"And then the rat exploded from the Rasengan to the head," Naruto said while casually massaging Oscar as if describing a mild inconvenience.
Team 7 stood in a stunned semicircle, jaws slack. The silence was so heavy, even the birds seemed unsure whether to chirp.
Kakashi sighed, rubbing his temples. "Right. That was... informative. I guess it's been an exciting few days for everyone."
"Exciting?" Sakura repeated, still stuck on the image of Naruto being covered in rat brain matter. "You fought cannibals. In a sewer."
"And a rat the size of a summon beast," Naruto added with a proud grin. "Don't forget that part."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "And you're fine? No infections, curses, trauma?"
"I mean... I took a really long bath."
"Right... how could we forget," Sakura muttered, visibly shivering at the thought.
Kakashi clapped his hands once. "Well, sounds like everyone's caught up. Time to get back to training."
"Wait, Sensei. Don't teams usually get a few days off after missions? You know, to recover? Maybe have food that doesn't taste like it's been stored next to rotting meat?"
"True," Kakashi agreed, eyesmiling, "but I figured you three would want to jump back into training since none of you have much in the way of personal lives."
Sakura gasped and pointed an accusing finger. "That's just rude! I have a life!"
Naruto tilted his head. "Oh, you mean the book club with Ino where you guys talk about Sasuke's hair?"
Sasuke looked annoyed. "My hair does not need defending."
"No one was defending it!" Sakura snapped, cheeks pink.
"Relax," Kakashi said, chuckling. "No judgment. Your hair is… very much like a duck's butt."
"Not helping."
Kakashi raised his hands innocently. "Okay, okay. Moving on. What would you three like to focus on?"
Before anyone else could speak, Naruto stepped forward and said firmly, "Rasengan."
The others stared blankly.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean. I want both of you to learn the Rasengan."
"That's... unexpected."
"It's a powerful offensive jutsu," Naruto explained. "Sakura could use a punchier technique—literally—and Sasuke, it's great for shape manipulation training. Plus, no hand signs. That's a game-changer."
Sakura tilted her head. "But... isn't the Rasengan kind of... your thing? Like, your dad's signature move?"
Naruto shrugged. "Yeah, and you guys are like my family. So what's mine is yours."
Sakura's heart fluttered for a moment, and she smiled. "That's... really sweet, Naruto. Thank you."
Sasuke wasn't so easily convinced. "There's another reason, isn't there?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Can't I just be generous?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, unmoved.
Naruto huffed. "Fine. I also think it would make us all more dangerous for the Chunin Exams. No one would expect Team 7 to pull out three Rasengans."
Sakura perked up. "Wait, the Chunin Exams are soon, right? Are we even participating?"
Kakashi nodded. "Yes. You're on the roster. But be warned, this year's exams are going to be more dangerous than usual."
"Because of me?" Naruto asked. His tone was calm, but his eyes were serious.
"You're no longer just some genin. Word's getting out about your heritage. And there are people in other villages who see that as a threat or worse, an opportunity."
Sasuke clenched his fists. "Then we train harder than ever. Let them come."
Sakura's face steeled. "No holding back. We're doing this together."
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, then made a few hand signs. Shadow clones appeared beside him, each one preparing to demonstrate the Rasengan.
"Then let's get started. This is your next step."
The team split up into their own corners of the training field.
"Sensei," Naruto said, drawing out the word with a singsong tone, "I distinctly remember you owe me a couple of jutsu."
"Yes. But we never agreed you'd get to choose them. So, I'll be selecting three of the best jutsu for you. Handpicked, personalized, Sensei-approved."
"Oh, come on. I had a whole list ready."
Naruto grumbled under his breath, but leaned slightly into the headpat. Oscar chirped from the sidelines, clearly siding with Kakashi.
Naruto pointed at him. "Traitor."
Oscar chirped again, louder.
Kakashi ruffled Naruto's damp hair once more, this time with a little more warmth.
"You've come a long way, Naruto. You're not the same loudmouth kid from a few months ago. You've got real strength now. The jutsu I'm going to teach you aren't just flashy, they'll help you survive."
Naruto's eyes flickered with a more serious light, and he nodded slowly. "Alright... I trust you, Kakashi-sensei. Just make sure they go boom at some point."
"That, I can promise."
"Okay, so what three jutsu am I going to learn?" Naruto asked, practically vibrating with excitement. His eyes shone like a kid at a candy store. He leaned forward, grinning ear to ear. "Chidori?"
Kakashi gave him a long, flat stare. He didn't say a word. He simply blinked slowly and started forming hand signs, deliberately ignoring Naruto's best attempt at puppy dog eyes.
"The first jutsu will be Earth Style: Mud Wall."
With a clap of his hands, the ground in front of them rumbled. A solid wall of earth burst upward.
"...That's it? A wall?"
Kakashi's eye curved in amusement. "A lot of your repertoire is built around offense and support, Naruto. Flashy jutsu. Powerful use of swords and other weapons. But you lack field control. A Mud Wall is simple… but when mastered, it becomes a game-changer."
"It's literally just a wall, Sensei."
Without a word, Kakashi formed another sequence of signs. This time, the ground shook harder. Walls erupted all around them in a sudden maze. Some were tall and thick, others thinner. One had dog sculptures carved into it. Another bristled with earthen spikes.
Naruto jumped onto the nearest wall, climbing up to see the training ground below. It was no longer just a flat open space. It was a battlefield of choke points, blind alleys, and traps. His eyes widened.
Kakashi's voice drifted up calmly. "A shinobi looks underneath the underneath. A simple wall can be the difference between victory and death. Block vision, redirect movement, create cover, divide enemies, spring traps… or even mislead them into making the wrong choice."
Naruto hopped down, his grin spreading. "So it's not just a wall! I could pop one under someone's feet while I'm retreating and send them flying. Or make a fortress to defend from. Or make them run down a dead end into an ambush. Or—ooh—spike walls! Instant trap!"
Kakashi nodded, pleased that Naruto's prankster side was coming in full force with creative uses of this technique.
"Let's move onto the second jutsu," Kakashi said, flowing through another string of signs.
Water Release: Wild Water Wave.
His chest swelled with chakra, and then a torrent of water burst from his mouth in a powerful stream, washing across the ground like a small flood.
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Wait, wait, Sensei. Can I control the pressure of the wave? Like… make it weak or super strong? And can I change its shape?"
"Yes. That is exactly why I chose this one. It's one of the most foundational water jutsu because of how malleable it is. By refining control over the flow, the pressure, the density, you can create new applications. For example, the Water Bullet technique is just a focused refinement of this very wave."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "You mean… I can create my own water-style jutsu from this?!"
Kakashi suddenly had flashbacks of Minato's terrible naming sense. A bead of sweat slid down his temple. "...In theory, yes. But please… be cautious about what you call them."
"What about Super Duper Spiraling Water Rasengan Wave of Doom?"
Oscar chirped from the sidelines, horrified.
Kakashi cut in quickly. "Let's just move on to the last jutsu."
"Well, you've shown me Earth and Water Release. I already have Fire Release thanks to Sasuke, and I am practically the best Wind Release user ever." He smirked wide enough to make Sasuke roll his eyes from across the field. "So that only leaves one element."
He snapped his fingers and pointed at Kakashi.
"Lightning Release. You're gonna teach me Chidori, right?!"
Kakashi sighed and motioned for Sasuke to step closer.
Naruto's grin widened as he pumped a fist. "Looks like Sensei is finally going to teach me the Chidori! Like a trade, right? I give Sasuke the Rasengan, he gives me the Chidori." He thrust out his fist toward Sasuke expectantly.
Sasuke just made a dismissive "hn" sound. "I don't think that's the case."
