The academy speakers crackled. "Attention students. Bunshin jutsu training will be held at the training ground."
Naruto smiled as a swirl of black playing cards rose around him, orbiting his body like blades ready to cut reality. He glanced at Sasuke before the teleport took shape. "If this were game language, your words hurt me for one hit point. I'm speedrunning things now. You better keep up, Sasuke. The future's about to change."
The cards spun faster, folding the air into a spiral. In a split second, Naruto vanished—gone with the last flicker of black suit symbols.
Sasuke breathed out, steadying himself. His heartbeat wasn't fear; it was calculation.
Sakura stepped closer. "Sasuke-kun, are you okay? That Naruto baka doesn't know how strong you are when you're serious."
Shikamaru exhaled deeply. "I'm changing my mind about Naruto's capabilities."
Kiba leaned forward. "You mean he's weak? Still just a shinobi?"
Shikamaru shook his head. " Worse. Naruto can beat three veteran jōnin at the same time."
Kiba snapped his mouth shut.
Sasuke kept staring at the spot where Naruto vanished. He wasn't sure who he was chasing anymore. I just dodged a shuriken, he thought. Naruto is pissed… but still smiling.
On the training ground, the students gathered in a loose semicircle. Iruka stood at the front with a clipboard. Mizuki stood beside him, arms crossed, eyes scanning the group.
Mizuki scowled. "The brat isn't here yet."
No one answered. The silence wasn't fear—it was the memory of Naruto disappearing in a swirl of black cards like some stage magician who hated rules.
Iruka blinked. "Uh… kids? What's with the silent treatment?"
Shikamaru stepped forward. "Sensei, Naruto didn't walk here. He vanished. In a circle of cards."
Mizuki scoffed. "Body Flicker technique. But that's usually reserved for chunin."
Neji shook his head. "Sensei, Naruto didn't use hand signs when he disappeared. I suspect he's just that fast."
A flicker of irritation crossed Mizuki's face. I was planning to humiliate him. The dead-last who can't do ninjutsu. If he doesn't show up, the whole plan is useless…
Iruka sighed and stepped forward. "I'll take the lead since Mizuki is arguing with himself again."
Iruka raised the clipboard. "Alright. First, we run the ninjutsu test before the Bunshin no Jutsu demonstration."
Each student stepped forward in turn. They performed their techniques on the wooden training log.
Then came Sasuke.
He stood before the log, inhaled, and formed the hand signs with clean precision. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu."
A massive fireball erupted from his lips, engulfing the log in a sphere of flame. When it cleared, the log was charred black, smoke curling into the sky.
Iruka nodded. "Perfect score for Sasuke. As usual."
Sasuke returned to his spot with quiet confidence.
Before Iruka could call the next name, the air twisted. Dozens of black cards materialized above the training ground, swirling and stacking in a spiraling pillar. They snapped together like a collapsing deck.
Naruto appeared in the center of them, cane resting on his shoulder.
Shikamaru rubbed his forehead. Always making an entrance. Probably trying to traumatize all of us on purpose.
Naruto looked around calmly. "Am I late, everyone?"
Iruka opened his mouth to speak—but Mizuki cut in first.
"You're very late, Naruto. If you want to remain in this class, you need to demonstrate your ninjutsu on two of the logs. Right now."
Iruka frowned. "Mizuki, the test requires only one wooden log, not—"
"Shut up, Iruka," Mizuki snapped. "A teacher is supposed to be strict, not lenient. And this Naruto broke multiple rules in the past. It's time he faces punishment."
Iruka stiffened. The students quieted. Mizuki stepped forward like he'd finally found a chance to crush someone he hated.
Naruto ignored both of them.
He rested a hand under his chin, calm and detached, eye half-lidded. How should I handle this…? My spells all have too much range .
Sakura leaned toward Sasuke, whispering under her breath. "This is the part Naruto cries again."
Sasuke didn't look at her. "Shh. I want to see it. His offensive ninjutsu. Or whatever unknown technique he's hiding."
Sakura blinked, confused by his seriousness.
Then she noticed something that made her swallow hard.
Every student had gone silent, all eyes locked on Naruto, waiting, curious, almost holding their breath.
They didn't want to laugh at him. They wanted to see how strong he really was.
Sakura felt her chest tighten. She had completely underestimated the situation.
Naruto tapped his cane once, then tossed it toward Hinata. She caught it with both hands, startled. "Hold on to it, Hinata-chan."
Hinata nodded quickly, clutching it close like a fragile treasure.
Naruto lifted his palm. Blue flame spiraled upward, twisting in tight circles. Sasuke leaned forward instinctively. Neji activated his Byakugan to analyze every detail.
Sasuke looked toward Neji. "Still not ninjutsu."
Neji's gaze narrowed. "Still not. But that flame… it's hotter than anything you can produce, Sasuke."
Naruto compressed the oxygen around the flame, tightening it into a dense sphere. When it was ready, he tossed it casually—like dropping a pebble.
The ground erupted.
A sharp blast tore through the training field, obliterating two wooden logs and carving a crater into the dirt. Dust flew. Students staggered back. Even Iruka shielded his face.
