Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 3

It was probably because Naruto accidentally unlocked the key that the current abnormality occurred.

After much thought, the Third Hokage, having come up with this idea, patted Naruto's head and said, "Is that so? But it's still dangerous for you to be exposed to these things without anyone to guide you."

"sorry……"

In contrast, Naruto could only lower his head and apologize to the Third Hokage.

These words, like a kunai, pierced through three generations.

The Third Hokage had always acknowledged in his heart that he had wronged Naruto.

As the son of a hero, Naruto had to keep his identity a secret because of his status as a Jinchuriki.

So much so that they couldn't even inherit their father's surname and had to hide themselves using vortexes.

Although the Third Hokage provided the greatest assistance in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, the villagers still could not accept Naruto's existence because he was a Jinchūriki.

Even if I were to speak up myself, it would only allow Naruto to live the life he has now.

The old man remained silent for a long time, then finally sighed: "If you want to learn these things in the future, come find me."

He stood up, turning back one last time before leaving. "I hope... I'm just overthinking it all."

Once the Third Hokage's figure had completely disappeared, Naruto collapsed to the ground like a punctured balloon: "Dad! You scared me to death!"

Madara's chakra surged within the sealed space: "That old fox has become suspicious, but he won't investigate further for now." He paused, "However, you'll be under close surveillance for the next few days."

Sure enough, when Naruto went to Ichiraku Ramen in the afternoon, he found two masked ninjas in the corner.

Even when he went to the toilet, he could feel chakra fluctuations on the roof.

"One on the tree on the left, and two on the roof on the right."

Madara coldly reported the location of the surveillance personnel, "Konoha's Anbu is becoming increasingly outrageous."

Naruto slurped his ramen, wondering to himself, "Should we continue learning?"

“Of course.” Ban’s voice was firm and unquestionable. “But let’s digest what we learned today first, and we’ll begin physical training tomorrow.”

The middle-aged man pushed the extra char siu in front of Naruto and affectionately ruffled his blond hair.

"I'm gonna start now!"

Naruto smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits as he began to enjoy the delicious meal before him.

After nightfall, Naruto sat cross-legged on the bed.

Following Madara's instructions, he was trying to concentrate chakra at his fingertips.

“Focus,” Madara’s voice was unusually patient, “Imagine your chakra is a net…”

Naruto clenched his teeth, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Suddenly, his index finger glowed with a faint blue light, flickering like a firefly.

"I did it!" Naruto cheered.

Ban gave a light snort: "Barely passing."

But he didn't tell Naruto that such precise chakra manipulation usually requires a level of control at the genin level.

Just as Naruto was about to try again, the sealed space suddenly began to shake violently.

The Nine-Tails' chakra surged in like a tide, constantly washing over Madara's soul.

"Uchiha Madara," Kurama's voice boomed like thunder, "let's talk."

With a blink of an eye, Madara appeared in the sealed space.

His crimson three-tomoe eyes met those crimson vertical pupils directly: "Beast, are you courting death?"

The nine-tailed fox impatiently slapped the iron bars: "Stop pretending. You know this isn't normal—why would a spirit from the Warring States period be inside this brat?"

Madara's Sharingan slowly rotated: "None of your business."

"Of course it's related."

Nine-Tailed Fox grinned, revealing its gleaming white fangs. "I have been sealed away for over sixty years and have never seen anything like this before."

"An Uchiha with no connection to the Uzumaki clan, yet his soul is parasitized within a Jinchuriki..."

Its gaze turned dangerous. "Unless someone did this on purpose."

Madara's soul chakra suddenly became unstable.

He had pondered this question countless times—why Naruto of all people? Why him of all people?

"The Sage of Six Paths," Kurama suddenly uttered the name, "Only that old man has the ability to interfere with the cycle of souls."

Madara's pupils contracted sharply. He knew the legend of the Sage of Six Paths, of course, but...

"Do you think I'd believe that?" Ban sneered. "If it really is him, what's his purpose?"

