Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

There had clearly been nobody there just moments ago.

Naruto even noticed that the cracked ground and scattered rubble that should've remained from the battle had completely vanished.

"What the heck is going on?"

Naruto scratched his head in utter confusion.

"It seems everything is alright now."

"The attacker probably fled after failing."

The Third Hokage nodded calmly.

"In that case, Naruto, I'll walk you this far."

"Don't worry. I'll immediately have people investigate."

"No matter how that person infiltrated the village, it won't happen again."

"Grandpa Hokage, you can't let your guard down!"

Although Naruto still looked worried, the peaceful streets around him finally helped him relax slightly.

Then he clenched his fist energetically.

"And don't worry either! I'm not easy to bully!"

"Whoever that guy is, I'm gonna find him myself and beat him up hard!"

Hidden somewhere nearby, Kakashi Hatake suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Hearing Naruto's declaration genuinely made him uneasy from the bottom of his heart.

The pressure from the Nine-Tails earlier had simply been too terrifying...

"Heh heh, then Grandpa will look forward to it."

The Third revealed an expression of satisfaction as he watched Naruto leave.

Only after Naruto's figure disappeared completely at the end of the street did the Third slowly raise his head toward the night sky.

The starlight above was dim.

Yet within the old Hokage's eyes burned a dazzling galaxy.

"Hmph."

Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails, who had observed the entire incident, did not withdraw its perception this time after the Third Hokage appeared.

Instead, after quietly piecing together the truth without anyone noticing, it turned its gaze toward Minato Namikaze.

"So this was part of your calculations too?"

"How could that be?"

Minato smiled lightly.

However, after spending so much time together, the Nine-Tails could instantly hear the perfunctory tone in his voice.

Which meant—

This absolutely had been within Minato's expectations.

Ever since Naruto began learning sealing techniques and Flying Thunder God, the Nine-Tails had repeatedly questioned Minato about one thing:

What would happen once Naruto exposed Flying Thunder God to others?

The Nine-Tails had even prepared itself mentally.

If Naruto's exposure placed him in danger, it would forcibly activate its own hidden contingency.

Yet Minato's answer had always remained firm and confident.

There would be no danger.

Because he trusted Konoha.

That expression of absolute confidence reminded the Nine-Tails of Naruto shouting that he would become Hokage someday.

Like father, like son.

"Come out."

After parting with Naruto, the Third did not return home immediately.

Instead, he walked back toward the Hokage Building entrance, put away his pipe, and slowly exhaled.

"You've worked hard, Kakashi."

"I really wish I could go home and sleep before giving my report, Hokage-sama."

Kakashi's figure finally appeared.

One hand pressed against his forehead, his silver hair hung limply, and his complexion looked incredibly exhausted.

The Third, who had previously appeared completely relaxed, was startled upon seeing Kakashi's miserable state.

Originally, he had assumed Kakashi simply failed to subdue Naruto.

But now...

It looked more like Konoha's elite Jonin and former ANBU captain had suffered quite a bit at the hands of a six-year-old child.

Still, Kakashi remained highly professional.

Although he grumbled once, he immediately began reporting the mission.

"Naruto is an exceptional child."

"And honestly... far more exceptional than even you expected, Hokage-sama."

Kakashi carefully recounted every detail of what had happened.

When he described how Naruto had forced him to activate both the Sharingan and Lightning Blade using only body flicker and clone techniques, even the Third was shocked.

Naturally, he knew Kakashi still possessed many unrevealed methods.

But Naruto's fundamentals...

When had they become this strong?

The Third obviously knew Naruto trained constantly.

But lasting exchanges against Kakashi?

That was another matter entirely.

"...In the end, just as you predicted, Naruto used Flying Thunder God to completely disappear under the threat of Lightning Blade."

"And from the reaction speed he displayed in that instant... I had no way to track him."

Kakashi rubbed his temples again.

Naruto's talent was so overwhelming it bordered on terrifying.

It involuntarily reminded him of another genius boy he knew well—

Itachi Uchiha.

No.

Strictly considering age, Naruto's performance already surpassed even Itachi's brilliance back when he first joined the ANBU.

"Remarkable..."

"But according to your report, Naruto never attacked you. Then why are you in such terrible condition?"

The Third looked puzzled.

"Maybe I just didn't recover properly from previous missions."

"Using Lightning Blade again might've disrupted my chakra circulation."

Kakashi himself also seemed confused.

Why was his condition so awful?

"Enough."

"Go home and rest properly first."

"We'll discuss the remaining matters tomorrow."

After confirming Kakashi was not seriously injured, the Third patted his shoulder, signaling him to leave.

At the instant his hand touched Kakashi's shoulder, the Third subtly activated chakra to investigate—

Yet found nothing.

So it wasn't a genjutsu.

Perhaps Kakashi really was just physically exhausted.

Once the Third reached that conclusion, he stopped worrying about it.

The objective had already been achieved.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Hearing the unconcealed delight in the Third Hokage's voice, Kakashi finally relaxed.

