I could sleep no more than four hours a night, realizing the full seriousness of the situation.
Several hundred people dead.
In one night.
I knew it would happen, knew it, and did nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Damn, I'd even visited the main Uchiha family once. Itachi invited me over in the evening after Kendo training with Sasuke. They fed me not just good rice but fresh vegetables too. I nodded and thanked them every ten minutes or so.
Now those people are gone.
Seeing Itachi's sad face on the training ground, more than anything, I wanted to tell him he didn't have to do what the Hokage and those crazy old geezers demanded. If I'd thought about it sooner, I'm sure I could've found a way out. If needed, I'd have played my Nine-Tails ace. I'd have sided with the Uchihas or the Third, guaranteeing defeat for anyone who tried to break the deal. Even if it meant dying to unleash that power—after all, I'm already dead, and this is all... Not my thing anyway... I could never go full throttle like the original Naruto. He at least didn't know everything I do and acted on the fly.
For the next week after that night, classes at the Academy were canceled. Playgrounds, theaters, markets (except food ones), and other entertainment spots were closed. Former orphans in the dorms were kept on Academy grounds. I didn't care and could've snuck out anyway, but there wasn't much point. Patrols were everywhere like dirt—I never imagined Konoha had SO many troops. Two or three shinobi at nearly every intersection. Plus those on fixed posts, the wall, Hokage residence—which was already well-guarded anyway. Outer patrols and those still on missions.
The whole week, Sasuke was kept in the central hospital under heavy guard. They wouldn't even let me in during the day. Regular shinobi around the perimeter, and from the roof, guys in cloaks with hoods and animal masks watched me.
Fucking idiots.
I doubt they're having a staff psychologist work with the kid right now. Teacher Iruka, in response to my request to visit Sasuke and tons of girly whining from Sakura, Ino, and everyone else, said even he wasn't allowed in.
Good job.
Exactly what the kid who went through that needs, you bastards. You're leaving him alone with all those thoughts and memories—probably without even trying to soften it—and he's your last Uchiha. If he's worth anything even as a living weapon, you're pushing him straight into deep psychological instability with your idiotic visitor ban right now. Maybe if he felt support from peers, it'd be at least a little easier to get through this shit.
On the third day, Iruka gathered us all in the lecture hall and earnestly explained the rules of conduct during an Emergency Situation. It was a perfect excuse to leave us on self-study learning the manual until evening. I didn't care—I live a hundred meters from the Academy—but the faces of our clan kids, whose parents all showed up en masse, expressed universal despair. To my surprise, at that lesson, Iruka handed out black-and-white printed portraits of Itachi from some print shop to everyone. He said if we saw this man, run and report to the nearest patrol. He also outlined some rules for such cases. Iruka explained in detail what the Sharingan looks like in the eye, ordered us not to look it in the eyes under any circumstances, and to leg it. Portraits of Itachi hung on every pole in the village. Parents were apparently told separately not to take kids out on the streets.
I couldn't resist trying a nighttime raid. Though a huge frog of awakened laziness choked me for a while, plus realizing Sasuke was basically nobody to me. I never even liked him much as an anime character, and right now I was helping with his training mostly for a favorable trade. I gave him anime insights; he gave me throwing practice. By the way, thanks to that practice with Sasuke, I finally stabilized top scores in that assessment. But understanding that blowing off this guy would be digging my own grave—mainly because his mental stability would determine my body's survival in a ton of situations—helped overcome the doubts.
I have no right to leave Sasuke to stew in this alone, and I have to influence him as much as I can. While there's still time. While this is just the first breaking point.
It was pretty chilly on the streets at night—even the hooded sweatshirt didn't help much.
Patrols hadn't thinned out, so I had to be extra careful. Sneaking, dashing, and hiding—even from shinobi spotting movement—my small size helped. And in my past life, I played hide-and-seek professionally; here I just honed it.
The Academy dorm was right near the central road, which I couldn't go out on— at two a.m., I'd get caught instantly by patrols on every corner. Had to go around the "mission distribution center" where the Hokage or authorized reps hand out missions and handle all non-classified business, including where the village council sits with clan heads, and from there—not the main Hokage building—city management happens.
And yeah, even now, calling Konoha a village barely rolls off the tongue. By size and population, it's a city. Small, but a city.
Normal heroes always go around, so I went around through the alley. Waited behind a dumpster till the next patrol passed, then dashed across the central avenue to the building next to the hospital.
Running right up to the hospital like that—no way. Just needs tanks around the perimeter.
