Izuna knew that their current living arrangements would no longer suffice. The small apartment he shared with Naruto could barely accommodate two people, let alone five. It was time to make a change, and he knew exactly who to talk to.

The next morning, Izuna made his way to the Hokage Tower. Despite his usual calm demeanor, he felt a twinge of nervousness. Bringing three new people into Konoha was no small matter, and he needed the Hokage's support to secure proper housing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi welcomed Izuna with a warm smile. "Izuna, it's good to see you back. I've heard about your journey and the new additions to your household. Uzumaki bloodlines returning to Konoha—it's a cause for celebration."

Izuna nodded respectfully. "Hokage-sama, thank you for your support. But as you can imagine, the apartment Naruto and I live in isn't big enough for all of us. I'm here to request assistance in finding a suitable house."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "You've done much for Konoha, Izuna, and I'm more than willing to help. Given the Uzumaki's historical importance to our village, this is a perfect opportunity to strengthen those ties once again."

With that, Hiruzen arranged for Izuna to visit several properties around Konoha. The Hokage even sent an official to assist with the house hunting. After visiting multiple homes, Izuna, along with Hitomi, Karin, Jugo, and Naruto, finally found the perfect place—a two-story building on the outskirts of the village. It had four bedrooms, a spacious living room, and a backyard where Naruto and Jugo could train.

"This one feels right," Izuna said, glancing at his companions for their opinions.

Naruto was already bouncing with excitement. "It's perfect! There's so much space, and I can have my own room!"

Karin nodded, her expression more reserved but content. "It's nice. It feels...safe."

Hitomi, who had been quiet throughout most of the search, finally spoke up. "This will be a good place for Karin to grow up. Thank you, Izuna, for everything."

Jugo, still adjusting to his new surroundings, simply gave a small, grateful nod.

Izuna smiled. "Then it's settled."

With his savings, Izuna paid for the house without any issue. Over the years, he had been careful with his money, knowing that situations like this might arise. The transaction was smooth, and soon, the house was officially theirs.

A few days later, Hiruzen paid them a visit. As he walked through the new house, his face lit up with approval. "This is a fine home, Izuna. You've done well. It warms my heart to see the Uzumaki bloodline thriving here again."

Naruto, standing beside him, beamed. "Yeah! And now I have real family, Hokage-jiji! Isn't that awesome?"

Hiruzen chuckled. "Indeed, Naruto. You've always been part of Konoha's family, but having blood relatives is something special."

The Hokage then turned to Hitomi and Karin. "Welcome to Konoha. This village was built with the help of the Uzumaki clan, and their legacy lives on in our hearts. You will always have a place here."

Hitomi bowed her head, her voice steady. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. We're grateful for your kindness and support."

As Hiruzen left, Naruto turned to Izuna. "You know, this really feels like home now."

Izuna placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "That's because it is, Naruto. And we'll protect it together."

The atmosphere in the council chamber was tense, the air thick with unspoken intentions. Danzo Shimura, ever the opportunist, had called this meeting under the guise of discussing village security. But Izuna knew better—this was about control, and more specifically, about controlling Hitomi and her unique abilities.

Danzo stood, his one visible eye scanning the room with practiced authority. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his tone calm yet commanding, "we are gathered here to discuss a matter of great importance. It has come to my attention that Hitomi Uzumaki possesses a rare and invaluable ability. Her chakra transfer technique could be a significant asset to Konoha, especially in times of war."

Hitomi shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Izuna sat beside her, his expression neutral but his mind racing. He knew where this was going.

Danzo continued, his gaze settling on Hitomi. "In light of this, I propose that Hitomi be officially inducted into Konoha's medical corps. Her abilities should not go to waste. As she served Taki, she can serve Konoha."

Before Hitomi could respond, Izuna leaned forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "With all due respect, Danzo, Hitomi is not a shinobi. She is a civilian, and she has no obligation to serve any village, including Konoha."

Danzo's eye narrowed. "Be that as it may, her abilities could save countless lives. Surely, as a member of this village, she would want to contribute."

Izuna smirked, but there was no humor in his eyes. "As her husband, the only person biting her will be me." The room erupted into laughter, lightening the mood momentarily, but Izuna's sharp gaze remained fixed on Danzo.

Danzo's expression didn't change, but Izuna could feel the weight of his hidden intent. His gaze lingered too long on both Hitomi and Karin, and that was all Izuna needed to confirm his suspicions.

Later that night, Izuna stood on the balcony of their new home, the cool night air doing little to calm his storming thoughts. Itachi, who had been silently observing from the shadows, finally spoke.

"Danzo won't stop," Itachi said, his voice low and serious. "He's already marked them as assets. It's only a matter of time before he tries something more...direct."

Izuna nodded, his expression dark. "I know. He's always been a snake. But now, he's made the mistake of targeting my family."

"Then what's the plan?" Itachi asked, stepping closer. "We both know he needs to be dealt with."

Izuna's eyes gleamed with a cold resolve. " Danzo has made himself the more immediate threat. He's a danger not just to my family but to the entire village. His ambition knows no bounds."

Itachi smirked, his Sharingan flaring to life. "Good. Then let's make sure he never has the chance to act."

Izuna nodded. "We'll do it quietly. No one can know it was us. The village needs to believe he fell victim to his own schemes."

Izuna knew Danzo was a careful man. His paranoia had only grown over the years, and he rarely left the village unless absolutely necessary. Any direct attack within Konoha would trigger immediate suspicion, and Danzo's deep connections within the village made it nearly impossible to act without severe consequences.

Sitting in the dimly lit study of his new home, Izuna considered his options. Across from him, Itachi was sharpening a kunai, his face etched with frustration.

