Leaving the stifling confines of the Hokage's office, Naruto stepped out onto the bustling streets of Konoha for the second time that day. He wanted to breathe in the village's nightlife, to taste the air of his domain. The sun had vanished completely, surrendering the sky to a scattering of thousands of sparkling stars. The moon, leading its celestial retinue, shone with a peculiar brilliance tonight, casting a silver sheen over the world.
The hour of his meeting with Shizune was approaching. Until then, Naruto intended to take a leisurely stroll toward the main gates. This rendezvous was more than just a pleasure trip; it was a tactical maneuver. It allowed him to scout the situation and inspect his territory through the eyes of a ruler, rather than a bureaucrat.
The Village Hidden in the Leaves was his to command. As the Seventh Hokage, the view of the sprawling, developed metropolis was truly impressive. Naruto possessed memories that spanned beyond this immediate timeline. He recalled the devastation of the past—or rather, a future that never came to be. Armed with foreknowledge, he had intervened during the Pain assault, stopping the Akatsuki leader before the village could be flattened. That single divergence had accelerated Konoha's development by decades. His suggestions to Kakashi during the Sixth's reign had laid the foundation, and now, modern skyscrapers and neon lights coexisted with traditional tile roofs.
Countless paper lanterns illuminated the streets, casting a warm, inviting glow on couples walking hand-in-hand, lonely travelers seeking rest, and old warriors who had survived the Great War. Naruto observed them all, an involuntary smile touching his lips. Looking down from the Hokage monument was one thing, but walking among the sheep as their shepherd evoked a completely different sense of power.
Suddenly, voices broke his concentration. He had been admiring the window display of a traditional tea shop, but the peace was short-lived.
"Hokage-sama!"
Several shinobi, spotting their leader, immediately bowed deeply at the waist. Respect and unadulterated admiration burned in their eyes. The intensity of their reverence was palpable; to them, he was a living god.
A crowd began to gather, drawing moths to a flame. Naruto felt a prickle of annoyance. It wasn't that he disliked the worship—he thrived on it—but this was the wrong time.
"Wow, it's really Hokage-sama!"
"He's so tall up close!"
"Lord Hokage, please, can I have your autograph?"
"Marry me!!" a clearly intoxicated woman shrieked from the back of the throng.
Fortunately, the patrolling Chunin read the atmosphere. Understanding their leader's need for space, they quickly moved to disperse the civilians. Bowing once more to Naruto, they saluted and vanished in a swirl of leaves and wind.
Free again, Naruto continued his patrol. He passed the famous Ichiraku Ramen, offering a small, charismatic wave to Ayame. As she blushed, he made a mental note to adjust her position on his ever-growing list of potential conquests.
Thirty minutes later, he paused on a wide avenue. The first thing that caught his eye was the Hokage Residence, standing majestically beneath the cliff face. Above it, the seven stone faces watched over the village. His own face—the Seventh—looked out with a stoic expression. He nodded at it calmly, feeling no surge of vanity, only the cold satisfaction of ownership. To the side, huge skyscrapers clung to the cliffside, wrapped around the new railway tracks. It was a testament to this world's adaptability: despite the constant wars and reliance on chakra, they had embraced industrialization with terrifying speed.
Finally, Naruto reached the massive main gates of Konoha. Beyond them lay the forest where his "appointment" was scheduled. He wondered if Shizune would show. He was betting on her primary weakness—her submissive loyalty—to override her morals. But even if she didn't come easily, he was prepared to wait. If she stood him up, he would simply return to the village and pay her a personal visit. One way or another, she wouldn't escape him.
Before he could cross the threshold, two gate guards materialized in front of him, bowing in perfect synchronization. "Greetings, Hokage-sama!"
"Mm," Naruto nodded curtly, adopting his persona of the benevolent but busy leader. "At ease."
"Th-thank you, Hokage-sama! It is an honor!" The guards were clearly overjoyed by the mere acknowledgment.
Naruto patted the nearest one on the shoulder, feeling the man stiffen with pride. "Keep working hard. Guarding this gate is the first line of defense for our home. It is vital."
"We are trying our best, sir!"
"I need to attend a special, off-the-record meeting outside the walls," Naruto said, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial, serious tone. "If anyone asks, I wasn't here. Understood?"
Sensing the gravity of the request, the Chunin nodded vigorously and immediately stepped aside, opening the path. "Understood, Lord Seventh! We saw nothing."
Naruto walked past the barrier, the hum of the village fading behind him. He headed left, deep into the forest, moving far enough that the noise of civilization was swallowed by the rustling trees. He found a small clearing, bathed in the pale light of the moon and stars. The curtain of darkness was closing in, making the adventure feel illicit and thrilling.
Naruto licked his lips, tasting the anticipation. He leaned against a thick oak, melting into the shadows. Now, he would wait. Like a predator in high grass, he lurked, ready to spring the moment his prey arrived.
