Naruto stirred as dawn's light crept through the folds of Team 7's tent. His body twitched beneath the thin sleeping mat, and his breath rasped like some creature crawling out of a deep burrow.
Then his eyes opened. Or rather, they peeled open.
A thin translucent membrane slid back across them, vanishing into the corners. For a moment, only that second set of eyelids showed, a glassy film that gave him an almost inhuman look. When it pulled away, his true eyes shone through… blue, bright as sapphires lit from within, but with a thin vertical slit like a serpent's.
He blinked once, slowly, like someone still deciding whether they had really woken up.
Sakura, already sitting cross-legged nearby and brushing out her hair, froze mid-stroke. Her lips twisted into the same look she always made whenever she caught him waking up like that. "Still can't get used to that," she muttered.
Sasuke, sitting with his back to them and a book open in his lap, gave a low grunt that sounded like agreement.
Naruto rubbed at his eyes and sat up. "What time is it?"
"It's morning. You slept through the whole day yesterday." Sakura set her brush down with a sigh.
Naruto groaned, rolling his shoulders. He reached for Oscar, who had spent the night clinging to Naruto's long hair like it was a nest. The little crystal lizard chirped faintly in his sleep until Naruto gave his hair a light shake, making him tumble onto Naruto's lap.
Sakura gave him a look. Not one of anger exactly, more like mild judgment.
"What?"
"It's unfair," Sakura said, voice flat. "I spend so much time on my hair, and you just wake up with that long, shiny, ridiculous mane." Her hand hovered, then she gave in and ran her fingers through his golden strands. The annoyance on her face eased into reluctant admiration. "You still have to take care of it."
"If you want, you can work my hair. I don't know the first thing about taking care of long hair."
"Really?" Sakura's eyes lit up at once. She grabbed her kit before he could change his mind and set to work. The brush slid through his long hair with slow careful strokes, tugging when she hit a knot.
Naruto leaned forward slightly, eyes half-lidded, letting the quiet rhythm of brushing lull him. His shoulders loosened. Every tug hurt a little, but it was the kind of pain that came with comfort afterward. For a boy who had never really had someone take care of him like this, it felt good. Almost too good.
Sasuke turned a page in his book, ignoring them, or at least pretending to.
"What'cha got there?"
"A book."
"I can see that. What's it about?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
Naruto narrowed his eyes and with a blink of his palmeye, used telekinesis to yank it away. The book floated into his palm and he squinted at the contents. His lips split into a grin. "How to Play the Flute?"
Sakura froze mid-brush. Both she and Naruto stared at Sasuke, who had gone very still. A faint flush crept into his cheeks. He held out his hand stiffly. "Give it here."
"Okay, but why are you interested in the flute all of a sudden?"
"I don't have to tell you anything," Sasuke hissed, eyes narrowing.
"I'm guessing you want to learn the flute so you can frolic through the forest."
Sakura snorted, trying to stifle a laugh. Sasuke's face hardened into something halfway between rage and embarrassment.
"No," he said sharply. "I am learning the flute because Kurenai-sensei used sound as a tool for genjutsu. I was curious if it could be done with a flute."
"So basically… you want to frolic in the forest naked, playing your little flute."
That broke Sakura. She doubled over, laughing so hard her brush nearly slipped from her hands.
Sasuke's jaw tightened. His hand clenched around the book. "Not a word from you, pigtails."
Naruto blinked, confused, until he caught sight of his reflection in Oscar's gem. Sakura had tied his hair into two neat pigtails while he was distracted.
Naruto tilted his head at his reflection and smirked. "I look good," he purred, deliberately tugging on the pigtails. "Admit it, Sasuke. I'm rocking this."
"You look ugly."
"You're just jealous," Naruto shot back, flicking one of the tied locks. "I've got style. You've got a chicken's butt."
"Shut up, dobe."
"So… pigtails?" Sakura asked, brushing the last strand into place as if her work was done.
"Oh no, miss pinky. Don't think you're finished. Get back here and fix my hair properly," Naruto said, pointing dramatically.
"I don't know," Sakura said thoughtfully, turning to Sasuke with mock seriousness. "He actually does look kind of cute like this."
"Hn."
Naruto's face scrunched. "Cute? I am not cute. I am manly! The manliest man!" He grabbed at the ties, fumbling. "Forget this, I'll do it myself."
Sakura slapped his hand away. "Don't touch it! You'll just turn it into a nest. Honestly." She gathered his hair into a ponytail with practiced precision.
Naruto hummed with satisfaction as she worked. But then, out of nowhere, he blurted, "Do you guys still want to go to Lordran?"
The tent went still.
"…What?"
"You heard me," Naruto said, suddenly serious. His lips pressed into a thin line.
"Wasn't it against the rules? You told us Lord Gwyn didn't allow outsiders."
"I mean…" Naruto waved his hand vaguely. "Yes and no."
"Stop dodging," Sasuke said coldly. "You lied to us."
Naruto's shoulders sagged. "Yeah. I did." He let out a heavy breath. "I guess I expected you two to figure it out on your own, but when you asked me the first time, I panicked. I didn't know what to say. So I lied. Said it was against the rules. The truth is… I don't even know if you'd be allowed in. It's complicated. You might be, you might not. But that's not the point."
He stared at the ground. "The point is I lied to my teammates. To my friends. And I hate that. So I want to apologize."
Silence stretched for a beat.
"Apology accepted," Sakura and Sasuke said together.
"…That's it? Just like that?"
Sasuke shut his book with a snap. "What else do you want? Lordran is your domain. Expecting you to hand it over would be unreasonable. Like you asking me for my Sharingan."
Naruto grimaced. "That comparison doesn't even work."
"It works," Sasuke insisted.
"Maybe," Sakura said flatly, rolling her eyes. "But yeah, I get it. And… I owe you an apology too, Naruto."
Naruto looked at her in surprise.
"I pushed you into a corner," she admitted, lowering her gaze. "I wanted to see if Lordran could help me deal with… inner Sakura. I thought maybe there'd be some way to fix what's wrong with me. But I shouldn't have forced that on you. Like Sasuke said, it's your choice."
Naruto's chest tightened. He remembered Solaire's words about true friends respecting his choices. His throat felt tight, but he smiled anyway. "You guys… I love you two. Dattebayo."
