"Naruto-kun, I'm heading off for special training first~"
Sakura's voice was exaggeratedly sweet.
"Yeah, go ahead."
After sending the pink-haired kunoichi away, Naruto closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.
A moment later, a wooden clone of White Zetsu emerged from the ground behind him.
"Let's check on the situation in the Land of Waves."
Receiving the command, the clone sank back into the earth.
"You're really patient... But since I haven't shown anything unusual, it's only natural that the Hokage can still tolerate me."
Refocusing, Naruto directed his full attention inward.
He soon detected a small sphere of faint red chakra at his Baihui acupoint. Attempting to manipulate it with his own chakra, he found that it remained completely unshaken.
"As expected. In the original timeline, I wasn't supposed to awaken this power until much later… Well then, let's see what the Mori-Mori no Mi can do!"
Activating the absorption ability of the Mori-Mori no Mi, Naruto slowly devoured the faint red chakra.
BOOM!
The moment the energy was fully absorbed, a surge of power coursed through his body, causing it to tremble violently. When he opened his eyes, there was no visible change in his appearance—yet his perception had vastly improved.
This wasn't the Uzumaki Clan's natural sensory ability.
No, in terms of both capability and rarity, it far surpassed many bloodline limits.
Kagura's Mind's Eye and the Diamond Seat were both secret techniques of the Uzumaki Clan. Unlike ordinary jutsu, these abilities weren't taught but awakened naturally upon attaining a certain level of power.
Kagura's Mind's Eye was the pinnacle of sensory ninjutsu, allowing a shinobi to scan vast areas for chakra signatures. Within a radius of dozens of kilometers, Naruto could now sense every presence—down to their chakra levels, numbers, distinguishing traits, and even their precise movements.
With the Mori-Mori no Mi enhancing this power, he could perceive even those without chakra. Even the trees whispered their secrets to him.
In other words, unless someone had the Flying Thunder God technique or sensory abilities on par with his, tracking Naruto down would be impossible.
Additionally, his newfound affinity with plant life further enhanced his detection range.
"Kagura's Mind's Eye... A great tool for both pursuit and escape."
Naruto flexed his fingers. "Now, let's test the Adamantine Sealing Chains."
He could feel the scorching chakra surging within him. As it flowed through his back, the faint red hue transformed into a brilliant gold upon exposure to the air.
"Good… Time to test it on the perfect target."
A low hum resonated through the air as Naruto entered his inner mindscape.
"Kurama!"
After what felt like ages, the Nine-Tails finally cracked open an eye, glaring at him with unmistakable annoyance.
"If you have something to say, spit it out! You're interrupting my money counting!"
"If you don't cooperate, don't blame me for being rough."
The fox growled, baring its fangs. "Tch… You again. What do you want now?"
Naruto sighed dramatically, looking away as if deeply hurt. "After all this time… You still don't trust me?"
Kurama hesitated, ears twitching in confusion.
"Huh? Are you… crying?"
Naruto sniffled. "Oh, don't mind me. Maybe if you beat me up, I'll feel better."
Kurama tensed, feeling an inexplicable sense of panic. It wasn't that Naruto had been particularly kind to him before… But still, this behavior was unsettling.
"You said... what?"
Naruto turned back, his expression tearful yet mischievous. "Hehe, well, tailed beasts don't feel pain, right? So, no big deal."
Kurama narrowed his eyes. "You little—"
Before the beast could react, Naruto closed his eyes, and the burning chakra in his back erupted outward.
Nine Adamantine Chains burst from his body, ensnaring Kurama instantly!
A slight tug.
Snap!
"AAAHHH!" Kurama's agonized roar echoed throughout the mindscape.
This power…!
This was Kushina's power!
No—this was even stronger than Kushina's!
Under the Adamantine Sealing Chains, Kurama found himself unable to move. His massive reserves of chakra were completely locked down.
Just standing required immense effort.
But… something was off.
Unlike before, there was no malice in these chains. This wasn't Kushina's lingering chakra at work.
