I need to improve my stats.

That was the singular thought dominating Naruto's mind after his brief spar with Rock Lee. His senses could keep up with Lee's speed, but his body couldn't. He felt it with every block, every dodge, every strike Lee landed.

And with their first real mission on the horizon, Naruto knew he couldn't afford to stay the same. He had to take this seriously.

Excusing himself under the guise of going to the bathroom, Naruto slipped away into the world of Lordran.

The flickering flames of the second bonfire greeted him, the heat warming his face despite the ever-present chill of the world around him.

"Okay," he muttered to himself, standing and stretching his arms. "So sitting at different bonfires really does change where I wake up. I wonder if my clones can connect to the bonfire too..."

He trailed off, shaking the thought away. There was no time to get distracted. He had work to do.

Stepping out of the small room housing the bonfire, Naruto moved with purpose. First, he needed to collect his souls from his last death. Then, maybe kill a few more hollows, gather resources, and level up.

"They should've returned by now, right?" Naruto muttered. He thought back to his first experience in the Northern Undead Asylum. No matter how many times he cut something down, it always came back. Nothing ever stayed dead.

The thought gnawed at the edges of his focus. Why don't they stay dead? Was it because of some magic? Or was it just the nature of this world? The questions multiplied in his mind, spiraling out of control. Why did things die in Konoha? What even was the purpose of life?

For a brief moment, the enormity of the question almost stopped him in his tracks. The purpose of life is eating ramen!

"Wow," he muttered aloud. "I sound like those philosophy club losers."

His voice echoed faintly in the silence, bringing with it a memory from his academy days. Clubs were a big deal back then—everyone wanted to be part of something. Naruto, of course, hadn't been allowed to join any of them, but he still remembered the philosophy club. A bunch of nerds having heated debates about life, existence, and other stuff he used to think didn't matter.

Now, walking through Lordran, those same thoughts seemed inescapable.

"Is it my increased intelligence making me think like this?" Naruto wondered aloud. "Or... maybe I just want answers for once?"

He exhaled deeply, rolling his shoulders as he walked. Whatever the reason, Naruto was strangely glad for the change. It was proof, he figured, that he'd matured. A version of himself from a year ago wouldn't have bothered to ask questions like this. Why would he? No one had ever bothered to give him answers anyway.

But now?

Now he was starting to ask, even if he had to find the answers on his own.

And the answer he found when he stepped out of the bonfire room: Something is wrong.

There was no crossbow-wielding hollow waiting near the edge. No hollow on the stairs. He glanced up toward the rooftop where firebomb-wielding hollows—only to find their crumpled bodies scattered across the platform, arrows protruding from their armor.

Something—or someone—had cleared the area before him.

A faint whistle snapped him out of his thoughts.

Naruto's instincts screamed, his head jerking to the side just in time to see an arrow hurtling toward him. It was fast—far faster than the clumsy shots fired by the hollows he'd encountered before. His hand shot up instinctively, snatching the arrow out of the air.

His eyes darted down, catching the faint glint of something tied to the shaft.

"A firebomb?!"

Flooding chakra into his arm, he hurled the arrow high into the air, watching as it exploded in a burst of heat and shrapnel above him.

The air crackled, and the heat singed the back of his neck. Naruto ran and pressed his back against the stone staircase, hiding himself from view. His breath came quick, adrenaline rushing through his veins.

The boy's gaze locked onto the bridge overhead.

No soul drop. Must've taken it and leveled up. Now they're targeting me.

Naruto's jaw tightened. His mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Goddamn, is this Petrus or something?

The thought wasn't comforting, especially when he remembered the undead hunts.

Whatever, he thought, trying to steady his nerves. He darted down the stairs, his plan forming quickly. Get out in the open, use the Substitution Jutsu to dodge, find the enemy's location—

Suddenly, he froze.

Way of Focality flared to life as he found something gleaming in his peripheral vision—a spear.

Naruto twisted his torso, narrowly avoiding the spear as it whooshed past his side. The young shinobi spun on his heel, his eyes locking onto the source of the attack.

It wasn't a person.

It was a hollow.

What the hell is going on?

The hollow reared back its arm, preparing another spear thrust.