The duo felt embarrassed.
Naruto straightened suddenly. "And that's exactly why I'm never taking you into Lordran. End of story. It's too dangerous. One wrong step and you're dead. No retries. No second chances."
"I'm fine with that," Sakura said softly, squeezing his shoulder. "As long as you promise to figure out my problem with her."
Sasuke hummed. His eyes were sharp, thoughtful. Part of him wanted to see what kind of place could make Naruto so cautious, but all he said was, "There are plenty of other summoning realms anyway. I'll stick to those."
Naruto perked up. "Oh yeah? Like what? A cat? You want a cat, don't you?"
Sakura snorted, leaning closer. "He totally wants a cat."
Sasuke glared at her, betrayal written all over his face. "No. Something dangerous."
"Like what?"
"I'll find it in the Uchiha library," Sasuke muttered.
Naruto clapped his hands together, practically bouncing. "Okay, okay, I got it! You give Sakura a summoning contract, she gets her own summon, you get yours, and then all three of us have summons like Oscar that stick around. Imagine it! Team 7 with a whole animal squad!"
"…Animal squad?"
"Yeah!" Naruto said, lifting Oscar like a trophy. "Oscar, plus your summons, plus Sasuke's. Boom! The Team 7 beta squad."
"That's a terrible name," Sasuke said flatly.
"Oscar and his two sidekicks?"
Sakura buried her face in her hands, laughing helplessly. Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Come on, you three. Breakfast is ready," Kakashi said as he stepped into the tent, book still in hand.
"Yay, food!" Naruto shouted, bolting out only to skid to a stop. His face fell instantly. "Sensei… why is that thing still here?"
"Be respectful," Kakashi replied smoothly, his single visible eye flicking toward Jiraiya. The older man sat by the fire, humming to himself while scribbling furiously in his red notebook. His expression was one of pure inspiration, as though he were writing the secrets of the universe.
"I'll try. But why is he still here? Isn't he supposed to be some big important ninja?"
"He is," Kakashi said, lowering his voice just enough for only Naruto to hear. "And he still needs to check on your seal. You remember what that means."
Naruto's jaw tightened. Right. The fox. He hadn't thought about the Nine-Tails in months, not since everything that had happened in Lordran. Part of him wanted to know what state the beast was in, what had changed. But part of him also knew this was his chance to make the old pervert work for it.
"What are you two whispering about?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah," Sasuke added, his tone clipped. "You're acting suspicious."
"I'll tell you later," Naruto said quickly, forcing a grin. He slipped past them toward the food.
"That's a big step," Kakashi commented lightly, almost as if to himself.
Naruto glanced back at him, then at his friends, and said, "I trust my friends to know the difference between me and the fox."
Kakashi gave a subtle nod before following them outside.
They settled down at the low table. Jiraiya glanced up from his notebook with a smirk. "Looks like Sleeping Beauty finally decided to join us."
"Don't call me that," Naruto said flatly, stabbing his chopsticks into a bowl of rice.
"Right, right," Jiraiya chuckled, rubbing his hands together as Inari set more dishes down. "Anyway, I'm sure Kakashi already told you. After breakfast, I'll be checking on your seal. Better safe than sorry."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Tsunami, who was quietly moving between tables. "Pervy Sage… did you apologize to Tsunami-san for peeping on her?"
"…Ah. No?"
"Then go apologize," Naruto said simply.
"Why would I do that? She knows I didn't mean any harm."
Naruto set his bowl down slowly. He took a deep breath, his gaze flicking to Kakashi. The jonin didn't even look up from his book. Just turned the page. That told Naruto everything.
"Fine," Naruto said, standing. "Then you're not laying a finger on me until you do. No apology, no seal check."
"Don't be ridiculous, brat."
Naruto crossed his arms. "Try me." He turned on his heel and went to sit beside Sakura and Sasuke, his back stiff with finality.
Jiraiya clenched his jaw, muttering as he grabbed a dumpling. "That brat is just wasting time at this point."
"An apology doesn't seem like a big ask, Jiraiya-sama."
The older man clicked his tongue, then sighed, shoulders sagging. He rose reluctantly and made his way toward Tsunami.
Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi all watched as the civilian woman carried another tray of food across camp. She didn't flinch. Didn't even break her calm smile. But each time Jiraiya drifted near, her steps curved away from him, her body shifting with quiet precision, like a river slipping past a jagged rock.
Once. Twice. A third time.
Even Jiraiya got the message. His mouth opened, then closed again. He slunk back to his seat without a word, notebook clutched tight against his chest.
Naruto didn't even look at him. He just returned to his rice with a satisfied hum.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
By midmorning, just after ten, Naruto found himself walking alongside Shino in the quiet of the forest. Kurenai had asked him to spend some time with her student, though she had not really explained why.
Naruto kept glancing at the jar in Shino's hands as they walked. Inside, a faint rustling echoed from the cluster of insects crawling against the glass.
"You seem uncomfortable."
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Not uncomfortable. Just… confused." His eyes flicked to the jar again. "You carrying that around isn't helping either."
Shino adjusted his glasses. "I understand. We do not normally spend time together. That in itself is enough to create uncertainty."
"I mean, it's not like I don't want to hang out with you or anything—"
"There is no need to explain, Naruto-san," Shino interrupted calmly. "You are busy. You have your own path. I do not expect you to make time for me."
"Well… I'm here now, right?"
"Indeed. And I am grateful," Shino replied, his face betraying no emotion. He placed a gloved hand on a fallen log. A ripple of motion stirred beneath the bark, and a tide of kikaichū poured out, flowing with mechanical precision into the jar.
"Whoa… that's still creepy, ya know."
Shino tilted his head slightly. "Creepy is a matter of perspective. To me, it is simply natural."
Naruto fished a small notebook out of his pouch, the one Kurenai had given him, and flipped it open. "Okay, so, she told me to help you out. Something about plants, poisons… and bugs."
"Yes." Shino nodded once. "I require poisonous species. My insects will feed on them, digest them, and grow stronger. You may collect what you find."
Naruto brightened. "Alright, leave it to me!" He created half a dozen clones, each darting off into the brush with excited whoops.
