Sasuke felt tense as he adjusted the high collar of his formal kimono. The dark blue fabric with the Uchiha crest emblazoned on the back felt both right and stifling. He'd chosen formal wear deliberately—this meeting demanded the gravity of clan representation, not the practicality of standard ninja attire.

  "Is it too tight?" Sakura fretted beside him, her own formal kimono a deep red that complemented her pink hair and fur. The large Uchiha fan on her back caught the afternoon sunlight, and every time Sasuke glimpsed it, an unexpected surge of pride washed through him.

  "No," he said, voice clipped from nerves rather than irritation. "It's fine."

  Time to get answers. Time to finally hear the truth about that night from the one person who couldn't avoid the questions any longer. Together they walked through Konoha's bustling streets toward the Hokage Tower, the tallest structure casting its shadow across the village as the sun began its slow descent.

  The village was alive with activity—merchants hawking wares from distant lands, nobles strutting in expensive silks, and foreign ninja observing everything with calculated interest. All here to witness the chunin exam finals, to see the best and brightest of the next generation. Their presence added a festive atmosphere that felt jarringly at odds with Sasuke's grim purpose.

  "We could postpone until after the finals," Sakura suggested softly, reading his discomfort. "You need to focus on—"

  "No," Sasuke cut her off. "I've waited long enough."

  He wanted to win the tournament, of course. The Uchiha name deserved nothing less. But privately, he harbored doubts about his chances. Haku's ice techniques and perfect accuracy with senbon made him lethally efficient. And Gaara... something was deeply wrong with the sand ninja. The casual way he'd discussed killing, the bloodlust that radiated from him even when he was still—Sasuke had recognized something unhinged there, something beyond normal ninja conditioning.

  No disservice to his teammate. Naruto had grown exponentially, proving himself capable of summoning the toad boss and harnessing the Kyuubi's chakra. But he needed more seasoning. He didn't quite have that killer edge, that willingness to do whatever was necessary to win.

  Which was fine, Sasuke reflected. Naruto had surprisingly transformed from the loudmouthed troublemaker of their early academy days into someone who naturally drew people to him. His earnestness, his unflagging determination, his inherent ability to see the best in others—these qualities made him uniquely suited for leadership. When his lineage as the Fourth Hokage's son was finally revealed to the public at large, they would practically fall at his feet. He would make a great Hokage someday.

  And that suited Sasuke. He would have his hands full rebuilding his clan. Having the Hokage as a former teammate? He allowed himself a small, calculating smile. One only needed to look at how well the Utatane and Mitokado families had done, their privileged positions as the Third's former teammates granting them unparalleled access and influence.

  He was distracting himself, Sasuke realized with annoyance. These political calculations were just mental evasions, ways to avoid confronting what lay ahead. What truths would be revealed in the Hokage's office? And more importantly—was he ready to hear them?

  He felt Sakura's hand intertwine with his, pulling him from his thoughts. It was such a unique sensation—the bits of fur that tickled his skin, the relatively blunt claws that tipped her fingers, the soft pads on her palm usually hidden beneath her gloves. He'd initially been startled by these changes, but they'd become familiar now, comforting even.

  Sakura turned her head and smiled at him, her rabbit ears perking up slightly. The simple gesture somehow steadied him, and he felt himself find his center as they arrived at the tower's entrance.

  They passed ANBU guards who tensed slightly at their approach, then relaxed when they recognized the young Uchiha and his rabbit-altered companion. Sasuke noted their reaction with a flicker of irritation. How could they miss Sakura's silhouette?

  The climb up the spiral staircase was silent save for their footsteps. Sakura's heels clicked against the stone, while Sasuke moved with the practiced silence of an elite ninja-in-training. When they reached the door to the Hokage's office, Sasuke hesitated for just a moment—one final breath before plunging into waters that might be too deep to survive.

  Then he knocked.

  "Enter," came the weathered voice of the village leader.

