Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"She ran away?"

Naruto and the others had only just met up with Sandayū and arrived at the film crew when they were greeted with an unexpected piece of news.

Their protection target for this mission, Miss Yukie Fujikaze, had just secretly left the crew.

Nobody knew where she had gone.

"I'll go find her immediately!"

Asama Sandayū rushed out in a hurry.

"Looks like she's quite the character."

Kakashi accepted some materials from the film crew and looked down at the photo in his hand.

He could still faintly recognize the little girl he had rescued all those years ago.

A helpless sigh escaped him.

"Hinata, go with Naruto and find the person we're supposed to protect."

"Yes."

In Konoha, the Hyūga clan, who possessed the Byakugan, were natural sensory-type shinobi.

When it came to finding people, their talent was practically maxed out by default.

Assigning this task to Hinata was only natural.

After Hinata and Naruto left, Kakashi called Sasuke aside.

"Raise your hand. Let me see."

Kakashi got straight to the point.

Sasuke froze briefly before raising his still-bandaged hand.

"Clench your fist, then release it."

"Even if the hand seals and chakra nature match, Chidori's true key lies in using Lightning Release chakra to stimulate the cells inside your body."

"You forced yourself to use it, so the damage to your body is still obvious…"

Kakashi crouched and carefully examined Sasuke's palm.

"Hmm. Looks like there aren't any lasting side effects. You got lucky."

After confirming the condition, Kakashi stood and patted Sasuke on the shoulder.

He noticed?

Sasuke felt slightly embarrassed.

After all, this was his first time stealing someone else's technique.

He hadn't expected the original creator to catch him so quickly.

"No need to look surprised."

Kakashi seemed to see straight through Sasuke's thoughts.

"It's one of the few original techniques I created myself. Naturally, I can recognize it."

Because of Naruto's existence, most eyes watching this team tended to focus on the blond boy.

But in Kakashi's eyes, Sasuke always made him think of that old teammate.

Perhaps because they were both Uchiha.

Perhaps because both of them desperately chased after someone else.

Kakashi didn't want his regrets to appear again in another person.

So he was willing to help Sasuke too.

"During this mission, I'll teach you the proper way to use that technique."

"Before this mission ends, you must fully master it."

"Prepare yourself."

"It won't be easy."

"Won't be easy, huh…"

Sasuke's eyes flashed with fighting spirit.

"Hmph. That's exactly what I want."

After trying Chidori himself, Sasuke understood even more clearly that this technique was practically made for the Uchiha clan and their Sharingan.

Meanwhile—

Finding people was naturally effortless for Hinata.

With Naruto's help, they soon found their fleeing target.

As the lead actress of a popular movie series, Yukie Fujikaze's beauty was beyond doubt.

Her delicate features, cool temperament, and graceful figure made countless fans adore her, believing she herself was the real "Princess Gale."

However, at this exact moment, her posture had nothing princess-like about it.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"Um, Naruto-kun…"

Hinata looked at Yukie Fujikaze, who had been tied up tightly with rope and slung over Naruto's back.

Although it felt somewhat rude, Hinata couldn't help thinking of the pigs in the village carried by butchers while squealing before slaughter.

She felt a little sorry for her.

"Isn't this… not very good? She is the person we're supposed to protect, after all…"

"I don't have a choice."

Naruto looked helpless.

"Ever since we found her, she already tried to escape three times."

"And she shouted that we were kidnapping her to attract the local guards twice…"

This older sister was seriously troublesome.

And perhaps because she was a professional actress, her counter-surveillance and escape techniques were surprisingly skilled.

"I already told you I'm not going to the Land of Snow!"

Yukie shouted from Naruto's back.

"And aren't you Konoha shinobi supposed to be hired as bodyguards?"

"What kind of bodyguards treat their employer like this?"

"If this isn't kidnapping, what is it?"

"Uh…"

Naruto paused.

Seeing several nearby people start paying attention because of the beautiful woman shouting behind him, he felt she did make some sense.

Just as he began considering how to handle the situation—

"... In that case, why don't we actually 'kidnap' her and take her back?"

"Hah?"

Naruto turned toward Hinata in shock.

Yukie Fujikaze also stared at her in disbelief.

So the scariest one is this little girl?

"On the way here, when Kakashi-sensei explained the commission, I remember he said our client wasn't her."

Hinata analyzed seriously.

"It was her manager, Mr. Asama Sandayū."

"Although this older sister is our protection target, our mission is to escort them safely to the Land of Snow."

"And right now, we haven't officially set out yet."

"We're only bringing her back to meet the client and discuss things again."

"So it doesn't violate the client's request."

"That's pure sophistry, isn't it?"

Yukie's expression darkened.

At first, she thought this strange-eyed girl looked gentle and obedient.

She never expected Hinata to come up with such an argument.

Truly, one could know a person's face but not their heart.

Her first impression had been completely wrong.

"It isn't sophistry."

Hinata gave Yukie Fujikaze a professional shinobi smile.

Naruto's eyes lit up.

"That's right!"

"We'll bring her back first. If they blame us afterward, we'll just apologize!"

"Sorry, Princess Gale. You'll have to bear with it a little longer."

After realizing she no longer had any choice, Yukie Fujikaze finally compromised.

"Fine. I'll go with you."

"At least put me down and let me walk by myself."

"Don't make me return like this…"

"And one more thing!"

"I am not Princess Gale. That's just the role I play!"

"I know it's just a role."

Naruto carefully untied her.

"But you really look like Princess Gale."

"Oh, right! I almost forgot."

"Big sister, please remember to give me an autograph."

"And one for Konohamaru too…"

"You treated me like this and still want an autograph?"

Yukie glared at him.

"And what meaning does that thing even have? Once your excitement fades, you'll definitely throw it into some random corner somewhere."

"Um…"

Hinata smiled gently.

"Yukie-nee-san, please."

"... I give up."

For some reason, looking at Hinata's pure and adorable smile made Yukie feel slightly afraid.

She somehow felt her own presence was actually weaker than this little girl's.

Along the way, Yukie Fujikaze listened to the two children occasionally chatting beside her.

She was so angry her teeth itched.

Yet she had absolutely no solution.

I, Koyuki Kazahana, am still the princess of the Land of Snow.

How did I fall to the point where I'm being kidnapped and still have to sign autographs for the kidnappers?

She couldn't help questioning her life.

"... They're just two kids. Should we move?"

"No. They're Konoha shinobi. Don't underestimate them."

"Let's go. We need to report this to Lord Dotō first!"

Behind Naruto's group, two disguised figures who had been secretly monitoring Yukie Fujikaze whispered to each other.

"Oh. Before you go back, can I ask something?"

"Who is this Lord Dotō?"

The two froze.

Then they suddenly spun around and stared in shock at the blond boy behind them.

When did he get here?

Wasn't he with the target the whole time?

Naruto stood there smiling.

At some point, his hands had already pressed down over the hands they were about to use to draw shuriken.

"Don't be surprised."

"This is just a simple Shadow Clone."

"For now, though…"

Naruto's smile brightened.

"You two won't be going back either."

"Sorry, but you're getting 'kidnapped' too!"

Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)