"Most ninjas are born with only one natural elemental affinity," Kakashi explained calmly, his tone measured but clear. "If they're exceptionally gifted, they might have two or even three. Take the Third Hokage, for example he had all five elemental attributes."
"Whoa, Grandpa Third really was incredible!" Naruto blurted out in awe. Then, curiosity flashing in his blue eyes, he leaned closer. "Kakashi-senpai, I heard from Guy-sensei that you've mastered thousands of jutsu. How many attributes do you have?"
"Me?" Kakashi tilted his head lazily, his eye narrowing in that perpetually half-asleep expression. "I've got five as well."
"Five? That's amazing, Kakashi-senpai!" Naruto's eyes sparkled like stars, admiration practically glowing off him.
Kakashi waved a hand in his usual nonchalant way. "Now, now, let's keep it low-key." But the faint curve of his eye betrayed his amusement. He was clearly enjoying the boy's admiration.
"I was born with earth, lightning, fire, and wind," he continued. "Water was something I trained and cultivated myself later on."
Naruto blinked in surprise. "Wait… attributes can be trained? You can just… gain them?"
"Of course," Kakashi replied, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "In fact, most jonin make it a point to train themselves in at least one or two additional elements. Relying on only one affinity is dangerous. If someone happens to counter you directly, you'll be in serious trouble."
"Counter?" Naruto tilted his head, his curiosity bubbling over.
Kakashi nodded. He didn't mind the constant stream of questions. If anything, it reminded him of another blond boy he once followed a boy whose will still lingered like a guiding light. This is how it should have been from the beginning, he thought. Minato-sensei, Kushina-senpai… your son should have always been taught by us.
But Obito and Rin were gone. And Kakashi himself had been shackled by guilt and duty, unable to approach Naruto directly. Only now, through Guy's intervention, had the pieces realigned. The balance was being restored.
"This is about the principle of elemental strengths and weaknesses," Kakashi said after a pause. "The five basic elements interact in cycles. Water extinguishes fire. Fire burns wind. Wind cuts lightning. Lightning shatters earth. And earth contains water. That's the cycle of suppression."
Naruto's brow furrowed as he tried to follow.
"At the same time," Kakashi continued, "the elements also nourish one another. Wind fuels fire. Fire creates ash that enriches earth. Earth produces minerals that strengthen lightning. Lightning, in turn, brings rain, feeding water. And water gives rise to wind. That's the cycle of creation."
He leaned back, watching Naruto absorb the information. "So, if you fight with only one element, you risk being countered. But if you can combine multiple elements, you can create powerful composite jutsu that are exponentially stronger."
Naruto's face lit with excitement. "So what's my attribute then?"
"That's a good question," Kakashi replied. "But before we test your elemental nature, you need to learn something more important how to extract chakra."
He gave Naruto a measured look. "You've been training your body under Guy, so your physical energy is excellent. And you have a strong will, so your spiritual energy is strong too. That means you're ready to begin chakra refinement."
Naruto's heart thumped in his chest. Chakra… Just hearing the word filled him with anticipation. This was the gateway into the world of real shinobi.
"I'll teach you the chakra extraction technique now," Kakashi said.
He explained the process step by step, detailing how to focus on the flow of energy within the body, how to guide physical and spiritual power into balance, and how to fuse them together into something new chakra.
This wasn't a secret technique. In fact, students at the Ninja Academy would eventually learn it. Children from ninja clans often picked it up at home even earlier. But Naruto, without family guidance, had been left in the dark. If not for Guy and now Kakashi, he would have waited years before touching this knowledge.
Naruto listened with rapt attention, committing every word to memory. Then, filled with determination, he sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, closed his eyes, and began.
Compared to endless pushups, laps, and grueling sparring, this felt entirely different. This wasn't just about his body this was about becoming a ninja in the truest sense.
Kakashi folded his arms. "Chakra refinement depends heavily on natural talent. For some, it's difficult. For others, it's almost effortless. Try it, Naruto."
"Yes, Kakashi-senpai." Naruto nodded obediently, shut his eyes, and focused inward.
Kakashi's visible eye softened. With Kushina-senpai's bloodline flowing through him, this shouldn't be difficult. He'll probably succeed on the first try.
But what happened next made even Kakashi's seasoned heart jolt.
The moment Naruto attempted the technique, his physical energy and spiritual energy collided not gently, not cautiously, but with an intensity like dry tinder meeting a raging fire. They fused explosively, igniting into a torrent of raw chakra.
Naruto's eyes flew open in panic. "No, no! It's too much! It won't stop !"
Kakashi's body moved instantly. In a blur, he was at Naruto's side, pulling up his forehead protector to reveal the Sharingan. His scarred eye blazed as he scanned Naruto's condition.
"What's happening? Naruto!"
"Ahhh !" Naruto gasped as a surge of blue energy erupted from his body.
"Fwoom!" A wave of chakra burst outward, crackling like flames. Blue light danced across his skin, spilling into the air in shimmering waves. His golden hair whipped wildly, standing on end from the sheer force.
Kakashi's lone eye widened in disbelief. "Impossible… such overwhelming chakra!"
Normally, chakra was colorless. Only when it overflowed in immense volume did it become visible and Naruto's was burning like a bonfire.
The sight made envy flicker in Kakashi's chest. Even Minato and Kushina, the boy's parents, hadn't shown this kind of eruption when they first extracted chakra.
He couldn't help murmuring aloud. "Not even sensei… not even Kushina-senpai… had this much so quickly."
Of course, comparing himself was pointless. The Hatake clan was known for limited chakra reserves, which was why his father had relied so heavily on kenjutsu. Who wouldn't want to rain down ninjutsu like a storm? But when your chakra was scarce, you had no choice but to adapt.
Naruto, however, was different. His reserves were like a bottomless ocean. And after nearly a year of Guy's brutal physical training, his body and willpower had been forged beyond normal human limits. This eruption, Kakashi realized, was the natural result of that preparation.
Still… it was terrifying.
Naruto's panic faded as the initial shock passed. Instead, his face broke into a wide grin. "This… this is amazing! I feel like my whole body's bursting with power!"
He threw a couple of experimental punches, each swing slicing the air and producing gusts of wind. His fists glowed faintly blue, the chakra wrapping around them like a second skin.
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course Guy's disciple would immediately try to punch something.
"Alright, that's enough for now," Kakashi said firmly, lowering his forehead protector again. "You've proven you can refine chakra. Stop before you burn yourself out."
"Okay, okay." Naruto exhaled, forcing himself to relax. The blazing aura slowly dimmed, fading until the air settled once more.
Kakashi let out a long breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Watching the boy's display, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy but also pride. Already, his chakra outstrips my own. In a few years… who knows what kind of monster he'll become?
Naruto sat back down, cheeks flushed with excitement. He looked up at Kakashi with a grin that could light the room. "So… does this mean I'm a real ninja now?"
Kakashi paused, then allowed the faintest of smiles to tug at the corner of his eye. "You've taken your first step. The rest depends on how far you want to go."
Naruto clenched his fists, determination blazing. "Then I'll go as far as it takes! Believe it!"