  The Hokage was seated behind his massive desk, puffing contemplatively on his pipe. Smoke wreathed his head, momentarily obscuring the complicated expression on his face. Two ANBU flanked him, their masks betraying nothing of the humans behind them. His formal hat sat atop his head, the kanji for "Fire" prominent—a deliberate choice, Sasuke noted. The old man was taking this meeting seriously.

  Seeing Sasuke and Sakura enter his office holding hands brought the glimmer of a smile to Sarutobi's weathered face. For a brief moment, something like nostalgia or perhaps regret flickered in his eyes.

  "How I miss my own wife," he murmured, almost to himself, before gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. "Please, sit."

  They settled in silence, neither flinching from the Hokage's penetrating gaze. Sasuke kept his back straight, shoulders squared—the posture of an Uchiha patriach, not a supplicant. Sakura mirrored his formality, though her ears twitched occasionally, betraying her nervousness.

  "So," the Hokage said after a moment, tapping his pipe against an ashtray, "I suppose it's obvious what you want to ask."

  "Indeed, Hokage-sama," Sasuke replied, voice carefully neutral.

  The Third nodded to one of the ANBU, who stepped forward and formed a series of hand signs. The walls glowed briefly with intricate patterns—security seals activating. Then the ANBU performed another sequence, and another layer of seals illuminated the ceiling and floor.

  "Extra precautions," the Hokage explained. "What we discuss today must remain strictly between us."

  Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "So the village council doesn't know you're meeting with me?"

  "The council," Sarutobi said with a hint of dark amusement, "has many opinions about how I should handle you, Sasuke-kun. Few of them align with my own judgment."

  The old man set his pipe down and folded his hands. "Before I answer your specific questions about that night, I need to give you the proper context—the background that led to... events."

  Sasuke nodded stiffly.

  "I was primarily trained by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju," Sarutobi began. "A brilliant man, unparalleled in his contributions to our village's administrative and jutsu systems. But he never saw eye to eye with the Uchiha, especially after Madara's defection." The Hokage's expression grew thoughtful. "His distrust wasn't entirely unfounded—the Uchiha's power grows from emotional extremes, and the Sharingan itself develops through trauma. He believed this created inherent instability."

  Sakura squeezed Sasuke's hand as his jaw tightened.

  "I regret to say that I inherited some of those sentiments," Sarutobi continued. "I tried to be evenhanded in my governance, but prejudices can be insidious, coloring decisions in ways we don't always recognize."

  He stood and moved to the window, looking out over the village.

  "The Uchiha, being one of the two most senior founding clans, naturally felt slighted by this treatment. Things became particularly strained after the Third Ninja War when Minato was named Hokage."

  "My father wasn't even nominated," Sasuke stated flatly.

  "Correct. Fugaku was a powerful shinobi and a brilliant tactician. By bloodline alone, he had every right to consideration." The Hokage turned back to face them. "But Minato was such a stellar candidate—beloved by the village, unparalleled in combat, and with no clan affiliations that might suggest favoritism—that opposition was minimal. Even the Uchiha's objections were muted."

  "My father and the Fourth were friends," Sasuke said, recalling fragments he had been able to read from his father's journal.

  "Yes, which helped smooth relations considerably. Fugaku accepted the situation with more grace than many would have. Then others did." Sarutobi returned to his seat. "Then came the Nine-tails attack."

  The atmosphere in the room grew heavier.

  "After the devastation, people began to whisper. Why weren't the Uchiha at the frontlines? Why had they seemingly withdrawn during the village's greatest crisis? Some wondered if the clan was somehow... responsible."

  Sasuke's eyes flashed. "Why would anyone believe that?"

  Sarutobi sighed deeply. "Because Madara Uchiha had once commanded the Nine-tails in battle against the First Hokage before the beast was sealed into Mito Uzumaki. The fact that someone had clearly controlled the Nine-tails during the attack, and the Uchiha were located in a different section of the village from where it struck first, created a perfect storm of suspicion."

  "So the rumors persisted that the Uchiha were behind it," Sasuke spoke slowly, piecing it together, "due to the snub of my father being passed over for Hokage."

  Sarutobi nodded grimly. "This widened the rift between the village and your clan. We tried to contain the rumors, but in a village of ninja, secrets spread like poison."

