Chapter 19: The End of the First SemesterThe exams were finally over...The afternoon sunlight lazily spilled into the classroom. Naruto sat in the back row, his lower legs dangling and swinging, one hand propping up his chin, while the other listlessly twirled a pen.He turned his head to the left.Hinata sat quietly by the window, her light purple hair gently stirred by the breeze from outside, the sunlight plating her profile with a gentle golden rim.Naruto couldn't help but smile."Oh my," he muttered softly, his voice so quiet that only he could hear, "Back row by the window, the hometown of the King... Hinata is... the hometown of the Queen, it will probably circulate in the 2D world in the future."Ino leaned over with a "thud," her entire upper body pressing against him, her blonde ponytail swinging in a bright arc in the sunlight."Naruto—!" Her eyes were sparkling, and her tone was full of excitement, "What secret were you whispering to Hinata just now? I want to hear too!"Upon hearing this, Hinata raised her head, a faint blush immediately appearing on her cheeks.Naruto smiled and reached out, his index finger gently tapping Ino's forehead: "I was saying, Ino is especially cute today.""Liar!" Ino puffed out her cheeks, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, "You must be teasing Hinata again, right?"Without waiting for Naruto to answer, she leaned closer, her voice lowered but unable to hide her anticipation."You must have gotten first place in the exam again, right?"Naruto reached out and ruffled her hair: "So sure?""Of course!" Ino puffed out her small chest, her face full of pride, "My Naruto is the best!"This girl had already naturally added the "my" prefix.Naruto smiled without replying, his gaze sweeping over the front row of the classroom. Sasuke sat in the very center of the third row, his back straight, looking very concerned about the exam results.He remembered the scene after school on the day of the entrance exam.Under the setting sun, Uchiha Itachi stood at the school gate waiting for Sasuke, and seeing his younger brother walk out with an unconvinced look on his face, he gently ruffled his head."Lost?""...Yeah.""Then win it back next time." Uchiha Itachi's voice was very soft, carrying the gentleness unique to an older brother.Sasuke pouted and didn't speak at the time, but the unconvinced look in his eyes had clearly faded a bit.Naruto withdrew his gaze, his fingertips tapping gently on the tabletop.A warm breeze blew in from outside the window, carrying the scent of the grassy playground, and Naruto's thoughts drifted further away.Over on Nianbo Island, after two months of recuperation, the state of Karin and her mother had stabilized.The silver hair and red eyes disguise worked well; at least walking on the street, they wouldn't be recognized as members of the Uzumaki clan at a glance.He took time to go there again last month, and this time he directly brought them away from the island.He chose the Land of Waves, a seaside cottage near a remote village.The location was chosen carefully—not far from the village, so they wouldn't be completely isolated from the world, yet it could guarantee sufficient privacy.Kana stood at the doorway of the cottage, her hand resting on the doorframe, her eyes a little red. She looked back at Naruto, her voice very soft: "Thank you... really."Karin hid behind her, poking half her head out to peek at Naruto, her small hand tightly gripping her mother's hem.This little girl now dared to take the initiative to talk to him, although she would still blush."Naruto-kun..." she asked softly, "Are we going to live here from now on?""Yeah." Naruto crouched down, meeting her eye level, "Do you like it?"Karin nodded vigorously, her short silver hair swaying in the wind.For the next month, Naruto would set aside a few hours every day to go over using a Shadow Clone, teaching them the Three Body Technique hand-in-hand.In addition to the Three Body Technique, he also taught them some basic Taijutsu and a few C-rank Water Release Ninjutsu—the Land of Waves was by the sea, so the water-attribute environment had a natural bonus. Finally, he left behind a pile of Kunai, Shuriken, and some Explosive Tags."Keep these safe, and don't take them out easily." Naruto handed the Ninja tool pouch to Kana, his tone becoming a bit more serious, "If you encounter danger, use the Substitution Technique to run first; if you can't get away, then use these."Kana took the pouch, her fingers trembling slightly.She knew what these things meant in the eyes of ordinary people—Ninjas, combat, life and death.Naruto looked at her, silent for two seconds, then pulled two special Kunai from his embrace.The formula for the Flying Thunder God was engraved on the Kunai handles."This is the most important." He handed the Kunaito the mother and daughter respectively, saying each word with extreme seriousness, "If you encounter danger, channel Chakra into this—I will know immediately, and then I will rush over."Karin held the Kunai, her eyes wide: "Can Naruto-kun arrive immediately?""Yes." Naruto smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair, "So don't be afraid."Before leaving, Naruto checked the barrier around the cottage one last time—it was a basic sensory type, not very strong, but enough to warn of ordinary Ninjas approaching. He also left them some money and a list of supplies, urging them to buy whatever they needed."Live well." Naruto stood at the doorway, looking back for a glance, "When you have stabilized, I will come to see you again."Karin chased to the doorway, her small hands clutching the doorframe, her voice thin: "When will Naruto-kun come again?""Very soon." Naruto waved at her, "Practice what I taught you well.""Hey—Naruto!"Ino's voice pulled Naruto back from his memories.She was puffing out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, her finger poking his arm: "You're spacing out again! Are you thinking about something bad?""I was thinking about when Ino will be able to stop being so clingy." Naruto teased casually."I am not clingy!"While the two were making a scene, the front door of the classroom was pushed open.Iruka Umino walked in holding a thick stack of report cards, his expression as complex as if he had eaten something hard to swallow. He walked up to the podium, his gaze sweeping around the classroom, finally lingering on Naruto for a moment.In that gaze, there was helplessness, a trace of extremely faint resentment, and a kind of resigned exhaustion.Naruto "tsk-ed" in his heart.Iruka-sensei... you still haven't deeply grasped the ideological spirit of the Third Hokage. If this continues, how will you advance?"The final exam results are out." Iruka cleared his throat, his voice a bit dry, "Now, I will announce the rankings for the theory exam and the practical test."The classroom instantly quieted down.Naruto leaned back in his chair, his lower legs continuing to swing, his expression as relaxed as if he were listening to a weather forecast. Hinatanervously gripped the corner of her clothes, while Ino excitedly held her breath."First place in the theory exam..." Iruka paused, "Uzumaki Naruto.""First place in the practical test..." He took a deep breath, "Uzumaki Naruto."A small commotion erupted in the classroom.Naruto raised an eyebrow. He wasn't surprised by this result at all; with Shadow Clones, it would be strange if he didn't get first place.Sasuke sat in the front row, his back visibly stiffening for a moment, his fists under the desk clenching slightly, his eyes sharp.Naruto was amused in his heart.Sasuke is being unconvinced. If he didn't get first in the practical, fine, but how is theory only third—that's right, Iruka's subsequent announcement confirmed his guess."Second place in the theory exam, Sakura Haruno."Sakura gave a surprised "Ah," and subconsciously looked at Sasuke."Third place, Uchiha Sasuke.""Second place in the practical test, Uchiha Sasuke."Sasuke's fists clenched even tighter, his knuckles turning white.Iruka continued to read the subsequent rankings, but no one was really listening anymore; most people's attention was focused on those few names in the front row.Naruto could even imagine Sasuke's inner monologue at this moment."Damn it... If I didn't get first in the practical, fine, but how is theory only third...""That guy... how..."Naruto swung his legs, tsk-ing in his heart. Sasuke, having a strong self-esteem is a good thing, but being too serious is bad for your health.At this moment, Ino had already excitedly pounced over, grabbing Naruto's arm: "Yay! I knew Narutowas the best!"She was almost hanging onto Naruto, her blonde hair tickling his cheek.Hinata was next to them with her head lowered, her index fingers gently tapping against each other, her face flushed, her eyes full of pride. She said softly: "Na-, Naruto-kun... so amazing..."Shikmaru leaned back in the chair behind him, yawning: "What a drag... First place was taken by you again."Choji, while stuffing potato chips into his mouth, said vaguely: "Naruto is so amazing... If only I were that smart too...""Damn it!" Kiba slammed the table with a "bang" and stood up, Akamaru barking from the top of his head, "I will definitely surpass you next time! Just you wait, Naruto!"Shino Aburame silently pushed up his glasses, his voice calm: "An expected result; Naruto-kun's theoretical foundation is very solid."Sakura in the front row immediately turned her head in concern: "Sasuke-kun, you..."Sasuke frowned and gave a soft hmph, not looking at her.Sakura's expression stiffened, and she awkwardly turned back around.Iruka closed the report card, trying to make his expression look more natural: "Summer vacation starts tomorrow, lasting for one month. During this period, do not relax your training, especially Taijutsu and Shuriken throwing..."He paused, then looked at Naruto again: "...Students with good grades should not be arrogant either."A bit too pointed, huh.Naruto kept a bright smile on his face, but rolled his eyes in his heart. Iruka-sensei, isn't your targeting a bit too obvious?The bell for the end of class rang right on time."Class dismissed!" After Iruka announced this, he picked up his teaching materials and walked quickly out of the classroom, his back appearing somewhat hurried.Naruto shook his head internally.Teacher, you have all your emotions written on your face; that won't do. The Third Hokage sent you to teach me, not to cultivate resentment.Naruto stood up from his seat and clapped his hands: "To celebrate the end of the exams, today I'm treating everyone to ramen! Ichiraku Ramen, all you can eat!""Yay!" Ino was the first to respond.Hinata nodded shyly, Shikamaru sighed helplessly "Going out again, what a drag," Choji was already excitedly starting to pack up his snack bags, Kiba was shouting "I'm going to eat three big bowls," and Shino pushed up his glasses indicating "I can join."Naruto looked at the front row: "Sasuke, do you want to come along?""No." He picked up his schoolbag, "I'm going home to train."After saying that, he walked out of the classroom without looking back.Sakura hurriedly chased after him: "Sasuke-kun! Wait for me!"Sasuke didn't stop his pace, disappearing around the corner of the hallway.Forget it.Naruto shrugged, not forcing it.The young master of the Uchiha clan is probably holding back, thinking about vacation special training, and then planning a comeback next semester.
