An Unwelcome Family

An Unwelcome Family

The Nine-Tails did not think Naruto could leave Konoha, but that did not stop it from letting its imagination run wild.

As a Tailed Beast capable of sensing good and evil, the Nine-Tails hated cities filled with complicated human hearts most of all. The pervasive malice everywhere irritated it.

If it had a chance to go out and take a look around with this brat, that would not be such a bad idea.

But could a Tailed Beast truly regain its freedom? Even the Nine-Tails was not sure.

Early the next morning, Naruto brought the Wind Release scroll to a secluded patch of woods in the village.

After reading through the entire Wind Release scroll, he formed hand seals and summoned five or six Shadow Clones.

Unlike ninjutsu, when learning multiple techniques, using the Shadow Clone Jutsu to speed up training was undoubtedly the best choice.

This was thanks to the fact that when Shadow Clones were dispelled, their memories returned to the original body as well.

However, one had to remember that fatigue returned to the original body just like memories did. Ordinary ninja simply could not train this way, which was one of the perks of the Uzumaki constitution.

Having a lot of Chakra meant he could do whatever he wanted.

After sending the Shadow Clones off to train separately, the original body sat cross-legged, holding a water-filled balloon as he attempted to practice the Rasengan.

The Rasengan, commonly known as rolling a ball, was Naruto's signature ninjutsu in the original story. There was no reason for him to give up this advantage and choose other difficult techniques.

Moreover, the Rasengan was one of the few advanced ninjutsu whose training method he knew.

The first stage involved steadily controlling Chakra and gathering it in the palm.

The second and third stages involved using Chakra to destroy a water-filled balloon and a rubber ball.

The fourth stage meant the Rasengan had officially been mastered.

Naruto was currently in the second stage. As long as he gathered Chakra in his palm and controlled the water flow to burst the balloon, he would have completed this stage of training.

But the process was not as easy as he had imagined. Naruto tried several times, yet he could not burst the balloon.

Although his Chakra control far surpassed that of his peers, he still lacked experience and could not manipulate Chakra freely.

By comparison, practicing other low-difficulty Wind Release ninjutsu was much easier.

As the Shadow Clones moved, Wind Release ninjutsu formed in the distance one after another and whistled toward the trees in the woods.

The struck trees shook violently, each suffering a different type of damage. One small tree as thick as a bowl was even sliced in half at the waist by Weasel Aura.

Naruto watched the Shadow Clones train, seemingly lost in thought.

Before long, the Shadow Clones dispersed due to insufficient Chakra and vanished into the air.

At that moment, Naruto received the feedback from the Shadow Clones. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the water-filled balloon in his hand burst.

Watching the splashing water, Naruto came to a realization.

Even if he already knew the training method, he still needed further study. Blindly working behind closed doors would only lead him into a dead end, leaving him unable to truly digest and master it.

Practicing different Wind Release ninjutsu could bring different insights and improve his proficiency with other Wind Release techniques.

He had already successfully burst the balloon. Next, as long as he used rotating Chakra to destroy the rubber ball, his Rasengan training would be considered an initial success.

Once he had a goal, time passed quickly.

A week later, in the same place, Naruto brought his hands together and rolled a ball in his palm.

"Rasengan!"

With a low shout, the tree serving as a target was blasted with a semicircular crater.

Naruto was very satisfied with the Rasengan's power. However, his palm throbbed faintly from using it.

This was also one of the aftereffects of using the Rasengan. Not everyone had the ability to fight at close range and use their body to withstand enemies.

Still, the Rasengan was a ninjutsu with room for growth. As his strength increased, he could make all sorts of distinctive balls in the future.

As Naruto basked in the joy of successfully completing his training, the Nine-Tails said disdainfully, "Isn't this just an imitation of the Tailed Beast Bomb? A clumsy knockoff. Whether in power or size, it cannot compare to me. I only need one Tailed Beast Bomb to destroy the mountain on the other side."

Naruto smiled awkwardly but politely and nodded. "Yes, yes, yes. But you're still locked in a cage."

The Nine-Tails was already accustomed to their daily exchanges and could not be bothered to argue with Naruto. It merely said strangely, "Still, your Rasengan has some power. Aren't you afraid the Hokage will become wary of you?"

