-Chapter 6-

"No," Narumi said, her voice firm and unwavering, standing in the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage sighed, looking across his desk at her. He had expected this. "Narumi…"

"I'm not doing this again, Jiji," she said, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Narumi," the Third began again, rubbing his temples as if to stave off an incoming headache. "You're a genin now. That means no more allowance. You're considered an adult in the village, and shinobi earn their own income. How do you plan to support yourself?"

Narumi hesitated for a moment, her mind working through the logistics. She hadn't really thought much about earning money. She had been too focused on her studies, her seals, and pushing the boundaries of what she could accomplish.

The Third Hokage took her silence as an opportunity to continue. "Why did you want to graduate early if you weren't ready for the responsibilities that come with it?"

"I didn't want to waste my time at the academy," Narumi replied bluntly, her voice sharp with frustration. "They weren't teaching me anything useful. I have better things to do—like working on my seals."

The Third Hokage sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. It had been only a few days since Narumi had passed her genin exam, and already, she was pushing against the expectations. "Narumi, all genin start with D-rank missions. That's just how it works. It doesn't matter how talented you are."

"But they're pointless," Narumi shot back, her frustration evident. "I'm not spending my time chasing cats or delivering groceries. It's a waste."

The Third Hokage watched her closely, waiting. He could see the gears turning in her head as she thought of an alternative. After a moment of silence, her face lit up with realization, and she grinned like she had just solved an impossible puzzle.

"Alright," Narumi said, straightening up with a confident grin. "Here's what we'll do. I'll sell some of my seals and take commissions. You help advertise them, and for every customer I get, it'll count as me completing a D-rank mission. Plus, I'll give the village 30% of my earnings. What do you say, Jiji?"

The Third Hokage blinked, staring at her. "Narumi, this is bribery."

"I don't hear you saying no," Narumi said with a sly smile. "Come on, Jiji. Wouldn't you rather have your shinobi equipped with some of my seals? You've always been curious about what I can do, haven't you?"

The Hokage's lips twitched, and for a moment, he considered it. She wasn't wrong—he had been impressed with her seal work, and there was potential for it to benefit the village. But he couldn't just let her bypass the system. "You've been making me sigh a lot lately. You'll make me look even older than I already am."

"Not my problem, old man," Narumi teased, smirking. "Besides, you're the one making me waste time with D-rank missions."

Before the Hokage could respond, Kakashi stepped forward from the corner of the room, where he had been lounging silently, watching the interaction with mild amusement. "What about me?" he asked lazily. "I'm not in ANBU anymore, and you're my only genin. If you don't take on any missions, I won't get a paycheck this month."

Narumi gave him a flat look. "Not my problem either, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi sighed dramatically, clasping his hands in mock prayer. "Oh, poor me... You wouldn't do that to your poor, starving sensei, would you?"

Narumi's eyebrow twitched in amusement. "Fine. I'll give you 5% of whatever I make from selling my seals."

"Only 5%?" Kakashi gasped, placing a hand on his chest. "How heartless."

"Take it or leave it," Narumi said, her smirk widening.

Kakashi paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Deal."

The Third Hokage pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright," he said, resigned. "If we're going down this road, you'll need to give me a list of the seals you plan on selling. I need to approve them first, and I'm not allowing anything too dangerous or outrageous."

Narumi's eyes gleamed with excitement as she suddenly summoned a paper bomb into her hand. "How about this one?"

The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's the difference between that and a regular paper bomb?"

Narumi held up the seal with a grin. "This one has variable explosion strength. The more chakra you pour into it, the stronger the explosion. It's super efficient too. It can range from a small pop to an explosion that can destroy a mountain range." She paused, tapping her chin. "Maybe even bigger—I haven't tested its limits yet."

The Third Hokage paled, his eyes widening in alarm. "Mountain... ranges?"

"Yep," Narumi said brightly. "It's really versatile!"

"Narumi," the Hokage began, his voice tight, "you need to limit that. You can't just sell something that could obliterate half a continent."

Narumi pouted slightly. "But how am I supposed to get accurate data on it if I don't let people use it? It's all about field testing!"

