Chapter 4
Now that Sasuke had become Sako, and he had also met Mikoto-aunt, Kushina's best friend.
This further solidified Naruto's resolve to change everything.
Nine-Tailed: "Don't you want others to see your transformed appearance? Why? Your current power is already extremely strong..."
Ignoring the Nine-Tailed's tempting whispers from behind, Naruto, whose strength had risen another notch, quickly returned to his doorstep.
"Hmm?"
Just as he was about to open the door, Narutokeenly sensed something.
On the ground, a few golden hairs were casually swept into the dust in the corner.
However, the strand of hair that should have been placed in the door crack was gone.
Naruto: "Did... did my house get robbed?"
With the identity of a Jinchuriki, Naruto didn't believe his living environment was 100% safe.
He wouldn't let his guard down even a little.
So, who broke into my house?
Naruto immediately left the door, climbed to the floor above, and planned to enter his home directly from the terrace... Chapter Four. The First Prey · Yūgao Uzuki
— Time rewound to one hour ago.
As the first ray of morning sun shone into Konoha.
Yūgao Uzuki opened her eyes precisely on time.
She got up, washed, dressed, and tidied her appearance.
A beautiful face was reflected in the mirror.
Her originally ear-length short hair, after years of growth, now almost reached her waist.
Her long purple hair, illuminated by the morning sun, exuded a healthy luster.
Her snow-like skin made her look like a delicate porcelain doll.
Her naturally beautiful cherry lips, without the need for lipstick, reflected a breathtakingly vibrant beauty.
Nodding with great satisfaction, Yūgao Uzukiwalked into the kitchen and began preparing today's breakfast.
Simple yet delicious food soon emitted a fragrant aroma.
After finishing all of this, she took off her apron and walked out of her house with the food.
Her childhood friend next door had also woken up by then and begun his day's training.
"Hayate, good morning."
The peer her age with dark circles under his eyes, Gekkō Hayate.
They had grown up as close neighbors and childhood friends. They entered the Ninja Academytogether, trained together, graduated together... It wasn't until they became official Ninja that their paths initially diverged.
"Yūgao, morning."
With a smile, Gekkō Hayate watched his beautiful childhood friend walk into his courtyard.
Due to his advantage in the Hiding with Camouflage Technique, he served as a member of the reconnaissance squad.
Currently, all was well.
— Except for the hereditary illness caused by his Bloodline Limit, the Hiding with Camouflage Technique.
Soon, the two, chatting and laughing, entered the residence.
"Today's food is quite delicious."
Gekkō Hayate, holding a knife and fork, couldn't help but smile happily as he looked at this "love breakfast."
His Ninja path was steadily progressing, and he always had such an excellent girlfriend by his side.
What more could he regret?
"Hayate, you say that every day," Yūgao sat across the table, not intending to eat anything.
This usually indicated that a special or important mission awaited her.
In fact, Yūgao Uzuki had been a member of the Anbu for several years.
Some individuals with special talents were even specially selected during their Genin period.
And Yūgao... was one of them.
The higher-ups believed she possessed strong leadership abilities and relatively excellent personal skills.
If properly nurtured, she would undoubtedly become a pillar of the Anbu in the future.
Today, she was to be further promoted and join the renowned Anbu Squad Six.
It was said that Kakashi Hatake, the "Hero of the Sharingan, the Copy Ninja," was in this Anbusquad.
To prepare for the potentially brutal assessment mission, breakfast... was directly skipped.
After Gekkō Hayate finished breakfast and put down his knife and fork, his childhood friend skillfully cleared the dishes, intending to take them back to wash.
Clap.
He reached out and gently held his childhood friend's wrist.
"Yūgao, let me wash the dishes today..."
He was very grateful to his childhood friend who had always taken care of him.
To prevent Yūgao from being distracted, he decided... that he would handle such small matters.
This way, Yūgao could wholeheartedly face the first assessment of Anbu Squad Six.
