"Growth is not always seen in the branches—it's hidden in the quiet, steady roots."

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Chapter 04

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Naruto was beyond frustrated. Days had passed, and the snowstorm outside showed no sign of stopping. Trapped in the cabin, he stomped back and forth like a restless tiger.

Stark was fine company but not much of a conversationalist, and Fern spent most of her time either reading or sitting in contemplative silence. Kraft would chat occasionally but was often lost in prayers, leaving Naruto feeling like he was stuck in a monastery rather than a team camp.

Worst of all, Frieren, his so-called master, refused to teach him anything useful. She lounged, slept, and read as if she didn't have an apprentice dying to learn.

One evening, Naruto had had enough. "You call yourself a teacher? Hah! Let's see how you like being the student!" he muttered, a devilish grin spreading across his face.

After some preparation, Naruto placed a bucket of cold water precariously on the cabin door. Next, he smeared honey on her favourite book and set a tripwire trap near her blanket pile. Finally, he used a small brush to carefully paint "Useless Hag" in washable ink on her forehead while she napped.

The next morning, Frieren walked into her first surprise. As the bucket tumbled, soaking her from head to toe, she froze, blinking in disbelief.

Stark nearly choked on his breakfast laughing, while Fern tried to hide her amusement behind her book. Kraft offered a neutral but amused hum, clearly trying not to encourage Naruto.

Frieren wiped the water from her face, glaring daggers at Naruto. "You have two seconds to explain."

Naruto grinned cheekily. "That's for being the laziest teacher in the history of teachers!"

Her eyes narrowed as she sat down, only to recoil when her fingers stuck to the honey-covered book. "Naruto!"

"Oops, did I forget to warn you about that?" he said, feigning innocence.

The final straw came when she reached for her blanket and tripped over the wire, landing in an unceremonious heap. As she sat up, her messy hair sticking out in all directions, the inked words on her forehead became clearly visible.

Stark couldn't hold it anymore, bursting out, "Useless Hag! That's a masterpiece!"

Naruto doubled over laughing. "I'm just returning the favour, hag! Now maybe you'll actually teach me something!"

Frieren, wet, sticky, and thoroughly annoyed, pointed a finger at Naruto. "You'll regret this, brat. I'll make you practise mana control for ten hours straight tomorrow."

Naruto smirked. "Bring it on, hag!"

The cabin was tense yet lively, as Naruto's antics finally added some energy to their snowbound days.

Õ—T—Õ

The snowstorm continued to rage, blanketing the area in relentless white. Inside the magically-cleared sparring area, the biting cold seemed to melt away as Naruto and Stark squared off. Fern stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching with mild disapproval. Kraft sat on a log near the cabin, watching the two with a faint smile, his eyes betraying deep curiosity.

Stark shifted his axe, resting it on his shoulder. "Are you sure about this, Naruto? You're Frieren's apprentice, not a warrior. I don't want to hurt you."

Naruto cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Don't worry about me. The question is—can you keep up?" He crouched slightly, his body light on his feet, red hair whipping in the icy wind. "Come at me, Stark. Show me what you've got!"

Stark gave an amused snort and rolled his shoulders. "Alright, but don't blame me if you get knocked flat."

As the spar began, Stark made the first move, charging forward with surprising speed for a man of his size. He swung his axe in a wide arc, aiming to disarm rather than harm. But before the blade could even get close, Naruto vanished from sight.

"What the—?!" Stark turned just in time to see a blur of white and red dart past him. He swung his axe defensively, but Naruto ducked under it with ease, landing a sharp jab to Stark's side before dashing away.

"Too slow!" Naruto called out, his grin widening as he spun and came at Stark again, this time aiming for his legs.

Stark barely managed to jump back, his boots skidding in the snow. "You're fast. Faster than my old master, Eisen. How's a kid like you moving like this?"

Naruto laughed, dodging another swing of the axe. "Hand-to-hand combat's my thing! Maybe you should ask your old master how to keep up, yeah?"

Fern sighed from the sidelines. "Idiots, both of them," she muttered, though she couldn't hide the faint curiosity in her eyes.

Stark adjusted his stance, this time opting for a defensive posture. He waited, letting Naruto make the first move. Naruto smirked, darting forward in a blur. His fist shot out, but Stark parried it with the haft of his axe, using the momentum to push Naruto back.

