The moment their fists met, the Chakra of the man and the fox merged into a single flow. This mental connection acted as a bridge, allowing their spirits to touch and communicate in the silent void of the mind.
Kurama searched for any sign of a lie or a hidden motive within Minato's heart. He expected to find the usual greed of a ninja, but he found nothing except a sense of pure and sincere kindness. It was a warmth that felt entirely genuine.
This realization left the Nine-Tailed Fox feeling completely lost for the first time in his long life. He had spent over $1,000$ years acting as a stubborn and hateful creature, yet this boy's lack of malice was disarming.
Minato spoke with a calm tone that masked his true, calculating nature. In my own world, I chose to set the Tailed Beasts free, but in this world, I intend to hand that specific responsibility over to Naruto.
He looked at the giant fox with a solemn expression. I want to ask you to guide him and lead him down the right path, Kurama.
The fox gave a light snort and shifted his massive weight, lying down on the floor of the seal. He turned his head away with an arrogant huff. Why should an old man like me help a kid like him? This brat is nothing like you. His heart is already consumed by a deep darkness.
Minato shook his head slowly. If I had been forced to live through the things Naruto has endured, my heart would likely be even darker than his. I do not see his darkness as a flaw or a mistake. Forgiving an enemy without any personal principles or a bottom line is not a sign of greatness. It is just being an idiot. My only hope is that he learns to care for the friends who treat him with sincerity. I want him to follow his own heart and act with a clear conscience.
Kurama's large ears twitched at these words, but he remained silent, refusing to look back at the young man.
So, I am really counting on you to look after him, Kurama.
The Nine-Tailed Fox suddenly let out a massive roar. Hey, stop talking to yourself like we are friends, you bastard! Despite the aggressive outburst, his body followed a different logic. He stopped actively interfering with the flow of Naruto's Chakra, allowing the boy's energy to stabilize.
Minato felt the shift in the seal's energy and let out a small, satisfied chuckle. He withdrew his consciousness and exited the Seal Space, returning to the physical world.
Go ahead and try it again, Naruto.
Naruto looked confused by the sudden instruction, but he chose to trust his new mentor. He focused his mind and formed the necessary hand seals. Clone Technique!
A small cloud of white smoke appeared. Poof!
This time, the result was not a pathetic, limp figure on the ground. A perfect Clone stood next to him, looking exactly like the original boy. Naruto stared at it for a second before jumping into the air with a loud cheer.
I did it! I actually did it! Naruto ran over and grabbed Minato's hand with pure excitement. Minato, how did you make that happen? It feels like my Chakra is suddenly so much easier for me to use!
That is a secret for now. You will have to explore the reasons behind that bit by bit as you grow older. Minato raised his index finger to emphasize his next point. You succeeded in making the technique work, but you wasted a massive amount of energy to do it. Your Chakra control is still very poor. That will be the primary goal of your cultivation from now on.
What do I need to do first? Naruto looked ready to start running immediately.
Minato pointed toward a large tree standing near the edge of the training ground. Do you see that tree over there? He walked toward it with a casual pace. While Naruto watched with a shocked expression, Minato placed his feet on the bark and walked straight up the side of the trunk. He stopped at the very top and looked down.
That is so cool! How are you standing like that? Naruto's eyes were practically sparkling with awe.
You must learn to distribute your Chakra evenly onto the soles of your feet. You need to find a perfect balance that is strong enough to support your entire body weight against gravity. Minato jumped down and landed softly in front of the boy. Do you want to give it a try?
Alright, just watch me! Naruto began to refine his energy, focusing as hard as he could. He took off at a sprint toward the tree.
Thump, thump, thump. He managed to take four steps up the trunk, but his control was messy. The Chakra on his feet became uneven, causing him to slip. He began to fall backward toward the hard ground.
Whoa! Naruto let out a panicked cry, but he didn't hit the dirt. Minato's hand caught him firmly before he could get hurt.
