Chapter 17: Naruto Clone

As Naruto's clone helped the elderly man with his groceries, he couldn't help but smile at how different things were now. The old man, who had once avoided him like everyone else, was chatting happily about his grandchildren.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," the elderly man said warmly as they reached his house. "You're just like your father - always willing to help others."

"Ah, it's nothing, dattebayo!" the clone rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Just glad I could help!"

As he walked away from the old man's house, the clone passed by Yakiniku Q, the delicious smell of grilled meat wafting through the air. Through the window, he spotted Choji, Ino, and Asuma enjoying their meal.

"Oi! Naruto!" Choji called out, waving enthusiastically. "Come join us! Asuma-sensei's treating!"

"Really?" The clone grinned, entering the restaurant. "Thanks, Asuma-sensei!"

Asuma chuckled, cigarette dangling from his lips. "Well, these three have been working hard lately. Besides, it's nice to catch up with the hero who saved the Kazekage."

"Hero, huh?" Ino teased, flipping her long blonde hair. "Don't let it go to your head, Naruto!"

"Hey, I'm just doing my job, dattebayo!" the clone protested, sitting down next to Choji.

"Speaking of jobs," Choji said between bites, "we saw your clones all over the village helping out. Pretty impressive!"

The clone grinned, reaching for some meat. "Yeah, the boss figured it was a good way to give back to the village, ya know?"

As they ate and chatted, the clone couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these - simple, peaceful times with friends. Even if he was just a clone, these memories would return to the original Naruto, adding to the growing collection of precious moments in their new timeline.

"By the way," Asuma said, lighting a fresh cigarette, "I heard you've been helping at the Academy too. Iruka says the students love your lessons."

"Really?" Ino leaned forward, interested. "You're teaching now?"

"Just helping out sometimes," the clone explained modestly. "Showing them basic chakra control and stuff. It's fun, dattebayo!"

The conversation continued warmly as they enjoyed their meal, the clone savoring both the food and the companionship, knowing these moments were part of the better future they were working to create.

As they continued eating, Asuma watched Naruto's clone with thoughtful eyes. "You know, Naruto, you've changed quite a bit since your Academy days."

"Really?" The clone paused mid-bite, looking up curiously.

"Yeah," Choji nodded enthusiastically, flipping more meat on the grill. "You're still energetic and all, but there's something different about you now."

Ino leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "He's right. You seem more... mature. Is that the word I'm looking for?"

"Mature? Me?" The clone laughed nervously, scratching his cheek. "I don't know about that, dattebayo!"

"No, they're right," Asuma said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "The way you've been helping around the village, teaching at the Academy, even how you handled the Sasuke situation - you've grown up quite a bit."

The clone fidgeted slightly, unused to such direct praise. "Well, I just want to protect everyone and make the village better, ya know?"

"That's exactly what we mean," Asuma smiled knowingly. "You're thinking about others more than ever. Though," he chuckled, "you're still the same unpredictable ninja at heart."

"Speaking of unpredictable," Ino's eyes sparkled mischievously, "is it true what they say about you and Sasuke at the Valley of End? Sai mentioned something about-"

"INO!" The clone's face turned bright red. "Don't you start with that too, dattebayo!"

The table erupted in laughter at his reaction, even Choji paused his eating to join in. The warm atmosphere continued as they shared stories and enjoyed their meal together, the clone creating memories that would soon return to the original Naruto.

"Ah, speaking of changes," Asuma said, glancing at the empty seat where Shikamaru would usually be, "has anyone seen our resident genius today? It's not like him to miss a team meal."

"He's probably still at the Hokage Tower," Ino sighed, picking up another piece of meat. "Ever since Lady Tsunade put him in charge of those diplomatic preparations, he's been even busier than usual."

"Yeah," Choji added, "he said something about coordinating with Suna for the upcoming Summit of five kages. What a drag, as he'd say."

The clone nodded, remembering how the original Naruto had seen Shikamaru when leaving the Hokage tower, buried in scrolls and muttering about 'troublesome paperwork.'

"That's our Shikamaru," Asuma chuckled proudly. "Complaining the whole way but still getting the job done better than anyone else could."

Suddenly, the clone perked up as memories from another dispelled clone flooded in - something about Kakashi-sensei and a new training method. "Ah! Sorry everyone, but I should probably get going. The boss needs to know about something."

"Already?" Choji looked disappointed. "But we haven't even gotten to the dessert!"

"Let him go, Choji," Ino smiled knowingly. "Duty calls, right Naruto?"

