I enjoyed Naruto until the Pain Arc. After that, it spiraled into a confusing mess, feeling more like Dragon Ball Z. Everyone became absurdly overpowered, and the story kept getting stranger. Boruto? Even worse.
Let's try to balance things out. No aliens, no reincarnations, no over-the-top Sharingan evolutions (it's already ridiculous), and definitely no superpowered Rinnegan Naruto wielding all elements or magical swords. Let's keep things grounded and serious.
In this version, strength comes from chakra reserves, skill, and equipment—not divine nonsense. There's no civilian council; this is a ninja village. And Daimyos? Gone. If they were that important, ninja villages would be redundant.
The Akatsuki struck again, claiming the life of Asuma Sarutobi. After defeating the two "immortals" and ensuring neither would return, it was time to mourn the dead.
Asuma was given a place on the monument in the cemetery's center, an honor every Konoha shinobi dreamed of—the ultimate recognition for dying in service to the village.
Naruto attended the ceremony where Asuma's name was carved into the stone. Shikamaru cried alongside Ino and Chōji, and what disturbed Naruto most was seeing the Nara heir start smoking. He remembered how long it had taken Kurenai to make Asuma quit, and now it seemed Shikamaru had picked up his sensei's habit as part of his legacy.
Speaking of Kurenai and her child, Naruto couldn't help but smile despite the somber occasion. That kid would grow up surrounded by amazing people, inheriting the best parts of Asuma's legacy.
After the ceremony, Naruto politely declined Shikamaru's offer to drink with him and instead found a quiet spot to gaze at the sky. The battle against the Akatsuki had forced Naruto to confront an uncomfortable truth: he was still weak. He hated to admit it, but he had wasted too much time trying to exploit the Kyūbi's—no, Kurama's—power with Jiraiya.
Ironically, frequent visits to his mindscape to meet the giant fox had led to unexpected conversations. They didn't exactly get along, but at least they could agree on a few things.
First, the Akatsuki was a real threat. Kurama had no desire to be used as a weapon again, and Naruto was determined to prevent that from happening. Their options were limited, though. Freeing Kurama entirely was one possibility, but it might kill Naruto in the process—assuming they could even open the seal without the key. The other option? Naruto's death, triggering a chakra explosion that would send Kurama into regeneration. Every scenario involved Naruto's potential demise.
Second, the world owed Kurama and his siblings a great debt. Hearing the full story had changed Naruto's worldview. Learning the origin of everything was overwhelming enough without involving a chakra-stealing tree. "You think I just poofed into existence, you brat?!" Kurama had screeched during the retelling. Naruto's cheeky reply—"Didn't you?"—earned him a week of silent treatment. Humor clearly wasn't Kurama's strong suit.
Third, Jiraiya had been an idiot—at least about certain things. Weakening the seal? What did he expect would happen? Kurama wasn't trying to escape, especially with the masked Uchiha still at large. The fox even blamed Jiraiya for Naruto's partial transformations. The weakened seal had allowed Kurama's massive chakra reserves to flood into Naruto's body, nearly overwhelming him. The risk of Naruto exploding before Kurama could escape was far too high.
Despite everything, Naruto did learn a few things during those three years. He improved his taijutsu, learned to use shadow clones to relay information, and mastered controlling his enormous chakra reserves. But truthfully, Jiraiya was more of a parent figure than a teacher. While he helped Naruto mature emotionally, his training methods were subpar.
Now, after Asuma's death, Naruto felt painfully unprepared. The Akatsuki weren't just strong; they were specialists, each with unique, deadly skills. Without the Rasenshuriken, the fight against Kakuzu would have dragged on for hours. Even with the technique complete, it was dangerous and drained too much chakra to be viable in most situations.
Kurama, for his part, refused to help. Even if he wanted to, the seal was a problem, and Jiraiya had the key—wherever he was. Probably peeping at the women's baths in the Land of Tea, Naruto thought bitterly. He needed time and proper guidance.
"Ask the hag to promote you to chūnin," Kurama suggested. "With a captain's rank, you can pick your own missions and avoid being tied to a permanent team."
Naruto didn't question how Kurama knew the intricacies of Konoha's shinobi system. The fox would probably find it insulting. Instead, he agreed.
Becoming Hokage was still Naruto's dream. No one would take that from him. By his skill level, he should already be a jōnin. Even Kiba was close to making the promotion. Surely Naruto was at least chūnin material.
"No, you're not ready." Tsunade's reply was curt and unwavering. She didn't even look up from her paperwork. Naruto stared, stunned. He hadn't expected this.
"Why not?" he asked, struggling to keep his voice calm.
Finally, Tsunade set down her pen and met his gaze. "You're immature. You don't fully understand the responsibilities of a chūnin. You question orders and act recklessly, endangering others. Reports of your actions against Deidara and, more recently, Hidan and Kakuzu support this."
Naruto bit his tongue and thought carefully before speaking. "So, you don't trust me? And the shinobi I work with don't trust me to have their backs? Tell me—are you judging me based on the Naruto from three years ago or the Naruto standing in front of you now?"
Tsunade sighed, her stern expression faltering. "It's not about trust. It's about leadership skills and ensuring the success of a—"
Naruto's sharp glare stopped her mid-sentence. Even she realized how flimsy her argument sounded. "Fine," she admitted, "I don't trust you. And neither would the council."
"What does the council have to do with this?" Naruto demanded.
"Promotions aren't arbitrary," she explained. "Every profile is reviewed. Power isn't gifted; it's earned. That's how the system works."
"So you'd let a group of biased people decide my future?"
"Naruto, those same people might one day decide if you're fit to be Hokage."
The weight of her words hit Naruto like a punch to the gut. Years of mockery and hatred resurfaced, but he refused to let her see his pain. "How can I prove myself if no one gives me a chance?" he asked. "I've been trying since I joined the academy. And now you're telling me to wait and hope people who've ignored me my whole life suddenly notice my worth? How am I supposed to enter the chūnin exams without a team? I haven't had one for three years."
Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk, the impact rattling the room. "My decision is final, Naruto. If you can't find teammates, it just proves how lacking your teamwork skills are."
"That's unfair," Naruto said quietly. "At least clear my schedule so I can train. I have too much to catch up on—"
"Now you want a vacation?" Tsunade scoffed. "Fine. Three weeks of wall duty."
Naruto opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. "Make it a month. Any problems with that, Uzumaki?"
"No, Hokage-sama."
Naruto's formal tone shocked her more than his words. He left without looking back, but Tsunade heard the door click shut and felt a pang of regret. Naruto had never addressed her so formally before. For the first time, she wondered if she'd been too harsh.
"It's my fault. I should have been dark, broody, and mysterious. That's how people seem to identify 'prodigies' in this world," Naruto muttered to himself and Kurama.
"It's a family thing. Uzumakis and Senjus are all hyperactive, loudmouthed chakra ticking bombs," the fox mused. "I was sealed in Mito Uzumaki, Hashirama's wife—"
"I did listen in class, you know?" Naruto pointed out.
"Sure," Kurama acknowledged sarcastically. "Your Tsunade was the most spoiled, egocentric hellspawn I have ever seen."
"... You mean in the past or even now?" The fox remained silent. "I'll take that as a yes."
"It wasn't a yes or no question," Kurama noted.
"Exactly." Rare were the moments when neither the human nor the fox felt resentment toward the other. Naruto was glad such conversations happened right after his promotion request was denied—it helped him recover. A part of him even believed Kurama was showing compassion, though he'd never dare say it out loud.
Winter was showing up early again. There were always a few weeks of snow in Konoha, never an actual storm—just soft, powdered snow falling from the sky in a thick mass of fog. It was the rare time of year when Naruto ironically admitted Konoha truly was the "hidden leaf"—he couldn't even see the Hokage Monument.
"I'm hungry... ramen?" Naruto asked Kurama. Despite being trapped inside his body, the fox could still feel things, including food.
"Hmmm... warm, of course, and please ask for extra meat with soy," the beast agreed. And so, Naruto made his way to Ichiraku.
"You humans never think about the future. Take your monument. In four or five generations, there won't be enough space to add another face to the cliff. What will you do then?"
"Well, by then, maybe the village won't need a Hokage," Naruto said thoughtfully. "Humanity does learn, you know? Just... at a slower rhythm, I guess."
"If humanity had remembered its past lessons, I wouldn't be sealed inside you. This village wouldn't be so resentful... your parents wouldn't be dead." Naruto stopped walking for a moment. He silenced his own thoughts, waiting for the fox to continue, but no reply came.
"You know something. It's obvious. There are things you aren't telling me. I can't tell if it's a way to keep my attention or to have some sort of leverage against me, but... at the very least, if you aren't going to speak about it, even if it's the truth, try to keep the subject buried," Naruto resumed his march.
"Consider this: are you happy now?" Before Naruto could reply, Kurama added a clarification. "In fact, are you fulfilled?" This time, the blond didn't even begin to formulate an answer in his mind. "Are you afraid the truth will create a bigger void in your life than there already is? Or perhaps you fear it will leave you with more questions?"
Naruto looked up at the sky. Snowflakes fell onto his face, but he could barely feel the cold. "Both. I'm scared of seeing the world differently. It's hard to keep a specific point of view. I wish I could always do what I feel is the right thing and never have regrets."
The fox snorted, but the response didn't irritate Naruto. In fact, he agreed. As long as they didn't regret anything...
"Fine. I'll keep the truth to myself. But not this part—I'll be selfish and share it with you anyway. Your parents loved you. Your mother would have sacrificed the world for you, and your father would have done the same. But he had obligations, and by trying to fulfill both, he made a mistake. He wished for you to be seen as a hero, but promises weren't kept, and what he believed in betrayed his trust. I've met selfless people in my life, but your family truly is an exception. Be careful it doesn't ruin you."
Naruto found himself smiling. "Thank you for taking care of me, Kurama."
"Don't push it," the fox grumbled.
Right as Naruto approached Ichiraku, his gaze landed on Hinata. The Hyuga heiress quickly looked away, her cheeks tinted pink. A couple of years ago, Naruto might have asked if she felt sick. But traveling with Jiraiya had taught him a few things about people—specifically, women's reactions. In hindsight, Naruto couldn't help but feel like an oblivious fool.
"Guess food will have to wait," Kurama muttered, predicting Naruto's change of plans before the blond fully acknowledged it himself.
"Hinata," Naruto called as he approached her. Her lavender eyes darted nervously to him. "If you have a moment, could we talk?"
Naruto adjusted his winter shinobi cloak, a functional piece that lacked flair but made for a welcome change from his usual orange outfits. Hinata, meanwhile, was wrapped in a thick brown coat with long sleeves that concealed her hands, and a deep blue scarf was snugly wrapped around her neck.
"N-Na-" she stammered, pausing to collect herself. "Of course, Naruto."
They soon found themselves walking through a familiar park. The place stirred a memory in Naruto: meeting Hinata here for the first time, trying—poorly—to fend off some bullies before an older Hyuga had stepped in. That same guardian had dragged her away as soon as he could, leaving Naruto behind unconscious on the ground.
"I still have your scarf," Naruto said suddenly.
"The one I lost?" Hinata asked, her eyes widening in recognition.
"Yeah. I—uh—I guess I forgot to give it back to you... a lot." Naruto scratched the back of his head, his cheeks flushed from more than the cold. Truthfully, he had no idea how Hinata would react. He'd feared rejection, so he had kept it instead, almost like a trophy.
"I've been meaning to ask..." Naruto hesitated. "And please don't think I'm annoyed or anything. I'm just curious. Honestly, I feel like an idiot. You've always given me... so much attention. No one else has ever done that. Why?"
