"Want to hear about my journey?" Tian Yu asked Naruto, eyes slanted with amusement and a teasing smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically, his golden hair bobbing. He looked just like a loyal puppy eager for attention, completely docile before Tian Yu.
If Iruka, who was probably suffering another headache trying to manage Naruto, saw how obedient he was now, he'd be so stunned his jaw would probably hit the floor.
"I'll tell you… but don't expect just one or two stories. I've seen those monsters you just mentioned—during my time training outside the village. There's a storm of stories inside me." Tian Yu grinned, deliberately raising Naruto's anticipation.
"Big Brother Tian Yu, tell me now! Please!" Naruto begged with wide eyes and a panicked urgency, afraid the story might slip away.
"I'll tell you, but I've got a condition," Tian Yu said.
"A condition?" Naruto blinked.
"Train seriously. Not half-heartedly. That's the deal."
"Train? Again?" Naruto looked like he'd just swallowed a bitter medicine. "But training is really tough! I still can't even get the Clone Jutsu right..."
"I can teach you."
Tian Yu's tone was calm but firm.
"But you have to promise me that you won't back down when things get hard. I won't accept any excuses."
He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder like a proper big brother and spoke with genuine conviction.
"Naruto, I may be your friend now, but I know deep down you want more than just that. You want the people of this village to acknowledge you. To see you, not as the Nine-Tails' container, but as yourself. Right?"
---
Chapter 50: Guiding Naruto
They arrived at a quiet, open training field deep in the Hidden Leaf Village.
"So, what's this awesome jutsu you're teaching me, Big Brother Tian Yu?" Naruto asked, eyes glowing with curiosity. "Is it stronger than the Three Techniques?"
"Of course. The Three Techniques—Clone, Substitution, and Transformation—are just the basics taught in the Academy." Tian Yu chuckled. "What I'll teach you is a far more advanced form of the Clone Technique… it's called the Shadow Clone Jutsu."
"Shadow Clone?!"
Naruto's jaw dropped so wide it looked like he might swallow a rice ball whole.
"But I can't even get the basic Clone Jutsu right! How am I supposed to learn something more advanced?!"
Naruto scratched his hair in frustration, self-doubt surfacing.
"Relax. I'm here to help you. And the way I teach is completely different from the Academy's boring style."
With that, Tian Yu took out a custom-forged kunai, infused it with his chakra, and hurled it forward.
Poof!
A burst of white smoke exploded, and three identical shadow clones appeared beside him.
"See? This kunai is embedded with chakra-based seals I developed. It can cast the Shadow Clone Jutsu when chakra is channeled properly."
He handed the kunai to Naruto. "Try it. Channel your chakra like I did."
Naruto gulped, focused hard, and mimicked Tian Yu.
Poof!
Three identical Naruto clones popped into existence.
"I… I did it?! I really did it?! I released the jutsu?!" Naruto's eyes sparkled, and he leapt into the air. "YES! I can use Shadow Clone Jutsu now!"
Tian Yu chuckled, then tempered Naruto's joy gently. "Technically, it was my kunai doing the work. You've felt what it's like to use the technique—but your real training starts now."
"Oh…" Naruto looked a little deflated, but quickly brightened. "So that kunai is your invention? That's so cool!"
"My family runs a ninja tool shop. I forge things myself. That kunai is one of my proudest designs."
"Can I have it?!" Naruto nearly tackled him.
"If you're serious about training, then I'll consider it," Tian Yu replied with a smirk.
Naruto immediately straightened up. "Yes, sir! I'll train seriously! Please teach me!"
"Good. Now that you've felt how it works, let's begin with the proper hand seals…"
…
During Tian Yu's four years of training with Might Guy outside the village, he didn't just hone his taijutsu. Guy also passed on what he knew about chakra control and ninjutsu. Though Guy wasn't a ninjutsu master, he made sure Tian Yu had access to B-rank techniques like the Shadow Clone Jutsu—something Tian Yu quickly mastered thanks to his dual aptitude in chakra flow and tool forging.
Now, Tian Yu was adapting that technique into a teaching method that even someone like Naruto—who struggled with chakra control—could understand.
And the results were already showing.
Just as Tian Yu was about to teach the next step, the crisp sound of a bell-like laugh echoed from the distance.
He and Naruto turned around.
It was Tian Tian and Hinata, running hand-in-hand toward them.
"Heeheehee! Brother, you'll never guess what just happened!" Tian Tian beamed mischievously. "Hinata literally ran to me after school, asking if you were back. I swear, she's totally fallen for you!"
Tian Tian giggled so loudly that even Hinata—usually shy—turned red up to the tips of her ears.
"Tian… Tian Tian! That's not true—I was just worried about Tian Yu-kun!" Hinata whispered like a startled sparrow, barely audible.
---
Chapter 51: The Blooming Petal
Hinata's eyes accidentally met Tian Yu's, but quickly darted away. She clutched the edge of her sleeve and shifted nervously.
Then her gaze landed on Naruto.
Wait… wasn't Naruto struggling with Clone Jutsu just a few days ago? How is he suddenly using Shadow Clones?!
Hinata's mind raced. She immediately guessed the answer—Tian Yu must've taught him.
A quiet fire sparked in her chest.
If I could become stronger too…
With a burst of courage rarely seen from her, Hinata took a step forward.
"T-Tian Yu-kun… could you… guide my training too?"
There was a beat of silence.
Everyone was shocked.
Even Tian Tian blinked in surprise.
But Tian Yu just smiled warmly and nodded. "If you want to learn, then of course."
"Really? Really?!" Hinata looked like she might cry from happiness.
"Of course," Tian Yu said gently.
"I want to become stronger too…" Her voice was soft, but her eyes were firm—like a gentle flower blooming at the edge of a stormy cliff.
Tian Tian couldn't help but stifle a laugh and tugged at Naruto's sleeve.
"Alright, Naruto, we're gonna leave these two alone for training."
"Wait, what? Why?" Naruto flailed.
"Because, you idiot, Hinata wants some one-on-one time with my brother," Tian Tian said with a big grin as she dragged him away. "Don't ruin the mood!"
…
Days passed after the graduation exam.
Tian Yu and his friends went to get their official ninja ID photos taken and received a formal summons to return to the academy.
When they arrived, the classroom was already packed.
Most students wore their forehead protectors on their foreheads. Tian Tian and Rock Lee (Li Luo) wore theirs around their necks, while Tian Yu tied his on his left arm—subtly distinct, like his usual style.
Everyone's eyes gleamed with hope for the future.
But little did they know, the real test of becoming a shinobi was just beginning.
A Chūnin instructor stepped into the classroom.
"Congratulations!" he announced. "From today onward, you are all officially Genin. However, as Genin, you'll be placed into teams of three, under the guidance of a Jōnin instructor."
"Now, I'll start announcing team assignments."
At the mention of three-man squads, the class erupted in whispers.
Everyone began scanning the room, wondering who they'd be teamed up with.
Most eyes slowly drifted toward Tian Yu.
Though he had been gone for years, the image of him defeating Hyūga Neji in that stunning academy duel four years ago was unforgettable.
Being teamed with someone like him was like winning the lottery.
The instructor opened the list.
"Inuzuka Hazuki, Aburame Shido, Hyūga Tenki…"