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"What is that?" 

Naruto stood at the bow of the ship, staring in astonishment at the island ahead, which was covered in towering spikes. 

"This is our destination," Minato said with a smile before turning to several inconspicuously dressed sailors on the deck. "Thank you for your hard work. We're deeply grateful, friends from Kumogakure." 

The Kumo-nin, disguised as sailors, merely nodded in silence. 

"Huh? So you guys are shinobi from Kumogakure?" Naruto grinned and waved. "Thanks a lot!" 

"Prepare to dock!" one of the Kumo-nin called out. "Get ready!" 

"Got it!" Naruto replied excitedly, his eyes fixed on the strange island growing ever closer. 

As the ship reached the shore, a lean, dark-haired Kumo-nin with vertical face paint on his nose and a scarf around his neck stood waiting on the beach, waving at them. 

"You've arrived," he said. "Welcome to Turtle Island. I'm Motoi from Kumogakure." 

"Hello, Mr. Motoi. Thank you for having us," Minato said, leaping off the ship first. 

Naruto and Kushina followed, stepping onto the island and glancing around curiously. 

"Follow me," Motoi said curtly, his expression unreadable. He nodded to the crew before leading the family of three inland. 

"See ya!" Naruto turned and waved again. 

Once inside the island, the scenery was completely different from its exterior. 

Though the outside was covered in jagged spikes, the interior was lush with greenery, teeming with diverse wildlife. Animals of all kinds darted through the trees, occasionally peeking out to observe the newcomers with curiosity. 

"This island holds Kumogakure's secret to cultivating perfect jinchūriki," Motoi declared proudly. 

"Perfect jinchūriki? What's the secret, Motoi-san?" Naruto immediately perked up with interest. 

"The Waterfall of Truth," Motoi replied, glancing at him. "Those who face it are forced to confront their inner selves. To pass the trial, one must overcome the darkness within their heart." 

"I see…" Naruto fell uncharacteristically silent, lowering his head. 

Truthfully, he had a vague awareness of the darkness lurking inside him. 

Kushina and Minato exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with tenderness as they watched their son's subdued demeanor. 

The couple knew all too well—Naruto, a child who had grown up enduring pain and loneliness, could not possibly be free of inner shadows. 

But this boy had always instinctively suppressed his negative emotions, burying them deep within, forcing himself to ignore them. He habitually faced the world with relentless optimism, striving with all his might to earn everyone's acknowledgment. 

The thought brought tears to Kushina's eyes. 

"If it's Naruto, I'm sure he'll be fine," Minato said, resting a hand on Naruto's head, his voice brimming with pride. 

"Oh? Our Killer B from Kumogakure only took a few minutes to pass the Waterfall of Truth's trial," Motoi remarked, his tone tinged with melancholy as he mentioned B. 

"I can do it too!" Naruto lifted his head, his eyes blazing with determination as he grinned confidently at Bee. "I won't lose to anyone!" 

Motoi studied his expression before stiffly quirking his lips. "Then do your best." 

"I will, Motoi-san!" Naruto had already regained his usual cheerful demeanor. 

"We're here," Motoi announced. 

The sound of rushing water filled the air as the group emerged from the dense forest into a clearing. 

Before them stood an unremarkable waterfall, cascading into a small, serene pool below. The water was clear, its gentle flow creating a tranquil ambiance. 

"This is the place," Motoi said, stopping at the edge of the pool and pointing to a flat stone protruding from the water at its center. "Focus your mind there, and it will reflect your inner world. Only by conquering the darkness hidden within can you successfully control the Tailed Beast's chakra." 

He turned to Naruto. "Well? Will you try?" 

"Nothing scary about this!" Naruto strode to the water's edge and hopped onto the stone in the middle, flashing a grin over his shoulder. "I'll pass this trial easy!" 

"Naruto…" Kushina's eyes were filled with worry. 

Having once been the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki herself, she had an inkling of what her son was about to face. 

"It's alright. Let's just believe in him," Minato murmured, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. 

Naruto gave his parents a thumbs-up before sitting cross-legged on the stone, closing his eyes to focus. 

--- 

Darkness enveloped him. 

The sound of flowing water echoed in his ears. 

When Naruto opened his eyes again, the waterfall remained before him, but everything around it had blurred into obscurity. 

"Why are you so happy now?" 

A figure materialized faintly within the cascading water. 

"Who are you?" Naruto asked. 

"You must be really happy these days, huh?" 

The voice was identical to his own, but thick with resentment. 

"Well… yeah, I guess," Naruto admitted sheepishly, scratching his cheek. 

"Hmph. Of course you'd be happy. Now that your parents are with you, have you forgotten everything we suffered?!" 

The figure stepped out from the waterfall—an exact replica of Naruto, save for the crimson eyes burning with hatred and malice. 

"You… you're…" Naruto immediately stood up. 

"I'm the real you," the dark reflection sneered, spreading his arms. "The hatred and pain you've buried inside. Who knew this place would let us meet like this? Pretty convenient, don't you think?" 

"So, to pass this trial, I have to beat you," Naruto said grimly, glaring at his darker self. "Fine. I'll take you down." 

"In such a hurry to get rid of me? I still have a lot to say to you," Dark Naruto chuckled darkly. "But it doesn't matter what you think. I am you. You can't defeat yourself." 

"Shut up!" Naruto lunged forward. 

"Running from your own darkness, are you?!" 

Dark Naruto scoffed as their fists collided. 

--- 

"Naruto…" 

Kushina watched her son's motionless back from the shore, her heart heavy with unease. 

Minato held her tightly, offering silent support. 

"Naruto is likely battling his other self right now," Motoi explained. "This is the prerequisite for the perfect jinchūriki training program." 

"I understand." 

Kushina clenched her fists, resisting the urge to rush to her son's side. 

Minato gently rubbed her back, closing his eyes. 

"Kurama, do you think Naruto will succeed?" 

He silently reached out to the other half of the Nine-Tails sealed within him. 

"Hmph. How should I know?" Kurama bared his fangs, his tone dripping with schadenfreude. "But the other me probably prefers Naruto's darker side—the one he's facing right now." 

"Is that so?" Minato forced a strained smile, hesitating to say more. 

"Even though the halves sealed in you and your brat are both me, don't expect any mercy!" 

The dark, yin-aligned Nine-Tails within Minato lashed its shadowy red tails. 

"I might tolerate you now, but that doesn't mean the other me has to accept your son! Just wait—let the kid struggle his way to me on his own."

*****

T/N: Please leave a comment if you enjoy this chapter