Naruto: "Huh?"
Naruto never thought that being without parents could actually be a kind of advantage?
In fact, it truly is.
Being an orphan means cutting off ties from the very root; especially for an orphan who hasn't experienced the warmth of a hundred families...
No one to long for or miss.
This is also why in so many fantasy and martial arts tales, the protagonists always start with parents being sacrificed and gaining boundless power...
Those without attachments indeed have something special about them.
"But, I don't know what I truly want..." Naruto crouched down and murmured to himself:
"Brother Aomi, you're right, I indeed don't care about how outsiders see me, but what should I do now?"
"Should I seek justice for my father and mother?"
Aomi shook his head noncommittally, and suddenly shouted sternly: "Naruto, tell me, what is it you most desire in your heart right now!"
Naruto was startled by Aomi's tone, and vivid memories flashed through his mind.
Without exception, they were all related to Aomi...
The day that changed his life began with Aomi's great power...
Although Naruto didn't know how impressive it was for Aomi to single-handedly understand all the Chakra natures, form transformations, and various Kekkeigenkai of the Ninja World...
But Naruto knew that the incredulous expression on his father, Namikaze Minato's face as the Fourth Hokage upon seeing this, explained that even the Hokage couldn't achieve such a feat and was shocked.
"I want to be as strong as you, Brother Aomi!" Naruto took a deep breath and responded to Aomi.
"Good."
Aomi nodded knowingly: "Then, I will teach you to become strong."
"Naruto, you must remember, neither I nor anyone else should interfere with your life with external factors. What you pursue must be from the depths of your own heart, not something others wish for you to achieve..."
"You should listen to my opinions and views critically, rather than believing without your own thought process."
Naruto nodded, seemingly understanding yet not fully.
However, in his little mind, he felt somewhat dissatisfied with Aomi's words...
Brother Aomi, does he think I don't trust him enough?
How could that be!
If not for Brother Aomi's appearance, he would still be anxiously immersed in the idea that he might be the reincarnation of a demon fox. He wouldn't have even met his dad and mom, or learned the dark truth of the village...
He was still foolishly dreaming of becoming a Hokage!
Others might not believe.
But Brother Aomi is someone he must believe in!
"Naruto, the first step of training, starts with you gathering Chakra. I will gradually correct your basic ninja deficiencies."
Aomi waved his hand, and the Nine-tails, who was by the side, walked over slowly, crouching beside Aomi, its narrow fox eyes scrutinizing Naruto in front of it.
Seeing the terrifying size of the Nine-tails, Naruto's heart skipped a beat.
He was both afraid of the Nine-tails and severely lacked self-confidence in his training...
He couldn't even grasp how to extract Chakra!
If Aomi knew he was this dense, would he still patiently teach him? Though Naruto felt that Aomi, as his friend, would never leave him just because of this small matter, it was still very embarrassing...
Naruto didn't want to see a look of disappointment in Aomi's eyes.
Naruto tried hard to recall the details the Ninja Academy teacher taught about extracting Chakra while he was asleep, striving to do it correctly...
Chakra surged out in waves!
"Well done, Naruto!"
Aomi loudly praised without reservation: "You are undoubtedly a genius!"
Naruto was dumbfounded.
Feeling the Chakra he had never extracted so smoothly, Naruto unconsciously cracked a slightly silly smile while in a daze.
"Naruto, your mother was a ninja of the Uzumaki Clan, proficient in advanced Fuinjutsu and Chakra Control... As her son, you possess the pure bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan and inherited her talent."
Aomi brushed the soft fur of the Nine-tails: "The reason why extracting Chakra used to be difficult for you was because you have this big fox within you, occasionally causing some trouble."
"Now that I'm here, no mischievous fox will interfere with you."
Naruto jumped in front of the Nine-tails.
"Huh? Big fox, why did you interfere with me before?"
Initially a bit afraid of the Nine-tails, seeing this fox being obedient under Aomi's hand, the fear in Naruto's heart vanished, daring to question this huge demon fox.
With Aomi around, the Nine-tails originally wanted to remain silent, but seeing Naruto's haughty look, it couldn't hold back and snorted out two long streams of white gas from its nostrils:
"Kid, you've imprisoned me in your body, yet you think I should cooperate with your training?"
After speaking, the Nine-tails cautiously sensed the force with which Aomi was rubbing its neck of destiny...
Good, it didn't change!
This means although Aomi wants to teach this kid, he's not spoiling him without restraint...
This adorable fox, after all, has some status too!
At least, sparring words with Naruto won't trigger Aomi's iron fist...
"Eh?"
Naruto was in a daze for a moment, realizing a flaw in the situation—that big fox's words actually made some sense...
"Alright, since you two are now one, you should move forward side by side."
Aomi lightly coughed:
"Naruto, although you have talent, some details in Chakra condensation are still not complete; your mobilization and integration of mental and physical strength are not harmonious, affecting both Chakra quality and extraction speed..."
"Look into my eyes, feel this mobilization."
Naruto met Aomi's gaze, and in the crimson eyes seemed to be an invisible magic power, making Naruto feel like his soul was leaving his body, watching himself from an audience's perspective as Aomi manipulated his body to condense Chakra in the most precise way.
And in this process, Naruto could also feel the detailed feedback from his body...
The Sharingan teaching method was first applied to Naruto.
After Aomi's guidance, Naruto, who first tasted the fulfillment and satisfaction of training, gathered Chakra repeatedly, continuously savoring the joy of progress.
This is the benefit of being led by the strong.
He won't go astray, and as long as he puts in effort, he will be rewarded...
Naruto was intensely focused on his training, absorbing Aomi's technique meticulously, tiny beads of sweat forming on his nose, yet he remained oblivious.
And the Chakra he extracted became increasingly pure and of high quality...
Nearby, the Nine-tails drooped its tail, watching this scene, its heart stirred.
Once upon a time, there was also an old man who taught it knowledge like this. Only at that time, the Nine-tails didn't listen well... Instead, the One-tailed and Eight-tails absorbed a bit, learning some Fuinjutsu techniques.
Sometimes, the Nine-tails also wondered.
If it had studied and trained well back then, would it not have been so powerless when facing that accursed Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama?
"What, do you also want to learn? Nine-tails..."
Aomi chuckled, gazing at the distracted Nine-tails, and softly said: "You have been too single-minded with your use of your own Chakra; indeed, you haven't unleashed its full potential."
"If you have this intention, I can teach you... Although when we first met, you tried to attack me, after all, our paths have crossed, it's a marvelous fate."
Aomi smiled while looking at the Nine-tails: "So, what do you say, call me Master, and I will treat you like I do Naruto..."
The Nine-tails' long ears twitched.
It didn't think a being like Aomi would lie or deceive it...
So does this mean Aomi truly intends to teach it?
At this moment, hearing these words, Naruto looked unhappily at the seemingly hesitant Nine-tails, and shouted: "Brother Aomi, don't teach this fox, just teach me!"
"Master! Please grant me the teachings!" The Nine-tails glared fiercely at Naruto, then turned with utmost respect to speak to Aomi.
Unlike the little brat Naruto...
The old and mature Nine-tails must seize this immense fortune and opportunity!