Chapter 28 : Trouble

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[Development Panel]

• Uzumaki Bloodline

Purity: 63.55%

Time Remaining: 7 Months, 19 Days

• Uchiha Bloodline

Purity: 0.54%

Time Remaining: 4 Years, 11 Months, 19 Days

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"Whoa… A ten-day reduction?" Naruto stared at the glowing panel, eyes wide. "That's way more than I expected."

He had arrived home thanks to a fateful encounter—with a cute dog that forced him to race back in record time.

He tried to move, but his body wasn't listening. Everything hurt.

"But… there's no way I can do that kind of training every day," he groaned.

Still, his brain kept spinning.

If I really kept going… just twenty-three more days and the Uzumaki bloodline would be done…

He blinked.

"Am I actually thinking about doing this again?"

Yeah… he was.

His eyes widened at the thought.

Then narrowed.

"That's way too much… ugh." He shivered just imagining the pain again.

Still… the benefits were undeniable.

"Guess I'll see how I feel tomorrow," he muttered through a yawn.

Exhaustion finally overtook him.

His eyelids grew heavy, his breathing slowed, and as sleep crept in, his eyes shut completely.

Inside Naruto's Belly – Eight Trigrams Seal

The air crackled with red chakra—but it was tightly contained. At the heart of the seal, in a vast, dimly lit cage, a massive figure snarled in frustration.

CLANK!

Chains rattled.

"Arghhh—LET ME OUT, you damn brat!"

Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, thrashed inside his prison.

Thick golden chains shimmered around his body, glowing with sealing energy that refused to weaken.

He growled, low and furious. "These damn chains again?!"

He tugged—again and again—but the chains didn't even budge.

"This isn't like that woman's seal… Kushina's chains used to fade after a while."

His eyes narrowed.

"But this kid's… his chains are different."

They weren't fading. In fact, they looked more solid now than when they first appeared.

That made Kurama feel something he didn't usually feel.

Helpless.

"To make it worse… I can't even see outside anymore. At least before, I could keep an eye on the world."

He slammed a paw into the ground—but the earth beneath his cage didn't even show a crack. The seal held firm.

"DAMN YOU, UZUMAKI CLAN!"

Back Outside

Naruto, meanwhile, slept like a baby—peaceful, breathing steady, with no idea that inside him, the Nine-Tails was having a full-blown tantrum.

Above the rooftops, two masked figures moved silently.

A new ANBU in a boar mask took position on a nearby building, crouching low, watching over Naruto's home.

The previous watcher—wearing a dog mask—vanished in a flicker of movement, heading toward the Hokage Tower.

Hokage Tower

Inside the Hokage Tower, the atmosphere was calm but alert.

The room was dimly lit, its silence broken only by the soft rustle of papers and the steady flicker of lantern flames.

The dog-masked ANBU knelt on one knee before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, his posture rigid and respectful.

"Report complete," the ANBU said in a flat, emotionless voice.

"The jinchūriki shows no signs of instability. Chakra levels are stable.

The Eight Trigrams Seal remains fully intact—no leakage or fluctuation detected."

Hiruzen, seated behind his desk, folded his hands thoughtfully.

His face, though calm, showed faint lines of concern—etched by decades of leadership and war.

"Was there any indication of tampering?" he asked.

"None," the ANBU replied. "No sign of interference from internal or external sources.

All sensory scans confirm the seal is functioning at full strength."

Hiruzen gave a short nod.

"Good. Maintain observation as scheduled.

Continue monitoring fluctuations, especially during physical or emotional strain. Report any changes immediately."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Without another word, the ANBU vanished in a flicker, leaving behind only a faint breeze.

ROOT Headquarters – Underground

Deep beneath Konoha, in a cold, silent chamber, shadows gathered.

Dozens of masked shinobi stood in formation. At the center, on a slightly raised platform, stood an older man with bandaged arms and a cloth covering one eye.

Danzo Shimura

The dog-masked ANBU approached and knelt.

"Danzo-sama," he said. "I've confirmed the state of the jinchūriki.

There are no signs of leakage or breakdown. The seal is stable."

Danzo's only visible eye narrowed.

He had suspected a seal malfunction. But if the seal was intact…

Then what caused that chakra surge a few days ago?

Could it be interference from another village?

An enemy effort?

Or something more... internal?

Danzo gave a quiet order: "Double the patrols. Search every visitor who entered Konoha in the last thirty days."

He turned away.

"If any of them look even slightly suspicious… kill them."

The Root agents bowed silently and vanished—spreading like smoke.

Danzo remained still, deep in thought, his expression hard.

"If the seal is stable… then the jinchūriki is usable."

His eye glinted beneath the bandages.

The Hokage's seat… may still be within reach.

Land of Waves

The sky above the Land of Waves was grey, clouds thick and heavy with the promise of rain.

Along a muddy, uneven road, an old man rode in a worn-out carriage, bouncing with every rattle of the wheels.

Tazuna, a seasoned bridge builder with graying hair and a towel draped around his shoulders, gripped the edge of his seat tightly.

Every bump in the road rattled his bones, but he didn't complain—he didn't have time to.

His destination was clear: the Land of Fire. More specifically—the Hidden Leaf Village.

He leaned forward, eyes narrowed, scanning the horizon.

Come on… faster…

Just days ago, his peaceful construction project had turned into a disaster.

Armed thugs and rogue shinobi had appeared, actively sabotaging his bridge and even causing casualties among the workers.

All because of a criminal businessman named Gato.

The attack had forced Tazuna to abandon the site and flee.

Now, he was heading to the only place where he believed he could find help.

The Hidden Leaf wasn't just the closest village—it was a symbol of strength.

With its long history, elite shinobi, and reputation as home to several Hokage, it was his best chance.

His only chance.

Inside the carriage, Tazuna sat hunched, beads of sweat forming on his brow despite the cold wind sneaking through the canvas flaps.

His thoughts churned with anxiety.

He kept thinking about how to present his request—how to plead for a mission to be accepted.

But… he didn't have much money left.

I can only hope someone takes the mission out of goodwill…

If they don't accept my request… I'm dead. We're all dead.

The thought sent another chill down his spine.