After returning to Konoha, Naruto took out the meteorite and began experimenting.
He could clearly sense something within the stone stimulating his chakra, making it more active and easier to shape.
Even my Sage Bodies react to it… What will happen once I obtain the [Senjutsu Body]? Could it affect the way I absorb natural energy?
After another round of tests, he put the meteorite away. His instincts told him that the stone still held a few surprises.
It had come from beyond this world, after all. Just like the Ōtsutsuki clan, it was a visitor from somewhere out in space.
Naruto tilted his head back and gazed at the sky.
"One day, I'll find out what's out there. Maybe Earth exists somewhere in this universe, too…"
His voice grew quieter.
"If it does, maybe I can go home."
—
While Naruto studied the meteorite, Tsunade sat in the Hokage's office, smiling over Hinata's mission report.
Both of Hinata's recent missions had reached B-rank difficulty. Without Naruto's intervention, her team might have failed—or suffered casualties.
Naruto had insisted on taking time off from missions, yet he had helped with both.
All because of Hinata.
Looks like I've finally found a way to handle that brat.
Tsunade's smile widened.
What she didn't know was that Naruto had wanted to visit Hoshigakure anyway. That particular assignment had handed him a valuable prize.
Another mission request now lay on her desk.
Lady Kayo, wife of the Land of Honey's daimyō, had vanished while traveling to visit her family. Her husband had asked Konoha to send shinobi to find her.
Enemy ninja might be involved.
Tsunade decided to assign the mission to Hinata's team.
Which, in practice, meant assigning it to Naruto.
She looked at the quiet, well-mannered girl standing before her.
As long as Hinata remained in Konoha, Naruto would always have a reason to return. Whatever he said about refusing missions, he would keep contributing to the village.
That was the power of bonds.
Tsunade nearly chuckled.
She had no idea how many of Naruto's secrets Hinata already knew—or how carefully the girl had kept every one of them.
—
At the training ground, Naruto sensed Hinata leaving the Hokage's office again.
He sighed.
That old woman really has found my weak spot.
This time, however, Hinata didn't come to see him. She met up with Kiba and Shino, and the three headed straight for the village gates.
Naruto paused.
She's leaving without saying anything?
A moment later, he rose into the air and flew after them.
He landed in front of the group before they could leave Konoha.
"Hinata. Where are you going?"
"Naruto-kun, I… um…"
Hinata lowered her head, her cheeks turning pink as she fidgeted with her fingers.
"She didn't want to interrupt your training again," Kiba explained before she could finish. "So we decided to head out without bothering you."
He folded his arms.
"You know how lucky you are, Naruto? Finding a girl as considerate as Hinata…"
Naruto grinned.
"Jealous? Find yourself a girlfriend, then. Otherwise, you'll be a bachelor forever."
He glanced at the little dog tucked inside Kiba's jacket.
"Well, at least you've got Akamaru. You two can stay bachelors together."
"Hey!"
Ignoring Kiba's protest, Naruto stepped closer and took Hinata's hand.
"You know I'd worry if something happened to you, right?"
Hinata's blush deepened. For a moment, she looked as though her knees might give out.
Shino quietly turned away.
"Kiba. We should leave before this gets any sweeter."
"Sweet? What are you talking about? All I brought was Akamaru's food."
"Woof! Woof!"
Kiba glanced from Akamaru to the couple and finally caught on.
His mouth twisted.
"Oh, come on…"
He stalked ahead, leaving Shino to follow.
—
Once again, Naruto carried the three of them through the air.
An hour later, they landed near the place where Lady Kayo had disappeared. An old castle stood nearby.
Hinata, Kiba, and Shino were about to approach when Naruto stopped them.
"Wait. Hinata, take a look inside with your Byakugan first."
"Right. Byakugan!"
The veins around her eyes rose as she studied the building.
Then she gasped.
"This castle… I think it's alive. There's a complete chakra pathway system running through it. I can see chakra flowing inside."
"What?" Kiba stared at the castle. "You mean it's some kind of man-eating monster?"