An hour later, Shino was regretting his generosity.
"Hey, Shino! What about this one?" A clone came bounding back holding a beetle cupped in its hands.
"That is a stag beetle. Useless."
Another clone appeared, holding a centipede wriggling between its fingers. "This guy any good?"
"No."
Ten minutes later another clone returned, holding a grasshopper. "How about this?"
"No." Shino's voice did not rise, did not falter. He simply repeated himself with cold certainty, each rejection delivered like a gavel strike.
Yet Naruto did not quit. The forest echoed with his endless questions, his simple-minded persistence. And though Shino never smiled, he did not dismiss him either. There was a kind of patience there, even if it was buried under the monotone.
By early afternoon, the jar was heavy with motion. Inside, poisonous beetles, spiders, and wasps crawled over each other, their movements erratic, restless. The sight made Naruto's skin crawl, but Shino's expression never changed.
"Okay," Naruto said, tapping the jar nervously, "so now we just… wait for them to get hungry and eat each other, right?"
Shino shook his head. "Not quite. If we waited for nature, the process would take too long. I have a technique that will accelerate it. It manipulates their instincts, their hunger, their territorial drive."
His hands came together, forming a slow, deliberate seal. Chakra seeped into the jar, faint but precise.
Ninja Art: Hive Frenzy.
The insects inside began to twitch, their movements sharpening. The faint rustle became a hiss, then a chittering chorus. They turned on one another, mandibles tearing, stingers plunging. The sound of clicking legs and snapping carapaces filled the air, a steady grind of survival reduced to its rawest form.
Naruto's eyes went wide. "That's… brutal."
Shino's voice was calm, clinical. "It is efficient. Only the strongest survive, and they carry the venom of all they consumed. That strength is transferred to my kikaichū. What you call brutal, I call refinement."
Naruto scratched his cheek, uneasy. "Man, you say that like you're talking about cooking soup."
"Perhaps it is similar," Shino replied matter-of-factly. He set the jar down on the moss. "Now, we wait. When the frenzy ends, what remains will be useful. What dies will have served its purpose."
Naruto sat back against a tree, watching the jar warily. "You know, you can be really scary sometimes, Shino."
Shino did not look at him. "I hear that often."
Naruto chuckled nervously. "But… it's kinda cool too."
Shino gave no reply. But the faintest tilt of his head suggested he had heard, and perhaps approved.
While the jar hissed and scratched with the sounds of insects devouring one another, Naruto leaned back against the base of a tree. He tilted his head up, watching clouds crawl across the sky. The thought had been nagging at him since they started this whole bug-collecting thing, and he finally let it out.
"Hey, Shino… do your bugs really live inside you?"
"At birth, members of my clan are offered to several special breeds of insects. Our bodies become their nest. They reside beneath the skin, feeding on chakra. In exchange, they obey us, protect us, and grow with us. It is a bond of necessity. It is symbiosis."
Naruto whistled low. He could not help the thought that flashed through his mind: him and the Nine-Tails. A host and a vessel.
"So…" Naruto swallowed before asking, "how does that make you feel?"
"I feel nothing unusual. I was born with this bond. I never lived without it, so I cannot compare my existence to another. To feel burdened by something you have never been free of would be… inefficient."
Naruto frowned. "Do you ever feel like… being the host defines you? Like you're not just Shino, but Shino-the-bug-host?"
"People may see me that way," Shino answered evenly. "But perception does not dictate truth. I am Shino. The insects are part of me. Together, we form a single whole. If others cannot see past that, it is their limitation, not mine."
Naruto felt the weight of that answer settling in his gut. "…Do you hate whoever made you into a host? Like… if you could've lived without the bugs, would you?"
Shino was quiet for a moment. The forest seemed to hum around them. "Hate is an indulgence. The clan does not ask if we wish it. We are born into the contract, as you are born into your village, your family, your destiny. To waste energy resenting what cannot be undone is… illogical. It changes nothing. Acceptance changes everything."
Naruto stared at him, wide-eyed. He was not sure whether to feel impressed or unsettled.
"…Don't you hate that people are always gonna think of you and your bugs together? Like… some people will be scared of you, no matter what. Doesn't that bother you?"
"People already fear what they do not understand. My insects only give that fear a shape. Fear can be useful. It creates distance, and distance creates clarity. I do not need everyone's comfort. I only need their respect."
Naruto blinked, then broke into a grin. "Man… you really are cool, Shino. You gave me a whole new way to think about… you know, being a host. Even if it's not the exact same thing, you get it. Maybe more than anyone else could."
Shino remained still, unreadable behind his glasses, but Naruto thought he caught the faintest flicker of acknowledgment.
"Anytime you wanna hang out," Naruto said brightly, holding out a fist, "just say the word."
Shino regarded him for a moment, then raised his own gloved hand. Their fists met with a quiet bump.
Before Shino could ask what Naruto truly meant by host, the violent buzzing inside the jar cut off. Silence fell. The feeding frenzy was over.
The two of them crouched before the jar. Naruto squinted, lips moving as he counted the number of souls before absorbing them. "… Wait. Something went wrong."
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Indeed," Shino murmured. He lifted the lid. The interior was a graveyard: husks of insects collapsed in heaps, their bodies brittle, their legs twisted. A black haze coiled lazily over the corpses, the smell faintly acrid.
Naruto grimaced and immediately clamped the lid shut. "I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you added something to the jar."
"Yes," Shino replied without hesitation. "I added a fragment of the toxic dung pie you provided me."
"Yeah… then the toxins of Lordran basically killed everything."
"From my brief observation, the toxins are a form of cytotoxin. They cause necrosis, rapid tissue collapse. Their potency is… considerable."
Naruto nodded, rummaging in his pouch before pulling out a pair of moss clumps. "Alright. If you want to keep experimenting, you're gonna need a lot of this stuff." He set the moss down between them.
"Explain."
"The purple moss clump reduces poison build-up. The blooming one handles toxic. They cure the status outright. You eat them, and… yeah, poison and toxic are gone."
Shino's tone was level, almost clinical. "You claim a simple moss can cleanse venom potent enough to induce cellular collapse. What is its mechanism? Enzymatic? Binding agents? Does it neutralize the toxin in the bloodstream, or does it accelerate metabolic purging? And how reliable is it across different species? Human bodies vary from insect hives."
