Konohagakure no sato :
Uzumaki Estate :
The silver moonlight spilled over the Uzumaki estate like a glowing Silver sheet of fireflies. It was early October, creeping closer to 11 PM, and a cool, crisp breeze swept through the compound.
While most of Konoha's civilians were already dead to the world, the hidden village's nightlife was just getting started, with shinobi silently patrolling the streets and keeping a watchful eye over their home.
Right in the middle of this peaceful scene, a tall, white-haired man stood staring up at a towering 2.5-meter boundary wall. This was a mansion that, frankly, had no business being there.
Because as far as Jiraiya knew, this exact plot of land—and the modest little house that used to sit on it—belonged to the Fourth Hokage. It was one of the very last physical mementos of his late disciple.
(...What the hell is going on? Did Sensei actually sell Minato's house?)
The thought made him deeply uncomfortable, Jiraiya knew Third Hokage's realist view or the so-called 'Greater Good' Mentality . If it came down to village interests or "the greater good," the Third Hokage wouldn't hesitate to make that kind of cold, calculated decision to sell or give away even his own House much less Minato's home .
Still, Jiraiya kept a tight grip on his emotions.
(...Let me confirm things first. Maybe they just threw up some high walls for extra protection or something.)
Hopping the wall as silently as a ghost, Jiraiya peered over the edge.
The scene that opened up before him was wild. Instead of the familiar, quiet home he remembered, he was looking at a sprawling, gorgeous estate that felt more like a wealthy noble's compound than a typical ninja's residence. The original footprint of Minato's house was completely gone, replaced by a massive, newly constructed building made of obviously expensive materials.
The rest of the grounds had been completely overhauled, too. There were lush gardens, decorative little lakes, and right near where he had landed, a large, traditional dojo. The whole place hummed with the quiet energy of active occupation, a far cry from the deserted memorial he was expecting to find.
(...It's really gone.)
A heavy weight dropped into Jiraiya's chest. Another piece of history, erased. One of the last physical reminders of Minato's sacrifice for the village had been wiped off the map by his sensei and Third Hokage himself .
(...The Old Man better have a damn good explanation for this.)
Jiraiya clenched his fists, taking in the sight one more time. and slowly moved forward and landed on the Dojo's roof .
Hoot! Hoot!
The sudden sound made him snap his neck to the side. Peering into the absolute darkness on nearby tree, he found himself staring dead into a pair of glowing golden eyes.
(...Huh? Is that an... OWL?)
The owl was Pitch black as it looked at jiraiya without blinking . Jiraiya's face instantly hardened. As a master infiltrator, having something sneak up on him like this—especially an animal radiating distinct chakra—meant two very specific things. First: he was busted. Second...
(.....So, this isn't a civilian or a noble's house. It belongs to a shinobi.)
Jiraiya didn't retreat. If he hadn't been spotted, he might have slipped away to go casually yell at the Third Hokage directly. But now that he knew a shinobi was occupying Minato's land (with the Hokage's blessing, no less), his curiosity completely took over. Whoever lived here had to be a loyal leaf ninja, not some random Noble or shinobi
(Let's see ..... Just what kind of ninja managed to score Minato's old house?)
Caw! Caw!
Suddenly, two ravens swooped through the air right above his head.
WOOF! WOOF!
A dog's sharp bark echoed from the main house. Instantly, Jiraiya's sensory net flared, picking up five distinct chakra signatures moving swiftly inside that building.
(These ninja beasts are insanely well-trained... they're practically ANBU-level—)
Swish!
Suddenly Jiraiya's thoughts were cut short as A sword slashed out of nowhere, aiming straight across Jiraiya's chest. jiraiya ducked it effortlessly, purposefully making himself look a bit clumsy.
"Whoa! Whoa, easy there ...!!! "
Swish! Swish!
Jiraiya casually dodged the rapid follow-up strikes, his eyes locking onto his attacker.
