Chapter 25: A Soak and a Startled Beast
When they returned to the campsite, Kakashi's single visible eye widened in surprise. Naruto was in a fresh set of clothes, and Sakura was blushing fiercely, dressed in an orange and black outfit that was unmistakably Naruto's spare. The way she trailed behind him, avoiding everyone's gaze, suggested a story far more complicated than a simple training session.
"You two... what happened out there?" Kakashi asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Naruto waved a dismissive hand. "Just took Sakura to practice water-walking. She fell in. Since she didn't have a change of clothes, I lent her mine." He offered no further elaboration, simply yawning and heading for his favorite tree branch to resume his nap.
Kakashi stared after him, speechless.
He then turned his attention to Sakura, who had settled under a tree, staring into the middle distance with a dazed expression. Assuming she was disheartened by her failure, Kakashi approached her.
"Water-walking is a significant step up in difficulty," he said reassuringly. "Don't be discouraged. It takes most people several attempts to get the hang of it."
"Mmhmm. I will," Sakura murmured, her response distant. She was barely listening, her mind preoccupied with the feel of Naruto's clothes against her skin and the confusing fluster in her chest as she watched Sasuke train tirelessly in the distance. She let out a soft, conflicted sigh.
An hour later, Sasuke finally achieved his goal, mastering the tree-walking exercise to his satisfaction. He was also utterly exhausted. Kakashi, judging his student's state, decided they would rest for a few more hours before beginning the journey back to Konoha.
After he woke, Sasuke sought out Naruto to ask about the "special training" he'd given Sakura. Naruto briefly explained the principles and purpose of the water-walking exercise.
"Thanks," Sasuke said, the word feeling foreign on his tongue.
"No problem," Naruto replied with an indifferent shrug. While he held no particular fondness for Sasuke, he bore him no active grudge either. Aside from the old "dead-last" taunts—which Naruto had long since transcended—the Uchiha had never truly wronged him.
Two days later, Team 7 arrived at the gates of Konoha. Their first order of business was to report their mission—and its unexpected complications—to the Hokage. Naruto, however, had no interest in bureaucratic debriefings. He formed a single hand seal, and a Shadow Clone poofed into existence to take his place.
The look of sheer irritation on his teammates' faces as they were forced to report alongside a replica was immensely satisfying to the real Naruto.
His first priority upon returning was a proper bath. He then intended to find Hinata, but the late hour made that impractical. A bath it was.
Konoha's public baths were segregated: men's, women's, and a more expensive mixed-gender section. The mixed bath was primarily frequented by men and a few elderly women; the kunoichi of Konoha were far too conservative for such things. While the idea was intriguing, Naruto's wallet dictated his choice. He headed for the men's section.
Sinking into the blissfully hot water, Naruto felt the tensions of the mission melt away. His eyes drifted shut, and his consciousness was pulled inward, to the deep, dark space where a massive seal glowed ominously.
"Yo, Kurama!" Naruto greeted the entity within cheerfully.
The Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama, lay with its back to him, feigning sleep. It had long since given up responding to Naruto's provocations. In the beginning, it had raged and snarled, desperate to break free and destroy its container. But over the months, it had noticed a disturbing pattern. Every time it grew agitated, an unknown force would tighten its prison, and a little more of its chakra would slip from its grasp, becoming accessible to the boy. This brat was stealing its power by making it angry!
"Don't be like that," Naruto said, walking right up to the immense, cage-like bars. He tapped on one. "We're cellmates, after all."
At this distance, a single swipe of Kurama's claw could have ended him. But the fox remained motionless.
"Hmph. A pathetic attempt at provocation," Kurama rumbled, its voice dripping with contempt. It would not be so easily manipulated.
[Ding! Detected that Kurama is taunting the host. The seal within your body has been strengthened by 100%!]
As the system's chime faded, the bars of the cage visibly thickened and the space within shrank, pressing in on the giant fox.
Kurama's eyes snapped open in bewilderment. 'What?! I didn't do anything! I just insulted him! I can't even do that anymore?!'
Its massive head swiveled, and it glared at Naruto with pure, undiluted hatred.
[Ding! Kurama is gritting its teeth at the host. Your body has successfully gained control of an additional 10% of the Nine-Tails' Chakra.]
A slow, triumphant smile spread across Naruto's face. He looked at the furious fox not as a monster, but as a bountiful resource. Over these past months of careful taunting, he had already seized control of 90% of its power.
Kurama felt another chunk of its essence vanish, a terrifying, hollow sensation. Panic, raw and primal, set in.
"BRAT! WHAT DID YOU DO?!" it roared, slamming a colossal paw against the reinforced bars. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
"What did I do?" Naruto repeated, his voice calm. "Look me in the eyes, Kurama."
He looked up, and his blue irises swirled, transforming into the crimson and black of the Sharingan, two tomoe spinning menacingly.
"THE SHARINGAN!" Kurama's roar was a mix of fury and pure, unadulterated terror. It recoiled, scrambling back into the farthest, darkest corner of its now-smaller cage, as if trying to escape the gaze of its most hated, most feared enemy. "H-How... how is this possible?!"
'Why... why is this Jinchuriki so terrifying?!' the fox whimpered internally, its spirit broken.
[Ding! Detected that the Nine-Tails has completely submitted to the host. The host has awakened Nine-Tails Chakra Mode!]
[Ding! Having successfully traumatized the Nine-Tails, your Sharingan is delighted and has evolved into the Three Tomoe stage!]
"..." Naruto marveled at the rapid evolution. 'So Sharingan really does thrive on extreme emotion.'
Satisfied with a job well done—he was now a perfect Jinchuriki with a fully evolved three-tomoe Sharingan—Naruto let his consciousness return to the real world.
A deep, pleasurable groan escaped his lips as he felt the immense new power coursing through his veins. "Ahhh, that's the stuff..."
A muffled voice came from the other side of the wooden wall. "Hey! Keep it down in there, neighbor!"
A second voice replied, "Ichikawa-san, I believe that's from the men's bath next door."
There was a pause.
"The... men's bath?"
A sudden, profound silence fell over the adjacent room, followed by the sound of two men rapidly and awkwardly exiting the water.
(End of Chapter)
✨ Want to read ahead and uncover what happens next? ✨
Gain early access to up to 20 exclusive chapters before anyone else!
🌑 Join the journey now at:👉 Patreon.com/ShadowQuill7
💎 All memberships are currently 10% OFF! 💎
Your support helps the story grow, chapter by chapter.
🔥 Don't forget to drop your Power Stones!
Every stone lights the path forward. ⚡