It was an early Saturday morning, and the Uzumaki compound's training grounds echoed with the sounds of stretching limbs. Naruto, clad in a black training gi with red bandages wrapped around his shins and arms, limbered up with focused movements. Across from him, Amaya mirrored his actions, her tight green sleeveless crop top and black spandex shorts clinging to her athletic frame. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kimiko observed from a distance, their eyes fixed on Naruto, eager to witness his progress.
"BEGIN!" Jiraiya bellowed, his voice cutting through the air.
A tense stillness hung between the two fighters as they settled into their taijutsu stances. Naruto, adopting a southpaw stance, bent his knees slightly, his eyes locked on Amaya. She, in turn, shifted into a boxing stance, her upper body subtly bobbing and weaving.
The silence shattered as Naruto, having alreqady released his gravity seals, blurred into motion, his speed far exceeding what his age would suggest. Amaya was caught off guard. Naruto materialized to her left, launching a jumping spin kick aimed at her head. With intricate head movement, Amaya swayed beneath the attack, countering with a powerful uppercut. Naruto blocked, but the force of the blow sent him airborne. While he was still in the air, Amaya followed up with a powerful hook aimed at his body. Reacting instinctively, Naruto used the sole of his foot to block the hook, simultaneously using the momentum to propel himself backward, creating distance between them.
This time, it was Amaya's turn to attack. She surged forward, unleashing a rapid-fire combination: a jab aimed at his head, a cross to his body, and a final hook targeting his face. Naruto parried each strike, countering with a swift kick aimed at her inner thigh. The blow slightly unbalanced her, creating an opening for a double-leg takedown. Naruto seized the opportunity, grabbing both of her legs, lifting her into the air, and slamming her down onto her back. Securing the mount position, Naruto rained down hard elbows on her face. Amaya, using a double guard, blocked the blows, but the force of the strikes sent jolts of pain through her arms. Finally, using her size and strength advantage, she explosively bucked, throwing Naruto off of her.
Naruto landed on his feet with a flip, immediately launching a volley of kunai at Amaya. She bobbed and weaved through the projectiles, closing the distance once more. She unleashed a flurry of lightning-fast punches, each strike a blur of motion. Naruto defended, throwing occasional kicks at the same spot on her inner thigh, the only vulnerable area he could find. Amaya, feigning a right hook, landed a solid body shot, sending Naruto reeling backward with a pained "Aarrhhgg!"
Naruto rolled back to his feet, both fighters now charging at each other. Naruto launched a flying knee, which Amaya punched away with brutal force. Using the momentum of the blocked attack, Naruto spun into a back kick, which Amaya barely managed to block. Seeing a fleeting opening, Naruto delivered a chakra-enhanced finger jab to her shoulder blade, momentarily disabling her arm. He followed up with a tomahawk elbow strike to her head, sending her reeling forward. Seizing the opportunity, Naruto grabbed the back of her neck and delivered a series of brutal knees to her body.
After absorbing three of these punishing blows, Amaya had enough. She forcefully punched Naruto away, then launched her own intricate boxing combination: two body shots followed by a devastating uppercut to his chin. Naruto was visibly dazed. Reacting on instinct, he created twenty shadow clones, sending them charging toward Amaya while he himself retreated.
Amaya grinned. "So, he's finally taking it up a level, huh?" she muttered, channeling chakra to her fists before slamming them into the ground. "BOOOOOM!"
The entire clearing shook, the ground beneath them cracking and splintering. Naruto, momentarily stunned, felt a flicker of fear. He had never witnessed such raw power. The area was engulfed in smoke, but Naruto could hear the rapid succession of "poofs" as his clones were dispelled. He focused, sensing Amaya's location. As the last clone vanished, Naruto subtly placed a trap seal on the surrounding trees. He then deliberately revealed himself, drawing Amaya's attention.
