The Sad Sunshower

For the next few days, the group of friends spent their time playing games together. Nothing major happened; everything remained peaceful. However, one thing weighed heavily on Naruto's mind: Yota had been brought back by Orochimaru using Impure World Reincarnation.

Through their time together over the past few days, Naruto had truly grown fond of Yota, and he had become a genuine friend to everyone. Naruto had been afraid to tell the others the truth, fearing they wouldn't be able to accept it. Besides, Yota was the first person who had taken the initiative to befriend him.

Naruto desperately wanted to save him, but with his current abilities, he couldn't. However, he had thought of a solution: preserve Yota's body until the day he could perform the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to resurrect him.

Today, when all his friends were gathered together, Naruto decided to tell them everything, but he had to take care of one thing first. Naruto approached Yota and looked at him. Yota asked curiously, "Naruto, is something wrong?" The others gathered around, watching Naruto with puzzled expressions.

Shikamaru asked strangely, "Naruto, is there something wrong with Yota?" Naruto didn't answer Shikamaru; instead, he reached out, grabbed a white snake from Yota's body, and tossed it away.

Everyone was startled by the white snake. The snake stared at Naruto for a moment before vanishing.

"Why was there a snake on Yota, and such a strange one at that? What on earth is going on?" Shikamaru was the first to ask.

The others looked at Naruto with curiosity. "Actually, I'm already dead," Yota said sadly.

"What are you saying, Yota?" Ino asked, confused.

Yota looked at everyone and said, "My clan was always traveling, relying on our special abilities to help villagers farm and make a living, but life was very difficult. In the end, I died."

"But a month ago, I was brought back by a disgusting person—how should I put it? A person like a snake. After he resurrected me, he dumped me in this forest. Later, I met all of you. This month living with everyone has been the happiest time of my life," Yota said, his mood shifting between sorrow and joy.

Everyone was shocked to hear Yota's answer. "Is there really such a thing as a dead person coming back to life?" Shikamaru asked skeptically.

Naruto answered Shikamaru's question, "Yes. In this ninja world, there are many, many ninjutsu, and some of them can indeed bring the dead back to life."

"As for the person Yota mentioned, he likely used ninjutsu to resurrect him, but he didn't force Yota to do anything. It's very possible he was conducting an experiment. Since resurrection techniques are rare, this person was likely observing Yota, and that white snake was probably used to monitor him."

After hearing Naruto's explanation, Shikamaru fell into thought. A moment later, he said to Naruto, "Then, now that you've driven that snake away, the caster might undo the technique that resurrected Yota. If that happens, won't Yota die again?"

Naruto hadn't expected Shikamaru to think so far ahead; he truly lived up to his reputation as a genius with an IQ of 200.

"No, I don't want Yota to leave us!" Sakura cried, hugging Yota tightly.

Yota comforted them happily, "Everyone, don't be sad for me. I'm actually already dead, and I'm so happy to have met you all after dying. So, please, don't be sad."

"Yota, Yota, Yota..." Hearing his words, everyone wanted to comfort him, but they didn't know what to say.

"Actually, you don't have to be so sad. There is still a way," Naruto said.

Everyone looked at Naruto in surprise. "What way?" Sasuke asked coolly.

Shikamaru also asked, "Yeah, Naruto, what exactly is your plan?" The other friends asked with concern.

"It's to protect Yota and keep him hidden so the caster can't find him. Even if they undo the technique, they won't be able to recover Yota's body. Since there are techniques to resurrect the dead, once we become strong enough, we might have a chance to bring Yota back. Even if that doesn't work, we can at least prevent that person from using Yota to do evil," Naruto replied.

"Resurrect Yota? Can we really do that? And even if we could, that's a forbidden technique, right? Naruto, you aren't planning on learning forbidden techniques just to bring him back, are you?" Shikamaru asked, looking at Naruto in disbelief.

Naruto looked back at Shikamaru and replied, "Is there a problem with that? Techniques are meant to be used. We'd only be using it to save Yota, not to do anything evil."

"You're right about that, but I still feel like it's a bit improper," Shikamaru said worriedly.

"Relax, relax, it'll be fine. The most important thing right now is to preserve Yota's body; we can worry about the rest later," Naruto said.

Shikamaru stopped worrying; there was no need to fret about it now. Sasuke asked, "Naruto, what method are you going to use to preserve Yota's body? I know that since you brought it up, you must have a plan."

"You really do understand me, Sasuke. Yota, I'm going to seal you away now, put you into a deep sleep, and hide you. It will be a long time, but to you, it will feel like just a nap. You won't feel lonely. When you wake up, you'll be able to play with us again. Is that okay, Yota?" Naruto said to him.