"Okay, Hayate."
Yūgao smiled faintly, their hearts connected.
She turned and left.
Watching his childhood friend leave in a hurry, Gekkō Hayate couldn't help but take a deep breath, then began to cough.
"Cough, cough, cough... The old problem..."
Shaking his head, the owner of the Hiding with Camouflage Technique Bloodline Limit began to clear the table... Anbu Squad Six's secret preparation room.
Yūgao, emerging from the changing room, had already changed her attire.
A white base, with a cat-ear-shaped pattern mask, covered her face.
The Anbu uniform tightly hugged her figure.
Her jade-like arms were exposed. Paired with her waterfall-like purple long hair, it created a highly distinctive personal appearance.
She headed towards the entrance.
Here, Yūgao Uzuki met her future colleagues.
They varied in height and build, some tall, some short, some strong, some thin.
The silver-haired youth in the center of the team was very conspicuous.
Long time no see, Senior Kakashi... Yūgao, who had known of Kakashi's fame since her Ninja Academydays, had admired him for years as a junior.
After all, the aura around him was too dazzling.
Whether it was graduating from the Ninja Academy after only half a year of enrollment, or being a disciple of the deceased Fourth Hokage, having participated in the Third Ninja World War... all these legendary experiences made him an object of admiration for junior Ninja.
Click.
She lifted her mask, letting it rest on the side of her head.
Revealing one's true face also signified confirmation of identity.
Thus, Yūgao watched Kakashi, while retrieving information from her mind and waiting for the assessment mission to arrive.
However, his next words made her slightly stunned.
"Yūgao Uzuki, Hokage-sama will directly assign your assessment mission. Report to the HokageOffice..."
Although there were slight questions, Anbu Ninja's duty was ultimately to obey orders.
"Yes!"
After nodding, Yūgao, having put her mask back on, immediately brushed past everyone and left the Anbu base.
Watching the distant young girl, the expressions beneath everyone's masks varied.
"What a beautiful junior..."
"Don't get any ideas, she has a boyfriend!"
"Who?"
"It's that Hiding with Camouflage Technique guy."
"Oh, oh~, the inheritor of the Hiding with Camouflage Technique Bloodline Limit... Gekkō Hayate of the reconnaissance squad..."
Kakashi directly ignored his companions' conversation.
Kakashi, seemingly knowing something, couldn't help but look towards the Hokage Rock above his head... "Senior Kakashi~," Tenzo next to him noticed his change.
"I just... haven't prepared myself to see my teacher's child..."
Kakashi's murmur made Tenzo understand the key point.
So, he had pushed the mission to Yūgao Uzuki... But no matter what, it should be fine, this mission.
After all, the Jinchuriki was very young, and the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style set by the Fourth Hokage was also quite sturdy, so this junior would surely complete it safely.
He just didn't know when Senior Kakashi's heart ailment would be completely cured... Tenzo thought... Departing from the Anbu base, after several transfers, Yūgao soon arrived at the Hokage Office and appeared in the room.
"Hokage-sama..."
Yūgao, kneeling on one knee, looked up and saw the middle-aged man standing by the window with his hands behind his back.
Time flew by.
Years had, after all, left their mark on Hokage-sama.
The increasing appearance of white hair signified his aging.
It had to be said, this was a very distressing thing.
"Yūgao, you've arrived..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around, his benevolent face causing Yūgao to immediately lower her head.
"No need to be so formal... This mission is not dangerous."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down, then lit his pipe and puffed away.
He remained silent for a while, which made Yūgaocouldn't help but recall the situation when she had met Kakashi earlier.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, lost in thought, finally spoke after five minutes of silence: "Your assessment mission is to deliver this stack of living expenses to the home of a young boy named Uzumaki Naruto..."
Taking a stack of money from the drawer, Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed it towards Yūgao.
Instantly recognizing the denominations of the money, Yūgao immediately determined that it was equivalent to an orphan's monthly living expenses