Kyuubi didn't think Naruto could really leave Konoha—but that didn't stop him from daydreaming about it.
As a Tailed Beast that could sense good and evil, Nine Tails hated cities full of scheming hearts. The endless tide of petty malice made it want to nap forever.
If there was ever a chance to sneak out with this brat, well… maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea.
But could a Tailed Beast ever truly be free? Nine Tails wasn't sure.
...
Early the next morning, Naruto arrived at a remote patch of woodland in the village, scroll of Wind Escape techniques in hand.
After reading through all the Wind Escape scrolls, he formed hand seals and summoned five or six shadow clones.
Ninjutsu wasn't like Taijutsu—practicing multiple jutsu at once was best done with shadow clones, since when the clones vanished, their experience and memories flowed back into the main body.
Of course, fatigue flowed back too—so ordinary ninjas couldn't pull this off. But Naruto had the Uzumaki physique, which basically said: "Fatigue? What's that?"
The main body sat cross-legged, holding a water-filled balloon, practicing the Spiral Pill technique—aka rubbing balls, because Naruto had never been subtle about naming things weird. It was his signature jutsu, and he wasn't about to give up his best trick for some fancy, complicated jutsu.
The training had stages:
Stage 1: Control chakra steadily in the palm.
Stage 2 & 3: Use chakra to destroy the water balloon.
Stage 4: Congratulations! You're officially a Spiral Pill master.
Naruto was stuck at Stage 2. He tried several times, but the balloon refused to die. Despite having chakra control superior to his peers, he lacked finesse.
Meanwhile, the shadow clones were wreaking mild havoc in the forest, chopping at trees and sending chunks of bark flying. One unlucky small tree got cleaved in half by a gust of wind—Naruto noted it with mild guilt.
Eventually, the clones faded from exhaustion, leaving Naruto alone. He closed his eyes, focused… and suddenly, the water balloon in his palm exploded. Water went everywhere.
"Yes!" Naruto grinned. "Finally got it!"
Even Kyuubi couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Congratulations, you clumsy copycat," it said. "A Tailed Beast Jade this is not. One of mine could flatten a mountain with less effort than you squirted that water ball."
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "Yes, yes… but, you know… you're still in a cage, big guy."
Kyuubi sighed. "Fine, fine. Your Spiral Pill isn't terrible… but don't go bragging to the Third Hokage. He might actually get scared of your 'strength.'"
Naruto puffed up proudly. "You think my power could scare the three-generation old men?"
Kyuubi poured a bucket of cold reality over him:
"You're nowhere near. Your chakra has grown—a bit—but compared to me, you're an ant. And in actual combat? Ha! I wouldn't bet on you against a proper Jonin."
Still, Naruto could sense some hope. Against lower- or mid-level ninjas, he had a good chance. Anbu could be tricky, but top-level Jonin? Not happening.
So he kept practicing, spiral pills in hand, shadow clones everywhere, knowing that if he grew strong enough, the Third Hokage would stop peeking at him like a suspicious neighbor.
...
On the way home, Naruto swaggered through the streets, still under the "friendly but slightly murderous" gaze of the villagers.
Well, nothing they could do would change him. After four generations of village officials practically trying to cut his cock off metaphorically, he'd long since given up on pleasing anyone.
Passing a block, he noticed the malice in the villagers' eyes was less intense. He squinted. Not gone entirely—just transferred somewhere else.
Ahead, Uchiha clan security blocked the villagers' path, yelling loudly like traffic cops on steroids. The villagers dared not argue, casting resentful glances at the ninja enforcers.
"Uchiha… still hated as ever," Naruto muttered, barely interested.
Kyuubi snorted. "I hate these sharingan freaks. All glare, no substance."
Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke and Itachi were watching the same scene.
Sasuke grinned like a kid at the candy store. "Look, brother! Law enforcement excitement!"
Itachi just frowned, remembering that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who had once visited their house… and who had a slightly disturbing tendency to level things when angry.
Sasuke didn't care. He was too busy planning his next outing with Itachi: hunting, training, maybe breaking a few rules just for fun.
"Next time we go out, can my brother join the security squad?" Sasuke whined. "Then I can practice shuriken every day!"
Itachi sighed internally. The clan's arrogance and his own responsibilities were exhausting—but if not for his friend Zhishui keeping him sane, he might have quit long ago.
Joining Anbu was the only way he could truly understand the Will of Fire… and maybe survive being around his little brother's endless energy.
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