Seeing Hanabi's wide eyes staring at him expectantly, Naruto smiled and crouched down, hooking his little finger around hers.
He started to pull away, but Hanabi's voice stopped him. "Naruto-niisan! You didn't stamp it yet!"
"Oh, you're absolutely right. I forgot. That's my fault." Naruto pressed his thumb gently against Hanabi's tiny thumb, completing the seal. "There we go."
"Okay, now go get your sister." He tapped her nose affectionately.
"Okay!" Promise secured, Hanabi skipped toward the compound, her mission clear.
Naruto settled in to wait outside the gates.
A few minutes later, Hinata emerged holding her little sister's hand. She crossed the threshold with careful steps, and when she reached Naruto, her face lit up. "Naruto-kun!"
Naruto looked up and felt his breath catch slightly.
Hinata wore a cherry blossom kimono, her dark hair styled in a princess cut that framed her face perfectly. Light makeup highlighted her features, and a natural blush colored her cheeks. At nine years old, Hinata was beginning to show the first hints of the beautiful young woman she'd become.
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata noticed his stare. Her blush deepened as she pressed her hands against her chest. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, I..." Naruto felt heat creep up his neck. Staring was rude. "Sorry."
"Naruto-niisan! Nee-san came! I want to fly now!" Hanabi released Hinata's hand and latched onto Naruto's leg, bouncing impatiently.
"Alright, alright." Naruto grinned and scooped the toddler up, lifting her high overhead. Hanabi spread her arms wide like wings. "Fly! Fly!"
Her delighted laughter rang out as Naruto spun in slow circles.
Hinata watched them with a soft smile, warmth radiating from the scene.
On the second floor of the Hyūga main house, Hiashi stood at the window overlooking the front gates. His expression was complicated as he watched Naruto play with his youngest daughter.
He turned away from the window to face his wife, who was preparing tea at the low table. "Dear, we should have another child."
Hyūga Saki's hands froze mid-pour. She looked up at her husband, completely bewildered. "What?"
Where is this coming from? Doesn't he know how expensive children are these days?
After Hanabi had been sufficiently "flown," Naruto set her down gently and turned to Hinata. "Okay, time to go. Remember what I taught you to say, right?"
"Yes, Naruto-kun." Hinata nodded obediently.
Naruto crouched to Hanabi's level. "I need to borrow your sister for a bit. I'll come back and fly you more later, okay?"
"Okay! Bye-bye, Naruto-niisan! Bye, Nee-san!" Hanabi waved enthusiastically.
Naruto extended his hand. Hinata's face flushed pink as she placed her soft, small hand in his broad palm. He closed his fingers around it gently.
A heartbeat later, they vanished.
Hanabi waved at empty air for a moment, then headed back inside. Father should be waiting in the training room for her daily Gentle Fist practice.
She walked through the courtyard and under the eaves to the practice room.
It was empty.
Hanabi blinked in confusion. Father was never late. He ran the household with military precision.
Where could he be?
The curious toddler began searching. Living room? No. Tea room? Empty. Meditation chamber? Not there either. Back garden? No sign of him.
By the time she'd searched the entire compound, her little legs were tired. She'd never realized how big the house was before. And Mother had disappeared too, which was even stranger.
Finally, Hanabi approached her parents' bedroom, thinking maybe Father was resting.
As she neared the door, sounds drifted out. Creaking. Rhythmic and steady. And Father's voice, strangely breathless, almost... panting?
What's Father doing in there?
Little stars of confusion sparkled in Hanabi's mind as she stood outside the door, trying to puzzle it out.
Naruto and Hinata materialized beneath a large tree about ten meters from the wooden cabin. Sasuke was already there with Sakura and Ino, reviewing their "lines" in hushed tones.
"Stay here and practice," Naruto told them. "We need to grab everyone else."
A few minutes and several space-time teleportations later, the entire group had assembled: Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Shino all stood in a loose cluster.
Naruto clapped his hands for attention. "Alright, everyone. Nine-Tails is wearing the dress. Remember, your reactions need to be natural. Enthusiastic, but not over the top. Did everyone memorize their lines?"
"We've got it, Naruto!" came the chorus of responses.
Satisfied, Naruto led them toward the house.
They filed into the yard and peered through the doorway. Nine-Tails lay on the sofa in his white lace dress, eyes closed as though napping.
But his ears swiveled ever so slightly toward the door. He was listening intently, nervously anticipating their reactions.
Shino stepped forward first, the "pistachio of the Happy Club" taking his role seriously. "Wow! That dress is gorgeous! It's even prettier than Akamaru's outfit!" He paused dramatically. "Actually, I can't even think of words good enough to describe how beautiful the little fox looks."
Naruto gave a subtle nod of approval. A bit over the top, but effective.
On the sofa, Nine-Tails' heart rate spiked. Hmph. Who needs comparison to a puppy? But... the compliment is quite nice to hear.
"Oh my gosh," Hinata breathed, stars practically shining in her eyes. "I want to hug the little fox so badly. He's so pretty!" She started moving forward, arms outstretched.
Naruto gently caught her shoulder. "The little fox is sleeping. We shouldn't disturb his rest."
He leaned close to whisper in her ear. "Perfect, Hinata. Completely natural. You're amazing at this."
Heat bloomed across Hinata's face. "Th-thank you, Naruto-kun," she whispered back.
The others added their compliments in turn, each one landing like sweet music in Nine-Tails' ears.
After everyone had filed out, Nine-Tails finally opened his eyes and sat up. He held the hem of his skirt delicately with both forepaws as he padded over to where Naruto and Sasuke stood.
"Well," he said, trying to sound dignified despite the obvious pleasure in his voice. "I suppose you two weren't lying after all. Your aesthetic sense... it's acceptable."
"Great!" Naruto beamed. "We're heading out to train. Lunch is in your capable paws."
Nine-Tails, still riding the high of sincere praise, puffed out his chest. "Don't worry. I'm a master chef, after all."
At the waterfall, Naruto and Sasuke appeared and immediately burst into laughter.
Life was good. Time flowed like the river, carrying them forward.
Everything was falling into place.
Three years passed in what felt like a blink.
The sky stretched overhead, brilliant blue and cloudless. The day was warm, perfect.
Beneath the rocky waterfall, a ten-meter-tall giant walked across the stone surface. One massive palm descended, and a boulder the size of a house exploded into gravel. On the riverbank, the grazing goats trembled in terror.
The giant's face was unmistakably Naruto Uzumaki.
Twelve years old now.
Three years of constant, relentless training had brought him to a strength of three hundred thousand pounds just one month ago.
He was approaching the realm of true legends.
The transformation released in a surge of light. The giant form condensed, compressed, until Naruto stood at his normal height.
He examined himself with quiet satisfaction.
One point eight meters tall. His proportions were perfect—the golden ratio made manifest. His eyes shone with an inner light, bright as stars. His golden hair caught the breeze, flowing like silk. The merging of body, energy, and spirit had reached a new threshold, granting him an air of effortless naturalness.
His aura harmonized with the world around him, blending seamlessly with nature itself.
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