That night, cold moonlight streamed through the window cracks, casting a silver glow on soft, snow-white skin and giving Yugito an almost divine radiance.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, captivated by the sight of the beauty lying beside him.
Who wouldn't want to pull a sacred goddess down from her pedestal?
Sensing his gaze, Yugito glanced sideways and suddenly leaned in to bite him playfully, planting bright red kiss marks on both of his cheeks.
"Mua~"
"Mua~"
Afterward, she let out a soft yawn and sat up slowly. "I have to go. See you next time, my lord."
"Where are you going? Just sleep here," Naruto said. "Can't you just use a clone to cover for yourself?"
"I still have work to do."
Yugito brushed her golden hair behind her ears, swayed her slender waist, and walked over to her ninja tool pouch. She pulled out a scroll, spread it open, and placed her palm on it. A standard combat uniform appeared out of thin air. Within seconds, the alluring curves and exposed skin vanished beneath the stiff, thick armor, leaving only her face and toes uncovered.
She had gone from moon goddess to battle-hardened kunoichi in seconds.
The Cloud ninja uniform wasn't exactly flattering. It made her look far more stern and less graceful. Naruto lost interest quickly, but still asked casually, "Is something going on? Need help?"
Yugito pursed her lips. "If you really want to come, I guess I can make use of you."
"I believe you've got it under control. I'm going back to sleep."
"Tch. And you just offered to help me."
"You didn't actually ask for help," Naruto pouted. "You didn't even tell me what the mission was. Why should I go?"
Yugito said nothing at first. She lowered her eyes, biting her lip slightly while staring at him with a look of quiet accusation—like a scorned wife glaring at a faithless husband.
Naruto frowned. "Don't play games with me. I hate guessing. If you've got something to say, say it. If not, just leave."
"You're no fun."
"I'm the master here. You're my slave. What else do you want?"
Yugito muttered "Oh," then turned to leave. At the door, she glanced back at him with an aggrieved look but didn't stop walking.
"Go to bed early, and don't stay up too late. You'll stunt your growth."
???
You're the one talking about my height?!
Naruto sighed. All the women around him—whether sisters or aunt-like figures—were taller than him. It totally undermined his domineering presence. How could he act like a boss when everyone was taller?
Although he'd said she could handle it herself, Naruto got dressed and followed her after all. He wasn't heartless—he just wanted to appear heartless.
This world was too dangerous. Everyone had to become stronger. It was impossible to protect someone forever.
If something happened in the future and he tried to use that as an excuse to always stick together, what then?
He followed her silently through the forest. Before long, they had left the village and reached a wild area in the woods.
Since he hadn't asked earlier, Naruto still didn't know what she was doing there. He just kept tailing her.
Finally, Yugito stopped on a tree branch. Naruto crouched above her, perched on a higher one, hiding in the shadows.
Looking in the direction she was watching, he saw several torches glowing in the dark. Three black-clad Cloud ninjas were lighting up the area, while six others were digging a pit.
Darui stood beside another unfamiliar Cloud ninja, guarding a prison wagon.
Inside the wagon was a lifeless-looking Mabui.
Despite Kumogakure's recent defeat, Darui was still as lazy as ever. He yawned. "How much longer? Is the coffin ready yet?"
"Lord Darui, please be patient."
"Well, hurry it up. If Raikage-sama shows up and we're not done, we're all dead."
"Yes, sir!"
A pit? A coffin? And Mabui's in the wagon… Is Yugito really going to kill her?
Several questions popped into Naruto's mind, and sure enough, the system gave him the answers:
[Passive Choice Triggered!]
[The woman "Mabui"—with whom you've had physical contact—has been sentenced to death. What do you choose?]
So it was true. Only Yugito had the authority to sentence her.
Was it personal? Did she have a grudge?
Could be.
Naruto scanned the choices:
Choice 1: Rescue her.
She's your woman. How could you let others kill her? Save her life now.
Reward: [Magic Mask]
Choice 2: Stay silent.
Just a passerby.
Reward: [Talent: Cold Eyes]
"Your gaze radiates icy calmness, which makes you more attractive to women under 30."
Choice 3: Desecrate the corpse.
After Mabui dies, dig her up and... hehehe.
Reward: [Beautiful Corpse ×3]
Choice 4: Ruthless Slaughter.
Kill everyone here without hesitation.
Reward: [Thousand-Mile Escape Talisman ×1]
Only the talisman seemed worthwhile. The others were either useless or just plain insane.
