"Then, did everyone remember the Will of Fire we covered today?"
"Remembered~!"
"Very good. Class dismissed, then. See you this afternoon."
"Yes!"
The children rose to their feet in unison and ran out of the classroom.
Naruto was also planning to go back and bribe a few of his little friends so he could begin putting his plan into action.
But just then, Iruka called out to him.
"Naruto, wait a moment."
Ino took Hinata with her as she left. "We'll wait for you at the door."
"Iruka-sensei is so long-winded."
Iruka: "..."
Naruto often "slept" during class, so it was perfectly normal for him to be called aside for a talk.
"Naruto, did you remember the Will of Fire we discussed today?"
"I remembered it."
"Naruto... I know you completed your Chakra Extraction Technique training very early, but your dream is to become a Hokage acknowledged by everyone. The Chakra Extraction Technique alone is not enough to become Hokage."
"If you want to become Hokage, you must first become an outstanding ninja."
"Oh."
Naruto merely gave a flat response.
Iruka's brow immediately furrowed.
The disgust he had suppressed in his heart swiftly rose.
"I'll work hard. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
After saying that, Naruto turned and left without waiting for Iruka's answer.
Iruka watched his retreating back, wanting to call him back, but a voice in his heart told him—
"He's just a Fox Demon brat. There's no need to care about him."
Yet in the end, Iruka still sighed. "He is my student, after all. My actions are completely unlike the teacher I want to become."
"Iruka, what's wrong? Did something bother you?"
Just then, a gentle voice rang out.
"Mizuki-sensei."
Iruka hesitated for a moment before telling Mizuki what had happened.
Mizuki said gently,
"Iruka, don't blame yourself. You've already done very well. Facing the Fox Demon that killed your parents, you've done more than enough."
"I can't do it anymore, Hinata. You're too amazing. I really can't eat another bite."
"I'd say even if my dad came, he might not be able to beat you!"
Choji lay on the ground, rubbing his round, bulging belly. He gave Hinata, who was still eating nonstop beside him, a thumbs-up, his eyes filled with admiration.
Beside him stood Rock Lee, dressed in a gray training outfit.
He too said with an admiring expression,
"As expected of Hinata of the Hyuga Clan. I lost, utterly and completely."
Shikamaru put down his chopsticks and somewhat helplessly patted Choji and Rock Lee.
"Don't lie down right after eating."
"You two are washing the dishes later."
After lightly answering the girls' questions, Naruto tapped the table and said solemnly,
"Everyone, I need your help with something."
Seeing Naruto's serious expression, everyone stopped eating as well.
"The Ninja Academy has nothing left to teach me."
"I'm planning to use a Shadow Clone to put on an act at school."
"So I need you to cover for me."
"What?!"
"Naruto, you... you've already learned Shadow Clone?"
"Oh! As expected of my lifelong rival, Naruto! You're incredible!"
"..."
Things had gone somewhat beyond Naruto's expectations.
No one was surprised that he wanted to skip school. They were surprised that he had mastered Shadow Clone and was confident he could make one stay at school for an entire morning or afternoon.
"Hmph, don't be surprised. Everyone here is the same. The Ninja Academy can't teach us anything, but it's simply a necessary path to becoming ninja."
"Since you plan to use Shadow Clone... Lee, once I master Shadow Clone in a while, I'll rely on you to cover for me in class... No, Tenten, I'll leave it to you instead."
Rock Lee, who had just been about to enthusiastically agree, froze.
"Why?"
"Hmph, ask you for help? I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to fool the teacher for one class."
"Ugh!"
Rock Lee lowered his head, his face full of sorrow.
"This is a good idea!"
"I need to train too. I can't fall too far behind Naruto!"
"Hinata, shall the two of us take turns from now on?"
Hinata hesitated. Skipping class?
Th-this... wasn't that a bad thing?
During this time, Hinata no longer had to endure hunger, nor would she faint from shyness anymore.
But when facing Naruto, she would still turn into Steam Princess most of the time.
"Hm? Hinata, don't you want to skip class?"
"That's great! I want to improve so badly. I'll be relying on you from now on!"
"No!"
Hinata hurriedly shook her head. "I... I sometimes... want to as well."
For her, saying that was somewhat rebellious.
Tenten, however, began reminding Naruto.
