Tempest: The Lightning Fox of Konoha

The night the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked Konoha, lightning split the sky.

Not the gentle patter of autumn rain that typically blanketed the Hidden Leaf Village, but a maelstrom of such ferocity that even the oldest elders couldn't recall its equal. The ANBU guards later swore that the clouds themselves had formed the shape of a roaring beast above the village, nature itself mirroring the chaos below.

Minutes before the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tails into his newborn son, a blinding bolt of lightning struck the battlefield. It wasn't aimed at the Fox, nor at the shinobi fighting desperately to protect their home. Instead, it pierced straight through the emergency medical tent where Kushina Uzumaki lay dying, having just given birth to her son.

The medics scattered, screaming. When they returned, they found Kushina's body untouched—but the infant beside her was crackling with electricity, tiny arcs of blue lightning dancing across his whisker-marked cheeks.

"Impossible," whispered an elder Hyuga, his Byakugan activated. "The child's chakra... it's being rewritten."

The Fourth Hokage arrived moments later, his face grim with determination as he took his son. The boy's strange condition—chakra networks pulsing with electrical energy—seemed less important than the village's immediate survival. Minato performed the sealing jutsu, binding both the Nine-Tails and his own soul to save the village, never knowing that his son had already been marked by another force entirely.

The Third Hokage, reinstated after Minato's death, stood over the crying infant hours later. Lightning continued to dance across the boy's skin, not harming him but clearly altering something fundamental within him.

"What does it mean, Lord Third?" asked the ANBU captain.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the child with a mixture of wonder and fear. "The Uzumaki clan has always had special chakra, and Minato's own affinity for lightning-style jutsu was legendary. But this... this is something else. The lightning strike has altered the boy's chakra network. I can feel it."

"Is it dangerous?"

The Third Hokage watched as tiny bolts arced between the baby's outstretched fingers, then faded away as he drifted to sleep.

"Everything powerful is dangerous," he said softly. "But I believe this is a gift. Perhaps even a new Kekkei Genkai—a bloodline limit born of this night's chaos. The question is whether Naruto will use it to protect the village his parents died for... or destroy it."

The ANBU captain remained silent.

"You will tell no one of this," ordered the Third. "The boy already bears the burden of the Nine-Tails. The fewer who know about this... unusual development, the safer he'll be."

Little did the Third Hokage know that secrets in a village of ninjas rarely stayed secret for long.

And the storm that had changed Naruto Uzumaki's destiny was only the first of many to come.

"CATCH HIM!" The shopkeeper's voice thundered through the narrow streets of Konoha, nearly drowned out by the peals of laughter from the small blonde boy sprinting ahead of his pursuers.

Naruto Uzumaki, age eight, clutched a stolen apple tight against his chest, bare feet slapping against cobblestones still damp from the morning's rain. His orange shirt—too large, donated by someone who didn't want it anyway—flapped behind him like a flag.

"Almost there," he whispered to himself, veering sharply into an alley. The dead end loomed before him, but Naruto didn't slow. Instead, he pushed chakra into his feet—too much, always too much—and a strange static charge built under his soles.

"JUMP!" he commanded himself, and leapt.

Lightning-tinged chakra exploded from his feet, propelling him higher than any normal child could jump, sailing clean over the ten-foot wall. He landed hard on the other side, rolling to absorb the impact in a move he'd practiced a thousand times.

"DID YOU SEE THAT?" One of the pursuing chunin shouted to his partner. "The demon brat just—"

"I saw," the other interrupted. "Lord Hokage needs to know about this."

Naruto didn't stick around to hear more. He bolted toward the forest, clutching his prize. Only when he reached his favorite hiding spot—a hollow beneath an ancient oak tree—did he finally slow down, collapsing against the rough bark.

His hands were tingling. Again. It happened whenever he got excited or scared, as if the lightning living inside him wanted to break free. Little blue-white sparks danced across his fingertips before fading away.

"Stop it," he muttered, clenching his fists. "You'll get me in more trouble."

The sparks reluctantly subsided.

Naruto bit into the apple, savoring its sweetness. He hadn't meant to steal it, not really. He'd tried to pay, but the moment the shopkeeper saw who he was, the man's face had twisted with that familiar look of disgust. When Naruto had placed his money on the counter, the man had slapped it away.

"I don't want your filthy coins, demon," he'd hissed.

Something in Naruto had snapped then. If they were going to treat him like a thief anyway, why not become one?

He took another bite, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in his chest that even food couldn't fill.

"Why do they hate me?" he whispered to the empty forest.

No answer came, save for a distant rumble of thunder. A storm was brewing over Konoha, dark clouds gathering on the horizon. Naruto felt a familiar pull toward the developing tempest, an inexplicable connection he'd felt since earliest memory.

Storms made him feel less alone.

"So he used lightning-style chakra?" The Third Hokage puffed thoughtfully on his pipe, eyes fixed on the chunin kneeling before his desk.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. It wasn't a jutsu—he's far too young—but his feet definitely discharged electrical chakra when he jumped. It boosted him over a wall no child could normally clear."

Hiruzen sighed, the weight of his years pressing down on his shoulders. He'd hoped Naruto's unusual abilities would remain dormant longer. The boy was already isolated because of the Nine-Tails; this new difference would only widen the gap between him and his peers.

"You will speak of this to no one," he commanded.

"But sir, the villagers already saw—"

"Then let them think what they will." The Third's voice hardened. "No official report will mention any unusual abilities. Am I understood?"

The chunin bowed his head. "Yes, Lord Hokage."

After the ninja departed, Hiruzen moved to the window. The approaching storm cast shadows across the village, painting Konoha in shades of gray. Somewhere out there, a lonely boy with too much power and too little guidance was hiding.

"Minato," he murmured, "your son grows more extraordinary by the day. I only wish you were here to show him the way."

Lightning flashed, illuminating the stone faces of the Hokage Monument.

For a brief instant, the Fourth's carved visage seemed to be looking back at him, filled with silent reproach.

Naruto woke to rain pattering against leaves above his hideout. He'd fallen asleep, curled around his empty stomach, the apple core still clutched in his hand.

The storm had arrived, and with it came that strange feeling—like electricity flowing through his veins, making him feel more alive than he ever did under clear skies. He crawled from his hollow and stood, face upturned to the downpour.

Cold drops struck his cheeks, mingling with tears he refused to acknowledge. With each thunderclap, he felt a resonance deep within, as if something inside him recognized a kindred spirit in the storm.

Almost without thinking, he raised his hand toward the darkened sky. A particularly powerful bolt of lightning split the clouds, and Naruto felt something respond within him. Tiny arcs of blue electricity crackled between his splayed fingers, matching the rhythm of the storm above.

"Wow," he breathed, watching the lightning dance across his skin. Unlike the times when his emotions triggered these displays, this felt controlled, almost peaceful.

He tried directing the energy, pushing it toward his other hand. The sparks jumped obediently, forming a crackling bridge between his palms.

A grin split his face, illuminated by his self-made lightning.

"I knew I was special," he whispered, voice nearly lost in the rain. "Just wait. I'll master this, and then everyone will have to acknowledge me!"

He stood practicing in the downpour until his clothes were soaked through and his fingers numb, but the cold couldn't dampen the warmth blooming in his chest.

For the first time in his young life, Naruto Uzumaki felt like he had a secret worth keeping—a power that was his alone.

He had no way of knowing he was being watched.

From the shadows of the forest, a masked ANBU observed the boy's impromptu training session, then vanished in a swirl of leaves to report to the Hokage.

The storm continued to rage overhead, blessing its chosen vessel with its fury.

The Academy classroom buzzed with excitement. Graduation exams were only six months away, and Iruka-sensei had promised them a special training exercise today.

Naruto slouched in his seat at the back, trying to look uninterested while secretly hanging on every word. Three years had passed since he'd discovered his ability to manipulate lightning chakra in the forest, and though he practiced whenever storms passed through Konoha, he still struggled with control.

"Today," Iruka announced, "we'll be testing your natural chakra affinities."

The class erupted in whispers. Determining one's elemental affinity was usually reserved for genin, not academy students.

"Settle down," Iruka continued, holding up a stack of small, square papers. "Lord Hokage believes that understanding your natural inclinations early will help you develop more efficiently as shinobi. These chakra papers will react differently depending on your affinity."

He demonstrated by channeling chakra into a paper, which immediately crinkled.

"My affinity is lightning," he explained. "Fire burns, water dampens, earth crumbles, and wind splits. Who wants to try first?"

Hands shot up across the room—everyone's except Naruto's. He already knew his affinity. What he didn't know was whether the strange blue lightning he could produce was normal or not.

One by one, his classmates discovered their elemental natures. Sasuke's paper burst into flames, earning admiring gasps. Sakura's turned to dust. Hinata's became damp, while Kiba's tore neatly in half.

"Naruto?" Iruka finally called, approaching his desk. "Your turn."

All eyes turned to the class troublemaker. Naruto hesitated, then reluctantly took the paper.

"Just channel a small amount of chakra," Iruka instructed, noticing his discomfort.

Naruto nodded, concentrating on pushing the tiniest trickle of energy into the paper. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sharp CRACK, the paper not only crinkled but sparked violently, leaving a scorched pattern of branching lines across its surface before disintegrating completely.

The classroom fell silent.

"I... I didn't mean to!" Naruto blurted, staring at the ash dusting his desktop.

Iruka's eyes had widened. "It's alright, Naruto. You just have an unusually strong lightning affinity. Perhaps too much chakra—"

"Freak," someone whispered, not quite softly enough.

Heat rushed to Naruto's face. Without thinking, he slammed his palms down on the desk, and blue-white electricity arced from his fingertips, scorching the wood.

Gasps and screams erupted as students scrambled away from him.

"NARUTO!" Iruka's voice cut through the chaos. "Outside, now!"

Blinking back unexpected tears, Naruto fled the classroom, not stopping until he reached the Academy's training yard. Rain clouds were gathering again, as if drawn to his turbulent emotions.

He heard the door open behind him but didn't turn around.

"I didn't mean to," he repeated softly.

