In the end, the three agreed to stay for dinner.

Natsuki considered Naruto's request, recalling the original story, then quickly locked onto Kakashi's location. With the Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) formula engraved on Kakashi's chakra reserves, finding him wasn't difficult. Since Kakashi was assigned to guard Gaara, he had to be close by.

Sure enough, Natsuki pinpointed him immediately.

He suddenly opened the gate and shouted toward a nearby tree:

"Kakashi-senpai, stop peeking at your book. Come have dinner at my place!"

Kakashi promptly fell out of the tree, glaring at him with annoyance.

This brat, to shout something like that so loudly! Sure, most people already knew that Hatake Kakashi liked reading those books, but once said out loud, it became unbearably awkward.

Nearby residents even poked their heads out to see what was going on. Fū and Gaara also stared at him with strange eyes, like they were witnessing some rare species.

Fū asked directly,

"Natsuki, are all the male shinobi in Konoha like this? One of the Sannin, Jiraiya, loves peeping, and this famous ninja loves dirty books?"

"Ahem, Fū, don't listen to Natsuki's nonsense."

Kakashi quickly tucked away his Icha Icha Paradise, coughing lightly.

"Since Natsuki invited me, I won't be shy. Let's see how good your cooking is."

He then walked straight into the yard, sitting down as if the awkwardness just now had never happened.

Expressionless, Natsuki poured him a cup of tea and immediately explained Naruto's request.

"According to Tsunade-sama's arrangements, I could be sent on a mission at any time. Even if I wanted to help, I can't supervise them constantly. So I'd like you, Kakashi-senpai, to help discuss a training plan for Naruto, Fū, and Gaara. They'll just need to follow the plan."

Naruto quickly leaned forward.

"Please, Kakashi-sensei! I really want to get stronger, dattebayo!"

Fū and Gaara also looked at Kakashi expectantly.

Kakashi's half-lidded eye turned toward Natsuki.

"Alright then... what's your suggestion?"

Natsuki shamelessly copied the original story's arrangement.

"I think since Naruto has already mastered the Rasengan, it's time he creates his own technique. He should attempt to combine chakra's shape transformation with nature transformation."

Naruto's eyes lit up immediately.

"Yes! Exactly that! I always wanted to create my own jutsu, but I couldn't before. Maybe now I can! Something like Natsuki's Vortex Boiling Bullet or Water Orb Slash—that kind of move!"

Gaara didn't remember much about the Vortex Boiling Bullet, but he did recall that it was the jutsu that forced Shukaku into retreat. If it was something on that level, it was worth trying to develop.

Fū, however, was curious.

"Vortex Boiling Bullet? Water Orb Slash? Are those really powerful jutsu?"

Kakashi patiently explained,

"Extremely powerful. The Vortex Boiling Bullet is a spiraling sphere of water chakra. One shot could probably level a mountain. Water Orb Slash is a razor-sharp slicing technique of water nature—easily capable of cutting through a mountain."

"Hisss!" Fū gasped, sucking in cold air.

She never imagined those moves were so destructive. She had only known that Natsuki could teleport, fire lasers, and even summon a giant mecha. But this too? No wonder he was so formidable!

"Well... perhaps Naruto really is at that stage now."

Kakashi clearly shared the same thought.

"Then let's have him try combining chakra's shape and nature transformations. But the training will be harsh. There's a risk of the Kyūbi losing control. I'll need to consult Tsunade-sama—ideally Jiraiya-sama should supervise. Or, Natsuki, you could also keep watch."

Wait... wasn't Yamato supposed to supervise?

Right, where was Yamato?

Natsuki recalled—at this point he wasn't "Yamato" yet, but still "Tenzō" in the ANBU. Technically, only someone like him, possessing Hashirama's cells, was best suited to suppress Naruto, since he could use the necklace's power to restrain the Kyūbi. But bringing that up now would be strange—it was confidential knowledge. Surely Tsunade would eventually arrange it.

Even Jiraiya couldn't suppress the Kyūbi alone.

So Natsuki stayed silent.

Fū asked eagerly,

"So Naruto has his plan... what about me and Gaara?"

Natsuki thought about the Nanabi's true form, then suggested,

"The Seven-Tails is like a giant insect, right? Since it's a bug, you should work with an expert in that field. I have a friend named Aburame Shino—you might have heard of him. The Aburame clan specializes in insect control. You might learn a lot from him."

"An insect tamer shinobi?" Fū tilted her head with interest.

"That could work. The Seven-Tails is indeed a bug—it might like your friend!"

Everyone else, however, glanced curiously at Natsuki.

So the Nanabi was a giant insect? How did he know that...?

Natsuki then turned to Gaara.

"Your weakness is your frail body. You've relied on sand to protect you, so your taijutsu is nonexistent. That needs work. Also, you're already skilled with sand techniques, but you should improve your Wind Release."

Gaara raised his nonexistent brow.

"Wind Release?"

"Yes, Wind Release!" Natsuki confirmed firmly.

"When I fought the Ichibi three years ago, it actually performed a Fūton: Renkūdan (Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet). Its destructive power was terrifying. In my opinion, though the Ichibi has the least chakra of the nine Tailed Beasts, it's the smartest. It can even weave hand signs and perform ninjutsu!

Renkūdan is absolutely second only to the Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Bomb) in raw power, but with much lower chakra cost.

Also, Kakashi-senpai said my Water Orb Slash has incredible cutting power. But in truth, wind has even greater cutting potential. My idea was to create a disc-shaped wind chakra technique—an Air Disc Slash—that could become the ultimate cutting attack. Unfortunately, I don't have wind nature, so I can't develop it."

Gaara nodded repeatedly.

Now he understood why Natsuki was so strong. That kind of imagination and analytical ability allowed him to clearly see the path forward, even without a teacher.

Unlike himself, who relied only on sand, failing in all other areas.

Naruto shot up his hand.

"Natsuki! Natsuki! I also have wind nature, dattebayo! I can learn that too, right?!"

Natsuki shrugged.

"I can't actually teach you—I can only give suggestions. You and Gaara should figure it out together. Follow this direction and you'll definitely develop something powerful."

Kakashi nodded.

"Mm. That's a solid plan. Following Natsuki's advice would be very worthwhile."

"Then it's settled!" Naruto beamed.

"The three of us will train according to these suggestions, and we'll get stronger together!"

The three Jinchūriki were brimming with energy.

(End of Chapter)

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