Naruto : Back to the Past

"Remember to release your clones, Naruto," Kushina reminded him, noticing that he still had his thirty shadow clones active around the house.

"Okay," Naruto responded. He had been hoping to let his clones practice for a few more hours, but heeding his mother's advice, he decided it was time to end their training.

"Release!" he exclaimed.

With a loud whoosh, all of Naruto's clones burst into clouds of white smoke. For a moment, the entire living room was enveloped in a thick fog of smoke from the disappearing clones. The white mist swirled around, creating a surreal scene before it gradually started to clear.

As the smoke dissipated, Kushina looked over at Naruto. He was standing still in the middle of the living room, appearing a bit dazed. The sudden influx of memories and experiences from the thirty clones likely overwhelmed him momentarily, as all their knowledge and skills from the training sessions were now part of his own memory.

『Notice!!! The Host has acquired level 1 Fuinjutsu skill. Progression to the level 2 has been completed by 0.9%.』

Naruto was completely taken aback by this development. 'How is this even possible?' he wondered, puzzled. He was aware that shadow clones could speed up his learning process, but becoming a level 1 Fuinjutsu master in just two days seemed incredible. Being at level 1 meant he now had a basic understanding and knowledge of Fuinjutsu, and he felt as if he could even execute some basic Fuinjutsu techniques.

『Notice!!! Whenever the Host learns a new Jutsu or practices an existing one, the experience gained from this training accumulates, contributing to the proficiency of the Jutsu. When the proficiency level of the Jutsu reaches 100%, the Jutsu advances to a higher level. With each level increase, new possibilities emerge, enhancing the effectiveness and reducing the execution time of the Jutsu.』

This formal explanation clarified the process for Naruto, helping him understand how his training with shadow clones had rapidly enhanced his Fuinjutsu skills. The idea that each practice session built upon his proficiency, ultimately leading to an increased level of mastery, made Naruto realize the potential of this training method. 

'In short, because of the Great Sage, my training speed has been further increased.' 

『Notice!!! Without Great Sage, it would have taken the Host another whole week of practice to become a Level 1 Fuinjutsu master.』

『 Notice!!! Would you like to read the description of your newly acquired skill?』

『Yes』 『 No』

'Show me....!!!' 

『Fuinjutsu』

『Level - 1』

『Passive - Skill』

『Description - Fuinjutsu is a type of jutsu that seals objects, living beings, and chakra, along with a wide variety of other things within another object. Fuinjutsu can also be used to restrict movement or unseal objects either from within something or someone.

Right now, the host only has taken the first step in becoming a True Fuinjutsu Master. The host has become a level 1 Novice Fuinjutsu Master.』

『Functions - Basics Learned: Understanding the fundamental principles of Fuinjutsu, basic chakra control, and introductory sealing techniques.

- Techniques Learned:

1. Basic Sealing Technique: Allows the host to seal small objects or amounts of chakra within scrolls or simple tags.

2. Chakra Binding Seal: A basic seal to restrict the flow of chakra in a contained object.

3. Simple Unsealing: Ability to unseal objects from basic scrolls or tags.』

The evening had set in, casting a dark veil outside, while inside, Kushina was almost done preparing dinner.

Click!

Naruto opened the door, and for a brief moment, his and Sarada's eyes locked. Almost immediately, Sarada's gaze dropped, her eyes widening a bit in surprise. She hadn't expected to see Naruto dressed only in knee-length black shorts, his upper body bare.

Naruto's physique was lean, his muscles subtly defined. Sarada quickly adjusted her glasses and looked away, trying to hide her reaction. In the dim light, Naruto didn't notice the slight redness tinting her cheeks. Sarada was blushing, caught off guard by his appearance.

"Are you always like this at home?" Sarada asked, her voice carrying a mix of fluster and irritation. She tried to sound casual, but it was clear that she was a bit embarrassed by the unexpected situation.

Realizing he was shirtless, Naruto gave a sheepish grin. "Oh... Sorry about that! I just took a shower and forgot to put on a shirt. Do you like what you see?" he teased, smirking playfully.

Naruto thought back to his recent training. 'I did train pretty hard in the past six months before coming here. It's no wonder I've gotten this lean and muscular,' he mused to himself, feeling a bit proud of his physical condition.