Kiba pointed at the smoking crater. "OYYY—don't destroy the training area! We're supposed to train here!"
The dust settled slowly.
Naruto stood there, expression calm, eye steady. He turned toward Sasuke, the blue sclera flickering faintly.
"Can you chase me now?" he said.
Sasuke kept an expressionless face, but the small, smug lift at the corner of his mouth sent a message clearly enough: Oh, I will chase you, Naruto.
Mizuki snapped.
"You destroyed part of the training area! We're supposed to train here, not—!"
Naruto cut him off. "You told me to demonstrate, right? I demonstrated my technique when you gave me 'the rules.'"
Mizuki's face went red with anger. He wanted to hit Naruto. He wanted to scream at him. But he couldn't—not in front of Iruka, the students, and the open training ground where every witness could get him fired.
Naruto clapped his hands once, loud enough to echo across the field. "Let the game begin. Mizuki, I know you've wanted to get rid of me for a long time."
Mizuki stiffened.
Naruto smiled. "Mouse and cat has gone on too long. So how about this? You and me. Here. A fight with no restraint. That means the participants can use whatever ninjutsu they have. How about that?"
The entire class went silent. Sasuke's eye sharpened.
Neji's Byakugan flared for a second.
Shikamaru muttered, "Troublesome… he's provoking a teacher."
Kiba whispered, "Holy crap, Naruto's gonna fight Mizuki for real?"
Naruto didn't answer. I'm curious. In this timeline, Mizuki has that filler transformation… the were-tiger form. If I can get his soul—hmm. What benefits would that give me.
Before the tension could snap, Iruka stepped in, voice raised. " that's enough! No more picking who fights who. Mizuki, Naruto—you both made mistakes. Shake hands and apologize."
Mizuki's face twisted in disgust. "This boy is the one causing trouble. If anyone should apologize, it's him."
Naruto didn't even look at him. "What a tiring day . Wake me up when I'm called for something important."
He turned away, walking toward Hinata without a care in the world. He dropped down against the wall, letting gravity take over like it owed him something.
Hinata held out the cane nervously. "U-um… Naruto-kun… your cane…"
Naruto waved a hand dismissively, already settling into half-sleep. "Hold on to it a little longer, Hinata-chan. I want to nap."
He leaned back, one eye closing, completely unconcerned with Mizuki seething or Iruka sighing.
Like the whole academy was just background noise.
Iruka resumed the lesson, demonstrating the hand signs for Bunshin no Jutsu. Mizuki added unnecessary commentary, pretending to be important, while Naruto slept as if none of it mattered.
Hinata held the cane carefully beside her desk, fingers curled around it like it was precious.
That was when Ino slipped behind her with a mischievous grin. "Hinata, mind if I see that stick?"
Hinata blinked. "U-Umm… what do you mean, Ino-chan?"
Before Hinata could answer, Sakura swooped in like a hawk. "First snatch, first win, Ino—!"
She grabbed the cane and tried to yank it upward.
It didn't move. Not even a centimeter. Sakura frowned, pulled harder, then braced both feet and yanked with her whole body. Nothing. The cane didn't budge from the floor, as if rooted into the ground.
Ino crossed her arms smugly. "You got bad karma chasing you, Sakura."
Sakura kept tugging, sweating, face reddening. "W-What is this thing?! Why's it so—heavy?!"
Sakura kept pulling, sweat running down her forehead, her face turning red.
"W-What is this thing?! Why's it so—heavy?!"
Kiba leaned back with a smug grin. "Looks like it doesn't like women."
Sakura snapped instantly. "WHAT did you just say, you mutt?!"
Kiba held his hands up. "Hey, hey—just saying maybe it requires the touch of a brave man who loves dogs, like—"
He grabbed the cane. It didn't move a millimeter.
Kiba froze. "…H-Huh?"
Shino pushed his glasses up. "Don't embarrass yourself further, Kiba."
Kiba says "Oh yeah? Then YOU try, bug boy!"
Shino didn't even flinch. "No. I know my limits."
Shikamaru sighed again, shoulders slumping as if this entire situation aged him ten years. "Troublesome… but fine. Now I'm curious. Maybe it needs someone with expertise."
Kiba frowned. "Expertise? What expertise?"
Shikamaru lifted one finger and pointed straight at Choji.
Choji froze mid-chew, dumpling halfway to his mouth. "M-Me?"
Shikamaru shook his head. "Not just you."
He swept his hand across the entire group. "I mean everyone."
Ino stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "Oh great. A group project."
Shino adjusted his glasses. "Acknowledging the outcome in advance. This will be embarrassing."
Sakura glared at the cane like it personally offended her. "Whatever! It's just a stick!"
Shikamaru exhaled through his nose, already regretting everything. "Alright… everyone line up. Choji's the anchor. I'll assist."
Before anyone processed what he meant, Shikamaru formed a seal and his shadow stretched across the dirt.
Kagemane no Jutsu. It linked every student willing to join . Their bodies synced for one purpose: adding compound force to Choji's pull.