Chapter 7: Arriving Kumo

In Kumogakure, the council convened in secret, their expressions grim as they discussed the ramifications of their failed mission to kidnap the Hyuuga heiress and steal the Byakugan. The plot had been discovered, and Konoha demanded severe reparations. Behind the back of Raikage A, the council decided to offer Yugito Nii and Karui as a peace offering to Konoha, a decision they hoped would avert war and maintain a fragile peace.

Raikage A was furious when he discovered the council's decision. His rage was palpable, and many council members met their end that day as he vented his wrath. However, he knew he was powerless to undo what had already been set in motion. Kumogakure could not afford further conflict with Konoha.

Summoning Yugito Nii and Karui to his office, the Raikage prepared himself for the difficult conversation ahead. Yugito, a thirteen-year-old kunoichi and jinchūriki of the Two-Tails, and Karui, a six-year-old academy student, were about to be sent away from their home.

Yugito and Karui entered the Raikage's office, both sensing the gravity of the situation. The Raikage's normally imposing presence seemed even more formidable.

"Yugito, Karui," he began, his voice heavy with regret, "I have something to tell you. The council has decided to offer you both to Konoha as part of the reparations for our... mistake. This was done without my consent, but the decision stands. We are in no position to refuse."

Karui's eyes widened in shock, tears welling up as she began to cry. Yugito, feeling like an older sister, immediately tried to comfort her, though she herself was on the verge of tears. She knelt down beside Karui, hugging her tightly.

"It's going to be okay, Karui," Yugito whispered, though she struggled to believe her own words. She looked up at the Raikage, her eyes filled with both sorrow and anger. "Why us?"

The Raikage clenched his fists. "Because the council are fools. I am sorry, Yugito, Karui. If there was any other way..."

Yugito stood, still holding Karui close. "We'll do what we must," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "We'll make it through this, Karui."

The journey to Konoha took several weeks. The two kunoichi traveled under the watchful eyes of ANBU guards. Karui's tears had dried, but her small hand remained firmly clasped in Yugito's for comfort. Yugito herself stayed resolute, though the weight of the situation pressed heavily on her shoulders.

Upon arriving in Konoha, they were met with stares of curiosity and disdain from the villagers. Yugito was accustomed to such treatment; as a jinchūriki, she had experienced similar disdain in Kumo. Karui, however, felt a deep sense of discomfort and clung closer to Yugito.

"Don't look at them," Yugito murmured. "Keep your head up."

They were escorted directly to the Hokage's office. The imposing presence of the Hokage's Tower loomed over them as they entered, and they were led into the office of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.

The two knelt before him, but Hiruzen quickly motioned for them to rise. "There is no need for that," he said kindly, a grandfatherly smile on his face. "You are welcome here in Konoha."

Yugito and Karui stood, still tense. Hiruzen's demeanor was kind and warm, but they couldn't help feeling suspicious.

Hiruzen continued, "Karui, you will be enrolled in the Academy. Yugito, you will retain your status as a chūnin. The choice to disclose your status as a jinchūriki is yours alone. I understand this is a difficult transition, but we will help you integrate into our village."

Karui kept her eyes down, feeling overwhelmed. Yugito, however, couldn't remain silent. "Why are you treating us so well?" she asked, suspicion lacing her voice.

Hiruzen sighed, his expression becoming more somber. "Because I believe in giving people a chance. And because there is a young boy in this village who has suffered greatly. His name is Naruto Uzumaki. He needs someone to guide him, to train him. Yugito, I believe you can help him. And Karui, I believe you can be a friend to him."

Yugito's eyes narrowed slightly, still wary. "And if we refuse?"

Hiruzen shook his head gently. "I hope you won't. Naruto has endured more pain than any child should. He needs support, understanding, and friendship. I think you both can provide that."

Yugito glanced at Karui, who was looking down but listening intently. She sighed, realizing they had little choice but also feeling a glimmer of compassion for the boy the Hokage spoke of. "Alright," she said finally. "We'll do it."

"Thank you," Hiruzen said warmly. "You have a place here in Konoha. I hope you will come to see it as your home."

---

Over the next few days, Karui and Yugito began to settle into their new lives. Karui was enrolled in the Academy, where she slowly began to adapt to the new environment. Her initial days were filled with unease, but she found solace in the structured routines of the school. Meanwhile, Yugito observed Naruto from a distance, noting his daily activities and routines. They were housed in the same building as Naruto, making them effectively neighbors.

Naruto lived alone in a small apartment. Yugito watched as he meticulously cleaned his home every day and cooked meals that looked and smelled phenomenal. She was impressed by his independence and skill, noting how he seemed to take pride in maintaining his space.

One afternoon, Yugito decided to approach him. She knocked on his door, and Naruto opened it, looking at her with surprise and caution.

"Hi," Yugito said with a friendly smile. "I'm Yugito, your new neighbor. I just moved in."

Naruto blinked, clearly taken aback. "Oh, uh, hi. I'm Naruto."

"I noticed you keep your apartment very clean," Yugito continued. "That's impressive."

Naruto shrugged, still wary. "I like things tidy."

Yugito sensed his caution and decided to keep the conversation light. "I do too. If you ever need any help or just want to hang out, feel free to drop by."

Naruto nodded slowly. "Okay. Thanks."

Yugito smiled warmly. "Anytime."

As the days passed, Yugito continued to observe Naruto, offering occasional advice and assistance. Slowly, she began to see a change in him. He seemed to warm up to her presence, albeit cautiously.

