Chapter 4
The Academy training ground buzzed with the sound of students practicing their taijutsu, chakra control, and basic techniques. The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the dirt field as Naruto squared off against one of his classmates, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Come on, Naruto!" Kiba called from the sidelines, grinning as he watched the sparring match. "Don't let him get the better of you!"
Naruto gritted his teeth, dodging a punch and swinging back with as much force as he could muster. His opponent barely blocked it, and Naruto pressed on, determined to win this time.
But, as always, his focus wavered. He glanced to the side and caught sight of Sasuke, effortlessly finishing his own sparring session with perfect form. The other students, especially the girls, were watching Sasuke, their admiration clear.
Naruto's heart sank. He tried to focus on his own match, but his frustration got the better of him. In a moment of distraction, his opponent landed a solid hit, knocking Naruto back and ending the match.
"Damn it!" Naruto muttered under his breath, picking himself up off the ground. He shot a glare toward Sasuke, who was calmly walking away, not even acknowledging Naruto's defeat.
"Good effort, Naruto," the instructor said, though his tone wasn't as encouraging as Naruto would have liked. "But you need to stay focused."
Naruto nodded, his fists clenched at his sides. Stay focused, he repeated in his mind. But it wasn't that easy. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he trained, Sasuke was always ahead. Always faster, stronger, better.
As Naruto left the training ground, his frustration only grew. He wasn't just angry at Sasuke—he was angry at himself. Why can't I catch up? Why am I always behind?
Later that evening, Naruto sat alone in the forest, the same clearing where he had been training for weeks. The training post in front of him was worn from countless punches and kicks, yet despite his hard work, Naruto felt no closer to surpassing Sasuke.
He panted heavily, his arms trembling from the exertion. His muscles ached, his legs felt like lead, and yet the frustration inside him burned hotter than ever.
"It's not enough," Naruto muttered to himself. "No matter how hard I train, it's never enough."
He slammed his fist into the post again, the impact sending a sharp jolt up his arm. For a moment, he winced in pain, but that only fueled his determination. He had to get stronger—there was no other choice.
But what more could he do? He was pushing his body to the limit.
Naruto's mind raced, and then, slowly, his thoughts drifted back to the one source of power he hadn't yet tapped into—the Nine-Tails.
That fox... Naruto thought, clenching his fists. He had felt its power before, brief surges of overwhelming energy that left him breathless. And he knew, deep down, that the Nine-Tails was dangerous. But maybe, just maybe, he could use that power. Maybe the fox could give him the edge he needed.
With a deep breath, Naruto closed his eyes and let his mind drift, sinking into the darkness within him. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the familiar mindscape, the endless corridor flooded with water. The massive cage stood before him, and behind it, the Nine-Tails' glowing red eyes watched him with an air of mocking amusement.
"Well, well," the fox's voice rumbled, dripping with sarcasm. "Back for more, brat?"
Naruto stepped forward, his gaze hard. "I need your help."
The Nine-Tails raised a brow, tilting his head slightly. "My help? I thought you didn't want anything to do with me."
"I didn't," Naruto replied, his voice firm. "But I have to get stronger. I can't beat Sasuke like this. I know you're someone prideful, you wouldn't want your host, the person representing you to be so *ahem* 'weak' do you?"
For a moment, the fox was silent, its eyes narrowing in thought. Then, it let out a low chuckle. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But what makes you think I'd waste my power on you?"
Naruto gritted his teeth. "Because if you don't, you're stuck here, doing nothing. You're bored aren't you? That's why you keep making comments on my screw ups."
The Nine-Tails' lips curled into a grin, its sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light. "You're not as stupid as you look, I'll give you that. Fine. I'll help you, but don't think for a second that I'm doing this out of kindness."
Naruto crossed his arms, smirking. "I didn't think you had any."
The fox growled softly, but there was a hint of amusement in its eyes. "I'll give you something small. You already have enhanced healing because of me. I can amplify that a little, make your body recover faster. You'll heal from injuries quickly, and your stamina will last longer. But don't push it. You're not ready for more."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean I'll be able to train longer? Get stronger faster?"
The Nine-Tails let out a low growl. "Yes, but don't get cocky. Your body has limits, and even I can't fix stupidity."
Naruto grinned, excitement flooding through him. "Thanks, furball."
The fox's grin faded into a scowl. "Call me that again, and I'll rethink this arrangement."
Naruto waved him off, already turning to leave the mindscape. "Yeah, yeah. I'll make this work. You'll see."
The next day, Naruto returned to his training spot in the forest, eager to see if the Nine-Tails had really given him an edge. He began his usual routine, striking the post with renewed determination, pushing his body to the limit.
