"Wind Style: Vacuum Jade."
Naruto quickly formed seals with both hands, his chest rising and falling with every breath. In an instant, several Vacuum Jades shot toward a boulder ten meters away. Each blast of chakra struck the boulder with pinpoint accuracy.
Naruto's body surged forward toward the boulder as he finished the last seal. At the same time, he began to gather chakra into his hand, forming a rapidly spinning sphere. The wind whirled around him, and debris—sand, dead leaves, small rocks—blew away as the air pressure increased.
"Wind Style: Rasengan!"
This was a new version of Rasengan, one that Naruto had infused with wind chakra. While it couldn't be thrown like the Rasenshuriken, the addition of wind chakra drastically amplified its cutting power and destructive potential.
The Vacuum Jade struck the boulder in multiple places, leaving deep, head-sized craters. The force of the impact seemed to amplify Naruto's next move. As soon as the last Vacuum Jade hit, Naruto was already standing in front of the boulder, wind Rasengan aimed directly at the center.
"Boom!"
The Rasengan exploded with a violent force, sending out shockwaves of wind chakra in every direction. A two-meter-wide crater formed as the chakra surged outwards, engulfing Naruto within a dense, swirling fog.
When the dust settled, the spot where the boulder had once stood was now completely wiped out. Only a large, round indentation remained where the Rasengan had struck, and Naruto's form vanished in a burst of white smoke.
A clone had taken the brunt of the attack.
"Bang!"
A loud crash echoed from below, as a blonde figure appeared beneath the pit where the boulder once stood. Naruto, fists charged with chakra, slammed into the rock with a crushing blow.
"Boom!"
The boulder shattered into pieces, scattering rubble across the area. The impact was so great that it felt as if the very ground had trembled.
After a year and a half of rigorous training, Naruto's progress was becoming apparent. He was ready to move on to the next phase. Sarutobi Hiruzen had informed him that he would soon be entering the Ninja Academy. Despite his remarkable progress, it seemed the Hokage still believed it was important for Naruto to experience the academy, if only to learn about the Will of Fire and his place within the village.
---
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage building, the Konoha F4 gathered to discuss Naruto's progress, having been observing through Sarutobi Hiruzen's telescope technique.
The room grew tense as they all processed the information.
"The Jinchūriki is almost as strong as an elite Chunin now," Utatane Koharu remarked, concern lining her voice.
Mitomon Yan, the oldest of the group, adjusted his glasses before speaking. "Hiruzen, if the Jinchūriki is progressing so quickly, won't there be a risk of him losing control?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffing thoughtfully on his cigarette, reassured them, "Don't worry. I regularly check Naruto's seal. Minato's work was flawless. The Nine-Tails won't break free anytime soon."
The Nine-Tails, lying comfortably within Naruto's seal, occasionally entertained itself with a few comments about the situation. It wasn't particularly concerned, enjoying the peaceful state it was in.
"You've all seen his talent," Danzo said, his voice cold and measured. "Naruto understands wind chakra better than most. If he continues this path, he'll surpass even Minato in time."
Sarutobi Hiruzen tensed. He knew where this was going.
Danzo stood, his single eye gleaming with ambition. "Naruto has the potential to be a powerhouse for Konoha. It's clear that his wind chakra abilities surpass most of the village's top ninjas. I want to take him as my apprentice."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "You know that's not possible. Naruto will not be raised by the root."
Danzo's lip curled into a smug smile. "You might say that, but with his abilities, he'll soon be an unstoppable force. With my training, he could become Konoha's greatest asset."
"You are the leader of the root," Sarutobi Hiruzen snapped, his voice low with authority. "Naruto needs a clean background, free from political manipulation."
"You can teach him your wind jutsu," Hiruzen continued, "but you cannot be his teacher. He will never join the root. I want him to become Hokage one day."
The room fell silent. Danzo's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hiruzen, you... you want a Jinchūriki to become Hokage?"
"Why not? Kirigakure has the Three-Tails Jinchūriki as Mizukage," Sarutobi Hiruzen responded, his tone calm and unwavering.
Utatane Koharu and Mitomon En exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to respond to this bold statement.
"You think a Jinchūriki can be Hokage?" Danzo scoffed. "It's never been done. Konoha won't accept it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen met Danzo's gaze. "Naruto has the Will of Fire. He will earn the village's trust and one day, he will lead Konoha."
Danzo's fists clenched in frustration. He had hoped to use Naruto's power for his own gain, but now, his plans had been thwarted.
After a tense silence, Danzo finally spoke. "Very well, Hiruzen. But mark my words, the boy is too dangerous to be left unchecked."
Sarutobi Hiruzen merely nodded. "We will see, Danzo. We will see."