The morning sun flooded Naruto's room as he finished a plate of instant ramen. Kaguya, always calm and aloof, stood by the window, silently observing the bustling village of Konoha.
Naruto placed his empty bowl on the table and looked at her thoughtfully.
— Say, Kaguya, I have a question.
She didn't look away, answering in a distant tone:
— I doubt your question is relevant, but speak.
Naruto frowned slightly.
— What's your problem with humans?
She glanced at him, her face still impassive.
— My problem is not with humans, but with their nature. Their greed, their violence, their lack of respect for things beyond their control.
Naruto crossed his arms, thinking.
— Yeah, but there are also good sides, right? Like, we're stubborn, we protect our loved ones, and we... eat noodles super fast!
Kaguya blinked slowly.
— Noodles… Is that your defense?
Naruto burst out laughing.
— Yeah, yeah, I admit, it's not the argument of the century. But you'll see, Konoha is full of good people.
She looked away, visibly annoyed, and Naruto felt it was best to change the subject.
Naruto raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.
— Hey, Kaguya, you know… If you're going to stay here without being spotted, you're going to have to be a little more discreet.
She turned her icy gaze towards him.
— I'm already discreet.
Naruto shook his head.
— No, you still have your aura… how to say… divine. Even weakened, it's super visible to sensory ninjas. Can't you change your appearance? Like, hide your horns, and your chakra too?
Kaguya seemed to think for a moment.
— My power is weakened, but I can alter my physical appearance and conceal my chakra temporarily. However, this requires energy.
Naruto smiled widely.
— Well, it's worth a try! Imagine passing for a normal Konoha resident. No one would believe it!
She looked at him, clearly unconvinced, before raising a hand. A pale light enveloped her body, and gradually, her appearance changed. Her horns disappeared, her long white hair became short, and her pale eyes took on a deep black hue. In a few moments, she appeared to be a young woman in her twenties, dressed soberly in a simple kimono.
Naruto was speechless.
— Wow… You really look normal. Well, normal for someone so classy.
She tilted her head slightly, analyzing her new appearance in a mirror.
— That will suffice.
Before Naruto could answer, there was a knock on the door. Three sharp, quick knocks.
Naruto felt his stomach clench.
— Uh… Who is it?
A female voice rang out from the other side.
— Naruto, it's Ino. I felt a strange chakra coming from here.
Naruto blanched and turned to Kaguya, who remained perfectly calm, sitting on a chair. Kurama mentally intervened:
—You're done for, kid. If she detects Kaguya, it's all over.
Naruto quickly muttered:
— Kaguya, do something! Hide your aura, or I don't know, act like you're a normal friend!
Kaguya raised an eyebrow but obeyed. She focused her energy and erased her aura almost imperceptibly. Then, she elegantly sat down on the chair, crossing her legs with a stoic expression.
Naruto opened the door, a nervous smile on his face.
— Oh, hi, Ino! Kakashi-sensei, are you here too?
Kakashi, the Hokage, stood behind Ino, his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed but attentive.
— Yo, Naruto. Ino felt something unusual in this area. We wanted to check it out.
Ino narrowed her eyes, observing Naruto.
— Yes, it was fleeting, but powerful. A chakra I've never felt before.
Naruto felt sweat bead on his forehead.
— Ah, uh… No, nothing to report here! Just me, in my room, as usual.
Ino stared at Naruto warily. Her gaze swept around the room, and she caught sight of Kaguya in her human form, sitting calmly.
—And who is she? Ino asked, intrigued.
Naruto froze, his mind racing.
— Uh… She? She's… a friend! Yeah, a friend who came from… from Suna!
Kaguya didn't flinch, remaining perfectly stoic. She spoke in a calm and measured voice, but with a slight coldness:
— I'm Hikari. I was traveling when Naruto offered me a place to rest.
Ino raised an eyebrow.
— Hikari? I've never heard of you. And your chakra…
Kakashi interjected with a nonchalant smile.
— Calm down, Ino. If she says she's from Suna, it's probably true. Naruto is the type to pick up people from all over the place.
Naruto smiled nervously, scratching the back of his head.
— Heh heh, yeah, that's totally me!
Ino remained wary, but Kaguya—or Hikari—remained perfectly unfazed, reinforcing the illusion of her identity.
After a few moments, Kakashi motioned for Ino to step back.
— Well, nothing serious here. Thank you, Naruto. Hikari, enjoy your stay in Konoha.
Kaguya tilted her head slightly.
— Thank you, Hokage-sama.
As the door closed and their footsteps faded away, Naruto flopped onto his bed, sighing loudly.
— Phew… That was hot.
Kaguya stood up gracefully, staring at Naruto.
— This cover is temporary. Their distrust will eventually return if I stay too long.
Naruto shrugged with a smile.
— Well, we'll improvise. You were great, anyway. "Hikari", huh? That's classy.
She looked away, slightly annoyed.
— Don't think I'm doing this for you.
Kurama snickered in Naruto's mind.
—You got lucky this time, kid. But get ready, it might get more complicated.
Naruto, despite the stress, smiled widely.
— No problem, we'll get through this. After all, right?
Kaguya didn't answer .