Chapter 135 The Young Clan
Chief of the Uzumaki Clan After hearing Uchiha Touhuan's thoughts, Tsunade fell silent.
Since returning to the village, Tsunade had carefully studied Uchiha Touhuan in her spare time.
Although almost all the ninjas in the village regarded him as the sun of the village, Tsunade had also discerned many things from the subtle clues.
At least, Uchiha Touhuan wasn't as virtuous and righteous as he appeared on the surface.
However, the village was currently developing in a positive direction, so Tsunade hadn't said much.
But now, Uchiha Touhuan suddenly proposed to do something for the Uzumaki clan, and Tsunade couldn't help but wonder what Uchiha Touhuan's purpose was.
"After Kushina's death, I haven't heard from any other Uzumaki survivors," Tsunade said.
"Is that so? I understand." Uchiha Touhuan nodded.
"Then, let Naruto be the representative of the Uzumaki clan.
Kakashi already told me that Naruto will become my apprentice in the future, as the young head of the Uzumaki clan."
"You plan to take Minato's son as your apprentice?" Tsunade asked.
"That's right, is there a problem?" Uchiha Touhuan nodded. "Sasuke, Neji, and Naruto, these three are the most talented young people in the village this generation."
"What exactly are you trying to do? If it's just about taking on an apprentice, there's no need to bring up the Uzumaki clan's name." Tsunade asked.
"That's just one of the purposes. Most importantly, I plan to build a Konoha Heroes Monument directly opposite the Hokage Building, inscribing the names and deeds of all the ninjas who have sacrificed for the village since its founding.
The Uzumaki clan, as the village's most steadfast ally, deserves their deeds recorded. Therefore, the village needs a representative from the Uzumaki clan as a witness," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"Furthermore, the village will issue a public announcement throughout the ninja world, calling on any surviving Uzumaki survivors to come to Konoha.
Konoha will provide unconditional protection."
"I don't think they'll still trust the village," Tsunade couldn't help but say upon hearing this.
"Whether they believe it or not, I will represent the village in this matter.
Rebuilding trust always has a beginning," Uchiha Touhuan said. "This is a good thing for both sides, isn't it?"
"The village needs the power of the Uzumaki clan, and the remnants of the Uzumaki clan can also receive the village's protection."
"Furthermore, if they have any ideas about rebuilding Uzumaki Village in the future, the village will fully support them."
Tsunade stared at Uchiha Touhuan for a while before speaking, "I never expected you would do something so thankless."
Faced with Tsunade's teasing, Uchiha Touhuan could only shrug and say, "There's no way around it; these historical issues must be resolved. Besides, I'm cleaning up your teacher's mess!"
"Alright, I'll help with this. After all, I also have Uzumaki blood flowing through my veins," Tsunade said.
...
Three days later, Naruto was brought to Uchiha Touhuan's house by Kakashi after work, and Sasuke and Neji also arrived at Uchiha Touhuan's house ahead of time.
After completing the formal apprenticeship ceremony, Naruto officially became Uchiha Touhuan's disciple.
"Master, what ninjutsu will you teach me?" Naruto, unable to contain his excitement, immediately asked after the ceremony.
"What do you want to learn?" Uchiha Touhuan asked with a smile.
"Can you teach me a ninjutsu that can beat Sasuke?" Naruto said.
Before Uchiha Touhuan could speak, Sasuke snorted coldly and said, "No matter what ninjutsu you learn, you can't beat me!"
"What did you say? After I learn powerful ninjutsu, I will definitely be able to beat you down!" Naruto retorted as he turned around.
In the blink of an eye, their foreheads were touching, staring at each other defiantly.
Kakashi had already taught Naruto the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Now, at just over seven years old, Naruto could summon more than ten shadow clones, which was a level of overwhelming power among the children in the ninja academy.
Among his peers, basically no one could withstand his group attack. However, he was relatively powerless against Sasuke. Uchiha Touhuan had taught Sasuke the Lightning Step Body Flicker Technique, which allowed Sasuke to easily deal with him.
