"Wait, brat… she's Anbu!"
The moment Kurama saw the uniform, it immediately recognized the girl's identity.
But halfway through speaking, it stopped.
Kurama quickly realized that in Naruto Uzumaki's knowledge, the concept of the Anbu should not exist.
In reality, however, Naruto Uzumaki already knew.
Just from the girl's long purple hair and her porcelain-white arms, he had already guessed the identity of the female ninja hidden behind the cat mask.
Yugao Uzuki…
Hayate Gekko's childhood friend and lover.
That thought flashed through his mind.
But his movements did not slow down in the slightest.
"!"
Seeing Naruto Uzumaki suddenly lunging at her with full force, Yugao Uzuki's expression changed drastically.
The crimson slit pupils.
The feral whisker-like marks on his cheeks.
The sharp fangs revealed in his grin.
She instantly sensed something abnormal about him.
From the speed and power of his charge alone, Yugao Uzuki immediately realized that this kid was not someone to underestimate.
There was no time to think further.
Years of ninja training kicked in.
Almost instinctively, she threw a punch.
Dealing with a child didn't require much strength.
As a Chunin, and a ninja who would soon aim for promotion to Special Jonin, she was confident she could handle a dozen kids easily.
It should have been as simple as eating or drinking water.
But…
Could the Nine-Tails jinchuriki—this mission target, Naruto Uzumaki—really be handled so easily?
Smack!
"What?!"
Yugao Uzuki's eyes widened.
In a split second, the clash had already ended.
Her punch had been caught effortlessly.
Naruto Uzumaki grabbed her fist and twisted it aside.
The strength in his grip was like an iron vise clamping down on her wrist.
Then—
A fist with unnaturally sharp fingers rapidly grew larger in her vision.
Bang!
The punch struck her squarely in the face.
The Anbu girl collapsed backward.
The terrifying force even cracked her Anbu mask.
Just from that, one could imagine how powerful the blow had been.
"Impossible…"
Even Kurama's fox-like eyes widened in surprise.
In theory, this Anbu female should possess roughly Chunin-level strength.
Her training within the Anbu would also enhance her professional combat ability.
Yet Naruto Uzumaki…
Had never even attended the Ninja Academy.
He was practically illiterate in ninja matters.
He had never received proper combat training.
And yet the battle instincts he displayed were astonishing.
Almost like…
"Like the Fourth Hokage," Kurama muttered.
Having watched Naruto Uzumaki grow up from birth, Kurama knew his abilities very well.
But even it had not expected such combat talent.
The only explanation was obvious.
Naruto Uzumaki had inherited his father's battle instincts.
Crash!
Yugao Uzuki's head struck the floor heavily.
The world spun.
Pain exploded through her skull.
She had never imagined that her evaluation mission would end like this.
A ninja must obey orders.
Ever since childhood, she had always completed every mission with absolute dedication.
During her time at the Ninja Academy, she had memorized every rule and regulation.
She never underestimated her opponents.
Never let her guard down.
Yet now—
She had been defeated by a child.
"So this… is the power of the Nine-Tails jinchuriki…"
Those were the final thoughts she had before losing consciousness.
The last thing she saw was the burning red glow in Naruto Uzumaki's slit pupils.
And the strange bulge beneath his clothing.
"Well done."
When everything settled, Naruto Uzumaki stood calmly before the unconscious Anbu girl.
Kurama gave a neutral evaluation.
Naruto Uzumaki was Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
The fallen girl was also part of Konoha's military force.
From Kurama's perspective, this was nothing more than Konoha turning on itself.
And Kurama found it highly amusing.
It had lived in Konoha for more than fifty years.
Not many things were entertaining.
But ever since being sealed inside this brat, things had started to get interesting.
"However, you've just created a huge problem," Kurama said.
"That girl belongs to the Anbu."
From its perspective, Kurama began explaining the special organization within Konoha.
Back when Kushina Uzumaki became the jinchuriki, she had been constantly monitored by Anbu.
Protected.
Or rather, watched.
But for some reason, Naruto Uzumaki had been allowed to grow up freely.