Naruto's left hand shot out with precision, gripping the spear mid-thrust. Chakra surged into his arm, fortifying his muscles as he locked the weapon in place. He could feel the hollow's resistance, the weapon trembling under its struggle, but Naruto held firm. With a sharp push, he forced the hollow backward, positioning it between himself and the unseen archer.

Perfect timing.

Twang! An arrow sliced through the air, aimed directly for him. The hollow staggered as the projectile struck its chest, embedding itself with a muted thud. Naruto barely had time to brace as the firebomb strapped to the arrow detonated. The explosion tore through the hollow's body, the force ripping apart its armor. The blast's shockwave brushed past Naruto, but his meat shield absorbed the worst of it, leaving him shaken but unharmed.

Way of Focality flared again—a hollow approaching from behind, sword raised high for a killing blow. He barely had time to think. His fingers blurred through the hand signs, activating the Substitution Jutsu. In an instant, he found himself standing behind the hollow instead of in front of it, kunai in hand as he slit the hollow's throat.

Naruto looked on in disbelief. A spear-wielding hollow had been shoved forward—kicked—by the crossbow hollow standing behind it.

It's like a human barking orders to a dog. The crossbow hollow growled again, and the spear hollow moved forward, its movements carrying just enough intent to follow the "command."

"The crossbow hollow… it's the closest to my soul drop," Naruto muttered as he glanced at the ledge above. "It must've absorbed my souls and leveled up."

So it increased intelligence too?

"Oi, thief! Give me back my souls!"

The crossbow hollow gave him a response by firing an arrow.

Naruto replied by hurling a kunai.

The two projectiles collided mid-air with a sharp clang, the force of the impact deflecting the arrow off course.

The smoke bomb attached to the kunai's hilt detonated with a loud pop. Thick, choking smoke billowed out, engulfing the area and obscuring the hollows from view.

Naruto wasted no time. He made two shadow clones, one of which crouched low, lacing its fingers together. Naruto stepped onto its hands as the clone launched him high into the air.

"Up here!" Naruto yelled, drawing the hollows' attention upward.

The crossbow hollow turned, aiming its weapon at the airborne Naruto.

From within the smoke cloud below, unseen by the hollow, Naruto's clone hurled a fuma shuriken. The massive, curved blade spun silently as it cut through the dense smoke, hidden from view. It arced wide, hugging the bridge's edge in a sharp curve before emerging from the fog without warning.

The shuriken struck with a deafening crunch, slamming into the crossbow hollow's weapon. The force shattered the crossbow instantly, fragments of wood and metal scattering in every direction as the hollow staggered back, momentarily disarmed.

The original grinned as he descended from above, the air rushing past him. Years of prank-filled escapades had made falling an art form for him. He angled himself perfectly, landing with both feet on the crossbow hollow's shoulder. The impact sent it crashing onto the concrete floor with a loud thud.

Naruto didn't hesitate. He raised his fist, chakra surging into his arm, ready to bash the hollow's skull in when he saw the jaw clicked open, revealing a firebomb lodged inside its mouth.

Seriously? Naruto's eyes widened, and he reacted instantly, equipping the talisman in his hand. As the hollow bit down, the firebomb detonated.

Boom! The explosion sent flames and shockwaves rippling outward.

Naruto acted on pure instinct, activating the Force miracle. A burst of energy erupted from his talisman, creating a shockwave that pushed the fire away from his body. The air hissed around him as the flames dissipated harmlessly, leaving him unharmed.

As the smoke cleared, Naruto glanced down to see the hollow's broken, lifeless body. The faint glow of a soul orb floated upward from its remains.

"Not so smart after all, huh?"

But the moment of triumph didn't last. He heard guttural growls and the heavy clank of metal. Turning his head, he spotted the spear-wielding hollow charging through the smoke cloud, its weapon raised for another strike.

Naruto smirked, casually tossing the talisman between his hands.

"Watch your back!"

The hollow paused, but before it could react, Naruto's shadow clone lunged from the smoke behind it. The clone swung the Zweihander in a heavy, overhand attack, the massive blade slamming down onto the hollow's head with a sickening crunch.

The clone popped in a puff of smoke from the force of the strike, but the hollow staggered, disoriented and off balance. Naruto seized the opportunity, gripping his own Zweihander tightly as he followed through with a heavy attack of his own.

