"Naruto." - Direct speech.
"Naruto." - Thoughts.
*Slurp* - Sounds.
Good Morning. Good Afternoon. Good Evening. And Good Night. - The Author's words.
Naruto does not stop using clones for training in this chapter. Read to the end, and then decide whether or not to drop this fic.
The next day. Tazuna's house.
"So you're just letting us go?" Asked Zabuza, free from seals and wires.
He stood opposite Kakashi, who was sitting on a mattress, his sword lying on the floor between them. Kakashi nodded and waved him off, "Yes, now scram, I'm trying to rest." In his other hand was his favorite book, so he didn't even look up at him when he said these words.
"...Why?"
Kakashi sighed and set his book aside, looking at Zabuza, "Because I have my own handbook," he explained, "And it contains information about Momochi Zabuza, the revolutionary who rose up against the tyrant. But he failed and turned to the side of evil."
"Maybe I'm just the next tyrant?" Zabuza asked, looking at his sword.
"Hmm... Yesterday I taught my student a lesson that if he hadn't killed a few bandits on that bridge, innocent people could have suffered because of them. And today I'm letting one of the most dangerous people in the world go free because he has a son," Kakashi mused aloud.
"So it's because of Haku?"
"He thinks he's your tool, I think he's your son. If you used him as a tool, why does he still love you so much? You think a ninja is just a tool, so how did you raise this boy?" Kakashi turned away from him and sighed, "You still have a chance to be a father to him, Zabuza. Don't miss this chance."
A brief pause filled the room, neither of them moving an inch. Finally, Zabuza picked up his sword from the floor and slung it over his back, "Pff, what a pathetic speech, Kakashi. Couldn't you come up with something even sadder?" He turned and headed for the exit, but after taking a few steps towards the door, he stopped and turned his head to Kakashi, "That kid... What is he?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow and paused before answering, "Naruto?" Waiting for a nod from Zabuza, he smiled under his mask, "A hero."
Zabuza narrowed his eyes but didn't ask further. He left the room and went to the exit of the house, passing by Haku and the rest of Team 7, "Haku, we're leaving. I'll wait for you at the bridge in ten minutes." After these words, he disappeared in a small mist.
"Huh? You're leaving already?" Naruto asked, approaching Haku who smiled at him.
"It seems so. With Gatō's death, we are no longer enemies, and it seems that Kakashi-san is letting us go without a fight," said Haku, sealing his senbon in a seal on his right hand.
"We will miss you," Sakura approached Haku and hugged him.
Seeing this, Naruto smiled impishly and turned to Sasuke, who was standing nearby, "Come on, Sasuke, group hug. You can't refuse."
"I think I can..." Sasuke said and tried to walk away from Naruto, but was stopped by an arm that wrapped around his neck.
Naruto pulled him towards Haku and Sakura, "We will miss you, Haku!" Naruto exclaimed, hugging them all.
Sasuke sighed and gave in, wrapping his arms around them.
Sakura swooned in her thoughts again, "Kyaa! Sasuke-kun is hugging me! Good job, Naruto!"
Haku stood for a few seconds, unable to comprehend what was happening, but eventually he blushed and smiled, "Yeah, I'll miss you too."
Tazuna, seeing this scene, hugged Tsunami and Inari, smiling warmly.
"What a sweet picture... Is this a bad time to ask you to rip out one of their hearts...?" Asked a voice in Naruto's head.
"A bit..." Naruto thought, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, then I won't..." Kurama fell silent and Naruto continued to enjoy the hugs.
Haku turned his head to Naruto, "Remember, you can only find true strength when you're protecting someone."
Naruto broke the hug and smirked, "I've been thinking about those words," Haku raised an eyebrow at him while Sakura and Sasuke looked at them with confusion and with a neutral face. "But the one you really should repeat them to is Zabuza. Maybe it's not too late for him to understand that..."
Haku smiled slightly and nodded, "Maybe..." Turning around, he disappeared in an Ice Shunshin, leaving the spot where he had just stood a bit cooler.
"Let's at least find some bandits..." The voice in his head sounded again.
"I'm not going to kill anyone! Unless they harm the innocent or..."
"They're bandits. Do you think they were called that because they helped orphans and the homeless?" There was an amused tone in the voice.
Naruto rubbed his temples and turned back to the forest, "I'm going for a walk."
Sasuke and Sakura looked at him with concern, then at each other. Suddenly, Kakashi emerged from the house with his little book in hand, "Have they already left? And where's Naruto?"
"He went for a walk in the forest..." Sakura said, looking at him, "Sensei, is he alright...? Since that time with Inari and bridge, he's been a bit..." She couldn't find the right word.
"Suppressed," Sasuke suggested.
"Depressed," Kakashi offered.
"Upset," Sasuke again.
"Topless," Kakashi again.
"...Not himself." Sakura finally said.
"It's the first time he's killed someone. Maybe the bandits who attacked him mostly died from wounds inflicted by allies, but Gatō died directly by his hand," Kakashi explained, "Naruto is a very kind boy, he's taking these events hard."
With Naruto.
"Do you know the easiest way to cover up tracks at a crime scene?" Asked Kyūbi's melodic voice.
"...What is it?"
"Bijudama. Pfff..." Kyūbi started laughing while Naruto walked through the forest with a deadpan expression, "Oh, you don't know what that is..."
"I have a feeling that even if I knew, I still wouldn't laugh."
"You are no fun."
"I just don't like jokes about killing..." Naruto explained.
"What? But what else is there to joke about?" Kurama asked, perplexed.
"I don't know, anything?" Naruto rolled his eyes. He walked through the forest in silence for a few minutes until he thought, "Hmm, so your name is Kyūbi no Yōko? Does everyone call you by your title or do you have a name?"
She didn't answer him for a while, and he started sweating, thinking he had said something wrong, until her voice sounded, "...My name is Kurama."
"Hah, Kurama... Nice name. Wait, who gave you the name? Do tailed beasts have parents?" Naruto thought while climbing a tree.
"You could say that..." Kurama said thoughtfully.
After a few more seconds of silence, Naruto climbed to the top of a towering tree and surveyed the island that opened up before him, "Um, Kurama? You're not doing another dramatic pause before telling a story, are you?"
"No."
"Oh, okay."
"By the way, if you tell anyone my name, I will gnaw your consciousness from the inside out. Ever heard of the term 'mindbreak'?"
A week and a half later. The completed unnamed bridge.
"Well, your mission is over. But it's super sad..." Tazuna said, standing in front of Team 7. Next to him were Tsunami and Inari, who was hiding behind his leg, surrounded by many builders who were on the bridge and found out that Naruto was returning to Konoha today.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Kakashi said with an eye smile.
"Goodbye! Thank you for everything!" one of the builders exclaimed.
"Naruto! Take care of yourself!" a builder with gray hair shouted.
"Hahaha, of course!" Naruto laughed and turned to Mina, who approached and hugged him.
"Thank you and good luck," she whispered in his ear. Stepping back, she smiled, "Dorry also wanted to come and say goodbye, but he..."
"Still can't walk. I went to see him last night and said goodbye," Naruto said with a slightly sad smile.
"Don't worry, he'll be alright. I'll make sure of it," Mina said, and Naruto's impish smile returned.
"Hehe, make sure you do. Dorry is a good guy, take care of him," Naruto cheekily added.
Mina smirked, "Of course. You also take care of your girl in Konoha."
Naruto blushed as all the builders laughed upon hearing her words. Sasuke and Kakashi raised an eyebrow at this, while Sakura's eyes widened, "Naruto has a girlfriend?! When? How has he not blabbed about it yet?"
Inari peeked out from behind Tazuna's leg and looked at Team 7 with a slightly tearful expression. Naruto noticed him and smiled broadly, "What's the matter, Inari, crying again?"
Inari hid his head behind Tazuna's leg and wiped his eyes, then stepped forward and exclaimed, "No, I won't cry anymore!"
The builders and Team 7 laughed at him, and Naruto put his hand on his head, "It's okay to cry," he said as a tear rolled down from his eye, "See, I'm going to miss you all too! Hehe," he chuckled, wiping his eyes, "Well, goodbye everyone! We'll meet again!" Naruto waved to everyone one last time and turned to follow his team.
"Another tearful farewell..." Kurama muttered in his head.
"Hey, we didn't cry with Haku!"
"It doesn't matter..." She yawned before continuing, "...I'm going to nap."
"How do you even sleep in that hole..."
"Your brain is such a hole that your subconscious is a sewer. You suck." Kurama deadpanned.
"Still better than a huge pool of magma, huh?"
"You still suck."
Half an hour after Team 7 headed towards Konoha.
Naruto and the rest of Team 7 were leaping through the trees at high speed towards Konoha. Naruto was lost in thought, jumping from branch to branch without paying attention, "Hmm... Kakashi-sensei allowed me to create thousands of clones for training after I killed Gatō. During the time spent in Wave, I could only create a tiny drop of water with chakra, probably I don't have an affinity to Water... But in fūinjutsu, the clones finally managed to create a seal that can contain chakra, the next step is to seal a jutsu in a scroll. Kakashi-sensei still doesn't want to teach us new ninjutsu... Maybe Anko-sensei will find something she can teach me...?"
