Time passed quietly, and the two eventually stopped beneath an old apartment building near the edge of Konoha.
"Big brother… my place is right here," Naruto said, scratching his cheek.
"Do you… want to come up and sit for a bit?"
Although he said it casually, his nervousness was obvious.
His room was messy.
He hadn't cleaned in days.
He didn't want to leave a bad impression on the first person who had ever treated him kindly.
Kirito caught the hesitation immediately and shook his head lightly.
"Another time, Naruto. I've still got some things to take care of tonight."
Naruto relaxed a little but the reluctance in his eyes remained.
"…Will we meet again?"
Kirito crouched down, resting a hand on Naruto's head, his voice gentle.
"Of course we will."
"You're my brother."
Naruto froze, then grinned shyly before turning and running toward the building.
"Then I'm going home first, big brother!"
"See you again! And remember—my name is Uzumaki Naruto!"
Kirito stood there, watching until the small figure disappeared up the stairs.
The smile on his face slowly faded.
He turned his gaze toward the darkness behind him.
"Tell Sarutobi Hiruzen this," Kirito said calmly.
"I don't want to see Naruto treated like that again."
"If there's a next time—don't blame me for tearing off his old beard."
The night wind rustled softly.
No one answered.
But Kirito knew the ANBU were listening.
And he knew the words would reach the Hokage's ears.
With that, he turned and walked away at an unhurried pace.
He walked for a while.
When he reached a quiet, open stretch of road, Kirito stopped and sighed.
"…Kurenai. How long are you planning on following me?"
Shun—
A graceful figure appeared in front of him.
Crimson eyes locked onto his.
"You… do you remember me?" Yūhi Kurenai asked quietly.
Kirito smiled faintly.
"Aren't you my fiancée?"
It was a rare joke.
Years with Tsunade and Shizune had long since softened the sharp edges of his childhood. He had no intention of growing up cold and bitter.
"W-What are you talking about?!"
Kurenai's face flushed instantly. "Who's your fiancée?! You were just a brat back then!"
"Where have you been all these years?" she asked after a pause.
"Me?" Kirito shrugged.
"Training under Tsunade-sensei. After that, traveling around."
"Tsunade-sama…"
A trace of admiration appeared in Kurenai's eyes.
In Konoha, Tsunade was the idol of countless kunoichi—the Senju princess, the strongest medical ninja, one of the Legendary Sannin.
"So," Kirito added casually, "did you find a boyfriend while I was gone?"
"Nonsense!"
Kurenai rolled her eyes. "Don't say strange things."
She had plenty of suitors—especially Asuma but she had never accepted anyone.
"Kirito-kun," she said softly, stepping closer,
"You've really changed."
"But teasing your senpai like this… that's still too early."
She raised a slender finger and flicked toward his forehead—
Only for her wrist to be caught mid-air.
The sudden closeness made Kurenai freeze.
Their heights were nearly the same now.
Their hands were connected.
She could clearly feel his breathing.
Years ago, he had been a quiet, sharp-eyed child.
Now...
Handsome features.
A relaxed posture.
A powerful presence hidden beneath calm eyes.
Kurenai forgot to move for a moment.
Kirito wasn't unaffected either.
She was someone he had admired even in his previous life—now standing before him, graceful, mature, and warm.
"…So I really did grow up," Kirito murmured.
"Ah—!"
Kurenai snapped back to reality, yanking her hand away and stepping back, cheeks burning.
"A-Ahem…"
She steadied herself.
"How long are you staying in the village this time?"
"A few days," Kirito replied.
"I'll be leaving again soon."
"After all, there are quite a few people in this village who don't want to see me."
"You're the Fourth Hokage's son," Kurenai said softly.
"Who wouldn't want to see you?"
"And Naruto," she added hesitantly.
"Do you know who he is?"
"Then do you know who he is?" Kirito asked calmly.
Kurenai clenched her fists.
"He's… someone the village must protect in secret," she said carefully.
"If you get too close to him, you'll be targeted."
"I've been targeted for a long time already," Kirito replied.
"And don't you think Naruto looks familiar?"
Kurenai froze.
She replayed the image in her mind.
Naruto.
Kirito.
Sitting together.
Laughing.
It felt… familiar.
Suddenly, her pupils widened.
She finally understood why.
That feeling—
It was the same as watching Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina together.
A Namikaze.
An Uzumaki.
And she remembered—
Before the Nine-Tails incident, Kushina had been pregnant.
"…That's impossible," Kurenai whispered.
But her heart already knew the answer.
Uzumaki Naruto—the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—
Was the son of the Fourth Hokage.
For years, he had been treated as a monster.
When he should have been treated as a hero's child.
Tears filled Kurenai's eyes.
She remembered hating the demon fox once.
Her father had died fighting it.
But Naruto was never the demon fox.
He was just a child.
Kirito stepped forward and gently wiped the tears from her cheek.
"…Is it true?" Kurenai asked, voice trembling.
Kirito nodded.
Kurenai's legs weakened.
Before she could fall, she was caught in a warm embrace.
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