Hinata drew in a deep breath, gathering her courage, and then pointed to a spot behind him. Naruto turned instinctively and recognized it instantly.
"I've been scared my whole life," Hinata began, her voice soft but steady. "I always knew I lacked the confidence and strength to meet my clan's expectations. But the day you saved me... I looked back as they escorted me to the clan district."
Naruto frowned slightly; he couldn't remember much about that day. He had probably been too busy crying.
"You were smiling," Hinata continued, her voice gaining warmth. "Even though you were hurt and had been beaten, you still smiled. I couldn't understand it, but it showed me your strength—even in defeat. That smile gave me hope. It gave me the will to keep fighting against my own fears and doubts. And from that moment, I wanted to protect it."
Her lavender eyes met his, brimming with emotion. "But I was afraid I'd never be strong enough to reach you. There was my clan, the academy, and... Sakura."
Naruto froze, her words cutting deeper than he expected. In those few syllables, Hinata had revealed the part of the picture he had never fully seen.
Sure, he'd chased after Sakura. Back then, he thought she was the only one he could reach. They were both born to civilian families—or so he had believed. But Sakura had always had eyes for Sasuke. And through it all, Hinata had been there, watching him, searching for his smile.
"Naruto, I... I love you."
The words hung in the frosty air, heavy and raw with emotion. Something about her confession felt desperate, and it made Naruto's heart ache.
"I'm sorry," he replied softly, lowering his gaze. "You deserve so much, and I... I can only give so little."
Hinata's delicate hand suddenly wrapped around his own.
"We barely know each other," Naruto continued, his voice tinged with guilt. "I don't even know your birthday, your favorite food, your favorite flower. Do you... do you think it's too late?"
"I sincerely hope it's not," Hinata answered without hesitation. "I can't imagine a world without you. We can always learn about each other... and share."
Naruto's lips curled into a genuine grin as he gently clasped her hands in his. "Then... how about I treat you to some ramen?"
Hinata's shy smile was all the answer he needed.
As they walked to Ichiraku, Kurama remained unusually quiet. Naruto had expected at least one teasing comment about his newfound relationship with the Hyuga heiress, but the fox seemed content to stay silent.
Teuchi and Ayame were discreet, giving their two guests privacy. Business was slow that evening, and the small ramen stall felt cozy and intimate. Naruto and Hinata tried their best to "catch up," though it was awkward at times.
At one point, Hinata admitted she had always known about Kurama. "I couldn't miss it," she said softly. "No one else has a chakra point like yours—glowing and orange."
Naruto was startled but relieved when she quickly added that it didn't bother her. If anything, she worried more about how the fox had affected his life.
"Don't worry. He's letting us have some privacy right now, so that's something," Naruto explained with a chuckle.
The evening had gone smoothly—comforting, even—until Hinata broke the quiet with a serious question.
"Since I've become a Jonin, my father has been... suggesting that I resign from the shinobi ranks and take a seat on the Konoha council. What do you think?"
"You sound conflicted," Naruto observed, his tone gentle but probing. "Are you asking what I'd do in your place? Or do you want to know how I feel about you taking a political position?" He didn't want to influence her choice or make the decision for her, though he suspected Hinata was leaning toward the latter.
"I haven't been on missions with Kiba or Shino for a while," Hinata began, her gaze shifting to the horizon. "Most teams split up over time. I've surpassed Hanabi and even Neji in our clan spars, and I've developed my own style of taijutsu."
Naruto nodded, recalling the ferocity of Hinata's lion palms—a terrifying combination with the Hyuga clan's Jūken techniques.
"I don't think I can grow much stronger than I am now," Hinata admitted. "And... I don't feel the need to. But I'm also a prime target for enemy forces. Every time I leave Konoha, it's a risk."
Naruto's brow furrowed. "Are they pressuring you with that caged bird seal?"
"Thankfully not," Hinata reassured him quickly. "The Uchiha didn't have our seal, and it didn't stop them from going on missions. This isn't about the elders. It's about me. I worry about my clan's future. There are people who don't even see us as human beings—just walking trinkets."
Naruto's fist clenched. "That's absurd. The seal's only purpose should've been to prevent the theft of the Byakugan—not to enslave its bearers. Whoever designed it failed on purpose."
"I don't know much about seals," Hinata admitted. "But you spent a lot of time with Jiraiya-sama. Did he teach you?"
Naruto shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Self-taught. Jiraiya's great, but he's... distracted. Always chasing after something—or someone." He snorted at the thought. "He showed me the basics, but I had to practice on my own. I get by when I need to create something specific. Uh..." Naruto paused, realizing they'd strayed from the topic. "Sorry, I think we got carried away."
Hinata chuckled softly. "It's okay, Naruto. I found it interesting, I promise. Anyway..." She hesitated, her tone growing serious again. "I meant to say that the elders won't let me go on missions unless I agree to take the seal. And to be honest... I'm starting to think they might be right."
Naruto looked at her in disbelief. "Hinata, the seal isn't about protection—it's a brand. A brand that says you're a slave. Even if they're not forcing it on you now, what's stopping one of them from abusing it later? You've seen it happen, haven't you?"
Hinata nodded reluctantly, looking away. "At least once," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
"If you joined the council instead?" Naruto asked, shifting the conversation.
"Then I'd be made matriarch of the clan in two years," Hinata explained.
"Isn't that what you've always wanted? To change your clan? To reunite both branches?"
"Yes," Hinata replied, her voice wavering. "But I'd have to meet certain expectations..."
Her lavender eyes fixed on Naruto with an intensity that made him pause. He tried to piece together her meaning, the weight of her words sinking in.
"I'm seen as a nuisance," Naruto concluded. "Or I will be."
"W-We can fix this!" Hinata stammered, leaning forward. "Right now, people still see you as a troublemaker who's stuck as a Genin, but if you went to Tsunade-sama and asked for a promotion, I'm sure—"
Naruto looked down at his tea, and Hinata immediately caught on to his reaction.