The Third Hokage sighed deeply, his patience wearing thin. "Just put some restrictions on it."

What followed was a back-and-forth argument between Narumi, Kakashi, and the Third Hokage. Narumi passionately advocated for her seals, while the Hokage firmly insisted on placing limits for safety reasons. Every so often, Kakashi interjected with dry remarks, adding his own playful spin to the discussion.

"All I'm saying is, if you can make a seal that controls chakra flow, how about one that keeps my tea warm? I could really use that on missions," Kakashi quipped, his tone completely serious.

Narumi shot him a deadpan look. "I'm not making seals for your tea, Kakashi-sensei. Focus."

"You say that now," Kakashi said, flipping a page of his book, "but I bet you'd sell a lot."

"Keep dreaming," Narumi muttered, rolling her eyes.

In the end, they managed to agree on a selection of seals that could be sold to the public. Some of her more dangerous creations were subjected to strict limitations, much to Narumi's irritation, but the Hokage stood his ground. She grumbled about it, but she knew there was no convincing Jiji once he made up his mind.

As Narumi left the office, she turned to Kakashi, who was trailing behind her lazily. "I still think 5% is too generous," she said.

Kakashi shrugged. "Think of it as my fee for getting you out of D-rank missions."

Narumi smirked. "Fair enough."

Kakashi walked leisurely through the streets of Konoha, absorbed in his well-worn copy of Icha Icha Paradise, humming softly as he moved. The world around him seemed to blur, time passing without consequence.

It had been two years since he found Narumi unconscious in her apartment, and the memory still gnawed at him. Seeing her so vulnerable, so completely exposed, had stirred something protective in him—a sense that he had failed her. He could still picture her lying there, and every time he did, it made his chest tighten with guilt.

But today was different. Today, Narumi was no longer the vulnerable child who needed constant protection. Today, she would meet him as her Jonin sensei for the first time. He was late—very late—but that wasn't out of character for him.

Kakashi glanced at his watch and saw that he was already an hour behind schedule. "Oops, a black cat," he muttered, coming to a stop as a small black feline crossed his path. "Looks like I'll need to take another route. Can't have bad luck on such an important day."

With that, Kakashi took a detour, continuing to read his book. As he wandered, a small girl tripped in front of him, skinning her knees on the pavement. Tears welled up in her eyes as blood trickled down from her wounds.

Kakashi closed his book and knelt down. "Ah, looks like someone needs a trip to the clinic," he said kindly, lifting the girl into his arms and walking her to the nearest medical facility.

After leaving the girl in the capable hands of the clinic staff, Kakashi checked his watch again. Two hours late. "I'm sure my cute little genin is still waiting for me," he said cheerfully, ignoring any sense of urgency.

As Kakashi continued his walk, he spotted an elderly woman struggling to carry her groceries. She looked frail, each step seemingly heavier than the last.

"Ah, what kind of shinobi would I be if I didn't help?" Kakashi said with a dramatic sigh, approaching the woman. "Let me give you a hand, ma'am."

"Oh, thank you, young man," she said gratefully as Kakashi took the bags and walked her home at a leisurely pace.

By the time he reached the Third Training Ground, Kakashi was three hours late. He strolled into the clearing, fully expecting to see Narumi waiting impatiently for him—but the field was empty.

"Hmm," Kakashi mused, scratching his head. "It seems my cute genin didn't wait for me after all."

He made his way to Narumi's apartment, figuring she might have gone home when he didn't show up. But when he arrived, the apartment was completely empty, cleaned as though no one had lived there in weeks. The furniture was gone, the floors swept—there wasn't a single trace of Narumi.

"Where is all her stuff?" Kakashi murmured, a feeling of concern creeping in. Then it hit him—her haven in the forest.

He quickly made his way to the forest, moving along the path he had walked countless times. But something felt different. The trees seemed denser, and no matter how far he walked, the path seemed to shift. Every turn felt like he was walking in circles.

"Did Narumi… remove me from her barrier list?" Kakashi wondered aloud, realization dawning on him. She must be angry.