"Attacking him directly won't work," Itachi muttered. "He's too connected. If we make one wrong move, he'll twist the narrative and make us the villains."

Izuna nodded. "That's why we won't act yet. We need to gather more intel, disrupt his network, and make him vulnerable. But to do that, we need someone who knows his operations from the inside."

Itachi paused and glanced at Izuna. "You're thinking of Shisui, aren't you?"

Izuna leaned back, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Shisui has ties to Root, even if they're superficial now. He knows their inner workings better than anyone. If anyone can help us dismantle Danzo's web, it's him."

That evening, Izuna and Itachi met Shisui at a secluded training ground on the outskirts of Konoha. The moonlight reflected off the surface of a nearby stream, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the air.

Shisui greeted them with a nod, his Sharingan deactivated but his expression serious. "I heard about the council meeting. Danzo's interest in Hitomi and Karin isn't surprising, but it's troubling."

Izuna crossed his arms. "It's more than troubling. He sees them as tools, and he won't stop until he has them under his control. We need to take him down, but we can't do it recklessly."

Shisui frowned. "Danzo's been tightening his grip on Root ever since the nine tails attack . His agents are everywhere, and he's always watching. But there's a way to weaken him."

Izuna leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "Go on."

Shisui gestured toward the village in the distance. "Danzo relies heavily on his informants and blackmail material. If we can intercept or destroy his records, it'll cripple his ability to manipulate the council and the village. But that's just the first step."

Itachi interjected, "And the second?"

Shisui's eyes darkened. "We create a scenario where Danzo is forced to leave the village. A fabricated crisis that only he can 'resolve.' Once he's outside Konoha, we strike. No witnesses, no loose ends."

Izuna nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Good. But we'll need time to set this up. In the meantime, we focus on protecting Hitomi and Karin. Danzo might try to act before we're ready."

Shisui placed a reassuring hand on Izuna's shoulder. "We'll handle this. Danzo's days are numbered."

Over the next few weeks, Izuna, Itachi, and Shisui worked tirelessly. Shisui used his connections to gather information on Root's movements and Danzo's secret dealings. Izuna created shadow clones to patrol the area around their home, ensuring his family's safety.

To avoid suspicion, Izuna also continued his work within the village, helping Naruto train and spending time with his newfound family. Naruto, unaware of the danger looming over them, thrived under Izuna's guidance, forming stronger bonds with Karin and Jugo.

One evening, as they gathered around the dinner table, Naruto looked up at Izuna. "You've been really busy lately. Everything okay?"

Izuna smiled, ruffling Naruto's hair. "Just making sure everything's in place for our future. Don't worry, Naruto. I'll always protect you and our family."

Naruto was bursting with excitement as he led Karin through the bustling streets of Konoha. Today was a big day. He couldn't wait to introduce his new cousin to all his friends at the academy. Karin, with her vibrant red hair and fiery personality, was equally eager, though she was more focused on proving herself.

As they arrived at the academy, Naruto pushed open the doors with a grin. "Hey, everyone! Meet my cousin, Karin! She's from the Uzumaki clan, just like me!"

The classroom buzzed with curiosity as Naruto's classmates turned their attention to the new girl. Karin stepped forward confidently, her hands on her hips. "That's right! I'm Karin Uzumaki, Naruto's cousin. We're family, and we're both gonna be amazing shinobi!"

Her declaration was met with a mix of excitement and skepticism. Some of the kids, like Shikamaru and Choji, nodded in casual acknowledgment, while others, like Kiba and Ino, were more curious.

Kiba smirked. "Another Uzumaki, huh? Let's see if you're as loud as Naruto."

Karin shot back with a grin, "Louder and stronger!"

As the day went on, Karin quickly became the center of attention. She was thrilled to learn about chakra and shinobi techniques. However, it wasn't long before she noticed a certain brooding figure sitting at the back of the class—Sasuke Uchiha.

During lunch, Karin made her move, casually sitting beside him. "Hey, you're Sasuke, right? I've heard about the Uchiha clan. Pretty cool stuff."

Sasuke barely looked up, offering a curt nod. But that didn't deter Karin. She leaned in slightly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You know, we should spar sometime. I bet I could learn a lot from you."

Before Sasuke could respond, several other girls in the class, including Ino and Sakura, shot daggers at Karin with their eyes. They quickly surrounded the table, each vying for Sasuke's attention.

"Hey, Sasuke! Want to train with me instead?" Sakura chimed in, flashing her best smile.

Ino pushed forward. "No way, Sakura! Sasuke obviously prefers someone more refined."

Karin, undeterred, crossed her arms. "You're all wasting your time. Sasuke and I are gonna be the ultimate duo."

Naruto watched the scene unfold with an incredulous look. "You're all acting so weird! Why is everyone so obsessed with Sasuke? He's just a guy!"

Sasuke sighed, clearly annoyed by the attention, while the girls continued to bicker around him.

Jugo made his stance clear as they all sat together in their new home. The bustling life of Konoha had its own charm, but Jugo's mind was set on a peaceful path. "I don't want to be a shinobi," he said firmly, his voice steady but resolute. "I've hurt too many people already. If I can avoid it, I won't raise my hand against anyone again."

Karin, sitting nearby, frowned slightly but nodded. "That's okay, Jugo. Not everyone has to be a ninja. You can still be strong in your own way."

Izuna, ever the pragmatic one, leaned forward. "I respect your decision, Jugo. But strength isn't just for fighting. It's for protecting the ones you care about. Even if you're not a shinobi, I'll still help you train—on our terms, away from prying eyes. We'll keep it quiet, just like we did before."

Jugo's expression softened. "Thanks, Izuna. I'll train with you. But only for control, not for combat."

Author's Note:

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