Chapter 60
Hyuga Natsu suddenly knelt, her knees and palms touching the cold kitchen tiles.
A sudden, invisible force suppressed her.
This force was the embodiment of a superior's oppression over a weaker being.
It was like in the original story, when Kakashi saw Orochimaru and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, even seeing illusions of his own head separated from his body.
Unable to move, kneeling, seeing illusions... these were all natural reactions.
This also showed that Naruto's strength had absolutely crushed Hyuga Natsu.
Now, he had merely released his true aura.
And it was this fall that brought her even closer to Naruto.
And closer to... that terrifying, abyssal Tailed Beast.
A scorching aura was right by her ear, and a few strands of dark green hair gently brushed against the Tailed Beast.
Naruto, with a cold expression, then uttered two words in a low voice: "..."
Sizzle~!
..."Naruto-kun~."
Hinata, next door, slept soundly; she didn't know what was happening in the kitchen.
Sniffing the scent on her quilt, she had a beautiful dream.
In her dream, she and Naruto played happily.
She also dreamed that Naruto had found a way to cure her mother.
And she even dreamed of her soon-to-be-born younger sister coming into this world and gradually growing up... Hyuga Natsu: "Wuwu~!".
Chapter 3. Sako: Uzumaki Naruto, I can't play with you anymore.
Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the reports from Yūgao Uzuki and Gekkō Hayate, his brows furrowing even more.
The fact that 'Naruto is a fox demon' was widely known to the Konoha public.
But the public usually had a misconception, believing that Naruto *was* the Nine-Tailed.
In reality, Naruto was merely the Nine-Tailed's vessel, a Jinchuriki; he was not the fox demon itself.
The reason for this misunderstanding was Konoha's long-standing Tailed Beast sealing policy.
Not only had they always sealed the Nine-Tailed, with no intention of using it, but they also sealed all knowledge about Tailed Beasts.
This point... was what differentiated Konoha from other countries.
Other countries actively utilized everything about Tailed Beasts, while Konoha consistently maintained a ban.
Over time, it was natural for many misunderstandings to arise.
The current problem was:
Did Uchiha Shisui also misunderstand Naruto, believing that the boy was the Nine-Tailed itself?
The lack of "Tailed Beast knowledge system" education created such a large group of "illiterates."
When these "illiterates" started to speculate wildly behind closed doors, disasters that shouldn't have happened would occur as a result.
The feeling of Konoha shooting itself in the foot... was truly not good at all.
But what if... what if Uchiha Shisui wasn't acting for personal reasons?
Assuming he did know the truth of Naruto's identity, knowing that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son... that is, Uchiha Fugaku had told Shisui these things.
Then, did this mean that the Uchiha knew and acted intentionally?
Did they truly intend to use the Nine-Tailed within Naruto?
Once suspicion arises, it is not easily dispelled.
When Danzo's suspicions became a possible reality, what would become of the Uchiha Clan?
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately fell into a prisoner's dilemma.
The Uchiha problem was a historical issue since the village's founding.
But at the same time, the Uchiha were also a part of Konoha, comrades to everyone.
How to deal with this clan was a constantly vexing problem.
Especially... upon learning that Itachi's second assessment score even surpassed Minato Namikaze, making him the greatest genius since the village's founding.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood became particularly complex.
The Uchiha's long-standing problem was actually that no Hokage had ever emerged from their ranks.
With Itachi's talent, becoming Hokage was actually only a matter of time.
But now his clansmen were impatient, eager to cause trouble.
This would not only ruin Itachi but also the Uchiha Clan itself.
Let's reassign Uchiha Shisui to the front lines first... and then observe the reactions of the other Uchiha clansmen... Hiruzen Sarutobi made up his mind, deciding to send Uchiha Shisui back to the battlefield.
If other Uchiha strongmen were to approach Naruto again, then he would specifically implement the next step of action.
"Yūgao, Hayate, for the next period, the matter of protecting Naruto will be entrusted to the two of you..."
To make it more convenient to guard Naruto, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to involve Gekkō Hayatein this mission as well.
Yūgao, Hayate: "Yes!"
...Chichiichi~~~!
"Hoo..."
Naruto let out a long breath, feeling refreshed.
He turned and left the kitchen, leisurely returning to the living room.
Hinata, covered by the quilt, was still sound asleep.
The Tailed Beast Partner slowly quieted down, also falling into slumber.
Everything was fine.
Whoosh—
He pulled open the balcony window, and the spring breeze blew in, drawing away the excess heat.
Naruto sat cross-legged on the terrace, beginning a new round of Yin Release training.
At this moment, Naruto's mind was calm, and the accumulated negative effects had been temporarily dispelled.
Next, it would be another day of rapid progress!
At the same time, in the kitchen.
The branch family's maid sat slumped on the floor, her back and head leaning against the lower cabinet door.
The bright morning sun outside the window shone in, illuminating her head, which was slightly tilted to one shoulder.
Her once lively white eyes were now vacant, and endless sorrow permeated her gaze.
Her thin lips were slightly parted, as if letting out a silent scream.
Her entire pretty face was covered with the residual Chakra of the demonic Tailed Beast.
Crystalline tears slid from the corners of her eyes, finally dripping onto her pristine maid uniform... By the time Hinata woke up, it was already afternoon.
The sun was setting, and dusk was approaching.
Hinata rubbed her eyes and turned to look at the refreshed house.
Evidently, after a full day of cleaning, the room had become even tidier.
Rustle... rustle... sounds of sweeping came from outside the door.
Hinata got up, left the quilt, walked to the entrance, and looked out, seeing A Xia sweeping the stairs with a broom.
Where is Naruto-kun?
Hinata looked around, finally finding Narutomeditating cross-legged on the terrace.
A moment later.
Hinata and Hyuga Natsu stood at the door, ready to leave.
Hinata, with a flushed face, was completely focused on Naruto and didn't notice Hyuga Natsu's unusual state.
Because if she had looked closely, she would have noticed her maid's slightly red eyes and unusually downcast expression.
"A Xia did a really good job cleaning..."
At this moment, Naruto suddenly scratched his head and showed a happy smile.
Hyuga Natsu, who had been named, immediately trembled, an almost instinctive reaction.
"Next time... when you come to play, Hinata, please bring A Xia along too~!"
Naruto's implication in his words, "next time"... made Hyuga Natsu's expression immediately turn sorrowful and resistant.
From Naruto's perspective, if Hyuga Natsu could come regularly, delivering him once every so often.
Then this would mean he had a fixed method to dispel the negative effects of his training.
"No problem~!"
Hinata readily agreed.
As long as Naruto-kun is happy... she thought to herself.
After the two left.
Naruto looked at the darkening sky: "It's getting late... time to go have dinner."
...Ichiraku Ramen shop.
Naruto lifted the curtain and walked in.
"It's Naruto!"
Teuchi looked up, and seeing Naruto arrive, he couldn't help but feel happy.
If he remembered correctly, this was the first time Naruto had come when other customers were present.
Is the young man finally slowly becoming unafraid of other people?