Today's Anbu appearance finally brought things back onto the proper track.
However, Konoha's leadership probably hadn't expected this brat to knock out their operative in a single strike.
"Heh heh, brat… you've caused big trouble."
Kurama's tone quickly became full of malicious delight.
It was eager to see how Konoha's leaders would punish its host.
Would Naruto Uzumaki be placed under constant Anbu surveillance like Kushina had been?
Or would he fall into the hands of that old schemer Danzo and disappear forever?
"…."
Ignoring Kurama's rambling completely, Naruto Uzumaki reached down and removed the cracked mask.
Yugao Uzuki's porcelain-like face was revealed.
Her pale skin required no makeup to appear beautiful.
Her naturally red lips carried an alluring color that made them difficult to ignore.
Her eyes remained tightly closed, her brows furrowed in pain.
Naruto Uzumaki's gaze slowly moved across her exposed arms.
Then lower.
The Anbu uniform outlined her slender figure clearly.
Recalling the information from his previous life, Naruto Uzumaki confirmed her age.
At this point in time, Yugao Uzuki was still in the prime of youth.
A flower just beginning to bloom.
And girls in the ninja world matured quickly.
In both mind…
And body.
So—
Grab.
Naruto Uzumaki grabbed one of Yugao Uzuki's arms.
Without another word, he began dragging her somewhere.
Her body scraped lightly across the wooden floor, producing faint rustling sounds.
"What are you doing?" Kurama asked curiously.
Naruto Uzumaki was heading toward the basement.
It was usually used for storage.
In the future, it might become a training room.
Many ninja houses had such a place.
"I've thought of a solution for the swelling."
Originally, Naruto Uzumaki had planned to visit Konoha Hospital.
But Yugao Uzuki's sudden appearance had given him a different idea.
The basement door opened.
Naruto Uzumaki dragged Yugao Uzuki down the stairs.
Step by step, the basement lights flickered on as he pulled the cord.
The dim room was filled with scattered bottles and supplies.
Thud.
Naruto Uzumaki casually released her arm.
Yugao Uzuki collapsed onto the floor in the center of the room.
Then Naruto Uzumaki lowered his head.
"…."
Kurama suddenly felt a bad premonition.
Rustling sounds filled the basement.
Under the flickering light, Naruto Uzumaki's shadow appeared on the wall.
The unstable lamp made his shadow stretch and twist like a demon.
"The monster inside me… has grown this big…"
Naruto Uzumaki murmured quietly.
Kurama heard every word.
Behind him, the shadow of a monstrous beast overlapped with Naruto Uzumaki's silhouette.
Naruto Uzumaki slowly raised his gaze.
His eyes locked onto the unconscious Anbu girl.
She lay helplessly on the floor.
The dim light flickered.
The monstrous shadow on the wall grew increasingly distorted.
Soon, the monster approached its prey.
Waiting to taste flesh…
Or release something darker.
Yugao Uzuki's shadow moved.
Her figure rose from the floor.
Of course, she was still unconscious.
It was Naruto Uzumaki lifting her.
Their shadows faced each other.
Then—
Slash!
The monster's shadow pierced through the girl's shadowed head.
Their silhouettes overlapped completely.
"Ah…"
In the basement, Naruto Uzumaki held his prey's head.
The sound of tearing echoed repeatedly.
Kurama watched everything in stunned silence.
From Naruto Uzumaki's birth until now, every memory replayed before its eyes.
In a single moment, Kurama understood everything.
The mystery that had troubled it for so long was finally solved.
Now it knew why its hatred had never corrupted Naruto Uzumaki.
"HAHAHA! Interesting… truly interesting!"
Kurama's savage laughter echoed within Naruto Uzumaki's mind.
"Naruto Uzumaki… you were born a demon! Beneath that bright and harmless exterior lies humanity's deepest malice. To you, other people are nothing more than insects, and this world is merely a playground for your twisted desires. Heh heh… let me see what kind of world the Sage of Six Paths created will become in your hands!"
Naruto Uzumaki sighed.
"Stupid fox… I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm a good person."
Slash.
Yugao Uzuki remained silent.