Naruto: Blacksmith

The next day.

Kuro arrived early at the academy to request an extended leave from Iruka.

To his delight, Iruka didn't even ask why. With a smile, he patted Kuro's shoulder and encouraged him:

"Your teacher is limited and can't teach you too much. Don't worry, do what you feel is necessary. Maybe one day, I'll be proud to have been a part of your training."

Hearing these words, Kuro understood that his plan had succeeded.

Without hesitation, he said goodbye to Iruka and headed straight for his formal ninjutsu training.

He didn't choose Training Ground 9, which was near the academy. Instead, he headed to Training Ground 39, a more remote area he often frequented.

Ninjutsu is one of a ninja's main strengths, their calling card. Practicing it in a crowded place would be unwise, as he needed to avoid being observed.

To ensure discretion and maintain the narrative of his previous "performance," Lian also joined him at the location. As a former captain of Root, Lian's experience was more than sufficient to guide Kuro at this stage.

Not everything is about tricks!

Everything was ready.

Kuro began his ninjutsu training with ease. Before diving into Nature Transformation, he decided to first learn the "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu"

The Kage Bunshin creates clones that divide the user's chakra evenly. These clones share the same personality and have autonomous consciousness. If attacked with enough force or if the user decides, the clones disappear automatically.

The interesting thing about the jutsu is that all the clones' experiences and sensations return to the user when they disappear, along with the remaining chakra.

For someone with limited chakra reserves, a mistake in using the jutsu could be fatal. That's why only those with vast amounts of chakra can learn it.

On the other hand, for those with a lot of chakra, the Kage Bunshin has endless applications.

When you're busy, you can have a clone handle multiple tasks at once. During a fight, you can use a clone to test the enemy's abilities.

Most importantly, clones can accelerate the learning of new skills.

However, this training method isn't without risks. The stress and fatigue it generates are too great for most people.

In the story, even Naruto, with his immense chakra reserves, felt physically and mentally exhausted after training this way for one or two months. Although he achieved his goal, he never used this method again.

But Kuro was different.

With the Kurama Ring and the Perfect Sage Body, his chakra reserves and recovery speed were far above average. Though his body hadn't yet reached its full potential due to his young age, it was enough to handle training with clones.

With the scroll in hand, Kuro began studying the principles of the "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu".

When he had doubts, he consulted Lian, who patiently and thoroughly explained.

Additionally, with the help of his artifacts, the Study Glasses and the Polite Hat, Kuro instantly understood the methods and principles of the training.

Then…

Kage Bunshin no Jutsu

He formed the seals with both hands and recited the technique in his mind.

Focusing, he mobilized a large amount of chakra from his body.

Puff

Amid clouds of smoke, forty to fifty identical clones of him appeared in the forest.

"This… this…"

Lian, watching from the side, opened his mouth but couldn't find words for a long time.

This doesn't seem like the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu; it's more like the Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.

Although both techniques are essentially the same jutsu, their use and effects differ greatly, placing them in different tiers.

The "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" is a B-rank ninjutsu, while the "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" is an A-rank ninjutsu, with greater difficulty and a more significant impact on the user.

And here was Kuro, achieving the advanced version on his first attempt.

Kuro smiled with satisfaction, though he knew learning the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu is easier for those with large chakra reserves.

He felt his remaining chakra—barely a fifth was left. Even so, his total reserve was approximately four times greater than Lian's.

In other words, Kuro's current chakra level was 200 times that of an average Jōnin.

While he wasn't sure if Kakashi, known for his chakra level, had more or less than a typical Jōnin, that comparison didn't matter much.

If he considered the main protagonists of the anime, like Naruto or Sasuke, it was clear that his chakra level hadn't yet reached theirs.

But that was to be expected.

When Naruto trained, he could create hundreds of clones. In contrast, Kuro had only created fifty and had already used up almost all his chakra.

He couldn't afford to train recklessly like Naruto.

Even so, Kuro wasn't in a rush.

I'm only seven years old. Naruto was fifteen when he reached his peak.

Though his physique wasn't as exceptional as Naruto's, who had carried the Kyūbi his entire life, Kuro knew his upper limit had yet to be reached.

So, he couldn't be underestimated.

"Well, now that I've learned the shadow clone, it's time to start Nature Transformations!"

Nodding with satisfaction, he dispelled the shadow clones.

The chakra that had been divided returned to his body, accompanied by the experiences and sensations of the fifty clones.

Every scene, every feeling experienced by the clones poured into his mind at once.

Suddenly, he felt his brain overwhelmed with information.

An intense headache struck him.

"Is this it? I haven't done much yet, and I already feel like this…" he complained, staggering.

Lian reacted quickly, catching him before he fell.

"This happens because it's your first time using it," Lian said with a bitter smile. "Most people don't create so many clones at once. There's a gradual process of adaptation."

"...That makes sense."

How did Naruto do it?

Were his nerves so resilient that his brain just ignored the details?

Kuro held his head with one hand while bracing himself on the ground with the other. He took a deep breath and took a while to recover.

Anime is anime, and reality… is something completely different.

He had noticed this on several occasions. For example, in the anime, the Fire element seemed almost decorative, incapable of causing real damage.

But according to Lian, the Fire element was one of the most effective ninjutsu with the highest kill rates.

At first, Kuro was skeptical, but now he had no doubts.

That's why his Nature Transformation training changed. Before, he hesitated between Wind and Fire, but he finally chose Fire.

With the possibility that Hiruzen might be watching, Kuro and Lian staged a little act.

They played the roles of master and student convincingly, ensuring that any observer would believe in their mentor-apprentice relationship.

And so, the training in Nature Transformation officially began.

________

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