Bluffing the Nine-Tails and Collecting Rent!

Hatake Clan, Training Ground.

"Naruto, since you're still so young, the only ninjutsu you can learn are the three basic techniques."

Shinichi stood with his hands behind his back, convinced he looked every bit the master.

The three basic techniques were the Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, and Substitution Technique.

By now, he had already changed the course of Naruto's destiny. Naruto had become part of the Hatake Clan, a little brother to him and Kakashi.

That being the case, Naruto no longer needed to wait until he entered the Ninja Academy to learn ninjutsu, as he had in the original story. After all, the Shinobi World would face far too many dangers in the future. Gaining the power to protect himself sooner could only be good for Naruto.

"All right! Watch me!"

Hand seals! Chakra surged!

A cloud of white smoke burst out. Looking at the shapeless thing beside him, the previously enthusiastic Naruto wilted at once and cried, "What the heck is that? Is the Clone Technique really this hard to learn?"

Thunk!

Shinichi rapped him on the head and said helplessly, "I wasn't even done talking. Why were you in such a hurry to make hand seals?"

The three basic techniques were the foundation of ninjutsu. Any child whose talent wasn't too poor could learn them. Geniuses like Itachi and Kakashi could probably master them perfectly after one or two tries.

But Naruto was different. Although he possessed tremendous talent as the protagonist, the power of the Nine-Tails within him also caused him plenty of trouble.

"Naruto, look into my eyes."

At Shinichi's voice, Naruto looked over without the slightest suspicion.

They were a pair of scarlet eyes, their eerie shuriken patterns leaving a striking impression.

Mangekyō Sharingan!

A dark, damp underground sewer.

Drip.

Behind enormous iron bars, an orange fox lay lazily on the ground.

"Hey, Nine-Tails!"

Studying the Four Symbols Seal, which looked exactly like its counterpart in the original story, Shinichi clicked his tongue in wonder. "Nice to meet you. I'm Naruto's older brother, and I've come to collect rent!"

"Accursed human, get out of here!"

The Nine-Tails hadn't intended to acknowledge Shinichi's "warm" greeting, but the instant he got a clear look at those familiar Mangekyō Sharingan, his fur stood on end.

He would never forget how those damned Mangekyō Sharingan had forcibly controlled his will back then, reducing a proud tailed beast like him to a puppet.

And this brat, who claimed to be Naruto's older brother, just happened to possess those same damned eyes!

How could the Nine-Tails possibly stay calm?

"Calm down."

Shinichi shook his head and sighed softly. "If you don't want me to forcibly control you, calm down and have a chat with me first."

With the powerful ocular abilities he now possessed, controlling the Nine-Tails would be child's play.

But he also knew that a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan alone wouldn't be enough to create a perfect jinchūriki like Naruto near the end of the original story. He needed the Nine-Tails' willing cooperation.

"Bullshit! What could I possibly have to discuss with you damned humans?"

The Nine-Tails roared.

Only a little over three years had passed since he was sealed away. His bitterness and hatred were still at their peak, so expecting him to treat Shinichi politely was hardly realistic.

"I know you can see everything Naruto sees."

Ignoring the furious Nine-Tails entirely, Shinichi said evenly, "I came here today to ask you to rein in the Nine-Tails chakra leaking out of you a little. Don't let it interfere with Naruto's ninjutsu training."

"Why should I listen to you?"

The Nine-Tails looked at Shinichi with disdain, as though he were an idiot.

"Kurama, I'm not asking."

There was an unquestionable firmness beneath Shinichi's seemingly casual tone. "You can accept willingly, or you can be forced to accept."

"I'd like to see what you can do to me..."

The Nine-Tails let out a wild laugh. Then, as if something had finally registered, his eyes widened, and he stammered, "Wait! W-what did you just call me?"

"Kurama! Isn't that your name?"

Shinichi returned the look as though the fox were an idiot and mercilessly mocked him. "Have you been locked up here so long you've gone senile? You've even forgotten your own name. What a pitiful little fox..."

At those words, several veins bulged on the Nine-Tails' forehead.

"Where exactly did you hear that?"

The Nine-Tails couldn't help asking.

"That doesn't matter."

Shinichi gently wagged his index finger and chuckled. "What matters is that Naruto is special. You might not believe it now, but this kid is the blue-eyed boy you've been waiting for all along. Get along with our Naruto. You definitely won't regret it."

The Nine-Tails fell silent and simply stared fixedly at Shinichi.

Why? How could this human brat know so much? He even knows my true name and the prophecy left by the Sage of Six Paths!

And those terrifying Mangekyō Sharingan!

This brat is clearly from the Hatake Clan. How could he have the Uchiha's Sharingan, let alone the Mangekyō? More importantly, the ocular power I can feel from those eyes is so strong it rivals Madara Uchiha's back then!

How could the Hatake Clan have a monster like this?!

The Nine-Tails had no doubt that, if Shinichi wished, he could instantly turn the strongest tailed beast into a docile little kitten at his feet.

"What makes you say this Naruto brat is the one I've been waiting for?"

The Nine-Tails asked in a low voice.

"You really have gone senile!"

Shinichi looked helpless and sighed softly. "Try paying close attention to the aura of Naruto's soul. Don't forget, your old man had two sons. Even if you won't do me a favor, you should at least do one for your old man!"

That was enough said. He would leave the Nine-Tails to work out the rest!

"The old man?"

The Nine-Tails murmured.

Then he did as Shinichi said, closing his eyes and focusing his senses.

After an unknown length of time, the Nine-Tails suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with shock. "It really is him! Asura!"

Whoosh.

Withdrawing from Naruto's mental world, Shinichi took the opportunity to wake the little fellow.

"Naruto, your big brother has collected your rent for you."

"Rent?"

Naruto's little head filled with huge question marks again. Shinichi was talking nonsense again.

"Enough chatter. Hurry up and try the Clone Technique again."

At Shinichi's urging, Naruto obediently did as he was told, however confused he might have been.

Poof!

He formed hand seals, and white smoke burst out.

What appeared beside Naruto was an identical Naruto.

The Clone Technique, executed perfectly!

"All right! Shinichi, I finally did it!"

Naruto jumped up in delight.

Shinichi smiled as he watched from the side. It seemed that stinking fox hadn't really gone senile. At least he still knew whom he shouldn't cross.

After all, Shinichi already had a backup plan. If the Nine-Tails stubbornly insisted on continuing to make trouble for Naruto, he would teach the fox exactly what happened when he crossed the wrong person.

A tailed beast?

Just a pet!

Sorry, but with the Mangekyō Sharingan, you really could do whatever you wanted!