Uchiha Fugaku: Sigh… it's all my fault.
Uchiha Izuna: Indeed.
Uchiha Madara: Trash.
Uchiha Fugaku: "…"
Look!
That's why the last clan head of the mighty Uchiha Clan doesn't dare speak up.
With a remark like that… not getting scolded would already be a miracle.
Wait.
Why hasn't Mikoto said anything for so long?
"Damn it, damn it!"
Sasuke slammed his fist into the ground.
"I've already awakened the Sharingan… so why am I still this slow?!"
As he spoke, Sasuke shot a fierce glare into the distance.
Beneath a tree, two sleazy figures were crouched with their butts in the air, whispering to each other.
From time to time a burst of lewd laughter drifted over.
Sasuke stood up expressionlessly, then stalked toward them with a dangerous look in his eyes.
"Heh-heh-heh~"
"Kakashi, this 'Youth Training Manual' of yours is awesome~"
"As expected of my eternal rival… but you're too stingy—how could you keep such a great youth bible hidden for so long?!"
"If you're going to read it, then read it—can't you shut up while you're at it?!" Kakashi rolled his eyes.
In the next instant, however, Kakashi sprang to his feet.
"All right, work–life balance."
"Time to train, Guy!"
"We can't let ourselves go to seed!"
"Oh… just a minute, let me finish this page—you go first."
Thud-thud—
The words had barely left his mouth.
Sasuke walked up and gave each of the two Jonin—who were so engrossed they hadn't even noticed him—a kick.
Both kicks were aimed squarely at their backsides.
"Jerk!"
"You promised to teach me, to help me train!"
"After making me buy this trashy book… scum!"
Sasuke was genuinely furious.
If Kakashi had kept his word and actually taught him, it would have been one thing.
But the moment the book was bought, the guy dragged Might Guy to gawk at it all afternoon.
At first Guy kept refusing.
Yet before two and a half minutes were up, he was the one turning the pages.
…
Kakashi Hatake: "A-hem."
Kakashi Hatake: "First of all, let me clarify—this is the black frame world's Kakashi's problem, not mine."
Might Guy: "A-hem… wait, what exactly is this 'Youth Training Manual'?"
Might Guy: "Kakashi?"
"Don't bring it up here," Kakashi hissed at his close friend.
Far away, Naruto took in the whole scene, shook his head, and decided staying out of sight was the wiser choice.
Why not go home and cuddle up to sweet-smelling Kurenai?
Come to think of it, Yūgao should be back soon.
We'll see.
Whoosh—
In the next instant Naruto vanished into the night.
As he passed Sakura's house he glanced over, then looked away again.
Sakura was working hard too.
Actually, everyone was.
They all knew Naruto was the ultimate grinder.
If you didn't grind, you'd never keep pace with him.
What terrified—and sometimes crushed—them was that while Naruto was the king of grinding, he also possessed talent far beyond anyone else's.
Inside the Sealing Space, the Great Fox yawned.
"Naruto, This Fox is tired—when are you coming in to massage my legs?"
"This Fox has been harvesting leeks for you all this time!"
As he spoke, the Great Fox's eyelids drooped, and before he knew it he was fast asleep.
See? Even a Tailed Beast got caught up in the grind.
Everyone: "…"
The king of grind among kings!
Without the Nine-Tails…
Naruto would probably have worked himself to death long ago.
Especially once he entered that near-demonic state of focused training.
Without the Nine-Tails, he'd have burned through his body faster than it could recover and literally trained himself to death.
Thud-thud-thud—
When he passed the Hyuga compound…
Naruto stopped.
The night was long; there was no rush.
Watching the girl practicing a Hyuga Secret Technique under the moonlight…
Naruto dropped down from the roof.
The girl's movements paused—she seemed to sense his arrival.
Yet she didn't stop training.
A short while later…
The girl, now glistening with fragrant sweat, trotted over.
Naruto's lips curved.
He knew what she wanted.
He lifted a hand, gently smoothing her hair… then gave her still-plump cheek a soft pinch.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
As he spoke, Naruto's gaze flicked to the girl hiding in the corner.
Her pristine white eyes were wide with curiosity.
He didn't expose the girl who loved to spy.
Hinata had surely noticed her long ago.
"Naruto-kun~"
Hinata's cheeks flushed faintly.
Whether from shyness or the workout, he couldn't tell.
"Ready?"
Naruto's eyes were gentle.
"Mm~!" Hinata nodded earnestly.
"Great Fox, time to work."
Inside the Sealing Space…
The Great Fox was woken again, thoroughly annoyed.
But through Naruto's eyes it saw that the target was Hinata, and could only twitch its whiskers in resignation.
"Give it a shot—no guarantees."
The fox issued a reminder.
"Doesn't matter; if it fails we keep researching."
"For a genius fox like me, failure is normal."
"Even geniuses fail sometimes—though not often."
"Naturally!" The Great Fox looked immensely proud.
He'd take that as a compliment, thank you very much.
"Do we fist-bump?"
Hinata asked brightly.
"Yep."
Naruto lifted his fist with a smile.
Hinata stared at his knuckles.
Whatever she was thinking, her face kept growing hotter.
Tap—
She extended her small pink fist and bumped his.
New Shinobi Sect.
Hum—
In the next instant…
Inside the Sealing Space, Naruto and the Great Fox also performed the New Shinobi Sect.
Almost simultaneously…
Vibrant golden Chakra spilled out.
In the blink of an eye…
Hinata was cloaked in a coat of golden Chakra.
The golden coat bore a Sealing Formula over her lower abdomen.
At the same moment…
The Four Symbols Seal took shape.
Hinata felt a warmth in her belly.
Beneath her clothes, the Inner Four Symbols Seal Formula appeared.
Uchiha Sasuke: "…"
Kakashi Hatake: "…"
So… you don't have to slam the abdomen like the Five-Element Seal, right?!
"Naruto… it's so hot~"
Hinata bit her lower lip.
"Bear with it."
Naruto's gaze was soft.
Once the New Shinobi Sect was complete, the vast golden Chakra flowing through Hinata began to feed back.
Hinata gave a soft cry.
Then her pure-white eyes changed.
Almost unconsciously she activated her Byakugan.
When that Chakra—now carrying the Hyuga bloodline—circled through her and flowed back…
Naruto's whole body shuddered.
The Hyuga bloodline Chakra, wrapped in his and the Great Fox's golden Chakra, surged toward his brain.
whisper!
Hum—
After passing through the purest Hyuga bloodline Chakra, the whisper Chakra 'baptized' it.
It split in two: one stream shot to his eyes, the other to his brain.
Naruto's eyes snapped shut; it felt as though twin flames scorched his sockets.
"Naruto!" Hinata watched him in alarm.
The instant her worried cry rang out…
Veins bulged around Naruto's closed eyes…