The clone stood up, grinning apologetically. "Yeah, but thanks for the meal, Asuma-sensei! It was great catching up with everyone!"

"Anytime," Asuma nodded. "Tell the real you to stop by more often. Team bonding is important, even across different squads."

As the clone headed for the door, he heard Ino call out teasingly, "And don't forget to tell us about that Valley of End story next time!"

"Not gonna happen, dattebayo!" the clone shouted back, his face reddening again as he stepped out into the street, ready to dispel and share these warm memories with the original Naruto.

Another Naruto clone was walking down another street in Konoha when a familiar bark caught his attention. Turning around, he saw Akamaru bounding towards him, with Team 8 following close behind.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called out, her voice stronger and more confident than in their younger days, though a slight blush still colored her cheeks.

"Yo!" Kiba grinned, his fangs showing. "We were just talking about you! Heard your clones are all over the village today."

"Yeah," Shino adjusted his sunglasses. "Why? Because multiple villagers have reported receiving assistance from you."

The clone rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Just trying to help out where I can, dattebayo! What are you guys up to?"

"We just finished training," Hinata explained, now standing closer to the group. "Kurenai-sensei had to leave for a mission briefing, but we were thinking of getting some cinnamon rolls..."

"Want to join us?" Kiba asked while Akamaru wagged his tail enthusiastically. "Though I bet you've already eaten at like three different places with your other clones!"

"Actually, this clone hasn't eaten yet," he grinned. "And you can never have too many cinnamon rolls, especially with friends!"

As they walked toward the bakery, Shino fell into step beside the clone. "Your chakra control has improved significantly. Why do I say this? Because maintaining this many functional clones across the village while keeping them all coordinated is no small feat."

"Ah, well..." the clone started but was interrupted by Kiba's loud laugh.

"Leave it to Shino to turn everything into a technical observation! But he's right - you've gotten pretty good at this whole 'responsible ninja' thing. Who would've thought?"

The group settled into their favorite bakery, the sweet aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls filling the air. Hinata carefully selected a table by the window, while Akamaru made himself comfortable under it.

"So," Kiba started, taking a big bite of his roll, "how's the feeling being like it by the whole village? Must be pretty intense if you're sending clones to do your socializing."

The clone's expression softened, a mix of happiness and slight embarrassment crossing his face. "It's... different, ya know? I mean, for so long I was just the troublemaker that everyone avoided. Now people actually smile when they see me, want to talk to me... it's still taking some getting used to, dattebayo!"

Hinata smiled warmly. "You deserve it, Naruto-kun. You've always worked hard to protect everyone."

"Indeed," Shino added. "Why? Because your actions during capturing Orochimaru demonstrated your growth and dedication to the village."

Kiba leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Yeah, must be nice having all those girls chasing after you now. Even that girl from the ramen shop keeps giving you extra portions!"

"Ah, Ayame-neechan's always been nice to me though!" the clone protested, scratching his cheek. "But yeah, it's weird having people wave at me in the street or ask to take pictures. Some kids even said they want to be like me when they grow up!"

"Well, you're not the same knucklehead who used to paint the Hokage Monument anymore," Kiba laughed. "Though I bet you'd still do it if you got bored enough!"

The clone grinned mischievously. "Hey, that was a masterpiece of pranking! But now I've got better things to do... like helping out around the village and training to become Hokage!"

In another part of Konoha's forest, a Naruto clone was carefully checking a small notebook with Sakura's neat handwriting, describing the medicinal plants she needed. He was squinting at a particularly detailed drawing when familiar voices caught his attention.

"But Gai-sensei, there must be something we can do!" Lee's usually energetic voice sounded distressed.

Following the voices, the clone found Team Gai in a small clearing. What struck him immediately was the unusual sight of both Lee and Gai sitting down instead of their typical energetic training. Tenten stood nearby, her expression worried.

"Yo! What's up guys?" the clone called out, waving enthusiastically as he approached. But his smile faltered when he saw Gai-sensei's wheelchair and the frustrated look on Lee's face.

"NARUTO-KUN! YOUR YOUTHFUL PRESENCE BRIGHTENS THIS GLOOMY DAY!" Lee exclaimed, though with less vigor than usual.

"Ah, if it isn't our village's hero!" Gai gave his signature thumbs-up, though his smile seemed a bit strained. "What brings you to these parts?"

"Just helping Sakura-chan collect some medical stuff," the clone replied, pocketing the notebook. "But hey, what's going on? You guys look like someone canceled ramen day or something!"

Tenten sighed, slumping her shoulders. "I've hit a wall with my training. Sure, I've mastered weapon techniques over these three years, but against high-level shinobi..." She trailed off, frustration evident in her voice.

