The difficulty of mastering the Yin Seal lay not merely in learning the technique itself, but in the overwhelming precision required to control chakra at an extreme level.
The more chakra one possessed, the harder it became to manage.
It was like picking beans.
An ordinary ninja might need to pick a hundred beans to succeed. Tsunade, with her immense reserves, might need to pick five hundred.
But Naruto?
He had to pick ten thousand.
Every single one had to be perfect.
Naturally, the challenge he faced was on an entirely different level.
If Naruto had been an ordinary person, he might have already mastered the Yin Seal completely. But Naruto was anything but ordinary. His massive chakra reserves, while a blessing in battle, had become a tremendous obstacle in this delicate training.
And yet…
Tsunade could not help but imagine.
If Naruto truly succeeded—if he managed to store such a vast amount of chakra and release it all at once—
He might not even need the Nine-Tails anymore.
He himself would become something akin to a tailed beast.
A monster without a tail.
Time passed slowly, marked only by Naruto's relentless effort.
Day after day, he trained until his body trembled with exhaustion. Sweat soaked his clothes, his breathing grew ragged, and his muscles screamed in protest.
But even with all that effort…
After half a month—fifteen grueling days—his progress had only reached five percent.
Five percent.
At this pace, it would take him at least six months to complete the training.
Naruto clenched his fists.
He couldn't accept that.
Not when the world was moving forward. Not when danger was always looming. Not when he had people he needed to protect.
Six months was too long.
Far too long.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
With a burst of chakra, dozens of identical Narutos appeared around him.
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock.
"Naruto! Stop! You can't use Shadow Clones for this!"
Naruto wiped sweat from his face, breathing heavily. "W-Why not…?"
"For other types of training, it's fine," Tsunade said sharply. "But the Yin Seal targets every single cell in your body. It's already dangerous enough!"
Her voice grew more intense.
"If you use Shadow Clones, you multiply that danger! One mistake… and you could die!"
Naruto gave a tired but stubborn smile.
"Grandma Tsunade… Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and even that perverted sage said the same thing before."
He chuckled weakly.
"But I'm still alive, aren't I?"
"This is different!" Tsunade snapped.
But Naruto didn't back down.
"It's okay," he said softly. "Didn't you say so yourself?"
"As long as you're here… I won't die."
Tsunade froze.
"…You really are a troublesome brat."
"I'm the Hokage," she muttered. "I can't stay by your side all the time!"
Naruto grinned faintly. "Then Shizune is here."
"He's busy!"
"And Hinata's here too," Naruto added. "If something happens… she'll help me."
Hinata, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward.
Her voice was soft, but firm.
"Master… Naruto-kun won't give up."
Tsunade turned toward her. "Hinata, even you?!"
Hinata lowered her head shyly, her fingers tightening together.
"I understand him… better than anyone."
Her cheeks flushed.
"He always follows through on his words. That's his ninja way."
Naruto felt his heart stir.
Warmth spread through his chest.
"As expected of Hinata," he said with a smile. "You really are my soulmate."
Hinata's face turned even redder, but she nodded.
Tsunade sighed deeply, rubbing her temples.
"You're all unbelievably stubborn."
After a moment, she relented.
"Fine. Shizune, keep a close eye on him when I'm not around. Don't let him push himself too far."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"
"And Hinata… don't overthink things."
"I understand, Master…"
But what Naruto was attempting…
Was nothing short of madness.
Using Shadow Clones for this kind of training was practically equivalent to risking his life.
Each clone was undergoing the same intense, cell-level strain.
And when they dispersed—
All of that fatigue, pain, and damage would return to the original body at once.
It was like compressing hours of suffering into a single instant.
On the very first day, Naruto collapsed the moment his clones disappeared.
His body hit the ground hard.
"Hokage-sama!"
" Naruto-kun!"
Fortunately, Tsunade was still present.
She immediately used medical ninjutsu, her hands glowing with green chakra as she stabilized his condition.
When Naruto finally regained consciousness, Tsunade glared at him furiously.
"Now you understand how dangerous this is, don't you?!"
Naruto smiled weakly, barely able to speak.
"…Grandma Tsunade… one day of this training… equals ten days of normal training…"
His voice trembled, but his eyes burned with determination.
"My progress… jumped to nine percent…"
"If this continues… I can finish in a month…"
"A month?!" Tsunade exploded. "You'll be dead in less than that!"
Naruto shook his head slightly.
"No… I won't."
His gaze shifted.
He reached out slowly and touched the necklace hanging around Tsunade's neck.
"That necklace… I'll take it someday…"
Before Tsunade could respond, his hand fell.
His eyes closed again.
" Naruto-kun!"
Shizune quickly checked him.
"He's fine," she said after a moment. "Just exhausted."
Hinata let out a breath of relief.
Tsunade stood there silently, her expression complicated.
"What a stubborn brat…"
But deep down…
She couldn't deny it.
Maybe—
Just maybe—
Naruto could surpass all the Hokage before him.
And become the strongest Hokage in history.
From that day onward, Naruto fully committed himself to this dangerous method.
And the consequences were brutal.
Every time a clone dispersed, the accumulated fatigue hit him like a tidal wave.
It wasn't just exhaustion.
It was pain.
Deep, overwhelming pain that felt like it was tearing his body apart from the inside.
Naruto collapsed almost every single day.
Sometimes, multiple times.
Within the first month alone, he brushed against death seven or eight times.
If not for Tsunade's constant intervention…
He would have died long ago.
But Tsunade wasn't always available.
As Hokage, she had countless responsibilities.
Shizune, as her assistant, was just as busy.
That left only one person.
Hinata.
Determined not to remain helpless, Hinata approached Tsunade one day.
"Master… I want to learn medical ninjutsu."
Tsunade looked at her carefully.
She understood immediately.
"You want to help Naruto, don't you?"
Hinata blushed deeply.
"…Yes."
Tsunade smiled faintly.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of."
Her tone softened.
"That's what it means to be a ninja. When you have someone you want to protect… you become stronger."
Hinata nodded.
"I want to protect Naruto-kun."
Tsunade folded her arms.
"Training in medical ninjutsu while also improving your strength—and trying to integrate it with the Gentle Fist…"
She paused.
"That's just as difficult as Naruto's training."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Are you prepared for that?"
Hinata lifted her head.
Her eyes, though gentle, were filled with unwavering resolve.
"Yes. I'm ready."
From that moment on, Tsunade began personally teaching her.
Step by step.
From the most basic techniques to more advanced applications.
Hinata learned how to channel chakra into her hands.
How to stimulate cell regeneration.
How to control energy with extreme precision.
The training was exhausting.
Demanding.
Unforgiving.
But Hinata endured.
Her natural talent, combined with her Byakugan and Hyuga heritage, gave her unparalleled chakra control.
She progressed rapidly.
Even faster than Naruto.
At the same time, her combat strength continued to grow.
Her strikes became more powerful, capable of shattering massive rocks with a single blow.
Yet she retained the precision of the Gentle Fist.
Against living opponents, she could shut down their chakra points instantly, rendering them helpless.
Power and finesse.
Strength and control.
Though she had not yet fully mastered the balance between them…
She was getting closer.
And during brief moments of rest—
She would sit beside Naruto.
Gently placing her glowing hands over his body.
Healing his injuries.
Restoring his stamina.
Watching over him.
Silently.
Faithfully.
Naruto continued to push forward.
Hinata continued to grow stronger.
And Tsunade…
Watched them both.
A faint smile forming on her lips.
The next generation…
Had already begun to surpass the old.
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