The most recognizable figure in this new life was Naruto Uzumaki.
Although he wasn't as hopelessly inept in theory as the Naruto of the original tiline, he was still far from excelling at it. The main difference lay in his upbringing. This Naruto—who had grown up knowing he was the son of a hero, the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato—wasn't resistant to studying, nor did he openly rebel against learning like the Naruto from the original story. Still, he lacked the patience to fully devote himself to long lectures and dense theory.
During the early years of the Academy, Naruto managed to barely keep pace in his studies. His grades were often at the middle-to-lower end of the class.
But when the Academy shifted to ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu practice—especially once live sparring was introduced in the third year—Naruto's natural gifts beca impossible to ignore.
nma, whose immature but sharpened Kagura's Mind Eye could sense chakra, could clearly perceive the imnse reserves inside Naruto. That overwhelming chakra capacity, even without refinent, set him apart from nearly everyone his age.
Naruto also demonstrated a natural knack for combat. In the original tiline, even the infamous tree-walking and water-walking training had been accomplished while his chakra control was disrupted by the Nine-Tails. That alone proved his potential.
By the third year of the Academy, in pure combat results, Naruto could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with both Uchiha Sasuke and nma.
Of course, nma still held back slightly—but not out of fear of exposure. He simply saw no reason to flaunt overwhelming dominance when his position at the top was already secured.
Ti slipped away in this rhythm of study and training. The years passed: Konoha Year 56… 57… 58… and then the winter of Year 59.
The Academy Grounds
On a brisk winter morning, Iruka-sensei had gathered all of Class 1-A in the Academy's first training field.
Swish.
Bang.
The students sparred in pairs, clashing in controlled two-on-two matches under Iruka's supervision. These mock battles had beco routine over the last two or three years, always carefully monitored to prevent real harm.
Of course, tempers sotis flared—this was inevitable for children training to beco shinobi. Iruka had long since grown used to stopping fights before they escalated.
At this stage, most matches boiled down to simple taijutsu exchanges, occasionally spiced with a well-placed Substitution Jutsu. Few had the chakra control or mastery to unleash more advanced ninjutsu.
Techniques taught privately within clans—such as the Inuzuka's ninken or the Abura's kikaichū—were strictly banned in Academy drills. Allowing them would make fair training impossible.
The one exception, of course, was nma. Even without drawing on the Nine-Tails' power, his strength eclipsed that of his peers.
The Challenge
"Bang!"
"That's enough—stop here!" Iruka called, ending a spar the mont one student gained a clear advantage. The children obeyed imdiately, retreating after performing the Seal of Reconciliation.
Iruka smiled faintly. Such obedient students made his job easy.
"Alright, next pair…" Iruka scanned the lines, only to pause when he caught the intensity in Sasuke's eyes. The boy's expression was a mixture of fierce determination and cold challenge.
Iruka sighed inwardly, but he knew what would happen next.
"Uzumaki nma. Uchiha Sasuke."
The words were like a spark to dry tinder. Sasuke stepped forward instantly, sharp-eyed and silent. nma followed at a asured pace, his face calm.
The entire class fell into hushed whispers.
They had seen this match-up many tis before. Over the past few years, Sasuke had challenged nma repeatedly. And every ti, the result was the sa.
nma won. Always.
The Whispering Students
"Do you think Sasuke will win this ti?"
"Not likely. Hasn't he lost every duel before?"
"This has to be the twentieth ti."
"Almost. nma always wins."
"Unless Sasuke has improved a lot lately… it'll be the sa result."
Even Sakura, Sasuke's most loyal admirer, didn't look convinced. Her expression betrayed a flicker of doubt.
Then, from the sidelines, an all-too-familiar voice cut in:
"Haha, you'd better win this ti, Sasuke! If you lose again, you'll break the record for most consecutive defeats!"
The blunt shout made Sasuke's forehead twitch, veins rising. His lips moved silently, forming a single word: "Idiot."
The culprit, naturally, was Naruto—loud, brash, and oblivious as ever. Even in this alternate life, his personality remained almost unchanged from the original tiline.
The Ino–Shika–Chō Perspective
On the other side of the field, three heirs of the fad Ino–Shika–Chō trio observed.
Akimichi Chōji munched on chips, speaking through a mouthful: "Shikamaru, do you think Sasuke can beat nma this ti?"
Shikamaru stretched lazily, hands behind his head. "Troubleso. I doubt it. Even though it always looks like nma's only barely ahead, I think he's holding back. Unless Sasuke's made massive progress, the outco won't change."
Choji shrugged, unconcerned, but Shikamaru's eyes narrowed faintly. Hidden behind his usual mask of laziness, there was sharp awareness.
As a mber of the Nara Clan, raised under his father Shikaku's tutelage, Shikamaru understood more than most of his peers. He already suspected that nma was no ordinary Academy student.
And he was right.
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