[NTU] [ARC-26] Chapter : 339

Turtle Island

A waterfall cascaded with crystal-clear water, so pure it mirrored the sky. Sunlight danced across its surface, scattering light in dazzling ripples. The air around it felt fresh and invigorating.

No one knew where the waterfall originated. Over time, the water had been so thoroughly filtered and purified that no fish, shrimp, or even aquatic plants lived within it. It flowed in peaceful silence, shrouded in a sense of serenity—and mystery.

But what made this waterfall truly extraordinary was its uncanny ability to reflect the darkness in one’s heart. Those who stood before it and gazed into its depths would see more than their physical reflection—they’d confront the negative emotions buried within: pain, fear, doubt, and despair, all laid bare on the mirror-like surface.

Naruto had been sitting cross-legged in front of it for a long time.

Unlike in the original timeline, he hadn’t endured a childhood marred by loneliness, rejection, or constant struggle. His upbringing had been far gentler.

While that was a blessing, it also meant his heart hadn't been tempered in the same way. Without that trial by fire, he might not be able to withstand the immense malice and negative energy of the Nine-Tails.

He needed this baptism.

“Did it work?”

Behind him, Kushina watched anxiously. Her eyes never left her son, scanning his expression as he slowly opened his eyes. Her heart raced, worried something might have gone wrong.

“Yeah. I’m okay.”

Naruto gave her a reassuring smile. His hand instinctively rested on his abdomen, fingers brushing the seal beneath his clothes.

“The first part’s done. Now I just need to deal with the rest.”

Facing the darkness within was only the beginning. What came next was even harder—confronting Kurama’s hatred, absorbing its chakra, and surviving the storm of raw negativity.

“You’ve got this, son.”
Kushina placed a firm, warm hand on his shoulder. Her smile was a little forced, but her words were filled with belief. She knew what lay ahead wouldn’t be easy.

Naruto hadn’t inherited the full strength of the Uzumaki clan’s legendary vitality, which worried her. Her gaze shifted to Hinata, who stood silently nearby. But the sight of the quiet girl filled Kushina with hope.

Just as she once had Minato to anchor her spirit, Naruto now had Hinata. And that bond would help keep the darkness at bay.

“Naruto… Naruto-kun… do your best!”
Hinata’s voice was soft, as shy as ever. Even after spending so much time around Naruto and Kushina, she still struggled with her timidity. As soon as she spoke, her face turned bright red and her head dropped, too embarrassed to meet their eyes.

“Thanks, Hinata. With your support, I think Kurama might just play nice,” Naruto said, grinning.

With Kushina’s guidance, Naruto had grown into a much more emotionally aware young man than in the original story. His bond with Hinata had blossomed into a relationship, and even the head of the Hyūga clan—faced with two Jinchūriki—had raised no objections.

In fact, he saw it as a chance to begin reforming the long-standing traditions of the Hyūga family.

“She’s so cute!”
Kushina couldn’t help but pull Hinata into a tight hug, thoroughly pleased with the girl she saw as her future daughter-in-law. Maybe it was her extroverted nature, but Kushina had always had a soft spot for the shy, sweet Hinata who’d grown up under her wing.

“Alright! Time to ‘borrow’ a bit of Kurama’s chakra,” she said with a wink.

This wasn’t unfamiliar territory for Kushina. She’d undergone this exact process before she married Minato—with his help, she had successfully formed a temporary truce with the beast inside her.

And now, facing only half of Kurama’s chakra? It would be a breeze. Nothing to worry about.

Inside a chamber specifically prepared for Jinchūriki, Naruto sat cross-legged, calm and centered. Kushina settled opposite him, her presence strong and steady.

But inside Naruto’s spiritual space...

“Kushina… Naruto… you two bastards!”
Kurama roared in outrage, his fiery eyes locked on the mother and son seated before him.

He writhed in place, restrained and seething—but powerless.

Little by little, the fearsome Nine-Tails was being reduced to a shriveled, steaming fox… and he hated every second of it.

Aside from letting out a burst of impotent rage, the Nine-Tails could do nothing.

Once whole and formidable, it had barely been able to resist. Now, reduced to half its former self and only half-alive, it had no leverage left to fight back.

“Yo... Naruto... just mastered the Tailed Beast transformation... now he’s glowing like a damn light bulb!”
Killer B grinned, rapping awkwardly as always, his eyes wide in amazement at the sight before him.

Naruto stood at the center of the chamber, enveloped in golden chakra—the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. He clenched his fists, feeling the tremendous surge of energy coursing through his body. A sense of invincibility washed over him.

“So this... is the Nine-Tails' Chakra Mode.”
He turned slightly, his eyes flicking to the side—
Well... maybe I can beat anyone… except Mom.

Whoosh!
A blast of chakra erupted from his legs. Golden afterimages began streaking through the chamber in rapid flashes. As Naruto continued to test his new power, multiple glowing clones appeared and vanished, flickering like shooting stars across the room.

"...Minato..."
Kushina’s breath caught in her throat. In that golden blur of motion, she saw a ghost from her past. For a fleeting second, she could almost see her husband again.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she quickly brushed them away, not wanting to dampen the joy in the room.

Naruto, too caught up in his newfound power, hadn’t noticed.

“Kushina...”
But Hinata had. She quietly stepped closer and gently wrapped her arms around Kushina’s arm, offering silent comfort.

“I’m fine, Hinata.”
Kushina smiled, patting her hand.
“It’s just... I’m so proud of him.”

Her gaze returned to Naruto, who was now approaching with a bright, triumphant smile.

In her heart, she whispered to her late husband:
'Minato, our son may not have inherited your genius... but he’s carrying your will. He will protect the village—and everyone he loves.'

“Mom, I did it!”
Naruto beamed at both Kushina and Hinata, eyes glittering with excitement.

“I heard the war’s already begun outside…”

There was a spark of impatience in his voice, a restless energy beginning to build. His eyes darted to Killer B, then to Kushina. It was clear: they were trying to keep something from him.

And he didn’t like it.

He also knew that if he couldn’t win his mother over, no amount of arguing would get him past that seal outside.

“Uhh... that look doesn’t bode well,” Kushina muttered, immediately catching on to her son’s intent.

But she was never the type to just sit on the sidelines either.

“The orders from the Hokage and the Raikage…”
She trailed off, exchanging a look with B.

No words were needed.

Kushina wasn’t naïve. She knew what Naruto wanted—and she didn’t want to just wait for the war to be over either.

B gave a small, firm nod. He felt the same.

“But... but…”
Hinata looked uncertain, wringing her hands.
“Isn’t disobeying orders like this... risky? Won’t the Hokage and Raikage punish us?”

“Relax, Hinata.”
Kushina waved her off with a smile.
“The Hokage is easy to talk to. Worst case, we’ll get a mild scolding. No real consequences.”

After all, she’d known Toshiro for years. He wasn’t the type to hand out harsh punishments for doing the right thing—even if it meant bending the rules a little.

“Okay… I guess you’re right.”

Hinata looked between Naruto and Kushina, sighing in defeat. She wasn’t thrilled about breaking protocol, but...

Well, if there were any consequences, she’d face them with them. After all—sooner or later, they’d be a family.

And family faced everything together.

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AN : Apologies for the late update, I've started writing Genma Shiranui Fanfic and it's going well. Will be back to normal update cycle.