When Little Naruto Encounters Pirate-Style Physical Training

"Hey, hey, hey… isn't this basically murder? Even the Root agents aren't this cruel," muttered Kakashi, hiding in the shadows, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Kakashi knew he rarely paid attention to Minato-sensei's child, and seeing Naruto today made him feel a bit guilty.

Receiving orders from the Third Hokage, he felt he should keep a close eye on Naruto.

To ensure nothing happened to Naruto.

But...

Looking at the situation in front of him, did it seem like nothing could go wrong? If Naruto relaxed even a bit, he might lose his life!

Is this training?

This is murder!

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Kakashi's heart tightened. He noticed that Whitebeard seemed to glance in his direction unintentionally, causing Kakashi's pupils to contract.

Discovered?

What a terrifying perception!

Is he a sensory ninja?

In fact.

The moment Kakashi appeared, Whitebeard had sensed someone approaching. But he didn't expose Kakashi; to him, it was just a kid peeking.

Whitebeard said to Naruto, "Foolish son, I told you, there's no chance to regret it. Hold on for another five minutes!"

"Five minutes!" Naruto nearly fainted upon hearing this.

"Old man, I'm only five years old!" Naruto was on the verge of tears, feeling like his abdominal muscles were about to tear apart.

The pain contorted his small face.

But as he was about to collapse and let his body fall, he sensed something sharp behind his back, his clothes ripping with a "shhh" sound.

"Hiss!!!!"

Naruto took a deep breath in fright.

There's a blade below!!!

The strong will to survive made him quickly lift his body again, sending another wave of intense pain through his abdominal muscles.

Tears streamed down his face.

"Gu la la la! Foolish son, see, you're quite capable," Whitebeard encouraged Naruto, "Don't underestimate yourself! When I was five, I could kill a tiger with my bare hands!"

Five minutes may not seem long.

But for Naruto, it felt like an eternity.

"Old man, I can't hold on any longer!" Naruto cried out, his back about to hit the tip of Murakumogiri.

Whitebeard casually lifted him.

"You're too weak," Whitebeard said disdainfully, "Even the weakest son on my ship is many times stronger than you."

Naruto couldn't speak anymore, breathing heavily.

I'm alive!

"Waaah!"

"Old man, did I manage to last the final five minutes?" Naruto asked after several minutes, finally able to speak.

Whitebeard said, "You lasted ten minutes."

"Yeah! Huh? Eh??????"

Naruto was dumbfounded.

Ten minutes?

"Foolish son, there's a very mysterious power within you!" Whitebeard's words weren't without reason.

Naruto didn't realize it, but many times, when he was about to collapse, a faint orange light flashed over his body.

The orange light carried an ominous aura.

It also had an evil presence.

That eerie power made Naruto hold on when he should have collapsed. Whitebeard now understood why Naruto was called the "Demon Fox."

There's something inside Naruto!

That thing...

Extremely evil!

He also understood why the Third Hokage was so anxious, almost wanting to take Naruto away.

The power inside Naruto was incredibly strong.

Strong enough to be a superweapon.

Konoha wanted to keep this weapon under control, hence the Third Hokage's intense reaction.

But this raised another question.

Since Naruto wasn't just an ordinary orphan with such a special identity and physique, and his parents were heroes of Konoha, why was he treated like this?

What was that Hokage thinking?

Whitebeard couldn't understand.

If Naruto were in the Navy, he would have been groomed as the next naval hero by now, wouldn't he?

Whitebeard knew Sengoku well; his old rival would definitely do that.

This comparison.

The difference was clear!

"The Nine-Tails' power has been discovered! He realizes Naruto is a Jinchuriki!" Kakashi took a deep breath. If Whitebeard made any sudden moves, he would not hesitate to rescue Naruto.

But Whitebeard's reaction surprised Kakashi.

"Gu la la la! Foolish son, the power within you is very special. It seems you don't know the potential you possess." Whitebeard ruffled Naruto's hair, "It looks like that Hokage of yours is holding back on you!"

"My power? My potential?" Naruto, lying motionless on the ground, was confused but seemed to understand, "Old man, are you saying I'm a genius?!"

"Gu la la la! Indeed! You remind me of Marco." Whitebeard grinned, "Such special potential shouldn't be wasted."

"Marco?" Naruto was puzzled.

"That's another one of my sons and the commander of the First Division of the Whitebeard Pirates," Whitebeard explained.

"I see! So, he's my brother?" Naruto said excitedly, "Does that mean I have another family member?"

"Gu la la la! More than one?"

Whitebeard laughed, "You have tens of thousands of family members, kid!"

"Tens... tens of thousands!!!"

Naruto was shocked!

"But your potential is a bit difficult to unlock," Whitebeard said, crossing his arms and looking down at Naruto, "It only activates in near-death situations."

"So, so?" Naruto had a bad feeling.

"So, get up and continue training, you foolish son!"

Whitebeard smiled like a devil.

Making Naruto shiver.

...

At the same time.

In the Root base.

"Lord Danzo, we've discovered why the Hokage was in such a hurry; it was because something happened with the demon fox!" In the dim environment, a Root ninja knelt on one knee, reporting the information.

Danzo was ignored by Hiruzen Sarutobi today.

Naturally, he was furious.

But he was curious about what the monkey was up to, so he ordered his Root members to investigate.

Unexpectedly...

They found something!

"The demon fox? Minato's son?" Danzo narrowed his eyes, "Did the seal on his tailed beast loosen?"

"Lord Danzo, the seal on the demon fox seems intact." The Root ninja responded, "The reason for alarming the Hokage is because he recognized an outsider as his 'father'!"

"Hmm?" Danzo didn't expect this.

Minato's son, a Jinchuriki, recognizes an outsider as a father.

Danzo sneered, "So that's it."

"An outsider coveting the Jinchuriki and even succeeding? Monkey, I've told you to let me train the Jinchuriki, but you stubbornly refuse!"

"We mustn't let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki fall into someone else's hands."

Danzo's eyes flickered.

...