Naruto the Prodigy, the Boy Entrusted with the Next Generation

Afternoon

A small forest on the outskirts of the village

"Here, watch closely...

This is my Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."

Naruto, bruised and swollen, stood among the trees, proudly forming Hand Seals with both hands as he prepared to demonstrate.

Sharingan... activate...

Sasuke wasted no words, immediately activating his Sharingan and staring intently at Naruto.

"Go, Sasuke-kun..."

Sakura, the designated cheerleader, instantly began flattering him, propping her chin up with both hands as longing anticipation shimmered in her eyes...

Because Sasuke-kun had promised to have dinner with her after training.

"Here I go!!

Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Hearing Sakura cheer him on, Naruto curled his lips unhappily and shouted.

Under Sasuke and Sakura's tense watch.

With a bang, several Naruto clones appeared at once...

"Hehehe...

Easy, right? It worked with a single bang!"

Seeing Sasuke lower his head in thought, Naruto rubbed his nose and grinned smugly.

At the same time, he looked at Sasuke nervously...

If Sasuke learned his prized Ninjutsu in the blink of an eye, he would lose all face!

But if Sasuke failed to learn it, there would be no month-long feast...

What a painfully difficult choice!!

Under Naruto's anxious gaze, Sasuke pondered for a moment before forming Hand Seals.

"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Following the Chakra flow he had observed with the Sharingan, Sasuke spurred on his Chakra in one burst and shouted.

With a bang...

A cloud of White Smoke rose beside Sasuke as well...

But unexpectedly.

Forget a Shadow Clone—even a defective version missing arms or legs failed to appear!

"Naruto, what other trick is there to successfully using the Shadow Clone Technique?

I performed it exactly according to your Chakra flow. Why did it still fail??"

Looking at Naruto's strange expression, Sasuke asked in confusion.

The Two-Tomoe Sharingan could copy non-bloodline Ninjutsu and Taijutsu by observing Chakra flow.

Logically, as long as he had the Hand Seals and the Chakra flow, there should have been no problem!

Even if it failed the first time, it was impossible for nothing at all to appear...

There had to be something wrong here!!

"A trick??"

Seeing Sasuke's serious expression, Naruto put aside his delight at being underestimated and scratched his head.

A trick? How could he possibly know something like that...

Didn't it just work with a bang??

But he could not expose his Dead Last nature in front of Sakura!

"Naruto, don't tell me you don't know the trick..."

Seeing Naruto's conflicted face, Sakura's eyes shifted as she raised her head suspiciously.

Sasuke's body trembled beside her as he suddenly recalled Naruto's poor-student reputation.

He didn't really not know, did he!

"Ahem...

Well, uh, of course there's a trick...

But I can only tell you in secret. You can't tell anyone else."

Facing Sakura and Sasuke's suspicious gazes, Naruto cleared his throat and leaned close to Sasuke's ear.

This concerned his pride. He absolutely could not lose here!

"Tch, what are you acting so mysterious for..."

Sakura grumbled unhappily, but she still thoughtfully retreated several steps to give them space.

She did not want Sasuke-kun to dislike her over this...

"Yeah, Sasuke.

The trick to this technique is..."

Seeing Sakura retreat ten meters and even turn her back, Naruto gave Sasuke an awkward smile and lowered his voice.

"Anger?

That's the so-called trick??"

Hearing those two words beside his ear, Sasuke's face darkened as he complained weakly.

Seriously, did Naruto think this was Super Saiyan Transformation in Universe 6 next door??

Sure enough, he should never have trusted this guy Naruto...

Uh, it seemed he had not planned to trust Naruto to begin with.

The original plan had been to use the Sharingan to observe the Chakra flow and learn the Shadow Clone Technique, but he had not expected it to fail!!

This...

"Mm-hmm, I already told you the trick...

I learned the Shadow Clone Technique because I was angry!

So you have to use it in extreme anger if you want to successfully learn it.

If you can't learn it, that's your problem. You can't go back on your word about treating us to dinner."

Naruto secretly glanced at Sakura before lowering his voice and continuing his smooth-talking with animated gestures.

Anyway, he had told Sasuke the trick. Whether it worked or not was no longer his business!

[Detected Naruto's malicious advice. Triggering a 20x C-rank Reward.

Mission: Use the Shadow Clone Technique in anger; Reward: Naruto-style Multiple Shadow Clone Technique...]

Just as Sasuke was about to erupt and berate him, the notification in his ear instantly extinguished his anger.

Just when things looked hopeless, a new path opened up...

Still, anger was not something he could fake!

He would have to wait for the right opportunity.

"Let's go. Time to eat..."

Letting out a breath, Sasuke turned around and sighed under Naruto's uneasy gaze.

Since he could not learn it, he could only rely on cheats!

"Huh??

Okay, okay, Sakura, let's go..."

Naruto froze at this, then after half a second began nodding frantically and calling out.

He had already been prepared to pester Sasuke relentlessly if he refused!

He had not expected Sasuke to be so loyal...

"Huh? Training's over already??"

Hearing Naruto call out, Sakura was just as baffled. Was that all there was to the secret trick??

But Sakura naturally would not refuse the chance to eat with Sasuke-kun sooner, so she hurriedly caught up.

"Did he give up?

Sasuke really is a smart child!

That method is actually only suitable for Naruto.

Simplifying Ninjutsu, especially high-level Forbidden Techniques.

Is not something that can be learned simply by observing Chakra flow!

It only suited the caster's own Chakra flow and was completely useless when used by others.

Otherwise, only one or two of the Second Hokage's many simplified Ninjutsu would not have been passed down..."

In the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, murmured to himself as he watched the three through the Crystal Ball.

"Well, it seems just as I expected...

Then, Lord Hokage, starting tomorrow, give Team 7 more D-rank Missions.

I want them to participate in these Chunin Exams!"

The lazy-looking Kakashi beside him grew solemn and earnestly requested this of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Have you made up your mind?

Kakashi..."

Seeing Kakashi become so serious for once, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression also turned grave.

Letting newly graduated Genin take the exam, especially a Jinchuriki like Naruto!

Wasn't that a little too hasty...

"Of course...

With Sasuke's strength, he is fully qualified to be promoted to Chunin.

As for Naruto and Sakura, they will at most be there to accompany him and gain experience this time!

They can build up experience for the next exam...

So I'll be relying on you for the next few days, Lord Hokage."

Kakashi nodded without hesitation, giving the Third Hokage reassurance at the same time.

"I see, it's because of Sasuke...

That child Sasuke lacks neither wisdom nor strength. His talent truly should not be buried...

What happened back then did not lead him astray despite the blow it dealt him. He is a junior we can trust.

Then it's settled, Kakashi...

Just thinking that the seedlings inheriting the Will of Fire have begun to sprout fills me, as Hokage, with incomparable anticipation.

I hope this old man can see them become Jonin and witness them take on Konoha's next generation..."

Hearing this well-reasoned analysis, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face broke into a chrysanthemum-like smile, full of relief.

His gaze shifted toward Hokage Rock, bathed in the setting sun, and a smile touched his lips...

Previous Hokage, this is the inheritance of Bonds!