Chapter 9 — Kaguya the Drama Queen Tricks Innocent Naruto Uzumaki!
On a dark and windy night.
Naruto Uzumaki was lying in bed, fast asleep, and that just so happened to give Kaguya the perfect chance for another nighttime sneak attack...
In order to eat her fill, in order to avoid having to swallow that dark, disgusting stuff again, she decided to return to her old line of work.
After confirming that no one was around, she quietly slipped into Naruto Uzumaki's room. Looking at the sleeping boy, she revealed a triumphant smile.
But just as she was about to succeed...
"What are you trying to do again?"
It was Sasuke's voice.
The moment it entered Kaguya's ears, she froze on the spot.
The smile on her face gradually vanished, replaced by pure frustration.
"I came to check on him. I'm absolutely not here to absorb his chakra, you have to believe me!" Kaguya said in a flustered panic.
Sasuke: "...."
He was completely speechless. After a long moment of silence, he said coldly, "Leave. Otherwise..."
His Sharingan appeared, his gaze full of killing intent.
"Tch, why are you being so fierce? It's not like I'm trying to absorb yours," Kaguya muttered unhappily as she turned and left the room in frustration.
Sasuke watched her departing figure, then turned back to look at Naruto.
The latter was still sleeping like a fool, peaceful as ever.
Well... your snoring really is a bit deafening.
That night, Kaguya chose to eat soldier pills instead.
They tasted awful. Terrible review. Nowhere near as good as Naruto Uzumaki.
...
The second night.
Kaguya sneaked into Naruto Uzumaki's room again, but just as she was about to make her move, Sasuke appeared once more, causing her face to darken on the spot.
....
The third night.
This time Kaguya had gotten smarter. She carefully observed the area around Naruto Uzumaki's room, and when she found no trace of Sasuke anywhere, she hurriedly slipped inside...
Only for what she saw to leave her stunned.
Good grief, when exactly did you get into the room?!
Kaguya's eyes widened in shock.
"Get out," Sasuke said coldly.
Kaguya had no way to complain and could only leave, but she truly couldn't understand it.
The first time might have been coincidence. The second time, caution...
But this was already the third time.
Why was this guy so determined to stop her from getting close to Naruto?
Every morning, the two of you clearly looked like you couldn't stand each other, so what was going on? She was completely baffled.
Besides, I haven't even absorbed him, have I?
What a busybody!
....
Under the blazing midday sun!
Both Sasuke and Kaguya appeared before the others with dark circles under their eyes, leaving Sakura and Naruto baffled.
What happened to them?
"What's wrong with those two, Sakura-chan?" Naruto Uzumaki could not help asking.
"I don't know either. Did someone upset them? But that doesn't seem right either..." Sakura said.
Sasuke and Kaguya glared at each other, neither one willing to back down. Sasuke's eyes were full of coldness, while Kaguya's face was filled with resentment.
"Could it be that they ran into a ghost too?" Naruto suddenly cried out, as if remembering something.
After all, a few days ago, he had definitely felt it!
It was like being haunted by an evil spirit, that feeling of having his energy sucked away until he could barely breathe.
"Maybe they really did run into a ghost," Kakashi said casually.
Naruto's face changed immediately, and he grew tense.
.....
When the fourth night finally arrived...
Sasuke and Kaguya once again entered into a bitter struggle, but this time, Sasuke finally could not endure any longer and groggily fell asleep.
"Damn it... has my body reached its limit?" Sasuke tried to force himself to stay awake, but it was already useless.
That woman... absolutely cannot be allowed...
The moment Kaguya saw this, she knew her chance had come. Moving at lightning speed, she slipped straight into Naruto Uzumaki's room.
Naruto Uzumaki was still sleeping soundly on the bed.
She walked over lightly, and at last, a smile bloomed across her face.
Who knew how much effort she had gone through for this moment.
Tonight, she could finally replenish her energy again!
Excited, Kaguya lifted Naruto Uzumaki's wrist, opened her mouth, and bit down, a blissful expression appearing on her face.
But it did not last long...
Bang!
Naruto Uzumaki on the bed instantly turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished, as if he had never been there at all.
"Why are you here, Kaguya?"
It was Naruto Uzumaki, stepping out from behind Kaguya. As he looked at her, his face was full of disbelief and confusion.
And for some reason, when that dispelled shadow clone vanished just now, a memory seemed to come back with it.
Kaguya froze.
She glanced at the now-empty bed, then turned to look at Naruto Uzumaki.
She was dumbfounded.
It was over!!
She had been caught!
