The sun was high, casting a warm glow over the training field where Naruto and his team had been practicing for hours. Max stood opposite one of Naruto's clones, his expression a mixture of determination and nerves. This wasn't just any clone—it was one infused with Shukaku's chakra, giving it an edge that demanded Max's full attention and effort. Naruto watched from the sidelines, his Rinnegan eyes carefully observing every movement, every flicker of sand that Max commanded.
"Come on, Max!" Naruto called out, a grin spreading across his face. "You've got it in you. Just let it flow."
Max gritted his teeth, summoning his magic as sand swirled around him, forming a protective wall before he launched it toward the clone. But the clone, under Shukaku's influence, let out a taunting laugh, easily dispersing the sand with a wave of its arm.
"Is that all you've got, sand-boy?" the clone sneered, its voice carrying the unmistakable attitude of Shukaku.
Max growled in frustration, his fingers tightening as he tried to focus, summoning more sand from the ground. Naruto chuckled softly, appreciating the sight. Max had power, plenty of it, but he needed confidence to fully unlock his potential. Naruto had seen it before in himself, and he knew what it looked like in others.
In fact, Naruto's own journey with the Rinnegan had taught him plenty about adapting to new power. He could still recall the shock he'd felt the morning he woke up to find his eyes changed permanently, the world before him sharp and strange in ways he hadn't expected. It had taken time to understand the change, but Kurama and Gyūki had explained that this evolution was a natural result of merging with the Sage's chakra. When he first arrived in this world, his chakra and the Sage's had been separate, but the merging process had been vast and complex, taking time to integrate fully. The Rinnegan, they explained, was the dominant force and had become his natural state.
Naruto remembered the guild's reaction when they saw his eyes for the first time. There had been surprise, some shock, and a lot of questions, but once he explained everything, most of them thought it was "pretty cool." That had been the moment he decided to tell them everything—his past, his death and rebirth, and the incredible powers he was gifted. His guildmates had reacted with a range of emotions—shock, respect, curiosity, and awe. Naturally, Natsu had challenged him to a spar, and even Erza had expressed a desire to test her skills against him. Fairy Tail was like that—they accepted him, strange powers and all, without hesitation.
A loud groan pulled Naruto from his thoughts as Max staggered back, sand swirling around him as he braced himself. The Shukaku-infused clone had managed to blast through his defenses, sending him sprawling into the dirt.
"Ow…" Max muttered, rubbing his head as he sat up. He glared at the clone, frustration clear in his eyes. "I'm trying, alright?"
The clone smirked, crossing its arms as it looked down at Max. "If that's trying, then it's no wonder you're getting knocked around. Focus, kid! Your power isn't the problem—it's your control." Shukaku's influence was clear in the clone's voice, a mix of smugness and unexpected insight. "You're relying too much on brute force. Sand isn't about overwhelming—it's about precision, flow."
Max blinked, a bit taken aback, while Naruto raised an eyebrow. Advice from Shukaku? That was new.
"Did… did you just give me advice?" Max asked, clearly surprised.
The clone rolled its eyes, looking a bit put out. "Don't get used to it, sand-boy. But yeah, if you want to improve, you need to understand your sand's natural movement. Think of it like water—smooth, adaptable. Stop forcing it to obey; let it guide itself."
Naruto chuckled, watching the interaction with amusement. "You hear that, Max? Even Shukaku's giving you pointers. And trust me, that's rare."
Max nodded, his expression thoughtful as he processed Shukaku's words. He took a deep breath, letting the sand settle around him before shifting his stance, his hands moving more fluidly. He tried to feel the sand, sense its weight and movement instead of forcing it, and Naruto could see a change in his approach.
The clone observed him, seemingly satisfied. "That's more like it. Sand isn't a tool—it's an extension of you. Learn that, and you'll stop getting smacked around so much."
With renewed determination, Max launched another attack, his sand flowing with a newfound smoothness as it spiraled toward the clone. The Shukaku-clone responded with a counterattack, but this time, Max's control held, the sand forming a shield that absorbed the blast.
