Kumogakure (Village Hidden in the Clouds).
It had been some time since Naruto Uzumaki defeated the Raikage outside the Land of Wind and left him to be escorted back to Kumogakure by Sunagakure using a carriage.
These days, life had been anything but kind to the Raikage.
The shame of defeat? That was secondary.
What truly tormented him was the Super Weighted Boulder Jutsu that Naruto had used to increase his body weight to ten tons!
Now, the mighty Raikage was immobilized.
Sleeping crushed his bed; using the restroom shattered the toilet.
Even his excrement, affected by the Super Weighted Boulder Jutsu, weighed hundreds of pounds per session!
To keep his body functioning, he had to consume literal tons of food every single day.
Unable to bear seeing the Raikage suffer any longer, Dodai pleaded earnestly, "Raikage-sama, I beg you, please seek assistance from Iwagakure. If you refuse, allow me to make the request on your behalf!"
The Super Weighted Boulder Jutsu was a secret technique of Iwagakure, and surely Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, would have a way to undo it.
But the Raikage, ever the proud man, scoffed at the idea.
"You want me to bow to that old man Ōnoki? Not in this lifetime!"
Dodai pressed further, "Then do you plan to handle daily affairs in your current condition?"
The Raikage snorted, "Hmph! Ever since I returned, I've done a lot of thinking. This body may be a burden, but it's also an opportunity! Ten tons? I'll master it and show everyone! Once I can move freely in this form, my taijutsu will become unparalleled! I want to see the look on Naruto's face when I beat him to the ground and make him regret ever crossing me!"
Dodai sighed deeply. He knew the Raikage's stubborn nature and chose not to push further. Besides, the idea of mastering his new body wasn't entirely far-fetched.
For anyone else, it might have been impossible, but with the Raikage's physical strength and rigorous training methods, it just might be achievable.
That day, news of the attack on Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village) began to spread across the major ninja villages.
Dodai once again approached the Raikage.
Thud! Thud!
At that moment, the Raikage was practicing walking. Each step he took was accompanied by a heavy thud and beads of sweat dripping down his face.
Through grueling training, he had barely managed to walk on his own, though squatting or lying down was still beyond him.
Dodai spoke, "Raikage-sama, I wish to discuss the situation in Amegakure with you."
The Raikage, panting heavily, replied, "Hah... hah... I would love to launch an attack, but alas, I am unable to at the moment!"
Dodai explained, "Actually, both Sunagakure and Kirigakure have sent supplies to aid in Amegakure's reconstruction. While Iwagakure hasn't provided resources, they've sent personnel to assist."
The Raikage sneered coldly, "Hmph! That old man Ōnoki is such a hypocrite. Trying to leave a good impression for Iwagakure and protect his reputation in his twilight years? In the past, he would have immediately sent forces to attack. Two Scales Ōnoki... he's truly grown old!"
Dodai continued, "Actually, I've sent scouts to investigate, and it turns out that Samui and the others are still alive. They're just being held captive in Amegakure."
Thud!
The Raikage stopped in his tracks. "Are you suggesting we send a rescue team?"
Dodai responded, "No. I propose we send financial aid to Amegakure instead!"
"What did you say?!" The Raikage exploded in anger.
But Dodai quickly interjected, "Please hear me out! Sending financial aid serves two purposes. First, it helps mend relations with Naruto Uzumaki and resolves past grievances. Second, if we offer them something of value, they'll naturally release Samui and the others. It's a win-win!"
The Raikage roared, "Are you kidding me?! That would be like admitting I'm afraid of them! It would mean Kumogakure is bowing to Amegakure and the Akatsuki!"
He added sharply, "And Dodai, don't think I've forgotten about the last time you handed over the scroll without my permission. Go reflect on your actions!"
Dodai sighed deeply. "Raikage-sama is so stubborn... I can't tell if this is a blessing or a curse for Kumogakure."
Then, a thought crossed his mind: "Wait a minute... Naruto Uzumaki didn't kill the Raikage. Instead, he used the Super Weighted Boulder Jutsu on him. Was it really just to humiliate him?"
Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village).
Naruto awoke, feeling as though his body had undergone a complete transformation.
"So this... is the perfect chakra of the Uzumaki clan? I never knew I had such power within me!"
Orochimaru chuckled, "In truth, even with Lady Mito's cells transplanted, you shouldn't have awakened so quickly. It must be all the training you've done over the years, coupled with the recent intense battles, that laid the foundation. Also, the influence of the Rinnegan cannot be overlooked."
Naruto smiled, "Well, that's good to hear."
Orochimaru advised, "You've fully inherited the Uzumaki clan's bloodline, but if you plan to transplant Hashirama's cells, I suggest waiting until your body has completely adapted to its new state."
"Alright, I'll follow your advice."
Naruto walked to a mirror. The changes weren't limited to his chakra. His once spiky golden hair had softened and turned red.
Looking at his reflection, Naruto felt a wave of emotion. "Red hair... just like Mom's. I've imagined it before, but I never thought it would actually happen."
Leaving Orochimaru's lab, Naruto headed straight to a barber shop in Amegakure.
He dyed his hair back to its original golden color and styled it to look as it always had.
Orochimaru teased, "Naruto-kun, don't you like red hair?"
Naruto laughed, "No, I love it. But I'm used to looking like this. I'm not just an Uzumaki... I'm also the son of Minato Namikaze."
Later, Naruto confirmed another surprising change.
"Who would've thought? Even the hair down there turned red. I'll leave that as it is, though. No need to dye it."
Afterward, Orochimaru grew serious. "What about the Nine-Tails, Naruto-kun? Do you have any plans?"
"The Nine-Tails, huh..." Naruto murmured, placing a hand on his stomach. Closing his eyes, he entered his mental realm to confront the beast.
Kurama glared at him with slitted pupils, mocking, "Oh, so you've gained power akin to Mito's and came here to show off, huh?"
Ignoring the taunt, Naruto said something shocking: "You've met the other me, haven't you?"
Snap!
Kurama's eyes narrowed sharply.
During Naruto's slumber, as he awakened his bloodline, he had realized something significant.
His former self hadn't disappeared; it still existed within him. In fact, it had already reached an understanding with Kurama on a deeper psychological level.
This was an unexpected development.
Kurama growled, "Hmph! If you want my power, you'll have to defeat us first!"
Sizzle!
Another Naruto appeared in the mental realm, cloaked in the golden aura of the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
With his fox-like eyes glaring, the doppelgänger roared, "I'll never acknowledge someone like you as me! Give me back my body, dattebayo!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Tailed Beast Bombs rained down, wreaking havoc in the mental realm.
Snap!
In reality, Naruto opened his eyes, his gaze deep and resolute.
"Before I can truly reclaim Kurama's power, I need to visit the Falls of Truth again. But this time, it's not to confront my inner darkness... it's to defeat the truest version of my former self!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
"8 amazing fanfics available on my Patreon.
Support for 250+ advance chapters:
patreon.com/DarkGolds"