Chapter 579: Finally Took the Bait
After an unknown amount of time, Kakashi returned to the tent alone.
Meanwhile, Kushina was holding the parameter adjustment manual, designing the scenario for Naruto's trial server experience.
Of course, she wasn't going to script every possible outcome. That was simply impossible.
Besides, if she forcefully predetermined every path, the freedom of choice would decrease, and the realism would suffer as well.
The Limited Tsukuyomi, Infinite Tsukuyomi, and Engraved Tsukuyomi all shared one characteristic—they possessed a certain degree of "automatic correction," just like the real world.
When Kushina designed the story for the Engraved Tsukuyomi, she only needed to set key destiny points. There was no need to script everything, as events would naturally develop toward those scenes.
Right now, the story and character settings she created had to satisfy several conditions.
First, solve the bullying problem.
Second, create a scenario for the Tailed Beasts that would make Naruto stop coveting their bodies.
And of those two, the latter was her top priority.
Only after resolving that issue for the Tailed Beasts would they stay peacefully inside Naruto instead of interfering while everyone worked on solving the bullying problem.
Besides...
As far as Kushina was concerned, Naruto liking men was already the absolute limit of what she could accept.
If he started liking little animals too...
She genuinely couldn't handle that.
To solve the Tailed Beasts' problem, she first had to identify the root of it.
Although Kushina had been among the first audience to witness the Limited Tsukuyomi, and although she would probably never forget those scenes for the rest of her life, she still borrowed one of the Limited Tsukuyomi novel adaptations from Kakashi so she could think of a better solution.
She had to admit...
When she read the line, '"You are no longer the promiscuous demon fox,"' she almost couldn't keep a straight face.
"Hm? I've got it!"
Kushina suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Nine-Tails, has Naruto already started liking little animals?"
she asked the Nine-Tails inside herself.
'[According to the information from my other half... probably not.]'
"Good. If he hasn't yet, then my idea is perfect for this moment!"
Kushina knew Naruto's personality resembled hers.
If she wanted to change him...
She had to use a heavy dose.
Besides, the Engraved Tsukuyomi was just an illusion.
That meant she could completely throw away her dignity and any sense of restraint.
---
The next morning.
After staying up all night to finish setting all the story nodes, Kushina placed the device onto the small cart and waited for Kakashi to pick it up.
As soon as Kakashi got it, he immediately went to find Naruto.
He stopped outside Naruto's tent.
He hesitated.
Should he simply put the device on Naruto and send him directly into the Engraved Tsukuyomi, just like when Sasuke had once used Genjutsu on Naruto to obtain Ashura's chakra?
Or...
Should he first come up with a reason to let Naruto know about the Engraved Tsukuyomi?
"Kakashi-Sensei? What are you standing here for?"
"Huh? What's that thing on top?"
Naruto's voice suddenly sounded behind him, startling the absent-minded Kakashi.
"Naruto? You're up this early today?"
Kakashi glanced toward the horizon.
The sun had only just risen.
Could this really be Naruto?
Even Guy's tent nearby had only just opened.
Since when was Naruto this hardworking?
"Hehe... actually, I ate too many popsicles yesterday and had diarrhea in the middle of the night."
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly before immediately changing the subject.
"Kakashi-Sensei, hurry and tell me! What's this? Did you bring it here as a present for me?"
"Ah... yes. It is a present for you. You've actually seen it before. It's the thing inside this screen."
Kakashi took out the monitor that had been displaying Obito.
"I get to play with something this awesome too?!"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"That's right. And this one is private. The one you've all been watching belongs to Obito. He's a prisoner, and that version is only for testing, which is why I have to monitor him."
"Yours won't be monitored by anyone. You can play however you like inside it, with complete personal privacy."
Kakashi picked up the device from the cart and handed it to Naruto.
If he had said those words to anyone else...
Even Konohamaru...
It would have sounded suspiciously like someone insisting, 'There's absolutely nothing to hide.'
But Naruto believed him immediately.
"But, Kakashi-Sensei, I want Konohamaru and Neji to watch too. Is that okay...?"
Naruto even wanted to let other people watch voluntarily.
"Of course. That's easy. I'll give you a setting. While you're inside, as long as you say the safety phrase, 'Taijutsu Secret Technique: Super Fire Release: Genjutsu Slash: Giant Shuriken Second Stage Technique,' the viewing screen outside will temporarily shut off."
"Then, if you say 'Scorch Release Light Wheel Jet-Black Gale Arrow Zero Style,' the screen will turn back on."
As always...
Whatever Naruto asked for, Kakashi agreed.
Naturally, this was only to fool Naruto.
No matter what Naruto said, the people outside could still watch everything happening inside at any time.
Kakashi only said this because he didn't want Naruto to feel overly restrained while inside.
"'Taijutsu Secret Technique Super Fire...' That's way too long! There's no way I can remember all that!"
Naruto felt his head hurt just hearing it.
"There's no helping it. If the names were too short, what if you accidentally said them without realizing it? Once you're inside, you won't be able to come back out for quite a while."
"That's true... alright."
Naruto's desire to play overcame his hatred of studying.
"Kakashi-Sensei, say them again. I'll try memorizing them."
Looking unusually serious, Naruto closed his eyes after Kakashi repeated the two names.
"Well? Remember them?"
Kakashi asked.
"Not a single word."
Naruto laughed awkwardly.
"But it's fine. Just give me a moment, Kakashi-Sensei."
He immediately formed hand seals.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Countless Shadow Clones appeared.
If one person's memory wasn't enough...
Then he'd make up for it with numbers.
Everyone knew that a Shadow Clone's memories returned to the original body when it disappeared.
All the clones memorized the names together.
Then they all dispelled themselves.
At last, Naruto successfully memorized both techniques' names.
He then ran inside to wake up Konohamaru.
Under Konohamaru's envious gaze, Naruto proudly put on the device.
The instant he did...
The smile vanished from Naruto's face, replaced by complete calmness.
He had already fallen under the Engraved Tsukuyomi and entered the illusionary world.
"Finally..."
Kakashi desperately wanted to say,
"Finally... he took the bait."
But in reality...
This was only the beginning.
"Konohamaru, stay here and keep watch. I'm leaving."
After giving that instruction, Kakashi left immediately.
There wasn't only one monitoring screen for Naruto.
Konohamaru had one.
Kakashi had one.
Even Orochimaru had one.
And if Uchiha Hikari discovered that Naruto had entered the server on his own, she could instantly generate countless additional monitoring screens as well.
Just like Obito before him, Naruto fell into endless darkness after entering the Engraved Tsukuyomi.
Then...
He arrived at the character creation screen.
(End of this chapter)