Outside Konoha Village, the scorched earth and smoke had not yet fully dissipated.
Enduring fatigue and pain, the Ninjas began to systematically clear the battlefield, treat the wounded, and extinguish the remaining fires.
The air was thick with the smell of blood, burnt remains, and a faint sadness, but more than that, there was a sense of relief from having survived a disaster.
Naruto wanted to help as well, but was stopped by Kakashi on the grounds that "you need to preserve your Chakra to deal with potential changes."
He could only scratch his head and watch the busy crowd; the golden Chakra had long since been retracted into his body, but the feeling of overflowing power and the excitement after the battle had not yet fully subsided.
At that moment, a figure landed beside him, white hair fluttering, a familiar heroic smile on his face, though a lingering worry was hidden deep in his eyes.
"Pervy Sage!" Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Yo, Naruto!" Jiraiya patted his shoulder with considerable force.
"Not bad, kid! Those moves just now even gave me a fright."
His tone seemed relaxed, but his gaze was like a searchlight, carefully observing Naruto as if trying to see right through him.
"However, now is not the time for this. The Third Hokage wants to see you. Come with me."
"Grandpa Third? Now?" Naruto was a bit surprised, but seeing the solemnity in Jiraiya's expression, he nodded. "Oh, okay."
The two of them, one after the other, quickly passed through the busy crowd and the partially damaged Village walls, heading toward the Hokage Building.
Along the way, many Ninjas cast surprised and curious, even slightly reverent looks at Naruto; his brilliant performance on the battlefield just now had left an indelible impression on everyone.
Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window with his back to the door, looking out at the area outside the Village where a few pillars of smoke could still be seen.
Hearing Jiraiya enter, he slowly turned around.
Naruto followed Jiraiya into the office and noticed that the familiar wrinkles on the Third Hokage's face seemed to have deepened.
"Grandpa Third, you were looking for me?" Naruto stood still, somewhat confused.
Hiruzen Sarutobi scrutinized Naruto; the youth before him was indeed different. His posture was more upright, his eyes had less of the past's flighty restlessness and more of a settled determination. His entire being had undergone a qualitative change.
"Naruto," the Third's voice was low and gentle, yet carried an unquestionable tone of inquiry.
"Everyone saw your performance on the battlefield. You successfully pinned down the strongest enemy and protected your comrades. This is very good, but..."
He paused. "This brand-new, powerful Chakra in you, and your near-perfect control over it—how did you achieve this in such a short time? Even with Jiraiya taking you to cultivate as an immortal, it shouldn't have directly brought about a change of this magnitude."
Jiraiya also crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, signaling Naruto with his eyes.
"The Old Man is right. Even I didn't expect you to be able to control the Nine-Tailed's power to this extent. Good job, kid."
Being stared at by the two men's serious gazes, Naruto felt a bit uncomfortable, but he felt more of the excitement of sharing his progress and a tiny bit of pride.
He grinned, revealing his signature bright smile, and waved his hand.
(Hey! Naruto...)
Minato saw things going south and tried to speak up to warn him, but it was a bit too late.
"Haha, this! It really wasn't because of my training with the Pervy Sage!" Naruto said enthusiastically, his tone as casual as if he were discussing what he had for dinner. "Hinata helped me out big time!"
(Minato facepalmed and sighed silently: This child...)
(Kushina covered her face with her hand: Stupid son! How can you reveal the person who helped you so easily at a time like this!)
"Hinata? Hyuga Hinata?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, and Jiraiya straightened up, a look of surprise appearing on his face.
Why her again?
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded vigorously, completely unaware that he might be causing trouble for Hinata, and totally failing to notice the suspicion, deep thought, and wariness flashing in the eyes of the two elders before him.
Hyuga Hinata... she actually knew how to let Naruto control the Nine-Tailed?
Just how much more did she know? And what was her objective?
Hiruzen and Jiraiya exchanged a look. Naruto's unreserved, even proactive "leak" of information actually lessened their suspicions slightly—if Hyuga Hinata truly had an ulterior motive, she would have told Naruto to keep it strictly confidential instead of letting it be "slipped" out so easily. However, the source of her abilities and knowledge remained a massive mystery.
(Naruto! How can you just tell people like that?)
Kushina spoke with a hint of anger. Naruto only then realized what happened, froze for a second, and then broke into a cold sweat.
"Uh... Eh! Was I not supposed to say that?!" Naruto quickly covered his mouth.
Looking at Naruto like this, Jiraiya's mouth twitched.
"Cough, it's fine. Don't worry, we'll keep it a secret." Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed, temporarily suppressing the turmoil in his heart as his face returned to a kind expression.
"Naruto, you've done well. Being able to get help from a comrade and turn that power to your own use is very good. You go back and get some rest first. The Village will investigate today's events further."
"Um... okay then." Naruto replied loudly, then looked at Jiraiya. "Pervy Sage, I'm heading out first!"
"Go on, go on. Get some good rest." Jiraiya waved him off.
Naruto turned and left. Hiruzen Sarutobi walked silently back behind his desk, slowly sat down, relit his pipe, took a deep puff, and exhaled a curl of blue smoke.
"Jiraiya, what do you think?" His voice was low.
Jiraiya's expression also turned serious as he stroked his chin.
"Incredible, yet it seems to make sense. That girl started showing her strength early on; it doesn't seem completely impossible that she could help Naruto."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a while before speaking.
"Regardless, Naruto being able to initially control the Nine-Tailed's power is a good thing for Konoha. Konoha now possesses a reliable and powerful combat force, which is enough to deter many small-time troublemakers."
Jiraiya nodded. "Though Naruto had outside help to reach this step, it mostly relied on his own will and persistence. If Minato and Kushina knew, they would be relieved."
At the mention of his deceased Disciple and daughter-in-law, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes softened for a moment, but were quickly replaced by the considerations of reality.
"Yes, the spark they left behind has finally truly begun to burn. It's just that how long this flame can burn and how far it can illuminate still requires us old guys to look after it properly."
The two fell into a brief silence, each pondering the potential future storms and countermeasures.
Inside Naruto's body, Minato and Kushina's Chakra consciousness silently "watched" everything happening outside.
(Minato smiled gently and helplessly: Naruto is still the same, he hasn't changed a bit. But, that's fine too.)
Kushina was both angry and amused.
(That idiot son! He almost sold us out too! But... it feels like Jiraiya and the Third have aged so much...)
Minato sighed softly.
(Yes, time passes so quickly.)
Kushina leaned against her husband, a warm yet slightly sad expression on her face.
(But our Naruto is growing up, and we can witness it with our own eyes. That's enough.)
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