The tension from Ino and Kakashi's visit had dissipated, but Naruto still felt his heart beating a little too fast. He glanced over at Kaguya—or rather, "Hikari"—who, despite recent events, seemed completely unfazed.
She sat in the same chair, observing the room with the same cold distance. Her human appearance made her unrecognizable, but her aura of authority was intact.
Naruto crossed his arms, a serious expression on his face.
— Okay, listen, if you want this to work, we're going to have to give you a real story. Like, who you are, where you come from, all that.
Kaguya stared at him with her dark eyes, disdainful.
— I don't need a fictional past.
Naruto sighed, frustrated.
—Maybe not you, but the others do. They ask questions, you know. Ino, Kakashi-sensei, and soon everyone will want to know why a stranger is hanging around my house.
She closed her eyes, thinking for a moment.
— Fine. I'll let you make up that... "story". But keep it short.
Naruto smiled, satisfied.
— Okay! You're from Suna, like I told Ino. You were a merchant, and you were ambushed during your journey. I found you on the road and brought you back here.
Kaguya opened one eye, skeptical.
— A merchant? Me?
Naruto shrugged.
— Hey, it has to fit! Besides, you're supposed to be weak now, right? That makes sense.
She sighed softly, but didn't protest.
— Very well. Do as you wish.
A discreet training…
Naruto suddenly stood up, full of energy.
— Well, while we're here, I might as well show you a little bit about what's going on in Konoha. And who knows, maybe it'll make you like humans.
Kaguya raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
—Just watching mortals live their meaningless lives won't change my mind.
Naruto snickered.
— Hey, gotta start somewhere. Come on!
He took her to a secluded clearing outside the village, a place he often trained in. Kaguya looked around, her arms crossed.
"Why did you bring me here?" she asked, annoyed.
Naruto smiled.
— Because if you want to blend in, you have to learn to fight like a normal ninja. No way you're using your divine techniques, otherwise everyone will know who you are.
She looked at him with an expression that oscillated between annoyance and puzzlement.
— You want me to fight like a human? That's absurd.
Naruto took out a kunai and twirled it between his fingers.
—Maybe, but if you want to survive here without attracting attention, you're going to have to get to work.
Kaguya sighed again, but took a kunai that Naruto handed her. She examined it curiously, as if she was holding a toy.
— Okay, attack me, Naruto said with a big smile.
Kaguya stared at him, puzzled.
— I don't see the point. I could defeat you effortlessly, even in this form.
Naruto burst out laughing.
—Maybe, but not without using your powers. Come on, just try to catch me with that kunai.
She slowly raised her arm, then lunged at him with surprising speed. Naruto narrowly dodged, his eyes widening.
— Hey, you don't have to go so fast!
Kaguya stepped back, her expression indifferent.
— I warned you.
Naruto shook his head, resuming a defensive stance.
— Okay, okay, let's take it easy. Imagine you're a beginner ninja. What's the first thing you do?
She looked at him like he had just asked the stupidest question in the world.
— I destroy my opponent.
Naruto sighed heavily.
— No, no, no. We're talking about strategy, not brute force.
They continued their training, Naruto attempting to teach Kaguya basic moves. Although she was extremely skilled, she seemed annoyed by the "rudimentary" techniques he was showing her.
As they were training, Naruto suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine.
— Wait a second…
Kaguya narrowed her eyes slightly.
— Something is coming.
A presence could be felt. A faint but discernible aura. Naruto turned his head just in time to see two shinobi in standard Konoha attire appear at the edge of the clearing.
— Naruto? One of them said. We received a report that a strange chakra had been detected in this area.
Naruto almost choked.
— Ah… Hey, guys! No, nothing strange here! Just me and a friend… training.
The two shinobis turned their gaze towards Kaguya, or rather "Hikari", who stood calmly next to Naruto.
— A friend? one asked, visibly suspicious.
Naruto nodded vigorously.
— Yeah, she's from Suna. She's spending some time here before leaving again.
Kaguya, true to herself, spoke with a coldness that slightly unsettled the two ninjas.
— My name is Hikari. I'm just a traveler.
The two shinobis exchanged a look before nodding.
— Very well, but be careful. If you feel anything strange, let us know.
They left quickly, but Naruto felt his heart pounding.
When they were alone, Naruto turned to Kaguya, a hand over his heart.
—You know, you really have a talent for staying calm under pressure.
Kaguya shrugged.
— I don't need to panic. They pose no threat.
Naruto smiled.
—Maybe not, but it would have been a hell of a problem if they found out who you were.
She looked at him for a moment, her expression still cold.
—Then you better learn to manage your emotions better. You won't survive long if you keep fussing like this.
Naruto snickered.
— Maybe, but at least we got through it, huh?