Naruto exhaled, resting the Zweihander on his shoulder as he surveyed the area. The smoke was beginning to clear, and the battlefield was eerily silent once again. But something caught his eye.

Hidden against a stack of crates, partially covered in shadows, was a narrow staircase leading downward.

A grin spread across Naruto's face as he adjusted the grip on his sword.

"Why not?"

Without a second thought, he smashed through the crates, sending splinters and debris flying. There was something fun about it, something childlike and satisfying about just… breaking things. He swung his arms like a kid knocking down sandcastles, laughing a little as the wood shattered around him.

"That was fun, dattebayo!"

With a skip in his step, Naruto made his way down the strange concrete staircase. The room he stepped into was dim and dusty, lined with old wooden pillars that led to a balcony on one side and a hall on the other. His eyes scanned the place, catching movement behind a set of rickety shelves. A hollow was crouching there, probably thinking it was hidden.

"Hey, geniuses," Naruto called out. "If you're gonna hide, maybe try crouching lower. Might work better."

Not that he expected a response.

He got a mischievous idea, something a little old-school prank style. With a grin, he pulled out a firebomb and tossed it right at the shelves. Flames licked up the wood, engulfing the hollow. Naruto waited for some kind of reaction—a scream, a dance, anything. But the thing just burned, unfazed. Guess the dead really don't have a funny bone, he muttered, rolling his eyes at his own joke. Lame.

The half-burnt hollow charged at him with a massive axe raised high. Naruto twisted just in time, dodging the swing and hearing the axe thud against the ground. Before it could pull back, he planted his foot on the axe's blade, channeling chakra into his foot to hold it steady. The hollow struggled, trying to yank it free, but Naruto wasn't budging.

"Just pull harder. I know this is very embarrassing for you, but you're dead, so…"

Then, with a grunt, the hollow jumped back, releasing the axe and lunging at him bare-handed. Quick as a flash, Naruto grabbed the axe by the handle, swinging it up and into the hollow's face. The blade struck its open jaw, driving the head straight into the doorframe. He pressed harder, splitting its head like a piece of wood.

Naruto laughed, holding up his new weapon triumphantly.

"New weapon! Now we're talking!"

"Can you… shut up?!" a voice hissed from the balcony, making him jump out of his skin.

His heart nearly stopped. He wasn't expecting that.

He threw the axe into his inventory and tightened his grip on the Zweihander. Naruto inched forward and tiptoed along the wall, trying to keep silent. When he peeked around the doorframe, what he saw was… definitely not what he'd expected.

A hollow was sitting there, right on the ground, like he was selling something at a market stall. He looked skeletal, with hollow eyes and rotting skin stretched tight over his bones. His clothes were dark and tattered, blending right into the shadows around him. Scattered around him were old, worn pots, cracked barrels, and containers that looked like they'd been through a war or two.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Hey, so did you just talk?"

"Of course," the hollow replied, sounding almost amused. "I haven't gone hollow yet. And you… you seem to have your wits about you, hmm?" He looked Naruto up and down. "Then you are a welcome customer! I trade for souls. Everything's for sale!" The merchant let out a raspy laugh, reaching into one of the crates around him and pulling out a few items.

Naruto's mind reeled as he took in this odd scene. Here he was, in the middle of a place where everything and everyone tried to kill him, talking to a hollow merchant with the weirdest sales pitch he'd ever heard. He glanced to the side, noting the system window that had popped up, showing the merchant's inventory.

Well… this just got interesting.

[ Purchase Wares ]

[ Items ]

— [ Repair Powder - 500 Souls ]

— [ Throwing Knife - 10 Souls ]

— [ Firebomb - 50 Souls ]

— [ Lloyd's Talisman - 500 Souls ]

— [ Orange Guidance Soapstone - 100 Souls ]

[ Key Items ]

[ Weapons ]

[ Ammunition ]

[ Armour ]

"Quick question," Naruto said. "Are you the asshole selling firebombs to those hollows?"

The merchant let out a wheezy, raspy laugh. "Oh, heavens, no! I don't trade with mindless, twitchin' beasts. Why, they'd sooner rip my limbs off than pay me a fair price, eh? Not my ideal customer."

"Good," Naruto replied, cracking a grin. "Because I was about ready to buy every single firebomb you had and shove 'em right up your bony ass."

