"Kakashi-senpai, you marked this as a medical ninjutsu?"
Naruto stared at Kakashi with wide eyes, visibly confused.
"That's right."
Kakashi's voice was calm as ever, even as Naruto continued to look at him in disbelief.
"It's meant to help train your chakra control. If you can learn and master the Mystical Palm Technique, you'll naturally overcome your current chakra control issues."
"Really?"
Naruto took the scroll and read it carefully, then hesitated.
"But, Kakashi-senpai, you noted here that only chakra with the Yang attribute can be used to practice this technique."
"Last time I used chakra paper, it only reacted to Lightning Release. So… Yang nature chakra?"
"Chakra paper can't test for Yin or Yang attributes,"
Kakashi replied, his eyes dimming briefly before continuing:
"But whether you have Yang chakra or not, you can still start practicing the technique. Once we're back in the village, go to the Medical Division. If they confirm you have the aptitude to become a medical-nin, it means you do possess Yang chakra."
"Medical-nin, huh…"
Naruto's interest piqued. He rolled up the scroll with a grin.
"Got it. Thanks, Kakashi-senpai."
Kakashi gave a slight nod, then turned and ducked out of Naruto's tent.
Two hours later, night had fallen.
Lying on his bedroll, Naruto shifted his consciousness into the Mirror World, pulling up Kakashi's profile data.
"Tch tch… Naruto, that scarecrow really put effort into tailoring advice for you this time,"
Matatabi's voice echoed behind him.
"He did,"
Naruto chuckled, watching the memory replay.
"Everything he said this afternoon was true—and he genuinely came to guide my ninjutsu training. But he didn't expect me to redirect the conversation back to the Five Elements Seal."
"Once I mentioned I had already asked the Third Hokage years ago about my chakra control issues, Kakashi immediately brought out the Mystical Palm Technique as a way for me to improve."
"I was surprised, honestly. He really had my best interests in mind this time. He must believe that the Third Hokage will eventually remove the Five Elements Seal. That's why he wants me to train with this high-level control technique now—so once the seal's gone, I can catch up quickly."
Matatabi's eyes gleamed.
"You really think the Third Hokage will undo the seal?"
"Of course. It's just a matter of time."
Naruto turned, voice heavy with meaning.
"Don't forget—the old man's goal is to turn me into a perfect Jinchūriki, like Killer Bee in the Hidden Cloud. How am I supposed to grow into that if he keeps suppressing me?"
"Heh…"
Matatabi lowered its head, chuckling.
"Then it'll take a while. We've seen the old man's memories. Unless Sasuke awakens the Sharingan and becomes strong enough to suppress you, the Hokage won't lift that seal."
"Besides, I've seen Sasuke's memories too. Ever since you warned him that someone in the village was targeting the Uchiha clan's dōjutsu, he's been extremely cautious."
"Unless the village is under existential threat, he won't reveal that his Sharingan has awakened—especially now that he's already reached three tomoe."
"That won't do."
Naruto closed the floating window, eyes gleaming.
"The Chūnin Exams are just five months away. If he doesn't activate his eyes by then, things'll be boring."
"Wait… you're trying to force him to reveal it?"
Matatabi looked shocked.
"If he exposes the three-tomoe Sharingan now, the village will definitely grow suspicious—and that could expose your secrets."
Naruto smiled.
"I never said he needs to reveal his current Sharingan."
Matatabi's eyes lit up.
"What are you planning now?"
"You should already know,"
Naruto said with a grin.
"Just like with Kurama and Isobu—since you all spend most of your time here in the Mirror World, none of you know what I've been doing."
"Agh... True. We just don't like being in the seal."
Matatabi said awkwardly, then its tail twitched excitedly.
"Come on, tell me what you're up to!"
Naruto just raised a fist.
Matatabi immediately reached out with a paw to bump it.
In the next instant, its eyes widened in realization.
"So that's your plan…"
The next morning, at sunrise.
Kakashi led the squad to a border checkpoint on the Fire Country side. Waiting for them was a stern-faced jōnin with a ponytail and a scar on the right side of his mouth.
"Captain Hayama. Didn't expect you to be patrolling out here."
