Mokuton Phantom in Naruto

The following months in Hoshigakure passed in an unusual calm. Kousei, once rarely home, was now almost always around. The village's missions had dwindled drastically, he received, at most, two per month, always short and confined within the Land of Bears.

"Strange, isn't it?" Kousei muttered one morning, helping Ryuusei tie the training wraps around his wrists. "I used to go weeks without seeing you. Now, it's like the Hoshikage himself wants me to stay home."

Ryuusei grinned, quietly cherishing his father's presence. A part of him wished this peaceful time would never end.

Meanwhile, Ryuusei's training progressed steadily. Mornings were spent practicing basic jutsu with his parents: clones, transformation, and evasive techniques. Aiko insisted on teaching him the fundamentals of Fūinjutsu, starting with simple storage seals.

"Even if you never use this in battle, it's handy for carrying snacks," she teased, demonstrating how to seal and unseal an apple from a scroll.

Afternoons at the shinobi academy were far more grueling. Ginga pushed them to their limits, mountain runs, endurance training under the star mist, and sparring simulations. Ryuusei stood out, not just for his Uzumaki lineage but for a determination and focus that even the veteran instructors found impressive, a stark contrast to the infamous hotheadedness common among Uzumaki.

"How do you keep going?" Seiryu groaned, sprawled on the ground after a particularly brutal sparring session.

"My mom says it's genetics," Ryuusei chuckled, extending a hand to help his friend up. "But honestly, I think it's just stubbornness."

Seiryu laughed, but Ryuusei knew the truth ran deeper. The star energy seemed to resonate with him in a way it didn't with others. While his classmates trembled and dripped with sweat after training, he felt only mild fatigue, as though his body adapted more quickly.

One evening, after a long day of training, a shinobi appeared at the door with a sealed letter. Aiko took the scroll with steady hands, but Ryuusei noticed the slight tremble in her fingers as she broke the seal.

"What is it, Mom?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

"Nothing important," Aiko replied quickly, though her tense expression betrayed her words. "Your father and I need to step out for a bit. Go back to your room, Ryuusei."

He wanted to press further, but the stern look in her eyes made him hold his tongue. Obediently, he retreated to his room, though he remained awake, listening to the hurried footsteps of his parents as they left the house.

In the Hoshikage's Tower, Eizen awaited them. The village leader sat behind a desk cluttered with maps and documents, his sharp features illuminated by the flickering light of a single lamp.

"Aiko, Kousei," Eizen greeted with a curt nod. "Thank you for coming so quickly."

"What's going on, Eizen?" Kousei asked, arms crossed.

The Hoshikage exhaled slowly, as though measuring his words.

"I've received confidential intelligence. Certain forces are mobilizing, and Uzushiogakure is at the heart of it. I can't disclose every detail without risking Hoshigakure, but… the situation is dire."

Aiko clenched her fists, her green eyes flashing with anger and worry.

"Why didn't you warn Uzushiogakure earlier?" she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion.

Eizen met her gaze, his expression cold and calculating.

"Because, as the leader of Hoshigakure, my duty is to protect this village above all else. Uzushiogakure is already on the path to destruction. If I had intervened earlier, we might have drawn those forces here."

Aiko's throat tightened. She hated the logic, even if she couldn't deny its cold pragmatism.

"Then why call us here?" Kousei cut in, breaking the tense silence.

Eizen's gaze shifted to Aiko, his expression unyielding.

"I need to know what you want to do, Aiko. You're an Uzumaki, and your family is in danger. If you wish, I can arrange for a small escort under the guise of a routine trip. You can take a few people with you, but you'll need to move quickly. Their plan may already be in motion."

Aiko stood frozen, weighing her options. She wasn't naive, she knew Eizen's offer wasn't purely out of kindness. He saw an opportunity to strengthen Hoshigakure by bringing more Uzumaki under his protection.

But despite her disdain for the political game, this might be her only chance to save her family.

"I'll go," she said at last, her voice firm. "But don't think for a second I'm blind to your motives, Eizen. The shinobi world has always been like this, but that doesn't mean I have to accept it."

Eizen nodded, unfazed by her contemptuous tone.

"Understood. Kousei, you'll accompany her. Stay discreet. We can't afford to draw unnecessary attention."

Kousei agreed silently, his face grim. He knew the mission would be perilous but couldn't imagine letting Aiko face it alone.

As they walked home under the soft glow of the star mist, Aiko's mind churned with rage. Rage at Eizen, at the forces threatening her clan, at the shinobi world's endless cycle of power and betrayal.

But above all, her fury crystallized into fierce determination, to protect what remained of her family, no matter the cost.

"Ryuusei can't know," she finally said, her voice low and firm. "He wouldn't understand. And I don't want him involved in this."

Kousei nodded, though deep down, he knew the truth. Whether they liked it or not, Ryuusei was already entangled in this conflict.

Being an Uzumaki in times like these meant one thing, becoming a target.

[Author's Note: Before questioning why being an Uzumaki would make someone a target, remember how Karin's mother ended up, how Nagato was manipulated by Madara, and countless other instances hinted throughout the story. These are just the cases we were explicitly shown in the original work.]