"Naruto!" Suddenly Sakura's loud voice rang in his ear.
He jumped into the air and hit a branch, falling to the ground. Getting up, he turned to her with a hurtful expression, holding his ear, "Hey! What gives?" A small amount of blood was trickling down his forehead.
"I've been talking to you for the last couple of minutes and you just ignored me!" Sakura huffed with her hands in front of her.
"So what?" Naruto again felt the urge to kill someone inside him and heard Kurama's sleepy giggle, "Why shout so loud? I was just lost in thought!"
Kakashi and Sasuke stopped to look back at the commotion. Sasuke's eyebrow arched in curiosity at the ongoing argument, while Kakashi's frown deepened upon noticing Naruto's fists tightly clenched. His eyes then shifted to Naruto's forehead, where he observed a faint wisp of steam; the wound that had just split open was now nearly healed. "Is this the power of the Nine-Tails?"
Changing the subject, Sakura asked, "That woman on the bridge mentioned you have a girlfriend?"
As they continued running towards Konoha, Naruto wiped the blood from his forehead. "Yeah, so what?" Naruto replied, still slightly annoyed.
Sakura raised an eyebrow and turned her head towards him, maintaining the pace alongside Sasuke and Kakashi. "You've been trying to ask me out since almost the beginning of the academy. Girls even placed bets on when you'd give up."
Naruto raised an eyebrow and looked at her, "Well, isn't that a good classmates?"
"Hey, I didn't participate in that. I just heard others talking about it," Sakura defended herself. "But anyway, who's this girl who agreed to go out with you?" She inquired, pondering, "The only girl in the academy who even considered Naruto as an option is Hinata... Although with these recent developments..."
"Hinata-chan," Naruto revealed, smiling a bit. His previous annoyance seemed to have melted away. "I feel a bit embarrassed that I didn't notice her affection earlier. Kiba laughed at me for hours when I told him about my worries that she might not like me..."
Sakura let out a chuckle, "Oh, you finally noticed," Naruto looked at her with a questioning gaze, "Everyone knew about her feelings. Everyone except you."
"Why didn't anyone tell me anything..." Naruto asked, subdued.
"To be honest... I thought if you couldn't notice her yourself, maybe it was better if you didn't know..." Sakura confessed. "Maybe that was a mistake."
"And you woke me up for this?" Came the sleepy voice of Kurama.
"Woke you up? I didn't do anything... Oh, the desire to hit Sakura on the forehead."
"Mhmm," She remained silent for a while, and Naruto thought she had drifted back to sleep, when she spoke up, "So, are we going to flick her on the forehead? If she survives, you can do whatever you want with her..."
"Ew! Kurama! Don't be so weird! You ero-fox!"
"Vixen."
"Oh, my apologies, Ero-vixen," Naruto corrected himself with a slight grin.
"Considering your thoughts about my chest during our first encounter, it's debatable who's the true pervert here," Kurama remarked with a smirk, sensing Naruto's embarrassment. "But let's focus on your training," she continued, and Naruto's curiosity piqued. "You need to learn how to harness my chakra."
A bead of sweat rolling down Naruto's temple, "Why? Are you trying to weaken the seal even more?"
"Precisely," Kurama replied. "However, mastering my chakra could help temper your mini-rage episodes…"
Naruto pondered the implications, "A weakened seal means a higher chance of your escape. The Hokage would absolutely ban such training. He might even cut our connection entirely."
"Hmph... If that old man could reinforce the seal, he would've done so long ago," Kurama retorted.
"Don't worry. Even if he cuts your access, I'll still drop by for little chats," Naruto assured her mentally, a faint smile on his lips.
Later that evening. The Hokage's office.
"Team 7, you've done an outstanding job," commended the Third Hokage, addressing the group before him. "Your decision to proceed with the mission despite encountering enemy ninjas went against our protocol, but ultimately, you liberated many from Gatō's oppression."
"We're just that good!" Naruto boasted, grinning broadly with his hands resting behind his head. "Hey, old man, could you give me a hand with Nature Transformation?"
The Hokage arched an eyebrow. "Has Kakashi started teaching you Nature Transformation? You're aware it's a jōnin-level technique, right?"
Naruto and Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, while Sasuke's gaze sharpened. "Jōnin level?" Naruto gasped.
"Yes," the Hokage affirmed, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It's an advanced form of chakra control. If you've mastered the Tree Climbing and Water Walking exercises, perhaps… Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt to try. What exactly do you need assistance with?"
"I'm interested in learning how to perform Wind Nature Transformation. And how can I check my Chakra Affinity?" Naruto inquired.
The Hokage glanced at Kakashi, who was visibly sweating, "Kakashi, shouldn't one ascertain their affinity before delving into Nature Transformation?"
Kakashi offered an apologetic eye-smile. "My apologies, Hokage-sama. I didn't have any elemental paper on hand…"
With a sigh, the Hokage turned to his cabinet and retrieved several plain sheets of paper. Presenting them to Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, he explained, "This is elemental paper, crafted from a unique type of chakra tree. Channel your chakra into it, and it will respond based on your affinity." Demonstrating, he directed his chakra into a sheet, which promptly divided into four segments. "For Fire affinity," he said as one segment ignited, "the paper will burn. For Water," another dampened, "the paper will get wet. for Wind, the paper will slice itself. For Earth," a segment disintegrated into soil, "the paper will crumble to dust. And for Lightning," the final piece crinkled, "the paper will wrinkle."
"Whoa, you have all five affinities? That's awesome!" Naruto said, wide-eyed with admiration.
The Hokage gave a warm chuckle, "I can perform all five Nature Transformations, but Fire is my main one."
Naruto's excitement was palpable, "That's super cool!"
Kakashi smiled at his students' reactions, "The Third Hokage is known as the 'Professor' for his vast knowledge, he is one of the strongest shinobi in history," he explained.
The Hokage's smile widened, "And Kakashi, you're quite the formidable ninja yourself. Ever thought about being Hokage one day?"
Team 7 looked at Kakashi, their eyes filled with respect and wonder.
"You're exaggerating," Kakashi nervously rubbed the back of his head. "I'm not strong and experienced enough for such a role."
"Perhaps, for now..." The Hokage then handed out sheets of special paper to the young ninjas. "Try using this paper to find out your chakra nature."
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke each took a piece of paper. Naruto focused his chakra into his, and it split in half, "Ha! So it's not water. No wonder I couldn't squeeze much water before…"
The Hokage shook his head, "Your progress is remarkable, Naruto. It usually takes years to learn nature transformation, and you're already making water in just two weeks, even though it's not your main element."
Sasuke tried next, and his paper crinkled; his eyes widened a bit, "Lightning, huh? That's rare for an Uchiha," the Hokage observed, "You're in luck, Sasuke. Kakashi has the same nature, so he can teach you a lot." Sasuke gave a small nod, pondering this new information.
Then it was Sakura's turn. Her paper became damp, "Water, a strong element," the Hokage commented. "Maybe you can ask Naruto for some tips on nature transformation, seeing how he can already form water, or vice versa, help him."
"I'm not sure about being a ninjutsu specialist," Sakura said, a bit unsure. "I'm really into Genjutsu… Kurenai-sensei thinks I could be good at it with my chakra control."
"That might be a smart move. Your team's already got two ninjutsu pros. Plus, you could give medical jutsu a shot with your top-notch chakra control," the Hokage suggested. "For Nature Transformation practice, if you're working with Water, try controlling already existing water, then creating water from chakra. For Lightning, see if you can light up a bulb or release a lightning charge into something metallic. And for Wind, try slicing a leaf in half with chakra, turning it into shap, blade-like wind."
"So, it's all about turning chakra into the element I need?" Naruto caught on.
"Exactly. There are tons of ways to work on your affinity, but the key is transforming your chakra to your needs. Alright, I've got to get back to these papers… Naruto-kun, as the future Hokage, maybe you'd like to…?"
Before he could finish the sentence, Naruto was already out of the room.
Konoha's streets.
"Doing C-rank missions is cool, but I missed Hinata-chan…" Naruto mused on his way to Ichiraku Ramen. "Darn, I forgot to talk to the Hokage-jiji about Kurama!" He heard chuckling in his head and sighed, "Guess if Kakashi-sensei didn't say anything, it can wait till tomorrow…"
As he walked into Ichiraku, he called out cheerfully, "Hey, Teuchi-ojisan, Ayame-neechan! I'm back from the mission!" The first thing he noticed in the restaurant was a girl with dark blue hair he recognized. When she turned, he saw her pale eyes, "Hinata-chan!"
Hinata's eyes widened when she saw him, and a small smile found its way to her face, "Naruto-kun!"
Naruto grinned and gave her a big hug, "I missed you so much!"
Teuchi and Ayame came over with Hinata's ramen, smiling at the sight of Naruto's warm greeting.
Hinata turned red but hugged him back, "I-I missed you too…"
"Hey, welcome back! What can I get you?" Teuchi greeted Naruto.
