Classes at the Ninja Academy were incredibly boring, especially since most of the curriculum focused on theory.
And let's be honest—these "theories" were barely applicable in real combat.
Take Basic Kunai Theory and Application, for instance.
Sure, calculating a throwing arc sounds cool, but unless you're a human calculator, your opponent will have moved by the time you're done.
> Useful?
Sometimes.
Reliable in battle?
Almost never.
It was no wonder that students with the highest theory scores often died first in battle. Those with clan techniques and real-world training? They survived.
Welcome to post-bloodline Fire Shadow World, where lineage > grades.
To be fair, not everything taught at the academy was useless.
Things like:
Basic survival techniques (somewhat helpful… unless you're Naruto, who grew up surviving on his own),
Tool types and combat usage,
Hand seal accuracy…
…but let's be real:
By the time the war arc hits, nobody's using hand seals anymore.
They're just clapping their hands and summoning nuclear-level jutsus like it's nothing.
As for ninja tools? By then, they're obsolete.
Even the famed Three Basic Techniques (Transformation, Substitution, Clone) were… meh.
Naruto's verdict?
> Clone Jutsu: Useless. Everyone uses Shadow Clones or elemental clones now.
Substitution: Once hyped as pre-time-space jutsu, later confirmed to be just an illusion technique.
Transformation: Slightly useful, unless you're up against a sensor-nin. Needs White Zetsu-level transformation skill to matter. Only real success? Reverse Harem Technique vs. Kaguya.
Bottom line?
Great for civilian students.
Mildly useful for clan kids.
Completely worthless for Naruto, except as a stepping stone.
> "My time is valuable. I'm not wasting it playing pretend ninja."
After just three days, Naruto had already drawn his conclusions.
And if anyone claimed the academy was also for socializing?
He looked around at how the other kids treated him.
> "With the kind of malice they're throwing at me, I'd rather stay solo. I'm on a different level anyway—just being a Jinchūriki separates me from them."
---
"If only I had Shadow Clone Jutsu…"
Naruto yawned as a teacher droned on about The Essence of the Will of Fire.
Meanwhile, he daydreamed of Shadow Clone Jutsu—not just for training, but for dodging this nonsense.
Sure, the Dragon Ball world had a clone move: Tenshinhan's Four-Body Split, but it wasn't something Goku ever learned.
> "Gotta get my hands on Shadow Clones someday… But no one's gonna teach me."
In the original timeline, Naruto learned it by stealing the Scroll of Seals right before graduation.
In this timeline? That plan was off the table.
> "Guess I'll just have to wait…"
Thankfully, there was one silver lining: after he declared his dream to become a great ninja like the Fourth Hokage, the ANBU tailing him disappeared.
> "Maybe the old man thinks I don't need babysitting anymore… or maybe something else's going on."
Either way, it meant freedom.
With no one monitoring him, he could resume training:
Flight technique (Bukujutsu)
Kamehameha training
were back on the menu.
---
Drip… drip… drip…
A familiar, yet distant sound echoed in Naruto's dreams.
Water?
He opened his eyes.
> "The seal space…"
It had been a long time.
Between daily Turtle School training and collapsing into bed each night, Naruto hadn't had time to enter his inner world.
And yet now… something was different.
He looked down.
> "Water?"
There was a puddle forming under his feet.
That was odd. He had already replaced this damp sewer landscape long ago—transformed it into a vibrant green meadow.
> "Why is it back to the old version?"
Not just that—he hadn't heard from Goku (Kakarot) in a while.
Eyes narrowing, he floated upward.
> Flight Technique engaged.
At top speed, he soared toward the giant sealed gate.
The symbol seal remained unchanged.
But something else had…
Instead of an orange-suited man with spiky hair, what greeted him now was a massive, hulking shadow.
> No way…
A booming voice growled:
> "Oi, brat! Come closer!"
As Naruto floated forward, the darkness parted—and the silhouette became unmistakable.
A giant red fox with nine massive tails, snarling behind the bars.
Its eyes glared down at him.
> That face… I'll never forget it.
It was the same Nine-Tails he saw the moment he arrived in this world.
> My other cheat code… is back?
But then, where was Kakarot?
---
The beast grinned, flashing rows of sharp white teeth.
> "What's wrong? Scared already?"
Naruto blinked, but quickly recomposed himself.
He hovered higher, leveled his eyes with the Nine-Tails, and snapped his fingers.
> "Let there be light."
The space lit up brilliantly.
The Nine-Tails blinked, impressed.
> "Interesting little runt…"
> Not bad… maybe this Jinchūriki is something else.
---
Naruto offered a polite bow.
> "Nice to meet you, Mr. Big Fox. It's an honor."
The Nine-Tails sneered.
> "Spare me the flattery. Just say what you want."
Naruto didn't hesitate.
> "Where have you been these past two years?"
> "And also… where's my teacher?"
He was genuinely concerned. If Kurama was here now… what had happened to Goku?
But the answer he received left him even more confused.
> "Brat… what are you talking about?"
> "I've been here the whole time."
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