Mizuki used every honeyed word he could muster, determined to drive Yu and Naruto apart.
Yu knew Mizuki must have some ulterior motive, so he decided to play along.
"Oh my god, there's such a terrifying monster inside Naruto! Thank you for telling me, Mr. Mizuki! I'll think about what you said!"
"Yes, I only want what's best for you! If that demon fox causes trouble, you'll get dragged into it too. Your life could even be in danger."
"That's so scary..."
"Go on home. And don't tell your family, or any of your teachers and classmates, that we met tonight. Understand?"
"Got it, Mr. Mizuki. Hehe."
As he spoke, Yu pulled a piece of candy from his pocket with his little hand and offered it to Mizuki.
Mizuki frowned. "What's this?"
Yu said, "Candy."
"Oh." Mizuki took the candy and said coolly, "Thanks."
Yu urged him, "Eat it, sir."
"Right now?"
Looking at Yu's harmless little face, Mizuki thought, Heh, what a childish little brat. Fine, I'll humor him!
He put on an act. "Getting candy from a student makes me so happy~."
And so, Mizuki ate Yu's candy.
It was actually pretty tasty, and he inexplicably felt stronger...
Yu said in satisfaction, "I'll head home now, Mr. Mizuki."
Watching Yu walk away, Mizuki's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "Naruto, you aren't allowed to have friends. Absolutely not! The cruelest thing in this world isn't never having something, but losing it after you've had it. When your heart is at its most empty and hopeless, that'll be my chance to slip in! I'll use you to get the Scroll of Seals!"
I've already heard your thoughts, Mizuki...
As he walked, the corners of Yu's mouth lifted.
-Secret Technique: Amenosagume!
It let him read another person's thoughts, as well as share his own thoughts with others.
[This technique wasn't invented out of thin air, either. In mythology, Amenosagume's name was recorded as Amenosagume; she was a goddess in Japanese mythology and the original model for Amanojaku. The character for "sagu" in her divine name meant "to probe" and was also close in sound to the "zako" in Amanozako, giving it the dual meanings of "perception" and "defiance." Since she could perceive the intentions of the eight million gods of Takamagahara and the thoughts within human hearts, she used this ability to deliberately contradict and tease others. In the myth of Ame-no-Wakahiko, she already knew Kijina-no-Nakime was a messenger sent down by the heavenly gods, yet she urged Ame-no-Wakahiko to shoot her with his bow, bringing fatal disaster upon him.]
This technique could be combined with the Byakugan and used as a dōjutsu. Yu's current Byakugan power wasn't strong enough for that yet, so the other condition for activating it was to use chakra as a medium!
That was where the all-purpose Ogetsuhime candy came in!
The candy was harmless and nontoxic, even highly nourishing, but eating it meant forming an invisible connection with Yu, allowing him to control all sorts of things!
Yu was a good boy, so of course he wouldn't hurt people.
Because... those he hurt had never been "people"!
The moment Mizuki ate the candy, his nightmare began...
It was Thursday, and Yu went back to stay at his own home.
"Tadaima~ [I'm home~]."
When he slid the door open, he found Neji leaning against the entryway wall. At eight years old, Neji was already two heads taller than Yu.
He said, "You're back late."
Yu sat down to change his shoes. "Mm~ I grabbed a bite outside."
Neji said, "I heard you got into a fight in class."
Yu said, "Yeah, a few idiots were asking for it, so I taught them a lesson."
Neji said, "It was for that kid named Naruto, wasn't it?"
Yu neatly placed the shoes he'd taken off beside the wall and stood up. "Yeah. He's my good friend."
Neji said, "I see. You've got friends outside now, too. It used to always be us playing together."
Yu grinned. "Hehe, big brother, let's invite Naruto to play with us tomorrow night~."
Neji hesitated a little. "Will he be able to let loose?"
Yu stood on tiptoe and patted Neji's shoulder with his little hand. "I guarantee it. He's very talented~."
"Oh, really? That's good, then." Neji couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from curling up.
Yu said, "So evil, so wicked. It's like you've found a new toy. You've changed, big brother."
Neji laughed. "Hmph, and whose fault is it that I've gone bad~?"
"Ah, la la la la la~~~" As they spoke, a deep singing voice drifted through several walls.
The brothers both looked toward it.
It came from the bathroom.
Hizashi was taking a bath, and the tune of "The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style" floated out of an old-fashioned tape player!
A tall, dark silhouette danced across the white sliding door~!
His wet, long hair swung wildly like a mop. The sight was utterly mesmerizing!
As it turned out, Hizashi was the biggest victim in this household!
Yu returned to his room.
"Yu-Yu, hug..."
Little Hanabi threw herself against Yu, gazing up at him with her big, pleading eyes!
Yu pinched her chubby little cheeks and said fondly, "Did you miss me?"
Little Hanabi pouted. "I-I don't want to train with Daddy. I want Yu-Yu to play with me~."
Yu stroked Hanabi's little head. "Lord Hiashi just wants you to grow up quickly~. How about I hold you while we sleep tonight~?"
"Okay!"
Hanabi nodded, perfectly content.
Before bed, though, Yu still had something to do.
He washed his face, brushed his teeth, and used the toilet while he was at it.
After a burst of crackling and popping, a few pieces of candy appeared in Yu's little hand.
"Hehe, limited-edition Ichiraku Ramen candy. I'll give it to Naruto tomorrow~."
Putting the candy away, he closed his eyes and focused. Two translucent orbs of light appeared in his hands!
He wove two more dreams!
-Secret Technique: Ikuime Iribiko Isachi no Mikoto!
Four years earlier, Yu had used this technique to give Hiashi a prophetic dream, thwarting Kumogakure's plot and saving Hizashi!
After that, Yu would improvise dreams every few days for people who had eaten his candy.
Of course, since they were his own clansmen, most of the dreams he bestowed were pleasant ones~
Tonight, he would give two people dreams!
"Romance needs to start young. Naruto, it's time you noticed Hinata's feelings for you~!"
In the first dream, he would let Naruto see how Hinata cared about him and paid attention to him!
Yes, those were the memories of Hinata that Naruto had seen in the movie featuring Toneri!
As for the second dream...
An evil smile curled Yu's lips.
"Mizuki, I'll make you get XX'd by the Fourth Raikage and Killer B in your dream. Oh, right, let's throw the Third Raikage in there too. His Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite should be right up your alley..."
Whoosh! Whoosh!
With the arrangements complete, the two orbs of light vanished from Yu's little hands!
He returned to his room.
"Z~z~Z~z~" Little Hanabi had already fallen asleep clutching a small shuriken. Drool trickled from the corner of her mouth as she murmured in her sleep, "Yu, lift me up high..."
Yu smiled fondly and tiptoed over. He took the little shuriken from Hanabi's hand, set it aside, and held her as he drifted off to sleep!
Hum!
The scene changed!
This was a space much like a Jinchūriki's inner world!
As his power grew, Yu could come here himself!
The enormous golden scroll standing on the altar wreathed in foxfire was the Book of the Gods!
Bzz! Beneath the altar, Yu opened his closed eyes again. His Byakugan... had become the Sharingan. And it wasn't an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan, but the Mangekyō Sharingan!!!
A true Ōtsutsuki didn't need to endure the pain of loss to awaken higher-level ocular powers. There wasn't even any risk of blindness!
"Sometimes, you really have to admit that your starting point is the finish line other people spend their entire lives chasing..."
Yu murmured as light swirled in his eyes and the foxfire flickered unpredictably atop the altar!
-Shin'yawake no Mikoto!
Before you continue