149. Talk With Naruto

Izumi and the others continue their way to Konohagakure village. Izumi's face looked more radiant after conveying his problem last night. He didn't know that confiding in other people could bring him relief.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke almost couldn't believe that Izumi was just two years older than them. Their age difference is not that much. But surprisingly, Izumi's strength had already far surpassed theirs.

That was evident from yesterday's battle. Even though Izumi was in a bad condition, Izumi only used his raw physical strength and two jutsus to defeat Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

On the way, Naruto suddenly asked.

"Izumi-san, how can you be that strong?"

Naruto's question piqued Sasuke and Sakura's interest. They were also curious as to how he got that strong.

Izumi held his chin in thought, then answered.

"Hmmm, first learning, then training earnestly."

"What do you mean?"

Instead of Naruto, it was Sakura who asked him. Izumi started to explain.

"When it comes to physical exercise, you already understand, right? First, learn the extent of your strength, be it chakra capacity, endurance, thought process, or physical prowess. When you realize that you are agile, learn a movement technique, so your speed can be doubled or more. If your body is tough, better learn attack or defense techniques first, if you're good at analysis, learn about strategy before you learn about combat technique. Those are the examples."

"So, you mean it's like training your specialty further? Like training Sasuke's Sharingan to a higher level?" Sakura asked once again, and Izumi replied.

"You can say that. After all, his Sharingan still has two Tomoe. There is still a level above which is three Tomoe, and I heard, there are some levels higher than three Tomoe. In addition, the Sharingan is also very compatible with the fire element."

After saying that, Izumi glanced at Sasuke who seemed to already know the Mangekyou Sharingan. Sasuke himself narrowed his eyes while looking at Izumi. He didn't think outsiders also knew about Sharingan.

"Levels higher?" Naruto and Sakura didn't know what Izumi meant, but hearing from Izumi, the Sharingan sounded much stronger than what they were learning.

"If you want to know, you should ask Sasuke. I don't want to divulge any further. And your face looks like you want to ask why I did know, right? Read a lot, it will increase your knowledge! Hehehe."

"Reading is painful in my eyes!" Suggested by Izumi to read a lot, Naruto could only scratch his head.

"It's because you're stupid!" Hearing Naruto's words, Sakura felt angry. Knowledge is the foundation of people to become stronger. Of course, Sakura didn't like Naruto because he always ignored that.

Sasuke just fell silent with Izumi's words earlier. He also wanted to upgrade his Sharingan to an advanced level, but he didn't know what to do.

"What if someone doesn't meet the criteria you mentioned earlier?" Sakura asked. She felt that she was the most useless in her team. And since Izumi was that strong when he was just a little bit older than her, there was nothing wrong with her asking how to get stronger.

"Ummm. It would be a bit difficult if there were no stand-out abilities from that person. And that depends on one's heart, or you could say one's willpower."

"You mean?"

"In this kind of world, what would you do if you didn't have any talent whatsoever in Ninjutsu?"

Sakura couldn't speak after Izumi asked that. She couldn't think something like that could happen. When she took a glance at Naruto, she remembered how Naruto was before academy graduation. Naruto should be the least talented and the least able to use Ninjutsu.

But now, Naruto's development was much faster than others. It was as if Naruto became a genius from nothing in one night. It was unbelievable, yet Sakura thought it must be related to his willpower. She couldn't do that. If she was in the same circumstances as him, she would have given up already.

Seeing her dejected expression, Izumi knew that she was probably regretting the way she looked down on Naruto in the past.

To cheer her up, Izumi said to her,

"Well, from what I can tell. Your physical prowess is good enough. Your chakra control is excellent as well. You just lack confidence, that's your current weakness that you have to get rid of. If you are willing, I suggest becoming a medical ninja. It's suitable for you."

"A medical ninja?"

Izumi nodded in response.

