Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Inside the training ground most familiar to Naruto and the others—

"Heh!"

Under Naruto's focused gaze, Konohamaru exhausted every ounce of effort he possessed.

Sweat poured down his forehead as he finally managed to produce a clone.

Only…

The resulting "Konohamaru clone" looked like a puddle of mud collapsed lifelessly on the ground.

"S-So… how is it, Naruto-nii…"

Konohamaru panted heavily while wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Does this barely count as success?"

"Nope, nope, absolutely not!"

Naruto immediately shook his head dramatically before crouching down and poking the "mud Konohamaru" with one finger.

"Sure, it technically has a body now…"

"But this doesn't remotely count as a proper Shadow Clone."

"This kind of thing wouldn't fool anybody."

"It'd only get in your way."

"Seriously, if I created something like this, I'd dig a hole into the ground on the spot and hide forever from embarrassment!"

"Is… is it really that terrible?"

Konohamaru looked visibly crushed.

"But don't lose heart!"

Naruto instantly recovered and started encouraging him.

"You're still little after all!"

"And besides, you've got me helping you!"

"I'll definitely fix it somehow…"

Naruto circled around the clone thoughtfully before examining Konohamaru's hand seals again.

Then suddenly he shouted:

"I got it!"

"The problem's probably because your chakra flow during the 'hnngh' part over there and the 'heh!' part over here isn't matching properly!"

"Try again!"

"The 'there' and the 'here'…"

Konohamaru immediately looked enlightened.

"Right! The 'heh!' part, right?!"

"I understand now, I understand!"

"I'll try again, kore!"

Nearby, Sasuke—who had been silently training—listened to Konohamaru's sudden "enlightenment."

Then, surprisingly enough, he really did notice Konohamaru's chakra flow becoming noticeably smoother.

Sasuke suddenly found himself questioning something internally.

Could it really just be my own problem that I never understand Naruto's teaching?

"Oh right."

Naruto suddenly remembered something and looked toward Konohamaru.

"Konohamaru, have you seen Hinata's little sister at school before?"

"Hm? You mean Hyūga Hanabi?"

Still attempting Shadow Clone Technique, Konohamaru glanced sideways and frowned.

"Of course I've seen her."

"She became famous immediately after enrolling."

"And even though she's my junior, she acts super arrogant…"

"Can you believe she's Big Sister Hinata's little sister? They're nothing alike!"

"Hearing you say it like that…"

Naruto grinned suspiciously.

"Sounds like you two have some kind of history."

"N-No history!"

Konohamaru instantly became flustered.

"Naruto-nii, why're you suddenly asking about her?!"

Then he hurriedly changed the topic.

"Nothing serious."

Naruto shrugged casually.

"I was just curious."

Seeing Konohamaru unwilling to explain further, Naruto didn't push it.

Probably just ordinary conflict between kids around the same age.

Naruto himself had met Hanabi several times while escorting Hinata home before.

Although Hanabi looked incredibly cute, her personality was completely different from Hinata's.

She was extremely competitive.

And considering Konohamaru constantly shouted throughout school about recreating Naruto's legendary "dominate the Academy" record, Hanabi disliking him honestly sounded pretty normal.

The reason Naruto brought up Hanabi at all was actually because of Hinata.

Hinata wasn't present today.

According to what she explained previously, Hiashi Hyūga had decided to send Hanabi into the Ninja Academy as well, causing major conflict among the Hyūga elders.

And somehow—

The issue also connected back toward Naruto himself.

Apparently, important matters needed handling within the clan.

Traditional clans like the Hyūga normally cultivated the Main House heir entirely inside the clan.

Originally, even Hinata entering the Academy had only happened because Hiashi personally arranged it.

According to Hinata, after years of conflict, Hiashi forcibly pushed through another controversial decision:

Hanabi would also enter the Ninja Academy exactly like her older sister.

This caused enormous uproar within the clan.

After all, the Hyūga Main House possessed only Hinata and Hanabi.

Traditionally, one daughter would inherit the Main House while the other would eventually become branch family leadership.

When Hinata first entered the Academy years ago, everyone assumed Hiashi already made his decision.

Hanabi would inherit the Main House.

