In the adjoining teachers' lounge, Jūzō Biwa sat surrounded by the other squad leaders.
"Heh… I'm not some sideshow beast. Why the stares?"
Despite the persistent gazes, Jūzō showed no concern.
The Third War is long past…
People forget quickly.
Especially with a good disguise.
"Kiri is so isolated… it's only natural people find you exotic," Nara Shikaku commented with a smile.
To impress their guests, Konoha had sent its finest.
And the Ino-Shika-Chō trio was very well-known.
"Say… doesn't your face seem familiar?"
Even with an IQ of 200, Shikaku couldn't guess that the nukenin Jūzō would dare show up here...
"Sorry, I don't know anyone here."
Jūzō smiled, revealing his shark-like teeth.
---
Dawn at the orphanage...
"Haaah~~~"
Naruto stretched and yawned before getting out of bed.
The private room he'd been given was rather comfortable, though the yelling of the rowdy kids nearby woke him at sunrise.
A glance at the clock: 5 a.m.
No choice… Supposed to be healthy, they say.
After washing up, he hung a sign on his door: Training in progress – Do not disturb, then sat cross-legged on his bed to meditate.
Yang affinity, Yang Release, medical system…
The theoretical basics had been taught to him by Nonō the day before. Combined with his intrinsic knowledge as a "lore expert," Naruto had already grasped the system.
Granted, he admitted he wasn't cut out to be a medical ninja.
That would involve studying mountains of herbs, anatomy... and other complex knowledge.
Years spent digging through tomes and formulas—like Orochimaru, a genius, who still needed an assistant like Kabuto.
No...
His path was different: Absolute Yang Release.
The natural path of a chakra reincarnate of Asura.
And to speak of Yang was to speak of the Sage of the Six Paths, founder of ninshū a thousand years ago.
He mastered the perfect balance of Yin-Yang Release.
Some claimed his brother, Ōtsutsuki Hamura, also had this power, but that didn't matter...
Hamura's descendants on Earth — the Hyūga — had neither Yin nor Yang affinity, according to the Official Databook. Clear degeneration.
On the Sage's side, his heirs declined as well.
His two sons, Asura and Indra, inherited Yang and Yin respectively.
Those traits then passed down to their descendants… the Senju and the Uchiha.
According to sources:
The Senju embodied Yang Release — physical vitality, endurance, raw power.
The Uchiha inherited Yin Release — spectral eyes, illusion mastery.
Compared to the Sage, Asura and Indra only had half of his power.
And their clans received an even weaker version.
Naruto, despite no blood link to either the Senju or the Uchiha, carried Asura's essence.
The proof?
Compare Hashirama's Mokuton to Yamato's...
Same technique, vastly different power.
Hashirama's superiority came from his reincarnate chakra.
And among all of Asura's vessels, he was the strongest.
According to Black Zetsu, in a thousand years of successive reincarnations, the battles between Asura and Indra's heirs always ended in stalemates.
Except once...
Hashirama defeated Madara.
"To avoid ending up armless, I have to train hard…"
Naruto saw Hashirama as his role model.
Stronger than the other… stronger than Sako.
Just as Hashirama surpassed Madara, I'll surpass Sako.
Even if he believed he could save her… and the Uchiha…
Fate is stubborn.
The reincarnates' curse would eventually show itself.
And to break fate?
You need POWER.
Back to the topic.
Being a reincarnate of Asura meant possessing an innate Yang affinity.
Its perks?
Extended health bar
Increased resistance
Enhanced strength/speed
Endurance... in every sense
Massive chakra reserves (even without Kyubi)
Just like Hashirama.
Unlike Yin, Yang couldn't be learned from books.
It's felt.
"Like when the original Naruto used Yang Release to recreate an eye for Kakashi…"
The pinnacle of Yang.
A feat only possible at the Six Paths level.
Nothing like Tsunade's Byakugō — no need to study anatomy for years.
Just… instinct.
"..."
Naruto closed his eyes, searching for that feeling.
First step: Master Yang nature transformation.
Unlike the five basic elements (testable via chakra paper), Yin and Yang depended solely on talent.
You either have it or you don't.
Unless you cheat — like Kakuzu with his Jiongu, or...
"Kyūbi~, give me some Yang. Time to pay your rent~."
After several failed attempts, Naruto politely made his demand.
Grr...
Behind the bars, Kyubi growled.
You think I'll obey just like that?
"Even humans pay taxes. You, as a bijū, must contribute…"
Naruto's absurd speech continued.
"An existence without creation is meaningless—"
"Silence, little demon!"
Kyubi stood up, his massive body casting a shadow over the cage.
This scene reminded him of the Valley of the End — when Madara had called Hashirama a hypocrite.
"Madara said Konoha would birth darkness..."
At first, Kyubi thought he meant Tobirama... or Danzō.
But in truth...
"Uzumaki Naruto, far darker than Hashirama, is the Ultimate Darkness he foretold!"
Consumed by hatred for Konoha, for humanity, and especially… for Hashirama and Mito…
Kyubi decided to grant this brat more power.
"You want Yang? Take it!"
A standard bijūdama contains 20% Yang and 80% Yin.
Extracting pure Yang was child's play.
But…
Naruto wasn't a perfect jinchūriki.
The normally golden Yang chakra turned a bloody red.
Kyubi's festering hatred corrupted the energy.
It looked the same, but...
Radically different.
"Let's see how this affects him..."
Kyubi watched, eager.