Chapter 19: The Mysterious Masked Man

The days spent at Kakashi’s home were warm and fulfilling.

Kotono usually used shadow clones to attend school while her original body diligently trained at home.

Her current training focused mainly on the sealing techniques taught by Kushina.

At present, Kotono’s chakra could only sustain Kushina’s daily activities for five hours; issuing battle commands would rapidly drain her chakra.

Therefore, Kushina spent three hours each day teaching her the Uzumaki clan’s secret sealing arts, reserving the remaining two hours to accompany Naruto after school, playing and training with the two children.

During free time, Kakashi instructed her in essential ninja fundamentals such as chakra control, chakra nature transformation, and shuriken throwing.

Naruto felt very happy with this lifestyle, sometimes to the point of doubting if he was about to pass away.

Every day he returned home to see his mother’s figure and eat the warm meals prepared by Kakashi.

It wasn’t that Kushina was unwilling to cook, but cooking took time, which was better spent allowing Kotono, Naruto, and Kushina to bond.

However, Naruto took the initiative to say that having his mother accompany him for just one hour each day was enough.

“If Kotono wants Mom to teach you to get stronger, then it definitely needs more time.”

Naruto replied sincerely, “The things Mom teaches, I don’t understand yet and can’t learn. It would just waste your time.”

He knew every second Kushina spent in the living world consumed Kotono’s chakra.

Kotono had to train, send shadow clones to school, and support her mother’s actions, working so hard daily that her chakra was nearly drained.

Naruto felt sorry for her and did not want her to suffer so much.

“Don’t say that—Aunt Kushina’s time with you is never wasted,” Kotono frowned, “My original goal in joining the Holy Grail War was to help you find your parents.”

“I’m learning sealing techniques to protect you.”

The Holy Grail fragment within Naruto was indeed terrifying; even Kakashi did not know the proper way to handle it.

But Kushina said their Uzumaki clan’s sealing jutsu had special effects against tailed beasts.

Since Kushina was a heroic spirit and couldn’t provide immediate help to Naruto, Kotono, who shared the Uzumaki bloodline and was inseparably close to Naruto, could.

The sooner Kotono mastered the Uzumaki sealing arts, the more effectively she could help Naruto suppress the Nine-Tails in the future.

So, what was there to hesitate about?

Learn!

Moreover, sealing techniques were extremely rare and advanced ninjutsu in the shinobi world; many sought to learn them but couldn’t find a path. She was fortunate to have Kushina, a master of sealing arts, as her mentor.

Such a precious resource would surely provoke envy if word got out.

“But what about chakra overdraft?”

“If I really overdraw, I can promptly cancel the summoning. I’m not an idiot.”

Little Kotono was indeed a fool.

Naruto flopped onto the mat beside Kotono, gazing at her delicate profile as she read the scroll, feeling a bittersweet and sweet ache in his heart.

He knew the real reason was simple: Kotono cherished him deeply.

“I really like Kotono.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and affectionately rubbed against her.

He sincerely thought, how could this world function without Kotono?

Kotono was tickled by his touch and tried to evade him, but Naruto pressed closer affectionately, making it impossible for her to continue studying.

She glared at him indignantly, then suddenly stretched out her hand mysteriously.

“Let me show you the new sealing technique I learned.”

Naruto, curious, rubbed closer as expected.

Slap.

Kotono placed her hands on Naruto’s cheeks, then looked at him with a triumphant, sly smile.

“Eh? What’s this? What’s this?”

“Look in the mirror, idiot,” Kushina said beside her, utterly speechless at her silly son.

Naruto was confused until he looked in the mirror and found words written on each cheek, which together read—

“Super Fan of Kotono [Heart Smooch~]”

“It’s a new paper-based sealing technique I just learned. It can imprint writing on any object, and no method can remove it. Unless the seal is lifted, even cutting off the flesh won’t help.”

It was one of the Uzumaki clan’s secret punishments for criminals, newly learned by Kotono and perfect for pranking Naruto.

Naruto panicked at first, but then, seeing Kotono’s bright, cunning smile...

She was adorable.

His face involuntarily flushed.

Well, it was true, after all—he wasn’t wrong.

He would always be Kotono’s super fan.

Kushina’s eyes softened as she smiled, watching the two children playfully spar.

Kotono’s talent was dazzling, impossible to overlook.

Sealing jutsu demanded extremely high aptitude, even more than medical ninjutsu.

Yet Kotono mastered the beginner-level rotational writing seal and was already practicing the paper-writing seal within just three days.

Such talent was exceedingly rare even among the Uzumaki clan.

Moreover, she was not only a genius but incredibly diligent, absorbing all the knowledge Kushina imparted like a sponge.

Though so young and exceptionally gifted, why was she so eager for strength?

To protect the destined wife, of course, no reason needed.

But if one analyzed logically—

“During the Nine-Tails’ rampage, the best candidate to become the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki in the village was actually me.”

“Naruto is the heir of heroes. Aunt Kushina and the Fourth Hokage have already made great sacrifices; there’s no need to sacrifice Naruto again.”

“I’m an orphan and happen to have the Uzumaki bloodline.”

Kotono shook her head, stopping Kushina from explaining.

She said solemnly, “No matter what, Naruto protected me and everyone in the village long ago.”

“So, I really want to gain the power to protect Naruto.”

She gave a very cute smile: “—Let’s just say I want to become a hero belonging only to Naruto.”

Hearing this, Kushina’s lips trembled slightly, and her nose tingled with emotion.

This was exactly the life they had envisioned for Naruto at the start, but those in the village... hadn’t even understood this, not even a seven-year-old girl.

