Chapter 22: One Year Later – The Omen Before the Uchiha Clan's Destruction
"Is this Nine-Tails chakra?"
Night had fallen. After finishing dinner and putting in hard work on chakra training, Naruto finally lay down to sleep.
Once his body entered deep sleep, his soul slipped into the inner space.
He was very glad that his soul could obtain so many things.
For example, this thin strand of orange chakra right now.
Because he had only just begun training, his own chakra was still extremely weak — merely a tiny thread. Therefore, the amount he could devour from the Nine-Tails was also just a matching thin strand.
Sitting on the ground, Naruto watched the two strands — one blue, one orange — slowly merge in his palm.
Blue and orange intertwined for a long time. When they finally fused completely, Naruto's eyes curved into a happy smile.
Although it was still too weak to be of much use, this was a beginning. Devouring the Nine-Tails in the future was no longer just an empty dream.
Once he had fully familiarized himself with the chakra cultivation path, Naruto sealed away the completely controlled chakra and left it inside this space.
Until he was ready, he could not show too much strength. Being a well-controlled Jinchuriki was exactly what the Third Hokage wanted.
"Sasuke, good morning!"
Once again arriving at school with Iruka, Naruto greeted Sasuke with a bright smile this time.
The classes remained the same. At lunch, Naruto received two extra heartfelt onigiri from Sasuke. The afternoon…
The days passed with little difference, except for the chakra that Naruto tamed and refined every night inside the seal space.
A little more each day…
...
A full year had passed.
Even though Naruto hadn't doubled his progress dramatically, the amount of chakra he had stored was now terrifyingly large.
In this one year, Naruto had grown rapidly. Finally, right before the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, he had caught up to Sasuke in height.
This was thanks to Iruka's consistent three meals a day and Sasuke's daily heartfelt onigiri…
As a certain moment drew closer, the atmosphere in certain parts of Konoha grew increasingly tense.
Occasional disputes among villagers would turn violent, but whenever the Uchiha Police Force appeared and arrested people, there were always voices in the crowd questioning them.
Once, twice, three times… After it happened enough times, the entire village began to develop different feelings toward the Uchiha clan.
Rumors, in many cases, were extremely effective.
"Idiot, you're such a moron!"
Sasuke's still slightly chubby baby face puffed up in anger. He had knocked Naruto down again, but he felt no sense of accomplishment at all.
Because Naruto's stomach was once again growling loudly…
"It's not my fault… Iruka-sensei asked for leave again today, and he didn't give me any money…"
Naruto sat on the ground, clutching his stomach.
He hadn't expected this either. Iruka had suddenly fallen ill, so for the past two days Naruto had been surviving only on the two onigiri Sasuke secretly gave him at lunch.
Because Iruka had been preparing all his meals every day for the past year, Naruto hadn't touched money at all during that time.
"Then why don't you just go to the hospital to find Iruka-sensei?"
Sasuke still had no resistance against Naruto's pitiful big eyes. But they were at school right now. Although it was after-class training, he hadn't performed well in today's assessment and wanted to practice a little longer.
The atmosphere at home had been very strange lately. His brother barely came home anymore, and no one practiced with him…
At least at school, he had this idiot Naruto to train with. Even if Naruto wasn't much help, it was better than training alone.
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