"Just the usual for me," Naruto grinned, sitting down beside Hinata. Teuchi nodded and headed off to whip up the order, Ayame followed close behind him.
"Kurenai-sensei said you went on a C-rank mission outside the village too…" Hinata mentioned, picking up chopsticks and splitting them into two.
"Yeah, we were over in the Wave Country! Hold on, 'too'?"
Hinata nodded as she started on her noodles, "Kurenai-sensei said that we've become much stronger, and we're ready for more challenging missions. We were sent to the Rice Country to deliver a package to one of the important politicians there."
"That's pretty awesome. Everything went okay on your mission?" Naruto asked, watching her eat with a slight smile.
"It was smooth. We finished in four days. The Rice Country's capital is quite nice… What about your mission?"
"We had to guard a bridge builder from the Wave Country. Some rich guy was after him, wanting to take over the country. But we took care of it and even beat some enemy ninjas!" Naruto said proudly. "The bridge got built, and it's gonna help the Wave Country a lot…"
Hinata put down her chopsticks, looking worried, "But aren't C-rank missions supposed to be safe? Ninja fights should not happen on them."
Naruto scratched his head, "Yeah, it was supposed to be... Turns out, it was like a more higher-ranked mission."
Hinata was visibly disturbed, "So, your client lied about the mission details? That's not good. It could've been really bad if it was another genin team instead of you. They might have died facing enemy ninjas..."
"Our client didn't have enough money for a higher-ranked mission..." Naruto noticed Ayame approaching with his ramen and placing it in front of him. Taking chopsticks and splitting them, he started eating his portion slowly, "And we couldn't leave innocent people in danger."
Hinata continued to look at Naruto with a troubled face for a few more seconds. After that, she returned to her ramen. They finished their portions in silence, after which Naruto turned to her with a smile, "How about a walk?"
Hinata nodded and stood up from her chair. Turning to Teuchi and Ayame, she tilted her head slightly, "Thanks for the meal."
Naruto got up and headed towards the exit, throwing over his shoulder, "Great food as always! Catch you next time!"
They strolled down the streets, just enjoying the moment. "Hey, did you figure out your chakra affinity yet?" Naruto asked, curious.
"Yeah, we determine it at the beginning of the academy in my clan," Hinata replied, shifting her gaze to him.
"You're Water, right?"
She tilted her head, "Why'd you guess that?"
"You know, the way you move, talk, fight. It's smooth, fluent and pretty… like water."
Hinata's cheeks turned pink, "Actually, I'm Fire…"
Naruto's eyes popped, "Who would've known… But that's cool. You could try give Sasuke a run for his money with fire moves. He's got Lightning."
"I always thought Uchiha were Fire types… But I'm not really want to develop my affinity just yet," Hinata admitted.
"Sakura said something similar, that she doesn't want to be a ninjutsu specialist..."
"I'd rather work on my Gentle Fist. Too bad I can't use clones to help with that and Fire Release at the same time," she said with a small pout.
Naruto chuckled, "Life without clones? Can't imagine it!" Hinata laughed, and Naruto felt a bit shy seeing her smile. "Pull it together," he thought. "Maybe you could mix in some Fire with your Gentle Fist?"
"I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Maybe after a few more years, I'll get the hang of it."
"I know you can do it," Naruto encouraged her with a smile. "You're super strong right now. Just think how much stronger you'll be in a few years!"
They shared a smile and walked on quietly. Naruto sneaked a glance at her, "Why am I so nervous? She's already my girlfriend!"
Looking at her again, he noticed that Hinata was looking down, her cheeks red, probably because Naruto kept glancing at her.
He laughed softly and put his hands behind his head, gazing up, "The old man Hokage's got some serious skills, you know. He can use all five basic natures! He showed us with a chakra paper— it got sliced apart and then each part got wet, crumbled to dust, wrinkled, or caught fire."
"Lord Hokage is a very strong shinobi. He even bears the title of Shinobi God, which only the First Hokage held before him. Some say he is The Strongest Kage in history," Hinata said.
Naruto was impressed, "The strongest, huh?"
"I haven't been the Shinobi God for a long time," a voice suddenly said behind them. Turning around, they were surprised to see the Third Hokage standing before them.
"Hokage-sama!" Hinata bowed quickly.
The Hokage smiled. "Sorry to interrupt your lovely date. But Naruto, you forgot to tell me something important about your mission."
Naruto winced, "Oh, right, slipped my mind."
Kurama chimed in, "Is it that easy to forget me?"
Hinata then said she'd head home and thanked Naruto for the evening.
"See ya!" Naruto called out as he walked over to the Hokage. They were gone in a swirl of leaves, whisked away by the Hokage's Shunshin no Jutsu.
The Hokage Residence. Hokage's office.
Naruto blinked and saw interior of the familiar office, "Old man is fast…" Turning to the old Hokage, he asked, "It's about the Nine-Tails, right? Didn't Kakashi-sensei fill you in?"
Hiruzen nodded and sat down at his desk, "I want to hear it from you too."
"It seems that it was not in vain that I practiced this speech..." Naruto sighed and started explaining, "Back at Tazuna's place, Haku shared one sad story, and it really got to me."
"What happened?"
"Haku's dad killed his mom because of her special power, and then Haku had to… you know, deal with his dad," Naruto said, his hands balling into fists. "Then Inari, the grandson of our client, came in. He's had a tough life too. He yelled, saying we didn't understand pain. I got so mad, I ran out and smashed a rock. That's when I felt my chakra go wild. It was scary, like something evil took over. Chakra in my body became different. Uncontrolled, aggressive, evil."
"You're giving me too much credit," the voice in his head purred, but Naruto didn't pay attention to it.
"I guess I pushed that chakra out with my own chakra. Then Kakashi-sensei told me about the seal and what being a jinchūriki means," Naruto explained, as the Hokage listened without interrupting. "Later, during the fight on the bridge, some bandits hurt a builder whom I befriend. My clone got really mad and used Kyūbi's chakra. But then, clone noticed this chakra, got confused and decided to disperse. That's when, according to Kyūbi, a renaissance occurred."
The Hokage raised an eyebrow at his choice of words, "Resonance, you mean?"
Naruto blushed and scrathed the back of his head, "Yeah, that. The clones got all mixed up with memories and feelings, and the bandits took them out. Then I started feeling angry too."
Naruto paused, and the Hokage thought hard about what he said, "I didn't consider Kyūbi's interference when planning his training with clones... This might be too risky for Naruto and the village," he considered.
Naruto looked down. "All the clones went away, and I got so angry I fell into rage and killed Gatō."
"Don't blame yourself for his death. He chose this path in his life himself. Maybe at some point, I would have received information about his actions in the Waves, and I would have sent shinobi after his head," Hokage said, reassuringly.
After a few minutes of silence, Naruto raised his head and continued his story, "After that, I blacked out and woke up in my own head."
"The sewers," Kurama corrected.
"What's this place like?" the Hokage asked.
"...It's like a big sewer," Naruto said, and even the Hokage sweatdropped, while Kurama laughed. "I met Kyūbi there. She said the seal's weaker now, and she can hear what I think, which is pretty annoying. When I woke up, I was back at Tazuna's place with Haku and Zabuza. Zabuza said something about being a real ninja, and I got mad and yelled. I had to leave to cool off, and then Kyūbi started talking to me again. She can do that whenever she wants, which is also annoying."
"Hey!" Kurama's voice came through, sounding a bit miffed.
Naruto shrugged, "Just telling it like it is."
"What's she been saying?"
"She's mad 'cause I said she's annoying."
The Hokage let out a chuckle, "And the rest of the time?"
"She's usually snoozing. When she's not, she's either talking about some really nasty stuff, like gutting someone through the anus, or making perverted remarks non-stop. Sometimes it's all mixed up."
The Hokage pulled out his pipe and took a moment before speaking, "You'll have to suspend training with clones. But you can still use them in battle, of course."
"Wha..? But why?"
"Now that the seal restraining Kyūbi has weakened, training with clones poses an extraordinary danger. You might release the fox right in the heart of Konoha," Hiruzen explained. Naruto looked down, fists tight. "Don't sweat it. Most of the best ninjas ever got strong without clones. Just work harder on your own, and you'll do great."
Naruto nodded and muttered quietly, "Stupid vixen..."
"It's late. You should head home."
Naruto headed for the door, tossing a "Later, Jiji" over his shoulder.
The Hokage watched him go, looking troubled. "I hate slowing him down, but we've got to keep the village safe…" He stared at the door, then ordered, "Get Tenzō in here."
"Hai."
The next day at Training Ground 3.
Naruto was catching his breath on the grass after a tough workout. Trees were down, and the ground was full of holes – clear signs of an intense session.
Sakura leaned over the tired Naruto and teased, "Looks like you're having a blast."
Naruto popped up, almost bumping faces with Sakura, who couldn't help but notice his open coat and the lack of his usual mesh armor. She thought to herself, "Wow, these sweaty abs are actually looking hot… No, stop that, Sakura! He's taken, and I'm into Sasuke!"