Naruto blinked in confusion.
"Sasuke is right. I don't actually expect you and Sakura to master the Rasengan, nor do I expect you, Naruto, to master the Chidori."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, what do you mean?! I already pictured myself slicing monsters in half with it!"
Sasuke crossed his arms, voice level and analytical. "Think about it, dobe. The Rasengan is pure chakra. Sakura doesn't have the reserves to form one, and I could only manage one at best. Meanwhile, the Chidori is different. The sheer speed forces the user into tunnel vision. It is powerful, but exploitable."
"But I've got my Hawkeyes! I can mitigate tunnel vision with the Way of Focality. I already used them to control Shisui's Fist of the Peregrine."
Sasuke shook his head firmly. "Not the same, dobe. The Chidori isn't subtle. It's a blade of lightning, blindingly bright. When you charge it, the light floods your vision. And the name Chidori—it means a thousand chirping birds. That's because when the lightning gathers, it screams so loud it sounds like a whole flock tearing through the sky. Bright. Loud. Distracting. In battle, that noise drowns out other sounds, and the light makes it harder to see your opponent's movements. You think you see clearly, but in the chaos, it blinds you in ways you won't notice until it is too late."
Naruto hummed with his tongue pressed to his cheek. "So what you're saying is… the Rasengan training will help Sakura's shape manipulation which can help her in her barrier jutsu, and for you it helps refine the Chidori… but what about me?"
"For that, you need to understand some history. The Rasengan is incomplete."
Both boys gave their teacher some undivided attention.
"The Fourth Hokage intended to combine his chakra nature with the Rasengan. But the technique is already formed purely from chakra manipulation. Adding elemental nature into it is… extraordinarily difficult. S-rank, at least. When I was younger, I tried to add lightning nature into the Rasengan myself. That experiment is what created the Chidori."
Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a look.
"You know… I think Kakashi-sensei is throwing down a challenge."
"Hn."
Naruto fist-bumped Sasuke. "Fine, Sensei. We're both going to try adding elemental chakra into the Rasengan!"
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. "Good luck to you two then. Just don't blow your hands off."
Sasuke walked away, his mind visibly working through the problem, but first he needed to create the Rasengan.
Naruto, however, stayed put, tapping his chin. "What if… I just combine the Chidori with the Rasengan? Wouldn't that be it?"
"Naruto, you cannot just smash together two completely opposite jutsu. It doesn't work like that."
Naruto jabbed a thumb at himself. "Ha! Watch me!" He spun on his heel as if ready to run off and try immediately.
Kakashi reached out calmly, grabbed a fistful of Naruto's long hair, and yanked him back to earth. "Naruto. First you need to master your chakra control. Then you need to learn to convert your chakra into water, earth, and lightning. Only then can you even think about attempting something so reckless."
Naruto groaned, shoulders sagging. "So… a long time before I get to invent the Chidori-Rasengan Super Ultra Combo, huh?"
"Yes," Kakashi said flatly.
"Great, so what's first on the agenda?" Naruto asked, bouncing on his heels. "Do I just make, like, a hundred clones and have them grind water-nature chakra exercises until their brains melt?"
"Step by step, Naruto. First, we need to get your chakra under control." The white-haired man motioned for Naruto to follow as they walked toward the edge of the lake.
"Control, huh?" Naruto muttered, scratching his cheek. "I mean, I'm pretty good at that now."
Kakashi gave him a sideways glance. "Naruto, when you were the Kyūbi's jinchūriki, you carried around one hundred times more chakra than me. Even without the Kyūbi, your reserves were four times greater than mine. But now, after inheriting the full legacy of the Uzumaki clan, your chakra levels…" Kakashi paused, letting the weight of his words hang. "…are about a thousand times greater than mine."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wow, I'm awesome."
"Yes," Kakashi admitted with a sigh, "but that kind of power makes control much harder. If you cannot tame your chakra, it doesn't matter how much you have. You'll just keep spilling it everywhere, wasting it."
"Okay. So… how do I even start?"
"Watch closely," Kakashi said.
He crouched at the edge of the lake and dipped his hand into the water. His chakra spread through the liquid with delicate precision. Slowly, a perfectly smooth sphere of water formed in his palm, no bigger than a single raindrop. It gleamed in the sunlight, trembling but never spilling.
Kakashi raised his hand, letting the sphere hover above his palm. Then, with chakra control, he passed it to his other hand. His body flowed as if he were performing a kata. He let the droplet tumble back and forth between his palms as he shifted his weight, rolling his shoulders, lowering his stance.
Naruto's eyes widened as Kakashi's movements became more fluid, almost like a dance. The droplet never burst, never scattered. He twisted low, bending with grace, until the tiny sphere trickled down his fingers. It landed on a single blade of grass, clinging for a heartbeat before dripping into the lake with barely a ripple.
Naruto was struck silent for a moment before bursting into applause. "That was awesome! Seriously awesome! Is that a chakra control exercise?"
"Yes. This exercise was passed down from the Shaolin temples. Unlike shinobi, monks do not fight wars or chase power. They spend their lives in meditation, learning to quiet the noise within themselves. Chakra, as you know, is the fusion of physical energy and spiritual energy, and it bends most to the will of emotion. Strong feelings can make it flare, but they also make it wild and uncontrollable. The monks discovered that if one could achieve true inner peace then the chakra followed that calm. By mastering their own hearts, they mastered their chakra. That is why they can shape something as vast as their reserves into something as delicate as a droplet of water. For you, Naruto, this is the foundation. Begin with larger spheres, then refine them smaller and smaller. Each step will not only teach your chakra to obey, but also teach you to bring peace to your emotions, even in the middle of battle."
"Got it! And once I master this, we move on to new jutsu, right?"
"Exactly," Kakashi said.
Naruto grinned, rolled up his sleeves, and thrust his hand into the lake. Chakra surged through his arm like a tidal wave. The water convulsed violently before ballooning into a massive, wobbling sphere nearly ten meters across.
Kakashi's eye twitched. "Naruto—"
The enormous sphere collapsed with a splash that drenched Naruto from head to toe, leaving him dripping like a drowned cat.
Naruto spat out lake water. "…nailed it."
"This is going to take a while."
For the next few hours, the training ground was filled with a surreal sight. Hundreds of Naruto shadow clones sat cross-legged around the lake, each one holding a trembling sphere of water between their palms. Some popped within seconds, splashing their clones in the face. Others warped into long wobbly ovals before bursting. A few managed to hold a perfect droplet steady for almost a minute, their features serene, before the strain cracked their focus.
Kakashi watched them quietly, his single visible eye scanning from one clone to the next. Whenever he noticed the slightest improvement, he'd murmur advice. "Slow your breathing… relax your shoulders… let your chakra follow your calm, not your impatience."
The whole exercise had the strange atmosphere of a temple lesson rather than shinobi training.
Naruto, in the middle of it all, was the only one not sitting still. He paced back and forth, eyes darting from one clone to another, muttering encouragement or insults depending on his mood.
After a while, he broke the silence. "How long do you think Sasuke and Sakura are going to take with their Rasengan training?"
"About a week."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "A whole week? That's forever just to train one move."
A soft chuckle escaped Kakashi as he reached out and ruffled Naruto's damp red hair.
"Not everyone has your little shadow clone trick, Naruto. For most shinobi, changing their chakra nature isn't something you can brute force in a day or two. It takes months—years even—of patient practice. Even for prodigies, shaping chakra into something as advanced as the Rasengan would normally be a long process. That's why I've given Sasuke and Sakura a single week. After that, I'll be shifting their focus toward other lessons to prepare them for the Chunin Exams. Whatever progress they make in that week, whether it's a spark of understanding or a full breakthrough, will belong to them alone."
