"This is so difficult," Naruto muttered, slumping against the tree. "I'm really terrible at chakra control..." He paused, a new thought sparking in his mind. "Wait a minute... if I'm bad at one thing, I should focus on what I'm *good* at!" A grin spread across his face as he came up with a new idea.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
*Poof! Poof! Poof!*
In an instant, three identical clones appeared. The four Narutos huddled together, staring at each other with matching expressions of determination.
"Alright, listen up!" the real Naruto announced. "We have to reach the top of this tree within three days! Let's have a competition to see who can get there first!"
The three clones cheered, not to be outdone. "Yeah!"
"It's definitely gonna be me!"
"No way, it'll be me!"
With that, the four Narutos rushed to begin their frantic training.
"Hah!"
*Thud!*
"Watch me!"
*Thud!*
"I'm number one!"
*Thud!*
Ignoring the confused looks from people passing by, Naruto and his clones trained relentlessly, practicing from early afternoon until well into the evening.
Finally...
"Haaaaa!"
*Step, step!*
The real Naruto managed to take several steps in a row, making it three or four solid paces up the trunk!
"Yes! It's working!" he shouted in joy. In just a few steps, he had already climbed four or five meters high. His excitement, however, caused him to lose focus on his next step, and he fell heavily to the ground. But as he lay there, a hopeful grin spread across his face.
"Ouch... but if I keep this up, I'll definitely reach the top within three days!"
He wanted to jump up and try again, but his body had reached its limit. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The three shadow clones, their energy depleted, vanished one by one in puffs of white smoke. Suddenly, the experience gained from hours of their training flooded Naruto's mind. At the same time, all their accumulated fatigue and pain slammed into his body.
In an instant, an unimaginable wave of exhaustion and soreness washed over him.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
He rolled on the ground in pain, but through the agony, he felt a new sense of understanding click into place. He struggled to his feet, panting heavily. Fueled by the fresh experience from his clones, he was determined to try one last time.
He growled through clenched teeth, "Let's do this!"
In a flash, all his remaining chakra surged to the soles of his feet. With absolute concentration, he ran at the tree, his feet planting firmly on the trunk one after the other as if he were running on flat ground.
Three steps, four steps! Five steps, six steps... seven steps! He had climbed so high that his right hand could reach the highest branch! Naruto grabbed it instantly, swung his body up, and landed firmly on the branch.
"I did it! I actually did it!"
Naruto couldn't believe it. The task that seemed impossible had been completed in just one day. He was so excited that he completely ignored the pain and fatigue racking his body. He immediately jumped down and sprinted towards Asuma Sarutobi's house.
"What?!" Asuma was shocked to see the breathless and excited Naruto burst in. "You're saying... you've already completed the tree-climbing test?"
Although tree-climbing wasn't an advanced technique, based on what he'd seen of Naruto's talent, Asuma had predicted it would take at least four or five days. But now, he had done it in a single day. To be precise, in just one afternoon. This level of talent was completely beyond his predictions. This kid was a true genius.
He knew that Naruto possessed an enormous amount of chakra. If he could also master precise chakra manipulation, he would be almost unstoppable. Asuma was even a little envious. Of course, he was a top-tier ninja himself when it came to chakra control, but his own reserves were nowhere near as vast.
"Well," Asuma said, calming himself. "You say you've finished. Why don't you show me?"
"Of course, no problem!" Naruto said excitedly. Although he had just exhausted his chakra, his body was already passively multitasking, refining more energy the entire way over. He had recovered just enough for a demonstration. Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for Asuma's inspection.
"Chakra control... gather at the soles of my feet... Go!"
Naruto shouted and leaped forward, his feet hitting the tree trunk in a steady rhythm. With the help of the adhesive chakra, he strode upwards and quickly reached the top of the trunk. Then, with a powerful pull from his arms, he swung his body around and landed securely on the branch.
Asuma Sarutobi couldn't help but let out a quiet sound of admiration. "Good."
Naruto leaped down from the great height, unable to hide his triumphant smile.
"I originally thought it would take you at least three or four days to complete this," Asuma said seriously. "I never expected you to master it in a single afternoon. Naruto, it seems you are a true genius after all."
Naruto didn't hide his method. "Actually, I used my shadow clones to train with me. After the clones disappear, all of their training experience comes back to my real body. That's why I was able to master it so quickly!"
Asuma looked even more surprised. "That's true, but using shadow clones for that kind of intense training is no joke. If you exhaust your chakra and physical strength that way, it can be life-threatening. Naruto, are you really that desperate to become stronger, even at the risk of your own life?"
Naruto clenched his fists. "Yeah! I have to become stronger, so that everyone will finally recognize my existence, and then... I'll become Hokage!"
Asuma's heart stirred. "Become Hokage? That's your dream?"
"That's right! And I'm going to become the strongest Hokage, one who surpasses all the ones who came before!"
Asuma smiled faintly. "Is that so? That's a fine dream to have."
Naruto scratched his head and laughed. "Anyway, let's not talk about that for now! Asuma-sensei, I completed the test, so can you teach me the Wind Release ninjutsu now?!"
Asuma smiled. "Actually, I've already been teaching you. The tree-climbing challenge is a fundamental training exercise. It tests your precise control over chakra—its extraction, concentration, and maintenance. You now have a basic understanding of it."
Naruto was stunned for a moment, then his face broke into a wide grin. "I get it! Asuma-sensei, you're pretty tricky!"
"Go on," Asuma said with a knowing smile. "Try that jutsu again now."
Naruto felt a surge of excitement. "Okay!" He quickly went through the hand seals. "Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
In that moment, a powerful gust of wind roared to life. As Naruto clapped his hands together, the whistling wind blasted out from his palms, scattering in all directions.
"It worked! It actually worked!" Naruto shouted, overjoyed by his success.