The training field was filled with the sound of rustling leaves and the faint hum of wind chakra. Naruto stood in the center, his hands forming seals, his expression serious.
"Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!"
A faint gust of air rippled outward, lifting dust and a few fallen leaves. The wind brushed past his hair, but that was all. No power, no force—just a breeze.
Naruto sighed in frustration. "Tch… it's still not strong enough."
Asuma, standing nearby with his arms crossed, nodded thoughtfully. "That's progress, Naruto, but you're still far from mastering it. Even if you can use the technique now, its power is limited. Right now, it's like a gentle breeze instead of a raging storm."
Naruto's shoulders slumped. "So basically, it can blow someone's hair… but that's it."
Asuma gave him a small smirk. "Pretty much."
But Naruto wasn't one to give up easily. His mind was already working, trying to figure out how to improve. And when he thought of a rival—someone to surpass—one name immediately came to mind.
Hyuga Neji.
In his dream-like mental training, Naruto found himself facing Neji, the genius of the Hyuga Clan. The cool, confident prodigy stood with his hands behind his back, Byakugan gleaming faintly.
Neji's tone was calm but sharp. "You rely too much on brute force, Naruto. True strength isn't just about chakra reserves—it's about control."
"Control, huh?" Naruto muttered. "Then let's see you control this! Come on!"
"Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams Palm!"
In an instant, Neji's figure blurred. His hands struck out faster than Naruto could see, his palms landing blow after blow across Naruto's body. Each strike sent a sharp sting through him—not just pain, but something deeper. His chakra flow was collapsing, points sealing one after another.
Naruto gasped, staggering back. "Wh-what the—? My chakra's… gone?!"
Neji lowered his arms, looking down on him. "That's the Gentle Fist, the Hyuga Clan's ultimate Taijutsu. It targets the chakra pathway system directly. Every strike disrupts your chakra points, cutting off your energy and leaving you defenseless."
"Damn…" Naruto clenched his fists. "That's cheating! It's like a natural counter to all ninjas!"
Neji raised a brow. "It's called skill. Unlike your wild power, our art is based on precision and control. With the Byakugan, I can see every chakra point in your body—every pathway, every flow."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Wait, you can actually see chakra inside someone's body?"
"Of course," Neji replied. "With precise chakra control, I can release chakra from any part of my body at will. Hitting an exact point is effortless."
Naruto's expression changed from awe to excitement. "That's it… precise chakra control! You're amazing, Neji! Hey, could you teach me how to do that?"
Neji blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
Naruto pressed his hands together pleadingly. "Please, teach me! You're the best at this, right?"
Neji frowned deeply. "Are you serious? You're asking your rival to train you?"
Naruto nodded eagerly. "Why not? You're good, and I want to learn!"
Neji's expression turned cold. "You declared me your enemy. You said you'd defeat me within a year. And now you want me to help you?"
Naruto grinned slyly. "Exactly. That's why you should teach me—unless you're afraid I'll become stronger than you."
Neji's eyes narrowed. "Such childish provocation won't work on me."
Naruto put his hands behind his head and laughed. "Heh, I thought a real genius wouldn't be scared of a little challenge."
Neji's voice rose. "What did you say?"
"I said," Naruto replied, still smiling, "a true genius should be able to teach even a loser like me to become great. Otherwise, what kind of genius are you?"
Neji's hand twitched. "You're insufferable."
"Fine then," Naruto shrugged. "I'll just ask Hinata instead. She's also from the Hyuga Clan, right? And she's from the main family, so maybe she's even better at teaching than you."
The mention of Hinata's name made Neji's face darken. His fists clenched, and his tone dropped. "Uzumaki Naruto… are you deliberately provoking me?"
Naruto smirked. "Maybe."
Neji exhaled slowly, then straightened. "Very well. You win. I'll show you the essence of chakra control. I want to see if you can even grasp its worth."
Naruto's eyes gleamed. "Really?! Awesome! Let's do it!"
Though it was only a dream-space, the environment felt real—down to the air, the soil beneath their feet, and the sound of wind rustling through the leaves. Everything mirrored reality perfectly, including Neji's cold pride.
Neji's voice was steady. "Before I teach you, let me see what level you're at."
Naruto nodded and took a deep breath. He placed his hands behind his back, then ran toward a nearby tree. With a burst of speed, he stepped onto the trunk and ran upward, his feet slapping against the bark.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Using momentum, he managed to reach the top in seconds. He turned proudly. "How's that?"
