Chapter 12 : Beyond the Basics

Naruto glanced down at Ebisu, who was sprawled on the ground, completely unconscious. "Man, that guy's out cold," he muttered, scratching his head in disbelief. Without wasting time, Naruto formed the familiar hand seal for a Shadow Clone, creating a duplicate to keep an eye on the fallen Ebisu. The real Naruto, however, had other plans.

He turned and walked straight toward the white-haired man, determination in his step. "Oi!" Naruto called out, glaring at the man. "Who the heck are you? You knocked out the guy who was supposed to be training me! You owe me for that, old man!"

The white-haired stranger glanced lazily over his shoulder, unimpressed by Naruto's demand. With a smirk, he replied, "Training you? That guy got in the way of my research, brat."

"Research?" Naruto repeated, his confusion deepening. "What kind of research are you talking about? What, are you a scientist or something?"

The man chuckled and puffed up his chest proudly. "Not exactly, kid. I'm a writer. A renowned one, at that!" He fished out a small, worn-out book from his robe and waved it in front of Naruto's face. The cover read Make-Out Paradise, and it looked all too familiar.

Naruto's eyes widened in instant recognition. "Hey, wait a minute… that's the same book Kakashi-sensei is always reading!"

"That's right!" the man declared, grinning with pride. "I'm the author of the best-selling adult novel series in the Shinobi World! My research is essential for my next masterpiece."

Naruto's face immediately twisted in disgust as the realization sank in. "So you're just a huge pervert!" he yelled, pointing an accusing finger at the man. "You're not doing 'research,' you're just being a creep!"

The white-haired man's expression didn't falter. "Pervy? Watch your mouth, kid. I'm an artist. And besides, what would a brat like you understand about the finer things in life, huh?"

"Artist? Finer things?" Naruto snapped back, his voice rising. "You're just a shameless old man who peeks into the women's bath! How can you go around acting all proud of yourself for being a pervert? You're worse than Kakashi-sensei!"

The two of them continued to bicker, Naruto fuming while the man simply shrugged off every accusation with a casual wave of his hand, clearly unbothered by Naruto's insults. For all his confidence and shamelessness, Naruto couldn't help but wonder just who this guy was—and how someone so strong could be such a complete weirdo.

Naruto, growing more irritated by the minute, decided to cut through all the man's excuses. He clenched his fists and glared at him. "Listen, I don't care about your dumb excuses or 'research' or whatever! You knocked out my trainer, so what are you gonna do about my training, huh?!"

The man raised an eyebrow and scratched his chin, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Training, you say?" He looked over to the hot spring and then back at Naruto, his eyes glinting with sudden understanding. "Ah, you mean the water-walking exercise?"

"Yeah, that's right!" Naruto shot back, crossing his arms. "Ebisu-sensei was supposed to teach me, but you knocked him out cold! So now it's your job to make sure I get the hang of it!"

The white-haired man let out a hearty laugh, clearly amused by Naruto's stubbornness. "Hah! You've got some guts, kid. Alright, I suppose I could supervise your training. But only if you prove to me you're worth my time," he said with a challenging glint in his eye.

Naruto blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Worth your time? What's that supposed to mean? I don't need to prove anything to a pervert like you!" he yelled, though a small part of him was intrigued. This man had taken out Ebisu in an instant; maybe he really was strong enough to be a decent teacher.

"Then consider it a test," the man replied, smirking. "If you can manage to show some progress in your water-walking by the end of the day, I'll teach you something worthwhile. Deal?" He folded his arms across his chest, clearly expecting Naruto to back down.

But Naruto grinned fiercely. "Fine! I don't back down from a challenge, old man! I'll show you exactly what I'm made of!"

Naruto stepped onto the water again, his feet sinking slightly. Jiraiya observed him closely, seeing the boy struggle. Naruto's face twisted in concentration, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he focused all his attention on keeping his balance.

