Pre-word: So a faster update from me, but like I said at the end of last time; Once I started writing it didn't feel like I could stop.

Thanks to everyone that favorited, followed, and reviewed. I hadn't thought an idea like this would get much traction, but you all helped give me some confidence.

Still kind of winging this as I go, but this is a slower chapter to better establish Naruto and Kaguya as characters and give an idea of what their relationship will probably look like going forward. Also slower chapters help me stall for time as I better figure out where I'm potentially going, haha.

As always, but I hope you enjoy it.


Heart Under Shadow

Naruto and Kaguya


"Hey, Kaguya-chan."

Uzumaki Naruto stopped walking, turning to look at his shadow. It was the same as it always was, but now that he looked at it a little more closely, he realized there was something just a little off. To the average observer, his shadow wasn't unusual. However, now that Naruto was aware of it, he couldn't help but notice the slight difference.

His shadow… it was darker than the shadows of everyone else around him. As if two shadows stacked on top of each other. It still wasn't much of a difference, but it was noticeable enough to him now that he couldn't help but wonder how it had never come up before.

Or perhaps it was because he was now different? He couldn't resist the urge to pull one of his hands from his pockets, unclenching his fist to look down at the purple eye that gazed back up at him.

The Rinnegan. That was what the girl in his shadow had called it.

"Move it, brat!" Before Naruto could ponder much more on the issue, he was violently knocked aside as one of the passersby roughly shoved him with their full body weight. The twelve-year-old blond was sent stumbling, nearly collapsing once more unto the dirt path.

He only caught himself at the last second, but it wasn't without consequence. His calves burned, head swimming in pain and it felt like one of his ribs had cracked yet again. This was the unfortunate truth of his circumstance. Having only just been saved from the worst beating of his life, he had yet to fully recover. Yet despite the obvious injuries and unclean state of his clothes, no one offered to help him.

Why would they? Everyone hated him, with few exceptions, for reasons he did not yet even comprehend.

"You can hear me, can't you? Kaguya-chan?" Which was why he didn't worry about being seen talking to his own shadow in public. No one paid attention to him anyways and even if they did, they would just assume the worst of him. Probably figured he had finally lost his mind or something.

"Yes, we can hear. What is it thou wants?" Kaguya finally gave up at ignoring him, a single Byakugan eye popping out from the darkness of his shadow to look up at him. Without a proper mouth materialized, her voice merely echoed inside Naruto's head, something only for him to hear.

She truthfully didn't desire to speak to him at all. For her, it had been seven long years that she existed inside of his shadow. Yet during those seven years she had not spoken even once. It was as she had been afraid of, but now that Naruto knew of her presence, he desired to speak with her, regardless of time or place.

Naruto shrugged at her question. "Nothing in particular. Just making sure you're still there, I guess." Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was just confirming that her earlier appearance in the alley hadn't been some fever dream.

"We are always here." Kaguya answered, simple as that. As if it was just a common fact for someone to live in another's shadow.

"That so?" Naruto asked, apparently satisfied to know he wasn't alone. He turned around and once again started limping forward. His destination wasn't far, but it had taken him time to even make it this far on his bad leg. He just hoped she had been right earlier and that eating would help him recover faster. Not like there was much point in going to the hospital, where they were likely to turn him away.

Which was why he went to one of the only places he knew that wouldn't throw him out. "Naruto-kun!" The slightly older girl known as Ayame called in shock as the young blonde pushed back the flaps to enter his all-time favorite ramen stall. "Are you okay?" She asked, walking around from the back to better get a look at the state Naruto was in.

"I'm fine, Nee-chan!" Naruto grinned at her, attempting to down-play the severity of his injuries to little success. There was no bluffing his way through this one. "Just a little fight, which I totally won by the way! You should see what they look like right now." In a way, those words weren't a complete lie.

"Jeez…" Ayame huffed, bending down as she examined the still slightly puffed skin around his left eye. "Well, it doesn't look too bad." She relented, although she wouldn't be able to say that if she had seen it not ten minutes before this. "Your clothes on the other hand…" In the light of the shop, the true state of Naruto's orange jacket and pants was much more apparent than they had been under the pale moonlight. Exactly as Ayame noted, they were disgusting; covered in pieces of trash, dirt, blood, and possibly ash of the killed men.

