NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

"Do you want to hear about my journey?" Kazuki asked Naruto, his sharp eyes narrowing with a knowing smile.

"Yeah!" Naruto nodded eagerly, his entire demeanor shifting into one of complete attentiveness, like a puppy waiting for praise.

If Iruka, who constantly wrestled with Naruto's chaotic antics, saw him this obedient, he would probably be so shocked his jaw would hit the ground.

"I can tell you a story… it's not impossible. While training outside, I encountered some of the creatures you just mentioned," Kazuki said, deliberately piquing Naruto's curiosity.

"Big Brother Kazuki, tell me already!" Naruto's eyes widened with anticipation, his face reflecting his impatience.

"I will—but on one condition."

"A condition?"

"You must train seriously, just as I ask." Kazuki's tone turned firm.

"Training, huh?" Naruto's expression fell. He hadn't expected such a demand right away. "But training is really tough! I still can't even get the Clone Jutsu right…"

"I can teach you.

But the key is,

You have to take your training seriously,

And not give up over small failures."

Kazuki placed a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder, speaking in the tone of an older brother.

"Naruto, you have me by your side now.

But deep down, don't you also want to prove yourself to the villagers?

To earn their acknowledgment?"

They arrived at an empty training ground in Konoha, the air thick with the scent of trampled grass and old wooden training posts.

"You said you'd teach me a powerful jutsu, Big Brother Kazuki! Is it stronger than the Transformation and Substitution techniques?" Naruto asked, eyes alight with curiosity.

"Of course. The Three Basic Jutsu are just that—basic." Kazuki smirked. "What I'll teach you today is an advanced version of the Clone Jutsu, a technique used by skilled shinobi: the Shadow Clone Jutsu."

"Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

Naruto's jaw practically hit the floor, his mouth wide enough to fit an entire ramen bowl.

"But even the basic Clone Jutsu is really hard! I still can't get it right… How can I possibly learn a more advanced version?" He scratched his head, clearly unsure of himself.

"Don't worry. I'm here to help." Kazuki reassured him. "The way I teach is completely different from what they teach at the academy."

With a swift motion, Kazuki pulled out a kunai and channeled his chakra into it. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it forward. A puff of white smoke erupted, and three identical Kazukis appeared.

"This is my method of using the Shadow Clone Jutsu with a kunai."

Kazuki handed the special kunai to Naruto.

"Now, try it. Infuse your chakra and mimic what I just did."

Naruto gulped, then focused. He threw the kunai—

Poof!

Three identical Narutos appeared in the clearing.

"This… this is my jutsu? I actually did it?!" Naruto's face lit up with amazement.

He nearly leaped into the air, his excitement bursting like a firework.

"Yeah! I can use the Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

"Not so fast." Kazuki chuckled at Naruto's enthusiasm but had to set the record straight.

"Naruto, you were able to do this because of my kunai. Your actual training hasn't even started yet."

"Eh? Really?" Naruto pouted, scratching his head. Then his eyes gleamed mischievously. "That means Big Brother Kazuki's kunai is super special! It's like a miracle weapon!"

"My family runs a ninja tool business, and I've always been interested in making weapons. The kunai you used is one of my creations." Kazuki explained with a grin. "If you train seriously, I might just give it to you."

"Really?! For real?!"

Naruto's excitement skyrocketed, his grip tightening around the kunai as if it were a priceless treasure.

"Big Brother Kazuki, hurry up and teach me! I swear I'll take my training seriously!"

"Alright." Kazuki nodded. "Now that you've felt what it's like to use the Shadow Clone Jutsu, let's start with the basics—hand seals."

Naruto listened intently, determination burning in his eyes.

Kazuki continued,

"Now, let me show you the correct way to form a seal…"

Of course, Kazuki had also mastered ninjutsu such as the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

When using a shadow clone created from the transformation of a kunai earlier, Kazuki demonstrated his deep understanding of the technique. His experience with shadow clones had grown considerably, allowing him to use them more efficiently.