Chapter 20: Talk no Jutsu, Still Needs PracticeNaruto and his group had just walked out of the classroom building when they saw Tenten, looking puffed up with anger, carrying her school bag as she came out of the adjacent classroom. The final exams for the grade above them had also just ended."Tenten—" Ino waved immediately."Huh, you guys are done with school too?" Tententrotted over. Seeing the group of people surrounding Naruto, she blinked. "What a big turnout?""Naruto said he wants to treat everyone to ramen to celebrate!" Ino linked her arm with Naruto's, her tone proud. "He got first place again!"Tenten's eyes brightened as she looked at Naruto. "You got first place again? That's amazing!""Just good luck." Naruto smiled brightly and took the opportunity to extend an invitation. "We're going to Ichiraku Ramen to celebrate. Come with us, my treat.""Sure!" She nodded readily. "I'm actually a bit hungry too."The Ichiraku Ramen shop was steaming hot."Boss! Eight bowls of miso ramen!" Naruto shouted as soon as he entered, his voice crisp."Coming right up!" Teuchi poked his head out from the kitchen. Seeing it was Naruto, his smile became even warmer. "Little Naruto brought friends again, huh?"Ino pulled Hinata to sit at a long table against the wall. Shikamaru slowly sat at the very edge, muttering, "What a drag, but I still have to eat ramen."Choji was already staring intensely at the kitchen with shining eyes. Shino pushed up his glasses and sat in the corner. Kiba slapped the table boldly: "I want extra chashu! Three portions!"Teuchi smiled as he cooked noodles for this group of young guests. Rhythmic chopping sounds came from the cutting board, and the air was filled with the rich fragrance of tonkotsu broth and the oily scent of chashu."Naruto," Tenten asked from across the table, her mouth still full of noodles, making her voice muffled. "What are your plans for summer vacation?""Training, I guess." Naruto took a sip of soup. "After all, there might be survival exercise courses next semester.""I'm going to train harder too!" Kiba put down his bowl with a "thud", splashing a few drops of soup. "I'm definitely going to surpass you next semester!""Sure, good luck." Naruto replied with a smile, adding to himself: *You can have anything in your dreams.*Everyone had a lively meal.When Naruto paid, Teuchi smiled and said, "Congratulations on getting first place."By the time they left, the setting sun had slanted to the west, dyeing the sky orange. There were fewer pedestrians on the street."See you later then!" Tenten waved goodbye."Yeah, see you." Everyone said their goodbyes.In the blink of an eye, more than half of the vacation had passed.At night, Uchiha Shisui had just walked out of the Hokage Building.He had just finished reporting the recent trends within the clan to the Third Hokage—Clan Leader Fugaku was still suppressing the radicals, but voices of dissatisfaction were indeed increasing. The Third Hokage just nodded gently after listening and said, "Thank you for your hard work, keep it up."The moon was hidden, the stars were sparse, and the streets near the Uchiha Clan compound were eerily quiet. The shadows of the trees by the roadside swayed in the night wind, casting mottled, broken dark marks. Occasionally, a few dog barks came from afar, only to quickly fall silent again.Shisui was walking on a secluded path when his footsteps suddenly stopped.His Sharingan silently activated in the night, the three tomoe rotating slowly."Come out." Shisui's voice was very soft, but it was terrifyingly clear in the quiet street. "I've already discovered you."A very faint "tsk" came from the shadows.A figure wearing a white mask slowly emerged from the darkness of the corner.Shisui frowned slightly. *This guy... when did he follow me?*"Be careful of the Konoha higher-ups," the Masked Man spoke, his voice disguised, low and calm. "Especially the Third Hokage and Danzo."Shisui's eyes sharpened. "Who are you?""A descendant of the Senju Clan." The Masked Man replied quickly. "Look at the Senju Clan, only Tsunade remains.""The Uchiha's current situation is very dangerous." The Masked Man continued. "Behind you is a bottomless abyss...""Think clearly about what the purpose of the predecessors of the Uchiha and Senju was when they founded the Village..."Shisui was silent for two seconds, the three tomoe glowing with a dark red light in the night."I will definitely be able to bridge the rift between the Uchiha and the Village," he said with a firm tone, carrying the unique persistence of an idealist. "In the end, everyone will definitely be able to understand each other."The Masked Man shook his head."Don't just look at what the Third Hokage said," his voice carried a hint of mockery. "Look at what he has done. Has the Third Hokage made any moves that are truly friendly to the Uchiha?"This remark was like a needle, precisely piercing a corner of Shisui's heart that he had always been unwilling to delve into."The Third Hokage has always been concerned about the Uchiha," Shisui retorted, but his tone was no longer as resolute. "My ability to enter the Anbuis a sign. Although some people in the Uchiha don't understand the Village's approach now, I will work hard to make everyone understand."He paused, his Sharingan staring at the Masked Man. "Instead, you... who exactly are you?"The Masked Man just opened his mouth: "I..."The voice stopped abruptly.Shisui's Sharingan suddenly accelerated its rotation, and genjutsu was activated instantly.The Masked Man's eyes instantly became vacant, and his body stiffened in place.*It worked.*Shisui let out a sigh of relief and stepped forward slowly. He needed to confirm the identity of this mysterious person. The claim of being a Senjudescendant was too suspicious, and the other party's level of understanding of the Uchiha and the Village...He reached out his hand, his fingertips about to touch the edge of the mask—"Poof!"Smoke exploded.Shisui's pupils shrank, and he almost instinctively retreated several steps. Three Kunai instantly appeared in his hand, his Sharingan scanning the surroundings frantically in the night.The next second, from the shadows of the eaves on the other side, another figure wearing the same mask walked out slowly."Heh."The Masked Man made a soft sound, like a sigh, and also like mockery."When you have time, go check out the Sarutobi Clan compound... see how many Ninja the Sarutobi Clan has...""Also, watch out for the Sharingan on Danzo.""And Izanagi."After saying this, this figure also "poofed" into smoke and dissipated.The street fell back into dead silence.Shisui stood in place, his Sharingan still rotating slowly, his back already soaked with cold sweat. He stared at the two white puffs of smoke that hadn't dissipated yet, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.*Shadow Clone...*The other party had prepared to be controlled by genjutsu from the very beginning; the real body hadn't appeared at all.Those warnings... The identity of being a Senjudescendant was highly likely fake, but the Sharingan on Danzo and Izanagi...Shisui slowly closed his eyes.The Uchiha Clan's forbidden technique, Izanagi.Why would Danzo have a Sharingan? Where did he get it? And how...And also the Sarutobi Clan... Hokage-sama...'s clansmen.A little moonlight leaked through the cracks in the clouds, shining on his face, reflecting the deep exhaustion and struggle between his brows.Shisui took a deep breath, deactivated his Sharingan, and turned to walk towards the Uchiha Clan compound.
