Beyond the Veil of Chakra: The Celestial Heir

The night Naruto Uzumaki was born should have been remembered for the brutal attack of the Nine-Tailed Fox. It should have been remembered for the heroic sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage and his wife. It should have been remembered as the night a village lost its leaders and gained a jinchūriki.

What no one knew—what no one could possibly comprehend—was that another visitor came to Konoha that night.

As the beast raged and ninja fell, a figure suspended in air watched from above the chaos. His blue skin caught moonlight in strange ways. His white hair stood in a perfect coif that defied the howling winds. His eyes, deep and thoughtful, assessed the primitive world with mild interest.

Daishinkan, the Grand Priest, attendant to Omni-King Zeno and the most powerful being in the multiverse, had come with purpose.

Zeno had grown...bored. The Omni-King's fickle nature had already led to the erasure of six universes in a tantrum. Now, the childlike deity with the power to erase existence with a thought was seeking something new—a successor. Not an immediate replacement, but a being who could one day stand on equal footing, who could understand the responsibility of absolute power.

And so Daishinkan had searched across realities, dimensions, and possibilities.

The boy born tonight had potential beyond what this primitive chakra-wielding dimension could imagine. A blank slate with a power sealed inside him that, while impressive for this world, was merely a starting point. The child would be neglected, scorned, desperate for acknowledgment—perfect clay to mold.

As the Nine-Tails was sealed inside the infant Naruto, Daishinkan descended, touching down on the battlefield without disturbing a single blade of grass. With a tap of his staff, time froze. The Grand Priest approached the dying Fourth Hokage, who was suspended in his final moment, arms outstretched toward his newborn son.

"Your sacrifice is noted," Daishinkan said simply, though no one could hear. "Your child will become something beyond your comprehension."

He placed a finger on the infant's forehead, establishing a connection that would transcend dimensions. Then, with another tap of his staff, time resumed. Daishinkan vanished, leaving no trace of his presence as the final act of the sealing completed.

The Grand Priest returned to Zeno's palace, between all realities.

"Is it done?" asked one of the childlike Zenos, bouncing excitedly.

"Yes, my lord," Daishinkan bowed. "The connection is established. The boy will grow, and when the time is right, I will begin his training."

"How long?" demanded the other Zeno impatiently.

"Patience, my lord," Daishinkan smiled mysteriously. "We have eternity, after all. And the results will be worth the wait."

Naruto Uzumaki, age six, ran through the streets of Konoha, his orange jacket a blur against the afternoon sun. Behind him, two chunin shouted accusations about graffiti on the Hokage Monument—accusations that, for once, were unfounded. Naruto hadn't pulled any pranks today. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, as usual.

He ducked into an alley, chest heaving, pressing himself against the wall as the ninja ran past. When their footsteps faded, he slumped to the ground.

"Why do they always blame me?" he whispered, hugging his knees to his chest. "I didn't even do anything this time."

"Because they fear what they do not understand."

Naruto jumped to his feet, wild-eyed. "Who said that?!"

The alley was empty.

"They cannot hear me, child. Only you can."

The voice was refined, cultured, speaking directly into Naruto's mind with perfect clarity.

"Great, now I'm hearing things," Naruto muttered, pressing his hands against his temples.

"You are not imagining me, Naruto Uzumaki. I have been watching you since the moment of your birth. My name is Daishinkan, though you may call me Grand Priest. I come from beyond your world, beyond your comprehension, and I have chosen you."

Naruto blinked, face scrunching in confusion. "Chosen me for what?"

"To become something greater than anyone in your world could imagine. Tonight, when you sleep, you will meet me. For now, return to your apartment. We have much to discuss, and much work ahead of us."

The voice faded. Naruto stood in the alley, wondering if he'd finally cracked under the weight of the village's hatred. Still, anything was better than another afternoon of being chased and blamed for things he hadn't done.

With a shrug, he headed home to his empty apartment.

That night, Naruto fell asleep on his lumpy mattress, the day's events swirling in his mind. The voice hadn't returned, and he'd almost convinced himself he'd imagined it.

Then he opened his eyes to find himself standing on an infinite crystalline surface. Above him, stars and galaxies swirled in patterns he'd never seen before. Before him stood a being unlike any he'd encountered.

Blue-skinned with white hair that defied gravity, dressed in elegant robes, holding a tall staff, the figure regarded Naruto with a serene smile.

"Welcome, Naruto Uzumaki," Daishinkan said, his voice the same one Naruto had heard in his mind. "Your training begins now."

Naruto gaped. "What—where am I? What is this place?"

"This is a mental construct, a bridge between your world and mine," Daishinkan explained, tapping his staff once on the crystal floor. The space around them shifted, revealing glimpses of planets, stars, beings with power that made Naruto's breath catch.

"Your world is but one small reality in an infinite multiverse. What you call chakra is merely one expression of the energy that flows through all things. I am Daishinkan, the Grand Priest, attendant to Omni-King Zeno, the ruler of all realities."

Naruto's young mind struggled to comprehend what he was being told. "Why me? I'm nobody. Everyone in the village hates me."

"That is precisely why you were chosen," Daishinkan replied, his expression unchanging. "You are a blank canvas, unknown even to yourself. The creature sealed within you gives you a unique potential, but it is merely the beginning."

"Creature? What creature?" Naruto asked, suddenly afraid.

Daishinkan waved his hand, and an image appeared before them—a massive fox with nine tails, sealed behind gates within what Naruto somehow knew was his own body.

"The Nine-Tailed Fox, a being of considerable power in your world, was sealed within you at birth. It is why the villagers fear you, though they do not explain this to you. They see only the beast, not the child."

Naruto felt his knees go weak. Everything suddenly made terrible sense—the whispers, the cold stares, the parents pulling their children away from him.

"I'm... a monster?"

"No," Daishinkan said firmly. "You are a vessel. There is a difference. And soon, you will be much more than that." He approached Naruto, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "The Nine-Tails is nothing compared to what you will become under my tutelage."

"What will I become?" Naruto asked, his voice small.

"The successor to the most powerful being in existence," Daishinkan replied simply. "Every night, while your physical body sleeps, your consciousness will come here. I will train you in powers beyond your world's understanding. During the day, you will return to your life in Konoha, keeping our arrangement secret."

"Why secret?"

"Your world is not ready for what you will become," Daishinkan said. "Moreover, the journey to power requires hardship. The neglect you face will fuel your determination. The isolation will focus your mind. The struggle will strengthen your spirit."

Naruto frowned. "So I'll still be alone? Still hated?"

"For now," Daishinkan nodded. "But remember, Naruto—what happens in your village is temporary. The power I offer is eternal."

The Grand Priest raised his staff, and energy like nothing Naruto had ever felt began to flow around them.

"Tonight, we begin with the fundamental understanding of ki—the life energy that exists beyond your world's concept of chakra. When you master this, your first step toward transcendence will be complete."

Naruto, overwhelmed but intrigued, nodded. For the first time in his short life, someone was acknowledging him, teaching him, seeing him as something other than a nuisance or a monster.

Even if that someone came from beyond the stars.

Three years passed in Konoha. To anyone watching, Naruto Uzumaki remained the same troublemaking orphan—perhaps a bit quieter at times, sometimes caught staring into space with an unnervingly focused expression, but still the village pariah.

His pranks continued, though with more calculation behind them. His academy performance remained abysmal, failing tests and struggling with the most basic jutsu. Instructors wrote him off as hopeless. Fellow students avoided him. The cycle of neglect continued unabated.

What no one saw—what no one could possibly comprehend—was Naruto's other existence.

Every night for three years, his consciousness had traveled to train with Daishinkan. Time flowed differently in the mental construct between worlds. Three years in Konoha had been nearly thirty years of training with the Grand Priest.

Naruto had learned to separate his existence into compartments. The loud, obnoxious academy student by day; the dedicated disciple by night. He had mastered ki manipulation beyond what any being in his dimension could fathom. He had learned to move between dimensions in short bursts. He had begun to comprehend the vast multiverse and his potential place within it.

But tonight was different.

Nine-year-old Naruto sat cross-legged across from Daishinkan in their training space, which had become as familiar to him as his own apartment.

"You have mastered the basics of ki manipulation far faster than I anticipated," Daishinkan said, his eternal smile unchanged after years of training. "Tonight, we move to something more complex. Tonight, we address the Nine-Tails."

Naruto tilted his head. "I thought you said the fox was insignificant compared to what I'd become."

"In terms of raw power, yes," Daishinkan nodded. "But it remains a unique energy source that, if properly harnessed, can accelerate your development. Furthermore, its presence within you creates... complications we must resolve."

With a tap of his staff, their surroundings shifted to the familiar sewer-like mental landscape where the Nine-Tails was caged.

The massive fox glared down at them, red eyes burning with hatred. Its claws scraped against the cage bars.

"YOU," it growled, not at Naruto, but at Daishinkan. "I HAVE SENSED YOUR INTERFERENCE WITH MY VESSEL. YOU ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD."

"Indeed," Daishinkan replied calmly. "I am Daishinkan, Grand Priest to Omni-King Zeno."

The fox's eyes widened in genuine shock, then narrowed in calculation. "I KNOW OF THESE NAMES FROM ANCIENT LEGENDS. WHY WOULD BEINGS OF YOUR STATURE CONCERN YOURSELVES WITH THIS INSIGNIFICANT DIMENSION?"

"All dimensions are significant in their own way," Daishinkan said diplomatically. "But we are here to discuss terms, Nine-Tails."

"TERMS?" The fox laughed, a booming sound that echoed through the chamber. "I AM IMPRISONED HERE. WHAT TERMS COULD YOU POSSIBLY OFFER?"

"Freedom," Naruto spoke up, surprising both the fox and Daishinkan. "Not complete freedom, but a better arrangement than this cage."

The Nine-Tails' attention snapped to Naruto. "EXPLAIN, WHELP."

Naruto looked to Daishinkan, who nodded encouragingly.

"I've learned that the seal that holds you was designed to gradually mix our chakra," Naruto explained. "Eventually, you would be absorbed into me completely. But there's another way. If you cooperate, lend me your power willingly when I need it, I can modify the seal to give you more... space. Awareness of the outside world. Less isolation."

The fox stared at Naruto for a long moment. "AND WHY WOULD YOU OFFER THIS? YOU ARE MY JAILER."

"Because I know what it's like to be locked away and hated," Naruto replied simply. "And because I'm going to need allies where I'm going."

"AND WHERE IS THAT?"

Naruto exchanged a look with Daishinkan before answering. "Beyond anything you've imagined, Nine-Tails. Beyond this world, beyond this dimension."

The fox was silent, considering. Finally, it let out a rumbling sigh. "MY NAME IS KURAMA, VESSEL. IF WE ARE TO BE... ALLIES... THEN USE IT."

Naruto smiled. "Kurama, then."

Daishinkan stepped forward. "The modification of the seal will take time and precision. It must appear unchanged to anyone who might examine it in your world, Naruto, while functioning differently internally. We will begin the process tonight, but it will take several sessions to complete."

As they worked on the seal, Kurama watched with growing interest. For a being as old as the fox, the opportunity to witness power from beyond dimensions was unprecedented. Perhaps this arrangement would prove more interesting than its previous imprisonments.

For Naruto, it was another step on the path Daishinkan had laid out for him—a path leading him further from humanity and closer to something beyond comprehension.

The next day at the Academy, Iruka-sensei was explaining transformation jutsu for what seemed like the hundredth time. Naruto sat at the back of the classroom, appearing to daydream, but actually calculating the precise energy requirements to transport his physical body between dimensions based on formulas Daishinkan had taught him the night before.

"Naruto!" Iruka's sharp voice cut through his thoughts. "Since you clearly don't need to pay attention, perhaps you'd like to demonstrate the transformation technique for the class?"

Snickers rippled through the room. Everyone knew Naruto couldn't perform even basic jutsu properly.

Naruto sighed internally. His training with Daishinkan had given him perfect control over his energy, but he had to maintain his facade of incompetence. Too much ability too suddenly would raise questions he couldn't answer.

He shuffled to the front of the class and deliberately formed the hand signs incorrectly, resulting in a puff of smoke that revealed a malformed, bloated version of the Third Hokage.

More laughter. Iruka's disappointed head shake.

"See me after class, Naruto," the teacher sighed.

As Naruto returned to his seat, he caught Sasuke Uchiha watching him with narrowed eyes. Unlike the others, Sasuke wasn't laughing. He was studying Naruto with something approaching suspicion.

Naruto looked away quickly. Sasuke was too observant. He'd have to be more careful around the Uchiha prodigy.

After class, Iruka lectured him about applying himself, about his potential, about how he could be a fine ninja if he just tried harder. Naruto nodded in all the right places, playing the role of the chastened student while his mind worked on calculations for interstellar travel.

"Are you even listening to me?" Iruka finally demanded.

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto grinned his practiced fool's grin. "Try harder, apply myself, believe it!"

Iruka sighed and dismissed him. As Naruto left the Academy, he sensed a presence following him—Sasuke, keeping his distance but definitely tracking him.

This was a problem. Naruto needed privacy for what he had planned tonight.

With practiced ease, he created a shadow clone—a technique he'd mastered years ago with Daishinkan but pretended to struggle with in class. The clone took off running in one direction, while Naruto slipped down an alley and onto the rooftops.

Once certain he'd lost his pursuer, Naruto made his way to a secluded training ground deep in the forest surrounding Konoha. Daishinkan had instructed him to attempt his first conscious, physical dimensional shift tonight, rather than the mental projection he used during sleep.

The sun set. Stars appeared. Naruto sat in meditation, gathering his ki, separating it from his chakra, focusing it precisely as the Grand Priest had taught him.

The air around him began to shimmer. Reality itself seemed to bend. Naruto felt his body lighten, becoming energy rather than matter, ready to slip between the fabric of dimensions.

Then a voice shattered his concentration.

"What are you doing, loser?"

Sasuke Uchiha stepped from the shadows, arms crossed, eyes suspicious.

