Naruto: Returns From Roger's Ship

"Ugh... Boss, I really can't eat anymore."

In the forest, Konohamaru said with a miserable look on his face to Naruto.

"You can't eat anymore after just this little? Konohamaru, you still have a long way to go."

"No choice, I guess you'll stop here for today."

Naruto, who was sitting opposite him, shook his head and continued to eat with relish.

"O-okay... Boss."

Perhaps because his stomach was too full, Konohamaru's reply sounded utterly lifeless.

Looking at the small mountain of bones piled up behind Naruto, then at the mere few grilled ribs he himself had managed to gnaw through before giving up, Konohamaru finally realized the difference between a true powerhouse and an ordinary person.

But he really couldn't eat any more.

Fortunately, Konohamaru wasn't the type to get discouraged easily. He quickly adjusted his mindset and asked Naruto with eager anticipation.

"Boss, what kind of training should we do next?"

"Can you teach me that move from earlier?"

Thinking back to a few hours ago, when he and Naruto had come to this forest to hunt wild beasts, Konohamaru had originally thought it would take a lot of time.

Unexpectedly, Naruto had merely glanced into the woods and immediately pinpointed their prey's location.

However, what left Konohamaru most awestruck was the technique Naruto used to deal with those beasts.

There was no fancy Ninjutsu used, just casually picking up a small stone and throwing it was enough to pierce straight through the bones of those animals.

'Sure enough, Boss Naruto was on a whole other level compared to that glasses-sensei.'

'Even if that perverted glasses-sensei threw a kunai, it would at most injure a beast. There was no way he could match Boss Naruto's skill!'

"Huh?"

Naruto was momentarily taken aback before realizing what Konohamaru meant.

"Oh, that? That's not some special technique."

"You just need enough raw strength."

Having said that, Naruto simply stood up, and then, under Konohamaru's stunned gaze, he opened his mouth wide and devoured the remaining meat in his hands in a few bites before clapping his hands together.

"Whew… now that's a satisfying meal. Would've been even better with some sake..."

It was just an offhand comment, but Konohamaru secretly took it to heart, already planning to bring his grandfather's finest liquor tomorrow as an offering to his boss.

Unfortunately, he was doomed to disappointment.

After all, his grandfather's good liquor was already in Naruto's pocket.

"Now that we're full, and since you brought it up, let's start with strength training."

Tucking his hands back into his sleeves, Naruto gave Konohamaru a kind smile.

"Alright!"

The innocent Konohamaru had no idea what kind of hell awaited him next.

…

"B-Boss... Are we really training like this?"

Konohamaru soon realized just how naive his earlier thoughts had been.

Standing in front of a massive boulder that was 'polished' by Naruto with his bare hands and was taller than him, Konohamaru began to wonder if he had misheard.

"That's right. Now lift this rock onto your back. We're starting the training."

Naruto's words sent a chill down Konohamaru's spine. He wanted to protest, but then he saw Naruto himself strip off his upper garment and hoist an even more absurdly gigantic boulder onto his back.

Compared to the massive rock with a diameter of four meters on Naruto's back, the stone in front of Konohamaru seemed almost insignificant.

However, as if completely unfazed by the weight, Naruto began jogging slowly while carrying the boulder, which completely obscured his figure from view.

With a pained expression, Konohamaru tried every possible angle to lift his own rock, unaware of one crucial detail.

Even under such an immense burden, Naruto's footsteps left no indentations on the ground. Not even his wooden clogs showed the slightest sign of damage.

This was the training method Roger had once used on him.

Beyond just weighted running, Roger had demanded that Naruto avoid damaging the ground or his sandals while moving.

To achieve this, Naruto had to coat both his sandals and the ground with Haki.

The sandals were manageable, but precisely applying Haki to the ground with each step, with just enough to reinforce its hardness without wasting too much energy, was the true challenge of this training.

"Hah... hah..."

Without bothering to help Konohamaru, Naruto could feel his limbs and muscles heating up.

He was getting into the groove.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Naruto was carrying an utterly exhausted Konohamaru back to the residential area.

Looking at the little brat snoozing soundly on his shoulder, Naruto couldn't help but showed a satisfied smile.

Though Konohamaru hadn't managed to run very far and had relied on chakra to assist him, he had indeed carried that massive boulder all by himself.

From start to finish, he hadn't asked for help even once.

'So similar.'

'Just as stubborn as myself.'

'And that was exactly the kind of resolve needed to become strong.'

A few moments later, Naruto suddenly appeared behind a masked Anbu Ninja.

"Please send Konohamaru to the Third Hokage. I'm counting on you."

The Anbu's member startled so badly he nearly drew a kunai, but all he saw was Naruto gently setting Konohamaru down before vanishing in an instant.

Perched on a rooftop, Naruto glanced toward the distant Hokage Building… the sensation of being watched still lingered.

'Seriously, even Genin deserve some privacy, you know.'

While mentally grumbling about certain old men who refused to act their age, Naruto leaped across the rooftops without the slightest attempt to conceal his movements.

Meanwhile, back in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen sat in silence, having observed Naruto's every move through his crystal ball.

'Naruto has changed.'

'In every possible way.'

'Moreover, judging by his last behavior, he had even noticed the surveillance.'

'Sigh... so willful.'

Hiruzen was certain that, at least for now, Naruto shouldn't know about his true origins.

But he had undergone such a drastic transformation overnight.

At the same time, the boy wasn't even trying to hide his actions.

It was almost as if he was openly venting some kind of emotion.

"Naruto… Minato…"

Exhaling a slow stream of smoke, the old man murmured under his breath.

In the dim light of the Hokage's office, the wrinkles on the old man's face seemed to deepen ever so slightly.

…

Meanwhile, Naruto had already returned to his small apartment.

After taking a cold shower and changing into his newly bought clothes, Naruto simply lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Soon, Naruto's consciousness sank into darkness.

"Hey… brat…"

A deep, rumbling voice echoed through the void, pulling Naruto's awareness back.

When he came to, Naruto found himself standing in what looked like an underground waterway.

Before him stood a set of barred gates, sealing away the darkness beyond.

'Where… is this?'

'The place felt oddly familiar, as if I had been here many times before.'

"Brat!!!"

Accompanied by a rumbling sound, a massive claw suddenly slammed against the bars right in front of Naruto, and then, from the shadows, an enormous orange beast revealed itself.

"Huh? A fox?"

To Kurama's disappointment, his grand, dramatic entrance didn't seem to faze the brat in front of him in the slightest.

If anything, Naruto looked interested, even reaching out to poke at his massive paw.

The unexpected reaction caught Kurama off guard, making him momentarily forget what he was going to say and even reflexively pulled his paw back.

"What a big fox..."

Opposite him, Naruto showed no fear whatsoever, instead sizing up Kurama with fascination.

'The size of this fox is almost the same as those of ordinary sea kings.'

As he compared Kurama's size with those creatures, Naruto absentmindedly rubbed his stomach.

Despite having eaten not long ago, he suddenly felt hungry again.

"Brat! What's with that look?!"

To some extent, Biju could sense their Jinchuriki's emotions.

Therefore, when Naruto stared at him, Kurama was hit with an overwhelming wave of pure, unfiltered malice.

It wasn't the usual fear or disgust most Ninja directed at him… the kind that saw him as a 'calamity'.

No, this was something else entirely-

"Big guy, you look… delicious."

Wiping the corner of his mouth, Naruto uttered words no one had ever dared say to Kurama before.