Chapter 21: The Final Piece of the "Golden Finger" (Part 1)In the apartment, the Shadow Clone had just laid down on the bed, while the original body had already vanished from the spot.The next moment, Naruto was already standing on the beach of Nianbo Island.The night wind, carrying a salty, fishy scent, rushed towards his face, and the waves crashed noisily in the darkness. He looked up, and in the distance, the temporary cabin was nothing more than a blurred silhouette under the moonlight—Karin and her mother had moved to the Land of Waves, and the place had returned to its uninhabited silence."The timing is perfect."He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.Sealing Space.The Nine-Tailed lay behind the gate, its two front paws crossed, resting its chin upon them, while its tails swayed slowly behind it.It stared at Naruto outside the gate, its gaze somewhat complex."Are you starting?"Naruto didn't speak. His body drifted directly in front of the sealing gate, and he pressed his palm against the massive sealing spell. Over the past few years, the internal and external erosion of Naruto's and the Nine-Tailed's Chakra had left the internal structure of the sealing spell riddled with holes.Crack.The subtle sound of breaking was exceptionally clear in the silent space.The next second, the seal was completely destroyed. The entire Sealing Space shook violently, and the lines of the Eight Trigrams Seal disintegrated inch by inch, turning into specks of light that dissipated into the air.The sealing gate was blown open with a "boom."A surging torrent of Chakra rushed out from within the gate, causing the water surface of the entire Sealing Space to churn violently. The Nine-Tailedslowly stood up, its nine tails stretching out behind it, its crimson fur fluttering in the torrent of Chakra.The Nine-Tailed stepped out, its massive body standing fully within this space for the first time. It looked down at Naruto, its expression so complex that Naruto almost laughed out loud."What's wrong?" Naruto looked up at it. "Not used to it?""Hmph." The Nine-Tailed snorted from its nose. "I just didn't expect it to be this fast."It paused, its tail swaying involuntarily: "Are you planning to leave Konoha now?""It's not time yet." Naruto shook his head, his expression calm. "Things in Konoha haven't been dealt with yet, and besides..."He started counting on his fingers: "Flying Thunder God, the Rasengan series, Ninjutsu of various attributes, Sealing Jutsu... I have all the means I should have now... but it's still not enough..."If I can't crush them without taking damage, it's not yet time to stop eating beef.After a pause, Naruto added another sentence."Just Uchiha Shisui alone, I'm not sure I can handle him. Although the end result would be his death, I might get trapped by his Sharingan abilities... Tsk, the Sharingan really is a bit cheap."Purely through the power of "thinking about it in the dark," one can come up with a whole bunch of messy abilities.The Nine-Tailed snorted."Don't you have it too?""...Huh?"Naruto froze, looked up, his face full of question marks.The Nine-Tailed tilted its head, its eyes looking as if it were staring at an idiot."You don't know?" Its tone was a bit strange. "Those eyes of yours awakened a long time ago.""...How come I don't know?""I didn't know that you didn't know." The Nine-Tailed rolled its eyes. "I thought you had known for a long time."This sentence was so convoluted that Narutoalmost couldn't keep up. He took a deep breath and rubbed his temples: "No, wait... when did you discover it?""The first time you entered the Sealing Space, I sensed the aura of the Sharingan," the Nine-Tailedsaid lazily.It paused, its tail gently patting the water surface: "That's why, even when you knew my name back then, I was unwilling to communicate with you—that was the reason..."...Naruto was rendered speechless.His new account was almost... gone. Narutosecretly wiped away a cold sweat.The Nine-Tailed looked at him, a strange light flashing in its slit pupils: "The darkness within you is no less than that of Uchiha Madara back then, but in that darkness... there is a faint flame...""It's very faint, as if it could go out at any moment." Its voice lowered. "...But it never goes out. It's very strange."Naruto lowered his head.He understood.The resentment from his past life, the day-after-day exhaustion and suppression—those accumulated negative emotions became the nourishment for these eyes.As for that flicker of flame..."It's like the stars in the night sky," Naruto said softly. "Although faint, and sometimes covered by darkness, it always guides people in the right direction."Star... fire... After all, he had received nine years of compulsory education in his past life... things like fox cries... slaying a white snake... digging out a one-eyed stone man... he still knew how to do those things... but unfortunately, this is the Narutoworld, which possesses Chakra.The Nine-Tailed stared at him for a few seconds."As the current generation's reincarnation of Ashura, you are truly strange," it finally said. "There's not a hint of that naive stupidity.""Is that so?"Naruto smiled and formed a simple seal in front of his chest.Chakra converged toward his eyes.In the reflection on the water surface of the Sealing Space, those originally azure eyes quietly changed color—the eyes turned blood-red, three black tomoe slowly appeared, then quickly rotated and connected, transforming into a complex pattern.The center was an interlocking square, and the outer ring was shuriken-shaped, somewhat similar to a 卐.Information about the abilities of both eyes flowed into his mind.Naruto blinked, the pattern in his pupils slowly fading away, returning to normal blue."So that's how it is...""What is it?" the Nine-Tailed asked."I've figured it out." Naruto flexed his fingers."The left eye is called 'Okuninushi,' and it can devour Chakra and analyze the opponent's Bloodline Limit. The right eye is called 'Ukanomitama,' and it can use the devoured Chakrato strengthen my body and spirit." Hmm, a Narutoversion of the Northern... Divine Art?He paused and added another sentence."Using both eyes together, there is also an ability called 'Eight Million Gods'—it can take the analyzed Bloodline Limit as a'seed' and bestow it upon others.""No wonder I never noticed.""These eyes have been absorbing my Chakra the whole time.""...""What else?" The Nine-Tailed rolled its eyes massively. "If it weren't for my Chakra holding it up, you would have been sucked into a dried-up husk long ago."Naruto was stunned for two seconds, then laughed out loud."Thanks, Kurama.""...Hmph." The Nine-Tailed turned its face away. "That little bit of Chakra is just a drop in the ocean."Although it said that, the tip of its tail still swayed gently.Naruto didn't expose it, just raised his hand to form a seal, and a golden Chakra cloak suddenly erupted from his body—the Nine-Tailed ChakraMode.He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body."Your Chakra is truly strong," Naruto remarked. "It's not even in the same magnitude as the little bit I borrowed before."The Nine-Tailed snorted from its nose, acting as a response.Naruto looked up at it, his eyes curving into crescent moons: "Do you want to come out and get some fresh air?""I—"The words weren't finished.Naruto had already lifted all suppression on the Nine-Tailed's Chakra. Golden Chakra erupted from his body, and at the same time, the Nine-Tailed's consciousness was pulled out of the Sealing Space, "seeing" the outside world with a complete perspective for the first time.The true form of the Nine-Tailed appeared under the night sky. Its nine tails stretched out, almost obscuring half the sky, and its crimson fur shimmered with a dull luster under the moonlight. It looked up and let out a low roar, the sound carrying far in the night wind.The Nine-Tailed lowered its head, looked at its own paws, and then looked up at the starry sky.Naruto leaped lightly, landed on the Nine-Tailed's head, and found a comfortable spot to lie down."Free," he said softly."I still have a portion of your Chakra sealed within me, so I won't die just because you leave," Narutocontinued, his voice very calm. "And I'm strong enough now... it's time to fulfill the promise I made back then."The Nine-Tailed's breathing hitched slightly."...The mastermind behind the scenes hasn't been dealt with yet," the Nine-Tailed said in a muffled voice. "I'm worried you won't be able to handle it alone."Naruto raised an eyebrow: "So?""So I'll stay inside you for now." The Nine-Tailed's tone was stiff. "We'll talk after things are finished.""..."Naruto couldn't help but laugh out loud.This tsundere fox."Alright." He reached out and patted the fur on the Nine-Tailed's head. "Then I'll trouble you to keep me company for a while longer.""...Annoying."The Nine-Tailed muttered, but its body slowly laid down, its massive head resting on the beach, and its nine tails swaying slowly behind it.Naruto lay on top of its head.The Nine-Tailed snorted hot air from its nose and said nothing more.The human and the fox lay on the beach like this, looking at the stars in the night sky.Naruto pillowed his head on his arms and suddenly spoke: "Kurama.""Hmm?""Next time you want to come out and look at the stars, just say so.""...Annoying."
In the apartment, with a soft "poof," the Shadow Clone dissipated into white smoke.Naruto lay back on his bed, stared at the ceiling, tossed and turned, then rolled back."I can't sleep...""Kurama," Naruto said suddenly, "let me ask you something.""Speak." In the Sealing Space, the Nine-Tailed lay on the water's surface without even lifting an eyelid."Natural energy... how much do you know about it?"The Nine-Tailed's tail twitched: "Why are you suddenly asking about this?""I've always been able to sense natural energy," Naruto said, pillowing his head with his hands, "but I don't know how to absorb it. I heard that when a Jinchuriki dies, the Tailed Beast disappears, but after a while, it revives somewhere else... It's because of natural energy, right?"The Nine-Tailed was silent for two seconds."You're smart, I'll give you that," it replied sullenly."Natural energy is the foundation of the world. When the Old Man created us, he was worried that we would be fused back into the Ten-Tails by powerful people in the future, so natural energy was converted into 'ordinary' Chakra. However, we gained the ability to absorb natural energy to revive after death.""In a sense, we Tailed Beasts are... half-manifestations of natural energy.""I see."Naruto's eyes brightened.He understood. Tailed Beasts possessed endless lifespans and were essentially immortal, but their power ceiling was locked. Of course, barring certain anti-Tailed Beast tools—like the Uchiha, Wood Release, and Sealing Jutsu—Tailed Beasts were basically invincible."Then can you teach me how to absorb natural energy? Not much, just a small amount.""You want to learn?" The Nine-Tailed finally opened its eyes, a flash of surprise in its vertical pupils. "The human body can't withstand too much natural energy. If you're not careful, you'll be eroded by natural Chakra.""That's why I need your help.""I'll use my Sharingan to analyze your method and absorb a small amount, and you can help me dilute and balance it... and finally use it to nourish my eyes.""