"I trust you, Naruto. We'll see each other again soon. Everyone, wait for me!" Yota said happily. Ino, Sakura, and Hinata were already hugging Yota in tears, and the others looked equally heartbroken. Because of Yota's sadness, a sunshower began to fall.

Naruto walked up to Yota and said, "Yota, the next time we meet, you'll be able to truly play with everyone." Yota replied, "Yes, Naruto. Let's begin. See you all next time. Goodbye." "Goodbye, Yota," the group of friends said as they bid him farewell.

Several chains emerged from Naruto's body, wrapping around Yota. The sealing power within the chains caused Yota to fall into a deep sleep the moment they touched him. Everyone except Hinata and Sasuke was left speechless with shock when the chains appeared.

After Yota was sealed, Shikamaru asked, "Naruto, what are these chains on your body?"

Naruto smiled and replied, "It's nothing, just my Kekkei Genkai."

Shikamaru and the other children from the clans finally understood, but Sakura asked weakly, "Kekkei Genkai? What's that?"

Ino explained for her, "A Kekkei Genkai is a bloodline inheritance technique, just like Hinata's White Eye or Sasuke's Sharingan." Sakura finally understood after hearing Ino's explanation.

"Naruto, what do we do next?" Ino asked with concern.

"Well, next I'm going to send Yota into my own private space. That way, no one will be able to find him," Naruto said.

Shikamaru asked, confused, "Your own space? What is that?"

Naruto pointed to his forehead and said, "It's right here." As he spoke, everyone saw the red mark on Naruto's forehead split open, revealing a White Eye. Even Sasuke and Hinata were shocked.

"A White Eye? Naruto-kun, how do you have a White Eye?" Hinata asked in surprise.

Naruto smiled and explained, "This is my biggest secret. I've had it since I was born. Perhaps my family has some blood relation to the Hyuga Clan, but I've looked into my family history, and it seems I'm the only one with a White Eye. Maybe my bloodline is just special."

Hinata asked, puzzled, "Is that so? But I don't think I've ever heard my father mention any close blood relatives in our family."

"Haha, then you probably just haven't asked, so your father didn't tell you," Naruto said, brushing it off.

In truth, Naruto wasn't entirely lying. The Uzumaki Clan carried the blood of the Sage of Six Paths, while the Hyuga Clan carried the blood of Hamura. The two were brothers, after all. It was just that Naruto's White Eye didn't come from the Six Paths. The others didn't know this, not even Hinata, so they believed Naruto's explanation.

Naruto's White Eye emitted a dazzling light, and a rift opened in the space before him. After Naruto placed Yota's body inside, he closed his eye.

Naruto smiled at everyone and said, "That's it. Now Yota shouldn't be under that person's control anymore. I hope we'll find a way to resurrect him in the future."

Although Yota could no longer play with them, because of him, Naruto had become friends with the rest of the group. Furthermore, Naruto stopped wearing his mask.

As for why, it was because on Hinata's birthday, when they went to Ino's shop to buy flowers, Ino had said that since Hinata was a young lady of the Hyuga Clan, she would have many handsome suitors. "If you want Hinata to have fewer suitors, you'd better show off your charm and make them give up, especially with that mask of yours—it really ruins your appeal."

Others might think you're an ugly freak, or get the illusion that Hinata would be better off with someone like me, so you'd best throw that mask away.

Naruto didn't really understand; having never dated in his past two lives, he took Ino at her word and tossed the mask aside. In truth, how could Naruto have guessed that Ino simply wanted to see a handsome face?

After school today, Naruto was just about to head off to train as usual, but as he prepared to set out for the woods, someone from the Hyuga clan was waiting for him at the school gate.

Seeing Naruto emerge, the man approached him and said, "You must be Uzumaki Naruto. Greetings, I am Hyuga Kinta of the Hyuga clan. Our clan head requests your presence at the Hyuga estate."

Naruto was a bit surprised, thinking to himself, I don't seem to have any connection with Hyuga Hiashi. Could this be about Hinata?

At the thought of Hinata, Naruto's aura involuntarily dimmed. After all, no matter which world you are in, a son-in-law always feels a bit weaker when meeting his father-in-law.

If you ask why, well, damn it—you've gone and arched the cabbage they worked so hard to raise; if you dared to act tough, they'd beat you to a pulp.

Naruto couldn't help but ask, "Does Uncle Hiashi have any business with me?"

Hyuga Kinta looked at Naruto and said indifferently, "I do not know; I am merely following orders. Please, come with me."

Naruto sighed and said, "Fine, lead the way."