Author's Note: What's this? Wow, two chapters of My Sister in a day! Enjoy!

Bijū talk or think/Jutsu

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Communication"

Flashbacks – Everything is slanted in flashbacks and Raiura's dreams

Summons Speaking (When they are not in the summoning world)

Chapter 20

He's Here, But How

Hayate, a stack of numbered slips in his hand, surveyed the group of genin who had survived the preliminary rounds. "Alright, listen up," he said, his tone casual. "It's time to draw your numbers for the final matches. Remember, this isn't rocket science. You pick a number, and that determines your opponent."

He paused, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Since we had an uneven number of participants in the preliminaries, Samui gets a free pass to the finals. No need to thank me," he added quickly, anticipating the inevitable complaints. "Any whining and you're scrubbing the stadium latrines for a week. Got it?" The grumbling genin quickly quieted down.

"Now, the matchups," Hayate continued, holding up the slips. "It's all random, so no blaming me if you get stuck with someone you don't like. Basically, the number you draw will match you against the one either directly above or below you, numerically. So, if you draw a one, you're up against number two. Draw a two, you fight number one. Draw a three, you fight number four, and so on. Got it?"

The genin nodded, their expressions ranging from excitement to mild apprehension. The drawing commenced, each genin approaching Hayate to select their fate.

First up was Raiura. She reached into the container, pulling out a slip. Unfurling it, she saw the number… one.

Next was Neji. He drew his number with an air of stoic acceptance. His slip revealed the number… two.

Ori, the Iwa genin, stepped forward, a confident smirk on his face. He drew his number, revealing… three.

Choji, ever jovial, even in the face of battle, picked his number with a grin. His slip revealed the number… four.

Ranho, the Kiri genin, approached the container, his expression calm and collected. He pulled out the number… five.

Sakura, a hint of nervousness in her eyes, drew her number. It was… six.

Temari, unfazed by the draw, selected her number with practiced ease. She revealed… seven.

Shikamaru, sighing dramatically, as if the very act of drawing a number was too much effort, took his slip. It was… eight.

Gaara, his gaze intense, drew his number without a word. He unfolded the slip to reveal… nine.

Samui, already assured of her place in the finals, watched the drawing with detached interest.

Sasuke, his expression aloof, drew his number with a hint of anticipation. His slip revealed… ten.

Kankuro, adjusting his bandages, selected his number with a sly grin. He unfolded it to see… eleven.

Misumi, the final genin, drew her number. It was… twelve. Which meant she got a free pass to the second round.

Hayate, observing the results, announced the matchups. "Alright, here's how it's going to go down," he said, pointing to a chart he had prepared.

"Match one: Uzumaki Raiura versus Hyūga Neji!"

"Match two: Umatani Ori versus Akimichi Choji!"

"Match three: Komatsuzawa Ranho versus Haruno Sakura!"

"Match four: Temari versus Nara Shikamaru!"

"Match five: Gaara versus Samui!"

"Match six: Uchiha Sasuke versus Kankuro!"

"Misumi Tsurugi will advance directly to the second round!"

Hayate grinned. "There you have it folks! Your matchups for the final rounds! Good luck, you'll need it."

As the genin and their sensei exited the stadium, a palpable sense of anticipation hung in the air. The preliminary matches were over, but the real challenge was yet to come. The final rounds, a month away, loomed on the horizon.

Raiura, Sakura, and Sasuke stepped out into the sunlight, stretching their limbs after the long hours spent in the stadium. Kakashi trailed behind them, his usual laid-back demeanor evident.

"So," Kakashi began, addressing his team, "anyone interested in some special training for the finals? I might be persuaded to share some of my… secret techniques." He winked, though his eye remained hidden behind his mask.

Sakura, eager to improve her skills, immediately raised her hand. "Yes, Kakashi-sensei! I'd really appreciate it if you could train me!"

Sasuke, ever focused on becoming stronger, also nodded in agreement. "Hn," he grunted. "I wouldn't mind learning a few things."

Raiura, however, seemed less enthusiastic. Her gaze was distant, her mind clearly elsewhere. She stretched languidly, her movements graceful and fluid, but her eyes weren't entirely focused on her surroundings.

"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei," she said, her voice a little distracted. "But I think I'll train on my own for a bit. Or maybe I'll see if Raidō, Genma, or Yūgaō are free. They usually have some interesting pointers."

