Naruto stared at the pulverized boulder, lost in calculation.
His base strength was three hundred thousand pounds. With the force multiplication technique active, that doubled to six hundred thousand. Add in his speed, and the destructive potential multiplied exponentially.
The boulder never stood a chance.
A simple soybean, weighing mere grams, could punch through an aircraft when accelerated to sufficient velocity. If that soybean were indestructible and the acceleration unlimited, it could theoretically shatter a planet.
His combat power couldn't be measured by static force alone. Three hundred thousand pounds in a stationary state versus three hundred thousand pounds delivered at supersonic speed—the destructive difference was astronomical.
This was why the System emphasized reading and understanding. Seeing beneath the surface, recognizing all contributing factors instead of just the obvious variables.
Spirit, energy, and body unity started with the mind. A sharp intellect was just as crucial as physical prowess.
After mulling over these principles, Naruto resumed training. He'd tested his doubled-force limit. Now came the hard work of pushing that ceiling higher.
His body's soreness faded rapidly—one benefit of his Iron Body foundation. By lunchtime, he felt completely recovered.
Across the village, Kakashi sat on a bridge railing watching Sakura, 'Naruto,' and 'Sasuke' clean debris from the river. His suspended arms made him look absurdly helpless.
Usually I'd be reading Icha Icha right now, he thought miserably. Though maybe that's not the worst thing in the world.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura called up, carrying a trash bag and tongs. "We're finished!"
She looked so earnest, face glowing with youthful determination. Kakashi wondered how she'd react if she knew both her teammates were shadow clones.
"Good work, Sakura. Come on up. You're dismissed for lunch."
He vanished in a Body Flicker.
Sakura turned to her companions. "Naruto, Sasuke! We're done! Wasn't that exhausting?"
Both clones responded with flat, emotionless brevity.
She frowned, studying them. Something's off. Why are they acting so weird?
"Goodbye, Sakura," they said in perfect unison, then departed without another word.
Sakura stood alone by the riverbank as cold wind picked up around her. The autumn of my discontent continues...
"Sakura."
Kakashi's voice made her jump. He'd reappeared on the railing. "Take me to Naruto's house."
"Kakashi-sensei?" She blinked in confusion.
"If those two are skipping mission, I need to make a house call. Let's see what they're actually doing." He hopped down beside her.
"But they were just here," Sakura protested.
"Those were Sasuke's shadow clones. Both of them—you can tell from the chakra signature. You're still developing your sensing abilities, so you couldn't detect it yet." Kakashi's tone was patient, instructional.
"What?!" Sakura's eyes went wide. "No wonder they were acting strange! I thought they were just distracted!" Her internal monologue turned darker. Those jerks! I want to punch them so badly! But I can't win that fight...
She was acutely aware of her position as Team Seven's weakest link. She'd seen Sasuke train. Ten of her couldn't beat him. And Naruto, who regularly beat everyone else up...
The thought alone cast a shadow over her heart.
Sakura: (>○<)
Seeing her dejected expression, Kakashi backpedaled quickly. "Hey, I'm not calling you weak. You're actually quite strong—definitely above average for your age."
"That's... not much comfort, sensei," Sakura muttered.
"Just show me the way to Naruto's place," Kakashi said, changing topics.
As Sakura led him through the village, she chattered about Naruto's accomplishments. "He started a farm when he was only seven! Made his own money! A lot of our friends have investments in it now."
"Really?" Kakashi responded with casual interest, careful not to seem too invested. Started a business at seven? When he should've been playing and growing up under someone's care?
Guilt twisted in his chest. They'd fought wars so the next generation wouldn't have to struggle like this. And yet Naruto had worked himself to the bone from childhood.
How can I ever tell him the truth when I've let him suffer like this?
Soon they reached the back mountain. Kakashi spotted the farm immediately—herds of cattle grazing, several breeding bulls looking distinctly reluctant about their assigned duties, flocks of sheep bleating as they passed.
"Naruto's cooking is amazing," Sakura was saying. "I'd eat there every day if I could, but..." She trailed off, expression shifting to something like fear. Eating more meals there means getting beaten up more times.
Kakashi had experienced Naruto's cooking firsthand. That eel rice had been extraordinary. It reminded him of meals Kushina used to make—the same perfect balance of flavors.
"There!" Sakura pointed to a small wooden house surrounded by a log fence.
Kakashi hesitated at the gate, suddenly uncertain.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Kakashi-sensei is here!" Sakura called out.
The door opened. Naruto and Sasuke emerged, and Naruto's face immediately split into a welcoming smile. "Kakashi-sensei! Sakura! Perfect timing—we just finished lunch and cleaned up."
Sakura: ( -_ - )
Kakashi: ( - - )`
Seeing their reactions, Naruto turned to Sasuke. "Why don't you chat with Sakura? This is Kakashi-sensei's first visit. I should give him a proper tour."
Sakura's face lit up.
Alone time with Sasuke-kun! Favorability +1!
"Come on, sensei. Let me show you around the farm." Naruto's pride in his work was evident.
As they walked, Naruto launched into his history. "I started this place when I was seven. Had no money—the village's relief stipend barely covered expired milk and stale bread. You believe I could've grown this tall on that diet?"
Kakashi listened, heart sinking with each word.
"But once I had money for meat and proper nutrition, I shot up. Five years later, the farm's grown from double-digit livestock to tens of thousands. Annual revenue in the hundreds of millions."
He sighed dramatically. "Now I'm almost regretting it. Managing this operation cuts into training time significantly."
They stopped at a pigsty. Fat pigs rolled in mud, contentedly grunting.
"See these pigs? They're the real moneymakers." Naruto grinned. "I have a friend who writes books. His annual income doesn't match what these pigs generate. Sometimes he even loses money. Isn't that wild?"
He shot Kakashi a meaningful look. "Writing books doesn't pay as well as raising pigs, sensei. The smart move is raising pigs first, then using that money to fund book promotion."
Kakashi's visible eye twitched.
They continued until reaching the sheep pasture. The flock immediately scattered at Naruto's approach.
"Nothing interesting here," Naruto said quickly. "Let's check out the cattle instead."
At the cattle area, two bulls were fighting. One was muscular and healthy. The other looked skeletal—skin stretched tight over prominent bones, barely able to stand.
The emaciated bull went down quickly, knocked aside by his stronger opponent's horns.
Naruto pointed at the fallen animal. "See that one, Kakashi-sensei? He's my selected breeding bull. Has to perform his duties multiple times daily. All that energy expenditure means he can't maintain proper nutrition. Even when he wins fights, it's barely a victory. And when he loses..." Naruto shook his head sadly.
His gaze shifted to Kakashi with pointed significance.
Kakashi's face flushed beneath his mask. He returned a flat stare that clearly communicated: Look at my hands. What exactly do you think I can do like this?
Naruto followed his gaze to the suspended arms and shook his head slightly.
Some activities don't require hands.
Finding the right surface to work against achieves the same results.
Without saying anything explicit, Naruto pointed to a bull across the field. The animal had positioned itself against a tree trunk, rubbing with obvious satisfaction.
This bull wasn't part of the breeding program. Nature had denied him that privilege, so he found his own solutions.
Kakashi followed Naruto's gesture and felt shame wash over him.
Suddenly, yesterday's conversation clicked into place. Naruto had smelled something in his apartment. And now he was making pointed observations about frustrated livestock finding creative outlets.
He knows. He figured it out yesterday and he's calling me out right now.
Kakashi wanted the earth to swallow him whole.
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