Ten Days Later—
The village didn't change.
Naruto did.
— — —
Training Ground 7
Morning air.
Cool.
Still.
A kunai spun through the air—
CLANG
Deflected.
Clean.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Again."
Across from him—
Naruto rolled his shoulders.
"…Try to keep up."
They moved—
Fast.
Faster than before.
Naruto vanished—
Sasuke's eyes flared—
Sharingan spinning to life—
"…Tch—!"
Too late.
Naruto was already inside his guard.
THUD
A palm strike—
Blocked—
Barely.
Sasuke skidded back.
Eyes sharp.
"…What—"
Naruto didn't stop.
Wind Chakra channeled through his feet making dust launch behind him with every step
He surged forward again—
CRACK
Sasuke crossed his arms—
Redirected the hit—
Even still, he was forced back another meter.
"…You're—"
Another step, crouching low Naruto flashed to his side launching a sweeping kick
"Got you—"
Sasuke twisted—
Sharingan tracking—
But—
His leg was swept from underneath him, his hands shot to the ground righting himself with a handstand that turned into a backflip—
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"…He's—"
In the middle of Sasuke's thought, as he flipped in the air, Naruto formed three handsigns and extended his arm with an open palm
"Wind release: Gale Pierce!"
Sasuke had a second to notice a distortion in the air before a suprising POOF echoed in the training ground. Sasuke's body disappeared. A Shadow Clone.
Silence.
Wind faded.
Naruto's eyes widened.
Clapping sounded from the tree line.
Slow.
Controlled.
"…You almost got me." Sasuke walked calmly into view
A pause.
"…But you're not even close to Kakashi."
Naruto smirked, "Keep thinking that duckbutt. We're not too far from each other anyway."
"…Hn." Sasuke's typical response sounded off. The battle continued from where they left off.
Rival Relationship Status updated! Sasuke now grudgingly respects you!
Rival Growth Link - Weak Activated
Over the past 10 days your rival has grown much like yourself!
+3 Strength
+1 Agility
+2 Endurance
+3 Intelligence
+1 Charisma
This time however, Sasuke couldn't help but notice Naruto's strikes got just a bit harder. His reaction to his tricks and tactics just a bit more thought out.
— — —
Elsewhere—
Clones trained.
Wind techniques tearing through open fields—
Sharper.
Denser.
"Condense it—don't waste output!"
"YOU ARE ME—YOU DO IT—"
Another group—
Seals layered across the ground.
"Stack the formula—"
"IT'S GONNA BLOW—"
"WRITE IT DOWN—"
BOOM
"…Progress."
— — —
Evening, Apartment. Spar has concluded
POOF
Memories slammed back—
Naruto staggered—
Then steadied.
"…Heh…"
"…Worth it."
Ping
10-Day Training Summary:
Stat Gains:
+4 Strength
+3 Agility
+4 Endurance
+3 Intelligence
+3 Charisma
+1 Luck
New Totals:
Strength: 37
Agility: 59
Endurance: 51
Intelligence: 49
Charisma: 31
Luck: 9
System Points Gained:
+100 Points
Skill Progression:
Fuinjutsu LVL 2 (19/20) → LVL 3 (8/30)
• Multi-layer seal construction unlocked
• Increased seal durability
Shadow Clone Jutsu LVL 5 (15/50) → LVL 5 (32/50)
Academy Taijutsu LVL 4 (1/40) → LVL 4 (37/40)
Wind Style: Cyclone LVL 3 (26/30) → LVL 4 (18/40)
• Increased compression
• Improved directional control
Wind Release: Gale Pierce LVL 1 (6/10) → LVL 2 (12/20)
• Increased penetration force
• More stable mid-range trajectory
Trap Making LVL 4 (22/40) → LVL 4 (31/40)
Side Quest updated!
Discover all official training grounds within Konohagakure (67/101)
— —
Elsewhere, Konoha Memorial Stone
Three figures stood in silence.
Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma.
Names etched into stone.
Wind passing softly.
"…I hear the old man is thinking of nominating your team for the Chuunin Exams. Do you think they're ready?"
Kakashi didn't look away from the stone.
"…Yeah."
Asuma exhaled slowly, smoke drifting upward.
"…What about yours?"
Asuma scoffed lightly.
"…If your team's ready—"
A small smirk.
"…Mine's more than ready."
Kurenai nodded.
"…Same."
Her gaze steady.
"…They won't falter."
Kakashi's visible eye curved faintly.
"…Good. I heard Naruto's been quite social lately. What do you say about a little group training exercise?"
Asuma and Kurenai turned to each other, locking eyes. "…We're in. They'll need it."
— — —
Later That Night
Naruto's Apartment
Naruto stood in the center of the room.
Thinking.
"…It's time."
Hands came together.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
POOF POOF POOF
Six clones appeared.
Naruto crossed his arms.
"…We're gathering everyone."
One clone raised a hand.
"…Define everyone."
Naruto smirked.
