Click.
The front door opened, and Hinata Hyuga stepped outside.
Night had fully fallen.
Stars filled the sky, and distant street lamps cast their dim yellow glow along the road.
The streets were lively with people coming and going. The bustling village of Konoha had once again entered its nighttime rhythm.
After saying goodnight, Hinata Hyuga felt completely happy.
"There's… nothing else to say now…"
Next, she would head home and wait for Naruto Uzumaki to attend her birthday celebration at the end of the month.
Thinking of that, she prepared to leave without looking back.
But after taking only a few steps, she suddenly felt a cold gust of wind behind her.
An inexplicable chill ran down her back.
Instinctively, she stopped and turned around.
Naruto Uzumaki stood at the doorway.
The warm light from inside the house wrapped around him like a halo.
His eyes were narrowed into gentle crescents.
Kind.
Pure.
Everything seemed perfect.
Yet the love-struck Hinata Hyuga failed to notice one thing—
Naruto Uzumaki's shadow, cast by the light behind him, had twisted into a monstrous shape.
The human silhouette now had two long protrusions resembling demonic horns.
Its arms stretched unnaturally long, with claw-like hands.
And the shadow of a fox's tail flickered wildly across the wall.
"Naruto Uzumaki… good night…"
Hinata Hyuga's cheeks turned red again.
Without noticing anything unusual, she said goodnight once more and quickly ran away.
Watching her retreating figure, Naruto Uzumaki slowly opened his eyes.
His pupils had become narrow vertical slits.
A terrifying crimson glow shone at their center.
When the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, finally found Naruto Uzumaki—
Naruto Uzumaki was already in the forest behind Konoha practicing fishing.
Splash!
Water sprayed into the air as Naruto Uzumaki lunged forward with his bare hands.
A lively fish struggled in his grip.
Naruto Uzumaki narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the way the creature wriggled in his hands.
"Not enough."
With his pant legs rolled up, Naruto Uzumaki stood knee-deep in the stream.
Newly obtained power was meaningless if it wasn't tested.
The upcoming event would not involve someone like Yugao Uzuki, who belonged to his own village.
Instead, he would face a much stronger opponent—the leader of the Hidden Cloud ninja.
Power alone was not enough.
Assassination methods were equally important.
Without real practice, everything would remain superficial.
That was why Naruto Uzumaki had come to the forest behind Konoha.
In the past, fishing had simply been fishing.
Now—
Fishing had become training for killing.
"Not enough for what?" Kurama asked, puzzled.
Although Kurama could sense Naruto Uzumaki's emotions, it could not read his exact thoughts.
But one thing was certain.
This brat was planning something serious.
Plop.
Naruto Uzumaki casually tossed the fish back into the water.
The creature quickly swam away from the dangerous place.
Cough… cough…
Just then, someone cleared his throat.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped out of the bushes, having witnessed everything.
"Grandpa."
Naruto Uzumaki greeted him naturally.
They had met many times before, and the two had gradually grown familiar with each other.
"Naruto Uzumaki… are you catching fish again?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered the last time Naruto Uzumaki had caught fish.
Because of that, he had deliberately increased Naruto Uzumaki's monthly living allowance.
He had no intention of letting the boy live in poverty.
Still, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt confused.
Yugao Uzuki had delivered Naruto Uzumaki's allowance earlier today.
So why was he fishing so late at night?
Naruto Uzumaki nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why did you release the fish you caught?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
Naruto Uzumaki smiled gently.
"I suddenly felt sorry for it."
"In the past, I caught fish because I didn't have enough food…"
"But now that I have money to eat properly, I started thinking about it."
"Maybe there's no need to take a life just to satisfy my appetite."
When Naruto Uzumaki mentioned not having enough food in the past, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze dimmed slightly.
But when he spoke about sparing the fish's life, the old Hokage smiled warmly.
What a kind child…
"Tch… Has the Third Hokage gone senile?"
Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction, Kurama immediately understood.
Naruto Uzumaki had completely fooled him.
"Grandpa, have you eaten yet? If not, come back with me. I'll treat you to some instant noodles."
Naruto Uzumaki stepped out of the water.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened slightly.
The idea sounded rather pleasant.
So he nodded and walked back toward the village together with Naruto Uzumaki.
"Naruto Uzumaki… how have things been for you recently?"
As they walked, Hiruzen Sarutobi casually tried to gather information.
"Pretty good. I've made several new friends."
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head.
He began introducing them.
An unknown Uchiha girl named Sako.
An Anbu sister named Yugao Uzuki.
And a poor little girl with strange white eyes…
Cough, cough.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly choked when he heard Naruto Uzumaki describe Hinata Hyuga that way.
Children speak without thinking.
Children speak without thinking…
"So it's Hiashi Hyuga's eldest daughter…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered the adorable little girl.
He had heard that Hinata Hyuga's mother was expecting another child.
Whether it would be a boy or girl remained unknown.
Still, Naruto Uzumaki making new friends made Hiruzen Sarutobi extremely happy.
Aside from Hinata Hyuga and Yugao Uzuki—
An unknown Uchiha girl?
Could she be Fugaku Uchiha's daughter, Sako?
If so, that would be quite remarkable.
Perhaps it was fate.
Or perhaps Naruto Uzumaki's own effort.
Either way, Naruto Uzumaki was gradually building bonds within the village.
