Yakumo Kurama

Naruto lay on the floor in the room, utterly despairing of life.

Some things were only treasured after they were lost.

Naruto did not know much about the chastity mark. The original story never explained how it could be removed, either.

That was what left Naruto most speechless. For someone devoted to cultivation, this restriction was actually quite good.

During the early stages of cultivation, one had to keep one's aura pure. A pure yang body therefore offered considerable benefits to cultivation.

Before he knew it, Naruto had fallen asleep.

When he woke up the next day, the first thing he did was look down and see the markings there.

"So it wasn't a dream."

After a moment of melancholy, he finally accepted reality.

The days that followed were peaceful. Life without anyone controlling him was truly comfortable; he could live however he wanted.

Other than being a little lonely, it was quite nice. Meanwhile, because of the Uchiha clan matter, the Third Hokage's side currently had no one paying attention to Naruto.

As a result, Naruto finally enjoyed a period of peace and stability.

He cultivated, read, fished, and got to know Yakumo Kurama. When she told him her name, even Naruto was startled.

In the world of Naruto, the first thing people thought of when genjutsu was mentioned was the Sharingan. Yet someone had once appeared in the original story whose genjutsu surpassed that of the Uchiha clan.

Yakumo Kurama's genjutsu had already exceeded common sense and could alter reality.

Even Naruto had heard of someone so astonishingly gifted.

So he had been quite taken aback upon hearing her name.

The two gradually became familiar with each other, and she became his only friend in this world.

As for Hinata, Naruto had never seen her again since that day. No wonder that, in the original story, Naruto had barely remembered Hinata even by graduation.

At that moment, Naruto was fishing beside a small river. Yakumo Kurama sat behind him, as usual, holding a drawing board and painting.

The two only exchanged a few words now and then.

"Naruto, where are your parents?" Yakumo Kurama asked casually.

"I'm an orphan."

Naruto answered calmly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Yakumo Kurama hurriedly apologized, realizing she had said the wrong thing.

"It's fine."

"I'm an orphan too."

Yakumo seemed to be trying to comfort him as she spoke softly.

"It's already in the past."

Naruto frowned. He knew what had happened to Yakumo Kurama—her parents had died by her own hand.

The memory had simply been too painful, so she had chosen to forget it.

A trace of sympathy flashed through his heart, but Naruto had no intention of saying it aloud. As for saving her, there was no need to rush. In the original story, she had lived until Tsunade's time.

Naruto did not know how to offer comforting words, so he simply fell silent.

Yakumo Kurama already understood Naruto's personality and said nothing more.

The atmosphere abruptly grew quiet. The sky was clear, the sun shone brightly, and they enjoyed the rare comfort.

Naruto did not need to deliberately cultivate. The path he wished to take was the cultivation of willpower.

Even if he wanted to cultivate, now was not the right time. Compared to Tsunade, the Third Hokage was far from a magnanimous man.

Should I find a chance to kill the Third Hokage and let Tsunade take the position early?

Compared with the Third Hokage, Naruto naturally preferred Tsunade. In the Third Hokage's eyes, Naruto was merely the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, Minato Namikaze's son, and a bargaining chip in his hand.

Tsunade was different. Leaving aside her personality, Kushina had been close to Tsunade. With the Nine-Tails, the Fourth Hokage, Jiraiya, and the others involved, Tsunade would instinctively feel closer to Naruto.

Of course, it was only a thought.

With his current strength, he might not even be a match for that old man.

In the original story, the old man had shown Orochimaru mercy, but he would not necessarily show Naruto the same mercy.

Moreover, the Reaper Death Seal was a ninjutsu that targeted the soul, which made Naruto extremely wary.

As for a sneak attack, Naruto would not underestimate an expert's instincts.

Whoosh!!!

Just as the two were enjoying their leisurely time, a sharp sound cut through the air.

Naruto's expression changed.

He instinctively dodged.

A kunai struck the ground.

Naruto's gaze instantly sharpened as he looked deep into the woods.

Someone attacked us? What's going on?

Naruto's mind raced, his expression shifting uncertainly.

"What's wrong?" Yakumo ran over nervously.

"It's nothing."

Naruto shook his head, his eyes remaining fixed on the depths of the forest.

Yakumo Kurama grew tense and immediately picked up her drawing board, preparing to draw.

"Who is it? Come out!" Naruto called toward the woods.

Footsteps sounded.

Naruto raised a brow.

A little boy walked out from deep within the forest.

He had black hair, a youthful face, and wore the Uchiha clan uniform.

"Sasuke Uchiha."

Naruto recognized him at a glance.

"Are you okay?"

Sasuke spoke. At this point, he did not yet have the gloomy air he would possess later.

Naruto said nothing and looked behind him.

Not far behind Sasuke stood a person with an expressionless face.

This person was Sasuke Uchiha's older brother, Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha had no mission today, so he had specially taken an afternoon off to play with Sasuke.

While practicing with kunai earlier, one of Sasuke's kunai had flown over here.

That was how this scene had begun.

Naruto stared at Itachi Uchiha behind Sasuke. He knew that Itachi Uchiha had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Yet Itachi Uchiha's gaze was fixed on his younger brother.

He had not noticed Naruto at all.

As though sensing Naruto's stare, Itachi Uchiha looked over.

His eyes narrowed slightly. Naturally, he recognized Naruto.

"Uzumaki Naruto?"

At the same time, Itachi Uchiha had already sensed several ANBU watching him.

The Uchiha clan was not permitted to approach the jinchuriki. That was an order.

Itachi Uchiha had noticed this as well. If he moved even a little closer, the ANBU would definitely act against him.

"Sorry, kid. You weren't hurt, were you?"

Itachi Uchiha spoke.

"I'm fine. Be more careful next time."

Naruto did not want to come into contact with someone so dangerous either.

He shook his head.

Sasuke Uchiha had been in a good mood, but when he saw Naruto's attitude, he immediately snorted coldly.

"Alright, Sasuke. Let's go."

Upon hearing his brother's voice, Sasuke's expression immediately softened.

He picked up the kunai from the ground and ran back.

Naruto watched the two disappear from sight.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.

Having lost the mood to relax, Naruto prepared to return home.

Yakumo Kurama was somewhat disappointed.

She did not have much time with Naruto to begin with, and now it had been interrupted by that person.

She could not help feeling irritated.

That man should die. Kill him.

At the same time, a bewitching voice sounded in her heart.

Yakumo Kurama's gaze gradually became dangerous.

"I'm heading back first."

Naruto spoke and was about to leave when he suddenly noticed something strange about her.

"Be careful."

Yakumo Kurama said.

"Are you alright?"

Naruto frowned. That feeling from earlier could not have been wrong.

"I'm fine."

Yakumo Kurama's expression was normal.

Naruto did not think too much about it and turned to leave.

Yakumo Kurama quickly resisted the heart demon's temptation.