Chapter 97 - 27

Chapter 27: Multiple Wives, Multiple Blessings! Daily Life! Daily Life!That night, in the secret conference room under the Hokage Building.Minato Namikaze, Kushina, and Kakashi Hatake sat around a round table.Two thick files were spread out on the table—the complete profiles of Guren and Tayuya."Crystal Release Bloodline Limit, discovered by Orochimaru in a northern laboratory five years ago," Kakashi Hatake said, pointing to a photo in the file. It was a younger Guren in a cultivation tank. "Parents unknown, presumed to be an orphan from a Bloodline Limit clan. Orochimaru spent three years 'guiding' her ability to awaken. She can currently proficiently create crystal weapons and defensive walls, but it consumes a lot of energy."He flipped to the section on Tayuya: "A native of the Land of Fields, her family specialized in musical genjutsu. When she was six, her family was wiped out by enemies. Orochimaru 'happened' to pass by and saved her. After training, she can integrate Chakra into flute music to cast large-scale genjutsu and can also summon the 'Three Demons.' They are three specially modified summoning beasts."Kushina's expression was grim: "Both are miserable children, both turned into weapons by Orochimaru.""And weapons sent to test us," Minato Namikaze said in a deep voice. "Orochimaru wants to know how much we value the 'ivy project,' whether we dare to accept children who are clearly spies, and he also wants to know... Naruto's attitude toward these'special existences.'""He has already started observing Naruto's 'Innocent Clear Heart'," Kushina clenched her fists. "That bastard."Kakashi Hatake pushed up his forehead protector: "The Azure Dragon Team has already embedded four layers of monitoring seals in their bodies. Once there is abnormal Chakra flow or any attempt to transmit intelligence, an alarm will be triggered immediately. Furthermore..." He paused, "I had Uchiha Itachi confirm from the Akatsuki Organization that this is indeed Orochimaru's personal action, unrelated to Akatsuki."Minato Namikaze thought for a moment: "We can accept them. Guren's Crystal Release is very suitable for defense and tactical crowd control, and Tayuya's sonic genjutsu is a type that Ivy currently lacks. As long as they are monitored properly, they can become decent combat assets.""But what if they hurt Naruto?" Kakashi Hatake hesitated."Then it will prove that Orochimaru's cooperation lacks sincerity, and we will immediately terminate all contact," Minato Namikaze looked at his wife. "And Kushina, you have to trust Naruto. That child... has his own unique way."Kushina thought of the sincere, unreserved smile her son showed whenever he faced new companions. She sighed: "I understand."Kushina actually didn't care at all.Because some things are done on purpose for others to see, in order to cover up other things. For example, the secret technique "Naruto Heart Technique" that only Naruto can master!From the moment they stepped into "Ivy," no matter who they were, they had destinedly become Naruto's "loyal followers."...Over the next week, a peculiar sight appeared in Ivy Garden.Guren hardly communicated with anyone. She went all out during training and sat alone in a corner during breaks, carving trinkets with Crystal Release.Sometimes they were flowers, sometimes small animals; she would crush them as soon as she finished carving, over and over again.Tayuya was similarly silent, but she would practice the flute alone in the early morning.That flute music was very eerie—sometimes melodious, sometimes sharp. Listening to it for too long would make people dizzy.Once, Ino Yamanaka accidentally heard a full piece and fell into a genjutsu on the spot, only being pulled back by Izumi using the Sharingan."Sorry," Tayuya said faintly afterward. "I was practicing a new technique and didn't notice someone approaching."Naruto, however, showed extraordinary patience toward the two new members."Guren, your Crystal Release is amazing! Can you teach me the technique for those crystal shuriken?""Tayuya, your flute playing is really nice, although a bit... er, special. Can you play it again?"Guren was cold at first, but she couldn't withstand Naruto appearing punctually every day, asking questions punctually, and delivering the snacks he brought punctually.Finally, on the fifth day, she said irritably: "Crystal Release is a Bloodline Limit, I can't teach it!""Then at least tell me the principle," Naruto's eyes sparkled. "I watched you during training, the crystals are formed by condensing moisture and Chakra from the air, right? So what if the environment is very dry?"Guren froze.She hadn't expected this seemingly silly blonde kid to observe so carefully."...I store moisture in advance," she said uncomfortably. "Wrapped in Chakra, stored inside my body.""Wow! So smart!" Naruto's praise was completely unfeigned.Guren's face turned slightly red, and she turned and walked away, but her steps were noticeably lighter.Progress was slower with Tayuya.She kept her distance from Naruto until one afternoon, while she was practicing the flute, Naruto suddenly said:"Tayuya, your flute music... is very lonely."Tayuya's fingers stopped on the flute holes."I don't mean the genjutsu part," Naruto sat beside her, looking at the setting sun in the distance. "I mean the flute music itself. It's like it's looking for something, or... waiting for an echo."Tayuya was silent for a long time. So long that Naruto thought she wouldn't answer, before she said softly:"My family... used flute music to communicate with nature, to connect with our ancestors. Every clansman's flute music has a unique 'timbre', which is the echo of the soul.""...Then what is your flute music looking for?""It can't be found anymore," Tayuya's voice was calm, but the fingers holding the flute were trembling slightly. "The night my family was wiped out, all the 'timbres' disappeared. Now only my flute music remains... echoing in the empty valley, with no response."Naruto looked at her, and then did something that surprised Tayuya.He reached out and gently patted her head."Then from now on, let my Chakra be your echo," he said with a smile. "Although I can't play the flute, my Chakra is abundant and very noisy; it should be able to fill the valley."Tayuya looked up, and for the first time, there was an emotional fluctuation in her purple eyes.She opened her mouth, and finally only said one sentence:"You... idiot.""Hehe."