One day, he might become a ninja as great as his parents.
That was Hiruzen Sarutobi's hope.
To him, everyone in the village was family.
Naruto Uzumaki included.
"Grandpa, I have a dream."
Naruto Uzumaki suddenly spoke with determination.
"I want to become a ninja as great as the Fourth Hokage."
"In fact… I want to become Hokage too."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was surprised.
He was happy to hear Naruto Uzumaki say that.
But the Nine-Tails sealed inside him…
"The Fourth Hokage sealed the demon fox… and that fox is inside me."
Naruto Uzumaki lowered his head slightly.
"I see…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought.
According to Yugao Uzuki's report, Naruto Uzumaki had spoken with the Nine-Tails.
It was possible that he now knew some of the truth.
Did he also know who his parents were?
Would the Nine-Tails reveal such things?
Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists.
"The Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life."
"I won't let that sacrifice be meaningless."
"As long as I'm alive, I'll keep the demon fox under control and protect everyone."
"Just like the Fourth Hokage did."
Kurama snorted.
"That's completely unbelievable."
"Naruto Uzumaki…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt deeply moved.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to say something important.
"No matter what happens, you are still a member of Konoha."
"I believe… you will grow into a ninja who surpasses even the Fourth Hokage."
As for Naruto Uzumaki's dream—
It might never come true.
Being a jinchuriki came with heavy restrictions.
Just like Mito Uzumaki.
Just like Kushina Uzumaki.
But Naruto Uzumaki's determination was undeniable.
After their conversation, Hiruzen Sarutobi was convinced.
This child would never harm the village.
So he decided not to report today's incident to Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, or Danzo.
There was no need to create unnecessary trouble.
After all—
This boy loved the village so much.
"Naruto Uzumaki, you shouldn't worry too much."
"You may have to endure the villagers' strange looks because of the demon fox inside you…"
"But remember—you are also one of the heroes who protected this village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled warmly.
"I may be the Third Hokage."
"But Naruto Uzumaki… you are the true hero."
"Grandpa!"
Watching the two of them praise each other like this, Kurama nearly felt sick.
One dared to flatter.
The other dared to act.
Hearing Kurama gagging in disgust, Naruto Uzumaki simply said:
"Stupid fox… you wouldn't understand."
"This is the bond between Konoha ninja."
Kurama laughed at Naruto Uzumaki for acting.
Naruto Uzumaki laughed at Kurama for not understanding the Will of Fire.
At the same time—
Yugao Uzuki returned home to a surprise.
Her childhood friend, Hayate Gekko, had already lit the living room lights and prepared a table full of food.
"Yugao Uzuki, you're back…"
Wearing an apron, Hayate Gekko greeted her with a warm smile.
Standing at the doorway, Yugao Uzuki froze.
The neatly arranged dishes and warm lighting created an incredibly romantic atmosphere.
After an entire day without eating, she should have been starving.
"Hayate Gekko… I'm home."
Smiling back, Yugao Uzuki took her seat.
The two sat across from each other.
A white tablecloth covered the table, making the scene feel even more romantic.
They had grown up together.
Although they had never officially confirmed their relationship, everyone knew they would eventually end up together.
"Yugao Uzuki…"
Under the warm dinner lights, Hayate Gekko gazed at his beautiful childhood friend.
He removed his apron and began thinking carefully about what to say.
Meanwhile, Yugao Uzuki picked up her utensils, ready to eat.
But the moment she looked at the food—
Her expression froze.
"What's wrong?" Hayate Gekko asked.
Seeing that she hadn't started eating, he thought something might be wrong with the meal.
So he quickly tasted the dishes himself.
They were delicious.
Exactly the same as when he had tasted them earlier.
So why wasn't Yugao Uzuki eating?
"Hayate Gekko… I…"
Looking at the table full of food, Yugao Uzuki suddenly realized something strange.
She had no appetite at all.
Or rather—
She wasn't hungry to begin with.
Suddenly, she remembered what had happened earlier at Naruto Uzumaki's house.
When she woke up, he had said he fed her a lot of milk.
So…
Had she already been full since then?
Yugao Uzuki didn't know that Kurama's Chakra had influenced Naruto Uzumaki's body.
And Naruto Uzumaki's body had influenced the milk she drank.
Ordinary milk wouldn't be enough to fill someone.
But Naruto Uzumaki's "milk" was something entirely different.
In the end, Yugao Uzuki forced herself to take a small bite.
Then she smiled at her childhood friend.
Hayate Gekko smiled back.
As if nothing had happened, the two quietly finished their dinner.
For Yugao Uzumaki, however—
It was pure torture.
An hour later, dinner finally ended.
It was already late.
After cleaning the dishes, Hayate Gekko said goodnight and left.
Once the living room lights were turned off, Yugao Uzuki could no longer hold it in.
She rushed into the bathroom and began vomiting.
Her appetite had limits.
Forcing herself to eat too much had caused this.
But she didn't want to disappoint her childhood friend, who had worked so hard preparing the meal.
After finally recovering, she stepped into the shower.
Warm water poured down over her body.
But soon she felt something strange.
"So hot…"
Her body suddenly felt unbearably warm.
Not understanding what was happening, Yugao Uzuki switched the shower to cold water.
Only when the cold water poured over her did she feel slightly better.
"What's happening to me…?"
Completely unaware of the cause, Yugao Uzuki spent the entire night unable to understand what had happened.