Yet, frustration began to bubble within him. "Why isn't this working?!" he yelled out, his voice echoing across the hot spring. "I know I've gotten better at chakra control! I can feel my chakra moving exactly where it should be, but it's like it's not listening to me!" His anger got the better of him, causing his concentration to falter. A second later, he splashed into the water.

Naruto surfaced, sputtering, and pushed his soaked hair out of his eyes. "Alright, that's it!" he grumbled, stomping out of the water. He began throwing off his clothes, leaving on only his boxer shorts. "No point in staying in these if I'm just gonna keep falling in!" he huffed. He muttered to himself as he discarded his wet clothes, his irritation palpable. "Why can't I get this stupid exercise right? What am I missing here?"

Jiraiya watched quietly, his eyes narrowing as he noted Naruto's agitation. He decided it was time to step in. "Hey, kid. Hold on a second," Jiraiya called out, drawing Naruto's attention. "Do me a favor and focus your chakra for me."

Naruto blinked in confusion. "Huh? Why?" he asked skeptically.

"Just do it," Jiraiya insisted, waving a hand dismissively. "I want to check something."

Still unsure, Naruto complied, forming the required hand seal and channeling chakra throughout his body. As he did, a seal pattern appeared on his stomach: the Eight Trigrams Seal. Jiraiya leaned in closer, inspecting it with a keen eye. His gaze turned sharp as he noticed another mark overlaying the original seal—a Five Pronged Seal, crudely placed on top of the elegant work done by the Fourth Hokage.

Jiraiya frowned. "So that's it... That snake Orochimaru must've been up to something," he muttered to himself, recognizing the interference caused by the Five Pronged Seal.

"Alright, kid, raise your arms," Jiraiya ordered suddenly.

"Eh? Why?" Naruto questioned, his suspicion clear. But he raised his arms anyway, too curious to object further. "This better not be another one of your stupid—"

BAM! Jiraiya's hand slammed into Naruto's stomach, directly over the seal. His fingers pressed into the pattern as he channeled his own chakra to undo the Five Pronged Seal.

Naruto gasped, staggering back with wide eyes. "Ow! What the hell was that for, you crazy pervert?!" he shouted, clutching his stomach. He glared at Jiraiya, who remained as carefree as ever.

"Just stimulating some relaxation points for you," Jiraiya replied nonchalantly, waving off Naruto's outburst. "Now quit whining and go try walking on the water again."

Naruto shot him a skeptical look but turned back to the water with a grumble. "Fine, whatever. But if this doesn't work, I'm coming back to kick your—" He cut himself off, focusing on the task at hand. As he stepped onto the water, a sense of balance and control washed over him. He wasn't wobbling, slipping, or struggling to maintain his footing. In fact, it was almost... easy.

"Whoa!" Naruto exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise. "I did it! I'm actually standing on the water!" He took a few experimental steps, moving with newfound confidence. "It's like my chakra's finally listening to me again!"

Jiraiya smirked, his thoughts now turning to the next phase of Naruto's training. "Good. That's one obstacle out of the way. But now comes the real challenge," he mused to himself, crossing his arms. 'It's time Naruto learns how to control the fox's chakra. But first, I need to figure out how much he knows about it.'

Jiraiya leaned forward, his eyes focused on Naruto with a hint of seriousness. "Have you ever noticed a second type of chakra in your body? One that feels different from your normal chakra?" he asked, his tone calm but probing.

Naruto furrowed his brow, thinking back. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Yeah, now that you mention it, there have been times when I've felt this huge rush of chakra. It feels way different than my usual chakra." He paused, trying to find the right words to describe it. "If I had to explain it... my normal chakra feels blue, but this other chakra... it's red. It's different. Stronger, but kind of wild too."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, a knowing look crossing his face. "That red chakra... It belongs to the Nine-Tails sealed inside you. The more intense and overwhelming feeling is because it's the fox's chakra. You've been tapping into it without realizing it."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Wait, so that power I felt during the fight with Haku... that was the Nine-Tails' chakra?"