Kaguya didn't answer, but a slight glint passed through her eyes. Maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to understand the ninja's strange resilience.
The day had ended without further complications. After training and the tense meeting with the Konoha shinobi, Naruto and Kaguya had returned to Naruto's small apartment. It was nighttime, and the moonlight dimly illuminated the room.
Kaguya sat by the window, silently gazing at the illuminated village. Naruto, on the other hand, slumped on his bed, arms behind his head, thinking about everything that had happened in the last few days.
Kurama, who had been watching silently until then, intervened in Naruto's mind.
— Do you realize this could explode at any moment, kid?
Naruto frowned slightly.
— You mean Kaguya?
—Of course. It doesn't matter that she's weakened, she's Kaguya. She's not a friend, and she has no reason to remain loyal.
Naruto grumbled inwardly.
— Yeah, but… I don't know. I feel like she's changing, you know? Well, a little bit.
Kurama growled.
— She's not made for this world, Naruto. Don't kid yourself.
Naruto ignored the remark and turned his head towards Kaguya.
— Hey, Kaguya, are you planning on staying here all night?
She answered without looking at him, her tone as cold as usual.
— Your question is useless.
Naruto rolled his eyes.
— Seriously, you could at least pretend to be nice. It's part of the learning process, you know?
She finally stared at him, her dark eyes piercing.
— Why do you insist on believing that I can "learn" something from humans?
Naruto sat on the edge of his bed, crossing his arms.
— Because I believe that everyone can change. Even you.
Kaguya blinked slowly, a spark of incomprehension in her gaze. She finally looked away, staring back at the village.
The silence lasted for a few minutes until a light knock on the door sounded. Naruto jumped.
—Anyone else? What's this, an open house?
Kaguya straightened up slightly, wary.
— If it's another acquaintance of yours, they could become a problem.
Naruto raised his hand.
— Don't worry, I'll handle it.
He opened the door, finding Shikamaru with his hands in his pockets, looking tired as usual.
— Yo, Naruto. Sorry to bother you at this hour.
Naruto scratched the back of his head.
— Shikamaru? What are you doing here?
Shikamaru entered without waiting to be invited, scanning the room with his gaze. He stopped for a moment when he saw Kaguya, still in her human form, sitting by the window.
"Who is it?" he asked, his tone neutral but his eyes slightly narrowed.
Naruto felt his stomach clench.
— Ah… Uh… Her name is Hikari. A friend from Suna.
Shikamaru didn't show any emotion, but Naruto knew he was analyzing every detail.
— Interesting. And what exactly is she doing here?
Kaguya answered before Naruto could say anything.
—I was traveling when Naruto offered me a place to stay. I'm just a visitor.
Shikamaru stared at her for a moment, then shrugged slightly.
- I see.
He turned to Naruto, lowering his voice slightly.
—I came to warn you. After the detection of this strange chakra, some members of the council want to investigate more seriously. Kakashi tries to calm things down, but be careful.
Naruto nodded, trying to hide his nervousness.
— Understood. Thank you, Shikamaru.
Shikamaru gave Kaguya one last look before leaving. Once the door closed, Naruto turned to her, his face serious.
— See? That's exactly why we have to be discreet.
Kaguya remained unmoved, but a shadow passed over her eyes.
— Their distrust is natural. They feel that I am different, even in this form.
Naruto sat down, his face in his hands.
— Yeah, but if we don't find a way to calm them down, this is going to end badly.
Kaguya crossed her arms, thinking about what Shikamaru had said. This world… these humans… they were unpredictable, but their persistence intrigued her.
—Why do you keep taking risks for me, Naruto Uzumaki? she asked suddenly.
Naruto looked up, surprised by her question.
- Eh ?
She stared at him, her gaze piercing.
— You know who I am. You know what I'm capable of. So why are you protecting me?
Naruto smiled slightly, scratching the back of his head.
— I don't really know. Maybe because... I think you're not completely lost.
Kaguya raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
— Not completely lost?
Naruto nodded.
— Yeah. When I look at you, I see someone who has made mistakes, but who can still change. You don't want to believe me, but I believe in you.
A silence fell over the room. Kaguya looked away, confused for the first time.
"You're an idiot," she finally whispered.
Naruto burst out laughing.
— Maybe so, but that's my thing.
As they exchanged these words, a silent figure stood on the roof, discreetly watching through the window. Ino, having felt a slight residue of chakra again, had decided to return discreetly.
She frowned as she saw "Hikari", that mysterious stranger, talking with Naruto. Something was wrong.
—This chakra… it's weak, but there's something strange… she muttered to herself.
Ino disappeared into the night, determined to investigate further.
In the apartment, Naruto and Kaguya were still unaware that their secret was likely to be revealed sooner than they thought.