Chapter 4 Naruto VS Team 3

Naruto hovered over the front yard, his mind deep in meditation while deftly crafting origami with his paper skills. As he focused, he noticed two dust trails approaching, stirring him from his tranquility.

"Boar attack?" he mused, squinting as the trails drew nearer, revealing two figures with questionable haircuts and bushy eyebrows clad in full-body tracksuits.

"Well, this isn't your average day." Naruto muttered to himself, eyeing them warily.

The older of the two swiftly passed his racing partner, triumphantly declaring.

"Ha! Victory is mine!" Meanwhile, the runner-up, with a disheartened expression, lamented.

"I was so close, Guy sensei." The older man, now identified as Guy, cast a glance at Naruto, momentarily frozen before turning to his student.

"Lee, listen up. Act natural, alright? That's the boy with the weird fox ears and tail. Treat him like one of our own." He whispered, coaching Lee on how to proceed. Lee nodded vigorously, scribbling notes in his notebook.

"You got it, Guy sensei!" He affirmed loudly, unknowingly within earshot of Naruto.

Breaking the awkward silence, Lee stepped forward with a boisterous greeting.

"Nice to meet you, weird Fox boy! I'm Rock Lee." He bowed deeply, his enthusiasm palpable. Guy followed suit, proclaiming in a booming voice.

"And I am the legendary Might Guy, purveyor of the Way of Youth and your new sensei!" Naruto couldn't help but wish for Kurama's return, hoping the fox spirit could assist him in navigating this unexpected madness.

"Wait, aren't there supposed to be two others?" Naruto's voice echoed, his ears catching the distant sound of two approaching figures.

Guy Sensei froze in place upon hearing his new student's words, his expression a mix of surprise and realization.

"You're right, where's Tenten and Neji?" he exclaimed, his voice resonating with energy as it carried throughout the forest. Naruto muttered to himself.

"Oh god, this is my life now." Lee, ever the eager disciple, stood up straight and raised his hand.

"Guy Sensei, I think we left them behind when we started our race of Youth." He answered earnestly.

"Thank you, Lee." Guy Sensei replied with a thumbs up, his enthusiasm undiminished. Naruto, unable to contain his confusion, interjected.

"So how does this solve anything?" The pair exchanged a glance before turning their attention to Naruto.

"We do not know." They declared confidently, leaving Naruto exasperated and yearning for divine intervention. Just then, a voice pierced through the forest, cutting through the air like a blade.

"Hey, you two, don't run off like that next time!" Tenten shouted at the top of her lungs, her frustration evident. Guy Sensei acknowledged her with a hearty

"Good job, Tenten! I knew you had the spirit of Youth. Now hurry up, because Neji is gaining on you!" He brushed off her chastisement with ease, prompting Tenten to bark back in irritation,

"Guy Sensei, are you even listening?" But her protest fell on deaf ears as Guy Sensei cheerfully exclaimed.

"Absolutely!" welcoming the arrival of his other two students. Neji, with his trademark arrogance, remarked.

"Sensei, you're lucky that the training area wasn't far from this place." Guy Sensei, unfazed, responded with equal confidence,

"You're right, Neji. We are lucky!" His teeth gleamed as he flashed another thumbs up, much to the chagrin of his exasperated students, all except for Rock Lee.

As the scene unfolded, Naruto, feeling overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all, finally spoke up.

"Oh God, I'm part of this team. Well, it's been fun, but I feel like that's enough training for today." Tenten, noticing something peculiar, exclaimed.

"Oh my God, he's so adorable!" She moved closer, stroking Naruto's ears, causing him to blush profusely. Neji, with a solemn expression, cautioned Tenten.

"Tenten, get away from him; he's dangerous." Tenten responded with a pout, puffing up her cheeks as she retorted in a cute manner.

"Then why is he friend-shaped?" Naruto promptly flickered away from Tenten, finding himself standing beside Guy.

"Can we get on with this? I have things to do." He deadpanned. Guy, ever the enthusiast, placed a hand under his chin, nodding sagely.

"I see, you're already learning the power of Youth, not wasting time on chitter chatter. All right, Fox boy, let's begin our training!" He declared with exuberance, striking a pose that would make any passerby stop and stare. Naruto, visibly irritated by the loud proclamation, covered his ears, prompting Tenten to raise her hand to intervene.

"What about introductions first?" she casually suggested, drawing the attention of everyone present. Acknowledging Tenten's point, Guy offered a thumbs-up, striking yet another pose in approval. However, Naruto, clearing his throat to regain everyone's focus, introduced himself in a casual tone,

"I am Naruto Uzumaki, holder of the nine-tailed fox, and weapon of Konoha." His declaration hung heavy in the air, causing a momentary freeze among the group as they processed his words.

Stepping forward, Guy gathered their attention once more, reassuring the fox boy.

"Naruto, you're not a weapon of Konoha; you are a ninja." This statement seemed to ease the tension, prompting Naruto to nod in agreement. But then, with a touch of irony, he corrected himself.

"You're right, child soldier of Konoha." The reaction was instantaneous; all three students comedically dropped to the ground in disbelief. Undeterred, Guy stood tall, reiterating.

"Ninja of Konoha." Naruto, however, remained unconvinced, flatly asking.

"What's the difference?" Guy took it upon himself to enlighten Naruto, explaining.

"A ninja dedicates themselves to protecting the village, going out on missions, risking their lives for the good of Konoha."

Naruto's response was a deadpan.

"Yeah, like a child soldier." Before Guy could interject, Naruto cut him off,

"Fine, fine. I'm a ninja. If it helps you sleep at night. I'm a ninja, not a child soldier. Let's get on with this." His words hung in the air, prompting Rock Lee to step forward, fueled by righteous indignation.

