My Name Is Namikaze Naruto - Chapter 12

“Is it a chakra control issue? Or a quantity problem?”

Naruto scratched the back of his head, muttering in frustration.

He really didn’t get it.

If it were a chakra control problem, that wouldn’t make sense either.

After all, they are all three basic jutsus.

There’s no reason why the Clone Jutsu should be harder to control than the Substitution Jutsu or the Transformation Jutsu, right? Naruto even felt that the Substitution Jutsu was the hardest of the three to control. The objects to be substituted, and the timing of the substitution—these are all issues a ninja needs to consider when using the Substitution Jutsu.

The Clone Jutsu shouldn’t be more complicated than the Substitution Jutsu.

Moreover, Naruto had completed the tree climbing and water walking chakra control training.

As for the amount of chakra, that was even more baffling.

Whether in his previous life or this one, Naruto had never heard of the three basic jutsus requiring a specific amount of chakra to affect control. They weren’t high-level jutsus that couldn’t be performed if there wasn’t enough chakra. The three basic jutsus shouldn’t require this. Even after experimenting with controlling the amount and rate of chakra output, whether more or less, he tried everything he could think of. He even asked Iruka-sensei, and the conclusion was still the same awkward situation.

Seeing Naruto’s Clone Jutsu firsthand, Iruka was also bewildered. The Substitution Jutsu and the Transformation Jutsu worked just fine.

But the Clone Jutsu didn’t?

Iruka, who wasn’t that experienced himself, couldn’t provide a definitive answer.

He could only comfort Naruto to keep trying.

After all, he was just in the second grade.

There were still more than four years until the graduation exam, so there was no need to rush.

“Sigh, but compared to the beginning when I couldn’t even distinguish objects, now at least it looks somewhat human. I guess that counts as progress?”

Naruto sighed helplessly, looking at the barely recognizable clone he had created.

Unable to find the reason, Naruto could only attribute it to a bug.

“Alright, let’s call it a day.”

Looking at the gradually darkening sky, Naruto’s eyes flickered as he stretched his neck and stood up.

After packing his various tools and today’s harvest of wild vegetables and fruits, Naruto stretched lazily and headed towards the edge of the forest, ready to return home.

“I still need to adjust my training plan…”

“I can spend some time on the Clone Jutsu, but I can’t waste too much time on it…”

“The focus should be on strengthening my physical abilities…”

“The kunai I have is almost worn out. Hmm, I’ll ask Iruka-sensei for some more tomorrow…”

“Ah… so tired…”

The setting sun cast its last rays of twilight on the ground, reflecting Naruto’s long shadow.

At night, after returning home, Naruto had a simple dinner and rested briefly before sitting at his desk and opening the textbooks placed there.

Training during the day.

Studying at night.

This was Naruto’s established routine for the past year.

Not only did he study the content taught in class, but also the books on ninjas, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu stored in the ninja academy. Thanks to Iruka, Naruto had access to many resources. However, because of his age and the fact that he had only been at the academy for a little over a year, Iruka had to limit Naruto somewhat. Not because he didn’t want Naruto to read but because he didn’t want Naruto to become overconfident and unable to master everything. This was something Iruka had told Naruto repeatedly over the past year.

Iruka was naturally pleased with Naruto’s eagerness to learn.

Spending so much time with Naruto, and seeing his sunny disposition, Iruka’s heart began to open up. It wasn’t that he forgot his tragic past, but he could acknowledge Naruto’s presence. The Nine-Tails was the Nine-Tails, and Naruto was Naruto; they were not the same. Moreover, Naruto, as the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki, was loathed and ostracized by more than ninety-nine percent of the village, which made Iruka feel even more pity for him.

As they grew closer, Iruka naturally became more concerned about Naruto’s future.

He hoped Naruto could become a great ninja, as he himself aspired to be, and be recognized by everyone.

Iruka paid even more attention to Naruto’s training and studies than before.

Although Naruto’s learning progress far exceeded Iruka’s expectations.

Naruto grasped many concepts quickly.

But because Naruto somewhat concealed his abilities, Iruka’s assessment of Naruto was inevitably skewed.

Naruto didn’t mind.

Revisiting certain topics had its benefits, reinforcing his memory.

This was a habit Naruto had carried over from his previous life.

“Ah… is it that late already?”

Lost in his studies, Naruto straightened up due to a stiff neck, noticing the time on the clock.

Yawning with a touch of sleepiness, Naruto said, “I have to get up early tomorrow, better wash up and sleep.”

Shaking his head, Naruto closed the book before him, stretched his limbs, and headed to the bathroom. After washing up, he went straight to bed.

Within a minute.

Due to accumulated fatigue.

Naruto quickly fell into a deep sleep.

On a night that should have been like any other, a great unexpected event occurred.

“Boom!!!”

The sudden explosion echoed across the sky over Konoha.

Flames shot into the sky.

The fire clouds illuminated the entire sky.

The originally quiet Konoha village became bustling in an instant.

Even Naruto, who had been fast asleep, was abruptly awakened.

The sharp, piercing roar and the faint sounds of battle.

Naruto immediately got up from bed.

He quickly ran to the window.

Seeing the large fire in the northwest corner of Konoha and the Konoha ninjas converging from all directions, Naruto’s pupils reflected a look of extreme shock.

“That direction, if I’m not mistaken, is the Uchiha clan’s area, right? Such a big fire? Could it be the night of the Uchiha massacre? The timing matches up.”

Naruto nodded lightly, murmuring.

Shortly after Sasuke entered the academy, the Uchiha clan was indeed massacred.

But still, something didn’t add up.

Although Naruto couldn’t remember the details of the plot.

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