Kapitel 6: 6-An irregular day
Naruto walked through the bustling village streets, greeting people with a smile as he observed the food stalls around him. However, despite his seemingly relaxed demeanor, a slight twitch in his eyebrow betrayed his annoyance. Yasaka followed closely behind him, her footsteps echoing just a few meters away. The reason for her constant presence was clear: she wanted to know what Shiguro saw in him that deserved so much trust.
Naruto tried to continue with his daily routine, but it was hard to ignore Yasaka's gaze fixed on his back. Every time he attempted to focus on something else, he could feel her presence, like a shadow that wouldn't leave him alone.
"Well, you seem to be nicer than I thought," commented Yasaka, speaking to him for the second time all day. Instead of breaking the ice, it made the atmosphere even more awkward.
Naruto shot her an irritated look, clearly not enjoying the forced company, but decided not to respond. Instead, he continued walking toward his temple, hoping that Yasaka would eventually get bored and leave him alone. However, it seemed Yasaka was determined to follow him, and Naruto wondered how much longer he could endure before losing his patience.
Yasaka carefully observed every detail of the temple, surprised by what she saw. It was her first time inside. Her eyes were drawn to the Uzumaki symbol, an emblem she didn't recognize but that emanated a powerful aura. However, what truly captured her attention were the imposing statues of the bijūs, representing each of the tailed beasts, from Shukaku, the Ichibi, to the form of the Jūbi. When Yasaka saw the depiction of the Jūbi, she wondered if that was the true form of Naruto.
Meanwhile, Naruto, without saying a word, was placing some items on the table, preparing for what seemed to be a personal ritual. Yasaka, intrigued, followed him to the backyard, where her attention was drawn to a set of carefully aligned graves. Each one seemed to hold a deep significance, adorned with symbols and small statues, which only heightened her curiosity.
Naruto walked directly to a particular grave, one guarded by a stone statue of a toad. Without saying a word, he took out a bottle of sake and two cups. He drank one in a single gulp and placed the other with respect on top of the toad's head. Afterward, he sat silently in front of the grave, closing his eyes as if meditating or reminiscing.
Yasaka watched this with curiosity, eager to ask about the graves but deciding to hold her questions and wait until Naruto was finished.
After a couple of hours in which Naruto had immersed himself in contemplation in front of the grave, he stood up with a relaxed expression. He turned to Yasaka, who was leaning against a nearby tree, and asked in a casual tone, "Are you hungry?"
Yasaka watched Naruto before nodding in agreement. As Naruto went inside the temple to cook, Yasaka remained in the courtyard for a while longer.
Finally, Yasaka decided to enter the temple. Upon doing so, she was met with the sight of a table piled high with bowls of ramen—seventeen in total. The sheer number of bowls startled her, causing a bead of sweat to form on her forehead. Before she could fully process the amount of ramen, Naruto pulled out five more bowls and set them on the table.
Naruto settled into a chair and gestured for Yasaka to sit as well. With little conversation, Yasaka took a seat and began to sample the ramen. To her surprise, the quality of the ramen was far superior to what she had anticipated, considering the informal setup. The taste was exceptional, a stark contrast to her expectations.
As Yasaka ate peacefully, Naruto was already on his sixth bowl, devouring the ramen as if it were his last. He made a small stack of empty bowls beside him, fully engrossed in his meal.
While they were eating, Yasaka couldn't help her curiosity and decided to break the silence with a question. "Who are those graves for?" she asked carefully, watching Naruto's reaction.
Naruto stopped eating ramen and looked up to meet her gaze directly. His tone turned dry and serious as he responded, "They are of old comrades." Yasaka sighed, understanding that the answer wasn't going to be straightforward.
"Did you know, Shiguro holds you in high regard?" Yasaka remarked, trying to probe a bit more about the bond between Naruto and her brother. Naruto, with a thoughtful gesture, turned his attention back to his bowl before looking up again.