Naruto blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… yeah, I don't know. I just know it works." He shoved a basket toward him, brimming with moss clumps. "Knock yourself out if you wanna figure it out. Test it, dissect it, whatever. I'm gonna leave you to your mad bug science."
Shino inclined his head slightly. "Very well."
Naruto got to his feet, brushing his hands off. "Anyway, I gotta go check on Kiba. Still need to finish making his meteor hammer. And Hinata wants me to help her with crossbow drills. Plus I got to get some clean clothes for the festival, tonight."
Shino lifted a hand in wordless acknowledgment. Naruto flickered away in a burst of motion, the forest quieting around him.
Left alone, Shino set the jar aside. He was about to begin sorting the moss when a ripple stirred through his body. The kikaichū whispered to him from beneath his skin. Information. A discovery.
He turned slowly, eyes narrowing. His insects had isolated fragments of the dung pie, separating the ordinary rot from the toxic pieces. And inside those toxic clumps…
"Eggs," Shino murmured.
Inside the toxic clumps were tiny shapes, nestled close together. Long, narrow, and fragile-looking, they gleamed faintly with a blood-hued sheen.
"Insects from Lordran… becoming part of my hive."
The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile, but something close. "This should be interesting."
The Land of Waves had not felt this alive in years. Lanterns swung from ropes strung across the main street, music drifted from a dozen little stalls, and the smell of grilled fish, sweet rice, and sea salt wrapped around the crowd. With Gato gone and Tazuna's bridge nearly finished, everyone finally had a reason to breathe and to celebrate.
Naruto nudged Oscar with his shoulder as they stepped out into the lights. "Still can't believe Tsunami-san bought everyone new clothes for the festival," he said.
Oscar chirped approvingly and eyed Naruto's outfit like a fashion critic.
Naruto grinned. He had on a bright yellow hooded jacket with a zip front, cuffs snug at the wrists, hem elastic at the waist. One sleeve was pushed up and a black wrap hugged his forearm. The matching yellow pants had cargo seams and extra pockets, little straps and clips along the hips that clicked when he moved. He had even pinned some small clips in his bangs to keep his hair tidy.
"Here," he said, fishing out two lollipops, one for him and one for the lizard.
They walked up to where Tsunami was fussing over Inari's scarf and Tazuna was already deep in a loud conversation with Kakashi. Kakashi, somehow, had made "comfortable" look accidental but cool: a dark red trucker jacket with a fuzzy cream collar, worn open over a cream henley, straight-fit jeans, a tiny earring, and that same old green book in hand.
"At least my clothes are eye-catching," Naruto said, half-joking.
"I don't think Kakashi cares," came a dry voice at his side.
Jiraiya had drifted up without Naruto noticing. He wore a long black robe tied at the waist, a hint of red lining at the collar, sleeves loose enough to hide a dozen tricks. He looked like he had stepped out of an old story.
"You clean up nice, Pervy Sage. Enjoy the festival. And make sure not to peek."
Jiraiya sweatdropped. "I don't do that all the time."
Naruto arched a brow.
"Well… most of the time I'm busy with research. But I'm also a man of culture. For example, appreciate the aesthetics over there."
They both turned as Kurenai stepped into the lantern glow. She wore a fitted white dress cut like a cheongsam, gold edging catching the light, red stones glinting at the collar and waist. Short gloves, a red-star charm with a tassel at one wrist, a fan with a red feathered edge in her hand. Her black hair was tied back with a strand of pearls and a neat red ornament.
"You look so cute," Tsunami said, hands clasped as she and Kurenai traded quick spins to show off their outfits.
Jiraiya smiled, pleased.
Naruto gave him a look.
"What? Am I not allowed to admire a pretty lady?"
Naruto grumbled around his lollipop. "Kurenai-sensei does look really nice tonight."
"I wonder what Kurenai-sensei will say to that," Kiba teased, his words chased by a sharp bark as Akamaru trotted up at his heels. Kiba wore a dark leather zip-up jacket with a big fur-lined collar and a snug turtleneck peeking at the throat.
Akamaru stopped nose-to-nose with Oscar and puffed his chest. He dipped his head to show off a tiny hat someone had jammed between his ears.
Oscar stared at the hat, then slowly turned to Naruto with a pointed look.
"Alright, alright," Naruto said, already fishing in his storage. "I came prepared." He pulled out a sorcerer's cap and set it on Oscar's head. The crystal lizard chirped in delight and posed like a noble.
"How much you wanna bet those hats get lost or chewed up before the night's over? Look at them, they're already trying to trade."
Oscar and Akamaru had, in fact, begun a very serious exchange program of headwear, pawing and tapping, both hats wobbling dangerously.
"Twenty says Oscar keeps his," Naruto said.
Before Kiba could answer, a quiet voice drifted in from behind dark wraparound shades. "You will lose that bet, Naruto."
Shino stepped into the lantern glow. Olive-green hooded jacket, loose fit with a dark band at the waist. A long dark shirt hung below the hem. Trousers loose and clean, bunched just right at the calves. He looked like he had wandered out of a fashion scroll.
Kiba's jaw dropped. Naruto's did too. They looked at Shino, looked at each other, then pointed back at him.
"Shino," Naruto said, awed, "you look good."
"Thank you."
"You should ditch the usual," Kiba said. He did a circle with his hand. "Keep this."
"No."
"Think about it," Naruto tried. "The shades. The jacket. It works."
"No."
Kiba and Naruto launched into a tag-team pitch about cut, color, and cool points. Shino listened in complete silence, then tilted his head as if cataloging insects on a leaf.
Their campaign died when Sasuke walked up. He wore a light gray zip jacket with clean black piping and a high collar. A thick dark blue scarf wrapped his neck. Straight dark gray pants. Hands in pockets. Eyes half-lidded like he had not dressed up at all and still pulled it off.
Kiba took one look and started laughing. Naruto joined him.
"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto wheezed, "Shino called. He wants his clothes back."
"You look more emo than usual," Kiba said, on his knees now for effect.
Sasuke ignored them and looked at Shino. "I might have grabbed your outfit by accident."