Yet unexpectedly, several years later, Hiashi suddenly sent Hanabi into the Academy as well.

According to Hinata, one of the Hyūga elders had openly pointed fingers and screamed directly at Hiashi in front of the clan.

Their conflict nearly reached the point of complete rupture.

Yet Hiashi himself remained unusually firm.

He declared this was a decision reached only after deep consideration.

Even if it violated traditions established by their ancestors.

Most Hyūga clan members genuinely couldn't understand where Hiashi's confidence came from.

Still—

Because everyone could clearly see the Third Hokage deeply valued Hiashi these past years, opposition inside the clan never truly overcame his authority.

At the end of the day, though, this was still technically Hinata's family issue.

And with Neji absent, Naruto and Sasuke both felt awkward interfering too deeply.

Hinata herself also claimed she would resolve things personally.

"Respecting your friends' own choices and thoughts…"

"That's the best form of understanding."

Those were the words Minato once gave Naruto after Naruto asked him about Sasuke saying:

"You can't understand me."

Gradually, Naruto finally understood the meaning behind those words.

Because everyone experienced different lives.

And thus everyone naturally viewed things from different perspectives.

Helping friends was fine.

But forcing your own ideas onto them—

Or making decisions in their place—

Wasn't true understanding.

Suddenly—

A familiar lazy voice echoed nearby.

"Hm? Why are only you two here? Hinata isn't around?"

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto's eyes immediately lit up.

Without hesitation, he abandoned Konohamaru to continue practicing alone and rushed excitedly toward Kakashi.

"Does this mean we're finally leaving?!"

"Looks like the waiting's been driving you crazy."

Kakashi glanced toward Naruto before briefly looking at Sasuke, who had quietly perked up his ears from behind.

"Everything's prepared."

"The day after tomorrow. Six in the morning."

"Team Seven gathers at the village gate."

"We're going on a mission."

"YES!"

Naruto instantly jumped nearly three meters into the air.

As comfortable as life inside Konoha felt, after experiencing an S-rank mission, constantly handling boring village chores afterward had already nearly driven him insane.

"Hm?"

Kakashi looked around slightly.

"Where's Hinata?"

"She had family matters to handle today."

"Oh."

Naruto nodded.

"Then I'll pass the message to her."

"I've still got stuff to do."

"See you the day after tomorrow!"

With that, Kakashi vanished into smoke.

Only a Shadow Clone had come to deliver the notice.

"Kakashi-sensei's always rushing around…"

Naruto scratched his head helplessly.

Then he looked toward the others.

"Alright, Sasuke, I'm gonna go tell Hinata!"

"Konohamaru, keep practicing properly!"

After quickly saying goodbye, Naruto vanished instantly through Body Flicker.

"So cool!"

Konohamaru watched Naruto's disappearing act with overflowing admiration.

Although Naruto promised to teach him Flying Thunder God someday too, for now he still needed to first properly master Shadow Clone Technique.

After all—

Naruto-nii specifically said Shadow Clones were absolutely necessary for school!

"You've already nearly exhausted your chakra."

Suddenly, Sasuke's voice sounded from nearby.

"Don't force yourself any further."

"Naruto's chakra reserves have been absurdly huge since childhood."

"He probably doesn't even realize how much chakra Shadow Clone Technique actually consumes."

"Eh?"

Konohamaru blinked blankly.

"Chakra… reserves?"

"... Looks like you're not much smarter than that idiot after all."

Sasuke rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"No wonder you understand his teaching."

"Anyway, rest first."

Then Sasuke walked directly over before slowly demonstrating an absolutely standard Shadow Clone Technique right before Konohamaru's eyes.

After dismissing the clone, Sasuke looked down toward Konohamaru's pure and slightly silly expression.

"Remember it?"

"Yep!"

Konohamaru nodded immediately.

Satisfied, Sasuke coolly turned away and returned toward his own training.

Meanwhile, Konohamaru thoughtfully replayed Sasuke's explanation several times before finally reaching a conclusion.

"Naruto-nii still explains things way easier to understand."

The instant those words left his mouth—

Sasuke's hand twitched.

And the shuriken he threw missed the target for the first time in ages.

Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)