Chapter 44: Surprise in Early Morning

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "But wait a second—why does Shibai have his own category?" he asked, confusion lacing his voice.

Aurora responded instantly, her tone carrying an almost reverent weight.

[Because he is the strongest. No matter what scale you use, he will always be beyond the cap. He wields Shinjutsu, which doesn't even use chakra. It is the energy of all beings in existence. But the truth is... he doesn't even need it.]

Naruto exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "That's some next-level OP stuff," he muttered. "So... does that mean I can learn Shinjutsu?"

He wasn't just curious—he was eager. If he had access to something that surpassed even chakra itself, then he needed to know.

Aurora hummed, then listed the possibilities:

[Yes, you can attain it. There are three ways:

Consume at least a dozen Chakra Fruits. (The easiest method, but the destruction it causes would be enormous.)

Absorb Otsutsuki DNA & Chakra over time. (A long process, but requires hunting only pure Otsutsuki, as you cannot attain Shinjutsu without complete purity.)

Reach a level of Chakra purity beyond normal standards. (The longest method—it could take hundreds of years, but it causes no destruction.)]

Naruto fell silent, processing it all.

Every option had its own price. Destruction, sacrifice, or patience.

His hand clenched into a fist. Power had never been his end goal—it was a means to protect the people he loved. But what was the right path?

"I see," he murmured. Then, after a pause, he exhaled and shook his head. "For now, let's leave the Shinjutsu topic aside."

Aurora stayed quiet for a moment, then responded softly. [A wise choice, Naruto.]

For once, she didn't tease him.

"There should be some kind of description, right? Something that sums up my overall strength?" Naruto asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Aurora chuckled, her tone laced with amusement. [You really want to see yourself through a description, huh? Alright, here it is.]

Ding!

A translucent screen appeared in his mind.

Naruto's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile as he read the description.

"Overall Strength: Jonin Level, but can go toe to toe with Elite Jonin under certain conditions."

That was huge. At just six years old, he was already at a level where most shinobi spent decades training to reach. His hard work, dedication, and sheer will had pushed him this far. He had every right to feel proud.

But then, his eyes drifted to the last part of Aurora's message:

[Congratulations, your hard work paid off. You have become non-cannon fodder.]

Naruto's eye twitched.

"Non-canon fodder? Aurora, what the hell does that mean?"

[It means you are no longer one of the background nobodies who exist to be beaten up for plot progression. Congratulations, you have achieved relevance in life.]

"…You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

[Of course! What's the point of being a System AI if I can't mess with my host once in a while?]

Naruto sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I swear, if I ever meet the god who designed you, I'm going to have a serious conversation about his life choices."

[And he would tell you that your suffering brings him great entertainment.]

Naruto groaned. There was no winning against Aurora. Even though she was technically just a voice in his head, she somehow made him feel like he was dealing with a mischievous older sister.

Still… the breakdown she gave was useful.

His overall strength was at Jonin level, which was ridiculous for a six-year-old. But even with that, he could only fight Elite Jonin under certain conditions—which meant that while he had talent, there were still gaps he needed to fill.

'I'm strong, but I'm not invincible. Not yet.'

[Oh, so you do have self-awareness. Good. I was worried that you'd let this power get to your head and start calling yourself the "Child of Prophecy" or something.]

Naruto rolled his eyes. "I'd rather gouge my own eyes out."

[And that's why I like you, Leo.]

Naruto exhaled through his nose, processing the information. 'So my main focus should be Stealth, Genjutsu, and Kenjutsu for now.'

[Exactly. Now, are you going to train like a madman again tomorrow?]

Naruto smirked. "Do you even need to ask?"

Aurora chuckled. [Didn't think so. Well then, sleep tight, my Gambling King.]

Naruto groaned at the nickname but didn't protest. With that final thought, he closed his eyes, letting sleep finally take him.

As the golden hues of the early morning sun bathed the village, Naruto and Karin stretched their limbs, shaking off the last traces of sleep. The fresh morning air filled their lungs, invigorating them as they exchanged warm smiles.

