Naruto continued to stroll through the town for a little while longer, letting his steps take him wherever the lantern-lit streets led.
The evening had fully settled now. The sky above was dark and calm, with faint stars visible between drifting clouds.
The town felt different under the night, and it seemed quieter, softer.
The daytime bustle had faded, replaced by low conversations, gentle laughter from open windows, and the distant clinking of cups from taverns winding down.
Naruto walked without purpose, simply enjoying the atmosphere. He passed a small shop closing its shutters, the owner bowing politely to a last customer. A pair of travelers laughed as they argued over directions.
Somewhere nearby, a street musician plucked at a shamisen, the slow melody carrying through the air.
'This place really isn't bad,' Naruto thought. 'If not for everything else… it almost feels normal.'
Eventually, the feeling of satisfaction settled in. He had walked enough, seen enough, eaten enough. The slight fatigue in his legs told him it was time to return.
Turning down a familiar street, Naruto made his way back to the hotel.
He slipped inside quietly and headed up to his room, opening the door and stepping in before locking it behind him with a soft click.
The room was exactly as he'd left it.
With a small puff of smoke, the shadow clone dispersed, its memories flowing back into him seamlessly. Naruto exhaled and let his disguise fade, his features shifting back into their familiar form.
He stretched his arms above his head and walked over to the bed.
Dropping down onto it, he lay back comfortably, one arm tucked behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. The quiet pressed in around him, broken only by the faint sounds of the town outside.
For a few moments, he simply rested.
But after just a few minutes, he couldn't help but mutter. "…Boring."
Naruto rolled slightly onto his side, lips curling into a mischievous grin. 'Guess I'm not the type to just lie around doing nothing.'
He closed his eyes slowly, his breathing evening out as his focus shifted inward.
The world around him dulled, senses turning sharper in another way.
'Let's see what others are doing right now...'
He activated his Shadow Preservation ability.
In an instant, his perception expanded.
A slow and translucent image began to appear in his head. It took only a few seconds for the image to appear clearly in front of his eyes.
As the image cleared, Naruto saw the familiar roof of his mother's bedroom. As his gaze shifted to the large bed at the side, he saw a scene that made a smile appear on his face.
On the bed, Kushina was sitting at the edge. She was completely naked, her round breasts jiggling slightly. Her body was trembling from the sheer pleasure she was feeling at the moment.
"Aaaahhh~!... Mmmhh~ your tongue is licking me so good! Mmhhn~... ahh~..."
Kushina's moans were echoing in the bedroom. They were not as loud as when she was getting fucked by Naruto in their bed, but the moans were sexy and wet.
Slurp~... Suckkk~...
As Naruto's vision moved downward, he saw the small figure kneeling between Kushina's legs, her face buried into Kushina's wet and dripping
Looking closely, Naruto realized that it was Sarada Uchiha.
As he recognized her, he couldn't help but chuckle softly.
It seemed like in his absence, the two women were actually having some fun together.
Naruto decided to ignore the two of them and left them to have their fun.
He then shifted his attention, letting his awareness drift away toward a familiar presence.
It belonged to Hinata.
The image sharpened in his mind, clearing like mist burned away by morning sun.
She stood at the Hyūga training grounds.
White stone tiles stretched wide beneath a starry sky, the quiet air broken only by the sharp thuds of footsteps and the soft snap of cloth cutting through the wind.
Hinata faced her younger sister, Hanabi, both already in motion with their palms raised, stances grounded.
Their Byakugan veins were faintly visible at their temples.
They moved at the same time, using their full strength.
Hanabi struck first, quick and aggressive, her movements sharp with youthful confidence.
Hinata met her head-on, deflecting the blow with practiced grace, turning her sister's wrist aside and stepping in close.
"Your balance is off," Hinata said calmly, voice steady but firm. "You're leaning too much into your right side."
Hanabi clicked her tongue, twisting free and hopping back. "You say that every time, Onee-sama."
"And every time, it's still true," Hinata replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Naruto couldn't help but notice her smile.
It wasn't shy or hesitant. It carried quiet confidence.
They clashed again, palms meeting, chakra humming beneath the surface.
Hinata guided the exchange more than she dominated it, deliberately opening gaps, inviting Hanabi to exploit them, only to close those gaps a heartbeat later, correcting her sister's mistakes in real time.
She's not just sparring, and Naruto realized that she was actually teaching her sister.
Hinata slipped past a strike and tapped two fingers lightly against Hanabi's shoulder, stopping just short of a tenketsu.
"Too predictable," She said gently. "If this were a real fight, you'd already be immobilized."
Hanabi froze, then groaned. "You didn't have to say it like that…"
Hinata laughed softly. "I absolutely did."
From the edge of the training ground, another presence stood unmoving.
Neji was standing with his arms crossed, expression unreadable, pale eyes following every exchange with cold precision.
Through Naruto's Shadow Preservation ability, the details were unmistakable.
'He's watching closely…' Naruto thought.
He was clearly proud of Hinata, whether he'd admit it or not.
Hinata pressed forward once more, her movements fluid, almost elegant. Hanabi tried to match her pace, gritting her teeth, determination flashing in her eyes.
"I won't always be behind you," Hanabi muttered.
Hinata paused, just for a fraction of a second. Then she smiled again, warmer this time.
"I know," She said. "That's why I'm pushing you."
Something settled in Naruto's chest as he watched.
'She's really grown,' He thought. 'She is not just stronger but steadier.'
And without realizing it, a small grin crept onto his face.
"Yeah," He murmured to himself. "You're doing great, Hinata."
The training continued beneath the open sky, unaware of the quiet, unseen gaze watching over them, carrying equal parts admiration and something far softer.
Naruto again shifted his focus once more, his attention flowing naturally toward his next target, who was Sakura.
The moment her name surfaced in his thoughts, a faint crease appeared between his brows.
He knew about her father, about how Kizashi Haruno had been caught in the chaos during the Chūnin Exam invasion. He was a civilian, and he got dragged into a battlefield that was never meant for people like him.
The wounds he suffered were severe enough to keep him confined to a hospital bed, surrounded by medics day and night, his condition unstable and demanding constant care.
Naruto let out a slow breath through his nose.
'I didn't want him involved…'
But reality was cruel like that.
'No matter how carefully humans make their plans… before gods, everything ends up meaningless.'
That familiar, detached thought echoed in his mind as he allowed his ability to activate.
The world shifted, and a picture bloomed behind his eyes, forming with perfect clarity.
It was the Haruno residence.
Naruto's perspective settled on Sakura's bedroom at the end.
The soft moonlight filtered through the slightly open curtains, bathing the room in a pale silver glow.
Sakura lay curled gently on her bed, pink hair fanned across the pillow, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. She was sleeping soundly, exhaustion finally claiming her after a long, emotionally draining day.
Naruto stared for a moment longer than necessary.
Her face, usually animated, looked peaceful now, almost vulnerable.
His lips curved faintly.
As if responding to his presence, she shifted in her sleep, brows knitting slightly. Her fingers curled into the bedsheet, and a soft murmur escaped her lips.
"Dad…"
Naruto's expression darkened.
"Tch… idiot," He muttered quietly, though there was no bite in his words. He folded his arms, leaning mentally against an invisible wall as he continued to observe.
"Sleep properly," He murmured, voice low and steady, as if she could somehow hear him. "I'll make sure your old man pulls through."
The image lingered for a few seconds longer, long enough for Sakura's expression to smooth out, her breathing evening once more.
Only then did Naruto withdraw his focus, the picture dissolving like mist.
His face returned to calm neutrality.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to members
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: ko-fi.com/muse_noire
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