Time passed.
No one knew how long it had been.
The monstrous shadow cast on the wall suddenly began to move faster.
After a series of violent, relentless tearing motions, the frantic assault finally stopped.
Hiss…
Hiss… hiss…
The shadow froze in place, maintaining its posture for a long time.
Then—
Slowly, it began to retreat.
The monster that had vented its malice finally stopped seeking more.
Slightly satisfied, it withdrew back into its host's body and fell into slumber.
Everything finally came to an end.
…
After some time had passed, the unconscious Anbu girl slowly woke up.
"Ugh…"
Yugao Uzuki opened her eyes, feeling a splitting headache.
The moment her awareness returned, she instinctively tried to defend herself and get up.
But the resistance from her body stopped her from moving.
"Rope?"
Ordinary hemp rope had tightly bound her upper body and pinned her in place.
Her long legs, however, were completely free to move.
For a moment, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Then she raised her head and saw the blond boy standing nearby.
Her attention shifted immediately.
"Anbu big sister, please don't be nervous. I was a bit reckless earlier."
Naruto Uzumaki raised his hand, signaling for Yugao Uzuki to calm down.
He had already dragged her out of the basement and back into the living room.
Yugao Uzuki stared at the boy in front of her.
His eyes were narrowed into cheerful slits, and he looked completely harmless.
The fierce killing intent he had shown earlier before she lost consciousness seemed like a completely different person.
What happened?
Was that earlier transformation caused by the tailed beast chakra?
"I thought a thief had broken into my house."
Naruto Uzumaki pointed at his abdomen while explaining.
"It told me you were actually an Anbu ninja."
Listening carefully, Yugao Uzuki immediately understood.
That must have been the Nine-Tails warning him.
The tailed beast had lived in Konoha for many years.
It made sense that it would recognize the Anbu.
Soon after, Naruto Uzumaki untied the rope.
Freed from her restraints, Yugao Uzuki stood up.
She quickly checked her injuries.
A slight concussion.
A mild sprain in her wrist.
And…
"…."
Yugao Uzuki pressed her lips together slightly.
There seemed to be a strange taste lingering in her mouth.
What had this kid done to her?
"Oh, earlier you fainted, so I gave you some milk."
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head with an innocent expression.
Yugao Uzuki believed him a little.
But only a little.
Soon her cheeks began to heat up.
Even though he was the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, he was still just a child who hadn't even entered the Ninja Academy yet.
Yet she—an elite Anbu ninja—had been defeated in a single exchange.
The humiliation and frustration surged within her.
She had always taken pride in her abilities.
And yet she had lost to a child.
That was something she simply couldn't accept.
So—
She immediately forced herself to focus on the mission.
"Naruto Uzumaki… Hokage-sama ordered me to deliver your monthly living allowance."
After saying that, Yugao Uzuki turned and walked away without another word.
She couldn't stay there for even a moment longer.
However, as she passed Naruto Uzumaki, her gaze subconsciously dropped to his waist.
His clothes looked completely normal now.
As if the strange scene she had witnessed earlier had been nothing more than an illusion.
"…."
Naruto Uzumaki watched Yugao Uzuki's departing back.
Slowly, he opened the eyes that had been narrowed into slits.
Crimson fox-like pupils flickered.
A needle-thin glint of red light flashed within them.
…
After leaving Naruto Uzumaki's house, Yugao Uzuki suddenly realized it was already evening.
The realization made the sense of defeat in her heart even stronger.
She had arrived in the morning.
Yet such a simple task—delivering money—had taken her until sunset.
Her spirit felt utterly crushed.
The mission would probably be evaluated as a failure.
That thought made her begin doubting her training for the first time.
Unconsciously, she reached behind her and gripped the hilt of her sword.
Only then did she feel a little reassured.
"It was just a normal encounter…"
Yugao Uzuki tried to comfort herself.
She hadn't even used her ninjutsu.
Her best swordsmanship hadn't been used either.
It had simply been a moment of carelessness.
After checking her belongings and confirming nothing had been taken, she let out a sigh of relief.
If the Nine-Tails jinchuriki had disarmed her as well, the humiliation would have been even worse.
"Better report back to Hokage-sama…"
After thinking it over, Yugao Uzuki decided to report the mission.
Even though it was late, she still had to finish the task properly.
As for her future in the Anbu…
That would depend on fate.
Lost in her thoughts, Yugao Uzuki failed to notice a small figure quietly approaching Naruto Uzumaki's house.
"Naruto-kun…"
The cute girl with the Byakugan had a faint blush on her face and a hopeful smile on her lips.
