"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naruto's shout echoed through the forest.
In the next instant, chakra surged violently, flooding the area for miles around. Even the trees seemed to tremble under the pressure.
White smoke billowed outward.
When it cleared, hundreds upon hundreds of Narutos filled the forest.
Iruka stared, completely dumbfounded.Mizuki's face went pale with disbelief.Even Tōma, despite having seen this scene countless times before in another life, felt a jolt run through him.
People said everyone used chakra.
Naruto used chakratons.
That saying really wasn't exaggerated.
Every time Tōma witnessed it, he felt the same absurd sense of imbalance. Even shinobi who supposedly shared the same "maxed-out stamina" couldn't compare.
Ten was not always ten.Even numbers had tiers.
Iruka slowly turned his head, his vision filled edge to edge with identical orange-clad figures.
"…That's Naruto?" he muttered blankly.
"N-No way…" Mizuki whispered.
Surrounded by hundreds of enemies, his legs went weak. He was only an average chūnin. Against this number, resistance was meaningless.
Worse still, every piece of his ninja gear was now floating calmly around Tōma, robbed from him without his noticing.
At that moment, Mizuki understood something clearly.
It was over.
"My turn!"
Every Naruto adjusted the forehead protector in perfect sync, then charged.
A moment later—
Bang!
Mizuki was sent flying, crashing through the trees.
Tōma watched with a neutral expression.
Naruto had held back. A lot.
The clones vanished as quickly as they'd appeared, leaving only the original Naruto standing there, scratching his head with a wide, proud grin.
"Heh…"
"You've really grown, Naruto," Iruka said sincerely.
"Yeah," Tōma added, gathering the suspended weapons back into storage. "At this rate, I could open a ninja tool shop if I ever quit."
Iruka glanced at him, then asked cautiously, "Tōma… you really became a jōnin?"
"Today," Tōma replied. "Special jōnin, though."
"Even so," Iruka laughed, eyes shining, "that's still jōnin. I really taught a monster of a student."
Naruto tilted his head. "Hey, what's a jōnin?"
The forest went quiet.
Tōma looked away.Iruka's face twitched, veins popping.
"NARUTO!!!"
A short while later, Naruto was being "re-educated" by Iruka.
Tōma watched calmly, then glanced at Mizuki's unconscious body. Naruto hadn't killed him, which was good. A little blood loss, nothing more.
Tōma checked his own state.
No surge. No loss of control.
As long as he didn't want to kill, things stayed manageable. Worst case, knock them out and let someone else handle it.
That was normal.That was why he'd left ANBU the moment he sensed something off.
Others didn't know about his calm-state technique. From the outside, he probably still looked dangerous.
Iruka soon regained his composure and insisted on taking Naruto to the Hokage to confess.
"That won't be necessary," Tōma said, glancing toward the shadows. "The Hokage already knows."
At his gesture, an ANBU operative appeared, bowed, and carried Mizuki away.
Iruka froze. "…Already?"
"But Naruto did steal a forbidden technique," Iruka said hesitantly. "Is that really okay?"
"He only learned one, right?" Tōma asked, looking at Naruto.
"Yeah! Everything else was way too hard!" Naruto replied proudly. "This one was the easiest!"
"Then it's fine." Tōma pulled out a scroll. "I was going to give him this anyway. I got permission earlier. The technique suits him."
Iruka finally relaxed.
Naruto stared at the scroll, emotions swirling. That had been meant for him all along.
"…Can I have it?" he asked quietly.
"You can," Tōma said, handing it over, "but never teach it to anyone else. The backlash is something only you can handle. Even I can't."
"I promise!" Naruto nodded hard, eyes sparkling.
Iruka watched the boy and smiled wryly. Naruto really was special.
"Oh, and Naruto," Tōma added, "that technique does more than just hit harder. I'll teach you how to really use it later."
"Really?!" Naruto lit up. "You promised!"
"I did."
"Well then," Iruka said, rubbing his neck, "since everything worked out… ramen's on me."
"YES!!"
Naruto tackled him on the spot.
Tōma laughed softly. Sometimes, acceptance was all Naruto ever needed.
Later that night, after returning the Scroll of Seals and reporting in, Tōma met them at Ichiraku Ramen. Even that late, the shop was still open.
On his way home, Tōma remembered he'd promised Iruka to attend the team assignment ceremony tomorrow.
He'd almost declined.
But a certain image came to mind.
So he agreed.
And bought a camera the next morning.
Ino checked herself in the mirror.
Team assignments day.
She didn't expect much. Tōma wouldn't be on her team anyway. Still, this was an important milestone.
Hopefully Sakura. Maybe Hinata too.
She stepped outside.
"Mom, I'm heading to school!"
Flash.
Click.
Ino froze.
Tōma stood there with a camera, smiling.
"Morning."
She beamed. "Tōma! What are you doing here?!"
"I got invited," he said lightly. "Thought I'd surprise you."
She didn't hesitate. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along happily.
From the window above, her mother watched them go, smiling.
Strong, reliable, kind…Yeah. That would do nicely.
She paused, frowning slightly.
…Why is the height difference this big?
She shook her head and laughed.
Kids would figure it out.
After all, when someone was truly exceptional, even the world itself seemed eager to help them along.