"Shadow Clone Jutsu…"
Holding the scroll that detailed the Shadow Clone formula, Chakra control, and usage method, Masahiko finally exhaled in relief.
He'd got it!
And…
his gamble had paid off!
Although the Third Hokage never showed Naruto any open favoritism, behind the scenes he quietly offered plenty of help.
To the Third, Masahiko's approach was clearly positive encouragement and assistance, not the bullying Naruto believed it to be.
That connection was part of why he'd been able to apply for the Shadow Clone technique.
Masahiko unrolled the scroll and studied it earnestly.
Tree-climbing and water-walking he'd already practiced on his own; his Chakra control was solid.
The Shadow Clone itself wasn't too hard—the real challenge was drawing out the large amount of Chakra required and surviving the strain and consumption during use.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu…"
"Looked at differently, it's just the Clone Jutsu with far more Chakra poured in to create a solid duplicate."
"So…"
With his mastery of the basic Clone Jutsu, Masahiko's thoughts clicked into place—
Tiger seal!
Chakra extraction… He felt his physical and mental energy drain rapidly, fatigue flooding through him.
The next second, an identical clone appeared at his side.
Success!
Masahiko exhaled.
B-rank difficulty… didn't seem that high.
Still…
he knew one reason the Shadow Clone was classed as B-rank was the backlash when the clone dispersed.
Not everyone was Uzumaki Naruto.
At a thought, Masahiko had the clone sort some simple paperwork while the original continued writing the afternoon's lesson plan.
About two minutes later he released the jutsu.
A faint weariness and a flood of memories slammed into his brain; Masahiko blacked out for a second before regaining awareness.
Once he recovered, he wanted to shut himself away.
Only two minutes… and he hadn't even given the clone heavy work.
A few seconds later Masahiko let out a soft sigh, wordless.
"No comparison, no pain…"
"I've only just learned it, I'm not used to it… but the gap with Naruto really is huge."
"If I want to grow stronger and survive, I've got to step up the 'persecution' of Naruto!"
Minutes later Masahiko set down his pen.
On the paper were written "taijutsu concepts," "movement simplification," and "practical guidance."
Ninja Academy taijutsu classes taught only the basics; those three lesson blocks would last him years.
He rubbed his temples and summoned the status panel.
"Begin basic advanced training!"
…Lunchtime, the bell rang.
Naruto wolfed down his food, eyes darting as he planned to slip away and hide.
But…
the moment he stepped out of the canteen, a figure was leaning nearby, a toothpick from the cafeteria between his lips.
"Fifty laps."
"Damn it!"
Naruto ground his teeth, spun round and started running.
After a few steps he looked up—another "Yagyū Masahiko"?
Glancing back, the real Masahiko was strolling unhurriedly behind him.
Then Naruto charged.
One punch!
Naruto went flying.
"Want extra laps?"
"I'll run! I'll run, okay!"
Naruto was on the verge of tears.
Running into this demon was the last straw.
Masahiko dispelled the clone and followed at leisure.
He didn't actually expect Naruto to finish fifty laps; the point was to burn the kid's energy so he had no strength left for pranks.
Second, it earned him some screen-time.
Why not?
A dozen laps in, Masahiko slowed.
The instant he rounded into the woods and the trees blocked sight… the Shadow Clone slipped into the undergrowth!
Seconds later Uchiha Sasuke slipped silently through the trees.
A few seconds after that, a black-robed figure wearing a cat-face mask appeared, glancing at where Masahiko's clone had vanished.
Masahiko kept walking, pretending not to notice Sasuke and the Anbu.
An hour later Naruto trudged toward the academy like a dead dog.
If Masahiko hadn't forbidden it, he'd have flopped to the ground.
Behind him, Masahiko's thoughts were mixed.
Uzumaki blood plus the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's body really were beyond ordinary.
Though Naruto hadn't run extra laps, his speed, pace and recovery had all improved slightly.
Fortunately…
Masahiko had a system too!
…Afternoon, taijutsu class.
"Everyone run laps first; when you finish, stretch and warm up…"
The class started running.
In no time Naruto surged ahead!
Sasuke sped up and quickly overtook him.
But…
Naruto stayed right behind, never dropping back; Inuzuka Kiba and the others were left in the dust, exchanging stunned looks.
"What's with Naruto today?"
"Who knows? He's been weird the past two days."
Choji was out of breath.
He hated boring running drills.
Out of the corner of his eye he muttered, "Shikamaru, let's skip class!"
Shikamaru sighed. "Naruto was dragged out at lunch and must've run dozens of laps. If you don't want extra practice, drop the idea."
Choji's face paled; he dropped the subject at once.
Beside them, Ino suddenly leaned in.
"Teacher Masahiko took Naruto out at lunch?"
"Yeah, right outside the canteen. The supervising teacher was furious!"
Shikamaru sighed.
Then he pondered.
"Still, if Naruto ran laps at lunch and can still run this fast, his recovery's insane."
Everyone looked ahead.
Naruto still lagged behind Sasuke, but his face was fierce with effort; the gap hadn't widened.
A serious Naruto actually had a spark that made people look twice!
"Hard to believe…"
Ino murmured. "Even a troublemaker dead-last like Naruto can turn around—Teacher Masahiko really is something."
Shikamaru glanced sideways, speechless.
This girl's hopeless… whatever.
He jogged on, silently cursing "troublesome."
Just then—
"Third lap. Friendly warning: anyone not giving their all gets solo extra drills—especially that pineapple-head, quit slacking!"
Pineapple… head?
Shikamaru's face stiffened; he turned and confirmed the target was him.
A burst of laughter rang out ahead—
"Pfffft—hahaha!"
"Pineapple head!"
"Too good—Shikamaru…"
Naruto's laugh made him choke, and Sasuke instantly pulled far ahead.
The next second Naruto howled and shot forward even faster than before.
Sasuke was drenched in sweat.
Before noon he'd never imagined he'd be competing with the class dead-last.
But…
After thirty-plus laps… he couldn't keep going, yet Naruto could!
That made Sasuke realize that while he topped every school subject, in areas no exam covered he still fell short.
Sasuke summoned his last strength and finished the fifth lap before stopping.
He looked back—
Naruto was howling and waving at the others, completely unfocused.
Even so, he'd only opened a gap of two hundred metres.
"I'm actually worse than someone like that…"
Self-loathing and rage filled his heart.