A hint of chill lingered in the late spring breeze. Dark clouds veiled the moonlight. Distant thunder rumbled, lightning streaked across the sky, and fine, hair-thin rain fell quietly, moistening the mountains and fields.
A few raindrops hit the house, clinging to Naruto's hair.
He stood up and closed the window, then sat back down and looked at Yugito, who was seated across from him. She had already changed out of her combat uniform, now wearing a white dress and high heels once again.
She poured hot tea into a cup, leaned in, and gently traced the rim with her tongue, as if trying to trap the warmth within.
Under the table, the toes of her high heels lifted and wobbled occasionally. The snow-white skin of her calves and insteps glowed faintly in the dim light.
"This tea isn't good. Too astringent, no sweetness," Yugito said, sipping from the cup with her rosy lips.
Naruto didn't respond. He didn't know much about tea. Other than iced black tea and jasmine, he found most teas bitter.
"Tea from the Land of Fields or your Land of Fire is better," Yugito remarked, tapping the table casually.
Naruto looked at her in silence for a while before saying, "Maybe you'd be more suited to live in Konoha."
"Oh? And why's that?"
"The noble ladies there love arranging flowers and sipping tea. You'd get along just fine."
"Any of those ladies one of your lovers?"
"You're straying off-topic."
"Not by much," she teased, leaning slightly, resting her chin on her hand, curiosity written all over her face.
Naruto didn't hide it. He nodded slowly. "Yes."
Yugito smiled, like she had expected that answer. "I figured. You're so lustful for someone your age. Must be a bad habit picked up in Konoha. I'd be surprised if you didn't have a lover."
Sorry, but the original Naruto—before he crossed into this world—didn't have any bad habits.
At most, he was just a troublemaker.
Naruto pouted. "Fine, I admit I'm lustful. But what does that have to do with why you came back?"
"Everything," Yugito replied, smiling. "I brought a gift for you this time—a beautiful woman you're fond of."
So that whole act—killing those men and rescuing Mabui—was all to present her to him as a gift?
But why go to such lengths for something like that? Naruto didn't get it. He asked, "Do I look like someone who's short on beautiful women?"
Yugito studied his face and shook her head.
Handsome, powerful, and brimming with a mesmerizing presence—Naruto certainly didn't lack admirers. If anything, women were likely lining up for him.
"So, don't go looking for women on my behalf," he said. "You don't need to give yourself to me out of obligation, and I'm not going to cast you aside."
Naruto suspected she might be acting this way because of the Demon Curse's threat. Maybe she feared the fatal consequences.
But Yugito shook her head and chuckled. "I'm not afraid. I just think she'll be useful to you."
"Oh?"
"The Fourth Raikage didn't have much of a brain. If you ask me, Mabui—the Raikage's secretary—was the real Raikage. He only trusted her that much because of her abilities."
She lifted her tea and drained the cup, then continued, "Mabui knows a powerful jutsu called the Heavenly Transfer Technique. It allows teleportation of objects and people with strong bodies."
"Oh?"
Naruto was a bit surprised. He couldn't recall every detail from the original storyline.
But now that she mentioned it, he remembered the Heavenly Transfer Technique being mentioned by B.
Still, it raised questions. He rubbed his chin. "Then why didn't Mabui use it to escape when she was captured?"
Yugito explained, "Because her body couldn't handle it. The Heavenly Transfer moves things at the speed of light. If the person's defenses aren't strong enough, they'll be ripped to shreds."
Naruto stood and walked over to her, wrapping an arm around her slim waist. "So, what qualifies as strong enough?"
She fell into his embrace, and her jade fingers traced his lips. "As far as I know, only the Fourth Raikage could withstand it. Maybe all previous Raikages too."
"So, you're saying I can also endure it?" he asked, his hands sliding gently over her snow-white thighs.
Yugito blushed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her head in his chest.
In a soft voice, she said, "Of course. Your body is the strongest, most perfect one I've ever known."
"Die, you little seductress!"
"Your Majesty, have mercy!"
—
By early morning, with most of the village still asleep, Naruto calmed Yugito and stepped out.
Mabui had been hidden in a cave outside the village. Naruto went there alone and found her unconscious from hunger, lying on the cold ground.
Her chakra had been sealed. She hadn't eaten in days. Her clothes were thin, barely enough to shield her from the cold. It was impressive she had survived at all.
Seeing this, Naruto summoned a mat from his storage space, laid her on it, and covered her with a quilt.
He then slowly fed her hot water and porridge prepared by Yugito, carefully guiding it into her parched, cracked lips.
The moment the food touched her tongue, her instincts kicked in, and she began sucking at it like a baby.
"You were really starving, huh?" Naruto said softly, continuing to feed her gently.
After a long while, the warmth returned to her body, and her hunger subsided. She stirred, eyelids fluttering.
The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was a blond boy feeding her porridge.
His eyes were cold, yet his movements were impossibly tender.
For some reason, Mabui thought—he's actually... kind of handsome.
"How do you feel? A little better?"
Though his voice remained cold, there was a gentleness in his tone.
