Chapter 18 – Secrets and Warnings
Ino leaned back in her seat with a disgusted expression on her face as she processed Naruto's explanation. Her lips twitched slightly as the realization settled in her mind.
"So he wants to give a hickey to Sasuke so he can eventually take over his body?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head and shrugged slightly. He had only explained the basics and wasn't completely certain about every detail.
"Well… yeah. His Curse Seal works something like that. I don't remember the exact mechanism."
Naruto frowned slightly as he tried to recall what he knew.
It was something similar to the Karma seal the Otsutsuki used.
"But honestly," Naruto added with a sigh, "I forgot most of the details."
Hinata listened carefully while slowly eating another piece of grilled meat. Her thoughtful eyes remained fixed on Naruto.
"So we shouldn't reveal our full strength in the first and second rounds?"
Naruto reached over and gently patted her head.
"You two are strong," he said calmly, "but that guy is an S-class monster."
He leaned back slightly as his tone turned serious.
"Orochimaru fought in two great ninja wars. He's also known as the hardest person to kill in the entire ninja world."
Ino and Hinata both looked surprised.
"That dangerous?" Ino asked, raising an eyebrow.
Naruto nodded slowly.
He began explaining Orochimaru's strange abilities, his forbidden experiments, and the many ways he had escaped death over the years.
"He has dozens of strange jutsu," Naruto said.
"And most of them make killing him extremely difficult."
Ino's expression slowly turned horrified.
"Wait… Fuinjutsu can actually do things like that?"
Her voice sounded almost disbelieving.
"Placing a piece of your soul inside someone else's body and eventually taking over?"
Hinata also stared at Naruto in shock.
Naruto nodded calmly.
"Fuinjutsu is the art with the most limitless potential."
He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and spoke seriously.
"If there is something Fuinjutsu can't do… it's only because no one has tried it yet."
Both girls stared at him with wide eyes.
"That amazing?" Ino asked quietly.
Hinata looked equally stunned.
Naruto simply nodded once.
"Yes."
Hinata hesitated slightly before asking another question.
"Then… should we learn Fuinjutsu too?"
She sounded unsure but curious.
Naruto shook his head immediately.
"No."
Both girls blinked.
"Not yet," Naruto clarified.
"First focus on strengthening your bodies and improving your chakra control."
He leaned forward slightly as he spoke.
"Once both of you become stronger and your chakra control improves further, I'll start teaching you."
Ino suddenly leaned forward and kissed Naruto on the cheek.
"You promised."
Naruto rubbed his cheek while looking at her.
"Have I ever lied to you?"
He smiled slightly.
"I've already taught you as many jutsu as you can currently handle."
Hinata watched the exchange quietly before smiling warmly.
"You're the best after all."
That gentle smile was enough to trigger a reaction.
Naruto and Ino both stared at her for a moment.
Then they suddenly tackled her from both sides in a tight hug.
"Hinata, you're so cute when you smile!" Ino said happily.
Naruto laughed as he joined the hug.
"You look so cute I feel like kidnapping you from the Hyuga clan."
Hinata's entire face turned bright red.
"A-Ah… Naruto-kun… Ino…!"
The three of them burst into laughter.
After finishing their meal, they eventually stood up and walked outside the restaurant.
The night air felt cool and refreshing.
Before leaving, Naruto spoke seriously one last time.
"Keep your strength hidden unless your life is in real danger."
Hinata and Ino both nodded confidently.
"Don't worry," Ino said.
"We'll be fine."
Hinata gave Naruto a soft reassuring smile.
Then the two girls walked toward their homes, leaving Naruto standing under the quiet night sky.