Iruka sighed, approaching cautiously. "I know you didn't. But Naruto, what was that? That wasn't normal lightning chakra."

Naruto kicked at the dirt. "It happens when I get upset. Or during storms. I can make it appear on purpose now, but sometimes it just... comes out."

"How long has this been happening?"

"Always," Naruto admitted. "As long as I can remember. Old Man Hokage told me not to tell anyone."

Iruka's expression softened. He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder—a gesture so unexpected that the boy flinched.

"Listen to me," Iruka said firmly. "Having a strong affinity isn't bad. In fact, it could make you an exceptional shinobi someday. But you need to learn control, not just of your chakra but of your emotions too."

Naruto looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "You're not... scared of me?"

"No," Iruka replied, and meant it. "But I am concerned. That blue lightning isn't something I've seen before, even in strong lightning users. I think..."

He hesitated, then seemed to make a decision.

"I think you might have a Kekkei Genkai, Naruto."

"A what?"

"A bloodline limit—a special ability passed down through certain families. Like the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyuga's Byakugan."

Naruto's mind reeled. A bloodline ability? But that would mean...

"My family?" he whispered.

Iruka looked uncomfortable. "I don't know, Naruto. Your parents' identities are... complicated. But I think you should speak with the Hokage about this development."

Thunder rumbled overhead, making both of them glance up. The storm had arrived with uncanny swiftness.

"Hmm," Iruka murmured. "Unusual weather patterns have been following you for years. I've always wondered..."

He didn't finish the thought. Instead, he smiled and ruffled Naruto's hair.

"Let's get you inside before we both get soaked. And after class, we'll go see Lord Hokage together."

As they walked back to the Academy, the first drops of rain began to fall. Naruto felt that familiar surge of energy, but this time, he took a deep breath and kept it contained.

Control. That's what he needed to learn.

But first, he needed answers about this "Kekkei Genkai"—and maybe, finally, about his family too.

"I was wondering when this day would come," the Third Hokage said, exhaling a cloud of pipe smoke.

Naruto sat across from him, fidgeting nervously while Iruka stood by the door.

"Iruka-sensei says I might have a... a Kekkei Genkai," Naruto said. "Is that true? Did I get it from my parents?"

The Third's gaze grew distant. "In a manner of speaking, yes. But it's more complicated than that, Naruto."

He rose from his desk and walked to the window, where rain lashed against the glass.

"The night you were born—the night the Nine-Tails attacked—there was a storm unlike any Konoha had ever seen. While your father performed the sealing jutsu, a lightning bolt struck the medical tent where you and your mother lay. The medics said it passed straight through you without causing harm."

Naruto's breath caught. "A lightning bolt... struck me?"

"Yes. And ever since, you've demonstrated an unusual connection to electrical energy. Your father had a strong lightning affinity, and your mother possessed special chakra unique to her clan. The combination, plus the lightning strike and the Nine-Tails' chakra being sealed within you..."

The Hokage turned back to face him. "It created something new. A Kekkei Genkai that, as far as we can tell, has never existed before."

"So what can I do?" Naruto asked, excitement beginning to overcome his shock. "Besides make sparks and jump really high?"

The Third smiled faintly. "That, Naruto, is what you'll need to discover for yourself. But I do have something that might help."

He moved to a bookshelf and retrieved a scroll sealed with a lightning bolt symbol.

"This contains basic lightning chakra control exercises. I had it prepared years ago, knowing this day would eventually arrive. Master these first, then we can explore the unique aspects of your abilities."

Naruto accepted the scroll with trembling hands. "Thank you, Old Man."

The Hokage nodded, then his expression grew serious. "But Naruto, you must understand—your classmates may fear what they don't understand. And there are those outside the village who would covet such power. Until you can properly control it, discretion is essential."

"You mean keep it a secret," Naruto said flatly.

"I mean be wise about who knows the full extent of your capabilities," the Third corrected gently. "A ninja's greatest advantage is often surprise."

Naruto considered this, then nodded slowly. "I get it. I'll practice in secret." A sly grin spread across his face. "But when I become Hokage, everyone will know how awesome I am!"

The Third Hokage laughed, a genuine sound that warmed the office more than any fire could.

"I have no doubt of that, Naruto. No doubt whatsoever."

As Naruto clutched the scroll, lightning flashed outside, illuminating the room with brief, brilliant light. For a moment, the shadows seemed to form the silhouette of a tall man standing protectively behind the boy—a figure with spiky hair and a flowing coat.

Then the light faded, and there was only Naruto, holding the key to his future in hands that no longer sparked with uncontrolled power.

The first step on his new path had been taken.

Rain pounded the forest clearing, turning dirt to mud and creating a symphony of percussion against leaves. Naruto stood at the center, soaked to the skin, grinning wildly as electricity crackled around his outstretched hands.

Three months had passed since the Third Hokage had given him the lightning chakra scroll, and Naruto had thrown himself into training with uncharacteristic discipline. Every storm brought new opportunities to practice without arousing suspicion—after all, who would venture into the forest during a downpour?

"Focus," he muttered to himself, attempting the most difficult exercise on the scroll.

Lightning Release: Thunder Palm.

According to the instructions, he needed to concentrate electrical chakra in his palm, compressing it until it formed a stable, spinning disc of energy. So far, he'd only managed to produce wild, unpredictable arcs that dispersed within seconds.

"Rotation and compression," he reminded himself, channeling chakra to his right hand.

Blue-white electricity spiraled outward from his palm, forming a chaotic web of energy. Naruto gritted his teeth, forcing the wild lightning to curve inward, to spin instead of spread.

For a brief, exhilarating moment, the energy obeyed, forming a disc that hummed with power.

Then it exploded outward, sending Naruto flying backward into a tree trunk.

"OW!" he yelped, sliding down into the mud. "Stupid jutsu!"

He glared at his smoking palm, then at the scorched ground where he'd been standing. Six weeks of trying, and he still couldn't maintain the Thunder Palm for more than two seconds.

Lightning flashed overhead, and Naruto felt a familiar tug in his chakra, as if the storm itself were trying to communicate with him. He'd grown increasingly aware of this connection—how storms seemed to follow his emotional states, how lightning responded to his call more readily during thunderstorms, how he never felt tired while rain fell around him.

It was more than just an affinity. It was as if he and the storm were parts of the same whole.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto closed his eyes and tried something new. Instead of forcing his chakra to behave, he reached out to the storm above, opening himself to its wild energy.

"Help me," he whispered to the clouds.

Thunder answered, vibrating through the ground beneath him. Naruto felt a surge of foreign chakra entering his system—raw, untamed electricity from the atmosphere itself.

His eyes snapped open, glowing with an electric blue light.

Almost without conscious thought, he extended his hand again. This time, the lightning came instantly, spinning into a perfect disc that illuminated the clearing with its brilliant radiance.

"I did it!" he shouted, staring in awe at the Thunder Palm jutsu humming steadily in his hand.

Experimentally, he swung his arm at a nearby sapling. The disc shot forward, a projectile of pure electrical energy that sliced clean through the young tree before dissipating against a boulder beyond.

The saplings's top half toppled slowly, its cut edge smoking.

Naruto stared, mouth agape. The scroll hadn't mentioned the jutsu could be thrown.

"That was AWESOME!" he crowed, punching the air.

His celebration was short-lived. The sudden exertion, combined with channeling the storm's natural energy, left him dizzy and drained. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the muddy ground, panting.

"Okay," he gasped. "Maybe... too much... at once."

As his vision darkened at the edges, Naruto caught a glimpse of a figure watching from the tree line—tall, with silver hair and a masked face.

Then consciousness slipped away, and he knew nothing more.

"He's channeling nature energy without any training," Kakashi Hatake reported, standing before the Hokage's desk. "I witnessed it myself. During the storm, he connected directly to the atmospheric electricity and drew it into his chakra network."

The Third Hokage's eyes widened. "That's impossible. He'd need sage training to manipulate nature energy, and even then, lightning is the most volatile and dangerous element to absorb."

"Nevertheless, that's what I saw," Kakashi insisted. "His chakra signature changed. His eyes glowed blue. And he performed a perfect Thunder Palm jutsu that he immediately modified into a projectile technique."

"Then collapsed from chakra exhaustion," the Third noted grimly.

"Yes. I brought him to the hospital. He's recovering now—quickly, thanks to the Nine-Tails."

The Hokage puffed thoughtfully on his pipe. "This changes things. His Kekkei Genkai is clearly more complex than we thought. It's not just producing blue lightning—it's allowing him to commune with electrical energy in nature itself."

"Like a storm sage," Kakashi mused.

"Precisely. Though without proper training, he risks severe chakra system damage... or worse."

Silence fell between them, heavy with implications.

Finally, Kakashi spoke. "The graduation exam is in three months. If he passes—and that's a big if, given his academic record—he'll need a jonin sensei who understands lightning chakra."

"Are you volunteering?" The Third asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled slightly. "I'm the Copy Ninja. I've copied over a thousand jutsu, including every lightning technique in the village. Plus, I was his father's student. Who better?"

"Who indeed," the Hokage agreed. "Very well. Assuming he graduates, Naruto Uzumaki will be placed on your team."

As Kakashi turned to leave, the Third added, "And Kakashi? Start brushing up on your nature energy theory. I suspect you'll need it."

Naruto woke to the sterile white ceiling of Konoha Hospital, the antiseptic smell making his nose wrinkle. Sunlight streamed through the window beside his bed, indicating the storm had passed.

"Finally awake, huh?" a familiar voice drawled.

Naruto turned his head to find Iruka-sensei sitting in a chair beside his bed, a stack of papers in his lap.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto tried to sit up, only to be hit by a wave of dizziness. "Ugh. What happened?"

"Chakra exhaustion," Iruka replied, his tone unusually stern. "An ANBU found you passed out in the forest during last night's storm. Care to explain what you were doing training alone in such dangerous conditions?"

Naruto looked away, guilt and defiance warring within him. "I... I was practicing that lightning jutsu from the scroll. It works better during storms."

"And you didn't think to inform anyone? To have supervision? You could have been seriously hurt, Naruto!"

