"Ino, stay calm."
After Ino finished recounting what had happened, Shikaku slid the teacup toward her with a steady, unhurried voice.
"Naruto isn't defecting—he's a good kid."
Shikaku's fingers drummed the table, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"My guess? After Mizuki approached him, Naruto went straight to the Sandaime."
"Didn't you say he showed up at the Training Ground really late?"
"I figure he used that gap to report everything to the Third."
Ino's eyes widened; she suddenly recalled Naruto had indeed arrived at the Training Ground almost half an hour late that day.
At the time he'd claimed Mizuki kept him chatting; now… "Right now Naruto's probably using the scroll of seals as bait."
Shikaku's smile turned meaningful, fingertip tapping the shōgi board as though plotting the entire game.
"But my dad…"
Ino still worriedly twisted the hem of her skirt.
"Your dad likely guessed it too."
A sly spark danced in Shikaku's eyes.
"He's probably seizing the chance to teach the brat who keeps occupying his daughter's thoughts a little lesson."
Ino's cheeks flushed scarlet, the color spreading to the tips of her ears.
She waved her hands in flustered panic: "Uncle Shikaku! W-what are you saying!"
"Hahahaha!"
Shikaku laughed heartily at the girl he'd watched grow up, rarely seeing her so adorably mortified. "Oh? Hit the mark, did I?"
He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Want Aunt Yoshino to give you a few tips?"
"Uncle Shikaku!"
Ino stamped her foot in embarrassment, face nearly buried in her collar—yet the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her true feelings.
——————————
When Hinata heard Hanabi's words, her face went deathly pale.
Without hesitation she activated her Byakugan, veins bulging at her temples as the dōjutsu's field blanketed the entire area.
After confirming their father had left, she caught Hanabi's hand and lightly vaulted over the Hyuga estate's high wall.
Hanabi followed right behind—it was the first time either sister had snuck out by climbing the wall.
Night wind brushed their hair as the two small figures darted beneath the moonlight.
Naruto-kun, please be safe!
Hinata prayed inwardly, worry written across her Byakugan-veined eyes.
She knew exactly how grave a crime stealing the scroll of seals was—and what it meant for her father to take action personally.
She had to reach Naruto before her father did, if only to learn the truth of the matter.
Hanabi kept close behind, staring at the back of her usually gentle, timid sister. For the first time she realized that when someone precious was at stake, that same sister could explode with such courage.
——————————
"Yo, Naruto—looks like you've successfully grabbed the scroll of seals."
Mizuki stepped from the forest shadows, greedy gaze locked on the scroll in Naruto's hands.
What infuriated him was that Naruto didn't even look up, still poring over the scroll's contents with total focus.
At the moment Naruto truly had no attention to spare.
Via their mental link he and Kurama were reading in sync, every second burning precious kinjutsu into memory.
Naruto couldn't memorize it all in one pass—but Kurama certainly could!
"Hey, I'm talking to you, Naruto!"
Mizuki's voice shot up, greed and rage no longer hidden.
He tightened his grip on a Kunai and advanced two steps.
Right then Kurama's lazy voice echoed in Naruto's mind: "All done, kid—I've got every last line."
Only now did Naruto look up; seeing Mizuki, he flashed a brilliant, heartfelt grin.
It was the smile of a plan perfectly executed.
Naruto closed the scroll with a soft snap, voice as cheery as greeting an old friend.
"Mizuki-sensei, thanks a ton—the Ninjutsu in here are amazing!"
"O-oh… hahaha, sensei didn't lie to you, right!"
Mizuki forced the savagery off his face, squeezing out an awkward smile.
He stared at the scroll in Naruto's arms, Adam's apple bobbing.
Then, hand trembling slightly, he reached out, trying to sound casual: "In that case, let your teacher have a look too, okay?"
"Of course, Mizuki-sensei."
Naruto's grin widened as he slowly extended the scroll. "If it weren't for you, I'd never have known there was something this great."
As the huge scroll inched closer, Mizuki's smile grew thicker—his fingertips almost brushing the parchment, heart screaming: At last… it's mine! Once I have this I can—
—then, in a flash, everything changed.
"Eight Trigrams Empty Palm!"
A vicious palm-strike ripped through the air, slamming into Mizuki's chest and sending him crashing against a tree, coughing blood.
Hyuga Hiashi and Yamanaka Inoichi strode from the shadows side by side.
Inoichi's hands were already formed into the Mind Body Disturbance seal.
"Uncle Hiashi? Uncle Inoichi?"
Naruto hugged the scroll of seals, stunned.
He'd been so absorbed he hadn't sensed a thing—this wasn't the script he'd expected.
Wasn't Iruka-sensei supposed to be the one who showed up?
Why these two?
"Kurama…"
"They're not hostile… wait, now they are."
Inoichi chuckled at Naruto's bewilderment. "Surprised?"
He glanced at the collapsed Mizuki. "We'll handle him. As for you…"
He let the words hang: "…we need to have a little chat about you stealing the scroll of seals."
Hearing Kurama's warning, Naruto hastily tried to explain.
"Actually, under the Sandaime's orders I—"
"Inoichi—move!"
Hiashi barked, instantly dropping into a Gentle Fist stance and charging.
The Byakugan blazed coldly in the night, palm streaking straight for Naruto.
At the same moment Inoichi's fingers flickered like butterflies: "Ninjutsu: Mind Body Disturbance!"
Naruto's vision blurred, consciousness wavering for an instant.
In that split-second Hiashi was on him, a precise Gentle Fist strike to the chest.
Naruto grunted, body flying backward to slam against a tree trunk.
Inoichi was mildly shocked—he'd sensed Naruto break free of the Mind Body Disturbance just before the blow landed.
Mental resistance like that in a twelve-year-old? Unreal.
"Damn you, Mizuki—how dare you control Naruto!"
Hiashi declared righteously, then delivered another Eight Trigrams Empty Palm to the unconscious Mizuki for good measure before raising his right hand toward Naruto.
"Don't worry, Naruto—Uncle's pulling you out of danger right now! Eight Tri—"
"Dad, stop!"
Two small figures burst from the trees; Hinata and Hanabi threw their arms wide, firmly shielding Naruto.