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Obito forcibly extracts the Nine-Tails.
Naruto dies.
The end.
—
"…"
The System couldn't bear Heshu's wild train of thought. You have a very dangerous idea.
Heshu coughed lightly, dispelling the thought that had popped into his head.
For Naruto's safety, Heshu still walked over to stand between Obito and the baby.
Under Obito's strange gaze, he squeezed into the narrow space between the two of them.
Looking at their now-adjacent arms, Obito asked, "Are you cold?"
What kind of bizarre question was that?
Since when did Obito learn to tell bad jokes?
Heshu didn't answer directly, changing the subject. "You've been coming here a bit too often lately."
The moment he said it, Heshu regretted it.
Something was wrong.
No matter how he thought about it, that sentence felt completely off.
Host, do you really not think this sounds like something a courtesan would say to her patron?
The System hesitated but couldn't resist the urge to see Heshu make a fool of himself and said it outright.
"…"
Heshu wasn't embarrassed, just chilled to the bone. Do you think you're hilarious?
The System answered seriously. Hey, I like to think I have a sense of humor!
Why did this dialogue sound so familiar?
Heshu was quiet for a few seconds.
The next moment, the System's sharp electronic laughter burst out in his mind. Hahaha! Host! I got that reference!
"…"
Heshu's expression turned awkward.
Was it his imagination?
Did the System's current mental state seem a bit… abnormal?
Was this what happened to an electronic corporate slave freed from the control of upper management?
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is in your hands."
Obito stared straight at Heshu.
His meaning was clear.
Heshu shook his head decisively. "We can't move against the Jinchuriki now."
Obito wasn't the least bit surprised by Heshu's answer. He just said, "Give me a reason."
"The Tailed Beasts concern the entire shinobi world, especially the strongest of them, the Nine-Tails."
"Once news spreads that the Nine-Tails has been captured, the other villages will become even more vigilant. That would hinder our plans to capture the other beasts."
"Moreover, if the villages unite, it would be significant trouble for us."
Heshu analyzed, "Right now, our strength alone isn't enough."
He tilted his head, meeting Obito's unwavering gaze. His tone was serious. "We need a team."
Obito's eyes shifted away from his face, inadvertently drawn to the little Naruto beside them.
He watched the baby calmly. No unusual emotion could be detected in his gaze.
"You're right."
"As for the team… I already have candidates."
He knew this wasn't the right time to take Naruto, anyway. He just wanted to test Heshu's heart.
Environment and time… those two things could change so much.
"Don't worry. I'm raising this child. When the time comes, capturing him will be child's play."
Heshu's gaze moved from Obito's face to Naruto.
Little Naruto was energetically kicking his legs on the bed. Seeing Heshu look over, he waved his tiny fists excitedly.
"That's for the best."
Hearing Heshu's reply, Obito gave an almost imperceptible nod.
A vortex appeared in the room. Obito's figure vanished.
Heshu looked at the still-energetic Naruto on the bed, a headache coming on.
System, play him a lullaby.
"…"
The System hadn't developed that function yet.
System, my man, not to look down on you, but you don't even have such a basic feature?
It's fine! How could I possibly look down on you? We're good brothers!
"…"
Feeling it had lost face, the System indignantly went to download the function.
It couldn't let the host look down on it.
Half an hour later.
Heshu slept soundly to the soothing, pleasant strains of the infant lullaby. Beside him, little Naruto continued to wave his arms and legs.
"…"
The System was speechless.
Who exactly was this lullaby putting to sleep?
…
Amidst the morning chaos, Heshu began his second day of childcare.
Looking at Naruto sleeping soundly in the crib, Heshu asked meekly, "When did he fall asleep last night?"
The System answered leisurely. Not too late. About four hours after you did.
"…"
Heshu choked.
No wonder Naruto had fallen asleep right after his morning bottle.
He didn't realize the kid was such a night owl.
Heshu changed clothes and headed for Root headquarters.
Danzo clearly had some private words for him yesterday.
As a model Konoha shinobi who always respected his elders, how could Heshu ignore an old man's plea?
"Lord Danzo."
Danzo sat in his chair. Seeing Heshu, he nodded.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
"…"
The corner of Heshu's mouth twitched.
It was obviously about that.
"Please enlighten me, Lord Danzo."
Heshu added with utmost sincerity, "Even though I am no longer your subordinate, I share the same will as you. You are a shinobi I admire. That will never change."
[Ding! Affection from Target Shimura Danzo has reached 60!]