But Naruto didn't want to kill everyone here. Who knew if he or Yugito would get caught in the crossfire?
So he chose to do nothing for now.
He had slept with Mabui, yes—but that didn't mean he'd stick his neck out. He only helped those who were useful or who truly mattered to him.
If it had just been mutual benefit? Then no point getting involved.
But then Yugito's actions surprised him again.
She used a shadow clone jutsu. The clones dispersed in every direction. Then her real body pulled out several lunchboxes from a scroll and carefully approached the Cloud ninjas.
???
She's feeding them? Before killing someone? What kind of assassination plan is this?
Naruto watched closely.
"It's already past three in the morning," Yugito said softly. "I brought some food. Let's eat before we do anything else."
All the Cloud ninja turned toward the approaching Raikage.
"Raikage-sama!"
Yugito raised her hand to signal calm, then walked over to the prison wagon and set the boxes down.
"Everyone, eat. We'll handle business afterward."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Darui was the first to snatch a box, grinning stupidly while sneaking glances at Yugito's face.
She had brought him food herself!
Ever since the war with Konoha, Darui had secretly fallen in love with Yugito. Every smile from her left him dazed for days.
He had joined the Black Faction, hoping to rise in rank and eventually become the Raikage himself, all so he could earn her affection.
Mabui had been his stepping stone. But now, with her gone, he would become the new leader of the Black Faction.
Once he was powerful enough, he'd challenge Yugito for the title of Raikage and win her heart.
"Thanks for the food, Yugito."
Everyone else said "Raikage-sama," but Darui used her name to stand out.
Yugito smiled faintly. "It's cold by now. Just eat."
"It's still warm enough!" he said, scarfing it down.
Yugito didn't bother correcting him. She knew exactly how cold it was—she'd made that food before meeting Naruto. It had been sitting out for seven hours.
"Did Mabui say anything?" she asked.
"Hm?" Darui was too distracted to catch her tone. "Nah, she didn't say a word. What do you want to know?"
"I can interrogate her if you want. I'll get her to talk."
Inside the wagon, Mabui's eyes flew open in fury. Darui was a bastard to the end.
She regretted ever helping the Black Faction, only to be betrayed by them all.
Darui noticed her glare, grabbed a kunai, and shouted, "What are you looking at?! Want to die early?! I'll kill you now!"
Mabui wasn't afraid. Not anymore.
The other Cloud ninjas hesitated. They wanted to stop him, but no one dared offend both Darui and Yugito.
Naruto, meanwhile, yawned. Why was Yugito watching an execution herself? Didn't she have better things to do?
Then suddenly—
Yugito stepped forward.
In one smooth motion, she unsheathed her blade. A flash of steel cut through the darkness.
Blood sprayed into the night.
Darui never even realized what was happening until he was already split in two.
"DARUI!"
"What are you doing?!"
"Yugito, you killed a fellow jonin! Are you insane?!"
The others erupted into panic. Mabui sat in stunned silence.
"You don't need to know why," Yugito said calmly. "It's time to die."
Another flash. Another body fell.
The rest of the ninja screamed in defiance. "Don't think we'll just take this—"
"We'll take her down!"
But as they tried to channel chakra, searing pain shot through their stomachs. One by one, they fell to their knees.
"You liked the food I brought, right?" Yugito said coldly. "Tasted great, didn't it?"
"You poisoned us!"
"Hahaha. And you were enjoying it so much."
Her blade moved with surgical precision. One by one, they fell—until only Mabui remained in the wagon.
Yugito turned, walked to the prison van, and sliced the lock with her blade.
Mabui stared in disbelief.
"Don't panic," Yugito said gently. "I'm here to save you."
She formed a seal.
Poof!
A cloud of smoke surrounded her. When it cleared, the tall, intimidating Raikage was gone.
In her place stood a short, handsome blonde boy with fair skin and blue eyes.
A young Shota Naruto.
He stepped into the wagon, extended a hand, and said gently, "You must've been scared. But don't worry. I'm here now. No one will hurt you again."
???
Huh?!
Up in the tree, the real Naruto nearly screamed out loud.
His brain was buzzing.
He hadn't understood Yugito's plan before. Now he was completely lost.
She was pretending to be him?!
To save the girl he'd slept with?!
What kind of twisted play was this?!
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have completed Option 2. Reward: (Talent: Cold Eyes) has been issued.]