"You'll have your chance, " Shinho Aburame said seriously.
"Hehe," Karin grinned happily. "I hope that day comes soon. Then I can finally be useful."
"You've got a long way to go before that," Shinho said, ruffling her hair. "Keep training hard."
"Do you want to bite me?" Karin teased, extending her pale arm towards him.
"I'm not a vampire," Shinho replied, pushing her arm away. Besides, blood tastes awful, like rust.
"My mom says I can save lives in critical moments with my blood though," Karin said, tilting her head. "You know, you're the first and only guy allowed to bite me."
"...?" Shinho's mouth twitched.
That sounded a bit off.
"I'm a medical ninja. I don't need to injure you to heal myself," Shinho said with a glare. "Stop thinking about weird stuff and focus on your sealing techniques."
"Oh, fine," Karin pouted, a little disappointed. But she quickly forgot all about it as she happily munched on her dango.
"Are we still having a meal?" Chisori asked softly, watching their playful exchange.
"Just a bit," Shinho smiled. "I already ate several skewers of dango."
He had planned to eat only one skewer but ended up sharing three or four more with Ino. and by now, he was already half full.
"Alright," Chisori said as she stood up and headed to the kitchen.
"I'm done!" Karin announced as she closed the plastic dango box and tossed it into the trash.
Shinho casually chatted with her, asking about her progress in sealing techniques. She had already mastered most of the basics.
As for the more advanced Uzumaki clan techniques, Shinho would have to acquire them through some means. He could always take advantage of being the apprentice of Tsunade, but it would be hard to explain why he needed those particular techniques.
The best approach was to accumulate some merits and then gain access to the jutsu archive to study and copy them himself.
But Shinho wasn't in a hurry. It would be better for Karin to solidify her foundation first.
"Dinner's ready," Chisori said as she brought out tempura from the kitchen as the delicious aroma filling the air.
After dinner, Shinho leaned back on the couch, closing his eyes to rest.
"I'll give you a massage," Karin offered, getting up from the table. Before Shinho could even respond, she had already moved behind him, her small hands pressing into his shoulders.
It was as if she thought she was the one getting the benefit from massaging him.
Her soft hands gently kneaded his shoulders.
"Are you tired today?" Karin asked, leaning in close, her breath warm against his ear.
Shinho's ear twitched slightly from the ticklish sensation. "Not really," he replied casually.
Although the fight with Idō had been intense, it hadn't drained much of his energy.
It'd be perfect if I could get a complete set of strength-based Gu worms, he thought idly.
Chisori glanced at the two of them before heading back to the kitchen to clean up. Ten minutes later, she returned, no longer wearing her white apron, now dressed in her traditional kimono.
People who have experienced darkness will always grasp firmly to their future. It's just that sometimes, they gasp onto their future a tad bit firmly, making their future sweat a little.
….
At Konoha's Gates
"We're finally back!" Might Guy exclaimed, his voice overflowing with emotion as tears flowed down his face.
Neji Hyuga sighed quietly. Guy-sensei's a great teacher, but his reactions are always so over-the-top.
Tenten stroked her chin thoughtfully, thinking about Shinho Aburame.
I wonder if my dad has finished crafting that sword for him. She was quite invested in the project. After all, Shinho was Tsunade's student.
If the sword turned out well and made a name for itself, it would bring a lot of business to their ninja tool shop. But if the quality wasn't up to par, it could be a disaster.
"Sensei, can you show me that move again?" Lee asked with eager eyes.
"Of course!" Guy's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Let's announce our return in style!"
"The power of youth!" Lee shouted as he launched into the Konoha Whirlwind, leaping into the air.
"The Blue Beast of Konoha is back!" Guy mirrored Lee's move, the two passing each other in midair.
Neji facepalmed. Help! I want to run away, but I can't.
Tenten turned her head, unable to bear witnessing the spectacle. She didn't quite understand, but she was certainly amazed.
"Too bad Naruto's isn't here," Guy said as he landed, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"It's fine," Lee grinned, his teeth gleaming. "Naruto's youthful spirit is always with us!"
Don't make it sound like he's dead or something, Neji thought, keeping his expression neutral but cringing internally.
"Hurry up and check in!" Kotetsu Hagane called from nearby, struggling to keep his composure.
This is mental torture.
"I have a message from Lady Tsunade," Izumo Kamizuki added, stepping forward. "She instructed you to meet with her immediately upon your return."
"Got it!" Guy replied energetically. "I can't wait to show Lady Hokage the results of our burning youth!"
"..." Izumo's mouth twitched.