"But I wasn't!" Naruto protested. "And I finally got the jutsu to work! I even made it do something that wasn't in the scroll—I made it fly like a disc and cut through a tree!"

Iruka's anger faltered, replaced by reluctant interest. "You modified a basic lightning jutsu on your first successful attempt?"

"Yeah! It was awesome!" Naruto's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "Until I passed out, I guess."

Iruka sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Naruto, your chakra reserves are unusually large because of... well, you know why. But even you have limits. The doctors said your chakra pathways showed signs of electrical burns—they're healing quickly, but still."

Naruto frowned. "But I felt great while I was doing it. Better than ever! It was like the storm was giving me power."

Iruka's expression grew alarmed. "Giving you power? What do you mean?"

Before Naruto could explain, the door slid open to reveal the Third Hokage, accompanied by a tall, silver-haired jonin whose face was mostly covered, leaving only one eye visible.

"Naruto," the Hokage greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine! Ready to get back to training!" Naruto declared, only to wince as his muscles protested the sudden movement.

The silver-haired jonin chuckled. "Eager. Just like his mother."

Naruto's head snapped toward him. "You knew my mother?"

An awkward silence fell. The jonin glanced at the Hokage, who nodded slightly.

"I did," the man confirmed. "And your father too. I'm Kakashi Hatake."

Naruto's heart hammered in his chest. No one ever talked about his parents. Ever.

"Were they... were they ninjas?" he asked hesitantly.

"Some of the finest Konoha ever produced," Kakashi answered, his visible eye crinkling in what might have been a smile beneath his mask.

The Third Hokage cleared his throat. "Naruto, I've asked Kakashi to help with your training. He has extensive knowledge of lightning jutsu and can guide you better than that scroll alone."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Really? My own special trainer?"

"Only until the graduation exam," the Hokage cautioned. "And only for lightning control exercises. You still need to attend the Academy and work on your... other academic challenges."

Iruka snorted softly at this diplomatic phrasing of Naruto's abysmal grades.

"After you graduate—assuming you do—further arrangements will be made," the Hokage continued.

Naruto barely heard the qualifier, too excited by the prospect of special training. "When do we start?"

"When the doctors clear you," Kakashi said firmly. "And when there's another storm. I want to observe this connection you seem to have with electrical nature energy."

"Tomorrow, then," Naruto announced confidently.

"Tomorrow?" Iruka echoed. "How could you possibly know—"

"There'll be a storm tomorrow afternoon," Naruto stated with absolute certainty. "I can feel it coming. It's still far away, over the ocean, but it's heading straight for Konoha."

The adults exchanged looks of surprise and concern.

"Interesting," Kakashi murmured. "Very interesting indeed."

Outside the hospital window, in the clear blue sky, a single dark cloud began to form on the distant horizon—exactly where Naruto had indicated.

The Thunder Child's powers were growing, evolving in ways no one had anticipated. Not even the boy himself.

The Academy classroom hummed with nervous energy. Today was finally graduation day, and students fidgeted at their desks, waiting to be called for the final exam.

Naruto sat alone, fingers drumming an erratic pattern that left tiny scorch marks on the wood. Six months of training with Kakashi-sensei had improved his control immensely, but anxiety still triggered small discharges of electrical chakra.

"Nervous?" Shikamaru drawled from the desk beside him.

"Me? No way!" Naruto lied, quickly covering the scorch marks with his arm. "I'm totally gonna ace this!"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Right. That's why you failed the preliminary exam three times."

Naruto scowled. It was true—his academic scores remained abysmal despite his progress with lightning techniques. The graduation test required performing a basic Clone Jutsu, which remained his worst technique despite months of practice.

"Sasuke Uchiha," Iruka called from the doorway.

The dark-haired boy stood, hands in pockets, exuding casual confidence as he followed Iruka to the testing room.

"Show-off," Naruto muttered.

Minutes crawled by. One by one, his classmates were called and returned wearing new headbands—proof of their graduation. Only Hinata offered him an encouraging smile when she came back, her forehead now adorned with the symbol of Konoha.

Finally, only Naruto remained.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka called.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto stood and walked to the examination room, where Iruka and another chunin instructor, Mizuki, sat behind a table covered with neatly arranged headbands.

"Alright, Naruto," Iruka said, trying to sound encouraging. "All you need to do is perform a basic Clone Jutsu. Three functional clones will earn you a passing grade."

Naruto nodded, trying to ignore the rapid pounding of his heart. He'd practiced this endlessly with Kakashi, who had suggested channeling the smallest possible amount of chakra—barely a trickle—to avoid overwhelming the delicate jutsu.

"You can do this," he told himself. "Just stay calm."

But staying calm was impossible with so much riding on this moment. As he formed the hand signs, Naruto felt his chakra surge, fueled by his anxiety.

"Clone Jutsu!" he shouted.

A puff of smoke erupted around him. When it cleared, three identical clones stood flanking him—but all were pale, sickly-looking, and slightly transparent.

Iruka's face fell. "I'm sorry, Naruto. Those clones aren't functional. They wouldn't fool anyone."

"But I made three!" Naruto protested. "Can't you cut me some slack? I've been working so hard!"

"The standards exist for a reason," Iruka said firmly. "You fail."

Naruto's heart plummeted. All that training, all that progress with his lightning techniques, and he couldn't even perform a basic Clone Jutsu well enough to graduate.

"Iruka," Mizuki interjected, "perhaps we could make an exception. He did technically create three clones, and we know he has... other talents."

Iruka shook his head. "The rules apply to everyone, Naruto's special circumstances notwithstanding. I'm sorry."

Devastated, Naruto fled the room without another word, ignoring Iruka's call to wait. He ran straight out of the Academy building, past the families gathering to congratulate their children, past the swing where he usually retreated to nurse his failures.

This time, he ran all the way to the forest, his sanctuary during storms—though today the sky remained cruelly clear, denying him even the comfort of rain.

He didn't stop until he reached the clearing where he practiced with Kakashi, collapsing against a lightning-scarred tree trunk.

"It's not fair," he whispered, anger and disappointment making his fingers spark with blue electricity. "I can make lightning discs and sense storms from miles away, but I can't make stupid regular clones!"

"Perhaps there's another way," a voice called from the edge of the clearing.

Naruto's head snapped up to find Mizuki approaching, his expression sympathetic.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked warily.

Mizuki sat beside him. "There's a special provision for exceptional students who struggle with standard techniques. A make-up test, of sorts."

Hope flickered in Naruto's chest. "Really? What kind of test?"

"More of a mission, actually," Mizuki explained. "You need to retrieve a certain scroll from the Hokage's private collection and learn one jutsu from it before morning. If you can demonstrate that jutsu to me here at midnight, I'll authorize your graduation myself."

It sounded too good to be true, but Naruto was desperate. "Just one jutsu? That's it?"

"That's it," Mizuki confirmed. "Though you can't tell anyone about this test—it's meant to assess your stealth capabilities too. Can you handle that?"

Naruto jumped to his feet, determination replacing despair. "You bet I can! I'll learn whatever's in that scroll faster than anyone ever has!"

Midnight painted the forest in shadows. Naruto crouched over the massive scroll he'd stolen—no, borrowed—from the Hokage's residence, scanning frantically through its contents. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool night air.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu," he muttered, fingers tracing the instructions. "Creates solid copies instead of illusions... requires more chakra than regular clones..."

A wild grin split his face. More chakra? That was perfect for him!

For three hours, he practiced the hand signs, channeling his abundant chakra into the technique. Each attempt brought progress—first one solid clone, then three, then a dozen. The jutsu felt natural, as if designed specifically for someone with his chakra reserves.

What Naruto didn't notice was how the gathering storm clouds above responded to his training. With each successful shadow clone he created, lightning flickered between the clouds, mirroring the surge of his chakra below.

By the time he'd mastered the technique, Naruto was surrounded by twenty perfect copies of himself—each one grinning with identical satisfaction.

"I did it!" they chorused, high-fiving each other.

The original Naruto collapsed onto his back, exhausted but triumphant. "Now Iruka-sensei has to let me graduate!"

A branch snapped in the darkness.

"Naruto!" Iruka's voice cracked like the approaching thunder. He burst into the clearing, face flushed from running. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

The shadow clones poofed out of existence in startled bursts of smoke.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto scrambled to his feet. "I found you! Or you found me... whatever! Watch this—I learned the jutsu from the scroll, so now I pass the special graduation test, right?"

Iruka's expression shifted from anger to confusion. "Special test? What are you talking about?"

Before Naruto could explain, a barrage of kunai whistled through the air. Iruka shoved Naruto aside, taking the brunt of the attack. Several blades embedded themselves in his flak jacket, pinning him to a tree trunk.

"I'm impressed you found him before me," Mizuki's voice echoed through the clearing as he appeared on a high branch, twin fuuma shuriken strapped to his back.

Realization dawned on Iruka's face. "So that's how it is. You used Naruto to steal the Scroll of Sealing."

"Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto's voice faltered, confusion etching across his features. "What's going on? You said this was a make-up exam!"

Mizuki's laughter cut through the night air like a blade. "You really are the village idiot, aren't you? There is no make-up exam. I needed a scapegoat to steal the scroll, and who better than the Nine-Tailed Fox brat?"

"Nine-Tailed..." Naruto's breath caught. "What are you talking about?"

"NO!" Iruka shouted. "Mizuki, that's forbidden!"

"The boy deserves to know why everyone in this pathetic village hates him," Mizuki sneered. "Twelve years ago, the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked Konoha. You've been told the Fourth Hokage killed it, but that's a lie. He couldn't kill it—so he sealed it inside a newborn baby." His eyes fixed on Naruto with naked hatred. "You are that baby. You are the Nine-Tailed Fox!"

The words hit Naruto like physical blows. Suddenly, everything made terrible sense—the cold stares, the whispers, the isolation.

"That's why no one acknowledges you," Mizuki continued, drawing one of his fuuma shuriken. "And no one ever will! Even Iruka hates you—the fox killed his parents!"

The clouds above churned violently, mirroring the turmoil in Naruto's heart. A low rumble of thunder echoed across the forest.