It was a strangely cute contradiction.
"Yes, much better," she replied, pressing her aching head with one hand and sitting up slowly.
Staring at Naruto, she asked directly, "Why did you save me?"
It wasn't me, Naruto thought. It was Yugito pretending to be me.
But explaining that would ruin her good intentions—and Mabui likely wouldn't believe it anyway.
So Naruto turned on the charm. He activated all his charisma-boosting traits—especially his talent for lying.
"If I said one night of marriage leads to a hundred nights of love—meaning I couldn't just let you die—would you believe it?"
Mabui blinked, stunned.
She didn't really believe in things like love. She had once naively thought Naruto had feelings for her and had been betrayed. That experience crushed her trust in romance.
But try as she might, she couldn't think of another reason why he'd save her now.
Outside, the cries of crows and cuckoos echoed through the silent cave.
After a long silence, Naruto broke it again.
"Honestly, I don't know why I saved you. I could've ignored it. But my hands and feet acted on their own."
"Pfft."
Mabui—who had looked gloomy and worn down—actually let out a soft laugh.
"You're such a liar."
"Liar? I think I'm being pretty sincere."
"Not even close."
"Has anyone ever told you that you look beautiful when you smile?"
He stepped forward, squatted in front of her, and stared. His eyes were deep, his lips slightly curled.
When she heard that, Mabui's heartbeat skipped. His words, cold as they were, sounded almost heartfelt.
It was like hearing someone cool and distant suddenly say, "You're beautiful."
Simple words, yet enough to melt the heart.
Mabui bit her lip and lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
"Tell me the price. What are your conditions for saving me? As long as it doesn't go against my beliefs, I'll accept."
"No conditions."
"I don't believe you."
"???"
Naruto sighed. This one's tough to deceive.
He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Look me in the eyes when you speak."
"No need." Mabui shut her eyes tightly.
She finally realized—his eyes were dangerous. Every time she looked into them, her heart fluttered.
"I still don't believe you did this for nothing. Just tell me what you want."
Naruto blinked, wondering if his new talent was too effective.
"Tch... fine. If you want conditions—how about this?"
He leaned back and sat on the ground, staring at the cave's roof in a daze.
Morning light crept in through the entrance, casting a golden glow around him.
Mabui cracked her eyes open and looked at him.
"Give me everything—your jutsu, your talent, and yourself—as payment."
He smiled, his fair skin glowing in the soft light. His words sounded almost casual, like they were said just to comfort her.
And Mabui's heart trembled.
She cupped her chin with both hands, staring at this boy who might actually have a crush on her.
I can't return to the village anyway... maybe I should just say yes.
No. Everything that's happened to me—it's all his fault.
Just as she was about to reject him, Naruto spoke again.
"What do you think of my proposal?"
"…Alright."
Outside, the wind blew gently through the trees.
Mabui's lips parted slightly. She was stunned she had agreed.
But now that it was said—so be it.
Her face turned pink.
"Three years. I'll follow you for three years. After that, I want my freedom."
"It's a deal," Naruto said, offering his left pinky. "Pinky swear."
"Childish."
Still, Mabui hooked her right pinky with his.
"…"
"Feeling better?"
"Huh?"
"Didn't expect you to understand me so well."
"???"
—
By noon, Naruto—representing Konoha—sat down with both Raikages to finalize the reparations agreement.
Through Yugito's shadow clone, the deal was struck.
Kumogakure would hand over one-quarter of the Land of Lightning's tax revenue to Konoha every year for the next thirty years.
In return, they would keep their borders and territorial waters intact.
It was an enormous deal—one that would allow Konoha to thrive while plunging the Land of Lightning into potential chaos.
Infrastructure, public needs, even support for the nobles—something would suffer. And when it did, there'd be unrest.
Kumogakure wouldn't recover unless some unprecedented genius emerged and tore up the treaty.
Konoha, of course, welcomed the deal.
Kumogakure's side looked gloomy—except for Yugito, who signed the agreement calmly and without hesitation.
She didn't even read the terms. Just signed and left.
People thought she'd gone mad.
Only Naruto and Yugito knew the truth.
She wasn't mad. She simply didn't care.
Because the Land of Lightning no longer belonged to the Raikage—it belonged to Naruto Uzumaki.
And as its true master, would he ever lose money?
"Sign it all. I'm going to profit from this deal," Yugito said with a smirk, glancing up at the drifting clouds as she returned to her temporary home to change into her favorite dress.
Then she detoured—straight to Naruto's house.
"This is the last day. Who knows when I'll see you again," she said as she pushed open the door. "I'm going to eat well today."
The room was empty.
A second later, the door locked behind her.
She turned. Naruto was already stripped of his gear, clearly anticipating her arrival.
"Mabui's taken care of?" he asked.
"She is. She'll start teaching me the Heavenly Transfer Technique tomorrow. But right now, I'm here to deal with you."
"I'm a Jinchūriki with insane recovery speed. I'm not as easy to handle as Mabui."
"No one can handle me."
"…"
"…"