"I guess this is pretty bad." Even Naruto couldn't deny it now that he got another look. Not seeing much choice, he unzipped the jacket and discarded it onto the floor next to a seat for the moment. Beneath the jacket was a black shirt, the symbol of Uzushiogakure marking the front and rear.

"Ayame." The master of the ramen stall called for his daughter. "See if we still got those shorts upstairs. They're probably a little big, but at least they'll be clean." His daughter immediately voiced her agreement, disappearing around the back of the shop as she went to get what her father asked.

"You don't gotta do that." Naruto tried to insist, but a shake of the head from the master silenced any protest. "Well, if you say so. Thanks, Oji-san. I'll just have the usual, y'know. Make it two of them, but a kid-size for the second." As he placed his order, Naruto carefully inspected the seats. There were no other patrons at the moment so he had free reign over any stool, but he seemed to be paying special attention to the way the light was cast over each seat while making his choice.

"That's rare for you to order yourself a kid's size." Ayame said as she returned, not moments after she left, the aforementioned shorts in hand. As previously noted, but they were indeed quite large, extending well past his knees when he pulled them up over his orange pants. Once they were on, he slipped the pants off from underneath. Then by tightening the strings on the inside of the seam, he just barely got them secure enough to stay up without slipping down. With that, he tossed the old articles in the trash, the orange attire unsalvageable as it was.

"It's not for me," Naruto clarified, grabbing his chosen seat after putting on the clean shorts. "My new friend is going to join me." He did not notice the surprise on either face of the staff, nor did he feel Kaguya's own disbelief from within the shadow.

"Thou cannot seriously expect us to come out and dine with you…" Kaguya realized now that Naruto had chosen a seat at the end, where the light would cast his shadow to the stool next to him. He truly did intend for her to come out and eat… and had apparently planned it from the beginning.

"You made a friend?" Ayame asked, sounding at the same time doubtful yet conflictingly hopeful. Kaguya had observed Naruto for a long time now, and these two were perhaps the only exception to the rule in how Naruto was treated. While it was true there were those that didn't hold him in outright disdain, even the peers in Naruto's place of education were at best neutral towards him. So to hear he had finally made a friend, it was almost certainly a first. Although Kaguya wouldn't call herself a friend per se.

"Yep!" Naruto nodded gleefully, his cracked lips splitting in a huge grin. Despite how painful it must have been for him to smile with his wounds, he didn't seem to mind. "Here's the thing though, she's like… super shy!" Naruto emphasized the last couple words for effect. "So it would really save me if you two would just kinda turn around and prepare the ramen while I wave her in, y'know."

They did as asked, although the ramen master's daughter still didn't appear totally convinced. As they went about their work, Naruto winked exaggeratedly down at his shadow, patting on the stool next to him as if to tell her exactly where to come out.

Kaguya considered just ignoring him. She really did. It wouldn't have been hard for her to do it either. She had technically been doing it for seven years already, after all. So this didn't have to be any different than all those times. Yet in the end she couldn't do that.

She had already made her choice.

From the moment she had decided to emerge from the shadow for the first time, she had committed herself to getting more involved with his life from then on. Of course, she didn't expect that to develop in such a way as this, least of all not so quickly. That just went to show how much she had underestimated Uzumaki Naruto and the kind of person he was. She would admit, however, she didn't hate this part of him.

Kaguya emerged from his shadow, already sitting down on the tall stool. At her current height, she doubted her ability to have been able to climb up here otherwise without the power of levitation which she was currently incapable of.

Naruto smiled, legs swinging back and forth in unrestrained joy, no doubt taking some small pride in his victory at coaxing her out. This was also the first time he got to look at her under proper light, inspecting her from top to bottom as if studying an alien species. Which would have been an accurate description of her.

"Oh my!" Ayame gave out an exclamation of surprise, turning around to see Kaguya there. Although Kaguya would admit she wasn't sure which was more shocking; The way she entered without making any sound or her seemingly alien-like appearance. "Father, look! Naruto actually brought in a friend!" Then again, maybe it was neither of those things.

"How rude! I told you, didn't I?!" Naruto crossed his arms and huffed, but it was clear there wasn't any actual fire to his pout. It was all just for show.