"You seem to wear it well," Shino said.
Sasuke gave a small nod. The two of them stood like matching bookends while Naruto and Kiba died on the cobbles.
"What is so funny?" Sakura asked as she walked up, and the boys' laughter cut off.
Sakura's outfit caught the lantern light and held it. A short white sleeveless top that ended above her belly button with a small front zip. Low-rise maroon pants with clean seams and a wide silver-blue belt with a big rectangle buckle, extra strap tails hanging loose. A few simple bracelets and rings that chimed when she moved.
Kiba whistled before he could stop himself. Naruto and Sasuke both smacked him on the back of the head.
Sakura giggled behind her hand. "Just wait until you see Hinata."
"Oh no… this is a little embarrassing," Hinata said from the edge of the circle, cheeks warm with color as she stepped closer.
Her dress was a dark navy slip with a straight neckline. The fabric fell smooth and clean, folding softly near the hem. It fit closer at the chest and waist, then eased as it went down. Two sets of straps framed her shoulders, light beige underneath and a darker set on top. A thin rope belt wrapped her waist twice and tied at the side with small tassels. A gray band with a simple criss-cross pattern sat on her upper arm. A small watch, a couple of rings, a single drop earring. Her hair was a short dark bob with straight bangs and a slight flip at the back.
The boys forgot how to stand.
Kiba went still. Shino's collar hummed with a barely-there buzz. Sasuke slid his scarf a little higher like the air had changed temperature to hide his blush.
"You look pretty," Naruto said, plain and honest, before his brain could overthink it.
Hinata's blush deepened, but she smiled, soft and bright. "Th-thank you."
"Okay, kids, you all look good," Kurenai said, smiling at how the genin cleaned up for the night. They were not children anymore, technically adults by the village's standard, but she still could not help calling them her kids. "You're shinobi, yes, but tonight I expect you to enjoy the festival and not cause trouble."
Every single head turned toward Naruto.
"Oi, that's discrimination!"
Kakashi ignored him. "Just stay out of trouble and enjoy the night to your hearts' content."
The genin cheered and scattered like firecrackers, rushing into the lights of the festival.
That night, the Wave village bloomed with paper lanterns and colorful streamers. Stalls lined the streets, selling grilled eel skewers, steamed buns, and glowing candy apples that shimmered in shades of green and gold. Musicians played flutes and shamisen near the square, the notes rising with laughter and chatter. Children darted through the crowd with sparklers in hand.
Naruto was already cross-legged near the food stalls, happily stuffing his face with dango. Sakura sat beside him in her dress, carefully wrapping her takoyaki in a napkin to avoid stains.
"You're eating like you haven't seen food in days," she said, frowning at the fourth empty skewer.
"I've got a lizard's metabolism," Naruto mumbled through a full mouth. "It's a real thing."
"Try not to choke on your real thing," Sakura replied dryly, dabbing her napkin.
Down the street, Kiba and Akamaru were in the middle of a rowdy game of festival tag with Oscar. The crystal lizard had apparently mastered the art of rolling into a ball and smashing through narrow gaps like a living bumper car. Vendors yelped as stalls shook, and Akamaru barked wildly in delight, chasing Oscar down the lane.
"Akamaru! Don't tackle the fireworks cart!" Kiba bellowed, weaving through the crowd in hot pursuit.
Hinata stood nearby, her hands clasped politely in front of her, watching the chaos with a small, amused smile. She lingered at a stall selling hair ornaments carved from seashells, her pale eyes catching the lanternlight.
Sasuke leaned against a festival pole, sipping a cold drink with his arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"You're gonna brood the decorations off the wall if you keep standing like that," Naruto called from his spot.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted, which Naruto translated as happy festival to you too.
Not far away, Shino moved slowly past a stall displaying festival masks shaped like animals and beetles. He stopped in front of the insect masks, studying them with quiet intensity. A small child waddled up and offered him a piece of candy. Shino inclined his head. "Thank you." He did not smile, but his voice carried a strange sincerity that made the child beam before darting back to their family.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya was in his element. A circle of elderly women had drawn him into a game of mahjong at one of the stalls. To his delight, the old ladies were both sharp with their tiles and generous with their attention.
"Oh, Jiraiya-sama, look at those hands!" one woman giggled as he placed a tile with a flourish. "So strong and steady. You must be very skilled with them."
Another leaned closer. "And that hair! So thick, so white. Most men your age are bald as river stones."
A third cackled behind her sleeve. "He even smells nice. Are you sure you're not hiding perfume, Jiraiya-sama?"
"Ladies, ladies, please. One at a time. There's plenty of me to go around. And for the record, what you smell is the natural scent of a man of culture. Refined, worldly… and utterly irresistible."
The women laughed, clapping their hands like young girls.
That was the sight Kakashi walked in on. "Jiraiya-sama," he drawled, "I see you're enjoying the company of some real beauties tonight."
The old women blushed and giggled, fanning themselves.
"See, Kakashi?" Jiraiya declared, wagging a finger. "A true man of culture doesn't discriminate. Beauty has no age limit. A flower is a flower, whether it blooms in spring or in winter."
"You're shameless," Kakashi said flatly. His visible eye crinkled in faint amusement. "And a little dramatic."
"Better to be dramatic than boring," Jiraiya shot back, slapping a tile down. "So what brings you here? Surely not jealousy."
Kakashi ignored the bait. "Actually, I came to ask how your mission to apologize is going."
"Apologize? Oh, that. I figure I'll take care of it tomorrow. Why ruin the festival mood with something unpleasant?"
"Tomorrow?" Kakashi flipped a page casually. "You may not have the luxury of waiting."
"What do you mean?"
"She's here."
Jiraiya followed his gaze. Tsunami stood outside, framed by the glow of paper lanterns. She leaned against the railing, her face calm but unreadable as she looked out over the festival.
Jiraiya rose, bowing with exaggerated gallantry to the old ladies. "My lovelies, duty calls. But do not despair." He shot them a roguish grin. "I'll be back."
"Oh, don't worry," one of them said slyly, eyes sliding toward Kakashi. "As long as your friend here keeps us company."
"Heh. I'll try to keep up."