The merchant gave a sort of dry chuckle that almost sounded like a cough. "Well, good for me then, lad. Now, what can I interest you in today?"

Naruto's eyes went to the firebombs laid out in front of him. Annoying as they were, he couldn't deny their usefulness. Plus, he also really wanted that repair powder.

After a few clicks through the system menu, Naruto had spent a thousand souls, picking up ten firebombs and a sack of repair powder. The powder itself was kind of odd—a small, rough sack filled with glowing yellow dust. The bag looked like it had seen better days, and the powder inside gave off a warm glow, almost comforting. He shrugged and took out Oscar's old sword—well, the hilt, at least—and dumped the powder over it.

Nothing.

The boy shot the man a glare, but the merchant only grinned wider, raising his bony hands in mock innocence.

"Ohhh, now, don't be mad at me, lad!" the merchant said. "That powder fixes up the durability of yer weapon, not a total repair job. Best it can do is patch up a crack or two. Now, why not get yerself a proper weapon, eh? This piece o' crap's as dead as the hollows, I'd say."

For a moment, anger flared in his chest, hot and immediate. His first instinct was to snap back, to defend Oscar's sword, to remind this guy that he didn't know the first thing about what this blade meant.

But then he stopped himself.

The words sat on the edge of his tongue, but Naruto swallowed them back, forcing himself to take a breath.

This isn't like Kiba, he thought, the memory of the day flickering in his mind. When Kiba had insulted Oscar's sword, it felt personal—like an attack on Oscar himself, on everything he had stood for. Naruto had been in a raw state back then, still grieving, still trying to figure out what it meant to carry on someone else's legacy.

But this guy?

Naruto glanced at the merchant, who was busy admiring his own wares and muttering to himself about profits. The merchant wasn't mocking Oscar, wasn't trying to disrespect the sword or its history. He didn't even know its history. He was just... being a merchant. Loud, annoying, practical.

The anger still simmered, but it felt distant now, not worth acting on. Oscar's sword didn't need defending—not from someone like this. Its worth wasn't in how it looked or how sharp it was.

It was in the legacy it carried, and no insult could tarnish that.

"Words can hurt, yes, but they don't justify violence. If you want to grow into a shinobi people can trust, you need to learn to control yourself. A true ninja doesn't let their emotions dictate their actions."

He let Hiruzen's words settle for a moment, his grip loosening. The merchant didn't know the weight of Oscar's sword or its legacy. And now that he thought about it… Kiba probably didn't, either. Back then, Naruto had acted purely out of grief, his emotions running unchecked. That had been the real reason he lashed out—not because Kiba deserved it, but because Naruto wasn't ready to deal with the weight of his own loss.

Naruto sighed. Yeah… I think I'll maybe apologize to Kiba when I meet him again.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Heh, that's the spirit, lad! Got myself a nice spear here—sharp as your wit, I'd wager!"

But that didn't mean Naruto was going to let the insult slide. Oh no, the merchant had earned himself some petty payback.

For the next hour, Naruto lingered at the stall, pretending to browse. He'd pick up an item, turning it over in his hands like it was a priceless treasure, only to put it back with a loud, noncommittal "Hmmmm..."

The merchant, ever the salesman, prattled on with exaggerated enthusiasm, his cackling laugh punctuating every pitch.

Naruto picked up a club reinforced with rusted barbed wire and strips of leather.

"What is this supposed to be? A club for self-defense or a really bad DIY project?"

The merchant puffed out his chest proudly. "That there is the Reinforced Club, a masterpiece of utility! Leather grip, barbed wire for extra pain, perfect for bashin' heads!"

Naruto squinted at the weapon, his finger poking at the nailed-on leather. "The grip is literally falling apart. And rusted barbed wire? Is that supposed to kill someone or give 'em tetanus?"

The merchant waved a hand dismissively. "Bah, tetanus is killing someone, just slower. I call that long-term effectiveness!"

"Well, I'm not looking to catch a disease from my own weapon."

The merchant groaned dramatically. "Bah! You wouldn't know quality if it bit you on the backside!"

Naruto smirked, giving the club a few test swings. The barbed wire rattled with every motion, the leather pommel already threatening to come loose. "Does this come with a warranty?"

