Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

The next morning arrived.

For the first time in a long while, Team Seven had no missions and could finally enjoy a day of rest.

But Naruto, who had long since developed the habit of going to bed early, still woke up at dawn.

He was in the middle of brushing his teeth when a knock sounded at the door.

"Coming!"

Mouth full of foam and a toothbrush dangling from his lips, Naruto shuffled over and opened the door.

Standing outside was Kakashi.

"Morning."

Naruto froze.

Then instinctively rubbed his eyes.

Kakashi-sensei came through the front door?

He didn't climb through the window?

And he wasn't standing outside reading Icha Icha Paradise?

"Most of my chakra has recovered."

"So I came over as soon as possible."

Completely unaware of what Naruto was thinking, Kakashi explained calmly.

Naruto stared at him in even greater shock.

The look made Kakashi uncomfortable.

Was something wrong with him?

Or had Naruto spotted a hidden observer?

Perhaps someone was monitoring them?

Since Minato-sensei had remained hidden all these years, Naruto being cautious was understandable.

With that thought, Kakashi instantly activated the investigative instincts he had honed throughout his shinobi career.

In a single sweep, he examined every suspicious angle nearby.

After all, Sasuke had purchased all the surrounding buildings.

Besides himself and Naruto, practically nobody lived here.

Anyone appearing nearby automatically became suspicious.

Sure enough, Kakashi quickly spotted a small red-haired figure peeking around a dumpster downstairs.

Though rather than spying, it looked more like she was staking out a certain black-haired boy.

"Isn't that the Uzumaki girl?"

Kakashi muttered in confusion.

"She's been waiting around here these past few days so she can say hi to Sasuke."

"Then we can ignore her."

"You should probably spit out your toothpaste first."

"Gulp."

Apparently finding Kakashi's logic convincing, Naruto immediately swallowed all the toothpaste foam.

Kakashi stared.

Naruto wiped his mouth and scratched his head awkwardly.

"Sorry."

"I just didn't expect you to arrive early, Kakashi-sensei."

"...That's why you were staring?"

Kakashi was speechless.

He followed Naruto inside.

The apartment was small and contained almost nothing unnecessary.

But it was remarkably tidy.

Clearly someone had been taking care of it.

"I really didn't expect you this early."

"Good thing I told Hinata yesterday that I'd handle breakfast myself."

"Sasuke didn't come home all night either."

Kakashi resisted the urge to ask how Naruto knew that.

"So what's the plan?"

"Will you use Flying Thunder God to take me there?"

Just the thought of seeing Minato again made Kakashi's heart race.

He couldn't remember the last time he had been this nervous.

"Mm."

"First, take off your forehead protector."

"Oh, you don't need to close your eye."

"Then?"

"Give me a second."

"I need to relax."

Kakashi blinked his Sharingan while watching Naruto shake his arms and legs.

"What are you doing?"

"I spent a while training with Sasuke against Sharingan users."

"Now I've got a bit of a reflex reaction to Sharingan chakra."

"If I don't relax first, I might instinctively break the technique."

"A reflex reaction?"

"Okay! That should do it!"

Naruto gave a thumbs-up.

"Go ahead, Sensei."

"Use a genjutsu or some harmless eye technique on me."

Kakashi suddenly remembered the last time he had used his Sharingan on Naruto.

The time he had encountered the Nine-Tails.

Immediately, he understood.

The three tomoe slowly spun.

As Sharingan chakra activated, the scenery around him changed completely.

Yet unlike the dark, oppressive world he remembered, he found himself standing in a warm, peaceful white space.

Across from him stood a familiar figure.

Exactly as he remembered.

Not a single difference.

The same mature calmness beyond his years.

The same gentle smile.

The same bright golden hair.

The same warmth.

"Long time no see, Kakashi."

"You've grown."

"You're taller than me now."

Minato stepped forward with a smile and compared their heights.

Kakashi looked at the face engraved into his memories.

Bitterness surfaced in his eyes.

"I'm twenty-six now, Sensei."

"Yeah."

"It's been a long time."

Minato laughed softly.

"Come to think of it, I was only twenty-four when I died."

"So now you're not just taller than me."

"You're older than me too."

"Hahaha."

Then he reached out and ruffled Kakashi's hair exactly as he had years ago.

"But I'm still your teacher."

"I've been watching you through Naruto."

"You've worked hard all these years."

"You've changed a lot."

His hand paused.

Then his voice softened.

"It's been difficult, hasn't it?"

Kakashi's smile turned faintly bitter.

In front of Minato, there was no need for masks.

He nodded.

"Yeah."

"It's been tiring."

"I see."

"Then let's talk."

Minato's tone was so natural that it almost felt as though the years separating life and death had never existed.

As though they were simply teacher and student meeting again after a long absence.

"Sensei."

"Have you really been inside Naruto since the night of the Nine-Tails attack?"

"Yes."

"Though not quite the way you imagine."

"What you're seeing now is only a portion of the chakra I left inside Naruto."

"A portion of chakra?"

Kakashi frowned.

Then suddenly thought of something and looked around.

"Sensei."

"If this is Naruto's inner world..."

"Where's the Nine-Tails?"

"Right here, Kakashi!"

A massive fox head suddenly emerged from the endless white space.

Kakashi nearly jumped backward.

The Nine-Tails grinned.

An absolutely villainous grin.

"Hehehe."

"Trying to escape is pointless now."

"This space belongs to me."

"You've fallen right into my paws."

"There's nowhere left to run."

The enormous fox bared its teeth.

"As long as I want to, I can crush your consciousness in an instant."

"Then I'll slap a few more seals on you while I'm at it!"

Kakashi immediately tensed up.

Meanwhile, Minato covered his face.

He already knew that expression.

Whenever Kurama made that face, it meant one thing.

The Nine-Tails was entertaining itself again.

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