You need to be careful not to injure yourself during your training. Minato spoke with his usual gentle mask. This is the first stage of your lessons. Once I decide that you have qualified, I will teach you a very powerful $A$-rank Ninjutsu.
An $A$-rank Ninjutsu? Naruto's eyes went wide. What kind of technique is it? Can I see what it looks like?
Minato nodded. I suppose I can show you. To give the boy some proper motivation, he held out his hand. His Chakra began to spin and compress in his palm, forming a glowing azure sphere of pure energy.
This technique is known as the Rasengan. Just watch closely so you can understand its true power. Minato stepped forward and slammed the spinning ball into the side of the tree.
Boom! The air roared as the Rasengan made contact. The wood splintered and twisted under the pressure. When the smoke cleared, there was a deep, perfectly circular crater carved into the trunk.
So he really is using Sensei's Rasengan. Kakashi watched from the side, a small smile appearing in his eyes as he witnessed the legacy being passed down.
That is so powerful! Naruto was vibrating with excitement. Hey, Minato, just teach me how to do that right now!
Minato shook his head firmly. No. This technique demands an incredible level of Chakra control. At your current level, you would fail at the very first step. Learning Ninjutsu requires you to stay grounded and patient. Even though my own talent is a bit higher than average, there are no shortcuts to mastery. However, I can teach you a method to speed up your learning process.
Naruto's face lit up instantly. What kind of shortcut?
Minato formed a single hand seal. With a poof of smoke, an identical version of himself appeared standing right next to him.
Is this just another Clone? Naruto tilted his head, looking confused.
This is the Shadow Clone Technique, which was originally created by the Second Hokage. This is a physical Clone that can think and act on its own. Minato explained the mechanics with a serious face. When a Shadow Clone is dispelled, its memories and experiences return to the original body through a feedback of Chakra. If you cultivate alongside a Clone, you will gain double the experience in the same amount of time.
He continued the logic. If you were to use $1,000$ Shadow Clones, you would gain $1,000$ times the experience. A single day of training for a thousand Clones is roughly equal to $3$ years of work for a normal person.
Oh, oh, oh! Naruto was so excited he could hardly stand still. Then teach it to me quickly! I want to learn it now!
Don't be in such a rush. This method has very dangerous drawbacks. Minato shook his head to calm the boy down. First, most people do not have enough Chakra to even attempt this kind of training. Second, while the experience returns to you, the physical and mental fatigue also accumulates. If you push yourself too hard, you could lose your mind or even die from the sudden drain on your system.
Naruto's expression became solemn. Even he understood the weight of that warning.
Do you still want to learn it? Minato asked.
Yes! Naruto nodded with a serious look in his eyes. I want to become—
You don't need to tell me your reasons. Minato waved his hand, cutting the boy off mid-sentence. Naruto froze, looking surprised by the interruption.
Minato offered a small, cold chuckle. I am not really interested in your ideals or your dreams. The things that most people spend their lives pursuing are already within my reach, so I find it hard to empathize with those goals. In my opinion, it is enough if you just focus on being yourself.
Naruto didn't quite understand the meaning behind those words, but Kakashi did. He noticed that this version of his teacher had a personality that felt sharper and more arrogant than the Minato he remembered. He wondered if his Sensei had always been this confident when he was younger. He scratched his head and kept watching the training.
As Minato had predicted, Naruto had a natural affinity for this specific technique. In less than $10$ minutes, Naruto produced a loud poof of smoke. A Shadow Clone appeared, successfully holding half of the boy's total Chakra.
I did it! This is amazing! Naruto began running in circles around his Clone. The Clone started hopping and skipping along with him, looking just as lively as the original. The great Uzumaki Naruto is definitely a genius!
That is not bad at all. Minato nodded in approval. Now, this is your next goal.
He formed a series of hand seals. A massive cloud of smoke exploded across the entire training ground. When the air cleared, $1,000$ Shadow Clones of Minato had completely surrounded the two Narutos.
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