(...Hmm? An ANBU?...someone important enough to have Anbu as a Guard ?? )
The ninja pressing the assault was a purple-haired kunoichi. She wore a standard Konoha headband strapped to her arm and a porcelain ANBU mask over her face. Jiraiya watched her work. She was relentless, throwing exquisite, textbook sword arts at him without giving him a single second to breathe.
(...A Tokubetsu Jonin specializing in kenjutsu. Not bad, but still lacking in raw speed and power.)
It barely took Jiraiya a few seconds to completely read her combat level—and keep tabs on the other chakra signatures inside the house.
( Well she should have my answers too , Let's find out what's going on )
But then, the kunoichi suddenly created some distance, her hand darting straight into her ninja pouch. Jiraiya tensed, debating if he should just end the fight right now to interrogate her, but what she did next completely caught him off guard.
FWOOOOSH!
A streak of firework erupted from a bamboo tube as it rocketed in the sky ,
BANG!
(...A Rescue flare?)
Recognition dawned on Jiraiya's face, and he looked at the purple-haired kunoichi with a newfound sense of respect.
(She instantly realized the massive power gap between us and immediately called for backup... Calm, collected, textbook ANBU behavior... And she executed it all in under a minute. Not bad at all.)
But a flare meant a crowd was about to show up, and Jiraiya really didn't want to deal with village security right now.
(...Well, that means I'm officially out of time.)
Jiraiya moved in to finish it. But an ANBU doesn't just launch a flare and stand around waiting. especially Knowing Enemy's prowess and predicting it's reaction to Signal flare .
That's why Yugao was fully prepared, pouring everything she had into her next strike.
[ Dance of the Crescent Moon ]
[ (Mikazuki no Mai) ]
Jiraiya stepped forward, only to be met by three identical silhouettes of the kunoichi, all blitzing him at full speed.
(What?)
Moving with impressive velocity, Yugao and her two clones coordinated a flawless three-way pincer attack with their blades:
Left,
Right
And Above.
Seeing this, Jiraiya just smiled slightly and fired off his own jutsu.
[ Lion's Mane Technique! ]
Clang! Clang! Clang!
His wild white hair instantly lengthened and hardened to the density of steel, effortlessly swatting away all three sword strikes coming to his left , right and above his head .
For a ninja of Jiraiya's caliber, her "extreme" speed was still a little slow .
But blocking wasn't the goal. In one fluid motion, Jiraiya stepped in, hooking his foot behind hers to shatter her balance. Before she could recover, he grabbed her sword arm, applying just enough agonizing pressure to force her grip to loosen , while simultaneously kicking the back of her knee.
She dropped hard, kneeling with her back flush against his chest.Soon Jiraiya's free hand rested lightly, but threateningly, formed into a hand-knife against the side of her neck.
".....Not bad for an ANBU," Jiraiya whispered casually. "But not quite enough."
She struggled stubbornly against his hold. Seeing her fighting spirit, Jiraiya just squeezed her wrist a fraction harder.
Clang.
The sword slipped from her fingers, clattering uselessly onto the roof of the dojo.
"Don't move," Jiraiya said, his voice calm and even. "I'm not your enemy. I'm a Konoha shinobi, just like you."
Hearing that, Yugao paused her struggling, though she remained completely tense.
".....Then what is the meaning of this?" she demanded.
Jiraiya nodded to himself. Good. Basic trust was established. They could actually talk this out instead of resorting to violence, which he hated doing , especially to his own people .
After this , Jiraiya dropped his question calmly
"Just give me the name & the information of the person who lives here, and I'll be on my merry way. That's all."
Silence stretched out between them. Yugao didn't say a word.
(As expected of an ANBU.....they won't leak info easily ) Jiraiya thought as he saw the ANBU's silence and stubborness especially when it comes to information .
Jiraiya debated just dropping his name to speed things up—after all, the title of Sannin still commanded respect in KOnoha. But before he could introduce himself, Yugao finally spoke.
".....A Konoha shinobi? Someone as ridiculously strong as you?"
"Of course "
Yugao let those words hang in the air for a moment before delivering her counter.
"If you really are a Konoha shinobi, and you possess that level of strength... then you would never need to ask who lives in this estate."
"Huh?"