...Tsk." The Nine-Tailed snorted. "Doesn't that pair of eyes of yours have the ability to analyze? I'll tell you the method, and you can see for yourself.""Be careful. The Tailed Beast method is quite rough; your human body won't be able to handle it."Naruto's eyes quietly turned red, the three tomoe spinning and connecting into a Mangekyo—Omononushi activated, instantly digesting the information.He cautiously drew upon the surrounding natural energy, absorbing only a tiny wisp."It worked."Natural energy began to converge, slowly flowing into his body."Slow down!" The Nine-Tailed's voice suddenly turned serious. "Do you want to die, brat?"Naruto hurriedly slowed down.The next second, the Nine-Tailed's Chakra surged up, breaking apart that wisp of natural energy, and finally slowly merging it into Naruto's body.Three types of energy converged within his body—natural energy, Nine-Tailed Chakra, and Naruto's own Chakra."Success." Naruto opened his eyes, the Mangekyoin his pupils slowly rotating.He could feel it—the Mangekyo Sharingan seemed to have received some kind of nourishment, and the faint "hunger" it had felt was reduced by a fraction.The Nine-Tailed hummed: "With this amount, it'll take until the end of time to nourish it."Naruto grinned: "Then I'll just make it automated."Over the next few days, apart from spending time with Ino and Hinata, Naruto spent all his remaining time holed up in his apartment tinkering with Sealing Jutsu."First like this... hmm... then add a node here to balance it..." He chewed on his pen, sketching on the scroll.He attempted to carve a small sealing array on his body—the position chosen was on his chest, where it could just be covered by his clothes. The structure of the array consisted of three nested rings, corresponding to physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy respectively."Are you trying to get yourself killed?" The Nine-Tailed roared in the consciousness space, using its own Chakra to forcibly disperse the mass of natural energy."Sorry, sorry, I didn't control it well."Naruto wiped the cold sweat from his forehead."The natural energy absorbed by the sealing array is too much; it needs to be readjusted."Three days later, after adjustments to the sealing array, it was finally able to operate stably.The three powers flowed slowly within the seal, finally converging into his eyes."Heh." Naruto looked at his chest and couldn't help but laugh. "The Chakra perpetual motion machine is complete.""Let's call it... the Three-Pole Tuning Seal." He patted his chest. "Body, spirit, natural, and Nine-Tailed Chakra—the three poles in harmony." As everyone knows, it's perfectly normal for three poles to be four, just like how the Four Heavenly Kings have five members.The Nine-Tailed commented: "The name is alright. Luckily, you didn't inherit your father's talent for naming things. As for the effect... it's roughly equivalent to the Speed at which a Genin refines Chakra.""It's enough." Naruto was quite satisfied. "Slow and steady wins the race."Using natural energy and Tailed Beast Chakra to nourish a Mangekyo would piss off a whole bunch of Uchiha if they heard about it. Although the Mangekyo hadn't changed at all yet, he could feel a certain sense of "fullness."But pleasant surprises often come suddenly. While organizing discarded drafts, Naruto inadvertently saw a Sealing Jutsu structure in the manuscript."Huh?"He stared at it for a long time, then his eyes suddenly lit up."This... it seems like it could increase Chakrarefinement Speed?"The pages of the manuscript rustled as he flipped through them, the tip of his pen sliding rapidly across the paper. Naruto drew faster and faster, his thoughts flowing like a floodgate opening—if he removed the "natural energy" from the Three-Pole Tuning, and kept only the structure for physical and spiritual energy..."Woohoo, done."He looked at the final array, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrollably.This Sealing Jutsu could be carved onto a Ninja's body, assisting their own Chakra refinement like an auxiliary engine. The effect... it could probably increase refinement Speed by about two times.Simply put, it was like adding a "mana regeneration Speed buff" to a Ninja—it could increase Chakrarecovery Speed by about two times.Although it couldn't compare to the Strength of a Hundred Seal that Tsunade used to store up years of power for a single burst, this thing had a low barrier to entry. Any Ninja who had mastered basic Sealing Jutsu could learn it (I mean, how hard could it be? People can learn calculus, right?)—it could be popularized.Naruto stared at the dense manuscript, unable to stop himself from thinking: Who would have thought there would be such an unexpected bonus.Hmm, let's call it Speed, symbolizing rapid rhythm, constant circulation, and never running dry.Naruto put the scroll away and stretched, "Time to go out and move around."After being holed up doing research for several days, it was time to properly spend time with those two girls.The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, and the Konoha forest was quiet enough to hear the birds chirping. Hinata was indeed there.The young girl was wearing a white training outfit, practicing Gentle Fist against a wooden post.When Naruto approached, he keenly noticed something was wrong.Hinata's eyes... were red."Hinata—" Naruto called out, his voice softening."Wah!"Hinata was startled and her hand shook, almost missing her strike. She turned around in a panic, and when she saw it was Naruto, her face turned bright red in a "whoosh.""Na-, Naruto-kun!" She stood there at a loss, her fingers twisting together, "Why are you here..."Naruto tilted his head and took two steps closer."I came to play with you." His tone was innocent, but his eyes were fixed on Hinata's face. "But... why are your eyes red? Did you cry?""No, no!" Hinata hurriedly lowered her head, her voice getting smaller and smaller, "It's just... just that some sand got in my eyes earlier..."Yeah, right.Naruto rolled his eyes internally. Where would there be sand in this forest? Besides, her eyes were still watery.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteChapter 23: Engraving the Sealing JutsuChapter 23: Engraving the Sealing JutsuNaruto didn't say a word as he stepped forward, opened his arms, and gently pulled Hinata into an embrace."Oh my," he said, his voice softening, "who upset our Hinata?"Hinata stiffened for a moment, the tips of her ears turning bright red instantly, but she didn't push him away; instead, she buried her face deeper into his shoulder."N-no...""Is it because of your father?"The little head in his arms shook, her hair tickling his chin."Because of the Gentle Fist?"Hinata's body trembled slightly, and it took a few seconds before she gave a very quiet "Mm.""I thought so." Naruto understood, patting her back gently, "Is your father dissatisfied with your Gentle Fist training?"Hinata looked up, her eyes reddening again, fingers clutching his clothes, her voice growing smaller and smaller: "Yesterday afternoon... Father made me spar with Neji..."She paused and sniffled: "Neji defeated me so easily... I lost too quickly... Father, he..."She didn't finish the sentence, but Narutounderstood.He sighed, pulled back slightly, and cupped Hinata's face in his hands—the young girl's eyes were red, and her eyelashes were still damp."Hinata is too kind," Naruto said, wiping the corner of her eye with his thumb, "always worried about hurting others."That old fox Hiashi probably wasn't complaining that Hinata was weak—he had already been secretly using the Nine-Tailed's Chakra to nourish the girl's body for over a year, and now Hinata's Chakra reserves were at the level of a Genin.The convenient father-in-law was likely disappointed because he felt his daughter had the strength, yet lost without any strategy because her personality was too soft."B-but—""Being kind is your greatest strength." Narutosmiled, touching his forehead gently against hers, "In the future, Hinata will become super strong, so strong that even I will need you to protect me."Hinata's eyes brightened, and she asked softly: "Really? I... I can... I can protect Naruto-kun?""Of course." Naruto released her and formed hand seals, creating four Shadow Clones with a "poof."One clone waved at Hinata: "Come on, I'll be your sparring partner."The other three Shadow Clones ran to an open space nearby and began to form blue spheres of Chakra in their hands—the Rasengan hadn't fully formed yet, looking as if they were struggling with the practice.Suddenly, a feeling of being watched washed over him; Naruto remained calm and continued practicing.Heh, the old Third Hokage was definitely spying with his crystal ball. He must have grown suspicious because I've been holed up in my room working on Sealing Jutsu these past few days.For the rest of the time, the Shadow Clone only used Taijutsu to spar with Hinata, intentionally leaving openings each time to guide her to counterattack.Hinata went from being timid at the start to finally daring to attack."Yes! That's it!"Naruto's original body sat under a tree nearby, watching Hinata's eyes gradually light up, while pondering another matter.Speed... needs to be engraved on Hinata to increase her Chakra extraction Speed, shorten her growth time, and perhaps spare her some of the scorn from the Byakugan, maybe even helping her awaken the Tenseigan in the future.By evening, the two stopped their training."Hungry?" Naruto took Hinata's hand, "Let's go eat."He took Hinata to Ichiraku Ramen and had a simple bowl of ramen—throughout the meal, Hinata kept blushing and stealing glances at him, poking at her noodles without taking many bites.After eating, Naruto didn't walk her back to the Hyuga compound as he usually did."Hinata, come with me for a moment." He took her hand and walked toward his apartment."W-where are we going?""To my place." Naruto looked back and smiled at her, "I have something good to show you."The young girl blushed again, but gave a soft "Mm."Naruto took out the scroll for Speed and spread it out in front of Hinata."This is something I've been researching recently." He pointed to the complex runes, "It's called Speed. If this seal is engraved on your body, your Chakra extraction Speed can increase by about two times."Hinata's eyes widened."Naruto-kun... that's amazing..." Her voice was soft, and she lowered her head again, "I... I can't do anything...""What are you saying?" Naruto reached out and ruffled her hair, "Hinata is Hinata, the one and only Hinata."He crouched down, looked up into her eyes, and