Amaya, seeing him, gave chase, her movements swift and predatory. Naruto led her through the trees, guiding her toward his carefully laid trap. As Amaya crossed the threshold, Naruto activated the seal. Instantly, she was paralyzed, her body locked in place. Surprise registered on her face as she realized she had fallen for his trick.
Seeing his opportunity, Naruto leaped forward, wrapping his legs around her neck before swinging his body, throwing her violently toward the ground. She landed back first with a thud, but quickly recovered. With a series of rapid hand signs, she yelled, "Earth Style: Earth Fist Jutsu!" A colossal fist made of earth erupted from the ground, hurtling toward Naruto. He narrowly escaped using a substitution technique.
Naruto retaliated, throwing another kunai, then performing the "Kunai Shadow Clone Jutsu." The single kunai multiplied a hundredfold, raining down on Amaya. She quickly erected a mud wall for defense, but Naruto smirked. "Kai!" he yelled, flaring his chakra. The kunai exploded in a deafening "BOOOOOOOOM!" The massive explosion obliterated the mud wall, sending Amaya flying backward, crashing through a tree.
Naruto waited patiently, knowing the attack must have caused significant damage. His observers were astonished by what they were witnessing. They had not expected Naruto to be so skilled. Amaya, a Jonin-level fighter, was being pushed to her limits. That last combination, the exploding clones combined with the kunai clone technique, was something they had never seen before.
Naruto continued to wait, his senses alert. Suddenly, vines erupted from beneath him, ensnaring him tightly. "What the hell?" Naruto exclaimed, confused.
"Wow, you are an amazing cutie," a voice purred. "That last move really hurt. Not many have forced me to use my bloodline." It was Amaya. She was being carried by enormous, animated vines, landing gracefully back on the ground. While Naruto was still entangled, he could feel his chakra being slowly drained.
"You put up a great fight, cutie, but it's over," Amaya said, a hint of triumph in her voice.
"Well, I guess it's time to reveal my bloodline as well, then," Naruto thought, a smirk playing on his lips. Four purple chakra chains erupted from his back, shredding the vines that bound him. Everyone watching was shocked. They had no idea he had already unlocked the Uzumaki power.
Free from his restraints, Naruto studied Amaya. "Looks like she has some mutated form of Wood Style," he mused internally. "That is so cool!"
Before either of them could make another move, Jiraiya reappeared between them. "Alright, that's enough!" he said firmly. "We don't want this to go too far."
Naruto pouted. "Aw, man, it was just getting good!"
Amaya nodded in agreement, a hint of playful frustration in her eyes.
With the fight concluded, Ayame performed a series of medical jutsu on herself, mending the bruises and cuts inflicted by Naruto. Though none of the injuries were severe, they were still painful reminders of the intense battle. Finished with her self-treatment, she turned to Naruto, intending to offer her healing prowess. However, she stopped, surprised by what she saw. The cuts and bruises on his body were already visibly shrinking, his skin rapidly returning to its normal state. "What the hell?" she muttered, astonished. She had never witnessed natural healing at such an accelerated rate. Was this an Uzumaki trait? she wondered.
Naruto approached her, a wide grin on his face. "You were amazing, Ayame," he said. "The only person who has ever pushed me that hard was Kakashi."
His words sent a ripple of shock through the observers. "You foughta Kakashi?" Jiraiya asked, his voice laced with surprise.
"Yeah, it was a while ago," Naruto replied casually. "He wanted to spar to see how best to train me."
Jiraiya nodded slowly. "If Kakashi trained you, it makes sense why you're so strong."
Tsunade added, "Well, he's only been training me for two months now. I've been training myself for two years before that."
That revelation surprised everyone present. It meant that the majority of Naruto's strength was the result of his own dedication and hard work. This kid was beyond a prodigy; he was an anomaly.
Kimiko spoke up, her curiosity piqued. "Your taijutsu is very interesting. It almost looks like a combination of several different styles. What is it?"
