Konoha's Genius is a bit Ordinary?

"Come to think of it, that does seem like him," Naruto said, blinking, as he recalled that even though the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken was developed by Natsuro, it ended up being Jiraiya who taught him how to use it.

"Heh heh, that's just how Little Natsuro is. But every action he takes is carefully thought out, and I've never met anyone who works as hard as he does," Fukasaku said with admiration.

"Planning, effort, efficiency, talent... He has it all. No one is surprised at how strong he's become."

As Fukasaku spoke, Naruto nodded along in agreement.

In Fukasaku's eyes, the two most remarkable people he had encountered were the Fourth Hokage and Natsuro. Especially Natsuro, Fukasaku had watched him grow from a young age, and his talent was breathtakingly high.

Not only was he talented, but he was also diligent and methodical, never training aimlessly. This made his growth exceptionally efficient.

Fukasaku concluded that Natsuro's path was virtually impossible for anyone else to replicate. Even without the mysterious power foretold by the Great Toad Sage, he would have still achieved incredible heights.

In reality, Fukasaku underestimated one crucial factor: Natsuro had the advantage of foresight, having knowledge of the original story. This allowed him to train with direction and avoid detours entirely.

Naruto, too, nodded enthusiastically. He already knew Natsuro was amazing. If someone were to tell him Natsuro had become the strongest ninja in the world, Naruto wouldn't have been surprised at all.

"Alright, let's start heading out. I'll explain Sage Mode to you on the way," Fukasaku said, steering the conversation.

"Fukasaku-sama, before that, can I ask about the prophecy Natsuro mentioned earlier?" Naruto asked, his voice serious.

Fukasaku paused, then asked, "Didn't Jiraiya or Natsuro ever tell you about it?"

Naruto shook his head, surprised to learn that even Jiraiya knew about it.

"It's not something that needs to be kept secret," Fukasaku said after some thought and proceeded to tell Naruto about the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.

Hearing the prophecy, Naruto clenched his fists, his heart pounding with the gravity of it all. A crisis involving the entire ninja world?!

"So that's what it is!"

Naruto suddenly recalled Natsuro's words from earlier. If he could become stronger, that would be the greatest help he could offer him.

Could the enemies Natsuro had spoken of be the ones mentioned in the prophecy? And Jiraiya-sensei—he had spent so long searching for the "Child of Prophecy"?

"I'll train even harder! When the time comes, I'll make sure I can help Natsuro!" Naruto said with unwavering determination.

Hearing this, Fukasaku smiled and said, "Don't worry. If, as he believes, you are suitable for Sage Mode, mastering it will definitely make a difference."

"Yeah!" Naruto nodded firmly. Not only Sage Mode but also the Rasenshuriken, he resolved to master it perfectly.

The next time he saw Natsuro, Naruto vowed to give him the biggest surprise!

Determined, Naruto began his training on Mount Myoboku.

.....

Natsuro's Training

After leaving Mount Myoboku, Natsuro began his own rigorous training regimen.

For the first time, Natsuro could attempt using multiple Shadow Clones for his training, a technique he had worked hard to make he was capable of sustaining it. While still nowhere near Naruto's level, as Naruto had the Nine-Tails' recovery ability, he could finally make use of multiple clones effectively.

This training focused on utilizing the elemental properties within natural energy to enhance the control of the chakra nature manipulations.

His Wind and Lightning natures, which were already developed, could be further strengthened, while the absent Fire, Earth, and Water natures could gradually be awakened and cultivated.

In addition, Natsuro had recently gained some insights into Yang Release. If his training proceeded smoothly, the only nature he would lack would be Yin Release.

Even for Yin Release, he had some ideas, but they would need time to mature. For now, he focused on the other attributes.

Natsuro had left a Flying Thunder God seal on a cliff he discovered in the Land of Wind during his time in the Sand Village.

Upon arriving at this cliff, he informed the Sand ninja of his intentions to train there, promising not to leave the area. Reluctantly, they agreed. They had no choice, considering the power they had witnessed from him.

