Hokage : My Nine tails are getting more and more

Setsu pointed toward a specific direction, prompting Naruto to dig out a survivor from the rubble. However, the rescued individual appeared utterly shaken. Though he had been saved, the ordeal left him lying limp on the ground, his soul seemingly drained.

Naruto shook his head with mild exasperation. "Setsu, do you realize how dangerous that was?"

"Of course, I do," Setsu muttered, lowering her head in embarrassment. "But I just wanted to help. I didn't expect you to be so strong..." A small smile crept onto her face, but she quickly added with a guilty look, "But I survived, didn't I? That's something, right?"

Seeing Naruto's stern expression, Setsu averted her gaze, guilt weighing heavily. "Okay, okay! I was wrong. From now on, I promise to follow orders and not act recklessly."

Naruto sighed. "Let's drop it for now. We need to regroup with Sasuke and the others."

---

After some time, Naruto and Setsu located Sasuke and Haruno Sakura. During the earlier battle, Sakura had dragged Sasuke to a safer distance, leaving them unharmed. However, a more troubling issue had arisen—Sasuke had been attacked by Orochimaru in Naruto's absence. The villain had inflicted Sasuke with a curse mark, planting it like a sinister brand on his neck.

Naruto observed Sasuke, who was unconscious and radiating a malevolent chakra. Without hesitation, Naruto formed a series of hand seals and applied the Four Symbols Seal, suppressing Orochimaru's curse mark within Sasuke's sealed space.

With Setsu, Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura in tow, Naruto made his way to the hospital. The hospital was teeming with injured participants from the Chūnin Exam, many of whom regarded Naruto with a mix of gratitude and trepidation. On the one hand, he had saved countless lives by stopping Shukaku's rampage; on the other, his methods had caused collateral injuries.

---

As the medical team worked tirelessly, Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Temari stayed vigilant. Gaara had also been brought to the hospital after his Shukaku seal was repaired by Konoha's sealing team. Elite Jōnin Baki of the Sand Village and Konoha's ANBU commander were locked in discussions about how to proceed with the political fallout.

Gaara lay unconscious, finally getting some much-needed rest. In a nearby ward, Setsu, Sasuke, and Gaara were placed in separate beds. Haruno Sakura and Naruto stood watch over their injured comrades while Temari and Kankuro hovered nearby.

Inside the room, Kankuro approached cautiously. Haruno Sakura immediately bristled, her sharp instincts kicking in. "What are you doing? Don't take another step!"

Kankuro raised his hands in surrender, showing he carried no weapons. "Relax. I just wanted to say thank you."

Sakura's guard lowered slightly. "Thank you?"

"Yes," Kankuro said earnestly, turning toward Naruto. "You must be Uzumaki Naruto. Thank you for saving Gaara."

Naruto, though curious, remained stoic. "Shouldn't you feel pity instead? Gaara's berserk state nearly destroyed everything. If I hadn't stopped him, he might have died."

Kankuro shook his head solemnly. "It's not like that. Gaara wasn't always this way. He used to be a kind and gentle kid. We're afraid of him now, yes—but he's still my brother."

Naruto acknowledged the sentiment with a nod but didn't delve further. He saw his intervention as a mission, not something that required repayment.

However, Naruto's curiosity got the better of him. "I have a question," he said. "Why do Sand Shinobi like to paint their faces with those strange patterns?"

Kankuro blinked in surprise but chuckled. "Oh, that? It's not really a secret. These patterns symbolize our rank and expertise as puppet masters, much like the ranks of Genin, Chūnin, and Jōnin."

He puffed his chest with pride. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Naruto's blunt reply came swiftly. "It's ugly."

Kankuro's confidence shattered, while Temari burst into laughter. "I've told him the same thing! That style is so outdated."

---

Despite the chaos, the Chūnin Exam was not canceled. Word spread that the Kazekage was en route to Konoha for further discussions. Meanwhile, Setsu was the first among the injured to regain consciousness. Though she initially planned to return to her home village, she reconsidered after much deliberation.

Instead, Setsu decided to remain in Konoha. As a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, her presence was soon reported to Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage. Upon learning this, Hiruzen requested an audience with her.

Nervous but determined, Setsu hesitated outside the Hokage's office. An ANBU operative reassured her. "Go on in. Lord Hokage is very kind."

Gathering her courage, Setsu entered the room, immediately struck by Hiruzen's warm and approachable demeanor.

"Are you Uzumaki Setsu?" Hiruzen asked with a kind smile.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," she replied, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Hiruzen got straight to the point. "Since you've decided not to leave Konoha, would you consider becoming a ninja of this village?"

Setsu was stunned. "M-Me? A Konoha ninja? Like Naruto?"

Hiruzen nodded, his eyes twinkling with reassurance. "Yes. If you join, you will be part of our family. Konoha will provide you with a home and the support you need."

Setsu's confusion deepened. "But Lord Hokage, aren't you worried that I might be a spy from another village? How can you trust me so easily?"

Hiruzen chuckled softly. "I trust Naruto's judgment. If he believes in you, so do I. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, you would be a valuable asset to Konoha. And should you choose to settle here, you'll find a welcoming community ready to support you."

Unbeknownst to Setsu, Hiruzen had another reason for extending such trust. He saw potential in Setsu's Uzumaki heritage. If she chose to stay in Konoha and eventually had a family, it could signify the Uzumaki clan's resurgence within the village.

Faced with such an opportunity, Setsu nodded hesitantly. "I'll think about it, Lord Hokage. But... thank you for trusting me."

Hiruzen smiled warmly. "Take your time, child. Konoha is your home now."

---

As the Chūnin Exams continued, the tension between Konoha and Sunagakure slowly began to ease, but the undercurrent of Orochimaru's schemes still loomed over the village. Naruto, Setsu, and their allies braced themselves for the challenges ahead, knowing that their bonds and their resolve would be tested like never before.

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