Chapter 64 – Nine-Tails, Long Time No See
When a person's mental defenses collapse, that is the moment they are most vulnerable—most open to influence, and most ready to believe what others tell them.
Of course, achieving that isn't as easy as it sounds—especially within a short period.
But for someone like Kinoshita Jirō, dealing with a few naïve kids was hardly a challenge.
The same movement, with only a few subtle changes, could lead to completely different results.
When he guided Sasuke and Sakura, Jirō's instructions were perfectly correct. But when he corrected Naruto's form, although it looked identical on the surface, there were hidden errors.
Over time, that difference would quietly grow into a chasm.
Even Kakashi, standing right beside him, couldn't detect the flaw.
The day passed quickly, and before anyone realized it, the group had been training from dawn until dusk.
Leaning against a tree, Kakashi closed his little orange book and looked toward the clearing.
All three of them had shown improvement—especially Sasuke, whose progress was most striking.
His eye drifted toward Naruto, clumsy and drenched in sweat, and a sigh escaped his lips.
As expected, with Naruto's scatterbrained personality, memorizing precise techniques would take time.
Still… his gaze narrowed on Jirō. This man wasn't hostile—but something about him was off.
In the training ground's center, Jirō's calm voice carried through the trees.
"All right, that's enough for today. Take a break, then head back."
Sasuke exhaled deeply and wiped his sweat, a faint smile tugging at his lips. The improvement in his movements was undeniable. Combat technique—something he had once dismissed—was far more important than he'd realized.
Remembering his earlier, clumsy fighting style, he clenched his fists in renewed determination.
"Thank you, Mr. Jirō," Sasuke said respectfully.
Sakura echoed his words with gratitude of her own. Though her growth wasn't as dramatic, she too had gained valuable insight.
"Uh, Mr. Jirō, I'd like to keep training a little longer," Naruto said, grinning as he wiped his forehead.
"I see. Don't push yourself too hard."
Jirō hesitated briefly, then reached out and gently patted Naruto's head.
"Let's go, then," he said to the others, turning toward Kakashi. "Lord Kakashi, care to join us?"
"I suppose so. It's been a long day," Kakashi said with a lazy stretch before glancing toward Naruto. "Don't overdo it."
In truth, he still didn't trust Jirō enough to let him out of sight—and among the three, Sasuke remained his biggest concern. Keeping them nearby was safer than letting them wander.
Besides, the grove wasn't far from Tazuna's house. If anything happened, he could respond instantly.
Watching them disappear into the distance, Naruto's expression flickered as he resumed his training.
He repeated Jirō's motions again and again, sweat pouring down his face until his arms finally gave out.
Collapsing onto the grass, he stared blankly at the dimming sky.
"So Sasuke's ahead of me… fine. But even Sakura's learning faster now?"
Frustration tightened his chest.
A whisper of anger stirred deep within his mind—low, cold, and ancient.
"Pathetic."
Naruto froze.
That voice… it had been a long time.
From the depths of his consciousness, the Nine-Tails chuckled darkly.
"So weak again, brat? Seems nothing's changed."
Naruto clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as a familiar fire rose in his heart.
"Shut up… I'll show you—I'll get stronger. You'll see."
The fox only laughed, the sound echoing faintly through the darkness of his mind.
"Heh… I'll be waiting."
And just like that, silence returned—leaving Naruto alone beneath the fading light, chest heaving, heart burning hotter than ever.
A trace of frustration crossed Naruto's face as he remembered Kinoshita Jirō's gentle expression.
Maybe he could ask Mr. Jirō for extra lessons in private—surely he wouldn't refuse, right?
A soft breeze drifted through the trees, stirring the leaves with a faint rustle.
Feeling the wind brush over him, Naruto's tired body relaxed, and a wave of drowsiness crept up on him. Slowly, his eyes closed.
He didn't notice the faint sound that followed, nor the shadowy figure that had silently appeared beside him.
Watching the boy drift into slumber, Yuto's lips curved into a quiet smile.
As expected—compared to his late teacher's son, Kakashi clearly cared more about the child of his best friend.
Minato Namikaze truly had been a tragic teacher: one student dead, another turned villain, unleashing the Nine-Tails and indirectly causing his own and Kushina's deaths.
And Kakashi… Yuto chuckled softly. He didn't believe for a moment that Kakashi didn't know Naruto was his teacher's child.
Placing a hand on Naruto's stomach, Yuto pressed down gently, sending a surge of chakra into his body.
Half-asleep, Naruto stirred, sensing something strange.
He tried to open his eyes, but before he could, an overwhelming wave of fatigue struck him, dragging him into complete unconsciousness.
Drip… drip…
Water echoed faintly around Yuto.
The space was dim, damp, and vast—like an endless underground tunnel. He glanced around, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Before him loomed a massive iron gate occupying most of the chamber.
Behind it, an enormous shadow stirred—a creature lying lazily in the dark, nine great tails swaying idly behind it.
"Hmm? This chakra…"
The Nine-Tails slowly opened its eyes, two immense orbs of crimson light cutting through the gloom.
When it saw the figure standing outside the bars, those eyes narrowed sharply.
"Long time no see, Kurama," Yuto said with a faint, knowing smile.
"So it's really you," the beast rumbled, its voice low and cold. "Uchiha Madara was right. Even thrown into another dimension, you'd crawl your way back sooner or later."
Confirming Yuto's identity, the Nine-Tails lowered its head again, its tone indifferent—but its eyes gleamed with wariness.
The First Mizukage—Yuto.
Having once clashed with him, Kurama knew better than anyone the terrifying power sealed within this seemingly calm man.
"Come now," Yuto said lightly, spreading his hands. "We're old acquaintances. No need to be so cold."
Kurama's silence was heavy, his tails shifting behind the gate like coiling storms.
Meanwhile, Yuto's gaze turned thoughtful.
Others might not know, but he was well aware that Uchiha Madara hadn't truly died after his battle with Hashirama. The old ghost had clung to life through the Gedo Statue for years.
With that much time—and Madara's paranoia—plus Black Zetsu scheming in the shadows, there was no way he hadn't left something behind.
(End of Chapter)
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