I decided to use the height difference between buildings. More precisely, the neighboring one, which I was now climbing via the fire escape after circling around and confirming the alley wasn't visible. Probably the tallest building in Konoha right now. Specifically, the Yamanaka flower shop. To be exact, the shop's just part of the first floor. The Yamanaka clan also owns Konoha's largest inn. There are three in total. This one, one at the hot springs—the local red-light district. And the residence and Hokage building, as I heard, are also set aside for VIP guests, with one or two floors always reserved.
Water tower on the inn roof. That's my spot.
No one on the hospital roof, it seems. About a hundred-twenty meters eyeballing it. Not sure I'll hit, but it'll be a good test of the new skill.
Tying metal wire to a shuriken, I spun it good and threw toward the hospital roof. A bit off—even if it reached, it'd miss. For that, I had two more shurikens: spun one low, the other spun opposite and accounting for wind drift away from the first. Had to time it perfectly within one-and-a-half seconds of the wired shuriken's flight. The low one nicked the edge of the blade, keeping the first from losing height, and the second hit the right side, correcting the trajectory. I hit the roof edge and hooked the railing. Tighten, wrap around the nearest something... Oh, ladder...
Done.
Now I had to traverse the taut wire—or more precisely, run while the shuriken was hooked on the roof-edge railing. Pressing down with my body weight, that shit wouldn't hold long. Not a harpoon...
Focusing chakra and crossing myself, I jumped and ran along the super-thin wire. Made it thirty meters tops and realized if I reached even the middle, I'd plummet. Mid-run, focusing another burst of chakra, I leaped forward and up as far as I could. Cold headwind ripped off my hood, and I nearly smashed into the top floor, but lucked out and used the last resort. Wire tied to my wooden sword, other end to my belt. Yeah, I wear local jeans equivalent here too, though the quality sucks. Anyway, barely holding back a five-letter word for the whole neighborhood, I drew my sword mid-air and threw it over the railing, dangling between the third and second floors.
Somehow I hauled myself onto the roof. Didn't make much noise, and they didn't swing the spotlights they dragged here at me. I climbed the corner on the hospital's rear side. Shinobi patrolled around, plus groups of three-four held posts at all entrances. Spotlights were in the hospital yard: two on the west and one at the main entrance. Two shinobi each.
How'd they leave the roof unguarded with all that security?
Just as I thought that and headed for the entrance, someone from ANBU appeared behind me.
"As far as I know, visitor entrance isn't here..." came from behind me.
Fuck!
I swear, if he hadn't opened his mouth, I wouldn't have sensed him at all! Where'd you pop out from, buddy?! Damn this anime habit of appearing suddenly and announcing yourself to start a dialogue. That voice from behind scared the shit out of me!
I had my sword in hand and, startled, swung full extension on instinct.
Step, and he's still behind me, my arm already grabbed at the forearm.
Instant, and he squeezed my arm so hard I involuntarily yelped in pain—hadn't happened in this world yet. Twisting my arm unnaturally, he gave a light push, and I face-planted on the roof.
"Huh... So you really are a kid?" he continued, crouching beside me, still pinning one leg on my back and my arm wrenched behind. Good thing I hadn't dropped the sword, though it was useless.
"Who'd you expect, damn it? Uchiha Itachi?!" At that, he released me and lifted his foot off my back.
"Nice thinking with the shurikens, kid, but next time use the door. Now put away your stick and head down."
"I came to see Uchiha Sasuke. I need to talk to him."
"Heh... Can't right now. And it's night... He's probably sleeping in a private room. When it's the Hokage's will, Sasuke'll return to the Academy. For now, it's for his own good."
"Bullshit!" One of the few local swears I'd learned and used most. "You guys don't get it at all?! If Itachi wanted him dead, he'd be dead like all the Uchihas! What's the point of guarding him?! Listen less to the old geezer!"
"Oy-oy..." He put a hand on my head. "Someone needs their mouth washed out with soap. You're Naruto, right?" My response was a sword swing. Naturally I missed his arm, but he'd pissed me off. "Huh? Kid, I said put away the stick before you hurt yourself..."
"I'm telling you, I need to talk to Sasuke!"
"Heh..." The boar-masked guy exhaled. "I'd love to let you through, but I have orders. Keep showboating, and I'll carry you to the Academy tied up, leave you here overnight. Now go down and don't get on my nerves..." As much as I wanted to say, I was powerless here. I could hardly beat a genin yet, let alone ANBU... So I lowered my sword and obediently surrendered. When they dragged me to sleepy Teacher Iruka, I didn't say a word. He apologized profusely to the hospital guards, walked me back to the dorm right to my room, but seeing my already deadpan face, said nothing about punishment—or the stolen Academy shurikens and wire.