"Aye," the merchant growled. "The warranty is me not smackin' you upside the head with it!"

Naruto gasped mockingly, feigning deep offense. He adjusted his grip, swinging the club again—this time, "accidentally" letting it slip from his hands. The club flew off the ledge with a faint whoosh.

Silence.

Then, the sound of the club clanging off something below echoed faintly in the distance.

"I swear that was an accident."

The merchant's hollowed jaw tightened as he glared at Naruto. "Just pay me for the club."

"Ehhh, I don't know about that. Kinda feels like the club wasn't up to standard, y'know? Pretty slippery grip..."

The merchant's cackle was gone, replaced by a cold silence as he slowly reached behind him and pulled out his Uchigatana. The blade gleamed menacingly in the dim light.

"You're going to pay. One way or another!"

"Nuh-uh!"

Before the merchant could take a step, Naruto hurled a smoke bomb to the ground. The area filled with a thick cloud, and when it cleared, Naruto was gone.

"Yulia…" The merchant muttered under his breath. "Next time, I'm gutting that brat."

Far away, Naruto's laughter echoed faintly through the air. It was a small victory, and he couldn't stop grinning.

"Totally worth it!"

----------------------------------------

Naruto walked down the hall, the path twisted a few times until it opened up to a narrow pathway. Just up ahead was a bright red ladder leading upwards, but four hollows stood in the way, looking about as mindless as the ones from back in the Northern Undead Asylum. His fingers itched to get moving. Those hollows had been perfect target practice back then, and honestly, he was feeling kinda nostalgic.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath, cracking his knuckles, "time to see if all that kata training pays off."

He took a step forward, and like clockwork, two of the hollows charged him, swinging their jagged daggers all over the place. Their moves were sloppy and wide open. This was gonna be fun. Naruto shifted his weight slightly, grounding himself, and prepared for the first strike.

The first hollow lunged, aiming its dagger right at him. Kata one, he thought, sliding his right foot back as he twisted his torso just enough to let the blade zip by. His left hand shot out, grabbing the hollow's wrist and pulling it forward, just enough to throw it off balance. Then, without wasting a second, he brought his knee up hard, driving it into the hollow's gut, making it stagger backward. Naruto finished it off with a punch straight to its throat. Quick, brutal, and satisfying.

First down, three to go. Not bad, huh? he thought.

The second hollow wasn't far behind, coming in with a sloppy overhead swing. Naruto ducked low, shifting his stance to his left, sliding his foot forward to close the distance. As the hollow brought the dagger down, Naruto moved in close and went straight for its jaw with an elbow strike, snapping its head back. In the same breath, his other hand shot up, catching its dagger hand and twisting the wrist until it let go of the blade. Then, he drove his knee into its thigh and shoved it back to the ground for good measure.

The last two hollows looked at each other like they were trying to come up with a plan. One circled to his right, while the other closed in from the left. Alright, alright, so these guys are actually trying now? Naruto shifted his stance, lowering his center of gravity, and took a deep breath. If they wanted to play it smart, he'd just have to be smarter.

The hollow on the left jumped first, exactly what Naruto was counting on. Kata three, he reminded himself, stepping right into the hollow's reach instead of backing off. He blocked its strike with his arm and went straight for its throat. Then he twisted, pulling it forward with his momentum, and it stumbled right into his sweep as he kicked its shin out from under it. As it dropped, he brought his fist down on the back of its neck, making sure it was down for good.

The last hollow froze for a split second, just long enough for Naruto to size it up. He straightened up, exhaled, and locked eyes with it, daring it to make a move. It took the bait, lunging in a clumsy rush. Kata five, he thought, sidestepping to the right to dodge the blade. With one quick motion, he grabbed its wrist, twisted it, and forced it to drop the dagger. Naruto punched it hard in the ribs, making it gasp, then slammed his knee into its face, watching it drop like a sack of rocks.

Straightening up, Naruto rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, feeling pretty pleased with himself. Those katas Kakashi drilled into him? Yeah, they weren't flashy, but they got the job done. Every move was smooth, no wasted energy, no frills. Just straight-up efficient.

"Thanks for the warm-up, guys," he muttered to the fallen hollows, turning his gaze up to the red ladder.

