Where am I? Is this the Hokage Mountain? Yes, I recognize it. I'm wearing a blue sweater, a Jonin vest, and some white cloak, and ahead... a Nine-Tails?! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
End of Naruto's POV.
"Aaaaah!" Naruto woke up in a cold sweat, jolting up from his bed. He rushed to the bathroom to look at himself in the mirror. Fortunately, everything was fine, but a splash of cold water wouldn't hurt. He tidied himself up, and one question remained: "How did I end up here?"
Naruto looked at his hand, someone had bandaged it. "Seems like someone brought me here, but who?" Naruto pondered, analyzing, but suddenly remembered... "The scroll!" He dashed into the room, and the scroll was lying next to the bed, which made him breathe a sigh of relief. Naruto took it and put it in a safe place. Then he went to the Hokage to take on another mission. Another cat retrieval mission. It was different this time, but still just cats.
Uzumaki was boiling with frustration at that moment, but kept silent. This time the mission went smoothly. Afterward, Naruto headed home, had a snack, and took the scroll. He went back to the training ground where he reread everything about the technique just in case, trying to grasp its essence. Then he created two clones.
"Wind and Fire," he said to them and left. The clones spent some time reading the scroll, selecting what would be useful, and then dispersed as well. "And now shadow clones too... How does he know that?" Kakashi sat on a tree, observing the boy's actions, and then followed the original.
It turned out that Naruto was training the same technique as yesterday, but he was having trouble with it. Sometimes he had too little chakra, and sometimes too much. If he released a small amount, the technique wouldn't be powerful enough, and if he released too much, Naruto wouldn't even attempt to create the lightning because he wouldn't be able to control its power.
Closer to evening, the clones returned. They weren't as exhausted as the original. "How are things going?" the original asked. "Everything's fine," one clone replied. "A few more training sessions, and we'll be ready," the other replied. "Good," nodded the real Naruto. The clones vanished, leaving the scroll behind. Naruto took it and went home.
Kakashi continued to observe Uzumaki until he reached his house. Naruto stopped near the front door. "Want to come in for some tea?" Naruto suggested, looking at the door. Kakashi glanced around, there was no one around, which meant he had been noticed.
"How did you find me?" Kakashi stepped out of the alley and approached the boy.
"You gave yourself away. I noticed you a few blocks ago. You revealed yourself," Kakashi sighed, even though everything seemed perfect.
"There was nowhere to hide, don't worry," he continued suddenly. "So, will you come in?" Naruto opened the front door, inviting him inside.
"Alright," Kakashi could have refused, but it was an opportunity to get to know the boy better. Hatake entered, followed by Naruto.
"Tea?" Naruto offered, or rather double-checked.
"I won't say no," the boy seated Kakashi at the table and then went to the kitchen. A few minutes later, he returned with tea, placing one cup in front of Kakashi and the other next to himself.
"Maybe you should take off your mask?" Naruto suggested.
"No, I can't," he replied.
"Then agreeing to tea was foolish," Naruto took a sip, not taking his eyes off the ANBU.
"I won't deny that," Kakashi took off his mask and hung it on his belt. "Kakashi Hatake," Naruto recognized his guest. The ANBU, who was about to remove his second mask from his face, quickly withdrew his hand.
"How did you...?" "I happened to come across a file with a personal record," Naruto shrugged.
"So why are you watching me?" Naruto decided to change the subject.
"Mission," came the brief reply.
"How long have you been observing me?" "One day," Kakashi answered just as concisely.
"Why are you learning those techniques?" "I don't know. As a shinobi, I must be strong," Naruto replied.
"But for what purpose?" Kakashi asked again.
"No, I don't know. Let's say it's my path," he spoke those words with a nonchalant attitude. Just to have some meaningful response.
"Do you have a goal in life?" Kakashi asked another question.
"No. I never had one. I never had anything. Family, friends—nothing. I'm alone," Naruto replied.
"That's why you're... Sad?" Naruto voiced his assumption.
"Cold. Cold towards everything. Indifferent. You react calmly to everything. You don't show any emotions," he described.
"Perhaps," Naruto didn't deny.
