Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Inside Naruto's inner world, the discussion between Minato and Kurama had already come to an end.

Hinata's sudden incident had interrupted everyone's train of thought, but after confirming that she was safe, Minato immediately noticed the change in Naruto's condition.

"...Just as I previously theorized, Kotoamatsukami doesn't possess the chakra-disrupting properties of ordinary genjutsu. That means its solution cannot be approached from the perspective of simply dispelling an illusion."

"If Kotoamatsukami possesses the ability to alter a person's will, then as long as it isn't maintaining control through continuous chakra manipulation, there should be a possibility of overwriting it with another similar method."

"In that instant, Naruto's concern for Hinata completely occupied every one of his thoughts—including the 'self-awareness' that had been modified by Kotoamatsukami..."

After muttering to himself for a while, Minato revealed a confident expression and arrived at a professional conclusion.

"I know how to break Kotoamatsukami!"

"Just as genjutsu can be disrupted or even overwritten by another powerful genjutsu, consciousness itself can be overwritten by a stronger sense of self!"

"The key is finding a way to stimulate the target into producing a stronger desire or conviction."

"And ideally, that conviction should be the exact opposite of what Kotoamatsukami implanted."

"The greater the conflict, the better."

"Afterward, continue strengthening their self-awareness and repeatedly use it to clash against the modifications imposed by Kotoamatsukami."

"That is the best method to break Kotoamatsukami."

"..."

Naruto remained silent.

Very clearly—

He didn't understand a single word.

Acting as translator, Kurama smacked his tail against the ground and reminded Minato to simplify his explanation.

"It's been so long since I taught anyone that I forgot Naruto can't understand lectures like that."

Minato scratched his head awkwardly.

"To put it simply..."

"It's like taking someone who doesn't want to eat ramen and starving them for a while."

"Then you feed them ramen."

"Or even more extremely, make ramen the only food available."

"Then keep repeating the process over and over again."

"Ohhh..."

Naruto's eyes lit up instantly.

"Now I get it!"

Since they finally had a direction, he needed to notify Grandpa Hokage as quickly as possible.

"I see."

Kurama nodded inside the mental space.

Clearly—

He had only just understood it as well.

However, Minato's theory reminded Kurama of a small incident from his previous life.

During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Naruto had encountered the reanimated Itachi shortly after obtaining Kurama's power.

The crow containing Shisui's eye that Itachi had implanted inside Naruto activated, causing Kotoamatsukami's command to "Protect Konoha" to overwrite Kabuto's control through Edo Tensei.

Afterward, Itachi went to stop the Edo Tensei technique and eventually met Sasuke.

Although Kurama hadn't personally witnessed that sequence of events, Sasuke had later told Naruto that he and Itachi fought together against Kabuto Yakushi.

At that time, Sasuke hated Konoha and could absolutely be considered an enemy of the village.

Yet Itachi never attacked him.

If Minato's theory is correct...

Then perhaps Itachi broke through Kotoamatsukami's altered consciousness through nothing more than his love for Sasuke?

Inside the Hokage's Office.

"Theoretically, it's possible."

Now fully recovered and discharged from the hospital, Kurenai Yuhi—the foremost genjutsu specialist in Konoha—and Inoichi Yamanaka, the village's greatest authority on mental techniques and perception, spent a long time analyzing the proposal before finally giving a clear answer.

"But implementing it in practice would be extremely difficult."

"Using genjutsu, sealing techniques, or other methods afterward to strengthen self-awareness isn't the problem."

"The real issue is how to generate a powerful enough thought to oppose the implanted command in the first place."

"At present, we don't even know what specific instructions were planted in each individual."

"But this is still a workable direction, correct?"

Shikaku Nara pondered briefly before looking up.

The others exchanged glances.

Then nodded.

"...Proceed according to the method Naruto suggested."

Hiruzen spoke in a deep voice.

"Have the Medical Corps and Barrier Team explore solutions from this angle."

"Understood!"

Those responsible for the relevant departments accepted the order.

Afterward, many of them found themselves looking toward the blond-haired boy standing nearby.

From discovering the crisis to using himself as a test subject and finding a preliminary solution—

Konoha was truly fortunate to have a young man like him.

Had this hidden time bomb remained buried until detonation, nobody dared imagine what might have happened to Konoha.

"Grandpa Hokage!"

"Now that we're done discussing that, I have two more requests!"

Naruto said as he watched everyone else leave.

"Requests?"

"Just say whatever you need, Naruto."

"Hinata isn't feeling well."

"And in a few days, I'm going to leave the village temporarily with Sasuke."

"So Team Seven won't be able to accept missions for a while."

With Kakashi absent, Naruto—as the team's only Chūnin—was acting as temporary leader.

According to village regulations, shinobi could not freely leave the village.

Thus, Naruto needed official approval from the Third Hokage.

"You and Sasuke?"

"What are you going to do?"

"...Can I not say?"

"Then don't."

Hiruzen answered immediately.

"Permission granted."

"Just report back once everything returns to normal."

The complete lack of questioning caused Shikaku, standing nearby, to raise an eyebrow.

But someone as intelligent as Shikaku immediately adjusted his expression.

He adopted the look of a man deep in thought and made no attempt to involve himself in the topic.

"Great."

"And one more thing."

Hearing how accommodating Hiruzen was being, Naruto grinned brightly.

"Before leaving, Kakashi-sensei mentioned that this Chūnin Exam will use three-person teams."

"Since I already became a Chūnin early, our team is still missing one participant."

"He told me to find someone to fill the spot."

"You already have a candidate?"

"No."

"Hinata and Sasuke are both really strong."

"I was originally planning to look through some upperclassmen I beat up—"

Naruto coughed.

"Ahem."

"I mean, some graduates older than me who are somehow still Genin."

"But I never found the time."

"I understand."

Hiruzen nodded.

"I'll handle Team Seven's replacement."

"Really?"

"That's amazing!"

"Then I'll leave it to you, Grandpa Hokage!"

Naruto cheered.

Waving enthusiastically, he left the Hokage's Office.

"Hmm..."

Hiruzen stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"Shikaku."

"Bring me the current Genin roster."

"Understood."

"I'll organize it immediately."

As Shikaku stepped outside and headed toward the archives room, he nearly collided with a frail-looking figure hurrying toward the office.

"Disease?"

"No..."

The man stopped himself from coughing.

"Shikaku-san."

"Is Lord Hokage still inside?"

"I heard a solution may have been found regarding that matter?"

The newcomer was none other than Moonlight Hayate.

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