"It was a village I belonged to," Naruto explained. The revelation surprised Yasaka, who had not considered that Naruto had a history prior to his arrival in their territory. "They died because of the 'tree'. I couldn't do anything, I could only survive," Naruto continued, his voice laden with melancholy.
Naruto remembered his former companions with a mix of sadness and affection. "They were good people. Each one helped me in various ways. Some made mistakes in their decisions," he reflected, thinking of Kakashi, his former mentor. "Others went down the wrong path," he thought of Sasuke. "And some gave their lives to help me," he reminisced fondly about his mentor Jiraiya.
Yasaka listened in silence, her own memories of her mother stirred by Naruto's words. "Well, my mother died when I was a child," Yasaka shared quietly, looking down at her feet. "She had the same dream as Shiguro and died for her dream. She was a great woman; her goal was a better future for our kind." Her face lit up with a nostalgic smile as she thought of her mother.
They both sat in comfortable silence for a while until Naruto pulled out his bottle of sake and poured some into a glass, which he offered to Yasaka.
"Shiguro says I shouldn't drink anything like sake," Yasaka commented, hesitating as she looked at the dark liquid in the glass. "But I suppose he's not here."
Naruto nodded with a gentle smile. "Sometimes it's good to break the rules a bit, especially when we're sharing something like a meal and a drink."
....
Naruto stood motionless by the window, his eyes fixed on the brightly shining moon in the night sky. The silence in the temple was profound, broken only by the soft breathing of Yasaka, who was asleep, hugging the sake bottle, her face flushed from the alcohol.
"You can come out now," Naruto said suddenly, his tone calm but firm, while his eyes remained focused on the sky.
A figure dropped silently from the roof in response. Shiguro, with his usual reserved demeanor, landed softly, an apologetic expression on his face. "I'm sorry, Naruto," he began, his tone somewhat timid, which was unusual for him. "I just wanted to check on Yasaka."
Without turning to look at him, Naruto let out a soft sigh. The disinterest on his face was clear as he finally glanced over at Shiguro, his eyes conveying a mix of boredom and mild irritation. "Stop worrying so much," he said in a calm but firm voice. "She can take care of herself."
Naruto couldn't understand why Shiguro, someone so powerful and aware of his sister's potential, continued to act this way. Yasaka wasn't a helpless child by any means. During the summit of the leaders, she had shown a strong personality. Except for Shiguro and that Hendo, no one surpassed her, not even Shiara or Taizo. Yet here was Shiguro, unable to stop viewing her as fragile and delicate.
Shiguro sighed, visibly affected by Naruto's words. He knew his concern was irrational, but he couldn't help it. "Even if it's as you say... I still see her as a child," Shiguro admitted with a nostalgic tone, his gaze lost as he watched Yasaka sleep.
"You know," Naruto said, turning his gaze back to the moon, "treating her like a child will only hold her back. You can't protect her from everything, and in the end, it might cause more harm than you realize."
Shiguro stared at the moon, reflecting on Naruto's words as the silver glow illuminated his face. The connection between Naruto and the moon seemed almost mystical to him, a bond he couldn't quite understand.
Naruto, noticing Shiguro's contemplation, extended a bottle of sake toward him. Surprise appeared on Shiguro's face, but he accepted the bottle without protest, grateful for the gesture. He took a sip, letting the alcohol warm his throat, and then handed the bottle back to Naruto. He looked at the ninja with a thoughtful expression.
"You know," Shiguro began calmly, "if you want to unite the yokai faction, you'll need to convince the daiyoukai." Naruto, curious, glanced sideways at him. "Daiyoukai?"
Shiguro nodded. "Yes, the daiyoukai are the highest-ranking yokai, like Otakemaru, Shuten-Douji, Nurarihyon. My own mother was a daiyoukai, though there are others as well." His voice carried a whisper of pride and sadness as he recalled his mother.
Naruto frowned, intrigued. "Aren't you a daiyoukai?"
