Naruto: All depends on the Nine-tails Fox

Thud!"

Another sharp knock, and Naruto woke up again with a cry of pain.

However, this time Hinata was ready. As soon as Naruto woke up, she quickly picked up an ice pack she had prepared earlier and gently pressed it against the swollen bump on his head, massaging it softly.

"Thank you, Hinata," Naruto sighed as the stars in his vision slowly disappeared. "This is much harder than I imagined; it's really not easy."

"Naruto-kun, can you move your legs this time?" Hinata asked cautiously while continuing to massage the area she had accidentally hit earlier.

"Umm... It seems like I need to wait a bit longer."

"Oh."

The two of them sat in silence for a moment. Hinata was filled with worry, but Naruto looked completely blank, staring off into space as if he had emptied his mind, sitting motionless like a statue.

"Sorry, Hinata. Could you help me lie down for a bit? I think my legs have gone numb!" Naruto suddenly grimaced. "And my head feels dizzy... I might even throw up."

"Did I hit you too hard earlier?" Hinata asked, her voice full of concern.

"No, it's not your fault. I think there's something wrong with my mental state," Naruto muttered, looking visibly drained, like his soul had left his body. This scared Hinata, who quickly helped him lie down on the bed.

Lying on the bed, Naruto slowly came back to his senses, staring at his body in confusion.

"Naruto-kun, please stay on the bed for a while. I'll get you some water. If you still feel unwell, I'll call a doctor right away," Hinata said gently, her face filled with worry.

"Thanks, Hinata. But it's okay. Let me rest for a bit," Naruto replied gratefully, closing his eyes in deep thought.

In Naruto's mind, Kurama (the Nine-Tails) was already preparing to send more natural energy his way when Naruto quickly motioned for him to stop, explaining his situation.

"Hmm, I might have overlooked something," Kurama mused. "Staying as still as a stone for too long and halting all thoughts might be affecting your developing brain. Although there's no real risk of death in the mental realm, given your young age and weaker mental strength, this could pose a danger."

After hearing Naruto's concerns, Kurama speculated on the cause.

"Yeah, it felt serious. For a moment there, my mind was completely blank. It was like my brain and body didn't belong to me. It was as if I had turned into a statue in reality, unable to think or control my body," Naruto complained, shaking his head with frustration.

"Indeed, it sounds dangerous. We shouldn't rush this," Kurama said, waving a paw. "Let's stop here for today. We'll practice a bit each day going forward. Right now, we still haven't figured out the right amount of natural energy your body can safely absorb, so there's no point in moving to the next step."

With a flick of his claw, Kurama sent Naruto's spiritual form back.

"It seems teaching someone isn't as easy as I thought," Kurama muttered to himself as he looked up at Minato's chakra orb. Reflecting on it, he realized that in his previous life, he hadn't actually taught Naruto anything—just directly passed on chakra when needed. The only technique he gave, the Baryon Mode, was essentially burning himself away...

Could it be that I lack teaching skills? No way! Kurama shook his head, dismissing the idea. He would never admit to such a flaw!

When Naruto opened his eyes again, he saw the familiar ceiling of his own room. He tried moving his limbs and found that they felt much better. He jumped out of bed.

"Naruto-kun, are you okay now?" Hinata asked immediately.

"It's nothing, just the aftereffects of the training. I feel much better now. Let's call it a day and get you home," Naruto said, grabbing Hinata's hand as they walked toward the door.

"Right now?" Hinata asked, surprised.

"Yeah, why not? It's already dark—wait, what's that smell?" Naruto sniffed the air, his eyes catching sight of two steaming cups of instant ramen on the table.

"I-I thought you might be hungry..." Hinata said, turning her head shyly.

"But we just ate a while ago," Naruto scratched his head, but quickly shrugged it off. "Well, training does use up a lot of energy. I guess I can eat another cup! What about you, Hinata? Can you still eat?"

"Mm," Hinata nodded softly.

It was already late at night. The streetlights were casting a soft glow, illuminating Neji Hyuga, who was anxiously pacing under a streetlamp outside the building. He glanced up at the second-floor window where Naruto and Hinata had gone in but hadn't come out yet.

Is there no response from the clan? Then... is it really necessary for me to keep watch here? Neji pondered, caught in the confused musings typical of a teenage boy.

Just then, he noticed a familiar figure approaching him.

"Huh?"

The person also noticed him.

The two stared at each other in silence until Neji broke it.

"What are you doing here?"

"It's none of your business."

"...Are you here to investigate the secret behind his strength?"

"Hmph."

The silence resumed, dragging on until Neji coughed awkwardly and asked, "Mind if I join you?"

"Ah, I'm stuffed!" Naruto exclaimed, patting his round belly contentedly. "I didn't realize I was so hungry. This training really messes with my sense of hunger!"

"Naruto, is it safe to continue such dangerous training?" Hinata asked, handing him a cup of tea and tidying up the empty ramen cups naturally.

"Of course! This is going to be my secret weapon!" Naruto grinned. "Once I master it, it'll be amazing!"

Seeing Naruto's confidence, Hinata felt inspired too. She grabbed a wooden practice stick and said, "Then I'll keep working hard too!"

Naruto gave a slightly awkward smile at the sight of her determination with the wooden stick. "Alright, let's get you home."

But as Naruto and Hinata stepped outside, they were surprised to find two unexpected figures standing near another door.

"Sasuke? Neji?"

Naruto and Hinata both stared in shock, calling out in unison.

Sasuke and Neji, caught red-handed, were hurriedly fumbling with a set of keys, looking like they had been up to no good.

"What are you two doing here?" Naruto asked, a light bulb going off in his head. "Are you trying to break in or something?"

"Are you kidding me?" Sasuke's face darkened as he retorted, "The village arranged for me to stay here temporarily."

"Huh?"