Kakashi tilted his head slightly, sensing her lack of focus. "Everything alright, Raiura?" he asked, his tone concerned.

Raiura blinked, as if just realizing he had spoken. "Yeah, everything's fine," she replied, a small, almost forced smile playing on her lips. "Just… thinking about some things."

Kakashi studied her for a moment, his one visible eye narrowed slightly. He knew Raiura well enough to recognize when something was bothering her. But he also knew that she could be fiercely private, preferring to deal with her problems on her own terms.

He decided not to press the issue. "Alright," he said finally. "But if you change your mind, just let me know. I'm always happy to share my vast knowledge… for a small fee, of course." He chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood.

Raiura smiled faintly. "Thanks, Kakashi-sensei," she said again. "I will."

She then turned and walked away, her steps purposeful, but her mind still preoccupied.

Raiura, her thoughts a swirling mix of the upcoming Chūnin Exams and more personal matters, began traversing the rooftops of Konoha, heading towards the familiar tranquility of the hot springs. As she moved, she extended her senses, passively noting the familiar chakra signatures that dotted the village. Suddenly, two signatures caught her attention near the hot springs.

One was undeniably strong, a powerful presence that radiated experience and skill. Raiura immediately recognized it as likely belonging to Jiraiya of the Sannin. She had heard stories about the legendary ninja, tales of his strength and… other proclivities.

The second chakra signature, though less powerful, was strangely familiar. It resonated with her own chakra, a faint echo, a connection that tugged at her senses. A flicker of confusion crossed her mind. It felt… like Naruto.

But Naruto was dead. She knew that. She had felt the absence, the sudden severing of the thread that had connected them, however tenuous it might have been. They shared a birthday, a fleeting connection, but they hadn't grown up together. She felt a pang of… emptiness, perhaps, but not the deep grief she might have expected.

She dismissed the thought. It couldn't be Naruto. It was impossible. She focused on the stronger chakra signature, the one that almost certainly belonged to Jiraiya. She changed her course, abandoning her plans for a relaxing soak in the hot springs.

Instead, she decided to follow the individual with the similar chakra signature, who was moving away from the hot springs. Curiosity piqued, she wondered who it could be. It wasn't Naruto, she was sure of it.

She continued her rooftop journey, her movements fluid and silent. She kept her senses extended, carefully tracking the familiar chakra signature as it moved through the village. She was determined to find out who this mysterious individual was.

The signature led her away from the hot springs, towards a quieter, more secluded part of the village. Raiura followed, her pace unhurried, careful not to reveal her presence. She was curious, but she wasn't in a rush.

She wondered if this person was connected to Jiraiya. Perhaps they were a student, or an associate. The possibilities swirled in her mind. She kept her distance, observing from afar, trying to piece together the puzzle.

She knew she would find out eventually. She just needed to be patient. She would follow the familiar chakra signature, and eventually, she would learn the truth.

Her thoughts drifted back to the upcoming Chūnin Exam finals, the blood grudge match with Neji. She knew she had to focus, to prepare herself mentally and physically. But for now, this mystery was too intriguing to ignore.

Raiura, her movements silent and swift, finally closed the distance between herself and the mysterious figure. She landed softly behind them, her chakra-enhanced reflexes allowing her to move without a sound. The figure, startled by her sudden appearance, yelped, a small, surprised sound. In the process, the black hood of their cloak fell back, revealing their face.

Raiura's breath hitched. It was… familiar. The whisker marks on his cheeks, identical to her own, were unmistakable. It was someone who shared a striking resemblance to her, a face that echoed her own. It was… unnerving.

She stared at him, her cerulean eyes wide with a mixture of shock and confusion. It looked exactly like Naruto. The same spiky blonde hair, the same mischievous glint in the eyes, the same… everything. Except, it couldn't be.

Naruto was dead. She knew that. She had felt the absence, the sudden severing of the thread that had connected them, however faint it might have been. They shared a birthday, a fleeting connection, but they hadn't grown up together. She felt a pang of… emptiness, perhaps, but not the deep grief she might have expected.

She dismissed the thought. It couldn't be Naruto. It was impossible. Yet, the resemblance was undeniable. The whisker marks, those were the key. They were identical to hers, a unique trait that she knew only she and Naruto possessed.

