Family is More Reliable Than the Will of Fire

"Heave... Land of Water! Heave... Moby Dick! Heave... Build a big ship! Heave..."

When Naruto finished his grueling observation haki training, he was now carrying 300 pounds of money on his back while traveling.

This extremely harsh training regimen had given the five-year-old Naruto a noticeable muscle definition.

Covered in sweat, Naruto felt utterly exhausted.

But to avoid delaying their journey to the Land of Water, he gritted his teeth and kept moving forward.

Each step was a challenge for him.

The key point...

While undergoing this combined strength and endurance training, his dad didn't allow him to use chakra.

He had to rely solely on physical strength for the training.

This made it even harder to endure!

Fortunately, Naruto had been persisting with this training for nearly two months. Despite his young age, his strength was impressive, and his willpower was stronger than many shinobi.

Naruto's dedication also inspired others.

He endured such grueling training to protect his "family."

Little Karin, who now saw Naruto as family, silently followed his example.

Of course, Karin's only "advantage" was her Uzumaki bloodline, which naturally meant she was far less equipped than Naruto, who had multiple "cheat" abilities.

She initially tried to imitate Naruto by carrying dozens of pounds, but after less than an hour, even her Uzumaki bloodline couldn't handle it.

Karin sensibly reduced her weight by half.

This allowed her to persist longer.

Seeing her daughter working so hard, Uzumaki Fusō, as her mother, also made efforts. Along the way, she conversed with Kakashi.

They weren't chatting idly.

They were discussing sealing techniques!

Uzumaki Fusō had inherited some of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, but her life had been one of constant hardship. She either wandered or was used as a blood bag by the Grass Village, leaving her little chance to practice her skills.

Now.

She was finally free from a life of wandering.

No longer a blood bag tool.

To contribute to the Whitebeard Pirates and to be useful in this family, Uzumaki Fusō decided to seek Kakashi's guidance.

And to relearn sealing techniques!

"Gurararara! Such hardworking foolish children!" Seeing the efforts of Naruto, Karin, and Uzumaki Fusō, Whitebeard was reminded of his time on the sea.

His sons on the ship were always this dedicated.

Their hard work was not only for their dreams.

But also to protect their family's dreams with all their might.

To sail towards the dreams of themselves and their family!

This...

Was the Whitebeard Pirates!

As they walked, Whitebeard suddenly asked, "Karin, Fusō, what are your dreams? What do you want to do? What do you hope for your future?"

His question stunned both Karin and Uzumaki Fusō.

Their dreams?

The young Karin, about the same age as Naruto, was more straightforward.

Or rather, more innocent.

After walking all day with a 30-pound load, her face was pale, and only her Uzumaki bloodline kept her going. She seriously thought for a few seconds.

Then she replied to her dad, "Dad, I want to stay with you all! I want to become an excellent kunoichi!"

Uzumaki Fusō, though a young mother, was still an adult.

She thought for half a minute, took a deep breath, and with a resolute expression, said, "Since the fall of the Whirlpool Country, my life has been like the walking dead. It wasn't until Karin came along, and then you and Naruto, Dad, that a light appeared in my world, waking me up."

"I don't have my own dream. All I want to do is protect your dreams, Dad, protect Karin's dreams, protect Naruto's dreams... or rather, protect my current family and future family's dreams."

"And I hope for a future where no family member is missing. Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I want the Whitebeard Pirates to have no fewer family members!"

When adults who have experienced countless hardships talk about dreams, the topic inevitably becomes heavy.

Whitebeard suddenly placed his finger on Uzumaki Fusō's head. In her surprised and bewildered gaze, Whitebeard smiled and said, "Foolish daughter, how can my children of the sea not have their own dreams? Don't let this twisted shinobi world affect your heart!"

His words left Uzumaki Fusō stunned.

If...

She ignored the various darknesses of the shinobi world.

What would she want to do?

Or rather, what was her dream before she wandered into the Grass Village?

In her daze.

——"Damn it! Why are you massacring our Uzumaki clan? Why are you not sparing even the civilians? Who are you?!"

——"Fusō... promise Mom, leave the Whirlpool Country, and live! Live for the Uzumaki!"

——"Damn! How did I get pregnant? I was just playing around, don't cling to me! The child is the future of the Uzumaki clan? Don't joke! The Uzumaki bloodline only brings about the curse of destruction!"

——"Mom, do I have any other relatives?"

Scenes and voices from the past surged in her memories, causing Uzumaki Fusō to shed tears unknowingly.

She once had a "self."

She, Uzumaki Fusō...

Is an Uzumaki!

"Dad!" Uzumaki Fusō suddenly looked up, her expression more serious than before. Her eyes, once dim, now shone with light. "I want to... I want to revive the Uzumaki clan! I want the Uzumaki clan to have a voice in the shinobi world again! I want revenge for the Uzumaki clan!!"

"Gurararara! Now that's my daughter!"

The ambition carried by Uzumaki Fusō's dreams reminded Whitebeard of the many heroic women on the seas.

Their dreams and ideals varied greatly, some even bizarre, but they all had one common trait — they were never lost and always had a strong sense of self.

Uzumaki Fusō had been missing this trait.

But now...

She had it!

Kakashi, seeing Uzumaki Fusō's transformation, couldn't help but feel uneasy. He had a strange feeling as if Whitebeard was deliberately awakening the "ambitions" of each of his children.

Just one Whitebeard was enough to trouble Konoha.

If Whitebeard raised a group of children with ambitions as strong as his, or even stronger...

What would happen to the vast shinobi world?

But...

He had to admit.

Whitebeard was indeed a good father, and the Whitebeard Pirates was indeed a good family.

"Upholding one's own dream... protecting the dreams of family, is that your ninja way, Whitebeard?"

Kakashi murmured to himself.

For some reason, he felt this seemed more reliable than the "Will of Fire."

At least...

It wasn't empty words.

...

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