"Yeah, yeah." Ayame knew this too, waving him off and instead focusing solely on their newest customer. "So what's your name, little girl?" She asked, just condescendingly enough that Kaguya considered turning her to ash next. It was lucky for her that Kaguya had a mountain of reasons not to do so right at this very moment. Instead, Kaguya reached over, tugging on Naruto's sleeve for his attention.

"Hmm?" Naruto asked, looking back and forth between them. For a second, Kaguya thought he wasn't going to catch on before the realization lit up in his eyes. "Oh yeah! So this is Kaguya-chan!" There was a slight pause. "...Like I said, she's a little shy. So don't worry if she doesn't speak much. Or at all."

"Kaguya-chan, huh?" Ayame intertwined her fingers over her heart. "What a wonderful name. I don't know how you and Naruto became friends, but please take good care of him, okay?" She said, as if entrusting Kaguya with her actual little brother.

"Order up!" Not much more could be said as the master placed two steaming bowls of Ramen in front of them. "And I'll tell you what, in honor of this special occasion of Naruto bringing in his first friend, it's on us tonight!"

Naruto let out a cheer at the announcement before going to clap his hands together in thanks for the food. He paused just shy, suddenly remembering the Rinnegan eyes on his palms. Still not used to the eyes and what he could do exactly without hurting them, he was noticeably conscious about the way he put his hands together and then the way he grabbed the chopsticks. As if he was afraid any wrong move might cause him to poke them out.

Ayame noticed his weird movements, but said nothing of it as she no doubt just assumed it was another wound he was attempting to hide. The ramen master, however, appeared to realize more than he let on. At the very least, he had noticed the true severity of Naruto's injuries, unlike his daughter. Even still, he did not ask questions, nor did he pry. He simply did what was within his power, offering Naruto warm food and a temporary shelter. Nothing more, but considering his station it was enough.

In respect of that, Kaguya decided she would do him the royal honor of sampling the small offering he had prepared for her. What kind of God would she be if she didn't respond to the people's tribute every once in a while, after all?

Kaguya took her chopsticks, mimicking the standard customs she had just witnessed Naruto perform before she too began to study her food. It was truly different from her time, but she would say she did not dislike the smell of it. Slowly, and ever so carefully she lifted the steaming noodles from the broth. After blowing on the noodles to cool them a little, she finally inhaled her first bite. She savored the texture, enjoying the taste that was unlike anything she had experienced before. The heat spread from her mouth and then warmed her whole body.

Truly, humankind was a disgusting and foul race… but she would admit it; They knew how to prepare food suitable for even the palette of a God.

"Good?" Naruto asked, grinning cockily at her. He had paused his own consumption, something she knew he rarely did if it wasn't already all devoured, all just so he could rub it in her face how delicious the ramen was. As if he had been telling her that all along.

"Hmph!" Kaguya turned her nose up at him, but nevertheless she went in for a second helping only moments later, scooting her bowl to the side so she wouldn't have to look at him while she ate. Although she could do nothing about the slight blush, that was made only more apparent on her pale skin.

"...Adorable!" Ayame could contain it no longer, practically dancing around the entire back of the kitchen. It looked like at any moment she might fly over the top of the counter to tackle Kaguya in a hug. "Where did you find such a cute little girl, Naruto!?" Again, Kaguya considered turning her to ash. And again, Ayame was saved. This time because Kaguya would acknowledge that even under a new world order, she would need to be kept around in order to continue serving more of this ramen.

Things settled down after that, all conversation ceasing so the two customers could enjoy their meals while they were hot. For Kaguya's first meal in over a thousand years, she would say it had been pretty good, all things considered. If this was what the common-folk normally ate, she could only imagine what those at the top must be allowed to consume.

"Thanks for the food!" Naruto finished first, despite having a far larger bowl than Kaguya. She wasn't far behind, eating perhaps the fastest she ever had, even when compared to how she ate as an adult. As Kaguya had suspected, but the rate of Naruto's recovery had increased dramatically after he started eating. She suspected his body naturally burned the calories, converting them into the power necessary for his natural healing attribute.

"Come again soon, alright!" Ayame reached over and rubbed Naruto's head affectionately. "That means you too, Kaguya-chan!" She then turned, winking at the petite woman. Kaguya ignored her, jumping down from the stool, falling the rest of the way to the floor to land dexterously on her feet.