Every day, Natsuro's Shadow Clone meditated atop the cliff, enduring the relentless wind that never ceased.

The winds varied in intensity, ranging from gentle breezes to raging gales and, at times, razor-sharp currents that felt like blades.

Yet, no matter how fierce the winds grew, the figure on the cliff remained unmoved.

....

Meanwhile a shadow Clone of Natsuro sat cross-legged inside a volcano, perched on a rocky ledge just above the molten lava.

Naruto would have recognized this place as the site of Moryo's seal, a location Natsuro had deemed perfect for training his Fire Release.

The volcano had recently erupted, making it an ideal training ground, even better than Natsuro had initially anticipated.

....

Amidst the endless expanse of the ocean, waves crashed incessantly, their power unrelenting.

On a smooth, wave-swept rock protruding from the sea, Natsuro's training continued.

Another of his shadow clone stood firm, unmoved by even the fiercest waves, as though no ocean could topple him.

....

Initially, Natsuro planned to train near Iwagakure. After all, most prime locations in every nation are typically under the control of the major ninja villages.

He had even considered the possibility of being discovered by Iwagakure's forces and, to avoid conflict, deliberately chose not to get too close.

Of course, the spot he chose wasn't too far either, given that Iwagakure had been attacked by Orochimaru. It likely lacked the manpower to patrol its broader territories effectively.

Moreover, Natsuro didn't need to access any particularly secret location.

However, upon arriving in the Land of Earth, Natsuro realized that the ideal place for his Earth Release training was actually in the opposite direction of Iwagakure's territory!

It turned out that while Iwagakure controlled the best areas in the Land of Earth, those regions weren't particularly rich in Earth-natured natural energy.

This fortuitously worked in Natsuro's favor, as he soon found a location perfectly suited for his training.

Now, his shadow clone in the Land of Earth sat partially buried in the rocky terrain, unmoving, as if becoming one with the land itself.

...

Among all the elements, Lightning Release was the most challenging for Natsuro to train. Unlike Earth Release, it wasn't a matter of being unexpectedly lucky with his choice of location.

The best place for training in Lightning Release was unquestionably a high peak within Kumogakure, where the air was thick with natural lightning energy, and constant thunderstorms raged. It was the ultimate training ground for mastering Lightning Release.

Naturally, such a location was heavily guarded and likely occupied by other ninja training there.

Regretfully, given the current state of relations between the villages, Natsuro knew he wouldn't be able to use it.

After all, this was Kumogakure. It was a village that hadn't suffered any recent setbacks like Iwagakure had during Orochimaru's attack. On the contrary, they were likely amassing strength in secret. Encountering the infamous "two brothers" there would undoubtedly be troublesome.

Natsuro wasn't concerned about his safety but rather about the potential diplomatic fallout. He wasn't going there to provoke a fight, he was going to train.

Should his presence be discovered, it could easily lead to tensions between their villages, which Natsuro wished to avoid.

Ultimately, he settled for a tall peak outside Kumogakure's jurisdiction, within the broader Land of Lightning.

The Land of Lightning, after all, is characterized by its mountainous terrain, with frequent thunder rolling through the skies. It wasn't exclusive to Kumogakure, though the village had claimed the best spots.

Atop one such mountain, a Natsuro's shadow clone stood as lightning surged around him. If anyone were to see him, they would witness lightning dancing across his body, sometimes connecting with the lightning in the sky above.

When the storm was at its most intense, Natsuro's figure appeared as though cloaked in a divine armor of lightning, resembling a god of thunder, it was majestic and awe-inspiring!

....

These shadow clones, tasked with training in the elements, required periodic replacement. Even now, Natsuro couldn't sustain them indefinitely.

As for Natsuro's main body, it was devoted to researching Yang Release. Unfortunately, this attribute offered no shortcuts, or rather, he had already found the shortest path, but it was still incredibly challenging.

Thus began Natsuro's long, arduous journey of growth and consolidation....

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Currently on Chapter 276 - Natsuro's Gains and The Possibilities