Chapter 22: Chinatsu Starts Working
"I give up! What's wrong with you? It's just the Shadow Clone Technique, and you've been practicing all night! How come you still can't get it?!"
"It's not my fault! I don't even understand what's going wrong. I feel like all my chakra's been drained!"
At noon, while the other students were attending classes at the Ninja Academy, Chinatsu had already gone ahead to request leave for both Naruto and Sasuke.
After all, the two of them had trained through the entire night—there was no way they could be forced to attend school in that condition. Chinatsu had no intention of acting like those overly strict guardians.
When she woke up that morning and saw the two collapsed in the training ground of the Uchiha compound, she was genuinely shocked.
Dragging them inside had been troublesome enough.
Cooking for them while they half-consciously complained?
That was even worse.
Chinatsu smiled faintly at the two of them.
Sasuke, who had been glaring at Naruto moments ago, suddenly stiffened.
"S-Sister…? You… seem a little… upset?" Sasuke asked cautiously, his tone unusually hesitant.
"Upset? No, not at all. Why would I be upset? Tell me, Sasuke~"
Chinatsu's eyes curved into a gentle smile.
But—
Sasuke's instincts screamed danger.
He had never seen his sister truly angry before, but right now… there was no doubt.
She was angry.
"I… I'm sorry."
Sasuke lowered his head immediately.
Naruto, standing beside him, quickly followed suit.
"S-sorry!"
Chinatsu took a deep breath.
Then exhaled slowly.
As their guardian, she also recognized her own responsibility—she should have stopped them from overtraining during the night.
"Listen carefully. Rest is part of training. If your body collapses, everything else becomes meaningless."
She gently placed her hands on their heads.
Her voice softened.
Although she was speaking to Naruto and Sasuke… in some way, she was also speaking to her past self.
Before transmigrating into this world, she had been nothing more than an ordinary otaku—someone deeply immersed in anime and manga culture.
Running between conventions, staying up endlessly, pushing herself past her limits…
Even fainting from exhaustion wasn't unusual.
Fragments of memory surfaced—
A crowded convention.
A sudden attack from behind.
At the time, she had been too exhausted to react properly.
If she hadn't been in that state—
She was certain she could have responded instantly.
Disarmed the attacker.
Countered with precision.
Perhaps even turned the situation completely around.
A faint, dangerous smile appeared on Chinatsu's face.
Naruto and Sasuke, still under her hands, both shivered slightly.
Sasuke thought silently—
From now on… I absolutely must not provoke my sister.
Naruto, meanwhile, came to a profound conclusion—
So what Iruka-sensei says is true… women can be terrifying when angry…
Days passed.
Training continued.
Just like in the original timeline, Sasuke quickly rose to the top of the Academy, becoming the number one student in his class.
However, this was still with him holding back a portion of his true ability.
As for Naruto—
Due to the influence of the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style placed on him by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the chakra of the Nine-Tails often disrupted his control, making even basic techniques difficult.
Yet despite that—
Through sheer persistence and Sasuke's reluctant guidance, Naruto gradually improved.
He successfully mastered the Transformation Technique, Substitution Technique, and Clone Technique.
And eventually—
The Shadow Clone Technique.
The moment Naruto successfully created seven or eight solid shadow clones at once—
Sasuke froze.
Because even he, with his current level of control, could only maintain three at most.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"…What monstrous chakra…"
Chinatsu, watching from the side, remained calm.
This is only the Shadow Clone Technique.
If Naruto were to learn the forbidden Multiple Shadow Clone Technique recorded in the Scroll of Seals—
Creating hundreds, even thousands, would not be impossible.
For others, chakra was a resource to be carefully managed.
For Naruto—
It was practically limitless.
While Naruto and Sasuke lived their relatively peaceful lives between training and the Academy—
Chinatsu began her first official mission as a member of ANBU.
"Recently, Kumogakure has proposed establishing diplomatic relations with Konoha," Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly inside the Hokage's office, his expression serious.
"On the surface, it appears to be goodwill. But the Hidden Cloud Village has never been trustworthy. It is highly likely they have ulterior motives."
"The ANBU will monitor them in secret."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Chinatsu, since you have yet to participate in any missions as an ANBU operative… this will be your first assignment."
Standing before him, Chinatsu was already dressed in standard ANBU attire.
A porcelain mask rested in her hand.
"I understand."
Her lips curved slightly as she raised the mask and placed it over her face.
It was a fox mask.
"I will do my best. For Konoha."
Hiruzen's gaze lingered on the mask.
A fox.
For a brief moment, his thoughts drifted—
To the Nine-Tails.
To the night of the attack.
To Minato Namikaze.
To Kushina Uzumaki.
Of all designs…
Why a fox?
And that tone—
That smile—
Was she being sincere?
Or sarcastic?
He couldn't tell.
"Very well. I'll leave it to you."
"Please don't say that, Lord Hokage," Chinatsu replied smoothly.
"You are the Hokage. I am merely a shinobi of Konoha. For the village's prosperity… I would not hesitate to give my life."
"..."
Hiruzen maintained his usual calm expression.
But faintly—
The corner of his eye twitched.
"Then I'll be going."
Chinatsu gave a slight wave before turning and leaving the office.
Behind the mask—
Her smile widened.
Finally.
Finally.
Finally.
At last—
A part of the story she actually knew had begun.
Up until now, the timeline had been too distant from the main plot. Even with her knowledge as a transmigrator, there had been little she could act on.
But now—
Things were different.
Kumogakure's so-called diplomatic visit—
In truth, it was a cover.
Their real objective—
The Byakugan of the Hyūga clan.
In the original events, they would attempt to kidnap a member of the main family.
And that target—
Was none other than Hinata Hyūga.
Naruto's future wife.
Chinatsu's eyes gleamed behind the mask.
Another opportunity.
If she played her role perfectly—
She could intervene at the critical moment.
Rescue Hinata.
And earn both gratitude and influence.
Perfect.
Now—
All that remained—
Was to wait.
Back at the Hyūga clan compound—
Hinata suddenly sneezed softly.
"Ah… am I catching a cold…?"