Greetings, my unwitting minions! Welcome to the third chapter of our saga. Oh, don't deny it - you're totally my minions. I've got you under my storytelling spell. Doubt it? Well, you're here! You're officially brainwashed! Embrace the story, my unwitting pawns! Hahaha haha!
Disclaimer time: I do not own Naruto! If I did, Kishimoto might be drafting a "Cease and Desist" right now. Sorry Kishi, but my fanfiction dreams are too powerful!
Thinking :'Konohamaru, what the hell?!'
Talking: "Konohamaru, what the hell?!"
Naruto found the mission downright boring. Shikamaru and Kenta shared his sentiment. A scouting mission for a combat team? It didn't make sense to him. Did he really sign up for this? If he'd known earlier, he'd have second-guessed joining, but when he thought about it, the other chunin roles sucked anyway.
What sucked the most wasn't the mission, but it was Ayaka's indifference that truly cast a shadow over Naruto's experience. From the start of the mission till the end, Ayaka didn't even look at him once. He felt as if he was invisible to her, with each attempt of approaching her being met with a purposeful evasion. To add salt to the injury, Shikamaru and Kenta found amusement in his repeated attempts, their laughter echoing the harsh reality of his unsuccessful endeavours.
After the mission, Kenta and Ayaka led him and Shikamaru to the training ground where they met yesterday, explaining their casual routine following scouting and escort missions. They detailed an everyday practice - an hour of individual training and occasional sparring
The prospect of training excited Naruto, but his enthusiasm waned as he realised he had nothing specific to practise. Kenta, noticing his confusion, suggested taijutsu, pointing out that Naruto's style seemed sloppy and reminiscent of a brawler. The blonde didn't take offense to the observation. Many had commented on his taijutsu and he couldn't deny it - they were right. He knew however that it wasn't his fault though; the academy hadn't provided much guidance on various katas to him, forcing him to develop his own unique taijutsu style.
Naruto knew precisely where to seek assistance. In all honesty, he never thought he'd once step foot in there - the library. Not a place he was fond of, but it was the only option he had. Before he could turn away though, Ayaka's voice halted him and she threw him a scroll. She mentioned she had researched his style yesterday by talking to his sensei, Kakashi, and found a taijutsu style he could incorporate.
Before he could thank her, she promptly added that she assisted him to ensure that he wouldn't slow the team down, causing him to deflate in disappointment.
"Alright," Kenta began as he produced an alarm clock. "This clock will ring in exactly an hour so find an area for yourself and we'll reconvene by then.
They all nodded, dispersing to look for spots for their individual training.
Naruto carefully studied the scroll Ayaka had discovered for him, and without a doubt, this style felt like it was tailored specifically for him. Titan Hurl - it wasn't just a name; it was a representation of raw unrestrained power. A unique style matching Naruto's former one. It comprised a relentless onslaught of brawling attacks fueled by unparalleled physical strength. But in the dance of offence, there existed a symphony of defence, and within the scroll lay a defensive stance crafted for close combat encounters.
What set this style apart was its exclusivity to close-quarters engagements, making it a perfect fit for Naruto's proffered combat range. To his delight, the scroll didn't only have a single move, rather an entire repertoire of four distinctive techniques - Titan Smash, Crushing Grasp, Avalanche Strike and Meteoric Uppercut. Each name resonated with power and potential, promising a formidable arsenal for Naruto to wield.
Admittedly, the prospect of mastering these techniques seemed daunting, however, Naruto recognized the Hidden advantage within the challenge. It wasn't just about power; it was about endurance, resilience, and the ability to weather a storm of attacks. And for that, Naruto had the perfect training partner. Shadow Clones.
As Naruto envisioned the countless sparring sessions ahead, he failed to realise a peculiar sight - a squared rock moving closer and closer to him, occasionally stopping with a giggling noise. As the squared rock continued its odd approach, it suddenly hit something, prompting a surprised curse from an unseen figure. The squared rock jumped, and as the dust settled, the person was revealed.
"Konohamaru?!" Naruto exclaimed in confusion. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Konohamaru, rubbing his shin, grinned sheepishly. "Got you Naruto Nii-chan! You didn't see me coming did you?"
Naruto rubbed his head, a mixture of annoyance and amusement on his face. "I'm kind of busy Konohamaru. We can play later."
