The most recognizable figure in this new life was Naruto Uzumaki.
Although he wasn't as hopelessly inept in theory as the Naruto of the original timeline, he was still far from excelling at it. The main difference lay in his upbringing. This Naruto—who had grown up knowing he was the son of a hero, the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato—wasn't resistant to studying, nor did he openly rebel against learning like the Naruto from the original story. Still, he lacked the patience to fully devote himself to long lectures and dense theory.
During the early years of the Academy, Naruto managed to barely keep pace in his studies. His grades were often at the middle-to-lower end of the class.
But when the Academy shifted to ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu practice—especially once live sparring was introduced in the third year—Naruto's natural gifts became impossible to ignore.
Menma, whose immature but sharpened Kagura's Mind Eye could sense chakra, could clearly perceive the immense reserves inside Naruto. That overwhelming chakra capacity, even without refinement, set him apart from nearly everyone his age.
Naruto also demonstrated a natural knack for combat. In the original timeline, even the infamous tree-walking and water-walking training had been accomplished while his chakra control was disrupted by the Nine-Tails. That alone proved his potential.
By the third year of the Academy, in pure combat results, Naruto could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with both Uchiha Sasuke and Menma.
Of course, Menma still held back slightly—but not out of fear of exposure. He simply saw no reason to flaunt overwhelming dominance when his position at the top was already secured.
Time slipped away in this rhythm of study and training. The years passed: Konoha Year 56… 57… 58… and then the winter of Year 59.
The Academy Grounds
On a brisk winter morning, Iruka-sensei had gathered all of Class 1-A in the Academy's first training field.
Swish.
Bang.
The students sparred in pairs, clashing in controlled two-on-two matches under Iruka's supervision. These mock battles had become routine over the last two or three years, always carefully monitored to prevent real harm.
Of course, tempers sometimes flared—this was inevitable for children training to become shinobi. Iruka had long since grown used to stopping fights before they escalated.
At this stage, most matches boiled down to simple taijutsu exchanges, occasionally spiced with a well-placed Substitution Jutsu. Few had the chakra control or mastery to unleash more advanced ninjutsu.
Techniques taught privately within clans—such as the Inuzuka's ninken or the Aburame's kikaichū—were strictly banned in Academy drills. Allowing them would make fair training impossible.
The one exception, of course, was Menma. Even without drawing on the Nine-Tails' power, his strength eclipsed that of his peers.
The Challenge
"Bang!"
"That's enough—stop here!" Iruka called, ending a spar the moment one student gained a clear advantage. The children obeyed immediately, retreating after performing the Seal of Reconciliation.
Iruka smiled faintly. Such obedient students made his job easy.
"Alright, next pair…" Iruka scanned the lines, only to pause when he caught the intensity in Sasuke's eyes. The boy's expression was a mixture of fierce determination and cold challenge.
Iruka sighed inwardly, but he knew what would happen next.
"Uzumaki Menma. Uchiha Sasuke."
The words were like a spark to dry tinder. Sasuke stepped forward instantly, sharp-eyed and silent. Menma followed at a measured pace, his face calm.
The entire class fell into hushed whispers.
They had seen this match-up many times before. Over the past few years, Sasuke had challenged Menma repeatedly. And every time, the result was the same.
Menma won. Always.
The Whispering Students
"Do you think Sasuke will win this time?"
"Not likely. Hasn't he lost every duel before?"
"This has to be the twentieth time."
"Almost. Menma always wins."
"Unless Sasuke has improved a lot lately… it'll be the same result."
Even Sakura, Sasuke's most loyal admirer, didn't look convinced. Her expression betrayed a flicker of doubt.
Then, from the sidelines, an all-too-familiar voice cut in:
"Haha, you'd better win this time, Sasuke! If you lose again, you'll break the record for most consecutive defeats!"
The blunt shout made Sasuke's forehead twitch, veins rising. His lips moved silently, forming a single word: "Idiot."
The culprit, naturally, was Naruto—loud, brash, and oblivious as ever. Even in this alternate life, his personality remained almost unchanged from the original timeline.
The Ino–Shika–Chō Perspective
On the other side of the field, three heirs of the famed Ino–Shika–Chō trio observed.
Akimichi Chōji munched on chips, speaking through a mouthful: "Shikamaru, do you think Sasuke can beat Menma this time?"
Shikamaru stretched lazily, hands behind his head. "Troublesome. I doubt it. Even though it always looks like Menma's only barely ahead, I think he's holding back. Unless Sasuke's made massive progress, the outcome won't change."
Choji shrugged, unconcerned, but Shikamaru's eyes narrowed faintly. Hidden behind his usual mask of laziness, there was sharp awareness.
As a member of the Nara Clan, raised under his father Shikaku's tutelage, Shikamaru understood more than most of his peers. He already suspected that Menma was no ordinary Academy student.
And he was right.