Jiraiya flashed him a thumbs-up before heading toward the riverside.
Tsunami turned as he approached. Her posture was straight, her hands folded neatly in front of her. She gave a small, polite nod. "Kakashi-san already explained. Let's just get this over with."
"Right. Well… I'm sorry. For peeping on you."
Tsunami drew in a long, steady breath, then let it out. "That is not much of an apology, Jiraiya-sama. As a woman, it makes me want to slap you across the face."
Jiraiya raised his brows, forcing a smile. "If it makes you feel better, you can hit me."
Her expression did not change. "Shooting you would be better."
"Come on now, I meant no harm. It was just a little peeking. A harmless mistake."
Tsunami's lips tightened. "You really don't see it, do you?"
"See what?"
"I've buried two husbands. Men I loved. My body… my dignity… those are not jokes to me. I have a son who still cries when he thinks no one's looking, and a village that lost its pride long before you ever looked into my window."
Her voice never wavered.
"You're a powerful man. A famous one. I'm just a widow in a quiet village. But I still have self-respect. And I can't accept your apology, not truly, because what you took isn't something you can return. I would rather walk away than forgive you."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, then shut it again. "Then why are you here, speaking to me at all?"
"Because Kakashi told me something important." Her gaze softened, though only slightly. "That you're the only one who can check Naruto's seal. That only you can keep him safe. And Naruto…" She exhaled. "Naruto saved me. Saved my son. Saved this whole village. For his sake, I will pretend to forgive you."
Silence stretched between them, filled only by the distant sound of festival music and laughter.
"Tsunami, I am truly sorry. Just give me a second chance."
"Second chances come after proof of change," she replied evenly, "not before."
Jiraiya froze, her words landing heavier than any blow.
"Enjoy the festival," Tsunami said after a long pause. "I'll tell Naruto you apologized, so he doesn't carry the weight of this."
She turned, her steps steady, lanternlight glinting across her profile. But just before leaving, she stopped at the doorway, her back to him.
"One question, before I go. Have you ever loved a woman? Truly loved her?"
"Yes." The word came out without hesitation. In his mind, Tsunade's face burned bright.
"Then tell me. How would you feel if someone peeked on her?"
Jiraiya's blood boiled at the thought of someone leering at Tsunade. "I'd be furious."
"Remember that feeling," Tsunami said. "That fury. That is nothing compared to the humiliation women live with when men like you treat us as pieces of meat. I hope you stop before your action hurts someone."
She walked away without another word, leaving him alone.
Jiraiya stood there in the glow of lanterns, the sounds of celebration carrying. For once, he had nothing to say. Her words settled heavy on him, heavier than any battlefield wound.
He was left with more to think about than he cared to admit.
As the time for the fireworks drew near, Naruto tapped Hinata's shoulder. "Hey, come with me."
"W-where are we going? The fireworks are about to start."
Naruto grinned, jerking his thumb upward. "Just wanted to get a better view. C'mon."
They leapt from stall to roof, their sandals tapping softly against the tiles until they landed atop one of the taller houses at the edge of the square. From there, the whole village stretched out beneath them. A sea of lanternlight and shadow, glowing stalls dotting the dark like tiny embers.
Hinata pressed her hands to her chest, her breath catching. "It's… beautiful."
"Yeah," Naruto said with a grin, though his eyes were more on the sky than the view below. "Way better than being stuck in a crowd."
One by one, villagers began extinguishing the paper lanterns, the glow winking out until the streets faded into darkness. Above them, the stars stretched across the night in a river of silver light.
And then a sharp crack split the air.
The first firework burst upward, exploding in a bloom of red and gold that lit up Hinata's wide eyes. Another followed, scattering green sparks that drifted like falling leaves. Blue streaks twisted into the shape of flowers before fading.
The sky bloomed again and again, each explosion thunderous and radiant, painting the night with colors brighter than any festival lantern.
Naruto leaned back on his hands, watching with an open smile. "Now this is a good view."
Hinata's gaze flicked between the fireworks and Naruto, her cheeks pink in the shifting glow. She nodded softly, almost whispering. "It is."
Another firework shot high, bursting into a thousand white sparks that showered the village like falling stars.
Both of them sat in silence, the sky alive with fire and color.
With his hawkeyes, he checked on Oscar. Down below, the little lizard was perched beside Akamaru, who trembled at every blast. Oscar pressed close, his gems glowing faintly as though reassuring the pup.
Naruto let out a breath and smiled. Seeing that, he finally relaxed until the last streak of light faded and the night settled into darkness again.
"We should go down," Hinata said softly, rising to her feet.
"Ya know," Naruto said, still gazing upward, "I'm curious. When you fix the Hyūga clan… will I get to see fireworks then too?"
Hinata turned and saw him holding something glinting in his palm.
"Of course. I'll make sure it's the biggest fireworks show in the world."
"Hell yeah," Naruto grinned, tossing the ring toward her.
Hinata fumbled, nearly dropping it, before catching it in both hands. Her fingers brushed against the carved hornet insignia. "What is this?"
"This is the Hornet's Ring," Naruto explained. "It boosts the power of critical attacks. And since your Gentle Fist basically lands a critical hit every time… this'll make you unstoppable."
"…Naruto, this seems like a really powerful item."
"Yeah," he said with an easy shrug, as if it weren't a big deal. "That's why I'm giving it to you. If it makes things easier, it's yours. But only on loan." He straightened, brushing off his pants. "When you've fixed the clan, you'll give it back. On the night we watch those fireworks together."
Her lips trembled with the smile she tried to hide. "You really are… overwhelming. Always doing too much, just because you can."
Naruto scratched his cheek with a sheepish grin. "Hehehe." He watched her slip the ring onto her finger.
"Well," he added, tilting his head, "you can do me a favor in return."
"Of course," Hinata said quickly, too quickly.
"You remember the fight against Guren, right? Since your Byakugan can copy jutsu to an extent… could you write down how her Crystal Release worked? I think Oscar could really use it."
Hinata blinked, surprised by the odd request, then nodded. "I'll try."
"Great." Naruto yawned and stretched his arms over his head. "Alright, let's head back. I wanna eat and take a massive dump and then sleep." He crouched, ready to leap.
"Naruto, wait."
