This time, Naruto's focus was sharp. He had successfully acquired the Shadow Clone Technique and, just as crucially, gleaned the training methods for both the formidable Rasengan and the complex Flying Thunder God Technique from the Forbidden Scroll. It was an immense gain, a leap forward in his pursuit of power. His eagerness to master the Shadow Clone Jutsu stemmed from a singular purpose: to exponentially accelerate his training. While the original Naruto required Yamato's cooperation to maintain multiple clones, this new Naruto, with his superior chakra control and amplified mental energy, found he could sustain approximately one hundred shadow clones for dedicated training.
Training and combat, he knew, were fundamentally different. A fight demanded instantaneous bursts of energy, fleeting but potent. Training, on the other hand, required sustained concentration and long-term maintenance of the technique. The fact that he could manage a hundred clones, even for practice, was a testament to his innate talent and the dramatic improvements in his chakra control and mental fortitude. It was, indeed, a terrifying display of potential.
From that point on, almost every night, a secluded corner of Konoha Ninja Village would become a silent, bustling training ground. Hundreds of Narutos would appear, simultaneously scaling trees, running across the surface of the water, or meticulously throwing shurikens at various targets. Fortunately, Naruto had chosen a remarkably remote location, ensuring his clandestine training remained undiscovered by the village's watchful eyes.
On one particular day, with no classes scheduled, Naruto ventured into the familiar woods for his routine practice. Suddenly, his keen eyes spotted a troubling scene: several children had cornered a small, timid girl. As he drew closer, he recognized her immediately. It was Hyuga Hinata, shy and withdrawn now, but destined, he knew, to blossom into a truly beautiful woman.
Without hesitation, Naruto burst from the concealment of the trees, his voice ringing with indignation. "What do you think you're doing?" he shouted, confronting the bullies. "How can a few of you gang up on a little girl like this? Get out of here, now!"
The group of children, seeing only a boy their own age, merely scoffed. "Look who it is! Just a kid. Everyone, let's teach him a lesson!" one of them jeered, and they advanced.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto instantly formed the hand seals, and with a puff of smoke, twenty shadow clones materialized around him, encircling the bewildered bullies.
Seeing the sudden shift in numbers and the serious expression on Naruto's face, one of the bolder children yelled, "Forget it! Everyone, run!" In an instant, the bullies scattered, disappearing into the undergrowth.
Naruto didn't bother to pursue them. Instead, he turned to Hinata, whose eyes were wide with surprise and a hint of awe. "Hey," he said, offering a small, reassuring smile, "If anyone ever bullies you again, just come find me, okay?"
Hinata, still terribly shy, managed a barely audible whisper. "Th-thank you, Naruto." Her gratitude was genuine, though her voice trembled slightly.
Witnessing his successful rescue of the timid girl, Naruto couldn't help but feel a swell of satisfaction. He mused that this moment, however small, would likely leave a lasting impression on Hinata, a burgeoning beauty. He waved his hand with a practiced, almost casual flair, striving for a cool, confident demeanor. "Just come to me if you have any problems in the future," he repeated, then, with a final nod, he departed. Though it seemed like a minor incident, it had indeed etched itself deeply into Hinata's memory. Naruto hadn't expected it would be so effortless to capture the heart of a beautiful woman. It seems, he thought, a new resolve forming, I should pay more attention to my image from now on.
Speaking of image, Naruto's first priority was a drastic change to his appearance. He visited a barber and acquired a standard, handsome hairstyle, replacing his wild, untamed locks. This external transformation, coupled with his increasingly stellar academic performance at the academy—which, like Uchiha Sasuke, earned him the coveted title of "genius" of their class—began to attract the attention of countless girls. However, unlike Sasuke, who remained aloof and somewhat like a "wooden man," Naruto made a conscious effort to be approachable and sociable. This difference quickly made him more popular among his classmates.
The routine of school days continued, punctuated by Naruto's relentless, nightly practice sessions with his shadow clones. He soon became exquisitely proficient in tree climbing and water walking exercises. His chakra control had reached an unprecedented level for a genin, almost instinctual. It was clear the time had come for him to dedicate himself to learning the Rasengan and the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, though he certainly wouldn't abandon his crucial physical conditioning.
Both the Rasengan and the Flying Thunder God Technique were notoriously difficult to master. Even with the exponential acceleration provided by the shadow clones, the learning process was arduous. Moreover, the clones had a significant drawback: they accumulated fatigue and transferred it back to the original upon dispersion. This often left Naruto utterly exhausted, leading him to frequently doze off during classes. Yet, because he was now considered a diligent, promising student, Iruka-sensei, though occasionally sighing, didn't chastise him too harshly. On another note, Naruto's appetite had become truly astounding, a testament to his rigorous training and immense chakra usage. In this regard, he had to silently thank the Third Hokage's consistent, if indirect, care, ensuring he always had enough to eat.
Due to his prolonged and intense ninjutsu training, combined with the sheer volume of practice afforded by his shadow clones, Naruto's speed in mastering new techniques had reached a truly terrifying level. The remaining years at the Ninja Academy flew by in a blur of diligent practice and rapid growth.
Then, the long-anticipated day of the graduation exam finally arrived. The exam questions were deceptively simple, covering basic physical skills, the Three Body Techniques, and fundamental ninja knowledge. For Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, now both celebrated as geniuses and the objects of adoration of girls in their class, these challenges were child's play.
In just a few years, Naruto had not only refined his Three Body Techniques to a level very close to Kakashi's own proficiency, but his physical skills had also grown to rival Rock Lee's. During their sparring sessions, Lee, despite his incredible taijutsu, now found himself forced to concede defeat whenever Naruto introduced even two shadow clones into the fray. In terms of ninjutsu, Naruto had not only mastered the Rasengan but also the exceedingly complex and powerful Flying Thunder God Technique. This, however, was his ultimate ace in the hole, a last resort he vowed to use only in the most critical, life-or-death situations.
Thanks to Naruto's undeniable good looks, his stellar academic performance, and his significantly more approachable demeanor compared to Sasuke's aloofness, Haruno Sakura found herself increasingly drawn to him. While a part of her heart still held a lingering admiration for Sasuke, her affection for Naruto had undoubtedly grown stronger.
Soon after the exam, the time came for the genin teams to be formed. Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino both openly hoped to be grouped with either Sasuke or Naruto, eager to be on a team with one of the class's darlings. In reality, the teams were meticulously matched according to the complementary abilities of each member. In a twist of fate, Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto were indeed grouped together. Sakura, upon hearing the announcement, was absolutely overjoyed. Naruto, naturally, didn't bother to ask the seemingly idiotic question of why he, the class's most dynamic ninja, was grouped with the stoic Sasuke. He already understood the underlying logic.
With the teams formed, the new genin waited for the jonin sensei who would lead them in training. Kakashi, true to his notorious reputation, was exceedingly late. Naruto, having anticipated this, simply leaned back and dozed on the table. Sasuke, ever the quiet and patient observer, remained unperturbed. Only Haruno Sakura, brimming with youthful impatience, appeared on the verge of exploding with frustration. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, long after the other jonin had collected their teams and departed, Kakashi finally appeared at the door, his masked face impassive, delivering his customary, nonchalant apology: "Sorry, I'm late."
Naruto wasn't surprised in the slightest by Kakashi's tardiness. Sasuke merely seemed mildly dissatisfied, while Sakura looked as if she might genuinely ignite. Despite his eccentricities and lack of punctuality, Naruto still felt a sense of calm reassurance; he intuitively understood that Kakashi, beneath his mask and casual demeanor, was, fundamentally, a good person.
(End of this chapter)