Her steps quickened.
She longed to see the hero who had saved her in the forest last month.
…
"Gulp… gulp… gulp…"
Naruto Uzumaki opened the refrigerator and drained a bottle of milk in one go.
"Ah…"
He let out a refreshing sigh.
"The swelling finally went down…"
No one had ever constantly used the Nine-Tails' chakra twenty-four hours a day like he had.
Naturally, no one had experienced what he was going through either.
The Nine-Tails' chakra contained overwhelming vitality.
In its full chakra mode, it could even bring dead trees back to life.
Even weaker users could reach terrifying levels of power.
The only comparison Naruto Uzumaki could think of was the legendary brothers who had consumed the Nine-Tails' flesh and gained its chakra.
Using tailed beast chakra nonstop would inevitably cause unpredictable effects on the human body.
For now, the side effect seemed obvious.
The excessive life force had caused certain parts of his body to develop far too rapidly.
Thanks to Yugao Uzuki earlier, the situation had at least temporarily stabilized.
But what about later?
The Nine-Tails' power was essentially a cheat ability.
Naruto Uzumaki couldn't simply stop using it.
"Well… when the cart reaches the mountain, a road will appear."
He casually tossed the empty milk carton into the trash.
Then he grabbed the money Yugao Uzuki had delivered and slipped it into his pocket.
"Normally the old Third Hokage brings this personally. Looks like he's been getting busier lately."
Checking the time, Naruto Uzumaki decided to go out for dinner.
Now that he had his allowance, he could reward himself with a bowl of ramen.
But the moment he opened the door—
A girl of the same height stood outside.
"Naruto-kun…"
Her short hair framed a delicate, adorable face.
Her white eyes were especially striking.
Dressed in a white home kimono, she looked almost like a porcelain doll.
It was already evening.
Standing at the door, Hinata Hyuga looked startled when Naruto Uzumaki opened it suddenly.
She stepped back slightly, unsure how to react.
Clearly, the words she had prepared to knock and say had been completely disrupted.
"Oh, Hinata. Come in."
Naruto Uzumaki ignored her embarrassment and invited her inside.
The next moment, Hinata Hyuga smiled happily and stepped into the room.
As expected from a child of a noble clan, every movement she made was graceful and well-mannered.
The Hyuga Clan was Konoha's most prestigious clan.
They possessed strict traditions, the Byakugan, and the Gentle Fist style.
And their members were almost always beautiful.
Just like the Uchiha Clan.
"Naruto-kun… it's been a while…"
Hinata Hyuga sat down while watching Naruto Uzumaki walk toward the refrigerator.
Her eyes kept drifting toward him, as if she wanted to look but didn't dare.
Her flushed cheeks made her feelings painfully obvious.
People in the ninja world matured early.
Age was hardly a barrier to romance.
Ever since Naruto Uzumaki had saved her in the forest last month…
Hinata Hyuga had never forgotten him.
In fact—
She had fallen in love at first sight.
Click.
Naruto Uzumaki opened the refrigerator.
It was packed with milk.
Clearly the stock of a wealthy household.
He glanced over the bottles.
They were arranged by date.
Naruto Uzumaki reached to the back and pulled out the oldest one.
It was expired.
"That milk is expired, brat."
Kurama, lying behind the iron gate of the seal, spoke up.
After witnessing Naruto Uzumaki attack Yugao Uzuki earlier, Kurama had already confirmed something.
Naruto Uzumaki was a demon.
His every action had become unpredictable.
Kurama could no longer guess what he would do next.
Or what kind of scheme might hide behind an apparently ordinary action.
"…."
Ignoring Kurama completely, Naruto Uzumaki turned and walked toward Hinata Hyuga with the expired milk.
"Hinata, have some milk."
He placed the carton directly on the table in front of her.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun!"
Hinata Hyuga smiled brightly, feeling incredibly honored.
Sitting neatly on the floor, she carefully picked up the milk.
Then she opened it and began drinking it slowly under Naruto Uzumaki's watchful gaze.
"…."
Watching this scene, Kurama was speechless.
Its suspicions were confirmed.
Naruto Uzumaki was not only a demon—
He was also a cunning little predator.
Even if he threw a pile of rotten vegetables at her…
This Byakugan girl would probably treat it like a priceless delicacy.
"Naruto-kun… is watching me…"
Hinata Hyuga took small sips of the expired milk while occasionally glancing up at him.
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes were narrowed into cheerful slits again.
He looked as harmless as ever.
But in Hinata Hyuga's eyes—
Naruto Uzumaki was the most handsome man in the entire ninja world.