"Alright, now that you've awakened your chakra, let's test your nature affinity." Kakashi handed Naruto a small strip of chakra paper.
"This is made from a special tree cultivated with chakra. It's extremely sensitive and can easily reveal your elemental nature. The reaction is simple: if it burns, you're fire. If it splits, wind. If it wrinkles, lightning. If it gets damp, water. If it crumbles, earth. Go ahead and try it."
Naruto's eyes widened with curiosity. He pressed the paper between his palms and infused it with chakra.
Snap!
The paper split cleanly down the middle.
"Looks like your affinity is wind," Kakashi said casually.
Naruto's shoulders slumped. "What? Just one? I thought I'd be like you, Kakashi-sensei, with four or even five different elements!"
Kakashi ruffled his hair. "Relax. Even if you start with one, it's possible to train and unlock others later."
Naruto clenched his fists with fiery determination. "Then that's my new goal! I'll master all five elements one day!"
Kakashi gave a small smile behind his mask, though he didn't voice the truth that training additional affinities took years of effort, and very few ever reached mastery in more than two. If it were that easy, every jonin in the village would be a five-element master.
"Anyway," Kakashi said after glancing at the sky, "you still have your extreme training schedule with Guy. We'll stop here for today."
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Right. I promised Guy-sensei I wouldn't slack off, no matter what."
"One more thing," Kakashi added, lowering his voice. "Now that you have chakra, don't use it to assist your physical training. Stick to the plan Guy set for you. It was designed to push your body to its limits."
"I understand!" Naruto nodded seriously. There wasn't a trace of laziness in him. His dream burned too brightly: to one day build a body so strong it could cross the stars, a body capable of conquering the universe.
"Good. Tomorrow, when you come back, I'll have a surprise for you," Kakashi said, his eye curving in amusement.
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "A surprise? What kind, Kakashi-sensei?"
"You'll see tomorrow," Kakashi teased, patting the blond boy's head.
For Kakashi, being able to spend time with Naruto so openly felt like correcting something that had gone wrong in the past. He silently thanked Guy for bringing the boy into his care.
That evening, after finishing his daily training, Naruto headed toward Ichiraku Ramen, stomach growling. But on the way, he ran into trouble.
The three brats he had scared off yesterday were waiting for him and this time they'd brought backup: a lanky boy with a Leaf forehead protector strapped proudly across his brow.
"This is my big brother, Jiro!" one of the kids shouted smugly. "You're dead meat, loser! My brother's a real ninja. He'll beat you up for us!"
Naruto just stared at them, expression blank. Then, without a word, he dashed forward. Four kicks later, the self-proclaimed ninja and his little gang were rolling on the ground, whimpering.
Naruto shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away. They call themselves ninja just because they wear a headband? How are they weaker than me, a kid who hasn't even started at the Academy yet?
He shook his head in disbelief. If they graduate like this, no wonder the world's in trouble.
The next morning, Naruto practically bounded up Kakashi's doorstep like an overexcited puppy.
"Kakashi-sensei!" He bowed politely as he entered.
Kakashi waved lazily. "No need to be so formal. Treat this place like your own home."
"Really? That's… that's awesome!" Naruto scratched his head, feeling oddly warm inside. Kakashi's kindness felt different genuine.
Kakashi tilted his head. "Guy's my friend, and you're his student. That makes you my student too. So, yeah, this is your home as well."
Naruto blinked, stunned, before breaking into a grin.
"Anyway," Kakashi continued, "since you've awakened chakra and know your affinity, it's time for your first real jutsu."
Naruto instantly forgot everything else. His whole body leaned forward eagerly.
"This technique is called Wind Barrier. It lets you control the flow of air in a fixed range useful for muffling sound, detecting movement, or disrupting enemies. It's not flashy, but it'll deepen your understanding of wind release."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Yes, Kakashi-sensei! I'll master it!"
That night, after hours of practice, Naruto collapsed into bed, exhausted but happy. His mind buzzed with excitement his very first jutsu.
But when he closed his eyes, the world shifted.
He found himself standing in a dark, damp tunnel, like an endless sewer.
"A dream?" He pinched his cheek. No pain.
Confused, Naruto wandered forward until he reached a colossal iron gate. The bars stretched upward into shadows, and from within came a low rumble of breath.
Suddenly, two massive scarlet eyes flared open.
"Aaaahhh!" Naruto yelped, spinning on his heel and sprinting away.
"What the heck kind of nightmare is this?!" His voice echoed down the tunnel.
Thankfully, he didn't linger long. The moment his fear peaked, he jolted awake back in his own bed, drenched in sweat.
He rubbed his head, trying to shake off the image. Weird dream. Whatever. Not gonna think about it.
And so time passed.
One year later.
Out in the forests near Konoha, a barefoot Naruto sprinted uphill with a massive boulder strapped to his back. His breathing was steady, his steps unshaken despite the weight.
Reaching the summit, he hurled the boulder into the air. His legs coiled like springs, launching him upward. With a fierce yell, he drove his fist into the stone.
Crack!
The rock shattered into fragments that rained down across the slope. Naruto landed lightly, exhaling a long breath of satisfaction.
"Looks like it's almost time," he murmured, gazing at the sky. "The Academy's about to start."
In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished.
At the gates of the Ninja Academy, crowds gathered. Children laughed and chased each other while parents looked on with hopeful eyes. For civilians, becoming a ninja was the fastest path to changing their fate.
Among the crowd, Sasuke stood beside his father, Fugaku. The boy's sharp eyes darted left and right, clearly searching for someone.
Noticing, Fugaku frowned. "Sasuke. What are you looking for?"
Sasuke snapped to attention and shook his head. "Nothing, Father."
On the other side of the courtyard, Hinata clutched her father's hand nervously. Her pale eyes scanned the crowd with the same anxious searching.
Hiashi leaned down, puzzled. "Hinata? What is it?"
But the shy girl only shook her head quickly, cheeks flushing pink.