Jiraiya nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Exactly. The fox's chakra is immense, far beyond your normal reserves. But that power comes with a cost, Naruto. If you don't learn to control it, it could easily overwhelm you, or worse—you could end up hurting your allies."

Naruto's eyes widened, absorbing the gravity of Jiraiya's words. He could feel a mix of anxiety and determination bubbling up within him. Controlling this power was clearly no small task, and the risks involved were enough to make his stomach twist. But he knew he had to master it, not just for himself but for his friends and his dreams.

Jiraiya crossed his arms, studying Naruto's expression for a moment before continuing. "You've already shown me you've got some decent chakra control," he admitted. "So, we're going to work on something a little more advanced tomorrow." With that, he bent down and hoisted the unconscious Ebisu onto his shoulder.

"Meet me here tomorrow morning," Jiraiya ordered, his tone leaving little room for argument. "I'll take this guy to where I'm staying and let him recover." Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking away, leaving Naruto standing on the water's surface, deep in thought.

- Jiraiya's Hotel Room -

Jiraiya's hotel room was modest but comfortable, a small table and a few chairs scattered around with a window that overlooked a quiet street. Jiraiya had just settled Ebisu on one of the chairs, the Special Jonin now slowly coming to his senses. Rubbing his throbbing head, Ebisu blinked in confusion before noticing Jiraiya standing over him, a glass of water in hand.

Jiraiya extended the glass, offering it with a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to hit you so hard," he said, a note of genuine apology in his voice.

Ebisu, now fully aware of who was in front of him, quickly scrambled to his feet, his face a mask of both embarrassment and respect. "Lord Jiraiya! I-I didn't realize it was you! My apologies for my earlier behavior. I'm surprised to see you in the village. The Hokage had asked us to locate you, but we couldn't find any trace of you."

Jiraiya chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, well, I've been around, just keeping a low profile. There's actually something else I need to apologize for."

Ebisu looked puzzled, but Jiraiya's grin only grew wider. "I'm actually stealing one of your students. I've decided I want to teach Naruto how to access his... special chakra."

Ebisu's eyes widened in shock. "Stealing my pupil? But of course, if it's for the sake of his growth, I can't object. However, I would request that I still be able to conduct the study sessions with him."

Jiraiya's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "I'm not sure how that would work. I'll likely be with Naruto most of the day, and he'd be exhausted by the end of it."

Ebisu's face broke into a smile, sensing Jiraiya's hesitation. "Actually, there's no need for you to worry about that. Naruto wouldn't have to be present during his study sessions. Naruto has developed a unique training method using Shadow Clones to accelerate his learning."

Jiraiya's confusion deepened. "Shadow Clones? How does that help?"

Ebisu's smile widened, "Actually, there's no need for him to be there. Naruto has developed a unique training method using his Shadow Clones. He's been applying the memory transfer ability of the clones to learn skills much faster."

Jiraiya's eyebrows raised in interest. "Memory transfer, you say? How does that work exactly?"

Ebisu continues, his excitement evident. "Naruto creates a large number of Shadow Clones and has them engage in various training activities. The skills and knowledge they acquire are transferred back to him when the clones dispel. This method allows him to rapidly improve his abilities."

Jiraiya's eyes twinkled with amusement as he considered the implications. "Impressive. The kid's certainly got a knack for innovation.

He leaned back with a relaxed smile. "That's settled then. I'm perfectly okay with you handling Naruto's study sessions with his clones. Just make sure they only read one book per dispel and that they take at least five minutes between each other. Too much information at once might overwhelm him and give him headaches."

Ebisu's eyes widened slightly as he processed the advice. He scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Ah, I hadn't really considered that. Thanks for the tip."

Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh, clearly entertained by Ebisu's flustered reaction. "Well, it's always good to have a plan. Better safe than sorry, right?"

After a few minutes of casual conversation and laughter, Ebisu rose from his seat. "I'm sorry for keeping you, Jiraiya. I'll leave you to your evening. Have a good night."

Jiraiya waved him off with a friendly gesture. "No problem at all. Have a good night yourself, Ebisu."