Naruto called his goodbyes over his shoulder, slumping down next to her, keeping extra caution of where his shadow was at all times so he didn't accidentally knock her over again. Kaguya reached up with one of her tiny hands, wrapping her fingers around Naruto's left pinky and ring finger. The two of them pretended not to hear Ayame's swooning yell as they walked out from the shop together.

Although once they were back out on the main street it was hard for Kaguya to ignore the curious gaze Naruto had as he looked down at her. "Do not misunderstand." She whispered. "It would merely be inconvenient for us to walk otherwise." Her tiny legs did not exactly carry her anywhere quickly on their own and holding onto Naruto helped her make sure they kept pace with one another so she didn't get pulled around needlessly by his shadow.

"Okay." Naruto responded simply. He didn't make fun of her, nor did it seem like he had any intention too. Instead, he smiled warmly. It was perhaps one of the most genuine gestures of warmth she had ever seen him display, as they did not come easily to someone who was only ever given coldness their whole lives. With the only exception being the ramen behind them.

He then nodded at the opposite end of the street. Kaguya followed his gaze, noticing a shop marked with two crossed kunai above the door. He explained after she found it, "They sell Ninja gear and equipment. I was thinking of getting some gloves… y'know, to cover up these." He lifted his free hand, pointing the Rinnegan right at her.

Kaguya nodded. "This is wise." She agreed. What she didn't think was wise, however, was her walking around in public with him. If it was just to the weapon's shop, she would allow it though. When was the last time she stretched her legs? Not that her muscles experienced things such as atrophy like a human might have.

So the two of them made their way across the street as quickly as possible. It wasn't easy, having to constantly dodge back and forth around the pedestrians walking past either way. That was without considering that several belligerents sought to run into Naruto purposefully upon noticing it was him, most of them diverting at only the last second when they realized he wasn't alone.

In the end they made it without incident and with the sound of a small bell the door to the weapon shop swung open. "Welc- oh…" The older clerk began to call out, stopping when he saw who it was. He eyed Naruto wearily, as if he was a thief here to rob him of everything he had and not a paying customer as intended.

His gaze fell on her next and she returned his glare right back. Even in child-form, not many could stand the heated stare of a Byakugan and this man was no exception, quickly averting his eyes and returning to read some newspaper he had placed on the counter.

Aside from him, there was no one else in the shop. They were the only customers right now, although Kaguya suspected it would remain that way if anyone had seen Naruto enter. Very few would willingly enter the same space as he was in, which meant his very presence was bad for business. This meant Naruto got thrown out of most shops immediately, so even being allowed in was a step up for him.

Although it was unlikely his tolerance would be accepted for long. The man was already making troubled grunts as the two lingered by the entrance. Not that Naruto seemed to care, humming to himself as if to show he didn't even notice, only slowly meandering in as he took in all the sights.

Kaguya couldn't help but smirk. Whether it was intentional and Naruto was just being vindictive or not, she couldn't help but enjoy the little display he was putting on. Regardless, she would feel more relaxed if she could take care of what they came here for. Naruto didn't realize it, but he was playing a dangerous game by not concealing her or the Rinnegan. This was her fault, as she had not yet stressed the importance of such things to him yet. No doubt there was a long conversation awaiting them tonight, when they were away from any prying eyes.

Before making his way to the gloves, Naruto stopped in front of a glass case filled with a myriad of swords. "So cool…" Naruto admired them, looking in particular at a giant blade larger than he was tall.

"Such foolishness…" Kaguya sneered, snapping him from his delusions. "The minerals used to smelt that sword are of the lowest quality. Thy money would be much better spent on another blade." Kaguya had no kind of concept of modern money, but she imagined the long string of zeros at the end of the price tag did not signify affordability.

"Yeah, then what do you recommend?" Naruto snapped back at her, voice challenging her to pick a better weapon. She saw no point in entertaining such a pointless game, as Naruto most certainly did not possess the funds to purchase even the cheapest of these swords. Still, she would not have the value of her eye questioned and so scanned over the assortment in the display case before her.

Finally, she found it. "This one." She said, pointing at a Tanto, a short sword no bigger than Naruto's forearm, made of steel so pure it almost looked white. The hilt guard was the red spiral pattern of Uzushiogakure and most impressive was the handle of the blade itself. The black leather concealed beneath it a complex array of seals designed to more easily channel chakra directly into the blade.

