Cheating in Progress

The Cheat Code Was in Effect [Please Vote for Recommendations]

In the end, Toneri and Kushina still made it to the training ground.

When they arrived, Minato Namikaze was already there, training alone and drenched in sweat.

Everyone else saw Minato's sunny smile, handsome looks, and strength far beyond that of his peers. But they didn't know how much effort he'd put in—or how many cold stares and taunts he'd endured—before gaining any of it. Even so, he'd persevered.

Through his actions, he'd gradually changed how everyone saw him.

It had to be said: there was a reason Naruto would someday be able to face the people who'd always mocked him with such a positive attitude.

"Minato, look who's here!" Toneri called excitedly to him as he trained.

Toneri felt as if he should have heard a voice beside his ear...

Ding! Minato Namikaze's affection level: 80%!

Next came some stuff not suitable for kids...

Ahem. Next, the three of them got to know one another all over again.

Although Kushina and Minato had been classmates, they hadn't interacted much. Kushina had been a little self-conscious about her hair, and she hadn't thought much of Minato, either. But now that she thought about it, they really had never had a conversation like this before.

Toneri's eyes sparkled from the sidelines like a pair of 120-watt light bulbs.

The truth was, Minato and Kushina didn't have anything going on between them yet. They were just ordinary classmates. They simply happened to be the two strongest students in their class, and Minato had successfully applied for early graduation while Kushina hadn't.

Kushina was curious about what Minato's life as a ninja had been like since graduating.

Then Toneri demonstrated his training routine for them.

He played it safe and made three more Shadow Clones.

Earlier, he'd already made two to help himself and Kushina skip class.

Kushina had been studying for years and didn't need to attend lessons, but Toneri needed to listen whenever he could. He was lacking in just about every area.

Right now, he was like a student who'd focused way too much on Taijutsu and neglected everything else.

Of the three Shadow Clones, one practiced chakra control by climbing trees and Water Walking. Another practiced throwing ninja tools like kunai. He only had kunai for now, but the skills involved in throwing different tools were largely transferable. Besides, throwing ninja tools was one of the subjects on the Ninja Academy graduation exam.

The last Shadow Clone practiced Hand Seals.

As for ninjutsu, Toneri had almost none at his disposal. He only knew the Transformation Technique and Shadow Clone Technique, and both required just one seal.

Besides, training couldn't be rushed. He had to start with the basics, one step at a time, and Hand Seals were the most fundamental part of performing ninjutsu.

He wasn't expecting to immediately reach the level of Itachi or the legendary "Copy Ninja"—ahem, Kakashi—and make five or six seals per second. But surely he should be able to manage two or three per second?

He couldn't exactly tell his opponent, "Hey, wait a moment. Let me finish my seals first, or it wouldn't be fair if you beat me..."

He'd probably be dead before he knew what hit him.

With his own Taijutsu training added to the mix, he'd just about managed to divide up the tasks.

It was his first time trying to train with Shadow Clones, so Toneri had no idea where his limits were.

He'd already made five Shadow Clones. When he dispelled them, he'd probably feel the effects pretty badly.

Minato and Kushina were both familiar with the Shadow Clone Technique. Although it was a B-rank ninjutsu, it was fairly widespread and not especially difficult to obtain.

But Minato couldn't use it for training. He didn't have much chakra, and his body was no different from an ordinary ninja's. He wouldn't be able to withstand the shock of his Shadow Clones disappearing.

Kushina, on the other hand, could use it. In fact, the Shadow Clone Technique might suit her even better than it suited Toneri.

But Kushina wasn't very interested in training with Shadow Clones right now. All she wanted was to become a ninja and take on missions that would help bring peace to the Shinobi World.

So while Toneri and Minato trained hard, Kushina stayed out of it and watched them sweat from a tree nearby.

Toneri had always thought the workout methods he'd learned in his previous life were far more advanced than those of the Ninja World, given how developed technology was.

But as he learned more and got more involved, he realized he'd been completely wrong.

When his body had been weak, his old methods had indeed been more effective. But as he grew stronger, they couldn't keep up anymore.

They were only good for laying a foundation.

As the saying went, never judge a high-power world through the lens of your old assumptions.

The Ninja World had more than just ninjas. It had samurai, too, and the accumulated wisdom of countless years was hardly inferior to modern technology.

Besides, these methods were better suited to the physiques of people in this world.

He'd spent the previous day talking with Minato and had learned a lot from him.

Along with the Taijutsu notes Danzo had given him, his Shadow Clones had put together a training routine better suited to his current level.

That was why today's Taijutsu training was tougher and better matched to his abilities.

Sometimes, a sudden idea would come to him while he was training, and he'd ask Minato or Kushina for advice. Both of them were much stronger than he was.

But Kushina was more interested in how Toneri got along with the Tailed Beast inside him than in sparring over Taijutsu.

She still remembered how, before becoming a Jinchūriki, she'd arrived in Konoha and witnessed the Uzumaki Clan's destruction. She'd never been able to get over it. Then she learned she would become the next Jinchūriki, and she nearly fell apart.

Fortunately, Mito Uzumaki had treated Kushina like her own granddaughter, helping ease her worries. She'd also told Kushina that she needed to win the Nine-Tails over with love.

That was what Mito Uzumaki had worked hard to do throughout her time as the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. She'd hoped Kushina would continue her efforts, until one day the Nine-Tails could finally be won over.

But after all this time, Kushina still hadn't managed to do what Grandma Mito had told her. She really wanted to know how Toneri had done it.

But it wasn't just the two of them here; Minato was with them, too. She didn't want anyone else to know she was a Jinchūriki. She didn't want people to treat her like a monster again, so she'd kept the question to herself.

She hadn't asked, but Toneri was the one who suffered for it.

Kushina had been holding back her frustration, and she hit him hard.

With the Uzumaki Clan's physique, the Nine-Tails' subtle influence, and Kushina's own impressive Taijutsu, Toneri—who'd only been training for two weeks—didn't stand a chance against her.

She beat him to a pulp.

Minato would still hold back. But was Kushina the sort of person who knew how to hold back?

Heh—

She kept muttering, "That's for making me lead the way! That's for making me lead the way..."

By sunset, Toneri was the only one left, sitting by the river with a bruised and swollen face.

Every so often, he'd glance at his reflection in the water, then quickly look away, his feelings a complete mess.

"Was that really necessary? We've got no grudge against each other. If we're going to fight, fine—but we agreed not to hit each other in the face! That hurts my pride! She just kept aiming for my face.

"I'm so handsome that even a girl's jealous of me." Toneri touched his face, feeling utterly helpless.

This world was just too hostile toward him.

But Toneri was only venting a little. He had something more important to do next.

Check the results of his Shadow Clone training.

"Shadow Clone Technique: Release!"

He hadn't noticed—and neither had Minato nor Kushina—but someone who wasn't Anbu had been watching them from a nearby tree for quite some time.

Guess who this person is! If you guess right, your reward is to vote for my story. If you guess wrong, your punishment is to hand over all your recommendation votes! Hurry up!

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