A couple days after classes resumed, I set out searching the whole village for Sasuke again. That evening I wandered a bit but not thoroughly, so no luck. But on a day off morning, after morning exercises, I headed straight to the lake.
No dice.
Found him by the river, sitting on a small wooden pier where they usually fish. He'd clearly been there a while, since if the pier wasn't occupied by fishermen, he'd come even earlier.
Man... The guy's really marinated in this and gone deep into himself.
"Sasuke!" I called, heading down to him. No reaction. "Hey, Sasuke!" I called again, now close by. No reaction. Ignoring or really not hearing anymore? A rock picked up from the shore whistled straight at his head, but he intercepted it with a hand wave without turning and tossed it into the river.
"Leave me alone," was his reply.
"Hey, listen... You..." I started uncertainly, stepping closer. "Accept my condolences or whatever... Though it probably won't help, I'm really sorry about your family."
"Heh..." He sighed.
"What, don't wanna talk at all?"
"Leave me alone. I've had enough condolences." Yeah... I can imagine. Hokage, Iruka, everyone and their dog probably hounded him with that.
"I'm not just saying it... If you need help... Any kind! You can always count on me."
"Help? Heh... Don't make me laugh, Naruto... Thanks for trying, but I'm not in the mood for jokes."
"Not a joke." I was starting to get heated. "I really am sorry, and though I can't understand you. Probably never will. But I can help for sure. I won't let you shoulder all this alone. Your father and mother were kind to me... Rest assured, I won't forgive Itachi, but right now neither you nor I can do anything." That's when he turned to me for the first time, eyes full of rage and incomprehension.
"What do you care about my family?!" He started rising. "I'm telling you, Naruto, leave me alone! This is just between me and my brother!"
"You're wrong... It concerns everyone."
"Everyone?!" he shouted, now on his feet. "What do any of you care about me?! What do you care about Itachi and my family, huh?! He killed them for his own power lust! He... I'll destroy him! Find him and destroy him no matter what! You, Hokage, village... I spit on it all and everyone around!" He started waving his arms in my face. "If you get in my way... I'll kill everyone on my path!" And that was bad. He turned and tried to leave.
"You're gonna kill him like that?" I said to his back. "Itachi's Kage-level shinobi. You won't get close on a lame goat. He's a threat to the whole village or more—the whole country! What do you think a rogue shinobi does now?!"
"I don't give a fuck!" he yelled, whipping around. "I'll do whatever it takes! I'll get stronger! Don't care what level he's on! Stop pissing me off, Naruto! This doesn't concern you, I said it all!"
"I said you're wrong, and you should listen to me, Sasuke! You and I are future Konoha shinobi! If I face Itachi in the future, I'll fight him as a top-rank criminal, and I don't give a shit about your revenge! Get stronger, huh? Do everything?! Then stop pitying yourself and get back to the Academy first—then we'll see. Right now you're weaker than even me!" Oops... Last part was extra. He got seriously pissed.
"You?! Stronger than me?! Got lucky once and you think THAT highly of yourself?! Know your place, stray!"
And that was a mistake... I drew my wooden sword and missed; he kicked low and knocked it from my hand. I blocked his next two punches and leaped back, but he kept pressing. Spinning kick. Arm, knee, arm... Left, right, overhead spin...
Whew... Blocking okay so far, though he was crazy fast. Faster than sparring. Leg again... Ducked... Leaped from sweep.
Damn... Still not backing off, even jumped up. Nearly missed the overhead kick. My block wouldn't hold, so I dodged last-second and tried my own sweep, but Sasuke leaped back. There... He slowed... Thanks to my innate Uzumaki stamina.
One-two from me, but he dodged. Low kick blocked. Leg counter attempt, but I caught his leg and quick sweep. Sasuke pushed off the ground one-handed. Charging head strike blocked with both arms; he tried throwing me over by grabbing my arm, but I bridged like him and twisted free. Knee feint to break the hold. Another exchange of blows, swapping positions— this time I timed his counter for a throw over my shoulder. Didn't pin him, just booted his ribs like a ball; he rolled a few meters.
"Kgh..." Sounded like it hurt bad from his noises as he rose, coughing spit.
Suddenly he dropped into a wide stance and started seals.
Snake, ram, monkey, boar... Your mom... He's gonna roast me?!
Horse, tiger...
