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.
Iruka finished explaining Bunshin no Jutsu and turned around to witness a scene that made his soul leave his body.
Mizuki froze mid-sentence. "…Why are they playing tug-of-war with a stick?"
Iruka sighed. "They're still kids. Let them enjoy it."
Mizuki rubbed his temples. "I hate this job."
Meanwhile, Choji braced himself over Naruto's cane, legs shaking but determined. "Okay… I'm ready!" he shouted.
Shikamaru nodded. "Pull."
The entire chain of students leaned back in perfect synchronized motion. Feet dug into the ground. Shoulders locked. Kiba yelled something incoherent. Sakura screamed like she was lifting a mountain. Ino muttered curses between clenched teeth. Shino's bugs vibrated nervously.
The cane didn't budge. At all.
Ino shouted, "Shikamaru! It didn't move!"
Shikamaru gritted his teeth. "Again!"
They pulled harder. Dirt flew. Students slipped. Choji strained like he was dragging a house. The cane remained exactly where it is .
Unmoving. Unshakeable. Like it was rooted to the core of the earth.
Hinata blinked innocently. "U-Umm… maybe Naruto-kun didn't want anyone else touching it…"
The cane twitched the moment Sasuke stepped forward.
Choji blinked. "Sasuke, that's… the wrong place to help."
Sasuke ignored him, lifting a hand as if preparing a Katon.. That was all it took. Naruto's cane lifted.
Straight up, as though the ground had rejected it. Gasps rippled through the class as the stick rose higher—ten meters into the air, weightless, defiant.
Choji stumbled back. "I-It's working! It's actually working—!!"
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "Impressive, Sasuke. Whatever you did, keep—wait. No. No, that's not you. It's floating on its own."
The cane angled sharply. Then shot across the training field.
It flew cleanly past every student, weaving through grasping hands without losing an inch of speed, and planted itself right into the palm of its rightful owner.
Naruto. now awake. one eye half-open. Expression flat, unimpressed.
He spun the cane once and rested it over his shoulder. "Do you guys not have a better idea than playing tug-of-war with a stick?"
The entire class went silent. Collective humiliation hit them like a coordinated attack.
Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck. " at least it was fun. And hey—Sasuke still managed to outsmart you for half a second."
Iruka immediately tried to ride the momentum. "Right, kids. Now it's time to demonstrate your Bunshin, just like I explained—"
Sasuke cut him off with the calm sharpness of someone done with explanations. "Sensei, let's stop dragging things out. Especially for Naruto." He folded his arms. "From what happened , Naruto's like me. He excels in everything—but in a much weirder way. Ever since he showed up, everything's been strange. So let's skip to the actual exercise."
Mizuki narrowed his eyes. "You mean sparring. Combat."
Sasuke nodded once. "Yes. Naruto. Me. On the field. Now."
That was all it took for the cafeteria to erupt. Several students swarmed toward Sasuke instantly.
Kiba grabbed Sasuke's shoulder. "Whoa—whoa—are you serious? You saw his blue flame! Do you even have odds against him?!"
Shikamaru stepped beside them, arms crossed, expression flat. "Bad odds, Sasuke. Very bad. Your fire isn't hotter than his. And you don't have the Sharingan yet."
Sasuke didn't flinch. "I don't need it."
Shikamaru snorted. "You will need it ."
Naruto brushed nonexistent dust from his cloak and stepped forward, cane angled casually. "You know, Sasuke… in the stories I read, there's always some character who thinks fighting a sect elder is a good idea. Courting death, they call it. And now I'm interested in you. What kind of courting death will you choose?"
Sasuke caught the implication instantly. Every time Naruto spoke, it was like he was referencing a comic, a fable, a battle between hero ninja and looming villain. He exhaled sharply. "I'm the hero ninja who's going to kick your ass. That's for sure."
Naruto's eye narrowed with bright amusement. He decided to raise the difficulty for himself. He leaned slightly toward Sasuke. "The McFlurry I gave you earlier… I spiked it with a dangerous poison."
Under normal circumstances, Sasuke would've scoffed. He would've dismissed it as bluffing.
But This was Naruto. The same Naruto who crushed metal mid-air, teleported in a swirl of cards, and conjured blue flame hotter than chakra fire. So when Sasuke heard those words, something primal inside him reacted before logic could. A spike of panic hit him like lightning. His breath hitched. His muscles locked. His heart hammered out of rhythm. His knees buckled, slamming into the dirt as he struggled to breathe.