The dimensional energy collapsed around Naruto with an audible snap. He nearly growled in frustration.

"Nothing," he muttered. "Just meditating."

"That wasn't meditation," Sasuke said flatly. "The air was bending. There was light coming from nowhere. What jutsu was that?"

"It wasn't a jutsu," Naruto sighed, standing up and brushing dirt from his pants. "Look, Sasuke, go back to the village. This doesn't concern you."

"Is it something to do with why you pretend to be bad at everything?" Sasuke pressed, stepping closer. "I've been watching you. You deliberately mess up techniques. You know the answers in class but give wrong ones. Why?"

Naruto's eyes widened slightly. Sasuke was more perceptive than he'd realized.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Naruto tried, backing away.

"Yes, you do," Sasuke insisted. "And I want to know why. Is someone training you secretly? Is it why you disappear sometimes? Why you look different when you think no one's watching?"

Naruto weighed his options. Daishinkan had warned him against revealing his training to anyone, but Sasuke was unlikely to back down now. Perhaps a half-truth would satisfy him.

"I have... a condition," Naruto said carefully. "Sometimes I need to come out here to control it. It's related to—" he almost said 'the Nine-Tails' but caught himself, "—to something that happened when I was born. The adults know about it. It's why they treat me the way they do."

Sasuke studied him for a long moment. "You're lying. Not completely, but partly."

Naruto sighed. Uchihas and their perceptiveness. "Look, Sasuke, there are things about me that have to stay secret. For everyone's safety. Including yours. Please, just forget what you saw tonight."

"Show me," Sasuke demanded suddenly.

"What?"

"Show me what you were doing. The real you, not the idiot you pretend to be."

Naruto hesitated. Then, making a decision he hoped wouldn't come back to haunt him, he let a fraction of his ki energy surface. A faint blue-white aura surrounded him, lifting his hair slightly, making his eyes glow with internal light. Small rocks around his feet began to float.

Sasuke stepped back, genuinely startled. "That's not chakra."

"No," Naruto agreed. "It's not."

"What is it?"

"Something beyond this world," Naruto said, allowing the energy to fade. "Something I can't explain to you right now. But Sasuke, this has to stay between us. The adults wouldn't understand."

Sasuke was silent for a long moment, processing. Finally, he gave a curt nod.

"One condition," he said. "Spar with me sometime. The real you, not the dead-last act. I want to know what I'm really up against."

Naruto considered this. A controlled spar could be useful, actually. It would let him gauge how his training translated to physical combat in this world.

"Deal," he said. "But not right away. I need time."

Sasuke nodded again and turned to leave. At the edge of the clearing, he paused.

"Whatever you're hiding, Naruto, it must be powerful for you to keep it secret all this time. Just make sure it doesn't consume you like..." He trailed off, but Naruto knew he was thinking of his brother, Itachi.

"It won't," Naruto promised, though privately, he wasn't entirely sure.

After Sasuke left, Naruto abandoned his attempt at dimensional travel. His concentration was broken, and dawn wasn't far off. He would try again another night.

As he headed back to the village, he wondered if he'd made a mistake in revealing even that small glimpse of his power to Sasuke. Daishinkan would not be pleased.

But then again, perhaps having one person who knew part of the truth might be useful. Every successor needed witnesses to their ascension, after all.

Daishinkan was indeed displeased when Naruto reported what had happened with Sasuke.

"The Uchiha boy is sharper than anticipated," the Grand Priest mused as they stood in their usual training space. "This could complicate matters."

"I didn't tell him everything," Naruto pointed out. "Just showed him a little ki manipulation."

"Even that is more than anyone in your world should witness at this stage," Daishinkan replied, his voice carrying a rare note of disapproval. "Your transition must appear natural, even as it becomes increasingly extraordinary. Too many questions too soon could jeopardize our timeline."

Naruto nodded, feeling appropriately chastised. "What should I do about Sasuke now?"

Daishinkan considered for a moment. "Use this to your advantage. The boy has offered you a chance to test your abilities in combat. Accept his challenge, but restrain yourself significantly. Make it appear as though you are merely somewhat more skilled than your academy persona suggests—not the dimensional traveler you are becoming."

"And if he asks more questions?"

"Feed him half-truths. Let him believe you have a kekkei genkai or secret training. His own obsession with gaining power to defeat his brother will fill in the blanks with what he expects to see."

Naruto wasn't entirely comfortable with manipulating Sasuke this way, but he understood the necessity. His path was diverging from this world's, becoming something no one here could comprehend.

"Now," Daishinkan continued, tapping his staff on the crystal floor, "we must accelerate certain aspects of your training to compensate for this complication. Today, we begin your instruction in Instantaneous Movement."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You mean like the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God technique?"

Daishinkan smiled faintly. "That technique, impressive as it may be in your world, is merely teleportation between pre-marked locations. What I will teach you transcends space itself, requiring no markers, allowing movement anywhere in the multiverse instantaneously."

For the remainder of the night, Naruto immersed himself in the principles of true Instantaneous Movement, temporarily pushing aside concerns about Sasuke and his double life in Konoha.

The next day, after Academy classes, Naruto met Sasuke at the agreed-upon training ground. The Uchiha was already there, warming up with precision strikes against a training post.

"I was starting to think you'd chickened out," Sasuke said without turning.

"Just had to make sure no one followed us," Naruto replied, dropping his usual boisterous demeanor. "We don't need an audience for this."

Sasuke finally turned to face him, activating his Sharingan without hand signs—a sign of his growing mastery. "No holding back, remember? I want to see what you're really capable of."

Naruto nodded, settling into a fighting stance unlike any taught at the Academy—one of the many martial art forms Daishinkan had drilled into him over years of training. "I won't use the energy you saw before. Just taijutsu and normal jutsu. That's fair?"

"For now," Sasuke agreed, his eyes narrowing at Naruto's unfamiliar stance.

They launched at each other simultaneously. Sasuke moved with the elite precision the village expected from the last loyal Uchiha. Naruto moved with the calculated efficiency of someone trained by a being beyond dimensions.

Sasuke's first punch was caught, his kick blocked, his follow-up grapple reversed. He found himself thrown ten feet before he could register what had happened. His Sharingan had seen it all, but his body couldn't keep up with the speed.

"What the—" He barely had time to exclaim before Naruto was on him again, moving with fluid grace that made the Academy's taijutsu forms look like children's play.

Sasuke managed to block a few strikes through sheer talent and the predictive ability of his Sharingan, but it was clear who had the upper hand. After five minutes of increasingly one-sided combat, Naruto stepped back, not even breathing hard.

"Enough," he said. "I think you get the idea."

Sasuke got to his feet, bruised but more intrigued than angry. "That wasn't any taijutsu style taught in Konoha. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"I told you, there are things about me I can't explain yet," Naruto replied. "But you wanted to see what I'm really capable of. This isn't even close to my full ability, Sasuke."

The Uchiha wiped blood from a split lip. "Why hide it? You could be at the top of the class. You could be acknowledged."

Naruto's expression darkened slightly. "Acknowledgment from the village stopped mattering to me a long time ago. I have... different goals now."

"What goals?"

"Nothing you would understand," Naruto said, then softened his tone. "Not yet, anyway."

Sasuke studied him with those penetrating Sharingan eyes. "You're not just training to become Hokage anymore, are you?"

Naruto actually laughed at that—a short, sharp sound devoid of his usual humor. "Hokage? That dream belongs to a child who desperately wanted the village to see him. I've moved beyond that."

"Then what do you want?"

Naruto looked up at the sky, suddenly aware that it was only one sky over one world in an infinite multiverse. "Something bigger," he said softly. "Something beyond this world entirely."

Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan, regarding Naruto with new respect and wariness. "You're going to leave the village."

It wasn't a question.

"Eventually," Naruto admitted. "But not yet. I still have reasons to stay, things to learn here."

They stood in silence for a moment, two boys carrying burdens far beyond their years, each following a path that would lead them away from the normal lives they might have had.

"We should spar again," Sasuke finally said. "Regularly. It will help us both improve."

Naruto recognized the offer for what it was—not just training, but a tenuous friendship between two isolated souls. Despite Daishinkan's warnings about attachments, he found himself nodding.

"I'd like that."

As they parted ways, Naruto couldn't help but wonder how much of his humanity he would retain as his training progressed. He was becoming something other than human, yet these connections—complicated as they were—still meant something to him.

Would Zeno's successor need to abandon such attachments entirely? Or could these remnants of his human life serve some purpose in the cosmic role that awaited him?

These were questions for Daishinkan, questions that would shape the next phase of his extraordinary journey.

Over the following year, Naruto maintained his careful balancing act. To the village, he remained the troublemaking failure, though with subtle improvements that could be attributed to maturation. To Sasuke, during their clandestine training sessions, he revealed carefully measured increases in ability—enough to keep the Uchiha motivated without exposing the true extent of his power.

And to Daishinkan, in the infinite space between dimensions, he continued his transformation into something beyond human comprehension.

The modifications to Kurama's seal had been completed. The Nine-Tails now existed in a more comfortable mental landscape within Naruto—not complete freedom, but a vast improvement over the original sewer-like cage. In return, Kurama had begun sharing knowledge of the ancient world, insights into chakra manipulation that complemented Naruto's growing mastery of ki and other cosmic energies.

It was a partnership neither had anticipated, but one that served both their interests.

As Naruto approached his final year at the Academy, Daishinkan introduced a new element to his training.

"Tonight," the Grand Priest announced, "you will meet Lord Zeno."

Naruto nearly lost his composure—something that rarely happened after years of Daishinkan's rigorous mental discipline. "The Omni-King? Tonight? I'm not ready!"

"None are ever truly 'ready' to meet Lord Zeno," Daishinkan replied with his perpetual serene smile. "But he has expressed curiosity about your progress, and one does not deny the Omni-King's curiosity."

With a tap of his staff, their training space dissolved, reforming into an ornate chamber of impossible geometry. Pillars that simultaneously reached infinitely upward and curved in on themselves supported a ceiling that wasn't there. The floor beneath them sparkled with galaxies.

And on a floating throne at the chamber's center sat a small, childlike figure with purple and blue skin. Beside him floated an identical being. The two Zenos, identical yet individual, regarded Naruto with wide, curious eyes.

"Is this him?" they asked in perfect unison, their voices high and childlike, belying the incomprehensible power they wielded.

Daishinkan bowed deeply. "Yes, my lords. This is Naruto Uzumaki, from dimension NBSU-616."

Naruto, following Daishinkan's example, bowed even lower. "It's an honor, Lord Zeno."

The twin Omni-Kings tilted their heads in synchronized curiosity. "He doesn't look special," said one.

"No, not special at all," agreed the other.

"He's still mostly human," Daishinkan explained patiently. "His transformation is a gradual process, as we discussed."

"Show us something," demanded the first Zeno, waving a small hand.

"Yes, show us!" echoed the second.

Naruto looked to Daishinkan, who gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto gathered his ki, letting it spiral around his body in luminous blue-white waves. Then, reaching deeper, he drew on Kurama's chakra, mixing the fox's fiery red energy with his cosmic ki. The energies should have been incompatible, but Naruto had learned to harmonize them, creating a purple-tinged aura of power that made the air crackle.

Finally, he added the third element Daishinkan had taught him—Destruction Energy, the power wielded by Gods of Destruction across the multiverse. Black lightning crackled through the purple aura, creating a display of power that would have leveled mountains in his home dimension.

The Zenos clapped their hands in delight. "Pretty! Pretty!"

"He combines energies well," observed the first.

"Very well," agreed the second. "But is he fun?"

Naruto blinked, letting his aura subside. "Fun?"

The Zenos nodded vigorously. "We get bored easily," explained one.

"Very bored," emphasized the other. "When we're bored, we erase things."

"Whole universes sometimes," they finished together, smiling innocently.

A chill ran down Naruto's spine. Daishinkan had explained the Omni-Kings' capricious nature, but hearing them casually discuss universal erasure was disturbing.

"What... what sort of fun do you enjoy, Lord Zeno?" Naruto asked carefully.

The Zenos pondered this. "Games," said one.

"Tournaments," said the other.

"Seeing strong people fight each other!" they exclaimed together.

Naruto thought quickly. "In my world, we have competitions called Chunin Exams, where young ninja battle to achieve higher rank. They showcase strategy, power, and skill."

The Zenos leaned forward with interest. "Would you win your Chunin Exam?"

Naruto considered the question. With his current abilities, he could easily destroy any genin or chunin opponent. But that wasn't the point of his cover in Konoha.

"I could," he said honestly, "but I won't. I'm hiding my true power until the time is right."

"Like a secret identity?" asked one Zeno excitedly.

"Yes, exactly," Naruto nodded. "I pretend to be weaker than I am, which makes it more surprising when I reveal my strength."

The Zenos found this concept delightful. "A tournament with secret identities!" they declared. "We should have one someday!"

Daishinkan, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "Perhaps when Naruto's training is further along, he could help organize such an event for your entertainment, my lords."

"Yes!" The Zenos bounced on their throne. "We like this! Naruto will make tournaments!"

"If it pleases you, my lords," Naruto bowed again, relieved that he'd managed to entertain the capricious deities.

The Zenos suddenly appeared directly in front of Naruto, having moved faster than even his enhanced senses could track. They reached out small hands to touch his face, their eyes wide with childlike wonder.

"You still feel human," observed one, poking Naruto's cheek.

"But something else too," noted the other, tapping Naruto's forehead. "Something is changing inside."

Naruto remained perfectly still, aware that these childlike beings could erase him from existence with a thought. Their touch was neither warm nor cold, but seemed to vibrate at a frequency beyond physical sensation.

"Can he erase things yet?" asked the first Zeno, looking to Daishinkan.

"Not yet, my lord," the Grand Priest replied. "That power will come much later, when his transformation is further advanced."

"We want to see him erase something," the Zenos said together, their voices taking on a slightly petulant tone.