The thought of Narumi being upset with him made him wince. She wasn't the type to forget slights, and Kakashi being three hours late probably didn't help. As he wandered aimlessly through the forest, Kakashi suddenly felt the ground give way beneath him.

He instinctively braced for impact, but instead of hitting solid ground, he landed with a splash in a shallow river. Confused, Kakashi looked around. "There's no cliff here…"

He glanced up and saw Narumi's treehouse in the distance. She was sitting under the large tree, completely ignoring him.

"Oh, I messed up badly," Kakashi muttered as he dragged himself out of the water, his clothes soaked.

Kakashi approached Narumi, shaking water from his hair. She didn't acknowledge him at first, focused on a scroll in her lap, but Kakashi could feel her annoyance.

"Ah, Narumi, there you are!" Kakashi said brightly, trying to sound cheerful. "I was at the training ground, but you weren't there. Any idea why?"

Narumi didn't look up. "You were three hours late, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi sighed, trying to sound remorseful but clearly failing. "Well, you see… black cats, little girls with scraped knees, old ladies with heavy groceries… Fate was really against me today."

Narumi shot him an unimpressed look. "A black cat?"

Kakashi nodded sagely. "Bad luck, you know. Can't risk it."

Narumi rolled her eyes. "I moved all my stuff here, by the way."

Kakashi blinked in surprise. "Oh? I noticed your apartment was completely empty. Why here, though?"

"This is my home now," Narumi said simply, finally looking up from her scroll. "I feel more at peace here. The apartment was dull, and I can actually get things done in the forest."

Kakashi chuckled, looking around at the peaceful surroundings. "Well, you've certainly made it your own. So, what now? Normally, I'd test you as your Jonin sensei…"

Narumi raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"But," Kakashi said, drawing out the pause, "I already know what you're capable of. You don't need a test."

Narumi smirked, pleased with his answer. "I thought as much."

"Instead," Kakashi said mischievously, "let's go on a mission."

Narumi's eyes lit up. "What kind of mission?"

Kakashi smiled under his mask, his lone eye glinting mischievously. "You'll see."

As the days passed, Konoha buzzed with excitement, its streets filled with chatter about the remarkable new seals being sold at the Hokage Tower. These seals had quickly gained a reputation for their efficiency, compactness, and versatility. From shinobi needing an extra edge in battle to those requiring support in their daily duties, everyone was eager to get their hands on these seals.

What truly astonished people was not just their effectiveness but the fact that the seals were, at first glance, completely blank. No intricate patterns or symbols could be seen on them—only the name of the seal was marked on a small tag, leaving the surface clean. Despite their simplicity, the seals functioned perfectly, baffling both buyers and local seal creators alike.

It was well-known that you could commission custom seals as well—explain your problem or desired result, and the Hokage Tower would have it ready the next day. The prices were steep, but no one seemed to mind paying for the quality and innovation these seals offered.

However, the local seal creators in Konoha were growing increasingly frustrated. Many of them had been in the business for years, crafting traditional seals and earning a steady income. But ever since these new seals had appeared, their customers had vanished. People were flocking to the Hokage Tower, and even more frustrating, they couldn't replicate the seals. They had tried—examining the seals, trying to reverse-engineer them—but it was impossible. Without the visible matrix of symbols, the seals were incomprehensible.

The blank seals had become a mystery in the sealing community. How could they work without the visible formulas? The lack of any visible sealwork was driving the traditional seal masters to the brink of madness, adding to their loss of business.

Kakashi sat at his usual spot at a dango stall, enjoying the peaceful afternoon. He overheard more of the excited chatter about the seals that were changing the lives of Konoha's shinobi.

As he bit into his dango, Guy appeared next to him, full of energy as always. "Kakashi, my eternal rival!" Guy exclaimed, his voice booming across the stall. "You've heard about these seals, haven't you? They've revolutionized my training!"

Kakashi raised his lone visible eye from his dango, mildly curious. "You've tried them out, Guy?"

Guy nodded enthusiastically, his pearly whites gleaming. "Yes! I commissioned some weight seals for my training—ones that adjust automatically based on my effort. It's increased my efficiency tenfold!"

