The sun wasn't even up yet.
But Naruto was.
"Akari-nee! Wake up! Wake uuuup!"
I groaned and cracked one eye open, only to find a small blond head hovering inches from my face. Naruto's grin was so wide I was afraid his cheeks might split.
"Guess what! Guess what! I saw them! I saw Mama and Papa!"
My heart lurched. I sat up quickly, pressing a finger to his lips. "Shhh! Not so loud, idiot."
He blinked, then lowered his voice by exactly half a decibel. "Mama and Papa!"
I sighed. Close enough.
By the time breakfast rolled around, Naruto was practically bouncing out of his chair. The way he wolfed down his rice and miso soup was suspicious even by his usual standards. Hiruzen sat with us that morning, smoking his pipe in silence as he observed.
"So," the old Hokage finally said, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Naruto seems… unusually cheerful today."
Naruto's spoon froze. For one terrifying second, I thought he was about to blurt it out. My soul practically left my body.
"Uh—" Naruto started.
I slammed my chopsticks down. "I promised him more ramen later if he behaved this week."
Naruto blinked, then nodded rapidly. "Y-yeah! Ramen!"
Hiruzen chuckled softly, though the way his eyes lingered on me made it clear he wasn't fully convinced. "I see. That would explain it."
Inside, I let out a shaky breath. Crisis averted. Barely.
Later that day, while Naruto was at the Academy for his toddler-level classes (really just glorified daycare run by chunin), I took a long walk through the quieter side of the village. My senses prickled. Too many eyes. Too many shadows where no shadows should be.
Root.
They weren't subtle anymore.
I ducked into a narrow alley and whispered to myself. "System… show me."
The panel flickered into view. The same glowing script, the same tally of sun resistance, bloodlines, chakra affinity. And now… a faint warning.
[Hidden Quest Triggered: 'The Caged Eye']Danzo has marked you as a threat. Survive his pursuit. Protect Naruto.
A chill ran down my spine.
So it was official now.
That night, I doubled my patrols. When Naruto fell asleep curled up with his fox plushie, I slipped out into the darkness. My Sharingan spun to life, red tomoe cutting through the black.
And sure enough, three Root operatives stalked the edge of our district. They didn't engage, not yet. Just watched. Waiting.
I almost wanted to strike first, rip into them, taste their chakra and silence their spying. My claws twitched under my skin.
But no. That would only confirm Danzo's suspicions too soon.
Instead, I smirked into the night. "Keep watching, old man. But remember—when the monster turns around… it's already too late."
Back inside, Naruto stirred in his sleep, murmuring, "Mama… Papa…" with a small smile on his lips.
I sat beside him, brushing his hair back gently. My chest tightened.
Danzo's shadows could wait. For now… this smile was mine to protect.