Confusion warred with disbelief in her mind. She stared at him, her cerulean eyes wide with shock. He looked exactly like Naruto, but something was… different. His expression was blank, almost vacant. He didn't seem surprised to see her, didn't seem happy, or sad, or anything at all. He was… emotionally mute.

Raiura didn't know the specifics, but she sensed a profound emotional detachment from him. It was as if he was there, physically present, but his spirit, his emotions, were locked away, inaccessible. It was unsettling.

She took a step back, her mind reeling. How was this possible? How could someone look so exactly like Naruto, share such a distinctive trait, and yet be so… different? So emotionally disconnected?

She opened her mouth to speak, to ask him what was going on, but the words caught in her throat. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know where to begin.

The figure in front of her, this person who looked so much like Naruto, simply stared back at her, his eyes devoid of any emotion. He didn't speak, didn't move. He just stood there, a silent enigma.

Raiura continued to stare at him, her mind racing. She needed answers. She needed to understand what was happening. But the silence between them was thick, heavy with unspoken questions.

She took another step back, her gaze never leaving his. She knew she couldn't just stand there, staring at him. She had to do something. She had to find out the truth.

But what was the truth? Who was this person? And why did he look so exactly like Naruto? The whisker marks… they were the key. They were too distinctive to be a coincidence.

She knew she wouldn't get any answers by just standing there. She had to act. She had to find out what was going on. But she didn't know where to start.

She decided to start with the obvious question, the one that had been nagging at her since she first saw him. "Who… are you?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

The figure in front of her didn't respond. He simply continued to stare at her, his eyes blank, unreadable. Raiura's confusion deepened. This was Naruto, and yet, it wasn't. Something was terribly wrong. The whisker marks… they were the only clue she had.

The blonde boy, his expression still largely unreadable, suddenly reached out and grasped Raiura's hands. His touch was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to his otherwise detached demeanor. Then, a flicker of something that resembled a smile crossed his lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm Naruto," he said, his voice flat, almost monotone. "Are you… Raiura?"

The words were simple, straightforward, yet they sent a shiver down Raiura's spine. It was Naruto's voice, or at least, what she imagined his voice would sound like. But the way he said it, the lack of inflection, the absence of any real emotion, was unsettling.

It was as if he was reciting lines from a script, going through the motions without truly connecting to the meaning behind the words. This wasn't the Naruto she had imagined, the vibrant, energetic boy she had seen in pictures. This Naruto was… empty.

Raiura stared at him, her confusion deepening. He said he was Naruto, he looked like Naruto, he even shared the same distinctive whisker marks. But this wasn't the Naruto she had expected, the Naruto she had felt a faint connection to. This was someone else entirely.

She searched his eyes, trying to find a spark of recognition, a hint of the personality she had glimpsed in her imagination. But there was nothing. His eyes were blank, unreadable. It was as if he was looking through her, not at her.

"Naruto?" she asked again, her voice still hesitant. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. This couldn't be the same Naruto who had died. Could it?

He nodded slowly, his grip on her hands tightening slightly. "Naruto," he repeated, his voice still flat. "And you're Raiura."

He didn't ask a question, didn't express any surprise or joy at seeing her. He simply stated it as a fact. It was as if he was reading her name off a list. The lack of emotion was unnerving.

Raiura's mind raced. She needed answers. She needed to understand what was happening. But this Naruto, this empty shell of a Naruto, wasn't giving her anything to work with. He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

She decided to try a different approach. She needed to connect with him, to find a way to break through his emotional detachment. But how? He was like a blank canvas, devoid of any color or emotion.

She looked at his face, searching for a clue, a hint of the person he might have been. The whisker marks, those were the only real connection she had to him. They were a shared trait, a link to the past.

"Those marks," she said, pointing to her own cheeks. "We have the same marks."

She hoped that this would trigger some kind of reaction, some flicker of recognition. But Naruto simply stared at her, his expression unchanged. He was like a statue, frozen in time.

"Marks," he echoed, his voice still flat.

Raiura's frustration grew. She was trying to reach him, but it was like talking to a wall. He was there, physically present, but his mind, his emotions, were locked away, inaccessible. It was as if he was trapped inside himself.

