Late at night.
Just as Naruto was still busy dealing with Bai and Fenghua Xiaoxue,
a phantom-like figure silently crossed the courtyard, leapt to the deepest part of the mansion, and knocked on the door of a mysterious room that no one had entered until now.
Moments later, the door creaked open.
Standing at the entrance was Yuhi Kurenai, dressed in a black kimono, her jet-black hair cascading down her back.
Her eyes sparkled with disbelief and excitement as she grabbed "Naruto's" arm and pulled him into the room.
Despite the loose fit of her kimono, it still couldn't conceal her stunning figure—
her body gracefully curved, her waist and hips forming elegant arcs under the silk sash.
As she walked, the exposed portion of her leg beneath the kimono's hem was slender, pale, and smooth—like polished jade.
She was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful women of Konoha's younger generation.
Mitarashi Anko, with her bold and wild fashion sense, couldn't hold a candle to her.
Even Uzuki Yugao paled slightly in comparison.
"Sensei Kurenai, it's been a long time."
Just as Naruto was about to catch up with Kurenai, she suddenly lashed out.
In one swift motion, she drew a dinner knife and pressed it against his throat.
"Who are you?" she demanded coldly.
"Why are you pretending to be Naruto?"
Her brow furrowed, eyes locked onto his face with piercing suspicion.
As a kunoichi, she knew better than anyone—
If you're ever captured, never trust anyone. Not even family.
Because in the enemy's hands, even love could be an illusion.
"Sensei, what are you doing?" 'Naruto' raised both hands in surrender, smiling gently. "How could I lie to you? I came here to save you."
Kurenai wasn't moved. She pushed the knife in a little deeper, almost piercing his skin.
"Explain who you are first."
"I am Naruto. Don't you remember me? Or… have you already forgotten?"
Kurenai's expression shifted.
Of course she hadn't forgotten Naruto.
The face looked like him—but so much had changed.
The Naruto she remembered was a sweet, scrappy little boy barely 1.5 meters tall.
Her hands were once bigger than his.
But this Naruto… was nearly 1.7 meters. His build had changed.
His hands now dwarfed hers.
Sure, she knew he was in his growth spurt, but this fast? They'd only been apart a few months.
"Give me one reason to believe you're really Naruto."
"A reason?" 'Naruto' scratched his nose, pursed his lips, and suddenly clapped his hands as if remembering something.
"Ah—I got it. Sensei, you always talk nonsense when you're drunk."
There was that one rainy night, when Naruto was staying over at Uzuki Yugao's house, and Kurenai had been there too.
She and Yugao got drunk and started talking nonsense.
Hearing this, Kurenai's face flushed red. She coughed awkwardly and slowly lowered the knife.
He remembered that? she thought. That's embarrassing…
"Long time no see, Naruto," she said, exhaling softly. Then she turned toward the corner of the room.
"Come out, Hinata. He's Naruto."
The words had barely landed when a soft figure emerged.
It was Hyuga Hinata, her long black hair flowing behind her.
"Sensei… his chakra isn't right," Hinata said cautiously, activating her Byakugan. "It's golden."
Hinata's warning was why Kurenai had initially reacted so aggressively.
Through her Byakugan, she had seen the chakra within this 'Naruto'—and it wasn't the usual blue or red she was used to.
It was gold.
"Hinata, it's really me," Naruto said. "I had a… little adventure. That's why I've changed."
Despite the explanation, neither of them fully let their guard down.
Naruto could tell they weren't going to trust him completely without more evidence.
So he pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Alright," he said, "Listen to me first. I'll explain everything that's happened in the ninja world since you were captured. Believe whatever you want."
Kurenai sat beside Hinata, who continued to glare coldly at Naruto.
After all, she'd been watching Naruto's chakra for years.
She'd seen it blue. She'd seen it red.
But never, ever gold.
So even if Kurenai was 80% convinced, Hinata still wasn't.
Only after Naruto described—step-by-step—what had happened in Konoha since their capture did Hinata begin to relax.
Deceiving one person with surface details was possible.
But fooling two kunoichi with shared, precise, verifiable information? That would be almost impossible.
When they heard about the war between Konoha and Kumogakure, and how close Konoha came to defeat, their hearts tightened.
Then, relief—when Naruto told them Konoha had won.
It was a whirlwind of emotion.
"Then… Naruto-kun, you mean to say that with the war, the village didn't have time to search for us?"
"And… my father and mother… they didn't abandon me?"
Red veins welled in Hinata's eyes as tears began to form again.
Since waking up, she'd silently wondered if her parents had given up on her.
Why else hadn't they come for her? Her father had found her before when she went missing…
"I didn't give up on you either," Naruto said gently.
Hinata's tears fell instantly. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but her shyness stopped her.
Naruto… stepped back slightly.
He couldn't allow physical contact.
Because he wasn't the real Naruto—he was a shadow clone.