Within Konoha, very few people knew Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son.

And as a former ANBU operative, Kakashi's identity was especially sensitive.

Unlike Guy, he could not openly approach Naruto.

So if tonight's mission truly produced a favorable outcome for Naruto...

Then perhaps he had fulfilled his own small responsibility.

Wait—

After walking away for a short while, Kakashi suddenly felt a strange pain vanish from his head.

Then something abruptly resurfaced in his memory.

His expression instantly changed in horror.

Why had he forgotten to report the Nine-Tails?!

Without hesitation, Kakashi instinctively turned to rush back toward the Hokage Building—

But the instant he pivoted around, the pain disappeared again.

He froze in place.

Underneath his mask, his mouth opened slightly—

Yet no words came out.

"What's happening to me...?"

"I'm so tired..."

Kakashi suddenly felt his strength rapidly draining away.

His head became increasingly dizzy.

"This is bad... I'm going to pass out..."

"YO! Isn't this my eternal rival, Kakashi?!"

A booming energetic voice suddenly erupted from a nearby street corner.

Kakashi groggily looked over.

A bizarre green figure rapidly approached.

The next moment, two shoe soles abruptly appeared before Kakashi's eyes as the passionate voice continued endlessly:

"What a coincidence! I was doing post-dinner handstand laps around the village! How about we— hm? What's wrong with you, Kakashi?"

The newcomer was none other than Might Guy.

Clearly noticing Kakashi's abnormal condition, Guy immediately dropped his joking demeanor after landing with a clean flip.

"...It's nothing."

"My head just hurts a bit."

Kakashi glanced at Guy.

He knew Guy was uninvolved in tonight's mission.

Following strict confidentiality rules, he chose not to explain anything.

"Doing handstand walks after dinner... aren't you afraid you'll puke?"

"If you're really that free, either go home and sleep or buy me some water."

"Water, right? Leave it to me!"

Guy burst into laughter and was just about to sprint off—

Only to suddenly turn around and smack Kakashi across the forehead with a hand chop.

"OW!"

Kakashi nearly blacked out from the unexpected hit.

"You really think I'm an idiot?"

"I can obviously tell something's wrong with you!"

"If it's mission-related and confidential, I'm not gonna pry!"

"I'll carry you home."

Holding his aching forehead, Kakashi silently thought that single chop hurt more than the mysterious headaches earlier.

Still, he weakly slumped down and waved his hand.

"No need."

"I'll be fine after resting a bit."

"Really?"

"Really."

Guy continued staring suspiciously at Kakashi with wide eyes.

A long silence followed.

"...Fine. Just take me home."

Eventually, Kakashi surrendered completely.

If Guy kept staring at him like this out in public, who knew what misunderstandings people would start having?

"THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!"

Guy flashed a brilliant smile.

Then he hoisted Kakashi directly over his head and laughed loudly.

"Then we'll frog-jump all the way to your house! START!"

Please kill me.

As Kakashi bounced helplessly in midair, despair filled his heart.

He only prayed no villagers would witness this humiliating scene.

Unfortunately, his condition somehow felt even worse now.

After Kakashi left, the Third immediately summoned ANBU to gather Konoha's advisers.

He couldn't wait until tomorrow anymore.

It wasn't because he distrusted Kakashi.

On the contrary—

It was precisely because he trusted Kakashi enough that he no longer wanted him involved further.

The Third understood his old companions far too well.

His deliberate withdrawal of ANBU surveillance earlier tonight, along with sealing off that street area, had undoubtedly already attracted their suspicion.

If Kakashi appeared personally to explain matters now, those people would instead assume everything had been staged by the two of them.

The Third took out his pipe and slowly entered the Hokage Building.

Inside the office, he quietly waited.

His gaze drifted toward the portraits of previous Hokage hanging upon the wall.

Eventually, his eyes stopped upon the Fourth Hokage—

Minato Namikaze.

After tonight, Naruto would finally gain the right to move freely within the village.

And from this point onward...

The Third could finally begin paving the road ahead for him.

Watergate—

Even if I don't know what exactly you planned for Naruto...

Just like back when I supported your rise to Hokage—

I will still support your decisions.

The Third silently thought to himself.

Meanwhile, after finally exhausting every ounce of effort convincing Guy that he merely felt weak and not seriously injured, Kakashi eventually managed to send him away.

But the moment Guy disappeared—

The pain inside Kakashi's head suddenly vanished once more.

And all memories regarding the Nine-Tails resurfaced again.

The bizarre sensation made Kakashi dizzy.

However, his vast experience immediately allowed him to react.

He rushed toward the bathroom mirror and pulled open his collar toward the source of the strange sensation—

Then his expression instantly darkened.

Upon his neck was a tiny yet unmistakably visible mark.

A sealing technique.

The Nine-Tails sealed inside Naruto...

Had placed a seal on him during that brief instant?

How was that even possible?

He had never once heard of the Nine-Tails possessing such an ability.

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