*A Few Days Later*
Minato looked at his son and said, "Go change and meet me in the backyard."
*Ten Minutes Later*
Naruto appeared in the large backyard, wearing his training gear. His young face was determined, his black hair tousled. Minato nodded approvingly as his son approached.
"Alright, Naruto," Minato began, holding up a kunai. "I want you to take this and climb that tree. But here's the catch—you're not allowed to use your hands."
Naruto blinked in confusion, giving his father an odd look. Before he could question him, Minato smiled and walked toward the tree. With ease, he stepped onto the bark, walking vertically up the tree with only his feet until he was upside down, defying gravity.
Naruto's mouth dropped open.
"Don't worry about it, son. Your quirk is more powerful than you realize," Minato explained. "All you need to do is focus. Imagine your quirk flowing inside you and push just enough of it to your feet so that you can stick to the tree. But listen carefully—it's about balance. Too much, and you'll fall. Too little, and you'll slip. But don't worry, I'll be here to catch you if you fall."
Naruto glanced up at the tree, feeling both excited and nervous.
"One more thing," Minato added with a grin. "Use the kunai to mark your progress. Your goal is to reach the top of the tree. And remember, Naruto—I want you to be strong. You're going to help so many people, and by the time you get to hero school, you'll be the strongest student there! Muahaha!"
Naruto sweat-dropped at the dramatic evil laugh his father let out. *Is this really my dad?* he wondered. But the encouragement filled him with confidence, and he nodded, determined to give it his all.
Approaching the tree with a kunai in hand, Naruto focused, taking a deep breath. He concentrated on the quirk inside him, feeling its energy swirl around his body. Slowly, he pushed some of that power into his feet. He lifted one foot and placed it on the tree trunk. Step by step, he carefully began to ascend, feeling the bark beneath his feet.
Higher and higher he climbed, reaching halfway up the tree. But when he looked down, the ground seemed so far away, and his concentration wavered. Panic surged through him, and he lost control, falling backward.
Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the impact—but instead of hitting the ground, he felt strong arms catch him. He opened his eyes to see Minato smiling down at him.
"You know, you were supposed to mark your spot before falling," Minato teased gently as he set Naruto back on his feet.
"Sorry, I got scared and forgot…" Naruto admitted, looking at the ground in shame.
"Hey, hey, don't worry about it, buddy. It was your first time! You did great for your first attempt. Look—you made it halfway up the tree. That's impressive." Minato ruffled his son's hair. "Just keep trying, and you'll get it."
Naruto looked up at his father, the shame disappearing and determination taking its place. "Right! I'll do it again!"
Minato stepped aside, watching with pride as Naruto prepared to give it another go.
"And we'll stop when the food is ready," Minato added with a grin. "By the way, we'll be changing your diet soon to help you grow those hero muscles."
Naruto grinned back, holding the kunai tightly as he faced the tree once more, ready to try again.