Chapter 4: The Slumbering God and the Misguided Shuriken
The familiar, comforting chime of the system echoed in Naruto's mind, a private symphony of self-improvement that played even in his deepest sleep.
[Ding! Your Body Replacement Technique is working diligently. Proficiency has reached the Perfection Level!]
[Ding! Detecting that the host is asleep, your body has decided to increase its training intensity by 20%!]
A warm, complex flow of chakra knowledge circulated through his subconscious, solving spatial equations he didn't even know existed. Then, a final, brilliant chime.
[Ding! Your Body Replacement Technique has undergone a qualitative evolution and has mastered the S-Rank Space-Time Ninjutsu: Flying Thunder God Technique!]
Naruto's eyes fluttered open as the lunch bell rang, the advanced formulae for instantaneous spatial translocation settling into his mind as easily as a forgotten dream. He blinked, the lingering drowsiness doing little to mask his internal shock. "...The Flying Thunder God? That's my old man's signature jutsu. Isn't that progression a little... fast?" he mused. But then he considered the logic: the Body Replacement Technique was, at its core, about swapping one's position with another object. It was a crude, short-range precursor to the god-like spatial manipulation of the Flying Thunder God. His system had simply followed the path to its ultimate conclusion.
Before he could ponder it further, a shadow fell over his desk. "Naruto, come with me for a moment." Iruka-sensei stood there, his expression a familiar mix of concern and mild exasperation.
Naruto followed him out into the hallway, leaning against the wall with a practiced nonchalance. "Is there something you need, Iruka-sensei?"
Iruka gave him a flat look. "You know exactly what this is about. Regarding what happened before class..."
"You don't need to say it, Iruka-sensei," Naruto interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "We graduate in less than a year. Whether I accept their hollow apology or not makes no difference. After that, our paths won't cross again."
"You can't think like that!" Iruka insisted, his voice rising with conviction. "You will all be Konoha ninja! You might even be assigned to the same mission team one day!"
Naruto couldn't help but let out a short, derisive laugh. "Iruka-sensei, let's be honest. With their current level, if we're on a mission together, the most likely outcome is I'd be carrying them back to the village in pieces."
The bluntness of the statement struck Iruka silent for a moment. He looked at the boy before him—the same bright hair and blue eyes, but the demeanor was entirely new. This wasn't the loud, attention-seeking prankster; this was someone who assessed situations with a chilling, practical clarity.
"Naruto," Iruka began again, his tone softer, more probing. "When did you become so strong? Those boys weren't top of the class, but they weren't pushovers. How did you defeat all three of them?"
A casual shrug was Naruto's only reply. "I guess it just built up over time."
Iruka searched his face for a lie but found only placid indifference. He sighed, accepting the answer for now. "It seems I don't have to worry about you passing the graduation exam anymore. But listen," he added, his expression turning serious, "even if your strength grows, never forget the importance of comrades! A true ninja is one who values their companions!"
"Yeah, I got it, Iruka-sensei," Naruto replied, the words automatic. As he was finally ushered back into the classroom, the concept of 'comrades' felt abstract and distant. All he truly desired was the peace to be a lazy, self-improving salted fish. Companionship seemed like a complication he was better off without.
The afternoon sun beat down on the training grounds as the class gathered for their practical session. "Today, we are practicing shurikenjutsu!" Iruka announced, gesturing to a line of wooden targets. "There are ten targets. Form groups of six and line up! You will each throw three shuriken per turn!"
[Ding! Detecting that the host is practicing shurikenjutsu, your shuriken throwing technique has reached the Perfection Level!]
The knowledge flooded into him—trajectory, wrist-flick, wind resistance, and the perfect distribution of chakra to balance the blade. He hadn't even picked up a shuriken yet, and he was already a master.
'My system striving is equal to me striving,' he thought with a flicker of pride. 'I'm basically my own biggest fan.'
He was placed in a group with Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, and two other boys. Sasuke went first. With a fluid, almost disdainful grace, he flung three shuriken simultaneously. Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! All three struck the dead center of his target's bullseye.
"Wow! Amazing, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura squealed.
"Incredible as always!" Ino chorused.
"Who are you copying, Ino-pig?!"
"Who are you calling a pig, you big-forehead!"
Their bickering started up instantly, their heads knocking together as they argued behind a thoroughly unimpressed Sasuke. "Hurry up and throw," he said coldly. "I need to practice my specialized forms."
The two girls immediately fell over themselves to comply. Sakura went next, mimicking Sasuke's three-shuriken throw. One landed in the nine-ring, the other two in the eight-rings—a respectable score, considering Sasuke's shuriken already occupied the center.
"Hah! Not bad, but still not as good as Sasuke-kun!" she declared, shooting a triumphant glance at Ino before scurrying to stand near Sasuke.
Ino, not to be outdone, took her position. As a member of the Yamanaka clan, she had received personal training from her father. Her three shuriken flew straight and true, all embedding themselves firmly in the nine-ring. If the ten-ring hadn't been occupied, she might have matched Sasuke. "See that, Forehead? My score is better than yours!" she taunted.
Sakura's cheerful expression shattered, a storm of internal rage brewing. 'Why is that Ino-pig better than me?! So annoying!'
The two other boys took their turns, achieving scores similar to Sakura's. Finally, it was Naruto's turn. He looked at the target, its center and inner rings already bristling with shuriken from the previous throwers. With a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world, he casually flicked his wrist, sending three shuriken flying.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
All three shuriken struck their mark with unerring accuracy. They landed perfectly in the ten-ring.
Of the target next to his.
A few students snickered. Sasuke let out a quiet "Hn. Dead-last, as expected."
But Iruka, his eyes sharp, saw what the others didn't. The precision was flawless; the shuriken were clustered tighter than even Sasuke's. The error wasn't one of skill, but of attention—or perhaps, a complete lack of care.
And in Naruto's mind, another chime sounded.
[Ding! Your shuriken throwing technique is overly competitive and has derived the D-Rank Ninjutsu: 'Manipulating Shuriken Technique'!]
A new understanding unfolded within him: how to attach nearly invisible chakra strings to his projectiles, to alter their course after they had been thrown. He hadn't just missed; he had unlocked a new skill by appearing to fail. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. This system of his truly was endlessly entertaining.
(End of Chapter)