Shi Xiu looked at the villagers of Konoha, still in disarray after the Nine-Tails Incident, and the Anbu members cleaning up in its aftermath.
As medical ninja and Anbu members hurried past him, some carrying the injured and others comforting the villagers, no one spared a glance for Shi Xiu, who stood motionless.
Shi Xiu stood there quietly, lost in thought.
After remaining there for a while, Shi Xiu continued eastward with an expressionless face. Before long, a distinctive Chinese-style courtyard came into view.
The courtyard stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding buildings. Its unique style was striking, giving off an air of old-world elegance without seeming stiff or austere.
Stepping inside, Shi Xiu found every detail meticulously cared for and in perfect order.
The neatly trimmed greenery and artfully arranged flowers alike gave the place a sense of peace and harmony.
Shi Xiu was a little surprised. He had never expected that the flowers and plants he had casually planted in his spare time years ago would still be flourishing and full of life.
The sight made Shi Xiu murmur, "Looks like that Monkey really put a lot of care into this."
Afterward, Shi Xiu took great interest in admiring the beautiful plants and flowers in the courtyard. He lost himself in them for a while before finally turning away and stepping into the house.
The room was spacious, its furnishings simple yet elegant.
A large, seemingly soft and comfortable bed stood in the center, its bedding neat and clean. Near the window sat an exquisite desk, finely crafted and set with the Four Treasures of the Study, as if waiting for its owner to take up a brush and write.
"Time flies like a white pony glimpsed through a crack. In the blink of an eye, it's gone!" Shi Xiu looked around the familiar room and couldn't help sighing.
Time might have been the most insignificant thing to him. He had even lost count of how many long years he had lived through. But standing here, faced with a room that held so many memories, he still couldn't help feeling a jumble of emotions.
Shi Xiu was lounging on the impossibly soft bed, as fluffy as a cloud, with his legs crossed and his eyes closed, quietly resting.
Before long, a knock sounded outside. Shi Xiu slowly opened his eyes, sat up, and unhurriedly went to the door and opened it.
A petite Anbu member stood outside.
She wore a delicate tanuki mask that hid her face, leaving only a pair of sharp, mysterious eyes visible.
Still, Shi Xiu could tell from her build that she was a kunoichi.
She carefully cradled a swaddled infant. The baby slept peacefully, with only his adorable, rosy face visible, marked by three pairs of whisker-like lines.
"Lord Hokage asked me to bring him to you," the Anbu member said in a low voice, tinged with an indescribable worry.
Shi Xiu gave a slight nod to show he understood, then held out both hands to take the baby.
But at that moment, the Anbu member sidestepped, deftly avoiding his hands.
Shi Xiu frowned, puzzled by her reaction. He looked at her questioningly, seeming not to understand why she had dodged him.
The Anbu member hesitated briefly before speaking.
"Sir, forgive me for asking, but... can you really take good care of the Fourth Hokage's child?" Her eyes revealed a hint of worry and doubt.
Hearing this, Shi Xiu's lips curved into an amused smile.
His deep eyes fixed on the Anbu member as he asked lightly, "Oh? Why do you ask? Do you doubt my abilities? Don't worry, I can certainly take good care of the Fourth Hokage's child. But you seem especially concerned about this."
The Anbu member nodded without hesitation, her voice filled with sorrow.
"The Fourth Hokage once saved my life during a mission. If he hadn't intervened, I would have been dead. Now that he has sadly fallen, leaving this child behind, of course I care about him. So I hope you'll treat him well."
As she spoke, she hugged the bundle in her arms a little tighter, as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
Shi Xiu nodded thoughtfully, then looked at the Anbu member and asked softly, "May I ask what your name is?"
But in response, the Anbu member remained silent as a statue.
Gently, she placed Naruto in Shi Xiu's arms, then turned without hesitation and started to leave.
Seeing her cold response, Shi Xiu didn't let the matter drop. His eyes narrowed slightly, and an almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. His tone was teasing, with a hint of threat. "If you won't tell me, I'll go ask Hiruzen Sarutobi myself first thing tomorrow morning. I mean you no harm, either."
The Anbu member, who had already taken a few steps, froze. She suddenly recalled Lord Hokage's warning before she left: the man before her had an extraordinary background, and she must not provoke or anger him.
The Anbu member inwardly groaned. She knew she couldn't stay silent any longer. Slowly turning around, she took a deep breath and finally broke the silence. "My name is Nara Luling."
After saying this, Nara Luling left and disappeared into the night. Shi Xiu watched in the direction she had gone and nodded to himself.
"Nara Luling... I'll remember you."
Then Shi Xiu slowly lowered his gaze to the little figure in his arms. Little Naruto was sucking on his chubby finger, as if enjoying a sweet dream, lying peacefully in the warm swaddling.
Shi Xiu stepped gently into the house. He carefully went to the bed, afraid of waking the sleeping Naruto.
Then he laid little Naruto down gently on the soft bed.
Next, Shi Xiu extended his index finger. A faint glimmer of light at its tip, he gently touched the seal on Naruto's stomach.
At that instant, Shi Xiu's vision blurred, and his surroundings became indistinct. When everything came back into focus, he found himself inside Naruto's mental world.
The moment he arrived, Shi Xiu sensed a powerful gaze fixed on him from behind.
Unhurried, Shi Xiu turned around. A pair of enormous, imposing gates stood in the distance.
Through the gap between them, a pair of crimson eyes gleamed with cold light, glaring at him as if trying to see right through him.
"Shi Xiu! How could you still be alive?!" A voice full of anger and shock thundered from behind those eyes, making the air tremble.
Faced with the sudden question, Shi Xiu only smiled faintly. He calmly raised a hand and waved at the gates and the eyes beyond them. "Yo, Kurama, long time no see!"