For several days, Naruto had been having the same dream. Each night, a person appeared in his home. He didn't know what it meant, but every morning, upon waking up, he couldn't remember their name. Worse still, an oppressive sensation grew inside him—the feeling that he had forgotten something extremely important.
At first, he had talked to Shikamaru about it. Skeptical, his friend had advised him not to pay it any mind. So, Naruto had eventually let it go.
After all, Shikamaru might not be the top student in class, but his intelligence was well recognized. If he said it was nothing, then maybe it really was just an insignificant dream.
But today was different.
Hinata stood before him.
She was one of the few people he considered a true friend, one of the first to accept him before anyone else. She was shy, often blushed, and sometimes even fainted when he spoke to her.
But not this time.
She still looked reserved, but something about her demeanor was different. A deeper timidity, tinged with hesitation.
"Hello, Naruto-kun."
"Ah, hey, Hinata!"
"Um… You've seemed worried these past few days, so… so I made this for you."
She handed him a bento. That simple gesture warmed his heart. He had rarely received such things in the past, and most of them came from her.
Without really knowing why, he ended up confiding in her about what had been troubling him.
Hinata listened in silence, not interrupting. But the more he spoke, the more her expression changed. By the end, Naruto hesitated before asking:
"Do you also think it's just a stupid dream? Sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you with this…"
But this time, she cut him off.
"That's not what I think, Naruto. Actually… your situation feels familiar to me. But unlike you, I remember the person in my dream perfectly."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Really?! You're so lucky, then! Do you know how I can remember too?"
He saw her hesitation. An internal struggle. Her gaze flickered, as if she wanted to say something but was holding herself back.
Naruto scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward.
"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to…"
Those words seemed to trigger something in her. She took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Tell me, Naruto… Does this name… Narume, mean anything to you?"
He felt a shock. Like a weight suddenly lifted from his shoulders. His heart leaped.
"Yes… That's it! That's how she introduced herself in my first dream! Narume! Thank you, Hinata!"
Excited, he grabbed her hands to thank her, not noticing that she had turned bright red.
Narume.
That name filled him with warmth. This wasn't just a dream. He was sure of it now.
He still didn't know who she was, but from now on, he was determined to find out.
"Do you know her, Hinata?" he asked hopefully.
She shook her head.
"No… I'm sorry…"
Naruto frowned slightly. He knew she was lying. But he could also feel her inner conflict.
He didn't press her.
He knew exactly who to ask for answers.
[POV Hiruzen]
In his office, the Hokage sat with furrowed brows.
A few minutes earlier, Naruto had come to him with a question he should never have asked.
"Hokage-jiji, who is Narume?"
That name—he wasn't supposed to remember it.
Naturally, Hiruzen hadn't answered. But Naruto had insisted. He had told him that a child by that name visited him every night in his dreams.
As soon as the boy had left, Hiruzen had immediately dispatched an ANBU team.
A few minutes later, the report had arrived.
Narume Uzumaki's grave… was empty.
The old Hokage clenched his fists.
If someone was using Narume's body to get to Naruto…
If someone was approaching him every night without the ANBU detecting anything…
Then this had to end immediately.
Tonight, a Hyūga would watch over Naruto alongside the ANBU.
Any chakra disturbance would be detected.
This situation would end tonight.
Moreover, the massive disappearance of beasts in the Forest of Death was another case that required his attention.
Tonight would not be a peaceful one.