"How dare you interrupt the words of our sensei." He exclaimed, defending their instructor with fiery determination.

Lee gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over as he squeezed his hand into a fist.

"That's it, I can't take it anymore. I challenge you, Naruto Uzumaki." He declared, pointing directly at Naruto.

Neji rolled his eyes, already anticipating the clash between Lee and the ever-unruly Naruto. Tenten hurriedly stepped in, attempting to diffuse the tension.

"Calm down, you two. We just met." She implored, turning to their sensei for support.

"Right, Guy sensei? These two need to chill."Guy sensei, always eager for a bit of action, chimed in with enthusiasm.

"Lee, my boy, that's a splendid idea! Let's have everyone spar with our new teammate." Tenten couldn't help but collapse to the floor in a comedic display of exasperation.

Naruto, ever the showman, took the lead, leading them to his backyard where a surprising sight awaited.

"You have your own personal hot spring, lucky." Tenten remarked, her voice tinged with envy.

"If you want, I don't mind you taking a dip with me later." Naruto offered with a wink, causing Tenten to blush furiously.

"Um….what?" She stammered, flustered by his unexpected forwardness.

Meanwhile, Neji's irritation with Naruto's antics was palpable, while Lee remained singularly focused on the impending fight. As for Guy sensei, he couldn't help but admire the hot spring, already envisioning a relaxing soak after their training session.

Naruto and Team 3 finally arrived at the training ground, greeted by a sight that could make anyone's jaw drop. The area was a battlefield of sorts, with trees toppled over like giant dominoes, and the ground scarred with deep gashes. Naruto, with his usual flair, swiftly placed an earth talisman and smoothed out the dirt, creating a makeshift arena. The others watched in awe as he effortlessly manipulated the elements.

"Alright, Lee, arenas are for fighting, not gawking. Hurry up!" Naruto's voice broke the silence, pulling Lee out of his daze. Lee leaped onto the opposite side of the mini-arena, stretching his muscles in preparation for the match. Meanwhile, Guy sensei stepped forward, ready to oversee the sparring session.

"Okay, you two, let's see what you've got. This is a friendly match, so give it your all." Guy announced, a hint of excitement in his voice. But before the sparring could begin, Naruto raised a surprising question.

"Um, just to clarify, is killing allowed?" Naruto's deadpan tone caught everyone off guard, sending a chill through the air. His eyes held a cold indifference, signaling his seriousness. The two outside the arena exchanged perplexed glances before Guy sensei intervened.

"Naruto, I know you're new to the team, but we usually don't go for the lethal option in sparring." He explained gently, trying to steer Naruto back to reality.

Naruto nodded, his expression shifting slightly.

"Got it. I'll just...aim to cripple him then." He conceded reluctantly, his eyes flickering with disappointment. Guy sensei quickly added.

"No, no, just friendly sparring. We'll stop the fight when someone's unconscious or if I decide it's necessary."

Naruto's frustration was palpable as he reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, Lee seemed oblivious to the conversation, too focused on his stretching routine, counting each stretch with precision.

Rock Lee struck a signature pose, extending one hand forward while the other trailed behind. Naruto mirrored him, adopting his own fighting stance, albeit with flat palms instead of claws.

"Let me witness the power of Youth! Begin!" Guy sensei's voice boomed with excitement.

Lee blurred out of sight, launching a swift kick towards Naruto's head. With graceful agility, Naruto dodged, evading the attack effortlessly. Lee continued his assault with a flurry of punches, alternating between rights and lefts before unleashing a swirling Leaf Hurricane kick. Naruto adeptly blocked each strike, smoothly evading the ensuing kick with a nimble jump backward.

Undeterred, Lee pressed on, sliding forward to deliver a sharp check to Naruto's jaw. The blonde seized Lee's foot mid-air, halting the kick inches from his face and pushing him back.

"Impressive taijutsu skills, but unlike you, I specialize in versatility." Lee complimented, his voice brimming with confidence. Transforming into a verdant blur, he darted around Naruto with incredible speed.

"Are you even taking this seriously?" Naruto questioned, frustration evident in his tone, but Lee remained focused, executing a Leaf Drop maneuver, aiming a powerful leg strike towards Naruto's head. Anticipating the attack, Naruto sidestepped gracefully, narrowly avoiding the blow. Despite Lee's relentless assault, Naruto refrained from retaliating, opting instead to evade each strike with fluid movements.

Lee, bewildered by Naruto's passive approach, noticed the subtle signs of boredom creeping into Naruto's demeanor.

"What's going on? You haven't thrown a single punch!" He exclaimed, his disbelief palpable. Naruto responded nonchalantly, a hint of indifference in his voice.

"What do you expect? You're holding back, giving me nothing to work with." He rolled his eyes, a clear sign of his frustration.

Guy Sensei was thoroughly impressed by Naruto's prowess in taijutsu. He keenly observed how Naruto matched Lee's strength and speed during their intense sparring session. What caught Guy's attention the most was Naruto's ability to amplify his strength and speed at crucial moments, either to overpower Lee's attacks or swiftly evade them.

"Lee, I've made a decision." Guy announced, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"When you spar with Naruto, you must remove your leg weights." Lee's eyes widened in astonishment; he had always sparred with his teammates while wearing his leg weights.

"Really? I can take them off?" he asked incredulously, a mix of disbelief and excitement evident on his face. Guy struck his signature pose, his arm giving out his familiar thumbs-up signal, confirming Lee's newfound freedom. With a sense of liberation, Lee removed the training weights, feeling the burden lift from his body. As he hurled them out of the arena, they crashed into the dirt, raising a cloud of dust.

"Finally, I can move freely!" Lee exclaimed joyfully before darting around the arena with newfound agility.

