Naruto sat on a rooftop overlooking the Hokage Tower, munching on a stolen onigiri and grinning like he was just enjoying the view. "Best spot in the village!" he said to no one, loud enough for a passing shinobi to glance up and shake his head. The act was second nature now, but his eyes were locked on the tower's guarded entrance. The sealed scroll was in there, somewhere, and with it, the truth about the Nine-Tails and why he was its Jinchuriki. But getting inside was a problem only power could solve.He'd spent the last few days refining his shadow clones, pushing himself until he could summon ten at once, each solid enough to pass for him in dim light. It was progress, but not enough. The tower was crawling with ANBU, elite shinobi who'd spot his tricks in a heartbeat. He needed something bigger—a jutsu, a distraction, or the Nine-Tails' power itself. The thought of that raw, burning energy both excited and terrified him. What if it took over? What if he became the monster they all saw?Naruto's grin faded as he tossed the onigiri wrapper away. He couldn't afford to be scared. The village had made him a scapegoat, a secret, and they'd only talk if he forced them. Power was the key—not just to the scroll but to respect, to answers. He'd seen how the Hokage's presence silenced rooms, how Anko's confidence made people back off. He needed that kind of strength, the kind that made people listen.He hopped off the rooftop, landing with a dramatic flourish to keep up appearances. "Future Hokage, coming through!" he shouted, earning glares from a nearby vendor. But as he wandered toward the forest, his mind was on the Nine-Tails. Last night's training had brought him closer—he'd felt that heat again, stronger this time, like a pulse deep in his core. He didn't know how to control it, but he'd figure it out. He had to.In the clearing, he summoned his clones and set them to work, practicing stealth and coordination. He had them scatter, hiding in the trees, then attack him from different angles. It was messy, but it mimicked what he'd need to slip past the tower's guards. Between rounds, he sat, focusing inward, chasing that burning sensation. This time, it lingered longer, a red-hot thread that made his fingers tremble and his heart race. He pushed harder, willing it to grow, but a sharp pain lanced through his chest, and he collapsed, gasping."Not… yet," he panted, forcing a laugh to shake off the fear. He couldn't rush this. The Nine-Tails' power was a beast, and he was still too weak to tame it. But he was getting closer. Each day, each clone, each failure made him stronger. He'd keep his mask on, keep the village clueless, but soon, he'd have the power to walk into that tower and demand the truth—no sneaking, no begging, just strength.