said with complete sincerity: "I wasn't lying to you this afternoon; in the future, I really might need Hinata to protect me."Hinata's face turned bright red, her fingers clutching her clothes tightly, and it took several seconds before she whispered: "...Mm.""Shall we begin?" Naruto raised the scroll."O-okay!"Naruto smiled, took her hand, and led her into the bedroom."This seal needs to be engraved on your back." He said as he went to get the special sealing ink, "So Hinata, you'll need to take off your top..."Before he could finish his sentence.Hinata froze, her face turning from pink to deep red at a visible Speed, and a large puff of steam erupted from the top of her head—Then, her eyes rolled back, and she fell backward stiffly.Naruto scrambled to catch her, looking at the fainted steam princess in his arms, stunned for two seconds before he couldn't help but laugh out loud.After gently placing the fainted steam princess on the bed, he turned to prepare the materials needed for the sealing engraving....Once everything was ready, Naruto sat on a chair, looking at Hinata, who hadn't woken up yet, and pondered to himself.The future plot will definitely change because of me. Genji, the rice-carrier, the dance king, the Ōtsutsuki... these guys are more troublesome than the last.Both Hinata and Ino need to increase their strength as soon as possible. Hinata is easy; I've already got her convenient father-in-law under my thumb.But the Yamanaka Clan... although Ino's parents have tacitly accepted my closeness with Ino, the Ino–Shika–Chō is, after all, too close to the Sarutobi Clan.I need to have Ino keep it a secret from her family for now.He shook off his thoughts and stood up, walking to the bedside.Hinata was still unconscious, breathing evenly, her little face flushed.Naruto reached out and gently touched her face, then leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the forehead."..."Hinata's eyelashes fluttered.Her face turned even redder, but she didn't open her eyes.Naruto chuckled: "The Ninja World is very dangerous; both Hinata and Ino need to strengthen their abilities—if Hinata doesn't want to for now, should I engrave this seal on Ino first?""..."The person on the bed opened her eyes abruptly.Although her face was red enough to bleed, Hinataforced herself to sit up, her fingers clutching her clothes tightly."W-wait..."Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzzing.Naruto raised an eyebrow.Hinata kept her head down, and after a while, she stuttered out: "Naruto-kun... could you... turn around...""Sure." Naruto turned around cooperatively, "Do you need me to close the curtains?""...Mm."The curtains were drawn, and the room grew dark.Naruto stood with his back to Hinata, hearing the rustling sounds behind him—very light, very slow, and accompanied by obvious trembling.This girl...The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Chapter 24: Invitation to BattleThe bedroom was so quiet that one could hear the sound of breathing.Hinata lay prone on the bed, her cheeks buried in the pillow, her nose twitching slightly—a faint scent belonging to Naruto lingered on the pillow.Her entire face turned beet red instantly, and even her neck was stained pink."Hinata?" Naruto's voice came from behind her. "I'm going to start now.""O-Okay..."His fingers lightly tapped her smooth back."!"Hinata's body shuddered violently; a "poof" of steam erupted from the top of her head, and her eyes rolled back as she fainted again....Naruto's hand froze in mid-air, and the corner of his mouth twitched.Tsk.He stared at the unconscious girl for two seconds and couldn't help but laugh out loud. "It's been so long, and this girl is still so easily embarrassed."His fingertips, dipped in special ink, began to slowly outline runes.Occasional slight ripples of Chakra seeped from his fingertips, ensuring the seal would perfectly merge into the skin—after all, it was his first time inscribing it on someone else, so he had to be careful.Hinata didn't wake up throughout the entire process, though her breathing would occasionally quicken, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the sheets.Naruto would occasionally glance at her flushed profile.This "Steam Princess" attribute is too exaggerated. If in the future... Forget it, let's not think about that for now.Twenty minutes later, the final stroke was completed.Complex blue patterns glowed faintly on Hinata's back before slowly sinking into her skin, leaving only faint traces."Done." Naruto wiped his hands.He pulled over the quilt and gently covered Hinata, even tucking in the corners. His movements were as practiced as if he had done it countless times—though it was indeed his first.He took one last look before leaving.The little girl on the bed was curled into a ball, her face rosy, and her eyelashes trembling slightly.Naruto smiled and quietly closed the door.In the living room.Naruto sat cross-legged on the floor organizing scrolls, but his ears were constantly listening for movement in the bedroom—about half an hour later, a rustling sound came from inside.*Click.*The door opened a crack.Hinata poked half her head out from behind the door, her face so red it looked like it could bleed, her eyes darting around, not daring to look at him."Na-Naruto-kun...""You're awake?" Naruto stood up and walked over.Hinata "whooshed" back behind the door. It took a few seconds for her to slowly shuffle out—her steps slower than a tortoise's, looking back every three steps, as if ready to flee back into the bedroom at any moment.Naruto reached out and hugged her directly."!"Hinata froze completely, her hands not knowing where to go."Still shy?" Naruto's voice was very soft as his palm gently patted her back. "The seal is finished. From now on, Hinata will be able to refine Chakra much faster."The head in his arms nodded, her hair tickling his chin.After a few seconds, Hinata whispered, "Th-Thank you, Naruto-kun...""Don't be so polite with me." Naruto pulled back a bit and took her hand. "Come on, I'll walk you back."The streets of Konoha were very quiet in the evening.The two walked side by side. Hinata kept tugging at the hem of her clothes, occasionally stealing a glance at Naruto before quickly looking down, her face never losing its flush.Naruto, on the other hand, looked perfectly calm and was even in the mood to hum a song.As they neared the Hyuga Clan's main gate, he suddenly remembered something and spoke up. "By the way, Hinata, where does Neji usually practice?"Hinata's steps faltered."N-Neji-niisan?" Her voice suddenly became tense. "Naruto-kun, why are you looking for him...""Nothing, I just want to go say hello," Naruto said in a relaxed tone. "He is your brother, after all."Hinata's fingers twisted together. She hesitated for a long while before whispering, "Naruto-kun... will you get into a conflict with Neji-niisan?"She looked up, her eyes watery. "About yesterday... Neji-niisan didn't mean it, he just...""Don't worry." Naruto reached out and gently rubbed her hair. "Neji is your brother, after all. I know where to draw the line."After all, in the original story, Neji was quite good to Hinata after the Chunin Exams, and he even blocked a "blade" for her in the end. Narutowouldn't be too harsh.Hinata stared at him for a few seconds before finally nodding obediently. "Then... I'll take you there."The Hyuga Branch House area was much quieter than the Main House area.The two crossed several corridors and could hear the "thump, thump, thump" of striking sounds from afar—in a corner of the courtyard, Neji was practicing Gentle Fist against a wooden post.His movements were clean and sharp, every palm strike landing precisely on the acupuncture points marked on the wooden post."Neji-niisan..." Hinata called out softly.Neji didn't stop his movements until he finished the set. When he turned around and saw Naruto, his brow furrowed slightly."Uzumaki Naruto," he said coldly. "What are you doing here?""Just to say hello," Naruto said with a smile. "And... I'd like to spar with you."Neji stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly sneered. "Seeking revenge for Lady Hinata?""You were just sparring; you didn't hurt her." Naruto shrugged, his tone still relaxed. "But she cried very sadly yesterday—as her boyfriend, I have to have a fair match with you, right?"Hinata's face turned red again beside him.Neji was silent for a moment before turning back to the wooden post. "Whatever."He tilted his head, his peripheral vision sweeping toward Naruto, the veins around his Byakuganbulging slightly. "However, I advise you to give up. My eyes have already seen—the conclusion of your failure."Heh, your Hyuga Byakugan is indeed powerful for scouting, but before it evolves into the Tenseigan, don't you know how lackluster your combat power is?On the surface, Naruto just blinked. "That powerful?"Neji ignored him and turned to Hinata instead. "It's precisely because you're obsessed with beauty all day that you've become so weak."...That's going a bit too far.Hinata's body trembled, and she lowered her head."Hey—" Naruto took a step forward to shield her, his smile unchanged. "You know Hinata's strength. She only lost to you because she's too gentle and kind."He paused, his tone suddenly becoming serious. "Talk is cheap. How about we meet tomorrow morning at Konoha's Training Ground 7?"Neji finally turned around.His Byakugan stared coldly at Naruto. After a long while, he spat out a single word: "Fine.""Then it's settled." Naruto took Hinata's hand and turned to leave. "See you tomorrow, Neji—onii-chan."He dragged out those last two words.As they left the courtyard, Hinata asked softly, "Naruto-kun... are you really going to spar with Neji-niisan?""Mm-hmm." Naruto squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."This wasn't just comfort—the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist targets acupuncture points, but against a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki + Uzumaki physique + Mangekyo Sharingan... Tsk, it was like trying to pierce a city wall with an embroidery needle.He looked back toward the Branch House courtyard.Neji had already resumed practicing Gentle Fist, his movements more forceful than before, but every strike carried a hint of suppression.Naruto withdrew his gaze.Caged Bird, huh...By the time he walked Hinata to her door, it was almost dark."See you tomorrow." Naruto waved to her.Hinata stood by the door, tugging at the hem of her clothes. She hesitated for a few seconds before suddenly whispering, "Naruto-kun... good luck..."After saying that, she ran inside with a red face.Naruto was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.This girl...He turned and walked toward his apartment, already planning how to "spar" tomorrow—he needed to make Neji realize the gap in strength without revealing too much.After all, the old man Third Hokage's crystal ballwould likely be aimed at Training Ground 7tomorrow as well.Tsk.Troublesome.
