[Behold my Mystical Palm Teique!]

  [Sp!]

  ["Why did you hit me?!" — Jiraiya, Naruto, Minato Namikaze, Hashirama Senju, the Toad Sage, the White Snake Sage, the Slug Sage, the Sage of Six Paths…]

  "?!

  Link jolted awake, feeling uneasy after having an inexplicable dream.

  Ever since he successfully mastered the Chakra Scalpel teique over a week ago, he was on the verge of mastering the Mystical Palm Teique as well. The name sounded powerful, yet its actual meaning was ambiguous.

  The word "palm" had multiple interpretations, and "mystical" could vary depending on text. Whether the terms "mystical" and "teique" were linked was even harder to decipher. The phrasi room for endless interpretations.

  How could he not let his imagination run wild? While diligently practig, he couldn’t help but wonder what the teique’s effect would look like.

  Last night’s dream had featured him spping the faces of several promi sages.

  "It couldn’t possibly be that abstract, could it…"

  Sighing, Link dismissed the thought. It wasn’t like the ninja world cked abstract teiques.

  "Whatever. Time to get up and start training. A few silly teiques won’t hurt amidst all the serious ones."

  …

  A Day in Link’s Life in Konoha:

  M started with a banced mix of physical training and dodgeball exercises, followed by a visit to the Medical Corps’ HQ to literally "touch fish" (and practice healing teiques). After lunch, he assisted at the hospital, treating a few patients.

  Post-work, he returo the training grounds to practiinjutsu, summoning random Stand abilities, or occasionally perf summoning jutsu (a.k.a. dialing random sage calls). In the evening, he visited Nara Ensui (who was fully healed but pretending otherwise).

  Dinner was typically a satisfying bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.

  Bae, he enjoyed a massage from his shadow while reviewing medical knowledge and ninjutsu scrolls. His nightly routine cluded with a gss of milk and two calcium tablets befoing to bed promptly at 9 p.m.

  "Am I relying too muy shadow?"

  Watg it tuck him into bed, Link chuckled silently.

  Could there be anyone more reliable or trustworthy than his shadow?

  With a soft "click," the shadow turned off the light, closed the curtains, and arranged his slippers ly.

  The room plunged into darkness. Link closed his eyes, knowing his shadow was there—always would be there.

  "Goodnight."

  …

  "Knock, knock, knock!"

  The m, Link was awakened by someoapping on his window. Still groggy, he gestured for his shadow to open it.

  "Good m, Link!" Naruto Uzumaki bounded into the room. Ever siurning from his first mission outside the vilge, the boy had been practically vibrating with excitement.

  The shadow fetched a gss of milk from the fridge and ha to the visitor.

  "Don’t people in this vilge know how to use doors?"

  Yawning, Link sat up and g Naruto. The boy did seem a bit more posed after his Land of Waves mission…

  "I want to challenge you!" Naruto’s eyes burned with determination. "I want to see how much stronger I’ve gotten pared to you!"

  "Hmm…"

  Link got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, dragging his slippers. "How about this afternoon? Don’t you have a mission or something?"

  "Uh…" Naruto gulped down his milk and wiped his mouth. "Our missions tely have been way too easy. There’s no room for me to shine!"

  Grumbling, he eyed the shadow cooking breakfast with envy.

  "Man, this teique is just way too ve…"

  After washing up, Link replied, "Even simple missioo be pleted. That’s the ninja way."

  "I know, I know…" Naruto scratched the back of his head. "But Kakashi-sensei is always te. We were supposed to meet nearby half an ho, and I bet he won’t show up for awo or three hours."

  "So you decided to bother me first thing in the m?" Link sat at the table. "Have you eaten breakfast? Join me."

  Naruto patted his stomach but sat down anyway.

  The shadorepared tws, silently stepping aside after serving them.

  "This is delicious!" Naruto excimed.

  Link smirked. Sihe shadow’s cooking was essentially aension of his own, he had spent some spare time honing his ary skills.

  Breakfast over, Link wiped his mouth. "Let’s meet at Training Ground Seven this afternoon. Deal?"

  "Deal!" Naruto ched his fists, brimming with fighting spirit. "I’ve gotten way stronger, Link. Don’t uimate me!"

  "Got it, got it."

  After seeing Naruto off (the boy exited via the window again), Link ged into his running gear.

  As he stepped outside to stretch, he spotted Team Seven oreet across from his apartment building.

  So that’s what Naruto meant by "nearby"—just downstairs.

  Sasuke Uchiha leaned against a wall, staring pensively at the ground, while Sakura Haruno waved cheerfully.

  Liurhe gesture and jogged off, leaving the old, cramped ninja apartments behind. These buildings, including Naruto’s pear the academy, were far from the bustli of Konoha.

  "Yo!"

  A familiar green blur zipped up beside Link mid-run. Bushy brows twitched with enthusiasm.

  "Good m, Link! Let’s burn our youth together!"

  "Whoever finishes a p first gets a brand-new set of nunchaku!"

  "Ohhh!" A smaller green blur screamed iement and vanished dowreet.

  "Ahhh, my youth is on fire!" Might Guy howled, bolting after his mini-me.

  Bleam