Although he was a little confused, Sarutobi Hiruzen followed Uzumaki Naruto into the room.
After Uzumaki Naruto closed the door, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to have thought of something and asked with a smile, "Naruto, do you want something? If so, just tell me. I'll do my best to fulfill it."
He had a few guesses about what Naruto might request.
Naruto scratched his head and grinned. "That, Third Generation Grandpa... I want a ninja dog. A really powerful one!"
Realization flickered in Hiruzen's eyes. Of course—Katsumi Kei had one, so Naruto naturally wanted his own.
Luckily, fulfilling this request was easy. The Inuzuka Clan specialized in breeding and training ninja dogs, and they often sold or raised them for other shinobi. Kakashi Hatake himself had gotten his ninja dogs from them.
Ninja dogs weren't just for battle. Their superior tracking skills made them highly valuable, especially for missions where perception was needed.
And for Hiruzen, helping Naruto get one was no trouble at all.
Smiling, Hiruzen said warmly, "That's no problem, Naruto. But 'powerful' can mean many things. It's best to raise a ninja dog from a young age. How about this: tomorrow evening, I'll take you to the Inuzuka compound. You can pick one you like."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Really?! Thank you, Third Grandpa!"
Although he didn't know there was a store for ninja dogs in the village, he didn't care—this was amazing.
Besides, if he had any trouble raising it, he could just ask Kei. Katsumi Kei was smart, and Naruto knew Hayate had grown up alongside him. It would give him another reason to hang out with Kei too.
Seeing Naruto's bright smile, Hiruzen felt some of his guilt melt away.
"It's no trouble at all," he said kindly. "If there's anything else you want, just tell me."
Naruto thought for a moment and shook his head. "Nope! I just want a ninja dog."
After confirming their plans for tomorrow, Hiruzen said a few more kind words, then took his leave.
Even after the door closed, Naruto's excitement lingered. He was getting a ninja dog. Just like Kei!
The arrival of Katsumi Kei had begun to change everything.
Because of the Nine Tails, Naruto's chakra control was poor, making it hard for him to learn most ninjutsu. And while he had the Sage Body, he wasn't well-suited for techniques like Kakashi's.
But the Eight Inner Gates? That was different. Taijutsu, supported by sheer physical grit, could work. And with a ninja dog as a support partner, Naruto might finally find his own path to strength.
Soon, he drifted off to sleep with a wide grin on his face.
Katsumi Kei's House
After completing his training and washing up, Katsumi Kei lay in bed, reviewing the day.
His second summoning beast, Shadow.
Shadow's first evolution.
New talents: Black Stealth, three Black Feather abilities.
Konoha-Style Taijutsu.
Seventeen Wind Style techniques.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
He was getting stronger.
And that strength was only just beginning.
The Next Morning
"Kei, good morning!"
"Good morning, Onii-chan!"
"Yeah, good morning."
When Naruto saw Kei and Tenten, he was full of excitement, almost bouncing on his toes. "You guys! The Third Hokage promised to get me a ninja dog!"
"I'm getting my own ninja dog tonight! Hahaha!"
"Then congratulations, Naruto," Kei said with a small smile. "But there's something I should tell you."
He gently patted Hayate's head. "Hayate is so strong because I have a bloodline limit that allows me to evolve Summoning beasts."
"Just three days ago, Hayate was only this big." Kei gestured to show Hayate's former size. "And he's already four years old."
"Which means, if you raise a ninja dog normally, it'll take at least five or six years before it's really combat-ready."
Naruto's smile faltered. He hadn't thought of that. But as he looked at Hayate and remembered what Kei could do, he knew it wasn't a lie.
A flicker of disappointment crossed his face.
Seeing this, Kei offered reassurance. "Don't feel too down. There are lots of types of ninja dogs—small, medium, large, even giant."
"If you want one about Hayate's size, a giant ninja dog trained for two or three years might be enough."
Kei's mind wandered. Though ninjas can have multiple Summoning beasts... will Naruto still get the toads like in the original timeline?
If so, both he and Sasuke will end up with two: Naruto with dog and toad, Sasuke with snake and eagle.
Still, Naruto lit up again, childish joy returning. He really was still just a kid.
"Okay, enough chatting! Let's practice youth!" Might Guy appeared in a blur of green, eyes blazing.
"Yes, Teacher Guy!" Naruto shouted.
"That's the spirit! Ten laps around the forest for warm-up!"
"Yes, Teacher Guy!"
And so their training began.
Time flew by with effort and sweat. Morning practice turned to lunch.
While Kei fed Shadow during the break, the others asked him about the newly evolved crow. Kei introduced Shadow briefly, and they chatted before resuming their drills for the afternoon.
As the sun set, they finally parted ways.
Back home, Kei ate, then immediately resumed his studies and chakra practice.
Naruto's House
Just as promised, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived that evening.
"Naruto, ready to see some ninja dogs?"
"Yeah!" Naruto said, practically bouncing.
As they walked, Naruto recalled what Kei had told him. "Grandpa Third, Kei said ninja dogs come in all sizes, and giant ones can grow big like Hayate in a couple years. Do they sell those?"
Hiruzen paused, considering.
He already knew Naruto wanted a giant ninja dog. But was that really a good fit?
As the Jinchūriki of the Nine Tails, Naruto would face limits using most ninjutsu. His chakra control would remain poor due to interference. And with Guy's training, Naruto's path was already leaning toward taijutsu.
A giant ninja dog was strong—but also straightforward. Melee-based.
Naruto needed versatility, not just strength.
Smaller tracking types could be useless if Naruto awakened strong Uzumaki perception traits. Medium dogs required clever strategy—things like burrowing surprise attacks.
That wasn't Naruto.
Still, Hiruzen smiled. Let him choose. Let him be happy.
"Yes," he said gently. "The Inuzuka clan shop has all kinds. You'll see for yourself soon enough."