Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Morning Training and the Nine-Tails' Interference
Naruto woke up feeling refreshed, stretching his arms as sunlight streamed through the window. The events of the previous night in the sealed space were still vivid in his mind.
"Nine-Tailed Demon Fox..." he murmured softly, a strategizing smile playing on his lips.
His first encounter with Kyuubi had been far from pleasant. The beast was violent, malicious, and constantly trying to influence him. It had even interfered with his chakra control, sabotaging his ninjutsu practice. Naruto wasn't sure if he could completely rid himself of Kyuubi's interference, but at least he now understood his life's circumstances and the reason behind the villagers' hatred.
"It's just a beast," Naruto muttered, getting out of bed and neatly spreading his quilt. Despite the challenges, he felt surprisingly good mentally. He decided to reach out to Aizen.
"Mr. Aizen," he called out in his mind.
"What is it?" Aizen's calm and gentle voice responded, bringing Naruto a sense of relief.
"Mr. Aizen, you're still here," Naruto said, his tone tinged with relief.
Aizen frowned slightly, sensing a change in Naruto's demeanor. The boy seemed different today—more assured, perhaps even a little triumphant. Naruto's next words confirmed his suspicions.
"Mr. Aizen, I met the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox last night."
Naruto briefly recounted his encounter with Kyuubi, and Aizen fell into deep thought. From what he had gathered, the Nine-Tails was a being capable of destroying Konoha, yet it had been sealed inside Naruto. This suggested that Konoha's strength was not to be underestimated. The ninja world was becoming more intriguing by the day.
"Today, you'll continue practicing ninjutsu and Reiatsu control. In a few days, you'll begin learning Kido," Aizen said, cutting the conversation short. He had much to ponder.
"Kido? I can finally learn Kido!" Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement.
Kido, much like ninjutsu, involved channeling spiritual energy—Reiatsu—into various forms of attack, defense, or support. The main difference was that while ninjutsu required hand seals, Kido relied on incantations. Half a year ago, Naruto had witnessed Aizen using Kido in the sealed space, and the complex chants had fascinated him ever since. Over the past year, he had diligently honed his Reiatsu control, eagerly awaiting the day he could begin learning Kido. That day had finally arrived.
Filled with anticipation, Naruto prepared a hearty breakfast: a slice of toast, two sunny-side-up eggs, and a drizzle of soy sauce. It was a simple meal he had discovered in a cookbook, and he found it both delicious and nutritious. Despite his tight budget, Naruto understood the importance of proper nutrition, thanks to the books he had read about the Shinigami. He often supplemented his meals with fish and game caught using his homemade traps.
After breakfast, Naruto set aside his distractions and resumed practicing the Three Basic Techniques. He wanted to confirm his suspicions about Kyuubi's interference.
Forming the necessary hand seals, he focused on controlling the flow of chakra within his body.
"Clone Technique!"
As soon as he activated the technique, Naruto felt the subtle but unmistakable interference of Kyuubi's red chakra. It was a minor disturbance, but even the slightest disruption could cause a technique to fail.
Poof! A cloud of smoke appeared, and standing beside him was a grotesque, sausage-mouthed version of himself.
Naruto stared at the failed clone, his expression darkening. Without a word, he punched it, causing it to dissipate into smoke.
"Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, you've done well," he muttered through gritted teeth.
In the Sealed Space
Kyuubi was rolling on the ground, laughing uncontrollably. "Hahahaha! Brat, you think you're so clever, don't you? With me around, you'll never master ninjutsu! I'll make you beg for mercy! You'll kiss my toes before I'm done with you!"
The beast continued to rant, his voice dripping with malice. "With my interference, you'll never become a proper ninja. I'm waiting for the day you kneel before me, begging for my power. You're nothing but a brat, no matter how clever you think you are."
Kyuubi began counting down, his tone mocking. "I'll give you five seconds to come back and apologize. Five... four... three... two... two... three..."
Minutes passed, but Naruto never appeared. Kyuubi's face twisted with rage, and he let out an enraged roar. "You insolent brat! You'll regret this! I'll make sure you never master a single technique!"
Back in the Training Ground
Naruto stood in the training field, holding his sword, Kyouka Suigetsu, with a calm expression. Despite Kyuubi's interference, he continued to practice his swordsmanship. He knew that mastering chakra control under such difficult conditions would only make him stronger in the long run. Once Kyuubi's interference was removed, his hard work would pay off in spades.
Still, every failed ninjutsu attempt brought Kyuubi's mocking grin to mind, and it infuriated him. Despite his maturity, Naruto was still a child, and the frustration was hard to ignore.
With a sharp exhale, Naruto focused his energy. His eyes locked onto a boulder in front of him, and in an instant, his body surged with power. Kyouka Suigetsu flashed like a streak of light as he slashed at the boulder.
Bang! The boulder exploded from the inside, shattering into pieces. Naruto sheathed his sword gracefully, a satisfied smile on his face.
"It worked," he said, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He had finally achieved the goal Aizen had set for him in swordsmanship.
Now, it was time to move on to Kido.
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