With the Uchiha clan eradicated, only Sasuke Uchiha and Uchiha Izumi remained in the Hidden Leaf.
To Hiruzen Sarutobi, Izumi still held value as a tool.
"Itachi Uchiha suddenly started killing within the clan. I was terrified."
"I tried to seek help at the security team headquarters, but I ran into a mysterious man and Naruto Uzumaki."
"Then I fought the mysterious man. He was incredibly strong and had a Sharingan."
Izumi's account was brief, quickly summarizing the events.
Hiruzen had already pieced together why Naruto was there, noting the shattered remains of grilled fish on the ground.
But this didn't mean Izumi was forgiven.
"I know the duties the Uchiha clan assigned you."
Hiruzen cut to the chase, dropping a heavy revelation.
With the Uchiha clan extinct and Izumi without kin, she posed no threat to the Leaf.
Her remaining worth lay in her utility.
Izumi's body trembled at Hiruzen's words.
"The Uchiha clan is gone, and the Leaf won't pursue your past actions."
"From now on, live with Naruto Uzumaki."
"That boy cares for you deeply, treating you like family."
"You know what to do."
Hiruzen's voice was calm, eerily so, almost chilling.
His words drew a bitter smile from Izumi.
She understood his meaning clearly.
Like the Uchiha, the Leaf intended to use her to control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Her bond with Naruto would keep him tethered to the village.
"Lord Hokage, I understand what to do."
Izumi nodded, responding respectfully.
Blinded and effectively useless, she faced potential lifelong imprisonment if she refused.
Accepting Hiruzen's terms was likely her best option.
"Sis Izumi!"
Just after Izumi agreed, Naruto's voice echoed from outside.
Anbu guards blocked his entry.
"Remember my words. Don't try to betray the Leaf again."
"The village won't mistreat you."
Hiruzen gave Izumi a piercing look, then headed for the door.
Opening it, he saw Naruto restrained by an Anbu.
"Grandpa Third?"
Released, Naruto looked at the Third Hokage with surprise.
"Naruto, are you feeling alright?"
Unlike with Izumi, Hiruzen's face warmed with a smile for Naruto.
Naruto's lineage and status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki warranted it.
"Grandpa Third, where's Sis Izumi? Is she okay?"
Naruto ignored his own condition, consumed with worry for Izumi.
He grabbed Hiruzen's hand, asking anxiously.
"She's resting inside. Go on in."
Hiruzen shook his head, gently freeing his hand and patting Naruto's head.
He then left with the Anbu. The massacre left lingering questions.
As Hokage, he needed to investigate what went wrong.
Naruto rushed into the room, seeing Izumi's eyes wrapped in thick bandages.
His eyes reddened, tears streaming down his face.
"Is that Naruto?"
Izumi smiled softly, reaching out to touch him.
Newly blinded, she could only sense someone sobbing nearby, unable to pinpoint him.
"Sis… I'm sorry…"
"It's all my fault. Because of me, that bastard took your eyes…"
"If I hadn't held you back, you could've escaped."
Naruto wiped his tears, grasping Izumi's hands.
Regret consumed him—regret for going to the Uchiha compound.
If he hadn't, Izumi wouldn't have been there, wouldn't have fought the mysterious man because of him.
"I couldn't have escaped. None of this is your fault, Naruto."
"I was too weak, that's why he took my eyes."
"But this is fine…"
Izumi smiled, pulling Naruto into an embrace.
The last sentence was spoken in her heart.
Unaccepted by her clan, she'd always felt exhausted.
Even when she seemed to gain their approval, it was only because of her proximity to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
She was merely a tool.
Defying the Uchiha meant ostracism or persecution for her and her mother.
She'd had no choice, always acting against her heart.
But in her heart, Naruto was truly like family.
"Sis, I'll avenge you!"
"When I'm strong enough, when I become Hokage, I'll make that guy pay!"
Naruto's eyes gleamed with resolve, his heart unwavering.
No matter where that man was, Naruto would kill the one who caused Izumi such pain.
"Yeah, Naruto will definitely become amazing."
"You'll be Hokage, protecting the Leaf, protecting everyone."
Izumi nodded with a smile, patting Naruto's forehead.
But her words, especially about protecting the village, stirred unease in Naruto.
Images he'd rather forget flashed in his mind.
The villagers' cold glares, their whispers calling him a monster.
The isolation, the rejection, leaving him alone.
Gradually, Naruto fell silent, his hands instinctively clenching into fists.
[I only need to protect Sis Izumi.]
[Those people don't care about me. They'd rather I disappeared, never existed.]
[I'll only protect those who matter to me!]
Words echoed in Naruto's heart, striking at his soul.