Pretty sure that's not what she wants.
After completing their check-in, the four of them headed toward the Hokage's office.
….
"Come in," Tsunade said, looking up as she heard the knock at the door.
"Lady Hokage," Might Guy greeted her as he entered, followed by Neji, Lee, and Tenten, all bowing in unison.
"How did the mission go?" Tsunade asked, following the usual procedure.
"Perfectly executed!" Guy replied enthusiastically.
Ugh, so much energy.
Tsunade thought as she accepted the mission scroll and quickly skimmed through it.
"You three wait outside for now. I need to speak with Guy privately."
"Yes, Lady Hokage," Neji, Lee, and Tenten replied in unison, bowing before exiting.
"What do you think of Naruto?" Tsunade asked, pulling out a file and speaking casually.
"He's fantastic!" Guy gave a thumbs up. "He has already mastered the power of youth!"
That's not exactly what I meant, Tsunade thought, but for Might Guy, that answer was probably spot on.
After a moment of silence, Tsunade handed Guy the file.
"The Fourth Hokage?" Guy muttered as he glanced at the first couple of pages. He scratched his head, confused. "What does this mean?"
"Flip a few more pages," Tsunade suggested.
"Yes, ma'am," Guy replied, flipping through the file.
The document detailed the life of Minato Namikaze, from his days at the Ninja Academy to becoming Jiraiya's student, through the Third Shinobi War, and finally his ultimate sacrifice during the Nine-Tails incident.
In just twenty-four years, his life had been nothing short of extraordinary.
"What?!" Guy's eyes widened in shock. "Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's son?!"
As Might Guy read the final part of the document, he couldn't help but gasp in shock.
The text detailed the events of the Nine-Tails attack, where Kushina Uzumaki had given birth to a son, whom Minato Namikaze had named Naruto.
"Yes," Tsunade said in a serious tone. "I want you to be the one to tell Naruto the truth."
"Me?" Might Guy was stunned, suddenly feeling the weight of the task.
Although he was known for his carefree attitude, he knew enough about Naruto's past to understand the gravity of this revelation.
"I believe you're the most suitable person for this," Tsunade explained, her voice steady. "You're his teacher and, in many ways, like a father figure to him. You're one of the most important people in his life."
"Alright!" Might Guy nodded firmly. "Leave it to me!"
As he spoke, his mind drifted to memories of his own father, Might Duy, who had given his life in a blaze of youthful passion and courage.
Minato Namikaze had done the same for Naruto.
"Thank you," Tsunade said sincerely.
"It's my duty as Naruto's sensei," Might Guy replied, closing the file. "Does Team 7 have any missions right now?"
"No," Tsunade answered after a brief moment of thought. "Naruto should be at home."
"I'll take my leave then," Might Guy said, turning to leave.
….
Outside the Hokage's office, Neji, Lee, and Tenten were waiting.
"Sensei," Neji called as they spotted him approaching.
"You three head home for now. We'll have a team dinner tomorrow evening," Might Guy said, patting Lee on the shoulder. "I have something more important to take care of for now."
"Understood," Neji replied, while Lee and Tenten nodded as well, not asking any further questions.
After parting ways with his team at the entrance of the Hokage Tower, Might Guy made his way to Naruto's apartment.
He had been there a few times before, so he knew the way quite well.
….
When Naruto opened the door, his face lit up with surprise.
"Guy-sensei? When did you get back?"
"Just now," Might Guy replied as he stepped inside. "I was wondering if I could join you for dinner?"
"Of course!" Naruto said enthusiastically. "Let me show you my cooking skills, Guy-sensei!"
"I bet it'll be filled with the flavor of youth!" Might Guy declared with a thumbs-up.
"Just you wait!" Naruto said with equal energy. "If it doesn't taste good, I'll run three hundred laps around the village on my hands!"
Half an hour later, tempura and fried eggs were laid out on the table.
"This is fantastic!" Might Guy said as he bit into a shrimp tempura.
"I learned this from Shinho. You should definitely try his cooking sometime," Naruto said, his grin wide.
"He's just as good as me, if not better!"
"Have I ever told you about my father, Naruto?" Might Guy suddenly asked, shifting the subject.
"No, you haven't," Naruto replied, caught off guard by the sudden question.
"Well, let me tell you a story then," Might Guy said, his expression turning nostalgic. "My father's name was Might Duy. He was a Genin all his life, but only because he specialized in taijutsu…"
Naruto listened in growing astonishment as Might Guy recounted the tale of his father's heroic last stand, fighting against seven elite Swordsmen of the Mist and ultimately sacrificing his life.
