At that moment—
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura were all stunned when they heard Naruto claim that he had 500 jōnin under his command.
Five hundred jōnin?
That wasn't just some idle number. That was an army.
Kakashi immediately started calculating in his mind how many jōnin existed in Konoha. He ran the numbers again and again, cross-checking his own knowledge and experience until he came to a rough conclusion:
In the entire Hidden Leaf Village, there were probably only around 700 to 800 jōnin total.
Yet Naruto was claiming he had 500 jōnin under his personal command?
Could it be—had Naruto secretly taken control of the entire village?
No way!
Kakashi shook his head firmly to banish the thought. That couldn't be it.
Besides, Naruto had been under the constant watch of the Third Hokage's Anbu all these years. How could he have amassed such power without anyone knowing?
That was the real mystery.
Where had Naruto built such terrifying strength?
These questions kept swirling in Kakashi's mind, and all they did was reinforce the unsettling truth:
Naruto had become someone full of unsolvable riddles.
Sasuke and Sakura weren't any less shocked.
To them, the concept of a "jōnin" used to be distant and abstract. Before Kakashi-sensei had become their team leader, they had no real grasp of what a jōnin's strength meant.
But now—
After training under Kakashi, watching him fight, and seeing just a glimpse of his power, they knew.
A single jōnin like Kakashi was a monster in his own right.
And Naruto was saying he had five hundred just like him?
The sheer scale of that was impossible to comprehend.
Sasuke and Sakura stared at Naruto in disbelief.
"Naruto… these five hundred jōnin…?" Kakashi asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
He wasn't the only one desperate to understand. Sasuke and Sakura leaned in as well, eager to hear the explanation.
Naruto smiled.
There was no need to keep it a secret.
He answered directly.
"Because Kurama and I are partners," he said calmly. "And Kurama's chakra can be shared."
"I asked him to secretly distribute portions of the Nine-Tails' chakra throughout the village. In exchange, we made it a fair trade."
"For many shinobi stuck at their current level, the thing holding them back isn't talent or determination—it's chakra."
"With enough chakra, they can push their limits, train more efficiently, and reach jōnin level through sheer effort."
"So no—I didn't recruit existing jōnin."
"I trained them."
"I found all those mid-tier shinobi—those who were overlooked, underestimated, stuck in place—and I gave them the one thing they needed most: chakra."
"And in return, I earned their loyalty."
The words struck like thunder.
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura were floored.
Kakashi was especially shocked—not only had Naruto formed a genuine partnership with the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, but he was using Kurama's power to conduct operations in total secrecy.
He didn't just rely on Kurama's strength.
He wielded it like a leader.
Kakashi couldn't help but reflect on his own situation.
He, more than anyone, knew the curse of having too little chakra.
If only he had a greater reserve, he wouldn't have to fear overusing his Sharingan, wouldn't have to be so limited.
But reality had kept him stagnant for years.
The Sharingan constantly drained his already scarce chakra, holding him back from progressing further.
So what Naruto was saying made sense.
There were countless capable shinobi in Konoha—people who had the talent but not the resources to push beyond.
If chakra was no longer the bottleneck, and they trained intensely with that new power…
It was entirely possible to raise an army of elite shinobi.
And Naruto had done exactly that.
Sakura, still overwhelmed, found herself confused by something Naruto had said.
"Kakashi-sensei… who's Kurama?" she asked.
Kakashi glanced at her and gave a simple, solemn answer.
"Kurama is the name of the Nine-Tailed Fox."
"The reason people used to call Naruto the 'demon fox' is because… he's the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails."
"The tailed beast known as the Nine-Tails… is sealed inside him."
"There are nine tailed beasts in total."
"Each tailed beast possesses an almost limitless supply of chakra."
"If I can fully control the power of the tailed beasts..."
"Then I'll have the strength to become Hokage."
Upon hearing Kakashi's explanation, Sakura was stunned.
So that terrifying demon fox everyone in the village whispered about...
It was actually sealed inside Naruto all along!
Sasuke was equally shaken.
He hadn't expected Naruto to be carrying such overwhelming power within him.
Meanwhile, Kakashi found himself thinking back to Minato-sensei's trust in these unknown forces Naruto had gathered.
But when he glanced over at Minato—who showed no signs of worry or doubt about Naruto's actions—he felt reassured.
If something was wrong, Minato-sensei would've already stepped in.
Which meant...
Their side wasn't just the few standing here right now.
They were backed by a force of 500 elite jonin—nearly enough to rival the entire strength of the Third Hokage's loyalists.
With their support, if Naruto decided to move against the Third Hokage and claim the position of Fifth Hokage...