At first, he didn't notice any difference. His punches felt the same, his muscles ached just as they always did. But then, after an hour of relentless training, Naruto felt a sudden surge of energy. The fatigue that had been weighing him down seemed to fade, and the burning pain in his muscles dulled.
Naruto stopped for a moment, breathing heavily. His muscles still ached, but it wasn't as bad as before. His stamina seemed to last longer, and when he paused to catch his breath, he felt his body recovering faster than usual.
A grin spread across his face. It's working.
With renewed energy, Naruto continued training, pushing himself even harder. And though the aches and pains still came, they faded quicker, and his stamina replenished itself at a faster rate.
For the first time in a long while, Naruto felt like he had a real chance to catch up. This is it. This is how I'll get stronger.
Later that afternoon, Naruto met up with Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino after class. They had planned to hang out together, a rare break from the constant training and lessons at the Academy.
"So, what's the plan for today?" Naruto asked, his energy still buzzing from his earlier training session.
Kiba smirked, his dog Akamaru perched on his head. "I was thinking we could do some sparring. I'm itching for a fight."
Shikamaru let out a sigh, stretching lazily. "Man, what a drag. I'd rather just watch the clouds."
Choji munched on a bag of chips, shrugging. "Sparring's fine with me, as long as we take a break for snacks."
Naruto grinned. "I'm down. Let's do it!"
The group found a clearing near the training grounds and set up a small sparring match, taking turns facing off against each other. Naruto, now feeling the effects of the Nine-Tails' healing power, pushed himself harder than ever, and though he didn't win every match, he could feel his stamina outlasting the others.
Kiba, ever the competitive one, was the first to notice. "You're not getting tired at all, are you, Naruto?" he asked, panting after their sparring session. "What's your secret?"
Naruto just grinned, not wanting to reveal too much. "I've been training harder lately. That's all."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "Whatever it is, it's working. But don't overdo it, Naruto. It's not worth it if you burn out."
Naruto waved him off. "I'm fine! I can handle it."
The bond between Naruto and the boys grew stronger with each passing day. Naruto, now with more energy than ever, was able to keep up with their sparring and games longer than before. He had always been known for his boundless energy, but now, with the Nine-Tails subtly boosting his recovery, it seemed like nothing could stop him.
After sparring, the group took a break, lounging on the grass and looking up at the clouds. Shikamaru had his arms folded behind his head, lazily gazing up at the sky, while Choji offered snacks to everyone, munching contentedly.
"Man, you're really pushing it these days," Kiba said, wiping sweat from his forehead as Akamaru barked in agreement. "What's gotten into you? You've got even more energy than usual."
Naruto grinned, leaning back against a tree. "Just trying to get stronger, that's all. Can't let you guys get ahead of me."
"Yeah, yeah," Shikamaru muttered, half asleep. "Just don't forget to take it easy every now and then."
Naruto laughed, his confidence growing. For the first time in a while, he felt like he was truly on the path to getting stronger—not just for himself, but to prove to everyone else that he could catch up. And though he didn't tell the others about the Nine-Tails, he couldn't help but think that his new edge would finally give him the advantage he needed.
Despite his growing friendships with Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino, Naruto couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that things were changing between him and Ino. At first, he had shrugged it off. They still exchanged teasing remarks during class, and she occasionally joked with him like she always had. But something was different now.
The distance between them had grown more pronounced over the last few weeks. Ino spent more time with Sakura, giggling about Sasuke and discussing things Naruto couldn't understand. She had always been popular among the girls, but now it seemed like she was caught up in their world, a world that Naruto felt increasingly excluded from.
It wasn't just the girls, though. Whenever Sasuke was around, Ino's attention shifted entirely. She barely noticed Naruto anymore, her focus instead on trying to get Sasuke's attention, much like the rest of the girls in the class.
Naruto tried not to let it bother him. He told himself that it didn't matter, that he had his own training to focus on, but the truth was, it stung. He missed the easy going friendship they had built. The teasing, the shared moments in the flower shop—those felt like distant memories now.
One afternoon, after training, Naruto decided to stop by the Yamanaka Flower Shop. It had been a while since his last visit, and he hoped that maybe spending some time there would help take his mind off things.
When he entered the shop, the familiar scent of flowers washed over him, but something felt different. Ino's parents greeted him warmly, though there was a hint of curiosity in their eyes, as if they had noticed his absence.
"Naruto, it's been a while," Inoichi said, smiling as he arranged a bouquet. "We were wondering if you'd ever stop by again."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, feeling a little awkward. "Yeah, I've been busy with training and stuff."
