"Not like that," Kurama's voice growled in his mind.
"You're forcing it. Ease up, or you'll lose control again."
Naruto's eyes snapped open, and he exhaled slowly, releasing the tension that had crept into his body. The Rasengan was still in his hand, but the balance was precarious.
It was time to let the two forces flow together more naturally, like water flowing into a riverbed, each following its course, but creating something greater as they moved in harmony.
"Focus, Naruto," Kakashi said from the sidelines, his voice calm but firm. "Take your time. Control isn't about force. It's about guiding the energy without making it explode."
Naruto nodded, his focus returning fully to the jutsu. He began to feel the wind chakra begin to settle around the Rasengan, its spiraling energy now calm, instead of erratic.
The Nine-Tails' chakra, too, began to behave more cooperatively, its power flowing smoothly, complementing the wind chakra. The Rasengan began to stabilize, its form becoming more compact.
"That's it!" Kakashi called out, nodding in approval. "Now, try to hold it. You've got it under control. Just hold it steady."
Naruto grinned, his confidence growing. This was it. This was the breakthrough he needed. He felt the Rasengan stabilize in his hand, its power contained within the swirling ball of chakra. The wind chakra remained steady, and Kurama's chakra pulsed, like the beating of a drum, under the surface.
"I did it! I really did it!" He held the Rasengan in front of him, watching it swirl with chakra.
He finally got it under control.
Kakashi walked over, nodding in approval. "It's not perfect, but it's a good start. Now, try to throw it. Let's see how it works in combat."
Naruto nodded and stepped forward, holding the Rasengan out in front of him. He took a deep breath and hurled the Rasengan forward with all his might. The wind chakra pushed the Rasengan forward faster, while Kurama's chakra intensified the blast.
The Rasengan tore through the air with a high-pitched whistle, slamming into a nearby boulder. The explosion left a crater in the rock, the force of the impact sending dust and debris scattering across the field.
Naruto collapsed to his knees, panting, the strain of controlling the Tailed Beast Rasengan evident on his face. But despite the exhaustion, he was grinning from ear to ear.
"I did it! I am so awesome!" He said. Not forgetting to praise himself.
Kakashi walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It was a good hit, but remember, the technique is still new. You'll need to train it further to make it more efficient. You can't just rely on raw power. As I told you, the key will be control and precision."
"I'll work on that! Thanks, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto nodded, his grin never faltering.
"Good. I think you're ready to start training with it in a more practical setting." Kakashi smiled.
That night, as the moon rose high in the sky, Naruto lay on the grass, looking up at the stars. He had made incredible progress today, but he knew that his training wasn't over yet.
He still had a long way to go before the Tailed Beast Rasengan would be perfect, before he could truly master it.
"I'll do it," Naruto thought to himself, determination flooding his mind. "I'll make this jutsu mine. I'll control it. And then, I'll protect everyone."
Kurama's voice echoed in his mind, softer now. {You've done well, brat. Keep pushing. But remember… balance is key.}
Naruto smiled, feeling the warmth of Kurama's chakra inside him. "I will."
And with that promise, Naruto closed his eyes, preparing himself for the next day of training.
The clearing behind Kakashi's house was quiet, save for the sound of rustling leaves and the sharp thwack of fists meeting forearms. As the sun was slowly going away, Naruto and Sasuke charged toward Kakashi, who stood calmly with his hands in his pockets.
"No chakra, no jutsu," Kakashi said lazily. "Just fists, feet, and focus. Let's see what you've learned."
He suspected that these brats were masochists, they had been training all day in jutsu, chakra, and other things, but they still wanted to train.
'Better make it quick.' Kakashi thought
Naruto lunged first, fast and wild, throwing a spinning kick aimed at Kakashi's ribs. Kakashi simply stepped back and raised his forearm, blocking it with ease. Before Naruto could land, Kakashi flicked a finger against his forehead, sending him stumbling back.
"Too open," Kakashi said.
Sasuke dashed in right behind Naruto, his movements sharp and precise. He feinted low then twisted into a roundhouse kick, aiming for Kakashi's temple. Kakashi ducked under it smoothly and countered with a light palm to Sasuke's chest that pushed him off balance.
"Good form, bad follow-up."
"Alright! This time, we'll go together!" Naruto grunted and jumped back in.
Sasuke gave a quick nod, and the two coordinated a flurry of strikes, Naruto from the front, Sasuke from the side. Kicks, punches, jabs, it was an organized storm of motion. Kakashi began to move, effortlessly weaving between their strikes, parrying Naruto's punch with one hand while ducking under Sasuke's elbow.
"You two are in sync now. That's new," Kakashi commented as he pivoted and caught both their wrists, flipping them over his shoulders in one smooth motion.
They hit the ground with matching groans.
"Ugh," Naruto muttered, spitting grass from his mouth. "You're not even trying!"
"And yet you're still on the ground." Kakashi smiled.
"Again." Sasuke sat up, brushing dirt from his pants.
"Good. Stand up. And this time, think with your feet." Kakashi gave a small nod.
They moved again, but slower, watching, reading each movement. Kakashi smiled inwardly. They were improving. Naruto's stance had gotten tighter, and Sasuke was finally learning to read his partner's rhythm.
Naruto managed to graze Kakashi's jaw with a surprise uppercut, only for Kakashi to catch his arm and flip him into Sasuke, sending them tumbling into a heap.
As they groaned, Kakashi yawned. "Alright, let's call it a warm-up. Dinner is waiting."
"You call that a warm-up?!" Naruto shouted from the dirt.
Kakashi grinned and gave them a lazy wave as he walked away. "If you want to beat me one day, you'd better survive my real warm-up."
Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other, silently agreeing.
Next time, they'd land a real hit.