Naruto blinked his big eyes, the name a little unfamiliar, but the word "ninja" was enough to capture his full attention.
He practically leaned in front of them, tilting his little face up, his blue eyes filled with undisguised envy. "You guys are amazing! Do you learn lots of cool Ninjutsu during training? Like suddenly conjuring a giant fireball, or flashing out many, many versions of yourself?"
As he spoke, he gestured with his free hand, mimicking the appearance of Chunin his imagination.
Watching Naruto demonstrate, and then imagining the Rasengan he'd eventually create that would be bigger than a house, Shira suddenly felt a bit uneasy. He shook his head and told the truth, "Haha, I don't know Ninjutsu."
"Me neither!" Rock Lee immediately chimed in, his voice loud and clear, without a trace of embarrassment, but rather with a frank pride. "Like Shira, I only practice Taijutsu! I become stronger through my own fists and sweat!"
Naruto was stunned, his mouth slightly agape.
Huh? You don't know Ninjutsu? You only rely on Taijutsu? In his limited understanding, ninjas should use cool Ninjutsu.
Taijutsu? It's just running and boxing, right? What's so impressive about that?
He looked at Rock Lee, then at Shira. Although the two of them were covered in sweat and looked disheveled, the sunny aura they exuded was different from that of the other children he had ever met.
" Taijutsu... can also make you very strong?" He couldn't help but ask, his tone genuinely doubtful.
"Of course!" Rock Lee answered without hesitation, his eyes practically gleaming. "As long as you put in enough effort and hone your Taijutsu to the extreme, you can definitely become an outstanding ninja! That's the belief that Shira and I share! Hoo hoo!"
Shira watched as Rock Lee passionately instilled the "theory of hard work" into the protagonist, and she felt a mix of amusement and emotion.
He nodded and added, "Yeah, all roads lead to Rome... uh, I mean, there's more than one way to become stronger. Just find the one that suits you and keep going."
Naruto nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite. At this moment, he didn't quite grasp the complex concept of "belief," but he understood "effort" and "becoming stronger."
Looking at the two people in front of him who didn't know Ninjutsu but seemed very powerful and determined, he vaguely felt as if a small, different seed had been planted in his heart.
So, it turns out you can be this imposing even without those fancy Ninjutsu?
"Then... can I watch you train?" Naruto suddenly asked, with a mix of anticipation and caution.
He usually had few playmates, and most of the children in the village didn't like to talk to him. The adults would always walk by in a hurry or even speak ill of him.
These two strangers, though looking rather listless at the moment, spoke to him earnestly and didn't show any expressions that would make him uncomfortable.
Rock Lee immediately looked at Shira, asking with his eyes. Shira thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, but we just finished a round of practice, so we need to rest for a while. You should find a place to sit, but don't sit too close, or you'll get splashed with sweat."
He said, half-jokingly.
Naruto immediately nodded happily, ran to a large tree nearby, sat down on a protruding root, dangling his short legs, looking like a well-behaved baby ready to watch the show.
But those blue eyes still darted around Shira and Rock Lee, sparkling brightly.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the training field, deep within the canopy of an exceptionally lush tree, a few leaves moved almost imperceptibly.
A figure, completely blending into the environment and with its aura perfectly concealed, silently watched the three people on the open ground below.
He was one of the members of Konoha's Anbu, responsible for monitoring the daily activities of Naruto Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Naruto Uzumaki.
His gaze swept calmly over the blond child sitting on the ground, confirming that he was safe and in a stable mood.
Then, his gaze fell on the two boys who were resting and talking to Naruto.
His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly behind his mask. His companion was incredibly efficient; he already knew their identities.
The taller boy was part of a squad led by Reppu, a Chunin Sunagakure. They checked into the reception desk, and the records showed that one of them was the youngest Genin, specializing in Taijutsu.
That's strange. How did he run into Naruto? And that kid from Konoha next to him is Rock Lee from the Ninja Academy. According to his companions, he's a student who works hard at Taijutsu but has only average talent.
The Anbu observed the interaction between the three. It seemed like just a chance encounter. The Sunagakure boy seemed to be paying a little too much attention to Naruto, but his behavior was not unusual.
Rock Lee remained as passionate and naive as ever. Naruto, on the other hand, showed a rare initiative and desire to communicate, which was uncommon.
He reported the basic situation via encrypted communication, " Naruto Uzumaki is currently at the edge of the training ground, having encountered and is talking with Genin, Shira from Sunagakure, and Rock Lee, a student from Konoha's main school. Naruto Uzumaki, the current target, shows no abnormalities, and has not engaged in any luring or dangerous behavior. Continue to observe."
After reporting, the Anbu sank deeper into the shadows of the branches and leaves, leaving only their eyes watching others silently as they observed everything below.
Necessary vigilance is essential for any outsider who approaches Jinchūriki.
But for now, it seems to be just a chance encounter.
The wind on the training field, carrying the boys' sweat and words, gently brushed against the treetops...