He looked down at Akamaru, who had already retreated deeper into his jacket.
"A summoning creature, probably," Naruto said. "The toads have something similar."
He looked at Shino and Kiba.
"Hinata and I will go inside. You two stay out here and back us up."
"Understood."
Shino nodded, catching Kiba's arm before he could argue.
Naruto took Hinata's hand and walked into the castle.
He glanced around at the old furnishings and elaborate decorations, looking perfectly at ease.
His three-tomoe Sharingan was already active, quietly examining everything around them.
"Hinata, look for its summoning contract."
"Yes."
Her Byakugan swept through the building.
"There. On the second floor, beside the shrine. There's an old scroll."
The creature seemed to realize what they were after.
The elegant interior abruptly vanished.
Walls, floors, and ceilings became glistening flesh.
The surface beneath their feet began to writhe, trying to swallow their legs. Naruto immediately scooped Hinata into his arms and floated clear of the floor.
Fleshy tendrils lashed toward them from every direction.
A blue wind barrier sprang up around the pair, throwing the tendrils back. Naruto flew straight toward the second floor.
He snatched the scroll from beside the shrine and handed it to Hinata.
"Bite your finger and sign your name in blood."
Hinata blinked in surprise, then nodded and did as he said.
The creature reacted violently.
The surrounding flesh surged inward, trying to crush them before she could finish.
Naruto laughed.
"You've obviously never read Journey to the West. There's a reason you don't let the Monkey King into your stomach!"
The wind barrier expanded.
Air spun around them at tremendous speed, sending blade after blade into the surrounding flesh. The sharp smell of blood filled the chamber.
Three seconds later, Hinata finished writing her name.
With a loud puff of smoke, the flesh surrounding them disappeared.
Naruto and Hinata found themselves standing outside.
Lady Kayo and her missing entourage appeared nearby as well.
The mission was complete.
Hinata held the scroll out to Naruto, but he gently pushed it back toward her.
"It's a gift. Do you like it?"
"Yes!"
She hugged the scroll to her chest with a bright smile. Naruto had already told her that he preferred an honest answer to a string of polite refusals.
"A summon with illusion abilities like those should give you a lot more options in battle."
As he spoke, he gently drew her into his arms.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun…"
Hinata instinctively tried to step back out of embarrassment, only for her knees to wobble. In the end, she could only clutch his sleeve, her face burning red.
A short distance away, Shino turned toward Kiba.
"About that dog food…"
Kiba looked at him.
"Could I have some? I need something less sweet."
—
Far away, inside one of Orochimaru's secret bases, Sakura watched Sasuke train with an equally contented expression.
Orochimaru's knowledge of ninjutsu was staggering. In sheer breadth, he could rival even the Third Hokage—the man known as the Professor.
Having someone like him personally supervise Sasuke's training was an opportunity few shinobi would ever receive.
The results were already showing.
Sasuke's strength was growing rapidly, and Orochimaru was helping him develop new applications for Chidori.
At this rate, Sasuke-kun will surpass Naruto soon.
Sakura smiled.
Then he can finally take revenge on Itachi.
Her thoughts drifted to the Root operative she had secretly met three days earlier.
I can't let Danzō find out what's really happening here. He'll interfere with Sasuke-kun's training.
She needed to draw his attention somewhere else.
I'm sorry, Naruto.
A faint pang of guilt stirred in her chest.
She pushed it aside.
There was something else she had to deal with first.
I need to get rid of this poison.
Sai's poison was still inside her. Until she neutralized it, Root would continue holding that threat over her head.
Fortunately, Tsunade had given her access to all her medical ninjutsu scrolls to make her training easier.
Sakura had memorized their contents.
Now she needed to practice until she could put that knowledge to use.
And Orochimaru is an expert when it comes to experiments. I should be able to learn a lot from him, too.
Absorbed in her thoughts, Sakura never noticed the glance Orochimaru sent her way.
He continued instructing Sasuke, his expression unchanged.
But for a brief moment, his narrow eyes rested on Sakura.
Whatever he was thinking remained hidden behind his smile.