Naruto: The Forest's Chosen (Mori Mori No Mi)

"Hahaha~!"

In the sealed space, Kurama couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"This world is pretty interesting~"

"Want to come out and play?" Naruto asked from within the sealed space.

Kurama immediately stopped laughing.

"The Kushina in this world... has an even worse temper."

"And besides, I don't have any influence here. Without that kind of status, why would I even bother?"

He gave a light snort at the end.

"How about I get you a little tonic later?" Naruto offered.

Kurama blinked. "You mean… capture the Kurama of this world and bring him to me?"

"You could say that… but just the chakra."

"I want it~!"

"Heh."

The conversation ended there.

Meanwhile, things at home were just heating up.

Kushina, seeing her favorite punching bag—Tsunade-hime—became restless.

She told Minato to go ahead with his work, then pulled Tsunade into a room and shut the door like a guilty thief.

Then she eyed Tsunade carefully.

"Onee-san~!"

Tsunade adjusted her red-rimmed glasses.

"What is it, Kushina?"

Kushina's face scrunched up. She suddenly lunged forward.

"I'm sorry!"

Tsunade blinked. "What's wrong?"

"What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"

"Seriously? You're a full-grown adult with grown kids. Why are you still acting like a child?"

Kushina shook her head. "It's my fault. Minato and I didn't teach Naruto well enough."

Hearing that, Tsunade's expression softened. She gently patted Kushina on the back.

"It's okay. It's not too late."

Kushina pulled back and stared at Tsunade, blinking.

"You've forgiven Naruto?"

"Hmph~" Tsunade snorted, putting on the big-sister act.

"What do you think?"

"It's not a big deal, don't worry." She patted Kushina's head.

Kushina stuck out her tongue, then suddenly reached forward and touched Tsunade's lower abdomen.

"Onee-san... how long has it been?"

"???"

Tsunade's eye twitched before she smacked Kushina on the forehead.

"How long, what?!"

"Nothing!"

Kushina clutched her forehead, eyes squinting suspiciously.

Tsunade gave a tired smile.

"Got it, got it. I'm a medical-nin—don't you think I'd know?"

"Really?!" Kushina's eyes widened.

"When did it start?"

"Thirty years ago!"

"Eh?! Thirty years ago… doesn't that mean I'd have a grandson the same age as me… Wait, Sun Gan wasn't even born then!"

Creak—

Tsunade threw the door open, annoyed.

Kushina remained there, arms crossed and lips pursed, deep in thought.

Their voices had been loud enough to be heard outside.

When they stepped out, Tsunade saw four girls staring at her with very strange expressions.

She froze.

Then, she turned her gaze and saw Naruto looking at her with a smirk.

Buzz—

Her face instantly flushed red.

Hinata let out a soft tsk and glanced at Tsunade's chest.

Then, arms folded, she muttered with mild hostility:

"Just like Sakura. Hmph, there's not even one person who can hold a candle."

Tsunade of course noticed Hinata's gaze.

Before she could feel any embarrassment, Naruto grabbed her hand and pulled her down to sit beside him.

He gave her petite hand a gentle squeeze.

But she, having been caught off guard, didn't have the strength to pull away. All she could do was stand there and glare, which only made her seem even more charming.

A dangerous thought struck Naruto.

A double comparison!

What better way to recognize a difference than through direct contrast?

Yes, face-to-face comparison!

He could already picture the stunned expressions of both Tsunades when they finally met.

All he had to do was store this Infinite Tsukuyomi-based world into his Kamui space.

From now on, he could freely travel between the real world and this limited Tsukuyomi version at will.

Not long after, Kushina stepped out of the room, still looking a bit dazed.

She made her way to the kitchen and whispered something to Minato.

Meanwhile, Sakura sat with her head bowed, hands clasped between her knees, her face growing increasingly red.

Hinata leaned back on the couch, legs crossed, stealing casual glances at Sakura and Tsunade without any hint of nervousness.

Ino, on the other hand, was happily flipping through Naruto's family photo album, the corners of her lips slightly curved in amusement. Her face would occasionally flush as she snuck peeks at Naruto teasing Tsunade.

Tenten busied herself with Minato's signature three-pronged kunai, rolling it through her fingers with interest.

From Naruto's point of view, her latent twin summon beasts were practically ready to break free.

The timeline in this space was slightly off from reality.

Naruto tugged Tenten into the room.

The rest of the girls blinked in confusion. What was he planning?

Hinata was the first to act. Unable to restrain herself, she stormed up to the door—but before kicking it open, she paused to eavesdrop.

"It really fits~!"

"But why are you in such a rush?"

Naruto flicked her forehead gently.

"Be more mindful next time. I've got no problem with your training… but don't forget you're still a girl."

Tenten blinked innocently. "I don't get it~"

"You don't? Well then, I'll teach you tonight."

Boom—!!!

Hinata felt like the world had collapsed.

Just as she was about to barge in, Naruto opened the door and walked out with Tenten.

One look at Hinata's expression, and Naruto instantly understood what she was thinking.

"It just so happens… you need a lesson too."

"…What?"

Hinata, who a second ago was about to erupt like a volcano, was suddenly stunned.

"It's time to eat~"

Kushina and Minato emerged, apparently having reached an unspoken agreement beforehand:

They would be blind, deaf, and mute.

