Konoha's Training Ground Three.
" The Chunin Ninja Exams are in a month, but this time not only will Konoha 'Genin participate, but Kirigakure and Kumogakure will also send Genin. I want you to show Konoha's strength, so this month our team will not be taking on any D-rank missions, but will instead undergo a month-long hellish training."
"Ugh... this hellish training is such an exaggeration," Tenten muttered under her breath.
"Hellish training... Guy-sensei, please train us to your heart's content!" Rock Lee is a training fanatic who was trained by Might Guy. The more brutal the training, the more excited Rock Lee becomes.
Neji has been extremely busy lately, accompanying Hyuga Hiashi to meet with the heads of other clans. Although Neji is from the Branch Family family, Hinata daughter of the Main Family, has absolutely no talent in these matters and is unable to shoulder such heavy responsibilities.
The second daughter was still too young to be the face of the family, so the most renowned genius of the younger generation of the Hyuga Clan, Neji Hyuga, took on a responsibility that was not originally his.
However, in return, Neji was also granted access to the Gentle Fist technique, Rotation, which the Branch Family was not qualified to learn. This could be considered Hiashi's compensation to Hizashi...
Might Guy glanced at Neji, Neji and had undergone a tremendous change, and nodded approvingly. Neji was now truly starting to resemble a 'genius'; before, Neji could at best be described as a child with only slight talent.
What is a genius?
A genius must possess extraordinary talent and ability, but not necessarily extraordinary wisdom. Only when both are present can one become a true 'genius'.
Kakashi in his prime was undoubtedly a true 'genius'!
" Rock Lee, work hard to be like Neji. The Neji you see now is worth your life's effort." Might Guy thought with some satisfaction. It wasn't in vain that he persuaded the Third Hokage to assign Neji, this emerging genius, to the ordinary commoner team, Team 3.
" Naoki, it seems Naruto Uzumaki has been getting into some trouble at the Ninja Academy lately; he's even skipping his usual training sessions."
Kakashi decided to entrust Naruto Uzumaki's matter to Naoki Senju. Although Naoki Senju's current behavior is indeed mysterious, he has no ill intentions towards Naruto. He doesn't want to appear in front of his master's child yet, so the only option is to leave it to Naoki, who has been in contact with Naruto for a longer period.
Naoki Senju frowned. What trouble could Naruto possibly cause? It was nothing more than him getting into a fight with some kid who mocked him after his strength improved. But what bothered Naoki was that Naruto had chosen to keep this a secret.
This is not a good direction for Naruto right now.
"Okay, Teacher Guy, I understand. I'll handle Naruto Uzumaki."
"Well, is there anything else? If not, the hellish training full of youthful energy begins today."
Might Guy's gleaming teeth became the scene Tenten least wanted to see. The Chakra prefix of hellish training wasn't an exaggeration after all!
After a day of training, Naoki Senju unsurprisingly found Naruto Uzumaki at Ichiraku Ramen Shop. However, despite eating his favorite ramen, Naruto wasn't in a very good mood.
"Ramen noodle shop owner, how do I make people like me?"
While busy at work, Six Paths Ichiraku looked up, saw Naruto looking sullen, and teased him:
"Hehe, does Naruto have a girl he likes?"
"No, I was just asking for a friend!"
Naruto's intense reaction earned him Ichiraku, which almost made Naruto so ashamed that he put down his ramen and turned to leave. However, the aroma of the ramen kept Naruto firmly in his seat.
However, after realizing that Teuchi might not be able to solve his troubles, Naruto Uzumaki began to focus on eating. If there was any trouble that he couldn't resolve, he would eat Ichiraku Ramen. If that still didn't work, he would eat two bowls!
While Naruto was focused on eating, Naoki Senju quietly came to Naruto's side, sat down, and ordered a bowl of ramen.
"Teriyaki tonkotsu ramen, please."
"Same old rule, no scallions?"
Naoki Senju nodded, and Teuchi got busy. Today, there was also a young girl helping out at the ramen shop.
" Ayame, huh? But Six Paths Ichiraku's wife has never appeared..."
Naoki Senju also made the ramen for Ayame. Although her movements weren't as skillful as Ichiraku's, they were still quite fluent.
When Naruto heard the familiar voice beside him, he wasn't happy as usual. Instead, he greeted it with some fear, as if afraid of being punished. It was practically an admission of guilt.
" Naoki... Big brother, I was wrong..."
"Oh? What's wrong?"
Naoki Senju picked up a mouthful of steaming ramen with his chopsticks, slurped it down, and made Naruto Uzumaki almost drool.
"I shouldn't have hit those who mocked me. Teacher Guy once said that strength is for protecting your comrades, not for showing off."
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. On the contrary, I fully support you in doing so."
"Eh!!!"
The completely unexpected answer almost made Naruto jump off his seat in excitement. Was it right to beat up half the class just because he was slightly better at Taijutsu?
"What? Surprised? You don't need to use your power to show them your weakness, do you expect to influence them with love? But you've chosen the wrong target. The one you should really be defeating is Sasuke."
" Sasuke... but he didn't laugh at me like those other people did."
"But he's the top student in your class, the top student in the grade, and the object of Sakura's affections. As a nobody with nothing to show for it, only by defeating Sasuke can you make them see you in a new light."
Naoki Senju's concise and blunt theory almost overturned Naruto's understanding; he realized that gaining others' acceptance of him could be so simple...
This was also intentional on Naoki Senju's part; otherwise, it would have been a real headache if he had produced another Hashirama the Second, who tried to influence the Shinobi World with love.
Without powerful external enemies, the so-called bonds and love are like a joke. The Kumogakure and the Raikage next door don't believe in love; they only believe in military expansion!
"Tomorrow, Team 3 will still be in Training Ground Three. Whether you want to defeat Sasuke, stop those around you from laughing at you, and get to know Naruto Uzumaki in a new light, or stay where you are, the decision is yours."
After finishing the last bite of his noodles, Naoki Senju put down the empty bowl, turned around, and left Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
Naruto Uzumaki, who only believes in bonds and love, is nowhere near as capable as a Nine-Tails- Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has completely mastered the Nine-Tails. As for how to master the Nine-Tails... Wood Release will teach the Nine-Tails how to be a proper Tailed Beast. As long as Naruto has the capacity to handle this power, that's enough.
After Naoki Senju left, Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists, finished the last of his ramen, regained his fighting spirit, and left Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
He will not miss tomorrow's training!