Lee swiftly closed the distance, landing a decisive blow on Naruto's cheek. However, Naruto's reflexes were as sharp as ever, and he retaliated with a strike of his own, causing them to exchange blows.

"They're evenly matched." Tenten remarked in surprise, her voice filled with awe.

"Impressive." Naruto muttered as he spat out a trickle of blood onto the ground. Lee's determination ignited as he found a worthy rival in Naruto. With a confident smirk, he vanished once again, delivering a swift kick to Naruto's face, sending him spinning. Naruto gets struck by Lee's follow-up elbow strike, countering with an uppercut to Lee's lower abdomen, propelling them both backward several feet.

Lee clenched his teeth, acknowledging his opponent's raw strength but refusing to falter. They charged at each other once more, Naruto adopting a more defensive stance while occasionally throwing jabs, while Lee unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes, each bringing him closer to overwhelming Naruto. After a rapid exchange of blows, they separated, both bearing a few bruises but displaying unwavering determination as they continued to trade blows.

Naruto focused his chakra, channeling it into his hands, enhancing his fingers into claw-like shapes. With a swift body flicker, he appeared next to Lee, launching a series of claw attacks. Lee, quick and agile, managed to block and evade most of them, countering with his own punches. However, one claw managed to scratch Lee's forehead, drawing blood and momentarily blinding him.

Reacting swiftly, Lee threw a powerful kick under Naruto's chin, sending him staggering back. Naruto regained his balance, landing on his feet just as Lee, affected by the wound on his forehead, struggled to maintain focus. Seizing the opportunity, Naruto delivered a precise palm strike to Lee's chest, knocking the wind out of him, followed by a strike to the solar plexus.

As Naruto prepared to continue his assault, he noticed a sudden surge in Lee's chakra, indicating a significant power increase. Before the match could escalate further, their sensei intervened, stepping between them and halting the confrontation. Naruto, momentarily confused, flipped back, landing gracefully on his feet.

"Did he intervene to save his student, or was it me?" Naruto pondered aloud, recognizing the potential consequences of his actions and the wisdom of their sensei's intervention.

Guy spoke proudly as he observed the scene unfolding before him, where two young students displayed remarkable resilience and determination.

"I'm calling the match for now, you two did great to show me the power of Youth."

Tenten hurried over to Lee's side, swiftly administering medical attention. With practiced ease, she retrieved a scroll and unsealed it, revealing a compact first aid kit. Meanwhile, Naruto approached, taking charge of the situation. He deftly grabbed the gauze and applied it over Lee's wound. Then, with a surprising move, he removed his forearm protector and placed his forearm in Lee's mouth, instructing him firmly.

"Bite down, and suck the chakra."

The onlookers were taken aback, their gazes fixed on Naruto in confusion, while Guy Sensei, though typically one to intervene, remained intrigued. Lee, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events, continued to thrash about, questioning the reason behind The fox boy's actions.

Naruto's voice cut through the tension, urging Lee to trust him.

"If you want the bleeding to stop, just trust me." He said persuasively. Despite his initial hesitation, Lee, guided by his trust in his Sensei's Silence and curiosity, complied with Naruto's unusual method.

As Lee absorbed the chakra flowing down his throat, he felt his body mend swiftly, erasing any bruises or scratches. Tenten watched in astonishment as Lee's injuries healed before her eyes. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy; after all, she harbored aspirations of becoming a medical ninja like the esteemed Lady Tsunade. Meanwhile, Naruto observed as the bite mark on his arm began to heal on its own, his wounds closing with the aid of the fox's chakra instead of his own.

"There, all done. How do you feel?" He inquired, not in a genuine concern, but with a clinical rose to his feet, throwing a few experimental punches and kicks, reveling in the sensation of his body restored to peak condition.

"This is incredible! I feel like I'm at the top of my game." He exclaimed, exhilarated by his newfound vitality. Even the usual soreness he experienced after rigorous training sessions had vanished.

"Good to see that it worked." Naruto remarked, relieved that his Uzumaki chakra had proven effective. Lee, curious about Naruto's earlier uncertainty, questioned.

"What do you mean by that?" Naruto explained casually.

"Well, you see, I recently acquired a new transformation, complete with fox ears and all. If my chakra had changed too drastically, it could have had some unintended consequences, like, uh, potential death. But, you know, probably not." He added nonchalantly, though Lee's horrified reaction suggested otherwise.

Attempting to placate Lee's panic, Naruto reassured him.

"Hey, hey, relax. I've tested it before; I was just pulling your leg." Despite Naruto's attempts at levity, his serious tone and expression belied his words.

"Alright, no more dilly-dallying, folks! Let's dive straight into the next match." Guy Sensei declared with a flourish, ushering the other two students back to the sidelines.

"Drum roll, please! It's the moment we've been waiting for: Neji Hugo versus Naruto Uzumaki."

Neji and Naruto assumed their fighting stances, eyes locked in a fierce gaze as they closed the gap between them. With a swift movement, Neji activated the Byakugan moments before their clash.

"Getting close, huh? That's pretty bold for you." Neji remarked in a condescending tone as his fist swung towards Naruto. Naruto managed to block the strike, but he winced as sharp pain shot through his forearm. The flow of chakra in his forearm became noticeably more difficult.

"What was that?" Naruto questioned, still feeling the numbness from Neji's strikes.

"This is my fighting style, gentle fist. With my Byakugan, I can target all of your pressure points and internal organs." Neji explained, a cocky grin on his face.

"Okay, but why bother explaining it?" Naruto asked, puzzled by Neji's decision to reveal his abilities during a fight. Neji clicked his tongue, irritated by Naruto's nonchalant attitude.

"Because I am superior to you. Unlike the rest of my team, I've studied you. You're nothing but a loser who failed the graduation exam three times. Your grades are abysmal. Even if I explain how my ability works, I am destined to win this fight." Neji retorted, revealing his true feelings towards Naruto.

