章 11: Chapter 11
Naruto spent the next few months intensely focused on improving his sealing techniques, or Fuinjutsu. With the assistance of his clones, he managed to elevate his skills rapidly, pushing himself to reach Fuinjutsu Level 89. It wasn't an easy journey, requiring countless hours of practice, but Naruto's determination was unshakable. He knew that mastering Fuinjutsu was crucial, not only for the future battles he anticipated but also for understanding his own thinking of the seals. At this new level, he was finally able to decipher the complex seal that had bound the Nine-Tails inside him since birth. For the first time, he truly comprehended the intricate network of symbols that kept the terrifying power of Kurama, the Nine-Tails, under control.
However, merely understanding wasn't enough for Naruto. He wasn't satisfied with the seal placed upon him by his father, the Fourth Hokage. He wanted to surpass it. During his downtime, when he wasn't training with his clones, he began working on a personal project—creating a seal powerful enough to contain not only the Nine-Tails but even the Ten-Tails, or perhaps something even stronger. The thought intrigued him: what kind of power could exist beyond the Ten-Tails? As he worked on this, he also developed a new jutsu that combined his Fuinjutsu knowledge with his chakra control.
The result of his efforts was a technique he named *Sealing Art: Mirror of Eternity*. This was no ordinary Fuinjutsu. It was a highly advanced jutsu, one that would trap the target's mind in an endless loop of illusions—reflections of themselves, of their memories, of their fears—until they were rendered completely immobilized. Their chakra would be suppressed, unable to be used, while their minds would be occupied by the illusion, which mirrored their thoughts and actions over and over again. This technique was perfect for capturing powerful enemies, particularly those resistant to conventional physical attacks. But it wasn't easy to perform. The jutsu required precise chakra control and a deep, intricate understanding of Fuinjutsu. It was the kind of technique that only someone with Naruto's level of skill and experience could use effectively.
Moreover, *Sealing Art: Mirror of Eternity* consumed an enormous amount of chakra. Even for someone like Naruto, who had near-endless reserves of chakra thanks to Kurama, the jutsu had a limited duration. In optimal conditions, with no interruptions and perfect chakra control, the maximum hold time was about ten minutes. After that, the technique had to be released, or it could potentially cause physical and mental strain on Naruto himself.
This jutsu wasn't something just anyone could use. It required the user to possess Yin Release or an affinity for Yin-based techniques. Yin Release was necessary because it allowed the user to cast illusions, manipulating the mind of the target. Additionally, the person needed to be an advanced or master-level Fuinjutsu user, or they would never be able to control the complexities of the sealing technique. Naruto designed this jutsu with himself in mind—it was created specifically for him and no one else.
He had been inspired to create this technique after watching the moves of Tai Lung, a martial artist from a distant land, who had used a technique to paralyze his enemies. Naruto remembered how effortlessly Tai Lung had immobilized his opponents, leaving them helpless. It had seemed so cool to Naruto, so he decided to create something similar. Though *Mirror of Eternity* didn't cause physical stiffness in its targets, it sealed them mentally, which was good enough for Naruto's purposes.
As he pondered over his creation, Naruto glanced out the window of his small apartment. The streets of Konoha were blanketed in a thick layer of snow, the first major snowfall of the winter. It was already that time of year again—the air was crisp, and the cold wind howled through the narrow streets, carrying a sharp bite that made most villagers stay inside. Naruto, however, liked the cold. Winter meant fewer people were outside, and the village felt quieter, almost peaceful. The hustle and bustle that usually filled the streets was absent, leaving Konoha looking like a ghost town.
To combat the chill, Naruto created a simple but effective seal. He placed it on his chest, and immediately, warmth spread through his body, protecting him from the biting cold. He had also placed a similar seal in his bathroom, allowing him to take hot showers even when the temperature dropped. It was a small convenience, but it made the harsh winter days much more bearable.
Before leaving his apartment, Naruto wrapped a thick scarf around his neck and glanced at his reflection in the mirror. His hair had grown quite long, nearly reaching past his shoulders. He hadn't paid much attention to it in recent months, too focused on his training. After running a hand through his messy hair, setting it just enough to look somewhat presentable, he turned and left his apartment, stepping out into the cold, snow-covered streets.
