089: Konoha's Hidden Treasure

Feeling the warm, moist touch, Natsuki's heart skipped a beat. 

Both of them could feel the trace of warm sake on each others lips. 

Kurenai was the first to recover, slightly turning her head to break the contact. 

To ease the awkwardness, she lightly flicked Natsuki on the head.

"Stupid Natsuki, why did you suddenly turn your head? You scared me."

"What? You're blaming me after you scared me first!" Natsuki retorted. 

When it came to arguing, as long as his sister didn't cheat, he'd never lost.

"Hmph, little brat. If I say you're wrong, you're wrong. Don't talk back." She was definitely cheating.

"Let's eat before the food gets cold," Natsuki said, rolling his eyes and changing the subject.

They then quickly devoured the food on the table, almost as if competing with each other. 

It had been a long time since they'd had such a carefree dinner. Unknowingly, they drank several large cups of sake.

"Alright, let's clean up tomorrow. I'm tired today. I'm going to bed." Natsuki snatched the last bottle of sake, preventing Kurenai from drinking anymore. 

He yawned and headed towards his bedroom.

"Ah, no! Let me have three more sips!" Kurenai pleaded, her voice slurred, slapping the table twice. 

Once she was drunk, she couldn't hold up her dignity as the older sister.

"Heh, no way!" Natsuki chuckled, shaking the bottle in his hand. Just as his sister lunged forward with a whine, he slammed the door shut.

"You heartless bastard! I changed your diapers and raised you..." Kurenai pounded on the door a few times. 

Then, shaking her slightly dizzy head, her eyes darted around before she retrieved a key from a cupboard in the next room.

Back in his bedroom, Natsuki placed the sake bottle on the table and once again took out the crystal cores dropped by the beast. 

He crushed five of them one by one. 

As expected, the chakra within his body immediately surged. 

His chakra, which was already comparable to a Kage-level ninja, doubled after absorbing the energy from the five crystal cores, reaching a terrifying level.

Although it hadn't reached the nearly infinite level of the Nine-Tails, it was definitely no weaker than Kisame, who was known as the "Tailless-Tailed Beast." 

Moreover, as he grew rapidly after becoming a Genin, he could output even more chakra and gain even more terrifying strength.

Today was his lucky day, having gained both strength and reputation. 

Sleepiness washed over him, and Natsuki finally drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.

A moment later, the doorknob quietly turned. 

Kurenai snuck in.

"Hmph! You're still too naive to try and outsmart me." Seeing that her brother was indeed asleep, she couldn't help but feel the thrill of doing something wrong. 

She picked up the sake bottle from the desk and took a big gulp.

Glug, glug, glug!

Midway through, remembering that her brother disliked her drinking habit, she reluctantly put it down.

"Hic... Hehe, well, that's enough." She took one last look at her brother, gently closed the door, and returned to her own room to rest.

Half an hour later, Natsuki's door opened. 

Kurenai, in her pajamas, had returned.

"Sigh...I can't fall asleep without cuddling something once I'm drunk..."

She slipped into the bed, gently hugged the Natsuki-shaped pillow, and gradually fell asleep.

The next morning.

The dazzling sunlight streamed into the room, waking Natsuki first. 

Just as he was about to get up, he found he couldn't move.

Sleep paralysis?

He opened his eyes, his mind gradually clearing, and realized that his sister was clinging to him like an octopus.

"It's you again."

Natsuki freed his right hand and pinched Kurenai's nose. 

Her black, silky hair spread out, covering half of her face as she let out a lazy groan.

Just as he was about to wake her up, Natsuki suddenly realized he seemed to have morning wood. 

To make matters worse, Kurenai's eyelids fluttered, as if she was about to wake up.

Natsuki quickly withdrew his hand, closed his eyes, and pretended to be asleep! 

All in one smooth motion.

"Mmm..." Kurenai squinted at the bright window.

"It's morning already?"

"Hmph! You lazy little pig, you're still sleeping?" Kurenai looked at Natsuki, whom she was embracing, and reached out with her left hand to pinch his nose. 

They were truly siblings. However, this action made her easily aware of something unusual.

What's this thing poking my stomach? Her hand explored downwards.

But her one hand couldn't grasp it's full length. 

Kurenai frowned. 

Why would he be hiding something like this while sleeping? 

She didn't notice her brother's body trembling.

A moment later, realizing what it was, Kurenai quickly withdrew her arm and calmly covered him with the blanket. 

She tiptoed out of the room and gently closed the door. 

Soon after, the sound of Kurenai crashing into a table and the clatter of broken dishes echoed from outside.

…

At the Hokage Residence.

Hiruzen leaned on his walking stick, meticulously wrapping bandages around his head. Balder, yet stronger.

Yesterday's rampage by the Blazing Evil Beast had resulted in heavy property damage, with a large area of buildings destroyed. Though the buildings were mostly shops owned by the Elder Council.

Compared to the other elders, who suffered losses and gained nothing, he was better off. 

At least he, the Hokage, now possessed two photos that could be passed down through generations, letting everyone know that the Third Hokage was still powerful. 

After all, he had only remained in Konoha during the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, without ever taking action himself. 

Although he had thrown out his back, lost his hair to fire, and seemed to have become a side character to a certain young man, these were minor issues.

…

Hiruzen stared at the uniquely shaped, incredibly imposing greatsword on the table.

"Grandpa, is this the sword that Konoha's hero, Natsuki, used?" Konohamaru's eyes shone brightly as he stared intently at the weapon on the table.

Yes, it was the sword Natsuki had used yesterday. 

The divine sword that had saved Konoha from destruction, obliterating the explosion along with the beast. 

When the Hokage asked Natsuki about the source of his immense power, Natsuki had answered that he didn't know. 

He had simply seen the Hokage in danger and, without thinking, drawn the sword to slash at the destructive red flames.

Considering Natsuki's concern for the Hokage's safety and his contribution of the invincible divine sword to be Konoha's treasured artifact, Hiruzen decided not to pursue the matter further. 

After all, he was indeed old and gradually losing his strength. Now, he could only place his hopes on the younger generation to catch up with Konoha's group of super geniuses. 

Asuma was a lost cause. He had been… quite spoiled. 

Thus, he placed that hope upon Konohamaru, seeing as how so many miraculous things have been brought on by these young individuals as of late. 

Perhaps Konohamaru possessed the same potential?

"...Grandpa, can I really borrow this sword?" Konohamaru was overjoyed, eager to show off this giant sword to his friends, including his newly acquainted big brother, Naruto. 

Of course, he now had another idol to admire, Yuhi Natsuki.

"Yes, are you happy? But you must train hard in ninjutsu and not neglect your practice. Besides, this is a priced sword of the village and cannot be taken outside for now." Hiruzen ruffled his grandson's hair.

"Mm-hmm. Don't worry, I'll definitely train hard." Konohamaru agreed happily at first, but then he became unhappy upon hearing the second half of his grandfather's sentence. 

Wouldn't this mean he couldn't show off in front of his friends? Wait, if he couldn't take it out, couldn't he invite his friends to his house? 

The quick-witted Konohamaru immediately found a way to show off and couldn't help but giggle.

"So, what was its name again? I'll lend it to you for now. Be careful not to damage it." Hiruzen frowned, unable to recall the sword's name.

"It's called the Nine Nether Heaven-Severing Roaring Immortal-Slaying Great Sword!" Konohamaru loudly reminded him.

At this name, Hiruzen's face darkened. Something felt…off.

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