Both Sakura and Sasuke saw Naruto's scratched palms healing right before their eyes. Taking a few deep breaths, Naruto steadied his breathing and turned to Sakura, "You here for training too?"
Sakura struck a confident pose, "Yep, gotta live up to being the top kunoichi!"
Naruto grinned, "Top kunoichi who can't outdo the class dobe?" His teasing made Sakura's face turn red, and even Sasuke cracked a smile.
Sakura huffed, "Hey, it's not fair with your Shadow Clones! I can't even land a genjutsu on you! Even if I found the real you, you always end up break out of it in few seconds, or your clones help you out! It drives me crazy…" She trailed off, looking a bit down.
Sasuke joined in, "She's got a point. It's tough to spot the real you with all those clones around. Seal-less Kawarimi, Temporary Paralysis no Jutsu, fūinjutsu traps. Even genjutsu, although with the Sharingan, I see through them." Sasuke grew annoyed at Naruto's self-satisfied look, but he continued, "You're like a one-man army."
Naruto laughed, hands behind his head, "Guess I'm just that good! But the Hokage-jiji said no more clone training for me, though I can still use them in fights."
Sakura looked worried, "What? Why'd he stop you?"
Naruto gave a sheepish smile, "Not sure, but he said it's too risky."
Sakura frowned, "Risky? But our training's always been risky. What's different now?"
"I'm not sure," Naruto said, keeping it short.
Sasuke just watched him, eyes narrowed a bit.
"Ready to train?" Naruto asked, facing Sasuke. "Bet I can beat you even without my clones."
Sasuke just smirked and got ready. "Let's see about that…"
Later in the afternoon.
Naruto was laughing, standing over a worn-out Sasuke, "Guess the Sharingan isn't all that great, huh?"
"You... Shut up..." Sakura said, lying nearby Sasuke.
Anko snuck up from the woods with a sneaky grin, creeping up on Naruto.
"So much hype about this Sharingan, and all you did was a few bruises that have already healed. You need more stamina, or you'll end up like Kakashi, lying down for a week after using those eyes. This applies to you too, Sakura. Chakra control is cool, but you have too little chakra," Naruto lectured them.
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around his neck, and already familiar breasts pressed against his back, "Look at this little bastard!" Anko began rubbing his head with her knuckles, making Naruto cry out and try to break free, "Already giving lectures to your teammates? Leave this business to your jōnin-sensei, kid."
Naruto managed to escape her hold and stepped back, "…there's always bigger fish," he said under his breath.
Sakura and Sasuke raised their heads upon hearing a new voice on the clearing, but seeing Anko, they lowered their heads back to the ground.
"How'd you know I was back?" Naruto asked her, "I was gonna look for you after training."
"Kurenai-chan told me," Anko answered, and Naruto looked surprised. "Think you can handle a real challenge?" She started pulling out her kunai.
Naruto swallowed hard, "Just so you know, Hokage forbade me to use clones in training…"
Anko just smirked wider, "Good. This won't be training then. It'll be a fight for life."
Right after these words, she vanished, reappearing behind Naruto. He barely dodged a kunai aimed at his back.
"Wait, don't you want to hear about my…" Naruto cut himself off, leaping onto a tree branch, to dodge a swarm of snakes.
Exhaling, Naruto turned back to Anko to say something, but he saw only several snakes slithering in different directions where she stood a moment ago.
Suddenly, her voice was right by his ear, "We'll talk later…" Naruto jumped away, tossing shuriken behind him. Without stopping, he leaped further into the dense forest, placing several seals on the tree branches he landed on. Running a bit more, he heard an explosion behind him and stopped on a high branch, trying to spot Anko first.
He had to move again when he heard hissing sound of snakes behind him. Landing, he blocked Anko's shuriken and kunai that she held, attempting to stab him in the side. "Your orange outfit's a dead giveaway," she teased.
Naruto's forehead vein twitched. "Hey, you picked these clothes!" Suddenly releasing the kunai, he stepped back and tried to land kunai at her shoulder, which she easily blocked with her second kunai, while swinging her first kunai towards Naruto.
Naruto vanished just in time, leaving a log in his place. Anko also disappeared from her place and reappeared nearby Naruto, "Not using clones, huh?" She landed on his back, snakes ready to strike.
Naruto turned his head towards her, and her eyes widened seeing that he took in a massive amount of air into his lungs, "Great Breakthrough!" Instantly, an incredibly strong stream of wind burst out of his mouth, blowing Anko away. "Did it hit her..?"
"It actually did. Didn't see you make those seals," Anko's voice came from the trees. She stepped out, eyebrow raised, seeing Naruto ready with a kunai, "You know how to turn me on..."
Pulling out a kunai, she attacked him with an incredible speed, forcing Naruto into a full defense. Every time her kunai met his, he had to clench his teeth and fists with all his might to hold her off. Not long after the start of the clash, several cuts appeared on Naruto's body, and their number continued to grow.
Naruto tried to push her kunai away and go for a hit, but Anko instantly changed her stance and punched him in the face with her other hand. She went for another slice, but he blocked her kunai and held her in place, attempting to overpower her. For a moment, he even succeeded, and Anko stepped back a bit.
"Ha-ha, little kid is actually worth something?" Anko's smirk widened as she eased the pressure on her kunai, allowing Naruto to lean forward slightly. Quickly altering the trajectory of her kunai, she aimed it towards Naruto's right shoulder, forcing him to dodge.
Landing nearby, Naruto's kunai disappeared from his hand before he swiftly began forming seals for a technique. He stopped at a rat seal, and in a blur, he vanished from where he stood. Anko noticed Sakura emerging from the bushes nearby with a troubled look, questioning, "Are you finished already?"
Anko made the ram hand seal, stopping flow of her chakra momentarily. Sakura dispersed as if she never existed. Immediately, Naruto appeared next to her, holding a paper seal in his hand. Reacting quickly, she grabbed his wrist and flung him into a tree a few feet away.
Naruto grunted as he hit the tree and slumped to the ground. Anko wasted no time, sending a horde of snakes after him. With a swift Kawarimi, Naruto disappeared into the forest's depths.
Anko sighed and pursued, but as she leaped towards a tree that Naruto was heading for, she heard the faint sound of an Exploding Tag. She retreated just in time to see the tree explode into splinters.
As Anko landed, Naruto's hand shot up from the ground, clutching a seal aimed at her leg. With remarkable agility, she leaped away, throwing kunai's into the earth.
Naruto was about to surface when he heard the telltale hiss of the tags. He dove back underground, narrowly avoiding the explosion.
"Phew... You're strange, midget... Trying to blow up your favorite teacher? Is that normal?" Anko said, watching Naruto emerge from the ground unharmed, only sporting a few minor scratches that had already started to heal.
Naruto brushed off the debris, "Stop calling me a midget! I'm not done growing yet!" he yelled, irritated, hurling a barrage of kunai with Exploding Tags at Anko.
Anko dodged with ease and closed in on Naruto, her kunai ready, as an explosion boomed behind her. "How many of those things do you have?" she exclaimed, engaging Naruto in close combat.
The fight was intense, with Anko's experience in Taijutsu giving her the upper hand. Her kunai came dangerously close to breaking through Naruto's defenses, leaving him with superficial cuts. Naruto's attempts to counter were futile; Anko anticipated and countered each move with practiced ease just as before.
Naruto backed away to the still burning tree from the first his exploding tag, knowing he couldn't beat Anko with pure Taijutsu. Anko followed, ready to strike with her kunai and snakes.
But as she got close, her body froze, she could barely move.
Seizing the opportunity, Naruto applied the Body and Chakra Restriction Seal on Anko, "Heh, I win."
"When did you set this seal on the ground?" Anko asked, now unable to use her chakra.
"Right before that tree went boom," Naruto said, pointing to the smoldering remains.
Anko nodded, impressed, "Not bad. Now let's call it a day and get some dango."
"Huh? Such a short training session?"
"I want to hear about your mission, so let's go to my place. We'll grab some dango on the way."
Naruto smirked a bit before his smirk transformed into one of Anko's mischievous smiles.
Anko even felt a hint of pride in her heart seeing that smile and returned the same one, "What, are you planning to take advantage of my incapacitation and do something... perverted?" Her voice was deliberately sultry and soaked with sexual innuendo.
Naruto's smile grew as he held up a feather, "Promise you'll stop calling me 'midget' and I'll let you go."
Anko raised an eyebrow at his choice of torture tools but eventually sighed, "Well, it seems you won't become an Interrogation Master... I promise, now release me."
"Oh, alright. But why I couldn't be... what you said..." He approached her and removed the seal, immediately sealing it into the mark on his hand.
Anko tapped his forehead with index finger, "You're too trusting, midget."
Rubbing his forehead, Naruto pointed at her and exclaimed, "But you promised!"
Anko smirked and took a step forward with some difficulty, stepping out of the Body Restriction Seal on the ground, "You need to learn not to trust every word people promise you."
Naruto lowered his eyes to the ground and pouted, "So, I can't even trust my own teacher?"