The blonde-haired ninja just tilted his head in confusion, wondering why someone would waste so much time explaining during a fight. He started to question why he was even standing there, listening to this drivel.

"Okay." Naruto responded with a shrug.

"Well, I guess destiny shou—" Neji's sentence was cut short as Naruto swiftly pulled out a red talisman, shooting a stream of fire towards him. Neji smirked, rotating in place to deflect the flames. However, the fire wrapped around his full rotation, dispersing.

"You see, I was born strong. You've got nothing but cheap tricks." Neji taunted again.

In response, Naruto unleashed streams of paper, each imbued with a different elemental power. One after the other, they shot towards Neji, who resumed his rotation, deflecting all of them. However, instead of attacking all at once, Naruto shot one talisman at a time, causing Neji to keep rotating and using up chakra.

"Yeah, I doubt you have enough chakra to outlast me." Naruto remarked casually as he bombarded Neji with his attacks. If Neji were to stop rotating, he would be vulnerable to the demon boy's onslaught.

Naruto laid down a water Talisman followed by an earth one, transforming the arena into a muddy swamp. As the mud oozed, Naruto effortlessly floated above the ground, leaving everyone bewildered.

"He can fly?" exclaimed Tenten, her shock reverberating through her body. She couldn't fathom how a recent graduate could possess such abilities.

"Wait, how strong is he? I've counted five releases already." She added, voicing her surprise and curiosity about this mysterious boy.

"I'll tell you who he is. He's my rival." Declared Rock Lee, his excitement palpable at the prospect of facing Naruto again, this time hoping for a battle at full strength. Meanwhile, Guy sensei began jotting down notes on a report to present to the third Hokage, keen on documenting Naruto's impressive display of skills.

In the midst of the chaos, Naruto cunningly created a hole beneath Neji, causing the young prodigy to leap up and land knee-deep in the muddy arena.

"What's this?" exclaimed Neji, frustration evident in his voice as he struggled to navigate through the mire. Seizing the opportunity, Naruto swiftly hurled paper shurikens in Neji's direction, displaying his strategic prowess. Although Neji attempted to maneuver through the barrage, his feet failed to gain the necessary traction, forcing him to rely on dodging and weaving to avoid the makeshift projectiles.

With determination etched on his face, Neji launched himself into the air, unleashing an air Palm towards Naruto, who promptly erected a Chakra wall using a well-placed Talisman, to shield himself. As the Hyuga descended, he initiated another rotation, pushing the mud beneath him making solid ground as his feet touched the earth. Exhaustion began to set in as Neji panted heavily, drained from the relentless onslaught and constant rotations.

"A little winded, huh? Looks like you're trying out some new moves, but it seems like you're still getting the hang of it." He remarked, observing the Hyuga's struggle. He continued to fashion more shurikens, each imbued with a combination of fire and Wind energy. With practiced precision, he launched them at a swirling stream of flames, causing the shurikens to hover around in a menacing rotation, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

Taking in the scene, Guy observed Neji's struggle. It was evident that Neji couldn't handle the situation any longer. He had only recently started learning the rotation technique, and he hadn't mastered it yet. It still drained a significant amount of chakra from him. Guy raised his hand, catching Naruto's attention. Naruto looked over with a raised eyebrow and let out a disappointed sigh.

"Well, looks like you're out for now, Hyuga." Naruto remarked casually. He swiftly activated an earth talisman, solidifying the ground and repairing the damage to the arena. Neji couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth from the loss.

Naruto couldn't help but crack up, his laughter echoing through the training ground.

"Come on, don't be sad, you're destined to lose, hahahahahaha." He teased, wearing a gleeful smirk that stretched from ear to ear. He even slapped his knee in amusement, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

Neji, however, gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening as he launched himself towards Naruto. The fox boy's eyes flashed red, a sign of his readiness for combat, and he body-flickered in front of Neji, throwing a swift uppercut with precision.

Neji countered with a Palm strike, his movements calculated and swift, aiming directly for Naruto's vital organs. The tension in the air was palpable as both attacks neared each other, inches away from connecting, before they were abruptly halted by a figure stepping in between them.

"This Guy" - pun unintended - grabbed both of their wrists, his presence commanding attention.

"I love seeing the youth have such energy, but save some for Tenten and today's training." He chimed in, his voice carrying a cheerful tone that matched his trademark smile perfectly.

Reluctantly, Naruto and Neji released their holds, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills as they begrudgingly parted ways. Naruto maintained his smirk, a grin that irked Neji to no end, while the Hyuga muttered curses under his breath as he moved to stand beside Rock Lee.

Guy turned his attention to Naruto, conducting a quick assessment to ensure he was fit enough to continue training.

"You seem alright on the surface, but are you feeling fatigued from using your chakra?" He inquired, wanting to gauge if Naruto needed a break.

"Honestly, I'm fine. Usually, I use way more chakra during my sparring sessions." Naruto replied honestly, reassuring his new sensei. Guy sensei grinned, observing the vibrant energy.

"Great, then we can keep going. Let's give it up for..." He exclaimed loudly, causing Naruto's ears to twitch.

"The match everyone's been waiting for: Tenten versus Naruto Uzumaki!" He announced proudly. Tenten felt a wave of second-hand embarrassment as she stepped into the arena, her nerves building as she watched Naruto fight, seeing how he held his ground against her teammates or even completely overwhelmed them.

"Don't worry, I won't take it easy on you just because you're a girl." Naruto reassured her, causing her to twitch nervously. She definitely wished he would go easy on her.

"No, you can go easy on me. I'm all for it." She responded, her nerves getting the best of her.

Naruto body-flickered right next to her, and she panicked, reaching for her scroll. Naruto grabbed her wrist, preventing her from moving it.

