Night, in Naruto's single room.
"How should I strengthen myself?" Naruto lay on his bed, hands clasped behind his head, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
He recalled how serious Shinji looked when he spoke to him before leaving.
'Naruto, actually, you should focus on developing from the core abilities you've already mastered. But it's not too late to discuss the specifics with you tomorrow.'
"My inherent abilities."
Naruto scratched his head hard, unable to figure out what his direction should be.
He turned to look at the scroll beside him, which Shinji had given him before leaving.
"What could it be?"
Naruto opened it, and inside the scroll was just one Ninjutsu formula.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu?!"
Naruto blinked, was it another version of Shadow Clone Technique?
"Hey! Brat!"
Inside the Sealed Space, Kurama's annoyed voice sounded.
Hmm?
Naruto paused, then calmed his mind and entered the space.
Upon entering the sealed space, Naruto, without thinking, immediately shouted towards Kurama in the cage, "Kurama, what's wrong?"
"I'm not looking for you, Minato is." Kurama pointed exasperatedly at the figure beside him.
"Eh?! Dad?"
Naruto was startled, then looked to the side, only to see Minato's figure smiling awkwardly there.
'How embarrassing, Naruto didn't notice me right away.' Minato thought with a bit of dejection.
"Dad, have you recovered?" Naruto came to Minato's side and examined him closely.
Minato was much more solidified. However, he still couldn't compare to how he looked when they first met.
"Dad, if you haven't fully recovered, don't just come out casually." Naruto said to Minato with great dissatisfaction.
"It's alright, Naruto." Minato extended his hand, a gentle smile on his face, and said.
"Good, after nurturing for so long, I can now touch Naruto's spiritual body again." Minato looked at his hand, feeling relieved.
"Hehe." Naruto just enjoyed the moment.
After rubbing Naruto's head for a while, Minato finally asked, "How have you been recently, Naruto?"
During this time, he had no way of sensing Naruto's life outside.
Naruto rubbed his nose and said, "Pretty good, I've been diligently training."
Kurama mercilessly exposed Naruto's embarrassing moment, "Didn't you almost get defeated by that Uchiha brat today?"
Naruto shouted at Kurama, exasperated, "Kurama! You're so annoying!"
Kurama paid no mind, turning its head to continue sleeping.
"Dad, let me tell you something." Naruto pulled Minato, and began to recount recent events.
As a professional supporter, Minato always knew how to give Naruto the right response at the appropriate time.
After a long while, Naruto finished speaking and said with great distress, "Dad, do you think I'm not very smart?"
Minato chuckled, reached out, and rubbed Naruto's head, saying, "Naruto, in my eyes, you've grown into someone reliable."
Minato recalled what he was doing when he was little.
Hmm?
It seemed that at that time, he had already met Kushina, right?
Minato quickly shook his head, shaking off that thought.
Minato admitted that while he himself grew quickly when he was young, he was not as well-rounded as Naruto.
Minato said with great emotion, "Naruto, your sensei really taught you well."
Naruto said proudly, "Of course! Shinji-sensei is very impressive. Not long ago, he even defeated the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki from Kumogakure."
Hearing the familiar name, Minato couldn't help but be surprised.
He turned to look at Kurama in the cage.
Feeling Minato's gaze, Kurama said impatiently, "Don't ask me, I'm always here, how could I know? However, it should be true."
After Kurama finished speaking, it lied down speechlessly, thinking to itself, 'Gyuki, you're really useless, to actually lose to a brat.'
Kurama completely forgot that he himself had been pinned down by Shinji's Gate of the Great Gods and couldn't move for a long time.
"Shinji is remarkable." Minato exclaimed.
Bee had become famous during the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars. Regardless of whether Shinji defeated him or not, the mere fact that he could return unscathed was already extraordinary.
Naruto asked, "Dad, where do you think my direction is?"
He had thought about it carefully for a long time and still hadn't figured it out. He had originally planned to ask Shinji tomorrow. However, now that his dad was awake, he could get some input.
"Hmm—"
Minato began to think carefully. After a long while, he finally said, "Actually, Shinji is right, Naruto. You don't really need to develop other things right now. You just need to derive from your existing direction."
Naruto said with a troubled expression, "But I still don't understand what I have that can be further strengthened."
Minato said with a chuckle, "Didn't you say Shinji gave you a scroll with Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu inside?"
Naruto asked curiously, "Yes, but I've already known Shadow Clone Technique for a long time. Doesn't Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu just create more clones at most?"
Minato said admiringly, "Shinji has practically set your direction for you, and I highly approve of it."
"Eh? Is that so? Why didn't I know?" Naruto scratched his head in confusion.
Why hadn't he noticed?
Minato nodded and said, "It's about using your massive Chakra to cause a quantitative change that leads to a qualitative change in the Ninjutsu."
"Quantitative change leading to qualitative change?" Naruto lowered his head, pondering.
Minato said as he stood up, "That's right. As for the specifics, I estimate Shinji already has an idea. You can ask him about it thoroughly tomorrow."
He had been out for too long, it was time to go back.
Naruto quickly stood up and asked, "Eh! Dad, are you leaving again?"
This amount of time was simply not enough for him, he still had so much to say.
Minato said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Naruto, but from now on, I'll come out for an hour every day to be with you."
Then, he brought his index and middle fingers together and lightly tapped Naruto's forehead.
Naruto touched his forehead, watching Minato's figure disappear.
After a long while, he murmured sadly, "Actually, just getting good rest would be enough."