Naruto blinked in surprise."Wait — Kurama? You mean... the one who was Kurenai-sensei's student?"
The moment Kurenai's name slipped from his lips, Yakumo's entire body subtly stiffened.Her brush froze mid-stroke, her face carefully blank — but Naruto, ever sharp with emotions, noticed the shift.
She simply nodded, a quiet, restrained motion.
Behind him, Karin let out a low whistle."Small world..." she muttered under her breath, amused.
Haku tilted her head slightly, studying Yakumo with gentle curiosity.
Naruto, still fueled by his eternal sunshine energy, grinned wide."I've heard about you!" he said, excitement bubbling in his voice."Kurenai-sensei said you were crazy talented at Genjutsu!"
Yakumo didn't respond.She only dipped her head a little lower, as if shrinking into herself.
There was a tension there — the kind that Naruto, of all people, could recognize in his bones.The kind you get when praise feels like a burden instead of a gift.
Naruto's grin softened into something more serious, more understanding.
"And," he added, his voice dropping slightly, "I also heard... for some stupid reason, those old geezers had your abilities sealed because they were scared of you."
He said it so bluntly, so casually, it knocked the breath right out of Yakumo.Her brush slipped from her hand, clattering lightly against the ground.She stared at him, wide-eyed — not hurt, not angry, just... stunned.
Karin, meanwhile, just shook her head.Naruto calling the elders "geezers" was practically tradition at this point — unless Kushina or Tsunade were around to smack him upside the head for it.
Yakumo opened her mouth to respond — then closed it again.
No words came out.
Because what could she even say?No one had ever spoken about it so plainly before.No tiptoeing.No fake sympathy.No treating her like a fragile porcelain doll.
Just... the truth.
Raw. Honest. Human.
Naruto just smiled, his voice easy and kind."I think it's their loss. Talent like yours? Shouldn't be caged."
He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world — like of course she deserved to be free, to be trusted, to shine.
And just like that, something shifted.A crack appeared in Yakumo's carefully built walls, and for the first time in a long time... she didn't feel so alone.
But before Naruto could press further, Yakumo's momentary crack quickly closed up again.Her face, once filled with vulnerability, now hardened — a quiet, almost imperceptible shift in her eyes.
There was something else inside her now.Something darker. Something born of hatred, not just for Konoha, but for everything she had lost.
Naruto watched, his instincts kicking in. He didn't push. Not this time.Instead, he let the silence linger, the weight of unspoken things hanging between them.
"Kurenei-sensei always talked about you with regret," Naruto said, his voice gentle but firm, "She always wished she could've done more... helped you more."
Yakumo's jaw tightened.She didn't reply.
Karin, sensing where things were headed, stepped in to redirect the conversation.She moved closer to Naruto and whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "Nii-san..."
That was all it took.The sound of her voice snapped him out of his reverie.
He turned to Yakumo, his usual grin reappearing, this time with a little more lightheartedness."Yakumo, you're really talented. I've gotta say, your art is incredible! Ever thought about becoming the world's greatest artist? I could help you get there. I'd totally invest in you."
Karin raised an eyebrow at him, but Yakumo's gaze softened, just a little.A small flicker of hope sparked in her eyes, but she quickly masked it, still hesitant.
"World's greatest artist?" Yakumo repeated, her voice still guarded, but now laced with curiosity."Why would you invest in someone like me?"
Naruto's smile widened."Because I believe in your potential," he said simply. "And because we all deserve a shot at something more than what we've been handed."
Karin let out a quiet sigh, relieved the conversation was moving away from darker paths.Yakumo was still unsure, but at least the walls she had built were starting to crack — slowly, but surely.
Naruto's smile never faded. "So, what do you say? Want to be the world's greatest artist?"
Yakumo hesitated for a moment, her eyes flitting to the ground before she met his gaze. There was a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I need some time. Is that okay with you?"
Naruto's expression brightened. "Of course, take all the time you need. It's your call anyway."