"You already asked her?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sh-She didn't refuse, did she?"
"Not outright," Naruto said, his tone bitter. "She said I wasn't mature enough. That people didn't trust me. Her exact words. I tried to argue, and now I'm stuck on wall-watch duty for a month. All I wanted was more autonomy, more freedom to grow, and this is how it turned out."
His fists clenched as he continued. "She expects me to get promoted through the Chūnin exams. Basically, the council will decide. And Hinata..." He hesitated, the weight of his confession clear in his voice. "I've been told—indirectly—that a Jinchūriki could never become Hokage."
"B-But Gaara—"
"He's the son of the Fourth Kazekage," Naruto interrupted. "They had to follow the lineage, Jinchūriki or not. I thought about him too, but... it's different."
"You can't give up!" Hinata exclaimed, her voice trembling. "It's always been your dream—your drive! I'm sure you misunderstood Tsunade-sama—"
Naruto placed his hand over hers, his gaze meeting hers with a quiet determination.
"I don't want to believe it either," he said. "But... how can you tolerate it?"
Hinata shook her head. "Y-You can't give up, Naruto. I believe in you. I always have."
Naruto shrugged, the corners of his lips twitching into a faint, bittersweet smile. Yet an aura of grief surrounded him, as if he were carrying a heavy weight he couldn't set down.
"I think a part of me always knew," he admitted. "Deep down, I've always felt that nobody would support me in reaching my goal. When she told me... it felt more like she was just saying what everyone else was already thinking."
He looked away, his voice quiet. "And I acknowledged it."
Hinata leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder. "So what now?"
Naruto tilted his head to rest on hers, letting out a slow breath. "I'll find another way. Becoming Hokage was just a means to an end—a way to earn people's approval. But now..." He paused, his voice growing steadier. "I don't think I need everyone's approval. Not anymore. I just need time to figure out what's next."
He pulled back slightly, looking into Hinata's eyes. "But Hinata—do me a favor. Don't give up, and don't change because of me. Otherwise... who would I look up to?"
Hinata hugged him tightly, her voice firm with resolve. "I promise. Take your time, Naruto. I believe in you."
Wall watch was exactly as miserable as Naruto had expected. He sat perched on the edge of the wall, staring off into the distance, waiting for... well, nothing. He wasn't even a sensor ninja—just another body filling a post. The more he stewed over this unjustified punishment, the more his resentment toward Tsunade grew.
"You could always just take a nap," Kurama's voice rumbled in his mind, deep and lazy. "Trust me, it's very healthy."
Naruto sighed, rubbing his eyes. He envied Kurama's carefree existence. If only he could curl up in a cozy corner of his mindscape and snooze away like the furball.
But his "handler"—some random Chūnin who'd clearly drawn the short straw—made it his mission to ensure Naruto's experience was as unpleasant as possible. The man had been antagonistic from the moment they met, his disdain for the blond evident in every word and gesture. Instead of focusing on potential dangers beyond the wall, the handler was more interested in monitoring Naruto's every move, like a hawk watching a particularly bothersome sparrow.
The shifts were long—nine hours at minimum. Sometimes longer when the shinobi meant to relieve him showed up late or didn't bother to show up at all.
"Have you thought about your vixen?" Kurama asked suddenly, breaking the stillness of the surrounding forest.
"My vixen?" Naruto blinked, caught off guard.
"Hinata," the fox clarified, his tone tinged with amusement.
Naruto's cheeks warmed slightly, though he brushed it off. "I don't know. It's kind of obvious now that I won't get recognized as a proper shinobi." He leaned back, staring at the endless sky. "How does someone even impress a clan as emotionally unstable as the Uchiha?"
"Your princess might be the sanest person in this entire village," Kurama quipped. "Her clan is ancient, her bloodline strong. It has remained largely untainted over the centuries."
"Ancient?" Naruto asked, curiosity piqued. "Is there something I should know about?"
"She's a descendant of Kaguya."
Naruto sat up straighter. "Oh... but so am I, technically, right? Since I'm an Uzumaki?"
"Yes," Kurama admitted, "but only distantly. All humans share a common ancestor. You, however, didn't inherit much of her essence."
Naruto frowned. "I guess I got your temper when I get mad, though."
"Wrong," Kurama corrected, a deep chuckle reverberating in his tone. "That temper? All Kushina. When she got angry, her hair would fill with chakra and whip around like tendrils. Who do you think inspired that old toad sage to weaponize his hair techniques?"
Naruto blinked. "You're kidding. My mom could do that?"
Kurama chuckled again. "She was a terrifying kunoichi. Your spiky mess of hair, though?" The fox huffed in disdain. "Completely useless."
Naruto laughed. "What about my dad? I guess I didn't inherit much from him either."
"Destiny works in strange ways," Kurama said. "You're using one of his signature techniques. The Rasengan was inspired by us and created by your father. He taught it to Jiraiya, who then passed it on to you."
Naruto grinned proudly. Of course it made sense that his parents had inspired even the great Jiraiya.
Kurama hesitated before continuing, a strange note entering his voice. "Jiraya also uh ... tried to have a look when they were conceiving—uh... never mind. Forget I said anything."
"What?!" Naruto's eyes widened. "When they tried to do what?!"
"You're talking to yourself again, freak," his handler's voice cut through the air, startling him.
Naruto turned to find the Chūnin standing behind him, a sneer plastered on his face.
"You know what?" the man continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "I don't even care. This is going straight to the Hokage. I don't know why she even bothers with a delinquent who can't take anything seriously."
With that, the man stormed off, leaving Naruto simmering in silence.
Kurama sighed heavily. "I could kill him in less than a second."
"You'd kill someone for being a moron?" Naruto shot back, though the thought had lingered darkly in his own mind for a brief moment.
