Smoke had faded from the room, leaving Raven's infant body resting in its crib. Her breaths came shallow, her limbs heavy from the chakra strain. She whispered into Yumi's mind, her tone faint but firm. "My chakra reserves are depleted for now."
Yumi curled closer beside her, the faint flick of her tail brushing the air. Her voice, soothing yet practical, echoed in Raven's thoughts. "Then rest. Your Shadow Clone can take over while your body recovers. With your Rinnegan, you can remotely operate the clone without losing focus."
Raven's small eyes fluttered, lids growing heavy. Sleep claimed her body while her adult Shadow Clone stepped forward, tall and radiant with determination. The clone's Rinnegan glowed faintly in the dim room, her presence steady as steel. Yumi stretched out and lowered her head beside Raven's slumbering form, one golden eye opening to watch as the other Raven moved toward the window.
The adult Raven glanced once at her resting body, then looked to Yumi. Her voice was quiet, decisive. "Let's get to work."
With a soft movement, she eased the window open and slipped into the night, her cloak brushing the wooden frame as she vanished into shadow. Yumi followed silently, padding after her. On the empty street, Raven passed by a shattered stall. A mask lay amid the wreckage. She lifted it, tying the cloth across her face to obscure her features. Pulling a hooded wrap around her head, she tucked her white hair away. Every step she took was soundless as she melted into the darkness.
"Lead me to the orphanage," Raven said, her voice low as her eyes scanned the broken village. "I want to see how Naruto is faring."
Yumi's tail swayed as she nodded. "Very well. Follow me."
Together they moved across the fractured streets of Konoha. The scent of ash clung to the air, and the cries of the displaced echoed faintly from distant shelters. They reached the outskirts where the orphanage still stood. Its roof bore scars from the Nine-Tails' assault, yet the structure remained upright, a weary remnant amid the devastation.
As they approached, Yumi's voice grew grim. "Naruto has been placed here under the Third Hokage's orders. But the matron neglects him—food is scarce, care is thin, and he is already being treated differently. The child is barely fed. His cries go unanswered."
Raven's fists clenched beneath her cloak. Her Rinnegan eyes burned with fury behind the mask. "As I thought… the Third may claim to protect him, but this reeks of Danzō's shadow. With the truth of his parentage concealed, he's nothing more than a scapegoat to them."
They crept to a side window, peering inside. A dim lantern cast pale light into the room. Within, Naruto lay in a plain crib, his small cheeks hollow, his tiny hands clutching weakly at the air as faint cries left his lips. No one moved to soothe him. The matron Akane sat nearby, slouched in her chair, yawning as though the sound meant nothing. Her eyes drifted elsewhere, her hands idle in her lap.
Raven's heart twisted, her voice slipping out as a whisper meant for no ears but her own. "Naruto, my son… even now, they fail you. But I won't. I'll make sure you're cared for, even if I have to tear this orphanage apart."
Yumi lifted her head, her golden eyes catching Raven's. Her tone was calm but edged with warning. "Then you must choose your actions carefully. If you expose yourself too soon, the elders will intervene."
Raven's gaze hardened through the glass, the glow of her Rinnegan pulsing faintly beneath her hood. Her voice came cold, resolute, final. "Then I'll act from the shadows. One way or another, this orphanage will learn to treat Naruto properly."
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