FicWad

Chapter 2: The Resolve


Naruto stared at the symbols on his palms, feeling the weight of their significance. He clenched his fists, determination burning in his heart. "I want to protect those who can't protect themselves. I don’t want anyone to suffer like I did. I’ll make sure that everyone respects me!"
Indra smirked. "A bold goal. But strength alone won’t change the world."
Ashura nodded. "True change comes from understanding and uniting people, Naruto. If you rely only on power, you'll walk a path of destruction."
Naruto absorbed their words, determination undeterred. "Then teach me! Teach me how to be strong, how to use this power the right way!"
Kurama chuckled darkly. "Hmph. You’ve got guts, brat. Fine. I'll lend you my power, but remember, it comes at a price. My chakra isn’t limitless, and if you abuse it, you’ll burn yourself out."
Naruto grinned. "Got it, Foxy!"
Kurama growled, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "Stop calling me that."
Ashura laughed. "Then let’s begin. First, you must learn to control your chakra. With Kurama’s power and our abilities, you have a massive reservoir of energy. You need to mold it properly."
Indra crossed his arms. "And since you have my power, you need to train in taijutsu and ninjutsu first. You won’t get anywhere if you can’t hold your ground in a fight."
Naruto nodded, determination flashing in his blue eyes. "I won’t let you down!"
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For the next few months, Naruto trained relentlessly. Under Kurama’s watchful eyes, he learned to harness his chakra properly, improving his reserves and control. Indra and Ashura guided him in combat training, but his progress was still slow. Despite their knowledge, they weren’t physically present—Naruto had to teach himself how to apply their lessons in the real world.
He started waking up earlier than usual to train in secret, running through the forests outside the village and pushing his limits every day. But no matter how hard he worked, he felt like something was missing. He lacked direction. He needed a real teacher.
One evening, as Naruto was heading towards the training grounds, he sensed something. A presence—strong, controlled, yet oddly familiar. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but his curiosity got the better of him.
He moved quietly through the trees, peering into the clearing ahead. There, he saw a man standing in the center of the training field, his dark cloak swaying in the wind. His hair was black and spiky, and his Konoha headband sat slightly tilted on his forehead.
Naruto recognized him instantly - Shisui Uchiha.
He had seen the man before—once or twice from a distance. He was an Uchiha like Sasuke’s older brother, but different. Shisui had a reputation in the village, known for his speed and skill. Some even called him "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
Naruto knew this might be his chance. If he could convince someone like Shisui to train him, he could get stronger faster.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the shadows. "Hey, old man! What are you doing out here alone?"
Shisui turned his head slightly, a smirk forming on his lips. "Old man? Do I really look that old?"
Naruto shrugged. "Well, you're taller than me, so that makes you old."
Shisui chuckled, shaking his head. "You must be Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto blinked in surprise. "How do you know my name?"
"You stand out. Bright red hair, whisker marks, and a chakra signature like a bonfire in the middle of a quiet night," Shisui said casually. "Besides, I’ve been keeping an eye on you for a while now."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Shisui sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Because I know what it's like to carry a burden you never asked for. The difference is, I had a clan to support me. You… you've had to carry it alone."
Naruto's fists clenched. "Tch. I don’t need anyone’s pity!"
Shisui raised an eyebrow. "Good. Because I wasn’t offering it." He motioned to the open field. "I was about to do some light training. Since you’re already here, how about a quick spar?"
Naruto hesitated. "You're not just saying that 'cause you think I'll lose, right?"
Shisui smirked. "You'll never know unless you try.
Naruto charged forward, throwing a punch with all his strength. But before he could even blink, Shisui was gone.
Then—THUD.
Naruto found himself face-first in the dirt.
Shisui stood behind him, arms crossed. "Too slow."
Growling, Naruto scrambled to his feet and tried again, throwing a series of kicks and punches. Each time, Shisui dodged effortlessly, moving like a shadow, never where Naruto expected him to be.
After several minutes of failed attacks, Naruto panted heavily, frustration boiling inside him. "Damn it! How are you so fast?!"
Shisui smiled. "You're relying too much on brute force. Strength alone won't win you battles. You need precision, timing, and most importantly—"
WHOOSH.
In a blur, Shisui disappeared and reappeared behind Naruto, tapping his forehead lightly with two fingers.
"—speed."
Naruto gritted his teeth. "Fine! Then teach me how to be fast like you!"
Shisui studied him for a moment, then sighed. "You really don’t give up, huh?"
"Nope!" Naruto grinned. "So, you gonna train me or what?"
Shisui smirked. "Alright. But on one condition—no shortcuts. If you want to be strong, you have to work for it. Understood?"
Naruto nodded fiercely. "Yeah! I’ll do whatever it takes!"
Shisui nodded. "Good. Then let’s begin."
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Over the next few weeks, Naruto trained under Shisui’s guidance. He didn’t learn any flashy techniques right away, but Shisui drilled him on the basics—footwork, reaction speed, reading an opponent’s movements. It was frustratingly slow at first, but Naruto quickly realized how important these lessons were.
Shisui also taught him about the fundamentals of chakra control—how to move efficiently, waste less energy, and increase his speed without tiring himself out. He showed Naruto a few tricks with the Body Flicker Technique, though Naruto still had a long way to go before mastering it.
Though their training was intense, Naruto found himself enjoying it. For the first time, someone was taking him seriously—not as a nuisance, not as a monster, but as a student.
And that made all the difference.
One evening, after an exhausting session, Naruto sat down on the grass, staring up at the sky. "Hey, Shisui… why are you helping me?"
Shisui leaned against a tree, his expression unreadable. "Because I believe in second chances. The world isn’t fair, Naruto. Some people are born with everything. Others… have to fight for their place. But that doesn’t mean you can’t change things."
Naruto clenched his fists. "I will change things."
Shisui smiled. "Then keep training. Keep getting stronger. And one day, when the time comes, you'll prove everyone wrong."
Naruto grinned, determination blazing in his eyes.
He would prove them wrong.
No matter what.
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In the land of toads, The Great Elder sat on his throne peering into his crystal ball. “You have come a long way young fox. It seems that there is still some time before we begin your training with the toads. I see many turbulences ahead in your life. Yet, it is still unclear what path you will lean towards Naruto Uzumaki.”