"Since you want to learn ninjutsu, I have a technique here," Uzuki Yugao said, drawing the sword on her back with a graceful motion. "But I'm not sure if it's suitable for you."
As she spoke, she placed one hand in front of her, forming a hand seal with practiced ease.
"Konoha-Style Sword Art: Crescent Moon Dance!"
With her declaration, two Shadow Clones appeared beside her. The three Yugao's moved in unison, drawing their swords and slashing at the same time. Each strike traced a brilliant arc through the air, forming three crescent-shaped slashes.
It was a beautiful, almost artistic sight.
"Boom!"
A towering tree in front of them was instantly severed into three sections, cleanly sliced. The cuts were so smooth, they looked polished—like silk.
The display left a strong impression. If that sword technique had hit a human, the result would have been terrifying.
Uzuki Yugao sheathed her sword with composed elegance, then turned to Naruto. "The real difficulty with this technique," she began, "lies in the clones I just created. They're not regular clones—they're Shadow Clones."
"Shadow Clones?"
Naruto tilted his head in confusion. He'd only ever learned the basic Clone Technique at the Academy—more illusion than substance, only good for distraction.
Seeing this, Yugao explained gently, "The Shadow Clone Technique allows you to divide your chakra equally among real, tangible clones. Each one has physical form and can act independently. They're identical to the original."
"Even the Sharingan and Byakugan have a hard time telling which one is real."
She added with a serious tone, "But there's a catch—it consumes a massive amount of chakra. Most ninja, even Jōnin, can only maintain two or three at once."
Naruto's face immediately lit up.
This move was perfect for him!
Chakra consumption? That wasn't a problem at all—he had more chakra than he knew what to do with!
Under Uzuki Yugao's guidance, Naruto quickly picked up the Shadow Clone Technique. On his very first try, he created dozens of clones without breaking a sweat.
Uzuki Yugao: "???"
Naruto looked at her with innocent confusion. "Why? Is that too few? I held back a bit. If I used my full power, I could probably make even more."
Yugao was speechless. Although it was unbelievable, when she remembered the meaning of the "Uzumaki" name, she began to understand.
"Ahem... Let's move on," she said awkwardly. "Now that you've got the Shadow Clones down, let's officially start learning the sword technique."
Yugao began teaching Naruto the intricate steps and coordination required for the Crescent Moon Dance. Naruto nodded along, seeming to grasp everything easily—until his brow furrowed slightly in deep thought.
Yugao saw his expression and couldn't help but remember her own struggles when learning the move. Controlling three clones at once was not easy. The division of chakra, the intense focus, and the timing—it had taken her a long time to master it.
She smiled encouragingly. "It's okay, Naruto. This move is complicated. It's a secret technique of the Leaf, typically only mastered by Jōnin-level ninja."
"You're still young. As long as you practice, I believe you'll get there eventually."
But Naruto shook his head and said seriously, "No, Sister Yugao, you misunderstood. I was just wondering if there's a way to improve this move."
"???"
Before Yugao could respond, Naruto stepped forward, took the sword from her hand, formed a seal, and swung.
He created three Shadow Clones instantly and executed the Crescent Moon Dance without hesitation. From three directions, the sword arcs lit up the air once again—perfectly forming the crescent-shaped strikes.
Boom!
Another large tree was cleaved cleanly into three parts.
But Naruto wasn't done.
He created six clones this time. Together, they moved with synchronized precision, each slashing from a different angle.
Six arcs of glowing moonlight formed in the sky, colliding with the tree in front of them.
Crack!
The tree shattered into six pieces.
Yugao's mouth fell open.
"This... is this... the Six Sun and Moon Dance?" she gasped.
Still not satisfied, Naruto summoned three more clones, bringing the total to nine.
With nine brilliant slashes cutting through the air, the final tree was split into nine clean pieces.
Boom!!!
Uzuki Yugao was frozen.
This was no longer just learning the Crescent Moon Dance in seconds—Naruto had evolved it into the Nine Moon Dance, exponentially increasing its destructive power.
And this was a technique normally only used by elite Jōnin!
"How... how did you do that?" Yugao finally managed to ask.
Naruto smiled and shrugged. "I just did what you said. Controlled all nine clones at the same time. Wasn't that the idea?"