"Relax, it's just a sparring session. You don't have to prove anything to me, or anybody. Just do your best." He spoke softly and kindly, before flickering back to his original spot.

She looked down, noticing her legs shaking, feeling angry with herself. She slapped her cheeks with her hands, snapping herself out of her pity party.

"Thank you, but you're going to regret this." She said confidently, her legs remaining solid. She unwound the scroll, revealing the jutsu formulas underneath, as shurikens popped out, flying towards Naruto.

The fox boy unleashed a wind talisman, enveloping himself in a swirling cloak that deflected the incoming shurikens.

"How did her projectile weapons fail? She's never missed a target." Guy Sensei exclaimed, his surprise evident. Tenten took another wind talisman and hurled a barrage of weapons at him. Her opponent, puzzled, tilted his head, wondering why she was sticking to basic weaponry. Naruto advanced, his wind cloak repelling each weapon effortlessly.

"Is this all you've got?" He questioned, genuinely curious why she hadn't infused her weapons with chakra. Tenten stepped back, launching more weapons into the air. Then, she leaped up, using the strings on her fingertips to control the weapons. They came to life, encircling Naruto. He channeled wind chakra into his throat, emitting a piercing sonic blast that sent the weapons flying. Some sliced through Tenten as she fell backward. Naruto flickered, catching her before she hit the ground.

"Um... good job?" he awkwardly offered, his disbelief evident. Tenten, seeing Naruto's expression, felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she pushed away from the fox boy.

"Hey, calm down, don't move, you're injured." He said, halting her tantrum. With a swift motion, he retrieved his forearm protector. She looked ashamed and a tad nervous, but her composure quickly shifted, and determination gleamed in her eyes. She clenched her teeth, intent on landing at least one hit. With full force, she sank her teeth into Naruto's forearm, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. He struggled, trying to shake her off, but she held on tightly, drawing in his chakra while feeling the sting of her wounds through her clothes.

"Thank you." She exclaimed with a happy tone, satisfied to have accomplished something, even if it meant biting Naruto. The fox boy growled, glaring at his slowly healing wound.

"Seriously, why me?" He muttered, questioning the powers that be.

Guy Sensei approached Naruto, offering praise.

"Good job! You've proven yourself to be a fine ninja. Now, let's move on to today's training. I believe you'll benefit most from working with Lee on strength and speed training. Together, you two can push yourselves to your limits." Naruto glanced between the other two, weighing his options.

"I think I should team up with Tenten for the first few training days." His words hung in the air, prompting a moment of surprise among the group.

Guy, known for his energetic demeanor, placed his hand under his chin, pondering Naruto's proposal. After a brief pause, he stretched out his hand and flashed a bright smile, revealing his shiny teeth.

"Absolutely, that's perfectly fine with me." He exclaimed enthusiastically.

"I suppose I'll take on the training of Lee and Neji then."

With a burst of energy, Guy wasted no time and decided to kick off the training session right away.

"Come on, everyone! Let's knock out our first 200 laps together before we split into groups." He declared, projecting his voice so everyone could hear. And with that, he took off running, leading the way with the rest of the team and Naruto hot on his heels.

****After an hour of running they finally split up into groups.****

Tenten lay sprawled on the ground, utterly spent, while Naruto loomed over her, a picture of nonchalance.

"It was only 200 laps." He remarked, as if the grueling training had been a mere warm-up.

"Only 200 laps?" she retorted, disbelief evident in her tone, questioning his sanity and perhaps her own life choices. It was becoming clear why he had been assigned to their team.

"Hey, mind if we chat about your fighting style?" Naruto inquired, careful not to overstep. Tenten, with a pained expression in her eyes, sat up and released a heavy sigh.

"I know I'm lagging behind compared to the others. I initially aimed to become a medical ninja, but I lacked the necessary skill." She confessed, offering a glimpse into her backstory. Naruto settled beside her, his hand gently resting on her head.

"But you've shown proficiency in fuinjutsu. Why haven't you delved deeper into it?" Naruto pondered, curious about her reluctance to explore her potential further. Tenten shrugged, explaining,

"Fuinjutsu has its limits. I've managed to craft a few paper bombs and scrolls to seal my weapons for projectile use, but that's about it." Naruto's expression shifted to one of confusion, trying to grasp the extent of her abilities.

"Wait, wait, wait, you can't make talismans?" He questions, his curiosity piqued about Konoha's knowledge of fuinjutsu.

"What's a talisman?" she asks, intrigued to see the secrets Naruto was holding.

"Well, it's basically...here, I'll show you." He responds, creating red chakra paper adorned with kanji.

"This is a talisman. See the symbols on the paper? They symbolize hand signs. It's similar to a paper bomb, but instead of exploding, it performs jutsu." He explains carefully, observing her eyes light up with interest. A smile creeps onto his face, but he quickly suppresses it, not wanting to get too excited.

"Can you teach me then?" she asked, bubbling with excitement as she rose from her seat, eager to absorb a new technique. Naruto pondered for a moment before exhaling audibly, her smile fading as she anticipated the response.

"It's not that I don't want to teach you." He began gently. "But this technique likely belongs to my clan, and I can't just hand it out to anyone. But hey, don't sweat it, I've got something else in store for you." He tried to soften the disappointment in his words.

He pressed his hand against the ground, leaving behind a mark, before swiftly teleporting. She scanned her surroundings, unable to locate him. After a brief wait, she realized he was right beside her.

"What the hell!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the quiet. Startled, she leaped back as Naruto stood there, holding a katana and a bow with arrows, along with a bag filled with ninja scrolls.

