Chapter 7: A Day at the Ninja Library

Naruto walked through the streets of Konoha, a trio of younger kids trailing behind him like ducklings. Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi listened intently as Naruto regaled them with exaggerated tales of his recent mission to the Land of Waves.

"And then," Naruto said dramatically, puffing out his chest, "I charged straight into this dome of ice mirrors to save Sasuke! The bad guy had a super rare bloodline power—Ice Release—but it didn't stop me! I fought him off with my secret technique!"

Konohamaru's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Boss, you're amazing!"

"Yeah!" Moegi chimed in, clapping her hands together. "You're the coolest ninja ever!"

Udon wiped his perpetually runny nose. "So, uh... what are we doing today, Boss?"

Naruto stopped, turning to face them with a grin. "We're going to the ninja library!"

"A library?" Udon asked, tilting his head. "Why?"

Naruto scowled, crossing his arms. "It's not just a library. It's the ninja library! They've never let me in before, but now that I've got this headband, I'm finally allowed!" He pointed to the forehead protector tied around his head, its metal plate gleaming in the sunlight.

The kids gasped in awe, their enthusiasm fully restored.

"What are we looking for, Boss?" Konohamaru asked.

Naruto leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice. "We're looking for information about something really important to my secret technique."

The trio exchanged excited looks, completely hooked. They followed Naruto with eager anticipation as he led them to the library.

The ninja library was an imposing building, its exterior lined with carved stone reliefs of legendary shinobi. Naruto pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside, his younger entourage close behind.

"Alright," Naruto whispered to the kids, "we're looking for anything about Wood Release and the First Hokage. Got it?"

"Wood Release?" Moegi whispered back, her eyes wide. "Like the stuff trees are made of?"

"Like the stuff Konoha is made of," Udon corrected with a snot nosed grin.

Naruto nodded. "Exactly. Now spread out and start looking!"

The three kids saluted him with exaggerated seriousness before darting off into the library's towering shelves.

As Naruto wandered through the aisles, he struggled to make sense of the scrolls and books. Most of the writing was dense and filled with technical terms he couldn't understand. Frustrated, he muttered under his breath, "How am I supposed to find anything useful in here?"

"Need some help?" a voice asked.

Naruto turned to see a young girl about his age, her thick glasses slightly crooked and her messy blonde hair tied back in a haphazard ponytail. She wore a standard ninja headband but looked slightly out of place in the quiet, studious environment.

"Uh, yeah," Naruto admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I'm looking for stuff about Wood Release and the First Hokage."

The girl adjusted her glasses, smiling shyly. "I'm Shiho. I work here sometimes. Come on, I'll help you."

Naruto grinned. "Thanks, Shiho! You're awesome."

Shiho blushed, turning quickly to hide her face as she led Naruto deeper into the library. After a few minutes of searching, she pulled out a scroll and handed it to him.

"This has some descriptions of the Wood Release," Shiho explained. "It's mostly historical accounts of the First Hokage using it. There aren't any technique scrolls on it, though. That stuff's restricted. Which is a bit silly if you ask me, considering nobody else could even use the techniques!"

Naruto opened the scroll, scanning the passages with interest. The accounts described the First Hokage as a towering figure of strength and wisdom, capable of using Wood Release to create forests, restrain tailed beasts, and even build entire buildings—he'd made most of the infrastructure of the Hidden Leaf Village.

"Wow," Naruto murmured. "This guy was amazing."

Shiho smiled. "He was. The Wood Release is considered one of the rarest and most powerful kekkei genkai."

Naruto grinned at those words and closed the scroll with a determined nod. "Thanks, Shiho. This is exactly what I needed!"

Naruto returned to the library's main area, where Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi were waiting with their findings.

"Boss!" Konohamaru said, holding up a scroll. "We found this! It's by the Second Hokage."

Naruto took the scroll and glanced at its contents. It was filled with intricate diagrams and explanations of Fuinjutsu, the art of sealing techniques. The complex patterns and dense writing made his head spin.

