After Orochimaru left, Sasuke stood and began clearing the dishes, preparing to wash them.
The bet had been made when Naruto faced Gaara at the village entrance. Kurama had wagered with Sasuke that whoever lost would wash dishes for a month.
Sasuke had lost.
Naruto rose as well, turning to Kurama. "Let's go to the courtyard. I'll release the Yin Kurama, and you can fuse with it. Once you're complete, you'll be the true Kurama."
"Okay, Naruto!" Knowing the System would handle any complications, Kurama agreed readily without hesitation.
Hearing this, Sasuke immediately set down the bowl he'd been holding. "I'll wash these later. I want to watch the fusion first."
"No." Naruto and Kurama turned in perfect unison, speaking as one voice.
Sasuke froze.
Naruto smiled pleasantly. "We can wait for you to finish. Go wash the dishes. We'll be right here."
"Hmph!" Sasuke grabbed the dishes with more force than necessary and stalked into the kitchen.
More than ten minutes later, Sasuke emerged with clean hands. Naruto and Kurama headed to the courtyard together. The sun had just set, leaving the sky painted in gradual shades of orange and purple.
"Kurama, are you ready?"
"Wait. Let me change back to my original form first." Kurama carefully removed the white lace dress, folding it with meticulous precision before placing it on the stone table nearby.
The garment would burst if worn during the transformation back to full size.
Naruto had chosen this dress personally. Kurama treasured it deeply, handling it with care even during normal activities. Naturally, protecting it came first.
"Alright. I'm transforming now."
Chakra rippled across Kurama' form in visible waves. Nine tails suddenly manifested behind it, swaying and dancing through the evening air as its body began expanding upward.
In moments, the miniature Kurama became the giant Kurama. Unlike the cute miniature version, the massive form radiated cold menace. Its eyes gleamed with fierce intensity, vertical pupils tracking every movement. The entire fox looked absolutely terrifying, supremely dangerous. Standing before it, Naruto and Sasuke seemed like tiny figurines by comparison.
"I'm ready, Naruto!" Kurama' voice boomed now, reverberating through both their ears with raw power that made the air vibrate.
Naruto nodded and immediately connected with the System.
The next instant, another Kurama appeared from nowhere, identical in appearance. Its vertical pupils spotted Naruto and Sasuke. Fierce recognition flashed across its features. "Humans... Ow!"
The word barely left its mouth before a fist drove into its body, launching it directly into the Yang Kurama. It yelped in pain mid-flight, the sound cutting off as it merged.
The fist belonged to Naruto.
As the Yin Kurama entered the Yang Kurama' form, strange sensations flooded through Kurama's body. The aura surrounding it intensified, power surging through every cell. Energy swirled and condensed, yin and yang reuniting after years of separation.
Then calm returned.
After a moment, Kurama shrank back to miniature size, pulled on the white lace dress with practiced movements, and addressed Naruto. "I don't really feel anything different. Just stronger."
"Maybe it happened too fast for you to notice much." Sasuke offered after thinking briefly.
"True. That's not an unreasonable guess, Sasuke." Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "If the process had taken longer, Kurama, you'd probably have felt more. But since you don't feel different, just treat everything like before."
"Yeah. As long as I have you, Naruto, I'll just handle cooking and laundry. Fighting and killing aren't really my forte anyway." Kurama seemed content with this arrangement, settling into its usual demeanor.
After Kurama achieved completion, Sasuke headed off to train. Naruto made his way to the waterfall for his own practice.
The evening still held hours before bedtime. Both would train late into the night before returning to sleep.
Though Naruto's current physique and spirit could go months without sleep, the System didn't recommend it. [Sleep itself is a form of training,] the System had explained. The body and mind needed proper rest cycles to maximize growth.
The next morning, they finished the breakfast Kurama had prepared and gathered near the door.
Previously, the routine had been simple: two people and one fox heading directly to the farm for training.
But since Naruto became Konoha's Fifth Hokage, everything changed. After breakfast, Sasuke and Kurama went to the farm while Naruto reported to the Hokage Building.
Of course, Naruto never stayed at the Hokage Building all day working. He'd check in, and if nothing important demanded attention, he'd leave everything to Shikamaru and others.
Shikamaru was extremely busy now, juggling both farm management and Hokage Building administration. His father Shikaku had taken him under wing, teaching him to handle important national affairs. The young Nara was learning to navigate the complex web of responsibilities that came with supporting a Hokage.
Just as Naruto prepared to say goodbye to Sasuke and Kurama, Neji appeared at the door.
"Naruto, I heard you came to the Hyūga compound looking for me yesterday. What did you need?" Neji's voice trembled slightly despite his attempt at composure. His greatest fear was that Naruto had come yesterday to "build friendship" with him.
In truth, Neji hadn't wanted to visit today at all.
Yesterday when Naruto arrived, Neji had been outside training with Rock Lee. He'd escaped Naruto's attention entirely. He'd felt quite fortunate about that narrow miss.
Then Hiashi had told him that Naruto left instructions, asking Neji to visit Naruto's house today.
Neji had been dumbfounded.
