Chapter 19
It was 1 a.m. The Hokage Tower blazed with light.
The corridors were dead silent at this hour—only the two Anbu standing guard outside the meeting room cast curious glances.
Naruto sat on a long bench by the meeting room door, short legs dangling and swinging idly.
After arriving at the Hokage Tower with Hiashi to see Grandpa Third, the old man had said they'd talk about Naruto's situation after the meeting finished.
Now he'd been waiting outside for ages. It was the middle of the night—he was really sleepy.
He quietly turned his head toward Hinata.
She sat beside him, wrapped in Hiashi's outer coat.
It was the one Hiashi had worn when he came—worried she'd be cold in the hallway, he'd handed it to her before entering the meeting room.
So nice, Naruto thought. He didn't say it out loud, but he felt a little envious.
Before the thought fully formed, he felt a gentle warmth bloom in his abdomen.
A very faint stream of chakra flowed out, traveling through his meridians and spreading comforting heat throughout his body.
Hinata knew she was safe now, but the memory of tonight's events still left her heart racing.
She sat with her head bowed, small hands clutching the hem of her nightclothes, body still trembling faintly.
"Um—"
Hinata looked up.
"Don't be scared."
Naruto gave her a small, natural grin. "I said I'd protect you."
Another wave of chakra surged. In his palm, it condensed into a tiny red orb of light that bobbed gently.
Naruto stared at it for a second, suddenly understanding how to use it.
He carefully lifted the light and gestured for Hinata to hold out her hand. The orb floated over and hovered just above her palm.
She raised her hand. The orb settled lightly in her palm—not hot, just pleasantly warm.
The soothing sensation spread from her hand through her whole body.
The dull ache from where she'd been dropped earlier faded away.
Hinata stared blankly at the slowly fading red light. The fear in her eyes melted little by little; her heart finally steadied.
"What is this…?" she whispered.
Naruto spoke softly: "This is from Fox Sage. I saw you were still scared, so I shared some with you. Now you can feel safe."
Of course, Xuanming had never taught him to say it that way—he had simply allowed Naruto to consciously share the chakra.
It was Naruto who felt this was the right thing to say right now.
Hinata turned her head. Her pure white eyes stared unblinkingly at the boy beside her.
At the dust smudged on his face. At that earnest smile.
"N-Naruto-kun…"
She wanted to thank him. Wanted to finally say the "thank you for saving me" that had been stuck in her throat.
"I… I think I still don't know your name!" Naruto's voice reached her ears.
"Eh…?" Hinata was stunned. She really hadn't told him her name yet?
"Um… I'm Hyūga… Hinata."
Naruto leaned back against the bench, smiled up at the ceiling: "Hinata, huh? That's a really pretty name."
Hinata's head immediately dropped. Her cheeks burned bright red; her small hands twisted the coat hem nervously.
When no further reaction came, she peeked toward Naruto again.
Tap.
Naruto's sleepy head finally lost the battle. It tilted sideways and gently came to rest on Hinata's thin shoulder.
"Eh?!"
Hinata froze solid. Her face turned the color of a boiling kettle; visible steam practically rose from her head.
She was so nervous she held her breath, sitting like a wooden statue—not daring to move.
But she didn't pull away.
Feeling the small weight on her shoulder, listening to the steady breathing beside her ear, the frantic pounding in her chest miraculously calmed.
He saved me… so many times. Tonight, against such a terrifying bad guy, he still charged forward. He must be exhausted.
Hinata gazed at Naruto's sleeping face. A new determination flickered in her pure white eyes—stronger than ever before.
I want to get stronger too.
I want… the next time danger comes, to stand beside Naruto-kun—not just hide behind him while he protects me.
With that thought, the girl who had also been dragged out into the night finally felt unstoppable sleepiness overtake her.
She pursed her lips, leaned against Naruto on the bench, and drifted off.
...
Konoha's top brass—and several old-timers—had been dragged from their beds by Anbu because of the sudden crisis.
Danzō Shimura hadn't been sleeping anyway—this was his active hour. When the summons came, he walked unhurriedly from Root headquarters toward the meeting room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table. The tobacco in his pipe had already been lit, smoked, and relit three times.
Across from him, Danzō sat with his single eye closed in meditation.
To the left: Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, brows tightly furrowed.
To the right: Hiashi Hyūga and Shikaku Nara. Only Shikaku was seriously reading the report on the table.
A copy of the report lay in front of everyone: Anbu's on-site investigation and the preliminary medical team's diagnosis.
"The conclusion is clear," Shikaku spoke first. "The Kumo delegation came with premeditated intent—attempted abduction of the Hyūga main family heiress. Uzumaki Naruto intervened heroically and stopped the crime."
"The Kumo leader—a Kumogakure jonin skilled in Lightning Release and genjutsu—is currently in critical condition and unconscious."
"The one who engaged him was Uzumaki Naruto. His attacks caused multiple fractures and severe internal organ rupture. Medical ensured he survived, but he will need at least two months to regain mobility—depending on recovery."
Shikaku read from the report.
Koharu frowned. "A child was able to fight a jonin?"
She hadn't read the full report yet. Hearing only that a Kumo ninja had tried to kidnap the Hyūga heiress and been beaten half to death, she assumed Hiashi had delivered the blow.
"Regarding that Kumo leader…"
Hiruzen tapped his pipe, breaking the silence. "Just now, Yamanaka clan head Inoichi searched his mind."
"It was a secret order from the Raikage himself—use the alliance signing as cover to seize the Byakugan."
At those words, Hiashi's fist clenched hard on the table—knuckles white.
"How dare they!"
"Hmph. I told you those Kumo bastards couldn't be trusted," Danzō snorted coldly, cold light flashing in his single eye.
But he didn't seem particularly angry—more excited.
He turned to Hiruzen: "Hiruzen! This incident proves exactly what I've said all along!"
"That Nine-Tails brat… Uzumaki Naruto—the power he displayed in battle." Danzō's voice rose. "No three-year-old could control that! It's clearly the prototype of a perfect jinchūriki!"
"That level of utilization and precise control over tailed beast chakra… Hiruzen, give him to me!"
Danzō finally showed his hand again. "Only in Root can he safely unleash that talent without waste. I can forge him into a weapon surpassing even Kumo's Eight-Tails!"
"With that weapon, who needs Kumo's alliance treaty? We don't have to negotiate with them at all!"
Faced with Danzō's grand speech, Hiruzen remained calm—holding his ground as always.
He simply took a slow drag from his pipe, eyes steady.
"Danzō, you're wrong."
"That isn't the power of a weapon. It's the power of 'protection.'"
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