The Story Begins

Afterward, Ino and little Ino merely chatted casually with Chen and no longer dared to ask about his past. It was already very late by the time Sasuke returned, so the two of them had no choice but to say goodbye.

"Chen-kun, we'll come see you again sometime. We're heading back now. Bye!"

"Mm, bye!"

"These two girls, honestly..." Chen watched the back view of Ino and little Ino as they left, smiling wryly.

Nothing happened that night~~~~

The next day, after Sasuke went to school as usual, Chen headed to the woods to continue his tree-climbing training. At that moment, Chen was hanging upside down from a branch, supported by nothing but the soles of his feet gripping the tree trunk.

"Chakra requires mental energy, so you can't be too tense or try too hard. Just naturally focus your attention on the tree, and you'll be able to stick to it." Chen spoke smugly as he hung upside down from the tree.

"Ding! Host has completed the mission: 'Tree-Climbing Training.' Mission reward: 300 Points. Current Points: �."

"Three hundred Points added. That should be enough to exchange for the Shadow Clone Technique, right? System, exchange it for me." Chen thought of the importance of Shadow Clones. The Shadow Clones created would evenly divide the Main Body's Chakra. Shadow Clone was a ninjutsu that could rapidly improve one's training, because all the training done by the clones would ultimately be returned to the Main Body. The advantage of the Shadow Clone Technique was that it could improve the Main Body's combat ability and cultivation. Its drawback was that the Shadow Clones would split the Main Body's Chakra, greatly draining its Chakra while accumulating fatigue.

The defining feature of Multiple Shadow Clone was that it produced far more clones than the ordinary Shadow Clone Technique. Once each clone disappeared, everything it had experienced would be transmitted back to the Main Body. Naruto had once used Multiple Shadow Clone for training, causing the experience he gained to multiply according to the number of clones. Ordinary Shadow Clone users, however, were generally limited to several clones due to their Chakra reserves. With Multiple Shadow Clone, each clone received only an extremely small share of Chakra because of their huge numbers, while their fatigue also stacked onto the Main Body, endangering the user's life. Therefore, in Konoha, the First Hokage had banned this technique after considering that most people could not use such a dangerous jutsu.

In short, Chen had to raise his strength as quickly as possible and prepare for his future escape, so using Shadow Clones to train was the best method.

"Response to Host: Shadow Clone Technique. Item Type: Skill. Item Rank: B-rank. Points required for exchange: 2000. Exchange?"

"Yes!"

Well, after enjoying Warm Current-kun's favor once again, Chen had already mastered the cheat-like skill known as Shadow Clone. Of course, it only counted as a cheat when used by someone like Naruto, whose Chakra practically overflowed from his body. After all, Naruto could create hundreds or even thousands of Multiple Shadow Clones, while ordinary people could only make a few.

"Let's try it first!" Chen formed hand seals with both hands and activated his Chakra.

"Poof!" A cloud of smoke suddenly erupted beside Chen, and then a clone identical to him appeared out of thin air.

"So this is a Shadow Clone? What a fascinating feeling." Chen sighed. "Let's see if I can make a few more."

Afterward, Chen created two more clones. Including the first one, that made three clones in total. "With my current Chakra, are three clones already my limit? Still, it's enough. To be safe, I should dismiss one first." As Chen spoke, he dispelled one Shadow Clone. "All right. Next, one clone will practice walking on water, one will practice taijutsu, and the Main Body will practice ninjutsu." With that, they began training.

He trained until it was about time, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return home. Once home, Chen did not dare dismiss the Shadow Clones immediately. He first took a bath, then lay down on the tatami in his room before dismissing them.

The moment the clones were dispelled, a wave of fatigue crashed over him, and his entire body ached terribly. "Damn, just training with two extra clones nearly wiped me out. I'm exhausted! Naruto's physique and Chakra reserves really are enviable!"

Chen fell asleep without realizing it. He did not wake until Sasuke returned from training, prepared dinner, and brought it into his room.

From then on, every day while Sasuke went to school, Chen would use the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel to the Laboratory in the woods to train.

He repeated his training day after day. Time passed bit by bit, and Chen grew older day by day, while his strength steadily increased.

More than two years later.

Inside the Hokage's office building, a group of Jonin waited for the Third Hokage to speak. Among them were Hatake Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, and other future team leaders of the Konoha 12 from the Original Story.