"Naruto, don't listen to him!" Iruka called, struggling against the kunai pinning him. "You're not the fox! You're Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha!"

Mizuki laughed, spinning his massive shuriken. "Die, fox brat!"

The weapon hurtled toward Naruto, who stood frozen in shock. At the last possible second, Iruka tore free and threw himself into the shuriken's path.

Blood splattered across Naruto's face as the weapon embedded itself in Iruka's back.

"Run... Naruto..." Iruka gasped, collapsing to his knees.

Something snapped inside Naruto. Grief, rage, and betrayal fused into a molten core of emotion as the storm finally broke overhead. Lightning split the sky in a blinding flash, striking the ground directly behind him.

But instead of flinching away, Naruto reached for the lightning—both physically and with his chakra.

Blue-white electricity engulfed his body, crawling across his skin like living armor. His whisker marks deepened, his canines sharpened, and his eyes blazed electric blue with slitted pupils.

"If you touch Iruka-sensei again," Naruto growled, his voice overlaid with a crackling static, "I'll kill you."

Mizuki faltered, momentarily stunned by the transformation. Then his face twisted with renewed hatred. "So the fox shows its true nature! Come on then, demon! I'll finish what the Fourth started!"

Naruto's hands flashed through signs Kakashi had taught him, but faster than he'd ever managed before. "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The clearing exploded with smoke. When it cleared, hundreds of Narutos surrounded Mizuki, each one crackling with blue lightning.

"W-what?!" Mizuki spun wildly, his confidence evaporating. "This is impossible!"

"Here's something I invented myself," every Naruto said in unison, each raising a palm where a disc of compressed lightning chakra formed. "Thunder Palm Barrage!"

Hundreds of lightning discs launched simultaneously, converging on Mizuki from all directions. He screamed once before the jutsu struck, the combined electrical force blasting him unconscious and scorching the ground in a perfect circle around his fallen body.

The shadow clones dispelled as Naruto staggered toward Iruka, the lightning armor fading from his skin.

"Iruka-sensei," he whispered, dropping to his knees beside his teacher. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

Iruka looked up at him, eyes filled not with hatred but with pride. "Naruto... I need to tell you something." With trembling hands, he removed his own headband and tied it around Naruto's forehead. "Congratulations. You graduate."

Tears mixed with rain on Naruto's cheeks as the storm continued to rage above them.

The rain had stopped by morning, leaving Konoha washed clean beneath a brilliant blue sky. Naruto sat on his apartment roof, turning his new headband over in his hands, still scarcely believing it was real.

Last night felt like a dream—or a nightmare. Learning about the Nine-Tails. Fighting Mizuki. That strange transformation when the lightning struck...

He'd carried Iruka-sensei to the hospital afterward, where ANBU had been waiting. The Third Hokage himself had debriefed Naruto, asking detailed questions about both Mizuki's betrayal and the lightning techniques Naruto had used against him.

"You combined the Shadow Clone Jutsu with your Thunder Palm in the heat of battle?" the Hokage had asked, sounding impressed despite himself.

Naruto had nodded, too exhausted to boast. "It just... made sense in the moment."

Now, hours later, he was officially a genin of Konoha—but his mind swirled with unanswered questions. Why hadn't anyone told him about the Nine-Tails? Was that connected to his lightning abilities somehow? And what about his parents, who according to Kakashi-sensei had been exceptional ninja?

The sound of sandals on tiles interrupted his thoughts.

"Yo," Kakashi greeted casually, appearing beside him with a swirl of leaves. "I heard you had quite the night."

Naruto glanced up at his mentor. "Did you know? About the fox?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Kakashi sighed, settling beside him on the roof tiles. "It wasn't my secret to share. The Third Hokage forbade anyone from discussing it—especially with you."

"That's stupid!" Naruto burst out. "It's inside ME! I had the right to know!"

"Perhaps," Kakashi acknowledged. "But the Third hoped you could have a normal childhood without that burden."

Naruto laughed bitterly. "Normal? The villagers hated me without even telling me why!"

"Not all of them," Kakashi corrected gently. "And knowing wouldn't have changed their minds. People fear what they don't understand."

Naruto absorbed this in silence, staring out over the village.

"What about my lightning powers?" he finally asked. "Is that because of the Nine-Tails too?"

"No," Kakashi said firmly. "Your Kekkei Genkai is entirely separate—though the fox's chakra might enhance it sometimes, as it did last night when you were in danger."

He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "But that's a discussion for another time. Right now, you need to get to the Academy for team assignments. Wouldn't want to be late on your first day as a genin."

Naruto jumped to his feet. "Team assignments! I completely forgot!"

Without another word, he bolted for the stairs, shouting thanks over his shoulder.

Kakashi watched him go, his visible eye crinkling with what might have been a smile. "Just like his mother," he murmured. "Always in a rush."

The Academy classroom buzzed with excited chatter as newly-minted genin speculated about team placements. Naruto slipped through the door just as Iruka entered from the other side, moving stiffly due to his bandaged injuries.

"Naruto?" Shikamaru did a double-take. "What are you doing here? This meeting is only for those who graduated."

In answer, Naruto proudly tapped his forehead protector.

Shikamaru's eyebrows rose. "Huh. How troublesome."

Naruto scanned the room for an empty seat, finding only one—next to Sasuke Uchiha, who was staring out the window with his usual brooding expression. With a resigned sigh, Naruto took the seat.

Sasuke glanced at him. "You. How did you graduate?"

Before Naruto could respond with a suitably awesome comeback, Iruka called for quiet.

"Starting today, you are all official ninja," he announced. "But you're still just rookie genin. The hard part is just beginning. You will be assigned to three-person teams, led by a jonin instructor."

Excited whispers broke out again. Naruto caught Sakura's eye across the room, shooting her a hopeful smile. She looked away quickly, her attention fixed on Sasuke.

"We tried to balance each team's abilities," Iruka continued, consulting his clipboard. "Team One..."

Naruto barely listened as Iruka read through the first six teams, waiting anxiously for his own name.

"Team Seven: Naruto Uzumaki."

His head snapped up.

"Sakura Haruno."

"YES!" Naruto pumped his fist, while Sakura's shoulders slumped in disappointment.

"And Sasuke Uchiha."

"NO!" Naruto's elation evaporated instantly.

"YES!" Sakura's cry of delight drowned out Naruto's protest.

Sasuke remained impassive, though his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Your jonin instructor will be Kakashi Hatake," Iruka finished.

Naruto blinked in surprise. Kakashi hadn't mentioned he'd be Naruto's official team leader. Come to think of it, the silver-haired jonin had been oddly smug this morning...

As Iruka continued assigning the remaining teams, Naruto stole another glance at his new teammates. Sakura, the smartest girl in class, who barely acknowledged his existence. And Sasuke, the top-ranked student and last surviving Uchiha, who considered Naruto beneath contempt.

Great. Just great.

But hey, at least he had Kakashi-sensei. That was something, right?

Three hours later, Naruto's optimism had withered like a plant in the desert.

"Where IS he?" Sakura paced the empty classroom, the last vestiges of her patience clearly evaporating. All the other teams had been collected by their jonin instructors long ago.

Sasuke sat at a desk, fingers steepled before him, the only sign of his annoyance being the faint ticking of a muscle in his jaw.

Naruto, balanced precariously on a chair, was wedging an eraser into the partially-open door—a childish prank to relieve his boredom.

"Naruto!" Sakura scolded. "A jonin isn't going to fall for such a stupid trick!"

"Kakashi-sensei totally will," Naruto insisted, jumping down. "He may look cool, but he's actually pretty goofy sometimes."

Both his teammates stared at him.

"You... know our instructor?" Sakura asked.

Oops. Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh, yeah. He's been helping me with some special training."

"Special training?" Sasuke's interest was clearly piqued despite himself. "What kind?"

Before Naruto could answer, the classroom door slid open. The eraser dropped, releasing a puff of chalk dust directly onto Kakashi's silver hair.

"Hm, how should I put this?" Kakashi drawled, brushing chalk from his hair. "My first impression of you all... I hate you."

Sakura's face fell. Sasuke's scowl deepened. Naruto just grinned, long accustomed to his mentor's dry humor.

"Meet me on the roof in five minutes," Kakashi instructed, then vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Sakura rounded on Naruto. "Great job, idiot! Now he hates us!"

"Nah, he's always like that," Naruto assured her, heading for the door. "Come on, I know a shortcut to the roof."

Instead of taking the stairs, he led them to a maintenance shaft near the classroom. "This way's faster."

Sasuke eyed the narrow passage skeptically. "That's a ventilation shaft, not a stairwell."

"Trust me!" Naruto flashed a mischievous grin, then channeled chakra to his fingertips. Tiny arcs of blue electricity danced between them as he pressed his hand against the metal shaft. "This is how I used to escape after pulling pranks."

The electrical current magnetized the metal, and with a sharp tug, Naruto pulled himself into the shaft, sticking to its sides with his lightning-charged hands and feet.

"Coming?" he called back, his voice echoing metallically.

Sakura's jaw dropped. "Was that... lightning chakra?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, genuine surprise flickering across his usually impassive face. Without another word, he followed Naruto into the shaft, using standard chakra control to climb.

Sakura hesitated only a moment before scrambling after them, muttering about "show-offs" and "crazy shortcuts."

They emerged onto the roof with a minute to spare, Naruto grinning triumphantly while his teammates tried to hide their breathlessness.

Kakashi was already there, leaning against the railing and reading a small orange book.

"Interesting entrance," he commented without looking up. "Sit."

They settled on the steps before him, Naruto flanked by his teammates.

"Let's introduce ourselves," Kakashi suggested, finally closing his book. "Likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams for the future—that sort of thing."

"Why don't you go first, sensei?" Sakura prompted.

"Me? I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and things I hate... I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future... never really thought about it. As for my hobbies... I have lots of hobbies."

Sakura huffed. "That was totally useless. All we learned was his name."

"Your turn, Pinky," Kakashi nodded at her.