Daishinkan bowed. "In time, my lords. His mortal form cannot yet channel such power safely. But perhaps a demonstration of his current progress would be entertaining?"

The Zenos withdrew their hands from Naruto's face and floated back to their throne, nodding eagerly.

Daishinkan turned to Naruto. "You may demonstrate the Instantaneous Movement technique we've been practicing."

Naruto nodded, focusing his energy. This technique was still difficult for him, requiring precise calculation and energy control. Taking a deep breath, he visualized a location on the other side of the vast chamber, felt for its unique energy signature in the fabric of space-time, and—

He vanished, reappearing exactly where he'd intended, having traversed the impossible distance without moving through the intervening space.

The Zenos clapped in delight. "Again! Again!"

For the next few minutes, Naruto demonstrated increasingly complex maneuvers—appearing in multiple locations in rapid succession, briefly phasing between dimensions, even manipulating small objects from a distance through precisely controlled ki.

Finally, Daishinkan raised a hand, signaling him to stop. "That is enough for today, I believe. Lord Zeno, are you satisfied with the candidate's progress?"

The twin Omni-Kings nodded enthusiastically. "He's interesting!"

"Very interesting!"

"We want to see him again when he's stronger!"

Daishinkan bowed. "Of course, my lords. We shall continue his training with renewed dedication."

The childlike deities waved their hands in dismissal, already turning their attention to some cosmic game visible only to them. Daishinkan tapped his staff, and the throne room dissolved around Naruto, returning him to their familiar training space.

"You did well," the Grand Priest said, his voice betraying a hint of relief. "Lord Zeno is... unpredictable. His favor is essential to our plans."

Naruto let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "They're exactly as you described them. All that power in such... childlike beings."

"Hence the need for a successor with a different perspective," Daishinkan nodded. "One who understands mortal struggle and growth, yet can wield cosmic power responsibly."

"Am I really capable of that?" Naruto asked, a rare moment of doubt slipping through his disciplined mind. "Becoming what they are?"

"Not what they are," Daishinkan corrected. "Something new. A bridge between mortal understanding and divine power. That is why your time in Konoha remains important, despite its limitations. Your humanity is not a weakness to be discarded, but a foundation upon which we build something unprecedented."

Naruto nodded, processing this. "How much longer will I need to maintain my cover in the village?"

"Until after your Chunin Exams, at minimum," Daishinkan replied. "Those trials will provide a controlled environment to begin revealing small portions of your power, establishing a precedent for your growth that will seem extraordinary but not impossible within your world's understanding."

"And after that?"

"After that," Daishinkan's eyes gleamed, "your true ascension begins."

The day of Academy graduation arrived with perfect spring weather in Konoha. Students filed into the classroom buzzing with excitement, their years of preparation culminating in today's final exams.

Naruto entered last, maintaining his persona of the underachieving troublemaker right up to the end. He took his usual seat at the back, ignoring the dismissive glances from most of his classmates. Only Sasuke, cool and collected as always, regarded him with knowing eyes. Their secret training sessions had continued over the past year, though Naruto had been increasingly careful about how much ability he revealed.

Iruka-sensei entered, clipboard in hand. "Today's final exam will test your ability to perform the Clone Jutsu," he announced. "When your name is called, proceed to the examination room."

Naruto suppressed a sigh. The Clone Jutsu—basic, simple, and the one technique he'd been deliberately failing at for years. In truth, he could create shadow clones that would make jonin envious, but his cover required one last failure.

Names were called. Students returned with newly-minted headbands. Sasuke, of course, performed flawlessly.

Finally: "Naruto Uzumaki."

He shuffled into the examination room where Iruka and Mizuki waited behind a table. The plan was set. He would fail here, then allow Mizuki to manipulate him into stealing the Forbidden Scroll tonight. Daishinkan had foreseen this event as a perfect opportunity to begin the controlled revelation of Naruto's powers while maintaining his cover story.

Naruto formed the hand signs sloppily, channeled chakra inefficiently, and produced a single sickly clone that dissolved almost immediately.

"Fail," Iruka said, genuine disappointment in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Naruto."

Mizuki, as expected, offered a sympathetic smile with predatory eyes. "Iruka-sensei, perhaps we could make an exception. He's tried so hard..."

"The rules apply to everyone," Iruka replied firmly. "I cannot pass him."

Naruto hung his head, playing the dejected failure perfectly, and left the room without his headband. Outside, he avoided the celebrating graduates and their proud parents, making his way to the familiar swing beneath the tree. There he sat, alone, keeping to the script that Daishinkan had helped him craft.

Right on cue, Mizuki approached as the sun began to set, offering false sympathy and the bait: a special way to graduate despite his failure.

"If you can learn just one jutsu from the Forbidden Scroll," Mizuki said in a conspiratorial whisper, "Iruka will have to pass you. It's a secret test for exceptional cases."

Naruto feigned eager excitement. "Really? Where do I find this scroll?"

As Mizuki explained the scroll's location in the Hokage's residence and the meeting point in the forest, Naruto nodded enthusiastically while mentally mapping out how the night would unfold. This deception felt increasingly hollow—manipulating well-meaning people like Iruka while pretending to be manipulated by traitors like Mizuki.

"YOU'VE BECOME QUITE THE ACTOR," Kurama commented in his mind, the fox's voice tinged with amusement. "THESE HUMANS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WALKS AMONG THEM."

'A necessary deception,' Naruto replied internally. 'After tonight, things begin to change.'

Hours later, Naruto sat in the forest clearing with the massive Forbidden Scroll open before him, pretending to study its contents while actually communing with Daishinkan in a partial meditative state.

'The Third Hokage allowed me to take the scroll easily, just as you predicted,' Naruto reported mentally. 'He knows someone is manipulating me and wants to see how it plays out.'

"As expected," Daishinkan's voice replied in his mind. "The old man is wiser than most in your village. Remember, tonight you must reveal your ability with Shadow Clones, but nothing more. It provides a perfect cover for your abilities moving forward—people will attribute your power to forbidden techniques from the scroll."

'And Mizuki?'

"A necessary sacrifice to establish your narrative. When he attacks, defeat him decisively but with techniques that could plausibly come from the scroll. Your connection to the Nine-Tails can be hinted at but not fully revealed."

Naruto's meditation was interrupted by Iruka's arrival. The chunin instructor landed in the clearing, face flushed with exertion and worry.

"Naruto! What do you think you're doing? Do you know how much trouble you're in?"

Naruto jumped up, maintaining his role. "Iruka-sensei! I found you! I only learned one technique, but now you have to let me graduate, right? That's how the special test works!"

Confusion crossed Iruka's face. "Special test? What are you talking about?"

Right on cue, Naruto sensed Mizuki's approach. Kunai flew from the trees, forcing Iruka to push Naruto aside. The silver-haired instructor appeared on a branch, his face twisted with malice as he revealed the "truth" about the Nine-Tails to Naruto, expecting shock and horror.

Naruto listened to Mizuki's speech about how the Fourth Hokage had sealed the demon fox inside him, how the village had hated him for containing the monster that had killed so many. He feigned surprise, though he'd known this truth for years.

When Mizuki launched the massive shuriken, Naruto could have dodged it effortlessly. Instead, he allowed Iruka to shield him with his own body, taking the weapon in his back. The genuine care in this act touched something in Naruto—a remnant of his humanity that all his cosmic training couldn't erase.

As Iruka gasped in pain above him, Naruto made a split-second decision to deviate slightly from the plan.

"Why?" he asked, real emotion bleeding into his voice. "Why would you protect me?"

Iruka's pained smile was sincere. "Because we're the same. I know what it's like to be alone, to act out for attention. I should have done more for you, Naruto. I'm sorry."

Something twisted in Naruto's chest—an emotion he thought he'd transcended long ago. This man, bleeding for him, had seen him as human when others saw only a monster. It was... inconvenient to his plans, yet oddly meaningful.

Naruto shifted, gently laying Iruka against a tree. "Thank you, sensei. Now it's my turn to protect you."

He stood facing Mizuki, dropping his incompetent act but still keeping his true power hidden. "You hurt my teacher. You'll pay for that."

Mizuki laughed. "What can you do? You're just a failure, a monster no one wants!"

Naruto formed the hand sign for Shadow Clones—a technique he hadn't needed hand signs for in years, but appearances must be maintained. "I'm not a monster. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to be..." he hesitated, the word 'Hokage' no longer fitting his destiny, "...more than you can imagine."

The forest filled with a thousand perfect clones, surrounding Mizuki on all sides. The traitor's face drained of color as he realized his miscalculation.

What followed was a controlled beating—Naruto allowing his clones to use only Academy-level taijutsu, but in such overwhelming numbers that Mizuki never stood a chance. Within minutes, the silver-haired traitor lay unconscious, battered but alive.

Naruto dispelled the clones and turned to find Iruka watching him with pride and amazement.

"That was the Shadow Clone Jutsu," Iruka said weakly. "An advanced technique even jonin struggle with. You learned it in just a few hours?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, it just... made sense to me somehow."

Iruka gestured him closer. "Come here, Naruto. I have something for you."

Closing his eyes as instructed, Naruto felt Iruka remove his goggles and replace them with what could only be a headband. When he opened his eyes, Iruka was smiling through his pain.

"Congratulations, graduate. You've earned this."

Naruto touched the metal plate with the Leaf symbol. This moment should have meant everything to him once. Now it was just another step in a much longer journey. Still, Iruka's genuine pride stirred something in him.

"Thank you, sensei," he said, and meant it.

Later, after Iruka had been taken to the hospital and the Third Hokage had debriefed Naruto on the events, praising his brave defense of his teacher, Naruto returned to his apartment. He sat cross-legged on his bed, preparing to meet Daishinkan in their nightly training session, the headband still tied around his forehead.

"YOU'RE GETTING SENTIMENTAL," Kurama observed. "THAT TEACHER MEANS MORE TO YOU THAN YOU WANT TO ADMIT."

'He was kind when few were,' Naruto acknowledged. 'Is it weakness to remember such things?'

"NOT WEAKNESS," Kurama replied thoughtfully. "BUT PERHAPS A COMPLICATION. YOUR PATH LEADS BEYOND THIS WORLD. ATTACHMENTS HERE MAY BECOME... PAINFUL."

'I know.'

As Naruto slipped into the meditative state that would connect him to Daishinkan, he wondered if the Grand Priest had anticipated this—these small fractures in his detachment, these lingering human connections despite years of cosmic training.

Perhaps they were part of the plan all along. Perhaps the successor to Zeno needed to remember what it meant to be human, even as he transcended humanity itself.

The newly-formed genin teams gathered in the Academy classroom, awaiting their assignments. Naruto sat with his new headband displayed proudly, part of his carefully constructed image. Around him, speculation ran wild about how the "dead last" had managed to graduate after failing the exam.

Sasuke slid into the seat beside him, speaking quietly. "I heard about what happened with Mizuki-sensei. A thousand shadow clones?"

Naruto shrugged. "Had to start showing a little of what I can do. Just a little."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted. "Still holding back, then."

"For now."

Their conversation was interrupted by Sakura Haruno, who demanded that Naruto move so she could sit next to her beloved Sasuke. Before Naruto could respond, Iruka entered and called for attention.

"I'll now announce the three-man teams," the chunin instructor began.

Naruto already knew the assignments. Daishinkan had foreseen the team allocations through his observations of causal patterns in this dimension. Still, he feigned surprise and outrage when Iruka announced: "Team Seven: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha."

"Why does an outstanding student like me have to be on the same team as this bum?" Naruto complained loudly, playing his part while catching Sasuke's eye with a barely perceptible smirk.

Iruka explained the balancing of teams based on abilities, unaware that the "dead last" could have single-handedly outmatched every jonin in the village if he chose.

As the teams dispersed to meet their jonin instructors, Team Seven remained behind, waiting for the chronically late Kakashi Hatake. Hours passed. Naruto pretended to grow increasingly impatient, setting up a simple eraser trap at the door while Sakura protested and Sasuke brooded.

When Kakashi finally appeared, allowing the eraser to hit him as part of his own assessment, Naruto laughed uproariously while studying the jonin with far more perceptive eyes than anyone realized. This silver-haired man with his deceptively lazy demeanor was sharper than he appeared—potentially problematic for maintaining Naruto's cover.

After Kakashi's underwhelming self-introduction and instructions to meet at the training grounds the next day, the team dispersed. Naruto headed toward his apartment but sensed someone following him—Kakashi, observing from a distance.

This was expected. Daishinkan had warned that the jonin would be particularly interested in the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. Naruto maintained his boisterous persona, stopping for ramen at Ichiraku's and chatting animatedly with the kind proprietor before heading home.

Only when he was certain Kakashi had left did Naruto slip into deep meditation, connecting with Daishinkan in their training space between dimensions.

"Your jonin instructor is cautious," the Grand Priest observed as Naruto appeared. "He will watch you closely."

"I know," Naruto replied. "He was my father's student, though he doesn't know I'm aware of that connection."

"Indeed. His presence complicates our timeline slightly, but also provides opportunities. His expectations of you are so low that moderate improvements will seem natural, while his reputation as a genius will explain why your team encounters situations that allow you to reveal more of your abilities gradually."

Naruto nodded. "What about tomorrow's bell test?"

Daishinkan raised an eyebrow. "You've foreseen it?"

"No," Naruto smiled slightly. "Kurama remembers it from his time with my mother. The test is traditional for Konoha teams, but Kakashi's version emphasizes teamwork above all else."

"Fascinating," Daishinkan mused. "The Nine-Tails continues to prove unexpectedly useful. Very well, during tomorrow's test, you must appear to struggle significantly while demonstrating just enough improvement to be intriguing. The priority is establishing teamwork with the Uchiha and the girl—they will be your cover for increasingly difficult missions where you can reveal more of your true abilities."

"And tonight's training?"

Daishinkan tapped his staff, transforming their environment into a barren planetoid with low gravity and toxic atmosphere. "Tonight, we continue your adaptation to hostile environments. A successor to Zeno must be able to exist in any condition, in any reality."

