CHAPTER 5 – MY LIFE BEFORE MY EYES

The gun fired a soundless bolt of light, striking Naruto in the stomach. He stumbled backwards, the sword falling from his hand. Freed took advantage of the opening, charging at Naruto and delivering a powerful blow to his face.

His world faded into a haze of pain and confusion as he lay on the ground, his stomach searing with agony. He could hear Freed's cold laughter as he approached, reveling in his helplessness. "Wow, that was really scary. For a moment there I thought I was actually going to die. Lucky thing I was carrying my badass exorcist gun!" Freed taunted.

His hand instinctively went to the wound in his stomach. He felt the warm blood oozing through his fingers, soaking his clothes and staining the concrete beneath him.

Freed crouched down beside him, a sick grin on his face. "Aw, what's wrong, Naruto? Feeling a little under the weather?"

Naruto gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain. "Why...why are you doing this?"

Freed shrugged. "Normally I do it because it's my divine duty, and I really love chopping up evil scum. But you...you've managed to piss me off. I'll make you pay for that!"

He kicked Naruto hard in the stomach, and Naruto cried out in pain. Freed laughed. "Oh, that felt good. Let's do it again!" He kicked Naruto again, harder this time. Naruto felt like he was going to throw up.

Each kick felt like a searing knife, tearing at his insides. He screamed in agony, tears streaming down his face. Freed laughed, enjoying the pain he was causing.

"Stop it..." Naruto gasped, trying to push Freed away weakly, but it was no use.

Freed just laughed even harder, reveling in his suffering. "What's the matter, kid? Can't take a little pain?"

Naruto writhed in agony, trying to control the pain that threatened to overwhelm him. Freed's voice rang in his ears, mocking and cruel. The psychotic exorcist began to kick Naruto in the stomach repeatedly, relishing in his pain and despair. "Let's see how long it takes for you to die."

As Naruto lay there, he felt his consciousness slipping away, and his thoughts turned to Koneko. He wondered if he would ever see her again, if she even cared for him. He was losing blood quickly and he didn't think he could hold on much longer.

But then, out of nowhere, a powerful jet of water crashed into Freed, sending him flying across the pavement.

Naruto struggled to lift his head, his eyes widening as he saw Souna standing there, her hand outstretched and her eyes blazing with fury. She looked like a completely different person from the calm, collected girl he knew at school.

"Souna..." Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible.

Sona's expression was cold, but her eyes betrayed a seething anger. "Leave now, priest. Or suffer the consequences."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Freed growled, turning to face the new threat. "Don't tell me you're the devil that this little shit sold his soul to. Don't worry, I'll purify you too!"

Sona's expression hardened. "I warned you." She lifted her hand, channeling her demonic power as water began to gather around her hand, much to his surprise and amazement.

"I don't know who you are, but you're in my way," Freed snarled.

Freed raised his gun, pointing it directly at Sona, but before he could pull the trigger, a burst of water hit the weapon, knocking it out of his hand. Sona continued to glare at Freed, her hands now crackling with water.

"I am Sona Sitri," she said, her voice calm and measured. "And you are not welcome here."

Freed stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock. He had not expected this kind of resistance. But then he snarled, reaching into his pocket for a flash grenade. He pulled the pin and threw it at Sona, hoping to distract her long enough to escape.

But she just calmly stepped aside, letting it detonate harmlessly behind her. Freed cursed, his eyes darting around as he tried to find an escape route.

Sona stepped forward, her eyes locked on Freed's. "I gave you a chance to leave, but you refused. Now, you must face the consequences of your actions." She thrust her hands, and a jet of water surged towards Freed.

Freed dodged to the side, firing his gun at Sona. She ducked and weaved, the bullets narrowly missing her as she advanced on Freed.

Naruto watched from the ground, his breath coming in short gasps. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Sona was fighting for him, risking her life to protect him. He felt a surge of gratitude for her, even as his vision began to blur.

Sona continued to fight, unleashing a barrage of water attacks that kept Freed on the defensive. She was powerful, more powerful than Naruto had ever imagined. He had always thought of her as a quiet, albeit strict girl, but now he saw her in a new light. She was a warrior, a force to be reckoned with. A devil, he was reminded, as he recalled what Frees had said. And as Sona launched off another attack, Naruto was more inclined to believe that it was true.

