Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

The sun set, casting an orange glow over the training ground, and Boruto lay on the ground, gasping heavily.

"Already tired? Is this the resolve you spoke of? Get up and keep training!" Naruto ordered sternly.

"Yes!"

Gritting his teeth, Boruto rose again, pushing through the exhaustion. Three hours of intense training had left him drained, but he was determined to prove himself. He had made a promise to train diligently, and he wasn't about to back down.

One hour!

Two hours!

Three hours!

…

By midnight, Boruto had trained for another six hours, finally reaching his limit. He collapsed on the ground, unable to move.

"I need… rest." He muttered, his voice shaky with exhaustion.

"Fine, I'll let you off for today. Get a good night's sleep, but don't expect to slack off tomorrow." Naruto said helplessly.

Boruto rolled his eyes in anger, "I've training for over nine hours… harder than I've ever trained before. How can you call that slacking?"

His pride stung, especially since he was being accused of something he felt was unfair. If Naruto had said he was inexperienced, he could accept that, but slacking? That was too much.

"Nine hours, and you think that's impressive? I'm embarrassed for you. Look at the others!"

Naruto pointed toward the small lake.

In the small lake, Neji and Sasuke were still sparring intensely. Near the shore, Tenten continued to practice her weapon mastery.

Even Lee, covered in bruises and wrapped in blood-stained bandages, was staggering in laps around the lake, his resolve unbroken as he continued to chant, "Youth! Youth!"

Naruto continued, "They're also human. You think they don't feel exhaustion? They understand it more than anyone."

"Then why… why do they push so hard?" Boruto asked, still puzzled.

"Because they are true Shinobi!"

Naruto said solemnly, "Their efforts today are for a better self tomorrow."

Boruto frowned and said, "I get it, success requires hard work, and effort is the right path. But there's a limit! This goes beyond hard work, it's just reckless!"

Naruto snorted coldly, "If everyone is working hard, then only by pushing beyond that can you stand out. Only by working hard now can you surpass your peers and be qualified to realize your dreams. How can you not understand that?"

Naruto's words struck Boruto deeply, making him realize why these Shinobi trained so relentlessly. But still, he couldn't shake his lingering doubt, "Fine, but if it's so important, what are you doing all day? You're just sitting around giving orders, resting while we all struggle. Why aren't you pushing yourself like everyone else?"

'Good grief… You dare to talk back to your father?'

Naruto laughed angrily, "So you think I don't train? You just haven't seen me at it. Ask the others if you don't believe me, and they'll tell you just how hard I've worked."

"Really?"

Skeptical, Boruto turned to the others by the lake and shouted, "Hey, was Naruto really that hardworking back then?"

As soon as he asked, the four people who were training were instantly discouraged.

"That's it, I'm done. I'm going home."

Sasuke said, the first to break the silence.

"This is pointless, I'm out," Neji muttered, jumping out of the lake.

"I'll clean up the Ninja Tools tomorrow."

Tenten said, dropping her scrolls and walking away.

"Time for a hospital visit to rewrap these bandages."

Lee said, abandoning his training.

Boruto was left bewildered by this. He then asked in confusion, "Wait, what just happened to everyone?"

Boruto couldn't help but notice the defeated expressions on everyone's faces, as if they had been struck by some invisible blow. The intense drive they'd shown earlier had vanished, leaving them dispirited.

With a sigh, Sasuke spoke up, "Boruto, we are not on the same path as Naruto. To outsiders, we might look like geniuses, but compared to him, we're nothing. Even with a hundred times the effort, I can't measure up to Naruto's true genius."

"What does that mean?" Boruto asked puzzledly.

Neji pointed at Lee and explained to Boruto, "Let me give you an example. Look at Lee, he trains day and night, pushing himself to open the sixth gate in the Eight Gates Technique, yet he's left in this pitiful state. But do you know what it was like for Naruto? He trained for just one hour and could open all the eight gates without suffering any backlash. Now, do you understand the difference?"

"All that shows is that Naruto has natural talent. I'm asking if he put in any effort before."

Boruto replied, finding their responses entirely off track.

Tenten frowned and said, "Aren't you even a little shocked?"

Boruto shook his head and said, "Not really. So he learns Ninjutsu faster than others, and that just means he's gifted. Why would that be surprising?"

To him, it was only natural. After all, his father was the Nanadaime Hokage in his own time, and exceptional talent was a given.

Sasuke couldn't help but frowned and said, "I just realized that your brain circuit is not normal. Let me put it simply: Naruto hardly needed to exert himself to achieve things the rest of us worked tirelessly for. Aren't you the least bit envious?"

Boruto shook his head again and said, "Nope, why would I be? It's just about learning Ninjutsu quickly."

"You're a hypocrite." Sasuke shook his head helplessly.

"Who are you calling hypocrite? In fact, since the lake's running low, I'll show you a little trick. I will show you a trick. I can do Ninjutsu even if I don't learn it."

As he said that, Boruto pulled out his Scientific Ninja Tool, strapped it onto his wrist, loaded a small scroll, and then aimed it at the lake, muttering, "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Bang!

From the device erupted a torrent of water, forming the head of a dragon as it crashed into the lake, not only filling it but spilling water along its banks.

"What the…?" Sasuke, Neji, Lee, and Tenten exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide with shock.

'Since when could Water Dragon Technique be used without hand seals?'

'And wasn't Boruto supposed to be out of Chakra?'

Neji quickly activated his Byakugan, confirming Boruto's Chakra was indeed depleted.

'Then where had this Ninjutsu come from? Was it really some kind of magic trick?'

Boruto explained casually, "Think of it as a type of trick. With the Scientific Ninja Tool, I can perform different Ninjutsu without learning them at all. That's why I'm not jealous of Naruto's talent."

"If you have such a skill, then why waste your time working hard all afternoon? If you'd said something earlier, I wouldn't have bothered either. I'd just learn these tricks."

Sasuke was speechless.

What is the purpose of working hard? It's to master more Ninjutsu and become stronger.

But now that Boruto showed a trick that can defy common sense, why should he work so hard?

Not only did he think so, but everyone else, even Naruto, thought so.

Naruto never thought that the small machine in Boruto's backpack would be so powerful.

'No wonder Boruto cheated in the Chunin Exams. With the Scientific ninja tools, who wouldn't be tempted to cheat?'

'Mastering it would mean never needing to study or train again.'

But Boruto shook his head helplessly and said seriously, "This thing is not invented by me. I can use this method to perform tricks, and so can others. So if everyone relies on this shortcut, then what really matters? What counts is still the Shinobi themselves..."