After tossing out two sentences, Naruto didn't wait for Kurama's reply.
He left the Nine-Tails' chakra he had just devoured inside the seal space, ready for use at any time.
His consciousness returned to his body.
He continued refining his own chakra.
This time, without the Nine-Tails interfering, the process went smoothly.
About half an hour later, Naruto's body surged with an overwhelming tide of chakra.
On the rooftop, among the three ANBU assigned to monitor him, one was a sensory-type jōnin from the Yamanaka clan, named Yamanaka Kei.
When Naruto successfully refined his chakra, Kei's expression stiffened beneath his mask.
He hurriedly performed a sensory ninjutsu to probe inside.
Sensing the vast, ocean-like chakra within Naruto, his pupils shrank violently!
"This… how is this possible!"
The white-haired ANBU, seeing the usually composed Kei react this way, asked doubtfully:
"Kei, what's going on?"
Kei's focus remained fixed on Naruto for a long while before he looked at the other two.
"The jinchūriki's body just erupted with an immense chakra! A chakra amount I've never seen before…"
The white-haired ANBU and the other both jolted in shock.
"What! You mean he lost control over the Nine-Tails?"
The white-haired Anbu exclaimed, forming seals as he prepared to use the Body Flicker Technique to rush into Naruto's room.
Kei quickly raised a hand, pressing down on his shoulder.
"No, the jinchūriki hasn't lost control. That chakra inside him—it doesn't belong to the Nine-Tails!"
"Not the Nine-Tails?"
At those words, the white-haired ANBU let out a sigh of relief.
After calming down, he asked again:
"So, you're saying Naruto just learned to refine chakra, and he's already producing an amount you've never seen before?"
Kei nodded heavily.
The white-haired ANBU pressed further: "Compared to me, how much more is it?"
Kei gave him a strange look and didn't answer right away.
Frowning, driven by intense curiosity and worry, the white-haired ANBU vanished and reappeared on a utility pole opposite Naruto's house.
He lifted the Konoha forehead protector covering his left eye, revealing a crimson Sharingan with three tomoe.
Peering through the window, his gaze fell upon Naruto, seated cross-legged on the sofa.
Though the Sharingan lacked the Byakugan's penetrating vision, it could see the flow of chakra.
When he saw the mass of chakra within Naruto, even the Sharingan trembled—the three tomoe nearly connecting together.
Now he understood why Kei hadn't directly answered him.
The sheer scale of Naruto's chakra almost blinded his Sharingan.
[This chakra… even with a rough estimate, it's fifty to eighty times mine. And he's only six. When he truly grows up… what kind of monster will he become?]
After the shock passed, relief shone in his eyes.
***
In the Hokage's office.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi received Kei's report about Naruto, he took a deep drag from his pipe, his expression grave.
"Kei, keep a closer watch on Naruto's chakra. Report any irregularities to me immediately!"
"Yes!"
After Kei returned to his post, Hiruzen sank into thought, muttering to himself.
"His physique surpasses ordinary Uzumaki, his taijutsu talent is exceptional, and even his chakra is extraordinary… Minato, you truly left Konoha with a promising heir."
In Naruto, the Third Hokage even saw a shadow of the First Hokage.
But strangely, instead of only feeling joy, a faint unease lingered in his heart.
He regretted more and more that he had listened to Danzō's advice back then.
With that thought, the Third summoned an ANBU.
"Any news of Jiraiya recently?"
The cat-masked ANBU knelt on one knee and reported: "Three days ago, there were sightings of Lord Jiraiya at a hot spring resort in the Land of Hot Water."
The Third nodded. "Take a team yourself and find Jiraiya. Tell him, for the sake of Uzumaki Naruto, he must return to Konoha at once!"
"Yes!"
The ANBU asked no questions. Swift and decisive, he vanished.
Naruto, feeling the roaring sea of chakra inside him, was thrilled.
"System, open the status panel."
The next second, a translucent window appeared before his eyes, visible only to him.
Name: Uzumaki NarutoAge: 6Body: 9.9 [Growth Phase] (average person = 1)Chakra: 66.6 KaKekkei Genkai: Perfected Uzumaki Sage BodySpecial: Breath of Wind (Stable), Nine-Tails (Sealed)Ninjutsu: None
PS: Body encompasses strength, spirit, agility, constitution, and other attributes.
Looking at the simple yet full-of-potential panel, Naruto nodded in satisfaction.
66.6 Ka… with this kind of chakra, he could turn a Mud Wall into the Hokage Monument if he wanted!
***
The next morning, on the weekend.
The sky was gloomy but not raining.
No school today. After a simple breakfast, Naruto went out early toward Training Ground Three.
Just before arriving, a voice called from behind.
"Naruto! Morning! Judging by where you're headed, are you going to the training ground too?"
Turning around, he saw Ino, looking pleasantly surprised, with Shikamaru and Chōji at her side.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio was complete.
Naruto turned and nodded at them.
It had been months since the school term started, and Naruto had grown familiar with most of the Konoha 12 from Class A.
Except Sakura.
Shikamaru, looking half-asleep, lazily greeted Naruto with a drowsy "Oi."
Chōji also smiled warmly, for once not eating anything.
Ino jogged up to Naruto, her eyes sparkling as she stared at his face.
With Ino's invitation, the four of them headed to Training Ground Three together.
Perhaps out of habit from fishing, Naruto chose a spot near the river.
Since her last encounter with Naruto, Ino had practically forgotten Shikamaru and Chōji, sticking right beside him.
Beaming, she asked: "Naruto, what are you planning to practice today? Shuriken throwing again? Can you teach me?"
The memory of Naruto's dazzling display in the last shuriken test still flashed in her mind.
But Naruto shook his head. "Next time. Today I'm practicing the Three Basic Techniques."
"The Three Techniques?" Ino was surprised.
Though considered fundamental, for academy students they were still difficult. Many civilian kids trained for two years and still failed at graduation.
Naruto decided to start with the Substitution Jutsu.
It might look plain, but when mastered, it could be a powerful tool in real combat.
This was shown vividly in the Hokage mobile game.
To practice, he needed a partner. Naruto looked at Ino.
"Ino, I want to work on the Substitution Jutsu. Will you spar with me?"
Without hesitation, Ino nodded eagerly. "Of course!"
Behind them, Shikamaru grumbled lazily: "Dragged me out early, nagging about combo techniques… and now ditching us for a guy. Some friend."
With that, he and Chōji slumped under a tree, ready for another nap.
Naruto unrolled the scroll of the Three Techniques the Third Hokage had given him.
The Three Techniques required three hand seals: Boar, Snake, Tiger.
But with enough skill, the seals could be simplified—or even instant-cast.
After practicing the hand seals a few times, Naruto set up a wooden log and nodded at Ino.
"Ino, let's start."
Seeing his serious expression, Ino grew serious too.
"Naruto, be careful, I'm pretty fast."
The next second, she dashed forward.