Outside the shop, the village was quiet, but inside Naruto buzzed like a chakra-charged beehive.
He hugged the red katana to his chest as if it were a long-lost sibling.
"Let's go, Sensei!" he grinned, barely holding back tears. "I gotta show this to everyone—Kiba, Kurenai-neechan, Hinata, Shino… they need to see this! This… this is my legacy!"
Iruka blinked, then gave a small smile. "Looks like your energy's back."
Naruto grinned wildly, bouncing on his heels like he'd just downed twenty bowls of ramen. "I was always meant to have a sword! Look at me! I'm like a samurai… no! Like a ninja king samurai!"
"You're still holding it backwards," Iruka deadpanned.
Naruto quickly flipped the sword around. "Right! Sword basics!"
They walked through the streets of Konoha, Naruto moving like a child on their birthday, holding the red katana out proudly. Every villager they passed got the same line:
"LOOK! IT HAS THE UZUMAKI SYMBOL! IT'S MY FAMILY SWORD!"
Eventually, they arrived at Training Ground 7, where Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Hinata, and even Kurenai were gathered—summoned by Kiba's earlier excited outburst.
"Guys!" Naruto shouted, nearly tripping over himself as he sprinted over. "LOOK WHAT I GOT!"
Kiba whistled. "Whoa! You got a katana? That looks sick!"
"The Uzumaki symbol…" Kurenai murmured.
Hinata's eyes widened, hands covering her mouth. "It's… beautiful…"
Shino adjusted his glasses and nodded. "A rare find. That symbol… it's meaningful, isn't it?"
Naruto stopped in front of them, grinning. "It's the Uzumaki symbol! This belonged to a legendary kunoichi! And now it belongs to ME. It's from my clan. It's… it's my family legacy."
Then, in one smooth, emotional motion, he hugged the sword like it was the last bowl of ramen on earth.
He nuzzled his cheek against the sheath.
"I thought I didn't have anyone," he murmured, voice cracking.
Kurenai stepped forward quietly, then knelt down in front of him. Her hands gently rested on his shoulders, her own eyes shimmering.
"Don't you have Iruka?" she whispered. "And… me. Your Neechan."
Naruto looked up at her, stunned.
Kiba piped up, "Yeah, and us too, you idiot."
Hinata nodded quickly, blushing but sincere. "Y-You're not alone, Naruto-kun."
Shino gave a short, firm nod. "You are part of our group. Our team."
Akamaru also gave a soft bark and trotted up to Naruto, nuzzling his leg with his nose. His little tail wagged furiously, and he gave a playful yip as if to say, "Yeah, me too, buddy!"
Naruto's lips quivered as he stared at all of them.
Then he burst into tears, diving forward to hug them all at once, his arms somehow managing to wrap around Kiba, Kurenai, and Shino while nearly pulling Hinata in too.
Hinata turned crimson, caught between his arm and Kiba's shoulder. Don't faint. Don't faint. Not now. Please not now, she chanted in her mind, frozen in place.
Naruto sniffled hard. "You guys are the best… I-I'm really not alone?"
Kurenai smiled through her own tears, rubbing his back. "Never were, Naruto. You just didn't see us yet."
Iruka stood nearby, silent but smiling, heart full.
Later, as the mood settled, Naruto stood tall, wiping his face on his sleeve, katana still in hand.
"Sensei!" he called. "Let's go do 1,000 sword swings right now! I want everyone to see what I learned! C'mon!"
Iruka chuckled. "All right, but only if you listen this time. I'll correct your form."
Naruto grabbed a wooden practice sword with one hand while still hugging his new katana with the other. "Right now!"
Kiba whooped. "Yeah! Let's go!"
The group moved aside, and Iruka stepped forward beside him. Calmly, he walked Naruto through the proper stance—feet grounded, spine straight, grip firm but relaxed.
"Don't swing with just your arms," Iruka instructed gently. "Let your whole body move with the strike. Breathe with it. Like this."
He demonstrated one smooth slash.
Naruto mirrored it, tongue poking out in focus.
"Better," Iruka nodded. "Again."
The air quieted. The wind whispered.
Thud!
They swung.
Again.
And again.
And again.
1,000 times.
Each swing from Iruka was calm, precise—every motion a reflection of patience and resolve.
Each swing from Naruto was explosive, emotional—powered by pride and pure heart.
By the end, Naruto's arms were trembling, but his eyes were burning bright.
"Did you see that?!" he wheezed. "That was… that was all me."
"...you did it" Kiba whispered, placing a hand over his heart.
Hinata clapped quietly, face still glowing. "Good job, Naruto…"
Kurenai nodded, impressed. "He's more motivated than ever."
But deep within Naruto's subconscious—beneath the joy, past the pride—something stirred.
In the dark chamber of the seal, behind the bars, a massive fox opened one eye.
Kurama.
He had been silent for some time, used to the boy's loud heart and chaotic spirit.
But that presence from earlier…
'That presence…'
Kurama narrowed his eyes.
"That power…" he growled. "That wasn't chakra. That wasn't fear. That was something… else."
He replayed the moment in his mind—Iruka's gaze, the crushing weight that rippled through the world even from a simple shop.
"What was that man…?"
He leaned forward slowly, tail curling around him.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
Naruto sneezed out loud in reality.
"ACHOO!"
Everyone jumped.
"You, okay?" Iruka asked.
"Yeah" Naruto sniffled. "I think someone was talking about me."
"They probably said you were dramatic," Kiba said.
"I am not!" Naruto protested. "I'm passionate! There's a difference!"
Everyone laughed.
Iruka just smiled, eyes soft as he looked at the red katana clutched tightly in Naruto's arms.
A forgotten legacy… now remembered.
Now protected.
Now reborn.
End of Chapter 15