  "Who do you think did it?" Sakura asked, leaning forward slightly.

  The Hokage puffed on his pipe, exhaling a plume of smoke before answering. "I don't know with certainty."

  "But you think it was an Uchiha," Sasuke stated, watching the old man's face carefully.

  "The only known power able to control the tailed beasts like that—not just suppress them or use their power, but to bend them entirely to one's will—has been the Sharingan." Sarutobi's eyes met Sasuke's unflinchingly. "No attacker was ever found. To this day, I don't know who could have orchestrated it."

  He sighed heavily. "After Minato's sacrifice, I took back the Hokage's hat. I had intended it to be temporary, but who could I pass it to? Jiraiya was devastated by the loss of his student and refused the position. The village was distrustful to the extreme of the current Uchiha, so nominating Fugaku could have started a civil war, even without my own lingering suspicions."

  The Hokage's expression darkened. "Orochimaru was becoming increasingly problematic due to his involvement with ROOT and his extended 'research trips.' So I decided to wait and see who would emerge as a suitable candidate."

  "No one did," Sasuke said flatly.

  "No, that's not true," Sarutobi corrected him. "Your brother did."

  Sasuke bristled visibly, his shoulders tensing, but stilled when Sakura squeezed his hand again.

  "Itachi truly loved the village," the Hokage continued. "He understood peace in a way few do—he had witnessed war as a child, seen its horrors firsthand. He became ANBU captain at thirteen, displayed wisdom beyond his years, and demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Konoha's ideals."

  Sarutobi spoke of how Itachi had seemed like the perfect bridge—an Uchiha respected by the village leadership, someone who could help reunite the clan with the rest of Konoha. Then, unexpectedly, the old man's face contorted with anger.

  "But the boy was a damn FOOL!" he snarled, slamming his fist on the desk with surprising force.

  The outburst shocked both Sasuke and Sakura, who had never seen the usually composed Hokage display such raw emotion.

  "Tensions had been rising," Sarutobi continued, visibly trying to regain his composure. "Your father knew certain elements within the Uchiha were planning something drastic—a coup d'état. Itachi was still too young for me to name him my successor, but he served as a go-between, carrying messages between myself and Fugaku as we tried to keep things from boiling over."

  The Hokage's face darkened. "But some people were agitating the situation further. Danzo, in particular, had lost patience with diplomatic solutions."

  "Danzo?" Sakura asked.

  "One of my advisors. Leader of ROOT, a division of ANBU that operates... differently." The distaste in Sarutobi's voice was evident. "He and I eventually agreed that some of the most vocal planners of the rebellion needed to be silenced—a targeted action to send a message that would make the rest reconsider their course."

  Sasuke's eyes widened slightly as the implications sank in.

  "Having it done by someone within the clan would keep it a clan matter," the Hokage continued, "and allow Fugaku to regain control without losing face. Itachi was positioned perfectly for this role." He closed his eyes, looking suddenly much older. "Then Itachi went and murdered the entire clan."

  The words hung in the air like kunai.

  "Even Danzo, who had advocated killing more than just the ringleaders, hadn't wanted the children and non-combatants eliminated. He was too pragmatic for that—they would be too useful to Konoha." Sarutobi's voice grew quieter. "After Itachi had done the deed, he reported to me directly. It was a disaster. There would be no way to make him Hokage now. Who would trust a Hokage who had murdered his entire clan down to the infants?"

  "Itachi couldn't have done it alone," Sakura said softly. "Not logistically possible. I studied the police reports—too many deaths in too short a timeframe."

  Sarutobi nodded grimly. "Itachi told me he had help from 'Uchiha Madara.'"

  Sasuke's breath caught. "Madara died fighting the First Hokage decades ago."

  "So most believe," the Hokage agreed. "But according to Itachi, Madara survived and had been hiding his time, planning Konoha's downfall. If true, this would explain much—including the Nine-tails attack."

  Sasuke put the pieces together, his mind racing. "So Itachi somehow found the one who did the Nine-tails attack? And allied with him?"

