As Naruto progressed on the ground, the fence of the training area leaving his sight in the distance,
A rustle—
Behind him.
Naruto pivoted instantly—
Kunai flying—
THUNK
A large, armored boar squealed as the blade lodged into its thick hide.
"…Kinda looks like Choji."
The boar charged.
Fast.
Too fast for its size.
Naruto grinned.
"…Good."
He stepped forward, Instead of back. A string of four handsigns ending on horse followed.
"Wind Release: Cyclone!"
FWOOOOM
The air twisted violently—
Pulling the boar slightly off-course—
Grinding winds tearing into its side—
The beast screeched—
Momentum broken—
Naruto dashed in, his new agility proving itself—
SLASH
Cleanly, precisely. The boar collapsed.
Naruto exhaled.
"…Okay…"
"…That was kinda smooth."
Ping
Wind Style: Cyclone LVL 1 → LVL 2 (1/20)
Academy Taijutsu LVL 3 → LVL 3 (25/30)
Strength +1
Naruto smirked.
"…We're cooking."
Suddenly—
POOF
Memory flood.
Clone Memory #12:
A clone screaming while being chased by three oversized monkeys throwing shit.
"…WHY ARE THEY AIMING—?!"
Splat
Memory ends.
Naruto blinked.
"…I'm pretty sure that's not enough to make a clone dispel. Not blaming him though."
Another—
Clone Memory #27:
A clone trying to intimidate a snake.
"…Listen here you overgrown rope—"
Snake immediately eats him.
Memory ends.
Naruto wheezed.
"…Okay that one's on me."
Another—
Clone Memory #3:
A clone successfully setting a trap using two gravity seal prototypes—
A young wolf steps onto the area covered by his seals. It collapses on the ground
Clone:
"…Aw poor guy, i almost feel bad." Naruto reaches down to cut destroy the seals, a moment of mercy. As he does so however the wolf lunges at him, snapping his hand firmly in its jowls.
Memory ends.
Naruto held his stomach.
"…This is why I don't like dogs…"
Ping
Trap Making LVL 4 → LVL 4 (14/40)
"…Okay but we're improving."
The deeper he went—
The worse it got.
The forest thickened.
Light dimmed.
Sounds sharpened.
A hiss echoed.
Naruto froze.
From the shadows—
Three massive centipede-like creatures crawled forward.
Chitin glistening.
Mandibles clicking.
"…Nope."
They lunged.
Naruto moved.
Faster than before—
Agility carried him between them—
Barely.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
POOF
Clones scattered—
Drawing attention—
Naruto gathered chakra, performing hand seals
Wind condensing—
"…Cyclone!"
FWOOOOM
The spiraling wind dragged two of them inward—
Grinding—
Cracking exoskeleton—
The third lunged—
Naruto twisted mid-air—
Barely dodging—
"…Okay that's actually terrifying—"
He landed—
Hands forming signs instinctively—
"…Again!"
Another Cyclone—
More control this time—
Cleaner.
Sharper.
The creatures fell.
Silence.
Naruto stood there.
Breathing heavier now.
Ping
Wind Style: Cyclone LVL 2 → (18/20)
Shadow Clone Jutsu LVL 3 → LVL 4 (1/40)
+2 Endurance
Naruto blinked.
"…Oh that's big."
He cracked his neck.
Grinning wider now.
"…Alright…"
"…I like this place."
POOF
Another memory.
Clone Memory #41:
A clone ringing the bell-on-feather stick.
Jingle jingle
Everything goes silent.
Then—
Dozens of glowing eyes open.
Clone:
"…Oh no…" The clone dispelled instantly.
Memory ends.
Naruto slowly reached into his pouch.
Pulled out the feather stick with bell.
"…What the hell is this thing?"
He tucked it away carefully.
High above—
Hidden in the branches—
A pair of golden eyes watched.
Anko Mitarashi.
"…He's adapting fast…"
Her tongue slid across her lips slightly.
Excited.
"…And reckless…Perfect."
Below—
Naruto stepped over another fallen creature.
Unaware.
Ping
Inspect LVL 3 → LVL 3 (18/30)
Tree Walking LVL 4 → LVL MAX
"…Oh nice."
He leapt—
Landing on a tree—
Sticking effortlessly now.
"…Okay that feels good."
The deeper he went—
The quieter it got.