But as the fight dragged on, Naruto began to feel his consciousness slipping away. He was losing too much blood, and the pain was becoming unbearable. He closed his eyes, hoping that when he opened them again, he would see Sona standing victorious over Freed.

"You're outclassed," Sona said, her eyes flashing with anger. "Stop prolonging the inevitable and leave now."

Freed snarled, firing another shot at Sona, but she deflected it with a flick of her wrist. She raised her hands again, and another wave of water crashed towards Freed.

He dodged to the side, but Sona was too fast for him. She leapt forward, her fist slamming into Freed's jaw with enough force to send him flying backwards. He crashed to the ground with force, the punch nearly strong enough to have taken off his jaw.

Surprisingly though, he was still somehow conscious. Freed scrambled to his feet, reaching for his gun, but Sona had already stepped forward, the water around her rippling menacingly. Her voice was low and dangerous as she addressed Freed.

Sona's expression didn't change, but the water around her began to churn even more fiercely. "I suggest you leave, before I am forced to demonstrate what happens to those who harm my friends."

Freed hesitated for a moment, but then raised his gun and fired at Sona. The shot missed her by inches, and Sona responded with a powerful jet of water, sending Freed flying back once again.

The psychotic exorcist scrambled to his feet, his gun smoking in his hand. "I won't be defeated by a shitty devil! Dont fuck with me!"

Sona's voice was calm, but there was an underlying fury to it that made Freed hesitate. "You've already lost. You just don't realize it yet."

Freed lunged forward, his gun raised, but Sona was too quick for him. She ducked under his arm and spun around, her hand lashing out and sending a powerful jet of water crashing into Freed's side.

Freed stumbled, as he clutched at his injured side. Sona stepped forward, her hand still outstretched, the water around her growing even more turbulent. "I could kill you right now," she said, her expression cold.

Freed looked up at Sona and for the first time throughout the entire fight, he felt fear from the look in her eyes. "You... you can't kill me. Unless you want to start a war with the fallen angels. They'll kill you all."

Sona just smiled. "I would have expected that someone like you would be excited at the thought of a war. But instead, you're using it to plead for your life. How curious." She mused, watching as Freed grit his teeth.

Sona walked over to him, her expression cold. "I won't kill you. Instead, I'll let you deliver a message. This territory belongs to the houses of Sitri and Gremory. If the fallen angels ever attack Naruto again, war or not, I will personally annihilate every single one of them. Now go."

Freed scrambled to his feet, fear and anger warring within him. "You can't just order me around like that, you devil bitch! I'll kill you both!"

He raised his gun, but Sona was faster. A powerful blast of water that slammed into Freed with incredible force, knocking him backwards and causing him to drop his gun again. She then immediately followed it up with a final blow that sent Freed flying across the pavement, unconscious and badly injured in a heap on the ground.

With Freed dealt with, Sona turned her attention to Naruto. She approached Naruto with a sense of urgency, her eyes betraying her concern for his well-being. She knelt down beside him, her expression softening as she saw the extent of his injuries. Naruto lay unconscious, his breathing shallow, his face ashen with pain. She could see the extent of his injuries, the blood-soaked clothing, and the bruises that seemed to dot every inch of him.

Sona's hands glowed with demonic energy as she attempted to heal him. Naruto moaned softly, his face twisted in pain, but Sona continued to work tirelessly, trying to save his life. She poured every ounce of her being into the healing process, her heart aching with the effort.

As she worked, Sona couldn't help but feel frustration at the agonizingly slow pace. For some reason her healing was working even slower on Naruto than it normally would, and he was still continuing to lose blood. She knew that she had to act fast.

Sona's heart was racing as she teleported herself and Naruto to her bedroom. The wound in his stomach was severe, and she knew that she had to heal him as soon as possible. Her hand began to reach for the button of her blouse, but then she hesitated for a moment, unsure if this was the right thing to do. She took a deep breath and removed her own clothes, leaving her in her bra and panties.

As she undressed him to expose the wound, she couldn't allow herself to feel guilty. While not nearly as uninhibited as Rias when it came to nudity, she would have thought nothing of it, especially when it was to heal Naruto. But the situation was a lot more difficult. Naruto was in love with Koneko, Rias' Rook. She had suspected that there was something going on between them, but she had never been sure until recently when Koneko had stopped trying to hide it.