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Kaguya forced out a smile, trying to cover up the truth.
"Oh, that? That was my shadow clone. Let me tell you, I'm catching ghosts right now, so don't wake everyone up!" Naruto Uzumaki said, making a shushing gesture.
"By the way, why did you come to my room? Are you catching ghosts too?" Naruto Uzumaki asked again.
Hearing that, Kaguya's eyes lit up.
That's right.
A brilliant little trick instantly came to mind.
The next moment, she suddenly collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, her face turning pale in an instant. Well, to be fair, she was pale to begin with.
Her whole body seemed to go limp.
"Y-you... what's wrong? Why did you suddenly...?" Naruto Uzumaki jumped in fright, his voice full of worry.
"It's... ghosts..." Kaguya said weakly, pretending to be exhausted.
"Ghosts?!" Naruto Uzumaki's face instantly turned deathly pale.
"I actually discovered the ghosts a long time ago. A few days ago, didn't you have nightmares at night? Didn't you feel exhausted and even suffer a lot?"
"Yes, yes! But how do you know that?" Naruto Uzumaki tilted his head. How did she know that?
"And ever since then, you haven't had those symptoms again, right?" Kaguya continued.
"Now that you mention it, that does seem true. After that day, it never happened again. That's really strange," Naruto Uzumaki said after thinking it over.
"Actually, that's all thanks to me!" Kaguya said without the slightest blush or hesitation.
"Nani?!"
"After that day, countless ghosts appeared around your room, but not a single one dared to bully you. Do you know why?"
"Why? Could it be...?" Naruto Uzumaki's eyes widened. Don't tell me...
"That's right. It was all because of me. I was the one who suppressed those ghosts and allowed you to sleep peacefully. It's just that, during these days of fighting them, I suffered serious injuries, which is why I've become like this now..." Kaguya said weakly, without changing expression or losing composure.
When Naruto Uzumaki heard this, he was so moved that he nearly burst into tears.
Since Iruka-sensei, no one had ever treated him like this...
No wonder he had been sleeping so comfortably these past few days. So someone had been protecting him in silence all along.
This was way too moving!
"No one's ever done something like this for me before. Kaguya, you really are such a good person!" Naruto Uzumaki actually started crying.
Kaguya looked at the crying boy and froze for a moment.
Had she... gone a little too far?
But...
If she was acting, she had to commit to it.
"Ahem..."
Kaguya coughed weakly a few times. Her already pale face became even paler, and Naruto Uzumaki felt even guiltier.
It was all because of him.
No wonder her eyes had been ringed with dark circles these past few days.
"Y-you're not in serious trouble, are you, Kaguya?" Naruto Uzumaki asked worriedly.
"I've suffered severe internal injuries now. I need something in order to recover," Kaguya said decisively, seeing that the timing was right.
"What is it? Just tell me. I, Naruto Uzumaki, will definitely find it for you. Say the word, and I'll do it. That's my ninja way!" Naruto Uzumaki said seriously.
"During the battle with the ghosts, I suffered internal injuries and urgently need chakra to recover. I need the power inside your body..." Kaguya said weakly.
"B-but... what am I supposed to do?" Naruto Uzumaki asked anxiously, completely confused.
"Just hold out your hand, and I only need to absorb a little," Kaguya continued.
"Okay!"
Naruto Uzumaki held out his hand without the slightest hesitation, and Kaguya immediately grew excited. She opened her mouth and bit down—
Naruto Uzumaki frowned slightly, then felt his chakra begin to flow out of him, continuously being absorbed by Kaguya.
At the same time, a stream of crimson chakra slowly flowed back into Naruto Uzumaki's body, gradually strengthening his own power.
This was pain and gain happening at the same time!
Seeing how much pain Naruto Uzumaki seemed to be in, Kaguya softened a little and asked weakly, "Y-you're okay, right?"
"Don't worry, I've got tons of chakra!" Naruto Uzumaki said seriously.
After absorbing for a little while longer, Kaguya finally stopped.
"You're not absorbing anymore?" Naruto Uzumaki asked.
"It's enough already," Kaguya said as she slowly stood up.
Looking at the slender boy before her, she pressed her lips together, and a trace of guilt flashed through her eyes.
If he found out the truth... would he be heartbroken?
"Kaguya, from now on, you're my friend!" Naruto Uzumaki revealed a sincere smile.
There were still tears at the corners of his eyes, but when he smiled, he looked like a fox—and also like a little sun, warm and bright.
Kaguya froze.
It would be better not to let him learn the truth after all.