She knew she couldn't give up. She had to find out what had happened to him. She had to understand why he was so different. She owed it to the memory of the Naruto she had imagined, the boy who had died too young.

Naruto, without warning, pulled Raiura into a hug. His movements were still somewhat stiff, but the embrace itself was surprisingly warm. He was a few inches taller than her, and she found herself pressed against his chest, feeling the faint thump of his heart.

The unexpected contact, the physical closeness, triggered something within Raiura. A wave of emotion washed over her, a torrent of feelings she hadn't realized she had been suppressing. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.

She hadn't cried in a long time. Not since… well, she couldn't even remember the last time. But now, standing in the arms of this stranger who felt so strangely familiar, the tears flowed freely.

It was him. She knew it. Despite the emotional detachment, despite the blank expression, she knew, deep down, that this was her brother. This was Naruto. The boy who had died on their birthday, the boy she had never known, was here, with her.

A sob escaped her lips, a sound she hadn't made in years. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him back tightly, clinging to him as if she was afraid he would disappear. She whispered his name, her voice choked with emotion.

"Naruto…" she breathed, the name a prayer, a plea, a declaration. It was him. It had to be.

The hug, the tears, the whispered name… none of it seemed to elicit any visible reaction from Naruto. He simply held her, his expression still blank, his eyes unfocused. He was present, yet distant, a paradox of physical closeness and emotional absence.

Raiura, however, didn't care. She was holding her brother. She was holding the boy who had died too young, the boy she had only known in her imagination. And that was enough. For now, it was enough.

The tears continued to flow, a release of pent-up emotions, of grief and confusion and a strange, overwhelming sense of… recognition. She didn't understand what had happened to him, why he was so different, but she knew, in her heart, that this was Naruto.

She held him tighter, whispering his name again and again, as if trying to bring him back to her, to awaken the emotions that seemed to be dormant within him.

The silence between them stretched, broken only by Raiura's soft sobs. Naruto remained unresponsive, his gaze distant. But Raiura didn't let go. She held on, clinging to the hope that, somehow, she could reach him, that she could bring him back from the emotional void he seemed to be trapped in.

After a long moment, Naruto gently pushed Raiura back, breaking the embrace. His movements were still stiff, almost mechanical. He looked at her, his expression still blank, his eyes unfocused. He felt nothing.

He then reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, orange box. It was neatly wrapped with a purple ribbon, tied in a perfect bow. He held it out to her, his hand hovering slightly. It was a pre-programmed action, a learned behavior, not a genuine emotional offering.

Raiura, her eyes still red and slightly swollen from crying, stared at the box, then back at Naruto. She was still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster. She was still trying to reconcile the empty shell in front of her with the brother she had imagined.

She took the box from him, her fingers brushing against his. His touch was warm, but his hand was tense, almost rigid. It was a learned response, not a connection. She looked at the box, then back at him, her expression questioning.

"What's this?" she asked, her voice soft.

Naruto shrugged slightly, a small, almost imperceptible movement. "A… present," he said, his voice still flat. "For… your birthday." It was a memorized phrase, not an expression of sentiment.

The words were simple, yet they struck a chord within Raiura. A present? From Naruto? It was a programmed gesture, a learned behavior, but it was something. It was a connection, however tenuous, to the brother she had lost and now, in some strange way, found again.

She took the box in her hands, her fingers tracing the smooth surface of the orange cardboard. She carefully untied the purple ribbon, her movements slow and deliberate. She didn't want to break the fragile connection, the programmed interaction, that seemed to be forming between them.

She opened the box, revealing a small, silver ring. It was a simple band, but it was intricately carved with a swirling design. It was clearly meant for her pointer finger. She noticed Naruto was wearing a similar ring on the middle finger of his left hand, over his fingerless glove. On his right hand, he wore a more elaborate set of rings – three golden bands, one on his middle, pointer, and ring fingers, all connected by three delicate golden chains to a small, intricately detailed golden eagle. The eagle's wings were spread, its talons extended, and it was connected by three more golden chains to a golden bracelet around his wrist.

Raiura stared at the ring, her heart swelling with a mixture of warmth and sadness. A ring… It was a personal gift, something meant to be worn, a constant reminder. She glanced at his hand, noticing the matching ring on his left middle finger. It was a programmed gesture, a learned behavior, but it was a connection.