Anko put him in a headlock with a sigh, "You should trust, but always with a grain of skepticism. And why use the Body Restriction Seal when you have this?" She held up the seal that restricting body and chakra, questioning.
Naruto stopped struggling against headlock and looked puzzled, "I just acted on instinct… Wait, how did you get that seal? I thought I sealed it away…"
Later, at Anko's house.
"Why did the Hokage say you can't use clones for training?" Anko asked between bites of dango.
Sitting in front of her, Naruto had dango behind his cheek and a plate of ramen in front of him, "No clue. He talked so much I kinda zoned out."
Anko eyed him suspiciously, "Is it because of the Nine-Tails?"
Naruto's eyes went wide, "How'd you know about that?!"
"You just confirmed it," Anko pointed out.
Naruto swallowed the remnants of dango and covered his mouth with his hands, realizing his slip-up.
"Spill it. Anything else happen on the mission? Something with the Nine-Tails' seal?" Anko prodded, picking her teeth with a dango stick.
Naruto sighed, looking down at his ramen. "Well, during the bridge fight, Dori got…"
After Naruto recounted the bridge incident.
Anko munched on another dango, "So, the mightiest Tailed Beast is female?" she mused, amused by Naruto's nod. "Cool. Any side effects from the seal weakening?"
"The Nine-Tails' chakra leaks out more now. My chakra's stronger, and there's much more of it. Also, I became a bit snappy, even to small things. Although I think I already have control over myself..." Naruto twitched, noticing Anko's chuckle at his 'small things.' "Other than that, and the voice in my head, nothing much."
Anko nodded, taking another bite, "You did seem stronger today. But let's be honest, I let you win."
Naruto grinned, "Sure you did."
Anko raised an eyebrow, "What's with that tone?! It was clear you were planning something at the end of our spar. And what about Kyūbi? Is her human form hot?"
Naruto's cheeks tinged with red at the memory of Kurama's imposing figure.
Kurama's voice purred in his mind, "Oh, Naruto, flattery will get you everywhere…"
"I didn't say a word!" Naruto protested.
"You don't need to..." Kurama's voice was really sexy, according to Naruto. He shook his head and tried to think about Hinata.
Anko's chuckle broke his reverie, "I'll take that silence as a yes. Are you free tomorrow?"
Snapping out of his thoughts about Hinata, he replied, "Yeah, we got a short break."
"Great. Wanna train together?" Anko offered with a sly grin.
Naruto took the guest chopsticks Anko gave him and returned to eating his instant ramen, "Sure."
The next morning at Naruto's house.
Sunlight streamed through the window, gently prodding Naruto awake. He groaned, burying his face deeper into the pillow.
"Wake up, Naruto. It's already morning," Kurama's melodic reached the still sleepy Naruto.
"M-m-m…" He curled up in a ball and continued to sleep.
The gentle voice was quickly replaced by a thunderous roar, "WAKE UP!" Naruto catapulted to the ceiling, clinging to it for dear life.
Quickly scanning the room, he saw no danger, "Are you a living alarm clock? Why shout like that?" Naruto asked, still somewhat sleepy, falling from the ceiling onto the bed as Kurama's laughter echoed in his mind.
"You're lucky I let you sleep at all. Now, up and at 'em. We've got that girl from yesterday to spar with," Kurama chided.
Naruto shuffled towards the bathroom, muttering, "You could at least make an effort to remember her name… It's Anko."
Kurama's response was dismissive. "Why bother with the names of the insignificant?"
As Naruto brushed his teeth, he looked at his reflection in the mirror, "Yet you remember mine."
"Because you are my jailor."
Naruto frowned, spatting toothpaste into the sink. "You make it sound like I'm the villain. Have you forgotten your own rampage through Konoha?"
"I wasn't myself," Kurama's voice echoed, distant yet close.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto questioned, rinsing his mouth.
"Had I been in control, Konoha would be a tale of the past."
Dressed and ready, Naruto set out for Training Ground 44, all the while thinking about Kurama. He found himself sympathizing with her more and more, even if she was a bit crazy.
"I understand you're still angry, but haven't the ones who sealed you away already died? Why pass on their mistakes to the next generation?" Naruto mused aloud, bounding through the forest.
"And forget what they did? I'm not so forgiving," Kurama retorted, her annoyance palpable. "Enough with the heart-to-heart. Watch out—Anko's on the move."
Before Naruto could process the warning, he narrowly avoided Anko's surprise greeting kick.
"Hi," Anko greeted, landing with a smirk where Naruto had just been.
"That's one way to say hello," Naruto shot back, regaining his composure.
"Did we come here for a date or for a training? What were you expecting?" Folding her arms beneath her ample chest, she looked at him with a disappointed expression. "I thought you knew me better than this..."
"I'm sorry?" Naruto more asked than apologized. "Maybe you could tell me first what you want to train me?"
"Patience," Anko replied before vanishing once more.
Naruto scanned the clearing, "What's she up to now?"
Moments later, Anko reappeared, accompanied by a masked man adorned with the kanji for wood on his mask.
"I've been assigned as an observer for your training, Naruto-san," the man introduced himself calmly, "Call me Tenzō."
Anko's smirk was a permanent fixture as she playfully threw her arm around the taller shinobi's neck and tilted him toward the ground, "With him overseeing, the Hokage's given the green light for clones in your training."
Naruto's reaction was immediate, his eyes sparkling with uncontained excitement, "For real? That's amazing!" His exuberance was palpable as he bounced around the clearing, a burst of youthful energy.
"He has a strange aura... Reminds me of that bastard Hashirama…" Kurama murmured in Naruto's mind.
Caught off guard, Naruto paused mid-leap, turning to Tenzō with curiosity. "Hashirama? You mean the First Hokage? What's the connection?"
"Ask him if he's a descendant of him," Kurama suggested.
Anko's gentle tap brought Naruto back to the present, "You seem distracted. What's up?" She inquired, her concern genuine.
Naruto, still processing the revelation, asked Tenzō directly, "Are you somehow related to the First Hokage?
Tenzō's reaction was a momentary freeze, a statue in contemplation, before he admitted, "In a manner of speaking. My ability to use Wood Style is part of why I'm here."
Anko's surprise mirrored Naruto's own, prompting a shared glance of bewilderment, "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm surprised too! Didn't you ask him about it? Where did you even learn about this?"
Naruto's response was to simply gesture towards his belly, implying Kurama's influence. Tenzō's slight nod and Anko's resigned sigh spoke volumes, "Kyūbi's quite the chatterbox, isn't she? I would've thought she had better things to do than gossip."
"What a bitch," Kurama's indignant retort was for Naruto's ears alone, causing a bead of sweat to trickle down his temple.
Anko redirected their focus, "Enough distractions. Let's train. Start with a set of clones for chakra control and jutsu refinement," she instructed, her tone shifting to that of a seasoned mentor. "Another set for fūinjutsu, and don't forget taijutsu. You've got guidance from Kakashi on how to train in fūinjutsu, right?" Naruto nodded as he summoned his clone battalion.
Tenzō stepped back a bit, observing the teacher and student. When Naruto created his army of clones, he sighed, "The Hokage's faith in him is well-placed. His potential is indeed vast."
As dusk painted the sky in shades of orange, Naruto lay in the clearing, a serene backdrop to the day's intense training.
"For your own good," whispered a voice within, prompting a thoughtful frown from Naruto.
"More for yours. I don't want to risk loosening the seal," he responded.
The silence that followed was broken by the arrival of Tenzō and Anko, "Training's done for today. We have other duties to attend to, so it's time to release your clones," Anko declared.
With a slight nod, Naruto performed clone hand seal, and as his clones dissipated, a cascade of memories filled his mind, bringing a contented smile to his face, "It's unfortunate I can't train like this all the time. You have other commitments too, right, Tenzō-san?"
Tenzō confirmed, "Indeed, I'm still active in ANBU. The Hokage might need me elsewhere, but not often. Your growth right now is a priority," he reassured him, "I'll be here at least four days a week. Show us you can handle the Nine-Tails' chakra, and maybe you won't need a supervision."
Naruto lay still, lost in thought.
Anko peered down at him, concern etching her features, "Is everything okay?"
Naruto sat up, a determined look in his eyes, "Kyūbi thinks I should master using her chakra. This could mean using her power without succumbing to it's rage..."
Anko and Tenzō shared a brief, silent conversation with their eyes before addressing Naruto, "We'll consult with the Hokage," Anko assured him. "For now, hold off on any hasty decisions."
Acknowledging their advice, Naruto watched as they vanished, then swiftly made few hand seals and shunshinned his way to the forest's edge. Tossing his hands behind his head, he walked toward the village.
At this moment, a familiar voice called out, "Naruto-kun!"
Naruto's gaze followed the voice, and his face lit up with recognition, "Hey, Tenten-chan!" His eyes danced over her new blue outfit, and his grin widened, "Knew you'd look great in blue."
A soft blush tinted Tenten's cheeks as she laughed, "Thank you for advice. I'm happy with it."
Curiosity crept into Naruto's voice, "What brings you here? Are you training on this Training Ground too?"