"I'd kill him in response to his hate," Kurama said calmly. "I've lived for centuries. Hatred opposed by hatred eventually cancels itself out."
Naruto frowned, his gaze turning contemplative. "Humans clash, sure. But if they keep fighting long enough, they can start to understand each other."
Kurama chuckled, low and bitter. "If that were true..." He trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.
Naruto filled in the blanks himself. He'd stopped Gaara once. In a different context, their fight could've ended in death. But in Sasuke's case...
"Leave a clone here," Kurama suggested, breaking the silence. "Your handler won't even notice the difference."
"And go do what, exactly?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Anything but this."
Naruto considered it, a small smirk creeping onto his face. "Fair enough. My clone can report back if something actually happens... assuming it does."
With a practiced seal and a puff of smoke, a clone took his place on the wall. The real Naruto vanished into the forest, finally free to do something worthwhile.
A few minutes later, Naruto found himself wandering through the serene expanse of the Nara clan's forest. The soft rustle of leaves and the quiet hum of life around him provided a stark contrast to the turbulence within his mind. He spotted a few deer grazing nearby, their movements graceful but cautious. They seemed tense, casting wary glances in his direction.
"Do they sense you?" Naruto asked, his gaze following one particularly jittery doe.
"They might," Kurama replied, his deep voice tinged with amusement. "Animals are more perceptive than humans. They can feel my presence."
Naruto sighed, kicking a stray pebble into the underbrush. Becoming stronger felt increasingly out of reach. Each day that passed seemed to chip away at his determination, leaving him feeling smaller, more helpless. "How did people even manage to get strong in the past? Before there were schools or ninja academies?"
"They practiced. They thought. They imagined," Kurama said, his tone almost wistful. "The Second Hokage is a perfect example. He developed countless techniques, many of which are still considered groundbreaking today. His research ran so deep that most of it was sealed away in a scroll you're quite familiar with."
Naruto paused by a river, its gentle flow mirroring the undercurrent of his thoughts. His mind wandered to darker ideas—selfish ones, though not devoid of good intentions. "Do you think I could bring back my parents?" he asked suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Orochimaru's technique... it was in that scroll. I remember it. I just didn't pay much attention back then."
"Why would I care?" Kurama retorted. "Are you scared to meet them?"
"Terrified," Naruto admitted, his shoulders slumping. "But at the same time... I feel like I don't really need to. They sound like amazing people—strong people. I wish I could've learned from them."
Kurama stirred within the seal. "Your self-pity is grating," he said bluntly. "If you're so frustrated, why don't you do something about it? Actually train."
"I would," Naruto snapped, "if I knew where to start."
The fox rose within the confines of the seal, his massive form shifting in contemplation. Though he prided himself on his independence, a part of him was tempted to extend a hand—for his own reasons, of course. He needed assurance, though. "If I offer to share my power with you—"
Naruto froze mid-step, his eyes widening. Kurama was actually suggesting cooperation?
"Focus," the fox growled. "I'm willing to share my power, but only to fight the Akatsuki. Nothing else."
Naruto turned toward the riverbank, considering the offer. "That's more than fair," he said finally. "What do you want in return?"
"This isn't just a 'deal,' brat. If we're to work together, certain steps are necessary. You'll need the key to your seal." Kurama's tone was measured, cautious. His past hosts had treated him with varying degrees of fear and loathing—Mito had viewed him as a beast, Kushina as a burden. Naruto? He wasn't sure yet.
Naruto sat down by the water's edge, closing his eyes. This conversation needed privacy; he wouldn't risk someone overhearing and twisting his words. "Jiraiya will never give me the key," he said, his voice steady. "He probably thinks like Tsunade—that I'm not responsible enough."
"Jiraiya isn't the only one with access to it," Kurama pointed out. "The toads hold a blood pact with your father. The scroll toad you saw that night is in their realm, protected. You could convince their leader to order it be given to you."
"And if I had the key," Naruto mused, "our chakra could flow together instead of clashing." He paused, skeptical. "You really think I could convince them?"
"You'd be claiming your birthright," Kurama said simply.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, still suspicious.
"Look, just tell them you know about your father," Kurama added, his tone edged with impatience. "You won't even need to elaborate."
Naruto considered this for a long moment. Then, without a word, he closed his eyes and stepped into his mindscape, crossing through the gates of the seal.
Kurama stiffened, instincts screaming at him to act, to seize the opportunity to crush the boy's consciousness and escape. But something held him back—a fragile trust he wasn't willing to shatter.
Naruto stood before the fox's massive form, his expression resolute. "I agree to your plan," he said. "But we need ground rules. If I get the key and unlock the seal, I want us to train seriously. Together. As you requested, I'll only use your power against the Akatsuki."
Kurama nodded slowly, listening.
"And if I fail to protect us," Naruto continued, his voice quieter, "I want you to escape. Leave the seal. Survive."
Kurama frowned. "You realize that would kill you."
"I know," Naruto said, his gaze unwavering. "But if it comes to that, I'd already be dead. You're a giant fox. You could cross an entire country in an hour if you wanted to. They'd never catch you."
The logic was sound, but Kurama hesitated. There was one thing he feared more than death itself.
"Then I have one more condition," he said, his voice low. "And you won't like it."
"Go on."
"The Sharingan is my bane," Kurama admitted. "There are only three people who can use it to subdue me: Itachi Uchiha, the one who orchestrated my last release—assuming he's still alive—and..."
"You want me to kill Sasuke," Naruto finished, his voice flat.
"If you encounter him again," Kurama said, "I'll grant you access to my power. But you must end him. It's the only way to ensure the Akatsuki can't enslave me."
Naruto closed his eyes, silent for a long moment.
"You still plan to keep your promise to him?" Kurama pressed.
"No," Naruto said finally, a hollow laugh escaping him. "I'm done trying to win people's hearts. Honestly, I think Sasuke only left me alive back then because he thought he'd already killed me." He gestured to his chest. "I had a hole in my body, remember? You're the one who filled it."