Naruto was headed to the forest, a place where he and Sasuke often trained together. The forest was a short walk from the village center, and it was one of Naruto's places where he felt thrill. The trees provided cover from prying eyes, allowing him and Sasuke to push themselves to their limits without fear of being interrupted. Today, however, the streets were eerily empty. As he walked, Naruto noticed how deserted the village looked. The few people he saw hurried by, bundled up against the cold, avoiding any unnecessary interaction.
To anyone else, the village might have seemed lifeless, but Naruto, with his finely tuned chakra sensing abilities, could feel the presence of many people inside their homes. The warmth of their chakra signatures gave him the sense that they were laughing and enjoying themselves, surrounded by family and friends. Yet, despite this warmth, Naruto felt a strange hollowness inside himself. He didn't know why, but seeing others experience that kind of happiness always made him feel… empty.
*I will never understand,* Naruto thought to himself as he shook his head. He wasn't sure what exactly he was trying to understand, but the feeling was like person which stared at him at night from the dark corner when he would sleep.
When he arrived at the training spot, Naruto found it empty. Sasuke wasn't there. He figured she was probably spending time with her family. After all, her family was still alive. *Must be with them,* he thought to himself.
As Naruto was about to start training alone, he suddenly felt the chakra signatures of three civilian kids, along with another signature that was much larger—Hinata. His curiosity piqued, Naruto followed the chakra signatures and found a scene that made him feel.... nothing. Three civilian children were taunting Hinata, mocking her for her unusual eyes. They jeered and laughed, pointing at her and calling her names.
Hinata, as always, didn't fight back. Tears welled up in her pale lavender eyes, but she didn't lash out or even speak in her defense. It was understandable, in a way. Her eyes were different, unsettling to those who didn't understand the power of the Byakugan, but that didn't give them the right to torment her.
For some reason, seeing her like that stirred something deep inside Naruto—pity. He hadn't felt pity for anyone in a long time, but looking at Hinata now, with her quiet tears and her downcast eyes, that was the only word he could find for what he felt.
Without a word, Naruto stepped forward, his face a mask of cold indifference. Before the kids could react, he delivered a series of quick, brutal blows, knocking them to the ground. He didn't hold back, showing no mercy as he kicked them down.
"Ouch! Who are you? OWWW! Stop!!!" they cried, their voices panicked and filled with pain as Naruto grabbed one of the boy's hands and twisted his finger with a sickening crack.
"Run," Naruto said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. The children, tears streaming down their faces and clutching their broken fingers, scrambled to their feet and ran as fast as they could.
As they fled, Naruto wasn't done. He quickly scooped up three snowballs and threw them with perfect precision, hitting each of the kids squarely in the back of the head. The impact knocked them off their feet again, and they tumbled into the snow, crying even louder than before.
Satisfied, Naruto turned his attention to Hinata, who was standing there, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe.
"You," Naruto said, his voice still cold and emotionless, "why didn't you fight back?"
"I-I didn't want to h-hurt them," Hinata stammered, her voice barely above a whisper as she fidgeted nervously.
Naruto stared at her for a long moment, his mind drifting to a distant memory. In his past life, he had once drowned a pigeon. He remembered it vividly. The bird had been blind in one eye, struggling to fly. In that moment, he had felt something akin to pity, the same feeling that washed over him now as he looked at Hinata.
Slowly, Naruto crouched down and patted Hinata on the head. His touch was gentle, almost affectionate, though his voice remained as emotionless as ever.
"Next time they say anything, just call me," Naruto said, his tone flat and matter-of-fact. "I'll make their mothers weep for them."
Hinata's face turned bright red as she felt Naruto's hand on her head. She nodded, though she didn't fully understand what he meant by "weeping." Nonetheless, she was too flustered to question him.
Naruto stood up, glancing once more at the direction the kids had run. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Hinata standing there, still in awe of what had just happened.
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If you like it then give power stones, if not give review, I'm determined to finish this fanfic.
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