"TENTEN'S YOUTHFUL SPIRIT HAS INSPIRED ME!" Lee jumped up, striking a pose. "That is why I suggested she learn the Eight Gates from Gai-sensei, just as I did!"

Gai nodded proudly. "And I agreed! The power of youth should be shared!"

The clone's eyes widened, and suddenly he slapped his fist into his palm. "Hey, hey! I just had an awesome idea, dattebayo!" He turned to Tenten with an excited grin. "What about becoming a seal master?"

"A seal master?" Tenten blinked, confused.

"Yeah! Think about it - you're already amazing with weapons, right? What if you could add seals to them? Like, imagine putting an explosion seal on one kunai, a lightning seal on another..." The clone was practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "You could have different effects for different situations!"

Tenten's eyes lit up as she considered the possibility. "That... that could work! I could enhance my weapons instead of just throwing them!"

"SUCH A YOUTHFUL SUGGESTION!" Lee exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.

"Naruto's right!" Gai gave another thumbs-up, his smile genuine this time. "With your precision and control, combining sealing techniques with your weapon mastery could create a formidable new style!"

"But where would I even start learning about seals?" Tenten asked though she was already looking more energetic.

The clone grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Ya know, being an Uzumaki and all, seals are kind of my thing! And my dad was super awesome with them too, dattebayo!" His eyes lit up with excitement. "I can teach you the basics - like storage seals and explosion tags, but way cooler than the regular ones!"

"Really?" Tenten's eyes sparkled with interest. "You'd teach me?"

"NARUTO-KUN'S YOUTHFUL KNOWLEDGE KNOWS NO BOUNDS!" Lee shouted, giving his own thumbs-up.

"Yeah! And get this," the clone leaned forward conspiratorially, "if you get really good at it, there might be a way to actually seal jutsu into your weapons! Like, imagine sealing a fire jutsu into a kunai, or maybe even a water dragon into a scroll!" He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I mean, I haven't really figured that part out yet, but I've seen some crazy seal stuff in my mom and dad's old notes!"

Gai-sensei's eyes widened. "The possibilities would be endless! Tenten, your springtime of youth could bloom in entirely new ways!"

"Though," the clone added with a sheepish grin, "we might wanna start with the basics before trying anything too crazy. The last time I messed up a seal, I ended up with orange hair for a week. Pervy Sage couldn't stop laughing!"

Tenten giggled, but her eyes were determined. "When can we start?"

"How about tomorrow? I gotta finish collecting these plants for Sakura-chan first, or she'll punch me into next week, dattebayo!"

In another part of Konoha, a different Naruto clone made his way to the Hokage Tower's administrative section, where he found Shikamaru surrounded by stacks of papers and looking more exhausted than usual.

"Yo, Shikamaru!" the clone called out cheerfully. "Still alive under all that paperwork?"

"Troublesome..." Shikamaru muttered, not even looking up from the document he was reviewing. "What brings you here, Naruto?"

"Just checking on you, ya know! Ever since I told you about... well, everything from the future, we've been swamped. And with the Kage Summit coming up, it's only gonna get crazier, dattebayo!"

Shikamaru yawned, finally looking up at Naruto. "Yeah, no kidding. Haven't had time to watch the clouds in weeks." He stretched and rubbed his tired eyes. "What a drag..."

"Sorry about that," Naruto's expression turned apologetic. "I know I dumped a lot on you, having to help plan for things that haven't even happened yet. Must be a real pain..."

"Don't apologize," Shikamaru waved him off, though a small smile played on his lips. "Sure, it's troublesome, but this extra work now means a more peaceful future later. Besides..." He looked directly at Naruto, "that's what friends are for, right?"

"Shikamaru..." Naruto grinned warmly. "Thanks, really. You've been amazing with all this. Promise once things settle down, we'll take a day off - you can watch clouds all you want, dattebayo!"

"Heh, I'll hold you to that," Shikamaru smirked, then turned back to his papers. "Though knowing you, something troublesome will probably come up right when I get comfortable..."

Naruto burst out laughing, his signature grin spreading across his face. "Hey, I gotta live up to my reputation as the number one unpredictable ninja, ya know! Wouldn't want people thinking I've gotten boring or something, dattebayo!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his amused smirk. "Troublesome as ever..."

"Well, I better get going," the clone said, heading towards the door. "Got more villagers to help out... and maybe a few pranks to plan!" He added with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, just to keep everyone on their toes!"

"Just don't make more paperwork for me," Shikamaru called out, already knowing it was a futile request.