Tenten shuddered, shaking her head, "No, my team's got a spot close by… Wait, you're training in the Forest of Death?! Isn't that off-limits?"
Naruto shrugged nonchalantly, "If it is, no one's ever told me in the face. So either I have some sort of permission, or the prohibition is for the safety of those who are unaware of the forest's dangers."
Tenten's eyes sparkled with a mix of admiration and envy, "That's amazing. Maybe we could train together sometime? I could use a break from my usual team."
"Sure, I'd like that. What's your training ground number? Mine's number 3," Naruto offered.
"Training Ground 14. Are you heading back to the village? Mind if I join you?" Tenten asked, hopeful.
"Let's go," Naruto agreed with a smile.
On the streets of Konoha, fifteen minutes later.
Naruto's expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief, "Green spandex, really?"
Tenten groaned, "It's all they wear, and they won't stop talking about youth and…"
Naruto's teasing whisper interrupted her, "Guess that's why you were torn between blue and green qipao…"
Tenten's annoyance flared, and she lunged at Naruto, who deftly avoided her playful swats. His laughter filled the air as he gently caught her wrists, halting her mock assault, "Easy there, it's just a joke."
Tenten closed her eyes and sighed. As her frustration melted away, she opened her eyes to find herself in close quarters with Naruto, his hands still holding hers. The sudden closeness sent a warm flush across her cheeks, matched only by Naruto's impish smirk.
In a second, Naruto had already let her go and stood at some distance from her, looking around. Naruto's attention shifted as he caught sight of Hinata's distinctive dark blue hair and pale eyes. His face broke into a beaming smile, "Hinata-chan!" But he noticed that her expression was unusually stern.
As she neared, Hinata's tone was formal, "Hello, Naruto-kun. And who might this be?"
Tenten introduced herself with a friendly handshake, "I'm Tenten, from Team 9."
Hinata reciprocated the gesture, "Pleased to meet you, Tenten. I'm Hinata of Team 8."
Tenten's curiosity piqued, "Team 8? That's not your team, is it, Naruto-kun?"
"No, why would you th...?" Naruto stopped mid-sentence when Hinata unexpectedly wrapped her arms around his right arm and pressed her chest against it.
Tenten eyed the pair with a mix of surprise and resignation, "Seems like all the good ones are spoken for," she muttered, her shoulders drooping slightly.
Naruto's cheeks flared a deeper shade of red, both from Hinata's closeness and Tenten's remark. Hinata, sensing his embarrassment, giggled softly and pressed even closer to his arm, her own blush evident on her cheeks.
Tenten took a step back, offering a parting invitation, "Well, I'll leave you two be. Naruto, you're welcome to join me for training anytime. Hinata, you too, if you'd like."
Hinata's smile turned into warm one, "Thank you, Tenten. I'd like that."
Naruto waved farewell to Tenten, then turned to Hinata with concern, "Hinata-chan, is something wrong? You're not usually one for hugs in public…"
Hinata's eyes fell, her grip still firm, "I… I felt a little jealous seeing you with Tenten," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked up at Naruto's face and continued, "I'm sorry; it was a bit childish of me."
Before Naruto could respond, Kiba's voice rang out, Akamaru perched atop his head and Shino at his side, "Hey, Naruto! Hinata!"
When Hinata finally let go of Naruto's hand, he suddenly threw one arm around her back and lifted her legs with the other arm, eliciting a surprised squeak from her as she blushed deeply. With no further ado, they vanished in a swirl of leaves.
Kiba, left staring at the empty space, turned to Shino in confusion, "What just happened? Was our teammate kidnapped?"
Shino nodded sagely, "It appears so. Though, as her boyfriend, Naruto may feel entitled to whisk her away from any situation."
"Haha, maybe you're right... It was still quite rude, though," Kiba quickly dismissed it from his mind and scratched Akamaru's head, "Do you want to grab some ramen?"
"A sound idea," Shino agreed.
Atop the Hokage Monument.
Naruto reappeared with Hinata still in his embrace, her nervous gaze meeting his flushed face.
"Sorry for that; I wanted a bit of privacy," Naruto explained, setting her back on the ground.
"It's okay; I don't mind," she assured him, adjusting her clothes and trying to control her blush.
"I haven't shown you this yet, but this is my favorite place in all of Konoha."
Hinata's blush faded as she took in the view, "It's beautiful here," she murmured, her smile reflecting the orange hues of the sunset.
Naruto's arms encircled her waist from behind, "It's even more beautiful with you here," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.
Hinata's heart fluttered, her cheeks aflame once more, "I'm happy if I can add to your happiness," she replied, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach.
"I hope you enjoy it too. I don't want to bring you trouble," Naruto said, concern lacing his words.
Hinata turned within his embrace, her eyes locking with his, "Of course, I do! Being with you is already a joy!" she exclaimed, a moment of bravery, but as she stared into Naruto's eyes for a few seconds, she melted and looked at him as if in a trance.
Naruto was contemplating many things at that moment, but feeling sincere love from Hinata, he couldn't help himself. Slightly closing his eyes, he brought his face closer to hers and kissed her lips.
Hinata's eyes fluttered shut, her arms instinctively finding their way around Naruto's neck as they shared a heartfelt kiss.
When they parted, a contented sigh escaped her lips.
Naruto's laughter was light and teasing. "Let's take our time with this… We'll definitely do it again, so don't sigh so sweetly, okay?" He asked, his eyes crinkling with mirth.
Hinata's response was a shy nod, her gaze lingering on his lips.
Naruto's fingers gently brushed through Hinata's hair, noticing its length, "Your hair is a bit longer than usual…"
Hinata nodded again; she was planning to cut it.
"Hmm… I think you'd look great with long hair."
Forget about it. She won't cut her hair even a millimeter. Never.
As twilight deepened, they lingered at the Monument a while longer before parting ways.
A week later, in Naruto's apartment.
The morning sun streamed through the window, rousing Naruto from sleep with Kurama's urging, "Time to get up, Naruto. It's a training day."
With a groggy murmur, Naruto greeted her, "Morning, Kurama."
"Let's not dawdle. Today's training is important," she urged.
Naruto chuckled, still amazed by the Hokage's approval of their training regimen.
At Training Ground 44.
Naruto arrived to find Anko and Tenzō awaiting him. Anko's grin was infectious, "Ready to begin, Naruto?"
He nodded, and Anko gestured for him to proceed, "We're here to watch. Start when you're ready."
Naruto turned inward, seeking guidance, "Kurama? How exactly we approach this?"
"It's simple," Kurama explained. "I'll channel more chakra through the seal, and you'll try to control as much as you can. And don't create any clones — for your own safety."
"Shall we begin?" Naruto asked, closing his eyes and bringing his palms together. A moment later, a surge of potent, red chakra flooded his system, almost overwhelming his own.
Anko and Tenzō instantly sensed the change of chakra's flow within Naruto. Tenzō braced himself, ready to form seals at a moment's notice.
Initially, Naruto's anger flared under the chakra's influence, but the negative emotions soon diminished. Opening his eyes, he saw Anko and Tenzō's tension.
His eyes had turned a deep blood-red, a stark contrast to their usual blue. The whisker-like marks on his face darkened, his canine teeth and claws elongated—his appearance grew more feral. He felt as if being on all fours was his natural state, but controlled himself.
"How do you feel?" Anko inquired.
Flexing his hands, Naruto responded, "Stronger… but it feels… uncontrolled? It's hard to explain."
A purring sound echoed from his subconscious, followed by Kurama's voice, now much softer than before, "Try the wind technique you've been practicing."
Turning away from Anko and Tenzō, Naruto formed seals and expelled a mighty gust of wind, "Fūton: Great Breakthrough!"
The forceful blast caused the Forest of Death's ginormous trees to sway violently. Anko and Tenzō watched, astounded by the genin's display of power. Naruto faced them again, a feral grin revealing his sharpened teeth.
"Damn, I'm envious of Hinata…" Anko blurted out, eliciting laughter from Naruto.
"Care for a spar?" Naruto offered, to which she nodded, assuming a fighting stance.
As Naruto lunged with astonishing velocity, Tenzō leapt aside to give them space. In a fraction of a second, Anko blocked several of Naruto's blows, each one resonating with force, "Strong! I can feel the power behind every hit… And it hurts!" She thought.
During Naruto's next assault, Anko vanished just before his fist connected, leaving a log in her stead that hurtled into a tree, bearing the imprint of his fist.
Naruto's form became shrouded in a crimson chakra, cloaking him in its fiery aura. In a blink, he vanished, only to reappear perched on a branch above the retreating Anko. With predatory grace, he descended upon her, his leg arching down in a powerful strike.
Anko's reflexes kicked in, and she narrowly avoided the attack, witnessing Naruto's leg leave a deep imprint in the earth. Her eyes widened at the sight of his transformation—the boiling red chakra, the emergence of fox-like ears, and a swishing tail that betrayed his inner beast. Without hesitation, she conjured a barrage of snakes and vanished, employing the Kawarimi no Jutsu to escape the fray.
Naruto formed seals for Headhunter no Jutsu, melding with the earth itself.