"But Nii-chan," Konohamaru complained. "I promised Moegi and Udon I'd get you so we can play ninja."
Naruto turned in annoyance, swiftly executing the hand seal for the Kage Bunshin, one hundred clones materialising in an instant. "You!" he pointed to one of them. "Go play with them."
The clone smoothly followed the directive, strolling next to Konohamaru's side.
"There," he said in irritation. "Don't do anything to dispel it, got it?"
"Yes sir!" Konohamaru exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the prospect of playing with a shadow clone.
Once Konohamaru and his clone disappeared, he turned to face the remaining ninety nine clones, swiftly dispatching three of them on various missions. One sent to fetch a stopwatch and the remaining two tasked with retrieving four of Gai-sensei's five kilogram weights. As the three dispersed, he addressed the remaining ninety six.
"Alright guys! We've got some serious training ahead! We'll focus on offensive attacks first! The scroll says we've got four ways of doing this!"
1.Strength conditioning:
"It's about heavy lifting. Get ready guys. Because we're in for a lot of suffering"
2.Precision punching drills:
"Practise the specific movements of each of the four technique attacks. We'll be starting with the Avalanche Strike."
3.Speed and agility training:
"Quick footwork will give us the edge. Think fast, move faster.
Combination attack drills:
"Practice combinations. Use those attacks together to form a kickass combination."
Mid-contemplation, Naruto suddenly leaped and dropped to the ground. His eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for something. "All of you, stay here and don't do anything." he said as he got up from his feet and ran towards a certain direction. 'Sakura-chan, what the hell?!'
In amusement, Naruto observed Konohamaru and his two friends as they received a scolding from his teammate, Sakura. Uncertain about what to do, he pondered that his clone and Konohamaru had done something wrong given the expression on Skaura's face and the reason for hitting him. Taking a slow troll towards them, he made his presence known. "Yo Sakura-chan. What's wrong? And why did you hit my clone?"
Sakura, recognising his voice, turned toward him and shot him a menacing look. "You," she said in a firm voice. "Playing ninja with three kids, are you really serious about this Naruto?"
He raised his hands in innocence. "Chill out Sakura-chan. It was just a shadow clone."
"True. But even so, you-" she paused, realisation dawning. "Wait, how did you know what I did to your clone when you weren't here?"
"You hit my clone didn't you," he said nonchalantly, as if it were unimportant. A brief silence followed until realisation struck him. "Wait, you hit my shadow clone! How do I know about that?"
"Don't ask me. I'm just as confused as you are." She said as she looked at him in a perplexed way.
This was big. If someone like Sakura, who was arguably one of of smartest genin in Konoha didn't know about it, then it was very crucial. And if it is crucial, someone important must know about it.
"Sorry Sakura-chan. Gotta go." Naruto said, hastily making his way towards the Hokage mansion."
"Wait, don't just leave me here!" Sakura exclaimed as she chased the blonde.
"Ah, so you figured it out," Tsunade said, concluding her understanding of Naruto's explanation.
"Figure out what? I'm confused," he said. After arriving and bursting through the Hokage's door, he relayed the incident. Judging by the expression on her face during the explanation and what she told him, it really was something important."
"Why don't you figure it out yourself," she said, tossing him a book. "Summon a clone and make it read a few words."
Following the directive, a clone materialised and diligently read the words from the book.
"Now disperse it."
As the clone dispersed, Naruto fell silent for a contemplative pause before posing the question, "What does politics have to do with this?"
She shook her head. "Try again."
Naruto fell silent once more, deep in thought as realisation dawned. "Wait. My clone's memories. I got my clone's memories! That's why I know that!"
She nodded in agreement. "Yes. You can do anything with clones - training besides physical exercises, reading. You'll receive the memories of the clone as they disperse and automatically be able to use what they learned. That's the secret of the shadow clone."
"This is gold!" he exclaimed in ecstasy. "Thanks Baa-chan! I know exactly what to do with this!" he said before dashing out of the office.
She watched him leave, a mix of satisfaction and a sudden furious expression crossing her face. That foolish pervert. She had instructed Jiraiya to tell him but he didn't. But she'd deal with him later. Right now, her worst enemy was waiting for her - paperwork.
