"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto finally snapped, spinning around at the entrance to his apartment, "why have you been following me this whole way?"
He had tolerated it all the way back from the training ground—the soft crunch of footsteps behind him, the faint presence that never quite disappeared. But now they were standing right outside his front door, and Kakashi still hadn't said a word.
Kakashi glanced up lazily, taking in the worn hallway and the dim lighting as if he were sightseeing.
"Oh," he said mildly, "we're already here."
Naruto's eyelid twitched.
"Don't just stand there," Kakashi continued, completely at ease. "Open the door."
Naruto stared at him in disbelief.
"…This is my house, right?" he said slowly, turning halfway back as if to confirm the address hadn't magically changed.
Kakashi nodded, flipping the book in his hand shut with a practised motion. "Yeah. I know. The Hokage and I came by yesterday afternoon."
"What?!"
Naruto stiffened instantly, his back straightening. "You came here? Why?!"
"Relax," Kakashi said, tone unhurried. "We didn't touch anything. Just took a look."
He paused, eye crinkling slightly as he studied Naruto's expression.
"You and I have… some history."
Naruto frowned. That phrase again.
Ever since Kakashi had mentioned it earlier, it had been nagging at him. Everyone always talked like they knew things about him—about his parents, about his past—but whenever he asked, the answers were vague, evasive, always pushed off to some undefined later.
Before he could press further, Kakashi continued as if nothing were amiss.
"I remember seeing a stack of manuscripts on your desk," he said. "Let me finish reading them, and I'll leave."
Naruto blinked.
"…That's it?"
"Mm." Kakashi nodded. "Don't worry. When your book gets published, I'll buy a few extra copies to make up for it."
Naruto let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding.
I knew it, he thought. That's what this was about.
Honestly, he wasn't even surprised. Ever since the bell test, Kakashi's attention toward that book had been… intense. Distracting.
He scratched his cheek, then turned to unlock the door.
"Lock hasn't finished writing yet," Naruto said as he opened it. "But if you really want to read what's done, come in."
Kakashi followed him inside without hesitation.
The apartment was small, simple, and unmistakably Naruto's. Sparse furniture, a faint lingering smell of instant noodles, and stacks of paper arranged in chaotic but somehow functional piles. Moonlight from the window illuminated the desk, where thick manuscripts lay neatly bound.
Naruto picked them up and handed them over.
"Only about ten chapters of the plot are written so far."
Kakashi reached out—then paused.
Naruto hadn't let go.
Instead, he was looking at Kakashi with eyes that sparkled with barely contained curiosity.
Kakashi sighed internally.
So there it is.
"If you want something," Kakashi said, resigned, "just say it. If it's too much trouble, I'd rather wait until the book is published."
Naruto laughed awkwardly and finally released the manuscript, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well… since you asked."
He took a breath, then looked straight at Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei," he said seriously, "can you teach me how to train?"
Kakashi stilled.
"Teach me how to become stronger," Naruto continued, voice steady despite the nerves in his chest. "Teach me how to properly control chakra. And… if possible—"
He hesitated, then clenched his fists.
"Teach me how to master the Nine-Tails' power."
The room fell quiet.
Naruto looked down for a moment, then back up, forcing the words out.
"I don't want to always rely on Lock to come out and fight for me. I don't want him protecting me every time something happens."
His gaze didn't waver.
"I want to be strong myself. Strong enough to protect my teammates. Strong enough to become Hokage—so everyone will finally acknowledge me."
For a brief moment, Kakashi was stunned.
The lazy, half-detected air around him vanished, replaced by something sharper, heavier. He studied Naruto carefully—really studied him.
This wasn't the loud, reckless kid shouting about becoming Hokage without thinking it through.
This was a boy who had seen blood, death, and the consequences of power he couldn't control.
And who had decided he didn't want to hide behind it anymore.
Kakashi exhaled slowly.
"I'll train you," he said.
Naruto's eyes lit up instantly.
"Starting tomorrow," Kakashi continued, raising a finger before Naruto could explode with excitement, "I'll begin properly teaching all three of you—chakra control, combat fundamentals, and how to fight smarter, not harder."
Naruto nodded rapidly.
"But," Kakashi added, tone firm, "the Nine-Tails is a different matter."
Naruto's expression faltered slightly.
"That power is sealed," Kakashi said. "And it's not something I can safely guide you through. In that area, I'm… powerless."
He paused, then added, "If you want to understand that power, you'll have to confront it yourself. Or talk to the one already interacting with it."
Naruto knew exactly who he meant.
"…Lock," he muttered.
"Once you pass the first stage of chakra control training," Kakashi went on, "we'll test your chakra nature and move on to elemental training. Step by step."
He looked Naruto straight in the eye.
"Don't rush. Strength gained too quickly tends to break things—inside and out."
Naruto nodded, though disappointment still lingered in his expression.
"Okay…" he said quietly.
Kakashi turned his attention back to the manuscript, flipping it open.
Almost immediately, his posture shifted.
His visible eye sharpened, scanning the pages far faster than Naruto expected. The faint amusement from earlier faded, replaced by something closer to absorption.
The plot flowed smoothly. The pacing was tight. The emotions—raw.
Without realising it, Kakashi leaned back against the desk, utterly immersed.
In this harsh, numb world of shinobi—where missions blurred together, and death became routine—this kind of story carried a dangerous warmth.
It was escapism.
And Kakashi Hatake, veteran of too many losses, found himself sinking into it willingly.
Hokage Office
"So Naruto asked you to teach him how to train," the Third Hokage said slowly, pipe resting between his fingers. "And to master the Nine-Tails' power."
Kakashi nodded. "Yes. He doesn't want Lock to keep coming out to fight."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly.
"That does sound like Naruto," he said after a moment. "Kind-hearted to a fault."
Kakashi hesitated, then added, "He probably finds Lock's methods too violent. Too extreme."
Inside, Kakashi knew it was more complicated than that.
Naruto's two sides were opposites.
One was pure, forgiving, and stubbornly hopeful—yet painfully average in talent.
The other was ruthless, calculating, and terrifyingly gifted.
If Lock had been the dominant personality from the beginning… Konoha might not have survived Naruto's childhood.
Hiruzen tapped his pipe thoughtfully.
"Naruto does need to grow stronger," he said at last. "The imbalance between the two personalities is dangerous. Relying too heavily on Lock may create long-term risks."
His gaze sharpened.
"Train him well, Kakashi. He is Minato's legacy. Whatever resources you need, I'll make sure you have them."
Kakashi inclined his head. "Understood."
"And one more thing," Hiruzen added. "If your missions take you outside the village—watch for Root."
A cold light flickered through Kakashi's eye.
Danzo.
"I've suppressed him for now," Hiruzen continued, "but he hasn't given up. I'll give you a secure contact code—ANBU-only."
"I'll be careful," Kakashi said.
Hiruzen nodded, then waved him off.
After Kakashi left, the Hokage turned toward the shadows.
"Send word," he ordered quietly. "Find Jiraiya."
A masked ANBU dropped to one knee.
"Tell him Naruto needs guidance."
The shadow vanished.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, exhaling smoke.
"The time has come," he murmured, "for the next generation to step forward."
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A/N: Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded. Please Check It Out. It will really help me out and will keep me motivated to continue.
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