Reincarnation into the world of Naruto with the system

Well, here I am in my apartment again, together with Hitomi, Yugao, and Hana… Yeah, I guess I should clarify the circumstances regarding the last one and, in general, how I managed this.

Two hours earlier.

A usual day, a usual walk home from the Academy, and a usual stroll hand in hand with Ino. And no, this isn't romance, it's a strict necessity! After all, she's teaching me methods for structuring knowledge, and considering my new ability… I can literally disappear, even while walking right next to someone. Sure, I can always call out to people, but when they lose track of me every two minutes, it gets a little frustrating. Physical contact is the only way to deal with it.

I wonder if anyone else has problems with excessive unnoticed presence like I do?

At the same time, elsewhere.

"Dad, no one notices me. What should I do?" — a boy in concealing clothes asked his father in a strange tone.

"You will get used to it, Shino." — replied his father in an even stranger tone.

Same time, location: Inuzuka Clan Compound.

"What do you mean 'no'?" — there was a low growl in Tsume's voice, like that of a wild beast.

"No means no! Mom, I see him as just another brother! Besides, this isn't fair to Naruto himself! And he's still a kid!" — for the first time in Tsume's memory, her own daughter openly disagreed with her words. She would've sooner believed Kiba would work up the courage to challenge her in ten or fifteen years, but to hear it from her daughter? Completely unexpected!

"Well, it doesn't really feel like a sibling relationship. As for him being a child, I agree, but I'm not saying you have to act right away! I'm just—"

"You're just presenting it as a fact that my life and someone else's life are already decided! And, Mom, you conveniently ignored my second objection! What about Naruto himself? Is it fair to do this to him?" — her daughter was surprising Tsume more and more. At another time, she might have even been proud of her, but not now!

Not only was her defiance in this matter unacceptable, but something about it irritated Tsume deep inside.

"Daughter, do you understand what this would mean for the clan? Besides, you know the conditions those old geezers on the council set! If nothing is done before Naruto graduates from the Academy, everything will return to how it was before, and the only thing I will have achieved is nearly putting our clan in danger while teaching an outsider the Inuzuka techniques! Do you want our techniques to stop being our pride?

"Moreover, while we may not be as skilled in some areas as the Hokage's ANBU, even we can afford to collect DNA samples from a cup the jinchuriki drank from and analyze them. He truly has interesting genes with a high chance of inheritance. Simply letting him slip back into neutral territory because of one selfish girl's reluctance— even if that girl is my daughter— is unacceptable!"

"This is my order as clan head: make sure he grows so attached to you that in five years, he proposes to you himself!" — Tsume practically growled.

Hana, watching her mother closely, analyzed every reaction on her face. Surprisingly, they were all easy to read… though, why was it surprising? The Inuzuka weren't like the Uchiha or the Hyuga, who always walked around with emotionless expressions. This clan wore their emotions openly, and they rarely saw any reason to control their facial expressions. Not their style, not their way.

And Hana was growing more and more bewildered by her mother's actions. If not outright shocked and strongly rejecting them.

"Mom, you're going too far! I don't understand you! You didn't even react when there was a chance to bring an Uchiha into the clan. Am I imagining things, or have you grown attached to Naruto yourself? Maybe you didn't notice, but throughout this conversation, you've been calling him just by his name, without honorifics! I don't think this is the clan head speaking, looking for an advantage. This is just our clan's overinflated sense of ownership talking! But Naruto is not a possession! My answer is no!"

Tsume narrowed her eyes dangerously and slapped her daughter. Given Tsume's strength, even a slap was comparable to a trained genin's punch, and her pronounced beast-like traits—especially her nails, which always looked more like claws—left their mark. Four shallow, bloody scratches lined Hana's cheek.

Touching her face and briefly glancing at her hand (while using Shōsen Jutsu to mend her face, though only closing the wounds rather than fully healing them—completely erasing them in just a fleeting touch was beyond the young Hana's level), the younger Inuzuka simply shook the blood from her fingers.

When she raised her eyes to her mother, they were sharp—prickly—and her tone had become nearly a reflection of the one Tsume herself often used when being particularly cutting.

"Hm, is it just me, or were you not so much furious about my refusal as you were about the fact that it was because I cared about Naruto? And even though you know your plan might not work, you've been spending more and more time on him, revealing clan secrets without hesitation, and devoting more effort to him than to me—your own daughter—and even your own son, combined!"

"And tell me, am I imagining things, or have you genuinely started to take pride in his achievements these past two months… not just in mastering our style, but in his academic progress and ninjutsu training as well? I remember how much you disliked how 'clingy' Hitomi was. But in the past six months, someone has picked up her habits. And yes, the more I listened to you just now, the more confused I became. Am I wrong, or are you not angry because the clan might lose an opportunity to strengthen itself, but because I would be his potential partner? What really infuriates you is that it's not—"

Hana didn't say the last, short word aloud, but Tsume read it perfectly on her lips.

The Inuzuka district shook from the furious roar of its leader, followed by the crashing sounds of destroyed furniture.

---

Meanwhile, Naruto—an hour and forty-two minutes before returning to his apartment.

Approaching the Inuzuka district and not seeing the usual pair of guards at the entrance, I immediately trusted my intuition's warning that trouble was brewing. But on the other hand—trouble for the Inuzuka might be my chance to finally get kicked out of their compound, something I hadn't managed to do for more than six months!

"Ino, I think you should head home. I'm almost certain something happened, and the Inuzuka probably won't be happy to see outsiders." — I say gently, looking straight into Yamanaka's eyes.

+3% to Yamanaka Ino's Affection.

"I'm not leaving you alone!" — she immediately replies in a quiet but firm voice.

"Alright, but please, stay behind me!" — To be safe, I step slightly ahead, and we quickly make our way toward… the head family's house, where a crowd of Inuzuka has already gathered, and from inside, very concerning sounds can be heard—sounds of a fight.