  "That's what he claimed," Sarutobi said. "Though I believe your brother may have been manipulated by whoever this person is. Madara would be over a hundred years old by now, if still alive. More likely, it's someone using his name."

  The Hokage's face twisted into a snarl again. "The fool didn't even realize he was being used as a pawn. And after the massacre, this accomplice vanished, leaving Itachi to bear the burden alone."

  For the first time in years, Sasuke felt something shift in his understanding of his brother. Not forgiveness—never that—but a complex layer added to his hatred.

  "Why haven't you pursued this... impostor?" Sasuke demanded.

  "I've wanted nothing more than to go after this individual personally," Sarutobi said, his voice tight with suppressed fury. "My wife died during the Kyuubi attack—not to the beast itself, but directly at the hand of whoever unleashed it. This is personal for me too, Sasuke-kun."

  The revelation stunned Sasuke. He'd never connected the Hokage's personal loss to his family's tragedy.

  "Itachi is now working deep undercover, trying to locate this person again through an organization called Akatsuki—a group of S-rank criminal ninja with unknown objectives." Sarutobi's expression was grim. "He has managed to send back only fragmentary reports, and I've gained little information about this mysterious 'rogue Uchiha' or whatever he truly is."

  "So my brother is a double agent?" Sasuke asked, voice tight with conflicting emotions.

  "In a manner of speaking, yes. Though his actions in the massacre went far beyond what was authorized, he has since been working to atone by gathering intelligence crucial to Konoha's security." The Hokage leaned forward. "This is why I've allowed you to pursue your goal of facing him someday. When that day comes, you may learn truths I cannot provide."

  Sasuke sat perfectly still, processing everything he'd heard. The massacre had been more complicated than he'd imagined—not simply his brother's madness, but a political quagmire involving village leadership, clan rebellion, and a mysterious figure from the past.

  "Who else knows about this?" Sakura asked.

  "Almost no one. Parts are known to my advisors and Danzo, but the full picture—including Itachi's current role—is known only to myself and now you two." The Hokage's eyes were deadly serious. "This information could destabilize Konoha if revealed prematurely."

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  "Why tell me now?" Sasuke asked, his voice carefully controlled despite the turmoil inside him.

  "Because you deserved to know before facing your brother. And because I'm getting old, Sasuke-kun." Sarutobi smiled sadly. "Someone else needs to carry this knowledge in case I'm not around when Itachi finally locates our mystery Uchiha."

  Silence fell over the room as Sasuke absorbed everything. The truth was neither as simple as he'd feared nor as exonerating as he might have secretly hoped. His brother was neither purely villain nor secret hero, but something more complicated—a shinobi caught between impossible choices who had made a devastating mistake.

  And there was still an unknown enemy out there, someone who had manipulated his brother and possibly orchestrated the Nine-tails attack that had set everything in motion.

  "What happens now?" Sakura asked quietly.

  "Now," the Hokage said, "you prepare for your matches in two days. The village needs this celebration, this demonstration of its continuing strength." He looked directly at Sasuke. "And you decide what to do with this information."

  Sasuke met the old man's gaze. "I still intend to face my brother."

  "I expected nothing less," Sarutobi nodded. "Despite the tensions between the village and the Uchiha I still believed them to be vital part of Konoha. It was a near thing that stayed my hand from striking him down then and there for what he did. Honestly, I believe he would have welcomed it. However I needed to know the true threat to the village and he was my only clue and connection. Once he has the information do with him as you please."

  "And after that?" Sasuke asked.

  "After that," the Hokage said, "we find this impostor together. For both our families."

  Hinata stood frozen in the doorway to Naruto's apartment, her eyes widening at the chaos before her. Beside her, Karin's mouth fell open in disbelief.

  Every available surface—walls, floor, tables, even the ceiling—was plastered with papers covered in intricate sealing formulas. Chains of symbols curved and spiraled in patterns too complex to follow at a glance. Symbols pulsed with faint chakra, some seeming to shimmer and shift as if alive.

