Lunchtime.
Naruto had just finished eating and bolted straight toward the academy's artificial lake.
BAM!
He was running full speed, totally hyped for the new training session—so much so, he didn't see Shikamaru coming around the corner.
"Oof!"
Shikamaru, completely wiped out from his own training, got knocked flying.
"Shikamaru? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Oh, it's just you, Naruto." Shikamaru got up, rubbing his back. "Man, you're so strong."
"Sorry," Naruto said quickly. "I'm heading to the lake. Kitazawa-sensei said he's got a new special training for me."
"Oh yeah?" Shikamaru's interest was piqued. "Let me guess—water-walking?"
He wasn't above sharing the suffering if it meant spreading the pain around.
Especially since with Naruto around, Kitazawa's attention would definitely be off him.
Rule #1 of surviving training: Always let the aggro magnet go first.
Shikamaru knew Naruto well—strong, sure, but chakra control? Eh, still kinda rough. Which meant Naruto would be the main target.
"Dunno if it's water-walking," Naruto said, scratching his head. "He didn't say."
"Well, if he told you to meet at the lake, it's probably that," Shikamaru shrugged.
"True," Naruto nodded. Shikamaru was smart—he probably knew.
"Perfect timing—I'm doing the same," Shikamaru said, holding out a hand. "Let's team up."
"Huh? Team up how?" Naruto asked as they shook hands.
Shikamaru explained Kitazawa's whole brutal training style.
"Whoa, seriously? That sounds awesome!" Naruto lit up.
Are you into pain or something? Shikamaru thought, speechless.
"You and me—we'll tag-team Kitazawa-sensei. Rise together, conquer together!" Shikamaru said solemnly, throwing an arm around Naruto.
"You guys training together?" Kitazawa's voice came out of nowhere.
"Sensei!" Naruto immediately greeted.
"We're classmates. Training's better with two," Shikamaru smiled.
"Alright then," Kitazawa grinned. "Come with me."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Shikamaru's alarm bells rang. "Sensei, I'm actually off this afternoon! I'll join Naruto tomorrow!"
"No can do. You already agreed to train together—no backing out now," Kitazawa said, walking off.
By now, Sasuke and Hinata had already gone back to class for their break, so the area around the lake was clear.
"Here's good," Kitazawa said, stopping at a patch of open ground.
He looked over at Naruto and Shikamaru: one practically vibrating with excitement, the other already regretting life. The contrast was perfect.
"Sensei… This isn't water-walking, is it?" Shikamaru asked, his instincts screaming trap.
They were like 7–8 meters from the water.
Oh no. I've been played.
He had assumed Naruto was doing water training, so he offered to tag along. Now he looked like a complete idiot.
"It's live combat training," Kitazawa said with a smile. "Come at me. Full power."
"...Huh?" Shikamaru blinked. This isn't training. This is a beating.
"Here I come, Sensei!" Naruto didn't hesitate. "Leaf Whirlwind!"
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow—Naruto was faster than before. His training with Guy was clearly working.
He clenched his fist and slammed into Naruto's leg.
Naruto felt a jolt of numbness shoot up his right leg—but shook it off fast.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Naruto spun, planting a hand on the ground and whipping out another kick.
Kitazawa didn't move.
Poof. He vanished into a puff of leaves.
Naruto's kick hit nothing, and he staggered.
But he quickly spotted Kitazawa again and charged.
Fire Style: Great Fireball!
Kitazawa hadn't forgotten his real goal: to help Naruto reach the level where he could beat Sasuke. Fire Style was a must.
As for Shikamaru—he'd dragged him in on a whim, but maybe it would work out.
Shikamaru was lazy not just by nature, but because nothing ever pushed him. A few reality checks might do the trick.
Just like how in the original timeline, Asuma's death had been the catalyst for his growth.
"Whoa whoa whoa!!"
Naruto felt the heat spike around him and immediately backpedaled. The giant fireball chased right after.
"Shikamaru, MOVE!" Naruto shouted as he rolled sideways.
Shikamaru had already seen it coming. He sighed.
Guess there's no getting out of this now.
Fight or get toasted.
Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire!
Kitazawa calmly formed hand seals and spat out clusters of flames, splitting them mid-air to go after both Naruto and Shikamaru.
"Take this!" Naruto shouted, "Leaf Adamantine-Strength Whirlwind!"
His leg glowed blue with chakra. The added force and heat shielding let him kick the fireballs apart.
Kitazawa was impressed—Naruto had already learned the fourth move in the Whirlwind series?
Meanwhile, Shikamaru was having a rough time.
Kitazawa had slowed the fireballs just enough to make him dodge—but only barely. Shikamaru rolled around like a ragdoll trying to escape.
In that moment, he really wished he had access to his clan's signature jutsu. At least then he could fight back.
"Naruto! Shadow Clones!"
"Right!" Naruto quickly formed the hand seal. Poof! Two more Narutos appeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
All three charged at once.
"Wait! Not like that!" Shikamaru cried—but it was too late. They rushed straight into Kitazawa's face.
Fire Style: Great Fireball!
