Shinigami in the Ninja World

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't knock on the door again.

He just listened outside for a while, hearing the chopping of knives, the bubbling of soup, and the aroma of meat wafting through the air.

Compared to Naruto developing his own ideas, what was happening now seemed even harder for him to accept.

The place that once housed the Jinchuriki now began to have the feeling of a home.

Sarutobi Hiruzen consoled himself.

This wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

After all, he had always hoped for this, wishing for Naruto's well-being. If the Fourth Hokage could see this, he would be relieved too...

But why was there a bit of unease?

Perhaps it was because he still knew too little about Naruto.

He decided to observe carefully during this period.

A Jinchuriki must not go astray.

Uzumaki Naruto had changed significantly.

His classmates at the ninja academy were the first to notice.

The boy who was disliked just a few days ago suddenly became less annoying.

The most noticeable change was in his appearance.

Naruto had always worn a dirty, high-collared orange tracksuit, looking crude and sloppy.

But now, he finally took off that tracksuit.

He was now wearing a plain white hoodie without any patterns, which complemented his blonde hair, paired with gray cropped pants, giving him a fresh and clean look.

"Uzumaki seems much more pleasing to the eye now." During lunch break, Yamanaka Ino said this to Haruno Sakura as they ate lunch together.

Haruno Sakura followed her gaze.

Uzumaki Naruto didn't seem much different from usual—at least in her eyes. He was still sitting alone, eating lunch by himself.

"He even makes his own bento?" She quickly noticed something unusual. Naruto had a bento box! Although the side dishes and rice didn't look as exquisite as those made by her parents, they still seemed quite tasty.

Yamanaka Ino hesitated, "I don't think so? He used to always eat bread, right?"

She wasn't sure either.

Before this period, who would pay attention to Uzumaki Naruto?

"Even if he looks a bit better, he's still far from Sasuke," Haruno Sakura crossed her arms, her gaze moving past Naruto to Uchiha Sasuke sitting not far away, "A loser is a loser." Maybe this is just his new way to attract attention."

She didn't like Naruto.

Yamanaka Ino shook her head without saying anything, but she didn't quite agree with this view.

Compared to the students, the teachers at the ninja academy noticed more of Naruto's internal changes.

He started to study seriously!

No more skipping classes, no more sleeping in class, and his grades were excellent...

He transformed from the "dead last" to an "outstanding student" almost overnight.

However, most teachers still didn't like him, and some even disliked him more—news of Naruto "hitting" the convenience store owner had spread. He faced no punishment, and the Third Hokage even "favored" Naruto, making nearby shops do business with him.

They had almost the same opinion as Haruno Sakura.

They thought this annoying kid couldn't possibly study well and would just lose interest quickly.

Especially with graduation approaching, what's the use of pretending now!

Naruto was genuinely interested in the knowledge of being a ninja.

He used to find these things boring, with no encouragement from teachers and no welcome from classmates, so he had no motivation to study.

But since returning from the Shin'o Academy.

Reading the textbooks again was a revelation.

Understanding "Chakra" and its definitions, basic physics, the application of the Three Basic Techniques...

Although, in essence, Chakra and spiritual power are two completely different forces—one from the body and one from the soul.

But the techniques to use them were the same.

"Reiraku (霊絡, Spirit Coils)"—a technique taught at the Shin'o Academy to sense and recognize spiritual energy, could also be applied through "Chakra." This allowed him to identify people around him by Chakras aura without seeing them.

With a basic understanding, he could also successfully perform Kido after a few training sessions.

Of course, the parts in the books about the "Will of Fire" were still boring, dry, and uninteresting.

The last class of the new week.

Umino Iruka banged the podium heavily, "One week until the graduation exam, and you will become real ninjas."

"So today... is a practical lesson."

"Everyone gather at the training ground."

The class groaned.

Compared to training and practical lessons, they preferred theoretical classes.

The latter was boring, but teachers wouldn't say anything if they slacked off.

The former...

In addition to the practical lesson, there would definitely be physical training afterward.

No one wanted to run three kilometers!

But the students obediently left their seats, some through the windows, some through the doors, heading to the training ground.

After lining up, the students sat around the field.

"Anyone want to volunteer..." Iruka raised his hand.

Naruto immediately stood up, "Iruka-sensei, I want to train with Uchiha Sasuke."

He spoke with determination.

In recent days, the teacher and classmates had not changed their views about him.