"Not bad," Naruto admitted, sliding to a stop. "But let's kick it up a notch!"

Before Stark could respond, Naruto surged forward again, moving even faster than before. His white robes blended with the snow, making him nearly invisible. Stark swung his axe wildly, trying to catch the boy, but Naruto was always a step ahead.

The fight grew more intense, their movements a blur of strikes, dodges, and counterattacks. Stark's breaths came heavier as he struggled to keep up. Naruto, on the other hand, seemed to only grow more energetic.

"This is ridiculous!" Stark finally shouted, swinging his axe in a desperate attempt to land a hit. But Naruto vaulted over the swing, flipping in mid-air and landing behind Stark. He tapped the warrior lightly on the shoulder before darting away.

"You're wide open!" Naruto taunted, laughing.

Stark growled, adjusting his grip on the axe. "Alright, no more playing around." He charged again, this time with full force.

But Naruto was ready. As Stark closed the distance, Naruto's hand began to glow faintly with mana. He smirked, shifting his stance. "Let's see how you handle this!"

Stark's instincts screamed at him to stop, but it was too late. Naruto's palm surged with mana as he aimed a devastating strike at Stark's chest. Stark raised his axe to block, but the energy radiating from Naruto's hand was unlike anything he'd ever faced.

Just as Naruto's glowing hand was about to connect, Kraft appeared. Moving faster than seemed possible, the monk grabbed Naruto mid-attack and hurled him away. Naruto crashed into the snow, groaning as the impact left him half-conscious.

The ground trembled violently as Naruto's glowing fist struck the earth. A shockwave rippled through the clearing, splitting the ground and sending snow flying in all directions.

"What the hell was that for?!" Naruto groaned, sitting up and rubbing his head.

Kraft stood over him, his expression calm but firm. "You were about to cripple your friend, Naruto."

Naruto blinked, his confusion evident. "What? No, I wasn't—"

"You channeled too much mana into your strike," Kraft explained. "If I hadn't intervened, you would've shattered his weapon and broken his ribs, at the very least."

Stark, who had been frozen in shock, finally lowered his axe. "You're kidding… That could've happened?"

Kraft nodded solemnly. "Naruto's power is immense, but his control is… lacking. That makes him dangerous—not just to his enemies, but to his allies as well."

Naruto looked down at his hand, the faint remnants of mana still crackling around his fingers. "I didn't mean to…" His voice trailed off, guilt weighing heavily on him.

Stark approached, placing a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Hey, kid, don't beat yourself up. That was… something else. But next time, maybe tone it down a bit, yeah?"

Naruto let out a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah… maybe I went a little overboard."

From the sidelines, Fern watched the scene unfold. Her gaze lingered on Naruto, a mix of emotions flickering in her eyes. Jealousy, curiosity, and something else she couldn't quite place.

Kraft helped Naruto to his feet, dusting the snow off his robes. "You have potential, Naruto. But potential without discipline is a dangerous thing. Remember that."

Naruto nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I get it. Thanks… I guess."

Fern extinguished the glowing runes in the snow, muttering under her breath. "Idiots, all of them."

As they made their way back to the cabin, the sparring match left an impression on everyone. Stark couldn't stop replaying the fight in his mind, amazed at Naruto's speed and power. Fern remained quiet, her thoughts a tangled mess. And Naruto, though still a bit shaken, couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride.

"Next time," he said with a grin, "I'll take it even easier on you, Stark."

Stark laughed, shaking his head. "Next time, try not to destroy the clearing, okay?"

Naruto chuckled, the tension from earlier finally beginning to fade. "No promises!"

Õ—T—Õ

Naruto sat cross-legged in the small clearing he had made, the crisp air biting at his skin but ignored as his focus sharpened. His desire to return home burned within him, fueling his determination. The Rasengan was not enough. He had mastered it long ago. Even the Rasenshuriken, with its devastating power, was no longer a challenge. He needed something precise, intricate—something that reflected the control and refinement Frieren expected of him.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, his hand extended before him. Mana coalesced in his palm, spinning and swirling into the familiar form of a Rasengan. But this time, he didn't stop there. Slowly, painstakingly, he imagined the energy shifting, evolving step by step.