Naruto explained, "It's called the Uzuken, a style developed by my clan. It looks like a mixture of styles because the Uzumaki have been constantly refining and adding new elements to it over generations. It's an all-around style that focuses on speed, agility, and unpredictable acrobatic moves to target the body's weak points. The Uzumaki decided to incorporate grappling moves to be able to place seals in a more advanced style called Fuinken. I haven't reached that level yet. But I have added my own unique touch to the style by watching pro wrestling. But I need more strength."
Hearing about this formidable style and how Naruto was adapting it to his own preferences was astonishing. This taijutsu had the potential to be one of the greatest ever devised. Its advantage lay in its adaptability, its willingness to evolve, unlike the rigid traditions of the Hyuuga's Gentle Fist. The Uzuken style was in a constant state of flux, always changing and improving. Kimiko looked at Naruto with undisguised admiration. She had never met anyone quite like him. He had been on his own for most of his life, facing the animosity of an entire village, yet he had still managed to become this strong, this kind. Ayame simply stared at him, her eyes wide with awe. She had considered herself talented, but this "cutie" was on a whole other level.
"Well, Naruto," Jiraiya began, "I have to say, you could already be ranked as a high Chunin. Your taijutsu is incredibly versatile, your fuinjutsu is impressive for your age, and even though your ninjutsu is limited, the way you utilize what you have more than compensates. You've totally exceeded my expectations." He hadn't thought he would ever meet a kid more naturally gifted than Minato, yet here was his son, surpassing even his father's prodigious talent. Was this what happened when you combined the talent of Minato with the power of the Uzumaki? It was a frightening prospect.
"Do you know your elemental affinity?" Jiraiya asked.
"No," Naruto replied. "I was waiting for Kakashi to help me with that."
Jiraiya pulled out a small square of paper. "Channel your chakra into this," he instructed.
Naruto, confused, complied. The paper immediately split into two sections. One side crinkled into a small ball, while the other turned into water. Everyone present was astounded. Three natural affinities were unheard of. This kid would be a force of nature when he reached his full potential.
"Well, it looks like you have wind, water, and lightning," Jiraiya announced.
Naruto, overcome with excitement, jumped around, singing about how awesome he was. Everyone laughed at his infectious enthusiasm.
"Well, Naruto," Jiraiya said, "feel free to join our training sessions. We're still training Ayame."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "I'd be stupid to turn that down!" he exclaimed.
"Go get some lunch, squirt," Tsunade said. "We have a meeting with the Hokage."
Naruto nodded and dashed back home.
"Their son is truly amazing, isn't he, Jiraiya?" Tsunade said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Amazing is an understatement," Jiraiya replied. "Well, let's go see old man Hiruzen." With that, the group of four made their way to the Hokage Tower.
Jiraiya and his group arrived at the Hokage Tower, their discussion turning to the matter of Kimiko and Ayame's placement within the ninja ranks.
"So, what rank do you feel they should have?" Hiruzen inquired.
"I'd say Kimiko would be perfect for ANBU," Jiraiya replied. "She specializes in assassination. As for Ayame, she's Jonin level in terms of power, but needs more experience. I'd recommend Chunin."
Ayame interjected, "No, I'll take the Genin rank. I want to earn my way up the ranks like everyone else. I want no special treatment."
Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged proud glances but still pressed, "Are you sure, Ayame?"
She simply nodded in response.
Hiruzen retrieved a cheetah mask and a headband. "Welcome to the force," he said, presenting them to the two women. "May the Will of Fire burn brightly within you."
Kimiko and Ayame accepted the items with a respectful bow. "Thank you, sir," they replied in unison.
The Hokage continued, "Ayame, I've heard from your parents that even though you are a formidable fighter, you prefer the medical field. So, instead of assigning you to a team, I'm making you an apprentice to your mother. She will teach you how to run the hospital, as well as how to be an effective in-field medic."
He then turned to Tsunade. "Naruto proposed an idea to create a specialized team of pure combat medics. I want you to lead them, Tsunade."
Tsunade was taken aback. She hadn't thought Naruto had any interest in the medical field. "Naruto did? Is he interested in becoming a medic?" she asked.