Anko, concealed behind a tree, prepped her kunai with an Explosive Tag. As Naruto resurfaced from underneath her, she attempted another Kawarimi, hurling the peppered kunai at him, "How did he find me so quickly?"
With reflexes honed by Kurama's chakra, Naruto snatched the kunai from the air and redirected it back towards Anko in incredible feat of speed. Her eyes shot open as the ignited tag loomed dangerously close.
*BOOM*
The explosion's smoke billowed into the sky as Naruto employed the Shunshin no Jutsu to exit the smoke cloud. Circling the blast site, he found Anko seated beneath a towering tree, Tenzō by her side. Concern etched on his face, Naruto approached, "Anko-sensei! Are you alright?!"
"Kid, ever heard of holding back? I'm still a girl, you know… Or is that tenderness reserved for your girlfriend?" Anko teased, her reddened limbs marked with scratches from which slowly oozed blood. The clothing around these wounds was severely burned.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"Relax, it's just training. Accidents happen," Anko interrupted, her voice steady despite the pain.
Tenzō offered a hand, helping Anko to her feet. "I'll take Anko-san to the hospital; training for today is over."
Anko mustered a weak chuckle, "Hehe, next time, Tenzō will be fighting with me together, let's see how you'll fare."
With a swift series of seals, Tenzō whisked them away with the Shunshin no Jutsu, leaving only swirling leaves in their wake.
The chakra around Naruto dissipated, revealing his familiar features once more. He clenched his fist, feeling the residual power coursing within.
"Don't blame yourself; it's not your fault," a voice echoed in his mind. "She used a kunai herself, underestimating your speed. Next time she'll not do the same mistake."
Naruto pondered silently, the weight of the day's events settling in his heart. For a few minutes, he stood motionless in the clearing, his senses heightened. A hulking bear charged at him, but with a mere thought, he vanished in a whirlwind of leaves, evading the attack with ease.
At Training Ground 14.
A picturesque meadow played host to four distinct figures. Two sported vibrant green spandex, thick eyebrows, and bowl haircuts, while a third, with long dark hair and pale eyes, exuded a quiet strength. The sole girl, clad in a blue qipao with her hair in twin buns, had a touch of melancholy on her face.
Without warning, Naruto materialized beside them, his arrival marked by a swirl of leaves and a carefree grin, "Yo!"
Tenten's expression brightened instantly. "Naruto-kun! I didn't expect you to come here today."
"My teacher had an unexpected issue. So, I'm free for the whole day," Naruto replied, nodding respectfully to the others. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, a genin of Team 7."
The elder man's eyes bulged in recognition, "Team 7? Kakashi's squad? Is he alright?"
"Kakashi-sensei is fine. We're just on a break after a mission, so I've been training with another teacher," Naruto clarified.
Intrigued, the man leaned in, "And what wind brings you to our grounds?"
Tenten interjected, her hand resting lightly on Naruto's shoulder, "Naruto's been trainind in the Forest of Death. Despite being younger, I believe he's quite formidable."
"The Forest of Death, you say? A challenging area indeed," Guy mused, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he offered a handshake, "You can join our training, if you can stand it, of course. My name is Might Guy."
Naruto returned the gesture warmly, "I'll give it my all, Guy-sensei."
Rock Lee stepped forward, his smile as bright as his spandex, "Rock Lee, pleased to meet you, Naruto-san!"
Naruto's smile matched Lee's enthusiasm, "Pleasure's all mine."
The last guy merely nodded in acknowledgment, "Hyuga Neji."
"Oh, you're not Hinata-chan's relative by any chance?" Naruto's question hung in the air, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from Tenten and a narrowing of Neji's eyes.
"She's my cousin," Neji responded after a moment, his voice measured.
A wide grin spread across Naruto's face, and he chuckled, "What a coincidence. I've been meaning to speak with Hinata-chan's family for some time, but she's been elusive on this subject. By the way, I'm her boyfriend."
Neji's eyes widened in surprise, and Tenten's concern was palpable, "Fate seems to have plans of its own," Neji remarked, prompting a collective sigh from Team 9.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm just saying that fate brought you here. So that we meet in battle and I could win," Neji explained.
"Fate?" Naruto echoed, his expression unreadable, "I'm open to a challenge, but I don't believe in predestined outcomes." His words drew another sigh from the group, who knew all too well Neji's steadfast belief in fate.
Neji took his fighting stance, the veins around his eyes prominent, "Why do you say that?"
"Because just ten minutes ago, I accidentally injured my teacher during training," Naruto admitted, causing a wince from everyone but Neji. "If that was fate…" He stood firm in his practiced stance, "…then it's a fate I'd rather not have." His face remained stoic, betraying no emotion.
Kurama's voice chimed in Naruto's mind, playful and light, "Perhaps we'll get to test my chakra in battle after all?"
"Doubt it," Naruto muttered under his breath.
Guy stepped forward, his hand raised authoritatively, "This will be a taijutsu-only match. No ninjutsu, genjutsu, or weapons are permitted. The match ends when one participant is unable to continue, and as the judge, I reserve the right to stop the fight at any time. Are you both ready?" He saw their nods and swiftly retreated. "Begin!"
Naruto remained still, letting Neji to initiate the attack. He closed the gap swiftly, unleashing a flurry of strikes, only to find Naruto deflecting each one with precise wrist movements.
Naruto countered with a high kick aimed at Neji's side, but noticing Neji's readiness to counter with a gentle fist technique, he quickly retracted his leg. Instead, he launched a series of punches towards Neji's torso, which were deftly blocked. Naruto then leaped back, putting some distance between them.
Guy stood contemplatively, stroking his chin, "He's adept at handling a Byakugan user. Maybe he was sparring with Hinata-san?"
Meanwhile, Tenten and Lee observed the duel, their expressions tucked with anticipation.
Neji advanced once more, his strikes precise but futile against Naruto's deft evasions and counters.
In a swift exchange, Naruto redirected Neji's arm, creating a blind spot. However, with the Byakugan's sight Neji still saw an impending leg strike and brought his other hand, prepared to block. But Naruto altered his attack's path, targeting Neji's leg with increased velocity.
"Too fast!" Neji realized. Unable to move his leg out of the way in time, Neji received a powerful blow to his leg. The strike unbalanced him, and Naruto took advantage of it with a solid punch to Neji's jaw, sending him reeling.
Neji's tried to counter with blind and desperate attack; Naruto sidestepped and landed another hit to Neji's shoulder, followed by a swift blow to his cheek. As Neji staggered back, Naruto targeted the weakened leg with another kick, forcing Neji to kneel.
After this, Naruto poised to deliver a final blow to Neji's temple but stopped, turning to Guy instead, "I think that's enough for a spar."
Guy beamed, giving a thumbs-up, "Your spirit blazes with youth, Naruto-kun!"
Tenten and Lee approached, their eyes shining with admiration, "Incredible! You really managed to beat him!"
Naruto, slightly embarrassed, scratched his head, "I already had quite an experience with the Byakugan..." He offered a hand to Neji, who regarded him quizzically.
"Why hold back the final strike?" Neji inquired.
"Hahaha! Imagine explaining to Hinata-chan that I knocked out her cousin. Your talk about fate irked me, but that's no excuse to overstep in a friendly spar."
Guy and Lee were visibly moved, tears glistening in their eyes, "Such ardor! We must nurture this youthful blaze!" Guy exclaimed.
Lee nodded vigorously, "Indeed, Guy-sensei! To honor Naruto-san's fiery spirit, let us undertake a hundred laps around Konoha — on one hand!"
"And if we fail, then ten thousand one-armed push-ups shall be our penance!" Guy's declaration rang with determination.
Lee's response was equally fervent, "You're right! Guy-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"GUY-SENSEI!"
"LEE!" In a dramatic display of… camaraderie, they embraced, a picturesque sunset materializing behind them. Naruto, suspecting a genjutsu, made a half-hearted attempt to dispel the illusion.
While this was happening, Tenten watched Naruto with flushed cheeks but sighed, remembering Hinata, "Don't even try; their bond is beyond illusions."
Naruto turned to her with a grin, revealing his slightly elongated canine teeth, "Your team's spirit is as energetic as you said, Tenten-chan."
She blushed, her thoughts racing, "Were his teeth always that sharp? And those whisker marks… No, focus! He's taken."
Guy and Lee, still beaming, approached, "We're leaving to hone our flames of youth! Tenten-chan, Naruto-kun is now under your wing. Choose to spar or join our routine training," Guy instructed before he and Lee vanished from the clearing.
Naruto, assisting Neji to a shaded spot beneath a tree, asked, "What's next?"
Tenten chuckled, her earlier embarrassment fading, "After witnessing your fight with Neji, sparring seems less appealing… Let's stick to the usual drills." Naruto pouted a little, making Tenten laugh.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
Third Hokage, Kakashi, Anko, and Tenzō gathered around a crystal ball showcasing Naruto's image.
Anko, clutching her bandaged arm, couldn't suppress a vengeful grin, "That bastard had it coming."
"Naruto-san did the right thing by stopping the final attack," added Tenzō.
