Let's split the story for now. While Sasuke was enjoying a warm and cozy moment with his parents, Naruto—who had arrived early at the training ground—was lying limp on the ground, looking as if he had just survived a brutal battle.
His orange jacket looked like it had been shredded by blades, reduced to a few tattered strips fluttering over his black undershirt. The lush green grass beneath him had already turned into a vivid crimson carpet, dyed by the blood that had seeped through his clothes and continued to drip freely.
Huff… huff… maybe I was too hasty for my age… heh, if I didn't have a partner living inside me as backup… I probably would've gone straight to meet the Sage of Six Paths by now…
Completely covered in injuries, Naruto couldn't even move a finger. And yet, the usual grin on his face only grew wider—like he'd just stumbled upon the happiest moment of his life.
Theory would never beat practice. The cost of taking the first step had gone far beyond his expectations… but compared to what he gained, it was still acceptable.
As Naruto quietly recalled what had just happened, he felt no fear from the pain or injuries. On the contrary, his adrenaline was off the charts.
Clenching his teeth, Naruto forced what little energy he had left to move his battered body. With his right hand trembling in a tight fist, he tilted his head slightly and grinned as he looked at the wooden kunai in his palm—now soaked with his blood and sweat, and just barely showing faint, strange markings.
It was only a three-meter teleport… but hey, I'll count it as a success.
Looks like I've finally touched the threshold… Flying Thunder God Technique…
…
As the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Naruto possessed incredible regenerative power. On top of that, his bloodline from his mother Kushina Uzumaki granted him the life force of the Uzumaki clan.
By the time Sasuke arrived at the training ground with a scroll and backpack, the wounds that could've easily killed a normal person were already fully healed. His young, baby-soft skin didn't even have a scar. After washing the blood off at a nearby water source, Naruto looked as spotless as if nothing had ever happened—like the injuries were just a dream.
"Here, Naruto. This is the Shadow Clone scroll you wanted… Why aren't you wearing a shirt today?"
"It was hot. Took it off to cool down."
Naruto, bare-chested, casually brushed off the question with an excuse, completely ignoring how suspicious it sounded. Trying his best to stay composed despite his pounding heart, he took the scroll from Sasuke and flipped through it quickly.
"I… I see…"
Still doubtful, Sasuke nodded slightly. His gaze drifted to the dry, yellowing autumn leaves around them.
But the weather's getting cooler… Naruto's definitely a weirdo…
"This! This is it! I knew it. Just knowing the hand seals isn't enough—you need to know how to channel the chakra properly… Heheh, now I get it all. As long as the info in this scroll is accurate, I'll be able to pull off a real Shadow Clone! Experience farming cheat—acquired!"
Overjoyed at finally getting the intel he had long sought, Naruto couldn't help but marvel at how convenient it was to have a friend from a noble family.
Like other corporeal clones, Shadow Clones could hurt enemies—but their real power was in how, when dispelled or destroyed, they would return all their experiences and memories to the original! Even if a clone was discovered and killed deep behind enemy lines, the intel would still make it back! That was the true reason the Second Hokage had developed this B-rank jutsu—for safe and efficient intel gathering.
Building upon that was the advanced variant—the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—sealed in the Scroll of Seals and later used by Naruto in the original series!
Of course, whether regular or multiple, none of these jutsu were supposed to be accessible to Naruto, who still bore the stigma of being the "demon fox."
If it weren't for the mysterious memories in his mind after transmigrating—memories that included a modified version of the Flying Thunder God Technique that Minato Namikaze had never had time to teach him—as well as complete strategies used by Kakashi and Jiraiya while training Naruto… he would've been stuck at square one like the original Naruto, failing the academy at age twelve and getting bullied by random brats!
Even now, with progress far beyond his canon self, Naruto wouldn't have gotten the Shadow Clone Technique until Mizuki gave it to him as part of the "stolen scroll" storyline.
But Sasuke—that's the turning point Naruto had been waiting for.