"He has enough knowledge to be an effective healer," Hiruzen explained, "but because of the potency of his chakra, it's… impossible. But he uses his knowledge to create healing-type seals. His invention, which he named 'Enhanced Band-Aid,' is our best-selling seal. It's basically a band-aid-shaped seal with a fuin formula that heals whatever it's placed on. He designed it so that even civilians can use it, even if they can't use chakra."
Everyone was once again surprised. They had no idea Naruto was so advanced in fuinjutsu, nor did they know he possessed such extensive medical knowledge. He just continued to surprise them.
"He has more amazing ideas," Hiruzen said proudly, "but he needs to reach a higher level to see them through."
Everyone was speechless.
The group turned to leave. "Kimiko, be here tomorrow at 7 a.m. so I can assign you to your ANBU squad," Hiruzen called out.
Kimiko simply nodded and departed.
The group headed back to the Uzumaki compound. Ayame was vibrating with excitement at becoming a ninja. She was eager to ask Naruto about how he had come up with the idea for a medic team. It was brilliant.
Naruto had synced their chakra with the seals on the entrance gate, granting them access. They entered the compound and reached the main house. They looked for Naruto, but all they found was a note: "I'm currently training, and I have clones in the library studying. I made lunch for everyone; it's in the oven." The note ended with a peace sign.
"Man, that cutie is really trying to win my heart," Ayame joked.
Naruto finished his calisthenics workout, his mind replaying his spar with Ayame. Her taijutsu was unlike anything he had encountered before. Her reliance on punches initially seemed simplistic, but he now recognized the danger hidden within her swift head movements and intricate footwork. He resolved to incorporate those elements into his own style, enhancing his defensive capabilities. It seemed she used head movement to evade attacks, while her footwork allowed her to dance around her opponents' strikes. He immediately instructed a group of shadow clones to begin working on integrating these techniques. Head movement was relatively straightforward, but improving his footwork was a more complex challenge.
After completing his workout, he ordered his clones to continue their training. He then headed toward Rei's shop, eager to continue his blacksmithing apprenticeship. It had been two months since he began learning the craft, and Naruto had made remarkable progress. He could now forge kunai and shuriken, his artistic hobby influencing the design of his weapons, making them elegant yet deadly works of art. His shuriken and kunai were highly stylized but remained practical and effective.
He reached the shop and entered, immediately greeted by Tenten, who rushed forward to hug him. He and Tenten had become good friends over the past couple of months. He had learned that she was also in the Academy, a year ahead of him. After a brief chat with Tenten, he proceeded to the back forge. As he walked, he heard the rhythmic clang of metal on metal. He entered the forge and saw Rei working on repairing a sword. After Naruto began his apprenticeship, he finally understood why Rei was so muscular. Blacksmithing was physically demanding work, requiring constant heavy lifting as one handled and hammered heavy metals. In just two months, Naruto noticed his own body becoming stronger and more muscular.
"Hello, Rei! What are you working on?" he asked.
"I had a Jonin ask to have his chipped sword repaired," Rei replied.
Naruto nodded. "So, what am I doing today?"
"Today, I will teach you how to make larger weapons," Rei said. Naruto nodded eagerly, excited to learn.
Naruto often removed his shirt while working in the forge. The intense heat and the physical demands of the craft made it necessary. Tenten often blushed when she saw Naruto's toned physique, but Naruto, oblivious, simply assumed she wasn't feeling well.
After three hours of instruction, Rei sent Naruto on his way. Naruto walked without a specific destination in mind, ignoring the hateful glares he received from some villagers. He sensed two distinct chakra signatures, one powerful and the other smaller but similar, emanating from a public training ground. Curious, he followed the chakra.