The boy extended his fist toward the fox.
Kurama regarded him for a moment, then raised his massive paw and tapped it gently against Naruto's hand.
"The loud brat who wanted to become Hokage has come a long way," Kurama rumbled.
Naruto grinned faintly. "And he's not done yet."
The next day, Naruto left a shadow clone on watch duty, freeing himself from the drudgery of punishment detail. Sneaking into the Academy's library had been laughably easy; a simple hinge transformation and some quick sleight of hand landed him a scroll on summoning seals. With his prize in hand, he retreated to a secluded training area, eager to experiment.
"Couldn't they have made a specific chapter on reverse summoning?" Naruto muttered, unrolling the scroll and scanning its contents.
"Unless you've forgotten, this scroll wasn't meant for Genin—or even Chunin. That's why it's not lying around in plain sight. It's also the reason you stole it," Kurama quipped. "A good performance, by the way."
Naruto blinked. "Was that... a compliment? From you? I should check for genjutsu."
"Don't get used to it, brat. I enjoy winning, and you're my jinchūriki. I expect nothing less than total domination. Now, how's that reverse summoning attempt going?"
"Space-time travel isn't exactly on page one," Naruto muttered, studying a particular seal formation. "But if this setup sends you one way..." Without thinking, his hands formed the sequence of signs.
Before he could second-guess himself, Naruto vanished from the training ground. He reappeared mid-air, landing softly on something massive and green.
"Huh... giant lily pad?" he muttered, poking at the spongy surface.
Kurama sighed. "Congratulations on figuring out reverse summoning. But next time, don't perform a dangerous technique without paying attention to your hands."
"Counterpoint," Naruto shot back, "you didn't stop me, so you weren't paying attention either."
The fox remained silent, likely out of stubbornness.
"Good," Naruto said with a smirk. "Next step is to find the boss summon, right?"
"Do not call their elder that!" Kurama snapped. "The toads don't have a 'leader' in the traditional sense. Their elder is more of a prophet—an ancient being who even aided the Sage of Six Paths. He's older than I am!"
Naruto's jaw dropped. "W-What?! H-How has he lived that long? That was, like, a millennium ago!"
The blond clambered off the lily pad, now fully alert. He glanced around, spotting several unusual structures clinging to the mountainside in the distance.
"That's what natural chakra does," Kurama explained. "Toads and other animal summons manipulate it as humans mold their inner chakra."
Naruto hopped onto solid ground, walking toward the distant structures. "Wait, go back to the 'natural chakra' thing. What is it exactly? My chakra isn't natural?"
"More like..." Kurama paused, searching for a comparison the boy could understand. "Pick up a rock."
Naruto grabbed a nearby stone. "Okay. Now what?"
"That's your chakra. You give it direct commands, and it manifests."
Naruto frowned. "Uh... not getting it."
"Fine," Kurama huffed. "Picture this: you buy noodles, you cook them, you add other ingredients, and then you get ramen. That's your chakra."
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he mulled it over. "So... my chakra is artificial? My body has to process it—cook it, basically. And when I mold it... it's like turning fruit into jelly. It loses flavor and nutrients, so I need sugar or something else to make it work."
"Close enough," Kurama said, the faintest hint of approval in his tone. "Natural chakra is the third element. You already have physical and mental energy, but nature acts as a catalyst. Your comparison isn't far off. However..." He hesitated.
"Let me guess," Naruto said. "If I screw up, it'll destroy me."
Kurama chuckled darkly. "Correct. Imagine making caramel—you need just the right amount of heat. Too little, and the sugar won't melt. Too much, and it burns. If you can't keep the balance when drawing on natural chakra, it'll overwhelm your body and tear it apart."
Naruto winced at the mental image. "Yikes. So... where does your chakra fit into all this?"
"Somewhere in the middle," Kurama admitted. "Even I can't say for sure. My chakra is compatible with all kinds, but only if my will aligns with the user's."
Naruto hummed thoughtfully. "Still, sounds like something worth learning. If it's that powerful..."
"I agree. But take one step at a time, brat," Kurama growled. "First, focus on meeting the toad elder."
Naruto nodded as he approached a steep staircase carved into the mountainside. He was close now. Next time, he'd try to aim his reverse summoning a little better—but for now, he was just grateful he'd managed to pull it off at all.
It felt strange to be the only human walking among frogs, toads, and even tadpoles, but the amphibians didn't seem to mind Naruto's presence. "I'm tempted to move here," he said, glancing around.
"You don't seem like the type of person who'd be attracted to frogs. Keep in mind, you didn't find your affinity naturally—Jiraiya made you sign the contract. You didn't even read the fine print," the fox grumbled as Naruto searched for familiar faces.
"And you did?" Naruto shot back, ignoring Kurama's rant about how Naruto was a danger to himself. Instead, he approached a large toad armed with a trident. "Hey! I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I signed your summoning contract, and I'm looking for your elder."
"Hmmm? Oh! You must be the kid who traveled with Jiraiya! Welcome to our valley. We get some visitors from time to time—mostly lost travelers—but we weren't expecting one of our contractors!" The toad extended its hand for Naruto to shake, though it was far too large. "The name's Gamaken! I train the younger toads."
"I wish I'd heard more about you all. I never got the chance to talk with Gamabunta or the others," Naruto said, smiling.
"Hahaha, you must be our least active summoner! Some of us even wonder why you signed the contract in the first place."
"Uh… I didn't know I was signing a summoning contract back then."
Gamaken looked taken aback. "You—You aren't here to nullify your contract, are you?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "No, that's a thing?"
"Well… yes, it is possible. Though I can't recall it ever happening. But since you were looking for the elder, I assumed it was related to your contract." Gamaken raised his weapon and pointed toward a larger structure on a cliff. "The elder lives there. I'll escort you."
