The day started like any other—chaotic, noisy, and filled with Naruto's mischievous laughter echoing through the Namikaze home.
"Akari! Akari! Look!"
Naruto had somehow managed to tie a scroll to a balloon and was attempting to float it across the room. The result? Torn curtains, a startled cat, and a faint splash of ink on my robes.
I groaned, brushing the ink from my sleeves. "Naruto… honestly, how do you survive three years without destroying the entire village?"
He grinned innocently, hopping onto my lap. "Because you're here to stop me!"
I couldn't help but laugh softly, ruffling his blond hair. "Yeah… lucky for you, little tornado."
After breakfast, I decided it was time for Naruto's next step in chakra training. We went into the small clearing near the house, where the trees allowed me to practice secretly with him.
"Alright," I said, crouching beside him. "Today, we'll try combining chakra control with a little defensive movement. Ready?"
He nodded eagerly. "Yes! I want to protect everyone like you!"
A small smile curved my lips. That innocent ambition… it warmed my heart, but also reminded me of the responsibilities and dangers lurking behind my dual life.
As Naruto concentrated, forming tiny defensive clones, I decided to test my own limits quietly. I took a step back, letting a small surge of chakra flow from the Nine-Tails fragment I had absorbed long ago. A faint pulse ran through me, and suddenly… something new appeared.
A translucent panel hovered in front of my eyes, displaying numbers, bars, and icons I had never seen before.
System Panel.
I blinked, unable to hide my excitement. My heart raced.
Sunlight Resistance: 999,999 / 1,000,000 minutes
Consumed Humans: 32 / 45 (Normal, Genin, Chunin, etc.)
Tailed Beast Fragment: 1 (Nine-Tails, partial)
Chakra Stored: Overflowing
Jutsus Acquired: Numerous (Randomized & Stolen)
Wood Release Mastery: Basic – Advanced
Mangekyō Sharingan Status: Active (On/Off)
My pulse quickened. This was… everything. Every jutsu I had stolen, every piece of flesh or chakra I had consumed, every boost to my vitality, every sunlight minute—it was all here, neatly organized, and fully accessible.
I reached out with my hand instinctively, touching the floating icons. A small surge of system energy flowed into me, making my Mangekyō glimmer, my veins blacken slightly, and the Nine-Tails fragment hum like a living thing.
"Huh," I whispered to myself, smirking. "So this is what's been keeping me alive… growing stronger… hiding in plain sight."
Naruto blinked at me, curiosity piqued. "Akari… what is that?"
I smiled faintly, covering the panel with a wave of chakra. "Nothing, little one. Just… magic. You don't need to worry about it."
He tilted his head, suspicious, but nodded and went back to practicing his defensive clones.
I chuckled softly. It was going to be fun—training him, hiding my powers, and now… fully understanding the system that controlled everything I was capable of.
That night, I retreated into the forest for my own practice. Using the panel, I could finally measure my efficiency—how much chakra I had, how much sunlight resistance remained, what jutsus I could summon instantly, and even potential strategies to consume more without leaving a trace.
The system pulsed faintly, as if alive. I realized something profound: the Nine-Tails fragment, Mangekyō, Wood Release, stolen jutsus—they weren't just powers. They were tools. And the panel? My roadmap to mastering them completely.
I allowed a surge of the fragment's chakra to flow, feeling the warmth and raw energy hum through my veins. Every movement was precise. Every clone, every wooden barrier, every pulse of chakra was optimized by the system, giving me insights I hadn't dreamed of before.
And all the while, Naruto's faint laughter from his sleep—protected under my seals—echoed in my mind.
I was not just a guardian. Not just a little sister. Not just a monster.
I was a strategist. A predator. A mother.
And now, I had the system to ensure I could do it perfectly.
The shadows of the night felt alive around me, whispering secrets I was finally ready to learn.