Naruto pursed his lips, brow furrowed. "…Maybe there's a way to speed it up."
"Oh?"
Naruto dug into his pouch and pulled out a dried sprig of green blossom. He held it up like it was the solution to all the world's problems. "This weed can boost chakra regeneration for a few minutes. What if we give it to Sasuke and Sakura? They make one clone, their chakra regenerates, then they make another. Rinse and repeat until they've got, I don't know, a hundred clones. Then they train like I do. A month's worth of practice in a single day."
For once, Kakashi's calm demeanor cracked. His eye went wide, nearly bulging out of its socket. "…That's… actually a brilliant idea."
Naruto smirked proudly.
"But, what are the side effects of this… drug?"
"None," Naruto said quickly.
"What about how addictive it is?"
Naruto shrugged, then struck a match and lit the blossom in his small smoking pipe. He took a puff like it was the most normal thing in the world. "I mean, I could stop any time I want."
The way he said it made him sound exactly like every addict ever.
"…We're definitely running this plan past the Hokage before anything else."
"Fine," Naruto said with a grin. "I was going to see him anyway. I need to tell him about Shimura the Hawk."
Kakashi's hand shot out, clamping down hard on Naruto's shoulder. His tone shifted from exasperated to deadly serious in an instant. "Where did you hear that name?"
Naruto's smile faded. He drew in a long breath, his eyes narrowing with uncharacteristic gravity. "Both you and the old man are going to want to hear this."
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"I am getting too old for all of this," Hiruzen thought, rubbing his forehead as Naruto's words replayed in his mind. The hawk. The red letters. Danzō's scheme with the Baku clan. Every piece was another stone pressing down on his weary shoulders.
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi said, voice low but urgent. "We can't just sit on this. We must act."
The old man raised an eyebrow, his lined face unreadable. "Before we make any decision, there is something Naruto deserves to hear. He should know who exactly we are dealing with."
Naruto leaned forward, eyes burning with questions. "Then tell me. Who is this guy? What does he have to do with me, with my parents?"
Hiruzen inhaled slowly, as if the name itself carried a burden. "The hawk's full name is Shimura Danzō. He was my teammate when I served under the Second Hokage, Tobirama. We fought side by side. We were rivals, yes, but I considered him a trusted friend for much of my life."
The old man's gaze drifted toward the window, out to the village he had sacrificed so much for. "I do not know when it began… or perhaps it was always in him. Danzō believed, with unshakable conviction, that only he had the vision to lead Konoha into greatness. During the wars, I gave him command of a division we called Root. Their purpose was simple: do what needed to be done in the shadows so the rest of the village could survive in the light. A necessary evil, or so I told myself."
Hiruzen stared down at his weathered hands. "I like to believe that position warped my friend. Broke him. Turned him into the man who would commit any act, sacrifice anyone, so long as he could whisper it was for Konoha. But if I am honest… maybe that was always who he was."
The silence grew heavy, broken only by the old Hokage's sigh. "It does not matter. Danzō's actions grew darker, his choices colder. I let too many things slide sometimes because his work brought results, sometimes because I could not bring myself to cut ties with the man I once called friend. But when he revealed your secret, Naruto… when he let the village know you were the Kyūbi's vessel, stripping away your chance at a normal childhood… That was the line. That was when I disbanded Root and had him locked away in exile."
"So… did he know my mom and dad? Was he connected to them somehow?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Not in the way you fear. As far as I am aware, Danzō had no true relationship with either Kushina or Minato. They were aware of each other, yes, but there was no friendship. No bond."
"Then why," Naruto growled, "why does he have my parents' things?"
Kakashi spoke then, his voice grim. "Everyone believed your parents' home was destroyed by the Kyūbi's attack. The wreckage supported that story. But Danzō… he always had ways to make things appear one way while hiding the truth. If he claimed the ruins as cover, he could have taken what he wanted and left no trace."
The room fell silent.
Oscar gave a curious chirp and Naruto nodded. He turned back to the Hokage with that same blunt honesty that made people either laugh or panic.
"Old man, you promised me my parents' techniques. How does that work with the house gone?"
"Well, the Flying Thunder God is a forbidden space-time ninjutsu. Your father passed it to his personal guards. They still live, and through them, it can be taught to you when the time is right." He let the words settle before continuing. "As for your mother, Kushina… her two great techniques, the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Art of the Spear, are not lost to time. Mito-sama herself made sure her knowledge was recorded, and the Senju clan safeguarded it in their archives. The scrolls remain there still, preserved along with the records of your clan."
"Wait! Mom used a spear?"
Hiruzen smiled at the memory. "Yes. The Uzumaki have a history of weapon arts. One famous Uzumaki, Ashina Uzumaki, wielded twin blades. Mito-sama used war fans. Kushina favored the spear. And from what Jiraiya and Kakashi reported about you, your sword work is already strong. You carry the Uzumaki knack for weapons in your blood."
Naruto blinked and felt his cheeks heat. The thought that his training with a zweihander and a rapier might echo his lineage made him grin. Oscar chirped, bowing his head like a tiny courtier.
"So are you going to wait for Tsunade to return and ask for the jutsu?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Those scrolls belong to the Senju. Tsunade is their heir in name, but the clan estates and archives are currently managed by vassals and curators. I have spoken to them and requested copies of the techniques for you."
Naruto gave a quick nod, then his face hardened. "Thanks for that, old man. But I want to take my parents' legacy away from the hawk."
Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly at the bluntness of the statement.
"Naruto, this is dangerous. Danzō is not just a petty thief. He is dangerous and clever. Acting on impulse could make things worse."
Naruto did not flinch at Kakashi's warnings. He set his jaw and spoke in that flat, unstoppable way he sometimes had when he decided something was his. "I do not care. If Danzō has my parents' things and he is the sort of man who hides behind lies, then he is already running. If you want him found, then waiting might mean we never find him. I am your best shot at reaching him, and if you want him stopped, then let me try."
"Naruto is right. If Danzō is hiding, unraveling him could take months or even years. Orochimaru is already stirring in the shadows, and we cannot afford another blind spot. If you insist on pursuing this, we will do it carefully. We will watch him, and we will control whatever moves are necessary."
Kakashi did not like the plan. "If Danzō learns that you and I are tailing him, what then? What if he cuts off contact with Naruto or buries himself deeper? We could lose our only lead."
"Then we pretend nothing happened. Nobody needs to know. I still have to meet the hawk. He will poke and prod, he will push for information. If I make him think I am being trained for the Chunin Exams by the Third Hokage, he will keep trying to manipulate me. I will be the pawn on the board for both sides. Dattebayo."
Kakashi and Hiruzen exchanged a look. It was clever and dangerous in equal measure, and they both understood how it could work.
"We need to consider a few things," Kakashi said. "Danzō is almost certainly watching Naruto. That means any step we take has to look natural. If Naruto tells Danzō he's being trained by you, Lord Third, then we need contingencies and rumors to back it up."
"Or," Naruto interrupted, cutting straight through Kakashi's careful planning, "you could just train me for real, and then I tell Danzō the actual truth. No tricks, no fake stories, no headaches trying to plan every little detail. If I'm actually your student, then it won't just sound real—it is real. The truth's a lot harder to poke holes in than a lie."
"Naruto… the Hokage is busy."
"Shadow clones."
That actually made Hiruzen pause. He stroked his beard and muttered, "Oh… the boy makes a good point."
Naruto folded his arms triumphantly. "Yeah! Plus you could use shadow clones for all the boring paperwork. Imagine like dozens of clones, signing forms, stamping scrolls, reading reports. You'd have the fastest office in shinobi history!"