Sakura bristled at the nickname but composed herself. "I'm Sakura Haruno. What I like—I mean, the person I like is..." She glanced sideways at Sasuke with a blush. "My hobby is... My dream for the future is..." Each unfinished sentence was punctuated with another glance and deeper blush.

"And?" Kakashi prompted. "What do you hate?"

"NARUTO!" she declared instantly.

Lightning crackled reflexively between Naruto's fingers as the rejection stung. He quickly clasped his hands together, hiding the telltale blue sparks.

If Kakashi noticed, he didn't comment. "Next, Broody."

Sasuke didn't react to the nickname. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan, and kill a certain someone."

Silence followed his declaration. Naruto shifted uncomfortably—he'd heard about the Uchiha massacre but hadn't realized how deeply it had affected Sasuke.

"Alright, Sparky, you're up," Kakashi said, gesturing to Naruto.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" he declared, adjusting his headband proudly. "I like instant ramen, training during thunderstorms, and when Iruka-sensei treats me to Ichiraku Ramen! I hate the three minutes it takes to cook instant ramen, people who judge others without knowing them, and chakra control exercises that make my head hurt!"

He paused for breath, lightning fizzing with excitement beneath his skin. "My hobby is comparing different types of ramen and developing new lightning techniques! And my dream..."

Naruto's voice grew more serious, his blue eyes intense. "My dream is to become the greatest Hokage this village has ever seen. Then everyone will have to stop disrespecting me and treat me like I'm somebody—somebody important!"

Kakashi's visible eye studied him thoughtfully. Sasuke glanced at Naruto with something that might have been reassessment. Sakura just looked confused, clearly wondering about the "lightning techniques" part.

"Good," Kakashi said finally. "You're each unique and have your own ideas. We'll have our first mission tomorrow."

"What kind of mission?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"A survival exercise," Kakashi answered. "But not just any survival exercise. Of the twenty-seven graduates, only nine will actually be accepted as genin. The rest will be sent back to the Academy."

"WHAT?!" Naruto and Sakura exclaimed simultaneously. Even Sasuke looked alarmed.

"That's right," Kakashi's eye crinkled in what might have been a sadistic smile. "This test has a 66% failure rate."

Thunder rumbled in the distance, though the sky remained clear. Naruto's agitation was drawing a storm without him even realizing it.

"Then what was the graduation test for?!" Naruto demanded.

"That? Just to select candidates who might become genin," Kakashi explained casually. "Meet at Training Ground Seven tomorrow at 5 AM. Bring your ninja gear. Oh, and skip breakfast—you'll throw up."

With those encouraging words, he vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving three stunned genin behind.

"This is ridiculous," Sakura muttered. "Another test?"

Sasuke stood without comment, hands in pockets, and walked toward the exit.

"Wait, Sasuke!" Sakura called, hurrying after him. "Maybe we could prepare together?"

As their voices faded, Naruto remained seated, staring at the distant horizon where dark clouds were gathering in response to his turmoil.

"Not this time," he whispered to the approaching storm. "I won't fail. Not when I've come this far."

He closed his eyes, feeling the electrical potential building in the atmosphere. Tomorrow would prove whether Team Seven had what it took to become real ninja—or whether Naruto's dream would be delayed yet again.

The first drops of rain began to fall as he made his way home alone.

Dawn hadn't yet broken when Naruto reached Training Ground Seven, yawning widely. His stomach growled in protest at being empty, but he'd followed Kakashi's instructions to the letter.

Well, almost. He'd packed a protein bar in his weapons pouch, just in case. Kakashi-sensei had taught him that a smart ninja always prepares for extended missions.

The training ground was deserted except for two figures waiting by the three wooden posts that marked its center. Sasuke stood with his arms crossed, looking annoyingly alert despite the early hour. Sakura sat on the ground nearby, fighting to keep her eyes open.

"Morning," Naruto called.

Sakura merely grunted. Sasuke didn't bother acknowledging him at all.

Great. This was going to be a fun team.

Naruto dropped his backpack and settled against one of the posts, watching the eastern sky gradually lighten. Minutes stretched into hours. The sun rose fully, warming the chilly morning air.

"Where IS he?" Sakura finally exploded around 8 AM, her patience evaporating. "It's been three hours!"

"Kakashi-sensei is always late," Naruto informed her, pulling out his protein bar. "Better eat something while we can."

"But he said not to eat breakfast!" Sakura protested.

Naruto shrugged, taking a large bite. "He also said to be here at 5 AM, and he's nowhere in sight. Besides, fighting on an empty stomach is stupid."

Sasuke eyed the protein bar, then wordlessly produced one of his own from his pouch. After a moment's hesitation, Sakura followed suit with a rice ball she'd apparently been secretly carrying.

They ate in surprisingly companionable silence.

"So," Sakura said after finishing her snack, "that thing you did yesterday, with the electricity... what was that?"

Naruto tensed. He'd hoped they'd forgotten about his slip-up. "Just a chakra trick I learned."

"That wasn't a standard technique," Sasuke stated flatly. "Lightning nature transformation is usually only taught to chunin-level shinobi."

"Well, I'm special," Naruto retorted, trying to sound casual.

"Special how?" Sasuke pressed, turning to face him fully for the first time.

Naruto shifted uncomfortably under his teammate's intense gaze. "I just... have a knack for lightning stuff, okay? Kakashi-sensei has been helping me with it."

"You're hiding something," Sasuke accused.

"Everyone's hiding something," came Kakashi's voice as he appeared in a swirl of leaves. "Sorry I'm late. A black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way."

"LIAR!" Sakura shouted, jumping to her feet.

Kakashi ignored her, placing an alarm clock on a nearby stump. "This is set for noon," he announced, then held up two small bells that jingled softly. "Your task is simple: take these bells from me before time runs out. Whoever doesn't get a bell by noon gets no lunch and will be tied to that post while watching the others eat."

Their stomachs growled in unison, despite their secret breakfast.

"Wait," Sakura said slowly, "there are only two bells."

"Correct. At least one of you will be tied to the post and disqualified for failing the mission. That person goes back to the Academy." Kakashi's eye crinkled. "Or all three of you could fail. You'll need to come at me with killing intent if you hope to get these bells."

"But that's dangerous!" Sakura protested.

Naruto snorted. "He's a jonin, Sakura. He can handle himself."

"Confident, aren't we?" Kakashi tucked his book away. "When I say start, you begin."

Tension crackled in the air. Naruto felt his lightning chakra responding, gathering just beneath his skin, ready to be called forth.

"START!"

In a flash, both Sasuke and Sakura vanished, concealing themselves among the surrounding trees and bushes as any sensible ninja would.

Naruto didn't move.

"You know," Kakashi observed, "you're a little weird compared to the others."

"The only weird thing is your haircut!" Naruto shot back, then charged forward recklessly.

But Kakashi had trained with him for months. He knew all of Naruto's moves, his speed, his habits. The jonin sidestepped easily, one hand reaching for his weapons pouch.

Naruto skidded to a halt, expecting a counterattack. Instead, Kakashi pulled out his orange book and began reading.

"What the—? Hey! Take me seriously!" Naruto protested.

"Ninja Battle Tactics, Lesson One: Taijutsu," Kakashi said without looking up. "I'll teach you about hand-to-hand combat."

Furious, Naruto attacked again, throwing punches and kicks that Kakashi dodged with insulting ease, never once looking up from his book.

"Is this really all you've learned?" Kakashi taunted quietly, so only Naruto could hear. "Where's that creativity you showed against Mizuki?"

The reminder of his fight with the traitorous chunin clicked something into place. Naruto jumped back, hands forming a familiar sign.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A dozen clones materialized around him, each wearing the same determined expression.

From their hiding places, Sasuke and Sakura watched in shock.

"Solid clones?" Sakura whispered. "That's a jonin-level technique!"

One of Kakashi's eyebrows rose slightly, the first sign of interest he'd shown. "Shadow clones? Impressive. Unlike regular clones, these are solid duplicates, each with actual substance."

"You ain't seen nothing yet!" the Narutos chorused, then charged from all directions.

Kakashi's book disappeared as he defended against the onslaught, dispatching clones with efficient strikes that caused them to poof out of existence. He was good—incredibly good—but Naruto had expected that.

The real trick was happening behind Kakashi's back, where the original Naruto hung back, his right hand extended palm-up. Concentrating intently, he formed a small disc of spinning lightning chakra—a miniature Thunder Palm, less powerful but more controlled than his usual version.

When only two clones remained engaging Kakashi, Naruto made his move. He darted forward, lightning disc humming with energy, aiming not for Kakashi but for the bells at his waist.

"Thunder Palm!" he shouted, lunging.

Kakashi's single visible eye widened in genuine surprise. He twisted away at the last second, but not before the edge of Naruto's lightning disc sliced through the string holding the bells. They jingled as they fell.

"Got 'em!" Naruto dove for the bells—

Only to have the ground beneath him collapse, plunging him into a pit trap Kakashi must have prepared earlier.

"Shinobi Battle Tactics, Lesson Two: Ninjutsu," Kakashi called down to him, holding the bells safely in his hand. "Good attempt, though. That modified Thunder Palm might have worked on a less experienced opponent."

Naruto growled in frustration, electricity sparking angrily from his fingertips. He'd been so close!

"I'm not done yet!" he shouted, channeling lightning chakra into his feet and hands. Using the technique he'd shown his teammates the day before, he magnetized his limbs and began climbing straight up the earthen wall.

But Kakashi was already gone, leaving Naruto to pull himself out of the pit and contemplate his next move.

Sasuke had seen enough. The dead-last, the class clown, had just used two high-level techniques and nearly succeeded in taking the bells from a jonin. It didn't make sense.

More importantly, it meant Sasuke needed to act now, before Naruto somehow got lucky and actually succeeded.

He tracked Kakashi to a small clearing and launched his attack—a barrage of shuriken and kunai that the jonin deflected with casual ease. Sasuke used the distraction to circle behind, launching a spinning kick at Kakashi's head.

The jonin blocked without looking, gripping Sasuke's ankle. "Not bad. Your physical abilities are indeed impressive."

