Fengxu's voice echoed again, cold and precise.
"I am the personality that carries the weight of those painful memories for you. Do you understand now?"
His tone was as chilling as the cold wind slicing through autumn air, leaving a sharp, unsettling feeling. Naruto recognized that tone—it was the same coldness he had seen countless times from the villagers. A heavy, dark expression fell over his face as his breathing grew labored.
"I… I understand," Naruto whispered. "And… I'm sorry, I…"
Deep down, Naruto had always suspected that someone—something—was bearing those emotions in his place. Now, faced with the truth, guilt surged within him, clouding his expression.
"I won't let you carry this alone anymore," Naruto continued, voice trembling with sincerity. "I'll help you—"
"How will you help me?" Fengxu interrupted with a sneer. "By making me the main personality while you hide in the background?"
Naruto froze, the weight of that suggestion pressing down on him like a boulder. He knew—he felt—from the brief glimpse of Fengxu's memories that someone had to bear the burden of those dark experiences. Yet the thought of doing so himself terrified him.
He hesitated, swallowing hard. If he gave control to Fengxu, would he ever get it back? Could he survive enduring those relentless, painful memories himself?
The confusion and guilt within Naruto deepened. He clenched his fists, torn between his fear and his desire to share the burden.
Fengxu felt every flicker of Naruto's inner conflict. He smirked inwardly, satisfied. Guilt is good. Guilt makes him easy to manipulate. He needed Naruto's trust—and, more importantly, Naruto's dependence.
Deciding it was time to reassure him, Fengxu softened his tone.
"Listen, Naruto. I'm not trying to take over your body—at least not now. Remember, I am you, and you are me. We are two halves of the same whole. If we fight each other, we only hurt ourselves. But if we work together, we can make this life better for both of us."
Fengxu's words were gentle, but calculated. He needed Naruto to feel safe and trust him—at least for now.
"You're still the main personality," he continued. "Even if I take control temporarily, you can take it back whenever you want. My job is to shoulder those dark emotions so you don't have to."
Naruto listened intently, and as Fengxu spoke, he gave Naruto limited access to his thoughts, allowing him to sense the truth in his words.
The weight lifted from Naruto's small shoulders, and his troubled expression melted into one of relief and joy. His blue eyes sparkled with new hope.
"So we're friends now!" Naruto exclaimed, beaming. "I'll let you out to play sometimes—but no hurting people, okay?"
Fengxu allowed a rare, faint smile to touch his lips.
The system chimed in.
[Host personality trust/dependence value: 21%]
Fengxu raised a brow in mild surprise. 21% already? He hadn't expected it to rise so quickly. At the same time, the murky atmosphere in the space of his consciousness began to lighten, and the oppressive weight that had been suffocating him eased.
Then the system delivered another prompt.
[Note: Initial trust can rise quickly, but it can also drop just as fast. Even a slight misstep could cause the value to plummet to 0%. Building both trust and dependence is crucial for long-term stability.]
Fengxu absorbed the message thoughtfully. So I can't rely on trust alone. I need to make him depend on me. The higher the dependence, the easier it would be to remain in control—permanently.
Naruto tilted his head in confusion, catching the tail end of Fengxu's thoughts.
"21%? What does that mean?"
Fengxu chuckled lightly. "I'm calculating how much better things will get for us."
Then, before Naruto could ask more questions, Fengxu added, "And stop calling me 'Naruto Number 2.' From now on, I'm Uzumaki Fengxu."
"Fengxu, huh? That sounds cool!" Naruto grinned with approval. "You're really smart. Of course, you are me, after all!"
Naruto's excitement grew as he looked expectantly at Fengxu. "So, what's the plan? Can you help me become Hokage? Or make the village like me?"
Fengxu sighed. "I can't make people like you just like that, and becoming Hokage isn't going to happen overnight."
Naruto's smile faltered slightly.
The system chimed again:
[Host personality trust/dependence value: 11%]
Fengxu inwardly cursed the drop but maintained his composure. "What I can do, though," he said, "is help you pass the graduation exam tomorrow."
Naruto's eyes lit up with joy, his previous disappointment gone in an instant.
"Really? You can help me pass? That's amazing!" Naruto leapt with excitement, practically vibrating with energy.
"This time, I'll pass for sure!" he cried out. "No more repeating grades!"
Naruto had failed the exam twice already. He started school earlier than most, but his lack of focus and struggles with basic ninjutsu left him repeating the same grade. Now, at 12, he was in the same class as Sasuke Uchiha, who had entered two years later. Passing the exam and becoming a Genin was all Naruto could think about now.
Fengxu smirked. Perfect.
"Alright," Fengxu said smoothly, "first, let's grab the cleaning tools for Hokage Rock. I'll guide you on what to do while we walk."
Naruto nodded eagerly. "Okay! Let's go!"
He dashed off toward the school storage room, ready to fetch the supplies. His mind buzzed with excitement, no longer dreading the cleaning punishment Iruka-sensei had given him.
Meanwhile, Fengxu tracked the time carefully. If my guess is right, Iruka will show up soon.
"Just follow my instructions," Fengxu whispered into Naruto's mind. "Trust me, and you'll pass the exam. You'll become a Genin for sure."
Naruto clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "Got it! I won't fail this time!"
Fengxu smiled inwardly. Step one complete. Soon, we'll be unstoppable.
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[This is translated version]
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