Sarada, trying to appear uninterested, responded with a huff, "Hmph! I don't care." She then stepped into the house, trying to maintain her composure.

But just before she fully entered, she couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Pervert!" Naruto caught the remark and couldn't help but chuckle, realizing she was more affected by his appearance than she wanted to admit.

As Sarada entered the house, Kushina emerged from the kitchen, a white apron tied around her waist. Her face lit up with joy at the sight of Sarada. "Sara-chan, it's so good to see you," she exclaimed warmly.

"Hello, Aunty," Sarada replied, managing a small smile. Naruto, leaning casually against the doorframe, watched the interaction between them. He noticed that Sarada's demeanor was much softer and more gentle with Kushina compared to her usual cold and detached attitude towards others.

"Make yourself comfortable, please. I'll have dinner ready in just a bit," Kushina said cheerfully. "You can chat with Naruto or watch some TV while you wait." She then hurried back to the kitchen, mindful of the food she was frying, which needed her attention to avoid getting overcooked.

After Kushina left the room, Naruto walked over and sat down next to Sarada on the couch. Although he maintained some distance, Sarada still gave him a look that was less than welcoming and scooted further away, increasing the gap between them. Her body language clearly indicated her desire for more personal space.

Naruto couldn't help but find humor in the situation. He saw Sarada's reaction as a bit innocent and naive, especially compared to the experiences and sights he had encountered in his previous world. Despite being 15 years old, there was much she hadn't seen or gone through.

"Sara-chan, how about we watch some TV?" he suggested, reaching for the TV remote. However, when he turned to look at Sarada, he was met with her glare. She was staring at him with the intensity of a tiny, furious kitten, almost as if she was ready to pounce.

"What's wrong, Sara-chan...?" he started to ask but quickly had to dodge a couch pillow that Sarada threw at him in her embarrassment.

Naruto found her reaction both cute and amusing. Sarada was blushing intensely, yet her eyes sparkled with annoyance and anger. He understood why she was upset, but he couldn't deny the charm in her flushed, annoyed expression. To him, Sarada looked endearingly cute in this state, her emotions playing out so vividly on her face.

This version of Sarada, so different from her usual cold and unemotional demeanor, was a refreshing change for Naruto. He thought that if Sarada wasn't always so distant from everyone, she might have been recognized as the fifth most popular girl at the Ninja Academy. But her aloof nature kept people at a distance, earning her the reputation of being the number one loner in the entire school.

"Don't call me that," Sarada said sharply, her glare intensifying, resembling a small but fierce kitten. If Kushina hadn't been in the kitchen, within view of the living room, Sarada might have already leaped at Naruto in her annoyance. Right now, she was like a cat, hissing at him in irritation.

"Why not, Sara-chan?" Naruto asked, feigning ignorance to her displeasure.

"Because…!" Sarada found herself struggling to articulate why she didn't like the nickname. She was too embarrassed to explain it, and Naruto, sensing this, was playfully using it to his advantage. He found teasing her in this way amusing and couldn't help but continue, enjoying the light-hearted interaction.

Just when Sarada was feeling cornered by Naruto's teasing, Kushina appeared from the kitchen, announcing that dinner was ready. "Naruto, Sarada, please wash your hands before we eat," Kushina instructed, offering Sarada a timely escape from Naruto's playful taunts.

At the dining table, Sarada chose a seat directly across from Naruto, facing him. The dinner spread was impressive – Kushina had prepared a variety of delicious dishes, filling the table with mouth-watering aromas.

Throughout the meal, Naruto couldn't resist the opportunity to continue his light-hearted teasing. "Sara-chan, how's the food?" he would ask, his tone playful. Each time he used the nickname, Sarada responded with a glare, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. She felt too shy to react openly in front of Kushina.

Kushina, observing their interactions, found them quite amusing. She enjoyed the lively atmosphere they brought to the dinner table, seeing the playful side of Sarada that she rarely showed to others.

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Once again thank you for reading this chapter. I really appreciate all the power stones that you all have given to this novel. Your comments and your power stones do make a big difference. 

Five more chapters before this volume ends and Timeskip starts.