Full Power

Naruto had handed off all the experiential training to his Shadow Clones. Now, he could whip up not just a handful, but a horde of them. This allowed him to juggle multiple skills simultaneously and cut down his training time significantly.

Among his shadowy duplicates, a dedicated group honed their skills in shuriken and kunai throwing. This meticulous practice ensured that Naruto could refine this art without diverting his attention from other essential training. His focus extended to enhancing his physical prowess and overall strength.

Maintaining a gravitational magnetic field around him, equal to a whopping twenty times Earth's gravity, became a standard for Naruto. But during a public demonstration, he consciously dialed down the intensity to avoid creating a spectacle.

However, fate threw a curveball. His kunai, usually guided by precision, refused to reach their target. Instead, they dropped halfway, leaving Naruto bewildered. In a twist of irony, he found the humor in the situation, even though the audience chuckled at his unexpected blunder.

"What's the matter, Naruto?" Umino Iruka, too, was surprised. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Protesting, Naruto declared, "No way! I didn't want to hit the bullseye right away."

Iruka shook his head, interpreting Naruto's response as a stubborn attempt to salvage his pride. Laughter echoed around, especially from the girls, accompanied by comments like, "You can't compare yourself to Sasuke."

"Sasuke is leagues ahead of you."

"You're just slowing everyone down."

The notion of him "slowing things down" prompted Naruto to raise an eyebrow. This was too much.

Internally scoffing, he retracted the gravitational magnetic field. Suddenly liberated from the twentyfold gravity, he felt a surge of power, almost on par with a Jōnin's abilities. He could challenge Kage-level masters if not for his limited combat experience and the necessity of concealing certain techniques.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto regained his composure. Retrieving a handful of kunai from his pouch for another attempt, he was puzzled when they crumbled at his touch.

Ignoring the "cheerful" reactions from the onlookers, he raised his hand for another try. In an instant, a phantom-like blur vanished before everyone's eyes, and a subtle breeze rippled from Naruto's face to the surroundings. Despite the lack of thunderous sound, something extraordinary had just occurred.

In that moment, Naruto's kunai sliced through the air like a bullet from a cowboy's six-shooter, leaving everyone in awe of its incredible speed. The typical scenario of a pistol round racing at 400 meters per second was child's play compared to the blur of Naruto's throw.

The crowd watched, breathless, as the kunai's path remained a mystery. No one could spot it near the bullseye. "What... What happened? Did he miss too?" someone stammered, confusion written all over their face.

Yet, others weren't as puzzled. Their eyes were fixed on the target, where an unexplained white smoke had materialized. When the mist dispersed, the bullseye had vanished, replaced by a small crater. Even the ground behind the tree stump bore a hole, as if the kunai had pierced through with unstoppable force.

Naruto, scratching his head, realized he'd made another blunder. His control over power had grown through gravitational magnetic field training, but this time, he'd used too much force. The previous night's dispelling of the Shadow Clone showcased a power control vastly different from now, resulting in an unexpected show of strength.

Umino Iruka stood there, flabbergasted. Was this the power of nothing? If kunai could surpass pistols in speed and power, ninjas might as well be walking weapons of mass destruction.

The crowd, including Sasuke, stared at Naruto with disbelief. The atmosphere tightened.

Breaking the silence, Naruto attempted to lighten the tension with a boast.

"Oh, as expected, this is my true strength. Hahaha," he laughed and threw a third kunai, hitting the edge of the bullseye with accuracy.

Compared to the previous display of power, it was a far cry from the extraordinary feat. Nara Shikamaru, with his sharp wit, maintained composure, but not everyone shared his insight.

Some children were captivated by Naruto's performance, exclaiming, "I didn't get what happened earlier, but this guy is a force to be reckoned with, right?"

Others readily agreed, their youthful enthusiasm overpowering skepticism. Yet, a few astute children refrained from expressing opinions. Iruka, the teacher, took notes, leaving everyone curious.

Naruto was surprised by the attention he'd unintentionally attracted. Mastering the art of subtlety seemed elusive, but he didn't dwell on it. If questioned, he could always feign ignorance, leaving those privy to the truth to believe it was the power of the Nine-Tails.

Kurama, the Nine-Tails, remarked, "Did you just shift the blame onto me so blatantly?" Naruto had found an unexpected ally.

"Alright," Umino Iruka swiftly wrapped up his notes and called the next event. "Next up, it's time for a ninja battle. Naruto and Sasuke, you two are up." The showdown was about to begin in the dusty arena, under the scorching western sun.

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