The meal that followed was oddly harmonious.

After dinner, Tsunade lounged on the sofa, stretching out in relaxation.

She was a workaholic—otherwise, her body wouldn't be so worn out.

At some point, she drifted off to sleep.

"Sun Gan, we're heading back first~" Ino said as she helped Sakura—who had fainted again—toward the door and waved goodbye to Naruto.

"I should get going too," Tenten added, picking up the kunai and heading out.

As Hinata passed Naruto, arms crossed in front of her chest, she gave him a longer-than-usual look. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"Dried bamboo shoots, don't forget your mission tonight."

"That's tomorrow—the Book of the Vermillion Moon mission."

"Oh? So nothing tonight?"

Naruto chuckled.

Hinata snorted, not even looking back. "If you don't show up, you're dead!"

Though her words were fierce, her body trembled slightly.

"Let's go."

Hinata gave the order, and the other girls followed her out.

At that same time, in a nearby nightclub…

Neji leaned in toward Sasuke and whispered, "You smell really good, Sas~"

"…What?" Sasuke frowned.

"Nothing~" Neji replied softly.

Sasuke sipped from his glass with a calm smile. "Enjoy yourself, Neji."

The sound of girls laughing around them echoed as they clinked glasses.

Back at the house, Kushina and Minato suddenly decided to go out for a walk.

It had been a long time since they'd taken a stroll through Konoha together.

Click— The door shut behind them.

"Hm~ What time is it now? I still have work… and the bamboo shoots—huh?!"

Tsunade—the ever-proud punching bag—was about to learn what the real world felt like… from Naruto's perspective.

She pushed back instinctively, but couldn't move an inch. Her pupils dilated.

He's this familiar with my strength?

How… how does he even know where my weaknesses are?!

It only took one precise strike. Tsunade immediately lost the ability to resist.

Naruto leaned close and whispered in her ear: "Bullshit~"

In that instant, Tsunade's eyes misted over.

She bit Naruto out of sheer frustration.

"Ah~!!!"

Then came the scream—a long, shrill one.

Another defeat.

She tried to flee, but her entire body ached with every movement.

Her cries grew quieter and quieter…

Out on the streets, Kushina suddenly paused, blinking as she sensed something.

"Minato, let's take our time getting back."

Minato smiled gently. "Alright."

"…Huh?" Kushina's expression shifted suddenly.

She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists.

"Isn't that brat Sasuke?"

Minato followed her gaze. "Looks like it."

"And… that's Neji from the Hyūga Clan, right? He's in the same year as Naruto."

Kushina nodded slowly, eyes narrowing further. "What's going on with Sasuke…?"

"Why did you let Neji carry him?"

"He must've drunk too much!"

"Seriously? How could Mikoto have such a disgrace of a son?!"

"Ugh, forget it. Just looking at him pisses me off. Let's go somewhere else."

Minato offered no objections. Quietly, he took Kushina's hand and led her in the opposite direction of Neji and the Uchiha Second Pillar—Sasuke.

But it was still the same street.

On the other side, Naruto quietly shut the door behind him.

He stepped into the hallway, stretching lazily.

That punching bag—Tsunade—really couldn't hold her own.

Compared to reality… she didn't last a single round.

Naruto walked outside and took in the current view of Konoha.

He exhaled lightly and spread out his sensory field.

"The house is still in the same location."

"Tenten and Hinata, huh?"

His lips curled into a smirk.

After all, he had just turned eighteen.

Whoosh—

The next day.

In front of the main gate of Konoha.

Team 7 was fully assembled.

"All right! Everyone, cheer up and give it your all!" Kakashi squatted low, flashing a thumbs-up at Naruto and Sakura.

Sitting cross-legged nearby, Might Guy looked over at Kakashi and sighed.

"Can you not be so chipper this early?"

"Running nonstop missions without a break is pure torture."

"My youth… is long gone."

Naruto glanced between the two.

Kakashi looked tired, but his energy was real.

Guy, on the other hand, looked fit—but mentally, he was defeated.

The exact opposite of how things were in the real world.

Back there, Guy looked like death—but was brimming with spirit.

Since Kakashi got together with Karin, he'd even roped Guy into helping supervise his training.

And now, on the Kaka-Xu path… he was charging full speed ahead.

"Don't say that, Guy!"

"Let's go!"

At that moment, Kushina walked up, poking Naruto lightly on the shoulder.

"You seem awfully peppy today. Trying to impress the Hero's Daughter?"

Naruto turned his head, giving her a half-smile.

Kushina had tied her long red hair into a high ponytail and thrown on a Konoha flak jacket.

Huh... she'd even shrunk down a size?

Sakura, standing nearby, blushed the moment she heard that.

"Hmm~"

Kushina's sharp eyes didn't miss it. She took two steps forward.

Sakura, flustered, took two steps back.

Forward—back. Forward—back.

The two locked into a strange little standoff.

At the same time.

Tsunade sat weakly in the Hokage's office, taking off her glasses and sighing deeply.

Just the thought of Naruto carrying her in here last night made her temples throb.

He came and went as he pleased.

And her pride? Shattered like cheap sake bottles.

The little punching bag could only rest her forehead on the desk and mutter softly:

"Naruto…"

"Hiss~!"

"It hurts so much…"

...

TN:

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