Then—
Before Kurama could unravel the mystery, the chains abruptly vanished.
Looking down, he saw Naruto waving him off. "Alright, Kurama, go count your money in peace."
With a buzzing sound, Naruto returned to reality.
Inside the mindscape, Kurama remained frozen for several seconds before unleashing a deafening roar.
Fortunately, Naruto had severed their connection just in time.
"Heh, so it really was the Adamantine Chains. I barely exerted any effort, and Kurama went down without a fight."
Naruto smirked. "From now on, subduing tailed beasts will be easy. I won't even need to fight—just seal them outright."
He pondered for a moment.
"If I remember correctly, the Buddha Statue can also be restrained by this technique… And even Susanoo might not be immune."
With his combined abilities, Naruto's combat style had evolved into a perfect blend of precision and control.
Kagura's Mind's Eye (detection) + Adamantine Chains (sealing & suppression) = the ultimate battlefield lockdown.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Kurama was still fuming.
"That damn brat! Just wait!"
Standing nearby, Haku observed the scene with quiet confusion. From his perspective, the mighty Nine-Tails had merely been lying there one moment and suddenly erupted into a fit of rage the next.
Did something happen with Naruto-sama?
"Hmph! Bring me more money!"
"Y-yes!"
Haku rushed over with another chest full of coins. Upon seeing the piles of gold, Kurama's anger slowly faded, replaced by satisfaction.
One month later.
The bridge was finally completed.
Dazna, ever pragmatic, had named it Naruto Bridge.
Naruto didn't refuse. That old man had placed his bets early—might as well ride the wave of popularity.
"Time to go back."
The journey to the Land of Waves had been by sea.
The return trip was on foot—across the newly built bridge.
With the two nations now linked, trade would naturally follow.
Naruto didn't need to handle the details personally.
Let the pieces fall into place on their own.
And while everyone else ran around chasing shadows…
Naruto would be watching from above, waiting for his moment to strike.
The return journey was swift.
In just one day, Team 7 was back in Konoha. … Early Morning
The two gatekeepers of Konoha, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, had arrived early for their shift.
"Yo, Kakashi!"
Kakashi lingered for a quick chat, while Team 7 disbanded on the spot.
Sasuke headed straight for the Uchiha district. He hadn't been back for a month, and he expected the place to be covered in dust.
Sakura chose to return home as well.
Meanwhile, Naruto made his way to the dango shop. After discovering that Anko wasn't there, he simply went home.
Having completed a C-rank mission, he figured the other teams were likely out on similar assignments. With the Chunin Exams approaching, most teams were probably busy outside the village.
"Time to get some sleep."
Naruto estimated that the Chunin Exams weren't far off.
But before heading home, he had one last stop to make.
"Let's check on the flowers."
Using the Mayfly Technique, he slipped through the ground toward his hidden storage point.
Upon arrival, he entered seamlessly. Inside, two figures lay still, seemingly asleep.
"You don't have to pretend anymore," he said casually.
Two pairs of eyes snapped open, revealing Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Izumi. Their expressions were filled with disbelief.
"When…? When did you find out?"
Naruto smirked. "After just one technique, he confessed everything. What else was I supposed to do?"
With a mere thought, the vines binding Mikoto and Izumi slowly retreated.
"Good. I'm not much for explanations anyway."
Then, under their shocked gazes, Naruto's bright blue eyes transformed into the pattern of an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Let's discuss things properly in the world of Tsukuyomi."
"A flower should embrace its role as a flower."
His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"You won't need to worry about food, shelter, or safety here. Take your time and think things through. If you behave, I might even let you see Sasuke."
With that, Naruto gently laid them back down.
Around them, countless vines stood like vigilant sentinels. Even if Mikoto could activate Susanoo, she wouldn't be able to break free. The moment Naruto had arrived, he reinforced the barrier with diamond-sealing chakra.
After a brief glance at their unconscious forms, he placed his palm on their foreheads, extracting the Uchiha chakra nourishment that was his due for the month.
"Time to head home."
With the Mayfly Technique, he disappeared.
