Chapter 183:
Konohagakure.
Hokage's Office.
"...That's all the intel Boruto and the others brought back. What do you think?"
Naruto sat in his chair, looking at Shikamaru, Sasuke, and the Jar Merchant in front of him as he spoke.
Strictly speaking, the Jar Merchant wasn't considered a member of Konoha's leadership and technically didn't have the authority to attend high-level meetings. However, given that S.H.I.E.L.D. had shown up in this incident and the ninja world's situation was becoming increasingly complex, Konoha would still need Hydra's assistance moving forward.
"Still, I really didn't expect things to escalate this far—S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ōtsutsuki Urashiki showing up at the same time... Considering the intel we got from Hanabi, it's very likely that Delta from Kara was heading there to support Urashiki," Shikamaru said, stroking his goatee.
"In other words, the Land of Water, the Ōtsutsuki Clan, Kara, and S.H.I.E.L.D. may already be forming an alliance," Sasuke added, following Shikamaru's line of reasoning. "If that's true, then a new Great Ninja War could break out."
"There's one more thing," the Jar Merchant interjected. "I hope you haven't forgotten about the Ability Beasts. They have obvious resistance to most ninjutsu, and only the Light and Shadow Armors can inflict real damage on them. But to truly defeat the dark forces from space, we'll need to gather all five Light and Shadow Armors."
"What a pain…" Shikamaru scratched his head. "So even if we win the war, we still have to ensure the Daimyō's lineage in the Land of Water continues."
"And we still need to protect the One-Tail…" Naruto added with a wry smile. "It's a good thing Kakashi-sensei and Granny Tsunade are still around to help out in the village. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do."
"Naruto, who are you planning to leave the One-Tail with?" Shikamaru asked.
"For now, I'll just keep him at my house," Naruto said with a chuckle. "We're already protecting Kawaki, so adding the One-Tail into the mix doesn't really make that much of a difference. Speaking of which, after everything that's happened, you're starting to trust Kawaki too, aren't you, Shikamaru?"
After all, it was Kawaki who had delivered the chamber pot sealing the One-Tail.
"Hmm…"
At Naruto's house.
"Daddy, you're back!"
As soon as Naruto opened the door, Himawari leapt into his arms.
"Yeah, I'm home, Himawari."
Hearing Naruto's voice, Boruto and Kawaki also walked out.
"Huh? That thing… Don't tell me…" Boruto pointed to the chamber pot Naruto was holding.
"Yep. That's the One-Tail," Naruto replied with a nod.
Right as he finished speaking, the One-Tail's head and limbs poked out from the chamber pot.
"Huh? Weird… Why do I sense two stinky foxes?"
The One-Tail stared at Boruto in front of him, then turned to glance at Naruto, who was holding the pot.
"Of course. I have a Nine-Tails sealed inside me too. Come on, you saw me in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode during that last battle, didn't you?"
"I thought that was the Nine-Tails inside you…" the One-Tail's voice trailed off, then suddenly snapped to attention. "Wait a second—does that mean I'm gonna be living under the same roof as two stinky foxes?! Ugh, that's disgusting!"
"Hmph, like I want to smell you either, you dumb tanuki," the Nine-Tails inside Naruto grumbled.
"Hmph! I don't want to share a roof with a stinky tanuki who had to run around hiding from Ōtsutsuki Urashiki. What a disgrace to all Tailed Beasts," added the Nine-Tails inside Boruto.
"You damn foxes! Still asking for a beating, huh?!"
"Alright, alright. Kurama, Shukaku, enough already," Naruto said with a smile.
"Oh yeah? If you've got guts, come out and say that to my face! Always hiding inside your Jinchūriki—cowards!"
"Coward? You're the one hiding in a chamber pot. Who's the real coward here?" said Boruto's Nine-Tails.
"AAAAHHHH! YOU STINKY FOX!!" the One-Tail roared, leaping out of Naruto's hands and charging at Boruto's stomach. "Huh?"
With a baffled look, Shukaku was caught mid-air—just before slamming into Boruto—by a small hand that pulled him into a warm embrace.
"Whoa! A talking Shukaku baby! So cute!" Himawari blinked and looked at the One-Tail cradled in her arms.
"Shu… Shukaku baby?" the One-Tail repeated blankly.
The "Shukaku Baby" was part of a collectible plush toy line based on the Tailed Beasts, newly released by the Hydra Corporation and wildly popular with kids.
Looks like Old Ma was right—money really does come easiest from women and children.
"Seriously… Even though you're all Tailed Beasts, you still can't get along," Naruto muttered helplessly. He could already imagine the chaos his home life would become.
"Hey, Himawari, that's not a toy. That's the real Shukaku—well, basically the prototype of the Shukaku Baby," Boruto said from the side.
"HEY! Don't compare me to some plushie! And you, brat, let go of me right now!"
"Aww, you're so cute," Himawari cooed, tightening her hug. "Please take care of us from now on, Shukaku Baby."
"It's LORD Shukaku!!" the One-Tail barked, flailing helplessly in Himawari's arms.
"Ah-la~ Why's it so noisy out here?" Hinata called out as she stepped out of the kitchen. "Naruto, you're home."
"Yeah, Hinata."
"Mommy, look! It's a talking Shukaku Baby!" Himawari said excitedly, holding up the One-Tail in its chamber pot. "Daddy brought it home. It's a new toy!"
"It really talks!" Hinata smiled as she looked at the creature in front of her.
"I told you, I'm not Shukaku Baby! I'm LORD Shukaku!!"
After dinner, Boruto, Kawaki, and Himawari went to play in the bedroom with Shukaku. Hinata was washing dishes, and Naruto was lounging on the sofa watching TV.
"Naruto, are you free tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Sorry, Hinata. Even though it's the weekend, you know how things are between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water lately. Why? Do you need something?"
"Mm… Actually, it's about my father." Hinata paused, stopping her dishwashing for a moment. "He said Hanabi's been acting a little strange lately. She's often out early and gets home late, and sometimes she just giggles to herself for no reason…"
"Hm…" Naruto furrowed his brows, thinking deeply. "Could it be… Hanabi's been caught in some kind of genjutsu?!"
"…Idiot Dad, that's obviously not it," Boruto's voice came suddenly from behind the couch. "Sounds to me like Hanabi-nee's in love."
"Boruto! What are you doing out here?!"
"Getting some water, obviously. But don't worry—leave the investigation into Hanabi-nee's love life to me!"