---

In the Academy, Karui made a conscious effort to befriend Naruto. Initially, he seemed uninterested, but she persisted, joining him and his friends during lunch breaks and trying to engage him in conversation. Over time, Naruto began to respond more warmly. He even started to smile slightly when they cooked together or shared a joke.

Sasuke, noticing the growing bond between Naruto and Karui, started to include her in their activities. One afternoon, he dragged her along with his group. Ino, in turn, dragged Hinata Hyuga into their circle. Hinata, however, was painfully shy, and whenever she tried to talk to Sasuke or vice versa, she would stutter and eventually faint, much to the amusement of the others.

"She's so weird," Sasuke would mutter, genuinely confused by her behavior.

Karui felt a twinge of sympathy for Hinata but was also relieved to see Naruto beginning to form a semblance of a normal social life. The bond between the children was still fragile, but it was growing stronger day by day.

Through their combined efforts, Karui and Yugito were slowly helping Naruto find his place in the village, providing him with the support and friendship he so desperately needed. And as they did, they too found a sense of purpose and belonging in the village of Konoha.

As the days turned into weeks, Hiruzen Sarutobi kept a close eye on the progress of the young shinobi, particularly Naruto Uzumaki. From his office, he often watched the academy grounds where Naruto and his friends trained and played. Hiruzen felt a deep sense of gratitude not only towards Yugito and Karui but also towards Shino Aburame, Sasuke Uchiha, and Ino Yamanaka. These children had been the first to reach out to Naruto, offering him friendship and companionship when no one else would.

Naruto's transformation was subtle but significant. He had begun to trust his peers more, allowing himself to smile and engage in their activities. It warmed Hiruzen's heart to see the boy gradually finding his place within the village.

Hiruzen's pride extended beyond Naruto's circle to the growth of other promising ninjas in Konoha. Kurenai Yuhi, in particular, was blossoming into a formidable kunoichi. With the resources and advanced jutsu Hiruzen provided her, Kurenai's skills were rapidly approaching Kage-level as she incorporate and master the multiple Jutsus that was given to her such as the Shadow Clone Technique (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu), Crimson Blossom Serenity (Magen: Hiiro no Hana no Seijaku), Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Kokuangyo no Jutsu), and Bringer-of-Brightness Technique (Kashokugyo no Jutsu).

Kurenai utilized the Shadow Clone Technique to expedite her learning process. The clones allowed her to practice her chakra control and genjutsu simultaneously, significantly speeding up her progress. She was steadily climbing towards the rank of Jonin, and Hiruzen couldn't have been prouder.

Similarly, Yugao Uzuki was making remarkable strides in her kenjutsu training. Hiruzen had entrusted her with the Lunar Flow Style (Getsuryū Kenjutsu), a highly advanced and demanding sword style. Yugao's dedication was unwavering as she worked tirelessly to forge her body and mind to master this art.

Like Kurenai, Yugao also employed the Shadow Clone Technique to enhance her training. The clones not only helped with chakra control but also allowed her to develop muscle memory more efficiently. Although her chakra reserves limited her to creating about ten clones at a time, the progress she made was nothing short of impressive.

Hiruzen often reflected on these young shinobi's journeys with a sense of fulfillment. He knew that the future of Konoha was in capable hands.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his daily observations, he turned his attention back to the reports on his desk. The peaceful ambiance of his office was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Inu, a masked ANBU operative better known as Kakashi Hatake.

"Hokage-sama," Inu began, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of underlying concern. "I need to discuss the situation regarding Yugito Nii and Karui."

Hiruzen looked up from his paperwork and gestured for Inu to continue. "Go ahead, Inu."

Inu stepped closer, his demeanor serious. "I remain suspicious of Yugito and Karui. Allowing them this much freedom, especially with them growing closer to Naruto, is risky. We don't know their true intentions."

Hiruzen sighed, this being a conversation he had already had multiple times. "Inu, I understand your concerns. However, I have assessed the situation thoroughly. Yugito and Karui are here under specific circumstances. Their integration into our village and their interactions with Naruto have been beneficial."

Inu's posture stiffened slightly. "Hokage-sama, with all due respect, they are still shinobi from another village. They could be biding their time, gathering information, or planning something we haven't foreseen."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening as he spoke. "I have taken that into consideration, Inu. Yugito and Karui's presence here is not entirely voluntary. They were sent as a form of reparation for Kumogakure's transgressions. Yugito, especially, understands the delicate nature of their situation. She would not jeopardize her position or the fragile peace between our villages."

"But Naruto..." Inu began, but Hiruzen raised a hand to gently stop him.

"Naruto needs this," Hiruzen said firmly. "He needs to learn to trust, to form bonds with others. Yugito and Karui have provided him with friendship and stability. They are not just outsiders; they are becoming part of his support system."

Inu remained silent for a moment, contemplating the Hokage's words. "I hope you're right, Hokage-sama. I just can't shake the feeling that something might go wrong."

Hiruzen gave a small, reassuring smile. "Your vigilance is appreciated, Inu. But trust me on this. Sometimes, the bonds we forge with those who were once strangers can be the strongest of all."

Inu nodded reluctantly. "Understood, Hokage-sama. I'll continue to keep an eye on the situation."

As Inu departed, Hiruzen returned to his thoughts, reflecting on the complex web of relationships and the delicate balance he was trying to maintain. He knew that the future of Konoha rested not only on the strength of its shinobi but also on the unity and trust that bound them together.