Hiruzen chuckled, though there was a glint of tired amusement in his eyes. "Funny, but I already have an administration that helps me handle my duties as Hokage. A single man is not running this village, no matter what it may look like."
"Yet you're still so busy that Konohamaru tries assassination attempts just to get your attention."
That made Hiruzen's eye twitch. Kakashi coughed into his hand to stifle a laugh, and Oscar chirped loudly, clearly agreeing with Naruto.
"…Shadow clones could help with that," Naruto added smugly.
"I am still an old man, Naruto," Hiruzen said with exaggerated patience. "Straining my reserves with clones does not sound worth the cost."
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Fair enough. But that reminds me, we still have to bring up the weed plan."
There was silence for a full three seconds. Then Hiruzen slowly turned his head toward Kakashi. "…The weed plan?"
Kakashi sighed, lifting a hand to rub his temple. "Don't ask me, Lord Third. I'll give you the short version." He quickly explained Naruto's idea about using the green blossom to boost chakra recovery, create chains of shadow clones, and accelerate training time. He ended with, "…and Naruto swears it isn't addictive."
"Yup. Totally safe. Probably. I could quit anytime I wanted."
Oscar chirped twice, almost like he was tattling on Naruto.
Hiruzen's lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at the little green blossom sitting on the table between them. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, at last, he sighed. "Kakashi… go fetch Inoichi and Shikaku. Inform them of the situation. I want their minds on this."
"Yes, Lord Third," Kakashi said, disappearing in a flicker.
That left Naruto, Oscar, and Hiruzen alone in the office. The Hokage leaned back in his chair, eyes still fixed on the plant. "Well then," he murmured at last, voice dry. "Let us… try the weed."
"Yay!" Naruto cheered, throwing his fist into the air. Oscar chirped wildly in celebration, bouncing on the desk.
Hiruzen smiled faintly, the wrinkles at the edges of his eyes deepening with something softer than his usual Hokage mask. He motioned for Naruto to come closer. "Come here, my boy. Let me show you something amazing."
With practiced ease, Hiruzen reached for what looked like nothing more than a cane leaning nearby. He slid the handle free, and with a sly grin, he used it to nudge a carved lion decoration on the desk. A quiet click echoed in the office, and a hidden drawer slid open. Hiruzen reached inside and pulled out a small wooden box.
"That is both awesome... and really, really stupid."
The old man chuckled, unbothered. "Well, the real compartments are hidden much deeper. This one's just for fun."
He flipped the box open, and inside, Naruto first spotted a tiny, orange, battered book. Naruto gave Hiruzen a flat stare.
"Don't say a word," the old man said, quickly moving the book aside. "Focus on the other thing."
Beneath the book lay a neatly arranged row of smoking pipes, each one different. Some were simple wood with polished stems, others curved elegantly with ivory tips, and one gleamed with silver filigree spirals. Hiruzen's wrinkled fingers stroked them gently, as if remembering each by touch.
"You collect smoking pipes?"
"Not really, I just keep these pipes. With my age, they became a collection. Did you know... I met my wife because of these?"
"Pipes?"
"Yes," Hiruzen nodded, smiling faintly as his eyes drifted to the ceiling as though replaying the memory. "Back when I was much younger, still a fresh jonin. I used to whittle my own pipes from spare wood between missions. It was... calming, I suppose. A way to keep my hands busy and my mind still. One evening, I was sitting outside the hospital, carving the stem of a new pipe when a young medic-nin stopped and scolded me."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Scolded you? For carving?"
"For the shavings," Hiruzen laughed softly. "I left wood curls all over the steps without realizing it. She planted her hands on her hips and told me I was littering the entrance of a hospital, of all places. Then she picked up one of my finished pipes, inspected it for all of two seconds, and told me it was shoddy work."
"No way! And that was Granny Biwako?"
"The very same." His smile softened, a wistful glow in his eyes. "She didn't mean it cruelly. She was teasing. But I was stubborn, so I challenged her. I said I would carve a pipe so fine, even she would have to admit its worth. She laughed in my face and told me to try."
"And did you?"
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "I did. It took weeks, but I carved one from sakura wood, smooth as silk, etched with petals along the bowl. When I gave it to her, she accepted it... and then promptly told me she would only smoke with me if I stopped leaving shavings on hospital steps."
"That's cute."
"Yes." Hiruzen's voice grew soft, his thumb brushing the edge of Biwako's pipe. "From then on, every evening when we both had time, we would sit together. I would carve. She would talk. That is how it began."
He lifted the pipe gently. "This was her favorite. Not because of the craft... I made her finer ones later. But this one she carried into every mission, every meeting. She said it reminded her that even a stern medic could find time to laugh."
Naruto swallowed hard, the story sitting heavy in his chest. Then, he dug into his pouch and pulled out his own pipe.
"That is beautifully made, Naruto."
"Well, of course it is. I designed it myself. One of a kind."
The Hokage chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You Uzumaki... always so proud of the things you make with your own hands." His hand hovered over the small collection in front of him before he carefully picked up one pipe.
"Old man. What... what happened to Granny?"
Hiruzen let the silence stretch. "Biwako Sarutobi. She was one of the first generation of shinobi in Konoha. A medical ninja with a heart of gold, and a will as fierce as any warrior's. She delivered half the children in this village at some point. She delivered you, Naruto. She was there that night, helping Kushina as her midwife."
"And... she...?"
"Yes. She died that night. The night of the Nine-Tails' escape."
Naruto swallowed hard. "How... how did the Nine-Tails get out, old man?"
"When Kushina became pregnant, special precautions had to be taken. The seal that held the Nine-Tails weakened during childbirth. We kept her pregnancy a secret. The delivery was arranged in a hidden cave. Minato oversaw the seal. I arranged for a barrier to protect the site, with ANBU stationed outside. Biwako was one of the midwives." He closed his eyes briefly. "And then everything went wrong."
"So... I'm the reason it escaped. The reason she—"
"No."
The word cracked through the room like thunder. Hiruzen reached out and clamped his hand on Naruto's shoulder with surprising strength, forcing the boy to meet his eyes.
"Listen well, Naruto. Never let the circumstances of your birth weigh upon your soul. A child is never to blame for the sins of fate. You were not the cause of that tragedy. You were the hope born from it. Remember this: you are not the sum of your beginnings. You are the choice of what you become."
Naruto's lips trembled, then stretched into a small smile. "...Thanks, old man."
Hiruzen exhaled softly, his weathered fingers finally loosening their grip on the pipe. He held it out to Naruto again. "Why don't you try this one, my boy? A pipe isn't meant to gather dust. It's meant to be used."
Naruto hesitated for only a heartbeat before placing a pinch of green blossom inside. He struck a small flame with practiced ease and drew in a slow breath. The smoke curled from his lips in a steady stream, earthy and sharp, with hints of spice clinging to the air. He blinked once, then grinned wide.
"Wow… this pipe hits way better than mine. The pull is smoother, the airflow's perfect. No cracks, no drag. This is the good stuff, old man."
"Then keep it."
"Huh? But isn't this… important to you?"
"Of course it is," Hiruzen admitted, his voice dipping low with a touch of nostalgia. "It belonged to someone I loved. But I'd rather it be used than forgotten in a drawer. Besides…" He reached out and ruffled Naruto's crimson hair, the gesture more grandfatherly than Hokage-like. "…maybe this will be the start of your own collection."
"Nope. I already collect swords, shields, armor, and jutsu. That's enough of a collection."
Oscar chirped loudly from the desk.
"Oh, yeah. And plants." Naruto exhaled a thick cloud of greenish, peppery smoke for emphasis.