"Eh~…" Naruto wrinkled his nose in dissatisfaction. "Couldn't you have picked something more romantic? I would just get made fun of for swinging one of these around. It's barely bigger than a kunai!" His hyperbole was not lost on Kaguya. The blade was easily twice the length of one of the daggers Naruto was now referring to. Of course, it was all about relativity and anything would seem short when compared to the impractical monstrosity Naruto wanted.

"If you're just gonna bad-mouth my swords, get lost you damn brats!" The old clerk must have heard them, shouting over the top of his newspaper without even looking in their direction. He had not even seen which sword Kaguya was pointing to. As she realized this, a sinister idea began to form in the back of her mind. She had not attempted something like it before, but she saw no reason why it shouldn't work. Especially if it was this sword.

"Alright already, geez." Naruto didn't even notice the evil grin that spread across Kaguya's face. Instead he began to pull her along, his shadow falling over the sword they had just been looking at as they passed it by. It was at that moment Kaguya tested her theory, unbeknownst to anyone else.

The two of them made it over to the gloves, which were located in the back of the store and out of sight from the clerk and his desk. "Two thousand ryo for some gloves, so damn pricey…" Naruto groaned despondently as he looked across the selection.

"We do not understand." Kaguya tilted her head. Unlike with swords, she did not see any measurable difference between one pair of gloves and the next. "Are such things not considered a standard commodity? Should they not be provided for their warriors?" When she had ruled, her military would not have to pay for things like this themselves. An army would not have functioned back then if they had been required to.

"Not exactly sure what you're talking about, but…" Naruto rubbed the back of his head, still not entirely grasping the complexity of Kaguya's language. "They don't just give these things away. And I don't make much of an allowance. Not until I graduate from the academy in about a month, at least."

"Humanity has grown complex since we've been sealed, it would appear." Kaguya rubbed her chin, still trying to clear her head of all her old assumptions. She had mistakenly believed that humanity was incapable of evolution, but it would seem they had developed all kinds of systems she had seen no need to understand until now. Of course, once she ruled again she could undo many of them. However, until then she was going to need to learn to play their silly games.

"What in the fuck!?" There was a sudden loud commotion that interrupted their conversation, the store clerk storming over towards them with loud footfalls. Naruto's entire body bristled as if a wild animal, pupils dilating as the old man rounded the corner and stalked up to them. "Where is it you damn thief!?" He shouted, pointing a finger accusingly at the young blond.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Naruto deadpanned, and it was the truth. Of course, just because it was the truth didn't mean he was going to be given the benefit of the doubt. Innocence meant nothing when the people had already decided you were guilty of a different crime.

"The sword! You stole the sword!" A vein so large it looked like it might burst popped up atop the old man's head, his face a sweltering shade of red that was almost comical. In contrast to this, Naruto just looked at him dumbfounded, pulling at his pockets to show they were empty aside from his frog-shaped wallet.

"I don't have anything, do you Kaguya-chan?" Naruto asked, looking down at the shorter girl. She smiled, silently enjoying the exchange, as she lifted her sleeves to reveal nothing. Nevermind the fact that she was so short it would ordinarily be impossible for her to hide anything, let alone a sword of any kind.

"You damn brat, I know it was you!" The clerk appeared to have enough, hand reaching forward to grab Naruto by the mop of blond hair on his head. He had no idea how close to death he just was.

The smile on Kaguya's face disappeared immediately. Her arm was still lowered, but she had already curved her hand into the shape of a finger-gun, index finger extended and thumb pointing up. Just as a small gray bone started to poke past her flesh, was the man saved from himself.

"That's far enough." The hand of a fourth person reached out from between them, grabbing the store owner by the wrist. One moment there had been no one there, the next he was. He was a tall man with gravity defying white hair. Aside from that, there wasn't much more information to be said about this new presence.

He wore standard Konohagakure no Sato Ninja attire and his face was almost impossible to see, the lower half covered with a mask and his left eye hidden by a slanted Hitai-ate. Despite his seemingly harmless appearance, however, he put Kaguya immediately on edge.

She hadn't even sensed him come in the store. Let alone see him move just now when he appeared before them. The man had no presence, as if just a scare-crow rather than a human. No, to say he had no presence wasn't entirely correct. There was a pressure there, one concealed in his hidden left eye. Kaguya had no idea what it was, but she didn't like it.