  A dozen Narutos darted around the cramped space, some perched precariously on chairs, others sprawled across the floor. They passed papers back and forth, muttering in what sounded like another language entirely.

  "The inversion matrix doesn't stabilize unless we add a third-level containment barrier—"

  "—but if we offset the polarity of the chakra flow—"

  "—no, no, that destabilizes the entire northern quadrant. Try adding a recursive loop to—"

  "—been thinking about that, but wouldn't a Uzumaki blood seal negate the—"

  None of them even glanced at the two girls standing at the threshold.

  Hinata turned to Karin, bewilderment evident on her face. "I thought you just gave him the scroll two days ago."

  Karin adjusted her glasses nervously. "I did! But he immediately created shadow clones with copies of the scroll. Then he made even more clones to study it. He probably memorized the whole thing in minutes." She gestured at the paper jungle. "After that, he sent another batch to the library, and... well, he's been like this ever since."

  Hinata took a tentative step into the apartment, careful not to disturb any of the papers taped to the floor. "Naruto-kun?" she called, her voice barely audible over the clones' intense discussions.

  No response.

  "Naruto-kun!" she tried again, louder this time.

  One of the Narutos finally looked up, blinking rapidly as if emerging from a trance. His eyes widened when he spotted them.

  "Hinata-chan!" the clone exclaimed, nearly knocking over an inkwell as he scrambled to his feet. His gaze shifted to the redhead. "And Karin-chan! When did you get here?"

  "About five minutes ago," Hinata said, a hint of exasperation in her normally gentle voice. "We knocked, but no one answered, so we came in."

  The clone scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Sorry, sorry! We get really focused when we're working on seals." He glanced around the apartment as if seeing the mess for the first time. "Whoa, it's gotten kinda out of hand, huh?"

  "Where's the real Naruto?" Karin asked, nudging a fallen brush with her toe. "We need to speak with him."

  The clone's brow furrowed. "The boss is working on the seals that require blood. Can't use clone blood for those—it disappears when we poof."

  Karin and Hinata exchanged concerned glances.

  "Naruto-kun needs to rest," Hinata said. "The finals are tomorrow."

  The clone looked confused. "Tomorrow? No, that can't be right. The finals are two days away."

  "It is tomorrow," Karin insisted. "You've lost track of time."

  The clone's eyes widened in alarm. He looked at the other clones, all still absorbed in their work, muttering and scribbling without pause.

  "I don't know if I should take you to the boss." he said, looking worried. "This is really important stuff we're working on."

  Hinata and Karin shared another look, a silent agreement passing between them.

  "We've hardly seen Naruto in days," Hinata said softly, lowering her gaze and pressing her index fingers together in that nervous habit she'd never quite overcome. "I... I miss him."

  "Yeah," Karin added, quickly catching on and making her voice small. "Family should spend time together, especially before big events. I was looking forward to cheering on my only living relative..."

  The clone's face crumpled in panic. "Don't be sad! The boss would never want to make you feel neglected!" He frantically waved for them to follow. "Come on, I'll take you to him right now!"

  He led them through the paper labyrinth, stepping carefully over formula-covered scrolls and ducking under hanging tags. The other clones barely glanced up as they passed, too engrossed in their work.

  "He's in the kitchen," the clone whispered, as if approaching a sacred space.

  They found the real Naruto hunched over the kitchen table, which had been cleared of all normal items and was now covered edge to edge with rice paper scrolls. His right hand worked furiously with a brush while his left palm was smeared with dried blood from multiple small cuts. Deep bags hung under his bloodshot eyes, and his normally spiky hair was flattened on one side as if he'd been sleeping on it.

  The brush in his hand wobbled dangerously as he attempted to paint a particularly complex symbol, leaving a sloppy, uneven line where previously his work had been precise.

  "Boss," the clone said cautiously. "Hinata-chan and Karin-chan are here."

  Naruto didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the scroll before him.

  "Naruto-kun," Hinata said, stepping closer and laying a gentle hand on his shoulder.

  He jerked at the contact, nearly spilling ink across his work. He blinked rapidly, his unfocused eyes slowly registering her presence.

