The sun hung low over Konohagakure, casting long shadows across the Ninja Academy's training grounds. The air buzzed with the chatter of students, their laughter and shouts mingling with the clatter of practice weapons. I stood apart from the crowd, my hood pulled low to conceal the smaller pair of eyes beneath my normal ones. At twelve, I was already taller than most of my peers, my frame lean but deceptively strong, my muscles honed beyond what any child my age should possess. It wasn't just physical training—Sukuna's genius had reshaped my body, my chakra amplifying my strength to levels that made sparring with others almost unfair.
But I wasn't here to show off. I was here to learn, to refine, to build the foundation for my ambitions. Power wasn't just about destruction; it was about control, versatility, and survival. The Academy was a stepping stone, and I intended to master every tool it offered—especially those most overlooked.
The morning's lesson was on basic ninjutsu, but I'd already moved beyond the curriculum. Over the past year, I'd spent countless nights in my shack, poring over stolen scrolls and experimenting with chakra. Sukuna's intellect made learning effortless, like solving a puzzle I'd already seen the solution to. Basic medical ninjutsu was my latest focus—not out of some noble desire to heal, but because it was practical. A shinobi who could mend their own wounds, enhance their stamina, or even manipulate their body's limits was a shinobi who could outlast any opponent.
Today's exercise was a group project: a mock mission requiring teamwork to navigate an obstacle course while carrying an "injured" teammate. Iruka paired me with Naruto, Sakura, and a quiet boy named Shikamaru Nara. I could've laughed at the irony—me, Archon, the orphan with no ties, forced to play nice with the village's loudmouth, its fangirl, and a lazy genius.
"Alright, team!" Naruto pumped his fist, grinning ear to ear. "Let's do this! I'll carry the injured guy, no problem!"
Sakura sighed. "Naruto, you can't just charge in. We need a plan."
Shikamaru yawned, scratching his head. "This is such a drag. Why don't we just let Archon do it? He looks like he could carry all of us."
All eyes turned to me. I shrugged, keeping my tone neutral. "I'll handle the heavy lifting. Just don't slow me down."
The "injured" teammate was a weighted dummy, meant to simulate a wounded shinobi. While Naruto argued with Sakura about strategy, I hoisted the dummy onto my shoulder with ease. The weight was nothing—my chakra-enhanced strength made it feel like carrying a sack of rice. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his sharp mind no doubt filing away the observation.
The obstacle course was a maze of traps, ropes, and barriers, designed to test coordination and teamwork. Naruto barreled forward, predictably tripping a wire that sent a log swinging toward us. I reacted on instinct, channeling chakra into my hand and unleashing a precise Dismantle. The invisible blade sliced the log in half, the pieces crashing harmlessly to the ground.
"Whoa!" Naruto's eyes sparkled. "That was awesome, Archon! How'd you do that?"
"Focus," I said, not bothering to explain. Sukuna's techniques were mine alone, and I had no intention of sharing their secrets. Instead, I turned to Sakura, who was clutching her arm after scraping it on a thorned vine. "Hold still."
She blinked, confused, as I knelt beside her. I placed a hand over the shallow cut, focusing my chakra into a faint green glow. Medical ninjutsu wasn't flashy, but it was precise, requiring control and an understanding of the body's systems—something Sukuna's genius made trivial. The wound closed in seconds, leaving only a faint pink line.
Sakura stared, wide-eyed. "You… know medical ninjutsu? How?"
"Practice," I said simply, standing. "Now move. We're wasting time."
Shikamaru watched me closely, his lazy demeanor masking a calculating mind. "You're full of surprises, huh? That's not something they teach in the Academy."
I met his gaze, my smaller eyes hidden but my expression unyielding. "I don't wait for permission to learn."
The course took us through a mock forest, where we faced simulated enemies—wooden targets that popped up at random. Naruto and Sakura flailed with kunai, while Shikamaru used his shadow possession jutsu to pin a few in place. I didn't bother with weapons. A flick of my fingers sent Dismantle tearing through the targets, reducing them to splinters. When one "enemy" appeared behind Sakura, I moved faster than should've been possible, my chakra-enhanced muscles propelling me forward. I grabbed the dummy and tossed it aside with enough force to crack the ground.
"Show-off," Shikamaru muttered, but there was a hint of respect in his voice.
By the time we reached the finish line, our team had the fastest time. Iruka praised our teamwork, though I could tell he was watching me closely. My performance hadn't gone unnoticed, and I'd need to be careful not to reveal too much. The Hokage's spies were everywhere, and I had no desire to be labeled a threat—not yet.
That evening, I returned to my shack, the weight of the day settling over me. I wasn't the brooding loner I might've seemed. I didn't hate the world or revel in its darkness—I simply saw it for what it was: a battlefield where only the strong survived. My goals were clear: master every aspect of this world's shinobi arts, surpass its greatest warriors, and carve out a place where no one could control me. I wasn't driven by anger or vengeance, but by a cold, unshakable determination.
I sat cross-legged, my hands moving through seals as I practiced a new support technique: chakra-enhanced stamina. By cycling chakra through my muscles and organs, I could push my body beyond its natural limits, staying alert and strong even after hours of exertion. It wasn't as flashy as Dismantle or Cleave, but it was practical. A shinobi who didn't tire could outlast any foe.
Next, I turned to medical ninjutsu. I'd mastered basic healing—closing cuts, mending bruises—but I was experimenting with more advanced applications. Using a kunai, I made a shallow cut on my arm, then focused my chakra to accelerate cell regeneration. The wound closed in moments, leaving no scar. I pushed further, channeling chakra to dull the pain entirely, a trick that would let me fight through injuries that would cripple others.
My physical strength was another advantage. Sukuna's influence had reshaped my body, making me stronger, faster, and more durable than any twelve-year-old had any right to be. I could lift boulders, leap across rooftops, and withstand blows that would knock out my peers. But I kept it subtle, blending in with just enough skill to avoid suspicion.
The next day at the Academy, I found Naruto waiting for me outside the classroom. His grin was as bright as ever, but there was a seriousness in his eyes I hadn't seen before.
"Hey, Archon," he said, scratching the back of his head. "That stuff you did yesterday… it was pretty cool. You're strong, huh?"
I shrugged, keeping my tone light. "You're not bad yourself, Uzumaki. Just try not to trip over your own feet next time."
He laughed, undeterred. "Wanna train together sometime? I bet I could keep up with you!"
I considered it. Naruto was a wildcard, but his connection to the Nine-Tails made him valuable. Befriending him could open doors—or at least keep the village's eyes off me. "Maybe," I said. "If you can keep up."
As I walked away, I felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—not camaraderie, but a grudging respect. Naruto was reckless, loud, and infuriatingly optimistic, but he had potential. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be useful in the battles to come.
My days fell into a rhythm: Academy lessons by day, secret training by night. I honed my medical ninjutsu, my support techniques, and my physical prowess, all while keeping my true abilities hidden. Sukuna's genius guided me, but I wasn't him. I was Archon, an orphan with four eyes and a will of iron, reborn in a world that would either bow to me or burn.
The Ninja Academy was just the beginning. Out there, beyond Konoha's walls, were tailed beasts, rogue shinobi, and nations vying for power. I'd face them all, not as a villain or a hero, but as a force of nature. And when the time came, I'd show this world what it meant to wield the power of a king.