As we made our way back to the village, the residents of Konoha stared at us with visible distrust. Their gazes held a weight that neither Hana nor I could fully understand, but we stayed close to our mother, feeling her strength.
Suddenly, we heard someone calling, "KUSHINA, WAIT!"
The three of us turned toward the voice and saw a woman approaching quickly. She had black hair, dark eyes, and a fair complexion. She finally caught up to us, a bit out of breath, and smiled warmly at my mother.
"Kushina, I didn't know you were out shopping," she said.
Kushina shook her head. "Actually, Mikoto, we weren't shopping. We were out in the forest helping the kids awaken their chakra chains."
Mikoto's eyes lit up, and she glanced down at us with a kind expression. "Oh! Hi there, little ones! What are your names?"
I glanced at Hana, and she nodded, giving me the courage to speak. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki," I said confidently, "and this is my little sister."
Hana smiled and added, "I'm Hana Uzumaki, and he's my Onii-chan."
Mikoto's smile grew. "Hi, Naruto and Hana! My daughter is here with me too. Sweetie, come say hello."
From behind Mikoto's legs emerged a little girl with dark hair and shy, onyx eyes. She looked at us for a moment before mumbling softly, "Hell...hello, I'm Sat-Satsuki Uchiha."
Mikoto chuckled and placed a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder. "She's a bit shy around new people. But I'm really happy for you, Kushina. It's incredible that they've already awakened the chakra chain technique! You all should come to our house sometime so we can catch up."
Turning to her daughter, Mikoto added, "Satsuki, try to make friends with Naruto and Hana, alright? They'll be good friends for you."
Satsuki nodded, but her cheeks flushed as she hid behind her mother's leg again. Mikoto smiled warmly. "Alright then, I won't keep you. You should all get some rest at home."
We waved goodbye, and Satsuki gave a small wave back. With that, we each went our separate ways.
As soon as we got home, Kushina headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal, while Hana and I went to our rooms to change. My heart was still pounding from the excitement of awakening our chakra chains.
Soon, we gathered around the dinner table to enjoy a comforting meal. The table was filled with steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, tempura, and fresh vegetables. It felt peaceful, a nice contrast to the intensity of the day's training.
While we were eating, Kushina turned to us and said, "Naruto, Hana, you both did amazing today. Now that you've awakened your chakra chains, tomorrow, we'll start on techniques related to them, as well as some sealing techniques and the Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Hana and I exchanged excited glances. "Okay, Mommy!" we replied in unison.
After dinner, we each headed to our rooms. I went to wash up, and when I came out, Hana was waiting for me.
"Onii-chan," she said with a hopeful smile, "could you give me a massage like yesterday? It really helped me relax after training."
I chuckled and shook my head gently. "How about instead, we go train a bit more? You missed some chakra exercises last night, and we don't want to fall behind. Let's go practice."
Hana nodded enthusiastically, and together, we headed to our usual training spot. We spent some time meditating, working on our chakra control, and attempting to summon our chakra chains. While we managed to project them slightly from our stomachs, the process still needed refinement.
Finally, we returned home, where I gave Hana a quick massage to help her relax. She quickly drifted off to sleep, and I tucked her in, adjusting her nightwear so she'd be comfortable.
Later that night, I found myself outside the Uchiha compound, quietly making my way to Satsuki's room. She was fast asleep in her bed, her small frame curled under the blankets.
I placed a note on her bedside table that said:
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"You looked cute today when you said hello. I like the red shorts and gray dress you wore; they really suit you. Hope to see you again soon!"
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Satisfied, I slipped out of the room and returned home, where I finally fell asleep, a soft smile on my face as I drifted into dreams of future adventures.
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Author's Note:
Thanks for diving into this unique Naruto AU! If you'd like to see a detailed status window for Hana in the same style I use, just let me know in the comments. I'd love to give more depth to her abilities and evolution if that's something you'd enjoy.
For that, you have to give me 25 power stones!
As always, your support means a lot! Don't forget to leave power stones and golden tickets if you're enjoying this alternate universe story—it truly helps me bring more content to you. Thanks for reading and supporting this journey!