
They claimed they wanted to sign an alliance treaty.
The news had drawn serious attention from Konoha's leadership.
It also caused them to connect the event with the recent murder and arson case.
Perhaps the crime was a reaction from other nations.
Maybe Kumogakure was feinting.
Or perhaps another country wanted to sabotage the possible alliance.
Regardless, Konoha chose to respond with sincerity.
Thus, a special mission squad had been dispatched.
Leading the operation was the rising star of the reconnaissance unit—
Hayate Gekko.
He possessed the Transparency Release bloodline ability.
This power allowed him to turn invisible.
It had helped him accomplish many missions successfully.
But overwhelming talent often came with a price.
His body had begun deteriorating because of it.
Like a brilliant meteor, his life would shine brightly—
But briefly.
This was why his childhood friend Yugao Uzuki often took care of him.
Standing at the border, Hayate Gekko looked serious.
Beyond the boundary marker lay the territory of another nation.
After tense negotiations with Kumogakure shinobi, the opposing side handed over a letter personally signed by the Fourth Raikage.
A diplomatic delegation from Kumogakure would soon travel to Konoha.
This meeting was merely the first step.
A warm-up before formal negotiations.
Finally, Hayate Gekko extended his hand and shook hands with the envoy.
Both sides relaxed slightly.
The atmosphere softened.
"Peace… is right in front of us."
Kumogakure was one of the most powerful shinobi villages.
If they became allies, Konoha could enjoy decades of stability.
Once the Kumogakure delegation left, the Konoha squad could finally rest.
After sleeping, they would return to the village.
"Everyone, get some rest. I'll take this letter back to the village immediately."
Hayate Gekko didn't want to waste a single minute.
His teammates laughed.
"Hayate, are you missing your girlfriend already?"
"You can't even last two days apart?"
Surrounded by friendly teasing, Hayate Gekko smiled warmly.
Then he set off alone.
Running through the cold wind, a thought crossed his mind.
What was Yugao Uzuki doing right now?
—
Morning sunlight rose over the horizon, painting Konoha in orange-red light.
"Yugao sister…"
"Ugh…"
The aftereffects of the Nine-Tails chakra were stronger than Naruto Uzumaki had expected.
He scratched his head helplessly.
On the bed, Yugao Uzuki writhed weakly like a boneless octopus.
Her eyes had lost focus, wandering aimlessly like someone suffering from heatstroke.
The chakra that had invaded her brain two days earlier had worked like a neurotoxin.
This also proved something.
Yugao Uzuki was not suited to be a Jinchuriki.
At the very least, her body could not withstand the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Morning sunlight streamed through Naruto Uzumaki's house.
Fortunately, she was still half-conscious and had no idea what had happened.
"Yugao sister, it's time to wake up and wash your face."
Naruto Uzumaki helped her sit up.
Like a drunken person, Yugao Uzuki staggered toward the bathroom with his support.
Water splashed.
Naruto Uzumaki washed her face for her.
After drying it, he put her Anbu mask back on.
Then he escorted her out of the house.
A cold wind blew across the street.
Yugao Uzuki's thoughts slowly began to clear.
"Yugao sister, make sure you go home safely."
Naruto Uzumaki's voice sounded almost like a suggestion planted in her mind.
Step by step, Yugao Uzumaki's unsteady walk became smoother.
Soon she disappeared from Naruto Uzumaki's sight.
—
By the time Yugao Uzuki reached her home, her consciousness had mostly returned.
She had made it back purely by instinct.
She opened the bathroom curtain and began filling the bathtub.
Removing her clothes, she revealed her slender figure.
Her porcelain-like skin glowed softly as she stepped into the bath.
Then she tilted her head and fell asleep again.
Her exhausted brain finally had a chance to rest.
She slept until evening.
—
Next door, separated by only one wall—
Hayate Gekko hummed cheerfully while cooking dinner.
The successful diplomatic mission filled him with pride.
If Konoha and Kumogakure truly formed an alliance, the future would be bright.
More than anything, he wanted to share the news with Yugao Uzuki.
After finishing dinner, he went next door.
"Yugao…"
Her courtyard was dark.
His own house was brightly lit.
The contrast was striking.
He knocked on the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Yugao!"
There was no response.
Only after the fifth knock did the bathroom light turn on.
Soon Yugao Uzuki appeared at the door with wet hair.
She had clearly just been bathing.
Seeing her fresh from the bath, Hayate Gekko froze.
Then he smiled.
"Yugao… you seem even more beautiful today."
He didn't know she had just woken up from the bathtub, realizing the water had already turned cold.
She had hurriedly dried herself, thrown on clothes, and opened the door.
Soon she followed him to his house.
The dinner was delicious.
But Yugao Uzuki noticed her appetite wasn't very good.
She vaguely remembered something.
Naruto Uzumaki had knocked her unconscious.
Then she had apparently slept for two days.
Just like Jinchuriki sometimes lost memories during berserk states, the Nine-Tails chakra invading her brain had erased parts of her memory.
She only remembered leaving Naruto Uzumaki's house in a daze.
The rest felt like a dream.
"Yugao, what's wrong?"
Hayate Gekko blinked.
"It's nothing… I was just tired from my mission. I fell asleep without turning on the lights and only woke up when it was already dark."
She smiled awkwardly.
The warm dinner atmosphere continued.
After the meal, Yugao Uzuki tried to help wash the dishes.
But suddenly she felt unwell.
"Yugao, if you're tired, you should get some rest."
Under Hayate Gekko's gentle encouragement, she returned home.
"Good night, Hayate."
Standing on the second floor, she waved from the window.
He smiled back.
Once Hayate Gekko disappeared beyond the wall, Yugao Uzuki immediately closed the window.
A strange heat surged through her body.
Despite the cold winter night, she felt burning hot.
"So hot…"
She quickly removed her clothes and stepped into the bathtub again.
The cool water gave brief relief.
But it wasn't enough.
The heat soon surged back even stronger.
"Ugh…"
Her face flushed as her body twisted in the water.
Her hands gripped the edge of the bathtub, searching for something cool.
But it barely helped.
Until—
Splash!
Her hands dipped deeper into the water.
She touched something.
Something cold.
Perhaps ice.
Finally…
It felt cooler.
—
Meanwhile, inside the Hyuga Clan compound.
The ancient and strict clan had already enforced curfew.
The moon climbed into the sky.
The Hyuga residence fell silent.
Hinata Hyuga lay in bed with her eyes open.
She couldn't sleep.
From the next room came Hinata Natsu's stern voice.
"Lady Hinata… please go to sleep immediately."
"O-Okay…"
Hinata Hyuga hurriedly responded and closed her eyes.
But her thoughts continued wandering.
"Tomorrow is my birthday…"
"Will Naruto Uzumaki come…?"
Even as she drifted to sleep, she was still thinking about it.