Multiple Shadow Clone Technique

Another year passed in the blink of an eye.

The time had come to Konoha Year 54, the year Naruto turned six.

Throughout the year, Naruto had remained refined and gentle.

Since he had never done anything wicked, and had even helped villagers find lost pets and delivered food to elderly villagers, his reputation finally began to change.

Ordinary villagers still treated him with hostility, but they no longer hurled malicious insults at him like before. Most simply ignored him.

After all, Naruto's handsome and refined appearance made him impossible to truly hate.

Naruto had even gained a few young female admirers.

And on this day, Naruto received some good news.

One night, Third arrived unannounced. He placed a letter on the table and smiled gently.

"Naruto, do you want to attend the Ninja Academy? This is your admission notice."

"Was I already six?" Naruto picked up the envelope with a look of sudden realization, his eyes complicated.

From what he had learned in Bleach's world, he understood that people celebrated their birthdays every year. A birthday was the happiest day of the year, when family and friends accompanied one another to make unforgettable memories.

But he had always spent his birthdays alone.

What was more, he did not even know when his birthday was.

He did not know when he had been born, who his parents were,

or who in Konoha he could still trust.

"I'll go. I'll definitely become an outstanding ninja. No, I'll become Hokage." Naruto clenched the envelope, looking exceptionally excited.

"I believe Naruto can do it." Third chuckled as he took a puff from his pipe.

"I'll definitely meet lots of new friends at the Ninja Academy, right?" Naruto's eyes were filled with anticipation for the future.

Seeing the usually composed Naruto reveal the excited expression of a child, Third smiled faintly.

This was more like it.

A child growing up happily in Konoha's cradle, studying diligently, then inheriting the Will of Fire and fighting to protect Konoha—this was the proper way for a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to grow.

This was also the Naruto Minato and Kushina had hoped to see.

Thinking of this, the guilt in Third's heart lessened considerably once more.

Under his guidance, Naruto had already gotten back on the right track. He had not let down the expectations of his granddisciple, Minato Namikaze.

As expected, he was Konoha's finest Hokage.

"Naruto, you'll form bonds with your classmates at the Ninja Academy, and all of you will become outstanding ninjas. The day after tomorrow is registration day, so don't get so excited that you can't sleep these next few days. Go to bed early and wake up early, and don't be late. You need to leave a good impression on the teachers on your first day of registration." Third gently rubbed Naruto's head and began nagging like a grandfather.

Naruto nodded excitedly, and tears even shimmered in his eyes.

"Grandpa Third, I won't let down your expectations." He hugged Third tightly, holding on with all his strength.

Third lightly patted Naruto's back and murmured, "Naruto, Grandpa Third thinks highly of you. You'll definitely become the Hokage in the future."

Little did he know that Naruto, in his arms, briefly revealed an exceptionally cold gaze.

He had no interest in becoming Hokage.

Inside the Sealing Space.

Drip.

The familiar sound of water echoed. Naruto opened his eyes, and before him lay a dazzling, futuristic space.

The sky glittered with seven-colored starlight, interspersed with images of Pokémon and mecha.

Streams of light raced across the walls, creating an atmosphere of science fiction.

Seeing this, Naruto sighed and walked toward the iron gate.

From far away, he could see a Charizard figurine as large as an adult standing beside it.

Charizard raised its head toward the sky, looking fierce and imposing.

To Charizard's left stood a delicate Fox Spirit Maiden figurine, scantily dressed and gazing seductively.

"Arceus, huh? The Pokémon creator god. I wonder how he compares to this old man. If you want this old man's acknowledgment, then defeat this old man with everything you have." Nine-Tails muttered behind the iron gate.

Naruto looked over. The space behind the iron gate was brightly lit and simply furnished, with a bed, a table, and chairs.

Nine-Tails sat in a chair with his feet planted on it like a shut-in, intensely focused on operating a computer.

The bed behind him was decorated with Pokémon designs.

The room's walls were covered in posters for various games.

The once pitch-black computer tower had been remodeled into a dazzling, radiant device. Multicolored lights flashed constantly, making Naruto's eyes hurt just looking at it.

In just a single year, the Sealing Space had undergone drastic changes.

Over that year of interaction, Naruto and Nine-Tails's relationship had also progressed greatly.

"Yo, Nine-Tails. How have you been lately?" Naruto sat down before the iron gate and greeted him.

"Mm, not bad." Nine-Tails stared fixedly at the computer screen, his hands moving rapidly as he gave a distracted reply.

That internet-addicted evil fox was truly rude.

Watching Nine-Tails's expression rise and fall with the game, Naruto considered how to start the conversation.

"How have the games been lately? Want something new?" After pondering for a moment, he asked.

Nine-Tails briefly shifted his gaze away from the computer and glanced at Naruto.

"Go on. What are you trading for it?"

Nine-Tails understood clearly that Naruto was a boy who appeared refined and polite on the surface, but was terrifyingly rational and pragmatic beneath it.

He would not check in on him for no reason unless Nine-Tails had something he wanted.

"Talking to you really saves time." Sure enough, Naruto smiled.

"I want to learn ninjutsu."

"Ninjutsu? I don't know any." Nine-Tails directly refused Naruto.

"Don't be so quick to refuse. After looking through historical records, I discovered that you appeared around forty years ago and were suppressed by the First Hokage. From then on, you were locked in a cage." Naruto spoke calmly and unhurriedly.

At the mention of the past, killing intent flashed in Nine-Tails's eyes.

The First Hokage was the shame of his life.

Because of one sentence—"You're too dangerous, so I'm going to seal you"—Nine-Tails had begun decades of prison life without daylight.

"Over those decades, you must have had several hosts. They should have learned ninjutsu from scratch, just as I am now. That means you likely remember the hand seals for some ninjutsu, and I need those. As payment, I can download two new games for you." Naruto held up two fingers, looking confident.

"Hmph. I do remember the hand seals for some ninjutsu." Nine-Tails snorted. "What ninjutsu do you want to learn?"

"The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique." Naruto answered without hesitation.

From his conversations with Sasuke, he had learned of this forbidden technique.

It used Chakra to create tangible clones. The clones possessed consciousness independent of the caster's main body and a certain degree of resistance to attacks. Once released, the clones' memories and experiences returned to the original body.

It was a ninjutsu tailor-made for training.

"This ninjutsu isn't simple. It'll take at least three games."

"Deal."

"Hiss, why do I feel like I've been tricked?! Three games seem too few." Nine-Tails suddenly realized something was wrong, his face full of fury.