Furthermore, the pattern of Kawasaki's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan hadn't changed, making it impossible to tell the difference from its appearance alone. He could feel the explosive surge in his chakra and visual prowess. Finally, he no longer had to worry about his power going blind. With a sense of deep satisfaction, Kawasaki drifted into a heavy sleep.
Kawasaki slept soundly until noon on the third day, completely undisturbed. Fugaku had actually come to check on him earlier but saw that Kawasaki was merely sleeping deeply, not unconscious. Remarking on the immense toll the "Celestial Fissure" technique must have taken, he decided not to wake him.
When Kawasaki finally awoke, he was starving. After drinking some water, he dashed toward Konoha's Eighth Street.
A small shop on Eighth Street called "Chinese Cuisine" had recently become a sensation. Naruto and Sasuke were now regulars. Naruto was obsessed with the stinky tofu, while Sasuke was a loyal fan of the hot and sour noodles.
On this day, Naruto, who had once again placed last in the ninjutsu test, dragged Sasuke toward Eighth Street the moment the school bell rang, eager to indulge in their favorite snacks.
"Seriously, Sasuke, you have to try this fried stinky tofu. It smells amazing!" Naruto urged while munching away.
Sasuke turned his head away with a look of disgust. "Forget it. It stinks. Your mouth will smell awful after eating that."
Naruto sighed inwardly, feeling that Sasuke just didn't get it. At the same time, his thoughts drifted back to his poor test results. The Nine-Tails sealed within him always seemed to throw his chakra into chaos whenever he tried to mold it. This was especially true for the Transformation Jutsu, which required precise chakra control; his results were inconsistent at best. He had once successfully transformed into a near-perfect copy of Sasuke, but in class, things always went wrong. His transformations often ended up looking barely human. As a result, he had, unsurprisingly, ended up at the bottom of the class again.
A complex mix of emotions churned within Naruto. Though he couldn't put his finger on it, he always felt like something was interfering with the flow of his chakra. Lost in thought, his steps slowed. Sasuke glanced back and saw his friend's dejected expression. Assuming Naruto was still upset about their earlier exchange, Sasuke relented.
"Fine," he said reluctantly. "I'll try a small bite of your stinky tofu."
Naruto's eyes lit up instantly. Forgetting all about his failed jutsu, he eagerly held a piece of stinky tofu up to Sasuke's mouth.
"Mmph..." Sasuke forced himself to chew, fighting back against the peculiar smell. To his surprise, the dark, crispy skin gave way to an explosion of flavor. The combination of savory, spicy, and salty notes from the sauce assaulted his taste buds in the best way possible. He was instantly captivated. Snatching the rest from Naruto, he began to wolf it down.
Naruto stood frozen in place. What just happened? A second ago, he wanted nothing to do with it!
"Hey, leave some for me!"
The two boys broke into a playful scuffle over the snack. Sasuke emerged victorious, mostly because Naruto wasn't truly trying to take it back. Seeing Sasuke enjoy it was enough.
Just then, a figure descended from above. "What's all this commotion about in the middle of the street?"
It was Uchiha Kawasaki, holding several candied fruit skewers. He lightly tapped Naruto on the head with one hand and did the same to Sasuke with the other.
A smile spread across Sasuke's face. His teacher, Kawasaki, was never one to put on airs and was incredibly easy to get along with. It had been a while since Kawasaki had come to pick them up.
Naruto, however, grew a bit timid. Senior Kawasaki had helped him so much, yet his ninjutsu grades were abysmal. He felt he had let him down.
Noticing Naruto wasn't his usual energetic self, Kawasaki handed each of them a skewer. "What's with the long face? Not happy to see me?"
Naruto stammered, at a loss for words.
It was Sasuke who spoke up first. "Teacher, Naruto didn't do well on his ninjutsu test."
"Oh?" Kawasaki glanced at Sasuke with a knowing smile. Sasuke puffed out his chest, wearing an expression that screamed, 'Ask me about my score!'
"And how did you do?" Kawasaki asked casually.
"I'm not like Naruto," Sasuke declared proudly. "Of course, I was first."
"Heh, not bad. Just what I'd expect from you, Sasuke. I'll have the clan head give you a proper reward when we get back." Kawasaki offered some light praise. At his current age, before his rebellious phase, a few compliments were enough to make Sasuke beam with pride. In the future, you'd probably have to beat him senseless and stand on his face before he'd show you any respect.
Hearing Kawasaki praise Sasuke only made Naruto feel worse. His taijutsu scores were decent, but when it came to ninjutsu, he was helpless. The chakra inside him just wouldn't obey.
Kawasaki ruffled Naruto's hair. "Don't look so down. It's just one bad test. You can work harder next time."
Naruto rubbed his face, trying to mask his disappointment. "It's different this time, Senior Kawasaki. When I was molding my chakra, I felt like something was interfering with it. I can usually use the Transformation Jutsu just fine, but it always fails during tests. I don't know why."
