From under the tree, Sora—who had been about to stroll away casually—halted his steps.
He slowly turned around. On his face, which usually wore a lazy smile, a genuine look of interest finally appeared.
"Oh? Finally getting it?"
He glanced at his shadow clone. The clone merely shrugged indifferently and resumed its lazy stance.
On the training ground, the three young ninjas stood up once more.
For the first time, their positions formed a solid triangle.
A faint, intangible connection quietly formed between them.
"Dead-last, go!" Sasuke growled lowly.
"I got it! Don't order me around like that!"
Naruto grumbled verbally, but his body honestly formed seals.
"Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
This time—ten!
Ten Narutos charged forward with wild yells, like a pack of huskies breaking out of their pen—chaotic but overwhelmingly aggressive—from all directions toward Sora's shadow clone.
"Now!" Sasuke shouted.
Karin slammed both palms onto the ground!
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two golden chains burst from the ground on either side of her—not attacking the shadow clone directly, but rapidly wrapping around the trees on both sides, instantly forming two golden "walls."
At the same time, a third chain gathered in front of her, ready to strike.
Naruto's clones had already closed in.
"Surround him!"
Facing this assault several times denser than before, the leisurely expression finally vanished from the shadow clone's face.
He ducked low, evading a frontal punch, then precisely elbowed a clone in the stomach, turning it into white smoke.
He twisted his body at an angle impossible for a normal person, kicking away another clone while using the force to leap backward.
But as soon as he leaped, he found his retreat blocked solidly by Karin's two golden chain walls.
"You're not getting away!"
The original Naruto seized the moment, leaping from the pile of clones and wrapping his arms tightly around the shadow clone's legs!
"Got you!" Naruto's face lit up with mad joy.
"Nice one, dead-last!"
A shout boomed from the sky.
Sasuke's figure had somehow leaped into the air. His hands flew through seals, his chest swelling high.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The massive fireball plummeted like a falling meteor, smashing down onto the shadow clone pinned by Naruto!
No escape upward, no path downward.
The shadow clone glanced down at Naruto hugging his legs with a goofy grin, then up at the approaching fireball.
A relieved smile actually appeared on his face.
"Not bad."
Boom!
The huge fireball completely engulfed the shadow clone and Naruto.
Heat waves rolled outward, smoke and dust billowing everywhere.
"We did it!" Naruto's voice emerged from the smoke, accompanied by violent coughing.
As the dust cleared.
Naruto was covered in soot, his hair standing on end like he'd been struck by lightning, but his face bore an incredibly bright smile.
At his feet, only a small puff of white smoke remained from the dispersed shadow clone.
Sasuke landed steadily, his chest heaving heavily. The chakra drain left him tired, but victory shone in his dark eyes.
Karin retracted her chains and jogged over. Seeing the disheveled Naruto, she couldn't help but smile.
Sora strolled over leisurely from under the tree.
He looked at the three exhausted but unusually excited kids before him and nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad."
He walked to Naruto and kicked him over with one foot.
"Ow! What was that for, Sora-sensei?!" Naruto clutched his butt in protest.
"That's your reward for hugging my shadow clone."
He moved to Sasuke and patted his shoulder.
"Great timing. You controlled the power of your fire style well—didn't actually roast Naruto."
Finally, he ruffled Karin's hair.
"Clear tactical thinking in sealing the routes. The Uzumaki clan's combat talent is starting to show."
For the first time, the three young ninjas heard genuine praise from this harsh teacher.
Though the delivery was a bit odd.
"Alright." Sora clapped his hands, his smile turning serious.
"Congratulations—you've completed today's warm-up."
"Starting tomorrow, your formal training begins."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"Remember what I said."
"The Class 7 I lead must be the elite among elites."
"Even if you're not now, I'll train you into elites."
...
The next day, still at Training Ground 3.
Sora remained his usual lazy self, but today, he didn't make the three wait.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Three puffs of white smoke exploded.
Three identical shadow clones appeared on the training ground.
"From today onward, you'll undergo one-on-one specialized elite training."
The real Sora moved to the side, found a comfortable tree to lean against, crossed his legs, and looked ready to watch a show.
Basic exercises like tree climbing and water walking—Naruto had learned them with Karin during academy days, while Sasuke had been trained by his family.
One shadow clone stepped in front of Naruto and opened his palm.
A high-speed spinning blue chakra orb appeared out of nowhere in his hand, emitting a buzzing sound.
"You, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Starting today, learn this."
"It's called the Rasengan."
Naruto's eyes locked onto the beautiful blue sphere, practically drooling.
Another shadow clone stood before Sasuke.
"You, Uchiha Sasuke."
"Your fire style is good, but your chakra is better suited to another nature."
The shadow clone extended his right hand, lightning crackling in his palm with a piercing chirp like birdsong.
"Lightning style."
"I'll teach you how to maximize the power of lightning release."
Sasuke stared at the violent lightning. For the first time, his dark eyes held no attachment to fire style—replaced by unprecedented shock and desire.
The last shadow clone smiled at Karin.
"Karin."
"The Adamantine Sealing Chains are your trump card, but attack power alone isn't enough."
A layer of gentle green chakra glowed on the shadow clone's hand.
"The Uzumaki clan isn't just masters of sealing— they're symbols of vitality."
"Starting today, I'll teach you medical ninjutsu."
"Learn to save lives, and you'll better protect those you want to protect."
Karin gazed at the warm green light and nodded firmly.
On the training ground, the three young ninjas looked at their respective "personal instructors," flames burning in their eyes like never before.
And their head instructor, Sora himself, had already pulled a new book from his ninja pouch and was leisurely flipping through it.
The elite training had officially begun.