"…"
Yugao was completely speechless. This wasn't talent—it was monstrous genius.
Naruto, on the other hand, didn't think it was a big deal. He could actually do much more, but seeing Yugao's shocked expression, he decided it was better not to show off too much.
After all, sometimes it's better to hide your true strength.
He politely handed back the sword. "Thank you for the lesson, Sister Yugao. That was a great ninjutsu. I'd like to learn more next time!"
Yugao looked at the sword in her hand for a long time before she recovered. She patted her chest, trying to calm herself.
She glanced back at Naruto. The golden-haired boy was standing in the sunlight, smiling innocently. But when she looked at him, she couldn't help but think of that man—the genius who had once stunned all of Konoha.
Many so-called geniuses in the village paled in comparison to this boy.
Is this the strength of that man's bloodline? she thought.
Suddenly, she understood why the Third Hokage was so intent on personally guiding Naruto's development.
Later, Uzuki Yugao reported everything that had happened to the Third Hokage.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen had already seen it all through the crystal ball on his desk. He smiled with satisfaction.
"Since the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and White Fang, Konoha has weakened," he murmured. "But if we can raise a ninja like Naruto—someone with the will of fire—it will mean everything for Konoha... and for the Sarutobi clan."
---
Live Comment Section
Haruno Sakura: "That's terrifying comprehension! Naruto in that world is insanely powerful!"
Yamanaka Ino: "But why did he hide his strength at the end? Did he think everyone could just learn Konoha's secret techniques?"
Hyuga Neji: "Nine Moon Dance... That's already Jōnin-level, without question."
Nara Shikamaru: "As much as it annoys me... that technique really does look like a Jōnin jutsu."
Uzumaki Naruto: "Huh? Is Crescent Moon Dance really that strong? I wanna learn it too!"
Shikamaru: "Forget it. You wouldn't get it with your brain."
Akimichi Choji: "Physical combat seems more your thing, Naruto."
Naruto Uzumaki: "..."
Senju Hashirama: "Anyone else notice something odd about that Shadow Clone technique?"
Senju Tobirama: "I thought it was just me, but you're right, big brother!"
Uchiha Madara: "Hmph. That kid actually used multiple Shadow Clones! Tobirama, didn't you invent that?"
Hatake Kakashi: "Indeed. That was the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."
Tobirama frowned.
Uzuki Yugao had only taught Naruto the basic Shadow Clone, yet somehow he'd pulled off the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—a forbidden jutsu!
Sure, he only made a few dozen clones, far fewer than the Naruto in the white-bordered screen. But even so, it was incredible.
The Naruto in the white screen used Nine Tails chakra to produce thousands of clones, while the one in the black-bordered world hadn't even gone all-out. His clones came purely from his own refined chakra.
Tobirama believed confidently: if this Naruto went all out, the number of clones would rival his counterpart's.
Might Guy: "I didn't expect Naruto from that world to have such a grasp of taijutsu. I want to take him as my apprentice!"
Jiraiya: "Hah! No chance! I'm way more suited to be his teacher!"
Everyone silently agreed. After all, Jiraiya was one of the Legendary Sannin.
But if only they knew—
Naruto would eventually train under Jiraiya for two whole years...
And the only thing he really learned was how to make a bigger Rasengan.
How would they feel about that?
Uchiha Sasuke: "Hmph. Crescent Moon Dance? Trash swordsmanship."
Baki (from Sand): "Indeed. It's weaker than our Wind Blade."
Moonlight Gai: "..."
---
The black-bordered screen in the sky gradually faded, and the white-bordered screen returned.
Uzumaki Naruto: "The Genin exam is finally here! Watch closely—because of me, everyone's going to pass!"
Kushina: "Really? Naruto, you've grown so much since you became a ninja!"
Haruno Sakura: "Ahem... hate to admit it, but Naruto hasn't improved that much."
Kakashi: "He still seems to be missing something in the brain..."
Ino: "Wait, wasn't the next scene the Genin exam? I heard Class 7's test was brutal!"
Sakura: "It was! Kakashi-sensei showed no mercy!"
Kakashi: "It was for your own good. Being a ninja isn't easy."
Sasuke: "Naruto... I remember now. You've got a famous scene coming up next!"
Naruto: "Huh? What are you talking about, Sasuke? I don't remember anything like that!"