  "Hinata-chan?" he croaked, his voice rough from disuse. "What are you doing here?"

  "Checking on you," she said, concern etched on her face. "When was the last time you slept?"

  Naruto frowned, as if the question required deep thought. "I took a nap... yesterday? Or maybe the day before." He rubbed his eyes. "It's fine, I'm almost done with this part of the matrix."

  "The finals are tomorrow, Naruto," Karin said firmly. "You need to rest."

  "Tomorrow?" Naruto's eyes widened in alarm. "No, that can't be right. I still have so much to do!"

  He started to rise from his chair but swayed dangerously. Hinata steadied him with both hands, her concern deepening.

  "Naruto-kun, you're exhausted. Whatever you're working on can wait."

  "No, it can't," he insisted, though his voice lacked its usual energy. "This is important. This is about family, and protection, and..." He gestured vaguely at the papers surrounding them. "It's about everything."

  "What exactly are you trying to do?" Karin asked, peering at the scrolls. Her eyes widened as she recognized some of the formulas. "These are identity seals with chakra recognition matrices. And these—" she pointed to another set of papers, "—look like memory imprint arrays."

  Naruto nodded enthusiastically, though the motion seemed to make him dizzy. "Exactly! I'm trying to... well, it's complicated, but it's about accessing... certain things." His explanation was uncharacteristically vague, his thoughts clearly disjointed from exhaustion.

  "Whatever it is, you won't be able to finish it if you collapse," Hinata said gently but firmly. "You need sleep, Naruto-kun."

  "And food," Karin added. "When did you last eat?"

  Naruto blinked slowly. "One of my clones made ramen... sometime."

  Hinata and Karin exchanged exasperated looks.

  "That's it," Hinata said, taking Naruto's arm. "You're going to bed. Now."

  Naruto started to protest, but his body seemed to realize how tired it was the moment rest was suggested. His shoulders sagged.

  "Maybe you're right," he conceded. "Just for a little while. I'll just dispel my clones and—"

  "Wait!" Karin cried, recognizing the danger. "Not all at once—"

  But it was too late. Naruto had already formed the hand sign, and with a massive cloud of smoke, all the clones disappeared simultaneously. A second later, his eyes rolled back in his head as the mental backlash of absorbing dozens of hours of complex seal work hit him all at once.

  Hinata caught him before he hit the floor, staggering under his weight.

  "I was afraid of that," Karin sighed, moving to help support him. "The mental strain of all those memories returning at once..."

  Together, they half-carried, half-dragged Naruto to his bedroom. They managed to get him onto his bed, carefully removing his sandals and jacket. Hinata gently wiped the dried blood from his palm with a damp cloth she found in his bathroom, while Karin removed the headband from his forehead.

  "At least now he'll get some proper rest," Hinata whispered, pulling a blanket over him.

  Naruto mumbled something incoherent in his sleep, his face finally relaxed.

  The two girls tiptoed out of the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind them. They surveyed the paper-covered apartment, looking for a place to sit.

  "I'll make some tea," Hinata offered, moving carefully back toward the kitchen. "There should be a space on the couch if we move those scrolls."

  Karin nodded, gathering a stack of papers from the couch and setting them carefully on the floor. She made sure not to disturb the order or placement of the seals—Naruto would be upset enough about being interrupted without having his work disorganized.

  Soon, they were seated with steaming cups of tea, an island of calm in the sea of sealing formulas.

  "He's always been energetic," Hinata said with a fond smile, "but this is extreme even for Naruto-kun."

  Karin nodded, taking a sip of her tea. "The Uzumaki were known for their sealing prowess and stamina. It's in our blood." A note of pride entered her voice. "Though I've never seen anyone take to it so naturally with so little formal training."

  "That's Naruto-kun," Hinata said softly. "Once he sets his mind to something..."

  "Nothing stands in his way," Karin finished. Their eyes met in shared understanding.

  A moment of silence stretched between them, not quite comfortable but not tense either.