"Every single Jonin and every person of power in this village already knows exactly who lives here......much less a pwerful konoha shinobi unlike you ."
"Oh?" Jiraiya's curiosity spiked. "So... who is it?"
"...."
" ...So ?? "
"... Someone I am sworn to protect."
"Huh? and wh—"
*Puchi*
------------------------------------------------------------------
Uzuki Yugao P.O.V. :
"Now then, Yugao. I am leaving Naruto's safety entirely in your hands."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama. I will protect Naruto-kun with my life."
"...Don't be so dramatic about it," Tsunade sighed, waving a hand. "With the Brat's current prowess, if he encounters something he can't actually beat, he can just retreat using the Flying Thunder God. Your job is simply to keep an eye on things and make the tactical decision of whether to interfere or let him handle it."
"...Understood, Tsunade-sama."
"Good. You are dismissed."
Stepping out of the silent Hokage's office where except for TSuande sama , everyone else was silent , my heart felt incredibly heavy but also light .
Just when I thought this Chunin Exam would be a simple, problem-free event given Naruto-kun's absurd growth, I got hauled into the office 2 days ago and told that he had just survived a direct confrontation with an S-rank missing-nin in the Forest of Death.
And as if that wasn't enough, the list of injuries he sustained during the assault felt like a physical blow to my own chest.
(...Why can't the world just give him some peace?)
When I was first ordered to step back and leave Naruto-kun's side for the exams, I was seriously disgruntled. The only thing that kept me sane was knowing the Third Hokage had assigned two elite Jonin to take over his protection. I thought he would be perfectly safe. But the actual result?
(...He was almost cut in half. He almost died.)
The Third Hokage seemed weirdly pleased with Naruto-kun's progress and combat prowess. But did that old monkey not understand what those injuries actually meant? Did he completely ignore the physical agony and pain the kid had to endure?
But then again, I already knew the answer to that. No matter how much the Third Hokage publicly paraded his "grandfatherly" affection, behind closed doors, Naruto had always been a weapon—the village's Jinchuriki—first, and a human child or anything second.
After all, I am the one who has watched over him the longest. I was the one forced to execute & participate in those rotten, heartless orders from the Old Coot for years.
When I graduated and joined into the ANBU at the young age of 10, my very first assignment was the "Demon Fox Surveillance ."
The Hokage told me it was an easy observation mission designed to help me train and build experience because I had "high potential."
But what I actually saw was a living nightmare. I watched a child, not even five years old, suffer daily for absolutely ridiculous reasons. Even now, looking back, I still fail to understand how I managed to survive those early years as a silent, emotionless ANBU, knowing full well the kid didn't deserve a single ounce of the hatred thrown at him.
The Old Coot issued hundreds of rotten, suffocating orders for the "greater good." Those who dared to speak up against the treatment were quietly transferred to the border or shipped off to completely different ANBU divisions. Never to be seen again.
Knowing all this and As a rookie nobody, I kept my mouth shut.
TO survive
But Since I couldn't actively interfere, I made a silent vow. I would pour my entire heart into the one thing I was allowed to do:
Guard him.
Years passed, and the suffering continued. But then, about three years ago, something suddenly shifted. Naruto-kun changed. He started taking control of his life, and for the first time, I felt a genuine sense of relief and bitterness
( The price one must pay when growing )
But of course, the Old Coot couldn't just let things be. First, he messed with Naruto-kun's personal life during his date with Ino-chan. And then, just when things were finally stabilizing, he dropped the ultimate bomb. He revealed the Jinchuriki secret to a 10-11 year-old kid.
I literally felt my heart stop that day. It was as if the world had collectively decided that the second Naruto-kun finally managed to stand up, they needed to drop another crushing weight on his shoulders just to see if his spine would snap.
Miraculously, things didn't spiral into disaster. Naruto-kun's mental fortitude was terrifyingly strong, and he had the quiet, steadfast support of the Hyuga clan's eldest daughter.
But in my eyes, it was Naruto-kun himself who pushed through the darkness. Despite knowing he harbored a demon—that he was the demon to the rest of the village or a cage of one —he didn't lose his humanity. He just kept moving forward.
