The crescent moon hung cold and high in the night sky.
A chilly breeze swept through the silent forest, making the air feel crisp and cool.
"Hoo... Hoo..."
Uzumaki Naruto lay on the ground, his eyes slightly closed, with soft snoring sounds escaping his lips.
After practising tree climbing for most of the night, Naruto finally couldn't hold on any longer. He fell from the tree one last time and immediately fell asleep on the ground.
His motionless appearance alarmed everyone at first—they feared Naruto had depleted his chakra too much and something bad had happened.
Hatake Kakashi went forward to check and confirmed that Naruto had simply fallen asleep from exhaustion.
He waved behind him, and Yamato appeared before him with the other ANBU team members.
"Since he's already asleep, take him home so he can get proper rest," Kakashi instructed.
"Yes, sir!"
Yamato stepped forward and gently lifted the sleeping Naruto, but this action almost woke him up. Fortunately, Naruto only reached out to scratch his cheek before falling back into deep sleep.
He muttered something, but his voice was too soft and unclear for anyone to understand.
"Swish!"
Yamato gave a slight nod to Shihouin Naraku and Kakashi, then departed with the ANBU team.
Watching them leave, Kakashi suddenly said, "Did you notice just now..."
"Yeah, it's quite obvious," Naraku replied as he dusted himself off and stood up, looking as if he had expected this all along.
"After all, he not only has the blood of the Uzumaki clan, but he's also the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. With his recovery abilities, all the bruises and scrapes on his body will be completely healed after a good night's sleep."
Both of them had clearly seen that the bruise on Naruto's arm from his fall had already faded significantly.
This kind of resilience was truly enviable.
Strong recovery ability was also a talent, and it was one of Naruto's advantages. Setting other issues aside, this ability alone would allow him to grow rapidly.
"Let's head back and rest," Shihouin Naraku suggested. He glanced at the marks left by the kunai on the tree, yawned, and waved goodbye to Kakashi.
Walking back home, Shihouin Naraku reflected on his performance that day.
"That should be about right. Knowing the old man Third Hokage, he was definitely spying on me in secret, and he probably didn't like what I did today."
"But I successfully pushed Kakashi to teach Naruto the tree-climbing exercise. That was a good move."
"I expect Kakashi will leave ANBU soon and become a mentor, which means I can proceed step by step according to my plan."
After reviewing his actions, Shihouin Naraku confirmed he had made no mistakes and immediately felt relieved.
...
The next day.
According to the Third Hokage's instructions, Shihouin Naraku and Kakashi continued to follow Naruto.
After a good night's sleep, Naruto was full of energy as he went to school.
As for his body, which had been covered with scrapes and bruises from practising half the night, it had completely recovered—no signs of injury remained.
Not only Iruka-sensei but other students also noticed that Naruto seemed unusually confident today.
It was as if he had suddenly discovered some secret ninja technique that would guarantee his success. Naruto was so confident that he walked with his head held high.
"Something's different about Naruto today," observed Umino Iruka, who appeared strict with Naruto but actually cared deeply for him.
"Could something good have actually happened to him? No, that boy must be up to some mischief..."
Iruka remained alert, his eyes frequently glancing toward Naruto.
In their seats, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chōji, among Naruto's few good friends, also sensed something different about him.
"Naruto, want some chips?" Chōji, who valued delicious food above almost everything, secretly opened a bag of potato chips and offered it to Naruto.
"No thanks, you eat them," Naruto replied without even looking at the tempting snack.
"Crunch!"
Shikamaru took the opportunity to quietly reach over and grab a handful of chips, popping them into his mouth.
Chōji pulled the bag back and continued eating but asked directly, "Naruto, what's up with you today?"
Even Chōji had noticed the change.
Shikamaru glanced at his good friend. He knew that despite Chōji's appearance, he had a very perceptive heart.
So it was no surprise that he picked up on Naruto's unusual mood.
"Hey-hey..." Naruto buried his head under his arms, unable to stop grinning with pride.
"Someone taught me something really powerful. When I master it, I'll show you guys."
Hmm?
Someone is secretly contacting Naruto?
Shikamaru was startled at first but quickly reasoned through the situation.
This was Konohagakure, and someone was always watching over Naruto. If anyone approached him with bad intentions, they would be apprehended before they could even touch him.
With this realization, Shikamaru felt reassured.
"When you learn it, you better show me," Chōji said through a mouthful of chips.
"Sure thing!" Naruto readily agreed.
In the past, Naruto would have skipped class by now.
He really wanted to return to the mountain where he had met Shihouin Naraku and Kakashi, but he had promised the Hokage that he wouldn't skip class anymore. So he could only endure and wait for school to end in the afternoon.
The sun gradually climbed higher, and noon arrived.
Shihouin Naraku, who was bored, and Kakashi, who was engrossed in his "Make-Out Paradise" book, were just passing the time when they received a summons from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I bet the old man Third just woke up," Shihouin Naraku said with raised eyebrows, confident in his guess.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had definitely been observing them last night, which meant he must have gone to sleep very late.
Elderly people often had trouble sleeping deeply, so being summoned only at noon was actually quite prompt.
Kakashi tucked away his book and thought about the Hokage's orders and Shihouin Naraku's strange behaviour. He couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was happening, but he was the only one left in the dark.
The two soon arrived at the Hokage Tower.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Old man, Third!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen widened his eyes and stared at Shihouin Naraku. What was wrong with this young man? Why did he seem to be growing more disrespectful by the day?
He wouldn't even address him as Hokage anymore, just "old man." The change was too dramatic.
"I called you here today regarding Uzumaki Naruto," the Hokage began.
"After spending time with him yesterday, I'd like to hear your thoughts on him..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his slightly cloudy eyes looking away. Indeed, he appeared as if he hadn't slept well.
Shihouin Naraku gestured toward Kakashi, indicating he should speak first.
Kakashi hesitated momentarily, recalling his interactions with Naruto, then answered respectfully:
"Uzumaki Naruto's fundamentals are very poor. Even compared to other children at the Academy, he ranks among the weakest. From his running form to his kunai throwing technique, you can see many flaws."
"On the surface, he appears confident, energetic, and playful—always full of spirit and determination. But inside, he's quite sensitive, with low self-esteem and a strong desire for acknowledgement from others."
"Initially, I had some doubts about Naruto, but after watching his persistence with the tree-climbing exercise, I believe he has the potential to become an excellent ninja."
"However, to reach that potential, he needs proper training. His technical issues need correction, and with the right guidance, Naruto will have a real chance to succeed."
"That's my assessment," Kakashi concluded.
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