Chapter 76 - 6

Chapter 6: More Wives, More Blessings! Capture the Flag!Konoha Training Ground No. 10; that was its external designation, but internally, it was known as the "Ivy Garden."Five-year-old Uzumaki Naruto squatted by the stream at the edge of the training ground, staring at the fish swimming in the water. The sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a warm glow on his golden hair.It's been over four years... Liu Chao sighed in his heart. Time really flies. Even the training grounds have been updated up to number 44.Starting from Training Ground No. 1, batch after batch of girls had come here to train. Naruto had seen countless of them; some faces were familiar, others strangers.As for himself, from an infant to now, he could already run and jump, and even secretly practice Chakra control.However... he looked down at his chubby little hands.This body is still too weak.His Chakra reserves were frighteningly large, but fine control was much harder than he had imagined. After all, the total amount of the Nine-Tailed's Chakra was staggering!And then there was that damn "Lustful Saint Body"!"Naruto! You're skipping theory class again!"Nine-year-old Uchiha Izumi burst out from the woods, hands on her hips. Her long black hair was tied into a neat ponytail behind her head, and she wore a Konoha forehead protector on her brow.Though it was a replica used for training, it swayed slightly with her movements."Izumi-nee~" Naruto turned his head, flashing a smile so brilliant it felt like cheating. "I'm researching the nature transformation of Water Release Chakra! Look!"His hands formed a clumsy but basically correct "Ram" seal. A faint blue light condensed in his palm, and ripples spread across the water's surface.Izumi froze.That was a basic Water Release hand seal. She had only learned it in the advanced class last week, and the water fluctuations weren't even this obvious when she performed it."You... learned that yourself?""I just looked at a book," Naruto blinked, wearing an innocent expression that seemed to say, 'Is this hard?' "In the book 'Illustrated Guide to Basic Nature Transformation Principles' in Mom's study, chapter two, page seven explains it in great detail."Temari walked over from behind. At seven years old, she already showed the prototype of the future Kazekage's daughter, her golden hair tied high in ponytails, carrying a giant fan taller than herself on her back."Here we go again. Is this kid really only five?"Five-year-old Hinata hid behind Temari, her small face slightly flushed. "Na-Naruto-kun has always been very smart...""He's a monster." Ten-year-old Hebiichigo slowly walked out from the other side of the woods.She was an orphan from the Land of Water. Her yellow hair looked like large strips of dried snacks, and her weapon was a bizarrely shaped, oversized sewing needle. "I saw him this morning memorizing Sealing Jutsu formulas while eating breakfast. He didn't miss a single one of the thirty-two rune sequences."Naruto chuckled and retracted his Chakra, standing up from the stream.After four years of adaptation, he could control this body quite well, except for... certain specific situations.Like right now, when Izumi leaned down to poke his forehead, the angle of her collar slightly open...Pfft.Two bright red streams of blood sprayed from his nostrils."I'm going to hell; Izumi is only 9! Three years to life!" Thinking of this, Naruto felt utterly hopeless. After all, it was just too embarrassing!The entire area fell silent.Izumi froze in place, her hand still suspended in mid-air.Temari facepalmed. "...I knew it."Hebiichigo sighed. "Kushina-sensei was right. This constitution is beyond saving."Hinata hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. "Na-Naruto-kun! Tissues!"Naruto took the handkerchief with an embarrassed look and covered his nose, his voice muffled. "I-it wasn't on purpose... Izumi-nee, you were too close..."Izumi's face went from shock to annoyance to amusement, and finally, she reached out to ruffle Naruto's hair. "Alright, alright, it's my fault. But Naruto, if you don't go to class, Kushina-sensei will really be angry, okay?"Just then, the bell in the center of the training ground rang.Three short rings and one long one—emergency assembly.Everyone's expression instantly turned serious."It's the special assembly signal," Temari squinted. "What happened?""Let's go." Izumi took the lead, running toward the center of the training ground.Naruto wiped away the nosebleed, the childhood innocence in his eyes instantly fading, replaced by a flash of adult solemnity.A special assembly... Is the plot about to accelerate?At the central plaza of the Ivy Garden, all members had already gathered.Standing at the very front was Uzumaki Kushina.Four years hadn't left many marks on her face; instead, she had gained a bit more composure due to Naruto's healthy growth.At this moment, two young women—or rather, teenage girls—stood beside her.On the left was seventeen-year-old Mei Terumī, a genius from the Hidden Mist and an awakener of dual Bloodline Limits.With long dark brown hair and emerald green eyes, her figure was already beginning to show the curves of a mature woman. She was currently smiling at the group of children.On the right was sixteen-year-old Kurenai Yuhi, the daughter of Konoha Jonin Shinku Yuhi and an illusion genius.She had red eyes and long black hair tied back, her expression more serious than Mei Terumī's."I've called everyone here today to announce something important." Kushina's voice carried across the plaza. "You've been training for a while now, and it's time to test the results of this recent stage."She paused, her gaze sweeping over every child present."In three days, you will hold a squad competition. All members will be divided into two teams, led by Mei Terumī and Kurenai Yuhi as instructors. The format of the competition is 'Capture the Flag,' and it will take place in the simulated combat zone in the northern part of the training ground."A small commotion broke out among the crowd. After all, this was the first time Training Ground No. 10 was holding a competition.They had heard that Training Ground No. 7, where Ino and Karui were, had also recently held a competition."Finally, some actual combat..." Temari gripped her fan tightly."Who will the opponents be?" Five-year-old Sakura nervously clutched the corner of her clothes.Standing next to Sakura was Kurotsuchi, also five years old. Don't let her age fool you; she already possessed the bossy aura of the Iwagakureprincess.She puffed out her chest. "No matter who the opponent is, this lady won't lose!"Twelve-year-old Mabui pushed up her glasses. "We need to analyze the power balance between us and the enemy first."Thirteen-year-old Samui was expressionless. "Tactics take priority."Standing next to Samui was five-year-old Saya.She looked at the composed Samui and said in a small, somewhat insecure voice, "I... I'll work hard..."Saya was a girl sent from the Hidden Sand Village, specializing in Puppet Jutsu. It was said she had a younger sister named Sana. Following the age-five limit for entering the Ivy Garden, as long as she could pass Mom Kushina's assessment, she would likely be sent here for training next year as well.Kushina raised her hand, and the plaza fell silent."The team lists are as follows!"Team A (Instructor: Mei Terumī):Uzumaki Naruto (5 years old)Hyuga Hinata (5 years old)Temari (7 years old)Uchiha Izumi (9 years old)Hebiichigo (10 years old)Team B (Instructor: Kurenai Yuhi):Sakura Haruno (5 years old)Kurotsuchi (5 years old)Mabui (12 years old)Samui (13 years old)Saya (5 years old)"There are three training objectives." Kushina held up three fingers. "First, to test individual growth. Second, to practice teamwork. Third,"She looked at Naruto, a deep meaning flashing in her eyes:"To learn how to achieve victory while protecting the 'Core'."Naruto's heart skipped a beat.The core... does she mean me?Mei Terumī stepped forward, her smile gentle but her eyes sharp. "My team members, for the next three days, please take care of me. But let's get one thing straight—I'm very strict."Kurenai Yuhi also spoke up. "Team B, assemble. We need to start formulating our tactics immediately."The two teams quickly separated, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.