Shortly after that, things changed for us, too. Naruto-kun came to terms with his identity, and he actively forced a meeting with his shadow detail.
Us The Shadow Guards of Jinchuriki
(Well, it was the whole guard squad who met him.... but regardless, we finally stepped into the light instead of just being silent observers.)
It absolutely wasn't the Old Coot's intention, but Naruto-kun wanted to know us. I will never forget that despite being treated as emotionless tools by the village, Naruto-kun looked at us and treated us or me like human beings.
That was the day he found out about me. The day he started calling me "Yugao-nee." And it was the exact moment my silent vow evolved.
(...I will protect him. I will protect my little brother as his older sister.)
Maybe he was just being polite, but it didn't matter to me. He had already suffered enough. If I could protect him, even just a little bit, then I would be happy.
It was a selfish thought for a selfish Kunoichi.
The following years were a mix of immense pride and constant worry. I watched him train under a monster like Hattori. I watched him get terrifyingly strong. And then, right before graduation, he managed to learn the Fourth Hokage's infamous Flying Thunder God.
Seeing him growing and became a respectful shinobi , My chest felt warm , was this how mothers and sisters feel when they saw their son/brother growing up .
The very first day I saw him successfully teleport, I also knew the bitter truth: my little brother had already completely surpassed me. But despite that reality check, my goal didn't change.
I just trained harder.
After all I was selfish , whether Naruto needed protection or not , I am gonna protect anyway .
And then came the genin team assignments.
and Naturally, the Old fart messed that up too.
He actually placed Naruto-kun on a team with a Deadbeat sensei, an obsessively brooding Uchiha, and a violently useless fangirl.
Why couldn't that old fart just do one thing right? Naruto-kun had suffered since the literal second he took his first breath in this world . Why couldn't the world just give him a rest or Peace .
(I kind of understand Kakashi-senpai being his teacher, honoring the Fourth's legacy... but why the Uchiha and the Pinky?)
Sometimes, I genuinely wanted to take my sword and crack that old fart's skull open just to see if there was actually a brain rattling around in there. Kakashi-senpai had zero experience running a genin team. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
(...That retarded, senile old fool!)
I cursed the so-called "God/Dog of Shinobi" relentlessly in my mind as I watched Naruto-kun struggle for weeks, desperately trying to force some semblance of teamwork into a completely dysfunctional squad.
Kakashi-senpai had insane tunnel vision, focusing on generic teamwork exercises while completely ignoring the actual psychological damage of his students. The Uchiha only saw Naruto as a stepping stone for his revenge, and the Pinky thought anyone who wasn't her precious Uchiha-sama was irrelevant .
I watched it all happen, silently burning with frustration on his behalf.
Then came the Wave Mission. Due to a lack of transport boats, the ANBU Guards got separated from the squad. I was forced to put my trust in Kakashi-senpai. After all, despite his mental baggage, the man was a lethal Jonin.
And what was the reward for that trust?
Seeing Naruto-kun teleport directly to my side, his face a mask of barely contained panic, only to rush back and find Kakashi-senpai's Sharingan literally ripped from his skull by a Mist ninja. That moment rang a massive, blaring alarm bell in my head.
By the time Team 7 returned to Konoha, my mind was entirely made up. I was never leaving his side again.
But then the Chunin Exams rolled around, and the Old Coot officially ordered my team to stand down, claiming two elite Jonin would take over the detail. Knowing Naruto-kun's power and trusting the Jonin, I stepped back and waited for him to return victorious.
And what did I get?
A summons telling me he was attacked by a fucking S-rank missing-nin. I sprinted to the Central tower alongside Tsunade-sama, and what did I find?
My little brother, fatally injured, his hand crippled, his body nearly cleaved in half.
And standing right outside his room? Two "elite" Jonin guards without a single scratch on their uniforms.
(...It was so incredibly stupid of me to ever TRUST that damn monkey.)
Knowing that Naruto-kun had been forced to fight a Sannin and this was the result of that confrontation... even though he survived, even though Tsunade-sama healed him... the guilt was suffocating.
