Aoba: "Hmm~!"
Her delicate hands rubbed together.
She was trying to extract the essence of the symbiotic tailed beast.
Yet Aoba's efforts were bound to be a drop in the ocean.
All she managed to do was awaken the tailed beast from its slumber, with no further result.
The now-awake symbiotic creature was monstrous and terrifying.
It gazed hungrily at the world, thirsting for flesh...
"You could try a different method."
Naruto, calmly seated in his chair, offered this remark.
Aoba hesitated for a moment, then a look of disgust appeared on her pretty face.
She instinctively resisted, unwilling to follow Naruto's suggestion.
But this resistance sparked a coldness in Naruto's gaze.
SLAP!
A loud smack rang out.
Aoba's head whipped to the side.
A red mark clearly formed on her pale cheek.
Stunned by the blow, Aoba stood frozen, her eyes vacant, forgetting even the movement of her hands.
Before she could say a word, Naruto stood up from his chair.
The symbiotic tailed beast moved at the same time.
A few strands of the pretty maid's short, dark green hair brushed against the symbiotic creature.
The terrifying monster, radiating intense heat, was now close to her ear.
"..."
Naruto coldly muttered two words.
The next moment…
Zzz~!
Aoba: "Hmm~!"
...
Half an hour later.
Sensing something, Aoba quickly stepped back.
"Uh~!"
She ignored the uncomfortable sensation.
Immediately stretched out both hands.
One hand grabbed the medicine jar, the other guided the tailed beast.
As the tailed beast's life force poured into the jar,
the blended medicine changed color.
And with this massive surge of life force, the true secret medicine... was finally complete.
"It's done. Bring it to Aunt Hazuki, let her drink it... After taking this secret medicine of the Uzumaki clan, her condition will gradually improve..."
Naruto was confident.
Once she took the medicine, Hinata Hazuki would recover.
If one dose wasn't enough, then two. If two weren't enough, then three.
She would not die.
"Cough... Yes..."
The maid replied in a trembling voice, holding the jar after coughing for a moment.
"Alright, I need to go see Uchiha Izumi now..."
Naruto opened the door and left.
Aoba looked at the decoction in the jar, her white eyes reflecting a complex emotion...
...
Uchiha Izumi's hospital room.
Naruto knocked on the door.
"Come in."
When Naruto entered, Sako had already left.
"Izumi-nee~, I came to visit you..."
Uchiha Izumi, who was resting, was surprised to see Naruto.
After all, she had just been talking about him with Sako.
"Naruto..."
"Izumi-nee, don't move, just stay like that."
Naruto motioned for her to stay still.
Lying on the bed, Izumi looked at the boy several years younger than her, finding the situation increasingly unbelievable.
"Ah... Izumi-nee, looks like I forgot to bring a gift for the visit."
Naruto scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"Not at all. Naruto, I should be thanking you — it's thanks to you I was saved..."
Izumi felt deep gratitude toward Naruto.
Without this boy, she would surely have died.
And... strangely, the boy everyone had seen as the Nine-Tails demon had saved her life.
The death of her father during the Kyūbi's attack had been Izumi's greatest pain.
She had tried to move past it, even to accept it.
But only last night had she truly let go.
After all, even if Naruto was really the Nine-Tails demon, he had saved her life.
This shy and gentle boy was the complete opposite of the terrifying Kyūbi...
Naruto was now a part of the village, a comrade to all.
Izumi was sure of that, her heart filled with emotion.
"By the way, Izumi-nee, have you had dinner?" Naruto suddenly asked.
Dinner?
It was still afternoon, far from dinnertime.
Izumi found the question odd, but Naruto stood up, ready to leave:
"Izumi-nee, I'll go find you a new gift... and also... don't eat anything tonight, I'll bring you a feast for dinner~."
Naruto's face lit up with a bright smile.
Izumi, moved by that smile, nodded vigorously:
"Yes! Okay."
How could she disappoint a face that could smile like that?
Naruto... truly was a good and kind boy.
...
Aoba walked slowly, step by step, toward Hinata Hazuki's room.
She knocked and entered.
The lady was bedridden, her complexion still pale.
Though she tried to smile and act like she was better, the reality said otherwise...
"Milady."
Aoba entered, carefully carrying the box.
Hinata Hazuki wanted to ask first about her daughter Hanabi.
A single minute without her, and her heart ached.
But she knew the medical-nin would take good care of her little girl.
And she, in her frailty, couldn't even breastfeed her...
Truly... so incompetent...
"Milady," Aoba began, searching for words. "Naruto-sama... prepared a 'secret medicine from the Uzumaki clan'... and asked me to bring it to you..."
In fact, from the moment Aoba had entered, Hinata Hazuki had noticed the box in her hands.
When Aoba pulled out the medicine jar,
Hinata Hazuki also smelled its scent.
"I see..."
At first, she thought Naruto didn't know.
But in reality, he cared so much about her safety...
Hinata Hazuki felt deeply moved, thinking of all Naruto had done for the Hyūga clan, and tears fell from her eyes.
"Milady, drink it while it's still warm..."
Aoba hurriedly urged her,
a hint of urgency in her voice.
Hinata Hazuki thought she was simply worried about her.
But in truth, Aoba was eaten by guilt and just wanted it to be over quickly.
"Alright..."
With Aoba's help, she slowly sat up.
Aoba took a spoon, filled it with the broth, and held it out to the noble and gentle wife of the clan head.
Hinata Hazuki parted her lips and slowly drank.
The medicine was sweet, not too bitter.
But... there was still a strange taste.
"Milady, drink..."
Aoba pressed her gently, as Hinata Hazuki's thoughts began to wander.
"Yes, of course."
And so, spoonful after spoonful, Hinata Hazuki slowly drank the entire secret medicine Naruto had prepared…