Sasuke smirked, his hands already forming seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Kakashi's eye widened in genuine surprise as Sasuke exhaled a massive ball of flame directly at him from point-blank range. When the flames cleared, the jonin was gone—seemingly incinerated.

But Sasuke knew better. "Where is he? Behind? Above?"

"Below," came Kakashi's voice as hands burst from the ground beneath Sasuke, gripping his ankles. "Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"

With a sharp tug, Sasuke was pulled underground until only his head remained above surface.

"Shinobi Battle Tactics, Lesson Three: Genjutsu," Kakashi said, crouching before the trapped Uchiha. "Sakura's already experiencing that one. You have talent, but talent isn't everything."

As Kakashi walked away, Sasuke struggled furiously against his earthen prison. How had the jonin countered so easily? And more pressingly—how had Naruto, of all people, come closer to getting the bells than he had?

Naruto crashed through the underbrush, having sensed a familiar chakra signature nearby. He found Sasuke buried up to his neck, looking murderous.

"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Naruto doubled over laughing. "You look like a grumpy cabbage!"

"Shut up and help me out of here," Sasuke demanded.

Naruto considered leaving him, but they were teammates now, however reluctantly. "Fine, but you owe me one." He knelt and began digging, using small bursts of lightning chakra to break up the compacted earth.

"How did you learn those techniques?" Sasuke asked abruptly. "The clone jutsu and that lightning attack."

Naruto's hands stilled momentarily. "I told you. I'm special."

"No one's just 'special' for no reason," Sasuke insisted.

With a final burst of electricity, Naruto loosened the earth enough for Sasuke to pull himself free. "Look, it's complicated, okay? But right now, we need those bells."

"There are only two," Sasuke reminded him, brushing dirt from his clothes.

"Yeah, and Kakashi-sensei is a jonin. Neither of us could get a bell alone." A thought struck Naruto. "Wait, where's Sakura?"

A terrified scream answered his question, coming from somewhere to their left.

They found her unconscious on the ground, apparently trapped in a genjutsu. Naruto shook her awake while Sasuke kept watch.

"S-Sasuke?" she mumbled, then threw her arms around him. "You're alive! I saw you—you were dying, covered in wounds and—"

"I'm fine," Sasuke interrupted, dislodging her arms. "It was genjutsu."

Naruto helped Sakura to her feet. "Guys, we need to work together. None of us can beat Kakashi-sensei alone."

"Why should we help you get a bell?" Sakura demanded. "There are only two."

"Because..." Naruto paused, a realization dawning. "Because that's the real test! Think about it—why put us in three-person teams if only two can pass?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Teamwork."

"Exactly!" Naruto nodded vigorously. "We're supposed to work together, even against our own interests. That's what being a ninja team means!"

Sakura looked skeptical. "But what about the bells? Someone still has to fail."

"We'll worry about that after we get them," Naruto insisted. "I've got a plan, but I need both of you."

To his surprise, his teammates leaned in to listen.

Kakashi was getting concerned. Noon approached, and none of the genin had made a second attempt for the bells. Had they given up? That wasn't like Naruto, at least.

A rustling in the bushes caught his attention. Sasuke emerged, looking determined as he launched another attack, this time more strategically.

"Back for more?" Kakashi mused, slipping his book away. "At least you're persistent."

Sasuke didn't respond verbally, instead unleashing a complex series of taijutsu combinations that forced Kakashi to focus entirely on defense. The Uchiha had clearly been holding back before.

From the corner of his eye, Kakashi spotted pink hair. Sakura was circling behind him, kunai in hand. So they were coordinating now? Interesting.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sasuke called out, spitting multiple small fireballs that expanded outward in a wide pattern, limiting Kakashi's escape routes.

As Kakashi leapt backwards to avoid the flames, Sakura threw her kunai—not at him, but at the ground near his landing spot. The blades had paper bombs attached.

"Clever," Kakashi acknowledged, changing direction mid-air to avoid the explosion.

That's when he sensed it—a massive surge of chakra from above. Looking up, he saw Naruto descending from the trees, surrounded by at least fifty shadow clones, all with crackling blue lightning encasing their right hands.

"THUNDER PALM BARRAGE!" they shouted in unison.

Kakashi's eye widened. If even one of those lightning techniques connected, it would do serious damage. He'd have to use substitution—

But before he could, the ground beneath him softened suddenly. Sasuke had used a minor Earth Style technique to turn the soil to mud, slowing Kakashi's movements just enough to compromise his escape.

In that split second of hesitation, Naruto's clones converged. Kakashi substituted at the last possible moment, replacing himself with a log that was instantly obliterated by the combined lightning attacks.

The clearing filled with smoke and the scent of ozone. When it cleared, the three genin stood in a triangle formation, backs to each other, scanning warily for their instructor.

"Where did he go?" Sakura whispered.

"Above!" Sasuke warned, spotting movement in the trees.

Naruto grinned fiercely. "I was hoping he'd do that." His hands flashed through seals none of his teammates recognized. "Lightning Style: Static Field!"

Blue electricity spread from Naruto's feet in a rapidly expanding circle, climbing up every tree trunk within thirty feet. The technique wasn't powerful enough to cause serious harm, but it revealed Kakashi's position as the jonin was forced to jump clear of the electrified branches.

"NOW!" Naruto shouted.

Sasuke launched a full-sized fireball at the airborne Kakashi, while Sakura threw a precisely aimed weighted net they'd retrieved from Naruto's pack.

Caught between fire and entanglement, Kakashi made the obvious choice—he used a replacement technique again, swapping with another log.

But this time, Team Seven was ready. They'd been herding him deliberately toward a specific location, where the original Naruto—the one working with Sasuke and Sakura had been a shadow clone—was waiting underground, having tunneled there during the earlier distraction.

As Kakashi's feet touched the ground, hands burst from the earth—mimicking the very technique he'd used on Sasuke earlier. Naruto grabbed the jonin's ankles, channeling just enough lightning chakra to cause momentary muscle paralysis.

In that instant of immobility, Sasuke darted forward with uncanny speed, fingers closing around the bells.

The alarm clock rang, its shrill tone announcing noon just as Sasuke held up the bells triumphantly.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled with what might have been pride. "Well, well. It seems you figured it out after all."

Naruto emerged from his tunnel, covered in dirt but grinning from ear to ear. Sakura joined them, looking both exhausted and exhilarated.

"So?" Naruto demanded. "Did we pass?"

"You got the bells," Kakashi acknowledged. "But there are only two. Who goes back to the Academy?"

The three genin exchanged glances. There was a moment of tense silence before Sasuke did something unexpected—he tossed one bell to Sakura and the other to Naruto.

"I'll go back," he said stoically. "I need to get stronger anyway."

Naruto stared at the bell in his hand, then at Sasuke. Without hesitation, he tossed the bell back. "No way. This whole plan was my idea. I should be the one to go back."

"Don't be stupid," Sakura interjected, holding her bell out. "Both of you did all the real work. I just threw things. I'll return to the Academy."

Kakashi watched this exchange with growing amusement. "So you'd all sacrifice your advancement for your teammates? Even though you were competing against each other?"

"We're Team Seven," Naruto stated firmly. "Either we all pass or none of us do."

"Is that your final answer?" Kakashi asked.

All three nodded, resolve evident on their faces.

"In that case," Kakashi said dramatically, "you all... pass!"

"What?!" they exclaimed in unison.

"The purpose of this test was never about the bells," Kakashi explained. "It was to see if you could overcome self-interest and work as a team. In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that's true. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

He gestured to a memorial stone nearby. "The names of my closest friends are engraved there. They taught me the importance of teamwork—a lesson I'm glad to see you've learned much earlier than I did."

Naruto's eyes shone with emotion. For the first time, he felt like he belonged somewhere—to something larger than himself.

"Starting tomorrow," Kakashi continued, "Team Seven begins its duties. Congratulations, you're now officially genin of Konoha."

As they left the training ground together, Naruto couldn't help but notice the curious glances his teammates kept shooting him.

"That lightning field technique," Sasuke finally said. "That wasn't in any Academy textbook."

"And you tunneled underground like Kakashi-sensei did," Sakura added. "How did you learn to do that?"

Naruto hesitated, then made a decision. These were his teammates now. If he couldn't trust them, who could he trust?

"There's something I should probably tell you guys," he began. "About why I can do things with lightning that most people can't..."

"A Kekkei Genkai?" Sakura's green eyes were wide with disbelief. "You?"

The three genin of Team Seven sat at Ichiraku Ramen, celebrating their success in the bell test. Kakashi had excused himself, claiming paperwork, but had left enough money to cover their meal—a gesture that had endeared him to Naruto immediately.

"That's what the Old Man Hokage calls it," Naruto confirmed between slurps of his miso ramen. "But it's weird. Most bloodline limits run in clans, like Sasuke's Sharingan. Mine just... happened."

"Lightning struck you as a baby?" Sasuke's tone was skeptical, but his eyes betrayed intense interest. "And it altered your chakra system permanently?"

Naruto nodded. "That's what they told me. I can sense storms coming, pull electricity from the atmosphere during thunderstorms, and my lightning chakra is blue instead of yellow. Plus, I can do things like stick to metal surfaces or tunnel through dirt by breaking it apart with electrical bursts."

"That's why Kakashi-sensei was assigned as our instructor," Sakura realized. "He's famous for his lightning techniques."

"Yeah, he's been training me for months," Naruto admitted. "Trying to keep me from accidentally electrocuting myself or others when I get emotional."

Sasuke's chopsticks paused halfway to his mouth. "Is it dangerous? For you, I mean."

The question surprised Naruto. Was Sasuke actually concerned about him?

"Sometimes," he answered honestly. "If I draw too much power from a storm, it can overload my chakra network. That's what happened when I fought Mizuki-sensei—I passed out afterward."

"You fought Mizuki-sensei?" Sakura gasped. "When? Why?"

Naruto hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. The Nine-Tails was still a secret, after all.

"It's how I graduated," he said carefully. "Mizuki tricked me into stealing a forbidden scroll. When Iruka-sensei found out, Mizuki attacked him. I used shadow clones and my lightning techniques to protect Iruka-sensei."

