The morning sun spilled through the window, casting a warm glow over Naruto as he stirred awake. For a moment, he noticed the emptiness beside him—his Shadow Clone, which had been by his side only moments before, had vanished. A strange hollow feeling gripped his chest, like an invisible hand tightening around his heart. The loneliness he had grown accustomed to during his childhood—the solitude that once seemed like a constant companion—suddenly returned with a vengeance, clawing at his resolve.Naruto's instincts kicked in, and without a second thought, he performed the Shadow Clone Technique. In an instant, a perfect duplicate of himself appeared, a mirror image brimming with life. Relief washed over him like a wave, easing the oppressive weight of loneliness."Good morning!" Naruto said brightly."Morning!" the clone replied in unison, waving cheerfully.A simple greeting, yet for Naruto, it was enough to lift his spirits. Perhaps all he really needed was someone—even a copy of himself—to greet him with warmth in the morning."Alright, you continue your training. I'll prepare breakfast!" Naruto said."OK!" the clone responded eagerly and immediately resumed practicing the Chakra Refining Technique. Surprisingly, the clone even attempted the Shadow Clone Technique itself.Naruto blinked in disbelief."Wait… what?"He watched, jaw dropping, as his Shadow Clone summoned yet another clone—a clone of the clone! Though it was weaker and dissolved into a puff of white smoke after a short while, the very fact that it could create another clone left Naruto stunned."This… this is insane!" he muttered.And then it happened. Naruto felt a sudden surge of energy within him. His Chakra reserves, which he hadn't even tried to train, seemed to have increased slightly."C-could it be…" he whispered, realization dawning on him.He had discovered something extraordinary: the training his physical clone performed transferred back to him upon its dissolution.The implications were staggering. If a physical clone could pass on its training, then Naruto could potentially multiply his learning exponentially. The possibilities were boundless."This… this is the ultimate cheat!" he exclaimed, heart racing. "I can grow stronger faster than anyone!"With renewed determination, he prepared breakfast with a smile, while the clone continued its rigorous training. Soon, the smell of cooked food filled the air, drawing both Narutos to the table."Huh? You need to eat too?!" Naruto asked, startled."Of course! Without food, I wouldn't have the energy to train!" the clone replied confidently. Naruto paused for a moment, realizing that this was true. After all, training required stamina, and even clones needed energy to function properly.Secretly, Naruto decided that from tomorrow onward, he would wait to summon his clone until after breakfast. That way, there would be enough food for both of them.After devouring their meal, leaving nothing behind, a sudden alert from the system echoed in Naruto's mind:"School time is here! Host, please arrive at the Ninja Academy by performing a weighted handstand within five minutes! Failure to comply will result in a Lightning Release baptism!"Naruto froze. Five minutes? That was nearly impossible. It usually took him ten minutes to get to school using a weighted handstand!"…What?!" he shouted in disbelief."Argh, arguing won't help! Hurry up!" the clone urged.Naruto gritted his teeth, feeling the intense pressure. Together, they leaped into a weighted handstand, balancing precariously as they sped toward the Ninja Academy. Their legs spun furiously in the air, propelling them forward like living torpedoes.Along the way, villagers stopped and stared, mouths agape."Wh-what is that?!" one exclaimed."Two… two kids?!" another stammered.Even Konoha's ninja were astonished at the sight."That… that's the Shadow Clone Technique!" one whispered."How is that possible? A child from the Ninja Academy… and Uzumaki Naruto, no less!""Am I dreaming?" someone else muttered.But Naruto ignored all the commotion. The threat of the Lightning Release baptism forced him to push himself beyond his limits. His arms trembled, his muscles burned, yet he refused to slow down.Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke watched, a mix of shock and admiration flashing across his features. A faint smile appeared for a brief moment, though it quickly vanished as he realized the full significance of what he was witnessing."I've trained so hard… ten times harder than anyone else…" he muttered under his breath. "I've mastered the Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique… yet this… this is beyond my expectations."The two Narutos, performing a perfect weighted handstand, swept past him in a blur of motion. The dust they kicked up made him cough violently. When the air cleared, he saw two identical Narutos standing before him."Th-that's… two Narutos?!" he gasped."Impossible…" he whispered, clenching his fists in disbelief. "The Shadow Clone Technique can't do this—it only creates illusions. This is physical… real!"Every student and teacher at the Ninja Academy froze, their eyes wide in astonishment. Ino and Hinata gaped in disbelief."Th-that's Naruto's… two Narutos-kun?!" Ino whispered.Sakura rubbed her eyes, wondering if fatigue had clouded her vision.Finally, Iruka-sensei arrived, concern etched on his face."Naruto! What on earth are you doing?!" he shouted, rushing toward the boy.Panting heavily, Naruto managed to slow down as the clone reached its limit. It dissolved into a puff of white smoke, leaving Naruto staggering but alive. The double exertion had not only doubled his training results but also his fatigue, leaving him gasping for air.Iruka immediately caught him, worry clouding his expression. "Naruto… are you hurt? You had me worried sick!"Shaking off the dizziness, Naruto replied, still catching his breath, "I… I think this new technique is a little risky…""The new technique?" Iruka asked, astonishment flooding his face. "You mean the Shadow Clone…?""Yes! No one taught me. I invented this myself!" Naruto said proudly, his eyes gleaming. "This is not just an ordinary Shadow Clone—it's a physical clone that can speak, train, and fight!"Iruka stared at him, dumbfounded. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. "You… you created this yourself?""Yes! Isn't it amazing? Am I not a true genius?!" Naruto exclaimed, puffing out his chest in pride.Iruka, still struggling to comprehend, finally nodded slowly. "If what you say is true… then you truly are extraordinary, Naruto."Meanwhile, the news of Naruto's new Shadow Clone Technique spread like wildfire across the Ninja Academy. Whispers turned into gasps, and gasps turned into murmurs of disbelief. No one had ever seen a technique like this, let alone from a child at the Academy.Even Sasuke's prideful smile faltered, replaced by a tense resolve. Naruto was no longer just the loud, annoying academy kid. He was becoming something far greater, something that even a prodigy like Sasuke had to respect.Naruto, meanwhile, couldn't help but grin, feeling a new surge of determination. With his Shadow Clone by his side, he could train harder, grow faster, and surpass all expectations. The path ahead seemed daunting, but with each step, he knew he was becoming unstoppable."From now on…" he whispered to himself, "I'll become stronger than anyone… stronger than even the strongest ninja in Konoha. I'll be Hokage one day, no matter what it takes!"And so, with determination burning in his eyes and his Shadow Clone ready to train, Naruto's journey continued. The dawn of a new era had arrived, and the Hidden Leaf Village would soon witness the rise of a ninja whose power, perseverance, and ingenuity were truly unmatched.
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