Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

The bright moon drifted across a starry sky.

Uzuki Yugao arrived at the registration office, where she confirmed that the person looking for her was indeed "Uzumaki Naruto." After learning his whereabouts, she looked up at the stars, her heart unsettled.

"Captain Uzuki!"

Yano Aki, one of the team members under Uzuki Yugao's command, had been with her since long ago. Struggling to catch her breath from chasing after her captain, she called out, "Captain, why did you suddenly leave the team? We still have patrol duty—let's go."

Ah, that's right.

There were still duties to fulfill.

Uzuki Yugao realized she had acted a bit impulsively. She had left her team without a word, rushing off in search of someone—completely neglecting her assignment. It was laughable.

But in the base camp, ninjas were constantly on the move. If she didn't find Naruto now, she might not get another chance.

After a short pause, Uzuki Yugao bowed to Yano Aki. "Yano-san, could you take the lead tonight and cover for me? I'll explain everything to the higher-ups tomorrow."

"Eh?!"

"Captain, are you hiding something from us?"

Yano Aki raised her eyebrows teasingly, giving Yugao a look filled with unspoken mischief.

Just earlier, when Tomohiko Kiyono confessed to the captain, she'd claimed to have a boyfriend. Now, suddenly someone's looking for her. And after a brief description, she took off to meet him?

And now she didn't want to come back?

At this hour of the night?

Tsk tsk...

Seeing Yano Aki's knowing smirk, Uzuki Yugao could guess exactly what she was imagining.

Just as she was about to explain that it was simply a "brother-like family member," Aki gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"I get it, Captain. Just go meet your boyfriend. I promise I'll cover for you tonight."

"Enjoy your steamy romantic night!"

With that, Aki Yano smiled, waved, and quickly left, as though escaping from a scandal she'd started.

"…," Uzuki Yugao sighed, her cheeks flushing faintly from Aki's words.

"Forget it. Let her misunderstand."

"I'll clear things up tomorrow."

With a resigned breath, she turned and followed the directions the registrar had given her.

It didn't take long before she found the single-person tent with the name "Uzumaki Naruto" hanging outside.

As a member of Anbu, she knew very well that there was only one Uzumaki in the entire village, and only one Naruto.

There was no way she had the wrong tent.

So, he really came...

Of course he did. As the village's Jinchūriki, how could he not take part in the war?

Now that she thought about it, the suicide note she left for him seemed unnecessary.

"Naruto?"

"Naruto?"

"…Strange. Did he go to the bathroom?"

After calling out a few times with no answer, Uzuki Yugao simply pulled open the curtain, stepped inside barefoot after removing her shoes.

Single-person tents didn't offer much space; one couldn't even stand upright. Besides the bed, there was barely room for anything else.

Uzuki Yugao, tall even among women, had no choice but to sit down and wait for Naruto.

She looked at the bed carefully, and her mood lifted slightly.

There were no strange stains, no foul odor—just a small sachet in the quilt emitting a pleasant scent.

Judging from how tidy everything was, Naruto likely hadn't trashed her apartment, either.

"Maybe I was worrying too much."

A smile crept onto her lips.

"I haven't spoken with Naruto in so long... maybe I'll just lie in bed with him tonight."

With a gentle laugh, she removed her sword and gloves, placing them neatly by the bed, then took off her green chest armor and folded it beside them.

Looking down at her inner clothing, she hesitated.

She'd been sleeping in her gear lately in case of sudden attacks—but tonight, she felt differently.

"…Should I change into something lighter?"

After a moment's thought, she decided she would.

Unzipping the curtain behind her for privacy, she retrieved a scroll, formed a seal, and summoned a silky black nightgown.

She undressed—removing her inner shirt, the black fleece-lined pants.

Meanwhile…

Naruto was still in his sealed inner space, completely unaware that someone had entered his tent.

He'd been busy tending to Yugito.

He had done so much for her—mentally and physically—and yet all he got in return were resentful glares.

Yawning, he leapt into the pool to loosen up. His muscles ached from the burden of carrying her earlier.

After a quick swim, he dried off with a towel, grabbed a blanket, and covered the dazed Yukito, who lay curled on the training ground.

Since she was the only other resident of this sealed world, it didn't matter where she slept.

When Temari had been here, she too had fallen asleep on the platform more than once.

Feeling he'd done enough, Naruto left the space.

There was no point in staying longer when Yukito was unconscious.

He hummed a tune as he returned to his tent—only to freeze in place.

(.)

There, lying on his small bed, was a woman with flowing purple hair.

Her white skin glowed in the dim light. Her breathing caused her lacy undergarments to rise and fall.