"Hmm?"
Her mouth went dry. Her chest pounded. This was it. Her chance. She could feel it rising in her throat. The words she had carried for years. She wanted to tell him. To say what he meant to her.
But then her gaze dropped to the ring. The Hornet's Ring, sitting snug on her finger.
Power lent to her, not earned.
A promise of fireworks she hadn't yet proven she could deliver.
Her courage cracked. The words stuck in her throat.
"…I think we should eat some ramen," she blurted.
Naruto blinked, confused, then broke into a grin. "Oh, you think they've got ramen stalls? I didn't see one. Wait—" His eyes darted down toward the street before lighting up. "There! Let's go!"
And with a laugh, he vaulted off the rooftop, vanishing into the festival glow.
Hinata stood frozen, staring at the space where he had been. Her chest tightened, and her eyes stung.
Stupid… this was your perfect chance to confess.
Her hand trembled as it pressed over the ring. She closed her eyes. No. Not yet. I can't. Not as I am now.
I want to be someone worthy of standing beside him. Not a timid shadow, not a hopeless dreamer. I want to be great, too. Naruto deserves someone great to stand beside him.
Her eyes opened again, filled with quiet fire.
I will fix my clan. I will give him the biggest fireworks show in the world. And one day, I will give him my heart.
She leapt down after him, landing softly on the street below. Naruto was already lost in the crowd, darting toward the ramen stall, his laughter swallowed by the festival noise.
Hinata lingered for a moment, her hand clenched into a fist. She followed but far enough behind that he wouldn't notice the tears she was swallowing down.
We all want to be great.
We all want someone great to stand beside us.
But in chasing that dream, we forget that greatness isn't what draws people together. It's the quiet moments, the laughter, the small truths spoken when no one else is listening. And sometimes, by waiting until we think we're worthy, we let the moment slip away.
The next morning, Tsunami quietly pulled Naruto aside. She told him Jiraiya had finally apologized, which meant there was no more putting it off, his seal needed to be checked.
"After breakfast," Naruto muttered.
The meal was unusually quiet. The clatter of bowls and chopsticks filled the air instead of chatter. Even Naruto didn't touch his food. He sat there staring at it until Sakura leaned over.
"Naruto, you haven't eaten anything," she said, wiping sauce from her fingers.
Oscar chirped softly, nudging against Naruto's arm. The boy rubbed the lizard's head for reassurance, then pushed his stool back and stood. Everyone's eyes followed him.
"Dudes," Naruto said, his tone serious in a way that made the genin glance at each other, "I wanna share my biggest secret."
Kiba groaned, leaning back. "Come on, man, you always drop something huge in the mornings—"
But he cut off when he saw Naruto's face. Everyone did. Whatever this was, it wasn't one of his jokes. This was heavy.
At the table's edge, Kurenai leaned closer to Kakashi, whispering, "Should we intervene?"
Kakashi didn't answer. Jiraiya did. "No. It's the brat's choice."
Sasuke slid a cup toward Naruto. "Then just tell us already."
Naruto picked it up, drained the water, then set it down. His voice was flat. "I'm the Kyūbi's jinchūriki."
The words hung in the air.
Silence while confusion flickered across the genins' faces.
"Naruto," Kurenai said gently, "they haven't been taught what that means."
Naruto sighed. "Twelve years ago, the Kyūbi attacked Konoha. Everyone was told the Fourth Hokage killed it. That's a lie. The Kyūbi couldn't be killed. So… it was sealed away." His fists clenched. "Sealed inside a person."
"Inside you," Shino finished quietly, adjusting his glasses. "That's what you meant before… when you said host."
Naruto nodded.
Sakura raised her hand halfway, as though in class. "Okay, I'm confused. You're the Kyūbi's what, exactly?"
"Jinchūriki are humans who have tailed beasts sealed inside them. Think of them as living cages. Their purpose is to keep the beasts locked down so they don't destroy everything."
The genin began whispering amongst themselves, the pieces clicking together. Why adults avoided Naruto. Why the stares, the whispers, the warnings not to play with him.
Naruto ran a hand down Oscar's back to calm himself. The lizard chirped again, sensing his pulse racing.
"Alright," Naruto said finally, forcing a grin. "Let's just go rapid-fire question round, clear the air, and move on with our lives."
Kiba raised his hand halfway. "Alright… so why are you even telling us this now?"
"Because you guys are my friends. If I can't talk about it with you, then who else? I don't wanna keep acting like it doesn't exist."
Shino asked, "Did my words, about being a host influence this choice?"
"Yeah. They did. Helped me realize I wasn't alone in feeling like this."
Sasuke leaned forward. "So what does the Kyūbi actually do for you?"
"My chakra reserves," Naruto said plainly. "They're huge because of the fox. That's the main reason I can make so many clones and keep fighting."
Sakura frowned, her hand hovering at her chin. "But… why you? Why seal it into a newborn? Couldn't the Fourth have sealed it into an adult?"
"I don't know. I've asked myself that, too."
Hinata's hands balled into fists on her lap. "Then that makes you the hero of Konoha. You carried it. You kept everyone safe all these years, even as a child."
Naruto blinked at her. "Hero? Heh… I dunno about that."
Kakashi finally spoke. "Hinata's right. The Fourth intended for Naruto to be treated as a hero. But the villagers let their fear twist it. Instead of honoring him, they branded him."
The genin shifted uneasily. Akamaru's ears lowered.
"Did you… did you know about this when we were kids?"
"Nope. I only found out a few months. The night after graduation."
That hit hard. The idea of being hated, shunned, without ever knowing why silenced the table.
Shino broke it. "Then the failure lies not with you, but with those who could not see beyond fear. A host is not defined by what he contains, but by the choices he makes despite it."
Kiba slammed his fist lightly against the table. "Damn right. I don't care if you're carrying the Kyūbi or a hundred foxes. You're still Naruto. Anyone who thinks different is an idiot."
Hinata leaned forward, her voice trembling but resolute. "I've always… admired you, Naruto-kun. The way you keep moving forward, even when everyone turned away. Knowing this… it only makes me admire you more."
Sakura looked down, guilt tightening her face. "I was one of those kids who avoided you. Because the adults told me to. And I… I'm sorry. You deserved better than that. I won't ever treat you like that again."