Climbing up the ladder, Naruto pulled himself onto a rooftop and spotted a corpse nearby clutching a handful of throwing knives. He quickly scooped them up, stashing them in his inventory. Taking a look over the edge of the roof, he realized he was right above the bridge where that dragon had been.

Glancing at the alarm clock Naruto had brought along to keep track, he knew he had to wrap things up fast. With a deep breath, he jumped down from the roof and headed back to the bonfire, ready to cash in some souls.

[ Name: Naruto Uzumaki ]

[ Souls: 1500 ]

[ Required Souls: 900 ]

[ Covenant: Way of White ]

[ Level: 10 → 11 ]

[ Souls: 666 ]

[ Attributes: ]

[ Strength: 16 → 17 ]

Naruto took a deep breath, feeling his body grow stronger as the power surged through him.

The boy felt ready to head back to Konoha. Unfortunately, there was one glaring problem.

[ Souls: 600 ]

He frowned. If I die, there's no telling which hollow might snatch them up, and I really don't want to come back to find some upgraded hollow using my souls against me.

Naruto sighed, scratching his head. Man, maybe I should've gone for intelligence instead of strength. Come on, brain. Think, think!

His mind raced for a solution until an idea came to him.

[ Item: Ring of Sacrifice ]

[ Description: This mystical ring was created in a sacrificial rite of Velka, the Goddess of Sin. Its wearer will lose nothing upon death, but the ring itself breaks. ]

He held it up, frowning. One-time use only. Sure, it would work for now, but what about the next time… and every time after that?

If only there was a way to keep it from breaking each time, he thought, the gears in his head spinning. Then, like lightning, an idea struck.

"Alright, let's test this."

He slipped the ring onto his finger, then made a shadow clone. Sure enough, the ring appeared on the clone's finger too. A grin spread across Naruto's face as he threw the original back into his inventory.

Without giving himself time to second-guess the plan, Naruto jumped off the ledge.

[ You Died ]

[ Through sacrifice, no souls were lost. Ring of Sacrifice shattered. ]

The messages flashed in front of him as his vision blurred and he jolted awake in his room back in Konoha.

The first thing he did was yank open his inventory, and there it was—Ring of Sacrifice, good as new.

"Yes!" he yelled, his face breaking into a triumphant grin. Before he knew it, he was spinning around the room, doing a goofy dance.

"Yatta, yatta! Found a loophole! My souls are safe, dattebayo!" he sang, practically skipping around his room.

Naruto flopped back onto his bed, the wide grin still plastered on his face as he stared up at the ceiling. The rush of success still buzzed in his veins. He reached for the clock on his bedside table and froze.

"Wait—what the—?!"

It had only been 40 minutes here in Konoha, but he'd just spent two hours in Lordran. His eyes widened as realization struck.

That's insane. Two hours there, but barely any time passes here? I could train so much... get stronger way faster.

A grin crept across his face again, but he quickly shook the thought away. Focus, Naruto. First mission with Team 7 is coming up. You've gotta crush it.

As he walked to meet his team, his mind drifted, daydreaming about all the wild possibilities.

Maybe we'll cross the sea to hunt for treasure... fight some pirates... or rescue a lost princess from a society of soul-reapers. Yeah, that'd be awesome!

Naruto puffed out his chest.

"Today's mission: Collecting honey."

Naruto felt like a balloon that had just been popped.

"...What?" He just stared at the mission scroll Kakashi was holding, the reality of it crashing over him like a bucket of cold water.

Sakura leaned over, her brow furrowed. "Wait, really?"

"Yep. Collecting honey. Exciting, isn't it?"

Naruto's eye twitched. I should've stayed in Lordran…

"Collecting honey is pretty awesome, Naruto-kun!" Sakura chirped, clearly trying to be optimistic.

Naruto turned to her, his face deadpan. He began clapping—slow, sarcastic, deliberate. "Wow. Incredible. Truly inspiring."

"Well, excuse me for trying to make the best out of it!"

"And here I thought you'd appreciate the finer points of this mission."

"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei, I think you're confusing me with someone who cares," Naruto grumbled.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in amusement. Without another word, he strolled over to a nearby tree and, to their shock, began walking up it—horizontally. Like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Kakashi-sensei…" Sakura whispered, her jaw dropping. "He's—he's walking up a tree!"