Upon arriving, he saw Sasuki and Itaia. He watched as Itaia jumped high into the air, performed a flip, and then sent a volley of kunai at carefully placed targets. Itaia had thrown the kunai in such a way that some deflected off of each other, creating a complex and unpredictable trajectory. "Clang..." All the kunai struck their targets, even those placed at seemingly impossible angles. Naruto stared in awe, a goofy expression on his face. He had never witnessed such skill in shurikenjutsu. "I guess the rumors were true," Naruto thought.
Activating her Sharingan, Itaia raised her voice. "Come out."
Naruto, realizing he had been spotted, jumped into the clearing. Sasuki was surprised to see Naruto. With a slight blush, she pointed at him. "Were you spying on us?"
Naruto held up his hands defensively. "No, no, no! I just sensed your chakras and was curious." He turned to Itaia. "You're really amazing at shurikenjutsu. I've never seen such skill."
Itaia smiled slightly. "I appreciate the compliment, Uzumaki."
"How did you do that?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Lots of practice," Itaia replied.
"So, how good are you at throwing?" Itaia already knew the answer but wanted to gauge Naruto's reaction.
Naruto looked bashful. "Well, I'm okay, I guess. Nothing special."
Sasuki pointed at him again, her tone incredulous. "That's bull! You constantly hit every bullseye when we trained in class."
Naruto shook his head. "Those targets are stationary. In the field, we'll have to aim at moving targets. Plus, after seeing your sister, I realized I'm not really that great."
Itaia simply nodded in agreement. "Show me what you can do, Uzumaki. I'm curious."
Naruto looked puzzled but complied. He unsealed eight kunai and threw them toward the targets. All eight struck the bullseyes. Itaia observed him closely the entire time. "So that's what Sasuki meant by 'magic,'" she thought. "He uses seals to store kunai. To a kid who doesn't know about fuinjutsu, it would seem like magic."
"You're too humble. That was impressive, Uzumaki," Itaia said.
Naruto looked away, nervously scratching his head. "Thanks, I guess."
Sasuki was confused. Itaia never complimented people. After a little small talk, Naruto turned to leave before hearing Itaia call him. She threw a book at him, and he caught it. He read the title: "Beginner to Advanced Shuriken Jutsu, written by Itaia Uchiha." Naruto was surprised. He had no idea she had written a book. He looked up at her in confusion. Seeing his expression, she explained, "That's my first book. It's not published yet, and I'd like your opinion."
Naruto nodded and walked off, clutching the book. That wasn't the full reason for her gesture. She greatly respected her sensei, Kushina. She wanted to help her son in any way she could.
Itaia then poked her sister in the head and ordered her to follow her back home. Sasuki, annoyed, nevertheless complied. Naruto went home, eager to read the book. He wondered what else you could do with simple shuriken and kunai.
It was the start of a new semester at the Academy, and Naruto sat beside Sasuki in their usual spot. Despite numerous offers for early graduation, Naruto had consistently refused. He wanted to graduate with his peers and, more importantly, maximize his training time before becoming a full-fledged ninja. He knew that once he started going on missions, his training time would be drastically reduced.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Iruka walked in, followed by a pretty girl with pink hair and green eyes, dressed in a burgundy dress. "Class, we have a new student joining us," Iruka announced. "Please be nice to her." He turned to the girl. "Introduce yourself."
Sakura nervously introduced herself. "My name is Sakura Haruno. I hope we get along well."
Iruka instructed her to find a seat. Sakura scanned the room and spotted an empty spot near a red-haired kid. She walked over and sat down.
"Hello, I'm Naruto," he said with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you."
Sakura blushed and shook his hand.
After the classroom lecture, the class was led outside for throwing practice. As they practiced, Naruto noticed Sakura struggling. "She must be from a civilian family," he thought. He walked over to her. "Hey, I see you're struggling. I can help if you want."
Sakura, too nervous to speak, simply nodded.
Naruto explained, "First, throwing comes more from the wrist than from your whole arm. Secondly, you're gripping the kunai too tight." He walked behind her and gently adjusted her grip, causing Sakura to blush at the close contact. "Good. Now, take a deep breath and throw."