"…Rookie genin, Team 8, Team 9. And the best team there is, you already know"
They understood.
They vanished in gusts of wind.
Naruto exhaled slowly.
"…Exams…"
"…Let's see who's ready."
The next day, in the early afternoon Training Ground 7
The field was quiet.
Naruto stood in the center.
Hands in pockets.
"…They're late."
A poof to his left—
A clone returned.
"…They're coming."
Another poof—
"…Kiba said something about 'crushing you.'"
Another—
"…Shikamaru said this was 'a drag' but he's coming anyway."
Naruto snorted.
"…Sounds about right."
Wind brushed across the field.
Then—
"They better be ready!"
A blur burst from the trees—
Kiba Inuzuka
Landing aggressively—
Feral grin wide.
Beside him—
Akamaru
Barking excitedly.
"…Naruto!"
Kiba cracked his knuckles.
"…Heard you've been getting strong."
Naruto smirked pinching his nose and waving his hand.
"…The only thing thats strong around here is your smell, go take a bath dog breath"
"Tch."
More footsteps—
Calmer.
Measured.
Shino Aburame walked into the clearing.
"…We received your message."
And behind him—
Hinata Hyuga
"…N-Naruto-kun…"
Naruto raised a hand casually.
"…Yo."
A beat.
"…Where's Team 9?"
"Right here."
A lazy voice.
Shikamaru Nara dropped from a tree.
"…You picked a troublesome time."
Beside him—
Choji Akimichi chewing.
"…Did you bring snacks?"
Naruto blinked.
"…No."
"…Then why am I here?"
"Because I told you to come."
"…Troublesome."
A familiar voice cut in—
"Wow."
Ino Yamanaka crossed her arms.
"…You actually organized something."
Naruto grinned.
"…Don't sound so surprised."
"I'm extremely surprised."
A beat.
"…So what's this about?"
Silence settled.
Naruto looked around.
At all of them.
Different strengths.
Different personalities.
"…Team 7 is going to be in the Chuunin exams. The rest of you should try not to fall behind."
The other teams scrunched their brows, the former dead lasts comment hitting close to home.
"…These exams are going to get extra serious this year, I can tell."
Shikamaru sighed.
"…You're still being vague."
"…Because I don't have everything."
Naruto shot back.
A pause.
"…But I know this—"
His eyes sharpened.
"…If we stay at our current level—"
"…Some of us won't make it."
That—
Landed.
Kiba scoffed.
"…Speak for yourself."
Naruto didn't react.
"…Prove it."
A beat.
"…All of us."
Wind stirred.
"…We train."
"…Together."
Shino adjusted his glasses.
"…Coordination training."
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Team-based adaptability…"
Ino smirked.
"…Finally using your brain."
Naruto ignored her.
"…No holding back."
A pause.
"…We go until we can't."
Silence.
Then—
"Sounds fun!"
Kiba stepped forward.
"…I'm in."
"Me too!"
Choji raised a hand—mouth full.
"…As long as we eat after."
"…Obviously."
Shikamaru sighed.
"…Fine."
Ino rolled her eyes.
"…I'm not losing to you idiots."
Shino nodded once.
"…Acceptable."
Hinata clenched her fists softly.
"…I-I'll do my best."
Naruto grinned.
"…Good."
A clap echoed—
All heads turned.
From the trees—
Three figures stepped forward.
Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma
"…Looks like you beat us to it. Naruto is correct, all of you will be participating in this year's Chuunin exams. There will be a slight change of plans to your little get together however."
Kakashi said lazily.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head.
"…You know what they say, Great minds."
Asuma chuckled.
"…Or reckless ones."
Kurenai's gaze swept across the genin.
Kakashi closed his book.
"…You nine will take on us three. Go all out. You haven't trained with members of the other team since the academy so, be careful of friendly fire."
A beat. All nine genin paused sizing each other up.
"…Well lets get to it!" Asuma declared, for once seeming the slightest bit pumped up!
Naruto stepped forward. "…Teams of three, Mixed. Don't stay with your original team. Pick a random Jonin it doesn't matter to me. Hinata, Ino, you're with me."
Everyone paused.
"…Wait—WHAT?"
Naruto grinned wider.
"…No comfort zones."
Shikamaru groaned.
"…I hate this already."
Kiba cracked his neck.
"…Good."
Wind picked up.
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
"…Let's begin."
*Bonus Mission Initiated!*
Objective: Assist your former classmates in reaching new heights of strength and teamwork!
Make sure Sakura, Ino and Hinata are comfortable with high stress situations!
Assist Choji, Shikamaru and Kiba in finding a purpose to train harder!
Give Sasuke and Shino some pointers about reacting to poison/external triggers!
Rewards:
+4 Strength
+2 Agility
+3 Intelligence
+6 Charisma
Major Reduction to Water Affinity Cost in Shinobi Shop
10 Free lottery Spins!
Chakra Control Training - Water walking scroll
1 Rare Item