Five days had passed since Koharu came to the neighboring room. During that time, Uzumaki Naruto woke up every morning at 6 AM. The heat deep in his belly roused him before any alarm could. The sensation of the Nine-Tails' chakra seeping through the cracks in the seal. As long as he didn't let his emotions run wild, it wouldn't go berserk, but it never reached zero either. There was always a spark smoldering inside his body. Koharu woke up earlier than Naruto every morning. He knew because of the footsteps in the hallway. And they were oddly clean sounds—the way she walked wasn't normal. She didn't land on her heels; she walked quietly on her toes. He had no memory of it, but the way she used her body was that of someone trained. (What the hell is this girl?) Naruto had been bothered by it the whole time. --- In the center of the Hidden Leaf Village stood a building called the "Hōzōkan"—the village library. Officially, it was open to general residents, but the second basement level held classified shinobi documents. Naruto only went to the general shelves on the first and second floors. When he suggested going in the morning, Koharu immediately said, "Let's go." Her small silver earring in her right ear caught the morning light. Her white bob-cut hair swayed in the breeze. Her mismatched eyes—gold and blue—looked straight ahead. Nothing like the mud-covered girl who'd collapsed in the training grounds a week ago. [gentle]"The jade-colored comma-shaped crest pattern... I've been curious about something for a while now." She spoke as they walked. [serious]"What is it?" [gentle]"The emblem of the Leaf Village and the patterns carved into the Hokage Rock—they're similar somewhere, but different somewhere else. Similar but old, if that makes sense. Don't you think so?" [surprised]"Old? How old?" "I don't know. That's why I came to investigate." Her voice was just a little—only a little—darker. No memories. Only one clue: the jade-colored comma-shaped crest. Nothing else. Naruto kept his eyes forward and quickened his pace slightly. [excited]"I'll definitely find it, so don't worry. I'm the type who never gives up on stuff like this!" --- The inside of the Hōzōkan was quiet. Even in daylight, it was dim. Tall shelves lined up in rows, and the smell of old paper and wood drifted through the air. At the reception desk sat an elderly white-haired female librarian, and her eyes twitched behind her glasses the moment the two entered. Naruto called out, "Could you tell us where the pattern catalogs and stone monument records from around the founding period are?" The librarian answered, "Third shelf row, upper section, and the west side of the seventh shelf," then added, "Keep it quiet." [serious]"Understood." Koharu was already standing in front of the third shelf row, reading the spines. She was meticulous. She'd pull out one book, check the table of contents, open to the relevant page, compare it with the crest, then close it. The motion was rhythmic and never faltered. The sound of turning pages echoed softly through the quiet library. Naruto lined up beside her and pulled out some documents. But when he tried to take out the third book, two books fell to the floor with a thud. The librarian's glasses turned toward them at incredible speed. [cold]"Do you understand how to handle books?" [scared]"Sorry, I'll pick them up!" Koharu let out a small sigh beside him. It was less exasperation and more of a wry smile. [gentle]"It's better to take them out one at a time here." "I know that." In the end, the two of them split the work and searched for about an hour and a half. Founding-period stone monument pattern catalogs, First Hokage era ruin investigation reports, ancient ruin lists from the northern Fire Country, pattern collections from folklore across regions—they pulled out everything. Nothing matched. There were several similar shapes. But there wasn't a single one that was "it." The crest pattern was subtly off from both the Leaf Village's founding-period designs and the relics from before that. Koharu closed the final book and placed it on the desk. Her expression hadn't changed. But there was something dark in the depths of her eyes. [gentle]"This pattern might be from an era before the Leaf Village's founding." [surprised]"It's that old?" "It's just a guess. But I feel like it's connected to something not recorded in the village's history." Her voice was quiet. That quietness made it feel heavier. (Is this girl not scared?) Naruto looked at Koharu's profile. She didn't know where her past was. She had only one clue. Yet she came here today and carefully examined each book. Not a face that had given up. Naruto was about to say something—when his stomach growled. Grrrrrr. Koharu slowly turned to face him. "...Are you hungry?" [laughing]"Shut up! It happens sometimes!" --- The red noren curtain of Ichiraku Ramen swayed in the midday breeze. [excited]"All right, we're here! This is the best ramen place in the Leaf Village!" [gentle]"...Ramen?" "You don't know? It's a dish where you put noodles in broth." "I understand it's food." As they passed through the curtain, Teuchi turned around. Sixties, sturdy build, white apron. He broke into a smile the moment he saw Naruto. [excited]"Oh, Naruto! First time since you got out of the hospital. And you've got an unusual companion." [excited]"This is Koharu. Long story, but I'm looking after her." "Long story?" "Yeah. So two miso bowls!" The two of them sat side by side at the counter. A small shop with eight seats. It was early afternoon, and there were no other customers. Koharu picked up the chopsticks and stared at them for a moment. [whispers]"...How do you use these?" [surprised]"Huh? You can't use chopsticks?" "I understand how to use them. But...I wanted to confirm somehow." There was a pause. (So that's what it means to have no memories.) She knew how to use them. Her