First, he envisioned a perfect sphere, smoothing out any imperfections in the swirling energy. The Rasengan stabilized, its surface gleaming with unnatural precision.

"Alright," he murmured to himself, his voice steady but strained. "Next."

He willed the sphere to stretch, elongating it into an oval shape. The mana resisted, vibrating as if alive, but he pushed through, his concentration unwavering. Sweat beaded on his forehead, yet he refused to falter.

The oval flickered, threatening to collapse back into chaos, but Naruto tightened his focus. With a final effort, the shape held.

"Yes!" His eyes opened briefly, excitement flashing across his face before he refocused.

The next step was even harder. He visualized a cube—a form completely unnatural for spinning energy. Slowly, carefully, he bent the swirling mana to his will, forcing it to align into sharp edges and flat planes. It was like trying to carve a sculpture from a raging storm.

When he opened his eyes again, a small, pulsating cube hovered above his palm. It wasn't perfect—the edges wavered, and the corners seemed to blur—but it was progress.

"Not bad," he muttered, though his heart swelled with pride.

But it wasn't enough. He needed more. He needed to create something that surpassed Frieren's summoned deer, something that proved he could master mana manipulation. His mind raced as he considered the possibilities.

"What could I make?" he mused aloud, his voice tinged with frustration and excitement. A bird? A dragon? No, those were too grand, too unfocused. He needed something symbolic, something that reflected his journey.

His dream of conjuring a garden of flowers as Flamme lingered vividly in his mind. It wasn't just a random memory; it felt like a challenge, a clue to the refinement he needed. The task before him wasn't about power or destruction—it was about creation.

With a deep breath, he extended his hand. Mana swirled, forming a small Rasengan in his palm, but he didn't stop there.

"Focus… steady," he murmured, closing his eyes. The mana sphere transformed into an oval-shaped structure before evolving into a cube.

He visualized the simple beauty of a dandelion, its delicate petals glowing faintly, each detail etched into his mind. He didn't aim for perfection immediately. Instead, he broke the process into steps, shaping the spinning energy bit by bit.

The sphere compressed into a thin, elongated stem, trembling under the strain of his control. The stem wavered, and for a moment, he thought it might collapse, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through.

"Alright, now for the hard part…"

Gently, he began shaping the petals, thin and intricate, each one requiring immense focus. His breath slowed as he poured his will into the task, sweat forming on his brow despite the icy air around him. The Rasengan's familiar hum shifted into something softer, more melodic, as the shape evolved.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Naruto opened his eyes. In his palm rested a neon dandelion, its glowing petals shimmering softly against the winter gloom.

"I did it…" he whispered, awe-struck by his creation. It wasn't perfect—the petals flickered slightly, and the stem curved awkwardly—but it was a flower, fragile yet radiant.

Naruto held it up, examining its delicate beauty. The faint light reflected in his blue eyes, filling him with an odd sense of peace. This wasn't just a step forward; it was a new beginning, a symbol of what he could achieve with patience and control.

But it wasn't enough. Not yet.

"I need to do better," he said, his voice steady with determination. He released the flower, letting it dissolve back into the air. "A whole garden… I'll make a whole garden like in the dream."

Sitting back, he allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. For once, he felt closer to understanding the purpose behind Frieren's endless lessons and the precision she demanded. If he could master this, perhaps he could find the spell to take him home—and even more.

He released the mana once more, letting it fade as he leaned back and sighed deeply. For the first time in days, he felt a spark of genuine hope. This was the path forward—not just brute strength, but mastery.

Õ—T—Õ

Weeks passed, each day blurring into the next as Naruto continued his relentless training. The cabin became a haven of quiet determination and solitude. While snowstorms howled outside, Naruto worked tirelessly to refine his control over mana. His goal was clear: to create something as beautiful and intricate as the garden from his dream.

Each attempt brought progress, yet frustration lingered. The dandelions he conjured lacked the vibrant glow he sought, the stems too rigid, the petals too uneven. Still, he persisted, driven by the hope that mastery would lead him closer to returning home.

