Сhapter 21

- N-Naruto-kun… Are you all right? - Hinata Hugo addressed me, already habitually striking me with her embarrassed face and, to a funny, timid voice… Which was another bell, because if this little coward coped with herself and decided to ask about my well-being, then I must have looked absolutely disgusting… I remember Shikomaru saying something similar to me before.

- It's okay, Hinata-chan… It's just that Iruka has already completely overwhelmed me with this study. - Without lifting my face from the desk, I drawled. "He's been off the hook lately… Too much for me, the curator is unfinished. - Without even trying to cheer up my voice, I muttered. At the same time, I really didn't have much energy to talk… This morning, before classes, I had to take the first exam this year, organized especially for me. Nevertheless, I now have my own training program and exams for the second year, respectively, began for me a little earlier.

- Has Iruka-s-sensei become your mentor? - The girl asked me in surprise, not fully understanding what it was all about… Well, or just not understanding for what reason Iruka-sensei was forced to become my mentor. Still, only Shika and Chouji knew about their attempt to jump over a couple of classes so far. I somehow was too lazy to dedicate the rest to such an "important" event for the class… I told my friend everything just because they became too obviously worried about my condition. Well, Shikomaru also noticed changes in my relationship with Iruka-sensei, demanding an explanation, yes.

- Mmm, that's right, I haven't told you yet. Recently, Iruka-sensei suggested that I try to graduate from the academy a few years earlier than the others. So now I have to prepare for the exams for the third year in order to get into the fourth year of study in the next academic year ... - Still sluggishly, but already turning my face towards the girl, I explained ... What knocked Hinata out of the rut. She seemed to be trying to make sense of my words for a dozen seconds before just staring stupidly at me.

- And... and what about our class? - The girl practically shouted in a whisper… Than somewhat attracted attention to our couple, which is why she quieted down in the end. But I finally heard her question, looking at the girl a little mockingly. This little girl really didn't care about our class. And she was worried mainly because I suddenly decided to leave that one... well, that's how I deciphered the girl's emotions. Which was even funny... I didn't think that this lump of sweetness and embarrassment would get attached to me so quickly.

- Well, I'm unlikely to continue studying with you. If I can pass all the exams, I will be studying for the fourth year next month. - Calmly replied, forcing his young and so naive interlocutor to droop a little ... - But don't worry too much. I will definitely be able to find some time to meet my friends. I immediately added, not wanting to upset the girl even more. Yet lately I've really gotten used to taking care of that… In a sense, I even began to perceive her as my daughter… Well, or something like that, yet I have never had my own children.

- Uh-huh. - The girl nodded a little more cheerfully, even though she remained the same drooping at the same time. Apparently, the news about my transfer saddened the girl very much… I didn't even think for a second about abandoning my plan for a speedy graduation from the academy… But no, the sad face of just one girl was not destined to influence my decisions so much. But I did make a promise to attend my last class, even to myself. Although, I was going to do it anyway, looking after these kids will definitely not be superfluous. Nevertheless, a lot of unique personalities gathered in this class…

Our generation is the first offspring after the Third World War Shinobi. That's why so many heirs and heiresses of the great and not-so-great Konoha clans gathered in my class. And in the academy itself, much more classes were opened this year, which Shikomaru told me about, somehow by chance. Although, the post-war birth rate boom is an absolutely obvious and logical thing. The only funny thing is that almost half of the future top of Konoha gathered in my class…

Yeah, from this point of view, it would be really beneficial for me to stay in my class, building relationships with future clan heads. Still, I did not refuse the desire of Naruto's past to become a Hokage. Moreover, this desire has long grown into a full-fledged plan, even if so far without specific details… But one thing is for sure – I should not spoil relations with my current classmates. In the future, these kids will play a very important role in the life of the village.

Which is probably why it turned out so easy for the original Naruto to take the post of Hokage… But I'd better not count on it. I have already decided to move ahead of my peers. Especially since my dead carcass doesn't seem to need a Hokage hat. And the chances of dying in the upcoming events are still too great, even if we take for the fact that I will eventually become stronger than the original owner of this carcass. But I'm not at all sure that I will be able to surpass the main character of the story I know…

Naruto was even more unique, if you look objectively. It's not just that he mastered senjutsu, which I myself, so far, knew only in theory and then quite a bit… And he finally mastered the power of his biju, later becoming friends with Kurama himself. And this, as far as I understood, is another achievement that I may not be able to repeat… So, if I want to survive, I will have to lean much harder on the standard sources of Shinobi power - Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Genjutsui and, possibly, Ireninjutsu.

With the latter, most likely, I'm unlikely to succeed. Based on the information I know about other jinchuriki, they are not inclined to similar types of techniques. This, of course, is not an indicator, and I will still try myself in this path, so that Hiruzen and other Shinobi don't tell me there… But it's still not worth counting on Ireninjutsu. Exactly the same as for particularly strong Genjutsu. I will most likely be able to master a certain base, but I hardly need to focus on this direction…

I have already learned quite a lot about the simplest Genjutsu, and so far all these hypnotist games do not appeal to me. And the control of the chakra for the implementation of even the simplest techniques there needs very, very good ... And therefore, I prefer to focus the lion's share of my efforts on Taijutsu and Ninjutsu. With my chakra volumes, these two directions seem to me the most promising ... Especially since in terms of physical development I already surpass most of my peers.

Oh, yes, there is also a certain Fuinjutsu… But I know deplorably little about him to seriously count on the almost forgotten art of Shinobi. In addition, most of the current masters in this art are simple holders of their own shops, which are unlikely to want to share their knowledge with me so easily… And where else you can find information on this topic, I have very little idea.

Well, it's not the point, so far all this is just my plans and conjectures. How everything will turn out there in the future, I do not presume to assume… Perhaps, having at my disposal the technique of shadow clones, which I have been dreaming about since entering this world, I will be able to master almost all the techniques I want or just available to me… Memories of the training of the original Naruto with his clones suggest that such a scenario is quite possible…

It remains only to figure out exactly how to get the shadow cloning technique into your own hands… So far, I've only heard about it in passing, in one not-too-new tutorial on the technique of illusory clones… But even so, I wasn't too doubtful about my ability to use a lot of clones for my own training. In practice, of course, everything can be much sadder. What if I'm somehow not suitable for using this technique? Anything can happen, but I'm still counting on the canonical scenario in this case…

After all, if everything goes well with this technique in my hands, then becoming a Shinobi god will only be a matter of time and effort for me. And in this regard, I did not doubt myself ... If necessary or a strong desire, I am ready to fully consciously rape my own mind or body to get the results I need ... I, in fact, have been doing this lately, memorizing huge amounts of information for a speedy arrival in a new class for myself.