Kakashi blinked lazily, taking in the information. "Sounds useful."

Before Kakashi could comment further, Anko appeared, arms crossed, her expression skeptical. "Are you two seriously falling for this? I've seen the seals. They're blank—there's nothing there! How does that even work?"

Guy puffed out his chest, unfazed. "That's because the seal master behind them is a genius, Anko! Just because you can't see the seals doesn't mean they aren't there. You should try them."

Anko rolled her eyes. "I'm not convinced. Besides, who is this seal master? No one's seen them. I don't trust anything I can't see or understand."

Kakashi quietly continued to eat his dango, hiding a smile beneath his mask.

Kurenai and Asuma walked up, overhearing the conversation. "Anko, you're missing out," Asuma said, lighting a cigarette. "I bought some chakra-enhancing seals, and my jutsus have become stronger than ever. These seals are the real deal."

Kurenai nodded in agreement. "I commissioned seals to help with chakra control, and they've made my genjutsu even more precise."

Anko furrowed her brow. "But how does it work? They're blank! I tried to figure it out myself, but there's nothing to analyze."

Asuma chuckled. "That's the genius of it, isn't it? Even the local seal makers have no idea how it works. They're all trying to copy it but can't. The seals might look blank, but they function better than anything else on the market."

Anko scowled. "So, no one's seen this seal master? And the local guys can't even compete? What kind of shady operation is this?"

Guy, brimming with excitement, clapped her on the back. "You're overthinking it, Anko! Whoever this seal master is, they've changed the game. You just need to experience it to understand!"

Anko shook her head, unconvinced. "Experience it? I want to know how it works. Who are they hiding? Why are the seals blank? If the Hokage's involved, it just makes me more suspicious."

Kurenai offered a sympathetic smile. "Maybe you should ask the Hokage about it. He approves all the commissions, so he must know something."

Anko's expression hardened with determination. "You're right. I'm going to find out who this seal master is."

Kakashi chuckled softly to himself, enjoying the quiet chaos as the group continued discussing the seals. He didn't need to add anything—he was already proud of Narumi and the buzz her work had caused. Plus, the 5% cut from her sales had made him richer than his days in ANBU. Watching the seal master mystery unfold was entertaining enough.

"Good luck, Anko," Kakashi finally said, his voice teasing. "Let me know if you figure it out."

Anko shot him a suspicious look. "You seem too calm about this, Kakashi. What do you know?"

Kakashi shrugged nonchalantly. "Just enjoying my dango. But I hear the Hokage Tower is taking commissions. Maybe you should try that first."

Anko smirked. "Don't worry. I'm getting to the bottom of this."

The group laughed and continued their banter, while Kakashi quietly savored the moment. Narumi's seals were changing the village—and causing plenty of drama—but he couldn't help feeling proud. She was creating something extraordinary, and Konoha was only just beginning to see what she was capable of.

It was early in the morning when Anko Mitarashi made her way toward the Hokage Tower. She wasn't here for a mission, but for something far more personal—answers. The village had been abuzz with talk of these mysterious seals being sold at the Hokage Tower, and rumors had it that a new seal master was behind them. But that wasn't what had piqued Anko's interest. She had a more pressing question: could this seal master help her with Orochimaru's cursed seal?

As she entered the tower, she approached the reception desk and placed her shinobi license down with a firm tap.

"I'd like to see the Hokage," Anko said with her usual confidence.

The assistant, a young woman, looked up from her paperwork and glanced at the license before raising an eyebrow. "Tokubetsu Jonin Mitarashi Anko. You don't have an appointment, do you?"

Anko leaned over the counter, her voice taking on a more casual tone. "Come on, I just need to ask something quick. I won't take up much time."

The assistant shook her head. "The office is already busy today, Anko-san. You'll need to make an appointment like everyone else. Being a tokubetsu jonin doesn't give you priority."

Anko huffed, her patience thinning. "Please, I'll only be a minute. I'll be in and out before you even know it."

