IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi gracefully entered the Ichiraku Ramen restaurant, their footsteps soft yet commanding. The warm light inside contrasted sharply with the cool evening breeze outside.

"Elder brother!" Uchiha Sasuke exclaimed, his face lighting up the moment he spotted his brother.

Itachi's calm gaze fell upon Sasuke, and he smiled faintly. He approached, knelt slightly to Sasuke's level, and gently tapped his younger brother's forehead with two fingers.

"What are you doing here, eating ramen instead of training?" Itachi teased softly.

"Iruka-sensei invited us!" Sasuke declared proudly, gesturing towards Iruka, who stood nearby with a sheepish grin.

Itachi's dark eyes shifted to Iruka, who suddenly felt a mix of awe and nervousness under the gaze of the prodigy from the Uchiha clan. Itachi offered a polite nod. "Thank you for looking after Sasuke. He can be quite a handful at times."

Iruka chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Not at all. Sasuke is very well-behaved in class. A model student, really."

Hearing this, Sasuke's chest swelled with pride. Straightening his posture, he silently demanded more praise, his expression screaming, I am the good boy here!

Itachi and Iruka exchanged amused glances, sharing a brief, understanding smile.

"You're doing well, Sasuke," Itachi said, his voice warm. "But remember, there's always someone better. Naruto, for example."

Naruto, who had been quietly slurping his ramen, nearly choked. He straightened his back and puffed out his chest, glancing smugly at Sasuke. The two boys immediately locked eyes, their rivalry ignited in an instant.

"Why don't you and this young lady join us?" Iruka offered, motioning toward the table.

Itachi shook his head gently, his demeanor serene. "Thank you, but Izumi and I are on patrol duty." He gestured outside, where the dim glow of the village lanterns flickered in the distance.

As they turned to leave, Itachi reached out and lightly grasped Izumi's hand, his calm expression unchanging. Izumi's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her gaze darting nervously to the floor.

Sasuke's mouth opened as if to protest, but before he could speak, Naruto clapped a hand over it. "Don't interrupt Itachi's important business!" Naruto teased, grinning mischievously.

Sasuke could only watch helplessly as his brother and Izumi disappeared into the night. His thoughts roared: Brother! How could you choose her over me?! I'm your family! Your brother!

Back at the table, Sasuke stared sullenly at his ramen. "He doesn't care about me anymore," he muttered.

Naruto, ever the instigator, leaned over and smacked Sasuke's head forward into his bowl. The restaurant erupted in laughter as Sasuke sputtered, ramen dripping from his face.

Meanwhile, a figure in a sealed space observed the scene silently. Shiro shook his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Still children," he murmured before vanishing into the void.

---

Hyuga Clan Compound

At the Hyuga estate, Hinata Hiashi watched intently as his youngest daughter, Hanabi, practiced the Gentle Fist. Her movements, though small, were precise, betraying her raw talent.

On the rooftop, a masked figure crouched in silence, observing the scene below. The fox mask concealed his face, but his sharp gaze betrayed a calculating mind.

"Eight Trigrams Palm: Air Strike!" Hiashi's voice boomed as he launched a chakra-infused shockwave directly at the intruder.

The masked figure didn't flinch. The chakra dissipated inches from his body, as if absorbed into thin air. "How many times must I tell you not to waste your efforts on me?" Shiro remarked dryly, stepping forward with deliberate calm.

Hiashi's Byakugan flared as the masked man suddenly appeared before him, his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan spinning ominously. Hiashi froze as a red substance extended from Shiro's hand, seeping into his temple.

"Follow Naruto Uzumaki's command. Protect him at all costs," Shiro intoned, his voice carrying an otherworldly weight.

Hiashi, as though under a trance, echoed the words. "Follow Naruto Uzumaki's command. Protect him at all costs."

In the yard, young Hanabi collapsed, unconscious. Shiro cast a glance her way, his Sharingan dimming slightly. Without a word, his figure vanished into the shadows.

When Hiashi regained clarity, he rubbed his temple, bewildered. "What... just happened?"

He turned to Hanabi, gently lifting her. The young girl stirred awake, her voice weak. "Father..."

"You're fine now," Hiashi assured her, though his thoughts were far from settled. His gaze fell on the fox mask lying in the dirt, left behind by the intruder. His hands trembled as he picked it up, running his fingers over its texture.

"That man... What is his goal?" Hiashi murmured, lost in thought.

---

Training Ground in the Forest

Deep within the woods, the sound of fists striking wood echoed endlessly. Rock Lee, drenched in sweat, delivered another powerful kick to the battered training post. His legs bore fresh bruises and cuts, yet he showed no signs of stopping.

High above, Shiro perched on a tree branch, watching silently. "Is it worth it?" he asked after a long moment.

Lee paused, looking up at the masked figure. Instead of fear, his face lit up with determination. "It doesn't matter if it's worth it! I'll prove that taijutsu can rival any ninjutsu!" He grinned widely, his teeth gleaming in the dim moonlight.

Shiro chuckled softly. "Such resolve. You're an interesting one."

"Of course!" Lee exclaimed. "Youth is meant to burn brightly! Come down here and train with me, uncle!"

Shiro shook his head, amused. Tossing a small book down to Lee, he disappeared into the night. Lee caught it, staring curiously at the three bold characters on its cover: Secrets of Taijutsu.

Clutching the book tightly, Lee grinned. "Thank you, uncle. I'll use this to become even stronger!"

The stars above bore witness to his unyielding spirit.