Chapter 130: A Fair Trade
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 130: A Fair Trade
"I believe congratulations are in order." Naruto found himself once again on the rooftop of the hospital.
His eyes drifted to the damaged water tank that Sasuke had destroyed. It looked like they still hadn't replaced it.
He hadn't seen or heard from Sasuke since that day. Or Sakura, for that matter. The only communication he'd received was a brief message from Kakashi, saying they'd meet on Monday morning. That was it.
"You told me there was something important you wanted to discuss with me," Maito Gai said, his voice holding an odd tension despite the happy news about Lee's surgery. "You said it was about Lee's future."
"Have I done something to offend you?" Naruto asked, noticing the wariness in Gai's tone.
The last time they'd spoken, Gai had been immensely grateful for Naruto saving his student from Gaara. Now, though, something had clearly changed.
"Lee told me about your conversation with him. You manipulated him to accept the surgery... and I don't appreciate that. That was his decision to make." Gai's usual goofy expression was gone, replaced by a serious, almost stern look.
"Did it seem like I was manipulating him for my own benefit?" Naruto asked, calm, though inwardly questioning if he had been too hasty in his approach.
He could have let nature take its course, allowing Lee to make his own decision. Worst-case scenario, he would eventually reach the rank of a Jonin and gain access to the forbidden jutsu through the Hokage's permission.
"Lee said you tempted him with some 'fantastical' technique that would improve him greatly," Gai frowned, clearly displeased.
Naruto reached into his robes and tossed a small scroll at Gai. "There's nothing 'fantastical' about what I offered. It's very real. You can check for yourself."
Gai caught the scroll and opened it cautiously. As he read, his eyes widened.
"This... this can't be true... A method like this exists?"
Naruto smiled. If only Gai knew the truth. What he'd given him was merely a modified version of the most basic cultivation method he had learned. One that had been freely distributed to outer disciples of the Blue Jade Sect.
In powerful sects, such a technique would be considered trivial, almost worthless. But here, in this world, the people had yet to fully grasp how to harness natural energy to permanently enhance their bodies. Even for someone like Gai, a master of martial arts, this method was enough to leave him speechless.
"Wait... there has to be more. Where's the rest?" Gai quickly realized that the scroll only contained the beginning of the method.
"I have the rest," Naruto replied, "but I'll only give it to you in exchange for something."
Gai's eyes narrowed. "Exchange? I knew there was something you wanted. What is it?"
"Of course I want something. There's no such thing as a free meal," Naruto said calmly. "Besides, wouldn't it be more suspicious if I handed you something this valuable without asking for anything in return?"
"If you're asking for something of equal value... I don't have much," Gai admitted, knowing he wasn't exactly a man of wealth.
"I don't want money," Naruto said, his gaze sharp. "I want the Eight Gates."
Gai blinked, stunned. "What?! Are you out of your mind? That technique is forbidden for a reason! I only taught it to Lee because of his... limitations. Why would you want to learn it?"
"I know it's dangerous. I've seen it firsthand," Naruto responded, unshaken. "But I still want it."
Removing his body's natural limitations was likely the only way for him to access the full extent of his ancient techniques. This world's natural energies were far weaker than those in his previous one. No amount of seclusion or cultivation would bring him back to his old level of strength, not in this lifetime.
That's why the Golden Scripture had gifted him a different method of cultivation...one based on absorbing the energies of other beings. It was the only path to immortality in this world, and the Scripture had known that somehow.
But absorbing the Kyūbi alone wouldn't be enough. Naruto needed to find the other tailed beasts, and that task would be far from easy. For that, he needed to grow stronger... much stronger than anyone who might stand in his way.
Gai's hesitation was palpable. "I can't just teach you the Eight Gates... I'm not allowed to teach that jutsu without the Hokage's permission. And you're not even my student."
"Then we'll keep this between us," Naruto said quietly.
"That would be treason," Gai replied, clearly torn.
"I'll be a Jonin in a few years, and then I will be allowed to learn any forbidden jutsu," Naruto pointed out. "As long as I don't use it publicly before then, no one will ever know it came from you."
Gai knew this was wrong. Teaching the Eight Gates to Naruto would be against everything he stood for as a shinobi of the Leaf. Yet, his eyes drifted to the scroll in his hand. This technique could secure Lee's future. It could make him the number one taijutsu expert, fulfilling the boy's dream.
Gai would gladly break the rules for his student, but something else troubled him. "Before I make a decision... there's something I need to know," Gai said.
"And what would that be?" Naruto asked.
Gai lifted the scroll. "Where did this come from? Did the same expert who taught you taijutsu give you this? Because I know it wasn't Kakashi."
Naruto remained silent for a moment. He understood the source of Gai's concern. The man was worried Naruto was in contact with some mysterious master who could pose a threat to Konoha...someone like Orochimaru.
'Now… how do I convince him that my intentions aren't harmful to the village?' Naruto thought, calculating his next move.
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