"Being as strong as the Hokage?" Naruto's eyes widened in excitement. "Does that mean I can become Hokage like Grandpa Hokage someday?"
"Argh!!!"
Naruto received a swift flick to the forehead from Whitebeard, which dispelled his transformation jutsu, causing Naruto to clutch his head and yelp in pain.
"Foolish son, don't aspire to be like that lousy Hokage!" Whitebeard scorned the Third Hokage for everything he did to Naruto, which indicated he wasn't a fit guardian. Especially now that Whitebeard had taken Naruto under his wing, his disdain for the Third Hokage had only grown.
Whitebeard was the only one who could openly call the Third Hokage a lousy person.
Kakashi twitched slightly at this, then turned his attention to Karin. Kakashi noticed her timid look, and asked, "Do you want to try?"
Karin glanced at Whitebeard, who was still scolding Naruto, and Naruto, who was obediently listening. Then she looked at her mother, Uzumaki Fusō, who gently stroked her head and said, "Go ahead. Kakashi-sensei is not like those ninjas from Kusagakure."
Karin nodded and walked over to Kakashi. Kakashi took out another piece of chakra paper, looking just as wrinkled, a sign it hadn't been well-kept. He then destroyed the piece of chakra paper Naruto had used earlier to prevent enemies from using it.
Karin tried to extract her chakra, a technique taught by her mother.
Soon, the new chakra paper reacted.
"Water and earth," Kakashi observed thoughtfully. "You are best suited to learn Water Style and Earth Style ninjutsu. Being an Uzumaki, you might also want to learn medical ninjutsu and the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques."
"Gurararara! Water and earth, huh?" Whitebeard's attention was drawn. He ruffled Karin's hair, messing it up as he laughed. "Seems my precious daughter is naturally suited for life at sea!"
Does having a water affinity make you suited for the sea? Kakashi didn't understand Whitebeard's straightforward logic.
Then Whitebeard suddenly turned to Kakashi and said, "White-haired brat, teaching one is teaching, teaching two is the same."
Kakashi realized something was off immediately.
"Your student roster now includes Karin!" Whitebeard clapped a heavy hand on Kakashi's shoulder, almost making him kneel from the weight.
"Gurararara! You wouldn't want to refuse, would you?"
Kakashi sighed, "I, Hatake Kakashi, have always enjoyed teaching." He forced a smile under his mask and looked at Karin. "You can join the lessons too."
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei!" Uzumaki Fusō said gratefully. "With guidance from a ninja of your caliber, Karin is sure to become an excellent kunoichi!"
The praise almost made Kakashi believe he was a good teacher. He sighed inwardly. Following the Third Hokage's orders had forced him onto a difficult path.
...
The next day, after a full day of ninjutsu training, Naruto began special training with Whitebeard. This training was different from the usual physical drills.
"Observation Haki?" Naruto asked, holding a piece of black cloth, confused.
"Dad, is this ninjutsu?"
In Naruto's mind, his dad wasn't a ninja, so how could he know ninjutsu?
"Foolish son!" Whitebeard flicked Naruto's head again, sending him tumbling.
Naruto's head had grown tougher from all the flicks, and this time, no bump appeared, a sign of progress in a way.
"Observation Haki isn't some flashy ninjutsu. It's a power from the sea!" Whitebeard clarified that this was not a ninja technique but a power beyond the ninja world.
"Not ninjutsu?" Naruto rubbed his head. "Is it taijutsu then?"
"It's sensory!" Whitebeard explained. "Once you master Observation Haki, it will be like having an extra 'eye.' This 'eye' allows you to sense the breath of all things, detect emotions, perceive through objects, and sense over a wide range."
"Byakugan?" Kakashi thought to himself, as the ability Whitebeard described sounded a lot like the Hyūga clan's Byakugan but more versatile.
Whitebeard continued, "There are three types of Haki: Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki. When I knock people out without touching them, that's Conqueror's Haki."
"I've explained Observation Haki. Armament Haki lets you create an invisible armor, increasing defense and attack power. Mastering Armament Haki can make your body harder than steel, impervious to ninja techniques."
Whitebeard's description of the three Haki types had Naruto's eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Amazing!"
Naruto grabbed Whitebeard's hand. "Dad! Teach me!"
"Gurararara! Today, I'll teach you Observation Haki!" Whitebeard's smile turned slightly mischievous.
Naruto didn't notice.
"Tie this black cloth over your eyes until you can't see anything." Whitebeard instructed.
"Got it, Dad!"
Naruto quickly followed.
In complete darkness, Naruto asked curiously, "Dad, what do I do next... Ah!!!"
Before Naruto could finish, he screamed.
This wasn't a yelp but a scream!
Because Whitebeard had picked up a rock and hurled it at Naruto.
Whitebeard's laughter sounded almost demonic.
"Gurararara!"
"Foolish son, this is how you train Observation Haki! I crushed a large stone into a thousand pieces just to teach you."
"Dodge to your heart's content!"
...
...