Chapter 10

The Academy days continued, each one blending into the next, but I remained focused. Observing, adapting, growing. The others saw only what I allowed them to see. A competent but unremarkable student, not the prodigy I truly was. I had no intention of being dragged into the village's plans too soon.

Sasuke remained as relentless as ever, pushing himself in every class, in every spar. He wanted to surpass Itachi, to prove himself. I understood that better than most. But unlike him, I wasn't driven by revenge. My motivation was different.

Naruto continued to struggle, though his determination never wavered. His chakra control was a mess, his techniques sloppy, but he never backed down. That was something I could respect, at least. Even if he was a headache sometimes.

Hinata had been different since our last conversation. There was hesitation in her eyes still, but something had shifted. I saw it in the way she moved during training, in the way she held herself in class. She wasn't ready to break free from her own doubts just yet, but the change had begun.

At lunch, I sat beneath my usual tree, quietly eating while Kiba rambled on about some training exercise he had done with his clan. Shikamaru lay beside me, staring at the clouds, pretending to sleep.

Hinata sat nearby, her presence quieter but more aware than before. I caught her glancing at me a few times, as if debating whether to say something. She never did.

Iruka-sensei called us back for an afternoon lesson on hand seals and basic jutsu applications. Most students struggled to perform even the simplest techniques. I pretended to be average, making the signs slower than necessary, ensuring my execution wasn't too perfect.

Sasuke performed his flawlessly, of course. He had no interest in hiding his talent. It made him a target of admiration, but also of jealousy. I had no need for either.

Naruto, meanwhile, botched his Clone Jutsu spectacularly, producing a single, sickly-looking clone that collapsed on the floor. The class erupted into laughter.

"Shut up!" Naruto snapped, fists clenched. "I'll get it right next time, dattebayo!"

Iruka sighed, rubbing his temples. "Naruto, you need to focus on your chakra flow. Your control is all over the place."

Naruto groaned, crossing his arms. "Control, control… everybody keeps saying that! But I'm *trying*!"

He *was* trying. That much was obvious. But effort alone wouldn't fix the real problem. He had too much chakra, and without proper guidance, his body couldn't regulate it correctly. Of course, no one had told him that.

Not yet, anyway.

Later that evening, after classes ended, I lingered behind while the other students left. Naruto stomped off, frustrated, muttering under his breath.

I found him at the training field, aggressively trying to create clones. Each attempt failed worse than the last. He kicked at the dirt in frustration.

"This stupid jutsu sucks!"

"Your chakra control is the problem," I said as I approached.

Naruto spun around, surprised. "Raiden? What are you doing here?"

I shrugged. "Watching you struggle."

"Gee, thanks," he grumbled. "You're just like Sasuke, acting all cool and stuff."

"I'm nothing like Sasuke." I stepped closer, glancing at the pathetic clone on the ground. "Your problem isn't effort. It's excess."

Naruto blinked. "Huh?"

"You have more chakra than most people. But you're not controlling it properly. You're using too much at once, flooding the technique."

He frowned. "So… what do I do?"

I considered for a moment. I wasn't planning on helping him. But… Naruto was different. He was annoying, yes, but also genuine. He didn't hide behind a mask like Sasuke or cower like others did. He simply existed as he was, unashamed.

"Try again," I said. "But this time, slow down. Feel the chakra as you mold it. Keep it steady instead of forcing it out all at once."

He hesitated but nodded. Forming the hand seals, he focused. His chakra flared, still rough, but a little more controlled. When the smoke cleared, the clone was still weak, but it actually *stood*.

Naruto gaped. "Wait—did I actually…?"

"It's still bad," I said bluntly. "But it's better than before."

He grinned. "Ha! See that? I'm getting stronger!"

I smirked slightly. "Try not to get ahead of yourself."

"Whatever, you just don't wanna admit I'm gonna be stronger than you someday!"

I raised an eyebrow. "We'll see."

Naruto laughed, slapping me on the back before running off. I watched him go, shaking my head. That idiot had no idea what kind of power he truly had.

The village feared him, isolated him. But if he ever figured out the truth… if he ever learned *who* he really was…

Things would change.

And when they did, I intended to be ready.