Danzo? What Rat Crawled Out of the Gutter? Never Heard of Him.

"Teacher Hagoromo! I did it!"

While Hagoromo was still pondering how to improve Naruto's Chakra control, Naruto shouted from the top of the tree.

Hagoromo clapped his hands and smiled. "Nice work, Naruto!"

Hagoromo couldn't help feeling impressed. Overcoming fear wasn't easy for anyone.

Besides, Naruto was only about six years old. Such resolve, in a student who had never experienced a ninja war,

was all the more remarkable.

Naruto, who had just walked halfway down the tree using the same method he had used to climb it, then jumped straight down in front of Hagoromo, scratched the back of his head.

Though he wore a happy smile, he said, "Hehe, that's because you're such a good teacher, Teacher Hagoromo."

"All right, you did it, and you deserve the praise."

Hagoromo rubbed Naruto's blond hair, exasperated. Naruto wasn't the type to be genuinely modest.

[You taught your disciple 'Naruto Uzumaki' Chakra control training. Because your disciple completed it exceptionally well, you received the reward 'Mental Strength Training (Multiverse Edition)']

All kinds of mental strength training methods instantly appeared in Hagoromo's mind. Among the wide variety, Hagoromo actually found a few exercises Naruto could try.

Hagoromo was very satisfied with the reward. After all, Naruto wasn't the only one who could use it.

He could also use the information to improve himself, and teach it to any other disciples he took on later.

He had gained more useful bits of knowledge.

What Hagoromo was most pleased with, however, was one of the techniques it contained.

That was right. It actually included knowledge of Ninjutsu, and a skill exclusive to Naruto's Uzumaki Clan at that.

Mind's Eye of the Kagura. Although this technique had only been seen with Karin Uzumaki throughout the entire series,

even Hagoromo's current Finger-to-Ground Sensing could be said to fall short of it.

Mind's Eye of the Kagura had a range of dozens of kilometers, within which it could sense unusual movements through Chakra.

Additionally, if it was Chakra the user knew, they could sense its precise location and movements.

The number of people and their Chakra signatures, and even their movement speed, could all be determined in detail. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the strongest Sensory Ninjutsu.

At that thought, Hagoromo looked at Naruto and said:

"Naruto, take a break. I'll write something down for you. From now on, you'll need to set aside time for it every day."

Naruto, who had been wondering why his teacher kept spacing out, immediately brightened at those words.

"Okay, Teacher Hagoromo!"

With that, he ran excitedly to one side, sat down, and had some water.

Hagoromo took out the notebook he carried and began writing and drawing.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Hagoromo didn't write down the technique's name, instead devoting more ink to mental and Chakra control.

In any case, as long as Naruto followed the notebook and kept at it every day,

after some time, the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, unique to the Uzumaki bloodline, would naturally awaken.

"Here, Naruto. From now on, make sure you train according to what's written here every day. If there's anything you don't understand, come and ask me."

When Hagoromo finished writing, he handed the notebook straight to Naruto.

Naruto hurried to his feet and reached out to take it, bowing as he said, "Thank you, Teacher!"

"All right, it's getting late. Time to go home."

Hagoromo said nothing more, glancing at the sky as dusk gradually approached.

"Yes, Teacher Hagoromo!"

Naruto didn't say anything more and began helping tidy up the training ground.

As for inviting Hagoromo to his home, no matter how oblivious Naruto was, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

After all, his teacher had already spent the whole day with him. In the past, Naruto wouldn't even have dared imagine that.

What he had experienced today was already more than enough for him.

He couldn't keep bothering Teacher Hagoromo.

On Konoha's main street, Hagoromo watched Naruto thank him and obediently head home.

The corners of Hagoromo's mouth lifted into a smile.

Today, he had not only mastered the A-rank Ninjutsu Rasengan, but also gained a reward from teaching Naruto Chakra control one-on-one.

However he looked at it, he had come out ahead. Perhaps it wouldn't be bad to do this every weekend from now on.

After having dinner nearby, Hagoromo walked home, watching Konoha's many different villagers.

Amid the bustle was the warmth of everyday life, and he couldn't help thinking that perhaps the Third wasn't quite so bad.

The next second, Hagoromo's expression froze, but he soon continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Only this time, instead of continuing down the main street, he turned into an alley.

In that brief moment, Hagoromo had sensed that someone seemed to be following him.

Sure enough, after Hagoromo made his way into a secluded alley,

a ninja wearing an animal mask stood at the far end.

"Sawada Hagoromo, Lord Danzo has ordered you to come with me."

His words were full of contempt, as though Hagoromo should drop to his knees in tearful gratitude and agree upon hearing them.

Hagoromo narrowed his eyes slightly. "Danzo? What rat crawled out of the gutter? Never heard of him," he said in a perfectly even tone.

At those words, the Root ninja, who had been perfectly calm, immediately pulled out a Shuriken and pointed it at Hagoromo.

"How dare you! You're nothing but a Chunin! How dare you speak disrespectfully of Lord Danzo!"

The Root ninja revered his leader, Danzo, as a god. If Lord Danzo hadn't ordered him to bring Sawada Hagoromo back alive,

he would have already charged forward and killed Hagoromo for his grave disrespect.

"Since you've drawn your Kunai, that means you're prepared to die."

Hagoromo's unruffled tone filled the Root ninja with fury, and he lunged at Hagoromo with a fierce strike.

After all, Lord Danzo had asked for him alive. He hadn't said his arms and legs couldn't be broken before bringing him in.

"Die!"

Before the words had died away, Hagoromo, standing a short distance away, quickly formed Hand Seals with both hands.

Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!

Silently reciting the Ninjutsu's name, Hagoromo vanished from where he stood.

The instant Hagoromo disappeared, the Root ninja, who had been charging toward him, immediately stopped and looked around.

Something's wrong!

The Root ninja saw no sign of Hagoromo as he looked around. Only then did he realize,

what Hand Seals Hagoromo had just formed. The Root ninja tried to jump.

But just as he moved,

a hand burst from the ground beneath him without warning and grabbed the right foot he was pushing off with.

It yanked his whole body down.

Damn it! I let my guard down!

The Root ninja's pupils contracted sharply, and he cursed himself inwardly for his carelessness.

"Rasengan!"

The Root ninja, who had still been trying to figure out how to escape, looked up the moment he heard the shout.

In the moonlight, a dazzling sphere of Chakra spun in Hagoromo's right hand as he descended rapidly toward him.

"Don't! I'm from Root...!"