"Shadow Clone Technique? What's that?" Naruto asked suspiciously.
Naruto hadn't entered the Ninja Academy yet, so naturally, he didn't know anything about it.
Even after enrolling, his mischievous and inattentive personality made it difficult for him to retain such knowledge.
Kakashi wasn't surprised and began explaining patiently.
"Ah, the Shadow Clone is a B-rank ninjutsu. It's very powerful."
"What's B-rank ninjutsu?" Naruto scratched his head, still completely lost.
Alright, better to start from the beginning.
"A ninja's essential energy is chakra. I mentioned this yesterday. There are three main types of jutsu: ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. These are further ranked by difficulty and danger."
"They're categorized as D-rank, C-rank, B-rank, A-rank, and S-rank. The jutsu I'm going to teach you is B-rank. Got it?"
"Only B-rank? Doesn't sound that impressive."
"Don't get greedy, Naruto."
Kakashi gave Naruto a sharp look, and with a small jolt of pressure, Naruto immediately stood at attention and replied obediently, "Got it! I'll learn it!"
"That's more like it. Watch closely. This is the Shadow Clone Technique."
Kakashi formed a series of hand seals. His chakra surged and flowed with precision. With a poof of smoke, another Kakashi appeared beside him.
"Did you see that clearly, Naruto?"
Naruto was already dumbfounded, barely able to speak.
"Whoa… That's awesome. There's another white-haired guy now."
"Got it?" Kakashi asked again.
"Should I give it a try?"
Naruto was hesitant. It looked easy enough, but something about it felt off.
Still, he couldn't resist. He wanted to try.
"Alright, give it a shot."
Kakashi watched him, curious.
This jutsu would become Naruto's signature in the future—could he pull it off now?
Naruto saw the look of hope in Kakashi's eyes. He clenched his fists, silently hyping himself up.
"C'mon Naruto! You got this!"
Taking a deep breath, he shouted:
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Blue chakra exploded around him—far too much. The amount surpassed the usual needed for the technique.
Too much!
As expected, the jutsu failed.
A burst of smoke, and instead of a clone, a pale, deformed blob of a figure appeared next to him. For a moment, silence.
A breeze blew past. Naruto clutched his head and shouted, "Aaaaah! Why did I mess up? Why did I fail?!"
Kakashi sighed. As expected… He's still too young.
Seeing Kakashi's reaction, Naruto thought he had disappointed him. Panic set in.
No, I can't let White-Haired Bro down! If I do, I'll be alone again… No way!
"Brother White Hair, that was just a mistake! I can do it! Just give me one more chance!"
Naruto quickly formed the hand seals again, chakra flaring wildly.
"Haaaa!!"
Poof!
Another puff of white smoke. Another misshapen clone.
"Aaaahhh!! Again?! Why?!"
Naruto grasped his head in frustration, completely flustered.
Kakashi narrowed his right eye. Just now…
When Naruto attempted the jutsu, Kakashi sensed something unusual—Chakra from the Nine-Tails leaking through the seal.
"So… the Nine-Tails is already affecting him."
Kakashi reached a conclusion instantly.
"Alright, Naruto. That's enough."
He stopped Naruto, who was about to try again.
"But Brother White Hair, I'm sorry! I swear I can do it! Just one more shot!"
Naruto's eyes were red, on the verge of tears.
Seeing this, Kakashi felt a twinge in his chest. He hadn't expected Naruto to become so attached after just one day.
And now, just from fear of disappointing him, he was this upset.
"Naruto, it's not your fault. Wait a second."
"Huh?" Naruto blinked, his big sky-blue eyes staring up at Kakashi in confusion.
Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his left eye—the scarlet Sharingan spinning slowly.
"Huh…?"
Naruto's body went limp and collapsed into Kakashi's arms, unconscious.
"Rest for now, Naruto. Let me handle the rest."
---
Inside the Seal
The inner space resembled a dark, damp sewer.
"So this is where Sensei sealed the Nine-Tails…" Kakashi looked around, frowning. This wasn't a place fit for anyone, much less a child.
Standing water coated the floor. Kakashi channeled chakra to his feet and walked across the surface.
Soon, a massive cage loomed before him.
"This must be the seal."
Kakashi couldn't help but feel awe. The bars stretched higher than any building he'd seen.
Then, a pair of glowing eyes, large as lanterns, appeared in the darkness.
"A human… It's been a while since anyone came. How amusing… Come closer, human."
Kakashi advanced a few more steps.
"Yes, that's right. A little more…"
He stopped five meters from the cage.
"Kurama, your illusions won't work on me."
The Nine-Tails' pupils shrank—not because the genjutsu failed, but because Kakashi called him by name.
"You… Human! How do you know my name?!"
The Nine-Tails roared, its voice shaking the space. A massive claw reached out between the bars.
Only the other tailed beasts and the Sage of Six Paths knew that name. For this human to know it—it was incomprehensible.
"That's not important. Just hear me out."
As Kakashi spoke, his Sharingan shifted into a more intricate, shuriken-like form.
Seeing it, the Nine-Tails went silent. Its voice turned cold, guarded.
"Kaleidoscope Sharingan… You're an Uchiha? Impossible. Another who's awakened the Mangekyō?"
Cold as it was, there was a trace of fear.
The Nine-Tails could never forget the horror of those eyes.
Uchiha Madara had once used them to dominate him—reduced him to a tool.
A beast made into a weapon.
Even the name of the jutsu itself—Control of the Tailed Beast—was an insult.
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