  Hinata set her teacup down gently. "Karin-san," she began, her voice quiet but clear, "I know."

  "Know what?" Karin asked, though the sudden stiffening of her shoulders betrayed her understanding.

  "I know you have feelings for Naruto-kun," Hinata said simply.

  Karin's cheeks flushed almost as red as her hair. "I—that's not—I mean—"

  "It's alright," Hinata assured her. "I understand. Naruto-kun has that effect on people. He changes them. Saves them."

  Karin looked down at her tea, unable to deny it. "He's the first person who ever looked at me and saw more than just a tool or a bloodline. The way he threw himself in front of that attack for me in the Forest of Death..." She shook her head. "No one's ever done anything like that for me before."

  "That's who he is," Hinata nodded. "He sees the best in people, even when they can't see it themselves."

  Karin adjusted her glasses nervously. "Look, I don't want to cause problems. I know you two are—"

  "You're Naruto-kun's family," Hinata interrupted, her voice gentle. "His only blood relative that we know of. You will always be welcome in our lives and our home."

  The kindness in her words was genuine, but then something shifted in the air between them. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, and a pressure settled over Karin like a physical weight.

  "But," Hinata continued, her voice still soft yet somehow carrying an edge sharp enough to cut steel, "Naruto-kun is mine until he chooses otherwise."

  Karin felt herself unable to move as a wave of the most refined, focused killing intent she'd ever sensed washed over her. Hinata's expression hadn't changed—her smile remained gentle, her posture relaxed—but her pale eyes held Karin's with unyielding intensity.

  And then, as quickly as it had appeared, the pressure vanished. Hinata's smile brightened, and she poured more tea into Karin's cup.

  "I've noticed Kiba-kun and Shino-kun have been paying you special attention," she said cheerfully, as if the terrifying moment had never happened. "They're both wonderful shinobi from prestigious clans. Kiba-kun is a bit loud, but he's fiercely loyal, and Shino-kun is extremely intelligent, though a bit quiet."

  Karin struggled to find her voice, still reeling from the whiplash between Hinata's deadly aura and her current sunny disposition.

  "I... uh..."

  "And Chouji-kun comes from one of the founding clans of Konoha," Hinata continued brightly. "He has such a kind heart. Shikamaru-kun is brilliant, of course, though perhaps a bit lazy. Oh, and my cousin Neji-niisan is considered a prodigy, even among the Hyūga."

  Karin managed a weak nod, clutching her teacup like a lifeline. She'd been threatened by hardened jōnin and even faced Orochimaru's killing intent during her time in Grass, but something about the controlled precision of Hinata's brief display had shaken her to her core.

  Message received. Crystal clear.

  "I, um, have been getting to know them a little," she offered, finding her voice at last. "They've all been... nice."

  "Wonderful!" Hinata beamed. "I'm so glad you're settling in well in Konoha. Having a proper support network is so important, don't you think?"

  Karin nodded, taking a deep gulp of tea to steady herself. Who would have thought the sweet, seemingly timid Hyūga heiress concealed such steel beneath her gentle exterior?

  Then again, perhaps that's exactly what had drawn Naruto to her—that same hidden strength that he seemed to find and nurture in everyone he met.

  "The finals tomorrow should be exciting," Karin said, desperate to change the subject. "Though I'm worried about Naruto facing both Gaara and Haku at once."

  Hinata's expression softened with genuine concern. "I am too. But if anyone can surprise us all, it's Naruto-kun."

  In the bedroom, they heard Naruto mumble something in his sleep, followed by a light snore.

  "He should sleep through the night now," Hinata said. "The mental exhaustion from all those clone memories will keep him under."

  "Good," Karin nodded. "He'll need all his strength tomorrow."

  They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their tea amid the sea of sealing formulas. Rivals in one sense, united in their concern for the sleeping ninja in the next room.

  "Should we try to make sense of what he was working on?" Karin finally asked, gesturing to the papers surrounding them.

  Hinata shook her head. "He'll explain when he's ready. Whatever it is..." She looked around at the complex formulas with a mix of awe and worry. "It seems to be very important to him."