Before his graduation, I couldn't protect him because of strict non-interference orders.
After his graduation, I couldn't protect him because I was simply not there .
( I don't want to feel like ...never again )
Every single time he actually needed me—every time his life was on the line—I wasn't there. Even if I was too weak to beat an S-rank threat, I could have at least been a meat shield to buy him a few seconds!
But NO ..!! THis Cursed world Just laughs at me and my resolve in every possible way .
And Today After coming back from the forest of death , When the Jinchuriki Shadow Guards were summoned back to the Hokage's office, I was one step away from drawing my blade at that Old senile fool who assigned those so-called Jonin Guards but I swallowed the bile and the frustration, forcing myself to listen to the monkey's debrief.
And then he dropped the final result or insult:
"Naruto no longer requires an ANBU detail. Given his combat strength and his mastery of the Flying Thunder God, the Jinchuriki guard is officially disbanded. You will all be reassigned."
That was the exact moment something inside me snapped.
Naruto-kun was lying in a bed with a crippled arm, fresh out of a death match with a psychotic Sannin whose motives were entirely unknown, and this old fart was saying he didn't need protection?!
After eight long years of perfect, silent obedience... I roared.
Right there, in front of the Village Elders, the Advisors, Tsunade-sama, Jonin Commander Shikaku, and Intelligence Head Inoichi.... I respectfully, viciously tore into the absolute hypocrisy of the Third Hokage. I laid out every single failure, every negligent order, and every time the village had abandoned that boy.
Seeing the sheer, uncomfortable guilt wash over the faces of the village leadership—without a single one of them offering a rebuttal—was the most satisfying moment of my life. Especially when Tsunade-sama immediately stepped up and backed me unconditionally.
Now, holding a permanent, 24/7 guard assignment over Naruto-kun, I was finally at peace. It had taken me eight years to find my voice, but I finally had it.
( Never Again )
Walking out of the Hokage Tower lost in thought, I bumped right into my boyfriend, Gekko Hayate. He was leaning against the wall, clearly waiting for me.
"How did it go... *cough*... are you still assigned to... *cough*... guard Naruto-kun?"
"Hmm."
"...*Cough*... Thank God."
Seeing the pure relief on his face at the thought of me having a "safe," non-combat assignment made me roll my eyes, but I couldn't hide my smile at my boyfriend's stupid emotions .
"What about you?"
Hayate and I were both in the ANBU; it was how we met two years ago. The reason I fell so hard for him was honestly because he reminded me so much of Naruto-kun. Despite suffering from a chronic, debilitating illness, he never once gave up on his dream of being a shinobi. He pushed through the pain and earned his rank as a Tokubetsu Jonin through sheer, stubborn grit.
"*Cough*... I've been assigned to... *cough*... surveillance. Keeping watch on troublesome... *cough*... foreign elements in the village. Strictly observation, no engaging... *cough*... in combat."
"With your stealth and Transparent Escape technique, that should be a breeze for you."
Hearing his assignment gave me the exact same wave of relief he had just felt for me. Was this what normal love felt like?
"Most of my... *cough*... surveillance is scheduled for the night shifts, though..*Cough*. My days are mostly free." Hayate spoke to me with hope in his eyes , which i had to reluctantly break .
"Is that so? *sigh* My guard detail is primarily during the day though "
We both sighed, a shared wave of disappointment washing over us. But we were shinobi; duty always came first.
"Things will calm down after the Chunin Exams," I offered quietly.
"*Cough*... Yeah... Let's just... *cough*.. push through until then."
"Um."
I watched him walk away into the bustling village. We had been together for two years, but between ANBU ops and guard details, our time together was painfully limited.
(...And then there's his health.)
Despite Tsunade-sama personally examining him, there was no cure. She had flatly stated it was a congenital defect. The only real treatment was to immediately retire from active duty, completely stop utilizing his chakra, and seal away his bloodline limit. Otherwise, he was going to die young.
But Hayate stubbornly refused to quit. I supported his dream, but deep down, I hated watching him slowly kill himself.