Kawasaki glanced around. The Anbu were still shadowing Naruto from a distance. Speaking too loudly could get them overheard. Adopting a casual tone, he stuck a strawberry-coated skewer into Naruto's mouth.
"If there's a problem, we just have to solve it. Come on, let's go sit over there, and you can tell me all about it."
Kawasaki led the two boys to a nearby bench. Naruto recounted in detail how his Transformation Jutsu would fail during every exam or practice session with his classmates. Sasuke listened intently, equally curious. He had seen Naruto use the jutsu on him before with near-perfect results, yet it always fell apart at critical moments.
As he listened, Kawasaki's mind was on other matters. A year had passed, and Naruto was nearly seven. He hadn't expected the Nine-Tails to start causing trouble so soon after the Academy began teaching chakra molding. Naruto's seal was incredibly strong, but the Nine-Tails' chakra was immense. Even a tiny leak was enough to completely disrupt Naruto's control. Now that his own strength had increased significantly, perhaps it was time to try and "recruit elites from outside the Uchiha clan."
People milled about, and Naruto spoke hesitantly. He had no family and saw Kawasaki as the closest thing to a parent.
Kawasaki gently ruffled Naruto's hair. "Think again, Naruto."
"Think about what?" Naruto asked, confused.
At that moment, Kawasaki activated his visual prowess, pulling his consciousness deep into Naruto's own, instantly entering his mindscape. Naruto glanced around nervously, only relaxing when he saw Kawasaki standing right beside him.
They stood in what looked like an ordinary corridor. In the distance was a massive, barred gate that seemed to connect heaven and earth. A mindscape was a reflection of reality; since Naruto's life had improved drastically, the space was no longer damp or cold.
"Senior Kawasaki, where are we?"
Kawasaki scanned his surroundings, sensing two distinct chakra signatures. They had to be from the Fourth Hokage and his wife. They hadn't appeared, likely waiting until Naruto was older. But Kawasaki didn't play by the rules. He wasn't going to wait for Naruto and the fox to bond naturally. Now that Naruto's living conditions were better, there was no guarantee he would ever reach an understanding with Kurama.
He smiled faintly. "This, Naruto, is your mindscape."
"Mind...scape?" Naruto was puzzled. He knew the words separately, but together they made no sense.
Kawasaki didn't elaborate. Instead, he asked, "Naruto, do you want to know why you were bullied when you were younger?"
Naruto flinched. Over the past year, his life had become much brighter. He had classmates, friends, Senior Kawasaki, and shopkeepers who no longer treated him with scorn. Even the Third Hokage seemed to care for him more. But the days when the entire village shunned him were burned into his memory, a scar that would never truly fade. The thought of it made his heart sink.
But Naruto was Naruto. He quickly composed himself, his eyes shining with a desire for the truth as he looked at Kawasaki.
Kawasaki didn't beat around the bush. "You've learned about the Tailed Beasts in the Academy, right?"
Naruto nodded.
"The great nations seal the Tailed Beasts inside humans to use them as strategic weapons. The people who have a Tailed Beast sealed within them are called Jinchuriki. And you, Naruto, are Konoha's Jinchuriki. Sealed inside you is the Nine-Tailed Fox!"
Naruto stared in utter shock. "I'm... the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails?!"
The Naruto of this world was no longer an idle prankster; he was a diligent student. The children had already learned about the significance of the Tailed Beasts.
"The villagers hate you and reject you because the Nine-Tails almost destroyed Konoha," Kawasaki continued. "Many people lost their lives to it, so they resent you. They believe you are the cause of their ruined homes and lost loved ones!"
The words struck Naruto like a hammer blow. He slowly sank to his knees, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes. He had waited so long for this answer. Finally, he understood the root of it all. Naruto cried out loud, letting years of pent-up sorrow pour out of him.
As he wept, the two dormant chakra signatures within him began to fluctuate violently, though they ultimately remained hidden.
"Why... Why did they make me a Jinchuriki? Why..." Naruto sobbed, his voice thick with anguish.
"Because it was your parents' decision," Kawasaki stated calmly.
"Parents!" Naruto's entire body trembled. "Senior Kawasaki! I have parents?! I'm not an orphan?"
"Of course you're not an orphan. You have parents. Who told you that you were?"
Naruto wiped his tears. "Grandpa Hokage told me."
"Oh, he lied to you," Kawasaki said dismissively. "He promised your parents he would take good care of you, but he failed."
"Promised to take care of me?!" Naruto repeated the words. Grandpa Hokage had been good to him, giving him money and visiting often.
"Heh, you don't actually think the money the Third Hokage gave you was his, do you? That was your parents' money."
"What?!" Naruto was stunned. He had been so grateful for the financial support, for the money that had allowed him to grow up. And now he was learning it was his parents' all along?