"Uh, yeah, this looks... interesting," Naruto said, scratching his head. "But I think I'll give it to Sakura. She likes reading this kind of complicated stuff."

"Good idea, Boss!" Moegi said, nodding eagerly.

As they left the library, Naruto carried the Wood Release scroll under his arm, his mind buzzing with possibilities. For the first time, he felt like he was getting closer to understanding his rare ability—and maybe, just maybe, to mastering it.

The sun hung high over Konoha as Naruto, Sakura, and Rock Lee stood at the base of the Hokage Monument. Lee, as enthusiastic as ever, struck a dramatic pose, his green jumpsuit gleaming in the sunlight.

"Today," Lee declared, his voice booming with passion, "we will undertake a training regime to increase our strength and speed beyond anything we've ever achieved before! Our goal: to scale the Hokage Monument—with one hand!"

Sakura stared up at the towering cliff face, her jaw dropping in disbelief. "This is ridiculous!"

Naruto groaned, leaning on his knees. "Yeah, Lee! At least let us use chakra control to make it easier!"

Lee shook his head, his bowl-cut hair bouncing slightly. "Yosh! You would only be cheating yourselves, Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan. True strength comes from overcoming one's physical limits! I believe in you both! Do you believe in me?"

Sakura frowned, sweat already trickling down her brow. She had agreed to this extra training to help her catch up to Naruto and Sasuke, but this was beyond what she'd expected. The memory of how helpless she'd felt during the Land of Waves mission resurfaced, gnawing at her resolve. But at this moment, her anger at Lee for convincing her to do this outweighed everything else.

Naruto stretched his arms and sighed. "Fine, let's do it. But if I fall, I'm blaming you, bushy-brows!"

Lee beamed. "That is the spirit, Naruto-kun!"

The climb was grueling. Using only one hand, Naruto and Sakura followed Lee's lead as they scaled the steep cliff face. Every centimeter felt like a kilometer, their muscles burning and trembling with the effort.

"This... is... insane!" Sakura yelled, gritting her teeth as her hand slipped slightly. She caught herself just in time, her heart pounding.

"You can do it, Sakura-chan!" Lee called down, his voice full of encouragement. "Think of how strong you will become when you conquer this challenge!"

Naruto groaned. "Yeah, Sakura-chan! If I can do it, you can too!" His voice wavered as he struggled to pull himself up another few feet. "Not that... I'm completely sure I can do it..."

Sakura gritted her teeth, her anger fueling her next pull. She wouldn't let them outshine her—not this time.

Finally, the three of them reached the top of the monument, collapsing in a heap on the stone surface. Sakura lay flat on her back, staring up at the sky, while Naruto gasped for air beside her. Lee, on the other hand, sat cross-legged, his energy seemingly boundless.

"That was amazing!" Lee exclaimed, giving them a thumbs-up. "You both did wonderfully! Are you ready to begin the real training now that our warm-up is complete?"

"Warm-up?!" Sakura and Naruto shouted in unison, their voices filled with disbelief.

Hours later, sore and utterly exhausted, the three of them left the training area, their bodies aching but their spirits surprisingly high. Naruto wiped sweat from his brow and grinned.

"Hey, that wasn't so bad," he said, despite his limp.

Sakura shot him a withering glare. "Speak for yourself."

As they reached the crossroads where they parted ways, Naruto suddenly remembered something. "Oh yeah!" He rummaged through his pouch and pulled out a scroll. "Here, Sakura. This is for you."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"It's a scroll on sealing techniques," Naruto explained, handing it to her. "You like writing and complicated patterns and stuff, right? I figured you'd be good at it." He grinned sheepishly, his expression both sincere and a little dumbfounded.

Sakura rolled her eyes, taking the scroll with a sigh. "I don't know the first thing about Fuinjutsu, Naruto."

Naruto shrugged. "You're smart. You'll figure it out." With that, he gave her a wave and jogged off.

Sakura watched him go, her fingers tightening around the scroll. She glanced down at it, the intricate patterns and complex descriptions already making her head hurt. But as she walked home, she bit her lip, her thoughts swirling.