Naruto nodded, his body already adjusting to the crushing pressure and poisonous air as he began the night's grueling training regimen.

The bell test unfolded much as Naruto had anticipated. Kakashi's deceptively simple challenge revealed his teammates' true natures—Sasuke's lone wolf approach and Sakura's singleminded focus on Sasuke rather than the mission. Naruto played his role perfectly, appearing to attack recklessly while actually testing Kakashi's reflexes and abilities.

The jonin was impressive by human standards. His Sharingan, revealed when Sasuke pushed him slightly, was a powerful tool that allowed him to anticipate conventional attacks. But Naruto knew that if he utilized even a fraction of his true speed or strength, not even the Sharingan could track him.

Instead, he allowed himself to be caught in obvious traps, created shadow clones that fought with Academy-level skill, and generally maintained his image as the team's weak link. When Sasuke nearly snagged a bell with his fire jutsu and shuriken combo, Naruto noted the genuine surprise in Kakashi's eye—the jonin had underestimated the last Uchiha.

Eventually, with time running short, Naruto "accidentally" discovered the true purpose of the test while tied to a training post for trying to steal lunch. His suggestion that they work together was met with predictable resistance from Sasuke and dismissal from Sakura, but he planted the seed.

When Kakashi returned and threatened to fail them all, it was Sasuke who surprisingly offered Naruto his lunch first—a calculated move that revealed more strategic thinking than Naruto had given him credit for. Sakura reluctantly followed suit, completing the teamwork demonstration that Kakashi had been looking for.

"You pass," the jonin announced with his eye-smile, explaining the importance of teamwork and the memorial stone's significance. "Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."

The words struck Naruto more deeply than he'd expected. He had been planning to abandon this world eventually—these people who, despite their flaws, were becoming something like comrades to him. What did that make him in Kakashi's philosophy?

The thought lingered as Team Seven began their career with D-rank missions—mundane tasks that Naruto could have completed instantly but instead performed with his team at a normal human pace. Weeding gardens. Catching lost pets. Picking up litter.

Weeks passed this way, with Naruto maintaining his cover during the day and training with Daishinkan at night. His body required less sleep now—another sign of his ongoing transformation—allowing him to appear fresh despite spending most nights in intense interdimensional training.

Sasuke grew increasingly frustrated with their menial assignments, while Sakura began to notice subtle incongruities in Naruto's behavior—moments when the mask of the fool slipped to reveal someone more calculating underneath.

After a particularly tedious mission chasing the daimyo's wife's cat for the third time, Sasuke cornered Naruto away from the others.

"This is a waste of time," the Uchiha hissed. "We're not getting stronger doing these childish tasks."

"Patience," Naruto advised calmly. "More challenging missions will come."

"When?" Sasuke demanded. "I need to grow stronger now. My brother is out there, getting further beyond my reach every day."

Naruto regarded his teammate thoughtfully. Sasuke's obsession with killing Itachi was consuming him, narrowing his perspective in ways that reminded Naruto of how he'd once been fixated on becoming Hokage.

"Tomorrow," Naruto decided, "I'll help push for a C-rank mission. But Sasuke, there's more to strength than just combat power."

Sasuke scoffed. "Says the one hiding abilities that could probably take down Kakashi."

"I'm not saying I'm a perfect example," Naruto smiled faintly. "Just that your brother's path isn't the only path to power. There are... broader perspectives."

"I don't need philosophy," Sasuke growled. "I need missions that will test my limits."

Naruto nodded. "Then that's what we'll get."

True to his word, the next day Naruto launched into an exaggerated complaint about the quality of their missions, demanding something more challenging from the Third Hokage. The old man, smoking his pipe thoughtfully, seemed to study Naruto with knowing eyes before agreeing to assign them a C-rank escort mission to the Land of Waves.

Their client, Tazuna the bridge builder, was less than impressed with his assigned protection—especially Naruto, whom he dismissed as a "super stupid-looking kid." Naruto played up his offense at the remark, while internally noting the man's nervous behavior and the scent of fear beneath his alcohol-tinged breath.

This mission would be more than it appeared—exactly what they needed to begin the next phase of Naruto's controlled revelation.

As Team Seven prepared to depart the following morning, Naruto stood at his apartment window, looking out over the village that had been his home and prison for twelve years.

"EXCITED TO FINALLY SHOW SOME REAL POWER?" Kurama asked, his voice tinged with eagerness. The fox had grown increasingly invested in Naruto's progress, finding entertainment in the dramatic irony of their situation.

'Within reason,' Naruto replied. 'Enough to surprise but not terrify. The timeline needs to be maintained.'

"YOU SOUND LIKE THE BLUE ONE NOW," Kurama snorted. "ALWAYS CALCULATING, ALWAYS RESTRAINED."

'Daishinkan has guided me well,' Naruto defended, though he understood what Kurama meant. The spontaneity of his childhood self had long been replaced by cosmic calculation. Even his pranks now were carefully measured acts designed to maintain his cover, not genuine expressions of emotion.

"JUST DON'T FORGET WHY THAT CHILDLIKE GOD CHOSE YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE," Kurama rumbled. "IT WASN'T FOR YOUR ABILITY TO BECOME A PERFECT COPY OF HIS KIND."

Naruto considered this as he packed his supplies. The Nine-Tails had a point—Zeno had seemed most interested in him when he displayed uniqueness, not perfect cosmic detachment. There was a balance to be found between the discipline Daishinkan instilled and the human perspective that made him different from the Angels and Gods he was training to join.

Perhaps this mission would provide opportunities to explore that balance, even as it moved him one step closer to his ultimate destiny beyond this world.

The mission to the Land of Waves marked the beginning of subtle but significant changes in Naruto's carefully maintained facade. As Team Seven traveled with Tazuna, Naruto sensed the approaching chakra signatures of two chunin-level ninja long before they attacked, but chose to feign obliviousness, allowing Kakashi to handle the Demon Brothers with casual efficiency.

When Kakashi questioned Tazuna about the true nature of the mission, revealing that they were facing far more dangerous opposition than a C-rank suggested, Naruto noticed Sasuke's eyes gleaming with anticipation. The Uchiha craved this challenge—a true test against deadly opponents.

After the team decided to continue despite the mission's higher difficulty, Naruto reached out to Daishinkan during their campsite rest period, his consciousness slipping between dimensions while his shadow clone maintained watch.

"The mission has escalated as expected," he reported in their mental training space. "We'll likely face a jonin-level opponent next."

Daishinkan, serene as always, nodded. "Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist. An excellent opportunity for you to reveal the next layer of your abilities. His water clones and hidden mist technique will provide cover for your actions, making it more difficult for your team to precisely gauge your capabilities."

"How much should I show?"

"Your enhanced speed and shadow clones would be appropriate," the Grand Priest advised. "Perhaps a hint of your sensory abilities. But restrict yourself to techniques that could be attributed to either the Nine-Tails or accelerated training. No ki manipulation or dimensional abilities yet."

Naruto agreed, though part of him—the part that still yearned for acknowledgment despite years of training against such desires—wished to show more. He'd spent so long hiding, playing the fool, that the prospect of finally displaying even a fraction of his true abilities was intoxicating.

The next day, Zabuza appeared exactly as Daishinkan had foreseen, attacking the team as they escorted Tazuna through the misty forests near the Land of Waves. Kakashi revealed his Sharingan immediately, recognizing the threat level, while ordering the genin to protect Tazuna.

When Zabuza trapped Kakashi in a water prison, leaving the genin to face his water clone, Naruto seized his opportunity. Following the plan, he created dozens of shadow clones that attacked with coordinated precision far beyond what he'd previously displayed, while still remaining within the realm of exceptional genin abilities.

"Impressive brat," the water clone growled as it dispersed several of Naruto's clones. "But still not enough."

Working with Sasuke, who seemed momentarily stunned by Naruto's improved capabilities but quickly adapted, they executed a combination attack that freed Kakashi from the water prison. The jonin then took over, engaging Zabuza in a battle that ended with the missing-nin apparently killed by a hunter-nin.

As they carried an exhausted Kakashi to Tazuna's house, Sasuke fell into step beside Naruto.

"That was different," the Uchiha said quietly. "Your clones fought with actual strategy."

Naruto shrugged. "I've been training."

"With who?"

"No one you know."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You're still holding back."

"So are you," Naruto countered, nodding toward Sasuke's eyes. "You haven't activated your Sharingan in a real battle yet."

"I can't control it fully," Sasuke admitted reluctantly. "But soon."

"I know," Naruto smiled slightly. "We all have our timelines."

At Tazuna's house, while Kakashi recovered from chakra exhaustion, Naruto listened to the bridge builder's story about Gato's tyranny and the bridge that symbolized hope for the impoverished Land of Waves. The tale of oppression and resistance stirred something in Naruto—echoes of the human empathy that his cosmic training hadn't fully erased.

That night, as the others slept, Naruto sat on the roof of Tazuna's house, gazing at the stars that now held such different meaning to him. He could name constellations from a thousand different dimensions, had walked on planets orbiting suns that made this one seem like a candle.

Yet the simple courage of these villagers, building their bridge despite overwhelming odds, affected him in ways that cosmic wonders no longer could.

"GETTING PHILOSOPHICAL AGAIN?" Kurama commented.

'Just thinking about purpose,' Naruto replied. 'These people fight for survival, for freedom from oppression. Simple, clear goals.'

"AND YOUR GOAL IS WHAT? TO BECOME A GOD BEYOND GODS?"

'To become a successor worthy of that power,' Naruto corrected. 'Someone who understands both cosmic responsibility and human struggle.'

Kurama made a sound that might have been a laugh. "ADMIRABLE. BUT I WONDER IF THESE TWO ASPECTS OF YOUR NATURE CAN TRULY COEXIST ETERNALLY. EVENTUALLY, YOUR HUMANITY WILL FADE AS YOUR DIVINITY GROWS."

'Perhaps,' Naruto acknowledged. 'Or perhaps that's why Daishinkan chose someone like me—to create something new in the multiverse. Not just another Zeno, but something... balanced.'

The fox fell silent, contemplating this. Naruto sensed someone stirring below—Kakashi, awakening from his recovery. The jonin would soon realize that Zabuza was likely still alive, and their real battle was yet to come.

Another opportunity to reveal more of his evolving self to this world, before he left it behind forever.

The week that followed brought tree-climbing exercises that Naruto pretended to struggle with initially before mastering at a rate that surprised but didn't shock his teammates. Kakashi watched him with increasingly thoughtful eyes, clearly reassessing his initial impression of the boy who contained his sensei's legacy.

On the night before they expected Zabuza to return, Naruto met a beautiful young person named Haku collecting herbs in the forest. Though he immediately sensed this was Zabuza's accomplice, he maintained the pretense of ignorance, engaging in a philosophical conversation about precious people and true strength.

"When a person has something precious to protect, that is when they become truly strong," Haku said softly.

Naruto tilted his head, genuinely curious. "What if what you're protecting isn't a person, but an ideal? A balance in the universe that most can't even comprehend?"

Haku looked surprised by the unexpected depth of the question. "I think... the principle remains the same. Whether protecting a person or an ideal, your strength comes from your devotion to something beyond yourself."

The conversation lingered in Naruto's mind as he helped guard Tazuna at the bridge the next day. When Zabuza and Haku finally attacked, Naruto allowed himself to be deliberately separated from the main battle, letting Sasuke face Haku's Crystal Ice Mirrors technique alone initially.

This was calculated—Sasuke needed the pressure to awaken his Sharingan, and Naruto needed a dramatic entrance to display the next level of his controlled revelation.

When he finally joined Sasuke inside the ice mirror prison, he found his teammate wounded but standing, the single tomoe Sharingan activated in his eyes.

"About time," Sasuke grunted, blood dripping from multiple senbon wounds.

"Had to make sure Tazuna was protected," Naruto lied smoothly. "Let's take this masked ninja down together."

What followed was a careful dance of power display. Naruto moved faster than he'd previously shown, dodging senbon that would have been invisible to normal genin. He created shadow clones that attacked with coordinated precision. He even allowed a hint of Kurama's chakra to leak out when Sasuke was struck down, seemingly dead—red energy swirling around him, healing his wounds instantly, enhancing his speed and strength to low chunin levels.

"What is this power?" Haku gasped as Naruto shattered one of the ice mirrors with a chakra-enhanced punch.

Naruto didn't answer, pressing his attack until he cracked Haku's mask and recognized the gentle person from the forest. The revelation gave him pause—exactly as it would have for the naive genin he pretended to be.

"You... from the forest," he stated, pulling back a punch that could have shattered Haku's skull. "Why?"

"I am Zabuza's tool," Haku replied sadly. "My purpose is to serve his dream. Without that, I have no reason to exist."

The conversation that followed about tools, purposes, and precious people was not entirely feigned on Naruto's part. Despite his cosmic training, the concept of living solely as someone else's instrument struck a chord. Was he not in some ways Daishinkan's tool? Zeno's future replacement?

When Haku sensed Zabuza in danger and used Naruto's hesitation to escape, teleporting to take the killing blow Kakashi had aimed at the Demon of the Mist, Naruto felt a genuine pang of regret. This emotion, so human despite his years of cosmic training, surprised him.

The aftermath played out as tragic theater—Zabuza's initial dismissal of Haku's sacrifice, Naruto's emotional (and only partly feigned) speech about tools and humanity, and finally Zabuza's redemptive last stand against Gato and his men. As the missing-nin fell beside his loyal companion, having slaughtered dozens despite fatal wounds, Naruto watched with a complex mixture of respect and contemplation.

When snow began to fall—Haku's tears from heaven, as Naruto poetically suggested—it seemed even the dimensions themselves acknowledged the poignancy of the moment.

The victory over Gato freed the Land of Waves, and the completion of the bridge marked a turning point for the impoverished nation. As Team Seven prepared to depart, the grateful villagers named the structure "The Great Naruto Bridge"—an irony not lost on its namesake, who would soon transcend the very concept of physical constructs like bridges.

