Chapter 44

Konohagakure Village.

Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding the report written by Kakashi, fell into contemplation.

"The chakra tails have transformed into three, and there's a chakra technique with at least an S-rank level of destructive power."

"And Naruto... he has given his body to Kaze for nearly two weeks without showing up. Could it be..."

Hiruzen's brow furrowed, his expression grim.

Hiruzen had a firm grasp on Naruto, having instilled his ideals in him since childhood.

But when it came to Kaze, who suddenly appeared with an eccentric and violent personality, Hiruzen felt powerless.

The first time he met Kaze, he sensed the inherent coldness and disdain within him. Kaze's eyes held no sense of closeness or respect towards him.

Hiruzen was well aware that Kaze was a double-edged sword, with Naruto being the hilt.

However, he never anticipated that before he could even wield that sword, the hilt would disappear on its own!

Suppressing his inner frustration and vexation, Hiruzen carefully analyzed the report submitted by Kakashi.

The report was detailed, describing everything from the Root's attack to the Four-Star Conglomerate joining the Land of Waves.

The report contained over 20,000 words and included accounts from Sasuke and Sakura, in addition to what Kakashi had witnessed.

From the contents provided by Sasuke and Sakura, Hiruzen found the key to the problem.

"So, it's because Naruto's sense of recognition lies with his alter ego, combined with the guilt and self-reproach he feels for hurting his comrades."

Hiruzen understood Naruto very well and instantly identified the root of the problem.

"It seems that it's time to enhance Naruto's strength, and we need someone to appease him and bring him out."

With this thought in mind, Hiruzen relaxed his brow and lightly tapped his desk.

Knock, knock, knock.

Whoosh!

An ANBU, wearing a mask, appeared before the Hokage.

"Have you found Jiraiya?" Hiruzen asked.

The ANBU shook his head. "Not yet."

"However, we have received eyewitness reports from the Land of Hot Springs. It will take some time to search."

"Continue to allocate more personnel. I hope we can receive specific information within this week."

"Understood," the ANBU replied respectfully.

Just as the ANBU was about to leave, Hiruzen's voice echoed once again.

"By the way, have Iruka and Asuma come?"

The chakra nature of Team 7's three members had already been tested when they reached Chuunin level or above.

Therefore, before Jiraiya returned, Hiruzen planned to have Asuma, who also possessed the Wind nature, instruct Naruto.

"Yes."

Across the street from the Hokage Tower.

Kaze was chatting with Sasuke and Sakura while enjoying tri-colored dango.

While Sasuke and Sakura were engaged in conversation, Kaze observed the Hokage Tower.

It wasn't until he saw Iruka and Asuma entering the building that Kaze put down the dango and gestured for Sasuke to pay the bill.

Sasuke didn't refuse and got up to settle the bill with the owner. After all, it was his suggestion to treat them and discuss Naruto's situation.

Sasuke himself was also curious about Naruto.

Despite finding him as annoying as Sakura did, there was always an inexplicable attraction, as if Naruto possessed an invisible magnetic force.

"Kaze, please convey what we just discussed."

Kaze interrupted Sasuke before he could finish his sentence, waving his hand dismissively.

"Alright, I'll talk to him and try to persuade him."

The level of trust and dependence between Kaze and the current dominant personality hadn't reached 80 yet. Kaze's control over the body was futile. The control could be taken away from him at any moment.

Moreover, Naruto had been brooding in his consciousness, wallowing in self-pity, which had prevented any accumulation of darkness points for the past two weeks. It severely impacted his speed of growth.

Meanwhile, Iruka and Asuma had just entered the Hokage Tower.

...

Hmm, did Sarutobi send Sasuke?

It was clever of him having Sasuke Uchiha find him to persuade Naruto.

It's better for him to take the initiative and talk to Naruto Uzumaki to clear things up.

It's been a long time, and he doesn't believe that Naruto hasn't figured it out yet.

"Alright, I'm leaving now."

After waving his hand in farewell, Kaze quickly disappeared.

At the same time, Kaze's voice echoed in Naruto's ears.

"You heard what Sasuke and Sakura said just now, right?"

"What are you planning to do now?"

"Are you going to bravely face it or completely surrender your body to me?"

Upon hearing Kaze's words, a hint of liveliness finally appeared in Naruto's dull eyes.

But he didn't answer Kaze's question. Instead, he brought up the previous topic about kings and their pawns.

"Kaze, I've thought a lot about what you said before and reflected on my actions."

"And you got the relationship between kings and pawns wrong. The powerful one is not the king."

"The king should be the one who controls the direction of thought."

"It's the one holding the reins, guiding the pawns to not take the wrong path."

"It's the master who restrains the beastly instincts of the powerful pawns!"

The more Naruto spoke, the brighter his eyes became.

By the end, he even stood up from the ground.

Indeed, he hadn't been wallowing in despair for the past two weeks.

Instead, he had been contemplating Kaze's words and their relationship, back and forth.

"So what?"

Kaze became interested, finding Naruto's words somewhat intriguing.

Today, he would see if this legendary Talk-no-Jutsu could persuade him, an extradimensional demon!

"So, even though you are stronger in various aspects and more ruthless, you can't dominate my body."

"While I, who am far gentler and more optimistic, possess positive and constructive thoughts, can take control!"

"Just like a ninja mastering ninjutsu or a samurai wielding a katana!"

"The relationship between us has always been mutually beneficial, two parts of a whole!"

"You are like my ninjutsu, my weapon, and I will make you function in the right direction!"

"Heh heh," Kaze chuckled with a hint of annoyance.

What kind of twisted logic was this?

"What makes you think that I am your weapon?"

"You have to understand that if I don't want to, I can stay hidden and not come out to fight in any danger you face."

"You won't," Naruto shook his head with a confident look.

"You are a more ruthless version of me, so you won't let harm come to your own kind."

"Besides, if I die, you die. If I'm sad, you'll be even sadder. Our connection is unbreakable."

"Ugh..."

Damn it, this is frustrating!

In just two short weeks, Naruto had become unexpectedly clever under his pressure!

And this Talk-no-Jutsu, damn, he really could talk!

Although Kaze wanted to continue arguing against Naruto's twisted logic, he caught sight of two people below approaching from the balcony.

"Hmph, we'll settle the score next time. I'll return your body to you."

As he spoke, Kaze instantly retreated into Naruto's body.

Naruto, with his shining eyes, reappeared outside.

"Don't leave! I haven't finished talking, and you haven't told me how to use the Nine-Tails' Chakra!"

Naruto didn't reclaim his body from the beginning because he was afraid that Kaze would refuse to communicate after retreating.

And indeed, that's what happened. He had only said half of what he wanted to say!

Just as he was about to continue screaming in his mind, a knock on the door interrupted him.

Opening the door, Naruto's face filled with surprise upon seeing the people outside.

"Grandpa Hokage and Iruka-sensei!"

Upon hearing the familiar titles, Hiruzen's serious expression faltered.

"You, you're Naruto!?"

***

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