Ebisu nodded in understanding. "That sounds like a good idea. It'll definitely help him out."

As Ebisu stepped out of the hotel, he began to walk back toward his home. His mind was already working on the preparations for Naruto's study sessions. He considered which books would be most beneficial for Naruto's training, mulling over various options as he made his way through the quiet streets of Konoha. His thoughts buzzed with plans and ideas, eager to set up a productive learning environment for the energetic young ninja.

Meanwhile, back in his room, Jiraiya contemplated the new arrangement. He nodded to himself, pleased with the decision. "I'll definitely adjust my own training approach to complement this new method," he muttered, already envisioning how he could optimize Naruto's training with his unique Shadow Clone technique.

- The Next Morning, Naruto's Apartment -

Naruto woke up with an extra pep in his step, buzzing with excitement about the day ahead. Sure, both of his new teachers were perverts, but each had something to offer that would help him grow stronger. Ebisu would provide him with the knowledge and intellect he needed to become a more well-rounded ninja, while Jiraiya would teach him how to harness and utilize the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Naruto quickly got himself ready, making sure to wolf down a hearty breakfast in preparation for the intense training he knew he'd be enduring. He couldn't afford to run out of energy halfway through the day, not when so much was at stake.

Once he was dressed and ready, Naruto headed toward the balcony of his apartment. He grinned, already brimming with anticipation, and formed the hand seal for his Shadow Clone Jutsu. In a puff of smoke, ten identical Narutos appeared around him.

"All right, you guys know the drill!" he announced with a grin. "Head to the library! Ebisu-sensei said he'd be waiting outside for you."

The clones saluted in unison, each shouting, "Yes, boss!" before leaping off the balcony. They began hopping from rooftop to rooftop, making their way to the library with a sense of purpose.

Naruto watched them go, his grin widening as he wiped a mock tear from his eye. "They grow up so fast," he joked to himself. "Their first day of school." He snickered at his own humor, feeling the excitement bubble up inside him. Today marked the start of his path to becoming stronger, smarter, and ultimately victorious against Neji.

With his clones now off on their assignment, Naruto turned toward his own destination. Taking a deep breath, he launched himself from the balcony, his body light and agile as he began bounding towards the hot springs where Jiraiya had told him to meet up. His mind raced with possibilities of what the day might hold, his heart pounding with the thrill of the unknown challenges ahead.

This was it. His real training was about to begin.

- With Naruto -

Naruto stood there, his arms crossed and an unimpressed look plastered on his face as Jiraiya began his speech. The old sage was going on about how he'd be teaching Naruto for the month ahead, his words drifting lazily out while his eyes remained fixated on something far less appropriate. Hidden behind a bush, Jiraiya peered through at a group of bikini-clad women playing around near a waterfall, his expression one of blissful contentment.

Naruto's eyebrow twitched in irritation. "Seriously, Pervy Sage?! Could you at least try to act like a somewhat decent sensei?"

Jiraiya sighed heavily, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the scene to face Naruto. The look on the young ninja's face made it clear he wasn't amused. Folding his arms, Jiraiya squared up in front of him, his demeanor turning slightly more serious.

"Alright, alright," Jiraiya muttered, scratching the back of his head. "Down to business." He looked Naruto in the eye, his expression becoming more focused. "Do you remember what we talked about yesterday? About the two different types of chakra you hold within you?"

Naruto's annoyance faded slightly as he recalled their conversation. He gave a nod, ready to find out what this training would actually entail.

Jiraiya nodded, satisfied that Naruto was ready to listen, "You said that you've felt that red chakra at the same time you exerted an enormous amount of strength, correct?"

Naruto furrowed his brow as he thought back to the times he had experienced that strange surge of power. The memories hit him in flashes: first, on the bridge in the Land of Waves, when he thought Sasuke had been killed by Haku. That overwhelming rage and despair had brought forth a wellspring of strength he didn't know he had. The second time was in the Forest of Death during the Chunin Exams, when his team was attacked by Orochimaru. The fear, the anger—it had all come together, and the red chakra had poured out of him like a flood.