Naruto nodded approvingly, his Rinnegan taking in every detail. Max was learning, adapting, and it was a thrill to watch his team grow stronger with each training session. He had big plans for Team Fox, and days like this—filled with progress and camaraderie—only confirmed that they were moving in the right direction.
After a few more exchanges, Naruto called a break, the clone dispersing in a puff of smoke as Shukaku's influence faded.
"Not bad, Max," Naruto said, clapping him on the shoulder as he handed him a water bottle. "You're getting there. Shukaku's right—the more you work with your sand instead of against it, the more control you'll have."
Max grinned, his confidence growing. "Thanks, Naruto. And… I guess thanks to Shukaku too, wherever he is."
Inside Naruto's mind, Shukaku huffed, his voice echoing with a touch of pride. "Don't go thinking I'm getting all soft. I just don't like seeing sand get used like that."
Naruto laughed softly, both at Shukaku's gruff tone and at Max's newfound spirit. This was what he loved about training with his team—seeing their potential unfold, watching them embrace their strengths. And as long as they kept growing together, he knew Team Fox would be ready for anything that came their way.
Across the training field, Naruto's second clone was working with Laki, who was focusing intently on honing her Wood-Make Magic. Naruto wasn't exactly a teacher, but he remembered seeing Hashirama's and Yamato's Wood Release in action—how it seemed to flow naturally, molded effortlessly to the wielder's will. He hoped he could help Laki think about her Wood-Make in the same way, as something that grew and responded rather than something forced.
Laki stood with her hands raised, her Wood-Make Magic forming a protective wall of interwoven branches around her. She was trying to catch Naruto's clone, who darted around her creations with quick, unpredictable movements. Naruto watched her intently, hoping to give her some insight based on what little he knew.
"Try to relax, Laki," he called out. "I know you're focusing, but maybe think of the wood as… part of you. It's got to move with you, not against you."
Laki glanced over at him, her brows furrowing. "Part of me?" she muttered, adjusting her stance. She gave it a try, letting her breathing even out, her magic shifting in response as she wove her hands in a gentler motion.
The clone's Rinnegan watched carefully as she tried a new approach, her wooden creations seeming to move with a bit more fluidity as she adjusted her mindset. "Yeah, exactly!" he encouraged, nodding. "When I watched someone using something similar… it always felt like it was alive. Like it grew naturally."
Laki took a breath, concentrating on Naruto's words. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to imagine her wood constructs as extensions of herself. When she opened her eyes, her expression was more focused, her hands moving with a quiet confidence.
"Wood-Make: Binding Roots!" she called, her magic surging as thick roots shot up from the ground, coiling toward Naruto's clone in a steady, purposeful motion.
The clone leapt back, but this time the roots followed, adjusting their movements to match his, tightening around him until they wrapped firmly around his arms and legs, locking him in place.
The clone grinned, nodding in approval. "Nice! See what I mean? You're letting it respond to you instead of just forcing it out."
Laki's face brightened with pride, her eyes shining with newfound understanding. "I think… I think I get it. If I let it move naturally, it's like it knows what to do. I don't have to control every little thing."
"Exactly!" Naruto's clone said, his tone encouraging. "Wood doesn't just build walls or traps—it grows. When you tap into that, it'll start moving the way you want without you even thinking about it."
Laki nodded, clearly determined to push herself even further. She raised her hands again, calling out a new technique. "Wood-Make: Thorned Cage!"
Wooden beams burst from the ground, twisting together to form a dense, spiked cage that rose around Naruto's clone, closing in quickly from all sides. This time, the thorns grew and shifted on their own, adapting to Naruto's movements with precision.
The clone grinned, acknowledging her progress. "You're getting there, Laki. Just keep thinking of it as something that's part of you."
After a few more attempts, Laki finally managed to lock him into place, a triumphant smile spreading across her face as she caught her breath. She dispelled the cage, letting the wood fade back into the ground as Naruto's clone relaxed, nodding with approval.
"You're doing great, Laki," he said. "I might not know a ton about magic, but I can tell when someone's getting stronger. Keep tapping into that feeling, and you'll be unstoppable."
Laki's smile widened, and she gave a determined nod. "Thank you, Naruto. I… I didn't know I could use my magic this way. I always thought it was just about creating things, but now I see it's more than that."
