I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

A few days later, in the small forest training ground surrounded by towering trees and chirping birds.

"Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto shouted, his voice echoing slightly.

With a puff of smoke and the accompanying pop of a soft drink bottle in his hand, two identical shadow clones appeared beside him. They immediately charged toward Shikamaru and Choji, engaging them in a playful wrestling match.

When the strength gap isn't significant, Naruto thought, the advantage of numbers becomes crucial.

Though Shikamaru's strategies were sharp and Choji's strength formidable, the two couldn't hold out for long. They were overwhelmed and eventually conceded defeat with resigned smiles.

Seeing his friends admit defeat, Naruto dispelled his shadow clones with a flicker of chakra. He grinned, reaching into his bag to pull out a neatly prepared bento box.

Thanks to Shikamaru and Choji's help—and the unusual quiet cooperation of the Kyuubi—Naruto had mastered the Shadow Clone Technique within a few days. It was a testament to his hidden talent for ninjutsu.

If the Naruto of the past had this kind of focus, he thought, he would never have been called the dead-last of the academy.

After their friendly sparring, Shikamaru and Choji looked at Naruto in shock, as if seeing him for the first time. Shikamaru couldn't help but mutter, "Could the rumors about the demon fox really be true?"

After all, at their age, most students were only beginning to perfect the Academy's basic techniques like the Transformation Jutsu. Yet here was Naruto, effortlessly wielding a B-rank jutsu like the Shadow Clone Technique, mastering it to a level of proficiency that made it seem natural.

Choji, pausing between bites of Naruto's bento, voiced his doubts to Shikamaru: "Do you think we'll even stand a chance against him in the future?"

Shikamaru hesitated, deep in thought. He and Choji were clearly outmatched. Perhaps if they combined forces with a Yamanaka, they could form the traditional Ino-Shika-Cho trio and stand a chance. But one thing was certain: Naruto was better as a friend than as an opponent.

Still, Shikamaru couldn't help but wonder about Naruto's origins. His abilities and rapid progress felt almost unnatural. Was Naruto secretly the descendant of some elite family in the village? His father had always been evasive about Naruto, treating the subject with wary silence.

Their conversation drifted, and Naruto lightened the mood, chatting about the village and its peculiarities. When the topic shifted to foreign ninjas, Naruto asked casually, "So, there are a lot of foreign shinobi in the village lately?"

Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah, those are delegates from the Hidden Cloud Village. The war is over, and they're here to finalize a peace treaty."

Choji chimed in, "I heard both sides suffered heavy losses in the conflict. They're signing the treaty to avoid giving other villages an opportunity to strike."

Shikamaru added thoughtfully, "It's good for us. In the last war, even Academy students were sent to fight. This time, we've avoided that tragedy. At least for now."

Naruto nodded but remained quiet. His furrowed brows betrayed his unease. The treaty wasn't what troubled him; it was the memories it stirred. He recalled that the Hidden Cloud delegation had ulterior motives, including their attempt to kidnap a member of the Hyuga clan, which had tragic consequences for Neji's father.

As the conversation continued, Choji suddenly looked up and said, "By the way, Naruto, after today, Shikamaru and I won't have much time to hang out. Our families are starting a new round of training with the Yamanaka clan. We'll have to stay within the clan grounds."

"So, the new Ino-Shika-Cho formation is starting, huh?" Naruto said, glancing between them. "Well, that's fine. I've got some other jutsu to practice anyway. Let's catch up at the Academy."

Shikamaru hesitated, but Naruto smiled reassuringly. Afterward, the trio spent the rest of the day together, laughing and playing before saying their goodbyes. Though their bond had started with ulterior motives—an order from the Third Hokage—it was genuine now.

…

As Shikamaru and Choji left, Naruto wandered through the village. The streets were busier than usual, with Hidden Cloud shinobi standing out among the crowd. The villagers' behavior didn't escape his notice; they glared at him with disdain but fawned over the foreign visitors.

Naruto smirked to himself. To these people, he was the "demon fox" who brought misfortune, while the Hidden Cloud shinobi were symbols of peace—though it was their aggression that had started the war.

Eventually, Naruto found himself in a quiet park. The sound of children's laughter faded as he ventured deeper, seeking solitude. But on a secluded bench, he spotted a small figure. It was Hinata, nervously clutching a gift box.

When she saw him, she stood up abruptly. "Naruto-kun… please accept my gift."

Naruto blinked in surprise but took the box with a warm smile. "Hinata, how did you know I'd be here?"

Hinata fidgeted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I didn't. I just hoped… and waited."

Naruto's expression softened as he realized the effort she must've gone through. "You shouldn't wander out alone, especially so late. What if something happened?"

Hinata's cheeks flushed as she stammered, "I've been training hard in Gentle Fist… I'm stronger now. I just… wanted to see you."

Naruto couldn't suppress a grin. Her determination reminded him of his own.

Sensing a faint chakra signature nearby, Naruto glanced around. It seemed the Hyuga clan was finally taking better care of Hinata, assigning guards to her after past incidents.

Lowering his voice, he said, "Hinata, thank you for the gift. But promise me, don't come out alone again. Be careful, okay?"

Hinata nodded shyly, her face redder than ever. "I will, Naruto-kun."

As she walked away, Naruto stayed behind for a moment, reflecting. His life in the village was far from easy, but moments like this made it all worthwhile.