"Looks like you've become a hero," Kakashi commented as they walked back toward the Fire Country.

"I just did what anyone would do," Naruto replied, the practiced humility fitting both his genin persona and the cosmic perspective Daishinkan had instilled.

"Not everyone," Sasuke interjected quietly. "Not everyone has that... power you showed."

Naruto met his teammate's eyes, seeing the questions there. "Everyone has their own strength, Sasuke."

"That red chakra," Kakashi said casually, though his single visible eye was sharply focused. "We should discuss that when we return to the village."

"Sure, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto agreed easily. This too had been anticipated—questions about Kurama's chakra had always been inevitable. Daishinkan had prepared explanations that revealed partial truths while concealing the greater reality.

The journey home was filled with a newfound respect between the teammates. Sakura, who had witnessed Naruto's enhanced abilities from a distance while protecting Tazuna, regarded him with confused reassessment. Sasuke, having fought alongside him within Haku's mirrors, showed a guarded acknowledgment that bordered on rivalry. And Kakashi watched it all with the calculating eye of a jonin who suspected his genin team might be far more than it appeared.

That night, while his team slept at a roadside inn, Naruto connected with Daishinkan in their mental training space.

"The mission proceeded as expected," Naruto reported, kneeling before the Grand Priest. "I revealed the first layer of Kurama's chakra, enhanced speed, and tactical abilities with shadow clones."

"Indeed," Daishinkan nodded. "You executed the plan precisely. However, I sense something troubling you."

Naruto hesitated. Despite years of discipline, he still found it difficult to hide his emotions from the perceptive Angel. "Haku's death... affected me more than I anticipated."

"Explain."

"He died as a tool, believing his only value was in service to another's dream," Naruto said carefully. "It made me question... am I merely a tool as well? A replacement being shaped for Zeno's convenience?"

Daishinkan's expression remained serene, but his eyes sharpened slightly. "An interesting parallel, but fundamentally flawed. Haku was used and discarded. You are being elevated and transformed. The difference is significant."

"Is it?" Naruto pressed, a rare challenge to his mentor. "In both cases, our worth is measured by our utility to powers beyond ourselves."

"You misunderstand the nature of your selection," Daishinkan replied, tapping his staff once on the crystal floor. The space around them shifted, revealing glimpses of infinite realities. "You were not chosen merely for utility, but for potential. The ability to become something new in the multiverse—neither human nor Angel nor God of Destruction, but a unique entity that understands all perspectives."

Naruto absorbed this, feeling the weight of expectation even as he processed the reassurance. "And my humanity? The connections I form in this world? Are they merely temporary distractions to be discarded?"

"Not distractions," Daishinkan corrected. "Foundations. Your understanding of human joy, pain, attachment, and loss will inform your cosmic perspective eternally. That is precisely why you must experience them authentically now, before your transformation is complete."

This was a new perspective on his mission—one that reframed his remaining time in Konoha not as a cover to be maintained, but as essential experience to be integrated into his cosmic identity.

"So my attachments to people like Iruka, Sasuke, even Kakashi... they're allowed? Even encouraged?"

"Within reason," Daishinkan cautioned. "You will ultimately transcend this dimension, and too many deep attachments would make that transition... problematic. But a complete absence of human connection would defeat the purpose of choosing a human vessel in the first place."

Naruto nodded, finding unexpected comfort in the permission to embrace parts of his humanity even as he progressed toward something beyond it.

"Now," Daishinkan continued, "we must prepare for the next phase. Upon your return to Konoha, the Chunin Exams will be announced. This provides the perfect opportunity for a more significant revelation of your abilities—one that will capture attention beyond your village."

"How much should I reveal?"

"More than before, but still within certain constraints," Daishinkan instructed. "Perfect mastery of shadow clones. Enhanced strength and speed. Tactical brilliance that will surprise your instructors. And in moments of true danger, access to the Nine-Tails' chakra that appears emotionally triggered rather than consciously controlled."

"And beyond that? The dimensional abilities? Ki manipulation?"

"Not yet," Daishinkan shook his head. "Those remain our secret until the time is right. Remember, Naruto—too much, too soon would only bring unwanted attention from forces in your world that could complicate our timeline."

With the plan established, they moved to the night's training—manipulating gravitational forces at a planetary scale, bending light around celestial bodies, and the beginnings of limited matter creation—powers far beyond anything the shinobi world could comprehend.

The Chunin Exams arrived with carefully orchestrated timing. As Daishinkan had predicted, the event drew participants from multiple villages, creating the perfect stage for Naruto to reveal more of his abilities while maintaining the illusion that they stemmed from either intensive training or the Nine-Tails' influence.

Team Seven entered the examination building, encountering the preliminary genjutsu trap that Sasuke immediately saw through with his Sharingan. Naruto, who could perceive not just the illusion but the layered dimensional frequencies that composed it, feigned impressed surprise at his teammate's insight.

Their confrontation with Rock Lee in the hallway provided another opportunity for measured display. As the taijutsu specialist challenged Sasuke to a fight, demonstrating speed that shocked the Uchiha, Naruto observed with calculated interest. When Lee effortlessly defeated Sasuke, Naruto stepped forward.

"My turn," he said with his practiced grin, though inwardly he was assessing exactly how much ability to reveal in this preliminary encounter.

Lee turned, eyebrows raised in surprise. "You wish to fight as well? Your teammate was no match for my taijutsu."

"Maybe I'll surprise you," Naruto replied, settling into a stance that was deliberately similar to Academy forms, but with subtle modifications that only a true master would notice—perfect balance, optimal energy efficiency, and potential for explosive movement.

Lee, dedicated student of martial arts that he was, noticed something unusual. "That stance... it is almost the Academy basic, but... different."

"Just something I've been working on," Naruto shrugged casually.

Their exchange was brief but revealing. Naruto moved faster than he'd previously shown his teammates, blocking several of Lee's kicks with precise counters. He deliberately took a hit to maintain his cover, but the green-clad genin's eyes widened when the impact didn't send Naruto flying as expected.

"Your training is most youthful!" Lee exclaimed, genuinely impressed. "But I must save my true techniques for the exams."

Naruto allowed the spar to end in a courteous draw, having established himself as someone worth watching without revealing too much too soon. Sasuke, nursing his bruised ego, regarded Naruto with renewed suspicion and competitive fire.

"Since when can you fight like that?" he demanded as they continued toward the examination room.

"I told you I've been training," Naruto replied. "We all have our secrets, Sasuke."

The first phase of the exams—Ibiki's psychological test—provided a different sort of challenge. Naruto, who had deciphered the cosmic language of Creation itself under Daishinkan's tutelage, could have easily answered the written questions. Instead, he deliberately left his paper blank, playing the role of the determined underdog who would pass through sheer willpower rather than academic knowledge.

When Ibiki revealed the true purpose of the test—the willingness to take risks for one's mission and team—Naruto allowed himself a genuine smile. These human lessons in courage and loyalty still resonated with him, even as he prepared to transcend humanity itself.

The second phase brought them to the Forest of Death, where Team Seven would face their first truly deadly challenge—and where Naruto would encounter a being that even Daishinkan had warned him about.

"Orochimaru seeks the Uchiha," the Grand Priest had explained during their preparation. "A human who has pushed against the boundaries of mortality through forbidden techniques. His presence complicates our timeline, but also provides opportunity. During your encounter, you must protect your teammate enough to maintain your cover, while still allowing events to unfold that will drive Sasuke's development."

As Team Seven ventured into the forest, Naruto sensed the disguised Sannin's presence almost immediately—a twisted chakra signature that reeked of unnaturalness, of mortality artificially extended. He maintained his oblivious facade, even allowing himself to be separated from his team through a calculated "bathroom break" that left Sasuke and Sakura to face the initial encounter alone.

When he returned to find them battling what appeared to be a Grass ninja, he instantly recognized the disguised Orochimaru. The Sannin's killing intent was palpable, freezing Sasuke and Sakura in terror. Naruto, who had stood before Zeno himself, found the human's murderous aura almost laughably inadequate by comparison—but feigned appropriate fear while calculating his response.

The battle that followed was a delicate performance. Naruto summoned hundreds of shadow clones that attacked with coordinated precision far beyond genin level, yet still within the realm of exceptional talent. When Orochimaru summoned a massive snake, Naruto allowed Kurama's chakra to surface, creating the red aura that announced the Nine-Tails' influence.

"Interesting," Orochimaru hissed, yellow eyes gleaming with scientific curiosity. "The Nine-Tails jinchūriki has learned to tap his tenant's power. But still so crude, so unrefined."

The Sannin swatted Naruto aside with the snake's tail, sending him crashing through multiple trees—damage Naruto could have easily avoided but accepted to maintain his cover. As he feigned unconsciousness, hanging from a branch by a kunai through his jacket, he monitored the confrontation between Orochimaru and Sasuke.

The Uchiha, inspired by Naruto's apparent courage, found his resolve. "I won't freeze up again! I am an avenger!"

The battle continued, with Sasuke displaying impressive fire techniques and shuriken work that momentarily impressed even the disguised Sannin. But as expected, Orochimaru was merely toying with them, testing Sasuke's potential before applying his Cursed Seal of Heaven.

As Orochimaru extended his neck to bite Sasuke, Naruto made a split-second decision to intervene slightly more than planned. Moving with enhanced speed, he threw a kunai that forced Orochimaru to adjust his trajectory—not enough to prevent the bite entirely, but sufficient to place the seal slightly off-center from its optimal position on Sasuke's neck.

The Sannin's head snapped back, eyes narrowing at Naruto. "You're more resilient than expected, Nine-Tails brat. But too late to save your friend."

Sasuke collapsed, screaming in agony as the cursed seal began to spread. Sakura rushed to his side while Naruto faced Orochimaru, allowing more of Kurama's chakra to surface, his eyes reddening, whisker marks deepening.

"What did you do to him?" Naruto growled, the anger only partly feigned. Despite his cosmic detachment, seeing his teammate in such pain stirred protective instincts that years of training hadn't fully erased.

"I gave him a gift," Orochimaru smiled, his face partially melting to reveal his true appearance. "Power he will seek when he realizes how limited his current path is. Just as you draw on the Nine-Tails for strength beyond your natural abilities."

The Sannin's perceptiveness was unsettling. Naruto attacked with a barrage of shadow clones, each displaying taijutsu at the upper limits of what he'd decided to reveal. Orochimaru dispatched them effortlessly, but with growing interest.

"Remarkable control for one so young," the Sannin commented. "The Third has been keeping secrets about your development, it seems. Perhaps I should apply a seal to you as well—something to disrupt that cozy arrangement with your tenant."

Before Naruto could react, Orochimaru's fingers slammed into his stomach—"Five Elements Seal!" The irregular numbered seal disrupted the modified Eight Trigrams Seal, temporarily cutting Naruto off from Kurama's chakra and causing genuine pain that sent him to his knees.

"A pity I don't have time to study you properly," Orochimaru said, leaning close to whisper in Naruto's ear. "There's something strange about you, boy—something beyond the Fox. We'll meet again when I collect Sasuke."

As the Sannin disappeared, Naruto allowed himself to collapse beside his teammates. The Five Elements Seal was problematic but not insurmountable—it disrupted his chakra network but couldn't touch the cosmic energies Daishinkan had taught him to manipulate. Still, he would need to address it before proceeding further.

That night, as Sakura tended to the unconscious Sasuke in their shelter beneath a massive tree's roots, Naruto slipped into meditation. Instead of connecting with Daishinkan, he descended into his inner mindscape to consult with Kurama.

The vast landscape had transformed over years of collaboration—no longer a sewer but an endless forest beneath a cosmic sky, with Kurama lounging in a clearing rather than behind bars. Currently, however, dark clouds swirled overhead, and a massive paper seal floated in the air between them.

"THAT SNAKE'S INTERFERENCE IS ANNOYING," Kurama growled. "THE FIVE ELEMENTS SEAL DISRUPTS OUR CONNECTION."

"Can we remove it ourselves?" Naruto asked, studying the floating construct.

"NOT EASILY. IT'S DESIGNED TO REQUIRE EXTERNAL CHAKRA MANIPULATION TO RELEASE. THAT PERVERTED SAGE COULD DO IT, WHEN HE INEVITABLY APPEARS."

Naruto nodded. Jiraiya's arrival had been part of Daishinkan's timeline predictions. "We'll have to wait, then. But this complicates things. I was meant to use your chakra during the preliminary matches to establish that ability in everyone's minds."

"YOU'LL HAVE TO RELY MORE ON YOUR OWN ABILITIES," Kurama suggested. "REVEAL MORE OF YOUR 'NATURAL' TALENTS RATHER THAN MY POWER. THE SNAKE HAS INADVERTENTLY PROVIDED A PERFECT EXCUSE."

The fox's insight was valid. Naruto spent the remainder of the night recalibrating his plan, determining exactly which abilities to display in the upcoming matches without access to Kurama's distinctive chakra.

The preliminaries arrived after Team Seven's eventful journey through the forest, including their encounter with the Sound ninja targeting Sasuke and the gathering of their second scroll. Sasuke, still adjusting to the cursed seal, insisted on continuing despite Sakura's concerns.

As the randomized matches began in the tower's central arena, Naruto observed his potential opponents with calculated interest. Without access to Kurama's chakra, he would need to be more strategic about his performance.

When his name appeared on the board matched against Kiba Inuzuka, Naruto smiled. The dog-user's enhanced senses and aggressive style would provide a perfect opportunity to display improved taijutsu and tactical thinking without revealing anything truly supernatural.

"Lucky me," Kiba grinned ferally as they faced each other in the arena. "I get the dead last. This'll be quick."

"Don't be so sure," Naruto replied, settling into a relaxed stance that betrayed none of the cosmic power at his command.

Hayate, the sickly proctor, raised his hand. "Begin!"