Kakashi clearly knew the man and greeted him casually.
"Didn't expect you to become a genin squad leader either,"
Hayama replied with a surprised glance at Team 7, who were managing the merchant convoy with impressive discipline.
But when he saw Sasuke and Naruto, his expression shifted to genuine astonishment.
"Is that so~"
After handing over the trade pass, Kakashi asked with a strange look:
"Captain Hayama, has it always been like this around here lately?"
"No."
Hayama's expression darkened.
"This started just yesterday afternoon. Sunagakure's border patrols have increased not just here, but across several other checkpoints as well. I've already sent a message back to the village requesting reinforcements."
Kakashi frowned and looked toward the Wind Country border. He noticed ten shinobi standing in plain sight on the other side. Something had Sunagakure seriously spooked.
"Are they preparing for war? Doesn't make sense. Didn't they already agree to participate in the Chūnin Exams?"
Hayama returned the completed documents.
"Seems like there's trouble inside Sunagakure. Word came from another checkpoint this morning—everyone crossing the border is being heavily screened. They even caught rogue ninja wandering the northwest line last night."
Kakashi nodded silently and waved his hand. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stepped aside, clearing the path for the convoy. One of the merchants rushed over to retrieve the pass and led the caravan across the border.
"That concludes our escort mission,"
Kakashi said, watching the convoy undergo strict inspection by Sunagakure personnel.
"Stay alert."
"Always."
Hayama nodded firmly. Once Kakashi left, he returned to his post—though his attention didn't remain on Sunagakure's forces.
Instead, his eyes stayed fixed on Sasuke.
The next day.
With no convoy to escort on the return trip, Kakashi brought the team back to Konoha by midmorning.
"There aren't any suitable missions for you right now,"
Kakashi told them after leaving the Mission Hall.
"You're all on temporary leave. We'll regroup in two days."
And with that, he left.
"Later."
Naruto said simply, heading off without another word.
He was quietly tracking Kakashi's path and soon confirmed the man was heading toward the Memorial Stone.
"I'm going home,"
Sasuke said flatly, watching Naruto walk away.
If Naruto hadn't spoken first, he wouldn't have bothered saying anything.
Sakura blinked in surprise.
It was the first time Sasuke-kun had ever said goodbye to her.
Yet, strangely… after leaving the village and coming back, she felt like Sasuke had grown more distant.
That night.
"Don't you think you've gone too far?!"
In a secret lab in the Land of Snow, Sasuke glared at Naruto.
Behind him stood a large culture tank—floating inside it was a boy around seven or eight years old, who looked almost exactly like Sasuke.
"Don't get the wrong idea,"
Naruto said, his tone flat.
"This clone was created from the sample we took when you first awakened your Sharingan. I prepared it long ago. Besides—he has no brain. You can check for yourself."
"What the hell are you trying to do?!"
Seeing a clone of himself like this stirred something ugly in Sasuke.
Naruto hadn't even asked for his permission.
He couldn't help but wonder what Naruto was planning.
"Obviously—I'm helping you,"
Naruto replied with a knowing smile.
"You have no idea how many people are just waiting to see that Sharingan of yours."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, it's time for a new disguise."
Naruto said with amusement.
"Two months from now, you'll be swapping out one of your real eyes for this clone's one-tomoe Sharingan."
"Why?!"
Sasuke's expression twisted.
Was the village planning to steal his eyes?
But he had never revealed them—how would they know?
Still, he didn't suspect Naruto.
If Naruto wanted his eyes, he would've taken them already—no need for schemes.
"Because you're the protagonist they've all been watching."
Naruto pointed upward with a subtle smirk.
"And with that protagonist aura on you, you have to get stronger. Otherwise, the audience won't accept it."
"Everyone's counting on your growth."
Sasuke furrowed his brow.
After a moment of thought, he asked seriously:
"Why does Konoha want me to awaken the Sharingan?"
"They'll tell you when the time is right."
Naruto smiled faintly.
"But haven't you always wondered why you just happened to be placed on a team led by Kakashi, the Copy Ninja who also wields a Sharingan?"
"Let him see your eyes."
"You might be surprised by what happens."
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