Chapter 141: Leisurely time (Patreon)

A while later, Colt walked out of the closed room with the still unconscious Yakumo Kurama.

"Colt, are you alright?" Kurenai's expression was anxious.

She had only heard a scream from Yakumo, and then there was silence.

"It's fine. I've sealed the monster in her body, and the rest is easy to deal with. After a period of treatment, she can try to exercise and she will no longer be weak physically," Colt explained.

Apart from the troublesome sealing of Ido, Yakumo Kurama's problem was relatively simple to solve.

For the seal, Colt had referenced the tailed beast sealing method, leaving a slight gap. This way, Yakumo could be considered an alternative Jinchūriki in the future, but with a monster of her own creation.

Kurenai breathed a sigh of relief and brought Yakumo and Colt to a new guest room.

"Let's go. Her mental awareness is still weak now, and she won't wake up today."

“I think I’ll stay with her today,”

After some thought, Kurenai chose to stay and take care of Yakumo, letting Colt return home.

“Okay,” Colt nodded as he didn’t mind.

The next day, Kurenai brought Yakumo to Colt's house.

Ino and Hinata were also there, curious about the girl that came with Kurenai.

"Colt-san, thank you for your help," Yakumo said, now composed.

She no longer seemed suicidal, and the trace of resentment in her eyes had disappeared.

"You don't need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Kurenai. I wouldn't have known about you without her," Colt said with a smile.

Kurenai then explained.

"Colt, to facilitate her treatment, can she stay with you? It's inconvenient for me to make the trip every time, and the environment there isn't conducive to her condition. I originally wanted her to live at my place, but..."

She trailed off, not wanting to mention the potential awkwardness if Colt came over and Yakumo overheard something at night.

Hinata and Ino were stunned, wondering what was going on.

To prevent any misunderstandings, Kurenai briefly told Yakumo's story, omitting the part about her parents.

“Yakumo-san, I’m sorry about what happened to you, I don’t mind you staying with us”

“Yeah, you can be at home here,”

Both women, being kind-hearted, immediately felt sympathy for Yakumo and made her feel welcome.

"Does she have to live in my house? Can't she stay somewhere else?" Colt frowned slightly, not wanting to take on another responsibility.

"Colt-san, I've lived alone since I was very young. I'm good at housework and cooking, so I won't be a bother to you at all," Yakumo said carefully.

Her only hope now was Colt. If she wanted to become a ninja and repay Kurenai's kindness, only Colt could help her realize this wish.

Colt's eyes lit up. This could work out well.

Hinata and Ino also helped persuade him.

In the end, Yakumo proudly became the Kamiyo family's housekeeper and Colt's painting teacher.

"Colt-san, why do you want to learn to draw?" Yakumo asked, puzzled by his request.

Colt shrugged.

"I think your paintings are beautiful, and I want to learn to draw portraits for the girls."

The four women in the yard smiled simultaneously.

Yakumo was pleased by Colt's praise of her painting skills, while the other three women appreciated Colt's thoughtfulness.

Time quickly flew by.

After the battle with the Cloud Village, Colt never left the village for missions.

Removing his positions as Konoha's medical expert and hospital director, he only had to occasionally visit the medical department to maintain his presence.

The rest of the time was entirely at his disposal.

He accompanied the girls in their training, secretly took Tsunade to gamble away a few million ryo every now and then, or had rendezvous with Koyuki when she was filming in the Land of Fire.

It was a leisurely life.

This made Shikamaru, who had become a Chūnin, jealous.

When the young ninjas still in the village gathered, Shikamaru complained that after becoming a Chūnin, he had to train more and perform difficult tasks. He wished he could have remained a Genin for life.

After hearing this, the rest of the group collectively scoffed and looked at Shikamaru with contempt.

Apart from him, Ino, and Hinata, everyone else was still a Genin.

On a sunny afternoon at the third training ground, Hinata and Hanabi were engaged in fierce combat, the muffled sound of colliding fists incessant.

They weren't using the Gentle Fist style of the Hyūga clan, but Colt's Taijutsu technique. The power of the Byakugan combined with Colt's taijutsu was certainly not weaker than the Eight Trigrams Palms, and even slightly stronger in offense.

Under the shade of a tree, Colt sat behind a drawing board, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. His brushstrokes were fluid, and he was extremely focused. Yakumo stood beside him in a maid outfit, with a helpless expression.

"Colt-san, let me tell you again that you should just give up this hobby," Yakumo said.

It had been a while, and even her weak constitution and health had improved. Why were Colt's painting skills still so terrible?

"Yakumo, one of the rarest qualities in a person is persistence. Just like you trying to become a ninja?" Colt looked at his masterpiece, and then a flame emerged from his fingertips, burning it to ashes.

He sighed. He hadn't expected to be stopped by simple painting when he had even learned the Kurama clan's bloodline limit.

Yakumo covered her mouth and giggled, seemingly much livelier than before.

Time had passed, and she had become a ninja as she wished.

Due to her special status, Tsunade hadn't assigned Yakumo to a Jōnin instructor but made her Colt's direct subordinate. Yakumo was happy about this, having grown accustomed to being by Colt's side.

She wasn't sure she'd be comfortable teaming up with others.

On the field, Hinata and Hanabi had finished sparring, and Hinata was explaining some of Hanabi's shortcomings. The little girl, who had grown quite a bit, listened attentively.

Colt gazed into the distance.

It had been two years since Naruto left the village.

If not for the occasional souvenirs he sent back, Colt might have thought he'd gone missing.

"You all seem so relaxed..." a lazy voice said enviously.

It was Kakashi who suddenly appeared.