Naruto was in a relationship with Koneko, but healing him this way was the only way he would survive.

With gentle care, she took his hand in hers as she pressed up close against him, knowing that the skin-to-skin contact would speed up the healing process. As she did, she worked to heal his wounds, her hands glowing with an intense, blue light. She felt his body responding to her touch.

The wound started to close up, but Sona could feel the energy being drained out of her at an alarming rate. The process was still much slower than it normally would be, and it felt like she was trying to fill a bottomless pit.

The air was thick with tension as Sona Sitri concentrated on healing his wounds. She ignored the exhaustion creeping into her body, focusing all her energy on saving his life. Sona was a devil, she wasn't going to let him die from this. She felt his heartbeat getting stronger and his breathing becoming less labored, and soon, the color began to return to his face.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his wound closed completely, and he started breathing normally again. Sona pulled away from him, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She collapsed onto the bed, completely spent, her body shaking from the effort. Her consciousness was slipping away, but she forced herself to stay awake, knowing that she had other things to attend to.

Several minutes passed before Sona's breathing became more regular, and she opened her eyes. As his body lay unconscious in Sona's room, she sat beside him, her eyes fixed on his still form. The room was silent except for the sound of his breathing, which was shallow and slow. Sona's expression was one of concern, and she couldn't help but feel guilty for not being able to protect him from the attack. She took a deep breath and stood up, glancing out the window at the dark sky. The night was still young, and the air was filled with the sound of crickets and the distant hum of cars.

Sona walked over to her closet and took out a white nightgown. She quickly dressed and left the room, closing the door behind her. As she walked down the hallway, she felt the exhaustion setting in, and she knew that she needed to rest. However, before she could do so, she needed to make a call.

She focused her energy and reached out to Tsubaki, her Queen. A magic circle appeared, and Tsubaki stepped through. "What's going on, Sona? Are you alright?"

Sona nodded, "Yes, I'm fine, but Naruto needs to be watched. The fallen angels attacked him and one of their priests was about to kill him before I intervened."

"Is he alright?" Tsubaki asked softly, her tone indicating her concern.

Sona nodded, her voice a little hoarse as she spoke. "He's stable now, but it was touch and go for a while. He'd lost a lot of blood, but I managed to heal him, though it took a bit more energy than I was expecting. He's sleeping in my room."

Tsubaki's eyes widened in surprise at the implication. "Skin-ship?" she stated, clearly taken aback. "I didn't know you were that close to him, Sona."

Sona sighed tiredly. "It's complicated," she said wearily. "I'm not certain what's going on between him and Koneko recently, but I'm sure that she will want to be notified about the situation."

Tsubaki nodded. "Of course, Sona. But what about Naruto? Do you plan to use this opportunity to recruit him for our peerage?"

"I'm afraid that's not my priority at the moment, Tsubaki," Sona replied, her voice steady. "My priority is to make sure that Naruto recovers from his injuries. As for recruiting him, we can discuss that later."

Tsubaki nodded, sensing that Sona was not in the mood to discuss his recruitment. "Understood, Sona."

"I'll also need to speak to Rias, so that we can address the fallen angel situation. They've become a problem, and need to deal with quickly." Sona continued.

Tsubaki nodded, her expression becoming more business-like. "Of course," she said. "I'll contact the Gremory peerage and inform them of the attack. I'll set up the meeting with Rias as well." She said as Sona nodded gratefully.

"Thank you, Tsubaki," Sona replied before Tsubaki left through the magic circle. Sona took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She had expended a lot of energy healing Naruto, and the aftermath was taking its toll on her.

Sona walked back to her bedroom and sat beside Naruto once again, her eyes fixed on his face. His skin was still pale, but she could see the faintest tinge of color returning to his cheeks. She reached out and gently brushed his hair away from his forehead, her fingers lingering on his skin for a moment longer than necessary. She cared about Naruto, and seeing him hurt like this made it harder for her to keep her feelings under control.

Sona leaned back against the headboard of her bed and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she saw Naruto stirring slightly. She leaned forward, watching him closely, and he looked around in confusion, trying to remember what happened. When he saw her, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Sona?" he asked, his voice hoarse. She sighed as he used her real name. No rest for the wicked, she supposed.