So, in every sparring session during practical lessons, Sasuke would completely outmaneuver the dozen or so Narutos, ending the session with Naruto instantly turning red-hot.
"Hey, be careful, we're at our teacher's house." Neji sighed heavily. Since becoming a disciple of Uchiha Touhuan, he had become familiar with Naruto and Sasuke's group.
However, these playmates, a year younger than him, often left him feeling exhausted; the two brothers would argue several times a day.
"Do you want to learn a ninjutsu that can defeat Sasuke?" Uchiha Touhuan asked Naruto with a smile, separating the two by the collar.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Naruto nodded vigorously, his collar being pulled.
"I'll naturally teach you powerful ninjutsu, but you can't neglect your family's ninjutsu either," Uchiha Touhuan said with a smile.
"My family's ninjutsu?" Naruto was taken aback.
"Do you know what your surname, the whirlpool, and the turbine clan crest on your back represent?" Uchiha Touhuan said after putting Naruto down.
"My surname? And my clan crest?" Naruto, after being put down, took off his coat and stared blankly at the turbine-shaped pattern on it.
From childhood, the clothes the Third Hokage gave him always had this pattern.
At first, Naruto thought it was just a habit of the Third Hokage, but after he moved to Kakashi's house, Kakashi would have this pattern embroidered on any clothes he bought for him, even new ones.
"Yes, your clan," Uchiha Touhuan said, "The Uzumaki clan, once a super clan that rivaled the Uchiha and Hyuga."
"So, my father is also from the Uzumaki clan?" Naruto asked hastily.
"No, your mother is. And your mother was once a princess of the Uzumaki clan," Uchiha Touhuan said.
Suddenly learning about his parents, Naruto was momentarily stunned. However, Uchiha Touhuan gently patted his head to bring him back to his senses.
"But I've never heard of the Uzumaki clan before," Naruto said.
"Of course, because the Uzumaki clan was nearly wiped out more than twenty years ago," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"In other words, you, strictly speaking, could be considered the head of the Uzumaki clan now."
"I'm the head of the clan?" Naruto was a little dizzy from the series of bombshell revelations and pointed at himself in disbelief.
"That's right. If we're talking about etiquette among ninja clans, we're on equal footing," Uchiha Touhuan laughed. "However, you're still far from being able to bear the name of the clan."
"Naruto, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans made their name in the ninja world through their eye techniques.
But do you know what the Uzumaki clan relied on to be considered on par with the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga clans?" Uchiha Touhuan asked, patting Naruto's head.
Naruto shook his head, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Sealing Techniques," Uchiha Touhuan said. "The best sealing technique in the ninja world, unmatched by anyone."
"Sealing Techniques?" Naruto was puzzled. Having skipped class all the time, Naruto was practically illiterate when it came to ninja theory; he had no idea what sealing techniques were.
Uchiha Touhuan chuckled, picked up a water bottle from a nearby table, then took out a special scroll that could store chakra.
He casually drew a sealing technique formula on it, and with a bang, the water bottle vanished into thin air.
"Wow…that's amazing," Naruto exclaimed.
"Want to learn? I'll teach you," Uchiha Touhuan said with a smile. Although Uchiha Touhuan's genjutsu skills were among the worst in the Uchiha clan, his talent for sealing techniques was exceptional.
The reason was simple: when Uchiha Touhuan first encountered sealing techniques, he discovered that compared to the three experiential disciplines of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, sealing techniques were undoubtedly a much more rigorous discipline.
Moreover, almost every sealing technique could be explained mathematically. For example,
the most basic even-number sealing technique, the Ryōgi Seal, had a sealing technique formula that resembled the graph of a quadratic function.
Therefore, having received mathematical education in his previous life, Uchiha Touhuan learned sealing techniques with ease.
However, looking at Naruto's seemingly clueless expression, Uchiha Touhuan had some doubts about whether the child could actually learn these techniques.
However, whether the kid can learn it or not is another matter. Uchiha Touhuan definitely has to teach him, at least he has to teach him a few basic sealing techniques.
After all, Uchiha Touhuan intends to push Naruto out to carry the banner of the Uzumaki clan.
