MASS INFO RELEASE TIME! PLEASE SHOWER ME WITH POWERSTONES!
[POV: 3rd Person]
[Scene: Naka River]
[Track Change: Undertale 'Dating Fight!']
Asriel and Fugaku went on to try to increase the power of the Nin-Magic [Great Fireball Technique] but were having difficulties.
With a suggestion from Renjiro, drawing on his experience with [Weighted Surfing Strike], suggested moving the [SOUL] seal later in the sequence.
Asriel tried again, this time, instead of starting with the [SOUL] seal he made it the third seal.
However, when he tried to make the Fireball appear in his hand like before, nothing happened.
Fugaku then suggested that the Fireball might not be summonable with this sequence and told Asriel to try to release it normally.
When Asriel tried again a large Purple Fireball measuring just over 4 meters in size.
It worked. It seems where the seal was placed would dictate the ratio of Magic to Chakra the technique used.
After flying a few meters Asriel started ordering the Fireball to translate.
Up 1 meter, Left 2 meters, Back 1 meter, Down 1 meter.
Asriel noticed that with each translation it would use up some of his Magic, it wasn't indefinitely sustainable to use.
[Track Change: Naruto 'Fooling Mode']
Wanting to wrap up, he tried to translated the Fireball further to test it's limits.
Up 2 meters, Fine. Left 2.5 meters, Still Fine. Right 3 meters, Slightly Taxing. Forwards 3.5 meters, Starting to Sweat.
But, as Asriel attempted to translate right by 4 meters, something changed.
The stable Purple Fireball shuddered, then abruptly imploded on itself.
The compressed fire rebounds violently, exploding outward in a shockwave of heat, purple light, and pressure.
Thankfully, both Asriel and Fugaku were a ways away for their own safety and the Fireball had imploded over the river, not by the nearby trees.
However, despite their distance the residual heat and water vapor still reached them, making it feel like an outdoor sauna.
Asriel steadied his breathing, sweat dripping off his brow as he stared at the last ripples where the imploded fireball had vanished. His robe clung damp against his fur, and even his horns seemed to radiate heat.
Fugaku, arms crossed but eyes sharp, stepped closer. His Sharingan spun once before fading back into black, a sign that he no longer expected danger, only questions.
"That," Fugaku said, voice low but firm, "was reckless."
Asriel winced, his ears drooped slightly.
"I know," Asriel admitted. "But now I understand. Translation isn't infinite. There's a limit before the stability collapses. The more I force it, the more volatile it becomes."
Renjiro crossed their arms, nodding.
"What you did was force the Magic past its threshold. You learned its shape, its rules, but then pushed them until it couldn't hold itself. That implosion was the result. It means there are limits, and you must learn to respect them."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed, but his voice was calm.
"Limits can be shifted with discipline. The fact you even brought it to this point… Asriel, you've made progress that no shinobi could have reached alone."
Asriel lowered his head, but he wasn't ashamed.
He was thinking, replaying every seal and every adjustment in his mind.
"So then this is only the beginning. I can't just learn to fuse Magic and Ninjutsu. I need to master it so I don't lose control again."
Fugaku stood, crossing his arms.
"And you will. You've proven the concept works. Now comes the training to make it more than a parlor trick. From here, refinement begins."
Renjiro gave a short laugh.
"And here I thought Fugaku Uchiha didn't hand out compliments. Write today down in the history books."
Fugaku looked away, hiding the faintest curve of a smirk.
"Don't mistake acknowledgment for softness. If you cannot learn to bear the strain of this fusion, it will crush you. But if you do…"
He glanced at the steam-covered river.
"…then even legends will pale beside it." he said.
Asriel clenched his fists, the faint pulse of the [SOUL] seal still burning in his palms.
The path ahead was dangerous, but for the first time he saw it clearly. He wasn't just learning for himself. He was preparing to guide Naruto, Sasuke, and the next generation.
