Chapter 73: Undercurrents
"Eh? So Sasuke-kun not only became your neighbor, but also your landlord, Naruto-kun?"
The next day in class, Hinata looked utterly shocked.
"Yeah. He only told me when we left this morning."
Naruto turned back toward Sasuke's currently empty seat and gritted his teeth.
"He said he agreed to let the village reclaim the Uchiha clan district, and then the village gave him a huge, huge, HUGE amount of money!"
"And then that brat actually bought the whole building I live in!"
"He's going to the village today to sign some kind of contract too."
"No wonder he looked at me weird yesterday!"
Naruto clenched his fists in frustration.
"Damn it. Just thinking about paying rent to him from now on makes my whole body feel uncomfortable!"
So that's what happened.
Now that I think about it, Naruto-kun did mention before that his current home was arranged by the village.
Hinata suddenly understood.
Then a thought quietly appeared in her mind.
Could I discuss with Father and ask Naruto-kun to live with us instead…?
Ah! What am I thinking?!
"... Hinata?"
"Ah! N-No, nothing!"
"Hm? What's wrong? I asked you something just now, but you didn't answer."
Naruto tilted his head curiously.
"S-Sorry."
Hinata quickly lowered her head.
"I got distracted. What did you ask, Naruto-kun?"
"I asked why Neji's been staring at me since last night."
Naruto glanced behind him from the corner of his eye.
Neji sat there staring straight at him.
"What's up with him?"
"Well…"
Hinata hesitated for a while.
"Actually, after I went home yesterday, Neji-niisan, Father, and even my little sister all seemed a little strange."
"Maybe something happened at home and they didn't tell me."
"Eh…"
Naruto immediately looked serious.
"Great clans really aren't easy."
Then, as though remembering something, he quickly added:
"Hinata, you need to be careful!"
"Sasuke's family only just had something happen. If something unexpected happens to your family too, you have to tell me right away!"
"N-No way, right?"
Hinata was also startled by his words.
"I'll go talk to him!"
Naruto immediately displayed his practical spirit.
And unsurprisingly—
Because Naruto and Neji were operating on completely different wavelengths, their conversation quickly collapsed into nonsense.
Then the two fought.
Well…
Calling it a fight was probably generous.
It ended very quickly.
...
Inside Naruto's inner world, Kurama narrowed his eyes while watching Naruto's ordinary yet warm daily life.
In his memories, Naruto's school life in the previous timeline wasn't particularly clear.
Back then, Kurama had been filled with hostility and hatred.
He constantly influenced Naruto's thoughts, trying to drag him into the abyss of darkness.
And during that time, Naruto mostly experienced loneliness, isolation, and being ignored by others without realizing why.
Even the few friends who played around with him only shared brief chaotic moments inside school.
So Naruto chose to perform ridiculous pranks throughout the village.
All for the simple hope that someone would care about him.
Someone would look at him.
In that regard, Kurama did feel some guilt.
Thus, if possible, he truly wouldn't mind watching Naruto enjoy a carefree childhood before walking proudly toward the road of his dreams.
But—
If the inevitable enemies and dangers were not dealt with, this world would never grant either him or Naruto that opportunity.
No living being understood that better than the current Kurama.
Boom.
A cluster of natural energy larger than anything Naruto had seen before appeared in front of Kurama.
That mass of energy was expanding slowly at a visible rate.
If Minato's "spirit in the heavens" regained consciousness right now, he would be shocked to discover a faint trace of chakra within that continuously expanding natural energy.
At this exact moment, this enormous natural energy mass was actually displaying the traits of senjutsu chakra.
Yet that completely violated the principles of senjutsu.
Pure natural energy had to be gathered and then blended with chakra in a fixed ratio.
Otherwise, the balance would collapse.
Either the user would be devoured by natural energy and transformed into another state—
Or senjutsu chakra simply would not form at all.
Within every known inheritance of sage arts, natural energy accounted for exactly one third of the resulting senjutsu chakra.
But the mass before Kurama—
Or rather, this senjutsu chakra—
Had already completely shattered that law.
It resembled an army composed entirely of natural energy with a single chakra foot soldier mixed in.
Completely disproportionate.
And unlike ordinary senjutsu chakra—
This energy even displayed the ability to refine and expand itself.
"Still missing a little."
Kurama swallowed the mass of energy back into his body.
Then a dangerous light flashed within his fox eyes.
"Ōtsutsuki clan…"
"This old man truly looks forward to seeing your faces when you receive this gift."
Meanwhile, far away in Kirigakure—
After a journey without further accidents, Kakashi finally met the elder whose status within Kirigakure was no lower than the Mizukage's:
Elder Genji.
"The Uchiha clan destroyed…"
"Two S-rank missing-nin…"
The elderly man with hair that clearly belonged to someone powerful appeared kind and gentle.
Protected by several elite Kirigakure ANBU, he confirmed the accuracy of Kakashi's information before looking toward the Konoha shinobi before him.
"Unexpected."
"Truly unexpected."
"What a lamentable result."
"However…"
Elder Genji's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Does this also mean Konoha admits that Shisui Uchiha committed the crimes within Kirigakure?"
"Of course we don't deny it."
Kakashi smiled politely.
"And I believe his actions in Kirigakure may only be the tip of the iceberg."
"Oh?"
"If causing the disappearance of Kirigakure's Mizukage is merely the tip of the iceberg…"
"Then what is his true objective?"
"I wonder whether Elder Genji has heard of an organization within the ninja world called Akatsuki."
"Hm?"
"Akatsuki?"
The shrewd elder immediately sensed the hidden meaning behind Kakashi's words.
And that organization's name…
Genji remained silent, waiting for Kakashi to continue.
"According to Konoha's intelligence, we can confirm Shisui Uchiha joined this organization."
"And during my years performing missions outside the village, I've heard rumors…"
Kakashi's tone remained casual.
"That among Kirigakure's missing Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, some also joined a certain organization."
After hearing this, Elder Genji fell silent.
Then he looked toward Kakashi and suddenly spoke:
"You didn't come here merely to deliver missing-nin notices, did you?"
"Would Konoha be interested…"
"In making a deal with Kirigakure?"
As the sun slowly set over Kirigakure, Kakashi—having completed his mission—walked through the village streets with faint interest.
He even noticed a bookstore displaying early serialized volumes of Make-Out Paradise that had already been pulled from shelves in Konoha long ago.
Unlike the infamous image of the Bloody Mist Village spread throughout the ninja world, although the air still carried a faintly stern and murderous atmosphere, the Kirigakure Kakashi currently saw was surprisingly peaceful.
Looks like Elder Genji's governance is even more capable than expected.
Even with something as serious as their Mizukage disappearing, the village shows no obvious instability.
As Kakashi walked, he quietly memorized several details regarding Kirigakure.
Then he helplessly turned toward the beautiful woman beside him.
"Mei Terumī-san…"
"Is that icy stare your way of asking me to leave?"
"For someone as dangerous as you…"
Mei made no attempt to hide either her surveillance or hostility.
"Even without Elder Genji's orders, I'll keep watching you closely for as long as you remain inside Kirigakure."
Her relaxed, elegant attitude from earlier had completely vanished.
Instead, she remained extremely guarded while walking closely beside Kakashi.
Kakashi glanced toward the nearly healed cut on her neck.
Then toward the two elite Kirigakure Jōnin following right behind her.
Taijutsu specialists with exceptional strength?
Kakashi understood immediately.
Clearly, the earlier lesson had made Mei realize that as a ninjutsu-type shinobi, she gained no advantage in close combat against Kakashi.
So she had prepared countermeasures in advance.
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