Perhaps it was the similarity of their fates that made these two children so attuned and close.

Fate, the Holy Grail.

Everything unfolded like destiny, a reenactment of the past.

Kushina couldn’t help but recall how Minato had desperately trained to develop the Rasengan to gain the power to protect her and fight the tailed beast.

Kushina and Minato.

Kotono and Naruto.

She and Naruto were truly fortunate and happy.

To meet someone worth spending a lifetime with at such a young age.

“Kotono,” she said with a gentle smile, “you’ve learned quite a bit of my sealing techniques, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, Kakashi is working hard to pay off the tuition!” Kotono replied.

Kushina chuckled dryly, “I meant, after learning so much from me, are you still just going to call me ‘Auntie’?”

Naruto, leisurely crossing his legs, said lazily, “Silly Kotono, Mom wants you to call her ‘Teacher’!”

Kotono suddenly realized and exclaimed joyfully, “Teacher Kushina!”

Kushina: ...

She glanced at her son with a mix of frustration and fondness.

Don’t answer out of turn!

Mom can only help you this once; if you miss this chance, you’ll have to work hard on your own later.

However...

She smiled softly.

Actually, being a teacher wasn’t bad; who wouldn’t like such a diligent, talented student like Kotono?

Even without Naruto’s connection, Kushina greatly admired this brave, kind genius girl.

If it were Kotono, she would definitely spread Kushina’s name as a sealing master in the future.

As for other matters, with the closeness of the two children, it would naturally come to pass in time.

*

Today was a special day.

Teacher Kushina wanted to visit the graves of the Fourth Hokage and two other disciples.

One was Rin Nohara; the other, Uchiha Obito—both heroes who died in the Third Great Ninja War.

The Uzumaki family of three and the non-regular member Kakashi set out early to clean and pay respects at the memorial.

They all wore black clothes, their expressions solemn.

However, Kushina had to use a transformation jutsu when going out, as per village rules, to prevent villagers from being shocked by the resurrection of the dead.

*

This was Kotono’s second visit to the memorial.

The first was to gather chakra; the second, to honor two departed souls.

Given her usual temperament, she would have felt great regret upon hearing of Uchiha Obito’s death.

Because through his relationship with Kakashi, she had originally planned to use him to approach the Uchiha clan and gather intel on Uchiha Itachi.

But as the wind rustled through the green trees around the cemetery,

As she saw Kushina gently touch the statue of the Will of Fire at the front, tears falling,

And Kakashi lowering his eyes solemnly, gazing at the two tombstones—

For some reason, Kotono couldn’t feel at ease.

“I couldn’t frighten the villagers, so I used transformation jutsu,” Kushina whispered softly, “But if it were you, no matter what form I take, you would surely recognize me.”

Naruto stood tearful beside his mother.

At this moment, he finally felt the reality that his father was a village hero, resting eternally beneath the cold earth.

Kotono also offered flowers to the Fourth Hokage.

The game’s immersion was getting better and better.

The people she knew—good souls who had suffered misfortune yet preserved their purity—tugged at her emotions more deeply.

She didn’t know if that was good or bad, but she truly wanted to complete the main quest and let them find happiness in the game’s ending.

Kakashi placed flowers before Rin and Obito’s graves.

“Obito, I brought Kotono and Naruto to see you. This girl is Uzumaki Kotono, disciple of Master Kushina. That boy is Uzumaki Naruto—you should be able to recognize whose child he is at a glance.”

“I am Uzumaki Kotono,” she bowed deeply. “Senior Obito, becoming a partner of justice is my ninja way!”

Kakashi spoke softly, “That child Naruto wishes to become the strongest Hokage who surpasses all predecessors. Both are truly admirable ambitions.”

Kakashi rambled beside his dear friend’s grave.

Kotono saw this softer, gentler side of him for the first time.

Even though Kakashi was still an ANBU ninja, and though he tried to be gentle with his younger siblings, he still carried a lingering coldness and the rust of blood.

But when he spoke to Obito, his aura changed completely.

Meanwhile, behind a tree at the edge of the cemetery, two others quietly watched this scene.

*

“Obito, your good friend has come to visit you again.”

The speaker was a strange man with a half-black, half-white face, wrapped in two leaves resembling a pitcher plant; the white half was speaking now.

“I am Uchiha Madara. Do not get my name wrong.”

The other wore a dark blue robe, a long sword at his waist, and a tiger-striped mask.

His voice was low and deep, his long hair wild behind him, exuding a dangerous, mysterious aura.

“Yes, Lord Madara.”

“But Kakashi brought three strange people today.”

White Zetsu commented, “One is a Nine-Tails jinchūriki, another a woman who knew Minato Namikaze, and the last an unknown useless brat.”

Black Zetsu sneered, “Indeed useless; can’t even clear a high jump, yet wants to become a partner of justice.”

White Zetsu naively said, “But Obito—Lord Madara looked at her for a long time that day.”

The masked man’s tone was mocking: “He only wants to see when she recognizes failure and gives up that foolish act.”

White Zetsu continued recklessly, “But I think she’s very much like young Obito back then, rushing at the boulder again and again, wanting to—”

White Zetsu’s words abruptly stopped.

Because the masked man suddenly turned toward him, releasing a chilling murderous intent.

Black Zetsu said, “You angered Lord Madara, White Zetsu.”

White Zetsu wisely fell silent.

“Such naive brats only become kindling for the so-called Will of Fire, eventually burned to ashes.”

The masked man said coldly.

“The only one in Konoha worth caring about is Uchiha Itachi.”

“Shisui has been dead long enough. It’s time to put some pressure on Danzo.”