Konoha: I, Naruto, will eat the Forest-Forest Fruit!

"So, has everyone remembered the Will of Fire that I taught you today?"

"Got it!"

"Alright, get out of class dismissed then. See you this afternoon."

"yes!"

The children all stood up and ran out of the classroom.

Naruto also planned to go back and bribe a few kids before putting his plan into action.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Iruka called out to him.

"Naruto, wait a minute."

Ino pulled Hinata along first, saying, "We'll wait for you at the door."

"Teacher Iruka is so long-winded."

Iruka: "..."

It's normal for Naruto to be called in for a talk since he often "sleeps" in class.

"Naruto, did you remember everything we talked about today regarding the Will of Fire?"

"I've got it."

"Naruto... I know you mastered the Chakra Extraction Technique a long time ago, but your dream is to become a Hokage recognized by everyone, so the Chakra Extraction Technique alone is not enough to become Hokage."

"To become Hokage, you must first become an excellent ninja."

"oh."

Naruto simply responded with a faint "yes".

Iruka's brow furrowed instantly.

The suppressed disgust in my heart rose rapidly.

"I'll do my best. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

After saying that, Naruto didn't wait for Iruka's reply and turned to leave.

Iruka watched his departing figure, wanting to call out to him, but a voice in his heart told him otherwise.

"He's just a fox demon brat; there's no need to bother with him."

But in the end, Iruka sighed, "He is, after all, my student, and my behavior is completely different from what I want to be as a teacher."

"Iruka, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

At that moment, a gentle voice rang out.

"Teacher Shuimu."

Iruka hesitated for a moment, but still told Mizuki what had happened.

Mizuki said gently:

"Iruka, don't blame yourself. You've already done a great job. You've done more than enough to face the fox demon who killed your parents."

......

"I can't take it anymore, Hinata, you're too amazing, I can't eat anymore."

"I think even if my father came, he might not be able to beat you!"

Choji lay on the ground, rubbing his round belly, and gave Hinata, who was still eating non-stop, a thumbs up, his eyes full of admiration.

Beside him was Xiao Li, who was wearing a gray training uniform.

He said with the same admiration:

"As expected of Hinata of the Hyuga clan, I have lost, utterly and completely."

Shikamaru put down his chopsticks and patted Choji and Lee with a hint of helplessness.

"Don't lie down right after eating."

"It'll be your turn to wash the dishes later."

Naruto, who was standing to the side, chuckled as he answered the girls' questions, then tapped the table and said in a deep voice:

"Gentlemen, there's something I need your help with."

Seeing Naruto's serious expression, the others also stopped eating.

"There's nothing left for me to learn at the ninja academy."

"I plan to use shadow clones to go to school and pretend to be someone else."

"So, I need you guys to cover for me."

"What?!"

"Naruto, you...you've already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique?"

"Oh! As expected of my lifelong rival, Naruto, you're amazing!"

"..."

Things took Naruto somewhat unexpectedly.

People weren't surprised that he wanted to skip school, but rather that he had mastered the ability to create shadow clones and was confident he could keep them at school for a morning or an afternoon.

"Hmph, don't be surprised. Everyone here is the same. The Ninja Academy can't teach us anything, but it's just the necessary path to becoming a ninja."

"Since you're planning to use Shadow Clone Jutsu... Li, after I master Shadow Clone Jutsu in a while, I'll be relying on you to cover for me in class... No, Tenten, I'll still be asking you."

Xiao Li, who was just about to enthusiastically agree, was stunned.

Why?

"Hmph, you want me to help? I'm afraid I couldn't even keep it from the teacher for one class period."

"Hmm!"

Xiao Li lowered his head, his face full of sadness.

"That's a good idea!"

"I need to train too, I can't fall too far behind Naruto!"

"Hinata, how about we take turns from now on?"

Hinata hesitated. Should she skip class?

This...this isn't quite right, is it?

During this time, Hinata no longer had to endure hunger, and she would no longer faint from embarrassment.

But when facing Naruto, she usually transforms into Steam Girl.

"Hmm? Hinata, don't you want to skip class?"

"That's great! I really want to improve. I'll be relying on you from now on!"

"No!"

Hinata quickly shook her head, "I...I sometimes...think about it too."

These words were somewhat unorthodox for her.

