Naruto: The new beginning

If you enjoy the chapter, don't forget to drop some Power Stones! Your support keeps me inspired to create and share more. Thank you!💎💎💎

---

"No way, then we'll have to hurry up and interrogate him." Izumi showed no mercy toward someone like Mizuki, who had intended to kill his comrades. "Thank you, Miss Shizune."

Shizune waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing. The nutrient solution will be delivered later."

Izumi and her three teammates took Mizuki and the Tonin back to their group. Naruto held Pakkun in one hand and rested his other hand on Shizune's shoulder as they returned to Tsunade's office.

"What are you doing?" Naruto exclaimed, taken aback at the sight before him.

Naruko had undone Tsunade's usual twin ponytails and was carefully braiding her hair into a twisted side braid decorated with an array of mismatched flowers.

The braid wasn't centred but instead draped sideways, giving it an almost whimsical, yet dangerous, appearance.

Shizune and Pakkun were equally stunned. Not only had Naruto's clone taken on a female form, but it also seemed skilled in hairstyling.

"Oh…" Naruko made a mockingly regretful face and leapt out the window with a mischievous smile.

From the third floor, she twisted her body backwards, performing two and a half flips before landing gracefully. With a final glance back, she called, "Don't try this at home!"

"Eep!" Pakkun wriggled in Naruto's arms, desperately seeking refuge with Shizune.

This human was way too intense; if he stayed around, he feared he'd end up as pork chop rice one day.

At that moment, Tsunade looked up in a daze. "…What's going on?"

"Goodbye, Sis Shizune!" Naruto quickly handed Pakkun to Shizune and dashed out the door.

Shizune, still in a daze, cradled Pakkun and glanced over at Tsunade, who had just plucked a flower out of her hair. "Uh…hey?"

---

When Naruto returned home, he found himself unable to relax for a long time.

He was staring at the Nine-Tails within his mind's sealed space. He'd just received memories from the clone that Kurama had temporarily controlled.

"You went to spar with Shukaku?"

Kurama, not even flinching, replied, "No."

"You're lying!" Naruto was incredulous. "Do you think I can't tell? I have the memory right here!"

Kurama retorted smugly, "I didn't fight him; I merely overpowered him. Does that even count?"

"...Alright, fair enough," Naruto muttered, but he couldn't help but think it was overkill to use his shadow clone in golden body mode just to dominate Shukaku.

Earlier, Shukaku had used Gaara's sand clone to take a walk. Although he could barely walk straight, he was practising diligently. With the seal in place, Shukaku could barely control a handful of sand, let alone his usual abilities.

Naruto mused that once Gaara and Shukaku's relationship improved, he'd teach Gaara how to unseal him properly.

At this rate, Gaara was well on his way to becoming a perfect jinchuriki.

Naruto advised Kurama, "There aren't many oases left in the Land of Wind. Try not to wreck this one."

"Tch," Kurama grunted, slightly amused. "Fine, fine. Next time, I'll find a proper sandbox for Shukaku."

---

The following morning, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura met for training as usual.

Today, Sakura had prepared a bento for Sasuke, whose expression immediately soured.

I consider you a comrade, and you're trying to poison me? he thought, before turning and quietly warming up in the corner.

Sakura looked crestfallen, and Naruto patted her shoulder sympathetically.

"Sakura, remember when Choji nearly fainted after trying your cooking last time? Sasuke probably doesn't want to suffer the same fate."

Sakura held the bento box defensively. "Last time was an accident! I accidentally used the wrong seasoning. This time, I put in extra effort and even added a few herbs that are good for health."

Naruto pondered this, then asked the critical question. "Did you taste it?"

"Of course not! This is a special love bento, made just for Sasuke. He should be the first to try it."

Naruto smirked to himself. If only she knew what she was getting into, she'd be saying, 'You take one bite, I take one bite, and we'll meet on the other side.'

"Sasuke doesn't want it. Why don't you give it a try?" Naruto suggested, curious if she'd taste her own 'dark cuisine.'

Sakura hesitated briefly, then opened the box. "Fine, I'll try a bite."

Thirty seconds later, her face darkened as she tossed the bento, box and all, into the trash. I followed the perfect nutritional formula why does making food feel harder than mixing medicine?

Kakashi arrived around ten o'clock, casually greeting them from atop a wooden stake. "Good morning."

"You're late again, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura muttered, too drained to even complain properly.

Kakashi scratched his cheek. "Well…that's because…"

"Because you were up all night training with Gai-sensei?" Naruto interjected.

"Sort of…but something sounds off when you put it that way," Kakashi replied. In truth, after a long day of training, he'd gone home, picked up his favorite book Icha Icha Paradise, and got so engrossed in it that he'd ended up reading until dawn.

Kakashi quickly changed to a serious expression. "Anyway, we need to go to the Hokage's office. Today's mission is a bit complicated."

"It's not another C-rank, is it?" Naruto asked skeptically.

Kakashi paused for a second. "No, it's a B-rank."

"Oh," Naruto said indifferently, while Sasuke and Sakura also seemed unfazed.

Kakashi sighed inwardly, feeling exhausted. His students were all skilled, strong, and promising. Yet they acted indifferent to B-rank missions and overly cautious about C-ranks. Where did I go wrong?

---

Shortly after they departed, Inuzuka Hana was walking her three dogs when she noticed several stray cats and dogs lying near a trash can. "Who would be so cruel as to poison these poor animals?"

As an experienced veterinarian, Hana knelt to examine them, anger rising within her.

However, her examination revealed that they were merely unconscious and otherwise unharmed.

When her ninja dogs found a bento box nearby, Hana picked it up thoughtfully. This must be the source.

Analyzing the remnants on the animals' mouths, she found that the food was nutritious and not harmful at all. So…how did they all end up like this?

---

For early access to advanced chapters and exclusive illustrations made by me, visit my P@treon:

P@treon/iamxeno

Thank you so much for your support and for reading!