The Nine-Tails' tail stopped swaying: "Ask yourself, Madara Uchiha. When you were teaching that brat about poison, when you were watching him clumsily practice chakra..."

A sly glint flashed in the fox's eyes. "Have you thought of anyone?"

The illusory image of Ban suddenly froze.

Countless fragments of memory flashed through my mind—Izuna's clumsy practice of shuriken.

The way his younger brother held his hand and said, "Brother, you must live on," before he died...

"Shut up!" Madara's chakra exploded out of control, causing the entire sealed space to tremble.

Naruto suddenly clutched his stomach in reality: "Ouch!"

Kurama returned to its usual state, lying on the ground, watching Madara's discomfiture with satisfaction: "Interesting. It seems I guessed right."

Ban forced himself to calm down.

He calmed himself, but his voice was no longer so certain: "Even if what you say is true, so what?"

“Cooperation.” The Nine-Tails’ claws scraped against the iron bars, making a piercing sound. “You teach that brat how to survive, and I’ll provide the chakra. After all…”

It gave Madara a meaningful look. "We all want to see what that old man Rokudo is plotting."

Ban remained silent for a long time.

Moonlight streamed through the top of the sealed space, casting fragmented shadows on the murky water.

Finally, he raised his head, his Sharingan gleaming eerily in the darkness:

“Remember, you beast, this is only a temporary truce.”

Nine-Tailed Fox let out a low laugh and slowly retreated into the depths of the cage.

The real Naruto was completely unaware of this.

He was rolling around on the bed clutching his stomach, completely bewildered as to why he was in so much pain all of a sudden.

"Dad..." Naruto cried out, his voice trembling with tears, "Am I poisoned?"

Madara's chakra gently enveloped Naruto's aching area: "Sleep, Naruto, the pain will subside soon."

Chapter 4 Training

Before dawn, Konoha was still shrouded in a hazy mist, and three-year-old Naruto was already dragged out of bed by Madara.

"Wake up, Naruto!"

Madara's voice boomed in Naruto's mind like a thunderclap.

Naruto rubbed his eyes sleepily, his little hands gripping the edge of the bed, his short legs kicking twice in mid-air before barely managing to touch the ground.

"So sleepy..."

He yawned, tears still glistening in the corners of his eyes.

He usually sleeps until the sun is high in the sky before getting up.

“Ninjas don’t have the right to sleep in,” Madara said coldly. “Now, go for a run.”

"Run, run?"

Startled by Ban's voice, his drowsiness vanished instantly.

Naruto stared wide-eyed at the still-starry sky outside the window: "But it's not dawn yet..."

"Get moving."

Startled by Madara's tone, a small, swaying figure then appeared on the streets of Konoha.

Naruto was still only a three-year-old child, and he stumbled and fell when he ran.

He would occasionally trip over a pebble, but each time he was about to fall, Madara's chakra would gently catch him, preventing him from actually falling flat on his face.

"Adjust your breathing."

Madara's voice guided Naruto in his mind, "Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth, keep the rhythm steady."

Naruto tried his best to do so, but after running for less than ten minutes, his face was already flushed red and his forehead was covered in sweat.

"I...I can't go on..." He held his knees, panting heavily.

Naruto couldn't feel his legs anymore. If it weren't for Madara's chakra supporting his body, Naruto would have really wanted to sit down on the ground.

Ban clicked his tongue: "You're already done with this? Even a three-year-old in the Warring States period could run around all day."

Naruto pouted, looking aggrieved: "But...but I'm not a child from the Warring States period..."

Ban was silent for a moment, then finally relented, "...Rest for five minutes, then continue."

The training continued until the sun was fully risen?

After finishing his training run, Naruto collapsed on the grass, panting heavily like a stranded fish.

His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his blond hair clung wetly to his forehead.

"Dad...am I going to die...?" he asked weakly.

Madara's chakra circulated through his body, assessing his condition: "Chakra depleted, but recovery is faster than expected."

Naruto blinked: "Recovery speed?"

"Your body is replenishing its chakra on its own."