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Inside the Seal
When Ichiro activated the One Tail Chakra Mode, a reaction stirred deep within Naruto's seal.
In the pitch-black confines of the Eight Sign Seal, a single slit of a fox eye opened, glowing faintly in the darkness.
"This scent… this is my chakra?" murmured the Nine-Tails, its massive fox face etched with confusion.
It sniffed the air, carefully analyzing the chakra emanating from outside.
"Strange," it muttered. "I haven't felt any of my chakra being extracted."
The fox's memories shifted back to when it had been split into Yin and Yang halves by Minato. The Yang portion was sealed inside Naruto, while the Yin portion was dragged into the Shinigami's belly with Minato's soul.
"Could it be… someone has released my Yin half?"
The Nine-Tails narrowed its fiery eyes, trying to sense the chakra more precisely.
"But this power feels… weak. Too weak to be my other half's true form."
It growled lowly, frustrated by its inability to fully understand the situation.
"Maybe the Yin half escaped, only to be sealed again and used to imitate my power."
The Nine-Tails sneered at the thought. "What a waste. If that's the case, I won't bother. Let the weaklings have their scraps. I'll wait for my real moment."
Satisfied with its deduction, the fox closed its eyes once more, returning to its slumber.
Sarutobi's Reaction
Back in the real world, Sarutobi Hiruzen was staring at Ichiro's One Tail Chakra Mode with thinly veiled awe.
The reddish aura swirled violently around Ichiro, and the single chakra tail behind him exuded malice and raw power.
"This sensation…" Hiruzen muttered, his hands trembling slightly. "This is indeed the Nine-Tails' chakra."
His greedy gaze flickered briefly before he regained composure, replacing it with a grandfatherly smile.
"Alright, Ichiro," Hiruzen said, his tone calm yet firm. "I've seen enough. Please suppress the chakra now."
Ichiro didn't miss the glint in the Hokage's eyes. A cold smirk played on his lips as he deactivated the chakra mode and relinquished control of the body.
Naruto's cheerful demeanor immediately returned as he regained control.
"Grandpa Third Hokage, wasn't that awesome?" Naruto said, grinning with pride.
"Indeed, Naruto," Hiruzen replied, his tone warm. "But remember, you need to work hard too. As the main personality, you can't let Ichiro leave you behind. You need to catch up and surpass him someday."
Naruto nodded earnestly. "I will, Grandpa! Fengxu said it's all my potential anyway, so I just need to train hard!"
Hiruzen felt a flicker of relief at Naruto's determination. Compared to the composed and disinterested Ichiro, Naruto was far easier to guide and control.
Graduation and Living Expenses
Hiruzen stood up and reached into his robe, pulling out an envelope.
"This is two months' worth of living expenses," he said, handing it to Naruto. "Think of it as a small graduation gift in advance."
Naruto's face lit up as he accepted the envelope. "Thanks, Grandpa Third Hokage! You're the best!"
Hiruzen chuckled softly. "Remember, Naruto, once you graduate and become a Genin, the village will no longer provide living expenses. You'll need to earn your keep by completing missions."
Naruto's excitement only grew. "Really? I'll get to do missions and earn bounties? That sounds awesome!"
Hiruzen smiled, adjusting his Hokage hat as he headed toward the door. "I'm glad you're excited. Just remember to work hard and take care of yourself. The village has its struggles, and we all need to contribute."
Naruto nodded enthusiastically as Hiruzen left. As soon as the door closed, he eagerly opened the envelope.
Naruto's Joy
"Wow! Two thousand ryo!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.
"That's enough for thirty bowls of Ichiraku Ramen!" he added, already salivating at the thought.
He carefully placed the money into the frog wallet Hinata had gifted him and lay down on his bed, humming happily.
"Fengxu, you mentioned a way to make money earlier," Naruto said, addressing Ichiro in his mind. "What's the plan?"
Ichiro smirked in the subconscious space. "Simple. Get me some paper and a pen. I'm going to write a novel."
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "A novel? You can write novels?"
"Stop doubting me," Ichiro said, his tone firm. "I know this world's market. Trust me, this will work."
Still skeptical, Naruto fetched the requested items. "Alright, show me what you've got!"
Ichiro's Writing
Taking control of the body once more, Ichiro sat at the desk and began writing.
The title read: Young Aito.
"Chapter 1: The Landlady."
He wrote, the pencil scratching against the paper as he vividly brought the story to life. The words flowed effortlessly from his mind, weaving a captivating tale.
Naruto, watching from the subconscious space, found himself drawn into the story despite his initial skepticism.
After two hours, Ichiro stopped writing, having completed ten chapters—roughly twenty thousand words.
"That's enough for now," Ichiro said, setting down the pencil.
Naruto's groan of disappointment echoed through the subconscious. "What? You're stopping? I want to know what happens next with Aming and the landlady!"
Ichiro smirked, satisfied with the reaction. "Good. That's exactly how readers will feel. Tomorrow, we'll get someone to deliver this manuscript to a publisher."
"Deliver it? Who?" Naruto asked, tilting his head.
Ichiro's tone grew thoughtful. "Your classmate Iruka's niece, Iris, should be able to help. She's one of the few people who's kind to you."
"Why not me?" Naruto asked, pouting slightly.
Ichiro shook his head. "The publishing house won't take you seriously. Trust me, this is the better way."
Though reluctant, Naruto agreed. "Fine. But you'd better finish the story soon!"
Ichiro smirked. "Don't worry, Naruto. This is just the beginning."
End of Chapter.
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