Just as she was about to plead further, the door to the Hokage's office opened. Stepping out were Kakashi and a young girl she recognized—Narumi, the girl with bright blonde hair who had recently been promoted to genin.

Seeing the door open, Anko seized the opportunity and rushed forward, ignoring the assistant's protests. "Hokage-sama!"

The assistant tried to stop her. "Hey! You can't just—"

Inside, the Third Hokage looked up from his desk as Anko barged in. His expression shifted from mild surprise to weary resignation. "It's alright," he told the assistant, waving her off.

Narumi, standing behind the door, raised an eyebrow, curious about Anko's sudden entrance. Kakashi, of course, remained unfazed, his face buried in his book, casually flipping a page.

Anko wasted no time as she approached the Hokage's desk, urgency in her voice. "Hokage-sama, I need to ask you about these seals."

The Hokage's demeanor grew more serious. He set aside the papers he had been reviewing and gave her his full attention. "What about the seals?"

Anko glanced nervously at Narumi and Kakashi, lowering her voice. "Is there a new seal master in Konoha? I need to meet them. You know about my cursed seal, don't you? I thought… maybe they could help."

The Third Hokage's face darkened at the mention of Orochimaru's cursed seal. He nodded slowly, his voice more somber. "Anko… the seal master has requested anonymity. Even if I could tell you who they are, I'm not sure if they could remove your seal. Jiraiya himself has tried, and he failed."

Anko's shoulders slumped slightly, her desperation evident. She had carried this cursed mark for years, its dark power a constant reminder of her connection to Orochimaru. The Hokage's words felt like a blow, but before she could voice her frustration, a voice from behind interrupted.

"I'll do it."

Anko whipped around to see Narumi, standing just inside the doorway, her bright blue eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Hey, I'm still talking here!" Anko snapped, annoyed by the sudden interruption.

Narumi, unfazed, stepped forward. The Hokage sighed and tapped his desk, causing an intricate seal to suddenly appear across its surface. The seal expanded in a glowing wave, enveloping the entire room before fading from view.

Anko felt a strange sensation ripple through the air. She glanced around, confused. "What… What was that?"

Narumi smirked. "Just a silencing seal. Now no one outside can hear us."

Anko frowned, suspicious. "That didn't feel like a normal silencing seal… It felt like we were cut off from the rest of the world."

"Because it's better," Narumi said nonchalantly, her tone almost teasing.

The Hokage folded his hands on the desk and spoke calmly. "Anko, meet Narumi Uzumaki, the seal master you've been asking about."

For a moment, the room fell into stunned silence. Anko's eyes widened in disbelief. "This brat? You're telling me she's the one selling those seals? Isn't she just a genin?"

Narumi's expression hardened, and she crossed her arms. "I am a genin, but that doesn't mean I can't master seals. You wanted help, didn't you?"

The Hokage sighed again, giving Anko a nod. "Anko, show her the cursed seal."

Still skeptical, Anko reluctantly removed her jacket and turned her back to Narumi, exposing the three tomoe that formed Orochimaru's cursed mark on the back of her neck. The dark, swirling mark seemed to pulse ominously, like a living entity bound to her flesh.

Narumi's eyes narrowed as she examined it. "So… this is a cursed seal?" Her voice dripped with disgust. "It's so… inefficient. Unnecessary. It's like a parasite feeding off your chakra. Is this the sealer's chakra?"

Anko stiffened, unable to believe the words coming out of the young girl's mouth. Orochimaru's seal—his masterpiece—was being insulted by a child?

Narumi continued her analysis, her eyes tracing the dark marks. "Whoever made this is sloppy. I've seen better seals in textbooks. Who made this?"

The Hokage watched with mild amusement as Anko's disbelief turned to irritation. The Third then cleared his throat. "Narumi, can you remove it?"

Narumi smirked confidently. "It's easy enough. But…" Her grin widened. "I don't want to destroy it yet. I'd like to add it to my seal collection." As she studied the cursed mark more closely, her thoughts raced. I could just sever the connection between her chakra and the seal, like disrupting the flow of energy in a circuit... but something feels off. She leaned in, her eyes narrowing. There's chakra stored inside the seal itself. Is that some kind of backup reservoir?