Kiba and his ninken partner Akamaru attacked immediately with their Fang Over Fang technique, spinning like drills toward Naruto. Instead of dodging awkwardly as everyone expected, Naruto moved with fluid grace, stepping between the dual attacks with precision that made several observing jonin raise their eyebrows.

"He's improved," Kurenai murmured to Kakashi in the observation area.

"You have no idea," Kakashi replied cryptically.

Back in the arena, Kiba landed, looking shocked. "You've gotten faster."

"I've gotten a lot of things," Naruto replied, then launched into his own attack—a barrage of shadow clones that fought with synchronized efficiency rather than the chaotic swarm most expected.

The battle continued with Naruto revealing progressively more skill—enhanced speed, strength, and tactical awareness that seemed exceptional but not impossible for a dedicated genin. When Kiba transformed Akamaru into a clone of himself for their combination attack, Naruto countered with a substitution technique executed with such precise timing that it left Kiba attacking his own partner.

"Since when is Naruto this... calculating?" Ino asked, watching from the balcony.

"He's always been smarter than he lets on," Shikamaru replied thoughtfully. "But this is different. More... deliberate."

The match culminated with Naruto's victory, achieved through a combination of shadow clones and an improvised technique he called "Naruto Uzumaki Barrage"—a taijutsu sequence that mimicked Lee's Primary Lotus while remaining within the realm of human possibility.

As Hayate declared him the winner, Naruto caught Sasuke's intense stare from the balcony. The Uchiha's eyes communicated a clear message: You're still holding back.

Naruto simply smiled in response. Of course he was.

The remaining preliminary matches unfolded as expected. Sasuke defeated his opponent despite the cursed seal's interference, earning a place in the finals alongside Naruto, Neji, Gaara, Shikamaru, and others. The month-long training period before the final tournament would provide crucial preparation time—both for the matches themselves and for Naruto's ongoing cosmic education.

That night, as the advancing genin dispersed to begin their training, Kakashi pulled Naruto aside.

"Your match was impressive," the jonin commented casually. "Very different from your Academy performance."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I've been working hard, Kakashi-sensei."

"Clearly. But I'm curious about something." Kakashi's single visible eye fixed on him intently. "During your fight in the forest, Sakura mentioned seeing you surrounded by red chakra. Yet today, nothing similar appeared. Why is that?"

Naruto glanced around to ensure they weren't overheard. "I think that snake guy did something to me. He hit my stomach with some kind of seal technique, and I haven't been able to feel the same... power... since then."

"I see." Kakashi nodded slowly. "That would be Orochimaru's Five Elements Seal. It's designed to disrupt chakra flow—particularly problematic for someone in your... unique situation."

"Can you fix it?" Naruto asked, knowing full well Kakashi wouldn't.

"That's beyond my expertise," the jonin admitted. "But I know someone who can help. Unfortunately, I've already committed to training Sasuke for the finals. His opponent, Gaara, presents particular challenges that his Sharingan will be essential in countering."

Naruto feigned disappointment. "So I'm on my own?"

"Not exactly," Kakashi eye-smiled. "I've arranged an excellent teacher for you. He's... unconventional, but uniquely qualified to help with your specific needs. Meet him tomorrow at the hot springs at noon."

"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto replied with genuine appreciation. Everything was proceeding according to Daishinkan's timeline.

As they parted ways, Naruto sensed another presence watching him—Gaara of the Sand, the One-Tail's jinchūriki, observing from shadows with cold, calculating eyes. Their paths would cross in the finals, two vessels with very different relationships to the powers they contained.

But Gaara couldn't possibly comprehend the true nature of what Naruto harbored—not just a Tailed Beast, but cosmic power beyond dimensional boundaries, and a destiny that would eventually transcend their world entirely.

The hot springs were quiet as Naruto arrived the next day, precisely at noon. He immediately sensed a powerful chakra signature nearby—erratic but vast, partially suppressed but still impressive by human standards. Jiraiya of the Sannin, though Naruto pretended not to recognize the white-haired man peeping through a hole in the women's bath fence.

"Hey! What are you doing, you pervert?!" Naruto shouted, playing his part perfectly.

What followed was a choreographed dance—Jiraiya's exaggerated introduction as the great Toad Sage, Naruto's feigned unimpressed reaction, and finally the revelation that this man would be his instructor for the month before the finals.

"Kakashi mentioned you might have a seal problem," Jiraiya said after they'd moved to a more private location near the river. "Let me see it."

Naruto lifted his shirt, channeling chakra to reveal both the Eight Trigrams Seal and Orochimaru's interference. Jiraiya studied it with expert eyes, missing the subtle modifications Naruto and Daishinkan had made to accommodate his cosmic training—changes concealed within the original design's complexity.

"My idiot teammate really did a number on you," Jiraiya muttered. "Five Elements Seal layered over the Eight Trigrams. No wonder your chakra's a mess. Hold still."

The Sannin's fingers glowed with chakra as he slammed them into Naruto's stomach, breaking Orochimaru's seal with expert precision. The rush of energy as Naruto's connection to Kurama fully restored was genuine—a flood of the fox's chakra returning to his system.

"FINALLY," Kurama growled in his mind. "THAT WAS UNPLEASANT."

'Indeed,' Naruto agreed internally. 'But now we proceed with the original plan.'

"Better?" Jiraiya asked, watching Naruto's reaction closely.

"Much better," Naruto nodded, stretching. "It's like a weight's been lifted off my chakra."

"Good. Now show me what you can do," the Sannin challenged. "Kakashi mentioned you've been full of surprises lately."

The demonstration that followed was carefully calibrated. Naruto displayed his shadow clones—hundreds of them, filling the clearing with perfect copies. He showed enhanced speed and strength that pushed the boundaries of genin ability without crossing into the truly supernatural. And finally, with calculated concentration, he allowed a thin shroud of Kurama's chakra to manifest briefly around him.

Jiraiya's eyes widened fractionally. "You can already access the Nine-Tails' chakra consciously?"

"Sometimes," Naruto replied, letting the red energy fade. "When I'm really focused or really angry. But I can't control it well."

"Interesting," the Sannin murmured. "The seal was designed to allow small amounts of the Fox's chakra to mix with yours gradually, but conscious access at your age is... unexpected."

"Is that bad?" Naruto asked, feigning concern.

"Not necessarily. Just unusual," Jiraiya studied him thoughtfully. "Your father was a prodigy too, you know."

Naruto stiffened genuinely. "My father?"

Jiraiya's expression shifted, realizing his slip. "Ah, well... that's a conversation for another time. First, let's focus on your training. With your chakra control issues fixed, I think you're ready to learn something new—something that will help you properly channel the Nine-Tails' power."

"What's that?"

"Summoning," Jiraiya grinned. "The Toad Contract has been in your family longer than you know."

The next week passed with Naruto pretending to struggle with the summoning technique—producing tadpoles initially, then small toads, gradually working his way up to larger summons. In reality, he could have summoned the chief toad Gamabunta immediately, his chakra control being perfect despite the act he maintained.

Jiraiya, surprisingly perceptive despite his eccentric behavior, occasionally gave Naruto searching looks when he thought the boy wasn't aware. During their second week of training, the Sannin finally confronted him.

"You're holding back," he stated flatly one evening as they finished training. "Don't deny it. I've been watching carefully. Your 'failures' are too consistent, too calculated. You have far better chakra control than you pretend."

Naruto considered his options. Jiraiya would be an important ally in the events to come, according to Daishinkan's timeline. Perhaps a partial truth would serve better than continued deception.

"You're right," he admitted, dropping his boisterous facade. "I've been practicing chakra control for years in secret."

"Why hide it?" Jiraiya pressed.

"When everyone expects you to fail, it becomes... protective," Naruto replied carefully. "People underestimate you. They don't watch you as closely."

Jiraiya nodded slowly. "The mask of the fool. An ancient strategy, and effective. But why maintain it with me, your teacher?"

"Hard habits to break," Naruto shrugged. "And... trust issues, I guess. The village hasn't exactly been kind to me."

"Fair enough," the Sannin acknowledged. "But if I'm going to teach you properly, I need to know what you're actually capable of. So let's try again—no holding back this time. Show me your real summoning ability."

Naruto nodded, forming the hand signs with precise efficiency, channeling exactly the right amount of chakra—impressive but not superhuman. The resulting explosion of smoke cleared to reveal Gamabunta himself, the massive toad chief looking surprised at being summoned by a child.

"WHO DARES?" the toad boomed, before spotting Jiraiya. "JIRAIYA! EXPLAIN WHY A TADPOLE SUMMONED ME!"

"That 'tadpole' is Naruto Uzumaki," Jiraiya called up, unable to hide his impressed expression. "Minato's son."

The giant toad's eyes widened, examining Naruto with new interest. "MINATO'S BOY? HMM. HE HAS THE LOOK OF HIS FATHER."

Standing atop Gamabunta's head, Naruto maintained his balance effortlessly, using a fraction of the chakra control techniques Daishinkan had taught him. "Nice to meet you, Chief Toad."

After a brief conversation establishing Naruto's right to the contract through his heritage, Gamabunta departed with a promise to answer future summons. Jiraiya stared at Naruto with newfound respect and curiosity.

"You're full of surprises, kid," the Sannin said finally. "Just like your parents."

"You knew them both?" Naruto asked, although Daishinkan had long ago revealed his parentage.

Jiraiya hesitated, then nodded. "Your father was my student. Your mother was... well, she was a lot like you in some ways. Fierce. Determined. Full of life."

For the remainder of their training month, Jiraiya became more direct, teaching Naruto the Rasengan—Minato's legendary technique. Again, Naruto calibrated his learning curve carefully, showing exceptional but not impossible progress. By the final week before the tournament, he had mastered the technique using both hands, though he deliberately maintained the need for shadow clones to help with the chakra formation.

"You've accomplished in weeks what took your father years to develop," Jiraiya commented on their final training day. "I'm beginning to think Kakashi undersold your potential significantly."

Naruto simply smiled. If the Sannin only knew the cosmic techniques he practiced nightly with Daishinkan—manipulating the fundamental forces of creation, bending space-time, channeling destruction energy that could erase matter from existence—the Rasengan would seem like a child's toy by comparison.

"I had a good teacher," he replied instead. "Two, actually."

The day of the Chunin Exam finals arrived with Konoha decorated for the occasion, dignitaries from multiple nations filling the special viewing boxes. Naruto knew this was more than a simple promotion tournament—it was a substitute for war, a demonstration of each village's strength and future potential.

It was also, according to Daishinkan, the day Orochimaru would launch his invasion alongside the Sand Village—a pivotal moment in the timeline Naruto needed to navigate carefully.

As the finalists gathered in the arena, Naruto assessed his competition. Neji Hyuga, arrogant in his fatalistic philosophy, would be his first opponent. Sasuke was notably absent, likely still training with Kakashi until the last moment. Gaara stood apart from the others, radiating bloodlust that only Naruto, as a fellow jinchūriki, could fully perceive.

"You seem calm," Shikamaru commented, standing beside Naruto as the opening ceremonies began.

"No point being nervous," Naruto replied. "Either I'm ready or I'm not."

The Nara genius studied him with shrewd eyes. "You've changed."

"We all have."

When Genma, the replacement proctor, announced the first match—Naruto versus Neji—the stadium erupted in anticipation. The last-place Academy student against the Hyuga prodigy promised an interesting contrast, though few expected a competitive battle.

As they faced each other in the arena, Neji's Byakugan activated, veins bulging around his eyes. "You should forfeit," he stated coldly. "Fate has already determined this outcome. A failure cannot defeat a genius."

Naruto regarded him calmly. "If that's true, why are you so angry, Neji? If everything is predetermined, why do you rage against your own clan? Your beliefs contradict themselves."

The Hyuga's eyes narrowed. "You know nothing of my clan or its cruelties."

"I know about the caged bird seal," Naruto replied, surprising Neji. "I know about your father's sacrifice. But I also know that hiding behind 'fate' is easier than acknowledging you have the power to change things."

"Enough talk," Neji snapped, settling into the Gentle Fist stance. "Let me show you reality."

The battle that followed was a carefully orchestrated display. Naruto allowed Neji to land several hits initially, demonstrating the Gentle Fist's ability to close chakra points. The crowd gasped as Naruto appeared to lose access to his chakra network, seemingly defeated.

Then, right on cue, he channeled Kurama's chakra—red energy visibly reopening his blocked pathways, healing internal damage, surrounding him in a crimson shroud that made even the stoic Hyuga step back in surprise.

"What is this power?" Neji demanded, Byakugan revealing the foreign chakra racing through Naruto's system.

"The power to reject your fate," Naruto replied, moving with enhanced speed that pushed the boundaries of what the audience could follow. "The power to write my own destiny!"

The final exchange was spectacular but measured—Naruto using shadow clones to distract while he burrowed beneath the arena floor, emerging to land an uppercut on the unsuspecting Hyuga that sent him flying. Decisive but not superhuman, impressive but not impossible.

As Genma declared him the winner, the stadium erupted in surprised cheers. In the Kage viewing box, Naruto sensed the disguised Orochimaru—posing as the Kazekage—lean forward with increased interest.

"Most unexpected," the infiltrator murmured to the Third Hokage. "The Nine-Tails boy has grown significantly under your care."

Hiruzen smiled diplomatically, though his eyes remained sharp. "Naruto has always been full of surprises."

The tournament continued with Shikamaru's strategic battle against Temari, ending in his characteristic forfeit despite having the upper hand. When it came time for Sasuke's match against Gaara, tension built as the Uchiha remained absent.

Just as the proctors were about to disqualify him, Sasuke arrived in a swirl of leaves alongside Kakashi, fashionably late but transformed by his month of training. His eyes were sharper, his stance more confident, and the cursed seal visible at the edge of his collar seemed contained by additional sealing marks.

