Three months passed in a flash.
Inside a laboratory in the Land of Snow, Naruto stood before a long row of precision monitors, eyes focused. Around him, researchers in white lab coats watched nervously. Some had beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads.
"Lord Naruto, Her Majesty the Queen and Prime Minister Santarō are here. They say they have something to discuss with you."
A middle-aged man stepped forward timidly.
"Oh? She's not busy filming—what brings her to the research facility?"
Naruto turned, scanning the room with an unreadable expression.
"Professor Oikawa, I know perfectly well everyone here is working seriously. But I've already provided you with both the cloning techniques and the cellular cultivation methods. We've already filled several barrels with failed prototypes. After this long… not a single successful result?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Is cloning a single eyeball really so difficult? Is it a problem with technique, or are your instruments not sufficient for the work?"
The pressure in Naruto's voice made every researcher's breath hitch. Sweat trickled freely down their faces.
The middle-aged professor in front trembled; he would never forget the scenes he witnessed in that underground dungeon. Swallowing hard, he bowed at a crisp ninety degrees.
"Please… grant us a bit more time. According to the latest data, we are already very close to success."
Naruto nodded calmly.
"No need to panic. I know exactly how much effort each of you is putting in. And I respect scientific talent greatly. Research cannot be rushed—I understand that. When I have time, I'll help alleviate some of the workload myself."
The professor straightened with a stiff smile.
"Thank you, my lord, for your trust."
"Mm. Keep working hard."
With that, Naruto left the laboratory.
"Huuu…"
The moment his footsteps faded, the professor finally let out a long shaky breath. His back was drenched in sweat. Looking around, he found that everyone else wore the same traumatized expression.
Naruto soon reached a large hall on another floor. As he entered, the Queen of Snow, Koyuki Kazahana, and Prime Minister Santarō hurried over.
Comically, Santarō sprinted ahead of the queen and bowed deeply.
"My lord!"
Koyuki blinked, then silently followed his lead and bowed as well.
Naruto ignored Santarō and walked straight to the main seat in the hall. Only after sitting did he finally turn to Koyuki.
"Your Majesty—this is your country. Why aren't you sitting?"
Koyuki froze. Then she noticed Santarō desperately signaling at her with frantic eyes. Irritated, she marched directly to the seat at Naruto's left and sat down—ignoring the prime minister's horrified expression.
After a moment, she composed herself and said solemnly:
"Sir, there is something I must seek your approval for."
Naruto chuckled.
"Your Majesty… what exactly do you think I am? After so long, you should've realized: I only need your country's technical talents. I have no interest whatsoever in ruling this place. What do you need to 'request permission' for?"
Koyuki hesitated.
"May we send some of our children to the Land of Waves to study ninjutsu…?"
Naruto blinked.
"That's all?"
Koyuki's voice tightened.
"Yes. Lord Kado said he cannot approve such a decision unless you allow it."
Naruto shook his head.
"Kado's getting more cautious by the day."
Koyuki's eyes lit up.
"Then… you approve?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Naruto smiled faintly.
"It's not like I will be teaching them."
Meanwhile — Land of Waves Forest
Two lightning-wreathed silhouettes collided in mid-air.
BOOM!
One figure burst into smoke—an eliminated shadow clone.
The remaining one landed, catching his breath—Sasuke.
Immediately, the forest filled with "shff—shff—shff!"
"Damn Naruto and his disgusting number of shadow clones…"
Sasuke quickly gauged his remaining chakra. With a flick of his hands, dozens of shuriken flew in every direction.
Moments later, more than ten figures appeared rushing through the forest toward him.
"Hmph."
Sasuke snapped his fingers in a rapid rhythm. Gleaming steel wires shot out, weaving themselves into a massive net. Before the approaching clones realized it, they were already entangled.
Zzraaap!
A surge of lightning coursed through the steel net. Every captured figure exploded into smoke.
"That's sixteen down… about sixty left. Next—"
"Wind Style: Cooperative Great Razor Wind!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Sasuke's expression changed. His Sharingan shrank sharply as massive curved wind blades shredded through the forest, toppling trees, slicing through everything in sight.
He inhaled deeply—
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The giant fireball tore forward, colliding with the wind blades—yet many of them wrapped around the flames and continued slicing toward him.
"Tch—Naruto's Wind Release is way too damn strong!"
SHHK—SHHK—SHHK!
When the wind finally dissipated, the area was choking with dust and smoke. Sasuke was covered in new cuts—none fatal, but numerous.
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Hands burst out of the ground. Sasuke leapt onto the stump of a tree Naruto's wind blades had cleanly severed.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball—wait, what!?"
He stopped mid-breath—there was no water dragon. Only two long shadows slithering toward him across the ground.
"Dammit! After all these years you're still using the same trick!"
He dispelled his chakra and leapt away, narrowly escaping the range of Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation—a technique Naruto often copied for training simulations.
Landing on another stump, Sasuke roared:
"Naruto! Fight me head-on if you dare!"
A Naruto clone rose from the ground directly in front of him.
"I don't understand what you mean."
Another clone walked out of the remaining smoke.
"Yeah—haven't I been fighting you head-on this whole time?"
One by one, dozens more Narutos stepped forward.
"Perfect…"
Sasuke's eyes hardened. His form blurred as he rushed forward, erupting into dazzling lightning halfway through the charge.
"Chidori: Light Blade!"
Countless bolts of lightning shot out like arrows.
"Ooh? A new move."
The leading Naruto clone looked impressed—then smirked, pressing his hand forward.
"Water Style: Water Mirror Technique."
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