Back Home
Naruto found Mitarashi Anko had returned.
Upon entering the house, he heard rustling noises.
Curious, he walked into the kitchen—only to see Anko stuffing her mouth full of food. Her eyes widened in surprise, nearly choking on a dango.
"Naruto~!"
Her panicked expression was priceless.
Noon: The Return of the Konoha 12
One by one, the other teams trickled back into the village.
Tenten was the first to return. The moment she saw Naruto, her eyes turned red with emotion.
"Brother, are you hurt?"
She circled him, scanning for injuries. Seeing he was safe—and even a little taller—she broke into a smile.
Pulling him into a tight embrace, she sighed. "Really? You're this grown-up and still making your big sister worry."
Then, with a teasing smirk, she added, "Remember, you better not get into trouble. You still owe me 1,300 ryo... Even if you sell yourself, you wouldn't be able to pay me back. Hmph~"
Not long after, Hinata arrived.
She was much easier to handle—a couple of kind words, and she was already blushing like a steamed bun.
Kurenai, however, remained composed.
But the moment she saw Anko looking perfectly content, her eyes twitched slightly, stealing a knowing glance at Naruto.
Another big sister aiming for the future, huh?
Finally, Ino returned.
Even before stepping inside, her teammates' complaints echoed from outside the door.
"Seriously? Why does Asuma-sensei always screw up?"
"The thieves got away again... Mission failed. So depressing... Let's eat first."
"Troublesome… Whatever. Choji's right. Let's eat and think about the mission later."
The moment Ino walked in, she spotted Naruto grinning at her.
"Dear~!"
Without hesitation, she leaped into his arms, erasing all her earlier frustrations.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she leaned closer with a mischievous smile.
"Darling, I owe you a gift tonight~"
The following days passed uneventfully.
Team 7 continued completing C-rank missions, maintaining a near-perfect success rate thanks to Naruto. Within two weeks, they were ranked number one, dominating the mission board.
During this time, what surprised Naruto most wasn't their mission success—it was Uchiha Mikoto and Izumi's rapid acceptance of their situation.
The storage point had undergone a drastic transformation.
Naruto didn't quite understand how things had reached this point. However, as time passed, the result remained the same.
Izumi had completely given up resistance.
Mikoto, on the other hand, still held some attachment to Sasuke—but not as much as Naruto had expected. Perhaps she had already been disillusioned by her "dutiful" son.
Before long, May was drawing to a close.
The Chunin Exams were just one month away.
The Sealed Space
Naruto entered his subconscious.
"Hmph! Don't think a few good meals will make me forgive you!" Kurama huffed.
Naruto chuckled. "Ahem, let's put that aside for now."
"No! Do you really think you can brush this off so easily?"
Despite his grumbling, the tsundere fox was still easy to coax.
"Alright, then what should we do?"
"I recently found a big opportunity. If we pull this off, we'll be rich!"
Kurama's ears perked up instantly.
"If you don't follow through, I swear—"
"I'm breaking the seal."
Kurama's pupils contracted. His tone deepened.
"Why?"
"You hate them for sealing you inside me, don't you?"
"Are you serious?"
"I wouldn't joke about this."
Naruto approached the massive gate, examining the seal. Then, with a casual smile, he added:
"At first, I resented it. But eventually, I realized… it's not so bad."
Kurama snorted but didn't argue further.
"Well, I'm opening the seal now."
"My parents left behind chakra fragments. I plan to let them exist in this world in another form, just like you."
Naruto placed his hand on the sealing tag.
Rip—
Just as a third of the seal was torn away, a voice echoed through the space.
"Naruto, you mustn't break the seal."
A warm, gentle voice.
A firm hand rested on Naruto's shoulder.
Turning around, Naruto saw a man clad in the Hokage's robe.
Long golden hair.
A gentle smile.
His father—Minato Namikaze.
For a split second, Naruto's thoughts drifted to an entirely different memory.
The Lost Tower... Queen of Roran.
Even if you're not in my future, Naruto... I will always remember you.