Although the Rinnegan naturally granted mastery of all seven chakra natures, that mastery was only at the Jonin level. If Naruto wanted to become stronger... he would need guidance from a skilled teacher and plenty of hard work. For now, he couldn't do that.
There was also chakra shape transformation—practicing the Rasengan was practice in chakra shape transformation.
One morning, Naruto stepped out of his house, ready to go to school.
Kurama suddenly warned him, "Kid, there are four more people watching you."
Naruto kept his expression neutral and replied inwardly, Yeah, I noticed too.
By using the Rinnegan's Ukanomitama technique to continually strengthen his soul, Naruto's senses had grown keener and keener.
The people watching him had long since become impossible to hide from. Naruto had even noticed the Third Hokage's Telescope Technique.
It was precisely because he'd noticed the Third Hokage's surveillance that Naruto understood just how much the old man was "looking after" him.
Sometimes once a day, sometimes four or five times.
But whether it was more or less, there was at least one check every day, without fail.
The Third Hokage could be said to care more about Naruto than he did his own grandson.
Fortunately, the Third Hokage still had some decency. He made sure not to watch when Naruto was bathing or using the toilet.
Otherwise, Naruto would have reached his breaking point long ago and defected from the village.
"What's with that look?"
It was break time at the Ninja Academy.
Sasuke turned to Naruto, looking annoyed.
Is there something wrong with you? Why do you keep looking at me with that sympathetic, pitying look?
And haven't you got our roles mixed up? My family's whole, and you're the orphan!
"...Sorry. I wasn't looking at you, and I didn't mean to offend you. I just suddenly remembered something else."
Naruto froze for a moment, then quickly came to his senses and apologized to Sasuke.
"Hmph!"
Sasuke snorted. He wasn't interested in asking what Naruto had remembered, and simply turned away, putting on his usual aloof air.
"Sasuke is so cool!"
The girls in class gazed at him with hearts in their eyes, swooning.
"Women are such a pain..."
Shikamaru lay sprawled across his desk. He glanced at Ino, who had joined the swooning crowd, and sighed listlessly.
"What a show-off... That guy..."
A hint of envy showed on Kiba's face. He wanted to be as popular as Sasuke, too.
"He's just showing off to get the girls' attention... You agree, don't you, Choji?"
Kiba turned to his friend Choji, looking for support.
Crunch, crunch.
Choji was eating potato chips. He paused at Kiba's words, but kept munching as he answered, "Mm... What were you... mm..."
Kiba's face darkened. "Never mind. Keep eating."
"Oh."
Crunch, crunch.
Beside them, Shino adjusted his sunglasses and said solemnly, "I don't think he's showing off. If you want to know why..."
Kiba hadn't listened to a word Shino said. Instead, he turned to Naruto for support.
"Naruto, do you think I'm right?"
"Uh... probably. But I don't really know what's going on, since I don't know him that well."
Naruto had barely spoken to Sasuke all year.
Sasuke was aloof, and Naruto never made the first move. It was no wonder they couldn't hold a conversation.
Class was in session.
At the front of the room, Iruka taught with great enthusiasm.
Below, Naruto paid no attention to the lesson. He glanced at Sasuke, then looked away, his eyes thoughtful.
The Uchiha Clan... They'll be wiped out in the next few days, won't they?
The sudden increase in watchers... They're probably there to prevent the Uchiha from doing something drastic and starting a rebellion by taking him, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, hostage.
The increasingly tense atmosphere in the village confirmed that the night of the massacre was drawing near.
What can I do? What should I do?
After thinking it over for a long while, Naruto gave a slight shake of his head.
No. I can't get involved, and I don't need to. What I need to do now is keep a low profile and grow stronger. I don't need to worry about anything else.
So... I'll just pretend I don't know anything.
The night was cool and still. Naruto lay in bed, with Raiden Shogun beside him.
In the Sealing Space, Naruto, Shadow, and the Shogun's consciousness appeared.
The Sealing Space had changed dramatically. The damp, gloomy sewer was gone, replaced by a picturesque grassland and forest.
Of course, the grassland and forest weren't real. Like the mahjong table, they had been conjured from Nine-Tails Chakra using the Rinnegan's ocular power and the Transformation Technique.
As soon as the three appeared, Kurama urged them on. "Come on, come on! Let's play mahjong."
Naruto deliberately scolded him. "You useless fox, all you do these days is play mahjong. You play during the day and at night, too. Tell me... can you do anything besides play mahjong?"
Kurama froze for a moment, then realized Naruto was picking a fight for no reason.
He was trapped in here by force. What else was he supposed to do to pass the time besides play mahjong?
Kurama snapped, "You're getting way too arrogant, kid."
Naruto replied modestly, "Oh, I'm not that bad."
Kurama got even angrier. "You brat! I wasn't praising you!"
Naruto brushed him off. "Yeah, yeah. You weren't."
Roar!
Amid the bickering, the three of them and the fox sat down at the mahjong table and began to play.
Shadow focused completely, ready for battle.
She'd lost the previous rounds, but as a martial artist, she had to win back what she'd lost.
The Shogun remained expressionless. She had no interest in mahjong or in winning and losing.
If Naruto hadn't asked her to join, she would have much rather sat alone in quiet contemplation—thinking about how to put the Way of Eternity into practice in the Ninja World.
Kurama played mahjong while hurling insults at Naruto.
"You're so weak, kid. You're hopeless. I could let you have all nine tails and still beat you."
Kurama won another hand and taunted Naruto.
The best way to deal with taunts was to ignore them.
Naruto ignored Kurama and instead encouraged Shadow, who looked dejected. "Don't be discouraged. It's all Kurama's fault. I'll help you beat him next round."
Shadow rallied and refused. "No. I have to win back what I lost myself."
Naruto gave her a thumbs-up. "What a warrior's spirit."
Ten minutes later.
Shadow lowered her head in defeat. Her dark purple braid trailed on the ground, and gloom radiated from her.
"As expected... I can't do anything right."
Kurama and Naruto exchanged glances, both at a loss for words.
The sun sank in the west, and the setting sun was red as blood.
Outside the Uchiha Clan Compound, Root shinobi silently set up a sealing barrier, ensuring that nothing happening within the compound could get out.
Danzo leaned on his cane and looked at Itachi. He said calmly, "Begin. I'll take good care of your younger brother."
At this point, words were meaningless. Itachi simply said, "Please remember your promise."
With that, Itachi turned and stepped into the barrier.
"Sir, will he really kill his own clan? And all for his younger brother?"
A Root shinobi wearing a Flower Cat Mask watched Itachi's departing figure, confusion clear in his voice.
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