Chapter 52: The Burden

In his mind, Naruto called out.

"Aurora, I think I saw some mind-transferring jutsu in the shop, right?"

[Ah, there are many. Which one do you need?] Aurora responded.

"The one without weaknesses. The memory transfer should be flawless."

[Yes, but it's costly—both in knowledge and ability. Which do you want?]

Naruto frowned. "If I buy just the knowledge, how long will it take to master it?"

[About a day.]

"Then, buy the ability directly."

[Purchase confirmed. 500,000 SP deducted.]

Naruto froze. "Wait—500k?! That means the real cost was 1 million! What kind of scam is this? I want a refund!"

Aurora's voice held a hint of amusement. [Leo, I think you forgot the first and foremost rule of the System Shop: No return policy. Also, the cost was already discounted—50% off. You could only apply that discount to one purchase.]

"WHAT?! Even with 50% off, it's still half a million! And when was this 'No Return Policy' ever a thing? I never read that before!"

[The system has been upgraded. All functions have been refined, including the shop's rules and pricing—adjusted according to your financial status. If you have time, you should check the changes.]

Naruto fell silent. He swore he could feel Aurora laughing at him in the background.

"Tch, whatever. Just show me the jutsu."

[Here.]

Name: Shingan no Jutsu

Rank: Forbidden Jutsu

Description: Allows the host to transfer any amount of memories to another person. No restrictions. No drawbacks.

How to use: Place your hand on the recipient's forehead. Guide your chakra into their mind until it reaches the brain, then supply the chosen memories.

Naruto read the description and smirked.

"At least the jutsu is real. Looks like it was worth the money after all."

With that, he quickly mastered the technique within minutes.

Outside, while his body moved automatically to heal Sasuke, his mind was completely focused on understanding and refining the jutsu.

Once Sasuke was fully healed, Naruto exhaled and looked at everyone.

"Are you guys ready?" His voice was firm, steady.

Sasuke, Ino, and the others nodded in unison. "Yes."

Naruto placed a hand on his hip. "I'm going to transfer some of my memories to you. Only a small portion—what I believe you need to know."

"But—" Karin started to protest.

He cut her off with a look. "You guys are weak." His words were blunt but not cruel. "I'm doing this because I love you all. And because I saw your determination."

His eyes softened slightly as he glanced at Sasuke and Karin.

The truth was, they had fought for this knowledge. They had stood their ground, demanding to share in the burden he carried.

And for that, they had earned it.

So, he would share.

'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.'

In an instant, four perfect copies of Naruto appeared beside him, their presence solid and unwavering.

Without hesitation, Naruto and his clones placed their hands on each recipient's forehead.

Each person reacted differently.

Hinata's face turned a deep shade of red, her breath hitching. Ino and Sakura, despite always acting tough, couldn't hide the flush spreading across their cheeks. They were just girls, after all—girls who had carried a quiet crush on Naruto for years.

Karin, ever the stubborn one, refused to let her embarrassment show. But inside, she was undeniably flustered.

Sasuke, in contrast, remained composed—at least on the surface. His expression was as unreadable as ever, but his eyes… His eyes burned with something fierce. Determination.

Chakra flared, flowing from Naruto's hands into their minds like a steady current—gentle, yet impossibly heavy.

A second passed.

Then another.

And then—

Their eyes widened.

The weight of the memory crushed down on them like an avalanche.

Kurama's voice—deep, guttural, filled with centuries of resentment—echoed in their minds.

"You're nothing but a weapon to them, boy. A tool, not a person. They don't care about you. The moment you're not useful, they'll cast you aside. That's how this world works."

The sheer killing intent radiating from the beast in the memory made their bodies tense up, their breath hitching.

Karin clutched her arms, shivering. That thing… lives inside him? And he's been carrying this knowledge since he was a kid?

Sasuke's fingers twitched as if gripping a phantom sword. His heart pounded. If this was just a small piece… then what kind of hell has Naruto been enduring?

Ino wiped sweat off her forehead, her body trembling. I always knew Naruto had it tough, but this? This is beyond anything I imagined. How? How does he still smile like that?