Naruto nodded at Jiraiya's question, "Yeah, I felt really strong," he admitted, clenching his fists as he remembered those moments

Jiraiya's demeanor shifted, becoming more serious. "Good," he said sternly, "now I want you to try to feel that red chakra again."

Naruto let out a sigh, a mix of skepticism and uncertainty clouding his face. "I dunno if it'll work, but I'll give it a shot," he replied. Taking a deep breath, he formed the seal of confrontation and began focusing on his chakra. His expression turned focused, his brow furrowing in concentration as he searched inward.

Jiraiya stood silently, observing the young ninja. He mused internally about Naruto's progress. If he hadn't came up with that shadow clone training method, his chakra control would probably be abysmal. But he had seen Naruto's current level of control, and while it wasn't perfect, it was far better than he had hoped for at this stage. Jiraiya knew that Naruto wasn't ready to use the Nine-Tails' chakra just yet, but that wasn't the point. All he needs to do is sense its presence, Jiraiya thought. Everything else will come with training.

Jiraiya broke the silence, coaching Naruto with a calm, steady tone. "Keep your chakra calm and focused. The other one will stand out—it's more aggressive and wild." Naruto's only response was a slow, deep breath, his eyes closed as he tried to follow Jiraiya's instructions.

Minutes passed, the air around them still and tense. Naruto's face finally showed a slight shift, though he remained silent. Jiraiya watched intently, his eyes narrowing. Did he actually find it? he wondered, his heart beating a bit faster at the possibility.

Inside his own mind, Naruto felt himself drifting into a state of tranquility he had never experienced before. It was oddly peaceful, almost enlightening. Not the time for that, he reminded himself, pushing aside the feeling. He needed to find that second chakra Jiraiya had spoken of.

And then, he felt it. His chakra flowed calmly, a constant, soothing stream—but there, buried deeper within, was something else. It was different, out of place. It felt wild, aggressive, like a caged animal hiding in the shadows. He tried to grasp at it, to focus on the unfamiliar chakra, but the more he tried, the more it slipped away. Frustration began to creep in, causing his own chakra to grow agitated. Just like that, the sensation was gone.

Naruto opened his eyes, a scowl on his face as he cursed under his breath. He sighed deeply, meeting Jiraiya's expectant gaze. "I noticed it, but I couldn't focus on it enough," he grumbled, irritation lacing his words. "Maybe we should just train something else."

Jiraiya was taken aback for a moment. He actually sensed it? he thought, quickly waving off Naruto's suggestion. "No way," Jiraiya replied, his voice firm. "The fact that you could distinguish that chakra at all is a huge step. We can't just move on to something else now."

Jiraiya's expression softened slightly as he continued, "Ebisu told me about your shadow clone training method, and now it's time to put it to good use."

Naruto's irritation faded, replaced with a puzzled but eager look. Hearing Jiraiya acknowledge his progress sent a surge of pride through him, and he listened closely, ready for what was to come.

With a wide smile mirroring Jiraiya's, Naruto formed the seal and summoned ten clones. They appeared around him, all grinning in anticipation. "Alright!" Naruto exclaimed. "What's next, Jiraiya-sensei?"

- With The Study Group -

One of Naruto's clones sat cross-legged on the floor of the library, a book on basic chakra theory open in his lap. He let out an exaggerated yawn, his eyes drooping with boredom. Beside him, Ebisu sat quietly, observing the clone's obvious disinterest. Deciding to approach the situation with patience, Ebisu calmly asked, "Naruto, why do you seem so uninterested in this material?"

The clone blinked, caught off guard. He had fully expected Ebisu to start yelling at him for not paying attention. Instead, the man seemed genuinely curious about how he felt. Hesitating for a moment, Naruto scratched the back of his head before answering, "I mean, I get that the more I know, the more it'll help me in fights or whatever... but I already know about chakra, right? My control's pretty decent now. So what's the point of reading all this boring stuff?"