Hiruzen raised a brow, then, with surprising boldness for his age, pinched some of the green blossom and packed the pipe himself. "Well, if you're going to brag about it, I would love to see this collection of yours. But first…" He took a long drag, letting the smoke seep deep into his lungs.
The old man froze. His eyes widened for a heartbeat, then narrowed to a focused slit.
Hiruzen had seen a great many things in his life. But this was... unique. As the green smoke curled around him his chakra stirred and quickened in a way that made the old sage catch his own breath. It moved through him with the bright, elastic clarity of youth. It was faster than the Akimichi clan's pills had ever made him feel. It was finer, too. The old man could feel the threads of his own energy humming like newly tuned strings.
"How do you feel?"
Hiruzen let out a small, delighted laugh. "I feel like I am in my prime, my boy. My chest is full of fire. I have more chakra than I know what to do with. I want to use it."
"Then show me the power of the Third Hokage."
The old man's grin was almost shy. "I have not sparred in years. Very well. Come. Show me what you have as well."
Hiruzen laid a gentle hand on Naruto's shoulder and blinked once. The world folded around that blink and they were somewhere else, an open training ground tucked behind the Hokage's residence. The grass was clipped low. A line of stone markers ran along the edge like patient sentries.
The ANBU guards appeared behind them.
"Hokage-sama," one intoned.
Hiruzen nodded. "Create a barrier around the field to contain our spar."
The ANBU exchanged looks, puzzled at the odd formality of a genin fighting the Hokage, but they obeyed anyway. Threads of chakra skittered from their hands and the air hummed.
Naruto straightened and the armor he had been wearing blinked into place over him with a smooth shimmer.
Oscar jumped, excited at the idea of fighting a strong opponent.
"This will be a quick match," one of the ANBU said confidently as the hexagonal barrier locked into place around the training field.
"Pay them no mind, my boy," Hiruzen reassured with calm authority.
"I don't care for the comments of irrelevant shinobi."
That drew a small frown from the old man. "A shinobi must maintain their humility."
Instead of replying, Naruto released his chakra. The air cracked like thunder as his aura burst outward, a wave of energy rippling through the grass and stone. The earth itself splintered at his feet, dust rising in swirling clouds.
Hiruzen matched him, slower, more controlled, but just as overwhelming.
The ANBU froze in place, the casual confidence bleeding out of their masks.
"…What the hell…" one whispered. "That's not genin-level chakra."
"It feels like a damn bijuu," another muttered, bracing himself against the barrier as the ground shook under their feet.
"Chakra amount isn't all there is," Hiruzen reminded Naruto calmly, his voice carrying across the vibrating field. He extended one wrinkled hand, fingers weaving subtly, and the dust around his feet hardened, compacting until it rose and solidified into a stone staff.
Naruto dropped the visor of his helmet with a metallic snap. His heartbeat quickened. Despite the old man's years, despite his stooped back and kindly tone, this was still the legendary Professor of Ninjutsu.
A monster wrapped in wrinkles.
He flickered forward, body splitting into a storm of afterimages, his Zweihander humming at his side. Shisui's Fist of the Peregrine was layered shadow clones inside the haze so every feint might be real. To anyone else, it would have been impossible to track.
Hiruzen's lips tugged upward into a faint smile. "Amazing. That you could recreate Shisui's prized jutsu in such a beautiful way. But I see through it. Those are not only afterimages. You hid shadow clones within the storm."
Naruto's helm hid his surprise, but his clones all lunged as one, Zweihanders swinging in brutal arcs.
Hiruzen only bent two fingers.
Earth Style: Earth Flow River.
The earth beneath Naruto liquefied, becoming a whirlpool of mud that pulled at his boots and dragged his clones apart. The real Naruto sprang upward, twisting midair, and launched a roaring fireball down at the Hokage.
Hiruzen responded without missing a breath. Water Style: Water Colliding Wave.
Moisture ripped from the air and ground, spiraling into a vortex that surged upward before exploding into a cresting wave. He guided the wall of water with his free hand, sweeping it across his body. The fireball slammed into the torrent and was swallowed whole, steam bursting out in white clouds.
Naruto landed, knees bent, already forming another seal.
Wind Style: Wind Bullets!
The Hokage's hands blurred. Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire.
Dozens of marble-sized flames shot from his lips, bursting into a storm of tiny fireballs. Each bullet of wind Naruto spat was met midair by a crackling ember, cancelling out in sparks and smoke.
Naruto's jaw tightened. "Old man, how are you countering every jutsu I throw?"
Hiruzen's staff twirled lazily at his side. "Naruto, I saw your handsigns. Every twitch of your fingers tells me your intent. I have spent decades analyzing and preparing counters. Your jutsu cannot surprise me… not yet."
Naruto's visor tilted downward, his grin hidden in the shadow. "Then I'll just show you something you've never seen before. Oscar!"
A bolt of magic whizzed across the field, forcing Hiruzen to slam his staff into the ground.
Earth Style: Mud Wall!
A slab of stone surged upward, catching the glowing magic bolt.
But Hiruzen's staff rose just in time.
Naruto was there, Zweihander raised high, the blade wrapped in spiraling wind chakra. The Vacuum Blade technique screamed along the edge.
Steel met stone.
Naruto pressed with raw power, muscles straining as he ground the blade down, testing the Hokage's stance. But Hiruzen's feet were rooted like stone. He shifted seamlessly, lowering his center of gravity, and with a twist of his hips he slid the massive blade aside, redirecting rather than resisting. His rear foot pivoted as the staff came around in a precise sweeping hua, aiming low for Naruto's shins.
Naruto responded instantly, flipping into halfswording, one hand gripping the blade's flat near the midpoint to guide it like a lever. The staff met the flat of steel, sparks flashing. Naruto shoved forward, trying to trap the staff under sheer leverage.
But Hiruzen yielded, spinning out of the bind. His staff flowed like liquid silk, circling around his back in a classic yun shou flourish before crashing down toward Naruto's shoulder with a hammering strike.
Naruto rolled his shoulder with the impact, letting the blow slide, and drove the Zweihander's point upward in a rising unterhau. Wind chakra howled along the edge, the blade threatening to cleave through the staff itself.
Hiruzen stepped offline, rotating the staff through his palms in a chan si jin spiral. The Zweihander's cut slid harmlessly aside, and with no wasted motion, the staff snapped forward in a spear-like thrust, qiang fa, drilling straight into Naruto's chestplate.
The impact rang like a struck bell, shoving Naruto back, his boots gouging deep trenches into the dirt.
He recovered quickly, spinning the Zweihander into wide arcs. He alternated between heavy zornhau cuts and crushing mordhau strikes, battering with the crossguard and pommel like a warhammer. Each swing churned the earth, wind chakra exploding off the edges in miniature shockwaves.
Hiruzen answered with the calm precision of a lifetime. His staff flicked in rapid snaps, striking Naruto's wrists in jie gun techniques to weaken his grip, rapping his knees to destabilize his stance, stabbing in bursts at his ribs like a serpent's tongue. His movements chained seamlessly: deflect, circle, thrust, sweep.
A dance as old as war itself.
Naruto pushed forward, visor reflecting the old man's weathered face as their weapons locked once more. Zweihander grinding against staff, chakra thrumming through the steel, the boy's chest heaving but his grin still wide.
"Not bad for a relic," Naruto muttered, pushing harder.
"And not bad for a brat," Hiruzen answered, his voice calm, but his eyes sharper than steel.
Naruto surged with youthful ferocity, chaining horizontal strikes into a sudden thrust, trying to overwhelm the Hokage.
