The cozy glow of Ichiraku Ramen welcomed them as they stepped inside.
The familiar clatter of bowls and the rich, savory scent of broth filled the air, making Naruto's stomach growl louder than he'd like to admit.
Teuchi, the friendly owner, looked up from behind the counter and grinned when he saw them.
"Well, if it isn't Iruka-sensei and Naruto! Haven't seen you two together in a while."
Iruka chuckled and waved.
"We're here to celebrate Naruto having a good day at the Academy. Set us up with two bowls of your best miso ramen, Teuchi-san."
Teuchi gave a thumbs up and got to work.
Naruto slid onto a stool and leaned forward, practically vibrating in excitement.
'Damn, if there's one thing that's consistent between the anime and here... it's how godly this ramen smells,' he thought, inhaling deeply.
Iruka sat next to him, glancing over with a small smile.
"So... what's up with you lately, Naruto? You're... different."
Naruto tapped his chopsticks on the counter lightly, thinking.
"Just... decided I didn't like being seen as a joke anymore, y'know?" he said, offering a half-truth and a lopsided smile.
Iruka nodded thoughtfully. "That's good. It's not easy to change yourself, especially at your age."
Naruto shrugged. "Yeah, well... it's about time. I'm gonna be Hokage someday, right? Can't do that if I'm screwing around all the time."
At that, Iruka chuckled warmly, clapping Naruto gently on the back.
"That's the spirit. I'll be rooting for you."
Naruto smiled wider, feeling a genuine flicker of appreciation for the man next to him. Iruka might not be perfect, but he was one of the few people who saw Naruto — not just the Nine-Tails inside him.
Soon enough, Teuchi slid two steaming bowls of ramen in front of them, and Naruto's focus snapped immediately to the food.
"Eat up, you two!" Teuchi laughed.
Naruto didn't need to be told twice.
He dug in, slurping the noodles like a starving animal, pure happiness written all over his face.
As he ate, Naruto kept a part of his mind sharp — thinking, planning.
This year was going to be about building his foundation. Physical strength, mental discipline, chakra control. He couldn't afford to waste time.
'Today's a good day... but tomorrow, I'm back to grinding,' he thought as he wolfed down another mouthful.
Iruka laughed as he watched him eat.
"Slow down, Naruto! You're gonna choke."
Naruto just flashed him a thumbs-up between mouthfuls, too happy to argue.
For now, he'd enjoy this moment.
Small victories mattered too.
' Man it's as good as they said, the anime wasn't lying ' he thought.
.....
The next morning, the sun barely kissed the horizon when Naruto's eyes snapped open.
He lay still for a moment, blinking up at the cracked ceiling of his apartment. Naruto sat up with a grin, throwing off his thin blanket.
'Today's the real start,' he thought, energy surging through his small body.
He quickly got dressed in a simple training outfit — a loose black shirt and shorts — ditching the bright orange jumpsuit for now. The jumpsuit would be for Academy days; today was about serious training.
After scarfing down a quick breakfast — basically instant noodles and an apple — Naruto grabbed his paper where he'd scribbled down his training plan.
He skimmed the steps, nodding to himself.
"Chakra control first," he said under his breath.
Without wasting a second, Naruto rushed out of his apartment, the morning air still cool against his skin. Most of the village was asleep or just waking up, the streets quiet, save for the soft rustle of the wind in the trees.
Naruto made his way to a small, hidden training ground he'd found during one of his many wanderings around the village — a forgotten clearing surrounded by tall trees, away from prying eyes.
'Perfect,' he thought, stretching his arms over his head.
First exercise: Leaf Concentration Exercise.
The basics of chakra control — placing a leaf on his forehead and keeping it stuck there with constant, even chakra flow.
Naruto plucked a leaf from a nearby tree, feeling the veins of the plant between his fingers. He sat cross-legged in the dirt, placed the leaf on his forehead, and closed his eyes.
He focused. Chakra — so much of it — churned wildly inside him like a raging river. Controlling it wasn't easy; it wanted to pour out everywhere, uncontained.
'Smooth and steady... not forceful,' he reminded himself.
Minutes dragged by. The leaf trembled, slid down, and fell off over and over again.
Each time, Naruto simply picked it back up, stuck it to his forehead, and tried again.
He threw no tantrums, no shouting, just stubborn persistence.
He gritted his teeth as sweat beaded on his forehead, dampening the leaf and making it even harder. But he refused to stop.
After nearly an hour, the leaf finally stayed balanced longer than ten seconds.
It wasn't perfect — but it was progress.
Real progress.
Naruto cracked a small, satisfied grin and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Alright," he said to himself.
"Next up... tree walking."
He stared at the towering trees nearby, his excitement building again.
'Man, this tree is tall as hell. I think I should start with water walking first. Yeah, it's less dangerous,' he thought as he went towards a river.
The calm river flowed naturally as he stared at it.
Naruto stood at the edge and began channeling his chakra to the soles of his feet. He concentrated hard, narrowing his eyes as he felt the familiar tingle of energy gathering.
Gritting his teeth, he took a cautious step forward.
His sandal touched the surface — and instead of sinking, it held. He quickly shifted his weight, bringing the other foot forward. Both feet stood firmly on the water now, though the surface rippled faintly beneath him.
One second... two... three...
Naruto's legs trembled slightly, but he stubbornly held his balance.
Four... five...
A wide grin spread across his face.
"I'm doing it!" he shouted — a little too early.
The sudden burst of excitement made his chakra flicker wildly, and with a loud splash, he plunged straight into the river.
He surfaced a moment later, coughing and laughing, water dripping from his hair.
"Alright! I lasted five seconds! That's a great start!"
He knew that mastering the Surface Walking Technique on water first would basically mean he'd be able to walk on trees as well. If he could handle the constant shifting of the river, standing on solid bark would be easy in comparison. That thought alone fired him up, and he continued to train relentlessly until the first hints of sunrise brushed the sky with faint orange.
Naruto was drenched from head to toe, his clothes clinging uncomfortably to his skin. His spiky blond hair dripped water, but his blue eyes burned with stubborn determination. Standing calmly on the surface of the river, he exhaled slowly, focusing all his attention on the soles of his feet.
Carefully, he took a step forward. Then another. His sandals barely made a ripple as he moved across the water, each step deliberate, each movement fueled by steady chakra control. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm, maintaining the same steady flow of chakra through his feet.
The river whispered beneath him, cool mist curling around his ankles, but Naruto pressed on, walking further and further from the shore.
A bright grin tugged at his lips, excitement bubbling up inside him uncontrollably.
' I'm doing it! I'm actually—'
The thought shattered his focus. His chakra wavered for a split second—just long enough.
With a loud splash, he plunged headfirst into the river once again.
Surfacing with a gasp, Naruto wiped water from his eyes and floated on his back, panting lightly.
'I think that's enough for today,' he thought with a tired, satisfied grin, letting the gentle current carry him a few feet downstream.
TO BE CONTINUED