Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Iruka's "Gloop" Crash Course (With Bonus Boar Snacks)

Dawn cracked over Training Ground #3, mist clinging to dew-soaked grass. Ren Uchiha arrived early, practicing "Gloop no Jutsu" stretches—arms extending like taffy, retracting with cartoon sproing. Naruto was late (shocker), snoring in a bush nearby.Iruka Umino appeared precisely on time, scrolls under arm, face set in teacher mode. "Ren. Let's test this... ability properly. No games."Ren saluted sloppily. "Aye, Scarface-sensei! Games are for spars. This is science." Great Sage, prep demo reel.[Training sim loaded: Skills queued—Predator showcase, clone test, Sharingan tease. Energy reserves: 89%.]Iruka unrolled a scroll: standard drills. "First: Chakra control. Leaf on forehead—stick it."Ren smirked, palming a leaf. It floated, then merged into his skin—reappearing from his elbow. "Control? Nailed it. Slime bonus: Multi-point adhesion."Iruka's scar twitched. "Show the absorption again. Live target." He summoned a basic water clone—poof—waving vaguely."Coming up." Ren lunged playfully. Water clone swung—Ren's hand engulfed its arm. Predator hum. Clone destabilized, chakra slurped clean.[Acquired: Basic Suiton mimicry. Water resistance +12%.]Iruka whistled. "Flawless. Like a living fuinjutsu seal. Limits?""Fire's iffy—melts me funny. Big stuff overloads. And ethics—no eating friends." Ren grinned. "Yet."Naruto burst from the bush, leaves in hair. "Did I miss the eating show?! Iruka-sensei, Ren ate a clone! Like this!" He chomped air dramatically."Uzumaki—late!" Iruka sighed, but smiled. "Join in. Ren, clones next."Ren nodded. Time to shine. "Shadow Clone variant incoming." Chakra swirled—poof poof poof! Three Rens: one normal, one fiery (Phoenix synth), one watery (fresh absorb)."Multi-element?!" Iruka gaped.Naruto tackled Fire-Ren—splat! It melted around him, reforming to noogie his head. "Slime hug attack!"Water-Ren lassoed Naruto with whips. Normal-Ren turned to Iruka. "See? Gloop Army. Sustainable—reabsorb for zero waste."[Slime Clone skill unlocked: Lv. 1. Durability 80% base.]Iruka scribbled furiously. "Revolutionary. Uchiha archives never mentioned—""Lost technique," Ren bullshitted smoothly. "Massacre wiped the scrolls. I'm rebuilding from scraps."Naruto freed himself, panting. "Teach me! Imagine fox-slime clones!""Work on basics first, Naruto." Iruka eyed Ren sharply. "Ocular? Sasuke muttered about prediction."Ren's eyes flickered—faint tomoe swirl, blue slime glow underneath. Sharingan sync tease. "Sharingan 0.5—slime boosted. Predicts via chakra flow + goo sense. Watch."Iruka hurled shuriken barrage. Ren's eyes tracked—perfect dodge, counter with extended tendril disarm."Incredible synergy," Iruka breathed. "You could rival jonin soon. But control—power like this attracts sharks."Villain bait dropped, Ren noted. Sage?[Threat scan: Anomalous chakra—village perimeter. Rogue signature, low jonin. Probability: 72% scouting Uchiha anomaly.]Naruto flexed. "Sharks? We'll Multi-Clone 'em!"Training ramped: Ren demoed Fire Clone barrage—tiny phoenixes harrying dummies. Naruto's clones joined, turning it into a fireworks show. Iruka called combos—water + fire = steam blinds.Mid-drill, Ren froze. Magic Sense screamed: Incoming scout!A shadow flickered treeline—bandit rogue, scarred face, wind chakra aura. Kunai glinted, aimed at... Naruto?"Down!" Ren yelled, body surging. He intercepted—kunai sank into shoulder. Predator instant. Blade + wind chakra gobbled.Rogue cursed. "Demon brat!"Iruka kunai'd back—rogue dodged, fleeing. "ANBU tail him!"Naruto blinked. "Was that...?""Shark number one," Ren quipped, reforming shoulder flawlessly. "Tastes like cheap sake and regret. Acquired: Wind Cutter."Iruka paled. "You alright? That was no drill.""Peachy. Self-heal's OP." Ren flexed. [New skill: Fuuton: Air Blade (basic). Evolution nudge: 48%.]"Report this," Iruka decided. "Ren—promise caution. Naruto—extra laps."As they dispersed, Ren fist-bumped Naruto. "Team intact. Villain appetizer served."Naruto grinned. "Next time, I eat 'em!"Alone, Ren stared treeline. Rogue ninja? Orochimaru feeler? Plot accelerating. [Strategic pivot: Fortify stealth. Ally network expand.]"Sage, you're a buzzkill. But smart." Grin widening, Ren melted into goo-scout mode. Konoha's got a slime sheriff now. Game on.Iruka watched him go, muttering, "That kid's gonna save us... or slime the whole village."