But Hiruzen anticipated the rhythm. He angled the staff to parry high, rolling the bind into a low sweep. Naruto stumbled a half-step, just enough. The Hokage exploited the opening. His staff spun into a whirlwind, battering down with liuhe gun precision: head, shoulder, ribs, thigh, knee, ankle. Six strikes in a single flowing chain.
Naruto's armor rang with each blow, his guard faltering under the storm. The final thrust of the staff rammed into his chestplate with crushing force, knocking the air from his lungs and sending him sprawling to the ground. His Zweihander skidded a few feet away, the earth gouged by its edge.
Naruto lay there, visor cracked, breathing heavy. Hiruzen stood over him, staff grounded firmly, calm and steady as a mountain.
"Power without control is wasted," the old man said, voice like iron wrapped in velvet. "And control without wisdom is just empty form. Remember that, Naruto."
Naruto grinned weakly from the dirt, chest heaving. "Tch… guess I just got schooled by a grandpa."
"No, my boy. You learned from a shinobi."
"Well, I just remembered that shinobi fight dirty," Naruto said while releasing an invisible blade.
Wind Style: Blade of Wind.
The invisible slash tore forward, a whisper of death on the air. Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. He hurled his staff into the path of the unseen blade. The staff split under the pressure, fragments scattering in the wind, but the attack had been stopped.
Naruto didn't wait. His Sorcerer's Catalyst rose in his hand, magic swirling with a strange light, and then his form shimmered out of sight.
Gone.
The Third's tongue clicked softly against the roof of his mouth. "Did Jiraiya's boy teach you that trick?"
Another sharp click followed, and again. Each subtle sound rippled through the field, bouncing back to him. Through decades of refinement, his senses wove a picture out of the returning echoes. The boy's outline flickered in his mind like a phantom silhouette.
"You can hide from the eyes," Hiruzen said calmly, sidestepping just as a barrage of sparkling shards shredded into the dirt where he'd stood. Oscar chirped from the edge, claws glowing with built-up energy. "But not from sound. My tongue clicks act as my radar. Echolocation, Naruto."
Before Naruto could respond, a swirl of chakra erupted as Hiruzen slammed his palm against the ground.
Summoning Jutsu: Monkey King Enma!
Smoke blasted outward, and from it rose a towering figure. Enma's white fur bristled, long mane wild, sideburns sharp like flames. His black battle-gi was cinched by a red sash, tiger-striped markings flaring across his chest. The glint of his forehead protector caught the sunlight as his deep, rumbling voice filled the barrier.
"Sarutobi! Why have you called me now?" Enma demanded.
"I need you to entertain a guest," Hiruzen said smoothly, pointing with a finger toward the charging crystal lizard. "Take care of that one."
Oscar roared into his ravenous form, crystalline scales flaring like armor as his body expanded. Energy hummed violently across his jagged shell as he barreled toward the monkey king.
Enma cracked his knuckles, tail lashing like a whip. "I hate fighting lizards." His powerful legs coiled before snapping outward in a brutal flying kick. His heel smashed into Oscar's chest, the force hurling the crystal beast across the clearing with a thunderous crash.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen clicked his tongue again, tilting his head slightly. His mind's map filled with the phantom shapes of a dozen Naruto clones, bows drawn, the air shimmering with the chakra of conjured arrows. The sound painted them clear as day.
"You know," Hiruzen said evenly, "illusions and tricks won't win this. I can see every bowstring tighten. I can hear the breath of every clone." He stomped the ground, spreading his chakra wide. "And I am surrounded."
From the treeline, from the air, from the rooftops of the barrier itself, the invisible clones loosed. Arrows screamed in a deadly storm, hundreds flying at Mach speed.
"Just because you can see them doesn't mean I'm backing out!"
Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!
The earth split open. A dragon's head of mud and stone rose, its maw gaping. It spat volleys of compressed mud spheres, each blast roaring like cannon fire. Hiruzen's hand flicked again.
Fire Style: Flame Dragon.
The two techniques wove together. Mud bullets ignited, becoming molten shells. They streaked upward, shattering arrows mid-flight, bursting into showers of fire and scorched earth. The barrier rattled as flaming mud rained down, hissing as it struck the ground, craters forming with each impact.
Within the chaos, the boy's invisibility flickered as he fired a soul arrow at Hiruzen.
Meanwhile, Enma yawned, scratching his chest as though the battle around him bored him. "So," the monkey king drawled, "what summoning clan are you from, little lizard?"
Oscar answered with action. His tail lashed, and he flung a massive crystal shuriken, the air whistling as the jagged disc spun toward Enma.
The monkey king barely moved. A casual sway of his body let the weapon carve harmlessly past. "Hmph. Hiruzen is toying with that boy. Does he expect me to do the same?" He chuckled, baring sharp teeth. "I don't play games."
His fist lashed out like a cannonball, cracking across Oscar's crystalline skull with a thunderous blow. The crystal armor splintered, shattering away to reveal the true lizard body hidden within the shell. Enma seized the tiny body by the scruff and dangled him with a grin. "Stop pretending. You're a hundred years too early to trick this king."
Oscar's throat bulged before a hiss of freezing white mist blasted forth. Enma's eyes widened as he hurled the little lizard aside, the crystals eating into his fur. Mid-air, Oscar twisted, his scales glimmering before he spat a sharp magic bolt that tore through the haze. Enma ducked easily, smirking, but his ears perked as the ground erupted where Oscar landed.
Earth Style: Mud Trap!
Mud surged up around the crystal lizard, solidifying into a hardened shell. Oscar chirped from inside the earthy cocoon, the glow of his magic already pulsing within.
Enma snorted. "Crafty little bastard." His gaze drifted back toward the main clash. "And your master isn't bad either."
On the other side of the barrier, Hiruzen's lungs swelled as he wove chakra through his aged frame.
Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!
A cloud of choking ash spewed from his mouth, thick as smoke, clinging to everything it touched. The haze spread, cloying and dangerous.
Then sudden red glows. Dozens of Naruto's shadow clones reached out with invisible telekinetic force, seizing Hiruzen from every angle. His body trembled as they tried to drag him deeper into the ash cloud, binding him down while Naruto himself prepared the hand signs for a massive fireball.
"Hmm," Hiruzen muttered, almost amused. "This is getting dangerous."
His palms clapped together, voice ringing with authority. Yin Style: Three Wise Monkeys!
The air shifted.
"I see no evil!"
Naruto's eyes went blind. His world dissolved into darkness, their sight stolen.
"I hear no evil!"
The roar of ash and flame, the shuffle of movement—gone. Sound bled away, leaving them adrift in silence.
"I speak no evil!"
Naruto and his clones stiffened. Their mouths moved, but no sound emerged. Their connection shattered. And in that silence, the genjutsu snapped like a trap closing.
Every clone popped in an instant. Naruto's invisibility peeled away like mist in sunlight, leaving him blinking on the battlefield, disoriented and stripped bare. Hiruzen emerged from the smoke unscathed, his calm smile framed by drifting embers.
"That was an amazing spar, Naruto-kun."
Naruto clicked his tongue, lowering his sword. "Some spar. The moment you took me even a little seriously, I got my ass handed to me."
"Do not see it like that." Hiruzen stepped closer, resting a weathered hand on Naruto's shoulder. "See it for what it was. Despite your youth, you forced a Kage to take you seriously. That is no small thing." He ruffled the boy's damp crimson hair. "Remember this, Naruto. No matter how strong you grow, the shinobi world has no ceiling. A single technique, the right skill, the right trick… can turn the tide in an instant. So walk with humility. Approach every foe with caution… and with respect."
Naruto's chest swelled. He gave a firm nod. "Yeah. I got it, old man." He turned to free Oscar from the mud, the lizard shaking his scales indignantly.