Tenten, standing to the side, began to give Naruto some instructions.

"You brat, do you really think we can't notice anything?"

"You have many secrets that you've been hiding. Don't think that just because we're both children, we're inferior to each other."

So...go do what you want to do!

They all looked intently at Naruto.

"Shikamaru discovered it, right?"

ga-

The group immediately turned their heads away.

Naruto shook his head with a smile, "Shikamaru, I underestimated you. You truly live up to your reputation as the 'shika' of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio."

Shikamaru touched his nose. Although he was often praised, this was the first time he had received praise from Naruto.

"Well then, I'll leave the rest to you, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru's face flushed slightly, but he put on a helpless expression and spread his hands, saying:

"Ugh, this is such a hassle. I can't find a reason to refuse."

"(＾－＾)V~"

Several people cheered at the same time.

But Shikamaru then stood up and went into the bathroom.

Naruto went inside as well.

He knew that Shikamaru wanted to whisper something to him.

"Naruto, I don't know why things turned out this way... but I want to say something."

"If things get out of control, I will try to get the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to withdraw. That's all I can do."

Naruto smiled.

As expected of Shikamaru.

"Don't worry, I have a trump card. Perhaps you won't have to endure so much."

This sentence has many layers of meaning, and Naruto believes that Shikamaru will understand, because he is about to reveal something.

As expected, Shikamaru didn't say anything, he just looked at Naruto.

Naruto raised his hand.

The Mori-Mori Fruit has been transformed into an element.

Wooden clone!

ka ka ka-

The wooden arm extended from a piece of wood about the same size as him.

And it transformed into his likeness at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Naruto... you?!"

Shikamaru's eyes widened.

He is indeed very smart, but he is still too young.

I understand many things, but I don't understand what they mean.

"Are you crazy? Why are you showing this to me? Aren't you afraid...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Shikamaru lowered his head.

A moment later, he looked at Naruto's wood clone, shook his head, and laughed:

"This is so troublesome, it's unbearable."

"I know what to do and when to do it."

"Naruto, these past years... you must have had a tough time, right?"

"Let's go, we've been inside too long."

Naruto didn't say anything, but simply had his wood clone follow Shikamaru out.

After the wood clone and Shikamaru left.

He took a deep breath.

"This day has finally come! I no longer need to hide so carefully!"

A relieved smile appeared on his lips.

whoosh-

The next moment, he used the Instantaneous Movement technique to disappear from the bathroom.

We arrived at the waterfall we had chosen long ago.

Naruto opened his arms.

It's been so long since I've experienced this feeling of freedom.

"Absorb!"

While absorbing nutrients from the surrounding trees, it also obtains the latest information from them.

"No one will come, so I can cultivate with peace of mind."

"Practicing ninjutsu under the waterfall."

"I know the training method for the Rasengan... After the Rasengan, there is the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, which is infused with the nature transformation of Wind Release chakra."

"I am familiar with Uchiha Shisui's fighting style and have incorporated the Rasengan into it."

"Let's try Sage Mode after we've completed all the training that can be improved."

Naruto looked at the wooden hand and felt the nutrients he was absorbing from the tree.

"These must be the forces of nature, right?"

"Perhaps, on the night of the massacre, I can capture a White Zetsu. I possess the power of nature, and after absorbing the power of the White Zetsu, I can cultivate the Mayfly Technique."

"Impersonation is also an option!"

"Sage Mode is the absorption and utilization of natural energy."

"My Forest Fruit is made from the highest level of natural power, so it shouldn't be too difficult."

"But just to be on the safe side, let's not try it for now."

After getting ready, Naruto took out a bag of balloons.

"Let's begin the training for the Rasengan!"

call out--

Sharingan!

Shadow Clone Technique.

boom--

Several shadow clones, along with Naruto's main body, simultaneously began training in the Rasengan.

......

Three months later.

Naruto recalled the Body Flicker Technique that he was constantly trying and refining into his own style.

The Rasengan in his hand slowly dissipated.

"Let's go back. It's time to let your body rest for a while before continuing your training in the Spiral Shuriken."

"Next, the school will teach the basics of the Three Body Techniques and shuriken, and there will be exams."

"The ninja bear might be observing, so to prevent my wood clone from being discovered, I'll go to the school myself later."