"No promises!" The clone shot back with a cheeky grin, throwing up a peace sign before disappearing through the doorway. "See ya later, Shikamaru!"

"What a drag..." Shikamaru muttered to himself, but there was a fond smile on his face as he returned to his work.

At the Academy training grounds, a Naruto clone stood before a group of excited students, demonstrating chakra control while keeping them thoroughly entertained.

"And that's when I painted the ENTIRE Hokage Monument in broad daylight!" The clone declared proudly, walking up a tree while speaking. "Nobody even noticed until I was almost done, dattebayo!"

The children burst into laughter, some trying to maintain their leaf-balancing exercises while others lost concentration completely, their leaves floating to the ground.

From the sidelines, Iruka-sensei watched with a mixture of exasperation and fondness. "Naruto! Maybe we should focus more on the training and less on your... creative history?"

"Aw, come on Iruka-sensei!" Naruto grinned, now hanging upside down from a branch. "They're learning! Look how long they've been practicing without complaining! Besides..." He winked at the kids, "Sometimes the best way to master chakra control is to use it for pranks- I mean, practical applications!"

"That's so cool, Naruto-Nii-chan!" One of the students shouted. "Can you teach us how to paint the monument too?"

"NARUTO!" Iruka's head seemed to grow to twice its normal size as he yelled, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Eh heh heh..." The clone scratched the back of his head nervously. "Maybe we should stick to leaf exercises for now, kids!"

The kids groaned in disappointment, but quickly perked up as Naruto jumped down from the tree with a playful grin.

"But hey, I'll tell you about the time I used transformation jutsu to sneak into the women's bath disguised as a cat - until Sakura-chan caught me and, well..." The clone shuddered dramatically, making the children giggle. "Let's just say I learned my lesson about messing with her, dattebayo!"

"Naruto..." Iruka warned, though he couldn't help but smile at how naturally his former student connected with the children.

"Okay, okay!" The clone clapped his hands together. "Let's make this training more fun! Whoever can keep their leaf stuck to their forehead the longest gets to hear about how I once replaced all of Kakashi-sensei's Icha Icha books with children's picture books!"

The students immediately straightened up, their faces scrunching in concentration as they focused on their chakra control. Even the usually restless ones were trying their best.

Iruka shook his head, walking over to stand beside Naruto. "You know, you've become quite good at teaching," he said quietly. "Even if your methods are... unconventional."

"Learned from the best, Iruka-sensei!" The clone replied with a sincere smile, watching the determined faces of his students.

"Alright everyone, that's it for today!" Iruka called out as the sun began to set. The students groaned in disappointment, still eager to hear more of Naruto's stories.

"Aww, Naruto-niichan, just one more story!" Several kids pleaded.

"Next time, next time!" The Naruto clone promised with his signature grin. "Keep practicing those chakra control exercises, and I might tell you about the time I tricked Ero-sennin into thinking he'd found a secret hot spring!"

As the children gathered their things and headed home, Iruka turned to Naruto. "Hey, it's been a while since we've had ramen together at Ichiraku. What do you say? My treat!"

"REALLY?!" Naruto's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Iruka-sensei, you're the best, dattebayo!" He practically bounced in place with excitement.

Walking down the familiar streets of Konoha, Naruto chatted animatedly about his day. "Did you see how well they did with their chakra control? Way better than I was at their age!"

"Well, they have a pretty good teacher now," Iruka chuckled. "Even if he does encourage them to pull pranks."

"Hey, hey, I'm teaching them valuable ninja skills! Besides..." Naruto's voice softened. "Someone once taught me that it's not just about the jutsu, but about believing in yourself and never giving up."

Iruka smiled warmly, remembering the troublemaker who'd become the village hero. "Come on," he said, pushing aside the familiar curtains of Ichiraku. "Let's see if you can still eat as many bowls as you used to!"

"EHH?!" Iruka's jaw dropped as they entered Ichiraku, only to find the original Naruto already there, surrounded by a tower of empty ramen bowls. "Naruto! How many of you are eating around the village?!"

The original Naruto turned around, noodles hanging from his mouth. "Oh! Iruka-sensei! And... me?" He grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"Sorry, Iruka-sensei!" The clone laughed. "But don't worry, I know just the place! Yakiniku Q is having a special today!"

"Wait, wait-" Iruka tried to protest, already feeling his wallet getting lighter, but the clone grabbed his arm with surprising strength.

"Come on, Iruka-sensei! You promised to treat me!" The clone dragged him through the streets, bouncing with the same endless energy that Naruto had always possessed. "Besides, you can't back out now - it's our reunion dinner, dattebayo!"