"Here, give this katana a whirl." He said, offering her a crimson blade. She eagerly took it, running her fingers along the edge of the blade as she withdrew it from its scabbard. She could see the intricate patterns etched into the metal, revealing its true beauty. With a determined expression, she hurled the katana towards a nearby tree.

"That's a finely crafted katana." She remarked, complimenting the craftsman. Naruto stood there watching her throw months of hard work like a shuriken. He hesitated to give her the bow, wondering if she would throw it, but then he shook that thought out of his head.

"Sorry... I meant like practicing swinging, not throwing." He clarified, causing her to blush in embarrassment.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She spoke in a whisper as she ran, grabbing the katana, feeling like an idiot.

"I also brought you some scrolls that have Kenjutsu techniques and archery skills." He explained, handing her some scrolls.

She gently cradled the Ninja Scrolls in her hand, delicately sliding them into her pouch. Her eyes lingered on the bow, admiring the intricate fuinjutsu markings etched onto its surface. With a mischievous grin, she aimed at a nearby tree and flung the bow with precise skill, eliciting a dumbfounded expression from Naruto. He stood there, utterly shocked by her audacity.

Amidst her uncontrollable laughter, Tenten couldn't help but revel in Naruto's reaction.

"Ahahahah, look at your face!" She exclaimed between fits of giggles, her amusement echoing through the training grounds. However, her laughter quickly subsided as Naruto's plea reached her ears.

"Please go get the bow back, I spent months working on it." Naruto implored, his tone tinged with disappointment. Tenten froze in place, realization dawning upon her. She hadn't known that Naruto was the craftsman behind the weapons she so carelessly handled. In her mind, it felt akin to a mother discarding her newborn out of a window.

Rushing over to retrieve the bow, Tenten returned with a deep bow of apology.

"I'm so sorry, I was just trying to make you laugh." She explained, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she attempted to convey her remorse. Naruto waved off her apology with a forgiving smile.

"It's fine, let's just get on with the training for today. But I do have a question: why don't you infuse chakra with your weapons?" He inquired, his curiosity piqued. Tenten tilted her head in confusion, pondering his question.

"You can do that?" She questioned, a mix of surprise and curiosity evident in her voice as she wondered why nobody had ever mentioned this before. With a swift motion, she withdrew a kunai from her pouch, her fingers wrapping around its handle as she attempted to channel chakra into it. As the energy began to coat the blade, she felt the strain on her mind intensify, making her realize the taxing nature of the process.

"Wait, wait, calm down." He interjected, sensing her agitation. He reached into his own pouch, retrieving a piece of paper, and handed it to her.

"We have to check something first before we continue." Puzzled, she glanced down at the paper in her hand.

"What am I supposed to do now?" She questioned, her brow furrowing with uncertainty.

"Oh yeah, channel chakra through it." He instructed, his tone brimming with anticipation. She simply shrugged, still unsure, before following his guidance and infusing the paper with her chakra. Almost instantly, the paper split into pieces.

"Your chakra's nature is wind release." He exclaimed, his excitement palpable. But she remained bewildered, her expression betraying her confusion at the unfolding events.

"Good, that's out of the way now, I need you to create multiple Shadow clones and have each of them take a leaf from a tree, and have them try splitting the leaf with their chakra." Naruto rattled off a flurry of instructions, leaving her feeling a bit overwhelmed. She waved her hands in front of her, attempting to slow him down.

"Hey, one thing at a time." She interjected, catching his attention. Naruto shrugged, momentarily forgetting he wasn't conversing with Kurama.

"Sorry, let's start with step one: make the ram seal to create multiple Shadow clones." He instructed, guiding her through the process.

As she concentrated, forming the ram seal with her hands, chakra began to swirl around her. With effort, she managed to conjure about five Shadow clones. Yet, even as they materialized, she could feel the drain on her energy.

"Alright, only five, huh? Well, that's good enough, I guess." He said, gathering the clones around him.

"Listen up, clones. Each of you needs to grab a leaf, place it between your hands, and channel chakra, trying to cut the leaf in half." He demonstrated the technique effortlessly, splitting the leaf. The clones exchanged curious glances, wondering about the purpose of this exercise.

"Hey Naruto, why are we doing this again?" One of the clones scratched the back of her head, growing irritated.

"Oh, now I know how Kurama feels." He muttered. "This is supposed to train your wind nature, allowing you to perform wind ninjutsu. And before you ask, the reason you're using clones is so you get five times the experience." Naruto explained, hoping to clarify their confusion. All the clones nodded in agreement, understanding their task, and dispersed to grab leaves from the trees to begin their training.

Meanwhile, the original Tenten, noticing Naruto's ears, began playfully fluffing them.

"Should I join them?" she asked, continuing to groom him. Naruto blushed deeper, clearly enjoying the attention.

"No, I want you to swing the katana, but this time channel chakra through it." He instructed. She nodded, grabbing the crimson blade once again. Lifting it over her head, she focused, channeling her energy through it. With a single slash, a crescent blade emerged from the katana, slicing into the dirt.

"What? What?" She exclaimed, bewildered. She glanced between Naruto and the blade, her confusion evident.

"Did I just use a wind jutsu?"

"Yes and no." Naruto clarified. "The blade itself converted your chakra to wind. The seals I planned on the blade allowed any chakra channeled through it to have a wind-type nature. What you have is my first prototype nature release weapon."He moved closer, encircling her with his arms as she held the blade. She blushed, feeling his muscles against her back.

"Umm... what are you doing?" She squeaked nervously.

"Just watch." He reassured her, leaving her hands locked between his as he swung down with a quick motion. A much bigger and denser crescent air blade emerged, traveling ten times farther than her attack. The devastation it caused was evident as it chopped through stone and trees alike.

"That was amazing." She whispered, feeling the power surge within her. The realization dawned that if she mastered it, she could wield similar abilities.