"That is a strange boy," Enma muttered, folding his arms.
"And I watched your battle with his summon. Very harsh. Could you not have entertained him a little?"
Enma snorted. "You're the fool if you think those two are children to be coddled. Give them a few years and they will be monsters to rival legends."
"I agree," Hiruzen said softly, watching Naruto pat Oscar's head. "At this rate, perhaps Konoha will celebrate the rise of two S-rank shinobi very soon."
The monkey king rolled his eyes, tail flicking. "Next time, don't summon me just to babysit."
"What if I want you to help me train them?"
Enma bared his teeth in a grin. "Prepare me a basket of peaches, and I'll think about it." And with a puff of smoke, the Monkey King vanished.
Hiruzen raised a hand, signaling the ANBU to drop the barrier. The shimmering walls flickered, then vanished, and three figures flickered into view in front of him: Kakashi, Shikaku, and Inoichi.
"Hokage-sama… for Naruto's behaviour. I am sorry," Kakashi said with a respectful bow.
Hiruzen waved him off with a faint smile. "No need for apologies, Kakashi. In fact, I should congratulate you on Naruto-kun's training. If I didn't know better, I would assume he had pumped himself full of steroids and forbidden jutsu to reach this level of strength."
Kakashi's eye curved into a crescent, amusement slipping through his usual calm. "Naruto is an anomaly even when you do know how he achieved his strength. He breaks logic just by existing."
Shikaku smirked, hands shoved lazily into his pockets. "The other villages are going to cry foul the moment they see him in the Chunin Exams. 'Rigged,' they'll say. 'Konoha stacked the deck.' They'll have a field day."
Inoichi frowned, voice measured and more cautious. "Strength is one thing. But what about his mind? Has he remained stable after everything he's been through? His growth is extraordinary, yes, but rapid growth can leave cracks. Is he mentally sound?"
Kakashi hesitated for a beat, glancing toward the boy.
Before he could answer, Naruto threw up a hand. "Hey, I am mentally the best!" he declared, holding Oscar under his arm like a grumpy loaf of bread. The little lizard chirped in protest, then went right back to sulking.
Hiruzen chuckled, gesturing between them. "Naruto, allow me to introduce them properly. This is Shikaku Nara, father of Shikamaru, and Inoichi Yamanaka, father of Ino."
Naruto perked up. "Yo. I'm Naruto. And this little guy is Oscar." He held the lizard up.
Oscar gave a halfhearted chirp, then buried his snout in Naruto's arm, making it very clear he was still sulking.
"Well, it's finally nice to meet you," Inoichi said warmly. "My daughter's been talking about you since you came back from your mission. Truth be told, she was very disappointed that you didn't come by to see her."
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Ah… yeah. I've been busy with… a lot of stuff. Sorry about that."
Inoichi's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Well, if you can, try to meet her soon. It would mean a great deal to her. Perhaps over lunch?"
Naruto hummed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. Yeah, I'll meet up with Ino-chan during lunch."
"Excellent," Inoichi said. "She'll be delighted."
Before Naruto could say anything else, Hiruzen stroked his beard and cut in with a teasing tone. "Then let us continue our discussion about Danzo, and quickly too, since Naruto-kun has a date to prepare for."
Naruto blinked, froze, then spluttered. "Y—yeah—wait. Wait! No! That's not what this is!"
Oscar chirped in mock sympathy, his little tail flicking like he was laughing at Naruto's expense.
Kakashi buried a chuckle behind his mask. Shikaku smirked knowingly. Inoichi tried to hide his amusement but failed.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
By the time lunch rolled around, Naruto felt like his brain had been wrung out like a sponge. Hours of sitting across from Shikaku had left him more drained than any spar. The man was terrifying. Smart in a way that cut deeper than any blade. Every idea Naruto had about Danzo, Shikaku had calmly dissected, twisted, and thrown back at him until it either fell apart or became ten times sharper. They had left the room with a plan so airtight even Kakashi had raised an eyebrow.
But all that paled in comparison to the challenge standing in front of him now.
The Yamanaka Flower Shop.
Naruto shifted nervously, holding two steaming bowls of ramen. Oscar chirped impatiently on his shoulder, then hopped down, scampering to push the door open with his little claws. The bell above jingled.
Inside, Ino sat at the counter, lazily flipping through a magazine. She looked up, expecting a customer, and blinked at the stranger in the doorway. Her brows furrowed.
"Yes?" she asked.
Naruto put on his brightest smile and held out the ramen like a peace offering. "I brought you lunch."
Ino tilted her head, unimpressed. "Uh-huh. And since when do strangers deliver ramen? Pretty sure the shops already do that. My dad must've sent you. I told him, I'm not in the mood for ramen."
"Wait, what? You don't like ramen anymore?"
"I didn't say that," Ino muttered, turning a page in her magazine. "I just said I'm not in the mood. Not since… well. Not since Naruto-kun. That bastard."
The ramen nearly slipped out of his hands. "What happened to Naruto-kun?"
Ino huffed, shutting the magazine with a snap. "I don't know why I'm even talking to you. You're just some random guy with food. Why would I tell you what's happening in my life?"
"Random guy? You seriously don't recognize me?"
Ino gave him a long look, eyes narrowing as if trying to place him. "You do look familiar. I just can't put my finger on it."
Naruto sighed dramatically, setting the ramen on the counter. "Ino-chan, just because I got taller, grew out my hair, and, uh… it kind of turned red… okay, yeah, I see why you don't recognize me."
Her eyes widened, her jaw dropping. She stood so quickly her chair scraped the floor. "N-Naruto-kun?"
"The one and only," he said, chuckling sheepishly.
Ino's eyes swept over him, lingering on his hair, his taller frame, even Oscar chirping proudly from the counter. She pressed a hand to her lips. "You… what happened to you? What is all of this?"
Naruto scratched the back of his neck. "It's a long story."
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice slipping into worry.
"Yeah, of course." Naruto grinned, flexing an arm for her. "Stronger than ever."
Ino smiled for half a second before her face darkened. She crossed her arms and turned away. "Stronger, huh? Then why didn't you come see me when you got back from your mission?"
"Uh… well… I had stuff to do."
"Stuff to do?" Ino snapped, whirling back toward him. "You promised me. You said the first thing you'd do when you came home was visit me. Do you know how long I waited?"
Naruto winced. "Come on, Ino-chan. I'm here now, aren't I? And I brought your favorite ramen!"
Ino smirked, lifting her chin. "Oh no. You don't get to buy back my forgiveness that easily."
Naruto rolled his eyes and plopped down at the counter. "Fine. More ramen for me, then." He grabbed her bowl and started eating.
"Hey!" she yelped. "You're supposed to be sad and begging me for forgiveness, not stealing my food!"
He slurped a mouthful and grinned. "I'd rather eat ramen."
Ino pouted, cheeks puffing out as she glared at him. "You're too tall now. It's annoying."
"You're still short and cute," Naruto teased with a sly smile.
Her blush was instant. She spun away, hiding her face behind her magazine. "Fine. I'll forgive you this once. But only because you're… handsome now."
Naruto giggled. "Handsome, huh? Didn't hear that back in the academy."
"Don't push your luck." She snapped her magazine closed, glaring again, though her blush betrayed her. "Now start explaining. The red hair, the lizard, the fact that you're walking around looking like you stepped out of a different world. And most of all—" she jabbed a finger at his chest "—why didn't you tell me you're the son of the Fourth Hokage?"
Naruto raised both hands in surrender, laughing nervously. "Why don't we discuss all of that over some ramen before mine's gone too?"
Ino snatched her bowl back from him, glaring but already softening. "You're impossible."