Ebisu nodded, his expression thoughtful as he considered Naruto's words. "Fair enough," he said calmly. "Would you be willing to hear my explanation for why learning this is so important?"

The clone shifted slightly, eyeing Ebisu with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Fine, I guess," he muttered.

Ebisu offered a small smile before launching into his explanation. "You're right in saying that you know how to use chakra. You can mold it, control it, and use techniques with it. But there's a difference between simply 'knowing' how to use chakra and truly understanding it."

Naruto tilted his head, giving Ebisu his full attention. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, genuinely curious now.

"Think of it this way," Ebisu began, his tone instructive but not condescending. "Let's say you know how to light a fire. You can rub two sticks together or strike a match to get it going. That's knowledge. But understanding fire means knowing how it spreads, what fuels it, how to control its intensity, and how to extinguish it when necessary. Chakra is very similar. Knowing how to use it is like knowing how to start a fire, but understanding it allows you to control it with precision, efficiency, and flexibility."

The clone furrowed his brows, starting to see Ebisu's point, but he still wasn't fully convinced. "Okay, but how does that help me in a fight? I can already do stuff like water-walking and the Shadow Clone Jutsu."

"Ah, I'm glad you asked," Ebisu replied, a hint of excitement in his voice as he saw Naruto's interest growing. "Let's consider chakra control techniques, for example. Right now, you're using chakra to perform basic tasks like walking on water or creating clones. But if you understand why certain amounts of chakra are needed and how it flows within your body, you can refine those techniques. This means less wasted energy, quicker recovery times, and even the ability to execute more advanced jutsu with less effort."

Ebisu leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the clone's. "You see, Naruto, basic chakra theory isn't just about learning what chakra is. It's about learning how to maximize its potential. Understanding the nature of chakra means you can adapt to new situations on the fly. You'll be able to pick up new techniques faster because you won't just be memorizing steps—you'll be understanding the principles behind them."

The clone's eyes widened as he began to grasp the practical application of what Ebisu was saying. "So, like... if I understand chakra better, I can get stronger, faster?" he asked, his voice now tinged with a mix of curiosity and determination.

"Exactly," Ebisu confirmed, nodding. "Think of it like this: if you fully understand chakra, you can even develop your own techniques. You're not just a ninja following a manual; you're an innovator creating new paths in battle. That's why learning the theory behind chakra is crucial. It's not just for bookworms—it's for any ninja who wants to truly master their power."

Naruto's clone slowly nodded, his previous reluctance replaced with a spark of interest. "Okay," he said, determination shining in his eyes.

Ebisu chuckled, patting the clone on the back, glad to see Naruto's mindset shifting. "And trust me, if you put in the effort to understand this, the 'cool jutsu' will come much more easily than you think."

The clone grinned, diving back into the book with a newfound focus.

Ebisu glanced over at the other clones. His eyes widened in mild surprise as he saw that they had all shifted their attention toward him, clearly intrigued by the conversation he was having with the first clone. It seemed that the lecture on chakra theory had sparked a wave of curiosity among them.

With a bemused smile, Ebisu decided to address the group. "So, it looks like you all are interested in this book now. Was anyone else finding their current reading material a bit boring?"

Every single clone's hand shot up in an instant, each one looking both guilty and eager. Ebisu blinked, clearly taken aback by the unanimous response. He let out a deep, weary sigh as he realized the extent of his challenge.

Ebisu muttered to himself, "maybe I should have asked for a smaller study group."

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ebisu continued to guide the clones through their reading, making sure each explanation was as informative and engaging as possible. If nothing else, he was learning that with Naruto's innovative training methods, adaptability was key—both for the student and the teacher.

- Back With Naruto And Jiraiya -

Naruto's sweat glistened under the sun as he pushed through his intense training regimen. He sprinted around the clearing, his breaths coming in labored gasps. With a determined grimace, he dropped to the ground, his hands gripping the earth as he pounded out push-ups, followed by a set of sit-ups. The relentless cycle of exercise left him exhausted, and he finally slumped onto his backside, panting heavily.