"Um, Tsunade-sama," a voice interrupted her thoughts. She raised her head and looked at the unknown visitor.
"Sakura. What is it?"
"Have you seen Naruto?" she asked, panting from all the running she had done.
"You just missed him."
She cursed under her breath and slowly made her way out of the office. That infuriating idiot. She'd make sure to get him for making her run like that.
"Listen up everyone! Big news!" Naruto announced with enthusiasm as he performed the hand signs and conjured up one hundred and one clones. "We're dividing into groups of fifty. Each group will focus on training one technique. You know the drill. You, you and you," he said, pointing to three random clones, "Lead fifty groups and get moving!"
The clones saluted, dispersing into their selected groups. Turning to the remaining fifty, the blonde continued, "Now the remaining of you are coming at me full force. No holding back."
He couldn't help but feel uneasy at the clone's reaction to his command. Weaving another seal, ten more clones appeared. "Ten of you, practise the defensive stance. Get the scrolls for details." he faced the direction of the fifty clones. "Let's do this!"
The echoing sound of the alarm clock marked the end of their individual training session, and each team member regrouped.
"What were you up to, idiot?" Shikamaru inquired, eyeing the battered Naruto.
Naruto, displaying a collection of bumps on his head, sighed. "You don't wanna know."
"Anyway," Kenta interjected, directing the attention to himself as he revealed a box. "For sparring, we'll draw numbers from this box to determine our matchups.
After a quick shake, each person pulled their numbers.
"I got one!" Naruto announced with enthusiasm.
Shikamaru however, released a deep sigh. "I got two."
"Looks like it's me against Ayaka. You two go first," Kenta suggested, leading Ayaka to a secluded part to observe the match.
"Ready to get your ass-" Naruto halted his taunt, leaping backward as he detected a shadow rapidly approaching.
"Nice try smartass," Naruto taunted,quickly assessing what he had to do.
"Less talking, more fighting," Shikamaru retorted, deftly manoeuvring his Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Possession Jutsu)
The brief exchange continued for a few seconds, with Shikamaru attempting to ensnare Naruto's movements using his shadow.
As he evaded the shadow, Naruto seized the opportunity, swiftly throwing an explosive kunai to create a distraction. Shikamaru realising the danger, skillfully evaded the incoming explosive projectile.
Seizing the distraction, Naruto sprang into action, hastily closing the distance between him and Shikamaru. His left arm swung in a powerful arc, met with Shikamaru's quick defensive manoeuvre, ending with his left arm being caught. As he prepared for a second strike, an unexpected sensation halted his movement.
Unable to move, Naruto glanced down to discover a shadow, unmistakably Shikamaru's doing, immobilising him in place. A smug grin adorned Shikamaru's face as Naruto winced, feeling the pressure of his restrained arm.
"Good work knucklehead. You fell for my trap," Shikamaru taunted. "Now, say you-" His sentence was abruptly cut short, his eyes widening in surprise as Naruto's figure poofed away.
'A shadow clone?' Shikamaru questioned, his thoughts racing. 'But how? When?' Realisation dawned on him. 'He used that explosive kunai as a distraction and created a shadow clone. And he calls me a smartass.'
As Shikamaru meticulously surveyed the area, he swiftly produced his kunai, ready for any unexpected moves. A sudden kunai hurled towards him, prompting him to deflect it skillfully. After analysing the trajectory, he prepared to advance towards its origin when a distinct poof resounded behind him.
'That kunai… was a shadow clone?' Shikamaru deduced as he narrowly evaded a punch from Naruto's clone. The replicated Naruto relentlessly attacked, delivering a flurry of punches that kept Shikamaru on his toes. Reacting with agility, Shikamaru dodged another swift punch and jumped back to create some distance.
In an attempt to gain the advantage, Shikamaru unleashed a barrage of kunai which created a skirmish with the blonde's barrage as they clashed mid-air. However, before the clone could make a move, a hissing sound signalled an impending explosion. Cursing its fate, the clone dispersed as the explosion engulfed the area.
As Shikamaru's sharp ears caught the sound of the clone dispersing, he conducted another meticulous scan of the surroundings. His eyes narrowed as he discerned a flash of bright orange behind a large rock- Naruto's unmistakable colour. Advancing cautiously, he leaped towards the suspected location, only to be met with disappointment. An abandoned orange sweater lay on the ground, and Naruto seemed to have vanished.
