Awakening Observation Haki! Naruto's First Birthday (Part 1)
...
Inside Gato's Shipyard in the Land of Water.
The rubble of the buildings destroyed by Whitebeard, Kurosuki Raiga, and the other Mist ninjas has become Naruto's fixed training ground for these past few days.
Right now, Naruto's eyes are covered by a black cloth.
His ears are plugged with earplugs.
Even more extreme, his nose is also blocked.
He can only breathe through his mouth.
His vision, hearing, and sense of smell are all sealed.
He can't see,
Can't hear,
Can't smell.
Whoosh— In that instant, a sharp whistling sound splits the air!
Naruto, as if he has a third eye, frantically dodges to the side, and some unidentified object grazes his forehead.
That object is a small stone thrown by Whitebeard.
Of course, to Whitebeard it's just a "small stone."
But given Naruto's current size, that stone is about half the size of his head!
Whoosh—
Before Naruto can steady himself, the second stone comes flying.
Naruto, however, doesn't panic. He dodges again.
"Gurararara! Foolish son, you're getting faster!" Whitebeard praises Naruto's talent. He had a hundred stones beside him, and now there's not a single one left.
He's very pleased with Naruto's astonishing progress.
Naruto's ears are blocked, so he can't hear Whitebeard speaking. He only senses that he's in a very mysterious state right now.
Even though all his physical senses have been sealed,
He can still perceive other things.
Just as Dad said—like having a third eye, able to sense the trajectory of objects even with his eyes closed.
This is the initial stage of Observation Haki!
"Hey, fox! I think I did it!"
Naruto calls out to the Nine-Tails in his mind.
Over these days, Naruto not only trains under Whitebeard but also goes into the seal space in his sleep, where he endures the malicious training inflicted by the Nine-Tails.
It's like he's getting beaten up in both worlds—
His body and his mind
Both suffering!
"Kid, I'll give you a bit of my power now. Let me see clearly what state you're in."
The Nine-Tails' voice echoes inside Naruto's mind.
In the next moment, the Nine-Tails' chakra flares over Naruto's body. Naruto can clearly tell it isn't his own chakra; it's a hundred times his usual amount!
And that's only a sliver of what the Nine-Tails is giving him.
"Hm?" Whitebeard notices Naruto's change.
He sees Naruto's skin begin to glow with visible chakra, an unusual orange-red color.
"That's the fox Nine-Tails?" Whitebeard narrows his eyes but doesn't intervene.
He senses that this chakra is "harmless."
But if Naruto shows any other weird signs, Whitebeard will knock him out without hesitation and disperse the Nine-Tails chakra.
The Nine-Tails has no idea what Whitebeard is thinking.
It's focused on sensing Naruto's condition.
"So this is that 'Observation Haki' Whitebeard spoke of?" The Nine-Tails is secretly alarmed. "What kind of 'technique' is this? No hand seals—like a natural ability of the body! It's different from the Uzumaki clan's Kagura Mind's Eye."
The Nine-Tails has seen a lot,
But what's happening with Naruto…
Honestly,
It's never witnessed something like this.
"It's as if it's a Kekkei Genkai you can gain just by training!" The Nine-Tails realizes it spoke a pointless line.
It really does look like a Kekkei Genkai—except acquired through training.
If the Nine-Tails had this skill,
Why would it ever fear the Sharingan?
After all, most of the Sharingan's powers require eye contact for the victim to fall under their spell. If one could just fight with eyes closed and rely on Observation Haki, they wouldn't lose their sight at all, right?
Or more than that…
If your five senses are hijacked by a Sharingan-based illusion, pulling you into a tricky genjutsu,
Could this sense—beyond the five physical senses—still detect the outside world?
Within the sealed space, the Nine-Tails rests one big paw against its chin,
Frowning in thought.
This might be a way to escape Sharingan control, no longer fearing the Mangekyo. For the Nine-Tails, that's a critical matter.
"Kid! Let's switch roles now."
The Nine-Tails addresses Naruto.
"Huh?" Naruto doesn't understand, and asks silently in his mind, "Switch roles?"
"You little brat—how do you not even have that much insight? Must I spell it out for you humans to understand?"
The Nine-Tails rolls its eyes, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"It means… ahem, it means…"
"It means you come into the seal space and try attacking me, while I seal off my own five senses to dodge your attacks."
Naruto suddenly realizes.
"Big fox, you want to secretly learn Dad's Observation Haki?" Naruto blurts out in shock.
Immediately, the Nine-Tails' fox face turns red, veins popping at its forehead.
It snaps, "Shut it, kid! Don't talk nonsense! How is that 'stealing,' huh? Tailed Beasts—Tailed Beasts don't 'steal' anything… It's… it's definitely not stealing! Understand? You stinking brat!"
Naruto notices that someone has removed his blindfold.
He hears the Nine-Tails' voice fade, becoming indistinct.
