The summer sun blazed high, cicadas shrilling in the trees.
"Ah~" Naruto yawned lazily, crouched on a branch, half-asleep.
Kakashi had promised him one-on-one special training. Yet the sun was already halfway up the sky, and the man was still nowhere to be seen. Just as Naruto was debating whether to ditch, Kakashi finally appeared—leisurely as ever.
"Yo, Naruto." Kakashi greeted with a smile, tilting his head up toward the tree. Not a trace of guilt for being late.
"You brought your headband, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. The forehead protector is a ninja's life," Kakashi said with his usual laid-back grin. "Especially during missions—ninja only take it off when they die. Taking it off on purpose is… well, bad luck."
"Uh, Kakashi-sensei."
"What is it?"
"The Chūnin Exam… did the Hokage approve it?" Naruto asked, hesitating.
"He did."
"Really?!"
"Of course." Kakashi's single visible eye curved into a smiling crescent. "Otherwise, why would I be here to give you special training?"
"You just became a genin not long ago—you'll need extra guidance from a jōnin if you want to survive the exam. Sakura and Sasuke have already finished their training. You're the last one left."
"Alright! Let's go!"
"Don't get too excited." Kakashi gave him a lazy side-eye. "Training is exhausting work."
"No problem, Kakashi-sensei! I can handle it!" Naruto said enthusiastically.
Truth be told, he didn't want to train at all.But after that recent incident with the Root ninjas, he decided it was smarter to keep a lower profile for a while.
"Good. Then go report to Guy-sensei." Kakashi coughed lightly.
"WHAT?!"
Naruto froze. Training… with Maito Guy?Was Kakashi outsourcing his job now?!
"Cough, cough. The only area you're lacking is taijutsu," Kakashi said, scratching his head like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Sakura trained under the medical corps too, remember?"
"Huh?"Naruto clutched his head, staring blankly like a confused Psyduck. He wasn't buying it for a second.
"Well, I'm… a little busy, you know."
"..." Naruto could only stare at him speechlessly.
As he watched Naruto leave, Kakashi stood there with his hands in his pockets, Hiruzen's aged face flashing through his mind—the old Hokage standing by the window, pipe in hand, speaking gravely.
"The jinchūriki exists to protect the village. But Kakashi, too much power in Naruto's hands may bring danger."
"Also, Jiraiya has returned to the village. Once training ends, entrust Naruto to him."
It was already decided. Kakashi had no say in it.He sighed, lingering for a moment under the blazing sun before turning away.
"Yosh! The Blue Beast of Konoha is here!"
"Burn with the flames of youth!"
Two green blurs—one big, one small—somersaulted dramatically across the training field, finishing with a synchronized Konoha Whirlwind.
Naruto gawked.Neji Hyuga stood nearby, expression blank, while Tenten sighed and rubbed her forehead.
This whole thing was Guy-sensei's idea—he had insisted Lee help him make a "passionate entrance" for Naruto's training session.
Landing gracefully, Guy flashed his trademark smile, blinding white teeth gleaming."How was that, Naruto? Cool, right?"
"Super cool! Please teach me taijutsu, Guy-sensei!"
"Ha! I like you already, kid! You've got good taste!" Guy laughed heartily, crouching with a thumbs-up. His teeth practically reflected sunlight.
Neji could take no more. He turned on his heel and left without a word.Tenten waved goodbye politely before following—introductions were clearly over.
"Good!" Guy shouted with burning spirit. "Now then—five hundred laps around Konoha! If you can't finish, five hundred one-finger pushups!"
Naruto had no choice but to agree… tearfully.
"Wait, Naruto!" Guy suddenly shouted again. "Do you know the secret to strengthening your taijutsu?"
Naruto froze. Was this a quiz?"Hard work?" he guessed cautiously.
"No!"
Guy wagged a finger and, with great ceremony, pulled something from his chest pocket—A bright green, skin-tight jumpsuit.
Oh hell no.
Naruto swallowed hard, eyes wide, tears welling up.
Fine. He'd wear it.Pain and humiliation meant nothing! If this was the price for awesome taijutsu, then so be it!
Maybe it'd even trigger a system reward!
So he put it on… and ran.
After five hundred laps, Naruto was a wreck—eyes glazed, mouth foaming, muttering nonsense about Halloween.
"Naruto, how are you feeling?" Guy leaned over, concerned.
"Sensei!" Lee said fervently, "He must have awakened the Power of Youth!"
"You're right!"
Naruto twitched, hand weakly raised as if calling for help—thumb half-extended.
Seeing this, Guy and Lee stiffened, then burst into tears, hugging each other tightly.
"Lee! Naruto is the embodiment of pure youth!" Guy cried.
"Sensei! I'll surpass him one day!"
"Then start now!" Guy declared, pointing heroically into the distance. "Walk on your hands around the village five hundred times! Fail, and it's three thousand pushups!"
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the two "Blue Beasts of Konoha" disappeared into the sunset—walking on their hands.
Naruto lay flat on the ground, staring at the sky, mentally planning what to cook for dinner.
Footsteps approached.He sensed someone stop beside him.
Opening his eyes, he saw a familiar head of shining blonde hair in the dim light.
Ino Yamanaka, her hair tied like Deidara's, leaned down to inspect him, frowning in hesitation—Until Naruto suddenly opened his eyes.
"Ah! The corpse moved!"
"Damn it! I'm not dead!" Naruto barked back.
The sunset blazed red across half of Konoha, tinting Ino's face pink as she looked down, clearly flustered.
"What are you wearing?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Training clothes."
"That green thing is disgusting."
"...Shut up," Naruto muttered. Of course he knew it looked ridiculous, but he'd already gone this far—and the system still hadn't triggered!
Damn it… stupid system!
Then suddenly—
"Ding!"
A mechanical tone rang out. Naruto's expression froze instantly.