Unpopular Family
The Nine-Tails, Kurama, never thought Naruto could leave Konoha. But that didn't stop him from imagining it.
As a tailed beast capable of sensing malice, what Kurama despised most was the village filled with human deceit. It was constantly surrounded by the pervasive ill will of the villagers, a reminder of how much he loathed humanity.
If there were a chance to leave with this kid, it wouldn't be a bad idea.
But could a tailed beast truly regain its freedom? Kurama wasn't so sure.
---
Training in the Forest
Early the next morning, Naruto carried a Wind Release scroll to a secluded training ground on the outskirts of the village.
After studying the scroll, he formed a series of hand seals and summoned several shadow clones.
Ninjutsu training differed from taijutsu—mastering multiple jutsu required time and repetition. The Shadow Clone Jutsu was the perfect shortcut, as each clone's experiences and knowledge would return to the original body once dispelled.
However, there was a catch: exhaustion accumulated as well. Ordinary ninjas couldn't train this way, but Naruto's Uzumaki lineage granted him an unusually large chakra reserve, allowing him to handle the technique better than most.
With the clones practicing separately, Naruto sat cross-legged, gripping a water balloon. His focus was on mastering the Rasengan.
The Rasengan was one of the most advanced jutsu he knew. He had no reason to abandon it in favor of something else—it was his father's legacy, after all.
The training had three stages:
1. Chakra Rotation – Learning to rotate chakra properly.
2. Chakra Power Control – Applying enough force to burst a water balloon.
3. Final Mastery – Gathering and sustaining the technique in combat.
Naruto was currently at the second stage, attempting to use his chakra to rupture the balloon. But it was far from easy. Despite his superior chakra reserves, his control was still underdeveloped.
Meanwhile, his clones were making better progress with Wind Release techniques. They practiced Gale Palm and Vacuum Blade, sending cutting gusts toward the surrounding trees. One of the smaller trees, about as thick as a bowl, was cleanly sliced in half by a Great Breakthrough.
Observing his clones' progress, Naruto fell into deep thought.
Soon, his clones dissipated one by one as they ran out of chakra. The memories of their training flooded his mind, and as he processed the knowledge, the balloon in his hands suddenly burst.
Water splashed everywhere, and Naruto realized something important—progress required adaptability. He couldn't just brute-force his way through learning. Practicing different Wind Release techniques refined his overall chakra control.
Now that he had mastered the second stage, all that remained was to form a proper Rasengan.
---
One Week Later
At the same training ground, Naruto stood before a thick tree. His hands cupped together, and a spiraling sphere of chakra formed within them.
"Rasengan!"
With a low growl, he thrust the jutsu forward. A powerful impact carved a deep, semicircular dent into the tree's trunk.
Naruto grinned in satisfaction, but his palms stung from the force of the technique. He had finally succeeded—but he also realized the Rasengan's drawbacks. Unlike a Wind Release jutsu, it required close combat, making it risky without proper execution.
Still, the technique could evolve. Over time, he would develop his own variations.
At that moment, Kurama scoffed from within his seal.
"Isn't that just a cheap imitation of the Tailed Beast Bomb? It's nowhere near my level in terms of power or size. I could reduce that mountain over there to rubble with a single shot."
Naruto chuckled awkwardly, nodding. "Yeah, yeah. But you're still stuck in a cage."
Kurama growled in irritation but let the conversation drop. Instead, he muttered, "Still, your Rasengan isn't bad. Aren't you worried about making the Hokage jealous?"
Naruto smirked. "The old man? What's he got to be afraid of?"
Kurama wasn't convinced. "You're still far behind. I don't care about the difference between ants, but I'll admit your chakra has increased. You've reached about one percent of my level—better than those so-called elite shinobi. But whether you can actually fight… that's a different story."
Kurama's words made Naruto pause. He wasn't delusional—he knew he wasn't at a level where he could challenge Konoha's top shinobi. He could likely handle most genin and even some chunin, but against jounin? That was a different league altogether.
Still, he wasn't worried about attracting the Third Hokage's attention. Talent alone didn't make someone a threat. So long as he kept his bond with Kurama under wraps, the old man wouldn't consider him a problem.
---
The Uchiha and Konoha's Prejudice
On his way home, Naruto felt the usual stares of disdain from the villagers. Their hatred was something he had long since learned to ignore. No matter what he did, their perception of him wouldn't change.
But today, something was different. The hostility in the air had slightly diminished.
His gaze shifted ahead—members of the Konoha Police Force were confronting a group of civilians. The villagers' malice had been redirected.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Uchiha…"
The Uchiha clan's strict law enforcement had made them just as unpopular as he was. The villagers resented them, but unlike him, they couldn't act on their hatred.
Kurama stirred at the sight, his voice laced with disgust.
"Hmph. The Uchiha and their damn Sharingan. I can't stand those eyes."
Naruto ignored the commotion and walked past. This sort of conflict was nothing new—tensions between the Uchiha and the Hokage had been brewing for years. The village was skilled at internal power struggles but lacked the same strength when facing outside threats.
Watching from nearby were two figures—Uchiha Sasuke and his older brother, Uchiha Itachi.
Sasuke's eyes sparkled with admiration as he observed the police force in action. "That's so cool. I want to be like them when I grow up!"
Itachi, however, remained quiet, his gaze briefly lingering on Naruto's retreating figure. He recognized the boy—Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki.
Naruto's isolated presence reminded Itachi of his clan's alienation within the village.
Sasuke, oblivious to his brother's thoughts, turned to him with a bright expression. "Hey, nii-san, can we go train later?"
Itachi shook his head. "I have a mission tomorrow."
Sasuke pouted. "You always have missions! If you joined the police force, you'd have more time to train with me!"
Itachi sighed internally. If only things were that simple. His clan's arrogance and Konoha's distrust left him disillusioned. If not for Shisui, he might have given up hope altogether.
He ruffled Sasuke's hair and gave him a small smile. "Next time, I promise."
Sasuke beamed, unaware of the weight his brother carried.
Meanwhile, Naruto continued down the road, unfazed by the world around him.
He had no illusions about Konoha. This place would never accept him.
And he had no intention of seeking its approval.
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