Though Neji truly didn't want to come, refusing would end even worse. Skipping would only delay the inevitable and make things harder. He had no choice but to visit.
Naruto, of course, didn't know about Neji's mental struggle or how long he'd debated before coming. He only knew that in Boruto's world, Neji had died. The impulse to check on him had struck suddenly after returning.
Seeing Neji alive and well now brought genuine relief.
Naruto studied him for a long moment, his gaze so intense it made Neji increasingly nervous. Finally, Naruto spoke slowly, his voice carrying unexpected weight. "Neji-nii, take care of yourself."
After saying this, he bid farewell to Sasuke and Kurama, vanished in a flash of movement, and headed to the Hokage Building.
Watching Naruto leave, Neji stood frozen in place, replaying those words in his mind. Confusion clouded his thoughts. What did Naruto mean just now?
After asking himself with no answer forthcoming, Neji turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, what did Naruto mean?"
Sasuke cast a dismissive glance at Neji, already moving toward the door. "I don't know what it means. Take it literally." Then he turned to Kurama. "Nine-Tails, let's go!"
Kurama departed with Sasuke, leaving Neji standing alone in the morning light.
Only Neji remained, still trying to decipher Naruto's meaning.
Take care of yourself?
I'm fine. Why would I need to take care?
Unable to figure it out, Neji simply stopped thinking about it. When he realized Naruto hadn't sought to "maintain their friendship" just now, happiness flooded through him. He'd dodged that particular disaster, at least for today.
Naruto arrived at the Hokage Building and met with Shikamaru in the main office. Papers covered the desk in organized stacks, evidence of the constant administrative work. Seeing nothing required immediate attention, Naruto left the building and planned to practice.
Through a series of coordinated efforts by Nara Shikaku and Hiashi Hyūga, they'd first expanded ninja school enrollment, giving civilians real opportunities for advancement. Then they'd publicized Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura's crimes again, gradually eroding the people's respect for the Third Hokage.
More significantly, they'd revealed how the remains of Konoha's former Hokage had been used for inhumane experiments. The Hokage represented Konoha's pillars and spiritual foundation. Conducting experiments on their remains was absolutely unforgivable. Hiruzen no longer commanded widespread support.
History was always written by victors.
Furthermore, after Naruto assumed power, he hadn't acted recklessly. Everything proceeded according to established systems. The village's common people felt reassured. They understood instinctively that the more turbulent the decisions at the top, the more painful life became for those below.
Everyone understood this basic truth. Interests were always interconnected.
Leaving the Hokage Building, Naruto noticed the early hour and realized something. Though he'd become friends with Konoha's villagers, he hadn't befriended many of Konoha's ninja yet.
His network among the shinobi forces remained incomplete.
Thinking this, Naruto decided to seek out Konoha ninja for friendship.
On the street ahead, three Konoha ninja walked together in high spirits. They'd just completed a B-rank mission successfully. Their faces showed happiness as they discussed plans to visit a certain establishment for relaxation. Their bodies were full of energy, ready to unwind properly after days of dangerous work.
Suddenly, in a flash of displaced air, Naruto appeared before them wearing his Hokage robes. The formal white and red garments moved slightly in the breeze.
"Hokage-sama!" All three bowed respectfully in perfect unison, their voices carrying genuine deference.
Though Naruto was younger than them in both age and experience, his overwhelming strength and current position as Hokage demanded respect. Power commanded authority in the shinobi world.
Naruto was no longer a child in their minds. He was their leader.
Seeing the three ninja bow, Naruto immediately smiled with friendly warmth, his expression open and approachable. "You don't need to be so formal. Although I'm Hokage, we're all working for Konoha's development. We're equals in that mission."
The three ninja raised their heads, expressions touched by the sentiment. Hokage-sama was so approachable with them! So different from the distant, formal Third Hokage!
But Naruto's next words made their faces change drastically.
"Let's become friends."
"No, no! How could we dare become friends with Hokage-sama? We're not worthy..." The Konoha ninja waved their hands frantically, panic edging into their voices.
They were joking, right? They'd witnessed with their own eyes the grand ceremony where Naruto made friends with all of Konoha's villagers simultaneously during his succession. The entire civilian population bearing matching bruises. They absolutely didn't want to end up like that.
"I told you, we're all part of Konoha. We're equals..."
BANG BANG BANG.
The sounds of impact echoed through the street.
Ten minutes later, the three Konoha ninja lay sprawled on the ground with bruised, swollen faces. Their eyes glazed over vacantly, staring at nothing. Hokage-sama had mentioned he looked forward to maintaining their friendship and chatting with them again when opportunities arose.
His tone had been so cheerful.
For a long while, no one spoke. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
Suddenly, one of the Konoha ninja spoke through swollen lips. "This is all Neji Hyūga's fault."
The other two looked at their companion with confusion evident despite their injuries. "Why are you blaming Neji Hyūga?"
"Think about it carefully. What did Neji say when Naruto made friends with the other villagers?" the ninja reminded them, his words slightly slurred.
"What did he say?" The others fell into recollection, searching their memories.
