"Phoenix Flower Claw Red, Uchiha Style: Sword-Leaping Flame, Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire... oh? There's even experience using Susanoo? Now that's interesting. Kurama, your rewards beat mine by a mile."
"Hmph. Of what use? I cannot practice ninjutsu anyway."
Inside the seal, Naruto and the Nine Tails withdrew their chakra-linked fists. Kurama's tone was gruff, but through the link Naruto could tell the fox was in a splendid mood.
In the Mirror World, Shisui's instantaneous speed had nearly driven Kurama mad at first. Then it watched Naruto's battle logs and realized there were many paths to victory.
For example, pick a battlefield that favored it, prime a Tailed Beast Bomb at close range before the fight began, then open by forcing Shisui to pop Susanoo at once. Once his chakra ran dry and his ocular power dipped, a single paw smashed him like kindling.
Or retreat well before the first exchange, stay outside the range of his Mangekyo genjutsu, track him with sensing, and hammer him with chained Tailed Beast Bombs while falling back. Shisui could fly with Susanoo and shoot from afar, but he had less chakra and shorter reach. In the end he still evaporated under Kurama's strongest technique.
As for the post-battle rewards, the fox could not care less. It was a tailed beast; human jutsu meant nothing to it.
After exiting the Mirror World, it simply linked chakra with Naruto and dumped all the rewards into his hands.
Naruto had wanted Kurama to experiment there for a long time. He knew the fox might gain prizes useless to itself, but they could be transferred to him through the chakra link.
Kurama had always disliked that place. It smelled of old, unpleasant memories. Naruto never pushed.
Judging by today, that reluctance was gone.
On the podium, the Third Hokage's speech finally ended. After saying goodbye to Shikamaru and the others, Naruto returned home. He was about to study the rewards Kurama had earned when he sensed the Third approaching his house with someone Naruto cared about.
Nara compound.
Shikaku had barely stepped through the door when something startled him. His son was holding a book.
"Yoshino, Shikamaru is reading?"
"Yes. He came in and grabbed a book. It scared me a little. Normally he slumps around looking for a place to nap, or just stares into space until you get home to play shogi."
Shikaku gave a sheepish smile and wisely said nothing. He crossed from the kitchen to the sitting room and dropped onto the cushion beside his son. "What made you crack a book all of a sudden?"
Shikamaru turned a page. "During the ceremony Naruto suggested I spend more time in the library. Looking at this, he has a point."
"Oh?" Shikaku chuckled. "And what's your insight?"
Shikamaru gently set the book down. Shikaku's brow tightened at once.
The open spread was a chronicle of the Nine Tails' Rampage. He flipped at random and found arrows scrawled in the margins. On every page, the dates and the Fourth Hokage's portrait were circled.
He glanced toward the kitchen where Yoshino was busy, then spoke low. "Shikamaru, what are you trying to do?"
Shikamaru laced his hands behind his head and lay back. After a moment he said, "The Fourth Hokage is Naruto's father, isn't he?"
Shikaku's expression dimmed. He did not answer.
A long sigh bled into the air.
Mount Myoboku.
Fukasaku had reverse-summoned Jiraiya again to the Great Toad Sage's hall.
"Great Toad Sage, I reinforced the Dragon Vein's seals. I also quietly tipped off Sunagakure about Hundred-Foot's plan to steal the Dragon Vein. He's been arrested."
Silence. Jiraiya glanced at Fukasaku by the dais. "Is the Great Sage still not—"
Before he could finish, the Great Toad Sage spoke.
"Fukasaku, give it to Jiraiya."
Fukasaku hopped down with a scroll and handed it over.
Jiraiya unrolled it and froze. "Protect Iwagakure's Five-Tails jinchuriki?"
From on high, the Great Sage's voice came slow and heavy. "In my dream I saw Akatsuki planning to capture all of the tailed beasts. Their aim is tied to the fate of the shinobi world. The Five-Tails jinchuriki is their first target."
"Capture every tailed beast?" Jiraiya's face set. "Great Sage, I have to report this to the village immediately. But shouldn't Iwagakure handle their own jinchuriki?"
The Great Sage shook his head. "There is no time. The Five-Tails jinchuriki is in the Land of Hot Water. Akatsuki is on the way. Only you can move now."
Jiraiya flushed. Forbidden to step into the Rain by the Sage's warning, he had gone from Loulan to the Land of Hot Water to clear his head and hunt for inspiration, planning to return to Konoha for answers. Now this.
The Third Hokage stepped out of Naruto's apartment with a silver-haired man at his side.
"What do you think of Naruto?"
They had walked a long way before the Third turned back to look toward the small building and asked.
"I feel like he does not like me," the other man answered, voice flat, eyes lifeless.
A black mask hid half his face. His hitai-ate slanted low to cover one eye, leaving only a third of his features visible.
A faint smile tugged at the Third's mouth. "Not necessarily. I thought he seemed very curious about you. Kakashi, you take genin as a jōnin leader next month. Go easy on them."
Kakashi's tone did not change. "I will try."
The Third nodded. "Let us look in on Sasuke."
~~~~~~~~
A small grove by the Naka River. Sasuke had just finished a round of training when Naruto blinked into view.
Flash.
An instant later, Naruto took him to the lakeside pier he used to haunt.
"What happened?"
Sasuke knew Naruto would not bring him here without a reason.
"The Third Hokage just paid a home visit to your house," Naruto said with a small smile. "He brought someone."
Sasuke's eyes tightened. "Who?"
"He carries a title known across the shinobi world. During the ceremony he stood just behind the Hokage," Naruto replied, voice light. "A man above vulgar tastes."
"You did not notice?"
A shock ran through Sasuke's chest. "Hatake Kakashi."
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