"Little brother, do you really think we haven't noticed anything?"
"You have many secrets, and you've been hiding them all along. Don't think that just because we're all children, we're weak."
"So... go do what you want to do!"
Everyone looked seriously at Naruto.
"Shikamaru noticed it, didn't he?"
Creak—
Everyone instantly turned their heads away.
Naruto smiled and shook his head. "Shikamaru, I still underestimated you. As expected of the Shika in Ino-Shika-Cho."
Shikamaru rubbed his nose. Though he was often praised, this was the first time he had received Naruto's praise.
"Then I'll be counting on you from now on, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru's little face reddened, but he put on a helpless expression and spread his hands.
"Sigh, what a drag. I can't find a reason to refuse."
"(＾-＾)V~"
Everyone cheered at once.
But Shikamaru then stood up and walked into the bathroom.
Naruto followed him inside.
He knew Shikamaru wanted to tell him something in private.
"Naruto, I don't know why things have turned out this way... but I want to say this."
"If things reach a point where they can't be controlled, I'll try to get Ino-Shika-Cho out. That's all I can do."
Naruto smiled.
As expected of you, Shikamaru.
"Don't worry. I have a trump card. Maybe you won't have to endure things so painfully."
That statement carried many meanings. Naruto believed Shikamaru would understand, because he was about to reveal something.
Sure enough, Shikamaru said nothing and merely watched Naruto.
Naruto raised his hand.
Mori Mori Fruit Elementalization.
Wood Clone!
Crack, crack, crack—
A chunk of wood about the same size as him extended from his Wooden Arm.
At a speed visible to the naked eye, it transformed into his appearance.
"Wood... Naruto, you?!"
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
He was indeed very smart, but he was still too young.
He could understand many things, yet he did not understand what they meant.
"Are you crazy? Why show me this? Aren't you afraid..."
Before he could finish, Shikamaru lowered his head.
After a moment, he looked at Naruto's Wood Clone, shook his head, and smiled.
"This is such a pain. You're impossible."
"I know what I should do, and when."
"Naruto, these past years... you must have had it really hard, right?"
"Let's go. We've been in here too long."
Naruto said nothing. He merely had the Wood Clone follow Shikamaru out.
After the Wood Clone and Shikamaru left,
he took a deep breath.
"It's finally this day. I don't need to hide so cautiously anymore!"
A relieved smile curled across his lips.
Whoosh—
The next moment, he vanished from the bathroom with the Body Flicker Technique.
He arrived before the waterfall he had selected long ago.
Naruto spread his arms.
It had been so long since he had felt this kind of freedom.
"Absorb!"
As he absorbed nutrients from the surrounding trees, he also obtained recent information from them.
"No one will come here. I can train without restraint."
"I'll train Nintaijutsu beneath the waterfall."
"I have the Rasengan's training method... After the Rasengan comes Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, infused with Wind Style Chakra Nature Transformation."
"I'll familiarize myself with Uchiha Shisui's fighting style and combine the Rasengan with it."
"Once I finish every kind of training that can improve me, I'll try Sage Mode."
Naruto looked at his wooden hand and felt the tree nutrients he had absorbed.
"These should be Nature Power, right?"
"Perhaps during the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall, I can catch a White Zetsu. I possess the power of nature, so after absorbing White Zetsu, I can cultivate the Mayfly Technique."
"The Disguise Technique will work too!"
"Sage Mode is the absorption and utilization of natural energy."
"My Woods-Woods Fruit is itself high-level Nature Power, so it shouldn't be too difficult."
"But just in case, I won't try it yet."
After making his preparations, Naruto took out a bag of balloons.
"Rasengan training, begin!"
Whoosh—
Sharingan!
Shadow Clone Technique.
Poof—
Several Shadow Clones, along with Naruto's original, began training the Rasengan at the same time.
Three months later.
Naruto recalled Body Flicker Naruto, who had continuously practiced and developed his own style.
The Rasengan in his hand slowly dissipated.
"Let's go back. It's time to let my body rest for a while. After that, I'll begin Rasenshuriken training."
"Next, the school will teach basics like the Three Basic Jutsu and shuriken, and there will be exams."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen may observe me. To prevent the Wood Clone from being discovered, I should go to school in person from now on."
Before you continue