This decision was something Uchiha Hikari had settled on long ago.
In this era, she was a complete nobody—no identity, no family, no place to call home. Sure, she could ask the Third Hokage to arrange a temporary place for her to stay, but after throwing around some bold words in that genjutsu space, she wasn't exactly eager to swallow her pride just yet.
So, the best option? Move in with Naruto.
She was somewhat familiar with this place, and it'd make fulfilling Namikaze Minato's request a lot easier.
"The mission rewards from my old friend's time should still have a decent chunk left, right? Mind pulling out a portion for now to cover my meals for a bit?" Uchiha Hikari said, laying out her demands. "Oh, and when you guys barged in earlier, you broke both windows. Get someone to fix them ASAP, or it'll be too chilly to sleep tonight… The repair costs come out of your pockets, got it?"
"…"
Her sharp demands left the Anbu members bristling with irritation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened, but he nodded. "I'll handle it."
With the discussion wrapped up, Sarutobi wasn't sure what kind of expression to wear while lingering. He left Naruto with a quick, "Grandpa's got some business to take care of, but I'll visit again soon," before hurrying off with the Anbu in tow.
Only then did Uchiha Hikari let out a long, lazy stretch, her demeanor completely relaxed. The motion subtly highlighted the slender, graceful curves of her youthful frame, accentuated by her deep blue, Warring States-style combat outfit. Her exposed arms gleamed like polished jade.
*Yawn.*
Using Tsukuyomi wasn't entirely stress-free for her.
The strain on her eyes from depleting her pupil power left them sore, like staring at a computer screen for hours. It wasn't pleasant, but compared to Uchiha Itachi, whose eyes would bleed after just a couple of jutsu, she was in much better shape.
Rubbing her temples to ease the pressure, Hikari started inspecting Naruto's small, single-person apartment.
"Hm… The space is decent enough. Two people should be fine. The walls could use a fresh coat of paint, the fridge is pretty old—probably needs replacing—and the table and chairs…"
"Uh…"
Naruto watched her move around the room, his voice cautious as he spoke up. "Hikari-nee, are you really gonna stay here? And, um, what was all that stuff you were saying to the old man? I think I heard you mention my name…"
"Hm… Well, the friend I mentioned earlier? That's your dad."
"?!"
The sudden bombshell hit Naruto hard, leaving him stunned for a moment.
A few seconds later, he shot up, grabbing the hem of Hikari's clothes and looking up at her with wide, hopeful eyes. "Hey! Hey! Hikari-nee, what's my dad like? Where is he? Why hasn't he ever come to see me…?"
"Sorry, because of certain promises, I can't tell you who he is just yet."
Hikari subtly tugged at her clothes, but Naruto's grip held firm. She made a shushing gesture, patiently calming the little blond whirlwind in front of her. "Don't worry, though. Starting today, as long as I'm in this village, I'll look after you on his behalf.
As for the villagers out there, if that old man keeps his word, they shouldn't be throwing insults at you anymore. But you'll probably still get some behind-the-back gossip and cold shoulders… Just a bunch of nobodies. Don't let their opinions get to you. Ignore them."
She paused, then added, "Oh, right, I forgot to ask—you cool with me crashing here for a few days? If it's a problem, I can find somewhere else."
"…Of course it's fine!"
At his core, Naruto was still a kid terrified of being alone.
Though the situation was a bit beyond his grasp, he agreed without hesitation.
Hikari ruffled his hair, then took a quick walk around the room, mentally noting the furniture that needed replacing or fixing. Glancing at the wall clock, she said, "It's almost noon. You've got some cash on hand, right? I'll go grab some groceries and whip up lunch."
…
"Lord Hokage, that girl…"
On the street outside the apartment, Shinosuke glanced at his father with concern.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a few deep breaths to steady himself before issuing calm orders. "Instruct the Anbu to tightly seal off any information about last night's explosion and today's events. As for this Uchiha Hikari… elevate her file to top-secret priority. All reports about her go directly to me, no intermediaries."
"…Understood."
Shinosuke hesitated, then lowered his voice. "That genjutsu she used on you earlier… could it have…?"
"No need to worry. My mind wasn't affected."
Sarutobi offered a brief explanation, then glanced back at Naruto's apartment, his expression unreadable. "I just wonder… whether her arrival is a blessing or a curse for Konoha…"
…
The Anbu worked fast.
That same afternoon, after the talk with Sarutobi, someone came to fix the windows.
By early the next morning, while the sky was still dim, the Anbu delivered a batch of furniture to Naruto's place, along with bedding, vegetables, fruits, and a bankbook with a hefty sum, all handed over to Uchiha Hikari.
"This is from the Third Hokage. He said it's part of that person's inheritance…"
The delivery came from a purple-haired kunoichi wearing a rabbit-faced mask, her features hidden. Her voice sounded young, maybe fourteen or fifteen.
"Starting today, I'll be your assistant in Konoha. If you have any requests or messages for the Third Hokage, just let me know, and I'll do my best to assist."
"Hm…"
Hikari gave a slight nod.
It seemed Sarutobi wasn't about to lift the surveillance on Naruto—or her, for that matter. He'd just dressed it up a bit, calling it an "assistant."
Hikari didn't mind too much.
Konoha would never leave the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki unchecked, and she had no plans to spark another Nine-Tails incident. As long as the Anbu knew their place, this setup could ease tensions on both sides, sparing the Third from overthinking and making everyone jumpy.
"What's your name?" Hikari asked, eyeing the purple-haired kunoichi, who seemed vaguely familiar.
"Uzuki."
The kunoichi hesitated, then added, "You can also call me by my real name, Uzuki Yugao. Since you're new to Konoha and might not know your way around, I can act as your guide. If you need to shop for clothes or anything, I can come along."
"Got it."
Hikari tilted her chin, signaling the Anbu to get to work. "Bring everything inside. I'll tell you where to put it."
**(End of Chapter)**