Naruto was lounging on the roof of his apartment, staring up at the sky. Training with Uzuhiko had been intense, but rewarding. As he rested, Uzuhiko's voice echoed in his mind.
"New Task Assigned: Locate your parents' former home and retrieve an artifact: Kushina Uzumaki's sword. Parameters: No one must know about this task, and you are prohibited from asking for help or direct guidance."
Naruto sat up, his eyes narrowing. "Wait, what? My parents had a house? And my mom had a sword? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Minato's calm voice chimed in. "Naruto, this is part of your growth. We wanted you to learn the importance of observation and intelligence gathering. Your abilities have grown significantly, but this task will test your skill in those areas."
Kushina's voice added, warm but firm, "And no shortcuts! We're watching, so don't even think about it!"
Uzuhiko's tone shifted to something more formal. "Reward for completion: Access to scrolls containing Asura Ōtsutsuki, Hashirama Senju, and Uzumaki clan basic Taijutsu and Kenjutsu techniques."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, you're telling me I'll get those awesome techniques if I do this? You've got yourself a deal!"
Planning the Hunt
Naruto activated Uzuhiko's system panel to get a sense of his current progress before diving into the task.
Status Panel:
Name: Naruto UzumakiAge: 10Strength: Low JōninChakra Reserves: Elite JōninAffinities: Wind (primary), Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning (secondary), Yin-Yang (latent)Abilities:Taijutsu: High ChūninNinjutsu: Mid ChūninFūinjutsu: Mid ChūninRasengan: BasicSpecial Status: Jinchūriki of Kurama; Reincarnation of Asura Ōtsutsuki
Naruto grinned. "Alright, Uzuhiko. Let's figure this out!"
Uzuhiko projected a map of Konoha into Naruto's mindscape. "The house may be hidden in plain sight, or it could be sealed to protect it. Begin your investigation subtly by gathering clues from key locations."
The Investigation Begins
Naruto spent the next few days wandering the village, pretending to go about his usual pranking routines while quietly observing the older areas of Konoha. He avoided drawing attention to himself, even going so far as to tone down his usual loud behavior.
He started at the Hokage Monument, where he overheard a few elderly villagers talking about the past. Though the conversation wasn't directly helpful, it confirmed that Minato and Kushina had indeed lived in the village before their deaths.
His next step was more daring: sneaking into the Hokage's archives. Late at night, with Uzuhiko guiding him, Naruto slipped past the guards and found his way into the restricted section.
"System Enhancement: Providing guidance for lockpicking and stealth."
Naruto grinned as Uzuhiko's advice allowed him to bypass the locks and seals without triggering any alarms. Inside, he searched through old records, eventually finding a file labeled "Fourth Hokage." Among the details about Minato's life, he found a reference to a property registered under his name.
"Gotcha," Naruto whispered, memorizing the address.
The Anbu Archive Room
Before leaving, Naruto decided to take a risk and infiltrate the Anbu archive room. Uzuhiko protested initially.
"Caution: This is significantly more dangerous. Failure could expose your task."
Naruto smirked. "Come on, Uzuhiko. What's a little danger?"
Using his small size and Uzuhiko's advanced observation techniques, Naruto navigated through the shadows, avoiding patrolling Anbu. In the archive room, he found a sealed document that mentioned "Uzumaki Sealing Techniques" and "Kushina's Blade." While he couldn't access the document directly, the mention confirmed that the sword was real and tied to Uzumaki clan heritage.
Finding the House
The address led Naruto to an old, overgrown area on the outskirts of Konoha. There, hidden beneath vines and debris, he found a small, sealed door.
"Looks like this is it," Naruto muttered, examining the intricate sealing tags.
Uzuhiko spoke up. "Analysis: These seals are designed to prevent unauthorized entry. Your fūinjutsu training will be tested here."
Naruto took a deep breath, applying everything he had learned from Kushina. Slowly but surely, he unraveled the seals, breaking through the defenses. The door creaked open, revealing a dusty but intact home.
Inside, Naruto found traces of his parents: photographs, notes, and a sword mounted on the wall.
"There you are," Naruto said, lifting the sword reverently.
Uzuhiko immediately activated the reward system.
"Task Complete. Unlocking Taijutsu and Kenjutsu Scrolls…"
Hinata's Progress
Meanwhile, at the Hyūga compound, Hinata was sparring with her younger sister, Hanabi. The younger girl was as fierce as ever, her strikes fast and precise.
Hinata had been growing stronger in secret, her training with Naruto pushing her beyond her previous limits. She could feel her progress in every movement, her Byakugan sharper and her Gentle Fist strikes more accurate.
But as Hanabi advanced, Hinata deliberately held back, letting her sister land the decisive blow.
Hiashi Hyūga, their father, watched from the sidelines, his expression cold. "Hinata, you are still too weak. If you cannot defeat Hanabi, you will never be fit to lead this clan."
Hinata bowed her head, hiding her clenched fists. She remembered Naruto's words: "Deception is a shinobi's greatest weapon."
"I understand, Father," she said softly, resolving to continue hiding her progress until the right time.
Naruto's Spar with Hinata
The next day, Naruto met with Hinata to spar once more. Uzuhiko had updated his system panel to include an analysis of her abilities:
Hinata Hyūga Analysis Panel
Strength: High GeninAffinities: Water, LightningPotential: HighSkills: Gentle Fist, Byakugan
Uzuhiko advised Naruto to push her limits during the spar. As they trained, Naruto noticed how much sharper and more confident Hinata's movements had become.
"You've been working hard," Naruto said, dodging one of her strikes.
Hinata blushed but didn't falter. "Y-Yes, Naruto-kun. Thank you."
After their session, Uzuhiko spoke privately to Naruto. "Observation: Hinata's potential continues to grow. Recommendation: Continue training with her and encourage her development."
Naruto grinned. "Got it. She's gonna be amazing, just like me!"
A New Beginning
With Kushina's sword in hand and new techniques unlocked, Naruto's journey was far from over. His bond with Hinata was growing stronger, and Uzuhiko's guidance ensured that every step brought him closer to his destiny.
As the sun set over Konoha, Naruto stood atop the Hokage Monument once more, the sword strapped to his back.
"Just you wait," he said with a grin. "This is only the beginning."