"But I already treated the original-" Iruka started, only to be cut off by the clone's infectious laughter.

"Think of it as paying back for all those times I pulled pranks in class!" The clone declared cheerfully, pulling his former teacher along. "Plus, I promise to tell you about the time I used Sexy Jutsu on kakashi-sensei!"

Iruka couldn't help but laugh, letting himself be dragged along. Some things never changed - whether it was the original or a clone, Naruto's spirit remained the same energetic, unpredictable ninja who could always make him smile.

The Naruto clone bounded across the rooftops of Konoha, spotting Sai sitting alone on a bench, sketching in his notebook as usual. But this time, there was something different - his drawings had color.

"Oi! Sai!" The clone called out, landing nearby with his typical energetic flair. "Whatcha drawing there?"

Sai looked up, offering one of his gradually more genuine smiles. "Ah, Naruto. I'm trying something new. Sakura suggested I add emotions to my art through color."

The clone peered over Sai's shoulder, seeing a vibrant sketch of Team 7 - not the old Team 7, but their current one. "Wow! You even got my orange jacket right, dattebayo!"

"I've been studying emotions more carefully," Sai explained, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty that wouldn't have been there in his Root days. "I read in a book that art can express feelings better than words sometimes."

"Hey, hey, you don't need books for everything!" The clone plopped down beside him. "Remember when you first joined the team? You were all 'according to my book' this and 'the book says' that. Now look at you - drawing with actual feelings!"

Sai tilted his head, considering this. "Is that... good?"

"Of course it is! That's what being part of Team 7 is all about - being yourself!" The clone grinned widely. "Though maybe ease up on the nicknames. Sakura-chan still hasn't forgiven you for the last one..."

This earned a rare chuckle from Sai. "The books didn't prepare me for Sakura's strength..."

"No book could prepare anyone for that, dattebayo!" The clone laughed, happy to see his teammate growing beyond his Root conditioning.

"Hey, actually..." The clone perked up with a sudden idea, "Want to come with me to check on Kabuto at the orphanage? You know, he kinda went through something similar to you - being used as a tool, losing his true self."

Sai paused his sketching, considering the suggestion. "Kabuto-san... yes, I've heard he's changed significantly since coming back."

"Yeah! He's helping running the orphanage now, dattebayo! And he's good with the kids!" The clone jumped up excitedly. "Maybe you could talk to him about, you know, finding yourself after being someone else's puppet?"

Sai carefully closed his sketchbook, a thoughtful expression crossing his usually stoic face. "That... might be helpful. Though I'm not sure how to start such a conversation."

"Just be yourself! Well, your new self!" The clone grinned, already pulling Sai to his feet. "Besides, the kids there love art! You could show them some of your drawings - the non-scary ones, of course!"

"Non-scary ones?" Sai asked with genuine confusion.

"Yeah, maybe leave out the exploding tags and ninja battles," the clone chuckled. "Come on! I bet Kabuto's making that special curry of his right now. It's almost as good as Ichiraku's ramen... almost!"

As they headed toward the orphanage, the clone couldn't help but smile, seeing how far both Sai and Kabuto had come from their darker pasts. "You know, Sai, this is what Konoha is really about - helping each other grow and find our way, dattebayo!"

As they approached the orphanage, they could hear children's laughter echoing from the yard. Several kids were playing ninja, while others were drawing with chalk on the ground.

Kabuto looked up from where he was supervising, adjusting his glasses with a gentle smile. "Naruto, Sai, what brings you here?"

"Kabuto-san!" The clone waved enthusiastically. "We came to check on you and the kids! Plus, I thought maybe you and Sai could talk, you know, about stuff..."

Some of the children noticed their arrival and rushed over excitedly. "Naruto-niichan! Did you bring us more stories about being ninja?" One little girl tugged at his sleeve.

Another child spotted Sai's sketchbook. "Ooh, are you an artist? Can you draw us something?"

Sai looked slightly overwhelmed by the children's enthusiasm, but Kabuto stepped in smoothly. "Why don't we all go inside? I just made some snacks, and perhaps Sai-san can show us some of his art while we eat?"

"Yeah! And maybe you two can talk about... you know..." the clone nudged Sai encouragingly. "About finding your own path after being controlled by others?"

Kabuto's expression softened with understanding. "Ah, yes. It's not an easy journey, is it, Sai-san? But having friends like Naruto here... it makes all the difference."

"That's right, dattebayo!" The clone beamed proudly. "And now look at you both - helping others and finding your own way!"