"Good to see you again, Naruto," Ino's mother added. "Ino's around somewhere, I think."
Naruto nodded, but his heart wasn't in it. He wandered through the shop, admiring the flowers like he used to, but the sense of comfort he had once felt was gone. When he finally spotted Ino, she was in the back of the shop, talking to Sakura. They were both laughing, their heads bent close together, clearly deep in conversation about something—probably Sasuke.
Naruto watched them for a moment, his chest tightening. He had known that things were changing, but seeing it up close made it feel real in a way he hadn't expected.
With a sigh, Naruto turned and left the shop without saying a word to Ino. It wasn't the same anymore. And as much as he wanted to fix it, he didn't know how.
As Naruto continued to train harder than ever, the sarcastic presence of the Nine-Tails was never far from his mind. Though the fox had reluctantly agreed to help Naruto with his stamina and healing, it hadn't stopped making snide remarks at every opportunity.
During one particularly grueling training session, Naruto pushed his body to the limit, sweat pouring down his face as he threw punch after punch at the training post. His muscles ached, but the pain wasn't as bad as before. His stamina held up longer, just like the fox had promised.
"Not bad," the Nine-Tails' voice echoed in the back of Naruto's mind. "For a brat who couldn't even land a decent punch a few weeks ago."
Naruto rolled his eyes, wiping his forehead. I'm doing fine without you interfering. Just keep the healing going, and I'll handle the rest.
The fox let out a low chuckle. "Oh, sure. Because you're clearly such a genius at this on your own."
Hey, I'm the one doing all the work here, Naruto shot back, his frustration bubbling up. You're just sitting in your cage, watching.
The Nine-Tails' eyes gleamed in the darkness of Naruto's mindscape. "Watching you stumble around like a blindfolded idiot, yes. It's quite entertaining."
Naruto huffed, throwing another punch. Well, I'm getting stronger, aren't I?
The fox's growl was low but amused. "Barely. Don't get too full of yourself, brat. This little boost is nothing compared to what I could give you if you weren't so stubborn."
Naruto shook his head. I don't need more. I'm doing fine on my own. You'll see. I'll catch up to Sasuke without your help.
The Nine-Tails' laughter echoed through Naruto's mind, deep and mocking. "We'll see about that. But don't come crying to me when you're left in the dirt again."
Despite the fox's constant jabs, Naruto felt a strange sense of comfort in their back-and-forth banter. It was as if the Nine-Tails' presence, while still dangerous, had become something familiar. He wasn't afraid of the fox anymore—not like he had been before.
The next week at the Academy, the class was working on chakra control exercises. The students lined up, each one balancing a leaf on their forehead as they concentrated on keeping their chakra steady. It was a simple exercise, but one that had given Naruto trouble in the past.
As he stood with the leaf balanced on his forehead, Naruto focused hard, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His chakra felt more controlled now, more stable than it had before. And though it wasn't perfect, it was progress.
The leaf stayed in place longer than it ever had before, and for once, Naruto felt a surge of pride. He wasn't failing. He wasn't messing up. He was doing it.
"Good job, Naruto," the instructor said as he walked by, giving him a nod of approval. "Keep it up."
Naruto's chest swelled with pride as he glanced around the room. The other students hadn't seemed to notice his small victory, but that didn't matter. It was his win, and he would take it.
From across the room, Naruto caught a glimpse of Ino and Sakura, sitting together and talking in hushed voices. Ino glanced his way for a brief moment, her eyes flickering with something that looked like acknowledgment. But then she turned back to Sakura, her attention focused once again on their conversation.
Naruto's smile faltered, but only for a second. He had his own goals, his own path to follow. And no matter what happened with Ino, Sasuke, or anyone else, he wasn't going to stop.
That evening, as the sun began to set over the village, Naruto found himself sitting alone in the same clearing where he had been training for weeks. The light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground, but Naruto barely noticed.
He stared at his hands, flexing his fingers. His body ached from the day's training, but it wasn't the overwhelming pain it had been before. The Nine-Tails' healing had made it easier to push himself further, and he could feel the difference. He was getting stronger. Slowly, but surely.
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon, Naruto clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He would keep training. He would keep pushing. And one day, he would close that gap. One day, he would catch up.
I'll get stronger, Naruto thought, determination burning in his chest. No matter what.
AN: I been going through all the work that I've done so far and I notice these first few chapters tend to drag. The next few parts are still going to be more early academy stuff however, I don't mind skipping those bits if thats what the audience want. If you're curious to know what the next bit would be, its just a team exercise, a game of capture the flag basically. lmk in the reviews along with any opinions/questions you guys have about the story so far.