"Good, tell her I'm heading to the hospital."
The chūnin didn't budge an inch.
"I said GO!" Naruto raised his voice, and the chūnin made the classic 'I'm about to piss myself' face before bolting toward the Hokage Tower.
Naruto and Tayuya watched his retreat, chuckling slightly, but the levity didn't last. As Naruto continued his march through the village, the hostility thickened. Glares pierced him from all sides like senbon. Tayuya, still in Naruto's arms, was trying to wrap her head around what could make an entire village hate their own ninja.
"Hey, shithead, what the hell did you do? They're looking at you like you murdered their whole families."
She instantly felt his body tense.
"Well, Tayuya-chan, I'm the village's number one prankster. I may have pulled one too many stunts over the years… they're still holding a grudge, hehe…"
The blond gave her a forced grin.
She narrowed her eyes.
'He's lying. That wasn't just prank-based hate. That was deeper. More dangerous.'
"Then you really must've gotten them good, huh?" she asked with an amused scoff.
"Yeah… I'm a pretty accomplished prankster…"
But his fake cheer couldn't hide the tension pressing down like a boulder. Suddenly, a small mob blocked the path.
"Leave the girl alone, you demon brat!" shouted a burly villager.
"Yeah! Don't touch her with your filth—wait, hey! Look! The demon's broken her legs!" another screamed.
"Kami, he's gonna rape her!" a shrill voice cried.
"Someone get a jōnin! Kill that thing!"
"Kill the demon!"
"DIE!"
"DIE!"
The mob surged.
Naruto's eyes widened in horror, taking unconscious steps back as people boxed him in. Tayuya snapped out of her daze, stunned by the panic in his face. She clenched her fists and acted.
"NOT ONE FUCKING STEP CLOSER, YOU CROTCH-STAINED MAGGOTS!" she roared, unleashing killing intent strong enough to make even a chūnin freeze.
The mob halted, startled by her sudden presence and force.
"We're here to help you! That thing's fooling you!" someone yelled.
"I WAS SAVED BY THE ONE YOU KEEP CALLING A DEMON!" she bellowed.
Gasps echoed.
"HE SAVED YOU?!" one woman screamed, aghast.
"Yeah! He dug me out from under a gods-damned forest, carried me for miles through enemy territory, and treated my wounds—SO BACK THE HELL OFF!"
Silence fell. The crowd parted reluctantly, muttering about the 'demon' and 'demon whore.'
Then one man—clearly brave or brainless—stepped into their path.
"He's deceiving you, girl. You don't know what he really is…"
Naruto stiffened, hands trembling.
"Then tell me," Tayuya sneered. "Enlighten me. Who is he?"
"He's the Kyūbi no Yōko."
Time froze. Then—
THUNK!
A kunai embedded itself cleanly between the man's eyes. He dropped like a rock, dead.
Two ANBU instantly appeared—one bearing a Cat mask, the other Bear.
"The man violated the Third Hokage's decree and revealed an S-rank secret. Execution was justified. Disperse immediately," Cat commanded. The crowd vanished like smoke.
Cat turned to Naruto.
"We are to escort you and the prisoner to the hospital, Uzumaki-san," she said, voice softer. She leaned in.
"And… I'm glad you're alive."
"I'm glad to see you too, Yugao-chan!" Naruto smiled faintly at the masked ANBU.
"We'll take the rooftops," Bear added.
As they moved, Tayuya glanced at Naruto.
"Why so gloomy, shithead?" she asked.
"You heard them… You heard what I am." His voice was bitter.
"And are you really the Kyūbi?" she asked, unsure she wanted to hear the answer.
"Technically? No. We're two separate beings. He's sealed in me. We share space. It's… complicated."
She blinked.
"Complicated how?"
"Kyuubi was sealed inside me when I was born. He's not me—I'm his host. But that's all people see. Look… I'll still help you get adjusted to Konoha. I won't force anything."
He looked away.
She scowled.
"What the hell are you talking about, idiot?"
"Now that you know… you probably don't want to deal with me anymore…"
WHAM!
Naruto yelped, holding his forehead.
"You dumbass! You think I'm like those mouth-breathing villagers?! I know the damn difference between a scroll and a kunai!"
Both ANBU smiled silently above, hidden behind their masks.
"So… you don't hate me?" he asked, hope sparking in his voice.
"No…"
"So you like me?"
"Don't push it, shithead!"
Naruto's grin could light up the whole village as he hugged her tighter, carrying her like something precious. She blushed, but didn't object.
Konoha Hospital — Moments Later…
The building was modest compared to the Hokage Tower, made of pale red brick and wood, like much of Konoha. As they passed through the gates, they saw three figures waiting: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shizune.
Naruto blinked. "Ero-sennin? Baa-chan?"
"Naruto! My boy!" Jiraiya bellowed with fake anime tears. "I'm so proud of you! Did you knock her up?!"
"WHAT?! NO!" Naruto spluttered. "She's hurt! I carried her here—believe it!"
Tayuya blushed furiously.
'That… really didn't come out right.'
Jiraiya wailed louder.
"You ravaged her so hard you broke her legs! That's my boy! Genius! Tell me more—I need inspiration for my next novel!"
Tsunade Punch: Direct Hit!
"IDIOT PERVERT!" she roared.
Shizune fainted on cue.
"Look what you did, Naruto!" Tsunade snapped. "Shizune fainted! Now who's gonna handle Tonton?"
She turned to the redhead.
"Who is she?"
Naruto straightened.
"She's Tayuya of the Hidden Sound. She defected and wants to join Konoha. I vouch for her."
"And why shouldn't I have her executed where she stands?"
Tayuya paled. Naruto hugged her tighter.
"Come on, baa-chan, please! Pretty please…"
Tsunade glared.
"Ugh. I hate that jutsu… Fine. She can stay. For now."
Tayuya felt her jaw go slack.
'What kind of genjutsu hell did I just enter?'
"YATTA! You're the best, Granny! And she'll tell us everything she knows about Orochimaru too!"
"Whatever. Let's get her inside. I'll fix her up."
"Finally, my ass is killing me," Tayuya muttered.
Everyone stared at her.
'That… really didn't come out right either.'
"HA! I knew it!" Jiraiya declared, rising from the rubble. "Nice job, gaki!"
Another Tsunade Punch: Jiraiya KO'ed again
Tsunade sighed and looked at the still-unconscious Shizune.
"Wake up or I'll eat your pig."
Shizune bolted up.
"NO! Not Tonton! Please, my lady!"
Tayuya stared in disbelief.
'I'm surrounded by lunatics.'
And with that, they all walked into the hospital, chaos trailing behind them.