Naruto chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Hey, I'm just passing along what I've seen. But you're the one who made it work. Keep practicing, and soon it'll feel natural."
With the training session wrapping up, Laki sat down nearby, taking a moment to catch her breath. Naruto's clone gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder before dispelling, leaving Laki with a sense of pride and satisfaction in her progress.
On the far end of the field, another of Naruto's clones was sparring with Elfman, both of them fully absorbed in the clash of fists and raw power. Naruto had always considered hand-to-hand combat his strength, and with the influx of powers and abilities he'd received recently, he'd pushed himself even further. Daily training with his clones kept him sharp, every session adding to his skill and precision.
Elfman grinned, his muscles flexing as he dodged a quick jab from Naruto's clone, his eyes blazing with excitement. Every punch, every block, every counter felt like a test of strength that he was determined to meet. Naruto's clone moved with fluidity, dodging and weaving as Elfman pressed forward, his Beast Soul transformation giving him an extra boost of power. The ground trembled with every step, the raw energy of their fight evident in every move.
The two fighters were locked in a back-and-forth rhythm, each one trying to land a solid hit. Elfman knew that a single powerful blow could dispel the clone, but he was cautious, not wanting to end the match too quickly.
But then, for just a split second, Elfman lost focus—just enough for Naruto's clone to capitalize on it. With a swift move, the clone ducked low and caught Elfman with a sharp uppercut, sending him stumbling back.
"Gotcha!" the clone said, grinning as Elfman regained his balance, shaking off the hit.
But Elfman wasn't one to back down. In a split-second reaction, he threw a punch infused with his Beast Soul power, his fist connecting squarely with Naruto's clone. The impact dispelled it instantly, the clone disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Elfman blinked, realizing what had happened. "Oops… didn't mean to hit that hard."
xxx
At the other end of the field, the real Naruto winced as the memory of the punch hit him. He rubbed his jaw, laughing as he made his way over to Elfman. "You got me pretty good there, big guy. That's one way to end a spar."
Elfman scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Naruto. Guess I got carried away."
Naruto chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Elfman. That's what training's for, right? You're getting stronger every day."
Just then, Laki and Max made their way over, both of them looking equally satisfied from their own training sessions. Laki's eyes sparkled with a newfound confidence, and Max had a wide grin on his face, clearly proud of his progress with sand magic.
Max stretched his arms, letting out a content sigh. "That was a solid day of training. I feel stronger already. I mean… I actually kept up with Shukaku's influence for a while back there!"
Naruto gave him an approving nod. "You're really getting the hang of it, Max. And I know Shukaku can be tough, but you held your own. That's not something everyone can say."
Laki nodded, her gaze reflecting her own sense of accomplishment. "We've all come a long way. It's… kind of amazing how much we've improved since we first started training together."
Elfman pounded his fist into his palm, his eyes gleaming with determination. "That's because we're becoming a real team! Team Fox isn't just a name—it's us. And with Naruto leading the way, there's no limit to how strong we can get."
Naruto grinned, feeling a swell of pride at Elfman's words. Each of his teammates had shown incredible progress, and it was clear they all felt the bond they were building together. This wasn't just about getting stronger individually; they were growing as a team, supporting each other, and pushing each other to new heights.
Max took a deep breath, his grin softening into a more relaxed smile. "Alright, then. How about we take a break and head back to the guild? It's been a few days since our last job, and I think we've earned some downtime."
Naruto nodded, the thought of returning to the guild with his team filling him with anticipation. "Sounds like a plan. Let's head back and maybe pick up a new job while we're there. After all this training, I'd say we're ready for whatever comes next."
The team agreed, gathering their things and starting the walk back to the guild hall. As they walked, Naruto glanced at each of his teammates, a sense of pride and gratitude filling him. This was exactly what he'd hoped for when he put together Team Fox—a group of mages who were strong, determined, and supportive of each other.
A/N: Wanted to show some more progress of Team Fox coming along. Naruto is by means a teacher, but I feel with what he has experienced in his previous life, he can really help take Max, Laki, and Elfman to the next. These three had some cool abilities and potential that wasn't explored. I want to add more character depth as we go along in this story. Thanks for reading!