(Maybe after the exams, I can finally convince him.... Even an administrative desk job is better than this, right?)
Pushing the heavy thoughts aside, I made my way to the Uzumaki estate, seamlessly slipping into my usual overwatch position in the perimeter trees.
Barely two hours later, Naruto-kun stepped out onto his terrace and casually waved me over.
(...Is something wrong?)
I dropped down, fully aware that hiding from him was pointless. I knew he was an elite sensor and had FTG.
And then after conversing , He instantly picked apart the "tourist boom" lie I gave him about the missing guards and deduced that I was the only one left on detail.
( He cares about us afteall )
Before I knew what was happening, he had coerced me into sharing dinner, and then casually manipulated me into moving out of the trees and directly into the estate's dojo for the duration of his bed rest.
Not that i was not willing to be manipulated seeing the efforts of my cute little brother .
Sitting in my new room, looking out the window at the moonlit courtyard, I replayed the evening in my head. A sudden, quiet realization hit me.
(...Lonely?)
The animal summons, the massive house, the "Grandpa" Hokage, his sensei, and even his own ANBU shadows. Looking at the grand scheme of Naruto-kun's life and his behaviour , my cynical ANBU brain finally put the pieces together.
(.....He's just scared of being alone ??)
Fwoosh.
Just as I was settling into the thought, the ambient airflow in the courtyard subtly shifted. There was no noise, no rustling leaves—just a completely unnatural disruption in the wind current that had been blowing steadily for hours.
Without hesitation, I instantly flared my wind-natured chakra, pushing it through my pores to create a hyper-sensitive sensory net across the immediate perimeter.
Hoot! Hoot!
(...How did someone manage to get this close?)
Despite the shock of the breach, my heart rate didn't spike; it slowed down into a cold, rhythmic thud. I silently drew my katana, my eyes narrowing behind the porcelain mask.
(...After everything he just went through in the Forest of Death... I will not let anyone disturb his rest.)
Caw! Caw!
Using the sudden noise of the ravens as auditory cover, I Body Flickered directly behind the intruder.
The man was massive, nearly two meters tall, wearing a bright red haori, a wild mane of white hair, and a forehead protector engraved with the kanji for 'Oil.'
(Not a Konoha Shinobi.)
The Senile Hokage had issued strict orders:
all Leaf Shinobi were required to wear standard forehead protectors at all times due to the massive influx of foreign ninja. Seeing an unregistered shinobi actively infiltrating the Jinchuriki's estate triggered my lethal response protocols instantly.
(...Cripple him first. Interrogate him later.)
I moved in for the strike.
And that was exactly when I realized the horrifying gap in our power.
This man wasn't an average shinobi. He wasn't even an average Jonin. The absolute, casual ease with which he dismantled my assault belonged to a completely different tier of existence.
Given the timing, the power, and the target... my mind instantly jumped to the worst-case scenario.
(..Sannin ??.....Is this Orochimaru of the Sannin?!)
It made horrifying sense. The Sannin had returned to finish the job. He had seen Naruto-kun's true potential, or maybe he had even confirmed his status as the Jinchuriki.
Regardless, my objective didn't change. Realizing I was completely outmatched, I used the brief moment he was casually evaluating my swordplay to fire off a reinforced flare.
And then I got ready knowing most enemies response to resur flare .
Either Run
Or Kill first to complete the Objective .
I pulled out everything I had. I used the Crescent Moon Dance—the prized technique Hayate had spent months personally teaching me.
A Technique that made me Special Jonin
*clang*clang*clang*
And the intruder just... batted it away with his hair.
and then before I can understand anything .
In a matter of seconds, he had swept my legs, dislocated my grip on my blade, and forced me to my knees. And then, holding me hostage, he started asking "casual" questions about who lived here.
Hearing his questions only cemented my fears. His motives were catastrophic. Whether he was after the FTG secrets, the Jinchuriki, or the kid himself, I knew one absolute truth: I could not allow myself to be taken captive. He was trying to lower my guard, capture me, and rip Naruto-kun's information right out of my head.