"Welcome back, Naruto. Do you remember what happened?" she asked gently.

Naruto nodded slowly, the memories flooding back to him. He remembered the attack, the pain, and the fear. He also remembered her saving him, but he couldn't quite recall how he ended up in her bedroom. Sona saw the confusion in his eyes and quickly explained, "Don't worry, I brought you here to heal you. You were badly injured, and I needed to use my powers to save you."

Naruto stared at her, trying to comprehend everything that had happened. "Your powers...they're water-based, right?" he asked, remembering the water attack she used against Freed.

Sona nodded at his observation, impressed that he had managed to stay conscious long enough to notice, given the state she found him in. "Yes, that's correct. I have the ability to manipulate water."

He remembered the water attack she used against Freed and he was trying to understand how she managed to heal him with water powers given the state he was in. Sona listened as Naruto recounted his observation, and when he asked his question, she knew it was time to reveal her true identity.

"Naruto, To be able to completely explain everything to you, there's something I need to tell you. I'm not exactly human," Sona began, her voice serious. "I'm actually a devil."

His expression didn't change much. "I already knew," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I heard it in your fight with Freed, when I heard you use your real name."

Sona was surprised. She had been so caught up in the fight that she didn't realize he had been listening. "I see," she said softly. "I'm sorry you had to find out like that."

Naruto sat up slowly, still feeling a bit weak. "So, you're a devil. What does that mean exactly? You're can't mean the ones from actual mythology, right?" He asked as he visualized the illustrations of the monsters he'd read about in books.

Sona nodded, not taking her eyes off of him. "That's exactly what I mean, particularly I'm talking about the devils written about in the Biblical texts. There may be a few embellishments depending on the book, but the myths are mostly accurate. Almost every mythological creature exists in some form or the other. And we, as devils, are just one of many supernatural races that exist in the world." She revealed. "I know it's a bit overwhelming, but it's true. I can prove it to you if you want."

Sona's confession was a bombshell that left Naruto reeling. He had always suspected that something was off about her, but he never imagined that she was a devil. All the monsters he had ever heard of in legends and fairy tales were real? It was hard to believe, even for him, and he'd seen one.

But wasn't this what he had always been looking for? Irrefutable evidence that he couldn't deny of the monsters that existed in the world. The choice was clear to him. "Prove it to me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sona nodded, and adjusted her position so that she was sitting right in front of him. And then right before his eyes, two jet black leathery bat-like wings appeared from her back. Naruto was rendered speechless at the sight of them. His hand hesitantly reached out to touch one of them, and Sona squirmed a bit at the feeling. "They're real." He breathed, as everything finally sunk in.

Sona could see the horror in his eyes and knew that the revelation was overwhelming him. She had to explain everything to him, starting with the attack.

She then continued, "I believe that Freed targeted you because he was able to sense the demonic energy around you, which you got from Koneko. She must have gifted you some of her demonic power to help protect you, though it seems to have had the opposite effect. It was probably what allowed you to hold out so long against the exorcist."

Naruto was dumbfounded. "Koneko is a devil?" he asked, barely believing his ears.

Sona's eyes widened as she realized her mistake. "I see, she hadn't told you yet. This isn't the best way for you to have found out. But yes, Koneko is a devil as well. She's a member of the Gremory peerage, and is Rias Gremory's Rook."

His mind was racing with questions, but he couldn't find the words to ask them, so Sona continued. "When I found you, you'd already lost a lot of blood. Dealing with the exorcist also took more time than I had intended. By the time I was done with him, it was a wonder you were even breathing. Human medicine couldn't have saved you at that point, and even my powers weren't working fast enough, so I had to resort to a more… intimate method."

Naruto looked at Sona in confusion. "Intimate?"

Sona took a moment to compose herself before continuing. "Devils have the ability to heal people with direct skin-to-skin contact, but it's usually reserved for people we're close to." Sona's face flushed slightly as she explained. "We can also heal normally with our demonic power, but it's slower and less effective. With how bad your wounds were, I had to use skin-ship to save you, though it took a lot out of me."

Despite his shock at the overwhelming information that he had been fed so far, Naruto still felt his face grow hot as he processed what she was saying. He couldn't believe what had happened, and the thought that Sona had seen him in such a vulnerable state was mortifying.