Neji shook his head, unimpressed. "Too fast. Slow down and climb step by step."
Naruto frowned. "Slowly?"
"Yes," Neji said. "If you rely on speed, you're not controlling your chakra properly. Take one step at a time—balance the chakra in your soles, and maintain consistency."
Naruto inhaled deeply and tried again, this time carefully placing one foot above the other. Immediately, he felt how difficult it was. Without speed, it was like balancing on water. He managed three steps before his chakra slipped, and he fell hard to the ground.
"Ugh! Damn it!"
Neji folded his arms. "That's all you've got?"
Naruto glared but smiled through the pain. "You're teaching me, so don't look down on me!"
Neji didn't reply. He simply placed his own feet on the trunk and began walking upward. His movements were fluid, graceful, effortless—as if he were walking on flat ground. His chakra flow was perfectly balanced, each step stable and silent.
Naruto's eyes widened. "That's… amazing."
When Neji reached the top, he looked down arrogantly. "Now do you understand the difference between a loser and a genius?"
Naruto clenched his fists. "Tch! Fine. Teach me, genius."
Seeing Naruto's fiery determination, Neji sighed. "Very well. I'll guide you."
Though his tone remained prideful, he began explaining the principles—how to channel chakra evenly, how to adjust it with each step, and how to sense the flow through one's body. Naruto listened intently, absorbing every word.
By now, Naruto was no longer the clumsy, ignorant academy student he once was. Among his peers, he ranked near the top in practical skills—perhaps even first when excluding book smarts. With his immense stamina and talent for learning through action, he quickly grasped Neji's explanations.
That night, within the dream, Naruto climbed again and again. He fell dozens of times, scraped his hands and knees, but kept going. By dawn, he could climb steadily for several meters without faltering.
When he finally woke up in his real bed, sunlight streaming through the window, he felt… different.
He checked his chakra flow—his control had improved dramatically. "Heh… seventy points, huh? Not bad."
He grinned widely, stretching. "Thanks, Neji—even if it was just a dream."
After breakfast, Naruto waited by the window, hoping to see Hinata pass by. When she didn't appear, he sighed and decided to continue his training elsewhere.
He made his way to Asuma Sarutobi's house and knocked excitedly. "Asuma-sensei! I'm here!"
Asuma opened the door, half-awake, rubbing his eyes. "Naruto? You're up early. What's the rush?"
"Watch this!" Naruto said proudly, running into the garden. He approached the large tree again—but this time, instead of sprinting, he began walking slowly upward. His steps were calm, deliberate, balanced. No rushing, no falling.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He climbed nearly eight-tenths of the way up before losing balance. As he began to fall, he twisted midair and grabbed a branch, landing smoothly on it. He folded his arms across his chest and smirked.
"Well? What do you think, Asuma-sensei?"
Asuma's eyes widened in disbelief. His cigarette almost slipped from his mouth. "You… you improved that much in one night?"
Naruto scratched his nose proudly. "Hehe, just a little practice."
Asuma stared at him, speechless. He knew how difficult chakra control was—even experienced shinobi took years to perfect it. Yet Naruto, after one night, had nearly mastered tree climbing.
He exhaled deeply. "You're really something, Naruto… So strong already, yet still training as if your life depends on it."
A smile crept onto Asuma's face. "As expected of you. Keep this up, and in less than ten days, your chakra control will reach perfection."
Naruto's eyes shone with determination. "Then I'll get even stronger! Let's test my jutsu again!"
Asuma nodded. "Alright. Show me your progress with Wind Release: Gale Palm."
Naruto jumped down from the tree, took a stance, and began forming seals. His chakra swirled, denser and sharper than before. He thrust his palms forward.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
This time, the gust roared to life, strong enough to shake the nearby branches and scatter leaves in every direction. Asuma raised his arm to shield his face, then grinned.
"Well, well… now that's progress."
Naruto laughed, his blue eyes gleaming. "Heh! Told you I'd get it right!"
Asuma nodded proudly. "You're improving fast, Naruto. Keep your focus—and soon, you'll be unstoppable."
Naruto clenched his fists, his expression resolute. "Just you wait. I'll master Wind Release better than anyone in the village!"
Asuma chuckled. "Then the future Number One Wind Release user might just be standing in front of me."
Naruto grinned ear to ear. "Believe it!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)