Iruka-sensei's expression was a mixture of shock and relief as he looked at Naruto. For a moment, the room seemed frozen in silence. Then, with a deep breath, Iruka spoke, his tone calm but firm."Naruto… you truly are a genius."Naruto's eyes lit up, but before he could fully revel in the praise, Iruka continued."However… you must understand something. Although you discovered this technique on your own, you are not the first ninja to create it."Naruto froze mid-step, his blue eyes widening in astonishment."…Huh?! Then… then who did it first?!" he stammered, a mix of curiosity and panic overtaking him.Iruka's gaze drifted toward the towering Hokage Rock, the monumental faces of past Hokage carved in stone catching the afternoon sunlight. His eyes lingered on the second statue, its stern, commanding expression ever so solemn."This technique… it is called the Shadow Clone Technique," Iruka said slowly, letting the words sink in. "It was originally created by the Second Hokage-sama.""Se-Second Hokage-sama?!" Naruto blurted out, his voice barely contained. His mind spun at the thought that he had independently recreated a technique pioneered by a legendary Hokage.And then, despite the shock, a broad grin spread across his face. His mouth stretched into an uncontrollable laugh that echoed through the room."Hahahahaha! So… I, Uzumaki Naruto, am on the same level as the Second Hokage-sama, aren't I?!" he shouted, pumping his fists in the air. "Then my dream… my dream of becoming Hokage is absolutely possible!"Iruka-sensei's expression grew serious, the warmth of pride mingled with worry. He stepped closer to Naruto, lowering his voice but with an unmistakable firmness."Naruto… even though you discovered the Shadow Clone Technique on your own, you are indeed a true genius… but I forbid you from using it again."Naruto froze mid-pump of his fists. The words didn't quite compute."I-Iruka-sensei… Wh-what did you just say?!"Iruka's gaze was unwavering, his voice resolute."Naruto, I said it clearly. You are forbidden from using this technique again."A storm of disbelief and frustration crossed Naruto's face. "W-why…?!""Didn't you see what happened to you earlier?" Iruka asked, his tone now sharp with concern. "You overexerted yourself and collapsed. If you don't control it properly next time, you might not survive!"Naruto's jaw tightened, defiance flickering in his eyes. "No! That won't happen! I… I just pushed myself too hard before. Next time, I'll control it properly! I'll master the Shadow Clone Technique fully!"Iruka sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Naruto, I know you want to grow stronger quickly, but there's no need to risk your life. You're still a student at the Ninja Academy. Your control over chakra isn't precise enough for a technique this advanced."Naruto's resolve hardened. He stepped forward, shaking his head vigorously. "Iruka-sensei, I understand your concern, but I can't give up! A genius like Sasuke is constantly pushing himself. If I don't take risks, I'll never surpass him!"Iruka fell silent. He knew Naruto's words carried truth. The boy's rival, Sasuke Uchiha, had been training endlessly, driven by his own ambitions and pride."Naruto… must you always measure yourself against Sasuke?" Iruka asked quietly, concern etched on his face."Sensei…" Naruto said, his voice firm, "I have to. Defeating Sasuke… achieving greatness… and becoming Hokage are my goals. If I can't even surpass him, then how can I ever achieve my dream?!"Iruka's shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. Yet, despite his worry, he saw the unyielding fire in Naruto's eyes. He knew reasoning alone would not sway the boy."All right, Naruto… I understand your determination. But promise me you'll be careful. Train diligently, but never recklessly," Iruka said, a hint of a smile breaking through his serious expression.Naruto beamed, his spirits lifting. "I understand, Iruka-sensei! From now on, I'll focus on controlling my technique properly."With that, Naruto turned on his heel and dashed from the office, clearly wanting to escape any further lectures. His mind buzzed with ideas and strategies, thinking about how to make the most of his Shadow Clone Technique.As he ran toward the classroom, Naruto reflected on his earlier failure. "I must have overexerted myself because I rushed… I need to pace myself."He recalled how he had previously created a Shadow Clone, which had then created another clone. Together, they performed intensive exercises and studied simultaneously. The strain had been enormous, but now, thanks to his naturally large chakra reserves and his Divided Attention technique, he had recovered quickly."This time, I'll let the clones handle the textbook work," he thought, a mischievous smile forming on his face. "That way, I can focus on learning more advanced skills without overexerting myself."When Naruto arrived in the classroom, the other students were already seated. Without hesitation, he performed the hand signs, his voice ringing out confidently:"Shadow Clone Technique!"A soft puff of smoke appeared, and another Naruto materialized beside him. The classroom erupted in astonishment."W-what…?!" some students whispered, eyes wide."Isn't that an advanced technique?!" another murmured.Naruto didn't pay attention to the murmurs. Instead, he laughed heartily. "All right, Shadow Clone! You study math, and I'll focus on physics!""Yes, leave it to me!" the clone responded, immediately immersing itself in a textbook.From the corner, Hinata's eyes sparkled with pride. "Naruto-kun… he's incredible…" she whispered softly. Her cheeks flushed as admiration and joy mixed within her.Ino, ever the skeptic, frowned. "I… I don't even know where Naruto learned a technique like that…!" she muttered, touching her forehead. "This is a Jonin-level technique! How is he even doing this?"Sakura Haruno, meanwhile, furrowed her brow. "Something is definitely off about that Naruto… he's beyond what anyone could expect from a student," she said quietly.But the most intense reaction came from Sasuke Uchiha. He froze, staring at the two Narutos with wide eyes."Shadow Clone Technique?!" he breathed. "How… how is that possible? This is an advanced Ninjutsu! Only Jonin-level ninja can perform this…!"Sasuke's mind raced. He had spent the previous night mastering the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, a C-rank Ninjutsu. He had been proud of his progress, but now… Naruto had far surpassed him in difficulty level.Great Fireball Technique and Phoenix Sage Fire Technique were both C-rank, meant for Chunin-level ninja. The Shadow Clone Technique, however, was B-rank—a full tier above, typically requiring the mastery of a Jonin.Sasuke's chest tightened, frustration bubbling up. "No… I won't… I can't lose to a Diao Che Wei like him!"Determined, Sasuke clenched his fists. "Tonight… I'll train for the Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique… no matter what it takes!"Meanwhile, Iruka-sensei, having entered the classroom to check on Naruto, groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Two Narutos studying simultaneously? The headache was inevitable."Naruto… no Shadow Clones in class!" Iruka admonished, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He knew that, for better or worse, the boy's determination would never be tamed.Naruto, unfazed, simply grinned and turned back to his textbooks. The Shadow Clone diligently scribbled notes, its focus unwavering. A sense of accomplishment and pride coursed through Naruto—he had unlocked a path to greatness, and nothing could stop him.As the day wore on, Naruto's strategy became clear: let the clone handle the tedious tasks, while he pushed himself toward mastering techniques and honing his skills. Step by step, he would grow stronger. Not just to surpass Sasuke, but to reach his ultimate dream—becoming Hokage.Iruka watched from a distance, worry and pride warring within him. The road ahead was perilous, yet he could not help but marvel at the fiery spirit of his student. Naruto was reckless, stubborn, and often foolish—but he was also brilliant, resilient, and fiercely determined."Someday…" Iruka murmured, "he really will become Hokage…"And with that thought, the classroom settled into a rhythm, the soft scratch of pen on paper blending with the faint sound of ninja training. In the center of it all, Naruto's resolve shone brighter than ever, an unyielding flame of determination lighting the way for the future.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)