Jiraiya approached with a bottle of water, tossing it to Naruto, who grabbed it and chugged it eagerly. As Naruto took a moment to catch his breath, he cast a glance past the clearing towards his clones. Each clone was stationed at varying distances, engaged in different chakra control exercises. Some were standing on the water's surface, others were clinging to trees. What caught Naruto's eye, though, was that all the clones were also meditating, sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, focused on their chakra.

Curious and slightly bewildered, Naruto turned to Jiraiya. "Hey, why are my clones doing that?"

Jiraiya grinned as he explained, "While you were focusing on your chakra earlier, you probably felt quite calm, right? That sense of peace and awareness?"

Naruto nodded, recalling the serene feeling he'd experienced. "Yeah, I felt really peaceful."

Jiraiya continued, "What you were feeling is akin to the state you reach when meditating—a deep calm and awareness of your body and surroundings."

Naruto's eyes widened with realization. "So you're saying my clones are meditating to help me sense the Nine-Tails' chakra?"

Jiraiya nodded, "That's part of it. But there's more to it. While meditating will help you sense the Nine-Tails' chakra easier, the ultimate goal is for your clones and you by proxy to be able to enter a meditative state at will. This state will help you maintain a calm mind and steady chakra flow."

Naruto's face lit up with understanding. "But why are they doing control exercises while meditating?"

Jiraiya explained further, "Achieving a meditative state is one thing, but being able to maintain that state while being active is even more valuable. By having your clones perform chakra control exercises while meditating, they're learning to keep their mind clear and their chakra steady even whilst putting their mind and body under a constant strain."

Naruto looked back at his clones, noting their struggles. Some were sinking into the water, while others slipped from their trees. Most had expressions of frustration, clearly finding it challenging to balance meditation with the chakra control exercises.

"It looks like they're having a tough time," Naruto observed.

Jiraiya chuckled, "Yes, it's not easy. But overcoming this challenge will make them, and you, much stronger. It's about pushing past the difficulties and mastering control over your mind and body."

"And what about me? Why am I just doing physical exercise?"

Jiraiya regarded Naruto with a thoughtful expression. "Come on, Naruto. You can't expect everyone to just spell everything out for you. Why don't you think about it and tell me what you come up with?"

Naruto scowled, frustration evident on his face. He glanced over at his clones again, trying to steady his thoughts. He needed to stay calm and focus. Naruto pondered the question, evaluating his current situation.

His strength and speed weren't bad but could use improvement, though that didn't seem to be the core of the issue. The realization hit him suddenly. He slapped his forehead in a moment of epiphany. "Sorry, I should've figured this out sooner!" Naruto exclaimed.

Jiraiya's eyes softened into a smile. "So, you understand now?"

Naruto looked up at Jiraiya with renewed determination. "Yeah, I get it now. While my clones can help me with learning techniques and transferring knowledge, they can't train my body for me. To get stronger in terms of speed, strength, and stamina, I need to put in the work myself. So, I have to train my body myself."

Jiraiya nodded in approval. "Exactly. It's about building your base capabilities. The clones can't replace the need for your own physical training."

With a burst of energy, Naruto jumped up and shouted, "Well, that's it then! I'm not gonna let my clones outdo me. I'm gonna make myself ten times stronger! By the time they finish their meditating, I'll be as big as Choji but in pure muscle!"

Naruto immediately threw himself back into his drills, pushing his body to its limits with an infectious enthusiasm. He was completely absorbed in his training, oblivious to the reactions his outburst had elicited.

Jiraiya watched with a bemused expression as Naruto threw himself into his routine. Meanwhile, Naruto's clones, having heard his shout, looked up from their meditations. The clones exchanged glances of annoyance at being interrupted from their meditation.

Though the annoyance was quickly replaced with determination. Each clone, fueled by Naruto's fervor, adopted a renewed sense of purpose. They were determined not to be outdone by their creator, each returning to their own training with more focus than ever before.

