Over the past few days, Naruto had been pushing his wind training harder than ever. The dusty training yard on the edge of town was empty, save for scattered wooden dummies, a few worn-out targets, and the faint scent of pine carried by the breeze.
Naruto stood in the middle, feet planted firmly on the ground. He clenched his fists, feeling the faint hum of wind chakra swirling around him like an invisible cloak.
Then, without warning, a sudden burst of wind erupted from beneath his feet.
Pshhh!
The force lifted him off the ground, spinning him upward a few meters before he landed smoothly on the soft earth. Dust puffed around his landing, but his grin only widened.
'I can use the wind to push me off the ground…' he thought, brushing dirt off his sleeve. 'If I train long enough, I might turn it into that one technique from One Piece… the CP whatever they used. Now that I think about it, CP is a terrible name. What was Oda cooking?'
Shaking his head at the ridiculousness of it, Naruto moved on. He raised his hands and created a clone in an instant.
"Alright, test number two," he muttered, handing the clone a kunai. The duplicate spun it expertly and hurled it at Naruto midair.
The kunai streaked toward him like a silver dart.
Whizz!
Naruto's eyes narrowed. Chakra flared along his palms as he pushed a sudden gust of wind outward.
Fwoosh!
The air shoved him sideways just enough to dodge the kunai by mere centimeters. The weapon slammed into the dirt behind him, kicking up a small spray of gravel.
He landed softly, barely bending his knees, dust swirling around him from the sudden burst.
"Nice," he muttered, chest rising and falling rapidly, adrenaline still thrumming through his veins.
He wiped sweat from his forehead and glanced at his clone, who had already assumed a ready stance.
'Alright, let's move onto something else,' he thought, cracking his neck.
The training yard was quiet again, save for the faint rustle of leaves and the whisper of lingering wind. Naruto bent his knees slightly, feeling the air currents brush against him, and a small grin spread across his face.
'I'm getting the hang of this…' he thought. 'Now it's just a matter of pushing it further.'
The faint thrill of progress made him twitch with anticipation. He spread his arms, ready to experiment with his next move — slicing, blasting, or maybe even propelling himself faster through the air. The possibilities stretched out before him like an open sky.
After a few days of relentless practice, Naruto finally managed to take a few steps mid-air using his wind release. Each step sent small currents swirling beneath his feet, lifting him just enough to feel weightless for a moment. It wasn't stable yet — he stumbled occasionally, arms flailing to keep balance — but the progress was undeniable.
He had also developed a subtle wind shield, a barely visible barrier of compressed air. It hummed faintly as it held against minor impacts. Stones, stray branches, even light debris would bounce harmlessly off it. Of course, it wasn't perfect — a strong blow would still knock him down — but it gave him a taste of what he could achieve with proper control.
In the following days, Naruto pushed his training further. He discovered he could use the wind to sense movement around him, stretching his perception out to nearly a kilometer. It wasn't precise — he couldn't tell exactly what was moving, only that something was — but it was an invaluable tool.
He experimented further, channeling the wind into offensive techniques. First came the wind fists: condensed air blasts that shot from his palms, powerful enough to knock over small trees from a distance. Then, after hours of trial and error, he created a Wind Slash attack — a cutting wave of air that could slice through dozens of trees in a controlled line.
Every success made him grin.
Yet, despite all his growth, one frustration remained: he couldn't learn any new jutsu. Jiraiya had flatly refused to teach him, insisting that he didn't need them and that Naruto should focus on developing his own strength and instincts.
Naruto had ignored him for an entire week, muttering under his breath every time the old man grinned and tried to offer unsolicited advice. It was stubborn, childish, but entirely justified in his mind.
Finally, the last day of his stay arrived. Naruto's room in the inn was a small chaos of scattered clothes, training gear, and kunai. He packed methodically, folding shirts, securing pouches, and checking that his weapons were all accounted for.
He paused for a moment, leaning against the wooden doorframe, and let himself take a deep breath. The last month had been intense, exhausting, and exhilarating. He had taught himself more than he had in months back in Konoha, discovering new ways to move, fight, and sense the world around him.
'It's been a good month,' he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. 'I've come a long way… but it's time to go home.'
He had grown stronger, wiser, and more determined. And now, finally, it was time to return to Konoha — to see how far he had come, and to face whatever challenges awaited him there.
"Damn… didn't think this day would come," Naruto muttered, eyes scanning the small room he had called home for the past month.
The faint smell of dust and ink lingered in the air, mixed with the faint aroma of pine from the forest just beyond the inn. "I've grown kinda attached to this town… but it's time to say goodbye."
He crouched slightly, glancing down at the floor. There he was — a memory etched into his mind — pushing himself through countless push-ups, sweat dripping down his face, weights strapped to his body.
He could see himself testing wind release mid-air, small gusts kicking up dirt and leaves, and the infamous hole in the wall that revealed an… unsightly scene of Jiraiya in the next room.
' Yeah… that's something I don't wish to remember,' he thought, a small grin tugging at his lips as he shook his head.
Taking a deep breath, he slung his bag over his shoulders and strode toward the door.
Outside, Jiraiya was leaning casually against the wall, smirking as usual, pipe in hand.
"Well, Naruto," the old man said, voice filled with amusement, "time for us to go back to the Leaf."
"Yeah… I'm gonna miss this place, honestly," Naruto admitted, stepping past him.
Jiraiya let out a low chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Me too. Met a lot of… quality women here. I'd rank this town ninth place for female appeal," he said with a wink.
Naruto rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
He handed the innkeeper the key and stepped out into the bright sunlight. Jiraiya followed behind, whistling softly.
A small shop caught Naruto's eye — a store selling clothing of various styles. He grinned, unable to resist, and stepped inside.
Moments later, he emerged wearing a sleek all-black jumpsuit with blue stripes running along the seams. Gone was the familiar orange-and-black suit; this outfit was stealthy, practical, and made him look like a serious ninja.
"New threads, huh? I like them!" Jiraiya said, eyes lighting up as he took a step closer, giving Naruto an approving nod.
"Yeah," Naruto replied, tugging at the sleeves. "I want to look more like a proper ninja from now on, you know?"
Jiraiya chuckled again, shaking his head. "Great. Now let's go! A very long journey awaits!"
"How far are we from the Leaf?" Naruto asked, adjusting his bag.
"That wouldn't be fun if I spoiled everything, right? Now let's go!" Jiraiya said with a mischievous glint in his eye.
They set off down the road, the town fading behind them. The path stretched through rolling hills and sparse forests, sunlight filtering through the leaves in dappled patterns.
Of course this journey was far from peaceful.
TO BE CONTINUED