-------------------------------- P.O.V Narume --------------------------------
The wind blew through her hair as she sat atop Mortissar, her skeletal dragon, gliding through the sky toward her temporary base. The sky was clear. The air was crisp.
Finally, a quiet flight.
Narume lay lazily on Mortissar's back, her gaze drifting among the clouds while her mind remained tangled in the conversation she had just had with Jiraiya.
He'd been calmer than expected. More open. Maybe too open for someone of his rank… or maybe she had simply expected worse.
He hadn't contradicted her. Whether he would return to properly train Naruto remained to be seen. He had claimed he needed to finish a mission, and she hadn't challenged him on that.
The Naruto from the original timeline had many gaps in his fundamentals, despite his enormous raw potential.
She wasn't sure how much her brother had diverged at this point. He was due to graduate in a few months, and she was genuinely curious to see how things would play out.
Mizuki was infamous across all fanfictions for adapting and luring Naruto. Let's see if he manages this time.
She was certain the contents of her discussion with Jiraiya would soon land on the Hokage's desk.
Thinking back on the story she had crafted to explain her powers, she couldn't help but chuckle… then, for no reason at all, burst into laughter.
It lasted several minutes before it finally died down.
A smile still tugged at her lips as she whispered,
— "Sasuga Ainz-sama."
She gently tapped the bone beneath her feet.
— "Let's go home," she murmured.
Mortissar rumbled low in response.
The flight continued a few more minutes until the rocky cliff that concealed her lair came into view.
Timo and Jack were likely already there. She had mentally instructed them to return ahead of her, bringing along the other undead dragon, Astissar.
The goal was simple: prepare for battle. Or rather, to prepare Timo for battle.
As she entered the cavern, the atmosphere was as serene as ever—peaceful, almost paradisiacal.
Wooden chalets stood by the edge of a clear lake she had conjured. She'd carved microfissures through the stone to allow air circulation and fortified the whole cave system with layers of magic.
There was even a dedicated training zone.
She was fairly sure even Tsunade couldn't flatten this place—not without considerable effort—and it was just one of the safe houses she had created.
This one was special. It would soon have its first permanent resident.
After confirming that there was plenty of food, clean water, and essential utensils, she stepped outside to find Timo and Jack waiting by the entrance.
— "Timo, you're coming with me. Jack, guard this place with Astissar."
Obedient as ever, Timo climbed onto Mortissar with her, while Jack simply nodded and returned inside.
The dragon soared once more, wings cutting through the sky as they headed toward a small village.
Her goal? Retrieve one of the few remaining members of the Uzumaki clan.
She could do it quietly… but that wasn't her style. She wanted to be noticed. She wanted to increase the threat level she posed in the eyes of Konoha—and especially in the eyes of Danzo.
Let him come to her.Let him try.Maybe then Sasuke would never get the chance to avenge anything… and Danzo would never discover his hidden calling as the great "Bridge Sealer."
Aside from that, she genuinely wondered how Naruto would react to suddenly gaining another sister.
The wind had stilled since her landing.
Mortissar was cloaked in high-grade invisibility and silencing spells. Timo, too, remained out of sight just beyond the village border with strict orders not to show himself.
Narume now walked alone.A simple figure.A child with a calm expression, wrapped in a veil that left her face visible.
Here, no one knew who she was.Except, perhaps, a few bounty hunters who had already learned the cost of speaking out.
The Village of the Grass was… different from Konoha. Smaller. Drier. The buildings were made of humble materials, but they were sturdy and well-maintained.
Still, the country clearly didn't live in peace or prosperity.
Eyes glanced her way and moved on. To them, she was just another girl—young, harmless.
She strolled leisurely through the streets, observing the civilians and taking note of how few shinobi there were compared to Konoha.
Then, she made her way toward the dwelling of her new target: Karin Uzumaki.
She planned to keep her for a while—at least until Naruto graduated.
After that, she would leave Karin with Tsunade or Jiraiya.
Tsunade was the easier option. Narume already knew her location down to the square meter. Besides, Karin wasn't destined to stay in Konoha anyway.
The redhead was currently stationed in a makeshift medical outpost, used by wounded shinobi returning from patrol.
Not an actual medic.Just a child with a rare gift, drained to the bone.
Charming.
Narume observed her from the shadow of a low wall.
Karin stood in the center, focused, brow furrowed, as a man with a shattered knee bit into her arm.
In under a minute, the injury closed. He stood. Walked off. Done.
Narume didn't interrupt.
She already knew where Karin lived. There was no rush.
She made her way to the girl's house. The place was simple, borderline neglected.
Should I do a bit of cleaning while I wait?
She started by sweeping gently, then moved on to tidying the scattered belongings. She dusted with methodical care, adjusted the cushions, and opened the shutters to let in some light.
The air felt heavy, so she cast a small purification spell to clear out the stale scent, then headed to the kitchen.
The meal was simple: rice, stewed vegetables, a warm broth. Nothing extravagant, but made with care.
She knew how to cook. She had learned.Not to eat, obviously—just because it was useful.
Once everything was ready, she sat at the table, examined the cutlery, checked the temperature of the food.
Then, she got up and settled in the armchair near the door.
And waited.
It didn't take long before she heard the door creak open.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
All I have left is one publication.
Guys, I got caught ... well my brother who is also an author here but for adult books.
Sign a petition to get our devices back.
I'll write about my comrade's in the meantime.
My exam date was pushed back a week because we were missing information.
As I had reached a certain level, it's a bit disappointing.
When do you think you'll get there?
I have lots of ideas but the further I go, the more confused I get.
That's why the three stories I wrote were never published.