"!"
Early in the morning, Yugao Uzuki suddenly woke up from her sleep.
She sat upright on the bed, looking as though she had just recovered from a severe hangover.
The bedroom was dimly lit.
Her eyes stared blankly ahead while fragments of last night's absurd experience kept flashing through her mind.
She slowly raised her right hand, staring at her slender, pale fingers as if something strange had appeared on them.
Soon, her gaze began to tremble.
Her cheeks flushed with heat.
A deep sense of shame welled up inside her.
Last night, while soaking in the bathtub, she had been unable to suppress the overwhelming heat in her body. In desperation, she had practiced Lightning Release body techniques to try and disperse the strange sensation.
As an elite Anbu shinobi, Yugao Uzuki understood the human body extremely well.
She knew every physiological reaction and every structure of the body.
She had always lived with strict self-discipline.
Yet last night… she had done something unbelievably embarrassing.
Still overwhelmed with self-blame, Yugao Uzuki didn't immediately question why it had happened.
She simply got out of bed.
Pulling open the curtains, she saw that the sky outside was only just beginning to brighten.
Before she could step away from the window, someone outside the courtyard was already waving at her.
Her childhood friend, Hayate Gekko.
Yugao Uzuki returned the gesture with a smile.
Though the smile looked somewhat stiff.
While watching Hayate Gekko on the distant street, she continued to piece together the events in her mind.
She considered every possible explanation.
Yet she never once suspected Naruto Uzumaki.
Naturally, she had no idea that during the two days she had been unconscious, Naruto Uzumaki had been feeding her.
"Hayate…"
She opened the window, about to speak.
But suddenly she felt something strange in her face.
More precisely—
Her jaw muscles ached sharply, making it difficult to open her mouth.
Even more confusing, when she waved goodbye and her right hand brushed against her body—
Something warm slowly trickled downward.
Maybe it had started raining.
The weather outside didn't look very clear.
Or perhaps it was some kind of Water Release technique only a shinobi could produce.
"What… is wrong with me…?"
Yugao Uzuki stared at the scene in shock, completely stunned.
—
One hour later.
The area in front of the Hokage's office had grown busy.
Large numbers of shinobi were coming and going, receiving assignments and making final preparations.
After hastily organizing herself, Yugao Uzuki arrived as well.
Her orders were simple.
She was to provide covert protection near Konoha's entrance.
Before long, the diplomatic delegation from Kumogakure would arrive.
Along with their shinobi, officials from the Land of Lightning would also be present.
They had come with the intention of negotiating peace.
For years, the Land of Fire had suffered constant friction with Kumogakure.
Now that the two sides were seeking reconciliation, villagers had gathered voluntarily near the village entrance to welcome them.
For Konoha…
Today felt almost like a celebration.
Once the event began, security would be handled jointly by the Uchiha Police Force in the open and the Anbu in secret.
After receiving her orders, Yugao Uzuki nodded and quickly departed.
In the corridor outside the office, she passed by someone on her way out.
Uchiha Shisui.
—
Not long afterward, Shisui also received orders.
He temporarily set aside his duties and prepared to join the welcoming ceremony as part of the ceremonial escort.
Leaving the Hokage building, Shisui immediately headed toward the Uchiha Clan district.
After the Nine-Tails Incident, the Uchiha Clan had been relocated to the edge of the village.
The area was not only far from the village center, but also the location of the clan's ancestral shrine near the Naka River.
The surrounding landscape was unique.
Steep cliffs, towering pine trees, and complex terrain formed a striking natural environment.
As Shisui passed through the familiar forest path—
A sudden explosion and a surge of chakra caught his attention.
He stopped instantly.
Pushing aside the bushes, he rushed toward the source.
When he reached a clearing in the forest, the sight before him left him stunned.
The source of that massive chakra…
Was a child.
In the center of the clearing, Naruto Uzumaki was unleashing his power freely.
His entire body was covered in a Tailed Beast Cloak, making him look like a miniature humanoid tailed beast.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Wherever his chakra claws struck, trees were torn apart like fragile weeds.
Naruto Uzumaki leaped and moved rapidly across the clearing.
Behind him, a single chakra tail had formed.
Under his control, the tail moved like a whip, sweeping away every obstacle in its path.
Shisui stood frozen.
He had always believed that possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan made him someone special.
But watching Naruto Uzumaki control the power of a tailed beast left him utterly astonished.
"What exactly… is this…?"
Shisui stared at Naruto Uzumaki's fluid movements, speechless.
Boom!
Naruto Uzumaki launched one final charge.
There was no technique involved.
Just raw brute force.
A boulder taller than a person shattered instantly.
"Ugh…"
The shockwave and flying debris forced Shisui to raise his arms to shield himself.
Dust filled the clearing.
When it finally settled, Naruto Uzumaki stood calmly at the center.
"The demon fox… Naruto Uzumaki…"
Shisui recognized him immediately.
At this point in time, Shisui had not yet joined the Anbu.
He didn't know Naruto Uzumaki's true identity.
Like many villagers, he believed Naruto Uzumaki was simply the incarnation of the Nine-Tails.
Seeing such terrifying power from a child shook him deeply.
No matter how hard he tried, Shisui could not recall ever hearing of something like this.
In his mind, Naruto Uzumaki's threat level had already risen to the highest category.
"I noticed you."
Naruto Uzumaki suddenly turned around.
"!"
Shisui immediately became alert.
"Hello… Sorry for disturbing you. I was just passing by and heard some noise…"
Shisui spoke politely, explaining why he had appeared there.
He had always been known for his gentle personality and good relationships with others.
Naruto Uzumaki didn't respond right away.
Instead, his gaze focused on Shisui's clothing.
The fan emblem on the fabric was unmistakable.
"Big brother… are you from the Uchiha Clan?"
"Yes."
Shisui moved his arm slightly.
Members of the Uchiha Clan were easily recognizable.
Both their appearance and clothing proudly displayed their clan symbol.
Naruto Uzumaki suddenly pulled out a piece of paper.
On it was a crayon drawing of a person.
The childish lines looked extremely abstract.
But Shisui recognized the figure instantly.
After all…
That arrogant expression was unforgettable.
It was Sasuke Uchiha's sister.
Shisui felt surprised that Naruto Uzumaki knew her.
However, his expression remained calm.
"I have something to do, so I won't disturb you any longer."
He neither confirmed nor denied knowing the girl in the drawing.
Instead, he quickly made an excuse and left.
Compared to asking the infamous Naruto Uzumaki, it would be much easier to ask Itachi Uchiha directly.
As someone deeply protective of his sister, Itachi Uchiha would surely know everything about her.
Realizing the matter might be serious, Shisui vanished in an instant.
Naruto Uzumaki nodded slightly.
"As expected… Shisui of the Body Flicker."
Inside the seal, Kurama spoke slowly.
"Brat…"
He didn't believe Naruto Uzumaki had come here randomly.
After years of watching him, Kurama had already noticed something.
Whenever Naruto Uzumaki behaved like this—
It meant he was planning something again.
What exactly that plan was, Kurama didn't know.
But he was certain of one thing.
If he waited long enough…
Something very interesting was bound to happen.