"Damn that Sarutobi Hiruzen... I never imagined he could be so despicable—doing all that just so his own son could become Hokage…"
Inside Satomi Hill Manor.
Yakumo clenched her fists in anger as she listened to Naruto's recounting of everything that had happened.
Then, she turned to him and asked, "Aren't you angry, Naruto-kun?"
While roasting meat over the fire, Naruto casually replied, "What's the point of getting mad? That guy is the Third Hokage. If I lay a hand on him, I'll just be labeled a rogue ninja."
"But he's so disgusting! Someone like him doesn't deserve to be Hokage!"
Yakumo's voice trembled with fury.
Naruto only chuckled. "It's fine. Let's grow stronger first. Then we'll expose that guy's true face to the world."
Yakumo nodded hard, eyes shining with conviction.
After they finished the roasted meat, Naruto gently pinched her arms and waist, examining her physique. "Not bad. You've recovered well. A little more of this meat and you should be able to go out with me soon."
Yakumo's face flushed bright red, but her gaze lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Naruto-kun…"
It was thanks to the nourishing sea king meat that Naruto brought her every day that her body had gradually grown stronger, shedding the fragility she once had.
"No need to thank me—we're friends." Naruto smiled, then casually asked, "By the way, is that thing inside you behaving?"
Yakumo closed her eyes, sensing her own inner world. Then she opened them again and frowned. "It's still cursing you…"
"Figures. I'm the one who sealed it," Naruto replied, unfazed. He placed his hand gently on her chest and said, "Let me go take a look."
Yakumo nodded shyly.
"Ishiki Mon!" (Consciousness Gate)
With an invisible push, Naruto opened the door to her subconscious and stepped inside.
Within Yakumo's mental world—dark and vast—stood a grotesque creature with jagged teeth and blackened skin, like a demon from the abyss.
This was Ido, the Heart Demon born from Yakumo's repressed emotions.
It was the very same being that once drove the young Yakumo into madness, ultimately causing her to burn down her clan and kill her own parents.
The moment Naruto appeared, Ido let out a thunderous shriek:
"Uzumaki Naruto! You—! You deceived Yakumo! She was supposed to trust me! Let me out!"
"Shut it. I said, shut your mouth."
Naruto's gaze turned cold. His right fist clenched as black Busōshoku Haki surged up his arm.
"Busōshoku: Kōka!" (Armament Haki: Hardening)
With a single punch, Naruto's haki-enhanced fist slammed into the demon.
"AAAAAAGHHH—!! Why!? I'm born of Yakumo's mind! How can you even touch me!?"
Naruto smirked. So Armament Haki even works on mental constructs, huh? he thought, then said aloud:
"She trusts me more than you now. Hell, she might even be falling in love with me."
Hearing this, Ido went berserk, snarling and roaring as it strained against the five chains binding it to the walls.
"I'LL KILL YOU! SHE'S MINE! MY PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT HER!!"
"No point resisting," Naruto said calmly. "You're sealed with a Five Elements Seal. There's no escape."
That was the only sealing technique he had learned so far, and even with thousands of clones, it had taken him two whole days.
I really need to track down more sealing jutsu soon… like the Eight Trigrams Seal, Four Symbols Seal… all techniques passed down by my mom.
With that thought swirling in his mind, Naruto stepped closer and said with a smirk:
"If you truly want to protect Yakumo, then do what I say—give her strength when she needs it. Otherwise…"
His voice dropped to a whisper, almost tender:
"…even a girl who's madly in love with me wouldn't mind a little pain, would she?"
"I could hit her… carve her skin a little… break her down until she can't live without me."
Ido's eyes widened in horror.
In that moment, it understood.
This boy was the true demon.
He could speak of such horrors with a soft, almost gentle smile.
"NO—YAKUMO!! Don't trust him! He's a monster! A real monster! Only I can protect you!!"
Naruto rolled his eyes and opened another Ishiki Mon, dragging Yakumo's consciousness in.
The moment she appeared and heard Ido's screaming, she snapped:
"Shut up! Don't talk about Naruto-kun like that! I already know—it was you who killed my parents!"
"No, no—you don't understand!" Ido panicked. "They didn't want you to become a ninja! I was only doing what you wanted! I just wanted to protect you—!"
"Liar!!" Yakumo's eyes filled with tears. "If I wasn't using you to protect Naruto-kun, I'd kill you myself!"
Ido fell into utter despair.
Even Yakumo now chose Naruto over him.
And that boy—that thing—was terrifying.
"Alright, Yakumo. Go rest." Naruto sent her back, then turned back to Ido, voice laced with amusement:
"So, what do you think? Should I break her down bit by bit, until she can't even think of anyone else but me?"
"Or should I go straight for the body—leave her bleeding, shattered, trembling in pain—?"
"NO! Please!! Don't hurt her!! I-I'll help! I'll make her strong! She'll be a perfect tool for you!!"
"I'll help her master the True Illusions! Please, just—please, don't touch her…"
Ido was crying.
This monstrous spirit, born of darkness and hatred, now wept and begged.
Naruto smiled.
As expected.
Ido was born to protect Yakumo. It simply followed her thoughts, taken to the extreme. That's what made it dangerous.
But if retrained… even a heart demon could be a powerful ally.
"Alright. Let's see what you're worth."
Naruto turned and left the mental space, leaving Ido wailing in the darkness.
(End of Chapter)
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