Trumpet Nine

Hokage Office.

"...The Uchiha Clan has spent the entire day handling the aftermath. They haven't made any unusual moves."

"Most of the supplies they purchased were lumber and other materials for making coffins."

"Shien ran into Naruto, who was skipping class, on the street."

"After catching Naruto and forcing him to apologize, he left. There were no other unnecessary actions."

The Third Hokage listened to the ANBU report and asked suspiciously.

"How could Shien have been hit?"

After all, Shien was quite strong. Naruto had only just entered the Ninja Academy and had not even begun learning Chakra.

The ANBU reported truthfully, "Shien was distracted, and Naruto ran into him while fleeing after causing trouble."

"Naruto was sent flying backward himself."

The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe and waved the ANBU away.

Shien, what exactly are you trying to do?

Naruto Uzumaki walked home dejectedly, the Third Hokage Grandpa's earnest yet painfully repetitive lecture still echoing in his mind.

—"Naruto, get along with everyone. Stop playing pranks. Everyone actually cares about you..."

Cares? Naruto rubbed the broom marks on his body that still faintly ached and curled his lips.

He knew those looks all too well. They were not concern at all.

He pushed open his door and was greeted, as always, by the empty, exceptionally messy little apartment.

Half-eaten instant noodle cups were piled carelessly in the corner, dirty clothes lay scattered across the floor, and the air carried an indescribable staleness born of a lack of human warmth.

After the daytime clamor of being chased and beaten, the utter silence now engulfed him like an icy tide.

He silently shut the door, slid down against it, and buried his head in his knees.

An immense sense of emptiness and loneliness gripped his heart.

Why was he the only one alone? Why did everyone look at him that way?

What had he done wrong? He only... only wanted someone to look at him. Even if they glared at him in anger, it was better than being ignored as though he were air...

Why... are they treating me like this...

Years of physical and emotional abuse had already left this child, who should have been innocent and carefree, riddled with wounds inside.

Without anyone to guide him properly, Naruto's path in life was inevitably sliding toward the abyss of seeking recognition through extreme means.

Heh, because you're the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.

A strange voice suddenly rang out in Naruto's heart.

"Who!?" Naruto sprang upright in fright, his blue eyes wide as he nervously looked around.

No need to shout. Just think in your heart. If you attract the ANBU outside, I won't be able to talk to you.

Seven-year-old Naruto was nervous and afraid, but more than that, he was curious.

Y-you, what are you? A monster?

What is the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki?

Are there ANBU outside?

Finally having someone who could talk to him, Naruto immediately fired off a barrage of questions.

I'm not a monster. I'm the Nine-Tails' benevolent will.

A Jinchuriki is someone with a Tailed Beast sealed inside them. The Nine-Tails is sealed inside you.

Of course there are ANBU outside. They protect your safety and monitor you year-round.

The Nine-Tails was sealed inside him!?

Upon hearing that, Naruto seemed to understand everything at once.

No wonder people called him a monster. No wonder people called him a demon fox.

Why am I a Jinchuriki? Why did they choose me to be one?

I've been bullied so much all these years...

Thinking of all the grievances he had suffered over the years, Naruto squatted on the floor and burst into loud sobs.

The ANBU outside heard him, but no one paid any attention.

Naruto cried often enough anyway. He was only crying more sadly than usual today.

There is, of course, a reason for that.

What reason? Benevolent will of the Nine-Tails, tell me quickly!

Naruto no longer cared about crying. He anxiously wanted to know the truth behind everything.

This time... I don't have much... time...

The voice in Naruto's heart began to grow intermittent.

You can call... me... Trumpet Nine. My malicious will is about... to awaken.

That guy has a terrible temper... and won't acknowledge my existence either...

You must keep this secret. Next time... I... awaken, I'll... tell... you...

Trumpet Nine's voice abruptly cut off. Then, a far older and cruder voice rang out inside Naruto.

"Which bastard dares impersonate this old man...!"

The voice was rough, and its tone was exceedingly foul.

Naruto's eyes flew wide open.

Are you the Nine-Tails' malicious will?

The Nine-Tails snapped, "What malicious will? This old man is the Nine-Tails."

"That one just now was an impostor!"

Oh, Trumpet Nine was right. You really won't acknowledge him.

The Nine-Tails was so furious his nose nearly twisted out of shape. The other party had named himself Trumpet Nine, which clearly meant he knew his true name.

But at that moment, he had no desire whatsoever to argue with a little brat like Naruto.

He could only snort coldly and fall completely silent.

Naruto, meanwhile, began scratching at his head and repeatedly calling out in his mind.

Nine-Tails' malicious will...

Nine-Tails' malicious will...

Hearing that title, the Nine-Tails angrily shut off his perception of Naruto altogether.

At home, Shien opened his eyes.

Naturally, he had been the one speaking with Naruto just now. The Nine-Tails at this point was hardly that good-tempered.

His Mangekyō Sharingan had two abilities. One was Izanami Echo.

The other was called Omoikane. It could split off part of his consciousness to form a Heart Seed and plant it inside a target.

A Heart Seed could gradually alter the target's mental inclinations. Unlike conventional genjutsu, this occurred in the deepest layers of the mind, completely beyond the target's awareness, so it could only change them slowly.

However, it did not rely on eye contact. Physical contact was required to plant it.

To converse, however, he needed to make contact first, inject his Chakra into the target's body, and then use the technique to communicate himself, just like the Phantom Body Lamp Technique.

The reason he had not continued speaking with Naruto just now was purely because the "battery" had run out.

If he wanted to become stronger, Shien would not pass up any resource he could exploit.

As the protagonist of this world, Naruto was naturally part of Shien's plans.

But Naruto was still under the Third Hokage's surveillance, so Shien could only slowly approach him this way.

Later, he would have to find a way to recharge Naruto.

Shien rubbed his chin. Since Naruto had already received one, Sasuke could not be left out.

As for the Heart Seed in Mikoto, Shien intended to use it to influence Mikoto's consciousness, so he had no plans to activate it for now.

Shien soon left his room. In one corner of the clan grounds, thick smoke continuously rose into the sky.

Qingchuan and the others were disposing of the Root members' corpses.

While Shien was on his way, Zhi Ming called out to him.

"Clan head, these are members of the Hyuga Clan who have recently been helping patrol and stand watch at night."