"Good morning, Nii-san!" Karin said, her voice laced with energy.

Naruto grinned. "Good morning! Let's make today a good one."

With that, they stepped outside, beginning their usual morning jog to the training grounds. Their rhythmic footsteps echoed in harmony, a steady pace that built not just their stamina but also their resolve. Along the way, familiar villagers called out greetings, and they returned them with cheerful nods.

But as they neared the training grounds, something felt different.

Three figures stood in the clearing, their presence disrupting the usual stillness of the morning routine.

Naruto and Karin exchanged glances, confusion flickering in their eyes. "Shisui?" Naruto muttered under his breath.

The older Uchiha stood relaxed yet vigilant, his sharp gaze watching over the scene. He had been away, assigned to missions at the border, ensuring Kiri's forces didn't take advantage of moments of weakness in Konoha's defenses. If he was back… then things were shifting.

'Danzo will make his move soon,' Naruto thought grimly, his fists unconsciously clenching at his sides.

Shisui's presence, while reassuring, was expected—whenever he had free time, he trained Naruto and a select few, pushing them beyond their limits. But it wasn't him that caught Naruto and Karin off guard.

It was the two girls who had never stepped foot into their morning training before—Sakura and Ino.

The two were engaged in an animated conversation with Hinata, their expressions both eager and slightly unsure. Why were they here?

Meanwhile, Sasuke stood nearby with Shisui, his posture straight and unreadable, his usual air of aloofness in place.

Naruto's eyes briefly scanned the area. Itachi wasn't here. That meant he was either away on a mission or handling other matters in the village.

As they stepped closer, the air buzzed with an unspoken question:

Why were they all here today?

As Naruto and Karin approached, they immediately noticed Sakura and Ino chatting animatedly with Hinata—an unusual sight for morning training.

Shisui turned with a grin. "Yo, Naruto, Karin! You're a bit late today."

Naruto smirked. "We took our time jogging. Gotta make sure we stay sharp."

Karin, however, was still eyeing Sakura and Ino, confused. "Wait, why are they here? They never cared about training before."

Shisui chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Seems like someone's popularity is rising."

Naruto blinked. "Huh?"

Right on cue, Sakura and Ino practically rushed toward him.

"Good morning, Naruto-kun!" Ino greeted, flashing a bright smile.

Sakura nodded, a little shy but still determined. "Yesterday, after we saw how incredible you all were during the practicals… we realized something." She hesitated before continuing, glancing at Ino. "We both always wanted to be with you. Even though we kept quarreling—it was really just to get your attention."

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "I always told you, there's enough of me to go around—so stop fighting over it."

Karin's expression darkened slightly. Tch… these girls are getting bolder. She had always been protective of Naruto, and this was exactly why.

Ino twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger, giving Naruto a confident but sincere look. "So, we asked Hinata about your schedule… and she told us you're always training."

Sakura clenched her fists, eyes burning with determination. "So we decided—we're gonna train too! We don't wanna just watch you from the sidelines anymore. We want to stand beside you."

Her words carried weight. They weren't just talking about training.

Naruto's expression softened. "You don't need to change yourselves just to keep up with me," he said warmly. "I already like you both just the way you are."

Ino and Sakura's eyes widened slightly.

"But…" He grinned. "If you're serious about getting stronger, then be ready for hell."

He ruffled both their heads playfully, and to his surprise, neither of them complained. Instead, they nodded with fierce determination.

Karin just huffed. This is exactly how it starts…

Naruto crossed his arms. "But remember—it's your first day. Don't push yourselves too hard. And most importantly—"

His gaze turned serious as he looked at them both.

"Never compare yourselves to others."

Sakura and Ino blinked in surprise.

"You're both growing at your own pace, and strength doesn't come overnight." He smiled.

"Just focus on being the strongest you."

Ino and Sakura looked at each other—then back at Naruto.

And at that moment, they understood.

"Got it!" they both said in unison.

Naruto smirked. Looks like things are getting more interesting.