Danzo nodded, satisfied.
He was always particularly satisfied with Tsukimi Heshu's comprehension.
In all his years, this was the junior who best understood his will.
Thinking of Orochimaru in the lab, who had turned himself into something neither human nor ghost, a flash of disdain crossed Danzo's eyes.
He had misjudged the man.
Perhaps it was time to switch targets.
Tsukimi Heshu.
Danzo's mind raced.
Hiruzen's attitude towards the boy was all too obvious.
If he could get him on his side… then when he eventually became Hokage, how would that be any different from him becoming Hokage himself?
He could still accomplish everything a Hokage could.
"Good. During your time in Root, I have seen your will clearly. You are a junior I value."
Unlike the Third Hokage, Danzo rarely praised people.
The effect was therefore exceptionally potent.
A smile of approval appeared on Heshu's face. He said excitedly, "It is your will that I truly admire, Lord Danzo! You protect the village from the shadows. You are as great as the Hokage himself!"
[Ding! Affection from Target Shimura Danzo has reached 70!]
A clear smile appeared on Danzo's face.
This Tsukimi Heshu was too easy to manipulate.
Not only was he single-minded, but his thoughts were written all over his face.
He was easily influenced by the village elders.
Both Hiruzen and the late Minato Namikaze had left their mark on him.
Well then… he would be the one to guide Tsukimi Heshu, step by step, towards that position.
"If you encounter matters you cannot resolve, you may still come to Root to find me."
Danzo's words were honeyed.
To put it nicely, he was offering to help.
To put it bluntly, he wanted to pry for information.
Heshu saw right through Danzo's intentions, but his face filled with emotion. "Lord Danzo… You are my elder. You make me feel a warmth I haven't felt in a long time… If I have any issues, I will definitely come to you for guidance…"
[Ding! Affection from Target Shimura Danzo has reached 75!]
A rare, relatively gentle smile appeared on Danzo's face.
Both Heshu's tact and the warmth he displayed made Danzo see the Hokage's seat waving at him.
This once again solidified his determination to prop up the easily manipulated Tsukimi Heshu to become Hokage.
After leaving Danzo, Heshu went to the Hokage's Office.
"Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was swamped with work, dealing with village personnel assignments.
He looked up and saw Heshu standing before him. His eyes lit up, and a smile appeared.
He beckoned Heshu over.
"Heshu, come here."
Heshu approached the Third Hokage, stopping beside him.
His gaze flicked to the documents in the Third's hand, then instantly moved away.
Given his position, he wasn't supposed to look at detailed shinobi records.
"Heshu, stay and help me review these files!"
Sarutobi pointed to the chair beside him, speaking amiably.
"Lord Hokage, I can't! This… this is too presumptuous…"
Heshu waved his hands in a panic.
Seeing the boy's flustered appearance, Sarutobi's eyes grew even softer.
"Sit. That's an order."
His words were firm, but his tone was benevolent.
Heshu sat down reluctantly.
"Now, Heshu, this shinobi here…"
Time flowed by. Soon, it was lunchtime.
Only when the shinobi delivering lunch came in with the bento box did Sarutobi notice how much time had passed.
He smacked his lips, wishing for more.
He had really underestimated Heshu.
This boy was far more excellent than he had imagined.
Though his methods were sometimes inevitably naive, he still forced Sarutobi to see him in a new light.
When it came to judging character, the Third was always full of confidence.
"Lord Hokage, thank you for your guidance!"
Heshu thanked him earnestly.
He was the very picture of a humble and polite student.
This filled the Third's heart with the pride of teaching an outstanding disciple.
He laughed heartily and waved his hand.
Sarutobi brought up another matter. "Heshu, now that you are no longer a Root shinobi, I plan to make you a Jonin sensei."
The genin team Heshu would lead also needed Sarutobi's careful selection.
One civilian, and two children from different major clans.
This would create the most advantageous situation for Heshu.
"Yes, sir."
Watching Heshu's respectful retreating back, a look of relief appeared in Sarutobi's eyes.
He was just an old man now.
If he didn't properly nurture the next generation, he'd truly have no face to meet his own sensei in the afterlife.
…
After returning home, Heshu went to check on little Naruto.
He wasn't prepared for what he saw.
Due to Naruto's identity, Heshu couldn't find anyone in the village willing to babysit.
With no other choice, he could only drag Little Azure out of his nest to help watch the baby.
Before leaving, Heshu hadn't expected this scene.
