The morning sun spilled across Konoha, but inside the Namikaze home, chaos still ruled supreme. Naruto, three going on four, was sprawled across the living room floor, a tangle of limbs, blocks, and scrolls. His blue eyes sparkled with energy—and mischief.
"Akari! Watch this!"
Before I could respond, he shoved a small burst of chakra into a floating ball of water, causing it to wobble precariously before sloshing across the floor and soaking my favorite robe.
"—Naruto!" I lunged, barely catching him before he toppled into the puddle.
"Did you see it? Did you see it? I did it!" he squealed, laughing as if the entire floor flooding was an accomplishment.
I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose, and muttered, "You're lucky I love you."
He giggled. "You do!"
And in that moment, I almost forgot the other part of my life—the predator, the demon, the one holding a fragment of the Nine-Tails, Mangekyō Sharingan, and Wood Release at my fingertips. Almost.
Once the mess was cleaned and Naruto fed (again), I decided it was time to introduce him to the first layer of chakra control. He was still young, but the potential was there. He had to be able to defend himself if anything—or anyone—threatened him.
"Alright," I said, crouching beside him. "Do you want to learn something today?"
He perked up immediately. "Yay! Can I do jutsu?"
I smirked, ruffling his messy hair. "Yes. But first, you have to focus. Chakra flows inside everyone… but you have to feel it, like water in a river. Can you feel your energy?"
He scrunched his little face in concentration, tapping his fingers to the floor. "I… think so!"
"Good," I encouraged. "Now, make it flow to your feet. Let it rise through your legs. Imagine it as warmth spreading through you. Don't rush."
I guided him slowly, watching his concentration. Small sparks of chakra flickered between his tiny hands and the floor. Nothing huge yet, but promising.
"See? You're already doing it!" I whispered, proud. But my eyes flicked to the window, scanning for any unwelcome attention. Hiruzen might be curious… Danzo might be watching. Everyone could think I was just playing with a child. No one could know what I truly was.
Later that evening, Naruto lay on his bed, yawning, half-asleep but still clutching a small frog plush. I sat beside him, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead.
"Naruto…" I began softly, choosing my words carefully. "Do you want to… see your parents?"
He blinked, eyes wide. "My parents? You mean… Minato and Kushina?"
I nodded, leaning close. "Yes. But… this is a secret. No one can know. Not the village, not the Hokage… not even Grandpa Hiruzen."
"Why?" he whispered.
"Because the world thinks they're gone," I said gently. "And for now, it's safer if they remain hidden. But you… you deserve to know them. One day, when you're ready."
His small hands gripped mine. "Really? You can show me?"
I smiled faintly, brushing his hair back. "Yes. But only when the time is right. For now… it stays our secret."
Even as he drifted to sleep, I could feel the hum of the Nine-Tails fragment, my Mangekyō, and Wood Release intertwining inside me. That power… and my secret bond with Naruto… made me untouchable, but also a target.
The next morning, during training, I pushed him a bit further. Small defensive jutsu, chakra control exercises, and even basic clone formations. Naruto's laughter filled the room, innocent and chaotic, masking the deadly potential I was carefully nurturing.
All the while, I knew eyes were on me. Hiruzen, from a distance, sensed the Wood Release, but had no idea of its depth. Danzo's gaze lingered in the shadows, calculating, plotting. And yet… none could breach the careful bubble I had created around Naruto.
I was a loving aunt. I was a mentor. I was a mother.
And I was a predator.
And as the sun dipped below the horizon, I smiled in the shadows, preparing for the night's training, knowing that each secret, each hidden truth, only made me stronger.
For Naruto. For Minato and Kushina. For the family I had built in secrecy.
And for the inevitable day when the world would know that Akari was not just any ordinary girl.