He swirled his ramen with his chopsticks, suddenly losing his appetite. "That's when I learned why the villagers hate me. There's... something else about me. Something I'm not supposed to talk about."

"The Nine-Tailed Fox," Sasuke stated flatly.

Naruto nearly choked on air. "How did you—"

"I'm not stupid," Sasuke said. "Your birthday is October 10th—the day of the attack. The adults look at you with the same eyes they looked at me after the massacre—fear mixed with pity. And sometimes, when you get angry, your chakra feels... different. Older. Malevolent."

Sakura looked between them, confusion evident. "What are you talking about? What does Naruto have to do with the Nine-Tails?"

Naruto glanced around nervously, making sure no one was listening. "It's forbidden to discuss it, but... the Fourth Hokage didn't kill the fox. He sealed it inside a newborn baby. Me."

Sakura's face paled. "You have the Nine-Tailed Fox inside you? The demon that nearly destroyed the village?"

"I'm not the fox," Naruto said quickly, a hint of desperation in his voice. "I just... contain it. Keep it prisoner, I guess."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table. Naruto regretted saying anything. Now Sakura would hate him too, and maybe even Sasuke would decide he didn't want a "demon" as a teammate.

"That's why you have so much chakra," Sasuke finally said, breaking the silence. "And why your control is so poor."

Naruto blinked, surprised by the analytical response. "Yeah. The fox's chakra interferes with mine sometimes. Makes it hard to do precise jutsu."

"So in addition to your lightning Kekkei Genkai, you have access to the chakra of the most powerful tailed beast." Sasuke's expression was unreadable. "You're potentially more dangerous than anyone in our class. Maybe anyone in our generation."

Naruto flinched. Here it comes, he thought. The rejection.

"And yet you're still a complete idiot who can't even perform a basic clone jutsu," Sasuke concluded with a smirk.

"HEY!" Naruto protested, before realizing Sasuke was actually... teasing him? Not recoiling in horror?

Sakura was quiet, clearly processing everything. Finally, she asked, "Does it hurt? Having the Nine-Tails sealed inside you?"

The question caught Naruto off guard. No one had ever asked that before.

"Not physically," he answered slowly. "But knowing it's the reason everyone hated me my whole life without ever telling me why? Yeah, that hurts."

Sakura's expression softened. "That's awful. You were just a baby. It wasn't your fault."

Warmth bloomed in Naruto's chest at her words—simple acknowledgment he'd craved his entire life.

"So," Sasuke said, returning to his meal with deliberate casualness, "this blue lightning of yours. Could you teach some of those techniques?"

"Probably not," Naruto admitted. "Kakashi-sensei says my lightning is fundamentally different from normal lightning release. But I could help you practice regular lightning jutsu if you're interested."

"I might be," Sasuke said noncommittally.

Naruto grinned. This was going better than he'd dared hope. "What about you, Sakura? You've got perfect chakra control. Bet you could learn some awesome lightning techniques."

"I don't know," she said hesitantly. "I was thinking genjutsu might be more my style."

"You could combine them," Naruto suggested excitedly. "Imagine a genjutsu where the enemy thinks they're being electrocuted—but then you hit them with a real lightning attack right when they think it's all in their head!"

Despite herself, Sakura looked intrigued by the idea.

As they continued discussing potential training and techniques, Naruto felt something he'd rarely experienced—acceptance. His teammates knew his secrets now, both of them, and neither had rejected him.

Team Seven might work out after all.

Their first D-rank mission the next day was distinctly less exciting than their training had been.

"This isn't a mission!" Naruto complained as he pulled another weed from an elderly woman's garden. "It's chores!"

"It's building teamwork and serving the village," Kakashi corrected without looking up from his orange book. "Essential foundations for any shinobi career."

"We already proved our teamwork with the bell test," Naruto grumbled.

"One success doesn't make a pattern," Kakashi replied. "Besides, Mrs. Tanaka specifically requested our team after hearing about your, ah, garden incident last spring."

Naruto winced at the memory. He'd been hired to weed a different garden and, unable to tell the difference between weeds and herbs, had pulled up the entire herb garden instead. The owner had been livid.

"How many D-rank missions do we have to complete before getting a real one?" Sasuke asked, clearly as bored as Naruto though hiding it better.

"At least twenty," Kakashi answered cheerfully. "But don't worry—after this, we have a cat to find, a fence to paint, and groceries to deliver!"

All three genin groaned in unison.

To make matters worse, it started raining halfway through the gardening mission. While this energized Naruto, who worked twice as fast with the electrical stimulation, it left his teammates soaked and miserable.

"Can't you make it stop?" Sakura asked irritably, pushing wet hair from her face.

"Make what stop?" Naruto asked, genuinely confused.

"The rain! You said storms respond to you!"

"I can sense them and sometimes draw power from them," Naruto corrected. "I can't control the weather."

"Are you sure about that?" Kakashi asked mildly. "Because it's rather interesting how often it rains when you're upset or storms when you're angry."

Naruto paused, a clump of weeds dangling from his hand. "You think I'm... causing the storms?"

"Not consciously," Kakashi clarified. "But there's definitely a correlation between your emotional states and local weather patterns. The Hokage has been tracking it for years."

This was news to Naruto. He looked up at the clouds, wondering if his frustration with their mundane mission had somehow triggered this downpour.

"Sorry, guys," he said sheepishly.

Sakura sighed, returning to her weeding. "Just try to be happier so we can finish this without catching pneumonia."

"How am I supposed to be happy about pulling weeds?" Naruto muttered.

Sasuke unexpectedly spoke up. "Think about how this is preparing you to be Hokage."

"Huh? How?"

"The Hokage serves the village," Sasuke explained, his tone suggesting he was stating the obvious. "Even in small ways. This is just a different kind of protection."

Naruto blinked, considering this perspective. Sasuke wasn't wrong. The old lady whose garden they were weeding was a citizen of Konoha—someone the Hokage was responsible for.

"I guess you're right," he admitted.

The rain began to ease almost immediately.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled with amusement. "Well, would you look at that."

Two weeks and twelve D-rank missions later, Team Seven met at their usual training ground for morning practice. The missions had been uniformly boring, but their training sessions were anything but.

Kakashi had been drilling them on teamwork exercises, chakra control, and basic combat formations. He'd also begun teaching them techniques that complemented their natural abilities.

For Sakura, that meant genjutsu and chakra-enhanced strength to take advantage of her perfect control. For Sasuke, fire techniques to build on his clan's affinity, plus the beginnings of lightning manipulation. And for Naruto, more advanced applications of his unique lightning Kekkei Genkai.

Today, Kakashi had them sparring against each other with a twist—Naruto couldn't use any lightning techniques, Sasuke couldn't use fire, and Sakura had to rely solely on taijutsu.

"The point," Kakashi explained, "is to ensure you don't become overly dependent on your specialties. A well-rounded shinobi can adapt to any situation."

Naruto had been paired against Sasuke while Sakura observed, set to face the winner. Without his lightning techniques, Naruto was struggling. Sasuke's taijutsu was simply better—more precise, more efficient.

But Naruto had stamina for days and a stubborn refusal to give up.

"You're telegraphing your moves," Sasuke criticized after dodging another wild punch. "Control your emotions."

"Easy for you to say, Mr. No-Emotions!" Naruto shot back, launching a spinning kick that Sasuke easily blocked.

"Emotions cloud judgment," Sasuke countered, sweeping Naruto's legs from under him. "They make you predictable."

Naruto hit the ground hard but immediately rolled back to his feet. "They also make me stronger!"

"Only when you channel them properly," Kakashi interjected from the sidelines. "Raw emotion is just wasted energy."

Naruto knew Kakashi was right, but restraint had never been his strong suit. Still, he forced himself to take a deep breath, analyzing Sasuke's stance instead of rushing in blindly again.

The Uchiha favored his right side slightly—probably from a bruise Naruto had landed earlier. If he feinted left, then...

Naruto darted forward, appearing to aim for Sasuke's left flank, then pivoted sharply at the last moment, driving his fist toward the right ribs where that bruise should be.

Sasuke's eyes widened fractionally—he'd fallen for the feint. But his recovery was instantaneous. He twisted, catching Naruto's punch and using the momentum to throw him over his shoulder.

Again, Naruto hit the ground. This time, frustration got the better of him. Without thinking, he channeled lightning chakra to his fingertips as he rose, blue sparks dancing across his hands.

"No lightning," Kakashi reminded sharply.

"Sorry," Naruto ground out, dispelling the charge with effort. "It happens automatically sometimes."

"Control," Sasuke repeated, resuming his ready stance. "That's your real weakness, not lack of power."

The criticism stung because it was true. Naruto possessed enormous chakra reserves between his natural supply, the Nine-Tails, and his Kekkei Genkai's connection to atmospheric electricity. But without control, that power was as likely to harm him as help him.

Before they could continue, a messenger hawk circled overhead, then dove toward Kakashi. The jonin extended his arm, allowing the bird to land, and retrieved the small scroll tied to its leg.

"Change of plans," he announced after reading the message. "We're being summoned to the Hokage's office. Apparently, we're getting a C-rank mission."

Naruto's frustration instantly transformed into excitement. "Finally! A real mission!"

"Don't get too excited," Kakashi cautioned. "C-rank just means minimal combat expected, usually outside the village. Could be an escort mission or deliveries between allied towns."

"Still better than chasing that stupid cat again," Naruto declared.

As Team Seven headed for the Hokage Tower, none of them could have predicted how this simple C-rank mission would change everything—especially for Naruto and his evolving powers.

The Land of Waves awaited, and with it, challenges that would push the young lightning user beyond anything he'd experienced before.

The mission had seemed straightforward enough at first: escort a bridge builder named Tazuna back to the Land of Waves and protect him until his bridge was completed.

Kakashi had explained that C-rank missions might include encounters with bandits or thieves, but nothing their team couldn't handle. For Naruto, who'd been itching for adventure beyond Konoha's walls, it had sounded perfect.

That was before the Demon Brothers attacked. Before Tazuna revealed the truth about Gato's stranglehold on the Land of Waves. Before they'd encountered Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, and his masked accomplice.