"Dad?" Regaining his sight, Naruto sees Whitebeard in front of him. Apparently, Dad is the one who took off the blindfold.
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard grins. "Take out those things blocking your ears and nose, foolish son! Congratulations—you've learned Observation Haki!!"
Since he's an expert in the three types of Haki, Whitebeard knows better than anyone if someone has awakened Observation Haki.
He can tell Naruto has stepped through the door.
Naruto has indeed learned the basics of Observation Haki!
"I've taught many foolish sons to awaken Observation Haki. Some of them… can't learn even after over ten years, some take several years just to start, some manage it in about a year.
"And you…" Whitebeard laughs loudly. "Foolish son, do you know how long you took?"
Naruto shakes his head.
For him, each day of training feels like years. The torturous drills have messed up his sense of time.
"Only two months!" Whitebeard ruffles Naruto's hair. "You took just two months to get started! Gurararara! As expected of my son, a genius among geniuses!"
Whitebeard's not one to suppress his children—
If his son is outstanding, he praises him generously.
But he won't overly spoil them either.
Naruto's brutal training is proof enough.
"Dad, actually… it might be four months."
Naruto promptly sells out the Nine-Tails. "Every time I sleep, I go to the seal space, and the big fox in there helps me train in Observation Haki, too."
"Oh? The Tailed Beast inside you?" Whitebeard lifts an eyebrow, slightly revising his view of the Nine-Tails.
"Four months is still the work of a genius!" Whitebeard taps Naruto's shoulder with one finger. "You know how long it took Marco, who was also a First Division Commander like you, to learn Observation Haki?"
"Marco?" Naruto knows the name. He's Dad's first son in the old Whitebeard Pirates, the previous First Division Commander.
Naruto shakes his head, indicating he doesn't know.
"Six months!" Whitebeard's smile widens. "Even if we include your dream-time training, you're still two months earlier than he was!"
Naruto's eyes stretch wide. "I-I'm… that amazing?"
"That's because you gave two hundred times the effort of a normal person!" Whitebeard laughs confidently. "If we ever get back to the sea one day, and Marco learns I've taken in such a son, he'll be absolutely stunned! Gurararara!"
"Dad, isn't that the sea over there?"
Naruto asks in puzzlement.
Whitebeard gazes off in the distance at the ocean.
He's silent for a moment, then replies with a touch of reminiscence, "Yes, that's the sea. But not the one I want to return to. They're two completely different seas."
Naruto looks confused, but still declares firmly, "Even if you can't find the way back, Dad, I'll help you find it someday! We'll find our other family members together! Definitely! For sure! I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and that's my promise!"
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard's face relaxes, the reminiscent look fading. "Deal, foolish son!"
"But… Dad, where's Karin and the others?" Naruto looks around, realizing something's off.
He notices that since removing the blindfold, neither Karin nor Big Sis Fushi, nor Kakashi, is anywhere in sight.
Only Uchiha Shisui stands not far away, gazing out at the sea.
"They have other business." Whitebeard smirks, but doesn't elaborate.
"Got it!"
...
Awakening Observation Haki! Naruto's First Birthday (Part 2)
...
Night comes.
While waiting for dinner, Naruto keeps practicing his ninjutsu.
Naruto's talent for ninjutsu isn't bad at all—some might even call him a genius.
Now that the Nine-Tails has stopped interfering with him…
His progress is impressively swift.
"Ninja Art: Clone Jutsu!"
"Ninja Art: Transformation Jutsu!"
"Ninja Art: Substitution Jutsu!"
He's completely mastered the three basic jutsu that every ninja must learn, without using up much chakra.
"Then… next is…"
He forms the seals: Tori! U! I! Hitsuji! Tatsu!
Naruto fumbles with the hand signs.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
He inhales deeply and exhales. A gust of wind blows forward, stirring up dust on the ground and sending items weighing a couple of pounds tumbling.
"Awesome!"
Naruto hops in delight. "From what Kakashi-ossan said, I've already learned the Wind Release ninjutsu he taught me! Next, I just need to speed up my seals!"
Currently, Naruto can use four ninjutsu: the three basic ones plus Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. All taught step-by-step by Kakashi.
"Still, where's Dad now?" Naruto wonders, looking around.
Night has fully settled, leaving everything dark except for faint moonlight.
"That Uchiha ninja, Shisui, is missing too." Naruto scratches his head in confusion.
"Where is everybody?!"
"Wait!" Naruto's eyes widened, guessing a possibility. "They haven't started eating yet without me, have they? Did Dad forget to call me?"
With that thought,
Naruto dashes off in the usual direction where they eat dinner.
He hasn't eaten anything yet tonight.
He's starving!
This shipyard is already under the Whitebeard Pirates' control. Naruto heads to a large building inside it, which was originally used like a banquet hall for hosting guests.