"I say he failed to take care of you because after your parents died, the Third Hokage took control of their entire estate. The small amount he gave you was just a drop in the ocean."
"What?!" Rage flared within Naruto. He had been mentally prepared for his parents' deaths; if they were alive, they wouldn't have stayed away for so long. What infuriated him was learning that the Third Hokage was the source of his years of suffering. He could have been wealthy. He never had to live on instant ramen and expired milk.
With this realization, Naruto's resentment toward the villagers vanished. As Senior Kawasaki said, many of them had lost family to the Nine-Tails inside him. Their hatred was understandable. His anger now had a new target: he should never have had to live such a difficult life. Money couldn't solve everything, but it would have been more than enough to meet his basic needs.
"Senior Kawasaki, who were my parents? And why did they make me a Jinchuriki?"
Kawasaki shook his head. "You're still too young. I can't tell you now. If you let it slip, it could get you killed."
Naruto's lips tightened. "Please tell me, Senior Kawasaki. I promise I won't tell a soul."
Kawasaki remained firm. He dared to reveal the Jinchuriki secret because it was common knowledge in Konoha, known not just by ninja clans but many civilians as well. Even if Naruto announced he knew, the source of the information couldn't be traced. His parents' identities, however, were a much more complicated and heavily guarded secret.
Seeing Naruto's desperate plea, Kawasaki offered a compromise. "How about this? If you can keep everything we've talked about today a secret until you graduate from the Academy, I'll tell you everything about your parents and anything else you want to know."
Hearing this, a flicker of hope returned to Naruto's heart. He would have to wait until graduation, but at least now he had a goal.
"Okay, Senior Kawasaki! I'll keep it a secret until I graduate!"
"Good," Kawasaki nodded. "Now that you understand what a Jinchuriki is, let me ask you: what do you think is the reason your chakra goes out of control?"
Naruto had already been thinking about it. "Senior Kawasaki, is it the Nine-Tails doing it?"
Kawasaki was pleased to see Naruto arrive at the answer so quickly, shedding his "dead last" image.
"Not bad. Your studies this past year haven't been in vain," Kawasaki praised him. "I brought you here today because I wanted you to meet the Nine-Tails. Your suffering over the years is because of it, but its attack on Konoha was also the result of it being controlled. Now that you know you're a Jinchuriki, you must learn how to coexist with your Tailed Beast. Living in harmony with it will not only make you stronger, but it is also what your father wished for you."
Hearing about his father's wish, a bright light of determination ignited in Naruto's eyes.
"Don't worry, Senior Kawasaki! I'll do my best, believe it!"
Hearing Naruto's familiar catchphrase, Kawasaki knew his confidence had been restored. He led Naruto forward. The scenery around them was just a mental illusion. The distant gate was, in reality, not far at all. As Kawasaki and Naruto approached, his Sharingan tracked the rapidly closing distance.
"You're an Uchiha!"
A voice like thunder boomed in Naruto's ears, and he instinctively covered them.
CLANG!
A giant claw slammed against the gate, causing the "Seal" character on it to glow brightly.
"GRAH! DAMN YOU!"
The Nine-Tails' claw was violently repelled, but it immediately threw itself against the gate again with even greater force, creating a deep, muffled impact.
"Calm down, Nine-Tails!" Kawasaki's eyes narrowed.
The Nine-Tails' body went rigid and crashed heavily to the ground. It was completely paralyzed, unable to move or speak.
Such terrifying visual prowess! Could it be him?! For the Nine-Tails, the physical restraint was nothing compared to the fear gripping its heart. It was afraid. It had only ever felt such an overwhelming visual power from one other person... Uchiha Madara!
Trapped behind the gate, the Nine-Tails' oppressive presence was so immense that Naruto could barely see, but he was shielded from the worst of it. He couldn't believe Senior Kawasaki had subdued the Nine-Tails in an instant. Just how strong was he?
An idea that had been brewing in his mind for a long time resurfaced.
"Senior Kawasaki! Will you be my master?!"
Huh? Kawasaki had expected some hesitation from Naruto. His plan all along had been to bring Naruto under his wing. He wanted to test if the "Acquire Target's Specialty" function worked as he suspected. Taking Naruto as a student was the best way to do it. He had already ruined Jiraiya's reputation, ensuring he wouldn't become Naruto's master. And Kawasaki was confident he could help Naruto grow much faster. He had planned to make the offer after dealing with the Nine-Tails, but Naruto had asked first.
Without a moment's hesitation, a myriad of thoughts flashed through Kawasaki's mind as he smiled gently. "Of course. From this day forward, I am your master."
Naruto's heart soared. He couldn't believe Senior Kawasaki had agreed so readily. If he had known it would be this easy, he would have asked long ago.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for significantly altering Uzumaki Naruto's life path.]
"Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: Six Paths Sage Mode x1."