Naruto was somewhat pleased. "My current strength would make that old Third Hokage wary?"

But the Nine-Tails quickly poured cold water on him. "You are far from that point. I do not care about the gap between ants, but your Chakra has indeed grown considerably. You are probably at one percent of my level now, more than those little followers of yours. But in actual combat, who knows?"

After sensing him, the Nine-Tails made its judgment. This was the standard Tailed Beasts used to measure strength.

However, victory or defeat between Tailed Beasts also depended on terrain and environment. In a desert, the One-Tail could briefly contend with the Nine-Tails, but only contend with it.

With the Nine-Tails' assessment and his previous experience killing Tenpu, Naruto could make a preliminary evaluation of his own strength.

He stood a good chance against Genin and Chunin-level ninja. He could even take on ordinary Anbu, but he definitely could not defeat the village's Jonin. After all, Jonin were the village's elites, practically boss-level figures.

As for whether that old Third Hokage would become wary of him, Naruto was not worried.

A genius was only a genius. Before becoming strong, not many people cared.

Therefore, even knowing that Anbu were monitoring him, he still chose to practice Wind Release ninjutsu and the Rasengan.

Once his apparent strength was enough to detect the Anbu's presence, that old Third Hokage would naturally withdraw the close surveillance.

All he needed to do was train hard and display high talent without showing too much strength.

As long as he did not expose the harmonious relationship between himself and the Nine-Tails, that old Third Hokage would not think he had slipped out of control.

On the way home.

Naruto continued to endure the baptism of "friendly" gazes as he swaggered down the street.

Nothing he did could change their opinions anyway, so he might as well live his own life as he pleased. After experiencing the attack by the Fourth Hokage's subordinates, he had long since lost any hope for this village.

As he passed through one district, Naruto suddenly noticed that the malice directed at him had lessened.

He did not believe the villagers' malice toward him had suddenly vanished. It could only have shifted onto something else.

Looking into the distance, he saw members of the Police Force responsible for law enforcement blocking the villagers' path. They seemed to be carrying out some operation and were loudly berating the villagers before them.

Faced with this violent enforcement, the villagers dared not speak out in anger and could only glare at the Guard Members with hatred.

"Uchiha ninja... they're still just as unwelcome."

Without slowing down, Naruto had no interest in watching the spectacle. His time was precious and should not be wasted on such trivial matters.

Besides, conflicts between the villagers and the Police Force played out every day in the village and had never stopped.

Apart from the Uchiha's overly harsh enforcement, this was also related to the open and covert struggle between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction.

When it came to infighting, Konoha's ninja village always possessed unparalleled talent. When facing outsiders, though, it was somewhat too soft.

When the Nine-Tails noticed the Uchiha members, it seemed to recall unpleasant memories and said inwardly, I hate those Uchiha. I hate the Sharingan.

Watching the spectacle alongside Naruto were Sasuke Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha.

The former watched the Police Force enforce the law with longing in his eyes. The latter frowned, then glanced at Naruto, who was quietly leaving. He remembered that this child had once visited his home and seemed to be the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

That figure who seemed so out of place reminded him of his clan's situation in the village.

Sasuke did not have so many thoughts. He was immersed in the joy of being out with his brother.

As a devoted brother-lover, he wanted to go out with his brother, hunt with his brother, and train with his brother.

Itachi withdrew his gaze and looked at his younger brother beside him. "Sasuke, did you have fun tonight?"

"Very much! As long as I'm with you, Brother, I'm happy. Will you have time to go out with me again tomorrow? I want to practice shuriken."

Itachi shook his head. "Next time. I still have a mission tomorrow."

"A mission, another mission! Can't you join the clan's Military Police Force, Brother? Then you'd have time every day, and you could train with me every day."

Sasuke planted his hands on his hips, pouting unhappily.

Don't I want that kind of life too?

Itachi sighed inwardly. Yet the clan's arrogance and prejudice filled him with despair. If not for his close friend Shisui supporting him, he would have long ago left this world in despair.

Therefore, for the village and for Sasuke, he could only choose to join the Anbu.

Only in the Anbu could he understand what the Will of Fire truly was.