He could very well seize control of Konoha without facing much resistance.
Realizing this, a wave of excitement surged through Kakashi.
He, who had always remained calm and composed since his youth, couldn't help but feel a rare thrill course through him.
The next moment, Kakashi looked at Minato-sensei, Naruto, and the others.
He asked directly, "So, what's our next move?"
Minato gave Naruto a look—this was his plan. He'd make the call.
Naruto scanned the group and grinned.
"No rush. Our current power base still isn't stable enough."
"Even after the meeting, if the Third Hokage tries to fight back, we must be able to completely suppress him—crush any chance of retaliation."
"And more importantly..."
"Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke—you both need to grow stronger. I'll help you."
"And Sakura..." Naruto turned to her with a nod. "I've got plans for your training, too."
His voice carried confidence, calm but absolute.
Hearing this, Kakashi nodded.
Naruto was right—they couldn't afford to be careless, even with 500 jonin.
If they waited just a bit longer, Naruto and Kurama's covert actions could pull in even more allies.
As for his own strength...
Kakashi was painfully aware that, though he was a teacher, he could no longer match Naruto's rapid ascent.
Even so—
He wanted to grow stronger.
Only by becoming stronger could he continue to fight alongside Naruto.
If he stayed the same, he'd be left behind.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was thrilled to hear Naruto would personally help him get stronger.
With Naruto's backing...
His revenge against the corrupted leadership of Konoha was inevitable.
But still—
There was one goal he would never hand over.
He had to be the one to kill that man.
After learning the truth behind the Uchiha Clan's massacre...
He couldn't accept it. Couldn't forgive the man who had been thoroughly brainwashed by the elders of Konoha.
To follow such orders—
To murder his own mother and father…
He had to avenge his parents.
He would revive the Uchiha Clan.
Sakura, meanwhile, was quietly surprised.
She hadn't expected Naruto to have considered a plan for her too.
A warm feeling of gratitude blossomed in her chest. She was truly fortunate to have been assigned to Team 7.
If she hadn't been—
She wouldn't even be standing here now.
Then, Naruto began laying out a plan for strengthening both Kakashi and Sasuke.
He turned to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, if given the choice... would you choose vast chakra reserves—or the power of the Sharingan?"
Naruto knew well—Kakashi had built his legend in the ninja world around the power of the Sharingan.
But...
Before Kakashi ever had the Sharingan...
He was already hailed as a genius of Konoha.
He became a Jonin at the age of twelve.
At a time when most twelve-year-olds were just graduating from the Ninja Academy, Kakashi had already surpassed his peers and entered the elite ranks of the village's shinobi.
And more than that—
Kakashi was the son of Hatake Sakumo, the famed White Fang of Konoha.
Sakumo's mastery of the White Fang Sword Style had earned achievements that even eclipsed those of the legendary Sannin.
If Kakashi had continued training in his father's swordsmanship…
If he had combined it with deeper chakra cultivation…
Wouldn't he have been able to surpass even his father's legacy?
After offering Kakashi the choice between power sources, Naruto began explaining his plans for Kakashi's future training.
At the same time—
Sasuke and Sakura, overhearing the story of Kakashi's past, were stunned.
"Kakashi-sensei became a Jonin at twelve?!"
Twelve!
They were that age now—or close to it.
Yet Kakashi had already stood at the top, far beyond them.
Kakashi remained silent. He had once been a prodigy, the pride of the village, envied by all.
But somewhere along the way…
His growth had slowed.
Years passed—and he remained a Jonin.
Of course, now Kakashi understood why.
The Sharingan had become a crutch. Its convenience, its raw power—it had made him dependent.
Over time, he stopped pushing himself in other areas.
He neglected taijutsu training. He didn't pursue deeper understanding of ninjutsu. Even his physical conditioning had plateaued.
And the White Fang Sword Style… the technique his father entrusted to him…
Ever since his White Fang dagger was broken, he had never picked it up again.
At that moment, Minato turned to his former student and spoke gently, as though reading his thoughts.
"Kakashi."
"The Sharingan is powerful, yes."
"But the heights a shinobi can reach… that comes from within."
"You're not an Uchiha. You only have one Sharingan eye."
"You'll never be able to draw out its full potential."
"In the end, it's your own talent that matters most. The Sharingan is just a tool—nothing more."
Kakashi looked at Minato-sensei, then at Naruto.
And in that moment, he made his decision.
"…I understand."
His voice was firm. Steady.
He thought of the battles ahead. Of the future Naruto was heading toward.
If he wanted to follow Naruto on that path…
He couldn't rely on borrowed power any longer.
