Chapter 40: I Caught You
By the time he got home, the rain had begun to ease.
"Nine-Tails, Nine-Tails, I'll flick your little horn!"
Naruto hummed a strange, simple tune as he climbed the stairs with a light spring in his step.
His old apartment building didn't have many residents, and those who did live there were an odd mix. Sometimes he'd see young girls, other times only old folks.
But on rainy days, it was rare to see anyone. Shaking the rain from his big black umbrella, Naruto stomped his feet to get rid of the damp cling on his pant legs.
As he fished for his keys at the door, he suddenly noticed someone squatting nearby.
It was a girl—with cherry blossom–pink hair and a broad forehead. She sat against the wall, her hair tips wet, seemingly fast asleep.
Huh? Sakura?
Sakura!!!
What's she doing here? Wasn't she supposed to be with Sasuke registering for the Chūnin Exams?
Naruto crouched down and leaned closer.
"Asleep, huh?"
This isn't… what you see in those books… no, light novels. Justice is in fondling oppai—wait, what am I thinking?
Pah! Shameful.
He'd never even read that kind of indecent light novel. He always stuck to proper romance stories on that one site.
Satisfied that Sakura really was asleep, Naruto couldn't help but marvel at the oddity.
She was huddled there, bottom on the ground, knees drawn up, pink hair hanging damply over her face.
Eyes closed, breathing evenly.
People usually fell asleep easily under two conditions—either in the comfort of an air-conditioned room or when chilled to the bone.
Summer's heat hadn't dropped enough to be dangerous, but the storm had washed away the lingering swelter, leaving the air pleasantly cool.
Something was off. Scratching his head, Naruto nudged her shoe with his foot.
No reaction.
He scratched his head again and finally sensed a trace of chakra. Clumsily recalling what he'd learned in the Academy, he formed a release seal.
"Wake up!"
He shouted softly, sending a surge of fiery-red chakra into her.
Instantly, Sakura's head jerked up. She gasped for air like someone who hadn't breathed in ages.
"I'm saved," she said, voice trembling.
"What happened?"
"Sasuke… some strange man took him. I got caught in his genjutsu. Kakashi-sensei should be chasing him now."
"Naruto! Come with me, Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke are in danger!" She reached for his hand.
But in the next moment, Naruto spun and kicked—his foot smashing squarely into her face.
Oddly enough, "Sakura" cried out, recoiling with an agile leap. Her appearance remained unchanged, but her eyes turned feral.
"How did you see through me?"
"Do villains always have to ask that?" Naruto shot back.
"Heh." Fake Sakura smirked, drawing two sharp kunai from behind her back.
"Doesn't matter. Demon fox, take your secrets to the grave!"
She charged, kunai flashing.
Suddenly, the world around them began to distort.
A static-like buzzing filled Naruto's ears, like an old film reel jamming. Darkness swallowed the surroundings, shredding the light in ragged chunks as if devoured by some ravenous beast.
Everything went black. The ground trembled beneath him, threatening to collapse. Steeling himself, Naruto instinctively leapt back.
This was a genjutsu world. Somewhere outside, the real enemy was attacking him.
Naruto ignored the illusions entirely, focusing on guiding his body to evade in the real world.
Until his enemy stepped into the genjutsu as well.
BOOM!
The darkness receded to reveal Naruto bound to a stone pillar.
Overhead hung a blood-red moon, casting its light evenly across him and the sneering Fake Sakura.
"Why do you always smile like that?"
Naruto kept provoking his would-be killer, needling their fragile nerves. Calmness in the face of death was the sharpest mockery.
"Heh, once I carve open your belly, I'll tell you." Fake Sakura's eyes gleamed with madness as she sucked on a finger.
It was at once lewd and disturbing.
Insanity—she looked like a completely deranged maniac.
Whether speaking or licking her fingers, her gaze never left Naruto. Hands framing her face, she radiated pure yandere energy.
Figures. Pink-haired psychos never feel out of place.
Damn it! Why am I thinking of Yuno Gasai right now?!
"What was it you said you'd do to me?" Naruto asked with a light, mocking smile. "I didn't quite catch that. Mind repeating it?"
"Scared?"
"Yep. About to piss myself," Naruto said smoothly. "I'm planning to reform you—guide you back to the right path."
"Reform me? Hahahahaha!" Fake Sakura doubled over laughing like she'd heard the century's greatest joke.
"How? By begging for mercy?"
"Maybe if you got down on your knees and licked my shoes, I might feel generous enough to let you live."
"Not a chance. You're dead. An hour here is just one minute outside."
She strolled up to him, raising her kunai high, chin lifted in contempt.
"Die, demon fox brat!"
"Wait."
"Any last words?" she asked, still poised to strike.
"I do," Naruto coughed lightly, a grin curling on his lips. His gaze locked onto hers.
"Ever seen a hand seal made with the mouth?"
"What?" Her mind faltered.
[Four Symbols Seal—Activate. Devour.]
BOOM!!
The illusion shattered beneath a world-ending force. Ancient, suffocating power surged forth.
Fake Sakura was instantly dragged away, spinning helplessly into the seal.
Meanwhile, in the damp, shadowy space of the Four Symbols Seal, she landed in a shallow pool.
Naruto stood over it—and behind him loomed a massive, red wooden gate.
From the darkness beyond, a colossal, flame-furred fox head emerged, fangs like blades, blood-red eyes blazing with killing intent.
The woman froze, collapsed, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Naruto smiled, leaned in, and enunciated each word:
"I! Caught! You!!!"
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