body remembered. But she had no memory of "herself using chopsticks before." So she wanted to confirm. Naruto repositioned his own chopsticks. [gentle]"You hold them like this, grab the noodles with them, and slurp. Be careful, it's hot." "I'll understand if I watch." "I'm teaching you, so listen up!" Teuchi placed two bowls on the counter. Steam rose up. The aroma of miso. Koharu positioned her chopsticks and scooped up a mouthful of noodles. She brought them to her mouth. It went quiet. When Naruto glanced sideways—the corner of Koharu's mouth was lifted just slightly. A small, truly small smile. [gentle]"...It's delicious." Her voice was soft. Naruto gulped down his miso broth in one go. (What was that?) His chest warmed from the inside. Not the seal's heat. Something different, softer. He couldn't quite put it into words, so Naruto shoved noodles into his mouth. Teuchi wiped the counter while watching them—and without saying anything, grinned. Naruto felt his face get a little warm, and he faced forward for no particular reason. Koharu took a sip of broth, then quietly said to Teuchi: [gentle]"May I come again?" [excited]"Of course. Come anytime." (This girl is trying to fit into the Leaf Village.) Naruto looked at Koharu's profile. She was just drinking broth. But that one sentence changed something inside him. The desire to protect her shifted from something vague into a clear, defined shape in that moment. --- After lunch, they headed to the Third Training Ground in the southeast of the village. A wide plaza marked by three wooden log stakes. The area was spacious and surrounded by trees. Kakashi always arrived a bit late, so they'd get there first and wait. Koharu sat down on one of the logs at the edge of the training ground. Her white bob swayed in the wind. Her gold and blue mismatched eyes gazed quietly at the trees. Whether she was thinking about something or nothing at all was unreadable. Kakashi appeared ten minutes later. In his jonin outfit, mask covering his mouth, forehead protector over his left eye. He arrived in his typical "reading while walking" manner, then closed his book once he entered the training ground. [sarcastic]"Hey. You two were actually waiting, huh?" [angry]"You're too late!" [sarcastic]"I was helping a cat down from a tree. Anyway—the main point." Kakashi looked at Naruto. His eyes weren't their usual carefree expression; they were a bit more serious. [serious]"The Nine-Tails' power can be a weapon. But as long as you fear it, it'll only be a trigger for a rampage." It was direct. Naruto had no words to return. [serious]"Today's task is one thing: feel the flow of chakra in your own body while keeping your emotions stable. Don't pull it out—just feel it." Naruto nodded and closed his eyes. He concentrated. The heat deep in his belly. Around the seal. When he directed his consciousness there—anxiety immediately surfaced. What if it goes berserk again? The worry raced through his head. The moment it did, the seal reacted and the heat intensified. [cold]"You panicked." "I know!" [cold]"Getting angry won't help either. Again." They did nothing but that for thirty minutes. Close eyes, concentrate, anxiety surfaces, seal heats up, open eyes. Repeat. It wasn't working. His own chakra, yet it felt like it wasn't his to control. [cold]"You rampage because you panic. Don't pull it out with anger—pull it out in a calm state. That's the only way." Naruto felt sweat beading on his forehead as he closed his eyes again. This time, he thought of something different. Standing beside Koharu in the library. Koharu not giving up even when they couldn't find a clue. The way her face looked when she quietly said "it's delicious" at Ichiraku. That sensation of wanting to protect her. The heat in his belly went quiet. Instead of panic, something soft spread through him. In that state, he slowly tried to sense his chakra. His fingertips glowed faintly. Red light. But this time it wasn't a rampage. It spread slowly, steadily, under his own will. He brought his hands together and concentrated chakra in his palms. He began the Rasengan's rotation. It was much more stable than usual. The center of the rotation didn't waver. The chakra spread evenly. The Rasengan completed, and his sensation reached to his fingertips. [serious]"...Hmm." Kakashi said it shortly. [gentle]"That's amazing." Koharu said quietly from atop the log. Her voice was calm. Naruto released the Rasengan and looked at his hand. It was trembling slightly. Not from fatigue—probably from excitement. (I did it. I pulled it out by my own will.) It was small. Really small, a single step. But it was definitely a step. He'd used the desire to protect as his driving force instead of fear, and pulled out his power. That sensation still lingered in his palm. [excited]"I did it!!" [serious]"Don't get cocky. One success doesn't mean anything." [excited]"But I still did it, right!" Kakashi shrugged. But the corner of his eye relaxed slightly. --- The way home took them through the northeast district of the village. A street lined with warehouses, sparse foot traffic even in daylight. The stone pavement was cracked, buildings with moss-covered walls stretched on. Lots of shadows, the air slightly cold. Naruto muttered something like, "I was in good form today." The moment he said it— A shadow burst from the right alley. From the left, from behind. Three black figures appeared simultaneously from three directions. All wore black outfits, faces hidden by masks. No forehead protectors. Nothing indicating village affiliation. The one in the center spoke quietly. [cold]"Hand over the girl. If you cooperate, we won't hurt you." The situation changed in an instant. Naruto stepped in front of Koharu. [angry]"Like hell I will!!" All three moved at once. Naruto quickly formed seals. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Three clones ap