"Then let's keep going," Asriel said firmly. "I won't stop here."
The training ground grew quiet again, only the soft hiss of steam drifting through the trees. Their work had only just begun.
Meanwhile...
[POV Change: Kurama]
[Track Change: Naruto 'Naruto's Daily Life']
The house was quiet except for the faint gurgles of the kit, Naruto.
Minato had swaddled him snugly, still in a mesh armor lined blanket like earlier, and the little one had buried himself deep in my tails.
I curled them gently around him, trying not to fidget even though the squirming tickled. He was fussing less now, though his grubby little mitts kept grabbing at my fur like he owned it.
"Tch. Hmph. You're more clingy than your mother's chains." I muttered, watching the child's closed eyes.
"Don't get used to this. I am not a pillow."
Naruto cooed in response, clearly ignoring me.
The sliding door opened. Minato stepped inside, his usual calm smile still hiding the fact he had worked himself to exhaustion again.
"Kurama," he said, "the renovations are complete. Your new home is ready. You can move in today."
My ears twitched.
"Finally. Took long enough. I thought humans prided themselves on efficiency."
Minato ignored the jab, as usual.
"Where are Asriel and Renjiro right now?" I asked, shifting Naruto in my tails so he didn't slip.
"Training along the Naka River. Fugaku's been working with them since noon."
"Figures. Those two never rest." I snorted. "I'll fetch them myself."
Before I could stand, Kushina entered. She crossed the room, her red hair swinging as she leaned down to scoop up Naruto.
"You look too comfortable," she teased, her eyes narrowing in mock irritation.
I huffed, pulling my tails back quickly.
"Don't get the wrong idea. The brat wouldn't let go, that's all. I don't… babysit."
Kushina smirked knowingly, cradling Naruto as he squirmed. "Sure you don't."
I turned my head away, pretending not to hear the quiet chuckle Minato gave.
Stretching my legs, I stood, my reduced two-meter frame filling the doorway as I moved outside.
The sunlight was sharp after the cool shade of the house, and for a moment I let it warm my fur.
'Now where the hell is the Naka River?' I thought.
'Never mind, I can sense them from here. Their chakra signature is like a beacon and it reminds me of the Old Man.'
[Scene Change: Naka River]
[Track Change: Naruto the Movie 'My Home']
The sound of an explosion and evaporating water reached my ears before I saw them.
Asriel, though speaking, was still catching his breath, with Renjiro's voice echoing through him. Fugaku stood nearby, seemingly softer but still as sharp-eyed as ever. The air still smelled faintly of scorched chakra and an earthy steam.
I padded closer, tails swaying lazily.
"Oi. Nephews."
My voice carried easily across the riverbank.
"Time to pack it in. The den is ready."
Asriel looked up, his face brightening despite his exhaustion.
"Uncle Kurama?"
Renjiro's voice slipped through him.
"New home, huh? About time."
Fugaku glanced at me, eyes narrowing, but he didn't interfere. He knew this was not his business.
I lowered my head, a faint grin showing my fangs.
"Yes. And since I went to the trouble of collecting you, you two will repay me.
Dinner. Just cook something edible, just not that ramen that Kushina would eat daily.
She kept bugging me to try it all day. I don't want to see it or hear about it for a while."
Asriel laughed nervously.
"We'll try, but don't expect miracles."
"You will do more than try," I said, flicking one ear.
"A proper home deserves a proper meal. Consider it your first duty."
Renjiro chuckled from within. "I think he just wants an excuse to make us cook for him."
"Correct," I rumbled, amused. "And I expect seconds."
The boys said their thanks and farewells to Fugaku and the three of us left the river together, the faint sound of Fugaku's quiet sigh behind us.
A new home. A new place for my nephews and I, it was… strange. But not unwelcome.
(A/N: PREPARE FOR MASS INFO RELEASE! 12:15PM EST!)