Sakura's hands were balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. All this time, we've been worried about stupid things, but Naruto… Naruto's been carrying this nightmare alone. And yet, he never once let us see it. He just kept moving forward…

Hinata's hands clutched her chest as she felt her heart ache. Naruto-kun… you've been suffering this much, and yet… you never showed it. You never asked for help. You just kept protecting everyone… even us.

Their gazes snapped toward Naruto.

Still standing. Still breathing. Still smiling.

It wasn't fake. It wasn't forced.

He genuinely smiled, even after carrying this monstrous burden alone.

Sasuke, for the first time in years, truly looked at Naruto. Not just as a rival. Not just as an idiot.

But as someone far stronger than any of them had ever realized.

Clones were already dismissed.

All the girls were crying, their emotions raw and unfiltered. Naruto sighed, stepping closer to them. With a small, warm smile, he reached out and gently wiped their tears away.

"Why are you guys such cry-babies?" he teased, trying to lighten the mood.

But before he could react, they all lunged at him, wrapping him in a tight, almost desperate embrace. The force of their hug nearly knocked the wind out of him, but he only chuckled, holding them close. For a moment, there were no words—only warmth, only the silent understanding that they weren't alone anymore.

After a few minutes, they reluctantly pulled away.

Karin was the first to break the silence. "Nii-san… how the hell do you do it?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration and admiration.

Naruto blinked. "Do what?"

"Stay you," Hinata said softly, her lavender eyes searching his. "After everything you've been through… how are you still you?"

Her voice trembled slightly. Seeing the sheer weight Naruto had been carrying—knowing this was probably just the tip of the iceberg—made her chest tighten. How had he endured it all alone for so long?

Naruto exhaled, his usual grin softening.

"Because I made a choice," he said simply. "I chose to keep moving forward. I chose to laugh instead of cry. I chose to fight for the people who actually matter to me."

His gaze lowered, locking onto each of them.

"And right now, that includes all of you."

Silence.

Then, Sasuke scoffed and looked away. "Hn. Idiot." But there was no real bite to his words.

Karin clicked her tongue. "Tch, you're so annoying, nii-san."

Ino crossed her arms. "You realize we're never letting you carry this alone again, right?"

Sakura took a deep breath, her green eyes burning with newfound determination. "We'll fight with you, not behind you."

Hinata stepped forward, her voice unwavering. "You don't have to be alone anymore, Naruto-kun."

Naruto's grin widened. "Heh. I never wanted carried this all alone. I love you guys, and I would never hide anything from my people."

Hinata hesitated before asking, "Naruto-kun… If you're carrying even more than this, will you at least let us know?" Her concern was evident—she knew there was more he wasn't telling them.

Naruto's expression grew serious.

"No, I can't share everything just yet. When the time is right, I'll tell you myself. But I will say this—something horrible is going to happen in the next two years. Something that will shake the entire ninja world." His voice lowered. "That will be the start of my real burden."

The air grew heavy.

"What?!" They all looked at him in shock. Something horrible? What did he mean?

Before their thoughts could spiral, Naruto reached out and flicked each of them on the forehead.

"Ow!"

The small but familiar gesture was enough to snap them out of their daze.

Naruto smirked. "No use worrying about the future right now. We'll handle it when it comes. Together."

He stretched his arms behind his head. "Now that we're done with all this heavy stuff, we have to continue training—because that's what really matters."

And so, they pushed their thoughts aside, burying the questions that burned in their minds. If Naruto said they weren't ready, then they would become ready. There was no other choice.

From this day forward, their training wasn't just about getting stronger—it was about preparing for whatever storm was coming.

Sasuke's punches became sharper, his focus unwavering. I won't be left behind.

Karin's movements grew faster, her chakra sensing more refined. I refuse to be weak when he needs us.

Ino and Sakura pushed their limits, their teamwork reaching new heights. We'll stand beside him, not in his shadow.

Hinata's determination burned brighter than ever. I will be strong enough for you, Naruto-kun.

Naruto watched them with a proud smirk, knowing that this was just the beginning.

Their dynamic had changed.

And so had their resolve.