Chapter 107
However, after meeting Danzo, Naruto's confidence naturally swelled.
He was the protagonist, the Child of Prophecy, the Fourth Hokage's son, the fated one… No matter what villain, he would defeat them, correct them, and make them understand the true meaning of the will of fire.
"Naruto~, you can do it~!"
Little Shion clenched her fists, cheering for Naruto.
Her eyes sparkled, and her face, similar to Hinata's, had a completely different temperament.
But regardless of whether she was outgoing or not, her degree of giving herself away was about the same as Hinata's… Chapter 49: A Celestial Descends to the Mortal Realm, Learning Techniques from Shion's Mother~
The priestess's residence.
Because Asuma had left, Hiruzen Sarutobispecifically vacated his ancestral home to serve as the priestess's new lodging.
With the combined protection of the direct Anbusquad and the Uchiha, this time… even if Moryo himself came, nothing like what happened last time could possibly occur.
The Japanese-style hall, cleaned spotlessly.
The priestess knelt at the head of the room.
Naruto, who had undergone the waterfall training ritual, was dressed in a dark kimono, sitting upright and proper.
To teach Naruto Sealing Technique, for the priestess, such a sacred teaching ceremony naturally required her to wear her most solemn attire.
Which was… the priestess's robes.
White garments with gold trim enveloped the priestess's noble body.
A golden headdress was placed on her waist-length chestnut hair.
The priestess, with a solemn expression, was noble and inviolable, to be admired from afar but not to be touched.
Naruto thought… a woman with such an ethereal temperament was rare in the world.
In all his life, he had met many Ninja, but no one was as otherworldly as the priestess.
She was like a goddess sent down from heaven, a sacred being who existed solely to protect humanity.
"Shion's mother… is so beautiful…"
Naruto sighed inwardly, and the Tailed Beast Partner within him began to stir.
He hadn't had this thought originally, but because the priestess was truly too noble, he… suppressed the Tailed Beast Partner's trembling, and Naruto's heart was as still as water, without the slightest ripple.
Shion, sitting next to Naruto, was also a learner today.
She wore a small priestess's outfit, looking quite cute.
Originally, the priestess did not intend to teach her daughter the dangerous priestess techniques.
But the attack by the Land of Demons Ninjachanged her mind.
Of course, more importantly, the power displayed by Konoha made the priestess believe that even if Shion possessed power more terrifying than Moryo, the people of Konoha would definitely be able to protect her and prevent her from causing greater harm than Moryo.
"Uzumaki Naruto, Shion!"
As the priestess spoke solemnly, her incomparably noble voice immediately echoed through the living room.
The temporary dojo became the place where she would teach her techniques.
The priestess possessed special powers that only priestesses with the bloodline could use throughout generations… like Shion.
However, there were also many techniques that were universal, as well as… techniques circulating among the common people of the Land of Demons, including techniques actively contributed by the guards.
In addition, the priestess was also proficient in Barrier Ninjutsu, especially barriers that were the bane of demons and monsters.
In other words, the priestess was a specialized profession with the power to stop monsters like Tailed Beasts and large summoning creatures.
After a declaration, the prayer ceremony was complete.
The priestess did not believe in gods.
Coincidentally, the Ninja of Konoha also did not believe in gods, but rather revered their ancestors.
To some extent… she, who also commemorated past priestesses, had common ground with them.
The two sides hit it off immediately.
As decided in the previous discussion with the Sandaime, the newly renovated shrine would simultaneously enshrine the memorial tablets of Konoha's ancestors and past priestesses.
On this point, the Konoha higher-ups had no objections, and everyone was pleased.
"Naruto, Shion, next… I will explain to you the meaning of the power I inherited…"
The priestess slightly raised her eyes, looking out of the living room… and then extending her gaze to the blue sky outside.
Sad memories flooded her mind.
It was a debate about whether humanity was worth trusting.
The current Daimyo, her husband, did not trust humans, believing that Moryo's power was the only trustworthy one.
How foolish, how tragic… for the priestess.
To protect this world, to dispel Moryo's power, to ensure the safety of the next generation of priestesses, and to believe… in humanity.
To believe that this world, under the management of its people, would definitely become better.
"Hmph…"
The Nine-Tailed snorted.
It thought the priestess was the foolish one.
Humans… could not be trusted!
This brat in front of him [Naruto] was an example.
He had probably imagined doing who knows what to this foolish human female countless times in his mind.
"Therefore… I hope that you will use the power you learn to trust humanity, love humanity… and seek welfare for all living beings…"
When the compassionate priestess said these words, her face became extremely noble, as if she truly had an ethereal aura surrounding her.
Trust humanity?
Naruto, upon hearing this, was no longer sleepy.
"Priestess-auntie… don't worry, I will definitely make people achieve mutual understanding~."
Naruto declared.
People should understand each other.
What, Raikage, you don't understand me? Rasengan warning!
I, Uzumaki Naruto, convince people with reason.
Whether it's Gaara, or Neji, Nagato, Obito, Raikage… every single one of them will be talked to death by me… oh no, convinced by my reasoning.
"That's great, people understanding each other."
Naruto showed a simple, honest smile.
"When I grow up and become Hokage, I will definitely build that world where people understand each other…"
The will of fire will last for thousands of years, and the Hokage position will be passed down for generations.
No one can disrupt the rules I, Uzumaki Naruto, set!
I just want the title of Hokage to be passed down forever.
Upon hearing Naruto's speech, the priestess was greatly relieved.
Shion, beside her, quickly followed suit, stammering similar words.
But the priestess knew that her daughter's resolve was far from that of this child [Naruto] in front of her.
This would require gradual guidance.
Soon, basic Sealing Technique began to be taught by the priestess… Night.
Naruto, having finished his training, was still recalling the techniques taught by the priestess in his mind.
Walking on the road, Naruto did not notice the ill-intentioned person in the darkness.
After Naruto returned home and closed the door, a shadow stirred, revealing its true form.
The one who appeared was none other than a gloomy, dejected, and darkened Uchiha Izumi.
Izumi, expressionless, had Mangekyo Sharinganglowing with an eerie dark red in her eyes.
"It's all Uzumaki Naruto's fault…"
Her tone also became merciless.
"He must… be punished!!!"
Whoosh… The wind rose, the clouds stirred.
It was a dark and windy night for murder.
Izumi, dressed in a tight outfit, prepared to act tonight to completely finish Uzumaki Naruto!
This was to… exorcise that demon brat!
"What you made me suffer, I will return a thousandfold… Uzumaki Naruto… Uzumaki Naruto…"
A ghost-like voice merged into the wind, and then Izumi's figure disappeared again.
Chapter 50: Izumi's Night Attack, Killing the Tailed Beast Partner [Tenth Update]
The dark house.
Naruto was already asleep.
It was now 10 PM, and not a single sound could be heard throughout Konoha.
It was in such a dark environment that an uninvited guest quietly arrived… Uchiha Izumi opened the window and climbed in from outside.
The moonlight shone on the wooden floor, and also on… Uzumaki Naruto's face.
That sleeping little face looked so kind, completely unlike the cruelty of the daytime.
"What a good disguise…"
Uchiha Izumi's cold murmur escaped her slender lips.
At this moment, the protector in the shadows… Yūgao Uzuki on the opposite tall building, noticed the intruder.