Naruto had just finished lunch when he took off like a rocket toward the artificial lake behind the academy.
He was sprinting at full speed, mind buzzing with excitement over new training, when—WHAM!—he collided headfirst into someone rounding the corner.
"Ouch!"
Shikamaru groaned, staggering back like his soul had just escaped his body. He had just finished a long training session and wasn't expecting to get hit by a human bullet.
"Shikamaru? What are you doing here?"
Naruto blinked, startled.
"Oh... it's you, Naruto."
Shikamaru rubbed his lower back, wincing. "Man, you hit like a stampede. Are you trying to kill me?"
"Sorry!"
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "I'm headed to the lake. Kitazawa-sensei said he's got some kind of special training for me."
"Huh?"
Shikamaru's eyes sharpened with sudden interest. "Is it Water Walking?"
He wasn't just being curious. Between two people suffering or one, better to suffer together—especially if Naruto was around to draw most of the heat.
He knew Naruto.
Strong, sure—but his chakra control was... eh.
If they trained together, Naruto would soak up Kitazawa's attention like a lightning rod, giving Shikamaru a golden chance to slack off.
"Not sure. Sensei didn't say exactly," Naruto replied.
"If he's bringing you to the lake, it's gotta be Water Walking," Shikamaru said after a moment, nodding sagely.
"Really?" Naruto believed him without question. Of course he did—Shikamaru was a genius, after all.
"What a coincidence, I'm training that too," Shikamaru said with an easy smile, holding out a hand. "We can team up."
"Team up? How?"
Naruto grabbed his hand but tilted his head.
Shikamaru gave him a quick rundown of Kitazawa's usual torture methods—I mean, training regime.
"Seriously? That's awesome!"
Naruto's eyes gleamed like he was being handed a gift.
Shikamaru squinted.
'Is he a masochist or something?'
"Alright, then," Shikamaru said, throwing an arm around Naruto's shoulder with mock enthusiasm. "We suffer together, grow together, and shine together."
"You're training with Naruto?"
A voice came from behind them—smooth and unmistakable.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto straightened instantly, full of energy.
"We're classmates; training together is... uh, more fun," Shikamaru offered with a forced smile.
"Fair enough," Kitazawa said, amused. "Come with me."
Wait—what?!
Shikamaru felt a chill in his gut. "Actually, sensei, I was planning to rest this afternoon. I'll train with Naruto tomorrow."
"You already agreed. No take-backs."
Kitazawa didn't even slow down.
By now, most students had gone back to their classrooms for their afternoon naps. The lakeside was quiet.
"Here's good," Kitazawa said, stopping at a clearing a few meters from the water.
He glanced at the boys. One looked like he was heading to war. The other looked like he'd been tricked into signing up for one.
"Sensei, aren't we doing water walking?"
Shikamaru asked, eyes darting toward the lake.
This wasn't right.
He'd assumed Naruto was training Water Walking—that's why he stuck around.
But now?
'Damn it. I played myself.'
"Nope. Combat training," Kitazawa replied with a calm smile. "Both of you, attack me with everything you've got."
"...Excuse me?"
Shikamaru's heart sank.
"Here I go!"
Naruto charged forward with zero hesitation. "Leaf Whirlwind!"
Kitazawa's eyebrow twitched.
His speed's gone up again. Training with Gai must be paying off.
With one smooth motion, Kitazawa's fist met Naruto's kick. A jolt ran up Naruto's leg, but he gritted his teeth and spun midair.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Another spinning kick came slicing in.
But Kitazawa vanished—replaced by a flutter of leaves.
Naruto hit air, stumbled, then quickly regained balance and charged again.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Kitazawa wasn't holding back. If Naruto wanted to surpass Sasuke, he had to learn to avoid Fire Release jutsu.
As flames barreled toward them, Naruto shouted, "Shikamaru, move!"
He ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the inferno.
Shikamaru sighed.
'Too late to back out now.'
He dodged just in time—then came more fire.
Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!
Blazing orbs split and streaked toward both of them.
"Eat this kick!"
Naruto roared.
"Extreme: Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Blue chakra enveloped his legs as he launched into the flames, slicing through them with powerful kicks.
Kitazawa's brows lifted.
'He's already mastered that? Fourth in the Leaf Whirlwind series... Impressive.'
Meanwhile, Shikamaru was rolling, ducking, scraping his way out of danger—barely.
"Naruto, Shadow Clones!" he shouted, panting.
"Got it!"
Naruto formed hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang!
Two more Narutos burst forth.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
The trio charged in.
"No! Not like that!"
Shikamaru tried to stop them.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Kitazawa's grin said it all.
Boom!
Two clones exploded in flames.
"Haha! Got you!"
The real Naruto appeared behind him, fist flying.
Kitazawa sidestepped and casually kicked him away—then turned to leaves again.
"Damn it," Shikamaru muttered as his own punch swished through air.