Chapter 25: The Duel"Naruto—"When Ino pulled Hinata by the hand into the training ground, Shikamaru was sauntering slowly behind, yawning, while Choji walked along eating from a bag of potato chips."Huh? So early?" Naruto blinked. "Why did you all come here?""Of course we're here to watch you fight!" Ino said, hands on her hips. "I heard from Hinata that you were going to spar with Neji—"Behind her followed a helpless-looking Shikamaruand Choji, clutching his bag of chips."What a drag..." Shikamaru yawned. "Making me come to watch some spar...""This is Naruto's duel!" Ino said with her hands on her hips. "You lazybones!"As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of footsteps came from afar, "thump, thump, thump."Tenten poked her head out from the adjacent training ground, and upon seeing the group, her eyes lit up as she ran over. "Huh? Why are you all gathered here?"She was wearing a pink Chinese-style jacket with her hair tied into two buns, and she blinked curiously after running up.Ino answered first, "Naruto is going to spar with Hyuga Neji!""Eh?!" Tenten's eyes instantly brightened, and she clapped excitedly. "I want to watch too! Neji is the strongest in our grade!"Naruto stood in the center of the field, watching the crowd grow, his face still wearing an innocent and bright smile.He was speechless inside. *Well, this has turned into a small exhibition match; the old man Hiruzen is probably watching it point-blank with his crystal ball.*Neji stood opposite him with his arms crossed, his brows furrowed deeply."Can we start?" His voice was cold, revealing clear impatience.Naruto shrugged and stepped forward. "Alright, alright, let's start."The two stood facing each other, simultaneously raising their right hands to form the Sign of Confrontation."Please advise me," Naruto said with a smile.Neji didn't reply, simply assuming the starting stance of the Gentle Fist, the veins around his Byakugan instantly bulging.The next second, he kicked off the ground and charged over!"Bang! Bang, bang!"The sound of their fists and kicks colliding exploded densely throughout the training ground.Neji's movements were fast enough to leave afterimages, his fingers precisely poking at Naruto's pressure points.But every time a finger struck, it felt like poking into highly resilient rubber—the Chakra at his fingertips was instantly dispersed by a more massive force as soon as it penetrated.Neji's movements paused imperceptibly.This was the natural advantage of a Jinchuriki.The Hyuga Clan's pressure point strikes were fatal to ordinary Ninja, but against Uzumaki Naruto, who had a Tailed Beast sealed within him, it was like trying to poke a rushing river with an embroidery needle—the tip would be washed away without a trace the moment it entered.After blocking a few moves, Naruto seized the opportunity to leap backward and create some distance.He reached into his Ninja tool pouch and threw dozens of Kunai and shuriken at Neji.Neji swept his Byakugan across and dodged easily. Just as he was about to pursue, golden chains suddenly burst from the ground!"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"Three chains locked his movement in a triangular formation. Neji retreated rapidly, and just as he dodged the chains, one of the Kunai that had fallen to the ground earlier went "poof" and turned into a Shadow Clone of Naruto—The Shadow Clone reached out with a grin and lightly tapped Neji on the shoulder."Gotcha."Neji's body instantly froze."What is that?!" Tenten exclaimed from the sidelines.Hinata and Ino on the sidelines simultaneously covered their mouths with an "ah."Naruto's original body also stopped immediately, and the golden chains retracted into his body. He walked up to Neji, tilted his head, and smiled. "That's enough, right?"Neji remained in his leaning-back posture, the veins around his Byakugan slowly fading. He stared at Naruto for several seconds before slowly straightening up."I... lost."His voice was so dry it didn't sound like his own.Inside the Hokage Office, the image on the crystal ball gradually blurred.Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew his Chakra and picked up his pipe, taking a deep puff.As expected, the Hyuga's Gentle Fist had limited effect on a Jinchuriki... But that child Naruto was using the Adamantine Sealing Chains with increasing proficiency.He glanced at the pile of documents on his desk, shook his head, and pushed the crystal ball aside. Since the Tailed Beast seal was stable, there was no need to continue paying attention to such children's sparring.The sidelines of the training ground had already exploded into chaos."He won! He won!" Ino cheered, jumping up, her blonde ponytail tracing an arc in the air.Hinata's face was flushed red as she whispered, "Naruto-kun... is so amazing..."She twisted the corner of her clothes with her fingers, her eyes sparkling, happier than if she had won herself.Shikamaru leaned against a tree trunk, lazily squinting his eyes.He won way too easily... What kind of technique were those golden chains? I've never seen them before.Plus, Neji's pressure point strikes clearly landed, yet Naruto didn't react at all.What a drag. This guy is definitely hiding a lot."Naruto is so amazing!" Choji chomped on his potato chips, sighing indistinctly, "I didn't even see what happened before it was over!"Tenten's eyes were so bright they could serve as lightbulbs. She ran to the edge of the field, "thump, thump, thump," and gave Naruto a thumbs up. "That was so cool! What kind of Ninjutsu was that golden chain? So amazing!"Naruto blinked at Tenten, didn't answer, and just walked smilingly to Neji, extending his right hand.Neji stared at that hand for several seconds before slowly raising his hand to form the Sign of Reconciliation.His face was pale, his lips pressed tightly together—if that tap just now had been a real battle, he would have been dead."Don't be discouraged." Naruto patted his shoulder, his tone relaxed. "I spend time with Hinata every day, so I know a bit about the Byakugan's abilities. You only lost because you didn't know my intel."Neji lowered his head and didn't speak.Naruto didn't mind, turning to grin at the others. "Let's have a picnic for lunch today, shall we? We can go into the forest to pick some wild vegetables and mushrooms, and catch some fish and wild boar. How about it?""A picnic?" Ino's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes!""What a drag..." Shikamaru muttered, but he had already straightened up.Choji swallowed his saliva. "Is, is there grilled meat?""Of course." Naruto hooked his arm around Neji's shoulder—the latter's body stiffened, but he didn't pull away. "Neji, you'll come too?""..."Neji didn't speak.Tenten raised her hand excitedly. "I want to go too! I know where the freshest mushrooms are!"A few of the children chattered away, discussing which direction to head in.Naruto took advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was scattered to tilt his head slightly and lean into Neji's ear.He said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "When you have time, go to the Konoha library and take a good look at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge during the Third Great Ninja War."Neji's body trembled, and he whipped his head around to look at Naruto.Naruto had already smilingly released him and turned to join the discussion about "whether to pick mushrooms first or catch fish first."With his back to Neji, his blue eyes were crystal clear in the sunlight, as if the hint just now had been nothing more than casual small talk.But Neji stood where he was, watching Naruto's back, his fingers clenching unconsciously.Kannabi Bridge... What exactly happened in that battle?
lite"Over here! Over here!" Ino hopped and skipped in the lead, her blonde ponytail swaying. "Tenten said the mushrooms here are the freshest!"When the three little girls ducked into the woods, they were like three chirping sparrows.Tenten walked in the middle, her two buns swaying gently with her movements. Her eyes scanned the ground, and she quickly crouched down, pointing to a cluster of small brown umbrellas: "Look! These are edible!"Hinata followed behind her, carefully pushing aside the grass with her small hands. Her movements were very light, and every time she picked a mushroom, she would carefully check the Roots, her cheeks still flushed with a lingering blush."Wow! Hinata, you're amazing!" Ino leaned over, looking at the neatly stacked mushrooms in Hinata's basket. "You've picked so many more than me!""N-no..." Hinata lowered her head and twisted the corner of her shirt. "I was just... a bit more careful..."Tenten stood up, clapped her hands, and put her hands on her hips, saying triumphantly: "I know more than just mushrooms! There's also... Hey Ino, don't run around! Watch out for poison ivy!"Ino had already run ahead.The activity on the other side of the woods was much greater.Shikamaru leaned against a tree, eyes half-closed as he observed the clearing ahead: "Choji, behind that crooked tree on the left. Neji, your Byakugancan see the wild boar's movement path, right?"Neji nodded silently, veins bulging at the corners of his eyes.Thirty meters away, an adult wild boar was digging at tree Roots with its tusks—it was twice the size of an ordinary wild boar, and the bristles on its back were as hard as steel needles.The bag of potato chips in Choji's hand almost fell to the ground: "S-so big...""What a drag..." Shikamaru yawned."Shadow Clone Technique."Two Narutos flanked from the left and right, deliberately stepping on branches to make noise. The wild boar suddenly raised its head, white gas spraying from its nostrils, and with a kick of its hind hooves, it charged toward the clones!The ground was shaking.Choji darted out from the side, his right hand instantly expanding: "Partial Multi-Size Technique!"Boom!The huge palm landed solidly on the wild boar's flank. The beast was knocked staggering two steps, then turned to charge at Choji."Now." Shikamaru's main body formed hand seals, his shadow rapidly extending across the ground. "Shadow Possession Technique—Success!"The wild boar's forward charge froze instantly.Neji leaped down from the tree, his Byakuganlocking onto the acupoint on top of the wild boar's head, his fingers pressed together, concentrating Chakra: "Gentle Fist!"Pfft.Chakra was precisely injected into the wild boar's head.The wild boar collapsed to the ground without even a grunt, only its limbs still twitching slightly.Only then did Naruto walk out from behind the tree, holding a Kunai he hadn't thrown: "Wow, that was a beautiful coordination."The whole process took less than a minute.Shikamaru retracted his shadow, beads of sweat seeping from his forehead: "Phew... I