Fewer small creatures.
Stronger ones.
Naruto paused.
"…So…"
"…Boss fight soon?"
The forest didn't answer.
But something shifted.
Far above—
Anko's smile widened.
"…Let's see how you handle this…"
Her hands moved subtly.
Setting something.
Preparing.
"…Don't die too quickly, kid…"
Below—
Naruto stepped forward.
Closer to the center, the forest grew quieter. Too quiet.
Naruto slowed.
"It's a Trap!" +1 intelligence for astute observation!
A twig snapped.
Not by him.
He didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
"…C'mon…"
"…Show yourself…"
Nothing Happened within the distance. However -
The ground beneath him shifted.
FWOOSH—
A massive snake BURST upward—
Fangs bared—
Eyes glowing—
"WOAH—!"
Naruto launched backward—
Barely avoiding getting swallowed whole—
The snake coiled.
Towering over him.
High above—
Hidden in the branches—
Anko grinned.
"…Let's start simple…"
The snake hissed—
Then—
Split into three smaller snakes mid-motion.
Naruto blinked.
"…That's cheating."
They struck—
Fast—
Naruto moved—
New agility barely keeping up—
One grazed his arm—
A thin cut.
Burning.
"…Poison… great…"
Ping
Poison Resistance Activated
Effect: Minor toxin reduced
"…Okay… less great."
Naruto formed a seal—
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
POOF
Clones burst outward—
Two getting immediately wrapped and poofed out of existence.
"…RUDE—"
Naruto dashed forward, hand signs blurring—
Palm out—
"Wind release: Cyclone!"
FWOOOOM
The spiraling wind dragged one snake in—
Shredding scales—
But the other two split again—
"…STOP MULTIPLYING—"
Suddenly—
SPLAT
Naruto froze.
Something warm…
…landed on his shoulder.
He slowly turned his head.
"…No…"
Up in the trees—
A group of monkeys stared down at him.
One raised its hand, a single finger outstretched glaring at him.
"…Don't you—"
SPLAT SPLAT SPLAT
"I'm a piss guy not a poop guy, this isn't funny!"
Naruto slipped mid-step—
Foot losing traction—
A snake lunged—
Naruto twisted—and got bit on the ass
"…This is NOT how I die—"
Another SPLAT.
Direct hit.
High above—
Anko was laughing.
"…Oh this is gold…Absolutely gold…"
Below—
Naruto wiped his face slowly. Yanked the mid sized snake from his behind, crushing it in his grip and turned towards the poop brigade.
Cross hand seals reigned and a small army of Narutos flooded the forest.
"…That's it."
Chakra surged.
Wind flared.
He pointed at the monkeys.
"…GET THEM."
The Monkey from earlier grinned
"…Finally a worthy opponent."
They leapt into the trees—
Chaos erupted.
Monkeys screaming.
Clones yelling.
More… projectiles flying.
Meanwhile—
Naruto turned back to the snakes.
"…Round two."
This time—
He waited.
Watched.
The moment one lunged—
He stepped into it.
"Cyclone!"
Point blank.
FWOOOOM
The pull activated first—
Dragging all nearby snakes inward—
Then—
GRIND
Wind tore through them—
Violently—
The remaining snakes dispersed—
Hissing—
Retreating into the ground.
Silence.
Naruto stood there.
Covered.
Tired.
Victorious.
Above—
The unnamed monkey got dropkicked out of a tree by a clone, pointing toward him in a pissed off manner.
POOF
Memories flooded back—
Clone Memory:
"…Worth it."
Naruto exhaled.
"…I hate this forest…"
Ping
Wind Style: Cyclone LVL 2→ LVL 3 (3/30)
Shadow Clone Jutsu LVL 3 → LVL 4 (9/40)
+3 Endurance
+1 Agility
Poison Resistance proficiency increased
Naruto blinked.
"…Okay…"
"…Still worth it."
High above—
Anko leaned forward slightly.
Eyes sharper now.
"…He adapted mid-fight…"
"…Even with distractions…"
A slow grin spread across her face.
"…Alright, kid…"
"…Let's turn it up."
Below—
Naruto picked a leaf out of his hair.
"…If something else throws poop at me…"
"…I'm burning the whole forest down."
The forest…
Didn't like that idea.
And deeper within—
Something much worse than snakes…
…opened its eyes.