Anko's patience snapped. "Easy?!" She reached out to grab Narumi's collar, but the moment her hand extended, a translucent barrier formed between them, stopping her in her tracks.

The Hokage sighed, rubbing his temples. "Anko, enough."

Narumi remained calm, almost amused. "Relax. It doesn't mean I won't remove it. I just want to study it first."

Anko took a deep breath, her fists clenching at her sides as she composed herself. "Fine. But hurry up."

Without wasting time, Narumi's finger began to glow faintly, and she drew a seal in the air above the cursed mark. A faint hum filled the room as the seal activated, scanning and analyzing the cursed seal beneath it. Narumi's brow furrowed slightly as she absorbed the details.

"Well, that's disappointing," Narumi muttered. "It's not even a proper backup system. There's just some residual chakra sitting inside, corrupting your body like a virus."

Anko's body tensed at the revelation. "What?"

Narumi extended her glowing hand again, drawing another series of seals in front of her, each materializing in the air. The first was a chakra absorption seal, followed by a containment seal. Both seals hovered over Anko's neck, and within moments, the cursed mark began to shimmer.

Suddenly, a dark, snake-like figure began to materialize from the seal. The figure twisted and coiled, eventually forming the shadowy visage of Orochimaru.

The room grew cold.

The Third Hokage stood up abruptly, his eyes widening. "Orochimaru..."

Kakashi, having put away his book, was now on full alert, his eye narrowing at the sight of the traitor. Anko, trembling with both anger and fear, took a step back.

Orochimaru's ethereal form sneered. "Sensei… How did you manage to break my seal?"

Narumi's eyes flashed with determination. "I broke it because it's a bad seal. Honestly, I expected more from someone like you."

Orochimaru's expression darkened, his eyes flicking toward the Hokage. "You're still meddling in things you don't understand, old man."

Before Orochimaru could continue, his ghostly form was pulled forward by Narumi's containment seal. She raised her hand, and in a swift motion, Orochimaru's figure was sucked into a small scroll that materialized in her palm.

She tossed the scroll to the Hokage casually. "Here. That's all that was left of him."

The Hokage caught the scroll, his expression grave as he stared at the item in his hands. "Thank you, Narumi."

Anko stood there, dumbfounded. She had never imagined that Orochimaru's presence could be removed so easily—let alone by a genin. "It's… it's really gone?"

Narumi shrugged, brushing off the feat like it was nothing. "Yep. Now for the rest of the seal."

She pulled out a small paper tag from her pouch and placed it on Anko's neck. With a faint glow, the cursed seal vanished, transferring into the tag. Narumi smiled, holding up the tag. "There. One more for my collection."

Anko's hand instinctively went to her neck, her fingers tracing the now unmarked skin. For the first time in years, she felt… free.

Narumi turned back to the Hokage, a satisfied grin on her face. "It's done."

The Hokage nodded, relief and gratitude in his eyes. "Anko, keep Narumi's identity as the seal master a secret. We can't let this information spread."

Anko, still processing what had just happened, nodded slowly. "Thank you… I don't know how to repay you."

Narumi's grin widened. "Well, you can start by paying. This counts as a commission, you know."

Anko blinked, then laughed, her earlier frustration melting away. "I don't care how much it costs. I'll pay whatever it takes."

The Hokage leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. "This was no ordinary mission, Anko. Removing a cursed seal of this nature… It's at least an S-rank mission."

Anko nodded, her eyes still wide with disbelief. "I understand. But… thank you, Narumi. Really."

Narumi waved her off casually. "No big deal."

As the Hokage ended the conversation, he gave Anko one final nod. "Remember, this stays between us."

Anko left the room, still in shock, but with a newfound lightness. The cursed mark that had haunted her for years was finally gone, and for the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful.

For the past few weeks, Narumi had fallen into a rhythm that suited her perfectly: studying seals, experimenting with new seal techniques, fulfilling her ever-growing list of commissions, and, occasionally, taking a walk around the village to unwind. Her work with seals brought in more than enough income—far beyond what any genin could expect. According to Kakashi, the profits from her seals and commissions outstripped even the salary of high-ranking jonin. It wasn't something she boasted about, but it was clear Narumi had no concerns about money.