"Now let's move on to the bow. After that, we're going to do some sparring with wooden blades." He said, smoothly transitioning. He retrieved the bow, deftly notching an arrow. As he began channeling chakra through the arrow, the wind wrapped around its tip.

"The arrows I've crafted gather wind as chakra is infused, but the bow..." His explanation was interrupted as Jutsu formulas on the bow began to glow red. With a release, the arrow soared, the bow igniting and causing the projectile to burst into flames as it streaked across the woods. It struck a tree before exploding into a ball of fire.

"How did you make all these weapons? I've never seen anything like this." She exclaimed, feeling as though an entirely new world was unfolding before her. The revelation was particularly striking since most of these weapons were crafted with her specialty in fuinjutsu.

"Wait, so Konoha doesn't have weapons like this at all." He asked, genuinely curious about the state of the village's fuinjutsu.

"No, we use fuinjutsu mostly for sealing and paper bombs. And our seals are usually used for transporting weapons and equipment in scrolls." She explained, still surprised by everything Naruto was showing her as a glimmer of hope gleamed in her eyes.

"I see, I've made a mistake showing you all this." The next words he spoke cut her hopes of becoming stronger. He stared, seeing the sadness she had.

"Look, it's not like I don't want to teach you this. It's just that I'm not a fan of the Leaf Village in general. But if you promise not to tell anybody what I showed you today, I'll see if I can give you a little bit more." He explained, trying to wipe away that sad expression she had. She smiled, looking at the fox.

"Really?" She questioned with excitement as she moved close to Naruto, hugging him. His face plowed into her chest, causing him to blush. She realized what she was doing and immediately released him.

"Yeah, I will, but I can't do anything more unless you become my wife." He explained, his words hanging in the air. But all she heard was the word "wife." and she began to blush uncontrollably.

"What? What? What?" She stammered, feeling a rush of emotions flood her mind at his unexpected offer.

"No, it's not a marriage proposal, I'm just... saying... if... I... you know." He responded, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. They both remained there, caught in a moment of intense tension, their cheeks aflame with blush.

"I'm going to change into my training clothes. I thought we were going on a mission today, you know, you know." He spoke, attempting to steer the conversation back on track. Naruto swiftly transformed, with the Flying Thunder God, out of his current attire, retrieving a scroll from his clothing.

Tenten couldn't help but blush as she watched him, his muscular form on full display in his underwear. She admired the mask he wore, adding an air of mystery to his appearance. Despite her efforts to look away, her heartbeat urged her to keep watching.

Then, she noticed the intricate formulas adorning his body, from his neck down to his toes. Naruto changed into an orange, skin-tight shirt paired with baggy orange pants and an orange cloth wrapped around his waist. He tossed her a wooden katana, but she fumbled and it smacked her in the face, causing her to stumble backward.

"Are you okay?" he asked, observing her slump to the ground. She experienced the most profound second-hand embarrassment of her life, berating herself for being too engrossed in the sight of the fox boy changing before her.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm just distracted by your body." She blurted out in an excuse as she scrambled to her feet. She felt an even bigger wave of embarrassment wash over her as her cheeks blushed. Naruto understood that his ears and tail were quite distracting.

"May I ask you something? What are those formulas on your body?" She questioned, attempting to unravel his secrets, despite knowing it was improbable unless she married him.

"Oh, these seals around my body are Earth seals. They make my body ridiculously heavy, as if I had weights on. It helps during training, if you want. I can put some on you." He explained casually, as though it were a common occurrence. She looked delighted to be offered such fuinjutsu.

"Well, of course, go right ahead." She replied with enthusiasm, eager to receive another gift. Naruto knelt down, pulling down her pants. Her quick smile turned into a frown and a screech as she punched Naruto. He instinctively grabbed her fist, stopping it an inch away.

"What are you doing?" She asked, her underwear now exposed. Naruto tilted his head in confusion.

"You requested I apply the formula, but I can't do it over clothes." He explained, leaving her feeling like a complete idiot, especially after giving him permission.

"You're right, I'm sorry, my instincts just kicked in." She replied, her ears turning red with embarrassment. Naruto continued drawing the full Jutsu on her using his fingertips, causing her to blush brighter than the sun as he basically traced his fingers all over her body. She even had to unhook her bra at one point just so he could place the symbol over her heart.

"We're all done. Now, to activate the seal, just channel chakra through your heart, and it should activate, causing your whole body to become heavier. There's 10 levels in total, start at level 1." Naruto explained, rattling off the dangers and operations of the Jutsu. She activated it using a small part of her chakra, feeling her body get heavier as she picked up her blade, ready for the sparring match. Naruto activated his seal, and they began to spar.

****Hours later****

They proceeded to spar for hours on end, each time her clones dissipated, and she was running low on chakra. Naruto always replenished her tank, allowing her to keep going further than usual.

Guy Sensei finally returned to Naruto and Tenten. He was in complete disbelief seeing her fight with a sword like it was second nature to her. Naruto was barely holding his own; it could have been the seals, or just the sheer skill difference in weapons. But she was constantly pushing him back as he attempted to defend himself.

"Hey, take it easy." Naruto spoke, barely blocking a few strikes from Tenten.

"Oh, come on, I'm just having a little fun." She smiled cheerfully as she finally found something she was good at. Naruto activated his red chakra, his eyes glowing red as he attempted to push her back. Instead of blocking, she parried his strike, leaving him open, and she thrust towards his neck. Naruto body-flickered out of her reach.

"Dang, you really want me to work for it." She quipped as she kept up her barrage of swings, mixing in a few kicks to throw him off balance and send him sprawling onto his back.

"Come on, Fox boy, is that all you've got?" She taunted before thrusting her blade down, only to be knocked back as their blades clashed with a burst of chakra-infused wind from Naruto.

