Let’s See Who Can Control Everything

Konoha Hospital.

It was early morning. In a spacious hospital room, the unconscious Naruto lay on a bed, his body connected to numerous translucent tubes. Four medical-nin, dressed in white coats, stood around a monitor displaying fluctuating, erratic waves of complex data.

The Third Hokage and a group of ANBU had formed a circle around the bed. No one spoke, and the silence was suffocating.

A whole night had passed, yet Naruto remained unconscious. The Third Hokage and his subordinates had kept watch over him the entire time.

Outside of the people in this room, no one in the village knew what had transpired the night before.

"Hokage-sama, there are no abnormalities in the Jinchūriki's body," reported the lead medical-nin, stepping closer to the Third Hokage. "In fact, his body is in excellent condition. Based on our analysis, his unconscious state is likely due to extreme mental exhaustion after the loss of the Tailed Beast chakra."

"Is that just a possibility, or a definitive conclusion?"

The Third Hokage's bloodshot eyes—having reviewed documents all day and endured a sleepless night—were cold and grave.

Last night's events had drained him. By all logic, Naruto should not have remained unconscious this long after the sealing. This anomaly weighed heavily on his mind.

A new day had already begun, and although he hadn't rested, he had to return to his office to handle urgent political affairs. He needed a definitive answer.

"Data does not lie!" The medical-nin straightened his expression. "Hokage-sama, you don't need to worry too much. The Jinchūriki is in no immediate danger. We have all his medical records since birth and will continue monitoring him closely."

The Third Hokage exhaled sharply in frustration but had no other choice.

He glanced at the clock on the wall, his expression unreadable. Though the medical-nin's words held little weight, he couldn't afford to linger. His duties called.

With one last deep look at the still-unconscious Naruto, the Third Hokage turned and exited the room with the ANBU in tow.

The spacious room fell into silence again. The four medical-nin resumed their work, checking the data once more before covering Naruto with a blanket. After tidying up, they too left the room.

Beep—Beep—

Now, only the steady hum of medical equipment filled the air.

Moments later, Naruto, who had been lying motionless, suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed within them, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cold, predatory smile.

"Naruto, are you alright?"

Minato Namikaze's concerned voice echoed in Naruto's mind.

"I'm fine, Father. You don't need to worry."

After a brief pause, Naruto closed his eyes again, sending his consciousness into the seal.

"Naruto, something's wrong," Kurama growled from behind the iron bars. "I just tried channeling chakra to you, but the moment it passed through the seal, it became completely scrambled."

"This is the Five Elements Seal," Naruto said, stepping into the iron gate. "My father's sealing techniques mention it. It uses five chakra natures—Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth, and Water—to create a layered barrier. It can be undone by applying the same five chakra natures in reverse."

"But right now, I only have Wind and Fire chakra."

"What?!" Kurama's fur bristled in outrage. "Then what are we supposed to do?!"

It was already infuriating enough to be trapped inside a ridiculously strong seal, and now the Third Hokage had gone and added another one.

Minato quickly spoke up. "Kurama, Naruto can break this seal. Once a shinobi reaches a certain level, they can train to acquire new chakra natures. And even if Naruto can't break it himself, he can always find—"

Boom!

Kurama slammed a massive paw against the iron gate. "Hmph! Fourth Hokage, don't act like you don't know exactly why the Third put this seal on Naruto."

Minato's face darkened in anger.

He had placed an Even Numbered Eight Trigrams Seal on Naruto, allowing Kurama's chakra to slowly seep out and merge with Naruto's own. But now, with the additional Five Elements Seal, Kurama's chakra would not only be disrupted but would also interfere with Naruto's chakra control.

The intent behind this was sinister.

Had Naruto not broken the paper seal early, met his father, and reconciled with Kurama, he might never have been able to undo this Five Elements Seal.

Minato had initially thought about sending Naruto to Jiraiya for help, but now a chilling realization struck him—Jiraiya might act according to the Third Hokage's will.

As for anyone else… Minato couldn't think of a single person who could help his son.

At that thought, Minato felt utterly disheartened.

How ironic.

He and Kushina had sacrificed everything for Konoha, believing that sealing the Tailed Beast within their son would make him a hero.

Yet reality had repaid them with bitter irony—Naruto was vilified as a monster, and now, the Third Hokage was resorting to such underhanded tactics to suppress his growth.

Naruto extended his fist toward Kurama. "Calm down, Kurama. The situation isn't as bad as it seems."

Kurama's eyes narrowed as he bumped his paw against Naruto's fist. A moment later, he let out a low chuckle. "Heh, I almost forgot—you still have that option…"

Minato, watching from the side, was utterly baffled.

"Naruto, what do you mean the situation 'isn't that bad'…?"

"Exactly what I said."

Minato was stunned. Given the circumstances, how could Naruto say such a thing?

"Yes." Naruto's gaze was steady as he spoke. "If used correctly, this situation can actually provide me with some cover."

"You've seen it, Father. Since my birth, the village's higher-ups, led by the Third Hokage, have always treated me as a dangerous but necessary weapon."

Minato struggled to nod.

"But they're unwilling to discard this weapon, because I am one of the key factors maintaining the balance of power among the ninja villages."

"So, the Third Hokage has been monitoring me."

"Think of it this way—this is just part of the process of conditioning a weapon."

Naruto's thoughts flashed to Gaara's childhood. "First, they monitor me. Then, they carefully select who I can befriend."

"Because I contain a Tailed Beast, they are constantly evaluating and manipulating my humanity."

"They have designed everything meticulously, ensuring that even if I don't become the weapon they desire, I will still remain under their control."

Minato's face turned deathly pale. Naruto's words sparked a horrifying realization.

"Father, doesn't this all seem… familiar to you?"

"Impossible!" Minato suddenly shouted, his expression twisting. "Kushina and I were not part of some plan! That's impossible!"

Kurama bared his sharp fangs slightly. He had understood Naruto's implication, but even he found it hard to believe. After all, he knew Minato and Kushina's history better than anyone.

"Oh?" Naruto's gaze remained calm as he continued, "From what you've shown me, Father, it may not have been planned… but they still got exactly what they wanted, didn't they?"

"I…" Minato closed his eyes bitterly.

As a former Hokage, he understood politics all too well.

Naruto did not bother comforting him. Accepting the truth was necessary.

"Now, it's my turn," Naruto said, his eyes locking onto Kurama's crimson ones with unwavering determination. "Unlike my mother, I won't allow them to control me so easily."

"Since they assume I know nothing and think they can control everything about me…"

"Then let them stand at the edge of the unknown, blindly reaching into the void. Let's see how that plays out for them."

With that, Naruto's consciousness shifted into the Mirror World.

After reviewing the available puppet data, he turned and walked toward the "friend" the Third Hokage had arranged for him—Shikamaru.

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