Kakashi, however, was never far behind. Like a shadow, he followed her everywhere—quiet, unobtrusive, and always with his nose buried in his favorite book.

One day, as Narumi worked on her latest seal designs in her secluded forest haven, Kakashi was, as usual, lingering nearby. He had become such a constant presence that she barely noticed him anymore. But this time, curiosity got the better of her.

She stopped what she was doing, glanced over at him, and asked, "What are you doing, Kakashi-sensei? You've been following me around like a lost dog."

Kakashi lazily looked up from his book, his one visible eye curving into a smile. "I'm still your jonin sensei, Narumi. And I'm getting paid to watch over you, so why not?"

Narumi huffed, crossing her arms. "But where are my teammates? Don't genin have teammates? Or are you planning to babysit me forever?"

Kakashi turned a page in his book, seemingly unbothered by her complaint. "You graduated in the middle of the year. There are no other new genin teams right now. When the academy year ends, you'll be assigned teammates, and they'll stick with you until you all become chunin."

Narumi shrugged. "Hmph. Fine by me. Not like I care."

Later, in her forest sanctuary, Narumi found herself deep in thought, surrounded by scrolls and scattered seal designs. The quiet rustling of leaves overhead and the distant sounds of the river nearby provided the perfect backdrop for her musings.

She knew that while her seal mastery had reached impressive levels, her physical combat skills were severely lacking. Without her seals, she would easily be defeated—even by an academy student. She had no formal hand-to-hand combat training to speak of, and the only two jutsus she had picked up along the way were Rasengan and Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Her mind wandered back to the time when Jiraiya had first attempted to teach her the Rasengan. At first, she'd been intrigued, but the excitement quickly faded when she saw the jutsu in action.

"This? Just a spinning ball of chakra? What's the point?" she had thought. It was too close-ranged for her liking. "If I'm going to get that close, I might as well use a kunai. It's simpler and just as effective."

But Jiraiya had been persistent. "Master the Rasengan, and I'll teach you a jutsu that will really let you multitask."

That had grabbed her attention. Multitasking was key in her line of work. So, after a bit of grumbling, Narumi had begrudgingly mastered the Rasengan in just three days, her perfect chakra control making the jutsu surprisingly easy to execute. Jiraiya had been stunned by how quickly she had picked it up. "Teaching geniuses is so boring," he'd muttered, though there had been a hint of pride in his voice.

True to his word, Jiraiya had then taught her the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and that had been a game-changer. The memory-sharing aspect of the jutsu was invaluable. With shadow clones, she could delegate tasks, manage her seal commissions, and conduct experiments simultaneously. The only downside was the chakra drain, but she had fixed that problem with her improved chakra-regulating seal, making the jutsu far more efficient.

Now, as she sat in her sanctuary, her mind turned to her combat options. Her reactive barrier seal was solid, but she needed more. She decided to work on a backup barrier, one powered by the Kyubi's chakra from the chakra battery she had been developing. Though her void reactive barrier was still in its experimental stages, she wanted something that could defend her in the meantime.

For offense, her chakra chains were her go-to. But she had made improvements there as well, adding a reactive explosion seal to the chains. Now, whenever the chains struck a target, an explosion would follow, maximizing damage. While the chains themselves provided some measure of defense, she didn't trust them enough to fully rely on them for protection. They were, after all, meant to be her primary attack method.

Her mobility, however, remained a significant concern. She was slow, and her stamina was limited. Traveling for long distances would be difficult, especially during missions. She was considering developing a reactive levitating seal—one that would allow her to fly and control her movement using chakra. With her vast reserves of chakra, the levitation seal could provide the speed and mobility she needed.

She had already developed a sensing seal—one that combined chakra sensing, echolocation, and imaging—allowing her to map out her surroundings. The radius of the sensing seal was adjustable depending on how much chakra she fed it, but it wasn't perfect. Fast-moving enemies might escape detection, only appearing as blurs. Genjutsu, in particular, was something she had yet to figure out how to defend against. If she were caught in one, she wouldn't know how to break it. Her only hope was that her reactive barrier would activate on its own and keep her safe.

