---
Therefore, it was natural for Ye Dou to avoid contact with Naruto Uzumaki. Only by doing so could Hiruzen Sarutobi feel at ease.
"By the way, since that boy has also entered the Ninja Academy, how is his talent? How did he perform on the entrance exam?"
"According to the information provided by the exam proctors, his scores were quite average—he ranked in the middle to lower range. His ninjutsu aptitude isn't strong. At present, he seems to be training under Might Guy."
"Guy?"
"Yes."
"I see. Keep monitoring, but when Naruto is at school, you may lower your vigilance slightly. I'll gather information directly from his academy instructors."
"Understood!"
The ANBU ninja nodded and disappeared from the Hokage's office without a trace.
"If he lacks talent in ninjutsu, then there shouldn't be a problem."
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, allowing the smoke to linger in his lungs before exhaling slowly.
He knew that Might Guy was undoubtedly the strongest taijutsu user in the Hidden Leaf Village.
But even so, taijutsu alone could never pose a major threat to Konoha. And as his student, Naruto was even less likely to become a danger to the village.
What Hiruzen didn't realize was that, years later, Might Guy would unleash the Eighth Gate of Death and nearly defeat Uchiha Madara, a figure on par with Hashirama Senju.
Perhaps, if he had known that, he would have kept a closer eye on Guy as well.
---
Ninja Academy – Classroom A
"Chakra is an energy formed by the perfect fusion of the body's physical and spiritual energies. It serves as the foundation of ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu," Iruka Umino explained to his students.
"There are two primary sources of chakra: the first comes from the body's 130 trillion cells, each extracting a small amount of physical energy. The second source is mental energy, which is refined through training and experience."
He paused, ensuring the students were following. Occasionally, he displayed illustrations to aid comprehension.
However, even as thorough as his lesson was, it did not cover everything.
For instance, there was a third way to obtain chakra—by drawing in natural energy to form Senjutsu chakra.
But as an ordinary Konoha chūnin, Iruka had no access to such knowledge.
In fact, very few people in the entire ninja world knew of this method. The three legendary locations that taught Senjutsu—Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest—remained shrouded in secrecy.
Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest had close ties with Konoha, while Ryūchi Cave's methods and location were known only to Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin and a former student of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Thus, only a handful of Konoha shinobi ever learned Senjutsu.
Unaware that his carefully prepared lecture omitted such hidden truths, Iruka continued teaching with enthusiasm, projecting an air of scholarly wisdom.
"There are two types of chakra transformation: shape transformation and nature transformation.
"There are five basic chakra natures: Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, and Lightning. Additionally, there are two advanced types—Yin Release and Yang Release."
"The nature transformations of Yin and Yang are especially prominent among certain clans in Konoha. For example, the Nara Clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu and the Akimichi Clan's Expansion Jutsu both involve Yin-Yang Release."
At this, many students turned to glance at the next generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, their eyes filled with admiration.
For most first-year students, just extracting chakra was a challenge. Meanwhile, children from prestigious clans were already experimenting with chakra nature transformation.
The gap was discouraging.
---
Unexpected Guests
Academy life was monotonous, but Ye Dou didn't feel it was a waste of time.
He wasn't a genius, nor a prodigy who could learn on his own.
Even if much of the academy's curriculum seemed trivial to him, lessons on stealth and assassination techniques still held value.
He understood that knowledge alone wouldn't guarantee survival in the ninja world—only training and adaptability could.
Still, without a solid foundation, a shinobi wouldn't even understand how they met their demise.
Unlike his classmates, who eagerly engaged in physical exercises and shuriken practice, Ye Dou focused solely on theoretical lessons.
Because of this, he quickly earned a reputation as a loner—withdrawn, silent, and indifferent to socializing.
But Ye Dou didn't care. He never sought recognition from others.
---
Forest Training
Days passed in the blink of an eye.
Ye Dou completed his first week at the academy, and today was a rest day. That meant he could train freely in the forest once again.
Spring and summer transformed Konoha into a vibrant paradise. The forests flourished with fresh leaves, birds sang, and the air was thick with the fragrance of blooming flowers.
The natural beauty shifted throughout the day.
Mornings were cool and refreshing.
Midday heat was intense, but the dense canopy of trees at the training ground provided ample shade.
By evening, the gentle spring breeze rustled the leaves, whispering a soft greeting.
Through it all, Ye Dou continued training—pushing his body to its limits from dawn until dusk.
A small mongoose, his only companion, found the routine unbearably dull. It curled up in its nest, attempting to sleep through the long hours.
But boredom made sleep impossible. The creature twisted and turned, its fur fluffing up in frustration. Eventually, it let out an agitated cry and rolled around like a restless goat.
Suddenly, its ears twitched, sensing an unfamiliar presence approaching.
"Ye Dou, someone's coming!"
Ye Dou immediately ceased his chakra control, releasing the weighted gravity seals suppressing his movements.
He didn't know who it was.
Besides his mentor, Might Guy, only one other person knew of this secluded training spot—Hyūga Hanabi, the younger sister of Hinata Hyūga and a member of the prestigious Hyūga Clan.
Without hesitation, Ye Dou strapped his training weights back on and resumed his physical exercises, prepared for whatever came next.
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