"Yes, I am," Shiguro replied with a note of resignation. "But my body is ill, and I can only exert my power for a limited time." His voice reflected self-disappointment, as if he could not meet the expectations he had set for himself.
"These daiyoukai seem powerful. This could be interesting," Gyuki commented with interest.
"Ha ha ha, finally we'll be fighting against powerful beings, not these useless demons," Shukaku chimed in, clearly amused. Surprisingly, Kurama agreed with Shukaku, while Naruto let out a sigh.
.....
A few months later, Naruto walked with discomfort, his eyes showing clear irritation.
Naruto walked through the festival streets, wearing a large navy blue kimono that seemed almost ridiculous compared to the traditional clothing of the villagers. The wide fabric trailed slightly behind him, making each step increasingly uncomfortable. Yasaka, dressed in a pink kimono, walked beside him, clearly entertained by the situation.
The festival was in full swing: the streets were adorned with paper lanterns, colorful lights, and festive decorations. Food and game stalls filled the air with tempting aromas and cheerful sounds. The joy of the event contrasted sharply with the look of displeasure on Naruto's face.
Suddenly, Shiguro came into view, walking with his usual elegance. His presence was like a breath of fresh air amidst the hustle and bustle. Upon seeing Naruto, Shiguro couldn't help but cast a playful glance. His tone, while respectful, was laced with amusement.
Naruto slowly turned his head towards Shiguro, his gaze filled with irritation. "Go to hell," he responded with a biting tone, making it clear that he was far from pleased with the situation. Despite his words, there was a hint of restrained laughter in his voice.
Yasaka, who had been watching the interaction with amusement, burst into cheerful laughter. Her reaction contrasted with Naruto's frustration, but she clearly enjoyed the situation.
Shiguro, not losing his smile, stood beside Naruto, his presence contrasting with the ninja's discomfort. "It seems you two are getting along a bit better," Shiguro commented, glancing between Naruto and Yasaka, who was now walking a few steps ahead, enjoying the festival.
Naruto, making a face, rolled his eyes. "She's gone from hating me to tolerating me," he said, showing his exasperation as he glanced towards Yasaka. "It's not easy when you're forced to participate in something you clearly have no interest in."
"Well," Shiguro continued with a hint of teasing in his voice, "if you keep going like this, you might end up as a couple." Shiguro chuckled softly, clearly enjoying Naruto's discomfort.
As Naruto, Yasaka, and Shiguro were enjoying the festival, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them. It was Shiara, who, with an urgent expression, approached Naruto and spoke to him in a whisper.
"Naruto-san, I have some information for you," Shiara said, bowing her head slightly. Her presence interrupted the festive bustle, drawing Naruto's attention immediately.
Naruto, relieved by the interruption that freed him from the tedious festival obligation, gave Shiara a look of interest. "Perfect. Let's go," he said as he turned to Yasaka and Shiguro. "I'll be back soon. You two enjoy the event."
Without further ado, Naruto and Shiara vanished in a flash of chakra, leaving Shiguro and Yasaka behind. Shiguro sighed in resignation, while Yasaka frowned, irritated by Naruto's sudden departure and unable to fully enjoy the festival.
...
On a mountain far from the village, a group of figures were gathered, hidden in the shadows. The air around them was charged with an ominous presence. One figure stood out with silver hair and bat-like wings, which were kept extended as they watched the village from afar.
"This is the village that Lord Lucifer commanded us to destroy," said the figure, their voice resonating with authority. Their eyes shone with cold determination.
Another figure, with violet owl wings, looked on with skepticism. "I don't understand why Lord Lucifer would order us to kill a bunch of humble yokai," they said with disdain, their tone revealing a lack of understanding towards the orders.
A third figure intervened with a look of deep hatred. "Don't underestimate them, demons. I know one of the yokai here. We'll need to work together to kill him." Feliel, with an imposing presence, gazed at the village with palpable loathing. Their words were laden with animosity, promising conflict and destruction.
...
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein