Chapter 2: A taste of change: Naruto's revolution

Naruto had fallen asleep at some point, and when he awoke, he gently wiped away the dried tears from his face. He got up, feeling a bit more refreshed, and decided to start the day anew.

After a quick shower, he dressed in fresh clothes and prepared a simple breakfast of cup ramen. As he ate, he muttered to himself, "I'm a shinobi, believe it." Despite the heavy emotional turmoil he had experienced the previous night, Naruto was determined to push forward.

Now, he contemplated his plans for the day. "I'll do some training, but for that, I have to go to the place called hell, I mean, the library," he chuckled at his own joke.

Upon entering the Shinobi Library, Naruto initially considered looking for books on powerful and flashy jutsu to defeat his enemies. However, he recalled the old man's advice and changed his focus. With a sigh, he headed towards the sections on taijutsu, chakra control, and chakra theory.

Within the taijutsu section, Naruto was overwhelmed by the variety of scrolls and books available, each detailing different taijutsu styles. He muttered to himself, "All these taijutsu styles sound so badass, like the Sharp Fist or the Rising Whirlwind. Man, they all sound so cool. I don't know which one to choose."

Just as Naruto was contemplating his options, a figure suddenly appeared behind him. Startled, he turned to see a young woman, only a few years older than himself, wearing a white lab coat and oversized round glasses.

"Well, it depends on which school of taijutsu you want to practice," she said.

Naruto blinked in surprise. "Where did you come from, and what do you mean by 'school of taijutsu'?" He examined her curiously, not entirely sure what to make of her sudden appearance.

The young woman explained, "From what I've read about taijutsu, there are two main styles of fighting. The first is called the 'Hard Fist,' which involves using force against force, either with a direct, head-on blocking technique or by diagonally redirecting the strike with your own force. The second is the 'Soft Fist,' which relies on redirecting energy rather than sheer strength, but it can be just as deadly."

She extended her hand for a handshake and introduced herself, saying, "My name is Shiho. It's nice to meet you."

Naruto shook her hand and replied, "Thank you. I'm Naruto Uzumaki."

Curious, Naruto asked, "Is it possible to practice both schools of taijutsu?"

Shiho nodded, "Well, most shinobi tend to focus on one school of taijutsu, but there are some who master both, like the Third Hokage and our resident taijutsu master, Might Guy."

Determined, Naruto exclaimed, "Then I'm going to practice both schools of taijutsu, believe it! But which style should I learn for each school?"

Shiho quickly grabbed two books titled "Fundamentals of Hard Fist" and "Fundamentals of Soft Fist" and handed them to Naruto. "These books should be the most suitable for you if you plan on learning both styles."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Naruto added, "I'm also looking for materials on chakra control and books on chakra theory, among other things."

Shiho smiled and assured him, "I've got the perfect books for what you need. Just head to the front desk, and I'll fetch them for you."

As Naruto made his way to the front desk, he couldn't help but glance around at the library's vast collection. His eyes landed on a dusty book tucked away in a corner.

"Fuinjutsu: The Guide to Becoming a Seal Master – Mito Senju," Naruto read aloud, intrigued. "Isn't that the ninja art that sealed the fox spirit inside me? It might be useful to learn."

Approaching the front desk, Naruto noticed Shiho, looking a bit flustered, with a stack of books waiting for him.

"Is it okay if I take this one as well?" Naruto inquired, holding up the dusty book he had found.

Shiho nodded with a nervous smile, "Yeah, sure, nobody has taken that book in ages. It's been collecting dust for a while."

Grateful for her assistance, Naruto bowed and said, "Thank you very much. I'm determined to become a powerful ninja, believe it!" He then headed back to his apartment with a pile of books.

While Naruto was on his way home, Shiho couldn't help but think back to the previous day and her encounter with the Hokage.

Flashback

"Sorry for disturbing you at this hour, but I have an important task for you," Hokage Sarutobi said as he stood in the library in his Hokage attire.

"It's no trouble at all, Hokage-sama. I'll do whatever you ask," Shiho replied, nervously adjusting her glasses.

"There will be a new genin arriving tomorrow, and I would like you to assist him to the best of your abilities, even granting him level 6 access to materials," the Hokage stated with seriousness.

Shiho gulped nervously. "Level 6, sir? Are you certain, Hokage-sama?"

"Yes, this genin has been wronged, and he deserves our support," the Hokage sighed, puffing a smoke from his pipe. As he walked away, he casually placed a dusty book on one of the library shelves. "You wouldn't mind if I placed this book in the library, would you? It's quite an interesting read."

"Of course not, Hokage-sama," Shiho replied, unable to muster the courage to defy the Hokage's request. "Uhm, Hokage-sama, who is this genin going to be?"

The Hokage smiled cryptically, saying, "You'll find out when you see him."

End of Flashback

Who would have thought hokage sama meant the Kyuubi's jinchuriki?

Though she had been a child at the time and had not known about the laws and regulations concerning Naruto, her role as the personal assistant to the head of the Cryptoanalysis Department had required her to be privy to certain village secrets for the sake of Konoha's prosperity. That's why his presence in the village had taken her by surprise.

Shiho couldn't help but wonder if the Hokage had intentionally placed the dusty book for Naruto to find. She was both intrigued and somewhat scared by the Hokage's ability to influence events in the village.

Back at his apartment, Naruto was eager to explore his newfound knowledge. He spread the books on the table, each title holding the promise of new abilities and understanding: "Fundamentals of the Soft Fist," "Fundamentals of the Hard Fist," "Guide to Perfect Chakra Control by Shiro Senju," "Analysis of Battlefield Dynamics by Shikari Nara," and "The Theory and Path to Creating Jutsu by Hiruzen S."

Naruto's excitement was palpable as he examined the titles. He couldn't wait to dive into the world of chakra manipulation and combat techniques. However, he couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material.

"Wow, there's so much to learn," Naruto mused, his eyes scanning the pages.

"I can't wait to create some badass jutsu. But this book here," he picked up "The Theory and Path to Creating Jutsu by Hiruzen S," pausing to wonder why the author's name sounded familiar.

"Achoo! I wonder who's talking about me. Oh well, I'll get back to reading. What a masterpiece this book is, Jiraiya" Hiruzen chuckled as he read, unknowingly creeping out the ANBU hidden in the office.

'Oh well let's read the book, at least the title is interesting.'

He opened the book and began reading the introduction, "Most people know me as the God of Shinobi, but I have another title, less known but equally feared – 'The Professor.'"

Naruto's curiosity deepened as he continued reading. "I didn't earn that title just by teaching, although that was part of it. I gained it for my ability to analyze jutsu, break them down, and replicate them. I used my understanding of chakra to create my own jutsu."

The book promised to provide a deep understanding of chakra, challenge his comprehension, and guide him in creating jutsu. "It's going to be a lot of hard work," Naruto read, "and there will be days when you'll want to bang your head against the wall out of frustration. Stick with this book, and you'll embark on a path you never thought possible. Who knows, you might become the next Professor."

"This sounds awesome!" Naruto exclaimed. "This is the path I want to walk – creating badass jutsu. I wonder who this person is; he sounds so cool."

As Naruto flipped through the pages, he couldn't help but sigh at the sheer length of the book. "When am I going to start on the other books? By the time I'm done with this, I'll have a beard and a mustache."

For the next few hours, Naruto immersed himself in the book, page by page. He found himself increasingly fascinated by chakra – what it was, how it worked, why it worked, and the mechanisms behind it. He began to grasp how chakra influenced everyday life.

Suddenly, his stomach growled loudly, interrupting his reading. Naruto laughed and said, "Oh man, I'm hungry. I can't be bothered to make something. I'll just make a shadow clone to prepare some food."

Naruto created a shadow clone and ordered, "Shadow Clone Jutsu, make me some food."

The clone grumbled but proceeded to the kitchen to prepare a meal. Naruto ignored the clone's complaints, continuing to read for several more minutes until a steaming bowl of ramen appeared on the table.

"Here you go, boss," the clone said before dissipating.

Naruto patted his stomach contentedly and then suddenly realized, "Wait a minute. Why do I remember the clone cooking the food?"

It was an epiphany that would change Naruto's life for the better. "If that's the case, my clones can read the books for me, and I can save a lot of time for taijutsu practice!" He declared with excitement.

He tested the theory, ordering one of his clones to read two pages from one of the books. To his joy, he successfully absorbed the clone's memories and retained the book's content.

Naruto danced with delight. "I'll eat first and then do some taijutsu practice."

Training Ground 17

Naruto diligently practiced the katas from "Fundamentals of the Hard Fist" when he heard noises emanating from behind a nearby bush. Voices shouted phrases like "youth" and "springtime of youth."

Curiosity piqued, Naruto ventured to the bush and discovered a man clad in a vibrant green jumpsuit with oversized eyebrows and an eccentric bowl-cut hairstyle.

"Yosh, what are you doing on this youthful day? Are you exercising to experience the full springtime of youth?" the man exclaimed, flashing a thumbs-up sign and teeth gleaming.

"Um, yeah, I'm Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto replied awkwardly, stealing glances at the man's unmistakable eyebrows.

Naruto extended his hand for a handshake, which the man accepted with a vigorous grip, causing Naruto to wince.

"I am Konoha's sublime Green Beast of Prey, Maito Gai!" the man proclaimed in a dramatic pose.

"Maito Gai, you wouldn't happen to be related to Maito Duy, would you?" Naruto asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Yes, he was my father. How do you know his youthful name?" Gai inquired.

Naruto revealed two taijutsu books, "I'm practicing taijutsu using these books."

Gai accepted the books and reminisced about his father. "I haven't seen these books in a long time. Do you need help with your youthful training? I'm currently assisting my young protégé on his springtime of youth journey," Gai added cryptically, leaving Naruto puzzled by his words.

Naruto didn't turn down the opportunity for assistance, especially considering the books' mysterious origin. Gai and Naruto spent time together, working on the katas Naruto had been practicing, with Gai providing guidance and feedback.

"Sensei, I've arrived and completed the youthful training you assigned me," said a younger individual who closely resembled Gai.

"Is this your son?" Naruto inquired curiously, marveling at the unmistakable caterpillar-like eyebrows.

"No, he's not my son, but it's beautiful how you see how similar our springtime of youth is," Gai responded, his eyes watering with happiness.

Rock Lee, the young man, introduced himself, emulating his teacher's pose and thumb's up. "I am Rock Lee, Konoha's Beautiful Green Wild Beast."

"Naruto-kun, you need to improve your body conditioning, including your muscle mass and flexibility. Worry not, for I, the Great Green Beast of Prey, have created a training regimen for you," Gai stated, striking yet another pose.

"How many times has he done that ridiculous pose?" Naruto wondered silently.

"Naruto, what does your youthful diet consist of?" Gai inquired.

Naruto hesitated but honestly shared his diet, which consisted primarily of ramen and red bean soup.

Gai looked concerned, "Naruto-kun, you need to change your diet. You need more protein and vegetables for proper nutrition. Your current diet won't help your body grow and support your taijutsu."

Despite the initial resistance, Naruto heeded Gai's advice and accepted his suggestions for a healthier diet.

Konoha Marketplace

After a grueling training session with Gai, Naruto decided to heed Gai's advice and improve his diet. He ventured to the butcher and, to his surprise, received an extraordinary discount on meat, chicken, and fish. Usually, he would either be overcharged or promptly kicked out.

"I've struck gold here! I'm definitely coming back to this place for my protein," Naruto thought excitedly. As he continued through the marketplace, his spirits couldn't be higher. However, everything took a downturn the moment he stepped into a particular shop.

With a furious expression, Naruto dropped his shopping bag in shock. "What do you mean there's nothing here? There's plenty of stuff in the shop!"

"Get out, brat! We don't serve your kind," the woman behind the counter yelled at Naruto. The hateful words echoed around him.

"Look at that demon trying to eat the same food as us!" someone sneered, while another chimed in, "What's that monster doing in the shop?"

"I can't believe the Hokage let that demon live," another voice in the crowd murmured. Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, and he instinctively placed a hand over it, as if to calm its frantic rhythm. He repeated a mantra he'd told himself countless times throughout his life, a lifeline to his sanity: "I'm not a demon, I'm Naruto Uzumaki."

Picking up his bags, Naruto couldn't bear the tense atmosphere any longer. He tried to deflect the situation with forced laughter, thinking, "I'll just head home; I can grill the food." But as he turned to leave, a warm embrace enveloped him from behind.

"May I ask why you're not allowing a shinobi in the store?" a gentle, feminine voice addressed the shopkeeper, laced with a touch of irritation.

Naruto turned around, and his gaze met a striking woman. She bore bandages wrapped around her body and had unique eyes with red swirls. He felt a flicker of irritation himself but chose to remain silent, knowing that engaging would likely exacerbate the situation. As if sensing his predicament, the woman smiled and extended her hand to him.

"It's all right, young man. Refusing service to a shinobi means going against Hokage-sama. Would you like me to report you to him?" Her tone was stern, and the shopkeeper, though visibly upset, relented.

"B-brat, go buy whatever you want," she grumbled, offering an encouraging smile and a gentle nudge to prompt Naruto to collect the ingredients he needed.

Dazed and unsure, Naruto wordlessly complied, quickly gathering what he needed. As he left the store, he couldn't help but bow his head slightly and express his gratitude. "Thanks, lady. You were a big help."

"There's no need for that," she replied, wearing a gentle smile. "But do you know what you're doing with those ingredients? You've got quite a lot, young man."

Blushing slightly, Naruto replied, "I kind of have an idea. I've got a cookbook with several recipes I plan to follow." Thoughts of where Gai-sensei had found the cookbook suddenly swirled in Naruto's confused mind.

"Take care, Naruto. Have a pleasant rest of the day," she offered, and with a flicker of movement, she disappeared.

As Naruto walked back to his apartment, he couldn't shake the mystery of how this stranger had known his name. "Of course, she would know my name; the older villagers mostly think I'm a demon," he bitterly thought. "But how did she know I'm a shinobi? I was just promoted last night. I never asked for her name, but if I see her again, I'll ask for her name."

Kurenai's Perspective

Naruto Uzumaki meant a lot to Kurenai. He carried the demon that had destroyed the village, killed her father, and her sensei. But there was another side to Naruto that mattered deeply to her - he was Kushina's son. If Kushina were alive, she would have showered him with love and care.

Kurenai carried a burden of guilt when it came to Naruto. She had only watched from the sidelines, adhering to Hokage-sama's orders, to ensure his safety. She had seen the immense pain Naruto endured at the hands of the villagers. While they hadn't physically hurt him, the emotional and psychological scars ran deep.

She had avoided him due to Hokage-sama orders, but she now recognized the high cost of her absence. Naruto felt lonely and unloved. As he had just become a genin, Kurenai resolved to help him in any way she could.

Naruto's Apartment

Returning to his apartment, Naruto discovered three of his clones engrossed in their assigned books. A sense of excitement coursed through him. He realized he no longer needed to read the material himself, as he could rely on his clones for this.

"I'll dispel you guys when I'm done cooking and eating," Naruto informed his clones, who quickly retorted, "Oi, at least feed us," "Yeah, boss, we've been reading the whole day," and "I'm hungry from reading." The clones' requests didn't sit well with Naruto.

Annoyed, Naruto replied, "I'm not going to waste my money on you clones." They grumbled in response and returned to their books.

Patting his full belly with satisfaction, Naruto sighed in contentment. "Man, I can't believe my cooking turned out so well," he thought. He had discovered an unexpected enjoyment in cooking and was eager to explore more recipes.

Getting up from his seat, Naruto turned to his clones. "Now, let's retrieve those memories of yours." The three clones dissipated in clouds of smoke, the sound of their disappearance echoing throughout the apartment.

A loud "thud" was heard throughout the apartment.

Hokage's Office

Inside his office, the Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke from his pipe and peered into a crystal ball, monitoring Naruto. He mused to himself, "So, he found out the secret behind the shadow clone jutsu and is using it to his advantage."

As the Hokage contemplated whether to divulge further information to Naruto, he decided against it. "Should I tell him? Nah, he can figure it out by himself," he muttered.

"Hopefully, he'll learn to dispel them one by one," Hiruzen thought, as he observed his surrogate grandson faint.

Well, this is my second chapter, please leave some reviews.

I don't want Naruto to figure out the whole secret behind the shadow clone because I don't want him too overpowered.

I might let him figure it out during the chunin exam or beyond that.