"Dattebayo," he said with a grin, digging into his own.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Lunch with Ino had been fun.
It was loud, teasing, and warm in a way Naruto realized he had sorely missed. But once he left the flower shop, with a smile lingering on his face and Oscar perched happily on his shoulder, reality crept back in. He had other people he should visit. Tenten came to mind. But not today. Today, he was too drained.
By the time he got home, he collapsed onto his futon with a sigh.
[ Status: Memory Eater (1%) ]
Naruto blinked at the floating words in his vision. Oh wow. Guess Danzo wants some answers, huh?
Oscar tilted his little crystal head and chirped.
Naruto wasn't worried. He'd planned for this. Hours ago, he had pulled Inoichi aside in secret. The Yamanaka clan were masters of the mind, and if anyone could help protect him, it was them. Together they had designed a system of layered, artificial memories, fakes woven seamlessly into his real ones with the help of the Yamanaka clan's secret jutsu.
If Munna succeeded in taking something, it would not be Naruto's truth she devoured. It would be the lies they planted.
Naruto stretched, yawning.
Oscar chirped again, this time sharper, questioning. Should they track down Munna now? End it before it grew worse?
Naruto waved a hand lazily. "No. Let's not go to Lordran today. I'm tired."
The underlying message was delivered loud and clear.
He settled back, eyes already heavy. Oscar hopped closer, resting at his side.
[ Status: Memory Eater (100%) ]
The boy's eyelids shut. Sleep came too fast.
The sensation hit like a tidal wave.
It was not pain in the physical sense. It was worse. It felt like his very being was being pulled thread by thread, strands of thought unraveling as if invisible hands reached inside his skull and tugged at memories like weeds. Faces blurred and slipped, moments stretched thin and vanished. The tug left an emptiness, like cavities in his soul where laughter, warmth, and blood once lived. A strange coldness replaced them, as though something alien slithered through the gaps.
It was like drowning in his own head, struggling to hold onto what was his, but every time he reached for a memory it dissolved into sand and slipped between his fingers.
Naruto's breath hitched as the false memories Inoichi had planted shifted into place. The dream eater latched onto them greedily, consuming without question.
Then silence.
Oscar chirped, a sharp little sound that grounded him. The lizard's body shimmered faintly, confirming the intruder had left.
Naruto exhaled, sweat dripping from his brow. A tired chuckle escaped him. "Choke on those false memories, Danzo. I'm not some pawn in your little chess game. I'm the bastard who's going to flip the board over your head."
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Author Note:
Alright, that's a wrap for this chapter! Before we dive into today's Q&A, I've got a quick announcement: the Chunin Exams arc is right around the corner. We'll be kicking things off around chapter 104, but before that, chapter 103 is going to be a big one. Think of it as the calm before the storm, tying up a lot of the current threads—Tenten finally stepping into the story, Naruto and Ino's relationship getting some real focus, and a few other surprises. The title will be "The Month Before the Chunin Exams", and you can expect it to pack a lot in.
Now, onto the fun stuff.
Q & A Time:
Q1: Why did I give Sasuke and Sakura the Rasengan?
So this is something I've seen a lot of readers asking about. The short version is: I wanted them to have something that helps them stand on equal footing with Naruto. Right now, my Naruto is already loaded with techniques compared to canon Naruto—he has way more variety than just Shadow Clones and Rasengan—so giving Sasuke and Sakura their own spins on the Rasengan doesn't actually take away from him.
And honestly, the Rasengan isn't strictly "Naruto's jutsu" even in canon. Minato invented it, Jiraiya could use it, and later Konohamaru learns it too. So having Team 7 all develop their own unique versions gives them individuality while still tying them together.
Now, here are a couple of ideas I'm playing with, and I'd love feedback from you guys:
For Sakura:
Since Sakura doesn't have massive chakra reserves, what if she uses chakra strings to accelerate her mini Rasengan bullet, almost like a meteor hammer made of chakra with a swirling Rasengan at the end? That would turn her control and precision into a deadly mid-range weapon.
Another thought: what if Sakura develops a Yin-style Rasengan? We already know Itachi could cast genjutsu with just a finger, so imagine Sakura firing off a bullet-sized Rasengan infused with genjutsu. On contact, it wouldn't just tear through flesh—it would trap the victim inside a spiraling nightmare of illusions while shredding their body. I honestly don't think I've ever seen that concept explored in fanfiction before, and it would let Sakura lean into her natural genjutsu talent in a unique way.
For Sasuke:
I'm toying with the idea of a Lightning Rasengan that takes the principle of Chidori and turns it into something even sharper. Imagine a dense ball of lightning chakra that doesn't explode outward like Rasenshuriken, but instead pierces straight through like an armor-piercing sniper round. On top of that, the lightning would paralyze the target's muscles like a taser. So if it hits you in a vital spot, you're done. If not, you're still left with a hole in you and your body seizing up. Basically, the Naruto equivalent of a .50 caliber AP sniper round combined with a stun gun.
It might sound overpowered, but considering how absurdly destructive Rasenshuriken is, this feels like the natural assassin-style counterpart. Deadly, precise, and terrifying in the right hands.
Anyway, those are my ideas for now. Let me know what you think of them, and if you have any fun twists on the Rasengan you'd like to see, drop them in the comments! I'll be reading and replying when I can.
Q2: Am I giving power-ups to the Konoha 11?
This has honestly been one of the bigger questions on my mind as we head toward the exams. How do the rest of the cast keep up with Naruto? I do not think they need to be his equals, but they do deserve to have their own ways of standing out.
Team 7 and Team 8 got major boosts during the Wave arc and beyond, but what about Team 10 and Team Guy? They cannot just sit on the sidelines.
That is where the Green Blossom comes in. Some of you call it "weed," and a few of you even call it the "Hashirama" (and I am still laughing at that). Its effect is stamina and chakra regeneration, so I figured: why not use it as a way for the Konoha 11 to access Naruto's shadow clone training method? With it, they could push their limits before the exams and walk in with some significant buffs.
The big question is:
Should Naruto be the one augmenting their buffs? Like giving armor to Choji or equipping Rock Lee with heavy armor as a challenge?
Or should they develop their own things separately, with Naruto more as a catalyst?
If it's the first option, I would love to hear what kinds of buffs you think Naruto should give the others. If it's the second option, then the fun is in seeing what each character creates for themselves with the opportunity.
I'm open to ideas—this is one of those "shaping the future" moments.
Q3: Why is Kushina a spear user?
This one is more straightforward. In canon, we never see Kushina's fighting style, so she's basically a blank slate. That gave me a chance to experiment.
Since Dark Souls Naruto already uses swords and Zweihanders with heavy emphasis on realistic HEMA styles, I thought it would be fun to explore spears through Kushina. It creates a natural legacy for Naruto to get curious about spears later.
Now here's the real decision I want your input on:
Do you want Kushina's spear style (and by extension Naruto's future exploration of spears) to be more fantasy-based and chakra-heavy—things like chakra-extended reach, explosive thrusts, spear illusions, etc.?
Or do you want it to lean toward a realistic spear fighting style, like how I grounded Naruto's swordsmanship in actual HEMA?
Both approaches have their charm. Fantasy spears would fit Naruto's wild creativity. Realistic spears would keep that gritty martial arts depth I've been layering in. I'm leaning one way, but I want to hear what you think.
That is all the big stuff for this chapter's notes.
Let me know what you thought of the Hiruzen vs Naruto spar. And how did Ino's reintroduction land for you? I wanted it to feel playful and personal, like two childhood friends slipping back into old rhythms, even with all the baggage in between.
As always, thank you to everyone who reads, comments, and throws questions my way. You make the ride worth it.
– Adam