I did say I wanted a way to catch up with them, she thought. Maybe this is it.

She looked at the scroll again, a flicker of determination in her eyes. Alright, sealing techniques. Let's see what you've got.

The morning sun warmed the training ground as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura sat in a loose circle, waiting for their perpetually late sensei to arrive. Naruto lay flat on the grass, his arms behind his head, grumbling about Kakashi's tardiness.

"Can't believe he's late again," Naruto muttered. "What's his excuse gonna be this time? Got lost on the road of life? Please."

Sasuke ignored him, staring off into the distance with his usual brooding intensity. Meanwhile, Sakura sat with her scroll spread out in front of her, her brow furrowed in concentration as she read the intricate notes written by the Second Hokage himself.

The text described various Fuinjutsu techniques in remarkable detail, but what caught Sakura's attention were the disruption seals. These seals were said to cancel enemy Jutsu, disrupt chakra flow, and even incapacitate opponents if applied correctly. The thought fascinated her. Almost like what a Hyuga does with their Gentle Fist, she mused.

Her eyes lingered on a particular passage: Theoretically, a seal could store chakra over time, allowing a ninja to use it in larger quantities later. This would require precise chakra control and careful preparation.

Sakura's heart raced as an idea took shape. What if I could use a seal to store chakra gradually? Then I could release it all at once when I needed it... Maybe even enough to make a Shadow Clone or perform a powerful Jutsu. She chewed her lip, her mind racing. There has to be something about that here...

"Sakura!" Naruto's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "What're you reading so intently over there?"

"None of your business, Naruto!" Sakura snapped, quickly rolling up the scroll.

Naruto pouted. "Geez, I was just curious."

Before the argument could escalate, Kakashi appeared in his usual casual fashion, strolling toward them with his nose buried in his book.

"You're late!" Naruto shouted, leaping to his feet.

Kakashi looked up lazily, his single visible eye crinkling in amusement. "Good morning to you, too."

"You'd better have a good reason for keeping us waiting!" Naruto crossed his arms.

"I do," Kakashi said, tucking his book away. "I wanted to make sure I had all the details right for what I'm about to tell you."

Sasuke's gaze sharpened, and Sakura leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued.

"The chūnin Exams," Kakashi began, his tone serious. "They're happening soon, and this time, they're being held here in Konoha."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "chūnin Exams? Does that mean we're gonna get promoted?"

"Not so fast," Kakashi said, raising a hand. "The exams are held once every six months, and they're designed to test genin from every Hidden Village. It's not just about promotion—it's about proving your skills on a much larger stage. The competition will be fierce."

Sasuke smirked faintly. "Sounds like a good opportunity."

"Yeah!" Naruto shouted, pumping his fist. "I'll show everyone how awesome I am!"

Sakura frowned, her excitement tempered by nerves. "Are... are we ready for something like that?"

Kakashi's expression softened. "That's for you to decide. I've chosen to recommend you for the exams, but there's a condition."

The three genin looked at him expectantly.

"You can only participate if all three of you agree to do so," Kakashi explained. "This isn't a solo endeavor. It's a team decision."

Naruto grinned. "Of course I'm in! There's no way I'm gonna pass up a chance to show off!"

Sasuke nodded, his confidence unwavering. "I'll do it."

All eyes turned to Sakura. She hesitated, her thoughts racing. The mission to the Land of Waves had shown her just how far behind she was compared to her teammates. But then she thought of the disruption seals and the potential they held. This could be my chance to prove myself...

"I'm in," Sakura said finally, her voice steady.

Kakashi nodded, his eye crinkling in approval. "Good. The exams begin in a week. Use this time to prepare. You'll need it."

As Kakashi dismissed them, Naruto and Sasuke began discussing their training plans, but Sakura lingered behind, clutching her scroll tightly. Her determination burned brighter than ever.

I'll show them I'm not just a tagalong, she thought. I'll find a way to stand beside them as equals.