He exerts himself pushing open the seven-meter-tall door, shouting anxiously, "Dad! Karin! Big Sis! Kakashi-ossan! Shisui-ossan! Save some food for me, I haven't eaten anything today!"
"Huh? What's this?"
As soon as Naruto steps inside, someone sets something strange on his head. He instinctively reaches up to grab it.
It's a little hat.
Even without taking it off, he can feel its shape—like a small crown.
It's quite unique.
Naruto, perplexed, looks back and sees Uzumaki Fushi hiding behind the door. The moment he came in, she put the hat on him.
It's as if she knew he'd be rushing over.
"Happy sixth birthday, Naruto."
Uzumaki Fushi gives him a warm smile, her voice as gentle as water.
Naruto freezes in place.
Stiffly, he turns toward the large, long table where they usually eat.
Tonight, it's not only loaded with all kinds of food, but there's also a gigantic cream cake.
A massive cake, many times bigger than Naruto himself.
Its diameter must be at least two meters,
And it's about four meters tall.
"Naruto! Naruto!"
Karin runs over carrying a wrapped present.
Beaming, she says, "This is the birthday gift Mom and I prepared for you! We worked on it for several days, so don't you— Huh? Why are… why are you crying?"
Indeed,
Naruto is crying.
He'd thought that, after following Dad for so long, after being brave enough to stick a kunai into a ninja, he'd become a strong man who never cries.
He doesn't even know why he can't hold back the wave of emotion now.
And the feeling isn't sadness—
It's joy!
Naruto can't understand why he's crying when he's happy.
Shouldn't he be smiling if he's happy?
"I… I…"
He tries wiping away tears, but the more he wipes, the more they flow, soaking his sleeves.
"I even forgot today was my birthday…"
He sniffles. "I remember I once mentioned my birthday a long time ago. You guys all kept it in mind? N-nobody's ever celebrated my birthday before."
"Well, now you have family to celebrate with," Uzumaki Fushi says softly. "Naruto, we're a family, right?"
"Mm!" Naruto nods vigorously.
He takes the gift from Karin.
"Naruto," Kakashi calls out, voice sounding a bit complex, a bit apologetic. "Here, take this."
"Kakashi-ossan?"
Naruto looks at the scroll in Kakashi's hand.
"It's your birthday present," Kakashi says, suppressing the guilt in his heart with a smile. "I wrote down every Wind Release jutsu I know—C-rank, B-rank, A-rank—on this scroll.
"There's also one very special ninjutsu in here. I'm not particularly good at it, but I know its principle. I know how it's supposed to be practiced…"
"And that special ninjutsu…"
Kakashi pauses, then continues, "It's from my teacher—your birth father."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"My real… father…"
Naruto whispers.
"Even if you're not ready to acknowledge him, blood ties are still blood ties." Kakashi puts the scroll in Naruto's arms. "Plus that special ninjutsu, there are a total of ninety-two Wind Release techniques in here.
"And two of them were added by Shisui, which can count as his birthday gift for you."
Some distance away, Shisui waves to Naruto, smiling.
"Gurararara! Foolish son, catch!"
Hearing Dad's voice, Naruto instinctively tries to dodge—a reflex from Observation Haki training.
Fortunately, Kakashi reacts quickly, helping Naruto grab it.
"This is Whitebeard-sama's birthday gift to you," Kakashi says, handing it over. Naruto nearly drops everything he's holding.
"I… I…"
Naruto sniffles, still wearing a radiant smile, tears sliding down his face.
"Thank you, everyone!!
"Thank you so much!!"
The depth of Naruto's gratitude defies words.
This is truly the first time anyone has ever thrown him a birthday party. Even the Third Hokage never did that.
Naruto remembers how other kids in Konoha would have birthdays, receiving presents from friends or family. He was always envious, but he knew birthdays weren't meant for a "demon fox" like him.
He always hoped the Third Hokage would celebrate his birthday, but the Hokage was always too busy.
Sometimes, Naruto felt he didn't deserve a birthday.
But now he has one.
With his family!!!
"Gurararara! Come blow out the candles!" Whitebeard steps over and lifts Naruto up. Without doing that, Naruto, at his height, probably couldn't blow them out without a Wind Release jutsu.
"Foolish son! After you blow out the candles, you'll be six years old! In a few more months, you'll enroll in the Academy! Don't shame the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Got it, Dad! I'll do my best!" Naruto takes a deep breath.
Clutching his gifts, he closes his eyes and makes a wish.
Finally,
He puffs out his cheeks and blows the candles.
"Whoo!!!"
The flames go out.
"Gurararara! Let's throw a banquet for my foolish son's birthday!" Whitebeard's hearty laugh practically shakes the ceiling.
In one swift move, he tosses Naruto straight into the giant cake.
"This was made by two of my precious daughters! You're not allowed to sleep tonight until you finish it off!
"Gurararara!!!"