Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.
You can now get early access to Chapter 79 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon. You can also read up to Chapter 21 of Naruto: Satoru Senju.
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Reika finally turned her gaze toward the stands, where Naruto was sitting.
He sat with his arms crossed and a calm smile, watching the battle arena.
Next to him, Kakashi stood silently.
Reika couldn't help but smile involuntarily when she saw Naruto smiling at her.
But as soon as she realized it, she quickly looked away.
Then her eyes met Gaara's.
Her opponent was staring at her with a cold expression, clearly with hostile intentions.
Reika was about to mock him but held herself back.
"Sorry for the delay. My student wanted to make a cool entrance to impress the boy she likes," said Izuna, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly as he spoke to Hayate.
Upon hearing that, Reika's face turned as red as a tomato.
She had been the one to plan the entrance, but it had nothing to do with impressing Naruto...!
Well, maybe a little... but just a little!
"What the hell are you saying, you damn girly teacher?!" Reika protested, visibly embarrassed.
Izuna laughed and slowly began walking away from the arena toward the stands, where Mikoto and Fugaku were.
Over time, Izuna had become very close friends with Mikoto.
Fugaku might have been bothered by how close they'd gotten… if he didn't know that Izuna was gay.
That was a great relief for Fugaku's paranoid mind.
Reika quickly glanced toward Naruto in the stands, hoping he hadn't heard what her teacher had said.
But judging by his amused smile, she knew he had heard everything.
Her face turned even redder than before.
Hinata, sitting next to her father and sister, clenched her fists tightly.
Her Byakugan activated instinctively!
Hiashi and Hizashi, who had been chatting calmly, turned to her and swallowed nervously.
They never imagined their daughter and niece, respectively, had this hidden side.
"S-sis… you're kinda scary when you get jealous…" said Hanabi.
Hinata didn't even respond. She kept her eyes fixed on Reika, there in the arena.
By now, everyone knew that Sasuke Uchiha was actually Reika Uchiha.
On the other side of the stands, Sakura was still in denial, convinced there had to be some logical explanation for what was happening.
For her, it was impossible that Sasuke was actually a girl!
Meanwhile, Naruto was staring at Gaara in the arena, frowning.
Gaara was clearly radiating murderous intent.
He looked like someone who hadn't eaten in days… and Reika was his favorite dish.
It was a weird way to put it, but that's how it felt to Naruto.
Gaara couldn't control himself at that moment.
Naruto also noticed some suspicious movements among the Sand ninjas in the stands.
"Hokage-sama is still waiting for you, Naruto," Kakashi insisted.
Naruto sighed in frustration at hearing it again.
"What exactly does he want to talk about…?" he asked without moving.
He wasn't planning to leave unless it was truly important. He didn't want to miss the fight between Reika and Gaara.
"Naruto, you…" Kakashi hesitated for a moment.
Naruto looked at him with a slight frown.
"What is it?" he asked curiously.
"We know it was you who's been bringing people back from the dead, Naruto…"
Naruto smiled in amusement upon hearing that.
Kushina, who was beside him, didn't take long to intervene.
"Hey Kakashi, go to hell. Leave my son alone."
Kakashi's eyebrow twitched when he saw Kushina pointing at him, clearly annoyed.
To him, Kushina had been like a surrogate mother… or rather an older sister, along with Obito, during his childhood.
Seeing her alive in front of him made his heart race.
Naruto looked to the other side of the stands, where Rin Nohara was.
He knew Kakashi had noticed her already but hadn't approached her for some reason.
Was he afraid to face her because of what happened in the past?
After all, he was the one who killed her… even if it wasn't intentional.
Naruto knew Kakashi was dealing with his own guilt and hesitation.
He gave Rin a nod, and she smiled and stood up from her seat, beginning to walk toward them.
Meanwhile, Kushina kept Kakashi distracted while Rin approached.
Naruto, for his part, kept wondering how the hell Kakashi had found out he was the one responsible for reviving so many people.
If Kakashi knew… who else might know?
He was convinced that someone from the group he had revived had betrayed him.
Someone had ratted him out…
But who? Naruto didn't really care that much.
Just as someone could return to life thanks to the system… he could also take that life away—this time, with his own hands.
Even so, he decided to ask Kakashi directly.
"How do you know it was me, Kakashi?" he asked calmly.
Relieved that Kushina finally walked away, Kakashi answered sincerely.
"It was Guy's father, Duy. I heard him shouting, thanking you for bringing him back while crying and hugging his idiot son."
Naruto rolled his eyes. He had already been thinking about betrayal… but of course, it had to be Duy.
Just as idiotic as his son, Guy.
He shook his head, amused.
He should've seen it coming.
"Hokage-sama just wants to ask how you managed to bring back so many people, and if it can be done again," Kakashi explained.
Naruto frowned.
It looked like they had already figured out that this wasn't Edo Tensei.
If it were, they wouldn't be asking him about it.
"I'll talk to the old man after Reika's fight," he replied, though deep down he knew he wouldn't.
Kakashi sighed and nodded, resigned.
Just as he was about to turn around, he froze upon seeing Rin Nohara just inches from his face.
"Kakashi! You should've come to greet me right away, idiot!"
Rin hugged him with a goofy smile, happy to see the boy she liked again.
Looking at him closely, she realized he was no longer a boy… but a man.
She blushed when Kakashi returned the hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
Rin realized Kakashi didn't want to let go… and she couldn't help but close her eyes, melting into the hug.
When she opened them, she found Naruto, Kushina, Karin, and even little Konohamaru staring at her like she was some kind of pervert.
Rin blushed even harder.
"Rin, I…" Kakashi tried to say something, maybe apologize, but she grabbed his arm and began dragging him away.
"Let's not talk here! Not in front of them, Kakashi!"
"She's a pervert…" Naruto muttered once they were far enough. "Just look at her, already dragging her prey away to devour him…"
"Fufu~ I bet Kakashi's gonna be a daddy real soon…" Karin chuckled.
Kushina sighed.
"I doubt they'll do anything… you kids and your dirty minds."
"Ehhh~ But Aunt Kushina! Just look at Miss Rin, she had that look of…!"
"Don't even say it, young lady! And for the record, the only ones who should be having a child are you and my Naruto. That way I can finally be a grandmother! I want lots of grandkids! LOTS! The sooner you two get started, the better!"
"W-W-WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, AUNT KUSHINA?! NARUTO AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP…!" Karin glanced shyly at Naruto. "R-right…?"
"Eh? Of course not. Not yet, anyway," Naruto replied, gently patting her head.
Karin melted at his touch, blushing furiously at that yet.
Subtly, Naruto gave his mother a thumbs-up, thanking her for the assist.
Kushina returned the gesture, sticking out her tongue and winking.
Unfortunately for his mom, Naruto had no intention of becoming a father just yet.
Not far away, Hinata looked toward Naruto just in time to see the scene and frowned.
She was surrounded by enemies.
There were too many girls around Naruto trying to take him away.
She had to move faster! She couldn't give them any chance!
"Cheer up, Hinata! You can count on me for whatever you need!" Hanabi, who had figured out what her sister was thinking, took her side without hesitation.
Hinata nodded, grateful.
Somehow, she would have to get rid of her romantic rivals.