Sarada sat quietly on the rooftop, legs folded, her eyes reflecting the evening sky. The village lights flickered below, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

  Suddenly, Sakura walked up behind her and gently hugged her shoulders.

  Sakura (softly):

  “Sweetie, what happened?”

  Sarada (half-smiling, sighing):

  “It’s just… I’m fighting a war against a literal immortal queen for a guy’s heart. Is that too much for an Uchiha?”

  Sakura chuckled warmly, brushing Sarada’s hair aside.

  Sakura:

  “I don’t know about Uchihas, but here’s the thing—your dad, Sasuke, only ever blushed or got jealous if the topic was me.”

  (smirks)

  “Sure, Yuta’s past-life lover was Aira. But who knows? He might like you. You two were always together… like a duckling walking behind its mama duck.”

  Sarada’s cheeks flared red.

  Sarada (stammering):

  “Yuta can read my mind… but do you think he knows I like him?”

  Sakura (teasing):

  “Did he use his dōjutsu on you?”

  Sarada:

  “Nooo!”

  Sakura (grinning):

  “Trust me, tail him one day. You’ll see why I asked.”

  Sarada blinked in confusion but nodded. The mystery stuck in her mind.

  Sarada, Boruto, and Chōchō hid behind a vending machine, trailing Yuta as he walked calmly through the crowd.

  Boruto (whispering):

  “Why are we tailing Big Bro again?”

  Sarada (focused):

  “Mom said to observe him.”

  Chōchō (grinning):

  “Drama? I like that.”

  (eyes twinkle as she watches Yuta)

  “He even walks like a celebrity.”

  Not far behind, Naruto and Sakura observed the kids from a bench.

  Naruto (sighing):

  “So… you really made them tail my son?”

  Sakura (smiling):

  “Remember the day we chased Kakashi to unmask him?”

  Sumire (suddenly appearing):

  “Oh, I’ve seen his face.”

  Naruto (grabbing her shoulders):

  “WHAT?! How’s Kakashi look?!”

  Sumire (giggling):

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “If I were his age, I’d probably marry him. But I love him—he’s like a dad to me.”

  Naruto (blank stare):

  “A kid saw Kakashi’s real face…”

  Sakura (bonking Naruto):

  “Idiot. She’s his adopted daughter, remember?”

  Naruto (rubbing his head):

  “Oh yeah… right.”

  Sakura (smirking):

  “And one more thing — Yuta’s basically Sasuke 2.0. You see how he attracts girls like flies?”

  Naruto groaned. Sasuke appeared beside him silently, both sighing in sync as they headed toward the Hokage Office.

  Yuta walked down the aisles, ignoring the whispers of girls nearby. His Shinseigan and Tenseigan flickered faintly as he scanned faces — his eyes calm, calculating.

  Yuta (to himself):

  “For my fame.”

  He smiled politely at several girls who tried to talk to him — and rejected every single one.

  Behind him, Boruto, Sarada, and Chōchō whispered again.

  Boruto (grinning):

  “Lucky him. If even one of them proposed to me—”

  Sarada (deadpan):

  “Just look for Sumire.”

  Boruto (confused):

  “What about her?”

  Chōchō (snickering):

  “You and your dad share the same brain cell when it comes to love. My dad, Chōji, always says that.”

  Sarada laughed, shaking her head as Boruto pouted.

  Aira sat upon her glowing throne when a bright light summoned Segawa before her.

  Aira (coolly):

  “So, you’re the one who wanted Ryouta. Why?”

  Segawa:

  “I saw the past. He’s your Sylus’ younger brother, isn’t he? Kashin?”

  Aira’s expression froze briefly.

  Aira (sighing):

  “Time travel powers, huh? Not going to share that with the world, I suppose. I know how hard it is to preserve power within a clan.”

  (leans forward)

  “Join me.”

  Segawa (firmly):

  “I hope not. But… thank you. You’d be my last choice, though.”

  He vanished in a shimmer of light. Aira smiled faintly — a mix of admiration and warning.

  Moonlight spilled through the trees.

  Yuta trained alone, his chakra faintly pulsing in rhythm with the wind.

  Sarada stepped into the clearing, eyes determined.

  Sarada:

  “Why don’t you use your dōjutsu on me? Read my mind.”

  Yuta (without looking up):

  “Because I already know.”

  He turned to her, his voice soft but firm.

  Yuta:

  “What you do for me… it isn’t for my body. It’s for my soul.”

  Sarada’s eyes widened. She stepped closer — and hugged him.

  Sarada (whispering):

  “Thanks…”

  Yuta blinked, speechless, his heart thudding louder than any jutsu.

  In a dimly lit hall, several Hyūga elders sat whispering.

  Hidden above the ceiling beams, Shikamaru listened silently.

  Elder 1:

  “Let’s kill that half-breed. We need a pure Hyūga as Hokage, not an outsider.”

  Elder 2:

  “Agreed. That boy’s too good — dangerous even. We end him tomorrow, when he visits for clan studies.”

  Shikamaru’s eyes narrowed. Cold. Calculated.

  Shikamaru (urgently):

  “Make Yuta the Hyūga Clan Head. Now.”

  Naruto (startled):

  “What? The elders will hate that!”

  Shikamaru:

  “I know. Hanabi may hate it too. But if we don’t… Yuta will die.”

  Naruto’s face went pale. He looked at the paperwork, then slammed his hand on the seal.

  Naruto (firmly):

  “Then it’s official. As of now… Yuta Uzumaki is the new Hyūga Clan Head.”

  Shikamaru turned toward the chessboard on Naruto’s desk.

  He moved one piece — a simple knight.

  Shikamaru (quietly):

  “Checkmate.”

  Naruto stared at the board — Shikamaru had solved it in one glance.

  End of Chapter 56 – “Heartlines and Checkmates”