Then Kaguya arrived, bringing chakra, bringing power, and bringing endless conflict.
"Chakra... is it really a blessing?" Naruto murmured.
He didn't know.
He only knew that the power he now possessed, the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, his destiny as the Child of Prophecy-all of it stemmed from that woman's arrival.
And that woman might have others of her kind who were already on their way here.
"Seven years..." He clenched his fists.
Seven years. He had only seven years to grow stronger. Strong enough to protect Konoha, strong enough to protect the people who mattered to him, strong enough to-
"Finished reading?"
Lilynette's voice came from behind him. Naruto turned and saw her leaning against a bookshelf, happily eating a skewer of dumplings.
"Yeah." He nodded.
"How do you feel?"
"...It's complicated," Naruto admitted. "But at least I know who the enemy is now."
"The Ōtsutsuki?" Lilynette asked.
"Yeah, and... this world itself," Naruto said. "The conflicts chakra brought, the chain of hatred, all of it. If we don't change something, this world will keep repeating the same tragedies even after we defeat the Ōtsutsuki."
Lilynette looked at him, then suddenly smiled.
"You've changed, my idiot apprentice."
"Have I?"
"You have." Lilynette hopped down from the bookshelf, walked over to him, and looked up at him-even on tiptoe, she only reached his chest. "A month ago, all you could think about was getting stronger and protecting Konoha. Now you're starting to think further ahead. That's a good thing. It means you're growing."
She patted Naruto on the shoulder.
"Come on. Today's special training is over. I'll take you out to eat. His Majesty said your training is getting an upgrade starting tomorrow."
"An upgrade?"
"Yep. Instead of getting beaten up, you'll be beating others up." Lilynette grinned. "His Majesty said