"Sister's energy (ingredients) are insufficient."
This line, no matter how you look at it, carried a strange and slightly dangerous undertone. Under Chinatsu's influence, Sasuke Uchiha had not become the cold, revenge-obsessed boy he originally was during his academy days, but instead… he seemed to be developing a different kind of attachment something bordering on possessive dependence.
Compared to Sasuke, Naruto Uzumaki appeared much more normal.
But
Only by comparison.
Compared to his usual loud, carefree self, even Naruto's behavior had clearly changed.
Time passed slowly.
Each second dragged on like an eternity.
And far away, in another country
Chinatsu felt exactly the same.
Traveling…
…was unbelievably boring.
This kind of content would never survive in a manga adaptation. Entire chapters of just running and jumping between trees? The readers would revolt instantly.
"And unlike Konoha… why is it so hot in the Land of Lightning…"
Chinatsu fanned herself with her palm, her expression slightly annoyed.
Compared to Konohagakure, which was surrounded by forests and had relatively mild seasonal changes, the climate of the Land of Lightning was far harsher, with rocky terrain amplifying the heat during the day.
Enduring the monotony and discomfort
She finally reached the outskirts of Kumogakure.
Without hesitation, she removed her white dress and switched into a dark, fitted outfit suitable for infiltration. A mask followed shortly after.
Her presence disappeared into the environment.
"Finally… time to work."
Her tone shifted.
From traveler
To shinobi.
She pulled out a notebook and pen, crouching slightly as she observed movement within the village.
Instantly, her mindset flipped into information-gathering mode.
But honestly
What useful intelligence could she even gather?
Even without spying, Chinatsu already had a general idea of Kumogakure's situation. Their aggressive diplomatic stance toward Konoha, their reliance on military strength, and their pride as one of the Five Great Nations were all well known.
If she had to name something "explosive"
It would be the future development of the chakra-powered cannon seen in The Last: Naruto the Movie, a weapon capable of destroying the moon.
But that
Didn't exist yet.
Not even as a concept.
So instead
She settled for something simpler.
Public sentiment.
Chinatsu began jotting down observations, slightly exaggerating them as she organized her thoughts:
Kumogakure's defeat in its diplomatic confrontation with Konoha has become a major topic of internal discussion. Selected viewpoints:
Ninja A: "We actually backed down? That's humiliating. We should've gone to war instead!"
Ninja B: "Each Raikage claims to be stronger than the last, but what has really changed? We're still stuck competing with Konoha!"
Ninja C: "Sending such a small force to provoke Konoha what were they thinking? That was doomed from the start."
Ninja D: "First Konoha… next we'll lose to Iwagakure… then Kirigakure… then Sunagakure… we've completely lost face…"
Of course
These weren't direct quotes.
But the meaning was accurate enough.
After all, intelligence reports didn't need to be perfectly literal they needed to be useful.
"Done."
She snapped the notebook shut with satisfaction.
"A whole week of travel… for about an hour of work."
She grinned.
"Efficient as always."
Stretching slightly, she prepared to leave
Then paused.
"…Should I bring something back?"
Naruto and Sasuke had been training hard.
And
She had been gone longer than expected.
A small gift wouldn't hurt.
After a brief moment of thought, she decided to explore the village marketplace.
Blending into the crowd with a simple disguise, Chinatsu moved toward Kumogakure's commercial district.
The moment she entered
She understood.
"Ah… so this is their specialty…"
Beef.
High-quality, protein-rich beef.
And strong alcohol.
Typical of a village that valued strength and physical power.
While she had no interest in alcohol
Beef, on the other hand
Was perfect.
"Naruto and Sasuke are still growing… they need proper nutrition…"
She muttered, then subconsciously stood on her toes.
"…And I need it too…"
Currently
Her height was just under 160 cm.
Closer to 150 cm.
For a thirteen-year-old girl, that wasn't unusual.
But
She wasn't satisfied.
In the future, both Naruto and Sasuke would surpass 180 cm in height.
She refused to end up significantly shorter.
"At least 160… no, more if possible…"
Her eyes sharpened.
A completely unnecessary
But deeply personal
Goal was set.
With renewed determination, she stepped into a butcher shop.
The owner immediately greeted her warmly.
Three reasons:
Customer.
Beautiful customer.
Ninja customer.
The Kumogakure forehead protector she carried made her identity convincing enough. No complicated disguise was necessary though she remained cautious about encountering Yugito Nii again.
"Miss ninja! Buying beef? How much? Lean? Fatty? With bone?"
The owner spoke enthusiastically.
Chinatsu, however
Had no idea how to judge quality cuts.
But
That didn't matter.
Because in this world
She wasn't poor.
She was an Uchiha.
Without hesitation, she pulled out a thick stack of Land of Lightning currency.
The effect
Was immediate.
The shop owner froze for a split second.
"Give me the best cuts you have. Lean and fatty. I trust your judgment… for the sake of this."
She casually waved the money.
Pure financial dominance.
Chinatsu: Try scamming me and I'll buy your entire shop out of spite.
Shop owner: "…Y-Yes! Right away!"
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