'Why is he running away?' Shikamaru mused, feeling a tinge of frustration. 'This scenario should be the other way around.'
As he scrutinised the sweater, a faint hissing sound reached his ears. Reacting quickly, Shikamaru tossed the garment away just in time, saving himself from the imminent explosion. The fabric, however, succumbed to the fiery fate and burned to ashes.
'Damn idiot. Where is he?' Shikamaru grumbled to himself. Just as he pivoted around, a kunai suddenly appeared at his neck, skillfully held by a smirking Naruto, who stood on top of a shadow clone lying face-down on the ground.
"Give up?" Naruto inquired.
"Yeah, I'll do that," Shikamaru conceded.
In the midst of that tight situation, Shikamaru found himself with no alternative but to concede. There was simply no counter for Naruto's well-executed move. His Kagemane no Jutsu(Shadow Possession Jutsu) was rendered ineffective, considering Naruto stood atop a shadow clone. And with shadow clones having no shadows, trapping Naruto became an impossibility. Yielding was his sole option. However, as he gazed at Naruto, a newfound respect emerged. The great strategy displayed showcased Naruto's growth and maturity, not only as a chunin, but also as an emerging adult as well. Perhaps a round of shogi with Naruto didn't sound so absurd after all.
"Great strategy Naruto. Luring Shikamaru in and forcing him to give up. Doesn't sound anything like you at all," Kenta remarked as he and Ayaka approached the scene.
"Sometimes, it pays to be underestimated. Right, Shikamaru?" Naruto quipped, a familiar sentence echoing with a touch of pride.
After receiving a smirk from Shikamaru, he turned towards Ayaka, hope for some recognition shimmered in his eyes. However, instead of the expected acknowledgement, he found himself under the scrutiny of her gaze. Noticing Ayaka's reserved stance, Kenta intervened with a playful nudge on her shoulder, urging her to at least offer some praise to the blonde.
"I guess you… did well," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Huh," Naruto responded, missing the subtle compliment.
"I'm not going to say it twice," Ayaka retorted, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she walked away from the trio with Kenta right behind her to kick off their own match.
"At least she cracked a smile. That's progress, I guess," Naruto remarked, looking for a silver lining in Ayaka's reaction.
Shikamaru shrugged. "I think that's the only positive response you'll get from her. Let's just go watch the next match."
Naruto mirrored her every move, seizing the chance to get to know more about Ayaka. We'll, more or less, know how she fought. Their fight presented a stark contrast to his and Shikamaru's calculated match. This was raw and unbridled, involving no plans or strategies - a genuine close-quarters combat fight. It was just impressive. While he was surprised that kenat and Ayaka used weapons, what caught him off guard was Ayaka effortlessly summoning a large staff out of thin air. She didn't unsealed it from a scroll like Kenta did with his sword. It just magically appeared.
Naruto couldn't help but be amazed by Ayaka's extraordinary adaptability. In that moment, she was caught seemingly defenceless mid-air, vulnerable to Kenta's sword slash. He was about to intervene when he watched the scene unfold into an unexpected turn. Without missing a beat, Ayaka executed a perfect split, dodging the attack and in a swift motion, disarmed Kenta with her staff. This seamless transition from being on the defensive to executing a counterattack left Naruto in awe.
"Didn't expect that, did you?" Shikamaru remarked, getting up. "Women are such a pain."
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at Shikamaru's typical response. After all, it was classic Shikamaru - always straightforward and laid-back, even during unexpected moments.
"So, we're done for today. It'll be like this every-" Kenta's words were abruptly cut short by a sudden thud from Shikamaru, who collapsed on the ground, evidently worn out.
Amused by Shikamaru's level of exhaustion, Naruro decided to verify. He squatted down, gently poking Shikamaru on the face just to ensure the Nara wasn't faking sleep as part of some elaborate prank.
"I'll carry him home," Naruto declared as he effortlessly hosted Shikamaru on his back.
The burden proved more substantial than Naruto anticipated. 'Damn. For a lazy guy like him, he sure is heavy.' the blonde mused in his thoughts as he made his way carefully out the training ground.
