"Naruto, how about taking a group of academy graduates under your wing?"
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned forward, pipe in hand, smiling faintly at the blond Jōnin across the desk.
Naruto blinked, then snorted. "Old man, are you out of your mind? These graduates are my former classmates! You expect me to turn around and become their sensei? That's ridiculous."
He waved the idea away immediately. Babysitting a bunch of Genin sounded like pure torture.
Hiruzen chuckled dryly, though his expression grew serious again. "This year's Chunin Exams will be held here in Konoha…" he said, exhaling a long stream of smoke. "But we have a… problem."
Naruto tilted his head.
Hiruzen continued, "This generation was supposed to be the strongest in Konoha's history—our golden age. But most of the elite graduates already moved ahead early."
He sighed heavily.
"Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Hyūga Neji, Nara Shikamaru—they're all already Chūnin. And you, Naruto—you're a Jōnin now."
He looked down at the list on his desk. "What remains are promising Genin, yes, but none with overwhelming strength: Tenten, Rock Lee, Akimichi Chōji, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Yamanaka Ino, and Haruno Sakura. Talented, but green."
Naruto grinned. "So you're worried they'll embarrass Konoha in front of the other villages, huh?"
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Exactly. The Chūnin Exams aren't just tests—they're diplomacy in disguise. If our Genin look weak, the entire village loses face."
Naruto rubbed his chin for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "Alright, how about this? Instead of me taking a Genin squad, I'll gather them all and run a training camp. One month. I'll turn them into real competitors."
Hiruzen's eyes lit up immediately. "A training camp… yes! That's a brilliant idea."
He felt a spark of relief. There was no denying it anymore—Naruto wasn't just Konoha's brightest star; he was the strongest shinobi alive. The entire village whispered it quietly but unanimously: the true pillar of Konoha wasn't the Hokage anymore—it was Uzumaki Naruto.
Even Hiruzen, for all his pride, could feel it. Every time Naruto entered the room, there was a quiet, immense pressure—like standing in front of a sleeping beast that could wake at any moment.
And the results spoke for themselves.
That young Hyūga girl—Hinata—after only a few years under Naruto's personal guidance, now had strength that rivaled or surpassed most veteran Jōnin. If that was the result of his teaching, then yes… this training camp might change everything.
"Alright," Hiruzen said finally, a smile tugging at his lips. "Do it. When they finish their current missions, I'll have them all assembled for you. A full month of training. Everything will be in your hands."
Naruto flashed that confident, sunlit grin. "Relax, old man. The Chūnin Exams? Piece of cake."
He turned and strolled out of the office.
When the door closed, the shadows in the corner stirred—and two elderly advisors stepped forward.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
"Hiruzen," Koharu said sharply, "are you seriously considering passing the title of Fifth Hokage to that boy?"
"I'm still thinking," Hiruzen replied quietly.
"You should think harder," Homura pressed. "One day, the Nine-Tails will go berserk again. And if the Hokage himself is the Jinchūriki, the entire village will be destroyed before anyone can stop it."
"The boy's achievements are extraordinary," Koharu admitted. "His strength surpasses even the Fourth's, and the people love him. But he carries the Nine-Tails. That cannot be ignored."
Hiruzen didn't answer at first. He just stared out the window at the bright Konoha skyline, smoke curling from his pipe.
He wanted to believe in Naruto—he truly did.
Naruto was Minato's son, Kakashi's student. He was cheerful, optimistic, and carried no bitterness despite his burden. If anyone embodied the Will of Fire, it was him.
But… the fox sealed inside him was still the greatest threat Konoha had ever known.
Finally, Hiruzen sighed. "Not now. He's still young. We'll talk about this in a few years."
He gave a wry smile. "I'll last that long."
The advisors exchanged uneasy looks but said no more.
Later that afternoon—
"Report, Hokage-sama."
An Anbu knelt before Hiruzen, receiving a small scroll.
"Notify these Genin," Hiruzen said, reading from the list: "Tenten, Rock Lee, Akimichi Chōji, Inuzuka Kiba, Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura, and Aburame Shino. Once they complete their current assignments, they are to report to the Seventh Training Ground. Uzumaki Naruto Jōnin will personally conduct their training for one month."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
The Anbu vanished.
When the message spread through Konoha, the reactions were… mixed.
"Wait, what?! Uzumaki Naruto's training us?!"
"I heard he's brutal. What if he breaks us before the exam?"
Inuzuka Kiba clenched his fists. "Heh! Uzumaki Naruto, huh? Fine. I'll take him on headfirst and prove I'm the next Hokage! Right, Akamaru?"
"Woof!"
Across the village, Rock Lee's eyes were already blazing. "To train under the Uzumaki Jōnin! My youthful spirit is burning! Guy-sensei, I will make you proud!"
Guy smiled faintly, though for once, he didn't give his usual booming pep talk. He just patted Lee's shoulder and muttered, "Good luck, Lee. You'll need it."
Because Guy knew something the others didn't.
He'd fought Naruto once—years ago—when the kid was barely half his height. Back then, Naruto could already match his taijutsu blow for blow.
Now?
Guy exhaled, shaking his head.
That boy's real power isn't his ninjutsu.
It's his body.
He'd seen it firsthand—the speed, the control, the sheer explosive strength that bordered on terrifying. Even Guy, the eternal Taijutsu fanatic, suspected that Naruto might already surpass him in raw physical power.
So when he pictured this new "training camp," with Naruto putting those poor Genin through his idea of "basic conditioning," he could only sigh and whisper a silent prayer for them.
"Rest in peace, kids…" he muttered, eyes glinting with a strange mix of dread and admiration.
Because where Uzumaki Naruto truly excelled—where his real power lay—wasn't in chakra, or jutsu, or bloodline.
It was in the absolute, unstoppable will of his body and spirit.
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