With a long sigh, Narumi stretched her arms over her head and got up from her work. There was still so much to do, so many gaps to fill in her combat strategy.

Deciding she needed a break, Narumi left her sanctuary and made her way back into the village, Kakashi trailing along, still reading his book. She headed to Ichiraku Ramen, her usual spot for comfort food.

"One miso ramen," she ordered, sliding onto the stool. Kakashi, as predictable as ever, sat beside her without looking up from his book.

As she waited for her food, Narumi's attention wandered. She watched a family walk by, a little girl around her age holding hands with her parents. A flicker of something crossed her mind—What would it have been like if her parents were still alive? Would she still be as obsessed with seals? Would she have taken the same path? She didn't have answers, just questions.

The family headed toward the Hokage Tower, likely there for a mission or some other request. Narumi turned back to her ramen, her thoughts still drifting.

She caught sight of her old academy classmates across the street. Sasuke Uchiha, brooding as always, walked ahead of them, a crowd of fangirls—including Sakura and Ino—trailing behind, giggling and fawning over him. Sasuke had changed since the Uchiha massacre two years ago, becoming even more distant and withdrawn. His older brother, Itachi, had wiped out their entire clan, leaving only Sasuke alive. It was something the entire village whispered about, but Narumi had never paid much attention to it. She wasn't one for gossip or drama, and besides, she had her own matters to worry about.

Back then, two years ago, she had practically faded into the background in class. After becoming absorbed in her seal studies and her experiments, she had stopped caring about the academy altogether. She rarely attended, preferring to study on her own or work on her seals in secret. When she did show up, she was always lost in thought, her mind focused on her next seal design, not on whatever lesson was being taught.

Her classmates had gradually forgotten about her. At first, they noticed her absence, but as the months went by, they stopped caring. Narumi's tendency to sit in the back of the room, scribbling in her notebooks, only added to her invisibility. She was just the quiet girl, no longer a part of the academy's social fabric.

Even Iruka-sensei, who had tried to engage her at the beginning, eventually gave up on reprimanding her for not paying attention or skipping class. She remembered his initial frustration—calling her name during lessons, only to receive blank stares from Narumi or silence when she was absent. Eventually, Iruka had stopped bothering altogether. He no longer called on her to answer questions, no longer scolded her for ignoring him or the curriculum.

Narumi had become a phantom, a presence that didn't interact, didn't engage, and didn't care. Her classmates had moved on, and so had she.

As she watched Sasuke walk by, she couldn't help but think how little had changed. The fanaticism of the village over him remained intact, despite the tragedy that had struck his family. Itachi had become a name whispered in fear and hatred, while Sasuke had become the sole survivor, bearing the weight of the Uchiha legacy on his shoulders. And yet, for Narumi, it was all just background noise. She had her own path to follow, one that didn't involve chasing after others or drowning in the past.

The past two years had been all about seals and self-discovery. Everything else? It was just a distraction.

After finishing her ramen, Narumi decided it was time to annoy Jiji again.

"Jiji!" she called out as she barged into the Hokage's office, not bothering to knock. Kakashi followed her inside, looking completely unbothered.

The Hokage's assistant had barely managed to say, "Hey, you can't just—" before Narumi pushed past, heading straight for the Hokage.

Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, and in front of him stood the family Narumi had noticed earlier. They looked startled by her sudden entrance.

"Narumi…" the Hokage sighed, rubbing his temples. He was clearly used to her unexpected visits.

Narumi glanced at the family, then at the Hokage. "What's this? A mission request?"

The family stared at her in silence, and the Hokage simply smiled wearily. "Something like that."

-end-

Note: Chapter 6 done. I just saw the Minato Oneshot Manga, and I wish there was more, not that Boruto. I never thought minato was that good, I mean he was fighting jinchuuriki left and right and in the future got a "flee on sight" rank, I mean he must be that good if even jinchuuriki doesn't have the same treatment.