Naruto kicked open the door, swiftly removing his sandals as he cautiously entered his apartment. Navigating in the dim light, he moved silently towards his bedroom, carefully placing Shikamaru on his bed, who remained peacefully asleep. The irony wasn't lost on him - he said he'd take Shikamaru home, despite not having the faintest clue where the lazy guy lived. By the time this realisation had dawned on him, night had already rolled around, leaving him no choice but to bring Shikamaru to his own home.
He strolled into the kitchen, pulling out a cup of ramen from one of the drawers he'd stashed away. The day had slipped by with barely a bite to eat - just a cup of miso ramen in the morning. Starvation now panged him insistently. As he filled the cup with hot water and set it whirring in the microwave, he slumped onto his couch, musing on the events of the day.
Discovering the secret of the shadow clone marked a huge turning point in his training. With the newfound knowledge of his signature move, the prospect of more efficient and less painful training sessions made him excited. Leaving boring missions to a clone while he trained in the meantime was a perfect idea. Yet, the potential consequences of Shikamaru and Kenta uncovering his secret lingered at the back of his mind. What made him even more uneasy was how Ayaka would react to the revelation.
Just the contemplation of these matters increased his weariness. A slight headache nagged at him, likely a result of the exorbitant memories from his clones. He realised the Importance of keeping them tk a bare minimum; otherwise, he'd find himself collapsing throughout the day.
Unable to resist any longer, his eyes closed, surrendering to the embrace of sleepiness. He deserved this rest. Too much had happened throughout the day.
"Naruto! Hey, Naruto!" a voice urgently called, abruptly pulling him from the depths of sleep.
Rubbing his eyes, Naruto gradually adjusted and proved himself up. Turning towards the source, he found Shikamaru wearing a stressful and panicked expression.
"What is it, Shikamaru?" Naruto squinted through the window. " It's still night-time. What's the big idea?"
"What's the big idea?!" Shikamaru exclaimed, his words charged with urgency. "There's a fire in your apartment! It's coming from the kitchen!"
"So what?" Naruto responded, initially dismissing the urgency until realisation dawned on him. "A fire?!"
In an instant, the grogginess vanished as Naruto's eyes widened. The adrenaline surged through him, and he leaped out of bed, racing towards the kitchen. The aroma of burning plastic hit him before he even arrived, and panic set in. The source of the fire was the microwave, engulfed in flames, which painted a chaotic scene in his usually tranquil kitchen.
Shit. He fell asleep and forgot to remove the ramen from the microwave. Panicking, he scanned the room, quickly grabbing a bucket and filling it with water.
After several attempts and a little help from Shikamaru, they managed to extinguish the fire. Naruto heaved a sigh of relief, only for it to be interrupted by a sharp punch to the head from Shikamaru.
"You idiot! What the hell is wrong with you!" Shikamaru exclaimed as he gripped his shirt momentarily, only to release it abruptly and collapse to the ground.
Rubbing his sore head, Naruto sighed, surveying the remnants of his once-tranquil kitchen. Shikamaru's worn out collapse and the flaming microwave had efficiently shattered any hope for a peaceful night's sleep.
He glanced at Shikamaru, who lay on the ground in complete exhaustion. With a wry smile, Naruto muttered, "Welcome to the chaotic reality of my life."
And cut! Third chapter is in the books! Or should I say, in the scrolls since we're in the ninja world and all. If Naruto's ramen adventures are anything to go by, the next chapter might involve a special mission to master the art of not burning dinner. Stay tuned to the sizzling sequel, coming to the Hidden village near you!
And just to keep things ninja-level sneaky, Naruto decided to play the ultimate game of hide and seek with his chunin status. No flashy chunin jacket for him, just his normal bright disgusting orange clothes. Sasuke's in the hospital doing the whole brooding Uchiha thing. Little does he know Naruto's mastered the art of invisible promotion. Because, come on, It's Sasuke Uchiha - the guy could probably sense promotions from a mile away. But hey, let's give him the dramatic reveal he's destined for. In the meantime, ninja stealth mode: activated!
Note: Reading this fanfic may result in spontaneous ninja poses and attempts to summon ramen out of thin air. Side effects include why there's no Doordash in the Hidden Leaf Village and contemplating choices of talking to animals. Approach with a sense of humour and a healthy supply of instant ramen. Stay ninja-fabulous!