The scene was set: Naruto and his clones, each driven by their own goals, pushed forward with unyielding resolve.

Hi guys, hope you enjoyed this Chapter. Naruto's training has finally began!

As you can see, Naruto is learning something different from the toad summoning jutsu, though maybe he'll find enough time to learn it before the end of the month, who knows?

The reason why I'm having Jiraiya teach Naruto to be able to use the nine tails' chakra right now is because that was actually his main objective in Canon, Naruto was just incapable of finding it at all. I'll admit that maybe it's wishful thinking that improved chakra Control is what would allow him to distinguish the difference. But hey, in my opinion the lack of grasp he had over his own chakra was what made it so hard for him to feel for the nine tails'

We know that the seal that Naruto has leaks out a bit of the nine tails' chakra into his own, mixing it. So if he had better control over his own chakra then perhaps he'd have an easier time noticing foreign chakra inside of it. For example, I feel that if Sakura had some strange chakra mixed in with her own, she'd quickly notice it due to having complete control over her entire chakra capacity.

Anyway, so yes Naruto is learning how to meditate and feel for the nine tails' chakra right now. You'll have to see how far he manages to get in this training before potentially moving onto something different.

And with Ebisu, Naruto is being taught more personally than he ever was in the academy, I must admit, I'm a huge fan of Iruka but I feel despite the fact that it may have been "special treatment" or something like that. He really should have offered Naruto extra help in the academy, I mean the kid has got to have some sort of attention deficit disorder. With Naruto taking his studying more seriously than ever before due to being given practical uses for each topic, he's sure to catch up on some knowledge that his peers are already familiar with, maybe he'd even learn some stuff that they don't know yet.

Let me know if there's anything you guys think could of gone differently, or even something that you hope to see him learn during this month, I'd love to hear some suggestions!

Okay, now it's review time:

KingRK - I'm glad you like it. Honesty, I always felt Ebisu was brushed off more than he should of been. He was assigned to the third hokage's grandson for crying out loud. I understand Konohamaru is still a kid but like, I don't think he'd assign some untrustworthy nobody to his grandson.

WilsorBR - Happy to hear it. Yeah, most people forget about him tbh, especially with this interaction as it's literally such a tiny interaction in the original. Also, thank you but I wouldn't necessarily say it's better than your idea. You're right, with him reading all these books, something on Fuuinjutsu is bound to pop up right? Perhaps in a "All you need to know about Ninjutsu" book? Or something?

And tbh, a part of me would really like to insert some romance scenes in, i'll probably keep the canon pairing of Naruto and Hinata as it just sits right with me. But yes, if I do decide to write some romance, it'll definitely be earlier than in Canon, because how is Naruto that dense to somehow miss her obvious crush on him for like 10 years? But I'm not sure I'll do the pairing just yet as I can't really think of a way for Naruto and Hinata to naturally have a interaction right now. I could have him visit her in the hospital, but obviously Naruto didn't do that in Canon, so I'd like the reason for him doing so to at least be a little valid.

Legend3881 - This is very true, also I actually was thinking of doing something like that, Naruto having his own team of Clones which he commands as such would also prove his qualities as a leader, and in turn, a Chunin. It's putting him on the path to Hokage even faster than in Canon.

Also, the idea of using the Clones like in the storm games, I think that's actually a really cool idea, and maybe with Naruto learning books such as Chakra theory, something will pop up which will spark the idea for him to use his clones in that way. At some point soon enough, I think Naruto will realise that his academy style taijutsu will only take him so far, despite his improvement in that area.

rubas 273 - Thanks for the review! Now that you mention it, I don't think I have seen anyone portray Ebisu as a decent teacher in anything I've read too. Which is super strange to me as I know he's only a special-jonin and not really showed any noticeable feats, but Kakashi had stated that he's a better teacher than him, so that's gotta mean something. Plus, like I mentioned in a previous response, he's literally the Konohamaru's sensei, that's gotta count for something.