Chapter 19 (Patreon)

Since it was already getting late, Team Seven agreed to begin escorting the drunken old man the following morning. For now, everyone headed home.

“Naruto, wait a moment.”

Naruto was walking down the street when he heard Iruka calling from behind him.

He turned and smiled.

“Oh, Iruka-sensei!”

“Where are you off to, Naruto?” Iruka asked, catching up with him.

“Something to eat, then training.”

Naruto could more or less guess why Iruka had come after him.

“You’ve really been working hard.”

Iruka smiled in approval before his expression grew serious.

“Are you still upset about what happened with Kakashi two months ago?”

Naruto quickly considered his answer. Rather than smile or act unconcerned, he gave a childish pout.

“Hmph! I’m not angry with Kakashi-sensei!”

Iruka relaxed.

He had taught Naruto for six years and knew his reactions well. When Naruto acted like this, it meant he wasn’t really dwelling on it.

“Then why do you keep slacking off on missions with him?”

“Because they’re boring, and they take time away from my training!” Naruto grumbled. “But don’t worry, Iruka-sensei. I’ll take things seriously from now on!”

“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.”

Iruka patted his head.

“Come on. I’ll treat you to ramen again. Afterward, I’ll help you with your training.”

“Really? Iruka-sensei, you’re the best!”

Naruto threw his arms around him with a delighted shout.

This time, there was no acting involved.

Iruka truly cared about him. Over the past two months, he had given up a great deal of his own time to help Naruto train.

He might only have been a chunin, but teaching basic elemental ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu was well within his abilities.

Thanks to his patient instruction, Naruto had improved enormously during those two months. He had learned the available C-rank Earth Style, Water Style, and Wind Style techniques, along with basic taijutsu, genjutsu, ninja tool throwing, and the Substitution Jutsu.

All of them had reached [Proficient].

Every time he trained, he used his [Perfected] Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, supported by the enormous chakra reserves of his god-tier Uzumaki Sage Body. Together, they allowed him to progress dozens of times faster than an ordinary shinobi.

Two months of his training amounted to eight years of practice for someone else.

The speed of his progress was staggering.

He had already reached the level of a chunin, putting him on roughly equal footing with Iruka.

If his foundations hadn’t been so weak, and he had made better use of those six years at the Academy, he could already have reached the level of an elite chunin.

His current status panel read:

…

Host: Naruto Uzumaki (Male; wearing sunglasses)

Age: 12

Strength: Chunin

Chakra Natures: Wind, Water, Earth (Water and Earth granted by the Sage Body)

Bloodlines:

Uzumaki Sage Body (Level 4; God-tier Bloodline)

Deidara’s Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai (Level 1)

Skills:

Uzumaki Sage Body Abilities [Advanced]: Enormous Chakra Reserves, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Mind’s Eye of Kagura, Healing Constitution, Talent for Fuinjutsu

Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, Clone Jutsu, Substitution Jutsu, Enhanced Chakra Control, Flying Thunder God Jutsu…

C-rank Wind Style Ninjutsu, C-rank Earth Style Ninjutsu, C-rank Water Style Ninjutsu

Items:

[Bloodline Upgrade Scroll] ×1

…

There weren’t many C-rank elemental techniques to learn, and their power was limited. Unfortunately, those were all Iruka could teach him. Naruto wanted to learn B-rank techniques from Kakashi, but Kakashi wasn’t willing to teach him.

If he weren’t constantly watched by ANBU shinobi, with the Third Hokage checking on him through his crystal ball from time to time, he could have made much more progress with his Explosion Release and Flying Thunder God Jutsu too.

That only made him more eager for a mission that would take him outside the village.

Fortunately, they were leaving for the Land of Waves tomorrow.

Away from Konoha, he would finally have far more freedom.

After eating at Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto headed to the training ground again. This time, however, he had asked Iruka not to come along.

Tonight, he was going to spar with Sasuke.

He wanted to test his current strength, but he also needed to make progress on the system’s long-term mission: [Defeat Sasuke Seven Times].

He had challenged Sasuke repeatedly over the past two months, only to be turned down each time. Today, on the eve of their departure for the Land of Waves, Sasuke had finally agreed.

“Sasuke, I’ve been waiting for this for ages!”

Naruto laughed as he faced him.

“Hmph. So have I.” Sasuke stood opposite him, looking cool and confident. “This time, you’re not beating me.”

“First round—taijutsu!”

Without another word, Naruto drew a kunai and charged.

The two immediately clashed at close range.

Sasuke’s taijutsu had earned Kakashi’s praise, but Naruto’s skills had improved considerably after all his training.

They traded a hundred exchanges before finally separating, both breathing hard.

Naruto grinned at Sasuke.

Their taijutsu bout had ended in a draw.

“Second round—elemental ninjutsu!”

The moment Naruto spoke, Sasuke’s hands moved through a series of signs. Flames burst from his mouth.

“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”

“Water Style: Raging Waves!”

Naruto answered without hesitation. Completing his own hand signs, he spat out a powerful stream of water that struck the fireball head-on and extinguished it.

The collision sent white steam billowing across the training ground, obscuring both boys’ vision.

“Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!”

Naruto’s hands moved quickly. Almost as soon as his Water Style ended, his next jutsu was ready.

A blast of wind rushed from his mouth, scattering the steam and surging toward Sasuke.

But Sasuke had anticipated a follow-up attack. Immediately after releasing his fireball, he had moved to the side, leaving Naruto’s wind to tear through empty space.

He dashed around to Naruto’s left, completing another set of hand signs before he even came to a stop.

“Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!”

Several fireballs flew straight toward Naruto.

He seemed unable to react in time. The flames struck him directly.

Poof!

His body vanished in a cloud of smoke.

A shadow clone.

Sasuke frowned and immediately moved again.

He already knew how troublesome Naruto’s shadow clones could be, and he had prepared accordingly.

Staying alert wasn’t enough. He had to keep moving as well, or Naruto might catch him with an Earth Style attack from below.

“Haha! Sasuke, try stopping this!”

Dozens of Naruto’s voices rang out around him at once.

Sasuke looked around uneasily.

From every direction, blasts of wind wrapped around rushing water, forming torrents that spun at high speed as they swept toward him.

“Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!”

“Water Style: Raging Waves!”

The dozens of shadow clones had formed pairs. Each pair used Wind Style and Water Style together, combining their techniques into a powerful attack that closed in on Sasuke from all sides.

“Tch!”

Sasuke’s expression darkened.

This was exactly what he had been afraid of: Naruto overwhelming him with huge chakra reserves and a swarm of shadow clones.

How did he have so much chakra?

Sasuke’s Uchiha blood couldn’t make up for the sheer difference in their reserves.

He desperately searched for a way out. But the only elemental jutsu he knew were Fire Style techniques, and he hadn’t even learned the Body Flicker Jutsu.

He couldn’t block the attack, and there was nowhere to escape.

All he could do was cross his arms in front of his chest, grit his teeth, and brace himself.

“Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole Jutsu!”

A voice rang out nearby.

Sasuke looked down. A small ridge of earth raced across the ground toward him.

When it reached his feet, two hands shot up from the soil and pulled him underground, saving him from the combined attack.

“You lost again, Sasuke! Haha!”

[Ding! Long-Term Achievement Mission: Defeat Sasuke Seven Times]

[Progress: 4/7]

[Keep up the good work, Host.]