During this time, his companions watched him silently. Stark admired his perseverance, while Fern remained cautious, unsure of what to make of his abilities. Frieren, as enigmatic as ever, observed with an unreadable expression, occasionally offering cryptic remarks.

Despite all these, Naruto's resolve grew stronger. He wasn't just practicing for the sake of power; he was rediscovering the essence of creation itself—a delicate balance between strength and artistry. He knew that this was only the beginning of his journey.

Õ—T—Õ

After dinner, as the cabin settled into its usual quiet, Naruto stood up and declared, "I've perfected pure mana manipulation." His voice carried a confidence that made everyone turn to him.

"Oh?" Kraft leaned forward, intrigued.

Without hesitation, Naruto extended his hand. In his palm, a faint shimmer began to glow. Slowly, a delicate, neon dandelion formed, its petals radiant, almost alive.

Fern blinked. "It's… nice, but it looks pretty ordinary," Stark said, scratching his head.

Kraft, however, smirked knowingly. "Now this, is art."

"Huh?" Fern tilted her head in confusion.

Naruto, basking in their mixed reactions, smugly turned to Frieren and shoved the glowing flower close to her face. "What do you think, hag? Isn't it better than your boring little deer?"

Frieren avoided looking directly at it, her expression unreadable.

Fern, puzzled by Frieren's reaction, asked, "Mistress, what's so special about this… flower?"

Frieren sighed, her reluctance evident. "What he's done… It took me over a decade to master pure mana manipulation to this degree."

"What?!" Fern's eyes widened in shock. "This level of control?"

"Yes," Frieren admitted, her voice low. "But he's done more than just match it. He's evolved it."

Naruto tilted his head. "What do you mean by 'evolved'?"

Frieren gestured at him. "Show them."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, but brought his other hand close to the dandelion. As the second hand approached, the flower grew larger, its petals expanding outward. The glow intensified, and shapes began to form within the petals, like living paintings trapped in the soft luminescence.

Fern gasped as she saw the first image: the silhouettes of children playing in a garden of flowers.

Then another appeared—a chef, meticulously cooking, the spiral of his work blending into the flower's texture.

A woman danced gracefully, her movements so fluid it was as if she were alive.

A man with a sword swung it in perfect arcs, his silhouette sharp and purposeful.

Next, a boy sat under a moonlit sky, talking with an old man whose face radiated wisdom.

A man and a woman held a newborn baby, the tenderness in their silhouettes almost tangible.

More scenes emerged:

A hunter running through a forest, bow in hand.

A blacksmith hammering away, sparks flying like stars.

A lonely figure standing on a cliff, staring at the ocean waves below.

The images shifted seamlessly, each more vivid than the last.

Stark stood frozen, his axe forgotten. "That's… that's impossible."

Fern was utterly speechless, her staff slipping from her grasp.

Kraft, ever the contemplative one, gave a slow nod of appreciation. "Naruto, you've created something truly remarkable. This isn't just mana manipulation. It's storytelling. It's life."

Naruto couldn't help the grin spreading across his face. He turned to Frieren, leaning closer with his signature smugness. "So, hag, am I better than you now? I told you I'd beat your deer."

Frieren narrowed her eyes but finally relented. "Fine. I'll start teaching you spells."

Naruto's face lit up like a child on his birthday. "Heck yeah! Yeah!" He punched the air, his earlier frustrations forgotten.

As the dandelion dissolved back into pure mana, the room remained silent, the weight of what they had just witnessed lingering. For the first time in weeks, the air was filled with something more than frustration or monotony—it was filled with awe.

Õ—T—Õ

Author Note:

Do you think Frieren is going to teach him Zoltarak? Or maybe a powerful defence spell? How about a levitation spell? I wonder.

Edit: Naruto can use his Ninja skills, true. He just hasn't had any oppurtunity to do so. I mean if you're thinking about clones, then I say he can still do it. He didn't use shadow clones in this chapter because he didn't need it. Naruto succeeded in making the flower, right?

You asked some questions, about pairings, Sage Mode etc. I will gradually answer them. No spoilers.

However, I have planned exactly how to write till the Mage Exams. Thus, I need ideas beyond that. If you don't want to, then it's totally fine, I'll come up with my own— something I prefer.

Thanks for reading this chapter. The next chapter will be released soon.

Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.

Till next time!