Sona noticed his discomfort and further elaborated, "This may be a lot to take in. But it's important that you consider the severity of your injuries so you understand the measures I had to take to save your life."

Naruto nodded, still feeling overwhelmed. He couldn't believe everything that had happened, with the revelation that devils and other supernatural beings actually existed, and that Sona and Koneko were actually devils as well. On the one hand, everything finally started to click into place, as he finally realized what Koneko had been trying to keep from him.

On the other hand, he was finally forced to confront the reality that he had always believed was true, but had partly hoped was wrong. He could understand now why Koneko would want to keep this world from him. His thoughts were interrupted as memories of his mother's murder began to resurface, causing him to visibly flinch.

He clutched his head as if trying to physically keep the memories from resurfacing. But the memories of that night kept flooding his mind, more vivid and detailed than they had ever been before: he remembered the glowing eyes, the claws, the smell, the growls, the blood, the screams and his mother's bloody, mangled form. The images all rushed through his mind at lightning speed. But then he began to remember more details, after the monster had charged at him.

He remembered being lifted into someone's arms as he cried. He also remembered watching as a blade cut through the monster's head, slashing through its eyes. And he recalled the feeling of fear and dread as he saw the beast open up a second pair of eyes, and then a third.

Sona noticed his distress and stared at him sympathetically. Suddenly finding out that all the creatures, that most would dismiss as fairy tales, were suddenly real would be overwhelming for anyone. Especially since he had no way to defend against them.

Misunderstanding his fear, Sona decided to bite the bullet, and made her proposition. "Naruto, I want to offer you a way to fight against the supernatural. "I want to offer you a chance to become a devil like me," Sona said, her voice firm but gentle.

His eyes widened in shock at her proposition. He didn't know what to say or how to react. Becoming a devil? Was that even possible? He was just an ordinary human. He had always been human, how was it even possible for something like that to happen?"

Sona hesitated for a moment before she spoke again, carefully choosing her words. "Naruto, I know this is a lot to take in, but please hear me out. As a devil, you would have the power to combat the supernatural. You could protect yourself and those around you. I want to offer you a place in my family, where you would be safe."

At the mention of family, his face contorted in confusion, anger and fear. He didn't know what to say or how to react. He had always had a fear of the supernatural since his mother, his only family had been killed by it, and now Sona was asking him to become a part of it.

Sona noticed his turmoil and quickly apologized, reeling with regret. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I didn't mean to spring that on you like that," Sona said, her voice filled with regret. "It's okay if you're not ready for that kind of decision right now."

Sona paused and looked into his eyes. She could see the fear and confusion in them, and she realized she had made a grave error in judgment. "I hadn't intended to bring it up, but I thought that..."

Sona trailed off as she realized Naruto wasn't listening. His gaze was fixed on her wings, his expression unreadable. She could hear his heart racing, as he was frantically trying to process everything that had just happened. She knew she had to do something to help him.

She reached out and placed her hand on his forehead. Her powers flowed through her fingertips, and she began wiping his memories of the event. It was an instinctual move, something she had done before to protect herself and her kind. She could feel the resistance in his mind, but she persisted, determined to ease his fears.

"I'm sorry for causing you distress, Naruto," she said in a soothing tone. "Take the time you need to recover before we talk again."

His memories of the day began to fade, and all memory of the supernatural was taken from him. His eyes glazed over and his body slumped against her. Sona caught him, holding him gently as he fell into unconsciousness.

Sona felt a pang of guilt as she realized she had been too hasty in trying to turn Naruto into a devil. She should have waited until he was ready and in a more proper frame of mind. For now, she just wanted him to rest and recover.

She settled beside him on the large bed, dispelling her wings, which had remained extended throughout the whole ordeal. She let out a small sigh of relief as she felt the pressure from her wings lift. She was just as exhausted as he was and needed to rest.

As she closed her eyes, Sona made a mental note to herself to bring up the proposition again after Naruto had time to properly recover and when they were both in a more proper frame of mind. For now, all she wanted was for Naruto to rest and recover, to forget the supernatural world he had stumbled upon.

She leaned back against the pillows, watching over Naruto as he slept. Sona would eventually need to make things right with him, but for now, she would let him recover in peace. Even though he was already entangled with a devil, Sona couldn't help but appreciate the tranquility of the moment and having him by her side, safe and sound. In the end, she was still a devil, beholden to her desires.

