"Hmm… I guess I just felt like it."
Uchiha Hikari gave a vague, noncommittal answer.
"But I'm a monster everyone hates. Back in the village, no one's ever stood up for me or even touched my hand…"
As he spoke, Naruto's head drooped. Then, as if noticing something, he started tugging his hand free from Hikari's grip. "Nee-san, my hand's all dirty… it's got blood and dust. It'll get on you."
Hikari froze for a second at Naruto's sudden reaction, then let out a soft chuckle. She hadn't expected this kid, at his age, to be *this* self-conscious and sensitive. Even a tiny bit of kindness seemed to throw him off completely.
"It's fine."
Hikari held onto Naruto's hand and walked a few more steps, stopping in front of a two-story apartment building at the end of the street. "This is your place, right? Mind inviting me up to check it out?"
"Huh? Nee-san, how'd you know I live here…?"
"Take a guess."
—This building wasn't the one Namikaze Minato mentioned in the chat group. Probably a new place arranged by the Third Hokage for Naruto after the Nine-Tails incident. Still, it wasn't hard to find. It was close to the shopping street, and the building's distinct look was burned into Hikari's memory from watching the anime countless times.
Four-year-old Naruto wasn't one to overthink things. One second he was puzzled about how Hikari knew where he lived, the next he was grinning ear to ear. "Of course I don't mind! Besides Jiji, no one's ever come over to my place! Nee-san, come on up…"
Up the stairs.
Unlock the door, step inside.
The room was a cluttered, bare-bones mess. Yellowing walls, a chipped coffee table and chairs, a dining table piled with instant noodle cups, a kettle, milk cartons… The noodle broth had been slurped clean, so at least the air didn't reek.
"Whoops, I forgot to clean up today…"
Naruto shot Hikari an embarrassed glance and scurried over to tidy the table. "Nee-san, hang on a sec. It's super messy, but I'll clean it up quick!"
The table legs scraped against the floor.
Hikari watched Naruto's frantic movements, casually stepping forward to pick up a half-empty milk carton. She shook it and checked the date.
Yup, no surprise there.
"This milk… was it already expired when you got it?"
"Huh?"
Naruto blinked, then shuffled over to grab the carton. Mimicking Hikari, he checked the label and chugged the rest. "Expired or not, I don't really get that stuff… I found this milk in the bins behind the shops. If I go inside, they just kick me out…"
As he spoke, Naruto dragged over a stool. "Nee-san, I wiped this chair clean. Sit! I'm gonna boil some water. Jiji taught me how to use the kettle…"
"Thanks."
Hikari thanked him and sat down, her focus shifting to the chat group.
**[Nameless: Yondaime, figured out what you wanna say to him? I can pass it along.]**
A brief pause.
**[Eienni: Hikari-san, could you please not tell Naruto about me just yet?]**
**[Nameless: ?]**
**[Eienni: I… might not have been a good father.]**
"Fair point."
From Hikari's perspective, Namikaze Minato wasn't exactly father-of-the-year material. He was a stellar ninja and husband, but as a dad? Not so much.
**[Eienni: Even now, I don't regret sealing the Nine-Tails into Naruto. It was the best option at the time. My only regret is not being there as a father, watching him grow up… The Nine-Tails incident took so many lives. The villagers needed someone to blame, but that should've been me, not Naruto, who knows nothing about it.]**
**[Eienni: Hikari-san, could I ask for one more favor? In return, I'll teach you any ninjutsu I know, including the techniques that made me famous.]**
**[Nameless: …One correction. The *best* option would've been resealing the Nine-Tails into Kushina. A Jinchuriki losing their Tailed Beast is near-fatal, sure, but if you reseal it quickly, they've got a shot at surviving. Especially someone from the Senju or Uzumaki clans, with their crazy strong life force.]**
**[Eienni: ?!]**
It… could've worked like that?
Hikari didn't linger on the topic, continuing to type with her thoughts:
**[Nameless: Back to business. What do you want me to do?]**
**[Nameless: Let's be clear, I can look after Naruto for a bit, but I'm not sticking around forever.]**
Hikari was definitely intrigued by Namikaze Minato's ninjutsu.
As the legendary Yellow Flash of the Leaf, Minato's signature *Flying Thunder God* was a god-tier space-time ninjutsu, holding its own even against Obito's *Kamui*.
But *Flying Thunder God* wasn't what she wanted to learn.
Space-time ninjutsu were the most talent-dependent techniques out there. Mastering *Flying Thunder God* required top-notch chakra control and lightning-fast reflexes. The former could be trained, but the latter? That was pure natural talent. People like Senju Tobirama and Namikaze Minato were one in a million. Hikari didn't think she had that kind of gift.
But there was another technique—
Sealing jutsu!
As Kushina's husband, Minato was one of the ninja world's top experts on sealing techniques. Aside from bloodline-locked moves like *Adamantine Sealing Chains*, he likely knew every sealing jutsu out there. That knowledge? Hikari wanted it bad.
Of course, sealing jutsu were on a whole different level of importance. Minato might be willing to teach her *Flying Thunder God* or *Rasengan*, but sealing techniques? That was less certain.
Still, Hikari had an ace up her sleeve.
Minato was trapped in the Shinigami's stomach, so anything he wanted done relied on her. If she went above and beyond in their deal, she could make him owe her a favor—and with the Fourth Hokage's sense of honor, he wouldn't let her efforts go unrepaid.
In a way, it was a bit of "moral leverage." Minato's character meant he'd feel obligated to pay her back.
Even if she couldn't learn sealing jutsu, Hikari could at least use this chance to place a *Yachihoko* mark on Naruto, letting her borrow his chakra if needed.
And maybe…
She had her eye on marking someone else too—
Someone who might show up today.
In the chat group, Minato snapped out of his "best option" daydream, responding with a heavy heart.
**[Eienni: I know, I won't ask for anything unreasonable. I just need you to… talk to the Third Hokage.]**
…
*Gurgle gurgle—*
The kettle in the kitchen started whistling.
Hikari helped Naruto unplug it, about to pour herself some water, when hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.
Then a knock.
"Naruto, you home? Jiji's here to see you. Open the door for your grandpa!"
**(End of Chapter)**