Chapter 32: Casual Conversation, Returning Home

"You’re okay. That’s all that matters."

Uchiha Izumi finally relaxed as she looked Naruto over and confirmed that he was completely unharmed. The anxiety that had been weighing on her heart finally disappeared.

Although the Third Hokage had told her about Naruto’s condition...

She couldn’t truly relax until she’d seen him with her own eyes.

Naruto smiled.

"Of course I’m fine. The shinobi of Konoha will always protect me."

Uchiha Izumi casually glanced around before picking Naruto up and carrying him toward home.

Only after they reached a quiet area did she lower her voice and speak seriously.

"You’re still lying to me."

"The whole ninja world already knows. They say you were the one who launched the surprise attack on the Hidden Cloud camp, and that’s why the war ended so quickly."

"And you’re still saying Konoha’s shinobi protected you?"

"If they were really that capable, they would’ve defeated the Hidden Cloud long ago!"

Izumi had always been furious about Konoha sending Naruto to the battlefield.

She was filled with disappointment and distrust toward the village.

"Hehe. Good that you know."

"Just keep it low-key."

Naruto smiled.

The innocence vanished from his face.

What remained was nothing but deep sarcasm.

Izumi also understood that they hadn’t been able to talk openly while surrounded by so many people.

Her resentment toward Konoha’s higher-ups only grew stronger.

"Alright, don’t think about it too much."

"I’m already back, aren’t I?"

"Put me down first."

After reassuring her, Naruto patted Izumi and gestured toward the ground.

Being carried around like a little child...

Made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

"It’s fine. I’ll carry you all the way home!"

Izumi tightened her arms around him instead of letting go.

Then, as if she’d suddenly thought of something, she teased him.

"Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed?"

"..."

Naruto rolled his eyes, completely speechless.

He was a little embarrassed...

But shy?

Not really.

But can I tell you that your chest is digging into me and it hurts?

Izumi would probably flip out immediately...

Completely unaware of Naruto’s malicious thoughts, Izumi suddenly asked,

"By the way, Naruto..."

"Was it you who controlled the Nine-Tails inside your body and launched the surprise attack on the camp?"

"It wasn’t me."

Naruto shook his head.

Then he noticed two "familiar faces" nearby and gestured toward them.

"He controlled it."

Izumi looked over in confusion.

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi were walking together, seemingly discussing something.

There was a look of intense interest on Itachi’s face, similar to the expression Izumi had worn moments earlier.

They were probably discussing the same subject.

"Shisui?"

Izumi looked slightly puzzled.

She didn’t have much of a reaction to seeing Itachi.

She and Itachi had once been fairly close friends, but she’d already let go of the past.

Who hadn’t had a childhood friend they used to be close with, only to eventually lose contact?

In fact...

Izumi should probably thank Itachi.

He had helped her see the true nature of so-called friendship...

And the true nature of her clan.

That realization had ultimately allowed her Sharingan to evolve.

Naruto nodded.

"Yeah."

"Shisui’s Sharingan evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"Mangekyō?"

"What is that?"

Izumi became even more confused.

A shinobi’s hearing was exceptionally sharp.

The moment Shisui and Itachi heard the words "Mangekyō Sharingan"...

They both looked over.

A trace of guilt appeared deep within Itachi’s eyes.

Shisui, however, simply nodded toward Naruto and Izumi without approaching.

Although he and Naruto could now be considered comrades...

His revealed Mangekyō Sharingan and ability to control Tailed Beasts had already made Konoha’s leadership wary of him.

Approaching Naruto carelessly would only make the higher-ups suspicious of his intentions.

So Shisui merely nodded before deliberately turning with Itachi and taking a different route around them.

He knew the ANBU would undoubtedly notice.

And he knew they would report the encounter to the Hokage.

Shisui was deliberately using this action to show Konoha’s leadership that he had no intention of getting close to the Jinchūriki.

Naruto watched them leave with a strange smile.

You deliberately let me be controlled back then.

Scared now, aren’t you?

Izumi blinked in confusion.

"Huh?"

"Isn’t that the way back to the Uchiha Clan?"

Naruto helplessly pinched her cheek and lowered his voice.

"You can control a Tailed Beast well enough to destroy a Hidden Cloud camp..."

"And you think he’d dare come talk to me?"

"Wouldn’t he be worried about making the higher-ups suspicious?"

Izumi’s expression immediately turned serious.

She quickly realized the implications.

If Shisui could control a Tailed Beast well enough to destroy the Hidden Cloud’s base...

Then he could just as easily destroy Konoha.

She already understood the Uchiha Clan’s current predicament.

So...

Would the Uchiha use this power to negotiate with Konoha’s leadership?

Or perhaps even try to seize power with the help of a Tailed Beast?

There had always been rumors that the Nine-Tails had been controlled by someone from the Uchiha Clan when it attacked Konoha.

Now...

It had been proven that the Uchiha really could control Tailed Beasts.

Would Konoha’s leadership become so afraid of Shisui that they decided to eliminate him?

Just thinking about it sent a chill down her spine.

Having already learned how dark politics could be...

Izumi no longer hesitated to assume the worst about politicians.

She still had many questions she wanted to ask Naruto.

But considering the current situation wasn’t suitable...

She chose to remain silent.

Seeing this...

Naruto nodded in satisfaction.

Izumi was beginning to understand Konoha’s darker side.

She was learning when to keep her mouth shut.

If she remained an innocent, naive girl...

Naruto truly wouldn’t dare tell her too much or reveal too many secrets.

The two continued walking in silence.

Before long...

They arrived home.

Naruto looked at the neighboring apartment in confusion.

"Where’s the door to the apartment next to ours?"

The residential building Naruto lived in consisted of small one-bedroom apartments.

There were two apartments on the second floor.

However, because Naruto—the "Fox Demon"—lived here...

The other apartment had always been vacant.

But now...

Naruto discovered that the door to the neighboring apartment was gone.

"Hehe."

"You’ll know when you go inside!"

Izumi smiled mysteriously.

She opened the door and carried Naruto inside.

Then, with an excited expression, she announced,

"Look!"

"Our new home!"

Naruto stared at the completely transformed apartment.

He froze.

"Well?"

"Are you happy?"

Izumi smiled brightly and blinked at him.

"You rented the apartment next door?"

"No..."

"You couldn’t knock down the wall even if you rented it."

"And you couldn’t afford to buy it."

"Did the Third Hokage arrange this?"

Naruto analyzed the situation for a moment before immediately guessing the answer.

"Naruto, you’re completely lacking in romance!"

"If a child gets a new home, aren’t you supposed to show some excitement?"

"And what do you mean I can’t afford to buy it?"

"If I complete a few S-rank missions, I’ll be able to afford one too!"

Izumi was clearly unhappy with his reaction.

Naruto immediately mocked her.

"Heh."

"S-rank missions?"

"Being able to complete a B-rank mission would already be impressive for you."

He paused before continuing.

"Now tell me, Izumi..."

"What’s going on here?"

"The Third Hokage said this was a reward for your contribution during the Hidden Cloud war."

"He had the neighboring apartment opened up and combined with ours so we could live here."

"And my Sharingan has already evo—"

"Mm...!"

Before she could finish...

Naruto suddenly covered her mouth.

He carefully sensed the area around them.

The nearby ANBU were positioned quite far away.

There were no Aburame insects nearby either.

Only after confirming that everything was safe did Naruto finally relax.

There were no electronic surveillance devices in this era.

As long as no one was too close...

They didn’t have to worry about being overheard.

Naruto finally removed his hand and asked,

"You didn’t tell anyone, did you?"

"Mm-mm!"