Is this really the same lazy, gluttonous, shameless Naruto everyone knew? The one who spent his days eating ramen, napping, and avoiding responsibility?It seemed almost impossible, yet here he was.After finishing his meal, Naruto stretched with a long, exaggerated yawn. Everyone watching assumed he was about to collapse into sleep. But that was a grave misjudgment. With textbook still clutched in one hand, Naruto's fingers deftly formed intricate hand seals. A faint, pulsating glow of chakra began radiating from his body. The Chakra Refining Technique was active."W-what… is he doing?" one of his classmates whispered in disbelief."Studying and practicing chakra at the same time? Is he even human?" another muttered, eyes wide.Outside, the moon gradually rose into the night sky. The new moon had begun to swell, day by day, approaching fullness. By the time it reached its peak, the semester's final exams would arrive—the last chance for Naruto to fulfill his bold declaration: to reach the top ten in his class.Could it be that all this effort, all this grueling training, was for that promise? Perhaps Naruto's determination ran deeper than anyone had imagined.The village of Konoha, usually bustling and noisy, had quieted under the night sky. Only the chirping of insects and the occasional bird broke the stillness. In his room, Naruto continued training with Divided Attention, switching between hand seals and absorbing knowledge from his textbook. Hours passed, yet his focus never wavered.Finally, Naruto stretched once more, lowering the book with satisfaction. Just when Iruka-sensei thought the boy would rest… Naruto began a new and even more audacious exercise."What is he doing now?" Iruka muttered, rubbing his eyes to see clearly.Naruto's gaze hardened, unwavering and fierce. In a swift sequence, he formed hand seals and activated a secret technique of his own creation."Transformation!"With a puff of white smoke, Naruto's form shifted. Where once a boy had stood, now appeared a charming young girl, graceful and playful, even blowing a teasing kiss toward Iruka."Ahhh!" Iruka's reaction was instantaneous. His face flushed crimson, a sudden nosebleed bursting forth, and with a panicked cry, he was propelled backward—straight off the electric pole he had been standing on!Frantically clawing at the air, he fell heavily to the ground, still bleeding and utterly flustered."Nar… Naruto… what on earth is that move?!" he wheezed, barely able to stand.Upstairs, in the safety of his second-floor room, Naruto heard the commotion. Smiling to himself, he transformed back and forth with practiced ease, testing the limits of his creation—the infamous Sexy Technique. Each transformation provoked a predictable reaction from Iruka, who scrambled like a thief, holding both nostrils in vain attempt to control the blood flow."Hmph, that move won't work on the truly strong ones," Iruka muttered through gritted teeth. "It's useless against me…"Yet even as he tried to flee, a small part of him couldn't deny it: Naruto had grown, and fast. His abilities were no longer childish tricks—they were the tools of a prodigious ninja, honed by sheer diligence and relentless practice.In the shadows, Anbu members watched silently. Though they had grown somewhat immune to Naruto's techniques after repeated exposure, they couldn't help exchanging whispers."Even strong opponents can be affected by that move if used correctly," one muttered."I remember the Third Hokage… he—""Shh! Keep your voice down if you value your life!" another hissed.Meanwhile, Naruto returned to his studies, reviewing his stats after another day of grueling self-training. His progress was staggering:Chakra Refining Technique: 93 pointsTransformation Technique: 88 pointsSexy Technique: 82 pointsClone Technique: 70 pointsDivided Attention: 72 pointsTotal Chakra: 108 pointsNaruto's eyes sparkled. Breaking above 90 in any skill was no small feat, and now his most specialized techniques had soared past that benchmark. Even his Clone Technique, long considered average at best, now scored a respectable 70 points."This… this is incredible!" Naruto whispered, heart racing. "My Chakra Refining Technique is over 90… my Transformation Technique is nearing 90… and my Clone Technique isn't bad either. Even my total chakra surpasses everyone else's tenfold!"Satisfied but still strategic, Naruto analyzed the upcoming final exams in detail. He knew the evaluation would cover academics, Ninjutsu skills, and sparring ability. His current estimate of his scores was:Academic: 60 pointsNinjutsu: 80 points (average of Clone and Transformation Techniques)Sparring: 90 pointsA total of roughly 230 points—solid, but not quite enough. His ultimate goal was the top ten. Clearly, the weak point remained academics."I need to get extra tutoring from Hinata," he murmured. "As for my techniques, I have to keep practicing. And sparring… well, beating up Sasuke in my sleep is the most efficient training method."With a plan firmly in place, Naruto allowed himself a rare moment of rest. But even in sleep, his training continued. His dream world was a battlefield, one dominated by Sasuke. Every night, Naruto fought tirelessly, simulating real combat scenarios, improving his strategy and awareness.From initially winning only one or two battles out of thirty, his win ratio had now increased to three out of ten. Every skirmish taught him something new. He meticulously noted the differences in their strengths and weaknesses:Naruto's stamina, taijutsu, and chakra surpassed Sasuke's.Sasuke's Ninjutsu, fundamentals, and combat techniques remained superior.Naruto realized that raw power alone couldn't guarantee victory. Unless he unleashed his full killing intent, he would always be at a disadvantage against Sasuke's refined combat style. Yet, Naruto had no desire to kill, and he had learned to maintain focus and fighting spirit without letting the Nine-Tailed Fox influence his actions.Sasuke, ever cold and arrogant in Naruto's dream, sneered, "Without the resolve to kill me, you will never defeat me."Exhausted but resolute, Naruto shook his head. "I don't need to kill to prove myself. I want to fight honorably and win fairly!""Too naive," Sasuke retorted, eyes flashing with disdain.And so the cycle continued, day after day, night after night. Naruto's growth was not just in skill, but in character. His body, mind, and spirit were being forged into something far greater than anyone had anticipated. He was no longer the lazy, gluttonous boy of yesterday. He was a warrior in the making, driven by ambition, discipline, and the promise he had made to himself.As the moon climbed higher in the sky, Naruto's resolve shone just as brightly. Every hour, every technique, every drop of sweat brought him closer to his goal. And though the path was steep and challenging, he faced it with unwavering determination. The Hokage he aspired to be would not be one who relied on luck or shortcuts. He would be a true ninja—powerful, skilled, and honorable.The quiet of the night carried his resolve across the village, unseen but undeniable. For Naruto, this was only the beginning of a journey that would test his limits and redefine what it meant to be a ninja in Konoha.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)