Naruto had already conquered the Transformation Jutsu and the Four-Body Fist, replacing two ninja techniques he'd previously struggled with. Now, the only ninjutsu standing between him and ninja mastery were the Substitution Jutsu and the Rope Escape Jutsu.
For someone like Naruto, mastering two E-rank ninjutsu in a single night was practically child's play. It was like breezing through an elementary school exam. The real reason he'd struggled in the past wasn't the difficulty of the techniques, but his own laziness.
As he delved deeper into his training, Naruto began to notice a distinct difference between chakra and Ki. Both were special energies that humans possessed, but they were fundamentally different. Ki was a raw, innate energy, always present and ready to be harnessed. Chakra, on the other hand, was a refined energy, a delicate balance of mental and physical energy. To create chakra, a ninja had to carefully blend these two energies together.
There was a limit to how much Ki a person could generate. Even the strongest warriors could only increase the potency of their Ki, not the quantity. Imagine trying to power a city with a single battery – it's simply not possible. A Spirit Bomb, for example, required the combined Ki of countless individuals to be truly powerful.
Chakra, however, was a different story. As a ninja grew stronger, both physically and mentally, their chakra reserves expanded. There was almost no limit to how much chakra a person could possess. While chakra might not be as raw and potent as Ki, it was far more versatile and enduring.
Naruto focused intently, carefully aligning his mind and body. With a surge of concentration, a vast amount of chakra erupted from within him.
"Whoa, I didn't know I had this much chakra!" he exclaimed, astonishment coloring his voice. He'd always thought his chakra reserves were like a small pond, but it turned out they were more like a vast ocean.
Of course, being young meant his physical and mental potential hadn't fully blossomed yet. As an adult, his chakra levels would likely be even higher.
Since he was already experienced with energy manipulation, learning to control chakra came naturally. Following the instructions from the ninja academy, he quickly mastered the Substitution Jutsu and the Rope Escape Jutsu, surpassing even his own expectations.
"Who are my parents?" The question echoed in Naruto's mind as he pushed his body to its limits. The more he trained, the clearer it became that his physical abilities were out of the ordinary. If he had this kind of strength in the Dragon Ball world, he couldn't imagine how far he could have gone.
Normal people would be crawling on the floor after three or four hours of intense exercise, but Naruto felt only a gentle tiredness after nearly eight hours of nonstop training. He had yet to experience the sting of real injury, but based on his incredible resilience, he was certain his body could recover from anything.
It was becoming increasingly obvious that his life was anything but ordinary. The mystery surrounding his origins was a puzzle he desperately wanted to solve. Lost in thought, Naruto pulled the Dragon Ball from his pocket.
Dende, the Earth's guardian, had significantly limited the Dragon Ball's power to allow him to bring it to this world. While it still retained the ability to resurrect people, it required precise details like name and age. A simple wish to bring back "my father" or "my mother" was no longer enough.
Dende explained that the dragon needs specific information to locate a soul in the afterlife. Without accurate details, the dragon would be searching blindly. In other words, Naruto's first step was to uncover the identities of his parents before he could even think about using the Dragon Ball to bring them back.
But survival comes before anything else. Being a ninja was far from a nine-to-five job. The Ninja Academy was one thing, but once he graduated and became a Genin, he would be thrown into the dangerous world of missions alongside a Jonin teacher. These missions were often life-threatening, and even experienced Jonin could find themselves in perilous situations. As a rookie Genin, Naruto knew he was a sitting duck.
Impatience was a luxury he couldn't afford. He had to take things one step at a time. His top priority was to establish himself as a capable ninja and ensure the survival of himself and his teammates.
As long as he stayed alive, he could use the Dragon Ball to undo any damage, whether it was resurrecting the dead or rebuilding entire cities. Even if the Dragon Balls went into cooldown this year, he could always make his wish next year.
Naruto had a clear plan sketched out in his mind. First stop: ace the graduation exam and earn the title of Genin. With that tiny foothold in this brutal world, he'd start exploring his own story, searching for a chance to bring his parents back to life.
Passing the exam wasn't a major worry. Even if he couldn't cut it tomorrow, a few more days of practice would have him mastering all the basic ninjutsu with flying colors. No, the real challenge was survival.
The ninja world was a harsh, unforgiving place, teeming with seasoned ninjas armed with a wicked arsenal of deadly techniques and tricks. Naruto couldn't guarantee complete safety from their schemes – illusions, traps, you name it. They could ensnare him in a blink.
But it wasn't just about protecting himself. What about his future teammates?
The thought gave him pause. A memory flickered in his mind: Senzu Beans, those miraculous plants from the Dragon Ball universe, grown by the hermit, Korin. Just one bean could heal any injury, no matter how severe, instantly restoring health and energy. It didn't matter how strong you were; a single bean worked like magic on everyone.
Imagine having Senzu Beans! It would skyrocket his chances of survival. Broken limbs, empty chakra reserves, crippling wounds – none of it would matter. One little bean and he'd be good as new.
With a thoughtful frown, Naruto pressed his index and middle fingers together, tapping them against his forehead. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into thin air. This was a handy trick he'd picked up during his time in the Dragon Ball universe – instant teleportation. He could zip around effortlessly over short distances. For longer journeys, as long as he could sense someone's energy, he could teleport to them, even if they were light-years apart.
Using this speedy skill, Naruto materialized outside Konoha Village. Sensing an uneasy vibe, he teleported away several times until he found himself deep in the heart of the Land of Fire's dense forest. Only there did he feel safe enough to pull out the Dragon Ball.
He recited the wish-granting incantation, and the seven Dragon Balls erupted in a dazzling golden glow, shooting skyward. Dark clouds swirled together, and a colossal green dragon emerged, its presence commanding attention. This was Shenron, the wish-fulfilling dragon.
"What is your wish?" Shenron rumbled, its voice deep and echoing.
"I want a can of Senzu Beans," Naruto replied, his voice steady.
Shenron's eyes flashed with crimson light, and a moment later, a tin can about the size of a fruit tin appeared in Naruto's hands. It was packed to the brim with Senzu Beans – around two hundred of them. That was plenty to last a long time.
Each Senzu Bean was a lifeline, capable of pulling someone back from the brink of death. Two hundred of them were like having two hundred extra chances, a safety net to keep his friends alive.
Naruto didn't ask for more because he wouldn't be able to use them all at once, and carrying around a huge pile would be a pain. This can of Senzu Beans was perfect. It was easy to carry and hide.
Once his wish was granted, the dragon vanished, and the seven Dragon Balls transformed into small, round stones before dropping in Naruto's palm. They would have to wait a whole year before they could grant another wish.
Naruto stowed the Dragon Ball and hefted the heavy can of Senzu Beans. A boom of confidence hit him like a gust of wind. These beans were like golden tickets, capable of bringing someone back to life as long as they still had a spark. With these in his possession, he had the ultimate backup plan.
Instant Teleportation brought him back to his cabin in an instant, leaving no trace of his absence.
"Next step: ace the Genin exam," Naruto mused. "I wonder what kind of person my Jonin sensei will be..."
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ADD THE DAMN BOOK!