Kitazawa calmly blew out another fireball.
"Help! HELP!"
The first two clones were instantly incinerated.
"Gotcha!" the last Naruto appeared behind him with a powerful punch that even stirred up the wind.
Are all Uzumaki born with super strength?! Kitazawa sidestepped, barely dodging, then kicked Naruto flying.
Poof! He vanished again in a burst of leaves.
The next second, Shikamaru's punch swung through empty air.
He froze—his sneak attack had failed too.
Then he got kicked through the air like Naruto.
They both crash-landed, dizzy and groaning.
"Ngh… Naruto, you got anything that can actually trap him?" Shikamaru asked, holding his head.
"Yup," Naruto nodded.
"…Seriously?"
Shikamaru had just asked casually. He wasn't expecting a real answer.
"I think your talent's right up there with Sasuke's," he added, half impressed, half amazed.
"Check this out!" Naruto, hyped by the compliment, shouted: "Sexy Jutsu!"
"???"
Kitazawa's expression twisted in pure confusion.
"NANI?!" Shikamaru froze in shock, staring at the blonde, blue-eyed bombshell now standing in front of them.
The plan had been simple—Naruto distracts, Shikamaru attacks.
But now he was paralyzed too.
I'll never be clean again... he thought as his soul left his body.
"No using Sexy Jutsu in live combat ever again," Kitazawa muttered, twitching. Then he chucked another fireball straight at them.
Naruto immediately dropped the jutsu and ran for it.
Shikamaru snapped out of his trance just in time to dodge with him.
…
One hour later.
The two of them sat back-to-back on the ground, drenched in sweat.
Naruto looked tired but still functioning. Shikamaru looked like he'd just been fished out of a river—lifeless.
He stared up at the sky like a broken doll.
"Shikamaru, you'll join live combat training twice a week from now on," Kitazawa said after some thought.
Compared to Naruto, Shikamaru's stamina was lacking. He didn't want to risk overdoing it.
Twice a week was just right.
Naruto, on the other hand, had the Nine-Tails' chakra and the insane vitality of the Uzumaki clan. He could handle hell-level training daily and still bounce back the next day.
Just look at Karin and her mom from the original—people literally bit them to heal.
Shikamaru felt half alive. If it were every day, I'd rather hang myself.
Twice a week still sucked, but… it was manageable.
"You can head home once you're rested, Shikamaru," Kitazawa added. "Naruto, if you're up for it, class resumes this afternoon."
"No problem!" Naruto said, slapping his chest.
You absolute beast, Shikamaru thought bitterly.
Half an hour later, he dragged himself out of the academy.
"I'm home," he mumbled.
"Did someone beat the crap out of you?" Shikaku asked, frowning.
"Don't even start," Shikamaru groaned. "I want to learn the Shadow Imitation Technique. Gimme the scroll."
"…Huh?" Shikaku stared. "Who are you and what have you done with my son?"
"Dad. Please," Shikamaru said with a dead stare.
"…You're serious?" Shikaku paused, then muttered in awe, "That Kitazawa guy really is a legend."
"…Legend?" Shikamaru rolled his eyes. He's a demon in human skin.
…
Later that afternoon—Combat Class
"Sensei," Sasuke approached Kitazawa before they began.
"What's up? Having trouble with Dragon Fire Jutsu?"
"No. I wanted to give you this." Sasuke handed over a scroll.
He had wanted to give it that morning, but only saw a clone—so he waited to do it in person.
Kitazawa unrolled it and raised an eyebrow.
Inside were two B-rank Fire Jutsu: Great Fire Annihilation and Dragon Flame Release Song.
Both involved spewing massive flame; the latter could unleash four dragon-shaped fire blasts—basically an upgrade of Dragon Fire Jutsu.
"Thank your brother for me," Kitazawa said. "And thank you, too."
"It's nothing," Sasuke replied coolly.
That was such a flex I'm giving it 99 points. One more and he'd get cocky, Kitazawa thought.
The Uchiha clan really hands out B-rank jutsu like snacks.
"I'm heading off to train," Sasuke said, moving to a clear area to begin.
"Naruto," Kitazawa made a shadow clone. "You're training with him."
"Yes, Sensei!" Naruto followed the clone to a wide-open space—since they were using fire-style, cramped places were a no-go.
Otherwise, tomorrow's headline would read:
"Newly Head Kitazawa Incinerates Academy in Fire Jutsu Mishap."
[Fun fact: the ninja world actually has newspapers. Minato was shown reading one in the original.]
"Hinata." Kitazawa gently patted her head. "Let's work on your strikes."
"Mm!" she nodded determinedly.
He corrected her form while she practiced her Gentle Fist technique.
To be honest, Hinata wasn't progressing that fast.
It wasn't a talent issue—Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms was just extremely advanced.
There were only two months left until her duel with Neji. There was no way she could master the full technique by then.
Kitazawa decided to follow canon: break it down.
Start with Thirty-Two Palms, then go for Sixty-Four.
Even that would be tough, so for now—they'd begin with Twelve Palms.
~~~
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