---
**Meanwhile, back at the Village Gates**
Moments after Naruto vanished into the tree line, a silhouette emerged from a dark alleyway near the entrance. The cold moonlight revealed Shizune.
She looked different tonight. Gone was the frazzled assistant; in her place was a woman who had spent hours in front of a mirror. Her makeup was heavier, accentuating her eyes and lips, and her kimono was adjusted to be slightly more revealing than regulation permitted. Her eyes sparkled with a glazed, feverish look—whether from liquid courage or a powerful influence on her mind, it was hard to tell.
She stood hesitantly, staring at the empty road where the Hokage had just walked.
"So it's true... he really went," she whispered, her face twisting in an internal war. She bit her lower lip, her hands clenching the fabric of her hem. "I'm sorry, Hinata... I... I seem to be a terrible woman."
Her gaze shifted, the guilt melting away to reveal a raw, desperate excitement. "But... I'm sure you would understand. The way he looks at me... I just don't want to live with regrets anymore!"
With a determined gleam in her dark eyes, Shizune crossed the moral event horizon. She walked lightly toward the gates, nodding curtly to the two surprised Chunin, and slipped into the forest, following the phantom trail of the Seventh Hokage.
The two guards exchanged bewildered glances.
"Was that... Shizune-san?" the swarthy guard asked, swallowing hard as he stared at the darkness that had swallowed her.
The other ninja, adjusting his forehead protector, nodded slowly. "I think so. But she felt... different."
"She's become more attractive, hasn't she?"
"Much more. Like a completely different woman."
They looked at each other, the realization dawning on them simultaneously.
"She went right after the Seventh," the first one whispered. "That's... suspicious."
"Hey," the second shrugged, turning back to his post. "That's above our pay grade. Did you hear what Hokage-sama said? We saw nothing. Get back to work."
"Eh, you're right. Let's forget it."
---
In a place where the sun had never shone, deep in the darkest recesses of Naruto's subconscious, the atmosphere was shifting. The massive, nine-tailed red fox, who had been dormant for some time, slowly roused from a prolonged slumber.
"Naruto..."
Kurama rumbled, attempting to contact his Jinchūriki to warn him of a disturbance in their chakra flow. But his voice echoed into nothingness. There was no answer.
Panic, a rare emotion for the Tailed Beast, began to set in. "What the... I can't even project my chakra! It's like I'm in a cage within a cage!"
Kurama paced the watery floor of his prison. Usually, he could see through Naruto's eyes, hear his thoughts, or at least sense the outside world. Now, there was only an oppressive silence. It reminded him of the centuries of loneliness he despised, but this was worse. He was completely severed.
"What the hell happened?! I couldn't have died... no, this feels different than the Reaper Death Seal." Kurama slammed a massive paw onto the water, sending a spray into the darkness. "I am still inside the brat! So why can't I reach him? I don't like this!"
The great fox roared, baring his fangs at the void, but the darkness swallowed the sound. He was absolutely, terrifyingly alone.
---
Konoha Forest
Hidden in the shadows, Naruto waited. His heartbeat remained steady, his breathing shallow and controlled. With each passing minute, his focus sharpened. He could feel her approach before he heard it—a shift in the air pressure, a hesitation in the wind.
His face bore an expression no one in the village would recognize: a mix of excitement, cunning, and raw lust. He was a different man here.
Suddenly, a twig snapped. The sound was deafening in the silence. Naruto's blue eyes narrowed, piercing the gloom.
"And here you are..." he breathed.
Shizune stepped into the clearing. The moonlight washed over her, illuminating her flushed face and the trembling curve of her body.
"Hmm?" Naruto tilted his head.
He noticed the change immediately. In the office, Shizune had radiated a suppressed, professional femininity. Here, she seemed to have unlocked something primal. The heavy makeup, the flushed skin, the way she held herself—she looked like she had broken her shackles. It was fitting. In this wild environment, they were no longer Hokage and Assistant. They were two animals under the moon, stripped of civilization's rules.
The thrill of the gamble—the risk of being caught, the corruption of a trusted friend—was intoxicating.
Stopping a few feet away, Shizune swallowed audibly. She had overcome her guilt to get here, but now, standing before the man who ruled her village, she felt small. Insecure. She fidgeted, unsure of the protocol for an illicit affair.
Naruto peeled himself from the shadows. His blond hair seemed to glow in the half-light as he stalked toward her. He towered over her, his presence suffocating and magnetic. He looked at her appetizing form, imagining exactly how she would look spread out on the grass, stripped of her dignity and uniform.
The scent of her perfume, mixed with the musky, distinct aroma of an aroused woman, hit him. It was a potent cocktail.
Naruto didn't speak. Words were unnecessary now. He stepped into her personal space, tilted his head, and used a single finger to lift her chin. He lowered his face, brushing his lips ghost-light against the sensitive skin of her neck.
"Ah~"
A passionate, unrestrained moan escaped her lips, vibrating against his own. The sound snapped the last thread of his restraint. The moment had finally come to taste this depraved girl.