Fugaku's first reaction was disbelief—what was Naruto playing at? Instead of spending the evening with Satsuki, he had come here to play dress-up, and as that organization's leader, of all people?
"What are you doing?" Fugaku's voice carried unmistakable displeasure. "This joke isn't funny at all. Instead of staying with Satsuki, you—"
His words cut off abruptly.
He had seen Satsuki step out from behind Naruto. The two had clearly come here together using the Flying Thunder God Technique—but why disturb them this late, dressed like that? Just as Fugaku frowned and prepared to demand an explanation, his gaze suddenly fixed on his daughter's face.
More precisely, on the faint flush at the corners of her eyes that had yet to fade completely.
She had been crying.
"Naruto!" Fugaku's voice turned ice-cold. "What did you do?! You just promised me today that you would treat Satsuki well!"
"I'm sorry, Father-in-law! And—"
"Darling, calm down." Mikoto spoke up just in time, gently pressing a hand against Fugaku's tense arm. "Naruto must have a reason for doing this. I trust him."
Her tone was indeed full of trust in Naruto, but clear confusion and questions stirred in the depths of her eyes as well. She looked at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Yes... thank you, Mother-in-law..."
"You don't have to be so formal," Mikoto said with a small smile. "You can call me Mom. But what exactly are you two doing? Why... are you dressed like that?"
"...I'll explain everything," Naruto said, his gaze passing over Fugaku and Mikoto. "Once you see it, you'll understand. Also—apart from Mom... please don't mention my identity to anyone afterward."
He reached inside his clothes, took out a Fox Mask, and put it on.
The instant the mask covered his face, Fugaku's eyelid twitched violently.
This