almost ran out of Chakra.""After all, it's a wild animal that can survive around Konoha." Naruto crouched down to examine the wild boar's carcass, tapping his finger on its tusks, "So hard—Choji, did your hand hurt from that hit just now?"Choji shook his hand, which had returned to its normal size: "A little... but it's fine!"Neji stood nearby without speaking, just staring at his own hand.Naruto clapped his hands and stood up: "Alright, let's move this guy back first—Shadow Clone Technique!"Poof, poof, poof!Two Shadow Clones appeared with grins, and together with the previous clones, they carried the wild boar's front and hind legs in pairs and walked toward the camp.By the riverbank."Fishing?" Choji blinked. "Wouldn't it be easier to just stab them with a Kunai?"Naruto's main body pulled a fishing net from his sealing scroll and tossed it to a Shadow Clone: "That's too wasteful, and the blood would pollute the river water—watch closely."The Shadow Clone took the fishing net and walked directly to the center of the river, stepping on the water surface."Eh?!" Choji's eyes widened, "H-he's standing on the water!""An advanced Chakra control technique." Narutosaid with a smile, "Concentrate Chakra on the soles of your feet. You can start by practicing tree climbing, and try walking on water once you succeed."As he spoke, he walked to a large tree, Chakraadhering to the soles of his feet, easily walking vertically up the trunk. He hung upside down five meters up and waved.Plop.He was like glue stuck to the tree, walking vertically up steadily until he reached a branch five or six meters off the ground, then turned and walked back down.Neji walked forward almost immediately.He imitated Naruto's movements, concentrating Chakra on the soles of his feet and stepping onto the trunk—the first step was steady, but on the second step, the Chakra suddenly lost control, and he fell down with a plop."Pfft." Choji couldn't help but laugh, and went to try it himself.As a result, he fell even worse after taking two steps, landing on his butt, even dropping his bag of potato chips.Naruto crouched down and drew a simple diagram on the ground with a twig: "It's not that more Chakra is better; you need to cover the soles of your feet evenly like applying glue—if it's too much, you'll sink in; if it's too little, you'll fall off."He actually remembered this from watching anime in his previous life. Once tree climbing and water walking are mastered, learning any high-level Ninjutsu in the future will be twice the result with half the effort.Shikamaru stared at the diagram for a few seconds, then walked slowly to another tree.He tried very cautiously, pausing for two seconds with every step. By the time he reached about three meters off the ground, beads of sweat had already appeared on his forehead, and his Chakrawas clearly beginning to become unstable."You're almost there." Naruto called out, looking up.As soon as he finished speaking, Shikamaru's foot slipped, and he fell into a pile of soft fallen leaves with a "thud.""What a drag..." He lay on the leaves, not wanting to get up. "My Chakra capacity isn't enough; I can't maintain it for long."Neji had already started trying again. This time he walked even slower, his Byakugan fully activated, staring intently at the flow of Chakra on the soles of his feet.When he walked to a height of four meters, he stopped.He didn't fall, but stood steadily on the side of the tree trunk. Although his breathing was a bit rapid, he had indeed succeeded."Wow!" Choji looked up, forgetting to even eat his potato chips."What are you guys doing?"When Ino's voice came from the woods, the three little girls had already returned, carrying two baskets full of wild vegetables and mushrooms.Tenten was the first to see Neji on the tree trunk, her eyes widening instantly: "Neji! What are you doing on the tree?""Trying out tree climbing!" Ino put down the basket and ran to the tree.She tried three times—the first time she fell, the second time she walked halfway, and the third time she walked steadily to Neji's side, triumphantly waving at Hinata below: "Hinata! It's super simple!"Hinata nodded with a blushing face and chose a tree as well.She was steadier than Ino. She fell after walking two meters high the first time. After adjusting her Chakra distribution, she successfully walked to the branch fork on the third try.Tenten stood in front of the tree she had chosen, biting her lip.She tried four times, but every time she walked more than a meter high, she would lose control and fall.Seeing that Ino and Hinata had both succeeded, she tugged at the corner of her clothes unconsciously, her buns drooping a little.Naruto and Neji were processing ingredients in the clearing nearby.The wild boar was neatly skinned and butchered by the Shadow Clones, and large pieces of ribs and leg meat were skewered with sharpened wooden sticks.The fish were also cleaned, the internal organs buried in the soil, and the fish meat was scored a few times, ready for grilling.Naruto took things out of the sealing scroll—salt, pepper, wild honey, and even a small jar of chili powder."Do you carry these around with you usually?" Nejicouldn't help but ask."Better safe than sorry." Naruto grinned and set up a simple grill, rubbing his fingers to light the campfire.This was probably the willfulness of a transmigrator; after all, the sealing scroll had a large space and was convenient to carry.The flames licked the meat, and the grease dripping into the fire made a "sizzling" sound. Naruto turned the skewers from time to time, his movements so skilled that he didn't look like a six-year-old child.The only gain from his life as a single dog in his previous life was probably this decent cooking skill.In another stone pot, fresh fish soup was boiling, with chopped wild vegetables and mushrooms rolling in the milky white soup, and the fragrance had already drifted out."So fragrant..." Choji crouched by the pot, sniffing hard.Tenten also came over, her previous disappointment diluted by the fragrance: "This soup looks so delicious!"Naruto took out bowls and chopsticks from the scroll and waved at Hinata and Ino: "Hinata, Ino—come help wash the bowls and chopsticks!"The two little girls immediately jumped down from the tree and ran over to take the tableware.Hinata crouched by the river, washing carefully with a blushing face, while Ino peeked at the pot while washing.Neji set up the last few skewers of meat, wiped his hands, and subconsciously looked at Shikamaru.That troublesome guy was actually still resting with his eyes closed, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised—obviously, he was also looking forward to this meal.The charred aroma of the barbecue mixed with the fresh sweetness of the fish soup permeated the forest clearing.Naruto clapped his hands and grinned at everyone:"Time to eat—"
Chapter 27: Sealing Jutsu"Dinner is served!"No sooner had Uzumaki Naruto finished speaking than Akimichi Choji grabbed a skewer of grilled ribs and stuffed it into his mouth."Hot, hot, hot!" he cried out indistinctly, waving his hands about in a panic, but after chewing twice, his eyes lit up. "Delicious!"Nara Shikamaru walked over slowly, took the bowl Uzumaki Naruto handed him, and crouched by the campfire to sip his fish soup.After a couple of sips, his eyelids began to droop. "I want to sleep after eating... What a drag."Hyuga Neji sat a little further away, took the grilled meat skewer Uzumaki Naruto handed him, and nodded stiffly.He lowered his head to take a bite, chewing slowly, but when he reached for the second skewer, his movements were noticeably more natural."Naruto-kun..." Hyuga Hinata, holding her bowl, sat to Uzumaki Naruto's left, her face as red as a freshly baked tomato.Uzumaki Naruto picked up a piece of golden-brown roasted leg meat and placed it in her bowl, saying with a smile, "You need to eat more to get stronger."Hyuga Hinata let out an "Mm" and began to eat in small bites, her eyelashes lowered, not daring to look up.Someone suddenly squeezed in on his right."Naruto-kun likes the soup I serve best, right?" InoYamanaka held a bowl brimming with fish soup, shaking it triumphantly, her blonde ponytail nearly brushing Uzumaki Naruto's face. "I specifically picked out the part with the most fish!"She shoved the soup bowl into Uzumaki Naruto's hands, sat down on his right, and deliberately scooted closer to the middle.Uzumaki Naruto held the soup in his left hand and used his right to pick up a mushroom for HyugaHinata. "Thanks, Ino. Hinata, try this too, the mushrooms are very fresh."Ino Yamanaka puffed out her cheeks, but seeing Hyuga Hinata blushing and whispering her thanks, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.She simply picked up a piece of grilled meat and put it into Hyuga Hinata's bowl. "Eat more, Hinata! Being too thin won't do!"The two young girls exchanged food, the atmosphere sweet.Tenten sat opposite them, holding her bowl, blinking as she watched the scene, and muttered softly, "They get along so well..."She took a bite of grilled meat, then suddenly looked up as if recalling something. "By the way, have you heard about what happened to the Village Hidden in the Grass?"Nara Shikamaru lazily grunted an "Mm."Akimichi Choji nodded while chewing his meat. "Already heard."Hyuga Neji paused, but didn't speak."Eh?!" Tenten widened her eyes. "You all knew? Am I the only one who didn't?"Uzumaki Naruto took a sip of soup and replied casually, "After all, Konoha is very'safe'."Tenten was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "That's right! Our Konoha is the safest!"She frowned again, biting her chopsticks and murmuring, "But to make a Ninja village disappear overnight... just how strong are those Ninjas..."Her voice gradually lowered, and her buns drooped slightly.The fact that this news is only spreading now means the major Ninja villages won't be fighting each other after all.Tenten stared blankly at the campfire for a while, then suddenly let out an "Ah" as if remembering something.She looked at Uzumaki Naruto, her eyes brightening. "Right! That golden chain from earlier—"Halfway through, she abruptly covered her mouth, her face turning bright red."S-sorry!" Tenten waved her hands in a panic. "I shouldn't pry into someone else's Ninjutsu intel... I was just curious for a moment..."Uzumaki Naruto waved his hand, his tone relaxed. "It's fine. That's a secret technique of the Uzumaki Clan, Adamantine Sealing Chains."He took a bite of grilled meat and said while chewing, "It can seal and suppress an opponent's Chakra. You could say it's a type of Sealing Jutsuapplication.""So amazing..." Tenten sighed softly.The area around the campfire fell silent for a few seconds.Nara Shikamaru paused