"Hokage-sama, is there some important mission for gathering us here so late?" one of the Jonin asked.

"Mm! It's nothing major. A group of students graduated from the Ninja Academy today. According to Konoha's custom, three Genin form a team, led by one Jonin. I gathered all of you here today so that each of you can lead a team." The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke before speaking.

"Leading a team? I see!" The Jonin now understood why the Hokage had summoned them.

"All right, here is a list of students. The teams have already been assigned. Tomorrow, simply follow the list and collect your students." The Third Hokage handed the stack of papers on his desk to one Jonin and had him distribute them one by one.

"Ah, I have to take students again? Time to say goodbye to my easy days. Well, whatever. No one will pass that test anyway, so I'll just treat it as playing a game with those brats." After receiving the list, Kakashi shoved it into his pocket without even looking at it. "I can just go a little later tomorrow. The other Jonin will take their students first, and whoever is left will be mine. Then I'll just have everyone give a simple introduction."

"Does anyone have any objections?" the Third Hokage asked the Jonin below.

"No!" the Jonin replied.

"Then go back and make your preparations."

"Third Hokage, we'll take our leave, then." The Jonin bowed to the Third Hokage and prepared to depart.

"Oh, Kakashi, stay behind. I need to speak with you about something." The Third Hokage called to Kakashi, who was about to leave.

"Mm?" Kakashi asked in confusion. "Third Hokage, is there something else?"

"Yes. Did you look at the list just now?" The Third Hokage smoked as he said to Kakashi, "The students you'll be leading this time are anything but ordinary!"

"Mm?" The Third Hokage's words piqued Kakashi's curiosity. Who could warrant such attention from him that he had specifically kept Kakashi behind to give him instructions?

He opened the list in his hand and glanced at it. The names on it surprised Kakashi somewhat.

"Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki?" Kakashi looked at the Third Hokage in surprise. "This is..."

The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke and said to Kakashi, "Mm, both of these children have extraordinary identities. Sasuke Uchiha is the surviving member of the Uchiha Clan. He is highly talented and the strongest among this batch of students. As for Naruto Uzumaki, you should know about him. His identity is even more extraordinary."

"Obito's clansman and... Teacher's child?"

"That's right. Naruto is Minato and Kushina's son. At the same time, he is the third Nine-Tails Jinchuriki." The Third Hokage continued, "When Kushina was giving birth, a mysterious person took advantage of the situation and released the Nine-Tails sealed within her, then controlled it to attack the village, causing enormous casualties. The situation was critical at the time, so Minato had no choice but to use the Reaper Death Seal and seal the Nine-Tails inside the newborn Naruto. Only then was that disaster brought to an end."

Smoking, the Third Hokage walked to the office window and looked out at the village. "Minato and Kushina had originally wanted Naruto to become the village's hero, but..."

"But Naruto was treated by the villagers as the incarnation of the Nine-Tails. He suffered cold stares and bullying from childhood, and we were even forbidden from approaching him, weren't we?" Kakashi cut off the Third Hokage coldly.

"Ah~~!" The Third Hokage sighed and continued, "For certain reasons, I could not reveal Naruto's parentage. And in order to protect Naruto, I issued a gag order. I just never expected Naruto to still suffer so many grievances. I failed Minato's expectations and could not take good care of Naruto. I truly have let Minato and Kushina down!"

Seeing the Third Hokage put it that way, Kakashi did not dwell further on Naruto's matter. Instead, he looked at the last person on the list.

"Sakura Haruno? Does she have some special identity too?"

"No, this Sakura Haruno is merely an ordinary civilian ninja. There is nothing special about her." The Third Hokage shook his head.

"Oh! Right, doesn't the Uchiha clan have another child?" Kakashi suddenly remembered there was another Uchiha survivor and asked the Third Hokage.

"Yes, that's right. There is one more. That child is Uchiha Chen, and he and Sasuke Uchiha are biological brothers."

"I heard Uchiha Chen used to be a genius too. Back at the Ninja Academy, he was even more talented than Sasuke Uchiha!"

"Yes, Chen's talent was indeed greater than Sasuke's. Unfortunately, the Uchiha tragedy dealt him a severe psychological blow years ago, turning him into a fool incapable of even taking care of himself. He never returned to the Ninja Academy after that and stayed hidden at home, relying on Sasuke to look after him. He was basically crippled." The Third Hokage spoke regretfully.

"Is that so..."