Being seen at all by one of Konohagakure's military was bad for her. Even more-so by one with some kind of perceptive eye. It was too late for such regrets now. So the only thing she could do was keep her Jutsu ready. If she decided he posed a threat, she would just eliminate the both of them. No matter how skilled this man may be, no one could survive being hit by her Jutsu.

"A ninja?" The clerk couldn't decide between being shocked by the sudden appearance, remaining angry as before, or being relieved at the presence of an authority figure; so his words came out as some odd combination of all three. However, it quickly became apparent that he thought of this as beneficial to himself. "Just in time…" He growled, shaking his hand free to once again thrust an accusatory finger at Naruto. "This brat stole one of my swords!"

The masked man blinked slowly, lazily even as he stared at the red-faced store clerk with something akin to pure nihilism. He then slowly turned his head, looking down at Naruto who simply folded his arms in defiance and glared back, as if daring him to do something.

Finally, after several agonizing moments did the man speak again. "Well, Naruto?" He called the blond by name, along with some sense of familiarity even. "Is that true?" He asked.

"I already said it isn't!" Naruto stomped his foot, growing tired of going through this song and dance every time. Just because something bad happened when he was around didn't make him the problem.

With that, the masked man shrugged. "Well, seeing as how you don't seem to be holding any swords, I figured that had to be the case." He reasoned logically.

"You're going to take his side!?" Of course, this sense of logic didn't extend to the shop owner, spit flying from his mouth as he yelled now.

"Now, now. Let's calm down. I'm not taking any sides here." The masked man said, holding up his hands to protect himself from the suddenly flying spittle. "I'm just saying… isn't it possible you misplaced it?" The very suggestion that the shop owner himself could somehow be the one at fault was the final straw for the old man.

"I want all three of ya outta here!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs, loud enough to rattle the windows. For the masked man and Kaguya, that was only all too agreeable. However, Naruto still hadn't accomplished what he had come here to do in the first place.

"At least sell me these gloves first!" Naruto ripped the first pair he could off the wall, holding them up. "It's the least you can do after accusing me of shit I didn't even do!"

"Four thousand ryo, hand it over right here in exact change!" The man didn't even miss a beat, holding out the palm of his hand as if expecting Naruto to dump the contents of his wallet right there. Kaguya was almost surprised that he would accept any kind of transaction at all. Almost.

"That's double the price you cheapskate!" Naruto pointed at the price tag, indicating that they were marked at only two thousand.

"There's two gloves, aren't there?" The man asked, as if Naruto was the stupid one for not understanding such a simple concept. Kaguya was ashamed to admit, but the logic didn't seem that insane to her. In any other situation, she might have believed that was the natural conclusion anyone would draw. This only reinforced to herself how dangerously naïve she had become of the present times.

"I think that's enough here. Come on, Naruto." It wasn't until the masked man also seemed disgusted by the store owner's logic that Kaguya even realized the truth. A hand rested on Naruto's shoulder and started to guide him out, so Kaguya quickly took Naruto's fingers in her tiny hand again so as not to be separated from him.

As all three of them exited quietly, Naruto looked up at the stranger, eyes asking for him why this newcomer had helped him just now. When anyone else would have just let it go, or worse have sided against him. His voice, however, asked a different question, "Who are you?"

"Well… you can just call me Kakashi." The man said, seemingly having deliberated about even giving him that much information. It was hard to tell if that was even his real name, and it most definitely didn't explain his relationship to Naruto. "Anyways, here." Kakashi, as he called himself, wasn't done helping them yet. He pulled off his gloves; standard Shinobi issue going by their appearance, but they were certainly more expensive than the ones Naruto had been looking to buy just now.

Naruto looked down at the gloves suspiciously as they were thrust towards him, nose wrinkling as if he smelled something foul. "You're just going to give them to me?" He asked. His suspicion wasn't unwarranted. Not only was this man helping him, but now offering his gloves free of charge?

"Hmm…" The man looked up at the moonlit sky as he considered how best to answer. "...Think of it as an apology." He finally said, although what he was apologizing for was a mystery. It had been him that helped them out. Even though he had no reason for the kindness that they knew of.

"Well, if you say so." Naruto hesitantly reached forward, taking the gloves without any kind of resistance. He had half-expected the man to snatch them away just before he could and yell out it had been a prank. Even as Naruto slipped them on, he still didn't rule out the possibility the man would turn on them, accuse Naruto of stealing the gloves like he had just been accused of stealing the sword.