"Thank you, Gamaken." As they walked, Naruto remembered to ask about reverse summoning. "It was my first attempt, and I ended up a couple of kilometers away from the village. Isn't there a more precise way?"
"Nah, it's just about how attuned you are. For a first-timer, you're pretty lucky. If I recall correctly, Jiraiya ended up in the swamp to the south. Bunta almost swallowed him by mistake, hahaha! Poor Jiraya arrived right in the middle of a fight against a snake, they live under a mountain further down south." They reached the top, and Naruto felt an unnatural awareness, as if every breath was bringing something foreign inside him. "Oh, if you feel funny, that's because of the oil fountain nearby. It concentrates natural chakra… but you probably don't know what that is."
"I—I've been briefed about it, actually! N-No worries, I won't go diving in there."
"Haha, quite right. You wouldn't want to get turned into stone, right?" Gamaken moved into the temple, leaving a stunned Naruto behind.
Kurama sent a jolt of chakra to his host. "Wake up, you can worry about the aftereffects later."
"You didn't tell me about it!" Naruto complained in a lower voice.
"It's different for everyone, and it depends on their affinity. You could burst into flames or liquefy, for all I know… and don't you dare complain that I wasn't more specific."
Naruto was more focused on the inside of the temple at that point. It looked ancient—not ancient like some buildings in the village, which were probably even older than the Third Hokage himself, but this might have been older than Konoha itself. "I don't mean to be rude, but how is the elder?"
"Gamamaru is our patriarch. I don't think he even knows his own age anymore, but according to Fukasaku-sama and Shima-sama, our two elders, he's over a millennium old." Gamaken stopped for a moment. "He witnessed the birth of the shinobi world and has been obsessed with visions for centuries. He dreams of someone who will one day end this system—a world of peace. Personally, I don't think such a world is possible, and if it does happen, it won't last… First, he picked Jiraiya, then he picked Minato, and neither of them achieved his vision."
Naruto looked up at the warrior toad. "Who is Minato? Another toad summoner? I don't think Jiraiya mentioned them at all, though… I saw their name on the contract. They were right before me."
Gamaken choked and stared at the young shinobi before bursting into laughter. "HAHAHA! You have such a stoic composure, kid, I almost believed you." But Naruto wasn't laughing, and the toad quickly realized this was genuine confusion. "Uh… seriously, you don't know about Minato Namikaze? The Yellow Flash?"
The title immediately helped Naruto figure out who Minato was. "THE FOURTH HOKAGE WAS A TOAD SUMMONER? NO WAY!"
"YES WAY!" the toad replied, slapping Naruto on the back and nearly making him fall to the ground. "How come you don't know about your late Hokage?"
"Well, I'll let you know—" But Gamaken raised an interesting point. The Yondaime was hardly mentioned in the village. Unless people spoke about his role during the war or how he fought against Kurama, Naruto knew nothing of him. It seemed like a taboo subject. That wouldn't be surprising, considering almost everything related to Kurama—or himself for that matter—had been hidden from him since he was born. "Ne-Nevermind, I just haven't learned much about him. I guess it's still a sensitive subject in the village. He was the summoner before me? Then Jiraiya also made him sign the contract."
"Yes, I'm starting to believe he has a thing for people with blonde hair. You look almost like him—spiky, flashy… just a bit shorter, though. Your face is less sharp, and you have those whisker marks on your cheeks… uh… that's odd. Let's continue." Gamaken looked disturbed.
"Say, Jiraiya didn't actually make me sign the contract just because I look a lot like the Yondaime, right? … He did push me down into a chasm right after I did, though. I literally met him by accident."
"Let me guess, he was near public baths?" Naruto shrugged. "Because of course, he would. Jiraiya is… special. I'm not sure what Gamamaru told him, but the rumor is that it's related to his books. As for Minato, I can't even imagine. The kid wasn't born into a clan. He fought his way to the position of Hokage with hard work, and it paid off."
Naruto didn't want to think too much about it. Once again, he was uncovering things that adults had kept hidden from him. "How should I address Gamamaru?"
"No worries, he likes it when people act natural… just don't be too loud or too quick. He isn't senile, but… well, you can imagine what centuries can do to someone. I'll be standing by the door if you want to keep things private."
"Th-That would be great. Thank you, Gamaken." The warrior toad saluted and gestured for Naruto to step into the great hall. Inside, he found a huge toad sitting on a stone chair, asleep. "Uh… Kurama, should I wake him up?"
"Chances are he might not wake up at all," the fox deadpanned.
Naruto hesitated. Unsure of the right way to proceed, he walked up to the elder toad and called out. "Gamamaru? Can you wake up? I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I need your help." The old creature stirred in its sleep, barely opening its eyes before looking down at the human.
"Ohhh, Minato. Does this mean I've finally reached the great beyond? Ah, it's so good to see you again, my boy." Naruto rolled his eyes. "I might even be able to meet again with some very old friends… oh, how time has passed since the parasitic tree—"
"Uh, you—you are mistaken. You are still alive, and I'm not Minato. I am NA-RU-TO," the Uzumaki specified.
"Ah! I apologize, my eyesight isn't what it used to be, and it takes hours for me to wake up properly. I had such a nice dream… I saw a young girl dancing upon a lake. She was like the rabbit goddess, but her soul was filled with love and hope. A very nice dream, yes…"
"Kurama, are you sure this is the right toad?"
"I wish it wasn't… You have his attention, keep going."
Naruto took a deep breath. "I know about my father, and I want the key to the seal that holds the Nine-Tailed Fox inside me." Suddenly, the toad shifted, straightening up and looking down at the young human.
"I... I know that jinchuriki like me are being hunted down. These people searching for the bijuus have to be stopped. There's no shortcut to power, yet I realize I'm clearly not ready to fight against them. I need guidance."