Sakura followed his instructions and threw her kunai. It wasn't a bullseye, but it hit one of the inner rings. She was surprised at how much improvement two simple adjustments had made. She turned to Naruto, her eyes filled with surprise and gratitude.
Naruto simply gave her a thumbs-up and walked back to his own target. The girls in the class all glared at Sakura with jealousy.
Iruka watched with a smile. Naruto was unlike any prodigy he had ever heard of. Most prodigies were either conceited or aloof. Naruto was different. He engaged with all his classmates and offered help whenever he saw someone struggling. He didn't see himself as better or superior. It was because of this that he was so popular. Ino, however, glared at Sakura for being so close to Naruto.
After throwing practice, it was time for taijutsu training. The students were paired up for sparring, all except Sakura, who was still lagging behind. Iruka ordered Naruto to help Sakura catch up. Naruto accepted without complaint. He walked over to Sakura and asked her to attack him. Sakura was hesitant at first but eventually complied. She had been reading books on all things shinobi, eager to learn. She rushed Naruto with a sloppy punch, which he dodged effortlessly. Sakura continued to swing, but Naruto dodged every attack without retaliating.
After five minutes, Naruto stopped her. She was panting heavily, embarrassed by how unskilled she was. She expected him to make fun of her, but he didn't.
"Well, you certainly have power behind your attacks," he said, surprising her. "And I noticed you prefer punches over kicks." Instead of pointing out her flaws, he had started with a compliment. "Your form is… well, it needs work, but that's to be expected. Don't be so hard on yourself."
Naruto then showed her the Academy kata, observing her movements and gently correcting her mistakes. Sakura was having fun. Naruto was a great teacher. He corrected her flaws without insulting her, instead offering encouragement. He complimented her when she improved and cracked corny but funny jokes, making the learning process enjoyable. Sakura didn't realize it, but she was beginning to develop a crush on Naruto.
At the end of class, Naruto gave her a basic workout routine he had created to help her strengthen her body. She was incredibly grateful that he was going so far to help her. Sakura thanked him profusely and ran to her mother. Sasuki watched their interactions with an unfamiliar feeling in her stomach. She knew Naruto helped anyone who needed it. He even helped her from time to time. But seeing him so close to Sakura stirred a strange feeling within her. She dismissed it and joined her family.
Sakura and her mother were walking home. "So, how was your first day?" her mother asked.
"It was amazing! I learned a lot already!" Sakura replied excitedly.
"Oh, really? Your instructor must be amazing!"
Sakura shook her head. "No, I was helped by another student. His name is Naruto, and he's the number one student in our class. But even with that, he's very kind and helps anyone who needs it."
Her mother tensed at hearing the name of the Kyuubi's jinchuriki. She had been wary of him, like most of the villagers. But hearing about him from her daughter, she felt she might have to reevaluate her opinion. "Really? What did he teach you?"
"Well, first he helped me with throwing kunai and shuriken. Then he helped me learn some taijutsu. He's so kind, smart, and funny!" Her mother realized that her daughter was already developing a crush. "Well, tomorrow I'll have to thank that young man for helping you," she said.
Sakura nodded eagerly.
As Naruto was walking home, he was engrossed in reading the shurikenjutsu book Itaia had given him. He had no idea shurikenjutsu could be so complex. You could throw them to curve mid-air, deflect them off each other like he had seen Itaia do, channel elemental chakra to increase their sharpness, use wires to trap opponents, control the weapons in mid-air, and even set traps. It seemed he needed to take shurikenjutsu more seriously. "Well, more clones won't hurt," he thought.
He had heard from Hiruzen that Kakashi was returning soon from his mission. He missed Kakashi; it had been weeks since he had seen him.
Naruto arrived at an empty home. He figured his housemates were on missions. He immediately created shadow clones to train, adding a few more specifically for shurikenjutsu practice. Naruto wanted to be the most well-rounded ninja possible, and he would use his clones to achieve that goal. He subtly increased the gravity seals he was training under and got to work.