He knew clearly that he lacked an opportunity for the teacher and classmates to understand his changes.

And now... the opportunity has arrived.

Iruka was about to refuse.

Although Naruto was improving, he was clearly not on the same level as Uchiha Sasuke.

However, before he could politely decline, the instructions from the Third Hokage a few days ago resurfaced in his mind.

He quickly changed his tone, "Alright, since you're so persistent, Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, come and have a practical training session."

The students were astonished.

Previously, Iruka-sensei would never have agreed so easily to Naruto's unreasonable requests.

Uchiha Sasuke stood up coldly and walked to the center of the field with Naruto.

"First round of practical training."

"Uzumaki Naruto versus Uchiha Sasuke."

"Begin!"

Iruka-sensei picked up his notebook, stepped out of the field, and announced the start.

The battle did not erupt immediately.

Uchiha Sasuke, with his hands in his pockets, looked coldly at the person opposite him, "Uzumaki Naruto, you will never be my match."

"What we bear is different."

"A guy of your caliber doesn't have the qualifications to be compared to me."

"Iruka-sensei should have arranged a more interesting opponent for me."

Cheers from the girls erupted.

Naruto remained silent.

Chakra gathered at his feet and burst forth in an instant, stretching his figure like a line, right as Uchiha Sasuke finished his sentence.

A golden flash—

Those cheers seemed to celebrate this moment.

Uchiha Sasuke's pupils widened.

So fast!

He barely raised his hand, forming a cross in front of him.

But Naruto's hand had already grabbed his face and slammed it down hard.

"Caliber?"

"Does something like that need to be mentioned?"

A thud hit the ground, dust billowed, mingling with Naruto's calm voice.

With one hand raised in a fist, the other reached to his back, hooking two kunai with his index and middle fingers.

A punch to the dust.

A crunching sound—

A block of hard wood was sent flying.

A substitution jutsu.

There was movement in the smoke.

Naruto was not surprised at all; in his eyes, ribbons floated. Those were ribbons representing chakra aura, which only he could see.

There were two representing Uchiha Sasuke.

One circled behind the crowd, the other charged openly to the left.

He waved his hand.

Kunai shot towards those two directions.

"You have indeed made some progress, but you are still far from me," Sasuke's voice came from the left.

Naruto ignored it, not even glancing to the left.

That was a clone.

The real Sasuke was—

He reached out and grabbed the thicker aura ribbon, twisting around.

Sure enough, he was behind him.

Dust-covered face, blood-stained forehead, having failed to avoid the first strike, Uchiha Sasuke looked extremely disheveled, raising a kunai to strike.

Clang!

But since that was the case.

The kunai collided with the one Naruto had shot earlier, falling to the ground.

The clone on the left was shot into a puff of smoke by another kunai.

Sasuke was shocked.

How did he detect it!

After being hit the first time, using the substitution jutsu to escape, he immediately used the clone jutsu.

And even let the clone speak to distract.

He didn't even look?

So confident he was behind him?

As thoughts surged.

Another golden stream of light.

Naruto stepped closer, chopping down with one hand, reaching to his back with the other.

This time, Sasuke was prepared, hands no longer in his pockets, barely able to keep up with this speed, raising his hands to defend.

But...

The attack suddenly came from below, hooking his calf, causing a sudden shift in his balance.

Naruto easily flipped Sasuke over.

A thud on the ground.

Sasuke tried to move again.

A slight prick at his neck, an old, no longer sharp kunai pressed against his throat.

"You lost, Uchiha Sasuke," Naruto announced softly.

Uchiha Sasuke, unwilling but unrefuting.

He looked at Naruto, shock and confusion in his eyes.

Unable to understand, how did this loser change so much in just a few days?

Iruka and the other students were also incredulous.

Uchiha Sasuke actually... lost.

Naruto straightened up, looking calmly at Sasuke, "You carry a heavy burden."

"But that's no reason to underestimate your opponent."

"You are not yet a strong person."

"You do not have the right to look down on others from above."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, clenching his fists.

Lowered his head.

He couldn't even beat a loser now?

Naruto paused slightly, raising his voice, not just speaking to Sasuke, but also to Iruka-sensei, and his classmates.

"The result is clear."

"I am not a loser."

"I am also a genius."

~~~

Readers should understand that Naruto is a kid who wants to be recognized.

Those Ribbons that Naruto are seeing are the visualization of Reiryoku (Spiritual Power)