And then he was airborne.
The two landed in a heap, dazed and fried.
"Na... Naruto," Shikamaru muttered, still dizzy. "Got any Jutsu to control him?"
"Yup." Naruto nodded proudly.
"Seriously?"
Shikamaru blinked.
"You might be as talented as Sasuke after all."
"Watch me!"
Naruto beamed, forming a seal.
"Sexy Jutsu!"
"...???"
Kitazawa's entire mind blue-screened.
"NANI?!"
Shikamaru staggered back as the blonde bombshell materialized. He froze, brain fried by the transformation.
They were both paralyzed.
'I'm not pure anymore...'
Shikamaru's soul left his body.
"From now on, no using Sexy Jutsu in combat training," Kitazawa said flatly—and lobbed another fireball their way.
Naruto yelped and ran. Shikamaru snapped out of it just in time to follow.
An hour later.
The two were slumped back-to-back on the ground, soaked in sweat. Naruto looked tired but fine.
Shikamaru looked like someone had wrung him out and left him to dry in the sun.
Kitazawa glanced at them.
"Shikamaru, you'll join combat training twice a week from now on."
Given his stamina, daily training was too risky. Twice a week would be intense, but manageable.
Naruto, with his Uzumaki vitality and Nine-Tails chakra, could handle a much heavier load.
Shikamaru felt a part of his soul detach.
'Twice a week... I can survive that. Barely.'
"Shikamaru, you can head home once you've rested," Kitazawa said.
"Naruto, if you're still good, class resumes this afternoon."
"No problem!"
Naruto beamed.
'He's a monster,' Shikamaru thought weakly.
That evening
"I'm home..."
Shikamaru mumbled as he stepped through the door.
"Were you beaten up?"
Shikaku raised an eyebrow.
"Let's skip that part," Shikamaru groaned. "Just show me the scroll. I want to learn the Shadow Imitation Jutsu."
"What?"
Shikaku nearly dropped his tea.
"Who are you, and what have you done with my son?"
"Dad, stop messing around."
Shikaku stared for a long moment, then nodded in awe.
"Your Kitazawa-sensei... truly a miracle worker."
"..."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
'Miracle worker? He's the devil!'
Afternoon combat class
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Sasuke approached before training had officially begun.
"What is it? Having trouble with the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu?"
Kitazawa asked, giving him a curious look.
"No."
Sasuke pulled out a Ninjutsu scroll and held it out.
"This is for you."
He had originally planned to hand it over that morning but only found Kitazawa's Shadow Clone.
Wanting it to be a bit more formal, he'd waited for the real deal.
Kitazawa opened the scroll—and raised an eyebrow.
Inside were two Fire Release techniques:
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation (B-rank)
Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique (B-rank)
The first was a wide-range jutsu that launched a sea of flames, not unlike the Great Fireball Jutsu, but amplified in scale and intensity.
The second was essentially a powered-up version of Great Dragon Fire—capable of releasing four fire dragons in rapid succession.
"Be sure to thank your brother for me," Kitazawa said after a beat, then added with a small smile, "and thank you too."
"Two Fire Release jutsu isn't a big deal."
Sasuke replied flatly.
'I'd give that attitude a solid 99 points,' Kitazawa thought dryly.
'One more point, and it might tip into full-blown arrogance.'
Once again, Kitazawa marveled at the Uchiha Clan's sheer pride—just handing out B-rank Ninjutsu like they were pocket change.
"I'm going to train now, Kitazawa-sensei."
With that, Sasuke jogged off to a nearby clearing to continue working on his Great Dragon Fire Jutsu.
"Naruto."
Kitazawa summoned a Shadow Clone and gestured toward the boy.
"You'll spar with him for today's combat drill."
"Got it, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto and the clone made their way to an open area.
Since Fire Release Jutsu were involved, they needed as much space as possible.
The last thing Kitazawa wanted was for tomorrow's paper to read:
"Head of Academic Affairs accidentally incinerates the Ninja Academy."
(Yes, the Ninja World actually had newspapers. In the original series, Minato was once shown reading one.)
"Hinata."
Kitazawa turned and gently patted her head.
"Let's start practicing your Gentle Fist."
"Mm!"
Hinata nodded enthusiastically.
Kitazawa watched as she moved into her stance, beginning her practice. He observed quietly at first, then started correcting her mistakes.
To be fair, Hinata wasn't picking things up especially quickly—not due to lack of talent, but because the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms was simply a very demanding technique.
There were still two months left until her match with Neji next semester.
Realistically, mastering the full Sixty-Four Palms within that time was impossible.
So, Kitazawa planned to follow a method from her original growth arc: break the technique down into manageable parts.
She would first learn the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms and then work up to Sixty-Four.
Given the time crunch, even Thirty-Two Palms might be a stretch—so he'd have her begin with Eight Trigrams sixteen Palms instead.
Step by step, she'd build her way up.
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