The match that everyone had been waiting for began immediately. Gaara's sand against Sasuke's new speed—clearly modeled after Lee's taijutsu but enhanced with the Uchiha's natural grace and Sharingan precision. As Sasuke drove Gaara into defensive measures, forcing the redhead to encase himself in a sphere of sand, Naruto recognized the signs of the planned invasion beginning to unfold.

From his position in the stands, he sensed the subtle genjutsu beginning to spread over the audience—a technique designed to put civilians to sleep while ninja maintained consciousness through chakra disruption. He dispelled it effortlessly, as did the other trained shinobi, while watching Sasuke prepare his trump card.

Lightning gathered in Sasuke's hand, chirping like birds—the Chidori, Kakashi's original assassination technique, now wielded by his student. As the Uchiha charged Gaara's sand sphere, piercing through its defenses, an inhuman scream erupted from within.

"BLOOD! MY BLOOD!"

It was the trigger. Feathers fell across the arena as the sleeping genjutsu intensified. Explosions rocked the Kage viewing box as the disguised Orochimaru revealed himself, taking the Third Hokage hostage. Sound and Sand ninja emerged from disguised positions, attacking Leaf shinobi in a coordinated assault.

The invasion had begun.

Gaara, wounded and psychologically shattered by Sasuke's attack, was quickly escorted from the arena by his siblings. Sasuke, driven by competitive fury and unaware of the larger invasion context, pursued them immediately.

Kakashi appeared beside Naruto in the stands, deflecting kunai from attacking Sound ninja. "Naruto! Sasuke's gone after Gaara. I need you to follow him—this is bigger than their match. That Sand ninja is... like you, but unstable. Sasuke doesn't understand what he's chasing."

"On it," Naruto nodded. "What about the village?"

"The jonin will handle the invasion. You focus on stopping Sasuke before he gets himself killed," Kakashi ordered, already turning to engage multiple attackers. "Take Sakura and Shikamaru for backup. Go!"

Naruto quickly located his teammates and explained the situation. With Shikamaru's reluctant agreement and Sakura's worried determination, they set off after Sasuke, following the trail of disturbed foliage and sand residue through the forests surrounding Konoha.

As they traveled, Naruto reached out to Daishinkan through their mental connection.

'The invasion has begun as you predicted. Sasuke is pursuing Gaara, and we're following them both. Do I proceed with the plan?'

"Yes," came the Grand Priest's serene reply. "This encounter with the One-Tail's jinchūriki provides the perfect opportunity for your next revelation. When Shukaku emerges, you must counter with Kurama's power—visibly and dramatically. The display will further cement your narrative as someone drawing power from the Nine-Tails rather than cosmic sources."

'And the Third Hokage?'

There was a brief pause. "His fate is sealed in the current timeline. Your intervention would create ripples we cannot afford at this stage. Focus on your assigned role."

The cold calculation of this directive stirred something uncomfortable in Naruto. Hiruzen Sarutobi had been one of the few adults who had shown him kindness in his early years. To knowingly allow his death...

'There must be a way to save him without disrupting the timeline,' Naruto pressed.

"The Third's sacrifice creates necessary conditions for future events," Daishinkan replied, his tone gentle but firm. "His death enables Tsunade's return, Jiraiya's increased involvement in your life, and consequently creates openings for your continued training. Some pieces must be sacrificed to advance the greater strategy."

The chess metaphor wasn't lost on Naruto. As they leaped through the trees pursuing Sasuke and Gaara, he wrestled with the moral implications. Was this what becoming a cosmic entity meant—viewing mortal lives as mere pieces on a board? Was this the kind of successor Zeno needed?

"YOU'RE STILL THINKING LIKE A HUMAN," Kurama commented in his mind, sensing his internal conflict. "THE BLUE ONE SEES ACROSS DIMENSIONS AND TIMELINES. PERHAPS THE OLD MAN'S DEATH SERVES PURPOSES BEYOND YOUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING."

'Or perhaps this is exactly why Zeno needs a successor who remembers what it means to value individual lives,' Naruto countered. 'I'll follow the plan regarding Gaara, but I'm not convinced about abandoning the Third.'

Their pursuit was interrupted when they encountered Kankuro, who stayed behind to delay them. Shikamaru volunteered to handle the puppet master, allowing Naruto and Sakura to continue after Sasuke.

"This is such a drag," the Nara sighed as he dropped from the branch. "But I guess somebody has to do it. Don't die, Naruto."

"You either," Naruto replied with genuine concern for his friend. According to Daishinkan's timeline, Shikamaru would survive, but seeing these events unfold in real time—knowing these were real people, not just plot points in a cosmic plan—reinforced the humanity Naruto fought to maintain.

Further ahead, they encountered Temari, similarly determined to slow their pursuit. Naruto made a quick decision.

"Sakura, I need you to hold her off," he said. "I have to reach Sasuke before he confronts Gaara fully transformed."

"But she's a long-range fighter, and I'm not—" Sakura began.

"You're smarter than she is," Naruto cut her off. "And more determined. I believe in you."

The words weren't merely calculated encouragement. Despite knowing these events were following a predetermined path in Daishinkan's timeline, Naruto felt genuine concern for his teammates—human connections that his cosmic training had tempered but not eliminated.

Leaving Sakura to face Temari, Naruto accelerated, no longer needing to match his teammates' pace. He moved with enhanced speed that would raise eyebrows but not set off alarms—faster than a typical genin but not impossibly so.

He arrived at a clearing to find Sasuke on his knees, clutching his shoulder in pain as the cursed seal spread across his skin. Before him stood a half-transformed Gaara, his right side covered in sand that had formed into a massive arm with blue veins, his face partially transformed into the One-Tail's visage.

"Sasuke!" Naruto landed beside his teammate. "You okay?"

"Stay back," Sasuke grunted. "This guy... he's a monster."

"Takes one to know one," Naruto muttered, facing Gaara.

The Sand jinchūriki's partially transformed face twisted in a grotesque grin. "More prey... Mother will have plenty of blood today!"

"Mother?" Naruto questioned, though he already knew the tragedy of Gaara's upbringing from Daishinkan's briefings. "You mean Shukaku."

Gaara's mismatched eyes widened slightly. "You... you know?"

"More than you think," Naruto replied, allowing a hint of Kurama's chakra to surface around him—red energy crackling in deliberate contrast to Gaara's sandy transformation. "I'm like you, Gaara. I carry a burden too."

"No... NO!" Gaara clutched his head, sand whirling around him frantically. "You're nothing like me! I am alone! I fight only for myself! I love only myself!"

"And how's that working out for you?" Naruto asked softly. "Has killing everyone who comes near you made you happy? Has 'loving only yourself' filled the void?"

"SHUT UP!" Gaara roared, the transformation accelerating, sand enveloping more of his body. "I'll kill you to prove my existence!"

As the sand jinchūriki attacked, Naruto moved with carefully measured ability—fast enough to evade the initial assault but not so fast as to appear supernatural. He created shadow clones that attacked in coordinated formations, demonstrating tactical acumen that impressed even the exhausted Sasuke watching from the sidelines.

But Gaara's transformation continued to advance, his human form increasingly hidden within Shukaku's sandy manifestation. When a massive arm of sand slammed Sasuke into a tree, knocking him unconscious, Naruto stopped holding back quite so much.

"Alright," he said, allowing Kurama's chakra to flow more visibly around him, forming the beginning of a chakra cloak. "Let's show him what a real Tailed Beast can do, Kurama."

"ABOUT TIME," the fox growled with anticipation. "THIS RACCOON NEEDS TO LEARN HIS PLACE."

Red chakra erupted around Naruto, forming a fox-shaped shroud with a single tail. His features sharpened, nails extending into claws, whisker marks deepening, eyes turning crimson with slitted pupils. To observers, it would appear the Nine-Tails was influencing him—a controlled version of the berserk state Gaara was experiencing.

What no one could see was Naruto simultaneously channeling minute amounts of ki through his chakra network, enhancing his physical abilities beyond what even the Nine-Tails' chakra could provide while maintaining the appearance of purely drawing on Kurama's power.

The battle escalated dramatically. Gaara completed his transformation into Shukaku's full form—a towering tanuki of sand that dwarfed the surrounding trees. Naruto, maintaining his controlled narrative, bit his thumb and performed the summoning technique Jiraiya had taught him.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Gamabunta appeared beneath him in an explosion of smoke, matching Shukaku's imposing size. The chief toad assessed the situation immediately.

"THE ONE-TAIL, EH? YOU DON'T START SMALL, DO YOU KID?"

"Sorry for the trouble," Naruto replied from atop the toad's head. "But we need to stop him before he reaches the village."

What followed was a spectacular battle visible for miles—two massive beings clashing in the forest, uprooting trees and reshaping the landscape. When Gaara emerged from Shukaku's forehead and used his Forced Sleep Technique to let the One-Tail's personality take control, the tanuki's maniacal laughter echoed across the forest.

"I'M FREE! FREE TO KILL AGAIN!"

"I need to wake Gaara up," Naruto told Gamabunta. "Can you get me close enough to hit him?"

"TRICKY, BUT DOABLE. HANG ON TIGHT!"

The final clash came as Gamabunta transformed briefly into the Nine-Tailed Fox—a psychological tactic to grip Shukaku—allowing Naruto to leap toward the sleeping Gaara. Landing a solid punch to the redhead's face, Naruto disrupted the forced sleep technique, causing Shukaku to howl in frustration as his consciousness was forced back into submission.

As the sand construct crumbled around them, both jinchūriki fell through the forest canopy, exhausted but still conscious. They landed on separate branches, facing each other with the last of their energy.

"Why..." Gaara gasped, his normally emotionless face showing confusion. "Why are you so strong?"

Naruto met his gaze steadily. "Because I'm not fighting just for myself. I have people precious to me now. Friends who acknowledge me for who I am."

"Friends... precious people..." Gaara repeated the concepts as if they were foreign languages.

With the last of his strength, Naruto leaped toward Gaara, landing beside the weakened Sand ninja. Instead of attacking, he simply sat down.

"We're alike, you know," he said quietly. "Both vessels for powerful beings. Both hated and feared for something we didn't choose. The difference is, I found people who saw past the monster. You can too, Gaara."

The redhead stared at him in disbelief. "After everything I've done... how could anyone..."

"Your siblings are worried about you," Naruto said, sensing Temari and Kankuro approaching cautiously through the forest. "They came back for you despite their fear. That's a start."

As the Sand siblings reunited—Temari and Kankuro surprised by Gaara's subdued demeanor and shocking request for help—Naruto reflected on the parallels between their lives. In another timeline, without Daishinkan's intervention, he might have ended up like Gaara—consumed by loneliness and hatred.

Instead, he was becoming something beyond human comprehension—a bridge between mortal understanding and cosmic power. Yet moments like this, connecting with another person through shared suffering and hope, reminded him why his humanity remained essential to that role.

Sakura and a recovered Sasuke found him shortly after, both showing injuries from their respective battles but alive. As they made their way back toward Konoha, smoke rising from parts of the village confirmed what Naruto already knew—the invasion had been costly.

And the Third Hokage, the old man who had shown kindness to a lonely jinchūriki child, was among those costs.

The funeral for the Third Hokage took place under heavy rain—whether natural or influenced by the collective grief of a village was impossible to determine. Naruto stood among the mourners in formal black attire, his expression solemn as he placed a white flower on the memorial.

Despite Daishinkan's cosmic perspective on the necessity of Hiruzen's sacrifice, Naruto felt genuine grief. The old man had been one of his first connections, one of the few who had seen him as a child rather than a monster or a weapon. That such bonds still affected him despite years of preparation for his eventual ascension was both troubling and reassuring—evidence that his humanity persisted alongside his growing cosmic awareness.

After the ceremony, as the crowd dispersed, Jiraiya approached him.

"The old man cared about you a great deal," the Sannin said, unusually subdued. "He always believed you'd surpass all the Hokage someday."

"Did you believe that too?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya studied him with uncharacteristic seriousness. "I'm beginning to. Your performance against Gaara was... impressive. Reports say you summoned Gamabunta and matched a fully transformed jinchūriki."

"I had help," Naruto deflected modestly.

"From the Nine-Tails, yes," Jiraiya nodded. "But controlling that power takes exceptional mental fortitude. Most would have been consumed by it."

They stood in silence for a moment, rain pattering on their umbrellas.

"I have a mission," Jiraiya finally said. "The village needs a new Hokage, and the council has nominated my old teammate, Tsunade. I've been tasked with finding her and convincing her to return. I want you to come with me."

"Me? Why?" Naruto asked, though he already knew the answer from Daishinkan's timeline.

"Several reasons," Jiraiya replied. "You could use the training opportunity away from the village. And..." he hesitated, "there are people who might come looking for you—dangerous people interested in the Nine-Tails. It's safer if we travel together."

Naruto nodded, understanding the reference to the Akatsuki—the organization hunting jinchūriki that would play a significant role in upcoming events. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. Pack for a few weeks of travel."

As Jiraiya departed, Naruto sensed another presence watching him—Sasuke, standing beneath a nearby tree, his expression unreadable. The Uchiha had been unusually quiet since the invasion, processing his own inadequacy against Gaara and his growing suspicion about Naruto's abilities.

That night, before meeting Daishinkan for training, Naruto visited Sasuke at the Uchiha compound. He found his teammate on the dock where Sasuke often sat, staring at the lake reflecting moonlight.

"You're leaving the village," Sasuke stated without turning around.

"Just for a while," Naruto confirmed, sitting beside him. "A mission with Jiraiya."

"To find the next Hokage."

"You've been keeping informed."

Sasuke finally looked at him, Sharingan activated, studying Naruto as if trying to see through him. "During the invasion, when you fought Gaara... that power wasn't normal."

"No," Naruto agreed. "It wasn't."

"Is it the Nine-Tails? The villagers' whispers about you containing a demon—they're true, aren't they?"

Naruto nodded. "The Fourth Hokage sealed the Fox inside me when I was born. It's why the adults feared me, why I was alone."

"And now you can control its power," Sasuke concluded, his voice tight with an emotion Naruto recognized as envy. "That's how you've advanced so quickly."