"I can help you with lightning control. If you want, that is," this offer was as spontaneous as accepting the tea invitation. There was something about this boy that reminded him of himself in his childhood.
"And will you help?" Naruto perked up a bit. Of course. - Then I agree," Uzumaki decided not to miss such an opportunity. Having a teacher is much better than self-study.
"I'll be waiting for you at that training ground tomorrow. Come right after the mission," Hatake stood up from the table, walked to the window, opened it, and jumped out.
Naruto, on the other hand, remained puzzled because it would have been much easier to leave through the door, but he attributed it all to Hatake's ANBU service.
The next day, after the mission, Naruto arrived at the training ground. Kakashi was not there. To pass the time, he read a scroll for a bit, or rather, he was selecting techniques for future training. He skipped all lightning techniques and focused on reading about fire and wind.
Kakashi appeared half an hour later. It was sudden, but Naruto wasn't caught off guard.
"Took you long enough," Naruto drew attention to the lateness.
"Had to help my grandma on the way, don't mind," Kakashi's words made the blond look up from the scroll and gaze at his newly appointed sensei.
"Grandma?" Naruto asked, seeking clarification.
"I should have come up with something more believable, well..."
"I get it," Naruto didn't let him finish the sentence.
"Shall we begin?"
"Yes," Naruto set aside the scroll and stood up, positioning himself next to Kakashi.
"I see you're fascinated with the lightning element. What is its nature? In order, to be precise."
"The third," even through the mask, he heard a heavy sigh.
"It will be challenging," Kakashi warned right away.
"I will teach you this..." Hatake extended his hand, and it crackled with lightning.
"This technique is called Chidori."
"Chidori? Why not the one I've been training?"
"Because the others won't work for you, but this one has a higher chance, and it will serve as a good stepping stone. After all, your affinity for lightning isn't the best, and it's wiser to start elemental training with its nature."
"Alright, Chidori it is," Naruto conceded.
"Now I will tell you about it, and then we will begin the training. Listen..."
Six months later,
During these six months, Naruto diligently trained in Chidori. Sometimes Kakashi wasn't around, and he would practice fire and wind techniques. He learned two techniques of each element. However, Chidori remained very challenging. It was still unstable. It was difficult to hold it in his hand, and explosions often occurred. After four months of attempts, Kakashi decided to stop the training. Nonetheless, they had significantly improved their control over lightning. It wasn't perfect, but it was quite a good progress. Instead of lightning, Hatake decided to focus on teaching taijutsu and fire techniques.
Training Ground No. 7
Kakashi evaded Naruto's strikes, engaging in another sparring session. "Not good," Kakashi said, intercepting another punch and then swiftly bringing Naruto down to the ground. "You're moving too slowly."
"That's how I move," the boy snapped back.
"You can move faster, I know it," Kakashi replied.
"I don't think so," Naruto continued lying on the ground.
"Alright, we can call it a day," Kakashi said. "Are you going to read your book again?"
"Me? I... Well..." Kakashi blushed and quickly disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'," Naruto said, lifting himself up.
Hokage's Office
"Why have you come, Kakashi?" the Hokage asked, tearing himself away from the papers.
"With a request, Hokage-sama," Kakashi replied.
"Does it involve Naruto?" the village leader guessed.
"Correct," Kakashi confirmed.
"And what is it?" the old man inquired, intrigued.
"I want him to undergo a trial," Kakashi explained.
"A trial?" The Hokage raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"He doesn't take his training seriously. He's not putting in his full effort. Half a year ago, he was in much better shape and had a stronger desire," Kakashi elaborated.
"And what kind of trial do you propose?" the Hokage questioned.
"A combat trial, with a clear objective and assignment," Kakashi answered.
"He's still a boy, not ready for it," the Hokage remarked.
"He is ready," Kakashi said confidently. "When he comes close to death, he'll understand! He has the ability, but he doesn't want it. That's his main problem."
"If you insist..." The Hokage stroked his chin. "The Chunin Exam is coming up soon. Will that be suitable?"
"Yes, and it will also serve as a promotion trial," Kakashi agreed.
"Then it's settled! I'll prepare the necessary documents. I assume you want him to go alone?" the Hokage nodded.
"Yes, that's right."
"Very well."
