While Danzo Shimura and the Third Hokage began clashing behind the scenes, Naruto—the very spark that ignited the tension—remained completely unaware. As usual, he waited for Uchiha Sasuke at Training Ground Three, practicing his daily routine with the Shadow Clone Technique.
Of course, if he were just using one or two clones to assist him a little, that wouldn't be nearly enough to capture the undivided attention of the Third Hokage, who monitored him through the Crystal Ball in his busy Hokage office.
What made the experienced "God of the Shinobi World" pause, hand trembling slightly as he held his smoking pipe in disbelief, was the scene unfolding before his eyes—an entire crowd of Narutos, all possessing self-awareness and physical substance, training independently or occasionally chatting among themselves!
Judging by Naruto's three-year-old appearance alone, this would seem utterly impossible… yet it was in fact just a small part of the true strength he had gained through his persistent, long-term training strategy.
After spending three years sincerely building trust and companionship, Naruto had bridged the immense rift that naturally forms between a Jinchūriki and their Tailed Beast.
In return, Kurama—the Nine-Tails sealed within him—had come to fully trust him.
As a result, Naruto could now perform ninjutsu without interference from Kurama's chakra. Not only did this free up the chakra he once needed to suppress the seal, but Kurama would even grudgingly lend him more chakra when his reserves ran dry.
Thanks to this, Naruto, who already possessed an abnormally high chakra pool due to his Uzumaki bloodline, began to reveal his true advantage in training… and the most obvious example was the Shadow Clone Technique.
Without needing to reserve chakra for seal suppression, even without Kurama's help, Naruto could use his own chakra alone to maintain dozens of clones for extended periods.
And since Shadow Clones transfer their experiences and sensations back to the original upon dispelling, mastering this technique and evolving it into the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu allowed Naruto to accelerate his training at a terrifying rate.
Naturally, this kind of "cheat" method for gaining experience wasn't without its flaws. Beyond the vast chakra needed to maintain clones, there was also the issue of mental fatigue.
When the clones dispelled and fed their experiences back to him, the mental toll multiplied exponentially. Without caution, this could lead to unconsciousness—or even death. That's exactly why the Second Hokage classified the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu as an A-rank forbidden technique.
But as Kurama's Jinchūriki, Naruto's advantages allowed him to eliminate those fatal risks entirely.
Without the burden of chakra limits, Naruto's incredible healing factor meant he could fully recover just by sleeping for a bit.
And because Kurama trusted him enough to completely take over his body for fresh air now and then, even if Naruto were rendered unconscious, Kurama could defend him—making him, in some ways, far more dangerous asleep than awake!
So while it might've looked reckless or idiotic to others, using the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu for training was actually the perfect method tailored to Naruto.
In fact, in the entire Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto was probably the only one who could afford to train so extravagantly.
As the morning sun climbed higher, Naruto figured Sasuke was probably on his way. He began dismissing his clones in batches, ending the day's morning routine.
Then, lying comfortably on a bed of dry straw inside a rocky cave, he focused on organizing the knowledge returned by the clones. To ensure he'd be mentally refreshed for training with Sasuke, he borrowed Kurama's chakra to rapidly recover from the accumulated mental fatigue.
'Ugh, how annoying… I followed the steps for the Flying Thunder God Technique exactly. I've nailed short- and mid-range teleportation, but I still can't manage long-distance jumps. Not only is the success rate abysmal—like winning the lottery—but the error margin is ridiculous! I marked the location at home, and I almost ended up on the Hokage Rock!'
Once his clones fully dispelled and his energy mostly recovered, Naruto reached into his clothes and pulled out a specially made Three-Pronged Kunai, modeled after the ones his father, Minato Namikaze, used. He studied the strange symbols etched onto the handle, muttering quietly.
'Where did I go wrong? Did I miss some detail? Wait… how did those clones manage long-distance teleportation anyway…?'
"Hey, Naruto. Focus."
Just as Naruto was about to sift through his clones' memories, Kurama's sudden voice jolted him back to reality. The tone carried a subtle warning.
"What is it, Kurama? Did you sense something?"
"Yeah. Besides that little Uchiha brat who's usually hanging around you, I can feel another unfamiliar presence approaching."
"Unfamiliar…? Could it be someone from Root under Danzo?" Naruto immediately sprang up, grabbing his kunai in reverse grip, assuming a battle stance. His brows furrowed as he asked quietly.
"I'm not sure. But I can tell you one thing for certain—whoever it is, they give me the same disgusting vibe. Not as bad as Uchiha Madara from three years ago, but definitely the same type of person."
'…Same as Madara from three years ago?' Naruto's mind raced.
According to his memories, Uchiha Madara—or rather, Uchiha Obito, who was using Madara's name—wasn't supposed to make a move against Naruto until much later. 'Have I changed too much in this world, caused too many ripples? Is the butterfly effect making things happen ahead of schedule? Are they planning to steal the Nine-Tails early?'
If the approaching person really was Obito… Naruto would be in serious trouble. In his current state—without even Sage Mode—just one Kamui from Obito would be enough to end things before he could react.
'Wait… not as bad as that Madara from three years ago?'
"Kurama, can you tell if it's the same person as 'Uchiha Madara'?"
"Hmph. Of course not. As annoying as this guy feels, if you lend me your body, I could defeat or even kill him. If it were Madara himself, do you think I'd just tell you to brace yourself? I'd have already made you use the Flying Thunder God Technique and escape!"
Kurama's annoyed reply didn't stop him from noticing Naruto visibly relax after hearing the answer. Kurama narrowed his eyes and barked, "Why'd you suddenly ask that? Did you think of a counterattack strategy? Listen, brat, you're my Jinchūriki. Don't start thinking you can always just rely on me to bail you out!"
"Haha, don't worry! I just needed to confirm that he's not that Madara."
Letting out a long breath, Naruto tucked the kunai back into his clothes and stood on tiptoe, smiling faintly as he looked toward the quickly approaching silhouette next to Sasuke.
"Because I already know who it is."
With eyes as dark as Sasuke's, sharp smile lines at the corners of his mouth, and a gentle, easygoing demeanor—along with a gaze full of quiet fondness focused on Sasuke—Naruto instantly recognized the uninvited guest.
Uchiha Itachi.