Chapter 20
This is almost a consensus in the Ninja World.
A special physique is needed to better utilize the power of a Tailed Beast, which can also be said to be the foundation for building a Jinchuriki platform.
And when a Jinchuriki is covered in a Tailed Beast Cloak and attacks an opponent...
The hatred contained within the Tailed BeastChakra will directly interfere with the outside world, transmitting into the human body through "contact-based" attacks.
Upon contact, it will trigger negative statuses such as paralysis, difficulty in healing, and continuous infringement.
So, on the surface, Naruto just casually punched Yūgao Uzuki.
However, the "enchanted" damage actually caused severe subsequent effects on Yūgao Uzuki.
This kind of "toxin" will only become pure and free of "venom" after a Jinchuriki becomes a perfect Jinchuriki and completely resolves the Tailed Beast's inner turmoil.
"You're finished, kid..."
Unlike the Nine-Tailed's schadenfreude,
Naruto, as a scholar of fire, understood Nine-Tailed Chakra even better than the Nine-Tailed to some extent.
While Tailed Beast Chakra is indeed toxic,
Ninja are also very resilient.
This punch landed on her forehead.
Yūgao Uzuki's brain was probably paralyzed instantly.
Similarly,
punching a hand would make it numb, kicking a foot would make it numb.
Even a skilled Medical Ninja like Sakura in the original story couldn't immediately heal injuries corroded by Nine-Tailed Chakra.
Naruto roughly estimated that Yūgao Uzuki would probably be unconscious for at least 2 days.
This was indeed troublesome.
But it wasn't a big problem.
Snap.
He casually lifted the Anbu mask.
Yūgao Uzuki's delicate, porcelain doll-like fair face immediately appeared before Naruto's eyes.
Her tightly furrowed brows did not detract from her beauty; instead, they made her even more endearing.
Her loose purple long hair spread out on the floor beneath her.
The allure of the Anbu uniform added a unique charm to her.
"Yūgao-nee-san fainted, huh? It's all my fault, I hit her too hard... So, she must get a good rest now... And then..."
—Take good care of her until she wakes up.
Nine-Tailed: "..."
Naruto walked over to Yūgao, taking her right wrist in his hand... At the same time,
north of the Land of Fire, on the distant border.
Winter had arrived, and Konoha's reconnaissance squad couldn't help but rub their hands, exhaling misty white breaths.
They had departed a day ago, marching urgently without rest to reach this point.
They expended their energy solely because their old rival, the Hidden Cloud Village, had suddenly extended an olive branch of friendship to Konoha.
They claimed they would sign an "alliance treaty" with Konoha.
This news garnered significant attention from Konoha's higher-ups.
It also brought to mind the case of the "mask shop arson and corpse burning."
The higher-ups realized that the murder case was likely a reaction from other countries.
Whether it was a feint by Kumogakure or other countries hearing the news and wanting to disrupt the potential alliance between Konoha and Kumogakure, both were highly possible.
But no matter what, since Kumogakure had a tendency to seek peace, Konoha would reciprocate with the utmost sincerity.
Thus, a special operations squad departed from Konoha.
Responsible for this operation was the reconnaissance squad's rising star... Gekkō Hayate.
With his Bloodline Limit of Transparent Escape, he had performed excellently in numerous missions.
This unique Bloodline Limit also allowed him to consistently achieve great merits.
It was a case of debuting at the peak.
Such a dazzling, explosively powerful invisibility ability also brought Gekkō Hayate the hidden danger of illness.
Commonly known as... Bloodline Disease.
The moment this ability reached its peak was also the moment his physical condition gradually declined.
This was similar to the legendary white-haired Bloodline Disease of the Kaguya clan.
Too strong, easily broken.
His life would be as brilliant as a shooting star, but his end would be an equally fleeting dimness... This was also why he usually spent time recuperating and was looked after by his childhood friend, Yūgao Uzuki.
Standing on the border.
Gekkō Hayate's expression was serious.
The land on the other side, beyond the boundary marker, was the border of another country.
After a tense discussion with the KumogakureNinja team, they presented a handwritten decree signed by the Fourth Raikage.
Kumogakure's diplomatic team would depart for Konoha soon.
This meeting was to confirm each other's attitudes, serving as a preliminary warm-up meeting.
Finally, Gekkō Hayate extended his hand, suppressing his excitement, and clasped hands with the other party... At this, both sides simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere began to become harmonious.
Because... Gekkō Hayate: "Peace... is within reach..."
As the most powerful Ninja Village in the Ninja World, Kumogakure's advanced scientific technology and Ninjutsu were undeniable.
If Konoha had them as allies, it could ensure decades of peace.
After the Kumogakure team departed,
Konoha's squad could finally find a place to rest properly.
After a good night's sleep, they could return to the Village.
"Everyone, please rest first, I will immediately take this decree back..."
Gekkō Hayate didn't want to waste a minute, only wanting to relay the good news back to the Village.
"Hayate, you're not missing your girlfriend already, are you...?"
"Can't stand being apart for just two days? These young people nowadays..."
Seeing the good-natured teasing from his comrades, and enveloped by their friendship, Hayate felt a warmth in his heart.
He smiled slightly, bade farewell to his comrades, and set off immediately.
Running in the cold wind, he couldn't help but wonder... What was his childhood friend, Yūgao, doing right now?
...The morning sun rose from the horizon, and the brilliant rays of light dyed Konoha in a shade of orange-red.
"Yūgao-nee-san..."
Yūgao Uzuki: "Ugh..."
The consequences of the corrosion two days prior were stronger than Naruto had imagined.
Naruto scratched his head, looking at the scene before him with considerable helplessness, even shrugging his shoulders.
Yūgao Uzuki was wriggling helplessly on the bed like a boneless octopus.
Her eyes, at this moment, had lost their focus, darting around, giving the impression of a heatstroke patient.
The direct hit to her face two days ago, invading her brain,
the Nine-Tailed Chakra had acted like a neurotoxin, producing profound effects.
This also indirectly proved that Yūgao Uzuki was not suitable to become a Jinchuriki.
—At least she couldn't contain the Nine-Tailed's Chakra.
The morning sun shone into Naruto's residence.
Fortunately, she was still dazed at this time, completely unaware of what had happened.
"Yūgao-nee-san~, it's time to get up and wash your face..."
Naruto walked over and helped Yūgao Uzuki up from the large bed.
Like a drunken person, Yūgao, with Naruto's help, stumbled into the bathroom.
Splash...!
The faucet water gurgled.
Naruto washed Yūgao's face for her, as she was unable to do it herself.
After wiping her face, Naruto put Yūgao's mask back on, and then saw her out the door.
"Ugh..."
Standing on the road outside.
A cold wind blew, and Yūgao's mind instantly cleared up quite a bit.
"Yūgao-nee-san~, go home safely."
Naruto's voice was like some kind of suggestion.
Yūgao's stumbling steps gradually became agile, one step at a time, until finally... she completely disappeared from Naruto's sight... By the time Yūgao had fully returned to her own home, her consciousness had recovered about seventy to eighty percent.
Her return was entirely due to instinct.
Rip.
She pulled open the shower curtain and started the water.
She shed her clothes, revealing her beautiful girlish figure.
Her perfect, porcelain-like body slowly stepped into the bathtub.
Then, Yūgao, tilting her head, fell asleep again.
Her ravaged brain finally had a chance to rest... And this sleep lasted until evening... "Heh heh~~?..."