According to Naruto's memory, a ninja named Magaki from Iwagakure had used the A-rank forbidden Multiple Shadow Clone Technique during the Third Shinobi World War against Minato's team. That meant it wasn't as impossible to access as the original made it seem.
For a regular person? Maybe. But Uchiha Fugaku—the head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Konoha Military Police? He would absolutely have access to this kind of jutsu for his son.
And Sasuke's success today proved it: Naruto's gamble of sacrificing his own training time to mentor Sasuke and win his trust was paying off big time.
"Hey, hey? Naruto!"
"…Huh? Ah, cough cough… what is it, Sasuke-kun~?"
With both the Shadow Clone Technique and a foothold in the Flying Thunder God Technique secured, Naruto—who always acted composed around Sasuke—couldn't help but drool a little, already fantasizing about punching Madara in the face and stepping on the Akatsuki. He was so caught up in the joy, he accidentally called Sasuke "-kun" with a sappy tone that sent shivers down Sasuke's spine.
"Eugh… Naruto, you're such a weirdo… It's just a B-rank jutsu! What are you so hyped about?"
Unaware of the true value of the technique, Sasuke just rolled his eyes. He even began to doubt whether he had hallucinated that older-brotherly presence he'd once sensed in Naruto.
"Cough, cough… Once you learn it yourself, Sasuke, you'll understand why I'm this excited."
Noticing Sasuke's disgust, Naruto quickly straightened up, trying to salvage his image. He stuffed the scroll into his pants pocket like it was a priceless treasure.
"Anyway, now that you've mastered tree climbing and Fireball Jutsu, what's your plan next? Going back to train more ninjutsu with your dad?"
"…Eh?"
With his pure heart and young age, Sasuke was no match for Naruto's cunning. The unexpected question made him freeze, momentarily forgetting Naruto's earlier weird behavior.
In theory, the best option would be to learn directly from his father, Uchiha Fugaku, who had finally started taking Sasuke seriously. Logically, that would yield the best results. He had thought about it that morning, especially after seeing his father's rare, doting smile…
"…I… I…"
But now that Naruto was the one saying it, something inside Sasuke resisted that option.
Was it curiosity—wanting to uncover the secrets Naruto still held?
Or was it the bond they'd built—the one real friend Sasuke could open up to and be himself with?
"…I… I don't know…"
What the… No wonder Uchiha Itachi is a hopeless brocon… Damn, this kid is too honest and cute! Is he an angel?!
Naruto had only meant to distract himself from his earlier embarrassing moment—but now he saw little Sasuke with a pout, head lowered, voice soft and teary. It hit him like a brick. Sasuke had genuinely come to see Naruto as someone irreplaceable.
That realization filled Naruto with overwhelming guilt—like he'd just taken advantage of a child's trust.
"…Ah well, forget it… You really are a dummy, taking this long to answer."
"I-I'm not a dummy! Stupid Naruto!"
Teasing gently, Naruto held back the urge to hug and squish the adorable kid in front of him. His original plan to use Sasuke for selfish gain quietly began to shift.
"Okay, okay, not a dummy…"
Naruto reached out instinctively, tapping Sasuke's forehead with two fingers. His gaze was filled with warmth and fondness.
"You're just a sweet, simple little fool…"
"Hmph, that's more like—wait, I'm not a fool either—eh?"
Just as Sasuke puffed up, ready to argue, that forehead flick made him freeze. His chubby little cheeks turned scarlet, like a ripened tomato.
"Just like always, Sasuke… I'll teach you everything I can."
Watching Sasuke fall silent, Naruto smiled gently and let out a quiet sigh.
Looks like I won't be able to quietly coast through childhood after all… The Uchiha Massacre? If it means preventing this adorable angel from turning into an edgy revenge-obsessed teenager, I'll gladly interfere.
Are you ready, Danzo? That Nine-Tails you tried to suppress is about to start stirring things up early!