It’s All for Your Own Good

"Lord Hokage!" (x2)

The two ANBU agents assigned to monitor Naruto emerged from the shadows, kneeling on one knee before the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage, standing below the building, gazed up at the second-floor window without speaking. Even before arriving, he had sensed a chakra that was suffocating and violent.

He wasn't the only one familiar with this chakra. Every survivor of that night five years ago in Konoha would recognize it instantly—and none would dare forget it.

"What happened?"

A shadow flickered across the Third Hokage's face as he asked.

Just this morning, arrangements concerning Naruto had made some progress through Shikamaru. Yet now, mere hours later, there were signs that the Nine-Tails might be going berserk.

This left the Third Hokage, who had been diligently managing Konoha from his office, in a terrible mood. He had planned to visit his now one-year-old grandson, Konohamaru, later that evening.

"The target has not left his house since returning at noon. He briefly stepped onto the second-floor balcony in the afternoon for less than two minutes. Everything remained normal. But just a few minutes ago, we suddenly detected the Nine-Tails' chakra erupting from the second floor—without warning."

Hearing this, the Third Hokage's expression eased slightly. He then turned to the ANBU beside him and gave a nod.

Six masked figures stepped forward from the group behind him. With swift hand seals, they dispersed in different directions.

"Barrier! Seal!"

A translucent barrier formed as the six of them positioned themselves around the small building, their energies linking together. Within moments, Naruto's house was completely enclosed in a hexagonal space.

An ANBU wearing a beige hooded cloak approached the Third Hokage. "Lord Hokage, the barrier is in place. We can still sense the Jinchūriki inside. He hasn't moved. Shall we—"

BOOM!

Before he could finish speaking, the wall beside the second-floor entrance suddenly exploded, leaving a gaping hole.

The Third Hokage's sharp gaze locked onto the opening.

Naruto emerged in his pajamas.

The Third Hokage's face darkened instantly—so much so that it seemed water might drip from it.

Naruto was enveloped in a cloak of crimson chakra. His eyes glowed with slit-like red pupils. Behind him, two flickering tails swayed ominously.

"Lord Hokage, what brings you here?"

"Hmm?" The Third Hokage blinked in surprise before exclaiming, "Naruto?! You're still conscious?"

Before breaking the wall, Naruto had already considered the situation carefully. He needed to show that he was still under control—to present himself as something that could be firmly grasped. The situation was not yet beyond saving, so he had to maintain his composure. Acting natural and cooperative would be key in handling what was to come.

When he heard the Third Hokage's question, a flash of confusion crossed Naruto's face. "What do you mean?"

The Third Hokage was genuinely shocked.

He had never imagined that a partially transformed Naruto would still retain his self-awareness.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind before he quickly resumed his usual benevolent expression. "Naruto, what's going on with this chakra?"

"I don't know."

To deceive others, one must first deceive themselves.

Naruto spoke the words almost absentmindedly, as if lost in thought.

"You don't know? Then how did this chakra appear?"

The Third Hokage scrutinized Naruto's face, which—despite being twisted slightly by the Nine-Tails' chakra—remained unsettlingly calm.

Although Naruto seemed unaffected by the ominous chakra, the Third Hokage remained extremely cautious. Anything concerning the Tailed Beasts required the utmost vigilance.

Naruto lifted his clawed hands, turning them over curiously as though examining a newfound oddity. Innocently, he said, "Lord Hokage, I really don't know. Today, I made a friend from the Nara clan."

"I was so happy that I went straight home. After lunch, I was upstairs refining my chakra. Then, as I got a little sleepy, I suddenly heard a voice calling my name."

What kind of logic was this?

You made a friend… and immediately ran home out of excitement?

The Third Hokage and his subordinates struggled to process Naruto's words.

However, they quickly focused on his last sentence.

The Third Hokage's expression turned grim. "A voice? What kind of voice?"

Naruto's face showed a flicker of uncertainty. "It sounded like… a fox?"

The Third Hokage's gaze hardened. "What kind of fox?"

"I didn't get a good look. I followed the voice and saw a fox-like face." Naruto's expression was full of surprise. "It called me over to a dark iron gate. Then, some red stuff flowed from behind the door and onto my feet."

"It said… it was a reward for me meeting it at such a young age."

"And then, somehow, my body turned into this."

Inside the sealed space, Kurama's crimson eyes gleamed.

Naruto's explanation was odd—but strangely, it aligned with Kurama's own wishes.

The Third Hokage pondered deeply.

This seemed to be the Nine-Tails actively luring Naruto into the seal, which led to the current situation. However, he suddenly looked up at the hole in the wall and asked, "Naruto, why did you destroy your own wall?"

Naruto's expression instantly turned indignant. "I didn't do it!"

"What? You didn't?"

Now, not only was the Third Hokage bewildered, but even the ANBU agents behind their masks wore looks of incredulity.

"Yes! It wasn't me!" Naruto nodded firmly before pointing at the two swaying tails behind him. "It was them! When I first noticed these things on me, I was still trying to figure them out. But then, they suddenly started smashing my desk, chair, and a bunch of furniture."

"As I watched them destroy things, I decided to leave the room. But just as I was about to open the door, these two things smashed the wall next to it instead."

The Third Hokage remained skeptical.

He was convinced that Naruto was still fully conscious, but why couldn't he control the Nine-Tails' chakra?

According to all known records on Jinchūriki, the moment Tailed Beast chakra emerged or covered a host's body, there were only two possible outcomes:

The Jinchūriki maintained dominance and controlled the chakra as their own.

The Tailed Beast took over completely, plunging the Jinchūriki into a berserk rampage.

This was consistent across intelligence gathered from other Tailed Beast villages as well.

Yet Naruto's situation was different. He was still himself—but unable to control the chakra. It made no sense.

The Third Hokage felt like this was turning into a farce, but another headache awaited him.

Naruto seemed completely unaware of what his transformation truly meant.

For a fleeting moment, the Third Hokage weighed his options. Then, he smiled. "Naruto, come down. You need our help to control this chakra."

"Alright."

Naruto jumped down and approached the Third Hokage. "Can this really be controlled?"

The surrounding ANBU instantly spread out in high alert as he approached.

"Of course," the Third Hokage assured him kindly. "Now, Naruto, open your shirt. Let me check."

"What for?" Naruto asked, frowning.

"Don't be afraid, Naruto," the Third Hokage said gently. "I just need to see if your body has suffered any harm—like the medical ninja at Konoha Hospital used to check you when you were little."

"Oh, okay."

Naruto lowered his head to undo his buttons—but for a brief moment, a bloodthirsty gleam flashed through his eyes.

Suppressing it instantly, he shut his eyes tight.

This chakra was difficult to control. It amplified his deepest emotions with just the slightest lapse in focus.

Seeing him close his eyes, the Third Hokage assumed it was out of fear—an all-too-common reaction among children during medical examinations.

Smiling slightly, he knelt and inspected the sealing formula on Naruto's abdomen.

"The Eight Trigrams Seal remains intact."

"The Fourth Hokage really did think ahead."

Then, placing his palm on Naruto's stomach, he sensed it.

Naruto's natural chakra reserves already rivaled that of an average Jōnin.

"If he also receives the Nine-Tails' chakra…"

A glint flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes as he smiled. "Naruto, don't listen to any more voices. They belong to an evil monster."

"Now, stay still—I'll seal this chakra inside you."

Naruto's instincts screamed in warning.

But he dared not resist.

"Five Elements Seal!"

Pain surged through his body.

Naruto gritted his teeth.

Then, he lost consciousness.

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