The elder smiled, even barely. "I'm surprised… it's a good surprise, really. So you learned the truth and came to claim your heritage." The blond didn't have all the pieces of the puzzle. It felt wrong to lie, but he nodded anyway. They had to keep going with their plan. "I must trust you. You're an adult now, and it was never our role to decide your fate." Gamamaru clapped his hands together. "Gerotora!"
Right after the elder called, a small toad with rings around its stomach appeared.
The small toad looked around, recognizing Naruto, and the blond recognized it too. "Oh, this sounds like bad news," it said.
"Do not be so pessimistic, Gerotora. The time has come," the elder said.
"Jiraiya said something very similar, and they almost died the very moment they tried to tamper with the seal," Gerotora argued.
"Well, it's not your place to refuse. Naruto came here to claim the key. None of us has the right to prevent him from doing so," the elder spoke calmly. "Gerotora, please, I hate having to patronize people. Show him."
Reluctantly, the toad extended itself, and a very large scroll appeared from its body. "Your father had prepared a new seal in case the one made for Kushina weakened. He never expected to use it this way."
Naruto's gaze traveled across the scroll. Despite his limited knowledge of seals, the structure made sense, and the more he looked at it, the more he admired his father's work. It was a work of art. He couldn't see any flaws. Eventually, he stopped at a square. "I believe you know what to do," Gamamaru encouraged gently.
"Blood," Naruto deduced. He grabbed a kunai from his pouch, made a cut across his palm, and then placed his hand over the receptacle. As he did, the writings of the key moved from Gerotora's skin to Naruto's body. The experience was awkward, but he felt as if something had filled a void inside him. "The key has been collected. I pray it will help you accomplish your destiny."
"Gamamaru-sama, I… I won't disappoint. I promise."
"Naruto, I appreciate your devotion, but beware it doesn't shackle you. Let the flow of the world guide you. Shape your own destiny. I entrusted a lot to Jiraiya and Minato. You carry their legacy. Let this flame glow ever brighter." The elder clapped his hands together again, revoking Gerotora. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll go back to sleep. I wonder if I can catch that dream again."
With the elder now fast asleep, Naruto's only option was to leave the temple. Gamaken was ready to escort him back. Once outside, he noticed how late it was. "I have to return to Konoha now, or else I'll get in trouble."
Thankfully, his clone went unnoticed. A whole day passed, and none of the people keeping watch were able to identify him— not even his handler. After he dispelled the clone, Naruto was almost impressed. They came back eight times to yell at him for Kami only knows what reason, but despite that, he could only laugh it off. "They must be as bored as I am."
For once, Naruto felt like he had done something useful, and he didn't have to be ordered to do it. He walked back toward his house. The streets of Konoha were very different from the toad village. The usual hostility aside, it felt hundreds of times more active. "You humans can't stand still. You're always so alive. Perhaps that's why you lack awareness; you never take the time to look around you."
"Not everyone is like that," Naruto replied. "Take Shikamaru, for example. He likes to spend hours laying down, watching the clouds... though I guess his mind is much more active than it seems."
"Nature stands still, but humans do not. They move, they think, they build, they destroy..." Kurama wondered to himself what each of them could possibly be searching for in this realm of war and conflict. "Make a detour by the cliff. We need to talk." And Naruto did as he was told, already prepared for what was to come.
Once he left the populated areas, Naruto decided to check if he had everything figured out. "So... my dad was a Kage. I guess I didn't reach his expectations."
Kurama sighed and looked up at the darkness of his cage inside the seal. "He would be proud anyway. Unlike a certain someone, you weren't bothered by perfection, and... you aren't a complete idiot."
Naruto paused for a moment, gazing down at the village. The streetlights flickered on one after another. "You aren't as bad as everyone says you are either. What about my mother? Stubborn as I am, I guess."
"Unbearable, and yet I could only admire her determination. All the times some idiots angered her... hahaha, she was fierce. Kushina would return their insults and injuries a hundred times over."
"People kept me in the dark for years... or maybe they assumed I knew? Unless... I have to blame the elders again." He kicked a pebble on the path. "They meant to do their job, anyway."
"At your expense," the fox pointed out.
"Should I hate them? I guess that's only fair. I could embrace my pain and be done with it, but I feel like I wouldn't really be whole. Now that I think about it, it would be funny if my parents were still alive, and I never got to live with you. I'd probably be a spoiled brat."
"And I'd still be full of hate," Kurama admitted. "But don't you dare think it's all gone. I guess we can skip the big reveal about your origins. I expected you might figure it out, but there are more pressing matters." Naruto nodded and leaned against a tree, diving into his mindscape.
"I have the key. Should I open the seal now?"
"No." The blond didn't expect the fox to turn down his freedom now that it was in reach. "I changed my mind. I need you to prove to me that you are worthy."
"Uh... I thought you agreed to give me a boost only against members of the Akatsuki. What's this all about now?"
"You will open the seal only when you believe you are ready to face me." The great fox faced the Uzumaki from the other side of the gate. "I am a mass of chakra and emotions. To share our power means to share our thoughts. It will take a toll on your mind. It isn't without risk; I could consume your spirit against my will."
"You want us to fight... you even expect me to defeat you." Naruto could hardly contain his frustration. "Assuming I even manage to reach that level, what would be the point of fighting against the Akatsuki if I don't need your power?"
"I never said you wouldn't need it," Kurama replied. "But the reality is that even I could be left defenseless in certain situations. Besides, you wouldn't have to fear opening the seal."
"I am not scared," Naruto stated without hesitation.
"Then are you ready to face me?" But his confidence quickly crumbled. "I thought so. Go rest. We can talk about the next step later." Both individuals returned to their respective consciousness. Naruto remained on the cliff for a while, pondering Kurama's challenge. If he could defeat him, then—then he might as well be as strong as his father.
The idea planted in his mind, Naruto stood up, stretched, and looked up at the orange horizon left by the setting sun. "I will make you proud. Believe it."