"I remember now. Neji Hyūga said at the time, 'Naruto's dream is coming true. No, wait, his dream is to be friends with everyone in Konoha, and eventually the whole world. These villagers can't represent all of Konoha yet.' He said exactly that."
"You're right! You remember it word for word, so why say 'something like that'? Anyway, why blame him for saying it?"
"Think about it logically. Naruto didn't notice us at all originally. It was Neji Hyūga's reminder that made Naruto remember to befriend us ninja too."
Understanding dawned on the other two faces simultaneously.
"Yes! What the fuck is Neji Hyūga's fault!" The three Konoha ninja glanced at each other and spoke in perfect, angry unison.
"I can't swallow this. I'm going to beat Neji up."
"I'm coming too."
"Count me in."
Walking home through the village streets, Neji suddenly felt cold all over, as though something malevolent was watching him from the shadows.
He looked around in confusion but found nothing. The street appeared normal, civilians going about their business. Neji decided he was just overly nervous from meeting Naruto earlier.
His imagination was running wild.
An hour later, Naruto walked through the sky above Konoha, moving from rooftop to rooftop with casual grace. He spoke to himself cheerfully. "One hour, one hundred new friends. Not bad. Worth the effort. If I keep this pace, in another ten days, I'll have befriended all of Konoha's ninja."
Thinking about his dream drawing one step closer filled Naruto with happiness. His ultimate goal of befriending everyone felt more achievable with each passing day.
"Though it's truly unfortunate I didn't become friends with my father-in-law. Why can't he be my friend too?"
Naruto paused on a rooftop, considering the problem from different angles.
"Wait, no. Actually, my father-in-law is willing to be friends with me. I was just too abrupt that time, and his daughters were present. Agreeing to friendship with me there would have damaged his dignity in front of them."
"Yes, that must be it. Next time, I need to find a chance when we're alone. Then I can become friends with Senior Hiashi properly."
Figuring this out made Naruto even happier. The solution seemed so obvious now.
However, he didn't know that all the friends he'd made today had aimed their collective anger at Neji Hyūga. Getting beaten? Blame Neji Hyūga. It was the perfect scapegoat logic.
With one step, Naruto arrived beneath the waterfall. He removed his Hokage robes carefully, folding them and setting them aside on a dry rock. Then he stepped under the cascading water and began practicing.
Time in training always passed unknowingly, hours flowing like minutes.
In the blink of an eye, lunchtime arrived again.
Neji Hyūga whistled as he walked home through the village streets, anticipating a peaceful lunch with his family. The morning had passed without incident. Perhaps his worries had been unfounded.
Suddenly, three ninja burst from the grass beside the path like predators springing a trap, their faces contorted with anger.
"This is Neji Hyūga's fault!"
Neji froze instantly, his body going rigid with shock.
What did I do wrong? Why are you looking at me with such murderous intent? What have I done to you?
"This is Neji Hyūga's fault!"
The three ninja roared in unison and rushed toward Neji with coordinated movements, looking ready to fight to the death.
"What are you doing?!" Neji's face went pale with shock. He roared frantically, his voice cracking with confusion and rising panic.
But in an instant, multiple fists descended upon him from all angles. He tried to defend himself, but three against one proved overwhelming. Punches and kicks landed with brutal efficiency.
Ten minutes later, the attackers left as suddenly as they'd appeared, satisfaction evident in their steps.
Neji lay alone on the ground with a bruised, swollen face and vacant eyes. His clothes hung disheveled on his frame, torn in places from the struggle. Two lines of tears flowed silently down his cheeks, mixing with blood from a split lip.
After a while, Neji pulled himself up from the ground with trembling limbs and started home again. Each step sent pain shooting through his body.
He'd barely made it fifty meters when disaster struck again.
"This is Neji Hyūga's fault!"
Five more ninja burst from a different hiding spot, roaring as they attacked with even more enthusiasm than the first group.
"Not this again!" Neji's confusion mounted to absurd levels. He covered his face instinctively, but couldn't escape another thorough beating. The fists fell like rain.
Ten minutes later, Neji lay on the ground alone once more, his face swollen even larger than before. Fresh bruises layered over existing ones, creating a patchwork of purple and blue.
"What is all this? I just want to go home and eat lunch. Why is it so difficult..." Neji knelt on the ground, raising his face to the sky in wordless appeal to whatever gods might be listening.
Getting up with great effort, walking with a pronounced limp now, Neji encountered another wave of Konoha ninja just two blocks later. They beat him again with methodical thoroughness, then left contentedly, discussing where to get drinks.
"I just want to go home and have a meal..."
Neji muttered to himself like a mantra, the words becoming a prayer for survival. More than an hour later, moving at a crawl now, he finally saw the Hyūga compound gates rising before him like a vision of paradise. Tears of relief burst from his swollen eyes.
He was finally home!
In a daze of pain and exhaustion, Neji suddenly remembered what Naruto had said to him that morning.
"Neji-nii, take care of yourself!"
For a moment, understanding seemed to dawn like terrible enlightenment. Naruto had known. Somehow, Naruto had known what was coming.
Neji raised his head with the last of his strength and roared loudly at the sky, his voice raw with emotion.
A primal scream of frustration, pain, and dawning comprehension.