"Then, then, how about me?" Naruto asked excitedly. He felt that Izumi wasn't that bad since he told them that much. If possible, he wanted to get some suggestions from Izumi.

"When it comes to you, it's actually quite troublesome." Izumi didn't know how to explain it. Currently, Naruto didn't know about the seal in his stomach. All he knew was the existence of the Nine-Tailed Fox within his body.

In order to make Naruto stronger, it was necessary to break the seal little by little and get to know the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama. But with Kurama's attitude, there was no way he could cooperate in helping Naruto if he wasn't strong enough. Moreover, Kurama did not yet know the danger that would come to Naruto.

Yet, Kurama's chakra would eat away Naruto's mind little by little if Naruto used the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra continuously. The Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra didn't actually eat away at Naruto's mind, but it did increase the negative emotions.

The longer and more often Naruto used Kurama's chakra, the faster his negative emotions would rise and his negative emotions could even take over Naruto's body. If Izumi remembered correctly, that was the so-called inner demon.

So, if Naruto really insisted on becoming stronger, it would be best if he trained to confront the inner demon that was within him. If both Naruto and his inner demon could accept each other, they would become one entity and perfectly balance the yin and yang within his body. And he would become even stronger after that.

The place he knew how to draw an inner demon was on Turtle Island in Kumogakure village. But with Konohagakure and Kumogakure still in a hostile state, it would be impossible to get there.

"What do you mean troublesome?" Naruto asked in wonder.

"Your strength is a little special. Misusing your powers can end you instantly. In order to unlock your potential, you must train to control your chakra perfectly." After saying that, Izumi put his mouth close to Naruto's ear, then whispered. "Your chakra capacity is so huge, yet unstable. It must be because of the seal, right?"

"Huh, how did you know?" Naruto was shocked. He didn't remember he told Izumi that a monster was sealed in his body.

Izumi immediately put his hand on Naruto's shoulder and said.

"I'll tell you something, come with me!" He turned his head. "Kakashi-san, lend me this guy for a moment."

Kakashi nodded. And then, Izumi disappeared along with Naruto.

"Kakashi-sensei… he—" Sakura said to Kakashi in worry. But…

"It's alright. Let's just continue to walk!"

Since Kakashi said so, Sakura did what he said.

— — — —

Izumi and Naruto appeared 500 meters away from the others.

"This jutsu… What are you—"

"Well, can you calm down?" Izumi patted Naruto's shoulder. Then, he sat down below the tree. "Come here. Let's talk about the thing inside your body!"

"How do you know there is something in my body?"

"It's your chakra. The last time, you drew a chakra that wasn't yours. I knew it right away since I can feel the difference in someone's chakra."

Naruto couldn't help but be silent. Izumi said.

"Naruto, the reason you can't use Ninjutsu normally, you must be thinking to blame something inside your body, right?"

Naruto looked down languidly. Because of the nine-tailed fox inside his body, his childhood was too grim, and even still happens to this day.

Naruto didn't want to say it at first, but in the end, he decided to say it.

"I am the son of a monster, everyone told me that I am the son of the nine-tailed fox."

"And that fox is sealed in your stomach?"

"That's right." Naruto nodded.

Izumi pointed at Naruto.

"Then, do you believe that you're that fox's son?"

"Of course, no. But, I don't know my parents. No one ever told me who my parents were."

"That's why you also believe that you're a monster's son?"

Naruto couldn't answer at all.

Izumi shook his head.

"What a fool. And how pitiful you are. Let me tell you the good and bad news about your situation. Which do you want to hear first?"

"Bad."

"The bad news is, your parents have already died."

Naruto stiffened for a moment. He already expected that Izumi would say that. However, hearing it directly was painful for him. Nevertheless, he understood that his parents weren't monsters.

Izumi carried on.

"The good news is, your parents protect you from your father's enemies. Well, although it was a bit rough. At least, it could keep you safe up till now."

Naruto was dumbfounded. He didn't understand what Izumi meant at all.