The Sharingan—it was never truly his.
And the White Fang's Sword Style—
That was it!
Naruto nodded firmly to Kakashi.
In that moment, to Naruto and the others, it felt like the genius prodigy from years ago—the Kakashi who became a Jonin at twelve—had finally returned.
Minato looked at his former student and smiled warmly.
Kushina, standing nearby, was also pleased. Kakashi had made the right choice.
Then, Naruto turned his gaze to Sasuke.
There were many ways to make Sasuke stronger.
But if Naruto wanted Sasuke to gain overwhelming power quickly, there was only one path: Sage Mode.
More importantly—
Naruto himself had already mastered Perfect Sage Mode. With his unique methods and "cheats," he could accelerate Sasuke's learning, allowing him to grasp it in record time.
"Sage Mode?"
Sasuke looked confused. He had never heard of such a thing—never heard of natural energy or Sage Techniques.
But it came from Naruto's mouth.
And that was enough.
He trusted him without hesitation.
With that, the plans for Kakashi and Sasuke's growth were set in motion.
As for Sakura…
Naruto decided she should first study medical ninjutsu and foundational theory under Tsunade-sama, the legendary Sannin and renowned healer.
Later, when Orochimaru arrived…
Naruto planned to have Sakura study under him as well—learning knowledge, advancing in research, and mastering a variety of complex techniques.
Given Sakura's academic intellect, Naruto felt this dual path was a better fit than simply walking in Tsunade's footsteps, as she had in the original timeline.
And just like that—
Everyone in Team 7, aside from Naruto himself, now had their path forward.
Of course, Naruto wasn't neglecting his own growth either.
With Minato and Kushina now safely back in Konoha…
Naruto decided his next focus would be training in the Uzumaki clan's sealing arts.
From those techniques—and the power he had already amassed—
He planned to develop one of his true signature skills:
A forbidden art of overwhelming scale.
The next day.
Their time in the Land of Waves was drawing to a close—just a few days remained.
During this period, Kakashi—working with Kushina—used sealing techniques to suppress the chakra drain of his Sharingan.
For the first time in years, he felt something he had long forgotten:
Peace.
The relentless drain on his chakra was finally gone.
And with Naruto transferring him supplemental chakra from Kurama, the Nine-Tails—
Kakashi no longer felt weak.
For the first time in ages…
He felt like he could fight all day.
With renewed energy, Kakashi picked up the long-abandoned White Fang Sword Style, the technique his father had left him.
Thanks to his enhanced chakra reserves—
In just a few days,
Kakashi had recovered the mastery he once held over the technique.
But it wasn't enough.
Not yet.
Determined, Kakashi resolved to continue his training back in the village.
As for Sasuke…
Naruto didn't have time to begin his Sage Mode training just yet.
He planned to wait until their mission in the Land of Waves was complete.
After they returned to Konoha, he'd begin guiding Sasuke personally.
Sakura, on the other hand, was still waiting to begin her own path. Until Tsunade returned, she couldn't start her medical training.
Naruto, however, wasted no time.
With only a few days left, he began his next phase of practice.
On this particular day—
In a forest clearing in the Land of Waves, Naruto stood alongside his mother, Kushina.
Minato, Kakashi, Sasuke, and the others were watching from the sidelines.
Why were they here?
Mostly out of curiosity.
They wanted to see how Naruto trained—how someone like him pushed himself every day.
Naruto didn't mind.
If they wanted to watch, they were free to.
Just don't get discouraged, he said.
Kushina didn't mind either.
"Alright, Naruto. Watch carefully. Let me show you."
She smiled gently at her son.
"Sealing techniques are the pride of the Uzumaki clan—the true source of our strength."
As she spoke, she began forming complex hand seals.
Single Seal!
Double Seal!
Triple Seal!
Kushina's mastery was breathtaking.
Her level of sealing technique wasn't just advanced—it was elite even among sealing specialists.
After all, she had once sealed the Nine-Tails inside herself.
If she could die alongside a tailed beast using a sealing jutsu… that spoke volumes about the level of her skill.
Kakashi watched silently from the side, awe etched on his face.
Sealing techniques were nothing like ordinary elemental ninjutsu.
They had no strict upper limit.
They could do what fire, water, wind, or lightning could not.
When it came to tailed beasts, for example—
No elemental jutsu could truly harm them.
But sealing techniques?
With mastery, one could bind a tailed beast.
Control its power.
Harness it.
A terrifying strength, unique and absolute.
Sasuke and Sakura stood on the sidelines as well, completely stunned.
They never imagined…
That Naruto's mother was this powerful.
...
TN:
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