Now, five days after leaving Konoha, Naruto found himself pushed to his limits, training in a mist-shrouded forest while Kakashi recovered from chakra exhaustion.

"Focus your chakra at the soles of your feet," Kakashi had instructed from his sickbed. "Too little, and you'll slip off. Too much, and you'll damage the tree. Find the balance."

Tree-climbing using only chakra was apparently a fundamental control exercise—one that Sakura had mastered almost immediately, to everyone's surprise. Sasuke was making steady progress, already halfway up his designated tree.

Naruto, meanwhile, had barely made it ten feet before either slipping or—more often—blasting chunks of bark away with unintentional discharges of lightning chakra.

"Dammit!" he cursed as another surge of electricity scorched the trunk, leaving a blackened spiral pattern where his foot had connected. That was the third tree he'd damaged beyond usability.

Sasuke landed beside him after his latest attempt. "You're still using too much chakra."

"I'm trying not to!" Naruto snapped, frustration evident. "It just... leaks out."

"Your lightning chakra activates with emotions," Sasuke observed. "You're getting frustrated, which makes control even harder."

Naruto scowled. "Thanks for the analysis. Got any actual advice?"

Sasuke considered for a moment. "Try using water."

"What?"

"Water conducts electricity but also disperses it," Sasuke explained. "If you stand in that stream while practicing, the water might help channel away excess discharge without letting it build up."

Naruto blinked in surprise. It was actually a good idea—and not one he'd have expected from Sasuke.

"Since when are you an expert on lightning chakra?" he asked suspiciously.

"I'm not," Sasuke admitted. "But I've been watching you train with Kakashi. And the Uchiha library had scrolls on all chakra natures."

Naruto absorbed this information, then nodded. "Worth a try. Thanks."

The small stream running through their training area was cold but shallow enough to stand in comfortably. Naruto removed his sandals and stepped in, feeling the gentle current swirl around his ankles.

Taking a deep breath, he focused chakra to his feet—just a trickle, barely enough to create ripples on the water's surface. Blue electricity sparked briefly, but the water conducted it away harmlessly with a soft hiss.

"It's working," he murmured, surprised. Carefully, he directed more chakra downward, watching as tiny arcs of lightning danced across the stream before dissipating.

For the first time, he could actually sense how much chakra he was using, the water providing instant feedback on his control. Too much, and the entire stream lit up with discharge. Too little, and nothing happened at all.

Finding the balance was like tuning an instrument—he had to feel the resonance point where his chakra was substantial enough to adhere without overwhelming the connection.

After twenty minutes of practice, Naruto felt ready to try the tree again. He approached a fresh trunk, concentrating on maintaining the same precise chakra flow he'd achieved in the stream.

His first step adhered perfectly. So did his second. By his fifth step, he was ten feet off the ground and still climbing.

"I'm doing it!" he called excitedly—and promptly lost focus, sending a crackling discharge through the tree that launched him backward.

Sasuke's snort of amusement was the first thing he heard upon landing.

"Shut up," Naruto grumbled, brushing leaves from his hair. "I almost had it."

"Better than before," Sasuke acknowledged, then returned to his own training.

By sunset, Naruto had managed to climb halfway up his tree without destructive discharge—a personal best. As they walked back to Tazuna's house for dinner, even Sasuke seemed impressed by his progress.

"If you keep practicing in the stream, you might actually develop decent chakra control," he remarked.

Coming from Sasuke, it was practically effusive praise.

That night, as his teammates slept, Naruto sneaked out to continue practicing. The forest was eerily beautiful under moonlight, mist curling between trees like ghostly serpents. In the distance, the unfinished bridge stretched toward the mainland, a symbol of hope for Wave Country.

Naruto returned to the stream, but this time with a different goal. Kakashi had once mentioned that walking on water was an advanced chakra control exercise—more difficult than tree climbing because the surface was constantly moving.

If he could master this, he thought, maybe he could finally gain proper control over his wild lightning chakra.

He stepped to the stream's edge, concentrated chakra to his feet, and stepped forward—immediately plunging ankle-deep into the cold water.

"Gah!" he yelped, jumping back. "Okay, more chakra."

His second attempt kept him above water for half a second before he sank again. His third lasted slightly longer.

After an hour of trial and error, Naruto could manage about five seconds of water-walking before losing control. It was progress, but frustratingly slow.

"You're trying too hard," came a soft voice from behind him.

Naruto whirled around, instinctively dropping into a defensive stance. A figure stood at the edge of the clearing—slender, with long dark hair and delicate features. For a moment, Naruto thought it was a girl, but the voice had been slightly too low.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"Someone who also comes to the forest at night to train," the stranger replied with a gentle smile. "My name is Haku."

Naruto relaxed slightly, though remained wary. "I'm Naruto. You're not from around here, are you?"

"No. I'm gathering herbs for medicine." Haku gestured to a small basket.

Something about the explanation felt off, but Naruto couldn't place why. "At night?"

"Certain herbs are more potent when collected under moonlight," Haku explained smoothly. "But I couldn't help noticing your training. You're a shinobi, aren't you?"

"Yep! A ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village!" Naruto declared proudly, adjusting his headband.

"I see. And you're practicing chakra control?" Haku moved closer, studying the stream where Naruto had been training.

"Yeah, water-walking. It's harder than it looks."

"The secret is to feel the water's movement and adjust your chakra continuously," Haku offered. "Not forcing a fixed amount, but flowing like the water itself."

Naruto considered this advice. "Flow with it, huh? But my chakra is... different. It tends to discharge as lightning."

Interest flickered in Haku's eyes. "A lightning nature? That's unusual in one so young."

"It's more than that," Naruto said, then hesitated. Should he be revealing his abilities to a stranger? Then again, a brief demonstration wouldn't hurt. "Watch."

He extended his hand over the stream and channeled a small amount of chakra. Blue electricity arced between his fingers, reflecting off the water's surface with an ethereal glow.

Haku's eyes widened. "That's not normal lightning chakra."

"It's a Kekkei Genkai," Naruto admitted. "At least, that's what they call it. Makes water-walking extra tricky since water conducts electricity."

"Fascinating," Haku murmured. "I understand Kekkei Genkai well. I possess one myself."

"Really? What kind?"

A shadow passed over Haku's face. "Ice Release. The combination of water and wind natures."

"That's awesome!" Naruto exclaimed. "Can you show me?"

Haku hesitated, then held out a hand. The moisture in the air around them condensed, forming a perfect ice crystal in their palm. "Just a small demonstration."

Naruto watched, mesmerized. "So cool! You must be super strong with an ability like that."

"Strength isn't measured by abilities alone," Haku said softly. "True strength comes from protecting what is precious to you. Do you have someone precious? Someone you would give anything to protect?"

The question caught Naruto off guard. "I... yeah, I guess I do. My teammates, for starters. And Iruka-sensei, and Old Man Hokage..."

"Then you already understand the source of true power," Haku smiled, closing their hand and letting the ice crystal melt away. "When we fight to protect those we love, that is when we become truly strong."

Something about those words resonated deeply with Naruto. All his life, he'd sought acknowledgment, craving the village's recognition. But perhaps true strength came not from being acknowledged, but from being needed—from having people who depended on him.

"I should continue gathering herbs," Haku said, turning to leave. "But perhaps try viewing your lightning not as something to control, but as something to harmonize with. Like the storm and the sea—they appear to fight, but in truth, they dance together."

With those cryptic words, Haku disappeared into the mist, leaving Naruto to ponder this new perspective.

He turned back to the stream, considering Haku's advice. "Harmonize, not control," he murmured. "Like a dance..."

Closing his eyes, Naruto focused on the sensation of his lightning chakra—not as a force to be suppressed, but as energy seeking expression. Instead of trying to prevent discharge, he guided it, allowing small amounts to disperse continuously through his chakra network.

When he stepped onto the water this time, tiny blue sparks danced across the surface, but his feet remained stable. He was walking on water—not fighting to stay above it, but moving with it, electricity flowing between him and the stream in a balanced exchange.

"I'm doing it!" he whispered, taking several steps forward.

For nearly a minute, he maintained the connection, walking in slow circles. The continuous micro-discharges of lightning actually helped his stability, creating a feedback system that allowed him to adjust his chakra output in real-time.

When he finally lost concentration and splashed down, Naruto was grinning ear to ear. He'd discovered something important—not just about walking on water, but about his relationship with his unique chakra.

It wasn't about domination. It was about partnership.

Little did he know, the stranger named Haku would soon test this newfound understanding in ways he couldn't imagine.

The next morning, Naruto overslept, exhausted from his late-night training. By the time he reached the forest, Sasuke was already high in his tree, looking smugly down at him.

"Decided to join us?" he called.

Naruto yawned and stretched. "I was training all night. Watch this!"

He walked to the stream, channeled his chakra, and stepped onto the water. Blue electricity rippled outward in concentric circles, but he remained standing on the surface.

Sasuke nearly fell off his branch in surprise.

"Water-walking? But that's jonin-level chakra control!" he exclaimed, jumping down for a closer look.

"Met someone last night who gave me some tips," Naruto explained, walking in a small circle to demonstrate his newfound skill. "Turns out I was fighting my lightning chakra instead of working with it."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Someone helped you? Who?"

"Just some herb gatherer named Haku," Naruto shrugged. "Seemed to know a lot about chakra control. Had a Kekkei Genkai too—ice release."

Sasuke went very still. "Ice release? Naruto, did this person have long dark hair and look somewhat feminine?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Because Kakashi warned us about Zabuza's accomplice—the masked ninja who took him away. They used ice techniques."

Naruto's mouth fell open as realization struck. "You think Haku is...?"

"I think you spent last night chatting with an enemy shinobi," Sasuke confirmed grimly. "We need to tell Kakashi."

"You're certain they called it 'Ice Release'?" Kakashi asked from his sickbed, his visible eye intense despite his weakened state.

Naruto nodded vigorously. "Yeah, and they demonstrated by making an ice crystal appear out of nowhere! It was really cool... I mean, before I knew they might be trying to kill us."

Updating Soon.....