Danzo, Thank You So Much

While Yushu's family and their two young guests happily shared dinner.

Some people in Konoha had already begun to feel on edge.

Inside the Root base, Danzo's one eye glinted with a gloomy light.

"At last, you've shown your fox tail, Uchiha Yushu."

"Have the men all been deployed?" Danzo's low voice echoed through the Root base.

"They are all in position, Lord Danzo."

"Remember, leave no survivors."

"But, Lord Danzo, the Third Hokage's Anbu..."

"I don't want to repeat myself!" Danzo's icy gaze swept over the ninja before him.

"Yes... Lord Danzo."

The Root ninja's voice trembled as he answered.

After dinner, Yushu handed Naruto the scroll he had obtained earlier. "Naruto, this is a gift for you. Keep it safe, and don't let anyone else see it."

"Ah! Natsuri's boss's brother, thank you. Actually, it would've been fine without a gift. Tonight's dinner was the best thing I've ever eaten."

"What are you talking about, Naruto? If my brother gave it to you, just take it."

Natsuri urged Naruto while thinking that his life must have been terrible. He even thought fried chicken and fries were amazing food. Hmm, decided. She would bring Naruto home more often so he could eat even more delicious things.

After thanking him again, Naruto finally accepted the scroll from Yushu and carefully tucked it into the inner pocket of his shirt.

The two boys, who Yushu had assumed would leave after dinner, were still chatting idly with Natsuri. Curious, Yushu asked whether they had something else to do.

When he learned from them that both Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha wanted to become idols, and had come tonight to seek Shisui's guidance.

Yushu's expression became extremely colorful. What the hell was this? Sasuke not wanting revenge was understandable—after all, as long as he was around, he would not give Konoha or Itachi Uchiha the chance.

But Naruto, what about your dream of becoming Hokage? Didn't you know that your journey toward becoming Hokage had been the youth of countless people? How could you willingly fall so low as to learn from Shisui how to become a qualified idol?

Yushu began to wonder whether he had somehow been transported into the Infinite Tsukuyomi, whether he was merely a longing imagined by someone else.

It was not until Yushu asked why they wanted to become idols that he finally relaxed. So they wanted everyone's recognition. As expected of you, Naruto. At the same time, Yushu sighed at the power of the butterfly effect. Even the child of destiny could be changed.

Shisui arrived shortly afterward and first reported on his day's work to Yushu.

Then he encouraged the two imaginative children, gave them the title of trainees, and presented them with his autograph.

After dealing with the children, Shisui came to Yushu's side and whispered, "Yushu, that child..."

"Mm, that's right. Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchuriki. But Natsuri brought them back herself, all so she could learn from you, her senior, about becoming an idol." Yushu teased Shisui.

"Yushu, I'm serious. Is this really okay? Things have only just started getting better for us."

"I don't know. But Shisui, don't leave yet. The initiative isn't in our hands now." Yushu shook his head.

At the same time, Yushu's Shadow Clone had already gone to gather manpower from the clan.

Before long, the two satisfied little brats said their goodbyes.

After thinking for a moment, Yushu said, "Natsuri, Sasuke's house is nearby. Go walk him home."

"As for Naruto, your home is too far away. I'll take you back."

Clouds covered the moon that night, and only the occasional stars flickered in the dark sky.

Yushu led Naruto through the pitch-black night toward the Hidden Leaf Village.

Along the way, Naruto was still reliving everything that had happened today, his face full of smiles.

Perhaps the long silence made Naruto uncomfortable, because he took the initiative to ask, "Natsuri's boss's brother, Natsuri said you're a very powerful ninja. Is that true?"

Yushu was not offended by the slightly ingratiating question. Thinking of the Fourth Hokage he had seen a few times in his memories, he said, "I wouldn't call myself that strong. There are quite a few people stronger than me. But Naruto, your father was also a very powerful ninja."

"Really?! You knew my father? What kind of person was he?"

"Powerful, full of confidence and sunshine. No matter when it was, he was an exceptionally dazzling ninja."

Naruto asked eagerly, "Natsuri's boss's brother, can you tell me who my dad was?"

"Ah, Naruto, that's something you need to find out for yourself. Remember to train hard and become stronger as soon as you can."

Yushu had no intention of telling Naruto the truth right away. He wanted Naruto to become stronger quickly. After all, even he lacked confidence when it came to future enemies, and he did not want some careless action of his to get the child of destiny killed.

"Oh, I'll train hard." Naruto answered somewhat dejectedly.

Then the two fell silent again. Yushu did not want to interfere too much with Naruto's growth. After all, as the protagonist, Naruto had his own path to walk.

The scroll Yushu had given Naruto today contained the Shadow Clone Technique, which suited Naruto very well. It was not that he did not want to give him the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique; the crucial point was that Yushu himself did not know it.

As the prerequisite technique for the signature ninjutsu Naruto would use in the future, it was clearly perfect for Naruto at his current stage.

Meanwhile, hearing news of his father so suddenly had dampened Naruto's previously excited mood.

Very soon, the two had left the Uchiha clan grounds. Yushu clearly sensed the Anbu hidden around them swiftly closing in.

However, the Anbu did not make any further moves. Yushu instead began thinking about how to deal with the Third Hokage's coming interrogation.

Natsuri's stunt had thrown many of his original plans into disarray, and Yushu understood that such a thing could not happen twice.

Yushu did not think he could muddle through this time as easily as he had last time. It seemed he would have to pay a certain price.

Still, Yushu had no intention of blaming Natsuri. She was his biological little sister. As her brother, all he needed to do was handle the trouble afterward.

The Uchiha clan grounds were located in a particularly remote part of the Hidden Leaf Village. Not long after leaving the clan grounds, they passed through several old residential areas that had long since been abandoned.

Then they entered an uninhabited stretch of dense forest.

In the silent forest, aside from their footsteps, there was the somewhat eerie "woo woo woo" of wind blowing through the trees, like a melody with a strange rhythm.

Just as they were about to leave the forest, the sound of objects slicing through the air came from all directions. At the same time, the crackling sound of paper burning rose around them.

Yushu instantly pulled Naruto into his arms and activated his Sharingan.

The world before his eyes immediately changed completely. He could see the previously pitch-black forest clearly, as well as every kunai and shuriken flying toward them from all around.

Yushu moved as nimbly as a butterfly. Even while holding Naruto in his arms, his agile footwork was not affected in the slightest.

The rain of kunai and shuriken did not touch him at all. As for the explosive tags that were about to detonate, Yushu simply ignored them.

Using the Human Torch template to absorb the surrounding heat to the greatest extent possible, he caused the explosive tags near him that could have affected Naruto to fizzle out.

Yet violent explosions still erupted all around them. Soon, as the smoke dispersed, Shisui was already standing at Yushu's side.

Naruto also came back to his senses. "Big Brother Yushu, Big Brother Shisui!"

At last, Naruto was no longer calling him by that strange title.

A huge barrier had already risen around them. Of the Anbu who had been following them, only two remained; the others had died in the attack just now.

The two remaining Anbu had also been severely wounded and had lost their ability to fight.

Meanwhile, they had been surrounded by a dense mass of ninja.

Seeing this situation, Yushu was not worried. Instead, he was delighted.

Danzo, thank you so much!