I would never allow that. Never
Using my one free hand, I discretely brushed against the hilt of my fallen katana as I answered him.
"...Someone I am sworn to protect."
"Huh? And wh—"
Moving faster than I ever had in my life, I snatched the sword in a reverse grip and drove the blade violently backward—straight through my own chest and directly into the man holding me.
Puchi! Schlick!
Puchi! Schlick!
Using his momentary shock, I violently rolled away, tearing the blade out of both our bodies in a spray of crimson but also worsening My Injury , Staggering to my feet, the sword still dripping, I glared at the intruder.
"Ughh! You crazy woman.... WHY?!" he groaned.
(...Good.)
I was already confident in the strike because I had clearly heard the blade puncture two distinct layers of flesh. But seeing this absolute monster physically stumble back, one hand desperately clutching a heavily bleeding wound on his stomach, finally allowed me a grim moment of relief.
But then came the inevitable, weakness .
While my blade had only punctured the intruder's stomach, I had driven the steel completely through my own chest. The anatomical toll was immediate and devastating. My blood pressure plummeted as a heavy, unrelenting waterfall of crimson poured from both the entry and exit wounds.
I had clipped my whole chest and right lung
I could feel it failing.
With every frantic beat of my heart, blood flooded the pleural cavity, rapidly drowning my airway. A sickening, metallic-tasting foam bubbled up the back of my throat, spilling into my windpipe.
Every desperate gasp for oxygen felt like I was drowning on dry land. The edges of my vision rapidly blurred into a dark, hazy vignette as hemorrhagic shock began to set in.
Through the ringing in my ears, I heard the white-haired monster roar in frustrated disbelief.
"WHY?! Why can't we just talk?! Why does it always have to come down to bloodshed and violence?!"
Hearing that utterly ridiculous, hypocritical garbage, I wanted to scream at him. But the blood welling up in my mouth forced me to grind my teeth together, trapping the furious thought inside my head.
(....Then why didn't you just knock on the front door?! Infiltrating a highly secured compound Of the Jinchuriki in the dead of night.... just to TALK?!)
Despite my failing body, my fingers tightened around the hilt of my katana in a death grip. I knew exactly how this will end .
I understood my fate.
A monster of this caliber wasn't going to leave any witnesses behind.
But in these final, agonizing moments of my life, my mind didn't drift to my own survival, or even to Hayate. All I could think about was the boy sleeping inside that house or his sufferings over the years that I watched in silence without lifting a single helping hand.
( Heh...I did use these hands in those garbage schemes though ) I thought as i heard this white haired man again
"I just wanted some info!" the man groaned, clutching his bleeding stomach. "Why did things have to come to this?! Why?!"
Seeing his utter lack of comprehension, I bit down hard, forcing my failing lungs to draw one last, ragged breath.
( Never again )
I mustered every single ounce of my remaining strength and fading chakra to force the words past the blood in my throat.
"...I have... *cough*... seen enough..."
"What?"
"..Seen *cough* that...He has suffered enough."
"..."
Jiraiya fell completely silent. Staring down at the ANbu Kunoichi , Maybe he saw the absolute, unbreakable resolve burning in The Kunoichi dying eyes, and for a moment, the legendary Sannin couldn't find a single word to say.
( I shall not......no never stay SILENT ANYMORE )
In that fraction of a second, eight agonizing years of forced silence shattered. All the suffocating frustration of watching the village treat Naruto like a weapon, all the crushing guilt over these years came crashing down .
The Guilt of not being there for him or during the Wave Mission, of being reassigned while he was ripped apart in the Forest of Death—it all boiled over into pure, concentrated adrenaline.
I was not failing him again.
Not Again
Not tonight.
My voice tore from my throat in a feral, blood-choked roar.
"...You want to harm him?!... In front of me?! "
" I just wanted some info ...even a name would suffice "
But Jiraiya's voice failed to reach Yugao as the Kunoichi has already gone in trance , moving through with Only one thought
to Protect
No matter what Cost .
" OVER MY DEAD BODY!"
