At home, Uchiha Izumi rarely initiated conversation with Naruto Uzumaki, often sitting quietly alone on her bed.
Naruto didn't mind. After such a traumatic experience, a change in demeanor was natural.
He wasn't the naive child he once was and didn't dwell on it.
"Hinata, come over to hang out when you're free."
"See you next time."
Izumi waved toward Hinata Hyuga's direction, then walked home with Naruto.
Along the way, they chatted about the day's events at the Ninja Academy.
"You lost to Sasuke again?"
"You'll have to try harder next time. You're graduating soon, after all."
Izumi smiled, teasing Naruto upon hearing he'd lost to Sasuke Uchiha again.
The two had been rivals since childhood, always competing.
She knew her "little brother" was stubborn, never willing to admit defeat.
"I won't lose next time, Sis."
"When I get stronger, I'll definitely beat Sasuke."
Naruto pouted, defiantly insisting to Izumi.
He knew he was currently outmatched by Sasuke.
The gap wasn't vast—Sasuke's victories were often narrow, driven by the hatred fueling his training.
That vengeance kept Sasuke standing as the victor each time.
"Don't be so stubborn. You've got bruises on your face, don't you?"
"Let me put some ointment on them when we get home."
Izumi reached out, touching Naruto's cheek, causing him to wince in pain.
Though blind, she couldn't see his injuries but could gauge them from his footsteps.
Sparring among ninja was common, and minor injuries were normal.
"I'll do it myself, Sis."
"Let's hurry home. I'm starving."
Naruto took Izumi's hand, brushing off the pain.
Izumi didn't press further, aware that even navigating the streets alone was challenging for her now.
...
The next morning, Naruto left early for training.
Izumi woke early too, drinking the milk Naruto had left for her, then carefully made her way out.
Following her memory, she reached the Hokage's office building.
On the third floor, she knocked on Hiruzen Sarutobi's office door and entered.
"Uchiha Izumi?"
"How have things been lately?"
Hiruzen glanced at Izumi, then resumed reviewing documents.
Izumi's monthly reports to Hiruzen were mandatory.
Previously, no suitable person could foster Naruto's sense of belonging to the village.
Now, Izumi was perfect for the role, being the most important person in Naruto's heart.
If Naruto showed signs of becoming a threat to the Leaf, Hiruzen would eliminate him without hesitation, resealing the Nine-Tails into another Jinchuriki.
"Naruto Uzumaki has been normal lately."
"He has some grievances with the villagers, but he's very kind-hearted."
"He harbors no ill intentions toward the village."
Izumi gripped her cane tightly, calmly recounting the past month's events to Hiruzen.
After the Uchiha clan's betrayal, Hiruzen scrutinized all potential threats to the Leaf.
Each was a double-edged sword.
The Uchiha clan, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—if controlled, they were the Leaf's sharpest blades; if not, they could cut the village itself.
Izumi understood Hiruzen's wariness of Naruto, born from the Uchiha's rebellion.
To protect Naruto, she'd spent three years vouching for his goodness to Hiruzen.
Even when Naruto repeatedly expressed his dislike for the villagers, Izumi sternly warned him against harming anyone in the village.
"Ninja on missions don't need emotions."
"You're too sentimental, but that's not a bad thing."
"Izumi, remember, I'm not asking you to spy on Naruto but to guide him onto the right path."
"To make him truly feel a sense of belonging to the village, not just chase power to fulfill his desires."
"I don't want Naruto to follow the Uchiha clan's path."
Hiruzen frowned slightly. Izumi's reports had been consistent over the years.
He knew Naruto likely posed no immediate threat.
But he needed to repeatedly reinforce Izumi's role to achieve his desired outcome.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Izumi's body trembled, a instinctive fear rising within.
The once-kindly Hokage, warm to all, now seemed terrifying to her since her blinding.
More frightening than facing Fugaku Uchiha ever was.
"Go back, and remember your mission."
Satisfied with the effect, Hiruzen waved Izumi out.
Izumi said nothing more, bowing before slowly leaving.
"The Uchiha clan's demise has weakened the Leaf's strength significantly."
"Other nations' ninja villages at the border are getting restless."
Hiruzen propped his forehead, sighing.
He'd aged noticeably in recent years, burdened by the Leaf's myriad issues.
The Uchiha were the Leaf's strongest force, intimidating enemies on the battlefield.
Now, with only a child remaining, other nations' ninja probed the Land of Fire's borders, testing the Leaf's resolve and strength.
A large-scale war was unlikely, but even skirmishes strained the Leaf's resources.
Especially with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki not yet a viable asset and the Three Legendary Ninja absent.