"Unfair, you used wind release. Oh wait, does that mean I win?" She chimed in a playful tone before switching to one of victory.

"How did you get so skilled with a sword? All you did before was toss weapons." Naruto bit out with a tinge of bitterness in his voice. Tenten couldn't help but grin, relishing her victory over Naruto. Even after the win, her body still pulsed with exhaustion from the intense training.

Guy sensei cleared his throat, drawing their attention.

"Well, I think that's enough training for today. Since it's our first day with our new member, let's head out for a meal to welcome him." Their sensei announced, striking a dramatic pose once again.

"Alright, let's go! I'll race you there, sensei!" Rock Lee challenged, prompting a facepalm from Neji.

"That's the spirit, Lee! Challenge accepted." Guy agreed, getting into a running stance. Tenten pinched the bridge of her nose and stepped in front of them.

"Hey, guys, why don't we let Naruto decide? This meal is to welcome him, after all, so let's try somewhere different instead of just heading to our usual spot." She suggested. They exchanged nods, all in agreement. Guy stood up tall, ready to lead the way.

"Hey Naruto, where are we headed?" He chimed, his usual vigor evident in his voice. Naruto hesitated, scanning his companions. He recalled the warmth of Ichiraku Ramen, the kind faces that greeted him there. It was his go-to spot, but he knew his presence, especially since childhood, had caused the business to suffer. Thus, he only frequented it in disguise.

"I'm sorry, not feeling it." He replied, his tone frosty, eyes flashing with an unsettling crimson hue as he surveyed them.

Confusion clouded their expressions, unable to grasp why Naruto's demeanor had shifted so abruptly. Tenten sensed the unease, a gnawing feeling that something was amiss.

"Did we offend you?" She inquired, hurt evident in her eyes, hoping to salvage what she believed was the start of a genuine friendship. But Naruto remained resolute, unmoved even as she teared up.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm just not keen on dining in the village." He muttered, bitterness lacing his words.

Lee, Guy-sensei, and Neji exchanged perplexed glances, perplexed by Naruto's sudden change in behavior.

"Well, if that's it for today, I'll head inside. Oh, Tenten, feel free to make good use of the weapons I've given you. Until our next training session." He added with a bitter edge, preempting any attempts at conversation before vanishing in a flash of the Flying Thunder God Technique.

As soon as he stepped inside his home, tears burst forth, clutching at his heart.

"Why did I do that?" He questioned, overwhelmed by a wave of sadness. His hands clawed at the floor, leaving imprints as he grappled with his emotions.

"They were so nice to me. Why did I?" He muttered to himself, longing for an answer but knowing that venturing out of the woods with them, would subject them to the judgmental stares he had faced his whole life.

"I hate it here. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say what I did." He begged for forgiveness, even though they weren't present. He had never felt such warmth in a single day, and it overwhelmed him. Finally feeling normal, only to have his dream shattered when they asked him to leave the woods.

"I can't believe I judged them at the beginning, thinking they'd be the same." He regretted his initial remarks, especially after getting to know them a little better. It wasn't just the way they looked at him; there was no hatred, disgust, or revulsion. They saw him as a human being, Lee, Guy,and Tenten. He wasn't afraid of the village; he was afraid the village would turn his friends against him. Taking deep breaths, he closed his eyes, focusing on the chakra signatures, noticing his teammates' departure.

****Team 3 leaving****

Tenten wore a concerned expression as she glanced at her teammates.

"Hey guys, do you think he's okay?" She inquired, her voice tinged with worry. Lee turned to Guy, seeking his wisdom. Placing a hand under his chin, Guy reflected.

"He kinda reminds me of my rival . He had this habit of keeping his distance from others." bitterness seeping into his tone, as he recalled his past encounters with Kakashi. Stepping in front of Guy, Tenten persisted.

"But he got better, didn't he?" Neji scoffed, his words cutting through the air.

"Oh, stop it. The boy's not as innocent as you think. I've come across reports about him hospitalizing fellow classmates multiple times. Just a few days ago, he even branded a few boys. And no, it's not just a rumor. I've seen the pictures myself." He declared, his fury evident as he dismissed any notion of pity towards Naruto, whom he deemed a monster.

Tenten paused for a moment, her thoughts drifting back to the fleeting smile she had witnessed on Naruto's face.

"I don't think it's fair to judge without hearing both sides." She retorted, her voice firm but compassionate. Neji raised an eyebrow, activating his Byakugan as if suspecting a genjutsu. Guy Sensei, noticing the escalating tension between his students, intervened with a deep sigh.

"Listen, you two." He began, his tone authoritative yet understanding. "I think we should table this discussion for now. We've only just met Naruto today. It wouldn't be right to pass judgment based on one encounter, would it?" He reasoned, his gaze shifting between his students. With a collective nod, they agreed, even Neji, though his expression remained bitter. And with that, they left the woods, leaving Naruto behind.

**** one hour later****

Naruto finally found solace by the riverside, clutching his fishing gear tightly as he sought refuge from the day's turmoil. Perched on the rugged rocks, his fishing pole resting beside him, he let out a sigh of relief. With a swift flick, he sent a wind-infused paper shuriken slicing through the air, its buzzing sound echoing as it met the tree, causing it to topple over. Naruto swiftly appeared atop the newly-formed stump, his gaze piercing, his whiskered face reflecting a mix of emotions, while his ears twitched with anticipation.

Amidst this serene moment, a curious figure emerged—a boy clad in a vibrant yellow shirt and gray shorts, sporting an oversized blue scarf and an eccentric helmet. Fear etched across his eyes as he locked gazes with Naruto.

"Who are you, and why are you in my forest?" Naruto's voice echoed with a deep, intimidating tone, cutting through the tranquil ambiance of the riverside.