his soup-sipping, his eyes narrowing into slits.Akimichi Choji slowed his chewing, his ears perking up.Ino Yamanaka and Hyuga Hinata already knew, but they still listened attentively.Hyuga Neji's fingers, which were gripping the bamboo skewer, loosened.So that was it... It wasn't that he was too weak.After digesting this, Tenten's eyes brightened even more. "So, Naruto, do you want to specialize in Sealing Jutsu in the future?""I suppose so." Uzumaki Naruto wiped his hands and tilted his head to look at her. "What about you, Tenten? Have you decided what path you want to develop in?""Me?" Tenten puffed out her chest, her voice clear. "I want to be the strongest Ninja Tool user!"Uzumaki Naruto blinked. "Pure Ninja Tools? Isn't that offensive style a bit too one-dimensional?""Eh?""For example—" Uzumaki Naruto casually picked up a twig and drew a rough sketch of a Kunai on the ground. "If you carve a micro-Summoning Jutsu formula onto the Ninja Tool, the moment the enemy blocks the Kunai, bang!"He made an explosion gesture."Chili powder, explosive tags, or even a giant iron ball summoned directly onto their face."Tenten's mouth fell open, her eyes widening.She imagined the scene and jumped up in excitement. "Right! That's it! How did I not think of that—"Tenten's excited words came to an abrupt halt.She slowly sat back down, her shoulders slumping, her buns drooping. "But... I don't know Summoning Jutsu, let alone how to carve a formula onto a Kunai..."Uzumaki Naruto shrugged. "Summoning Jutsu isn't a forbidden technique. You can ask your family or wait until you graduate from the Ninja Academy and ask your Jonin squad leader. As for Sealing Jutsu, I'm familiar with that."He counted on his fingers. "Using Sealing Jutsu to fix a Summoning formula onto a Ninja Tool is like installing a 'trigger' on a Kunai. As soon as an enemy touches it, or a certain condition is met—""It can be activated!" Tenten interjected, but immediately frowned. "But isn't knowledge of Sealing Jutsu... passed down within Ninja clans? It's not allowed to be taught to outsiders, right?"Uzumaki Naruto grinned and pointed at himself."I am the clan leader of the Uzumaki Clan now.""I make the rules."The area around the campfire was silent for a moment.Uzumaki Naruto clapped his hands, his voice crisp. "Anyway, I can teach anyone who wants to learn the basics of Sealing Jutsu."Nara Shikamaru was the first to react, yawning. "Clan secret techniques are already troublesome enough... Sealing Jutsu sounds even more troublesome."Akimichi Choji nodded from the side, his mouth stuffed with meat. "Mm-hmm!"Hyuga Neji set down his bowl and chopsticks, his movements very light. He stared at the fire for two seconds, his lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing.Learn? Not learn? Being from the Hyuga Branch Family, if he learned it, would it give the Main Family an excuse? For example: 'Are you trying to break the Caged Bird seal?'Uzumaki Naruto took in everyone's reactions, his smile unchanged.He paused and added, "You wouldn't be able to learn the advanced stuff right now anyway."Tenten was the first to raise her hand, her eyes shining like two little lightbulbs. "I want to learn!"Ino Yamanaka was not to be outdone. "Me too!"Hyuga Hinata said softly, blushing. "I-I want to as well..."Uzumaki Naruto nodded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the others.Nara Shikamaru was already leaning against a tree, nearly asleep; Akimichi Choji was focused on battling his grilled meat; and Hyuga Neji... was still staring blankly at the campfire.Uzumaki Naruto didn't rush them; he just stood up and stretched."In that case, I'll organize some Sealing Jutsumaterials during this time, and teach you once a week. You'll need time to digest it afterwards."
Chapter 28: Secret Talks and PromisesThe campfire gradually dimmed, and Shikamaru, leaning against a tree trunk, was nearly asleep.His eyelids drooped, occasionally letting out a small yawn, while his fingers absently fiddled with the fallen leaves on the ground."So troublesome... I ate too much... feeling a bit bloated..."Choji sat cross-legged nearby, focused on gnawing on the last few skewers of grilled meat.His cheeks were stuffed full, and his eyes darted toward the remaining fish soup in the pot from time to time, completely unconcerned with anything else.Neji sat under a tree a bit further away, his back straight as a board.He didn't look at anyone, just quietly stared at his own outstretched palms, occasionally lifting his eyes to scan Shikamaru and Choji, then quickly shifting his gaze away.Being with peers outside the Branch and Main Families—this feeling was very strange to him."Let's go wash the dishes!"Ino was the first to jump up, nimbly starting to pack up the dishes and chopsticks.Hinata and Tenten quickly followed, the three young girls carrying the mountain of tableware toward the river.Naruto stood up and waved at Ino."Ino, come here for a second.""Hm?" Ino turned her head, her golden ponytail swinging in an arc.Naruto tilted his head toward the tree behind them; Tenten and Hinata had already walked to the riverbank and crouched down.Ino blinked, trotted over, her face full of curiosity: "What is it, Naruto-kun?"The two walked behind a thick, sturdy tree.Naruto lowered his voice: "I recently developed a Sealing Jutsu called Speed—it can increase Chakrarefinement Speed, roughly doubling it." He paused, "Do you want one carved on your back?""Eh?!" Ino's face turned bright red, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, "On, on my back..."She suddenly thought of something, looked up, and stared at Naruto: "Hinata... has she already had one carved?""Yeah, I just carved it yesterday.""Yesterday?!" Ino's cheeks immediately puffed up, her mouth pouting enough to hang an oil bottle on it, "Naruto-kun, you're biased!"Naruto couldn't help but laugh out loud, reached out to rub her golden hair, and leaned down to kiss her forehead gently."You are both equally important in my heart."Ino's face flushed like a ripe apple; she looked down at her toes, which were unconsciously drawing circles on the ground. After several seconds, she muttered softly: "...Then I want one too.""Alright, but keep it a secret. If your family asks, tell the truth; if they don't, don't mention it for now.""Mm, I understand!" Ino nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.She turned and ran toward the river, her footsteps as light as a fawn.The sound of the river flowed noisily by the bank.Hinata was crouching by a rock, earnestly washing the dishes and chopsticks, her movements so gentle she was afraid of breaking something.Tenten was humming an off-key tune while washing dishes beside her, her buns swaying gently with the rhythm.Ino sidled up to Hinata and nudged her gently with her elbow."Hinata-chan," she lowered her voice, her eyes sparkling, "Did you 'do that' with Narutoyesterday?"The bowl in Hinata's hands dropped into the river with a 'plop'.She froze as if struck by lightning, her face turning red from her neck to her earlobes at a visible Speed, and finally, even her forehead flushed pink."I, I, I, I—"She panicked, wanting to say something, but slipped and almost fell into the river.Tenten was quick-witted and grabbed her arm, preventing her from becoming a drowned rat."Be careful!" Tenten held Hinata and looked at Inocuriously, "What did you say to her?"Ino blinked, looking innocent: "I just asked if she had kissed Naruto-kun."The plate in Tenten's hand almost dropped too."You, you guys did that so early..." Her face turned red too, her voice getting smaller, "...Though, it makes sense, Naruto-kun is so impressive..."The three young girls looked at each other and finally laughed, their faces flushed.The whispered conversation that followed was nothing but hushed giggles and occasional 'Oh, stop it,' flowing away with the river water.When Naruto walked back to the campfire, Shikamaru happened to let out a huge yawn."Sleepy... want to go home and sleep..."Choji finally swallowed the last piece of meat and patted his stomach with satisfaction: "I'm full! Naruto's cooking is really delicious!""If you like it, come for a picnic again next time." Naruto sat down with a smile and casually added a piece of firewood to the fire, "Anyway, the Ninja World looks pretty peaceful right now."Shikamaru opened his half-closed eyes: "It only 'looks' peaceful.""Things like the Village Hidden in the Grass can happen." Naruto shrugged, "Who knows when a fight might suddenly break out."Choji scratched his head: "Really? We in Konohaare the strongest! Plus, we have the Third, known as the strongest Hokage in history!"Naruto smiled and didn't refute him.A six-year-old's understanding of 'the strongest' is still very simple; after all, the school promotes that'strongest' Hokage every day.However, in terms of lifespan, besides Ōnoki, this Hokage is the most long-lived of his generation... No, wait, you have to add those two from the F4, they all lived to the finale.He picked up a twig and drew on the ground casually: "I heard the Third Great Ninja War... was brutal."Naruto's hand holding the twig paused."Back then, even students who hadn't graduated from the Ninja Academy were sent to the battlefield."Well, you couldn't say they hadn't graduated; that's called early graduation, a 100% graduation rate, right.After all, they were all geniuses, and the battlefield needed 'geniuses' like them.Naruto didn't look at anyone when he said this, but his peripheral vision swept across Neji's direction.Neji's hand tightened imperceptibly.Shikamaru didn't respond, just stared at the leaping flames for a long time.When the afternoon sunlight slanted through the leaves, everyone started packing up.Tenten looked at Naruto several times, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something.But Naruto was bending over to help Hinata brush a fallen leaf off her sleeve, his profile looking exceptionally gentle in the sunset.Ino had already naturally stood on his other side, reaching out to hold his left hand.Tenten swallowed her words, just smiling and waving at everyone: "Then I'm off! Let's play together next time!""Bye—" Ino and Hinata responded simultaneously."Mm, be careful on your way." Naruto replied without looking up.Ino didn't leave with Shikamaru and Choji as usual. She held Naruto with one hand and Hinata with the other, smiling and saying: "I'm going to play at Naruto's place today!"Shikamaru wasn't surprised by this and waved his hand lazily: "Alright then, we'll be going first."He and Choji left together.Neji stood alone in place for a few seconds, hesitated, then turned and walked toward the Hyuga Clan grounds.Naruto, holding Hinata with one hand and Ino with the other, walked leisurely toward his apartment