To the Next Stage

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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Morning came in the blink of an eye, as it always did whenever I was immersed in training. Using Natural Energy took me to a world I didn't know before. Kurama's Chakra corroded my mind whereas Natural Energy had a cleansing nature. However, you could easily turn into a monstrosity if you don't manage it well.

The most apparent effect I could feel from using Natural Energy was how clear my mind was. It was always clear but not in the way Natural Energy made it. As a firm believer in consequentialism, I don't care about what method I use as long as I achieve my goal. Natural Energy filters all the bad thoughts I had. It was a curious experience.

I might truly become Naruto if I am not careful. I would hate it if altruism became my identity. I am not a saint. No one in this world deserves to be a saint.

Someone walked into the backyard and I didn't need to turn around to see who it was. Her presence aside, I could smell Tsunade's scent through the air. I was not being creepy. It is what happens when you become a Shinobi. Your senses are enhanced.

"You don't know how to rest, do you? You just survived a fight against Orochimaru of all people and here you are training so early."

"In my defense, I am not exerting my body."

"You and your smart mouth."

Tsunade sat down beside me. She hugged her legs and watched my clones working on the Hiraishin seal. She didn't say anything for a moment. I guess she just wanted to enjoy my company. I broke the silence by standing up. Tsunade looked up at the same time I offered her my hand. I pulled her up and took her to the kitchen.

Shizune walked into the kitchen at the same time we did. Her face was slightly, a telltale sign she had just woken up. I greeted her with a nod whereas Tsunade verbally. She glanced at our entangled hands before asking us what we were going to do. I told her that we were going to make breakfast.

"That won't be necessary. I will cook for you. Tsunade-sama and Naruto-kung can wait in the dining room."

"We need this moment, Shizune."

The look I sent Shizune prompted realization to flash in her eyes. She nodded and then left us alone. I could feel Tsunade's confused gaze on my back. I ignored it and told her to take out the ingredients we needed from the fridge. When everything was out, we split the task and began making our breakfast.

"Do you know that people tend to open up while doing other things?" I asked offhandedly. "They will get so busy with what they are doing that they put down the barrier protecting their thoughts. It is one of the most popular psychology tricks to make people confess."

"Are you trying to get something out of me?" Tsunade scoffed in amusement.

Tak.

"What do you think of me, Tsunade?"

"… a workaholic."

"I sure possess the ethics to become one, but I am a lazy bum deep inside," I conceded. "I guess I should change the question. What do you see me as?"

Tak.

Tsunade's hand stopped moving. Her knife was still halfway through cutting the carrot. I observed her from the corner of my eyes. She had a frown on her face but didn't seem intent on saying anything. Her hand moved again not long after. That was my cue not to pursue the matter any further.

"I see you as many things. An annoying friend, a wise kid beyond his age, a great ninja, a genius, an antisocial extrovert… and a savior."

"Do you see someone in me?"

"I see Minato, Kushina, Sensei, Orochimaru, Nawaki, and Dan in you. You embody a lot of people's ideologies and behave like them in one way or another. You are a complex human being. You are Uzumaki Naruto. I treat you the way I do because I care for you. Whom I see in you is not my motive."

That was not the kind of response I was looking for. I had intended to call her out for treating me like her dead baby brother. I was in denial, so I observed her emotion. She was not lying. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't understand. How could she care for a stranger without any form of incentive? It was a curious case.

"You don't need to find justification for what you feel, Naruto. Similarly, you don't have to rationalize the way people treat you. Kindness with justification is business. Pragmatism cannot be applied to feelings."

"…I see," was the most intelligent response I could give her. "Please, go easy on worrying about me. I don't die easily."

"Pfft. Is that all you want to say? You could have been more direct."

"I wouldn't have gotten the chance to listen to the lecture of the great Tsunade if I had, would I?"

"Smartass. If you don't want me to worry about you so much, don't get yourselves in trouble too often."

"Trouble always finds its way to me."

Tsunade sighed and shook her head. My lips turned into a thin line as I contemplated what Tsunade had said. It was an insightful outlook on life. However, that was not my first time hearing it. My mother had lectured me about it a lot. In other words, I wouldn't change my view. Humans are not pure creatures.

I guess I can see why those people call me son of a bitch.

…

Three days had come to pass, marking the end of the second stage of the Chūnin Exam. I spent those three days finishing Hiraishin and learning to control Natural Energy. I could use Hiraishin now but still had a long way until I mastered Senjutsu. Jiraiya was right. Senjutsu was more than just making use of Natural Energy.

The time I wasn't experimenting or training was spent with Tsunade. The majority of it was spent on receiving a lecture on Iryō Jutsu from her, but we also did idle things. Tsunade wasn't particularly happy that I spent my time with her only for her knowledge. That was why I had to waste my time on mundane things. A necessary sacrifice.

"I can't believe you managed to convince Sensei."

"I am a Jōnin, Tsunade. It is not mindboggling for a Jōnin to go on a mission alone."

"It depends on the Jōnin. You are special."

"Is that a pun? Or is it that you are just reminding me that I am Konoha's Jinchūriki?"

"You know what? Forget it."

Tsunade sighed exasperatedly and massaged her forehead. As I thought, she didn't realize she was treating me like her dead baby brother. I could tell that she didn't treat me this way as an atonement, but it would have been better if she worried about me differently. Nevertheless, I no longer found it insulting or annoying.

"I will be careful."

A simple hug and a convincing statement could wash someone's worry away. That always worked for my mother, so it should work for Tsunade. She melted into my embrace, so I was right. She should stop worrying about me. Though, I was sure it wouldn't last long.

"Take care."

Nodding silently, I assumed my disguise. My blond locks turned brown and my face turned more oval. My build and height remained the same, but no one would recognize me as Uzumaki Naruto if they saw me. Using Shunshin, I left the Senju Compound and got out of the village. Soon after, I was surrounded by the forest.

Even though it had taken days to convince Hiruzen to send me out on a mission alone, at the end of the day, Hiruzen still didn't trust me. I could sense an Anbu following after me at a distance. He must be sent to look after me, so I didn't feel the need to get rid of him. I would only take action if he decided to interfere with my mission.

My mission was to find a replacement for Raijin no Ken which was destroyed by the snake bastard Orochimaru. I told Hiruzen that I heard Kurosuki Raiga had Kiba and he was in the Land of Rivers. Hiruzen said that I could have Kiba in return for Kurosoki Raiga's head. That was how this mission was realized.

Kiba was a tantalizing weapon, but that was not what I was aiming for. Kurosuki Raiga had something more valuable than Kiba. Ranmaru, Kurosuki Raiga's extra eyes and ears, possessed a Dojutsu that was never recorded. I wanted that boy's eyes. His Dojutsu would help me a lot in my fight since I didn't need to overload my brain with Chakra to enhance my perception.

Those hypocrites will be conflicted if they know what I am going to do.

I would use Ranmaru's eyes well until I got my hands on Sharingan.