"Naruto!" Might Guy shouted, tears streaming down his face. "Do you feel the legacy of youth in your veins?!"
"That was so touching, sensei!" Naruto cried as he hugged Might Guy, both of them weeping together.
"By the way, Naruto," Might Guy said through his tears, "there's something important I need to tell you. You're the son of the Fourth Hokage."
"Yeah, yeah… Wait, what?" Naruto suddenly froze, pushing Might Guy away as he stared at him in shock. "What did you just say, Guy-sensei?"
"Your father was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. Your mother was Kushina Uzumaki," Might Guy explained, taking a deep breath. "That's why your name is Naruto Uzumaki."
"..." Naruto stood there, completely stunned.
The news was so outrageously overwhelming that he didn't know how to react. Or more accurately, he didn't even know what expression to make.
What?
So I'm not a monster, he thought. I'm not a child that nobody wanted. I'm the son of the legendary Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
….
Meanwhile, Shinho opened his eyes.
He had dozed off while getting a massage. It was hard to stay awake when he was being pampered on both sides.
The whole experience had been incredibly relaxing.
He received a notification:
[Achievement unlocked—Naruto Uzumaki's "Oh, Youth, How Bittersweet Your Song Is."]
[Reward: Sword Shadow Gu.]
[The Sword Shadow Gu: A Rank-3 Gu worm known as one of the strongest offensive rank-3 gu.]
Shinho hadn't expected such a reward. The Sword Shadow Gu was a purely offensive Gu worm—perfect for adding more firepower to his arsenal.
As he came to his senses, the first thing he saw was Karin, who had fallen asleep while resting her head on the sofa. Her hands were still gently cupping his face.
He realized his head was resting on Karin's lap.
His gaze instinctively drifted, and he noticed how close her short shorts were, revealing the soft, pale skin of her thighs. In the lamplight, they looked especially smooth and delicate.
"You're awake?" Karin's voice interrupted his thoughts. She had noticed his movements and glanced down at him.
"Yeah," Shinho said as he sat up. "Thanks for the massage, Karin."
"It's nothing," Karin replied, stretching her legs straight out in front of her.
After a few seconds, she relaxed, feeling the stiffness leave her body.
"What time is it?" Shinho asked, glancing toward the treehouse window.
But the thick leaves outside blocked the view, making it impossible to tell the time.
"Probably around four or five in the afternoon," Karin guessed, lowering her legs. "Are you leaving now, Shinho-nii?"
"I'll come over next time," Shinho said, reaching out to ruffle her red hair.
"Hmmm," Karin purred reluctantly, her eyes following him as he got up.
Shinho made his way back to Konoha. As he walked through the village streets, he sensed that the atmosphere felt different.
It wasn't until he noticed the bulletin board that he realized what had happened.
No surprise there, Shinho thought. Tsunade doesn't waste time.
The news of Naruto being the son of the Fourth Hokage had spread through Konoha at lightning speed.
….
Shinho arrived at the Hokage Tower and raised an eyebrow.
The door to Tsunade's office was wide open, and inside was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Shinho stopped in the doorway, listening quietly.
"Tsunade, this was reckless," Hiruzen said, his tone full of regret. "By revealing Naruto's true identity, it won't be long before everyone realizes he's the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails."
"And so what if they do?" Tsunade's voice was calm but firm.
"This will bring unnecessary danger to the village," Hiruzen said, his brow furrowed in concern.
"There was always danger, whether the truth is revealed or not," Tsunade said, her eyes narrowing. "His parents already sacrificed themselves for Konoha. You can't ask Naruto to keep sacrificing himself, too."
Hiruzen opened his mouth as if to argue but fell silent.
"It doesn't matter what you think. The decision has already been made," Tsunade continued, her voice steady. "I'm the Hokage now. I'll take full responsibility for any and all consequences."
Hiruzen turned away, his expression unreadable. "I hope you won't regret this," he said quietly as he walked past the doorway, glancing briefly at Shinho before disappearing down the corridor.
"What's that old man doing out and about when he should be enjoying his retirement?" Tsunade muttered, rubbing her temples.
"He did help raise Naruto," Shinho remarked, understanding but not agreeing with Hiruzen's concerns.
"Don't worry about him," Tsunade said with a sigh, a hint of worry crossing her face. "I wonder how Naruto's handling all this."
"You don't need to worry," Shinho replied confidently. "With Guy-sensei by his side, there's no way things will go wrong."
Shinho's confidence came from the passive achievement Naruto had just unlocked.
join my patreon for 85+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/HyppoTL