"Nine-Tails! I can't keep going like this!" Naruto stood with her hands on her hips, her face serious as she looked up at the Nine-Tails. ÷÷
"What's wrong? What are you worried about?"
The Nine-Tails raised an eyebrow, opening its eyes to look at the miniature adult-like Naruto before it.
"I'm worried you might be controlled by someone, so I want to meet Uchiha Izuna. I can't just go see him directly; he won't believe what I say."
Sitting on the Nine-Tails' claw, Naruto scratched her head, her already messy hair becoming even more tangled. It looked like a bird's nest, and a bird might mistake it for a ready-made nest to lay eggs.
The Sharingan...
The Nine-Tails recalled the eyes that had controlled it with genjutsu years ago. Though only one eye was visible outside the mask, it was indeed a Sharingan.
"Most importantly, Danzo can't get Izuna's eyes. If he does, with how I'm acting now... for Konoha's stability, I'd definitely be sacrificed!"
Naruto frantically tugged at the Nine-Tails' fur, causing its eyelids to twitch in pain. Seeing Naruto so distressed, it couldn't bring itself to complain, allowing her to pull its fur.
"Itachi and Izuna are friends. If I could meet Itachi, maybe I could contact Izuna. But would he believe me...?"
If words fail, wouldn't I just be giving Danzo an excuse to use Izuna's eyes on me?
Danzo is under the Third's watch, so unless the old man suddenly dies, Danzo can't make a move against me. That means I'm safe for now. But if I show even a hint of ill intent toward Konoha, I'll lose the Third's protection.
Anything can happen. Danzo might send ANBU to capture me and use Izuna's eyes on me.
There's no choice but to resist with all my might. Worst case, I'll become a human nuke and take them down with me. If they won't let me live, I won't let them either!
The Nine-Tails watched Naruto, her sapphire eyes turning crimson again. It moved its claw, interrupting Naruto's spiraling thoughts.
"What are you thinking? Your eyes are turning red again."
"Thinking about what might happen in the future." Naruto hugged the Nine-Tails' claw, rubbing her head against it.
"Stop thinking about breaking the seal. Your body can't handle my power yet." The Nine-Tails grimaced, watching Naruto rub against its claw.
Old man Sarutobi! This kid keeps trying to commit suicide. What should I do?!
In a forest clearing near a river, Naruto sat on a rock, studying a scroll of ninjutsu.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Naruto clapped her hands, compressing her chakra-transformed wind into a violent gale. Then, she was blown backward, flying through the air.
"Failed..."
Naruto lay on the ground for a moment before getting up to try again.
In terms of power, this Wind Release technique couldn't even compare to the Great Fireball Technique.
However, Gale Palm doesn't require hand seals, making it incredibly convenient. Besides blowing away nearby enemies, it's mainly used to enhance ninja tools, increasing their speed, power, and destructiveness. It can even boost the user's speed.
With Naruto's current chakra, Gale Palm doesn't consume much. Primarily, it's not an offensive technique but a support-type ninjutsu that requires pairing with tools to maximize its potential.
Who taught this child Wind Release: Gale Palm?
Curious, Kakashi followed Naruto toward the waterfall and saw her practicing Wind Release. Each failure blew her away with her own chakra-infused wind, sending her crashing to the ground.
Again and again, Kakashi winced as a spectator.
Why is Naruto pushing herself so hard?
Those determined eyes... Kakashi felt he'd seen them somewhere before.
Not wanting to disturb Naruto's training, Kakashi quietly left. Glancing at the ANBU's position, he frowned and used Body Flicker to disappear.
"Kakashi! Let's settle this!" A man in a green jumpsuit with a bowl cut—no, a bowl-shaped hairstyle—charged at Kakashi like a rocket, kicking up dust and wind.
Kakashi knew refusing Might Guy's challenge would lead to regret, so he nodded in acceptance.
"Rock-Paper-Scissors!"
"Rock-Paper-Scissors!"
"Rock-Paper-Scissors!"
...
"Damn! It's cloth! Next time, I'll definitely beat you, Kakashi! As punishment for losing, I'll do a hundred handstand laps around Konoha! Hahaha! See you later, Kakashi!"
Kakashi watched Might Guy walk on his hands, just as fast as running, and couldn't help but facepalm.
"As energetic as ever..."
Three nights later, under a starry sky, Naruto continued her rigorous training.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
The violent wind blew away the rocks around her.
"Yes! I did it!"
Naruto jumped for joy, then slumped to the ground, exhausted. After resting, she got up and staggered home.
"This kid has real talent!"
The Third Hokage, spying on Naruto with a crystal ball, sighed in admiration. She'd mastered Gale Palm in just three days.
Naruto's talent wasn't exceptional, but seeing her get up after each fall, enduring hardship without complaint, the Third smiled warmly.
Konoha's Will of Fire will be passed on. Minato, your child will become a great ninja.
Little did the Third know that Naruto planned to escape Konoha. Would he have a heart attack and die on the spot?
Perhaps because she'd been thinking about Izuna, Naruto encountered a somber-faced Uchiha Izuna as she left the forest.
Naruto pointed at Izuna's clothes, bearing the Uchiha fan symbol, and shouted deliberately,
"Ah! You're an Uchiha, right?"
"Something wrong?"
Izuna stopped, looking at the blonde girl who'd called out to him. Noticing the cat-whisker-like marks on her cheeks, he asked,
"I'm Sasuke's classmate!"
"Oh?"
Izuna recalled Itachi's little brother and studied Naruto with interest.
Is this girl the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki...? What does she want from me? Wait, that little brother is quite popular. Could she be his admirer?
As Izuna wondered about Naruto's intentions, she sat softly on the ground, blinking pitifully and holding out her hands.
"Since we're classmates with Sasuke, take me home! Please! I used too much chakra training, and I'm too tired to walk!"
Why aren't those ANBU helping her?
Figuring Naruto couldn't detect the ANBU, Izuna didn't think much of it. He picked her up, feeling her featherweight.
"So light!"
She felt weightless in his arms, almost emaciated. It was clear what kind of treatment the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki endured.