Sasuke crossed his arms, his tone flat. "You think this changes anything? It doesn't. You're still the same loud, stubborn idiot who never shuts up. That's who you are. If the Kyūbi ever tries to take that away… then I'll drag you back myself."
Naruto blinked hard, swallowing past the lump in his throat. He hadn't expected that from Sasuke.
"Looks like you've got some great friends, brat," Jiraiya said, reaching over to ruffle Naruto's hair with a crooked grin. "Now, let's check on the seal."
"Check?"
"Yeah," Naruto said. "After all the stuff that's happened in Lordran, I'm curious about what might've happened to the Kyūbi."
The genin exchanged uneasy glances.
Kakashi noticed their faces and said, "Relax. The Fourth Hokage's seal was the best in the world. Whatever happened, it's held this long. Nothing to worry about."
"That's right," Jiraiya said, waving a hand dismissively. "No big deal. Naruto, just lift your shirt and channel chakra."
Naruto nodded. He stood, took a steadying breath, and gathered chakra into his core.
Nothing.
"Don't mess with me, kid. Show me the seal."
"I'm not messing around. Hinata, could you use your Byakugan to confirm it?"
Hinata swallowed hard, then activated her Byakugan. Pale eyes traced over his chakra network… and widened.
"…I don't see anything. Naruto is using his chakra but nothing seems to be responding."
Jiraiya froze. His hands, once poised and steady, fell uselessly to his sides. The color drained from his face. For a man like him silence was louder than a shout.
Kakashi's lone eye narrowed. "Jiraiya-sama." His tone was careful, deliberate. "What does that mean?"
When Jiraiya finally spoke, his voice had no trace of humor left. "It means… Naruto is no longer the Kyūbi's jinchūriki."
The words landed like a hammer.
Kurenai shot to her feet. "What?!" Her voice rang with disbelief. "How is that even possible?!"
The genin stared at Naruto, their faces pale, their minds spinning.
Naruto just stood there, his hand pressed to his stomach, the absence where the seal should've been somehow heavier than its presence had ever felt.
"I don't know," Jiraiya admitted, his voice low and laced with something between shock and dread. "But if the seal is gone… and Hinata sees no trace of the Nine-Tails' seal… then the only possibilities are that it was removed…"
"Or escaped," Kakashi finished grimly.
For a moment, Naruto's mind went blank, disbelief crackling through him like static. He should have felt a lot, as though a weight had lifted after years of carrying a living disaster inside him. But instead, an icy chill spread through his chest.
If the Kyūbi wasn't sealed inside him anymore…
Where had it gone?
More so… How does someone lose a bijuu?
"There are only two known methods," Jiraiya said. "Either the seal is manually undone which kills the host immediately, or the jinchūriki dies in battle and the bijuu is released."
"And what happens to a tailed beast after that?" Naruto asked again, tone growing sharper.
Kakashi responded this time. "When the host dies, the bijuu's chakra dissipates into the surrounding environment. Over time, it gathers and reforms into a body again."
The table grew quiet again.
Most of the genin were too stunned to speak, their minds catching up to the enormity of what had just been said. Kiba looked almost pale. Sakura's hand had gone to her mouth. Shino's brows were furrowed, hidden under his glasses. Hinata was visibly trembling, as if uncertain what this meant for Naruto or what it might mean for him going forward.
But Naruto… he already knew, because he had died in Lordran. A lot.
And in that moment, it all clicked together with chilling precision.
The Kyūbi didn't escape into the Elemental Nations. It escaped into Lordran.
"…Shit," he whispered.
Jiraiya caught that. "You know something."
Naruto hesitated. He opened his mouth, truth dancing on the edge of his lips. He could tell them. Tell them about Lordran, the firelinking, the bonfires, Gwyn, the Dark Sign. Tell them about the deaths and the fact that somewhere in that cursed, broken world, the Kyūbi now roamed.
But a thought stopped him.
This was an opportunity.
"Pervy Sage," Naruto said, "do you know anything about Lordran? Since you were the Fourth Hokage's teacher."
"What does Minato have to do with Lordran?"
"Well… because the Fourth is the one who put the Darksign into the Forbidden Scroll of Seals," Naruto replied. He pulled out the three-pronged kunai.
Jiraiya's eyes widened. In an instant, he snatched the kunai from Naruto's hands, turning it over to inspect the sealing formula etched into the handle. His voice dropped. "This is Minato's."
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed in thought. He stayed quiet, deep in his own memories, until Kurenai placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked, glancing between them.
"Basically… the Fourth Hokage went to Lordran a long time ago. It was so secretive that no one knew about it. Except a redhead."
"Redhead?" Sasuke repeated.
"Yeah. When I found this kunai, I was told that he and a redhead fought alongside the legendary Knight Artorias to defeat the evil of Oolacile."
Kakashi shook his head slowly. "Sensei never told us any of this."
"Guess even heroes keep secrets."
"Tch. Apparently," Jiraiya muttered, though the way his hand tightened on the kunai betrayed unease. He sighed. "Fine. Minato had his secrets. But how is this connected to the Kyūbi being gone?"
"Because… think about it. The answer to what happened to the Kyūbi lies in Uzushio."
"What?"
"I spoke to the cat, Alvina," Naruto continued, "and she told me about Minato and the redhead. Apparently, Lordran had ties to the Uzumaki clan. Deep ties."
Jiraiya frowned, his mind turning over possibilities. "And you believe… because you went to Lordran, something in Minato's seal pulled the Kyūbi away? To Uzushio?"
Naruto's voice was calm, almost too calm. "I think… if we want to know what happened to the Nine-Tails, then we need to go to Uzushio. That's where I was told, by my people in Lordran, that I'll find the answers."
The room fell silent.
Naruto reached for his cup, gulping down water to steady himself. The lie had slipped from his lips more easily than he expected, half-truths twisted with mysteries, wrapped just tightly enough that no one could untangle them. And with him being the only one who could travel to Lordran, they had no choice but to accept it.
A pit of guilt coiled in his stomach. He hated lying to them. But he reminded himself why he had said it.
He needed to reach Uzushio. He needed to claim the legacy waiting for him there.