Unhappy Topics

But the next instant—

Uchiha Siming's figure shot forward like a streak of black light, as if surpassing the speed of light itself.

In an instant, he appeared before Minato Namikaze, and in the latter's stunned gaze, pressed his palm against his forehead.

"If I were facing your true body, I'd still have room to negotiate. But you—just a remnant scrap of chakra—it's better you stay sealed."

Shiiing—!

Minato Namikaze's eyes dimmed, and his form was rapidly resealed.

The Minato Namikaze of now was nothing but a clump of chakra, utterly powerless to resist.

"Teacher Siming, who was that guy? He looks kinda familiar?"

Naruto Uzumaki's small face was full of curiosity.

"Him?"

Uchiha Siming waved a hand dismissively: "Just a clump of your dad's chakra. I've temporarily sealed him. Let's focus on the real business first—you, get into the consciousness space, go on!"

He—

Ah?

Naruto stood frozen in place, his face blank with confusion.

Wait.

He thought meeting his parents was the real business, right?

"Naruto, you want to tug-of-war and get my chakra?!"

The cage swung wide open, and the Nine-Tails, face twisted in fury, froze. Its pupils shrank sharply, then it realized what was happening:

"Damn brat, don't you dare! This Lord will never let any human have my power!"

"Even if this Lord is already sealed!"

The next moment.

"Ahem."

Uchiha Siming cleared his throat, quietly watching the Nine-Tails.

Nine-Tails: "..."

Family, who gets it?

It just spoke a little too loud.

And a guy who knows Wood Release and the Mangekyo Sharingan heard it.

If it had run into Hashirama Senju, it would have struggled desperately.

If it had run into Uchiha Madara, it would have roared in fury. But now, running into Uchiha Siming, it only wanted to play dead. It wasn't the young fox it used to be—it had already been beaten by Wood Release and the Mangekyo Sharingan before.

Now.

It did not want a Wood Release and Mangekyo Sharingan double-team.

"Oh, you're here too."

The Nine-Tails bared its fangs in a grin, its massive body obediently lying flat on the ground: "Since it's your order, of course there's nothing wrong with it."

It quickly explained: "I'll just stay right here, not moving."

"Hurry up, Naruto, start the tug-of-war! Or should I help you out? Don't strain yourself!"

With that, the Nine-Tails actively leaned in. The moment its crimson, blood-red energy entered Naruto's body, it transformed into golden energy, instantly flooding his entire being. His blond hair whipped in the wind, like the son of the Sun God descending to earth!

This meant that Naruto could now freely draw on all of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

As long as he mastered control of the Nine-Tails' power.

He was a solid Kage-level expert!

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the mission: Make Naruto a powerful ninja.]

[Mission reward: Summoning Technique · Rashomon!]

Not bad.

It was a decently strong jutsu.

"Alright, let's head back."

A trace of satisfaction flickered in Uchiha Siming's eyes. He patted Naruto on the shoulder, and the two instantly returned to the real world.

Beside them, Neji and the newly arrived Asuma's eyes trembled, as if they'd seen a ghost!

"No way, Brother Siming, what's going on? Naruto's chakra—even I find it terrifying, frightening!"

Asuma Sarutobi, who had just barely managed to enter Sage Mode with Siming's help, suddenly felt less pleased with himself.

"What is that power?! Brother Siming, I want to learn it too!"

That was clearly a power far greater than Sage Mode!

He envied it.

He was jealous of it.

"Oh, nothing much."

Uchiha Siming said flatly: "I just helped Naruto master Nine-Tails Mode. From now on, he can freely control Kurama's Chakra."

He made it sound too simple.

As if it were as easy as eating or drinking.

"So he's mastered Nine-Tails Chakra... like hell he has!"

Asuma Sarutobi's breath caught, his heart pounding wildly, and he couldn't help swallowing hard.

"How is this possible? Even Mito Uzumaki back in the day was said to only be able to suppress and use Kurama's power, never to control it freely. Kurama... is the most powerful monster among the Nine Tailed Beasts!"

As someone who had witnessed the Nine-Tails's Rampage.

He knew all too well how terrifying Kurama was.

Slaughtering jonin was as simple as eating or drinking, and even he would have faced certain death before Kurama.

But now.

Brother Siming had turned it into a power Naruto Uzumaki could freely control. Just how many unknown abilities did Brother Siming still hide? He understood clearly—it wasn't Naruto Uzumaki who was strong, but Brother Siming!

Before his eyes, bathed in golden light.

Naruto Uzumaki, radiating no trace of ominous or terrifying aura, forced him to believe it.

"Brother Siming! Please keep pushing me hard. I have to master Sage Mode as soon as possible!"

Asuma Sarutobi gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with self-loathing.

Useless.

You're useless!

A kid a few years old is already stronger than you!

"Fine."

Uchiha Siming smacked his lips, a hint of pity in his eyes: "Don't compare yourself to a cheater like Naruto. Your talent among all the students..."

In Asuma's expectant, hopeful gaze.

He slowly said: "Can rank in the lower-middle."

Asuma: "..."

He said gloomily: "Brother Siming, you really didn't have to add that last part. I'm not the type to hold grudges."

But now he was!

"I need to train hard too!"

Neji and Asuma threw themselves into training with renewed vigor, burning the midnight oil.

The cheater Naruto finished his training and went home to sleep.

Completely unaware that tonight's darkness was deeper than ever!

Meanwhile, Siming went to the Uchiha Clan. Today was a very important day—Shisui had returned, and it was also the first gathering since Shisui's supposed death.

At Siming's home.

Uchiha Itachi lurked furtively, his eyes flickering until he spotted a familiar figure. He let out a sigh of relief, his gaze burning with eagerness and excitement.

"Shisui, you really didn't die!"

It could be said that the current state of the Uchiha—split into two factions, on the verge of rebellion—was largely due to Shisui's death.

"Thanks to Siming."

Shisui smiled, a gentle warmth in his expression.

"At that time, I was utterly despairing and ready to jump off a cliff to my death. If Siming hadn't helped me detoxify and talked me through it, I might have really killed myself. Itachi, while I'm away, you must listen to Siming. He's our leader!"

For some reason.

Itachi felt Shisui had changed.

Before, though Shisui was very optimistic, he always carried a melancholic sorrow, as if grieving over the Uchiha Clan's future.

But not this time.

Shisui... those clear eyes seemed to see through everything.

"By the way, Shisui, how did Brother Siming convince you?"

Itachi suddenly asked: "Given your personality, if you were ambushed by Danzo and discovered the village had betrayed you, you'd definitely commit suicide. Just like if I lost you, I might... kill all the Uchiha."

He paused for a moment.

"Except for Brother Siming."

Shisui: "..."

How was he convinced?

He recalled the violence of being controlled by his own Kotoamatsukami, only to have it forcibly reversed.

He put on a fake smile: "Forget it, Itachi. Let's not talk about these unpleasant topics."