Naruto sat in the back of the Academy classroom, doodling explosions in his notebook while Iruka droned on about battle tactics. "And that's why teamwork is crucial!" Iruka said, his chalk scratching the board. Naruto nodded enthusiastically, his grin wide, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Teamwork? He didn't trust anyone enough for that. The village had taught him that lesson early—rely on yourself, because everyone else is hiding something.His latest eavesdropping had confirmed it. Yesterday, he'd overheard two jounin near the ramen stand, talking about a "restricted archive" in the Hokage Tower, where the sealed scroll was kept. One had mentioned a "chakra signature lock," whatever that meant. Naruto's heart had raced, but he'd kept slurping his noodles, laughing loudly at nothing to throw off suspicion. The scroll was close, but it was guarded by barriers he couldn't break without serious power—power he was still chasing.He'd made progress with the shadow clone jutsu. Last night, he'd summoned twelve clones, solid and quick, able to move independently for nearly a minute before fading. It was a start, but sneaking into the tower would need more than clones. He needed the Nine-Tails' chakra, and that meant facing the beast inside him. The thought made his stomach twist, but he pushed it down, flashing a grin as Iruka called his name."Naruto, care to explain the three-man cell strategy?" Iruka asked, one eyebrow raised."Uh, it's when three ninjas team up to be awesome!" Naruto said, scratching his head with a laugh. The class snickered, and Iruka sighed, moving on. Perfect. Let them think he was clueless. It gave him room to plan.After class, Naruto slipped back to his clearing, his mask dropping as he summoned his clones. He set them to sparring, pushing them to move faster, hit harder. Then he sat, closing his eyes to chase that burning chakra again. This time, the heat came quicker, a roar in his veins that made his skin prickle. He saw flashes—red eyes, a snarl, a wave of raw power that could crush him. He gasped, breaking the connection, his heart pounding."Stupid fox," he muttered, but his voice held a grudging respect. The Nine-Tails was terrifying, but it was his. If he could harness it, no one could stop him—not the ANBU, not the Hokage. He needed that power, not just for the scroll but to stand tall against a village that saw him as a demon. He'd train until he could control it, until he could walk into the tower and take what was his.As he headed home, he passed Anko, who was lounging near a dango stand. "Yo, kid!" she called. "Still causing trouble?"Naruto grinned, big and bright. "Always, Anko-nee!" he shouted, but his eyes were wary. She'd helped him once, but she was a jounin, part of the village's web of secrets. He waved and kept walking, his mind on the power he needed to break that web apart.
