Chapter 25: The Third Hokage’s Gift  

Naruto had already returned home and was sitting on his bed, continuing his training. 

A knock came from the door. 

Naruto sensed that it was the Third Hokage standing outside and quickly got up. 

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Who is it?" 

As he spoke, he opened the door. 

"Grandpa Third? What brings you here? It's not time for my living expenses yet, is it?" 

The Third Hokage looked at Naruto kindly. Seeing Naruto's golden hair, he couldn't help but think of Minato. Time had passed so quickly—Naruto had already graduated from the academy. 

"Naruto, how have you been? I heard you graduated, so I came to bring you a gift." 

"A gift? What kind of gift, Grandpa Third?" Naruto got excited as soon as he heard the word "gift." 

"Now that you're a ninja, I'm giving you a powerful ninjutsu. Make sure to practice it well." The Third Hokage reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll, handing it to Naruto. 

"What kind of ninjutsu is it?" Naruto asked curiously as he took the scroll. 

"The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu! It creates real clones that won't disappear unless they take damage or run out of chakra. Pretty amazing, right?" 

"That's awesome! I have to learn this jutsu! Thank you, Grandpa Third!" Naruto had already guessed that it would be the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. This technique was perfect for someone like him, a Jinchuriki with massive chakra reserves. 

"Then train hard. If you don't understand anything, you can come ask me anytime. I have a lot of work to do, so I'll be heading back now." 

Busy peeping at the women's bathhouses again? Naruto silently mocked him in his head. 

"Alright, you go do your work. I'll start studying this right away!" 

After seeing the Third Hokage off, Naruto casually tossed the scroll aside. He had already learned the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu long ago—it was something he bought from the chat group's store. 

Now he could use it openly. 

... 

The sky outside was beginning to brighten. After a night of training, Naruto had reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. 

Feeling the power inside his body, Naruto nodded in satisfaction. Ever since he joined the chat group and got access to training techniques, his strength had been improving at an incredible pace. 

"Today is the day we get assigned our jonin instructor. Hatake Kakashi... you're the first step in reviving my parents." 

According to his big brother's plan, getting Kakashi's help was crucial. Kakashi was someone who valued relationships, so Naruto could use emotions to win him over. Right now, he was too young to accomplish much on his own, but with Kakashi's support, things would be different. 

Arriving in class, Naruto sat in his seat, bored, waiting for Kakashi. Just like in the original story, the other students were all assigned to their teams and left one by one. 

In the end, only he, Sasuke, and Sakura remained. 

Sakura sighed, "Why isn't our instructor here yet?" 

Inner Sakura: "Who cares! As long as I get to be with Sasuke, that's all that matters! Ahh, I just want to hold Sasuke in my arms!" 

Meanwhile, Kakashi was secretly observing his future students. 

"So, this is Sensei's child..." 

Seeing his teacher's orphan, Kakashi felt a complicated mix of emotions. 

"One is top in practical combat, one is top in theory, and the last one... well, a dead-last. Sigh... looks like I'm going to have my hands full." 

He let out a sigh, pushed open the classroom door, and walked in with his usual tired, lazy look. 

The moment he arrived, Sakura immediately sat up straight. Naruto and Sasuke, however, continued acting as if nothing had happened. 

"Well... how should I put this? My first impression of you guys isn't too bad." 

 "I'm your instructor, Konoha's elite jonin, Hatake Kakashi. Now, for my first order—everyone, meet me on the rooftop!"