She looked up at Naruto, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. Gratitude was there, but also a deep, aching sadness. She knew he didn't understand the significance of the gift, that he didn't feel the emotions she was feeling. But it was still a connection, a tangible link to the brother she had lost and now, in some strange way, found again.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "It's… beautiful." She knew he wouldn't understand the depth of her gratitude, but she said it anyway. It was for her, as much as it was for him.

Naruto simply nodded, his expression still largely unreadable.

Naruto, his expression still blank, his voice still flat, added, "I… always knew about you." He paused, his gaze flickering to her face, then away again. "Did… you know about me?"

Raiura's heart skipped a beat. The question, so simple, so direct, caught her off guard. She had assumed he wouldn't remember, that his emotional detachment extended to his memories. But he did remember. Or, at least, he remembered of her.

She thought for a moment, considering her answer. Had she always known about him? Not consciously, not really. She had known of him, of course. He was her twin, a fact she had learned from her parents.

But she hadn't known him. He was a ghost, a whisper, a tragic absence in her life. He was the boy who had died on their birthday, a day that was both a celebration and a source of deep, unspoken sorrow.

She looked at him, at this stranger who was also her brother, and answered truthfully. "No," she said, her voice soft. "I didn't… know you."

Naruto's body began to tremble slightly, a subtle tremor that ran through his frame. His expression remained blank, but there was a flicker of… something in his eyes. Not emotion, not exactly. Perhaps… confusion?

"I… love you," he said, his voice still flat, but there was a slight catch in it, a hint of… strain. "Like… a brother… should." He paused, his brow furrowing slightly, as if he was struggling with the words, struggling with the concept.

"But… I don't know… how to feel… love," he continued, his voice barely a whisper. "I… I don't know what it… feels like." The tremor in his body intensified, his hands clenching and unclenching.

He then looked at her, his gaze finally meeting hers, though his eyes remained unfocused, as if he was looking past her, into some distant place. "I am… angry," he said, his voice strained. "That… you were… lied to… about me."

Another pause, a longer one this time. He seemed to be searching for the right words, struggling to articulate his thoughts, his feelings, or rather, the absence of feelings. "But… I don't know… what anger… feels like," he finally finished, his voice barely audible.

Raiura watched him, her heart aching. She could see the struggle within him, the effort he was making to connect with her, to express something, anything. He was trying to explain his emotional void, his inability to feel, to connect.

He was telling her that he loved her, in his own way, but he didn't understand what that meant. He was telling her that he was angry about the lies, but he didn't know what anger felt like. He was a puzzle, a contradiction, a brother she barely knew, and yet, somehow, knew intimately.

Raiura, her heart both heavy and hopeful, gently took the silver ring and slipped it onto the pointer finger of her right hand. It fit perfectly. She then reached out and grasped his hands, her touch warm and reassuring.

She looked at him, her cerulean eyes shining with a genuine smile. "I don't care about all that right now," she said, her voice soft but firm. "What matters is that you're here. And I want to get to know you."

She squeezed his hands gently, her smile widening. "We have a lot to catch up on," she continued, her voice filled with a playful lilt. "I mean, we share a birthday, and we're twins! That has to count for something, ya' know?"

She paused, her gaze softening. "And… I think you should meet someone," she added, her voice a little more hesitant. "I think you'd really like him." She didn't mention Ryūsei by name, wanting to let Naruto form his own opinion of the boy. She simply thought that having someone else in his life, someone to connect with, might be beneficial.

"He's… special," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. She paused, considering how to introduce the topic. "He's… someone I care about very much."

She glanced towards the late afternoon sky. "He should be out of the academy by now," she said. "Come on. Let's go find him." She tugged gently on his hand. "He's been wanting to meet… a friend of mine."

She started to walk, pulling him along with her. She didn't know what the future held for them, what their relationship would be like. But she was determined to try. She was determined to get to know her brother, to bridge the gap between them, however wide it might be. And she was excited, albeit a little nervous, for him to meet Ryūsei.

They arrived at the Konoha Academy, the sounds of children playing and the lingering echoes of lessons drifting through the air. Raiura scanned the crowd of students milling about, searching for a familiar face.

Suddenly, a small figure darted from the crowd, a blur of motion. "Kā-chan!" a young voice shouted, filled with joy and excitement.

Ryūsei!

