The three of them—Naruto, Karin, and Haku—left the shade of the trees, strolling lazily down the sun-dappled path back toward home. The breeze was easy, the mood even easier.
Then, like fate throwing a surprise card into the deck, they bumped into Kurenai.
Naruto, never one to waste a dramatic entrance (or keep his mouth shut when excited), lit up immediately."Sensei! You won't believe this—we just met Yakumo-senpai!" he blurted out, practically bouncing.
Before Kurenai could even react, Naruto whipped out the painting like it was some rare treasure."Look! She painted us!" he said proudly, holding it up like a kid showing off a gold star on his homework.
Kurenai's crimson eyes widened, the air around her softening. She took a step closer, gently tracing the edges of the painting with her gaze."She... painted you three?" she murmured, her voice caught somewhere between awe and bittersweet memory.
Karin smirked, arms crossed. "Yeah, she's got some serious skills. You weren't lying about her talent."
Haku, ever the gentle one, smiled softly. "It's beautiful. You can feel her heart in every brushstroke."
Naruto grinned wide enough to outshine the sun. "Sensei, I told her I'd invest in her! Gotta help her become the world's greatest artist, right?"
Kurenai stared at him for a long moment, emotions swirling too complex to name—pride, regret, hope... maybe even a little healing."You're doing something even I couldn't, Naruto," she said, her voice low but strong. "Thank you."
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a sheepish grin blooming across his face, but the warmth in his chest was unmistakable."Hey, that's just what I do for family. Family's everything, y'know?"
Kurenai's crimson eyes softened even more, like a snowfield catching the first kiss of spring sunlight.
"But... she hasn't agreed to my help yet," Naruto added, his voice dropping to a hopeful murmur. "She said she'd tell me tomorrow."
Kurenai, without thinking, ruffled his messy red hair, her fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary, as if grounding herself."You're a really good boy, Naruto," she said, voice thick with emotion. "Please... take care of her for me. I couldn't do what she needed. Say sorry on my behalf."
Naruto gave a loud, playful tsk and jabbed his thumb toward himself with that confident, chaotic energy only he could pull off."Why say sorry through me, Sensei? Just come tomorrow! Be there with us, meet her yourself! Set things right face-to-face!"
Karin, ever the agent of chaos when it came to stirring things up, immediately nodded with so much energy it looked like she might lift off like a helicopter.Haku smiled shyly but nodded too, her agreement soft but solid like a river's current.
Kurenai blinked at them, taken aback by their unfiltered loyalty and kindness. Then a small, genuine laugh escaped her lips—a sound so rare that even she seemed surprised by it."Alright, alright... I'll come," she said, hands raised in surrender.
Naruto pumped a fist into the sky with all the enthusiasm. "Yes, that's what I want to hear."
Everyone chuckled at his antics, the mood light and hopeful.Then, one by one, they peeled off to their own tasks, hearts a little lighter than before.
The Next Day...
At the same time, same spot under the grand old trees, Naruto, Karin, and Haku sat sprawled across the grass, waiting.The shade dappled the ground in patterns, like the trees themselves were whispering blessings over them.
"Sensei, you might wanna hide," Naruto said, tossing a casual glance over his shoulder at Kurenai. "If she spots you, she might—"
Before he could finish, Kurenai held up a hand, cutting him off smoothly, her eyes twinkling with unspoken understanding."I know. Just do your best, Naruto."
With a graceful hop, she disappeared into the trees, cloaking herself in the shadows like a true kunoichi.
And thus began The Waiting Phase — arguably the most nerve-wracking mission Naruto had ever been on that didn't involve enemy ninjas or explosions.
Meanwhile... Yesterday
At Yakumo's lonely home, the scene was very different.She had returned yesterday with a head full of doubts and a heart full of something dangerously close to hope.
Her fingers brushed the dusty edges of her couch as she flopped onto it, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She had been forced into the life of a normal civilian, her powers sealed by trembling hands that feared what they could not control.Once a girl brimming with dreams, now just... another ghost haunting Konoha's quiet corners.
But today... Today was different.She had met someone — a loud, chaotic boy with eyes too bright to be contained, and two girls who looked at her like she was someone, not something.
Yakumo closed her eyes, letting their voices replay in her mind like an old song:
"You're my senpai!"
"You're amazing!"
"We believe in you!"
Her hands curled into fists over her chest, squeezing tightly, as if she could hold onto that fleeting warmth a little longer.Maybe... just maybe...
For the first time in a long time, she dared to ask herself:Could she really be more than her fears?
Yakumo's soft face hardened, her features twisting into something darker, something far older than her years.
"Tch... Kurenai must have put those kids up to it... sugarcoating everything just to clear her own conscience..."Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms."I'll definitely have my revenge. I'll make her see what they did to me."
The shadows in the room seemed to deepen around her, almost as if her very thoughts were painting the world darker.
Back to the Present —
At the grand old spot under the trees, the sun was gentle, the breeze playful —and three figures sat in wait, the patience of loyal friends etched onto their young faces.
Naruto's head snapped up the moment he saw movement from the path.Karin elbowed him with a grin.Haku's soft gasp gave her away — she had spotted her too.
Yakumo had arrived.
Her steps were measured, almost cautious.The light caught her hair, the folds of her simple clothes, but her eyes...Her eyes, hidden under her bangs, were pools of shadow.
Yet none of that mattered to Naruto.
His face lit up like the morning sun itself, wide and welcoming.
"Yakumo-senpai! You came!" he called, waving like he was hailing a ship in the distance.
Karin and Haku stood up too, smiling genuinely, their joy at seeing her written clearly across their faces.
"Yeah, good morning," Yakumo replied, her voice steady but carrying a strange weight — like the calm before a lightning strike.
"Good morning, Senpai!"All three of them — Naruto, Karin, and Haku — chimed in cheerful unison, the kind of energy that could shake even the stiffest heart.
Naruto, ever the sunshine and troublemaker bundled into one, leaned forward eagerly, his eyes bright."Senpai, did you decide?" he asked, his grin so wide it could've powered Konoha's lights for a week.
Yakumo's lips tugged into a small smile.But then — click — her eyes sharpened, turning cold like winter morning frost.
"But before that..."Her voice dropped low, almost cutting."I got a question."
Naruto, completely oblivious to the stormclouds gathering behind that polite tone, puffed out his chest with a smug little smirk.
"Yeah, you can ask me anything!"He even gave a thumbs-up.
Karin silently facepalmed at Naruto's trademark confidence, and Haku covered her giggle with a polite cough.
Yakumo, standing there — a painting of fragile grace hiding iron will — stared directly into Naruto's eyes.
Her next words were going to matter.
The air thickened, the tension buzzing like an electric wire about to snap.
"Did you come here because of her?" Yakumo asked, her voice razor-sharp, slicing straight through the air.
Naruto blinked, thrown completely off guard."Who?" he asked instinctively, cocking his head like a confused puppy.
Yakumo narrowed her eyes, not buying the innocent act for a second.
"Don't give me that look," she said, her tone dropping even lower — a warning wrapped in velvet."I know you came here because of her—after everything she did to me. So tell me."She took a step closer, her eyes boring into his."What's her purpose? What does she want?"
Behind Naruto, Karin tensed up.Haku subtly shifted her stance, ready to jump in if things got messy.