Chapter 15 — Then Let's Live Together. From Now On, Neither of Us Will Be Lonely Anymore!
"Kakashi-sensei, just let Kaguya live with me. Don't worry, I'll definitely protect her!"
Naruto Uzumaki clung to Kakashi's arm, shaking it repeatedly as he tried to win him over with sheer persistence—and a bit of shameless pleading.
Being stared at by those bright blue eyes made Kakashi's scalp prickle. At the same time, something in his chest tightened slightly. This child had grown up alone, without anyone by his side. Now that someone was finally willing to stay with him, of course he would be this happy.
After all, no one wants to endure loneliness forever.
"Please? Kaguya hasn't said no either. And my place is really big!" Naruto added, blinking earnestly.
"…Fine, fine. Honestly, there's nothing I can do with you," Kakashi said at last, rubbing his temple in resignation.
"Yay! I love you the most, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted excitedly, throwing himself forward and hugging Kakashi around the waist.
That kind of treatment was usually reserved for Iruka-sensei alone.
"Even though I'm allowing the two of you to live together, listen carefully. You both understand that men and women are different, right?" Kakashi said, his tone turning serious.
"Got it, got it!" the two of them answered in unison, nodding immediately.
"To be different as a man and a woman means boys and girls are two different sexes, right?" Naruto thought to himself, feeling that the explanation was simple enough.
"Naruto is a boy, and I am a girl. Our sexes are different. That is correct," Kaguya concluded calmly in her mind.
"..."
Looking into their eyes, Kakashi paused.
Why did this feel… off?
Did they really understand what he meant?
"And one more thing, Kaguya. Even though I'm letting you stay with him, you absolutely must restrain yourself. If you need chakra, just use soldier pills," Kakashi added, his expression growing more serious.
Kaguya nodded.
As if that would actually happen.
Kakashi's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Naruto, but his voice remained firm. "Naruto may be a bit reckless, but he's very simple-hearted. So don't do what you did that night again."
Hearing that, a faint blush appeared on Kaguya's face.
Had he really noticed?
Naruto blinked in confusion, his eyes wide. What exactly was Kakashi-sensei talking about? Why couldn't he understand any of it?
And why was Kakashi-sensei being so serious all of a sudden?
Sasuke's expression darkened slightly, and he gave a cold snort, choosing to remain silent.
Sakura glanced between Naruto and Kaguya, her brows slowly knitting together.
Why did this feel… a little strange?
...…
Hokage's Office.
Kakashi reported the situation to the Third Hokage. The old man frowned slightly, then said in a calm voice, "Forget it. Let her do as she pleases. It will make it easier for us to keep an eye on her. If anything unusual happens, I'll know immediately."
At that very moment, the Third Hokage was observing the village through his crystal ball… which currently displayed a scene from a hot spring.
Kakashi's expression turned subtle.
The Third Hokage coughed dryly twice. He had only been conducting routine surveillance of Konoha—he had just happened to glimpse that location, nothing more…
The image within the crystal ball shifted in the next instant.
Now it showed Naruto Uzumaki and Kaguya arriving at his apartment.
...…
Night.
Naruto Uzumaki's apartment.
Bang!!
As the tightly shut door swung open, the pitch-black room was instantly illuminated when Naruto flipped on the light. The messy state of the apartment was revealed at once.
"I could've sworn I cleaned up before I left… It's a bit messy, so don't mind it!" Naruto said awkwardly as he scratched his head.
Kaguya shook her head and stepped inside calmly, her gaze sweeping across the room.
There was a table, a refrigerator, and all the basic furniture one would expect. However, everything was slightly disordered, and a thin layer of dust coated the surfaces, making it clear that no one had lived here for quite some time.
After all, Naruto had been away on a mission for nearly a month.
"Have you always lived here alone?" After a brief silence, Kaguya looked at Naruto—who had already started cleaning in a flurry of activity—and asked quietly.
"Yeah. I don't have a dad or a mom, so I've always lived alone," Naruto replied casually.
It was something everyone in the village already knew.
"Then let's clean everything at once!" Naruto suddenly declared, clapping his hands together before forming hand seals.
With two puffs of smoke, two shadow clones appeared beside him.
"Everyone, no sleeping until this place is spotless!" Naruto shouted.
"Oh!!!"
Before long, the apartment was thoroughly cleaned, every corner spotless and free of dust. Naruto collapsed onto the floor, utterly exhausted, breathing heavily.
The room grew quiet again, cool and still. Even with one more person present, it somehow did not yet feel full.
Breaking that silence…
Naruto kept staring at Kaguya, a wide, almost foolish grin spreading across his face, as if he had just realized something that made him incredibly happy.
"What is it?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
"It's just… this is the first time someone's ever been willing to live with me. So I'm really happy," Naruto said, his smile warm and sincere.
Kaguya looked momentarily surprised, as though she had just come to a realization. Then she spoke calmly, though there was a faint softness in her voice.
"I used to be alone as well. Being lonely feels terrible. But now… I'm happy too."
"Right? Right? Now that we're living together, we won't be lonely anymore!" Naruto said excitedly.
"Yes. We won't be lonely anymore," Kaguya replied with a faint smile.
…
Late at night.
After taking a bath, Naruto changed into his sleepwear and threw himself onto the bed. His heart was still pounding with excitement, making it impossible for him to fall asleep.
Not long after, Kaguya finished bathing as well. However, since they had not bought clothes for her yet, she could only wear Naruto's spare set. The clothes were clearly too small for her, clinging tightly in certain areas—especially around her chest, which made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
Naruto lay on the bed, while Kaguya rested on a futon spread out on the floor.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask… Kaguya, do you have any friends?" Naruto asked, turning his head in her direction. Though the room was dim, it did not matter to him.
"Do you mean the kind of friend you mentioned before?" Kaguya asked in return.
"Yeah, exactly."
"I don't have any. I've always been alone," Kaguya said calmly.
Could those people even be considered friends?
"Is that so…" Naruto paused for a moment, then smiled brightly. "But now we're friends! So from now on, you won't be alone anymore!"
Kaguya was taken aback. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked toward him.
The moonlight happened to fall across the room at just the right angle, illuminating Naruto's face—and those bright blue eyes that seemed to shine even in the darkness.
For a brief moment, she was completely dazed.
Not alone anymore…
"Oh, right! I remember Kakashi-sensei mentioning it before. You're from the Ōtsu… something clan, right…" Naruto said, trying to recall.
"The Ōtsutsuki Clan," Kaguya corrected gently.
"Right, right, the Ōtsutsuki Clan. What are the people there like?" Naruto asked curiously.
"What are they like…"
As memories of her clan surfaced, Kaguya realized something clearly.
That place had never been a home.
It was nothing more than a cold and terrifying world.
Sacrifice… devouring one's own kin… a rigid hierarchy of superiors and subordinates…
"The people there are awful. They bullied me a lot," Kaguya said quietly.
"That's horrible! They actually bullied you? Don't worry—I already promised Kakashi-sensei. If they ever show up, I'll definitely help you teach them a lesson!" Naruto said angrily.
"You can't beat them," Kaguya replied, looking at the indignant boy, her expression softening.
The constant unease that lingered deep within her seemed to calm slightly at that moment.
"You're my friend. I won't let anyone hurt you!" Naruto said firmly.
"…Thank you," Kaguya said, her voice gentle.
"Ah, you don't have to say it like that!" Naruto replied, scratching his head, sounding a little embarrassed.