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When Ino got home, even the delicate pastries her mother had prepared tasted like ash. She sat by her bedroom window, fingers twisting the hem of her blouse as the afternoon's events replayed in her mind.
What on earth does Mizuki want with Naruto? She vividly remembered her father, Inoichi, mentioning the man over dinner months ago. Mizuki had been stripped of his teaching credentials after rumors surfaced that he had "liquidated" an injured teammate during a mission to ensure its success. That kind of cold-blooded betrayal was the antithesis of everything Naruto believed in.
Only someone as good-natured as Naruto would still call that man "teacher," Ino thought bitterly. That golden-haired boy treated everyone like family, even the snakes in the grass.
Driven by a sudden sense of dread, Ino stood up. She had to tell her father. If Mizuki was whispering in Naruto's ear, it could only mean trouble. But as she reached the door to Inoichi's study, the voice from within froze her mid-step.
"Lord Inoichi, Uzumaki Naruto has fled toward the eastern forest with the Scroll of Seals. Hokage-sama orders you to pursue him immediately."
It can't be… Ino's world tilted. She clapped a hand over her mouth, stumbling back. Naruto would never do that. Never.
Inside the study, Inoichi's face was a mask of professional stoicism, but his mind was racing. Naruto stealing the scroll was one thing, but the Sandaime specifically sending an Anbu to him—the head of the Yamanaka—was a pointed maneuver. Was this a test of his clan's loyalty, given how close Ino had become to the Jinchuriki?
"Naruto's not that kind of person! That bastard Mizuki must have tricked him!" Ino shoved the door open, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and fear.
"That's enough, Ino! This is a matter of state!" Inoichi barked, though he shot a subtle, warning glance at his daughter. He turned back to the dog-masked Anbu. "Understood. I'll set out at once and bring him back alive for the Sandaime."
He emphasized the word alive for both the Anbu's benefit and Ino's heart. Taking her hand, he led her out of the house. Once they were clear of the shadows, he leaned in and whispered, "Ino, run to the Nara estate. Tell Uncle Shikaku everything. I'll find Naruto first and make sure he hasn't been led into a trap."
Ino wiped her eyes, nodding firmly. "I understand, Dad. Please... be careful with him."
As Inoichi vanished over the rooftops toward the forest, Ino spun around and sprinted toward the Nara compound. When a crisis hit, the Yamanaka provided the heart, but the Nara provided the brain.
The Hyuga Estate
Hyuga Hiashi sat in perfect seiza as he listened to the Anbu's report. "Tell the Sandaime to rest easy," he said, his voice a cool breeze. "There is no escape from the Byakugan. I will retrieve the boy and the scroll."
Once the Anbu vanished, a small figure outside the sliding door let out a muffled gasp. Hanabi was trembling. Big Brother Naruto... a traitor? The boy who sparred with her, who cooked those amazing meals, who smiled like the sun—defected?
Big Sis! Hanabi realized. She needs to know! She lifted her hems and sprinted through the corridors toward Hinata's quarters.
Deep in the Forest
Naruto, hunched over the unfurled Scroll of Seals in a moonlit clearing, was blissfully unaware that the "cast" of tonight's play had been upgraded. Iruka wasn't coming; two Clan Heads were.
But he didn't care. His eyes were wide as he scanned the forbidden ink.
Multiple Shadow Clone... Flying Thunder God... Eight Gates... Edo Tensei...
"This is a literal goldmine!" Naruto whispered. He spotted the Eight Gates and grinned; he'd already mastered the Gate of Limits under Guy, but seeing the theoretical framework here was enlightening.
His eyes lingered on the Flying Thunder God. He began memorizing the formulas at a speed that would have made an Uchiha's head spin. He knew he might never get this chance again.
Outside the clearing, Inoichi Yamanaka crouched on a branch, his sensory net locked onto Naruto's chakra. A "kind" smile curled his lips as he rubbed his knuckles.
Finally, Inoichi thought, his eyes glinting with a mix of duty and paternal "vengeance." I've got a legitimate excuse to give this blond brat the 'lesson of love' he deserves.
Every time Ino talked about Naruto, her eyes sparkled a little too much for Inoichi's comfort. The family cabbage was rolling toward the pig, and as a father, Inoichi had been itching to "educate" the pig for a long, long time.
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