[ Hazy Moon Night ]
Oborozukiyo
My body moved entirely on instinct. It was a custom kenjutsu strike I had invented myself after countless, grueling days of training—a technique that pushed anatomical speed to its absolute physical extreme to instantly overwhelm an opponent .
Even Jiraiya watched in bitter shock as the Kunoichi's raw speed suddenly spiked to the level of an elite Jonin.
I threw my entire dying weight behind the blade, thrusting the sword directly at his heart.
Thump.
At the very last possible millisecond, Jiraiya twisted. He effortlessly dodged the lethal thrust and brought his hand down in a brutal, precise karate chop to the back ofthe Kunoichi's neck .
Yugao's vision immediately went black. As her consciousness faded,
Jiraiya extended his one hand as he securely caught the bleeding, limp body of an admirable Kunochi , even if his own thoughts were filled with Bitterness .
(I severely underestimated this ANBU's loyalty and resolve...) Jiraiya thought bitterly, holding her securely.
A konoha shinobi in this state while doing her duty and all this by none other than himself .
(...What a massive misunderstanding...)
Without wasting a single second, Jiraiya braced his legs, preparing to body-flicker straight to the hospital to save the fiercely loyal kunoichi's life.
But suddenly, the entire courtyard and his eyes were blinded by
Yellow Flash
*Fwoosh*
Jiraiya's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as his seasoned instincts tracked a blonde-haired, blue-eyed kid manifesting directly beside him out of thin air without giving him any time to respond .
But then, his eyes widened even further, pure shock freezing him in place as he saw the Blonde's hand
[Rasengan]
The violently swirling sphere of dense chakra slammed directly into Jiraiya's side. The strike was incredibly precise, meticulously angled to crush into the Sannin's sides without so much as grazing Yugao's limp form in the sannin's arms .
BANG!
The concussive force launched Jiraiya backward through the air. As he flew, Jiraiya's eyes desperately tracked the newcomer, watching as he smoothly snatched Yugao's falling body from his loosening arms.
But in that exact moment, Jiraiya completely forgot about the infiltration. He forgot about his mission, the fiercely determined ANBU, and even the blinding pain radiating from his side .
As Jiraiya stared at the blond glowing in the moonlight, only a single, earth-shattering thought echoed through his mind.
(...Minato?!)
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Author's notes :
Hmm , I don't know If I overdid it Yugao though . but I hope you get the hint .
as for Yugao not recognising Jiraiya , well it's night ?? notgood visuals ?? also the sneaky manner of jiraiya and also Yugao's age which is only 18-19 , and jiraiya;s absebce since third war , even before 9 tails night or more .
Pick whichever you like . You can even make one . Good Luck
In this fanfic Yugao's loyalty came in her own twisted terms , as she graduated at 10 and was assigned a 4-5 year old Naruto's surveillance guard , she watched everything ...something i already mentioned before .
What changed yugao ffrom others is the guilt , not at just naruto's circumstances but also loathing towards herself for not doing anything , as she watched all this for nearly 8-9 years .
just As Itachi became obeseesed with Peace after seeing war , Or Sshusui with Clan-villahge nonsense or Kakashi with 'teamwork' after Obito and Rin .
Yugao also had this moment when she decided to do soemthing , and this moment or twisted loyalty now lies with Naruto in her own twisted way ,since she has watched and understood naruto most .
I mean most , as even above Ino and HInata .
She has watched him fail more than anyone , watched him hurt more than anyone , watched his suffering more than anyone , and also watched his smile and optimism more than anyone .
And now she as finally broke shackles and decided to do somethig
Even if she knows that she is weak .
And now all this came crashing down in this chapter in it's own twisted way .
At first I wanted to write more chapters or character deevlpoment on yugao , But in the end Yugao's importance is still less than other characters , She may have her role and helpo for Naruto but not enough .
So I simply compressed most things in this chapter
A Misunderstanding & a fight just as I promised .
At first I thought to make Jiraiya and NAruto fight or misunderstand , but that would make a lot of Loopholes in the story considering Naruto's personality and other stuff .
So I used Yugao .
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