Fighting an ordinary student and fighting a real ninja were two completely different worlds. Naruto knew this very well now.
Over the summer, he had watched his rival—Hyuga Neji—train under the terrifying discipline of Bushy Brow Sensei, Might Guy, during real missions. Neji had transformed from a talented academy student into a true battlefield-ready shinobi.
If things continued like this, his already powerful rival would soon become nearly impossible to defeat.
Naruto clenched his fists as he stared at the Ninja Academy gates.
"This is my final year… I have to change!"
Academics, chakra control, jutsu theory—those were important. But they were only part of what he needed. If he wanted to surpass Neji, he needed something else.
Real combat experience.
"Before I graduate," Naruto whispered to himself, "I'll raise my scores, master every ninjutsu and taijutsu I can, grow my chakra reserves—and most of all, fight! Fight for real!"
A warm breeze blew across the courtyard. It was late summer transitioning into early autumn; the weather still held remnants of heat, yet Naruto could feel the first taste of fall in the air.
A few yellow leaves drifted down from the trees.
He took a step forward—
" N-Naruto-kun… g-good morning."
Naruto instantly brightened.
"Hinata! Morning!"
She blushed instantly, her soft smile blooming like a shy flower.
Just seeing Naruto every day filled her heart with courage.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Ino leaned in with a mischievous grin.
"Hinataaa~ judging by how close you two look, I bet you met up plenty over summer vacation."
Hinata nearly dropped her schoolbag.
"N-No! I—Ino! Don't say that! I was just… j-just helping Naruto-kun study sometimes…"
"Oh? Just helping him study? Sounds like flirting to me!"
Hinata flailed helplessly as Ino laughed.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop teasing. But seriously—Naruto is way more confident than before. I'm sure you had a lot to do with that."
Hinata shook her head quickly.
"N-Naruto-kun has grown stronger through his own hard work. I barely did anything…"
"Tsk tsk tsk…" Ino teased. "So modest. Or maybe you're just completely focused on Naruto?"
"B-Ben—!"
"Kidding, kidding," Ino said with a smile, patting Hinata's long hair. "Speaking of which… your hair got longer."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. You look more feminine now. Really pretty."
Hinata's cheeks burned brighter.
"I'm not joking," Ino added gently. "You're more confident and expressive now. You're changing—and in a good way. I'm honestly happy for you."
Hinata blinked, touched.
Ino had teased her, supported her, and slowly pushed her out of her shell. She smiled back, grateful.
"Thank you, Ino… truly."
---
Naruto and Sasuke — Sparks Fly
As Naruto walked toward the classroom, a familiar shadow stepped out from around the corner.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Hands in his pockets. Expression cold. Aura sharp.
But something about him was different.
Naruto felt it immediately:
A killing intent—quiet, suffocating, dangerous.
"This bastard… he's gotten stronger. Way scarier…"
Sasuke's training had pushed him to madness. He had spent the entire summer forcing himself to relive that night—the night of the massacre—over and over. The memories sharpened his hatred into a blade. His Sharingan, pushed by anguish, evolved rapidly.
Now, his Double Tomoe Sharingan glowed with murderous intensity.
He looked at Naruto, genuinely surprised.
This guy has changed.
"Why is this idiot…" Sasuke thought, brows furrowing. "Why does he look stronger? Confident? What the hell happened over the break?!"
Both boys stared at each other.
The tension crackled like lightning. Neither spoke, but both fists clenched. Their will to fight surged up violently—
At that instant—
" Sasuke-kun!"
A familiar voice cut through the air.
Sakura ran over, waving excitedly.
"It's been so long, Sasuke-kun!"
But Sasuke didn't even look at her.
He kept staring at Naruto, then scoffed coldly and walked past.
"Wait for me, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura called, chasing after him. "I trained so hard this summer! I won't fall behind—I'll catch up to you!"
She didn't spare Naruto a glance.
Naruto watched Sakura run after Sasuke. He felt nothing but a faint sense of distance.
Once, she had been the person he cared about most.
But now… her importance in his heart was fading, little by little.
---
Shikamaru and Choji Appear
"Oi, Naruto, what're you spacing out for?!"
A heavy hand slapped onto his shoulder. Naruto turned to see two familiar faces:
Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji—his "bad influence buddies."
"Shikamaru! Choji! Long time no see!"
Choji munched on chips, eyeing Naruto from head to toe.
"You look different, Naruto. Not the same guy who always got punished with us…"
Naruto puffed out his chest proudly.
"I'm working to become the best in the class!"
Shikamaru yawned.
"Troublesome… my dream isn't like yours, Naruto. I just want a quiet, ordinary life. No hard work."
Choji nodded. "Me too. Hard work… munch… sounds tiring."
Naruto suddenly understood how Iruka-sensei must feel.
"Man, you two really are hopeless…"
He attempted Iruka's stern voice.
Shikamaru yawned again.
Choji continued eating chips.
"A hopeless life sounds perfect," Shikamaru muttered.
Naruto sighed helplessly.
But he respected them. Even if they had different dreams, they were his friends.
Still, he clenched his fist.
"I'm going to be Hokage! And in this final year, I'll become the strongest shinobi in the whole Academy!"
---
A New Era of Genius
Ninja Academy had changed drastically.
Naruto's ambition and constant training inspired the entire class.
Those who used to be lazy… were no longer lazy.
Those who used to be mediocre… now improved rapidly.
And those with talent… began to surpass even the expectations of their clans.
Except for Shikamaru and Choji, who remained largely the same.
But the rest?
They became monsters.
Take Uchiha Sasuke for instance—
In the original timeline, he graduated with only one actual ninjutsu: Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique. His Sharingan had only awakened to a single tomoe.
Now?
He possessed:
Double Tomoe Sharingan
Great Fireball Technique
Phoenix Sage Fire Technique
Dragon Fire Technique
Great Dragon Fire Technique (a Jonin-level B-rank ninjutsu!)
His perception, copying ability, and combat instincts were razor sharp.
Sasuke wasn't just a genius anymore.
He was a full-fledged prodigy on par with the strongest of his generation.
And yet—
Even he wasn't certain he could beat Naruto.
Because Naruto had transformed even more.
---
Naruto Uzumaki — The Monster Among Monsters
Naruto's progress in a single year was terrifying.
His chakra exceeded 3000 points.
His Shadow Clone Technique had evolved into Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating armies.
His taijutsu and shuriken skills had hit mastery.
His unique Wind Release Pseudo-Nin-Taijutsu had reached near-perfection.
His basic ninjutsu and transformation arts were flawless.
And among all this, his chakra reserves—nearly comparable to a Tailed Beast—made him a bottomless well of power.
He had no true weaknesses anymore.
Naruto had become…
A numerical monster, with stats maxed like an RPG character breaking its limits.
Word of his growth spread across the academy.
Even other talented students—those confident in their own abilities—had begun to fear him.
---
Naruto Uzumaki, the prankster and troublemaker,
had become a force every student acknowledged…
And the final year of the Ninja Academy
was only just beginning.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)