Part 1: The Interrupted Illusion
The moment Naruto saw that Uchiha Itachi was willing to risk his life just to change Izumi's mind, veins bulged across his forehead, and a cold aura erupted from his body.
Izumi now belonged wholly to him—loyal only to Naruto.
And Naruto was a selfish man. He would never allow even the possibility of her mind being changed, even if he didn't believe that Kotoamatsukami could override the system's "factory settings."
"Instant Transmission."
Naruto moved with a flash of golden light, appearing instantly in the middle of the Uchiha family's battlefield. In one hand, he seized the crow that was about to activate Kotoamatsukami; with the other, he grabbed the hilt of Izumi's sword.
No one touches what's his.
And he definitely wouldn't let Uchiha Itachi die so easily.
"Huh?" Itachi's eyes widened in disbelief when he saw Naruto. He couldn't understand why the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki had appeared here.
A moment later, Naruto tore the Sharingan from the crow's eye socket, forcibly interrupting the activation of Kotoamatsukami.
Then, with a swift motion, he raised his leg and slammed a brutal kick into Itachi's abdomen, sending him flying across the battlefield.
Plop. Plop. Plop.
Itachi tumbled several times before his broken body finally came to a stop. He was already weakened from illness and mentally drained from his clash with Izumi in the Tsukuyomi realm. After Naruto's kick, blood spurted from his mouth. The previous battle had drained his chakra reserves. With everything combined, Uchiha Itachi could no longer fight.
"Naruto, what the hell are you doing?!" Sasuke deactivated his Susanoo and stormed toward Naruto in anger. "This is a family matter! Stay out of it!"
"Your family matter?" Naruto scoffed, casually tossing the strangled crow aside. Then he slid his arm around Izumi's waist and pulled her tightly to his side.
Or more accurately, pulled himself into her arms.
Izumi's figure was still a little smaller than he liked.
"My wife is an Uchiha, isn't she? So doesn't that make me part of the Uchiha clan too?"
Naruto glanced sidelong at Sasuke with a smirk, deliberately provoking him. Sasuke clicked his tongue and suddenly found himself without a retort.
Izumi, on the other hand, looked flustered. She gently pushed at Naruto's chest like a shy bird, trying to break free from his arms.
But against Naruto, she was helpless. Just the slightest exertion from him and she lost all strength.
"Naruto-kun, please... let me go." Izumi's body was tense with embarrassment.
"Why should I let go?" Naruto teased, looking up at her with a grin.
Her face still held that same gentle look. If you didn't know she was a killer on the battlefield, you might have mistaken her for the gentle, virtuous wife type.
She was only eighteen years old, yet something about her exuded the warmth of a perfect homemaker.
She wore no makeup, her long black hair cascading loosely over her shoulders. She was dressed in a modest, conservative outfit—long-sleeved top and trousers that covered even her neck with a high collar. Only her hands and toes were exposed.
Sasuke, that showy bastard, exposed way more skin than her.
But Naruto preferred his women modest in public—and secretly seductive behind closed doors.
"There are other people here," Izumi muttered, her cheeks red. She glanced at Sasuke, then at the injured Itachi lying on the ground.
She didn't mind how Naruto treated her, but with others around, their public intimacy was too much to bear.
And…
That word—"wife"—was too much. Too embarrassing.
Even if she looked mature, she was still a shy little girl inside.
Noticing her shyness, Naruto grinned even more mischievously. He looked at the half-dead Itachi and teased, "What? Afraid he'll get jealous?"
Izumi's lips trembled, and her eyes turned red as she bit back a retort. "How can you say something like that? Do you think I'm that kind of woman?"
Crap, she's angry.
Naruto had been spending too much time with Temari, who would have laughed and teased him back. But Izumi wasn't Temari—she couldn't take being misunderstood.
"Don't be mad, don't be mad," Naruto said, quickly taking her hand. "I was only joking."
Izumi gave him a glare, snorted softly, and turned her head away in a pout.
Time for the ultimate move—something that worked on older sisters and younger aunts.
After a moment of internal prep, Naruto smiled sweetly, wrapped his arms tighter around her waist, looked up at her with innocent eyes, and said:
"Big Sister Izumi… If you stay mad, I'll be mad at you too!"
"Then be mad," Izumi huffed, glancing at him.
But as her eyes met his sparkling gaze, she gave up.
"Ugh…"
"Just don't joke about me like that again."
"..."
Phew. Crisis averted.