Naruto's throat dried up.

He blinked several times.

Uzuki Yugao had also seen Naruto.

As she looked at him, her cheeks turned crimson.

Then, without thinking, she kicked Naruto in the chest.

Caught completely off guard, Naruto collapsed onto the bed, wheezing.

"Ow! Sister Xiyan, why'd you hit me?!"

Uzuki Yugao blinked, quickly slipping into her nightgown.

"That was reflex, okay? You scared me!"

After buttoning up, she reached out and pinched Naruto's nose.

"Hmph. Don't act like you're hurt. You're a Jinchūriki. A little kick won't even scratch you."

Hey now, that's not true!

One solid kick from someone like you and I'd die!

Of course, Naruto didn't say that out loud.

He just pouted.

"I didn't know you'd be here! This is my tent!"

"I even zipped it shut. You came in and undressed without saying anything—it scared me to death!"

"Hehe, I used a special teleportation technique. I didn't need the door. Super convenient, right?"

"Is that so?" Yugao didn't ask further. There were too many kinds of strange ninjutsu in the world to doubt it.

The space in the tent was tiny—barely big enough for the small bed.

So as the two of them spoke, they were practically pressed together.

Uzuki Yugao's black silk nightgown offered no defense; her thighs were bare, her skin kissed by the night air.

Naruto lay just beside her, his warm breath tickling her legs.

Flashes of their intimate encounter from before stirred in her memory.

Trying to clear her head, she pinched her thigh.

Then, slowly, she stroked Naruto's hair.

They talked for a long time—about everything that had happened since their separation.

Of course, Naruto didn't mention anything bad he'd done.

He still wanted to maintain a good image in front of Xiyan.

"Sister Xiyan, let's go to sleep. I'm really tired…"

He curled under the blanket and closed his eyes.

After running around for days and spending hours with Yukito, Naruto was truly exhausted.

"Alright."

Xiyan got under the covers, snuggled against Naruto, her arms wrapping around him.

"I'll hold you to sleep tonight."

…

Naruto's face turned red.

Even through her nightgown, he could feel every soft curve of her body.

Her long purple hair fell onto his neck, tickling him slightly.

He turned to her and nestled against her chest.

Xiyan smiled and held him tighter.

Her palm slowly rubbed his back, soothing him.

Before long, she was the first to fall asleep, breathing softly against his forehead.

Naruto stared at her face.

"I just wanted to sleep."

"But now… I have murderous intent."

Still, he sighed.

She looked so tired.

"She must really need the rest."

"There'll be plenty of time later."

He pressed his face to her collarbone and, at last, fell asleep.

It was the most restful night Naruto had in recent memory.

But for Uzuki Yugao?

It was the most uncomfortable.

Even asleep, Naruto's instincts… were powerful.

After waking up, she gently stroked Naruto's cheek and sighed.

"You really are naughty."

Her cheeks blushed. She leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"I don't even know what to say to you."

Hayate… I'm sorry. Naruto is still young. Please forgive him.

…

Late that night.

The fire in the meeting room blazed.

Most of the Jonin had already dispersed.

The few remaining cast long shadows in the tent.

After a brief silence, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza carried out the corpse.

It was the old ninja that Inuzuka Hana had previously pointed out.

After the Yamanaka clan's inspection, it was confirmed—he was a traitor.

He'd been bribed by Kumogakure eight years ago and had been leaking intel ever since.

His recent task had been to shake the morale of Konoha's forces, encouraging them to give up the will to fight.

"I didn't expect Kumogakure—whom I always thought were reckless—to resort to psychological warfare," Tsunade muttered bitterly.

Konoha had been infiltrated too deeply over the years.

If even Jonin could be compromised, the consequences would be dire.

Many battles could be lost.

For once, the hot-tempered Tsunade found herself hesitating.

What if they truly lost this war?

"If Naruto had managed to capture or kill the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, things would be different."

"But now that she's escaped… she'll be a threat when she returns."

After a long pause, Tsunade left the tent.

She was going to find Naruto—to assess his strength herself.

She didn't want to risk him. But the situation no longer gave her a choice.

The enemy had two Jinchūriki. If Naruto just stayed hidden, the troops might lose faith.

She wasn't sure what the right move was.

Eventually, she located Naruto's tent—labeled with a plaque reading "Naruto Uzumaki."

Without knocking—wanting to avoid waking others nearby—she unzipped the curtain with one strong pull.

Then she froze.

Inside, Naruto and Uzuki Yugao were playing.

Uzuki Yugao was frozen too.

Her face flushed red to the ears.

"Lady Tsunade, please… let me explain!"

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