Naruto just squinted, his tone flat. "We're in a genjutsu."

"Again?"

Kakashi chuckled from his place high in the tree. "No genjutsu this time, you two. Pay attention!"

They both looked up at him, still perched casually on the tree trunk.

"Listen up," he called down. "For the next two weeks, we'll be handling simpler missions around Konoha. But don't think of them as boring. Every one of these tasks will tie into your training one way or another."

With that, Kakashi reached up into a beehive, swiping a glob of honey as effortlessly as plucking a flower. Then, with an easy hop, he landed right in front of them, holding the honey like a trophy.

"See? Collecting honey is pretty awesome."

Naruto stared at the honey in Kakashi's hand, then at Kakashi's unbothered face.

"How did you do that?" Naruto asked, eyes wide. Already his mind was racing with possibilities. Imagine sticking to walls, scaling cliffs, or even hanging upside-down on the ceilings of Lordran. That kind of ability could change everything.

"Simple, Naruto. Chakra control," Kakashi said matter-of-factly.

Naruto's eyes lit up, a mix of excitement and confusion. Sakura had that serious look she got when she was analyzing something, like she was already memorizing every word Kakashi was saying.

"You see," Kakashi began, "this is what we call chakra control. For something like tree climbing, you've got to focus your chakra at the soles of your feet. Too much, and you'll push yourself off. Too little, and you'll slip. It's all about balance and precision. The soles of your feet are one of the trickiest places to manage chakra, so learning to do it here helps improve your control overall."

Sakura's eyes gleamed with understanding. "Oh! So this is like an advanced version of the leaf-sticking exercise we did at the academy."

Naruto groaned. "I suck at that stupid leaf thing! Either the leaf falls off, or it gets stuck and won't come off at all."

Kakashi raised a hand to stop him. "That's because you're not balancing the flow properly, Naruto. This exercise is all about control. If you don't have good control, you'll drain yourself too fast in a fight or waste chakra where you don't need it."

Naruto frowned, processing the information. Kakashi could see his brain working hard, so he broke it down even further.

"Chakra's made up of two parts," he explained, holding up two fingers. "Physical energy, which comes from your body, and spiritual energy, which comes from your mind. The better you control both, the less energy you waste. Master this, and you'll use chakra more efficiently. You won't tire yourself out so quickly, which means you can stay in a fight longer. Make sense?"

Naruto nodded.

Without warning, Kakashi tossed two kunai toward them.

"Use these to mark how far you get up the tree," Kakashi instructed. "The goal is to get to the top and back down without falling. Once you can do that, we'll go collect the honey."

"So, Kakashi is using training as an excuse to make us do chores," Naruto shot back. "Next thing you know, he's gonna have us 'polishing weapons' to practice strikes or 'painting fences' for arm control. Bet it's all a scam."

"We get paid for this, Naruto."

Naruto blinked at Sakura's words, then looked at Kakashi. "Wait, really?"

Kakashi nodded, his expression as casual as ever.

Naruto crossed his arms. "You should've started with that."

"Any other questions?"

"Yeah… where's Sasuke?"

"Sasuke? Oh, he's on a different mission today."

The white-haired cyclops cast a brief glance at the nearby bushes where he knew Sasuke was hiding, his presence giving away his stubborn insistence on being part of the training despite needing rest.

Naruto shrugged, clearly not caring enough to pry. "Whatever."

As Naruto and Sakura got to work, Kakashi scribbled a quick note on a piece of cardboard: Go home and rest, Sasuke. He tossed it lightly toward the bushes, where he heard a quiet, irritated "Hn." Kakashi shook his head. Stubborn as ever.

A loud thud pulled his attention back to the clearing. Naruto was lying flat on the ground, face-first in the dirt, his armor practically embedded in the earth.

"Wow," Kakashi said, tilting his head upward. "Looks like Sakura's already halfway up her tree. Nice job, Sakura."

Sakura's laughter echoed down from the branches. "This is easy! Just like the leaf exercise!"

"Help me, I am stuck!"

Kakashi stifled a laugh, shaking his head. So that's what the Hokage meant, he thought, when he said the greatest joy of teaching is watching your students fall on their butts while learning chakra control.

This was going to be a long night, but at least it was entertaining.