Akimichi Chōza squinted into the distance, his expression cautious. The name had instinctively slipped from his mouth.
It wasn't just the "red hair."
It was also that fiery, "spicy pepper" aura.
"No, that's not Kushina," Minato Namikaze shook his head firmly.
Though she looked similar—
The difference was vast.
"She's not wearing a forehead protector," Kakashi reached for the short blade on his back, his tone serious. "We don't know her identity."
For a shinobi, lacking a headband or symbol was a red flag.
And—
This person was strong.
Her chakra was immense, and her body flicker speed—exceptional.
"Halt!" Aburame Shibi extended his hand as a black cloud of insects surged from his body, blocking the path of their team. "State your purpose."
The red-haired girl stopped.
"No need to be so tense." Karin raised her hand cheerfully in greeting. "I mean no harm."
"I just came to meet an old friend."
She smiled as she looked at the blond-haired man.
The air froze, becoming heavy.
The rest of the team followed her gaze—landing on Minato Namikaze.
He raised his hand and pointed to himself. "We know each other?"
"You don't know me yet," Karin replied lightly.
"Not yet?"That kind of phrasing—was ominous.
Minato looked past her, toward the bustling city behind. A guess began forming in his mind.
"As expected of the future Fourth Hokage," Karin followed his gaze. "Already figuring it out?"
"You mean… you're someone affected by the power of the Ryumyaku, returning from the future?" Minato said softly.
Karin nodded. "Exactly."
"You're heading to Rōran?"
"How about we go together?"
She extended an invitation.
Minato thought for a moment. "Is that so?"
"Then let's go together."
Several members of the team frowned.
Minato gave Karin a gentle smile. "Would you mind waiting a moment while I speak to my teammates?"
Karin nodded and stepped back.
"Minato, letting a stranger into the team…" Akimichi Chōza shook his head.
"And claiming to be from the future?" Hyūga Hizashi also spoke up, clearly opposing it. "Isn't that too far-fetched?"
Minato looked at him and replied gently, "Hizashi-sama, it's not that far-fetched."
"In fact…"
"When I discussed this matter with Jiraiya-sensei and the Third Hokage, we essentially confirmed that the two Hyūga individuals appearing in Rōran came from the future."
Hizashi was stunned.
"I didn't tell you all because anything involving time travel could cause irreversible complications for the future," Minato continued. "So we agreed—the fewer people who know, the better."
"After this mission is over, I'll seal the memories of myself, you all, Jiraiya-sensei, and the Third Hokage until the event actually occurs, at which point the seal will lift."
The other four nodded. "Understood."
"As for that girl…" Minato looked back. "She feels strangely familiar to me."
Chōza nodded seriously. "When I first saw her, I mistook her for Kushina."
"She might be my child," Minato gave a shy smile.
Kakashi was shocked.
Hizashi was visibly moved.
"There's a decent chance," Aburame Shibi agreed. "Should we ask her?"
Minato shook his head. "Better not."
"She's from the future, not our time."
"As a father, just seeing that my child grows up strong and cheerful in the future—there's nothing more I could ask for."
Then, his expression turned a little stern. "Besides, letting her join our team is good for the mission."
"If we can't confirm she's from the future…"
"And don't know her real intentions…"
"Keeping her within our surveillance is at least a form of control."
Shibi nodded. "Understood."
Minato waved his hand. The team reformed into formation.
"Let's go," he said kindly to Karin.
Even without using her Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Karin could still sense that a tiny bug had landed on her shoulder.
She smiled at Aburame Shibi. "Then let's depart."
Rōran Kingdom, inside the city.
In a quiet chamber—
A maid knocked on the door. After receiving permission, she stepped inside.
"Lord Neji, we've found the blond ninja you predicted would arrive in the city," the maid said softly.
The man meditating inside opened his eyes. "Is that so?"
"Where is he now?"
"As per your instructions, we didn't engage with him," the maid said. "He was easy to talk to."
"He's being led to the meeting room now."
"Someone also went to inform Lady Hinata."