"Then," Yakumo said, her voice growing a little more certain, "Tomorrow, at the same time, I'll tell you my decision."
"Okay," Naruto agreed, nodding with a playful grin.
Yakumo gathered her things, ready to leave, but then Naruto stopped her.
"Yakumo-senpai," he called out.
She paused and turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Senpai?" she asked, clearly confused.
Naruto chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, you're technically my senior, since you were under Kurenai-sensei. So, yeah, you're my senpai. Also... the painting?"
Yakumo blinked in surprise, then smiled softly. "You want the painting?"
"Of course! I'd love it," Naruto said, his excitement evident.
Yakumo hesitated, then nodded. She handed him the painting, its delicate brushstrokes capturing the essence of a sunset that seemed almost as vibrant as the emotions she had yet to fully process.
"Here," she said, her voice softer than before. "Take care of it."
"Thanks, Yakumo-senpai!" Naruto said with enthusiasm, carefully holding the painting like it was the most precious thing in the world.
She smiled one last time, a fleeting glimpse of vulnerability in her eyes before she turned to leave. As she walked away, there was something different about her. Not fully free, but perhaps just a little lighter than before.
"Naruto, who was she?" Haku asked, her curiosity growing. She wanted to understand more about the people around him, especially those who seemed important.
"She was a student of Kurenai-sensei, specializing in Genjutsu," Naruto began. "Her name is Yakumo, and she comes from the Kurama clan. Their kekkei genkai is pretty wild—it allows them to turn their imagination into reality. Think about it—if you can imagine something, it becomes real."
Haku's eyes narrowed slightly, processing the information. "That sounds dangerous."
Naruto nodded. "Exactly. Her clan was wiped out because of it. And she's the last one left."
Haku's brow furrowed at that last sentence. She could understand the loneliness that came with being the last of your kind. "So... she's alone, just like me."
Naruto patted Haku on the shoulder, understanding exactly where her thoughts were going. "I know what you're thinking. But don't worry. She said she'd come back tomorrow, right here. She'll be fine. You just have to be patient with her, like you were with me."
Haku watched the spot where Yakumo had disappeared, her heart conflicted. "I need to talk to her. I want to help her, just like you helped me."
Naruto smiled softly. "I get it. You'll make a good friend to her, Haku. She just needs someone who understands."
Naruto's words seemed to resonate with Haku, and she found herself gazing in the direction where Yakumo had left. There was a soft understanding in her eyes, something that only those who had been alone, isolated, could truly comprehend.
"I understand," Haku said quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "I can relate... to her loneliness."
Naruto gave her a reassuring smile, his hand still gently resting on her shoulder. "Yeah, I thought you'd understand. You two have more in common than you think."
Haku glanced back at him, her expression softening. "It's just... hard, isn't it? To not have anyone. To not belong anywhere."
Naruto nodded solemnly. "It is. But that's why we have each other, right? We're not alone anymore."
He paused, considering his next words carefully. "Yakumo doesn't have to carry that burden alone. And neither do you, Haku. I'll always be here for you. We all will be."
Haku smiled faintly, a small warmth flickering in her heart as she turned her gaze back toward where Yakumo had disappeared. "Thank you, Naruto," she said, her voice filled with quiet gratitude.
"Don't mention it," Naruto replied. "It's just what friends do."
Karin, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped forward and lightly nudged Haku. "I think you've got a friend waiting for you, Haku. Go ahead and talk to her. You might be just what she needs right now."
Haku blinked, surprised by Karin's words but then nodded. "Yeah... I think I will." She took a deep breath, standing up and preparing to follow in Yakumo's footsteps.
Naruto watched her with a knowing look, glad to see that Haku was ready to make that first step. "You've got this, Haku. I know you'll make a difference in her life."
Haku smiled, her resolve firming as she walked off toward the spot where Yakumo had left. There was something powerful in understanding the pain of another person—something that could bridge the gap between isolation and connection.