How Kurama Leads Naruto Astray

It seemed the wind was still blowing, bringing a cool breeze in the warm night air.

After finishing his meal, Naruto watched as Sakura packed up the lunchbox, still smiling as usual. "Hey, Sakura-chan, can you do me a favor?"

"Me? What can I help with?" Sakura was confused. She was much weaker than Naruto. Even if he didn't use Kurama's chakra, she couldn't beat him. Plus, Naruto had Jiraiya-sama helping him train. What could she possibly help with?

Naruto awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Actually, Jiraiya wants to teach me another technique, but he told me he doesn't know how to use it. I have to learn it by reading a Ninjutsu scroll myself. But, you know… my grades…"

The more he spoke, the more embarrassed he became.

He and Sakura had always been the top of the class—Sakura with perfect grades, and Naruto... well, he was at the very bottom.

Sakura nodded in understanding and sat beside him, putting down the lunchbox. "Let me see the Ninjutsu scroll. I'll try to explain it in a way you can understand."

Naruto's eyes lit up. He quickly grabbed the Ninjutsu scroll from his Ninja Tools pouch and handed it to Sakura. "It's this one. It's called the Flying Thunder God technique. Take a look."

"Flying Thunder God?" Sakura knew this technique. After all, it was the famous technique of the Fourth Hokage...

Sakura was left with a head full of questions. 

"What technique are you talking about? Flying Thunder God? Are you sure it's Flying Thunder God? The time-space ninjutsu that the Fourth Hokage used, the one that's considered an S-rank technique?" 

It's no wonder Sakura was shocked. She didn't even know how to describe it.

If Naruto were learning any other technique, Sakura could somewhat accept it. Even if it were the Tailed Beast Boom, she wouldn't find it strange, since Naruto is the Jinchuriki, after all. But Flying Thunder God? That's Flying Thunder God! Sakura knew exactly what this technique meant, not just in Konoha, but in the entire ninja world. 

If another ninja from Konoha were to learn Flying Thunder God, do you think even Sunagakure would dare try to execute their plan to destroy Konoha? During the Third Great Ninja War, Minato's reputation was something the whole ninja world still remembered.

For such a technique, Naruto was saying he wanted to learn it?

"That's the one," Naruto said, handing Sakura the ninjutsu scroll and explaining, "I was allowed to learn a technique from the Seal Book after defeating Shukaku, remember? This is it."

"And also, for some reasons, I need to learn this ninjutsu. 

It's related to my background, and Jiraiya knows about it, so he insisted I learn it." 

Sakura: "..." 

"Gulp." Sakura held the ninjutsu scroll like it was a bomb, feeling both disbelief and a strange sense of gratitude. "You're showing me this important ninjutsu scroll? Are you an idiot? You have to keep something like this safe. If spies from other villages get their hands on it, you'll be in big trouble." 

"It's fine, there's Jiraiya's sensory barrier around here, so he'll know if anyone comes near," Naruto reassured her, patting his chest.

Then, he leaned in a little closer: "Jiraiya said this technique can only be learned on your own because everyone perceives time and space differently. Even if you successfully learn it, you can't teach others—just share some experiences, at most."

"But my problem isn't that I can't learn it, it's that I can't understand the scroll." Naruto shrugged helplessly. "What can I do? I'm pretty desperate. Every day I'm here training Rasengan, and Jiraiya's off doing who knows what. If I ask Tsunade, I'll get hit. Kurama's not around, and I can't ask anyone else. Good thing you're here."

Kurama, who had just returned from the sealing space, was glad he hadn't spoken up. If Naruto had asked him how to learn Flying Thunder God, it would have been a disaster. Sure, I know how it feels to get hit by Flying Thunder God, but you're asking me how to learn it? 

I can't help you with that.

Sakura still held the scroll, her face a bit conflicted. Honestly, she really wanted to see this ninjutsu and wondered if she could learn it, but… this was Konoha's S-rank scroll. She didn't have the right to look at it casually.

It was tempting, but she had to refuse.

Sakura took a deep breath and pushed the ninjutsu scroll back to Naruto with a pained expression. "Sorry, Naruto. I'm not qualified to look at this ninjutsu, and this technique shouldn't be shown to just anyone. You need to remember, don't show it to anyone other than Jiraiya or Tsunade-sama, not even to me or Sasuke."

"Ah, this…" Naruto took the scroll, realizing he had underestimated the significance of an S-rank ninjutsu.

He sighed, feeling a bit helpless. "I guess I'll have to wait for Jiraiya to come back and ask him. Hopefully, he won't get beaten into the hospital by Tsunade because of peeping, or I'll have to wait even longer."

Sakura sighed. "…Did you forget why I came to bring you food?"

Naruto blinked, then recalled. 

Oh right, Sakura heard Jiraiya say I hadn't eaten, so she came…

Hospital?

Naruto's face twisted in anger. 

"Oh no, that perverted Jiraiya!"

Sakura broke into a cold sweat and said, "Naruto, Jiraiya-sama is your teacher. How can you say that?"

"Hmph." Naruto crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks, saying, "That guy always does this. He promised to teach me, but then he ended up getting beaten by Tsunade-baba and sent to the hospital. Now I'm left here trying to figure things out on my own."

At first, he had Kurama to help him, but now, even Kurama was gone, and he couldn't find anyone to ask for advice.

The sealed space's Kurama: "..."

Kurama quietly shrank back, hoping Naruto wouldn't notice that he had returned.

Sakura was helpless, but Naruto was even more frustrated. "What should I do? Should I wait for Kurama to come back and ask him? But why do I feel like even Kurama wouldn't understand this?"

Kurama: "..."

I'm staying quiet, not saying anything.

Just then, another figure appeared in front of them.

Kakashi, holding his book, stood beside them, casually saying, "Sakura, why don't you teach Naruto? It's a good chance for you to practice too."

"!!!" Sakura was shocked. "Kakashi-sensei? When did you get here?"

Naruto pouted. "He's been spying on us. He got here as soon as you arrived, Sakura-chan."

Sakura was surprised again. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"He told me not to say anything," Naruto said, looking guilty.

Kakashi, looking away from his book, smiled at Sakura. "Well, at first, I just wanted to check on Naruto. But after seeing you here, I thought I'd wait until you left before coming out... but I didn't expect to see such a good show."

Sakura covered her chest, feeling embarrassed that Kakashi had heard everything. She immediately wanted to disappear.

She had planned to apologize to Naruto in private, not wanting anyone to see, and definitely not someone like Sasuke or Kakashi.

Kakashi noticed Sakura's awkward expression. He put his book away, reached out, and gently rubbed her head. His voice softened more than usual. "You did well, Sakura. Both in apologizing and with the ninjutsu scroll, you did a great job."

"Just as expected, my subordinate," he smiled with his eyes closed.

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