Hyūga Neji rose and strode from the room, heading toward the meeting chamber.
Through corridors and gardens, he pushed open the heavy door.
Sunlight streamed through a massive floor-to-ceiling window.
"Neji." A blond youth looked up and grinned. "Should I say… long time no see?"
Two fluffy foxes lay napping in the sunlight.
One used the other's tail as a pillow, and vice versa.
"Long time no see, Naruto-kun," Neji replied, with a hint of emotion in his voice.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
Hinata came running in, but her steps slowed upon entry, becoming heavier. "Long time no see, Naruto-kun."
"When did you two get here?" Naruto waved them over.
Once they sat—
Neji replied, "Four years ago."
"Four years?" Naruto was shocked. He had thought the time difference would be a few months, not four entire years.
Neji shook his head. "I'm not sure why either."
"We searched the entire Rōran Kingdom for four years," he explained, "but we never found you, Karin, Lee, or Tenten."
"We figured… maybe the Ryumyaku sent us to different timelines."
They didn't want to return to Konoha, afraid they'd miss Naruto.
So, they stayed in Rōran.
Four years ago, Neji already had jōnin-level strength. Hinata, though a bit weaker, was an elite chūnin thanks to her Byakugan.
With them, Rōran's trade and prosperity were guaranteed, and the city became what it is today.
"You still haven't found Lee and Tenten?" Naruto nodded thoughtfully.
"Nor Karin Uzumaki," Hinata added softly.
Naruto looked at her. "Then it must be a matter of timing."
"Maybe they'll show up later?"
Neji hesitated, visibly emotional. After a long pause, he spoke. "Naruto, since they haven't shown up yet…"
"I beg you for one thing."
He stood, bowed deeply into a kneel. His tone was earnest and solemn. "I've heard you're exceptionally skilled in sealing techniques."
"Please help me remove the Caged Bird Seal."
Naruto's voice was calm. "The Caged Bird, huh?"
He remembered it well. During the joint chūnin exams, he had shown it to the others.
"Yes." Neji responded.
"Let me take a look." Naruto extended a hand.
Neji approached, sat, and removed his forehead protector.
A green cross-shaped seal appeared at the center of his forehead, flanked by mirrored wave-like lines.
Naruto gently tapped it with a finger.
It was completely different from the Uzumaki Clan's sealing style.
A dangerous, delicate mechanism.
Even just probing it, the seal trembled as if it might shatter.
Of course, this "curse seal" still fell within shinobi knowledge—but it touched on soul-related concepts.
If broken improperly, it would destroy the brain, eyes, and soul.
"A tricky seal," Naruto murmured.
Neji took a deep breath, discouraged. "Even you…"
"It's not that I can't break it," Naruto shook his head. "It's not complicated."
"But—"
"Your body and soul are too fragile. What troubles me is how to safely unseal it without harming you."
Neji's eyes lit up.
Even with unpupiled Byakugan, his expression shone.
"Naruto-kun…"
"No, Lord Uzumaki."
"Please lift this curse. I'll pay any price."
"My life now belongs to you."
Naruto touched the seal gently. "If you're just escaping one cage to enter another…"
"What's the point of breaking the seal?"
Neji was stunned.
"I don't want your life," Naruto's finger pulsed with soul power. "Let's make a deal."
"I'm establishing a group called the Seireitei."
"While you live, do whatever you want."
"When you die—join my organization."
"How about it?"
He wasn't unsealing the curse now—but replicating it and storing it in a scroll via summoning.
"After death?" Neji blinked.
"I won't repeat the same line again," Naruto looked to the distance. "But if you'll serve me after death—will you?"
"Of course," Neji lowered his head in pledge. "From now on, I belong to Lord Uzumaki."
Hinata's eyes gleamed with envy.
She also...
Really wanted to say that.
"I'll study this seal over the next few days." Naruto pointed. "There's something else you may need to handle."
"Karin seems to have found some interesting people."
Neji looked up. "Lady Karin appeared?"
(End of chapter)