The Hokage smiled warmly, his gaze fixed on the crystal ball, "Naruto's progress is a testament to his resilience. While I typically refrain from interfering in jōnin-sensei training methods, I owe it to Minato to ensure his legacy is honored. Naruto was meant to be seen as a hero, not as the village's outcast."
"I was curious..." Anko began, "Naruto really looks like the Fourth, doesn't he? Is he son of his?"
Kakashi glanced at Anko for a moment before turning his gaze to the Hokage, "No, Anko-kun. Naruto-kun is one of many orphans who lost their parents during the Nine-Tails attack," the Hokage informed her, and she narrowed her eyes. "Anyway, I want to support his growth as much as I can. Before starting his training with clones, I believed he could reach the level of a solid chūnin before the next Chūnin Exam," the Hokage revealed his thoughts.
"But with his training method, he can achieve much more," Kakashi continued.
Anko flopped into a sofa near the Hokage's desk, "Usually, genin aren't taught any techniques due to a lack of basic knowledge, but Naruto easily covered all the necessary basics with his clones. I assume the rest of Team 7 provided techniques to balance things a bit?"
Tenzō nodded, "His chakra control is excellent. Even with the Nine-Tails' chakra, which should seriously disrupt him, he could still direct chakra with incredible precision for techniques."
"Sasuke and Sakura received their techniques through their own achievements. Training with Naruto gave them a big boost in their development..." Said Kakashi, sitting next to Anko, "Naruto has become much better at taijutsu, to the point where he can hold his own and win against Sasuke, even with his Sharingan. The clones memorize enemy stances and attacks exceptionally well, allowing him to adapt quickly in battle. He even started developing his own taijutsu style, utilizing clones in combat. They also help him learn both ninjutsu and fūinjutsu. So, he has made significant progress in fūinjutsu and achieved great success in Wind Nature Transformation. Thanks to the regeneration from the Nine-Tails, he trains five days a week in incredibly challenging conditions, and after two days, he is already fully ready to train again," Kakashi analyzed.
Anko noticed Kakashi's hand reaching for his book, and she took extreme measures to stop him. Wrapping herself around his arm, pressing it against her chest, she asked him with an incredibly sultry whisper, "How soon do you think Naruto can reach your level in fūinjutsu, Ka-ka-shi-kun~"
Kakashi, although his face was masked, obviously blushed but quickly composed himself, "It depends on him and on Tenzō-kun, but even if he continues learning fūinjutsu without clones, in about a year, he should already be at incredible heights. But with clones..."
Anko pressed even closer to him, making all the men in the room blush slightly. Moving closer to his ear, she whispered, "In-cred-i-ble heights? You sure rate your... abilities highly, Kakashi-kun?"
"Ahem... Anko-kun, can you continue... This in a separate room? After our meeting," Hokage tried to diffuse the sexual tension in the office.
"Tch..." She detached herself from Kakashi, and he sighed in relief, making her smirk.
"To defeat the Sharingan wielder in taijutsu is a great achievement, considering they are the same age," praised Naruto's abilities Tenzō, "To defeat the Byakugan wielder, who is also older, in pure taijutsu is even more incredible result."
"If given permission to use the Nine-Tails' chakra, he easily reaches the level of a jōnin," said Anko, but noticing Kakashi's gaze on her, she squinted her eyes, "Just try to say that I'm not a full-fledged jōnin, and see what happens."
Kakashi scratched his head and turned back to the Hokage, "I was just concerned that while you were rubbing against me, you might have damaged the bandages."
"Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me," the Hokage intervened. "Now, I have news for you, Tenzō. Your service to the ANBU has been invaluable, and your contributions to the village are beyond measure, however I think the time has come for your skills to be passed on to the next generation. Konoha needs shinobi like you to guide and train our young ninja to become protectors of our future." This revelation widened the eyes of both Anko and Kakashi, "I appoint you as an additional sensei for Team 7. Your main task is to monitor Naruto's development and safety, as well as the safety of Konoha... from Naruto."
Kakashi scratched his head and turned to the Hokage, "Do you really think this is a wise decision? Tenzō is a crucial asset in ANBU, the best operative in history..."
"Konoha can handle the absence of one operative, even the best one," reassured him the Hokage, standing up from the chair and retrieving a jōnin vest from under the table. Tenzō quickly landed on one knee and bowed his head to the ground, "Remove your mask; from now on, your name is Yamato."
Tenzō, now Yamato, slowly removed his mask, revealing his face. The Hokage continued, "Accept this vest and approach your new responsibilities with diligence."
Suddenly, a series of slow claps echoed in the room, causing all the men to turn their heads towards Anko. The Hokage squinted his eyes at Anko, prompting her to grab Kakashi's hand again, this time trying to hide behind him.
A couple of days later. Training Ground 4.
"Enough!" Kurenai exclaimed with a wide smile on her face.
Immediately, sounds of falling were heard across the clearing. Kiba, Shino, and Hinata couldn't stay on their feet after another training session with Naruto.
Hinata raised her head to look at her boyfriend, who wiped his face with the towel Kurenai threw at him. Her eyes slid down his face and dropped lower to his glistening in sweat chest and abs. Lifting her eyes again to his face, she blushed deeply, realizing his gaze was on her, and a smirk adorned his face.
Suddenly, he raised his hand, and another towel flew towards it, courtesy of Kurenai. He calmly approached Hinata, who couldn't take her gaze off his blue eyes. Sitting down beside her, his smirk turned into a warm smile.
"Are you okay?" He asked, wiping the sweat droplets that gathered on her face.
She nodded, still not breaking eye contact with him. There was only love and tenderness in his eyes. She shifted her gaze to his lips and licked her own slightly. How much she wished...
Suddenly, Naruto leaned towards her ear and whispered, "Not in front of the team, Hinata-chan."
She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed sadly. Kiba, noticing this scene, chuckled and rose from the ground with difficulty. Helping Shino to his feet, he smiled at Kurenai, "We're going. The rest of the day is already planned for both of us."
Kurenai nodded with a smile and also stood up, glancing at Naruto, who wrapped his arms around Hinata and was ready to use Shunshin, "I recommend visiting the hot springs. I heard they opened mixed springs for couples..."
Naruto smiled, and Hinata wrapped her arms around his neck, hiding her face in the crook of his neck. "I don't want others to see Hinata-chan...," said Naruto, his smile turning mischievous, "I want her all to myself."
With these words, he disappeared in the swirl of leaves, causing Kurenai to sigh, "Maybe I should try to find Asuma...? I feel like hugging him for full day..."
Outskirts of Training Ground 4.
Naruto paused for a moment on a tree, preparing to ask Hinata something, but suddenly something jumped on him from above.
Dodging to the side, he sweatdropped, seeing Anko landing face-first on a branch, "Why didn't you catch me...?" She demanded, her tone half-mocking.
"I already have my hands full..."
Suddenly, Anko's eyes welled up with tears, and a bottle of sake appeared in her hand, "No one has free hands for Anko-chan!"
Naruto looked at Hinata, who was watching Anko with concern, and sighed. Approaching Anko, he put Hinata down, and together they helped her get up.
"What happened, Anko-san?" Hinata politely asked.
Anko sobbed a little, "I argued with Kurenai-chan."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "But she was just with us during training?"
Anko tilted her head to the ground, "It was the day before yesterday."
Hinata looked at Anko in surprise, "So you've been drinking since then?" Anko nodded.
Naruto glanced at Hinata, and they both nodded simultaneously, before disappearing into the swirl of leaves along with Anko.
Anko's House. A few minutes later.
Naruto and Hinata laid Anko on the bed, but she didn't want to fall asleep, so they stayed and listened to her story.
"We were dating... and she just... And then that idiot Asuma..." Anko mumbled unclearly, reaching for the bottle that Naruto took away.
"You were dating Kurenai-sensei?" Hinata asked, suddenly feeling like she shouldn't be here.
Anko nodded, "I loved her..."
"And she dumped you because...?" Naruto asked.
"Because she thinks our relationship is wrong!" Anko suddenly exclaimed. "And then this blockhead... Came, and she fell head over heels for him..."
Naruto and Hinata looked at each other again and sighed. Naruto put his hand on Anko's shoulder and smiled slightly, "Anko-sensei, you're one of the best people I know. Don't beat yourself up. It hurts to see you like this."
Anko looked at him with tears in her eyes, making a cute sobbing face. Seeing this, Naruto and Hinata hugged her tightly. For another five minutes, Anko cried on the shoulder of either Naruto or Hinata, after which she passed out.
Hinata sighed, laying Anko to sleep. Running her hand over Anko's cheek, she said a bit sadly, "Now I'll worry about her..."
Naruto hugged Hinata from behind and rested his head on her shoulder, "She's strong; she'll get through this."
Hinata intertwined her fingers with his, "But what if she doesn't? She said that she loved Kurenai-sensei a lot."
Naruto nodded slightly on her shoulder, "Didn't expect such a turn from Kurenai-sensei. But I think Anko-sensei will find a new match," he smiled a bit mischievously. "I'm sure of it."