The small boy, no older than seven, launched himself into Raiura's arms, his small body colliding with her with surprising force. Raiura chuckled, catching him easily, her arms wrapping around him in a warm embrace.

"Ryūsei!" she greeted, her voice filled with affection. She nuzzled his hair, breathing in his familiar scent. She was so happy to see him.

It was then, as Ryūsei settled in her arms, that he noticed the figure standing slightly behind her. His eyes widened, taking in Naruto's presence. He blinked, his expression shifting from pure joy to a mixture of curiosity and slight apprehension. He hadn't even noticed him until now.

Ryūsei, still nestled in Raiura's arms, pointed a small finger at Naruto, his brow furrowed in a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Kā-chan," he asked, his voice a small whisper, "who's he?"

Naruto, his expression still blank, but with a hint of… something in his eyes, looked at Ryūsei. He knelt down, bringing himself to the boy's level. "I'm Naruto," he said, his voice flat but gentle. "I'm… your mom's brother."

Ryūsei's eyes widened. He looked from Naruto to Raiura, then back to Naruto again. "But… my uncle is dead," he said, his voice laced with confusion. "Kā-chan said he died a long time ago."

Raiura sighed softly. This was going to be more complicated than she had anticipated. She had hoped to avoid this conversation, at least for a little while longer. She had wanted Naruto and Ryūsei to connect naturally, without the weight of their complicated history hanging over them.

She gently set Ryūsei down, taking both of his small hands in hers. "Ryūsei," she said, her voice soft and patient, "this is Naruto. He's your uncle."

Ryūsei's eyes widened even further, his mouth forming a small 'o'. He looked at Naruto, then back at Raiura, his expression a mixture of disbelief and wonder. He seemed to be trying to reconcile the information, to fit it into his understanding of the world.

Naruto remained kneeling, his gaze fixed on Ryūsei. He didn't say anything, didn't make any move to approach the boy. He simply waited, his expression unreadable.

Raiura, sensing the awkwardness of the situation, decided to change the subject. "How about we go visit Shisui at the Uchiha compound?" she suggested, her voice bright. "I'm sure he'd love to see you, Ryūsei."

Ryūsei's face lit up, his confusion momentarily forgotten. "Jiji!" he shouted, his voice filled with excitement. He loved visiting Shisui, who he affectionately called Jiji (Grandpa). He wriggled out of Raiura's grasp and took off running in the direction of the Uchiha compound, his earlier questions about Naruto seemingly forgotten.

Raiura smiled, relieved that the conversation had been diverted, at least for now.

As they walked towards the Uchiha compound, a comfortable silence settled between them. Ryūsei, having already dashed ahead, was likely nearing his destination. Naruto, his gaze drifting around the village, seemed more relaxed than he had been earlier.

"So," he began, his voice still flat, but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone, "who's… Papa?"

Raiura smiled softly. "Papa," she said, her voice warm, "is… someone very important to me. He's… he's the one who raised me."

She paused, realizing that her phrasing might be misleading. She had been raised by Shisui, yes, but not in the traditional sense. He had been her guardian, her mentor, her family. And now, with Naruto back, the dynamic was shifting, evolving.

"He… he took care of me," she corrected, her voice a little hesitant. "Until I moved into… our compound." She stumbled slightly over the word "our," unsure how it would sound to Naruto. He was, after all, an Uzumaki, just like her. The compound was as much his as it was hers.

She glanced at him, trying to gauge his reaction. He didn't say anything, his expression remaining unreadable. But he didn't pull away, didn't object to the use of the word "our."

She continued walking, her hand brushing against his. "He's… family," she said softly. "He's been there for me, through everything."

She paused again, searching for the right words to explain Shisui's significance in her life. "He's… kind," she said finally. "He's strong. He's… everything I aspire to be."

She looked at Naruto, her eyes filled with warmth and gratitude. "He's… a good man," she finished simply. "And I know you'll like him." She paused, then added, "He's been wanting to meet you too."

End of Chapter 20

Author's Note: I know someone predicted Naruto would be alive, and honestly, the anime is literally called Naruto, what is a Naruto fanfiction without Naruto.

Hope you enjoyed! I'm trying to upload as much as possible since I'll be taking another break in a few months were I will rarely upload, so I don't burn out.

See you in the next one!

Bye loves,

Slivia