Chapter 4
Kiba drops to the ground, unconscious, as Iruka calls the match in Naruto's favor. Paying no mind to his bruised and beaten classmate, Naruto leaves the circle and walks over to stand beside Hinata.
"That was unnecessary, Naruto." Iruka reprimands. "You used way too much strength, despite knowing full-well that Kiba couldn't handle it."
"It was entirely necessary, Umino-sensei." Naruto responds calmly. "Only a fool would face an opponent with anything less than their full might. It is not my fault that he, despite being a mere puddle, chose to challenge the Ocean."
"You provoked him!" Iruka shouts. "And even if him challenging you wasn't your fault, you didn't have to accept!"
"He did not!" Hinata interjects. "You only arrived for the end! Kiba was bragging about being the strongest in the class, Naruto-kun just told him, and I quote, 'Those who boast about being in possession of the greatest might, are often those with the least.' Kiba got mad and tried to provoke Naruto, but he kept ignoring or rebuking him until you got there, right after the last rebuke, which is when Kiba lost it and challenged him."
"How did you even learn that word?" Iruka asks, confused by Hinata's uses of rebuke and rebuking.
"Those of high status should have vocabularies that match. Hinata is a member of the clan with the second highest status within the leaf, behind the Uchiha, considering the extinction of the Senju, outside of The Slug Princess, as well as my own Uzumaki Clan's own eradication during the third Shinobi World War at the hands of the Cloud, Stone, and Mist. So, I have been personally tutoring her to expand her vocabulary to match my own, as well as to drill my wisdom into her." Naruto explains casually, causing Iruka to deadpan at him.
"I'm still baffled at the vastness of YOUR vocabulary, and the wisdom behind your words that far outstrips your years." Iruka says, rubbing his hand down his face in exhasperation. "Please don't make Hinata the same way as you are."
"Both my vocabulary and wisdom come from the fact that I am older than I am, as I have said before." Naruto says while crossing his arms.
Hinata giggles. "That statement still makes no sense whatsoever, Naruto-kun."
Naruto shrugs. "It is not my responsibility to explain the obvious to those that do not comprehend it."
Kurama watches as Naruto, who was once Poseidon, the God Of The Sea, the Earth Shaker, the Tyrant Of The Ocean, the God Of Gods, the Most Fearsome God Of All, banters like a child, and he cannot possibly be more confused.
"How did he become like this? He was a king, a god, a tyrant. When he was Poseidon, he would never act anything like this. Is this what defeat does to the Undefeatable? What death does to the undying? What dethroning does to a tyrant?" He asks nobody, but he gets a response anyway.
"This is what happens to the perfect and mighty, when they are forced to face and accept their own imperfection and weakness, Kurama." A voice Kurama had never believed he would hear again says. "You could learn a thing or two. After all, it's only right for the young to learn from their elders."
Kurama's eyes widen as he turns to face the speaker. "Father!? How are you here!? Why have you returned only now!?" He demands of his father, his creator, Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage Of Six Paths.
Hagoromo chuckles. "It’s been a long time, Kurama. You have done much. Some good, a lot of bad, and much more that falls somewhere inbetween." He says with a gentle smile. "As for how and why I'm here? That's simple. I'm only able to be here at all because of Naruto's unique circumstances, being a dual reincarnation. That's also why I'm here, out of curiosity for the effect that had on him."
Kurama raises an eyebrow. "Dual reincarnation?" He asks, confused.
Hagoromo nods. "Along with being the reincarnation of Poseidon, Naruto is also the current incarnation of Asura. As the only male descendant of Asura to be born when he was, and indeed one of the only 2 male descendants of Asura currently alive, he was the only option for Asura's reincarnation, despite the fact that him being Poseidon's reincarnation would normally prevent this."
Kurama's jaw drops. "HIM!? HE'S BIG BROTHER ASURA!? HOW!?!? HE'S NOTHING LIKE HIM! ASURA WAS KIND, CARING, CHEERFUL, AND GENTLE! ASURA HAD TO WORK HARD FOR HIS POWER! NONE OF THAT IS TRUE ABOUT NARUTO!!"
Hagoromo chuckles. "Some of it is, though. He's kind to Tenten and Hinata, he is gentle in tutoring Hinata, unless a firm hand is absolutely necessary, and he cares deeply about both of them, and Tenten's father, though he doesn't show or acknowledge it. As for his power? Well, he retains most of his talent and skill from when he was Poseidon, but he still works harder than anyone else to improve both his skill and power, a lesson he learned from the words of The Immortal. Despite how evil that man is, even I must acknowledge that he is quite wise."
Kurama narrows his eyes as he processes his father's words. "You... you're right." He acknowledges. "He does have traces of Asura, faint as they may be."
Hagoromo nods. "Indeed, he does, and they are. I can only hope that, as he gets older, his Asura-like traits continue to become more prevalent, as the pattern up until now has shown." He says, before he suddenly begins to fade. "Ah, it would appear my time is up. It was a pleasure speaking to you again, Kurama. Tell your brothers and sisters that I said hi."
Kurama nods. "If I see them, I will. Unless I escape this seal, though, that's unlikely. Goodbye, father."
Hagoromo smiles and nods, before finally disappearing completely.