Return to the Village, Return Home, A Reunion [3]

"I can't eat anymore, really can't eat anymore~~~"

Sakura leaned back in her chair, patting her slightly rounded stomach in satisfaction.

Throughout the meal, Haruno Kizashi kept serving her food.

She had just eaten barbecue with Ino and the others, and now she was having a home-cooked meal filled with her mom's love. No matter how much she could normally eat, this was pushing her limits.

Even if Sakura's cravings were strong, her stomach had reached its limit.

At this moment, Sakura felt a bit envious of Hinata.

With Hinata's appetite, this amount of food was probably just a breeze.

"Sweetheart, time to wash the dishes~~~"

Seeing her beloved daughter finish eating, Haruno Mebuki looked at the battlefield of dishes on the table with satisfaction, then turned her gaze to Haruno Kizashi.

"Yes, ma'am!"

Haruno Kizashi didn't hesitate and immediately started cleaning up.

This made Sakura reflect a bit—this used to be her job.

Maybe she should go out more often so that chores like washing dishes and cleaning wouldn't fall on her anymore?

Still, tonight was probably not a good time to leave.

After all, she had just come back; running off to Tsunade's place the same day didn't seem very appropriate...

--

The night wind blew briskly, ruffling golden strands of hair. A blond-haired boy sat on the rooftop, gazing at the scattered lights of Konoha.

His bright blue eyes looked a bit downcast.

He wasn't stupid or clueless.

Sakura was definitely hiding something from him.

He had also gone to Sasuke's house earlier, but Sasuke wasn't home.

Something was off...

Everyone was acting strangely.

It wasn't just Sakura—Asuma-sensei was also hiding something from him.

But Naruto had no idea what they were keeping from him.

It was as if everyone had once again isolated him.

However, Naruto could tell whether their intentions were malicious or kind.

Sakura and Asuma's intentions were kind...

"Hey..."

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Naruto's heart.

"See? They're abandoning you again."

The voice belonged to the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside him.

"..."

Naruto didn't respond. He just kept staring at Konoha's nighttime scenery, which he had already seen countless times.

"Want to know why?"

"Why are they keeping you in the dark?"

The malicious, tempting voice resonated within the boy's mind.

"...Why?"

Naruto remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"Go to a certain place, and you'll find out."

The Nine-Tailed Fox's words always carried a hint of manipulation, but Naruto's curiosity got the better of him. He stood up despite himself.

Having been the second Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Kushina Uzumaki had lived in a certain place before her marriage. Naturally, the Nine-Tails was well aware of it.

Under the deliberate guidance of the Nine-Tails, Naruto gradually made his way toward an unknown destination.

The Two-Tails.

Because the tailed beasts shared a unique connection, the Nine-Tails knew that the Two-Tails was currently in Konoha.

It wasn't that the Nine-Tails had any other motives—he simply wanted to see the Two-Tails.

As for what would happen if Naruto found out? That had nothing to do with the great Nine-Tails.

The stillness of the night could not stop Naruto's determined steps.

Even though he knew the Nine-Tails might have ulterior motives, his simple-minded curiosity still drove him to seek the truth.

Why was everyone keeping secrets from him?

Beneath the moonlit sky, Naruto unknowingly arrived at a forest. In front of him stood a pavilion.

He had never been here before.

He didn't expect to find such a place.

What caught his attention, however, was the figure by the second-floor window.

The person was dressed in a simple white robe, with long golden hair fluttering in the night breeze. Their delicate features and pale, almost sickly skin exuded a fragile beauty.

Naruto stared dumbfounded at the person on the second floor—Yugito Nii.

There was a feeling.

A feeling he had once experienced with Gaara.

This person was just like him.

At that moment, the Nine-Tails, seeing through Naruto's eyes, also looked at Yugito.

Or rather, at the Two-Tails sealed within her.

"Matatabi, it's been a while..."

----

The night breeze was slightly cool. Naruto stood there, staring blankly at the figure by the second-floor window, feeling an impulse to go up and strike a conversation.

Yugito naturally noticed the blonde boy as well, but with her heart as stagnant as dead water, she paid no attention to this unexpected visitor.

Just a Konoha ninja, nothing more.

"Do not approach."

Naruto was about to move forward when a dark figure suddenly blocked his path.

The newcomer wore an ANBU uniform, an animal mask concealing their face, and a standard ninja sword strapped to their back.

Naruto was no stranger to this attire. The ANBU was directly under the Hokage's command. Sakura had once been part of this mysterious unit, and because of her, Naruto had developed a natural fondness for them.

"Huh?"

Naruto looked at the ANBU member in front of him with dissatisfaction.

He had come here precisely to find out why everyone seemed to be hiding something from him.

How could he just leave without getting answers?

"Uzumaki Naruto. This is your first warning."

"Leave now."

Tenzō's tone was calm as he addressed the young man before him.

As Konoha's sole wood-release user, Tenzō was responsible for guarding the Two-Tails jinchūriki.

He was fully aware of the boy's identity—Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki and a former subordinate of Haruno Sakura, who was one of Naruto's friends.

Because of that, Tenzō couldn't resort to violence to drive him away.

What puzzled Tenzō more, however, was how Naruto had found this place.

Was he really just out for a midnight stroll?

"Who is she?"

Naruto ignored Tenzō's warning and instead inquired about Yugito's identity.

"It's none of your concern, Uzumaki Naruto. This is your second warning. Don't make me take action."

Tenzō felt a headache coming on as he faced Naruto's stubbornness. He discreetly signaled to a hidden ANBU member in the corner, who immediately vanished from sight.

From above, Yugito observed the tense standoff between the two. Her eyes flickered with a hint of interest.

Who was this blonde kid?

Some high-ranking official's brat from Konoha?

Even the ANBU were treating him with such courtesy.

Indeed, while Tenzō's tone seemed stern, Yugito considered it to be relatively polite.

Any other village's ANBU encountering this situation would have already driven the intruder away immediately, resorted to violence, or even drawn their blade without hesitation.

But here they were, giving two consecutive warnings and still refraining from action.

Was this kid the Hokage's biological son or something?

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