A well-rested little Naruto was using his chubby hands to pinch Little Azure's body, pulling and tugging incessantly as if playing with a toy.
Heshu instinctively checked the mission panel.
Sure enough, Little Azure's fusion progress with the Void Ancient Dragon had increased again.
"Killing three birds with one stone."
Heshu couldn't help but say.
Someone (a snake? maybe a dragon?) to look after Naruto, a break for himself, and a power boost for Little Azure.
Heshu was now getting somewhat skilled at preparing and feeding Naruto his formula.
After the baby was fed, he sent Little Azure out to buy him lunch.
Ever since Little Azure saved people during the Nine-Tails attack, the villagers' affection for him had skyrocketed.
They could all recognize Little Azure now.
Coupled with the miniature Azure's naturally dopey charm, it was easy for villagers to let their guard down. This wasn't the first time Heshu had sent Little Azure to run errands.
From the initial gawking to the current normalcy, it had only taken a few days.
Little Azure moved quickly, soon returning with steaming hot ramen.
After sloppily slurping down the ramen, Heshu began controlling his Corona Mode Clone far away in Amegakure.
Heshu had used the 60 Affection points from Kushina to upgrade the [Corona Mode Clone] skill. While he still couldn't use Ultraman Cosmos's abilities, the clone could now operate without any time restrictions.
In the eyes of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, Hanataki's concussion was slowly improving.
Though he sometimes still turned into a mindless idiot, it was much better than being an idiot all the time.
"Hanataki?"
Konan, who was in the middle of a discussion, suddenly saw a flicker of clarity in Hanataki's eyes.
Now quite experienced, she recognized instantly that he had regained his senses.
Konan's call made Yahiko and Nagato look over as well.
Heshu moved his legs. There was no feeling of disability, no numbness.
He still pretended to move with great difficulty, slowly getting off the bed.
"Hanataki!"
Konan was startled, immediately rushing over to pull Heshu into a hug.
This was good.
Heshu smiled in satisfaction.
"Sister Konan, Brother Yahiko, Brother Nagato."
Heshu pursed his lips into a smile, the very picture of a well-behaved child.
[Ding! Affection from Target Nagato has reached 76!]
Heshu's smile stiffened.
Seriously, was Nagato's heart made of iron?
Faced with his heart-melting, beautiful-girl smile, Nagato's affection had only increased by a single point?
"Hanataki's periods of lucidity are getting longer."
Yahiko showed a relieved smile.
This eased some of the gloom that had built up between his brows from his stalled goals.
Konan also nodded joyfully, lovingly stroking Heshu's head.
The Corona Mode Clone's height grew with Heshu's original body. At his current height, being carried wasn't really suitable.
But in Konan's eyes, he was forever a child who would never grow up.
Helpless, Heshu could only accept Konan's doting affection.
"Nagato, has that man contacted you again?"
Yahiko suddenly remembered something Nagato had mentioned not long ago.
A masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha had approached Nagato, spouting a bunch of strange things.
Nagato hadn't made a decision, faithfully relaying it all to Yahiko.
For Nagato, he was destined to follow Yahiko for life.
Nagato nodded. "He said to meet me tonight in a cave outside the village."
Yahiko frowned. He said to Nagato, "I'll go with you."
"Alright."
Nagato nodded.
Konan added, "I'll go too."
"I want to go with my big brother and sister, too!"
Heshu, nestled in Konan's arms, said softly.
His eyes held a trace of anxiety, as if he were afraid of being left behind.
Yahiko, who had initially intended to refuse out of concern, found himself inexplicably unable to say no. He relented with a nod.
Konan held Heshu tightly, saying seriously, "It's fine if Hanataki comes. Your big brother and sister will definitely protect you!"
Heshu's eyes widened, looking at Konan, moved.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the small inn room was exceptionally warm.
Elsewhere, under Amegakure's gloomy sky, rain drizzled down.
In an especially desolate and cold cave, a tall figure stood silently.
Half an hour.
One hour.
Two hours.
The face beneath Obito's mask slowly began to change.
Were Nagato and the others not coming?
Are they not coming?
A black, unidentified object seeped silently up from the ground.
Wait a little longer.
Obito's voice echoed in the cave.
Another half hour later.
Finally, Nagato and the others appeared in his line of sight.
Besides Nagato, all three of his companions had come. And…
A brat who looked exactly like Heshu.
That brat was being held by a woman, and the smile on his face was a bit foolish.
At least, Heshu would never smile like that.
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