Inside the Mirror World, Naruto Uzumaki, concealed by the Shadow Clone Jutsu, had his true body flash forward.
Without hesitation, he drove a kunai straight into Nara Shikamaru's heart.
"Congratulations. You have obtained training experience in the Shadow Imitation Technique."
As the system prompt echoed, the scene shattered like glass.
The battle with the Shikamaru data puppet ended instantly.
Naruto frowned.
"It's been a week…" he muttered.
"Why are the rewards still this kind of garbage?"
For the past seven days, Naruto had remained in his hospital bed, pretending to be unconscious. In reality, he had spent every moment challenging data puppets inside the Mirror World, hoping to unlock new chakra natures.
So far, he had fought nearly every available opponent.
The only time he had gained a new elemental affinity was during his battle against the Uchiha Itachi puppet.
After that—
Nothing.
No lightning.
No earth.
No water.
Only underwhelming rewards.
Out of stubbornness, Naruto had returned to grind the Itachi puppet again—only to receive low-tier techniques like the Body Flicker Technique, Substitution Jutsu, and other basic skills.
Just now, he had challenged the Shikamaru puppet once more.
The result hadn't changed.
Naruto stared at the reward interface, eyes narrowing.
"What exactly determines these rewards…?"
"Naruto."
Kurama's voice echoed in his mind.
"That old man came again. And those four medical-nin watching you?"
"They're cracking under the pressure."
Naruto immediately shifted his consciousness into the seal space.
"Cracking under pressure?" he asked calmly.
"What pressure?"
Scanning the environment, Naruto confirmed that his hospital room was currently empty.
Everyone was gathered outside the door.
Namikaze Minato stepped forward, his expression grim.
"They're cracking because you refuse to wake up," Minato said heavily.
"The four medical-nin submitted a new proposal to Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
"What proposal?"
"A very offensive one," Minato said coldly.
"They suggested bringing in Ibiki Morino, captain of ANBU Torture and Interrogation, and Inoichi Yamanaka of the Yamanaka Clan."
Minato's voice grew darker.
"Especially Inoichi. He specializes in mental and spiritual techniques—jutsu capable of invading a person's consciousness and extracting information."
Naruto's expression turned glacial.
"So they've already started treating me like a criminal."
Just to wake up a comatose jinchūriki, they were seriously considering forced mental intrusion.
"And Hiruzen approved this?" Naruto asked.
Minato shook his head.
"Not yet. The medical-nin claimed your consciousness might be trapped in your subconscious—similar to trauma cases from the war."
"They said Ibiki and Inoichi could 'guide' your mind back."
"Hiruzen didn't agree immediately," Minato continued quietly,
"but he was… tempted."
Naruto let out a cold laugh.
"If they enter my mind," he said flatly,
"then two people in Konoha will die."
The Mirror World could forcibly trap and reflect any spiritual will that invaded his consciousness.
But that would cause chaos.
They wouldn't try to understand.
They'd dissect him.
Lock him in a lab.
Cut him open in the name of research.
Naruto exhaled slowly.
"…Time to wake up."
His eyes opened.
Outside the Hospital Room
A medical-nin stood in the hallway, holding a thick stack of reports.
"Hokage-sama, these are the records from the past week," he reported.
"The jinchūriki's body is in perfect health—unnaturally perfect."
"There are only two explanations for his prolonged unconsciousness."
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened in silence.
"The first possibility is mental trauma. His consciousness may be trapped deep within his mind. In that case, Ibiki Morino and Inoichi Yamanaka could forcibly extract him."
"And the second?" Hiruzen asked.
"The second is—"
Click.
The soft sound of a door unlocking cut him off.
Everyone turned.
The hospital room door opened.
Wearing pajamas, Naruto stepped out, blinking groggily.
"Hokage-sama?"
Relief washed over Hiruzen's face.
"Naruto… you're finally awake."
"…Is this the hospital?" Naruto asked weakly.
"My throat's dry. Do you have any water?"
Later — Hokage's Office
"You're saying I was asleep for a whole week?"
Naruto sat across from Hiruzen, now dressed in clean clothes brought from home.
"Yes," Hiruzen chuckled warmly.
"Do you remember anything from that night? Any discomfort?"
"No," Naruto shook his head.
"I don't remember anything. And I feel fine."
Then his expression shifted.
"Hokage-sama… that red chakra from that night…"
"Is that why everyone calls me the Demon Fox?"
"…Am I really a monster?"
Three questions.
One after another.
Hiruzen didn't hesitate.
"No, Naruto. You are not a monster. Never think that."
"Go home and rest. I've already sent people to repair your wall."
He handed Naruto a scroll.
"This one teaches the Substitution Jutsu and the Clone Jutsu."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama! I'll train hard!"
"You're a good boy," Hiruzen said approvingly.
Then, casually:
"Oh—and Naruto. Don't stay inside all day."
"You said you made a friend, didn't you? Go out. Meet more people."
"You might make even more friends."
Naruto hesitated.
"So… Shikamaru didn't report anything?"
He recalled the data he had collected—from Minato, Itachi, and Shikamaru—inside the Mirror World.
"…Alright!" Naruto said brightly.
"I'll visit Shikamaru tomorrow!"
Hiruzen's smile widened.
He personally escorted Naruto to the entrance of the Hokage Tower.
Back Home
Naruto walked home, smiling cheerfully despite the fearful and disgusted looks cast his way.
The moment the door closed—
His expression turned ice-cold.
"Naruto," Kurama said immediately,
"someone just moved onto your rooftop."
"I know," Naruto replied calmly.
"He's been tailing me since I left the Hokage's office."
He sat down and projected his consciousness into the seal space.
"The Third is still suspicious," Naruto said evenly.
"He wants confirmation."
Minato nodded grimly.
"That's why he asked whether you remembered that night."
"I denied everything," Naruto replied.
"I didn't ask what happened. I acted ignorant and asked about the red chakra instead."
"And he avoided answering," Naruto continued, gripping the scroll.
"Instead, he gave me this—another test."
"Then he sent Gekkō Hayate to follow me home."
"He's exhausting every option," Minato said quietly.
"Hayate will probably shadow you for a long time."
Kurama snarled.
"Why didn't you just confront that old man directly?!"
Naruto took a slow breath.
"Because Hiruzen is hiding the fact that he placed another seal on me."
"My silence doesn't mean I forgot."
He opened his eyes.
"It means…"
"…I will never forget."
(End of Chapter)
PS:
Ibiki Morino
Head of Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Unit; proposed for forced mental intrusion.
Inoichi Yamanaka
Elite mental-type shinobi capable of invasive consciousness techniques.
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