I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

With the goal of mastering chakra control, Naruto developed a disciplined and highly structured routine, a sharp contrast to his earlier chaotic days. Rising promptly at four in the morning, he would jog around Konoha under the wary and judgmental gazes of the villagers. Though many avoided him, their whispers often reached his ears. Still, Naruto paid them no mind and returned home to cook a simple breakfast.

After eating, he dedicated his mornings to studying scrolls and books about the shinobi world. Titles like "Chakra Extraction Fundamentals" and "The Art of Basic Ninjutsu" fascinated him, filling the gaps left by his academy lessons. Around eleven o'clock, Naruto took a break to cook lunch—a skill honed from necessity—and then napped briefly before resuming his training. The afternoon was reserved for chakra refinement, ninjutsu practice, and taijutsu drills. By five o'clock, he would head home, exhausted but satisfied. His evenings ended with a glass of warm milk, and by eight, Naruto was fast asleep, preserving his energy for another day.

This disciplined lifestyle did not go unnoticed. The Third Hokage, watching from his crystal ball, felt a bittersweet pride. Naruto's dedication reminded him of Minato, the boy's late father. "If this keeps up," Hiruzen thought, "Naruto could one day shine as brightly as his father, carrying the village forward." Despite his optimism, he assigned Anbu to discreetly monitor Naruto—both to protect him and to ensure the boy posed no threat to the village.

While the villagers had grown used to ignoring Naruto, they couldn't help but note the strange harmony of his new routine. Yet, Naruto's relationship with the Nine-Tails inside him was far from harmonious. In the sealed space, the fox lay curled up, glaring at the boy from behind the bars of its cage. The two had been locked in a cold war since the winter, each stubbornly refusing to yield.

This tension had an unintended consequence: Kyuubi, out of sheer boredom, began subtly releasing its chakra, disrupting Naruto's training sessions. At first, Naruto would groan in frustration whenever his ninjutsu failed. But over time, he began to recognize a pattern. Though Kyuubi believed its interference was hindering Naruto's growth, the truth was far more surprising—Naruto had started using the disruptions to refine his chakra control.

Armed with memories from the "Soft Fist Practice Experience" scroll—a set of techniques inspired by the Hyuga clan—Naruto learned to detect and counteract Kyuubi's meddling. While his control was rudimentary, akin to that of a Genin, it was enough for simple tasks like tree-climbing and water-walking. Recognizing the fox's interference as a training tool, Naruto grinned slyly each time his practice succeeded despite the obstacles.

After refining his skills with ninjutsu, Naruto turned to taijutsu. Using wooden stakes he'd built himself, he practiced the basic forms of soft fist combat. While avoiding the Hyuga clan's most recognizable moves like the Eight Trigrams techniques, Naruto focused on honing precision and control. His diligence did not go unnoticed by Hiruzen, who quietly observed through his crystal ball, amazed at the boy's ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Kyuubi, however, remained oblivious to Naruto's progress for weeks. The fox believed it was still in control, smugly watching Naruto's failures with satisfaction. But one day, realization dawned. "You're using my chakra to practice control, aren't you, brat?" Kyuubi growled, narrowing its eyes.

Feigning innocence, Naruto smirked. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Big Fox."

Kyuubi huffed, tail swishing in irritation. "Don't play dumb. I've been limiting my chakra interference lately, yet you've adjusted too quickly. You've been adapting on purpose."

Naruto's smirk deepened. "Oh? So you admit you were interfering with my training, Sensei Nine-Tails?"

The fox's ears flattened, and its growl rumbled through the sealed space. "Don't call me that, brat! I'm no teacher to a human!"

"Sure, sure," Naruto replied, shrugging. "Anyway, thanks for the help. I guess you're not as useless as I thought."

Kyuubi growled louder but refrained from further protests. Its pride was wounded, but it couldn't deny the boy's growing potential. After a long silence, it finally muttered, "Fine. I'll stop interfering with your training—for now. But don't think this makes us allies, brat."

Naruto chuckled as he left the sealed space, leaving the fox stewing in its thoughts. The following days passed in relative peace, with Naruto continuing his training undisturbed. Yet Kyuubi, ever perceptive, noticed something strange.

"Little brat," it called out one evening, "you're being watched."

Naruto paused, startled. "Watched? By who?"

"Those Anbu guards the Hokage sent to shadow you. They're not just here to protect you—they're also keeping tabs on everything you do. Be careful not to let them see too much."

Naruto frowned, realizing the truth in Kyuubi's words. Glancing out his window toward the bushes below, he whispered, "Big Fox, where's the closest one hiding?"

Kyuubi sniffed the air and let out a low chuckle. "Lucky guess, brat. You're right on the mark."

Naruto's grin returned, sharper and more determined than before. "Let them watch for now. Someday, I'll show them just how much this demon fox brat can achieve."