The real Naruto had only ordered him to extract Kurenai and Hinata. Nothing more.
This clone was under complete control.
There would be no petty arguments, no clones going rogue, like in the old days.
Kurenai noticed Naruto's slight retreat and smiled subtly.
She had long harbored feelings for Naruto, and after enduring those torturous dream loops created by Orochimaru—dreams in which Naruto often appeared—those feelings had only grown deeper.
Naruto may not have known… but Kurenai had come to admire him even more.
"Let's not talk about the past now," she said, tapping the table.
"You said you'd rescue us—so, what's the plan?"
Shadow Clone Naruto nodded and pulled out a scroll from his pocket.
"This is the blueprint for the mansion. I've mapped all escape routes. Follow my lead."
"Alright. We'll count on you."
Meanwhile…
In a room not far away, the real Naruto still hadn't gone to sleep.
Not because he didn't want to—but because a certain someone was still going wild.
"My lord, everything's been cleaned. Please, continue enjoying yourself."
Bai stepped down from the bed, standing respectfully beside Naruto, her eyes sparkling like hearts.
When Naruto looked away, she licked her lips with a soft snake-like motion, cupped her cheeks, and looked absolutely elated.
Tonight… she had been utterly satisfied.
On the bed, Fenghua Xiaoxue's blindfold and mouth seal had finally been removed.
She was breathing normally now—but she barely had the strength to lift her chest.
Her body collapsed completely.
Her stockings were crumpled around her thighs. She looked dazed, broken, drenched in heat.
She felt… disgusting. As if someone had pulled her inside out.
When Bai tried to invite Naruto to "enjoy her again," Fenghua Xiaoxue could only curse inwardly:
"You damn woman. Just wait.
This is the man you revere, right?
Fine. Once I'm pregnant with his child, I'll make you suffer so much you'll beg me for mercy."
But she had no strength left to speak. She lay there spread out, arms splayed.
Whatever… let them do what they want.
But unexpectedly, Naruto didn't touch her again.
Instead, he turned toward Bai.
He crooked a finger. "Come here."
She dropped to all fours and crawled toward him, inch by inch.
When she reached his feet, she rubbed her head against his pant leg and asked sweetly,
"My lord… is there something Xiaobai can do for you?"
…Xiaobai?
Naruto blinked. Where did that nickname come from?
He never called her that.
Why was she giving herself pet names now?
Just half a day ago, Mikoto Uchiha held the top spot in Naruto's heart…
Now Bai was quickly becoming a rival.
Both were expert actresses.
Who would win the Oscar for Best Drama Queen?
Someday… when these two meet, it's going to be one hell of a performance.
Naruto reached down and patted Bai's head. "Turn around. Let me see."
"Yes, my lord."
She turned without hesitation.
Then, without being told, she laid flat—arms out, face to the ground, knees bent.
She looked like a sensor trying to pick up ground vibrations.
Maybe she thought she was helping Naruto detect threats.
Naruto chuckled.
Ding~!
[Choice 3 completed. Reward: +10% Nine-Tails Control delivered.]
Chakra flooded into his body from an unknown origin, merging seamlessly with his cells.
At that moment, Naruto gained full control over all of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
It fused with his soul.
In the darkness, Naruto felt… something shift.
Suddenly, knowledge poured into his mind.
If he died—there would be no Nine-Tails chakra left. It would return to the planet.
The Nine-Tails' power originated from the Earth itself.
One-third of this world's energy had once been absorbed by the Ten-Tails.
Later, the Sage of Six Paths split that energy into nine parts.
The Nine-Tails had always held the largest share.
"Uzumaki Naruto…"
A voice called to him from the depths of his soul.
Just as Naruto was about to explore its source, the system popped up:
Ding!
[Passive Selection Triggered!]
[Your shadow clone is escaping with Yuhi Kurenai and Hinata Hyuga. What will you do?]
[Option 1 – Be Friendly: Rescue Kiba, Shino, and Asuma too. Reward: Yin-Yang Attribute Chakra]
[Option 2 – Be Rational: Leave with just Kurenai and Hinata. Reward: Byakugan]
[Option 3 – Be Reckless: Stay and play with Kurenai near Asuma. Reward: 90% Shukaku Control]
[Option 10 – Desperate: Attack Kurenai and Hinata. Reward: Devil's Contract ×1]
Naruto's jaw dropped.
This was… the most generous reward list he'd ever seen.
Did the system get drunk or something?
In the Courtyard…
Tap tap tap…
"It's freezing in the Land of Snow. I hope I never have to come here again," one soldier muttered as his patrol passed by.
Moments later, three dark shadows slipped from behind the wall.
Naruto led Kurenai and Hinata silently toward the left wing of the mansion.
"The dungeon is on this side," he whispered. "That's where Shino, Kiba, and Asuma are. Let's get them before we leave."
He motioned for them to follow.
Honestly, Naruto didn't care whether those three lived or died.
But the reward? That was worth everything.