Naruto slowly opened his eyes, feeling groggy and disoriented. As his vision cleared, he saw Koneko sitting beside him, staring at him with a look of sadness and guilt on her face. He tried to speak, but his throat was dry and scratchy.

Koneko's eyes widened as she looked at him, relief evident on her face. "Hey, don't move," Koneko replied, gently pushing him back down onto the bed. "You need to rest."

Naruto looked down at himself, realizing he was in a hospital bed, though he was barely in any pain. "What happened?" he asked.

Koneko hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You were mugged," she said finally. "Sona happened to be passing by and saw you, so she called an ambulance and came with you to the hospital. I came as soon as she called."

Naruto frowned, trying to remember, but his head was still foggy. He had a vague recollection of being chased and then being shot, and he winced. Koneko seemed to sense his discomfort, and she placed a hand on his forehead, gently stroking his hair.

"You were attacked," Koneko said, her voice shaking. "But you're okay now. You're going to be okay."

His heart sank at the guilt in her voice. "I'm sorry, Koneko," he said, his voice hoarse. "I didn't trust you, I caused the fight between us, and I ended up worrying you after putting myself in danger."

Koneko shook her head. "It's not your fault," she said. "I should have been more open with you. I shouldn't have hidden so much from you. I'm sorry."

Naruto nodded in forgiveness. "It's okay, Koneko," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "We can work through this together."

Koneko looked up at him, her eyes full of sadness. "I want to tell you everything, Naruto," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't. Not right now."

Until the fallen angels in the city were dealt with, Rias and Sona had decided to limit human involvement in the supernatural. They would also be holding off on pacts and requests for the time being, lest their contractors be targeted by the fallen, like Naruto was. So, for now she really couldn't tell Naruto anything.

"I understand, Koneko," he said, his voice soothing. "You don't have to tell me everything right now. I just want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what." He said with an understanding smile.

Koneko's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and fear. "I'm scared, Naruto," she admitted, her voice trembling as her inner fears shone through. "I'm scared that if I tell you the truth, you won't accept me. I'm scared that you'll see me as a monster."

Naruto felt a pang of pain in his chest at her words. He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Koneko," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I love you. I love everything about you, even the parts that you're afraid to show me. You don't have to be afraid of me, Koneko. I'll accept you, no matter what."

Koneko looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry for not trusting you. For keeping things from you. For not being honest with you. I was so stupid to think that I could keep everything a secret from you."

Naruto placed a hand on her cheek, wiping away her tears. "It's okay, Koneko," he said, his voice soothing. "I went behind your back and followed you. We both made mistakes but we can fix it together."

Koneko's smile faded, and she looked at him seriously. "It's okay, Naruto. I understand why you did what you did. I want to introduce you to my friends. I won't hide you from them any longer."

His eyes widened, surprised but pleased. He felt a sense of happiness and hope for their relationship. "I'm looking forward to getting to know your friends, Koneko. I want to be with you, no matter what."

Koneko smiled back, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her body. She leaned in and hugged him tightly, feeling his arms wrap around her. They stayed like that for a few moments, holding each other close, before finally pulling away.

Naruto looked at her, his eyes filled with love. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Koneko," he said, his voice soft.

Koneko nodded, feeling a sense of peace settle over her and the restored feeling of closeness and understanding that they hadn't felt in a while. They knew that their relationship wasn't perfect, but they were willing to work on it, together.

Scenario: What would Naruto do if he were to choose between his loved one's privacy or their safety?

Answer: If Naruto were to find himself in a situation where he has to choose between his loved one's feelings and privacy or their safety, it would likely be a difficult decision for him. On the one hand, he cares deeply about them and wants to respect their privacy and feelings. On the other hand, his desire to protect those he loves would likely make him want to prioritize safety.

Given his protective nature, it's possible that he may initially prioritize safety and try to take action to protect them, even if it means invading her privacy or disregarding their feelings. However, as he becomes more aware of the impact his actions have, he may begin to see the value in respecting their privacy and feelings and work to find a solution that addresses both their safety and feelings. Ultimately, his decision would be driven by his desire to protect them while also respecting them as individuals with their own agency and needs.