After leaving the Hokage's office, Naruto glanced at the ninja in the green vest walking beside him, feeling a mix of emotions. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei."
"Don't mention it," Iruka replied, giving him a thumbs-up. "Naruto, it's you who's truly amazing."
"Why did you do that, Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked. "You thought I was in the wrong, didn't you? And… you know about the rumor, that I'm the demon fox."
Iruka's expression grew wistful. "The demon fox, huh… Do you know, Naruto? We're actually very similar. I'm an orphan too. When I was at the academy, I would always do exaggerated, stupid things to get attention. But back then, I was miserable. Every night, I couldn't help but cry in my empty room."
He paused, looking down at Naruto. "But Naruto, you must have suffered even more. I was just ignored, but you had to endure so much hatred and insults. I realize now that I wasn't doing enough. Despite having experienced it myself, I failed to understand your feelings."
Naruto turned his head away, hiding the slight redness in his eyes. Iruka placed a hand on Naruto's head, his tone becoming more spirited. "You know, Naruto, you're much more impressive than I ever was! I only learned to better myself after I graduated, with the guidance of my seniors and the Hokage, and after going through some tough experiences. But you're already doing that now. As your teacher, it's embarrassing to be outdone by you."
Naruto grinned sheepishly.
"That's the smile I like to see," Iruka said, gently patting Naruto's back. "You haven't smiled like this in a while. Keep smiling like that from now on."
He grew serious. "Even though people say what they say, I don't believe in that rumor. To me, you're not the demon fox. You're Naruto Uzumaki, a brilliant student of mine who will become a great ninja. Just like…"
Iruka paused, turning to gaze at the mountain in the distance, where the stone faces of the Hokage were carved. He continued, his voice solemn, as if proclaiming a destined future or making a heartfelt promise. "Just like the Fourth Hokage—a great and exceptional ninja."
Naruto followed Iruka's gaze, looking up at the mountain where his great father stood carved in stone. He was starting to dislike the words "great" and "exceptional."
After sharing a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen, courtesy of Iruka-sensei, Naruto returned home. He had no intention of training the newly acquired "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu" just yet. The events of the day played over in his mind. His view of Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't changed—while the Third Hokage didn't seem as malicious as he had feared, and while his care for Naruto was partly genuine, he was still hiding something crucial.
Iruka-sensei's actions, however, had been unexpected. It turned out there were people in Konoha who genuinely cared for him. Perhaps this village wasn't so bad after all. But still, he longed to return to the Soul Society. There was only one Iruka in Konoha, but there were many like him in the Shinō Academy.
Despite his search, Naruto still hadn't encountered the Shinigami he hoped to find. Tomorrow was the team assignment day. Maybe once he became a full-fledged ninja and gained more freedom, he'd have a better chance. Yet, for some reason, the connection between Konoha and the Soul Society made him uneasy. This restlessness urged Naruto to take up the sword hanging on his wall.
He hadn't brought it to school, as the academy didn't allow weapons other than kunai and shuriken. However, he practiced his swordsmanship every morning. Since he was feeling uneasy, he decided to burn off that tension through training—a method he often used to deal with his emotions.
But as soon as his hand touched the sword, it began to change. The blade remained the same length, still in the form of a katana, but its entire body turned a deep, ominous red. A long, fluffy red ribbon now hung from the hilt. A surge of unfamiliar knowledge flooded his mind—an incantation.
This sudden transformation left Naruto stunned. The name! He realized he had learned the Nine-Tails' name. Knowing the name and mastering its power—could it be that he didn't need his Zanpakutō to tell him its name? Could he gain its power by hearing it from someone else?
He gripped the hilt, feeling an entirely different sensation than when he had held his "Asauchi." His heartbeat, his life, his very soul resonated with the blade. This sword was now an extension of his chakra, of his spirit. There was no doubt—this was the transformation of his Zanpakutō achieving its Shikai.
But… wasn't the Nine-Tails supposed to be a sealed beast inside him? How could it become his Shikai, his inner strength?
Naruto sat down cross-legged, placing the sword on his knees. He entered "Jinzen," a meditation to delve into his inner world—the dark, dank sewer where the Nine-Tails was sealed.
"Hey, brat, long time no see," the Nine-Tails greeted, narrowing its eyes as it observed the unusually solemn blond boy. Its tone was almost cheerful. "You don't look too good."
Since the day it revealed that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son, he hadn't returned. The fox had eagerly anticipated the devastation that revelation would bring him.
"Your name is Nine-Tails?" Naruto asked, looking up.
The Nine-Tails wasn't surprised. "So what? Are you still clinging to that Zanpakutō nonsense?" It sneered, baring its teeth in a cruel grin. "'Nine-Tails' is indeed the name I'm most known by. But other than the other Tailed Beasts, who would know that each of us had a proper name given by someone we once considered family?"
Maybe the Zanpakutō was real, but "Nine-Tails" was not its true name. The thought of shattering the boy's belief in his spiritual weapon was thrilling to the fox.
"My Zanpakutō has achieved Shikai," Naruto said, stepping closer to examine the fox. "I've loosened the restraints on you. Feel for yourself."
The Nine-Tails paused, extending its senses. The strange sword had indeed changed, but that was the smallest part of the transformation. Its composition was no longer just Naruto's energy—there was now a part of the Nine-Tails within it too. Together, they had forged this blade.
"How fascinating," the Nine-Tails murmured, genuine curiosity gleaming in its eyes. "It's real, and yet I didn't feel any of my power being drained. What's the secret behind this?"
Naruto clenched his fist, speaking to himself as much as to the Nine-Tails. "The Soul Society isn't fake. But I hate you, Nine-Tails. Because of you, people have hated me all my life. Because of you, my father sacrificed himself for the village. I still don't understand why you were sealed inside me, or why you've become my spiritual power."
He raised his fist, the fog of confusion clearing from his mind. "But that doesn't matter! I'll make good use of your power. I'll find my father and mother, and then I'll understand everything."
The Nine-Tails swayed its tails, its golden eyes fixed on Naruto. This kid's personality wasn't like Minato's at all—he was more like that red-haired firebrand.
"Is that so?" It chuckled darkly. "Then show me what you can do."
Dark red chakra swirled around it. The fox didn't mind lending its power to Naruto—after all, that's what its Jinchuriki were for. But unlike those before him, Naruto was far more intriguing. A new world… A hero cast aside by the village… The Nine-Tails was already looking forward to the chaos that might unfold.
Naruto said nothing more, exiting his inner world. When he opened his eyes, he wasn't in the tidy little room he had kept clean. He was back in a classroom, facing a familiar teacher.
He was back! He had returned to the Soul Society!
The teacher immediately noticed Naruto's awakening, as well as the change in the sword resting on his lap. "Naruto, did you hear your Zanpakutō's name?" the teacher asked, his voice filled with surprise.
Naruto looked around, bewildered. Everything in the classroom was just as he had left it. No one seemed to notice his sudden "disappearance" or "reappearance." His gaze finally settled on his teacher's astonished face—the surprise was only directed at the change in his Zanpakutō. Just like in Konoha, time seemed to have frozen at the moment he left.
Why?
There was no time to ponder this. Naruto nodded in response to the teacher's question. "Sensei, I think I've achieved Shikai."
(End of Chapter)