Instead, the man bent down as he turned his attention now to Kaguya. "And what about you, Ojou-chan? How do you know Naruto?" He did not ask her for her name, but she would not have given it to him anyways. However, asking her relationship to Naruto was in a way a good opportunity for her. She had been waiting to make the status of their relationship clear until now.

"He is our Aruji." She proclaimed clearly and proudly, placing her hands on her hips as she did so. Despite claiming him as her Lord and Master just now, it was actually more accurate to say he was the master of the shadow she inhabited. So he was not her own Master by direct connection, but it was otherwise the simplest way to term their relationship to one another.

There was a pregnant pause, neither Naruto nor Kakashi knowing how to react right away. What Kaguya did not expect, however, was the man to start chuckling, one eye closing in a smile as he reached forward and rubbed her head.

"Is that so? Good for him." He said, before then standing back to his full height and nodding once more at them. "Be seeing you around, maybe. Try to stay out of trouble until then… if you can." With that, he turned around and started to walk away.

"Ah… thanks!" Naruto called after him before it was too late, not even sure his voice reached the fading back of the mysterious man. An over the shoulder wave signalled it had and a moment later he disappeared into the crowd.

"So what now?" Naruto asked, inspecting the new gloves that covered his hands. With his Rinnegan finally hidden, they had one less thing to worry about.

"We shall go out into the forest." Kaguya said, pulling at Naruto's hand to get him to move. "Thou require some instruction… and we imagine thou also have questions." For now, she just wanted to get him away from the crowds. There were too many potential problems out in public.

"Finally some answers." Naruto nodded, allowing himself to be guided along by Kaguya the first couple steps before taking the lead. It would be up to him to take them to a remote spot where they couldn't be bothered. He knew of a couple places, naturally. Someone as hated as he was needed a place to escape to once in a while. After that blow-up in the shop too, he felt the need to get away too. "What was that even all about anyways? Did someone actually steal a sword?" He wondered aloud, not expecting an actual answer to that particular question.

"We did not steal." Kaguya insisted, surprising him when she lifted her sleeve once again. From the darkness inside the tip of the hilt came out. "Everything in this world originally belonged to us. So this sword is our right." She explained simply, completely missing his look of shock.

"H-how? When?" Naruto wanted to be angry at her. That whole mess could have been avoided if she had done nothing and just left the sword alone. When he thought about that store clerk though and how he tried to charge him double for the gloves, he couldn't bring himself to think that Kaguya had done anything wrong. In fact, they deserved that sword. For all the things he had been cheated out of in his life, it was about damn time he finally took something back.

"We told thou, this is a fine blade." Kaguya stated as if that answered his question. "It channels one's chakra affinity and ours is Yin itself. Pulling it into thy shadow was hardly any effort. It would be more accurate to say the blade fell in of its own accord." She finished her explanation but Naruto still didn't really understand. He decided to leave it for now, as he could always ask her later to explain it with everything else.

"I think…" Naruto started to say, squeezing Kaguya's hand a little more tightly as they walked. "I'm really glad that you finally came out of my shadow." He had always felt like there was something there, but had also always assumed it was his imagination. Just some dark fantasy.

Then when she had finally come out, he had been terrified. Mortified as she murdered three people in front of him. Not because she had murdered them, but because of how effortlessly she had done it.

It was that same effortlessness with which she took something that didn't belong to her, yet was able to claim with confidence afterwards that it had always been hers. To have such confidence to go against everything he thought was normal up until now… it invigorated him. Filled him with the will to also want to change and somehow become like that.

She may have called him her master, but he now felt it should be the other way around.

These kinds of sentiments were a first for Kaguya, but she could not say she disliked it. To have someone voice happiness at the thought of being with her wasn't a bad feeling at all.

"Yes… We are somewhat happy too." Kaguya responded by squeezing Naruto's hand back, feeling the warmth of his hand in hers.

Human warmth, which she hadn't felt in over a thousand years.


Chapter End


Post-word: So as I said, maybe a slower chapter? I don't know if it was exciting, but I think many important things were established this chapter. It was also not my intention to make it this long, but it ran away from me by the end.

That's about all from me this time. If you're still with me, thanks a bunch!

Next one should be shorter and will feature some training as Naruto finally gets to test out his new powers.