Drop them powerstones ♪┌|∵|┘♪
Chapter 50: The Butterfly Effect
The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. Menma stood quietly by the window while Misaki's hands were clasped tightly together. Though Menma's demonstration of the Adamantine Sealing Chains had indeed proven his Uzumaki heritage, the unease in her eyes hadn't completely faded. Her body remained poised, ready to flee at a moment's notice.
Karin sat obediently beside her mother, occasionally stealing glances at Menma with eyes that sparkled with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
Menma completely understood their silence and wariness. This woman had joined Kusagakure seeking sanctuary for her daughter, only to be nearly bitten to death by her so-called "comrades." After such an experience, anyone would develop an instinctive distrust of the word "protection."
But there was another reason for their hesitation—reputation.
Standing before them was the leader of the Embers, the organization that struck terror into the hearts of shinobi across the elemental nations. The horrifying rumors carefully spread by Kumogakure had already painted "Menma" as a bloodthirsty demon. When a legendary killer suddenly claims he wants to protect you, anyone would suspect it's some kind of trap.
'This will take time...'
Menma sighed inwardly. Trust was something that required lengthy cultivation to build, yet could be destroyed in an instant.
Finally, the paper door slid open with urgency.
A middle-aged man wearing a hard hat stood breathlessly in the doorway, clearly having run the entire way after receiving word. He wore ordinary work clothes, looking like any construction worker you might find throughout Yu no Kuni.
"Tanuma"—a merchant registered in Yu no Kuni without a surname—stood awkwardly outside the door. Upon entering the room, the moment he removed his hard hat, white smoke from a dispelled transformation jutsu began to rise.
Hyuga Hizashi's true appearance gradually emerged, his signature Byakugan announcing his identity.
"Menma-sama! I sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting!"
Hizashi's voice carried genuine remorse. Cement dust still clung to his sleeves—he had rushed directly from a construction site. Since receiving the mission to establish new bases, the younger brother of the Hyuga clan head had thrown himself completely into commercial management and construction work.
Menma then briefly explained the situation to Hizashi.
When Hizashi heard that this mother and daughter actually carried Uzumaki bloodline, he was visibly surprised. However, he quickly composed himself and bowed his head in acknowledgment.
"I understand."
He didn't ask where Menma had found them, nor did he question why they should shelter this pair. Under his absolute loyalty, Hizashi's approach was singular—he need only execute orders without questioning their reasons.
The mission was actually quite simple: provide them with a place to live and ensure their daily needs were met. The only restriction was that for safety's sake, they must maintain transformation jutsu disguises when active outside.
Misaki listened quietly to Menma's arrangements, the unease in her heart gradually dissipating.
Really... was that all? No cruel experiments, no harsh conditions, not even any demands for payment in return.
And this person... Her gaze fell upon Hizashi. Those pure white eyes undoubtedly belonged to the Hyuga clan.
Wait... Hadn't the rumors claimed that the Hyuga clan member captured by Embers had been tortured to death? Why was he still alive? And he seemed to be... doing quite well?
After finishing his instructions, Menma didn't linger.
"Well then, I'll leave the rest to you."
With those words, his figure vanished in the subtle flash of Hiraishin no Jutsu.
'Now then...' Naruto returned to Konoha, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. 'Just give them a period of peaceful days...'
'And the bond points will naturally come.'
---
Just like that, the Embers organization that terrorized the entire shinobi world once again bared its fangs to the world.
In the weeks that followed, Kusagakure—a small, unremarkable hidden village—suddenly became the center of attention for the five great nations. ANBU from Konoha, tracking squads from Kumo, reconnaissance ninja from Iwa... Elite operatives from every village descended on this border settlement like sharks sensing blood, trying to uncover any trace of Embers.
However, no matter how thoroughly they investigated, the intelligence they gathered was remarkably consistent—Menma had appeared solely to retrieve the Uzumaki clan members sheltered by Kusagakure.
But it was precisely this simple piece of information that left the Kage of the five great nations on edge.
Was Embers collecting kekkei genkai?
Beyond using force to deter war, what other purposes might this organization be concealing?
All sorts of terrifying speculations swirled through the minds of the various "Kage." Unfortunately, faced with space-time ninjutsu like Hiraishin, any tracking methods proved futile. **Embers'** trail once again dissipated like mist into the shadows of the shinobi world.
As for Naruto... he had long since returned to his "ordinary" daily life.
Mornings spent with Might Guy unleashing youth on Konoha's streets, afternoons sparring with the Uchiha heiress at the training grounds... living a fulfilling life under this routine.
But Naruto's actions were triggering a series of butterfly effects.
In the Hyuga main family's courtyard, Hyuga Hiashi watched Neji sparring with Hinata, his brow unconsciously furrowing. According to his expectations, this child who had lost his father should harbor resentment toward the main family.
Though Hizashi's suicide note had clearly explained the truth about his substitution death, Hiashi had even prepared himself mentally to be hated by his nephew, planning to tell him the complete truth once Neji matured further.
However...
"Please treat me favorably, Hinata-ojousama."
Neji bowed respectfully, his eyes showing not a trace of darkness. His movements were crisp and decisive, stopping at just the right moment, completely lacking the imagined viciousness born of hatred. What confused Hiashi even more was that when this child looked at him, his eyes actually held genuine respect.
This isn't right...
By all logic, his father's tragic death should have dealt a devastating blow to this precocious child. But the Neji before him not only showed no signs of depression—he actually trained with renewed vigor every day, his eyes burning with astonishing determination and conviction.
Neji wasn't overthinking things. In his mind, there was only one thought.
'Get stronger...I must become stronger.'
Neji's heart held only one pure goal. His father's "death" hadn't brought him hatred, but rather a strange sense of release. Because that man wearing the fox mask had made him understand—
As long as you become stronger than anyone else, any shackles or fate can be broken.
So he would become strong. Only then could he respond to that person's expectations, become that person's strength, and stand by that person's side in the future to offer his power.
Neji hadn't even noticed the frightening obsession growing in his heart. In truth, his attitude toward Menma was becoming indistinguishable from Kimimaro's devotion to Orochimaru.
Time flowed by like water.
The appearance of **Embers** was like a brief tempest—arriving with tremendous force, yet vanishing without a trace in an instant. Intelligence departments of the five great nations continued their frantic search for clues about this mysterious organization, but remained empty-handed.
And just when the entire shinobi world was nervously anticipating **Embers'** next appearance...
Konoha Year 54.
The man hailed as "the shinobi world's deepest darkness," "destroyer of peace," and "enemy of all humanity" was about to face a major life event.
Naruto was preparing to enroll at the Ninja Academy, becoming a glorious elementary school student.
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