"It's part of it," Naruto admitted carefully. "But not the whole story."

"What's the rest?"

Naruto hesitated. Daishinkan had cautioned against revealing too much too soon, but Sasuke was already piecing things together. A partial truth might satisfy him temporarily.

"I've had... guidance," he said finally. "Training that goes beyond what the Academy or even Kakashi could provide."

"From who?" Sasuke demanded.

"I can't tell you that yet," Naruto replied. "But someday, when the time is right, I'll explain everything."

Sasuke's fists clenched in frustration. "More secrets. More power that I can't reach. First Itachi, now you..."

"This isn't a competition, Sasuke."

"Isn't it?" the Uchiha challenged bitterly. "We're ninja. Power is everything in our world. Without it, we can't protect what matters or avenge what's lost."

Naruto studied his teammate thoughtfully. In cosmic terms, Sasuke was inconsequential—a brief life in one small dimension among infinite realities. Yet in human terms, he was Naruto's first true rival, possibly even friend. The connection between them, complex and often antagonistic, remained important despite Naruto's growing detachment from human concerns.

"There are many kinds of power," Naruto said finally. "What you're seeking—the power to kill your brother—is just one type. There are powers beyond it."

"Like what?"

"The power to create rather than destroy. The power to understand rather than dominate. The power to transcend the cycles of hatred that trap us all," Naruto replied, drawing on cosmic perspectives while translating them into terms Sasuke might comprehend.

Sasuke scoffed. "Philosophy won't help me against Itachi."

"Maybe not," Naruto conceded. "But blindly pursuing revenge might cost you everything else."

They sat in silence for a while, the gap between their perspectives seeming to widen despite their physical proximity. Finally, Sasuke spoke again.

"When you return with this new Hokage... fight me."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I need to know where I stand," Sasuke replied, his voice resolute. "How far I still have to go. And you need to stop holding back."

After a moment's consideration, Naruto nodded. "Alright. When I return, we'll fight. But Sasuke... be careful while I'm gone. There are forces at work beyond what you understand."

"I could say the same to you," Sasuke replied, finally deactivating his Sharingan. "Whatever power you're gaining, whatever secrets you're keeping... don't lose yourself to them."

The warning was ironic coming from someone consumed by revenge, yet it touched something in Naruto. As he left the Uchiha compound, he wondered if perhaps Sasuke sensed more than he realized—the gradual transformation that was distancing Naruto from his humanity, preparing him for a cosmic role beyond this dimension.

Later that night, in the infinite space between realities, Naruto knelt before Daishinkan with troubled thoughts.

"The timeline continues as foreseen," he reported. "Jiraiya has invited me to search for Tsunade, and Sasuke grows increasingly suspicious of my abilities."

"All proceeds as necessary," Daishinkan nodded. "Your journey with Jiraiya will provide opportunity for further growth in your public narrative while creating distance from the Uchiha during his critical development period."

"He challenged me to a fight upon my return," Naruto added.

"As expected. That confrontation will serve as a catalyst for his eventual defection to Orochimaru—a necessary step in his path."

Naruto frowned slightly. "You speak of him as if his fate is already written, as if he has no choice."

"In the grand design of the multiverse, few truly have choice," Daishinkan replied serenely. "Most follow the paths of probability laid before them, believing themselves free while responding predictably to stimuli and circumstance."

"Then what of my choices? Are they merely illusions as well?"

The Grand Priest's expression softened slightly. "You are different, Naruto. As our chosen successor, you exist at a nexus of possibilities. Your growing awareness of cosmic realities grants you perspectives others lack. With that awareness comes true choice—the ability to perceive and potentially alter causal pathways."

"Then could I choose to save Sasuke from his path toward darkness?"

"You could attempt it," Daishinkan acknowledged. "But consider this: in infinite dimensions, infinite versions of Sasuke Uchiha exist. Some find redemption, others fall to darkness, still others never experience tragedy at all. Your intervention might alter this particular Sasuke's path, but at what cost to your own?"

Naruto contemplated this cosmic perspective. The idea that infinite versions of everyone existed across dimensions—that for every life he might save, countless identical lives continued in other realities—was both liberating and troubling. It suggested both the ultimate significance and insignificance of individual choices.

"If all possibilities exist somewhere," he questioned, "then what purpose does any action serve? Why build a successor to Zeno if, in some dimension, the perfect successor already exists?"

Daishinkan tapped his staff once, transforming their surroundings to reveal the infinite multiverse—countless realities existing simultaneously, some nearly identical, others wildly divergent.

"Because while all possibilities exist somewhere," the Grand Priest explained, "not all possibilities exist everywhere. Lord Zeno oversees all dimensions, all timelines. His successor must transcend not just one reality but all of them, understanding the cosmic balance that maintains existence itself."

"And that's what I'm becoming."

"That is what you are already becoming," Daishinkan corrected. "Your transition is further along than you realize. The human concerns that still trouble you—the fate of one friend, the death of one leader—these are natural remnants of your origin. But observe how you already think in terms of timelines and cosmic necessity. You grieve the Third Hokage yet understand why his death serves greater purpose."

Naruto wasn't entirely comfortable with this assessment. "Is compassion for individual lives merely a 'remnant' to be discarded?"

"Not discarded," Daishinkan's voice remained gentle. "Transformed. Expanded beyond individuals to encompass all existence. Lord Zeno can erase universes without remorse not from cruelty but from a perspective beyond mortal understanding. Your human experience will temper that power with wisdom, allowing you to comprehend both cosmic necessity and individual value."

It was a delicate balance—maintaining enough humanity to temper godlike power while transcending human limitations enough to wield that power responsibly. As their training session concluded, focusing on energy manipulation at the quantum level, Naruto wondered if anyone had ever successfully walked such a line.

The journey with Jiraiya began the next morning, as they departed through Konoha's gates with minimal fanfare. For the first few days, they traveled in companionable silence broken by occasional training sessions where Jiraiya refined Naruto's control over the Rasengan.

As they approached a sizeable town known for its gambling establishments—a likely location for Tsunade given her notorious habits—Jiraiya broached a more personal subject.

"Kid, there's something we should discuss before we find Tsunade," the Sannin said as they checked into an inn. "Something about your parents."

Naruto carefully maintained a neutral expression, though internally he was calculating exactly how much Jiraiya might reveal and how he should respond. "My parents? You knew them?"

Jiraiya nodded, his usually jovial demeanor replaced with solemn seriousness. "Your father was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage."

Naruto allowed his eyes to widen appropriately, feigning shock though Daishinkan had revealed this information years ago. "The Fourth? The one who..."

"The one who sealed the Nine-Tails inside you, yes," Jiraiya confirmed. "He couldn't ask another parent to sacrifice their child if he wasn't willing to sacrifice his own."

"And my mother?"

"Kushina Uzumaki. A remarkable woman from the Land of Whirlpools. Strong-willed, fierce, and..." Jiraiya hesitated, "the previous jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails."

This information, while not new to Naruto, still carried emotional weight. Hearing it from someone who had known his parents personally made the abstract knowledge more concrete, more human.

"Why keep this secret from me?" he asked, allowing genuine emotion to color his voice.

"Your father had powerful enemies," Jiraiya explained. "The Third thought keeping your parentage secret would protect you until you were strong enough to protect yourself." The Sannin studied him thoughtfully. "Recent events suggest that time might be approaching faster than anyone anticipated."

Naruto nodded slowly, processing this official confirmation of what he'd long known. "Thank you for telling me."

"There's more," Jiraiya continued. "About the Nine-Tails, about the seal, about your heritage. But some of it should wait until you're a bit older, a bit more prepared."

"I understand," Naruto replied, though inwardly he noted the irony—this man worried about him being prepared for knowledge about the Nine-Tails when he was already training to succeed the God of everything.

That night, as Jiraiya investigated local gambling dens for signs of Tsunade, Naruto found himself contemplating his parents' legacy. In cosmic terms, they were insignificant—two brief lives in an infinity of possibilities. Yet their choices, their sacrifice, had set him on this unprecedented path.

Would they recognize what he was becoming? Would they approve of his transformation from human child to cosmic entity? Questions without answers, yet somehow still important to the part of him that remained their son.

The search for Tsunade continued for several more days, leading them through multiple towns until they received reliable information about a legendary sucker who matched her description. Along the way, Jiraiya continued Naruto's training while sharing carefully edited stories about his parents and their abilities.

As they approached the town where Tsunade had recently been sighted, Naruto sensed two powerful chakra signatures ahead—one blazing with barely contained fury, the other cold and analytical. Neither belonged to Tsunade.

"Jiraiya," he warned quietly, "we're being watched."

The Sannin nodded almost imperceptibly, having sensed the presence himself. "Keep walking normally. When I give the signal, create as many shadow clones as you can and scatter them in all directions."

They continued down the road toward town, maintaining casual conversation while Naruto extended his senses—a technique that appeared to be heightened ninja awareness but actually incorporated elements of the cosmic perception Daishinkan had taught him.

The figures emerged from the tree line ahead—two men in black cloaks decorated with red clouds. One towered over the other, his skin blue-gray, with gill-like facial markings and a massive sword wrapped in bandages. The other, smaller but somehow more threatening, had black hair, pale skin, and eyes that immediately activated into the three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Naruto Uzumaki," the Sharingan user stated coldly. "You'll be coming with us."

Jiraiya stepped protectively in front of Naruto. "Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. The murderer of his clan and the Monster of the Hidden Mist. I was wondering when Akatsuki would make their move."

Naruto studied Itachi with genuine interest. This was Sasuke's older brother, the prodigy who had massacred his entire clan yet spared his younger sibling. Daishinkan had explained his complex motivations—the sacrifice of his reputation and family to prevent greater bloodshed, the burden of playing the villain to protect the village and shape Sasuke's development.

Looking at him now, Naruto could see beyond the cold exterior to the profound exhaustion and hidden illness that was slowly killing him. In some ways, Itachi was as much a tool of greater forces as Naruto himself had once feared being—a parallel that wasn't lost on him.

"Jiraiya of the Sannin," Itachi acknowledged. "Your presence is... inconvenient. But not prohibitive."

"Now!" Jiraiya signaled, as Kisame lunged forward with his massive sword.

Naruto created dozens of shadow clones that scattered in every direction while Jiraiya rapidly performed hand signs, transforming the ground beneath them into a sticky substance that resembled a toad's digestive tract—his Toad Mouth Bind technique.

"You've both just stepped into the belly of the Mountain Toad," Jiraiya announced. "No one has ever escaped this technique."

Kisame struggled against the adhesive flesh closing around him, while Itachi remained eerily calm, his Sharingan morphing into a different pattern—the Mangekyo.

"Impressive," the Uchiha commented. "But insufficient."

Black flames erupted where he gazed—Amaterasu, the inextinguishable fire that burned anything in its path. The digestive tract walls recoiled as the flames ate through them, creating an escape route that Itachi and Kisame immediately utilized, disappearing into the distance.

"Black flames that can't be extinguished," Jiraiya muttered, carefully sealing the remnants into a scroll. "The legendary Mangekyo technique."

Naruto, who had observed the entire exchange with more comprehension than Jiraiya realized, found himself intrigued by the parallel between Amaterasu and certain cosmic destruction energies Daishinkan had shown him. The black flames were an impressive approximation of far greater powers, just as the Sharingan itself was a limited reflection of true dimensional perception.

"Who were they?" he asked, maintaining his role as the less-informed party. "What did they want with me?"

"They're part of an organization called Akatsuki," Jiraiya explained grimly. "S-rank missing nin who have joined forces for unknown purposes. But it seems clear one of those purposes involves capturing jinchūriki like yourself."

"For the Tailed Beasts?"

"Most likely. The combined power of all nine Bijuu would be... catastrophic in the wrong hands."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully. According to Daishinkan, Akatsuki's plans were far more complex than even Jiraiya realized—involving resurrection of ancient entities, divine eyes, and dimensional manipulation that approached cosmic levels. In the grand timeline, their activities served as crucial developments that would eventually reshape the entire ninja world.

"We need to find Tsunade quickly," Jiraiya decided. "And you need to accelerate your training. The fact that they're moving openly means they're confident in their abilities."

"I'm ready," Naruto replied with absolute certainty.

The town where Tsunade had been sighted was only a few hours' journey ahead. As they walked, Naruto considered the layers of irony in their mission. They sought Tsunade to become Hokage and help protect him from Akatsuki, unaware that he was being prepared for a role that would one day transcend not just the hidden villages but dimensions themselves.

The woman they sought was a legendary healer running from her past, while Naruto was gradually leaving his humanity behind to embrace a cosmic future. And Jiraiya, dedicated to protecting his student, couldn't possibly comprehend that the real transformation happening within Naruto had nothing to do with the Nine-Tails at all.

Layers within layers, all part of the grand design that Daishinkan had set in motion the night Naruto was born. As they approached the gambling town where destiny awaited in the form of a blonde-haired medical genius with a legendary temper, Naruto wondered how many more such layers remained to be revealed before his ascension was complete.

They found Tsunade exactly where Jiraiya expected—drowning her sorrows and gambling away money she didn't have in a sake bar on the edge of town. Her appearance belied her true age, the Transformation Technique maintaining her youthful facade so perfectly that only those with exceptional sensory abilities could detect the illusion.

Her assistant Shizune hovered nearby, clutching their pet pig Tonton and looking anxious as Tsunade ordered another bottle of sake despite her mounting losses. The scene was precisely as Daishinkan had described it, down to the specific gambling tokens arranged before the legendary Sannin.

The conversation that followed the initial tense reunion between former teammates proceeded along predicted lines. Jiraiya's offer of the Hokage position. Tsunade's bitter rejection, colored by the losses of her brother and lover. Her mockery of those who had died for the village, culminating in a statement that sent Naruto into calculated action.

"Only a fool would want to be Hokage."

Rising from his seat with practiced indignation, Naruto pointed dramatically at the medical ninja.