Nine-Tails Chakra

Sarutobi Hiruzen was utterly astonished. He knew Uzumaki Naruto had lived a miserable life, but he had never imagined it was this miserable.

At home, he had to use tape to seal the windows so cold air would not seep through the places that had been smashed.

He always carried bandages on the streets in case he was beaten bloody and had no way to stop the bleeding.

To buy those necessities, Uzumaki Naruto could not even afford ramen. That was why he had taken money from those bad kids...

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared blankly at Uzumaki Naruto.

At that moment, all of Sarutobi Hiruzen's suspicions toward Uzumaki Naruto vanished.

Uzumaki Naruto was no delinquent who picked fights. He was clearly an innocent, kind-hearted boy.

He had no choice but to fight those bad kids in order to protect Little Hinata. Even when he took money, he only targeted bad kids and financially well-off ninja...

The money he took was not spent on entertainment, either. He planned to buy bandages, gauze, and even books for studying.

The more Sarutobi Hiruzen thought about it, the guiltier he felt. But he had not forgotten why he had come, and he said kindly:

"Naruto, you're amazing. Maybe you really could become the Fifth Hokage someday."

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "Then can Naruto tell me how you defeated those three children?"

Uzumaki Naruto revealed a gentle smile and waved his fist. "Little Hinata has been bringing me food lately, so I've gotten quite a bit stronger."

As he spoke, Uzumaki Naruto punched the wall.

Crack!!!

The wall seemed to have been struck by lightning, and a deep crack appeared across it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sucked in a cold breath.

That was more than just getting a little stronger, wasn't it!?

He had cracked a wall with one punch. It was a wooden wall, but that strength was still comparable to that of a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned. Could it be that Uzumaki Naruto was truly about to awaken Adamantine Chains?

He subconsciously shot Kakashi a look. Kakashi understood and lifted his forehead protector, revealing his scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan.

He stared at Uzumaki Naruto for two seconds.

Uzumaki Naruto still wore a gentle smile, without the slightest sign of guilt.

Nine-Tails, I'm counting on you!

Uzumaki Naruto spoke in his heart.

Inside the Sealing Space.

The Nine-Tailed Fox opened its eyes, its nine tails that blotted out the sky swaying behind it.

"Leave it to me."

Violent orange-red chakra instantly surged from the Nine-Tails' body.

The violent orange-red chakra passed through the seal and merged into Uzumaki Naruto's body, using its own savage chakra presence to conceal the trace of scorching chakra within him.

Uzumaki Naruto's smile widened.

"Nine-Tails, nicely done."

Go ahead and look. Scorch Release was not a tangible Kekkei Genkai like Adamantine Chains.

As a Kekkei Genkai of wind and fire, Scorch Release's changes existed only in chakra. With the Nine-Tails Chakra concealing it, he could easily hide Scorch Release's scorching chakra.

About a dozen seconds later, Kakashi shook his head slightly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Uzumaki Naruto showed no signs of awakening Adamantine Chains.

Once he relaxed, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked kindly at Uzumaki Naruto. "Naruto, are you and Hinata close?"

At the mention of Little Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto showed a genuine smile. "Very close. Little Hinata makes delicious food for me every day, though there is always a bit too much. Once I have money, I'll definitely buy her lots of delicious food."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile deepened.

After chatting a little longer, Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and asked again, "Oh, right, Naruto. I heard from Kakashi that you went to the bookstore. Were there any books you liked there?"

Uzumaki Naruto chuckled inwardly.

Here it came.

This was the perfect chance to conceal why he would be going to the bookstore in the future.

Uzumaki Naruto smiled and said, "I went to the bookstore because I wanted to buy a copy of Icha Icha Paradise."

"Everyone says Lord Hokage also loves reading Icha Icha Paradise. I want to become Hokage, so I need to learn from everything the Hokage does."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened even more than a dog's as he roared, "Which bastard let that slip?"

He read Icha Icha Paradise...

Wasn't that supposed to be confidential!?

Which bigmouth had nothing better to do than spread it around!?

Uzumaki Naruto said awkwardly, "Well... everyone says so..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nearly spat out blood.

His lifelong reputation!!!

Kakashi coughed faintly, pretending not to have heard anything as he turned his head aside.

Tragic!!!

Lord Hokage's shameful reputation had spread...

After coughing heavily, Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to salvage his dignity. "Naruto, don't listen to the nonsense outside. Those are all rumors."

"I am the Third Hokage of Konoha. How could I possibly buy such obscene books!?"

"If you hear such things in the future, you absolutely must not believe them."

Uzumaki Naruto nodded.

"..."

Before leaving.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took out some money and handed it to Uzumaki Naruto, speaking earnestly:

"Naruto, this is thirty thousand Ryo. Take it and use it for now. Don't casually take money in the future, and don't extort ninja either."

"Ninja must not bully others. If you have no money in the future, you can come find me."

Uzumaki Naruto nodded and chuckled.

"Don't worry, Lord Hokage. I definitely won't extort anyone else again."

"I'll properly study Icha Icha Paradise, learn the knowledge inside it, and become an outstanding ninja like you someday."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was deeply moved by the first half, thinking his words had worked. When he heard the second half, he nearly spat blood.

"Th-that won't be necessary..."

Leaving those words behind, Sarutobi Hiruzen fled the room in embarrassment.