If the Uzumaki clan leader doesn't even know sealing techniques, it would be too ridiculous. However, as soon as Uchiha Touhuan finished speaking, Naruto's chakra suddenly became chaotic.
Crimson, violent chakra erupted from Naruto's center.
Seeing this, Uchiha Touhuan frowned, reached out and pressed Naruto's shoulder, suppressing the chakra.
At the same time, he said to Neji and Sasuke, "You two stay away."
"Is Naruto alright?" Sasuke asked worriedly.
"With me here, nothing will happen." Uchiha Touhuan said. Then, after seeing Neji pull Sasuke away, Uchiha Touhuan activated his Mangekyou Sharingan.
The eye power mixed with Sage Chakra, along with Uchiha Touhuan's spiritual power, entered Naruto's sealing space.
After entering Naruto's sealed space, Uchiha Touhuan first looked around. In a vast, water-filled space, a massive fox was firmly locked behind a huge gate.
An obscure sealing Fūinjutsu was inscribed on the gate. Naruto stood before this gate, staring at the enormous creature with a look of terror on his face.
Uchiha Touhuan walked over and gently patted Naruto's shoulder, signaling him to come to his senses, before looking up at the Nine-Tails.
Upon seeing Uchiha Touhuan, the Nine-Tails within the sealed gate suddenly roared furiously, and a gust of wind swept towards the two of them.
"Mangekyou Sharingan! U! Chi! Ha! You deserve to die!"
"Don't scare your landlord, Nine-Tails." Uchiha Touhuan's eyes narrowed, and a skeleton covered in pale gold patterns materialized out of thin air, blocking his and Naruto's path.
It slowly dissipated after the wind subsided.
"What...what is this?" Naruto asked, looking at Uchiha Touhuan after regaining his senses.
"A big guy living inside your body. This is the first time you've met, isn't it?" Uchiha Touhuan chuckled.
"He...is the Nine-Tails?" Looking at Kurama, he remembered being called "Little Demon Fox" all along.
"Naruto, you should be polite to your friends," Uchiha Touhuan said. "It's not a demon fox. It's just an unlucky guy who lost its freedom because it was too strong and someone thought it was too dangerous."
"Huh?" Naruto's eyes widened.
"Roar!" However, Kurama's roar rang out again from the other side of the seal.
"Why are you roaring so loudly?" Uchiha Touhuan glanced at Kurama. "Is it fun to scare children?"
A sharp claw stretched out from the gap in the seal, stabbing towards the two of them. However, Uchiha Touhuan watched without changing his expression as the claw stopped in front of them, unable to advance further due to the seal's restraint.
"Naruto, say hello to your friend. If nothing unexpected happens, it will be with you for life," Uchiha Touhuan said with a smile.
"Ah? Okay." Naruto nodded, then clasped his hands together, bowed, and said, "Hello, big fox, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. Nice to meet you."
Kurama was unimpressed by Naruto's greeting and roared again, "Friend? Who wants to be friends with you humans? You only covet the power of the tailed beasts!"
Naruto was startled by Kurama's sudden roar and turned to look at Uchiha Touhuan with a pitiful expression.
"Take a nap first, I'll talk to it," Uchiha Touhuan said with a smile, using his eye power to send Naruto's spirit out of the sealing space. Then, he looked up and stared at Kurama with his Mangekyou Sharingan.
"The Mangekyou Sharingan..." Kurama, behind the door, seemed somewhat wary. "What do you want? To force me to provide power to that brat using genjutsu?"
Uchiha Touhuan shook his head before speaking, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, my genjutsu skills are poor; I can't control you without harming Naruto."
"Hmph!" Kurama snorted coldly.
"However, I can still beat you up with my eye power in this space, so, could you please get along well with my disciple from now on, Mr. Kurama?"
Upon hearing this name, Kurama's enormous pupils contracted, and it violently struggled against the sealing gate, roaring, "Where did you learn this name from?"
"I can't tell you that," Uchiha Touhuan chuckled. "However, I still want to remind you, don't forget the words the Sage of Six Paths left for you tailed beasts."
...
(End of Chapter)
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