And when he followed Might Guy to formally learn the B-rank ninjutsu, Shadow Clone Jutsu, his mastery of the technique was evident.

Whether in terms of learning speed or practical application, Kazuki could achieve twice the results with half the effort. His rapid improvement was so astonishing that even Might Guy, who focused more on taijutsu than ninjutsu, was impressed.

At this time, Kazuki passed on to Naruto the unique method he had developed for learning ninjutsu.

Using Kazuki's method, even Naruto—who had always struggled with ninjutsu and got headaches just thinking about it—quickly grasped how to train with Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Brother! Brother! Hee hee, I knew you'd be here!"

From the distance, a girl's bell-like laughter rang out.

Kazuki and Naruto both looked up at the same time and saw Tenten and Hinata running toward them hand in hand.

"Hee hee, brother, you won't believe it! The moment school ended, Hinata rushed to ask me if you had come back." Tenten leaned close to Kazuki's ear and teased, "Brother, do you think Sister Hinata has finally fallen for your charm~?"

Tenten's voice wasn't quiet, and Hinata, who was beside her, heard every word. Her face instantly turned crimson, the blush spreading all the way to her ears.

"T-Tenten, I-I wasn't… I was just worried about Kazuki-kun…" Hinata whispered, her voice as soft as a mosquito's.

Hinata's gaze met Kazuki's for half a second before she immediately turned away, unable to look at him directly.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Naruto practicing Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Huh? Didn't Naruto-kun have trouble even making a single clone? How could he be using the advanced Shadow Clone Jutsu now?

Hinata's sharp mind quickly pieced things together.

Did Kazuki-kun teach him?

If only I could become stronger too…

A sudden determination welled up in Hinata's heart.

As if making up her mind, she gathered her courage, lifted her head, and asked, "K-Kazuki-kun… could you… could you also guide me in my training?"

It was rare for Hinata to make such a request.

Everyone was stunned for a moment.

Kazuki was the first to react. He smiled at her and nodded. "Of course, if you want to learn, I'll teach you."

"R-Really? You will?" Hinata's eyes widened, and her face lit up with excitement.

"Of course."

"I want to get stronger too."

Hinata's tone was soft, but there was a new resolve in her eyes—like a delicate flower blooming at the edge of a cliff.

At that moment, Tenten, who had been watching closely, giggled and covered her mouth.

Then she suddenly grabbed Naruto by the arm and started dragging him away toward another training ground.

"Hey, hey! Sister Tenten, where are you taking me?" Naruto yelled, looking utterly confused.

"Oh, you blockhead, can't you see what's happening? We shouldn't be here interrupting my brother while he personally trains Sister Hinata!"

Tenten spoke cheerfully as she pulled Naruto along.

—

Several days passed after the ninja academy's graduation exam.

Kazuki and the others went to the photo studio to take their ninja registration photos before receiving a notice to return to the academy.

When they arrived, the classroom was already filled with students.

Most of the students wore their forehead protectors on their foreheads. Tenten and Rock Lee tied theirs around their necks, while Kazuki secured his on his left arm.

Excitement filled their faces as they anticipated their future ninja careers.

However, they didn't yet realize that a true test awaited them after the team assignments.

At that moment, a Chūnin instructor walked into the classroom and addressed them with a smile.

"Congratulations! From today on, you are all full-fledged shinobi. However, as genin, you will be placed in three-man squads under the guidance of a jōnin instructor."

"Now, I will begin announcing the teams."

The mention of three-person squads immediately caused a stir in the room.

Everyone glanced around, eager to know who their teammates would be.

Among the many expectant gazes, a significant number were directed toward Kazuki.

Although he had been absent from the academy for four years, no one had forgotten the scene of him defeating Neji Hyūga and securing the title of top student back then.

If they could be assigned to a team with someone that strong…

Their missions would surely be much easier to complete!

The instructor began reading the team assignments:

"Inuzuka Hazuki, Aburame Shidō, Hyūga Tenki…"

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