"'Fire: Fireball Technique!'" Shielding my eyes, I gathered as much chakra as I could. Knowing my brain would tell me to jump in the river, I did the dumbest thing in my new life.
Folding four fingers cross on my hands, I tried ninjutsu too.
"'Shadow Clone Technique!'"
Weirdly, it worked, and half a second before the car-sized compressed flame ball hit me, I created a shadow clone in front who crouched, letting me use him as a springboard to leap higher. The ball exploded right below me—the shockwave ringing my ears, hot air blast tossing me higher. Jumping tree to tree on obstacle courses had made me confident in the air. With that, I flew at Sasuke.
"Know your place, you say..." I started mid-air. "You should know yours before the son of the Fourth Hokage!" From ten meters up, I swung hard into his face. So hard he flew a couple meters and skidded a bit. I first thought I'd killed him. Anyone from my world taking that hit would be in ICU or dead. But Sasuke stirred after ten seconds, rose after another ten, and I went to help.
Man... Nose crooked, bloody gash on cheek from the strike. My fist's starting to ache too. Don't even wanna talk about how my soles felt hitting "asphalt" on landing.
"Hey, you two! What the hell are you doing?!" Shouts came from the upper tier.
When they dragged us by the scruff to Teacher Iruka, I even felt a bit ashamed. First time in nearly nine years here. Sasuke clammed up like a partisan under interrogation. I stayed silent too—if I were him, I would. Iruka was barely holding back curses; Mizuki even calmed him a bit.
Predictable outcome. All Academy and dorm toilets were ours for this and every other evening for a week. Iruka popped in now and then to check how thoroughly we scrubbed the bowls and urinals.
First couple days we barely talked; I started cleaning toilets earlier since Sasuke spent the first day in the infirmary. Then progress—we traded phrases like "hand me that" and "bring this." Neither he nor I planned to showboat or start round two.
"Hey, Naruto..." he said on the last toilet-scrubbing evening as he swapped the dirty bucket water for clean and set it by me. "You said 'know your place before the son of the Fourth'? You were joking then, right?" he asked. Wow, he remembered—I'd been telling myself for two days he missed my shout. And I was no better... Got too relaxed. Wasn't that hot-headed before arriving, but got mad and did stupid shit. Good thing I mastered a new technique—and kinda accidentally...
"Not a joke... But you don't give a shit about anything, right? Something change?"
"You... Where'd you get that?"
"When we toured the museum half a year ago, should've looked at the Hokage photos instead of weapons and junk. Ever seen the Fourth not carved in stone?"
"Didn't notice..." Sasuke admitted honestly.
"Anyway... Eyes, hair, face... I got it right away. Then read some in the Academy library and open archives. Uzumaki Kushina studied in the same Academy group as Minato Namikaze, future Fourth Hokage. She became his wife and died in the demon fox attack."
"So?" Sasuke didn't get it.
"Don't be dense, clan genius! My last name's Uzumaki, eyes and hair just like the Fourth's! You should know about the Uzumaki clan."
"Yeah, that clan was at the village's founding with Senju and Uchiha, but..."
"That's your 'but'... Kushina was from that Uzumaki clan, like the First's wife. No other Uzumakis in the village. Rumors say she was in late pregnancy around the demon fox attack. She and the Fourth die in that battle. Hospital unscathed—just outskirts and part of central avenue hit. How could a pregnant woman fight? She couldn't, so she gave birth to the Fourth's kid first, got it? That's me, right here—the hidden heir of the Fourth, thanks to our rulers."
"But..." Sasuke started, pondering as I kept mopping, wrung the rag, and went for round two on my section. "Though... It explains a lot. No one your age could achieve that without good bloodline."
"Thanks for believing me, even if I don't care."
"What're you gonna do if it's true? Elders and Hokage... Let's say they handled you very... ambiguously."
"Oh, believe me, they had serious reasons. But I don't care. I'll beat a confession and everything they owe me out of them, but for that, like you, I need power. Power on Itachi's level, say." Sasuke winced. "Right now, compared to him, we're nothing." He extended his hand.
"I... You didn't fully convince me, but... I think you get—even partially—what I'm feeling, and if your offer's help with power, then..." I set the rag aside and eyed his hand.
"I can achieve everything myself. I don't need handouts or pity, same as you. But if you're ready to help me stir up the hornet's nest in our village, I'm ready to help with Itachi—but I have a condition..."
"Condition?" Sasuke looked puzzled.
"Right now we're nothing to each other... But that can change."
"What do you mean?"
"We swear together to get revenge and stay loyal to each other—and become sworn brothers!"
"Sworn br... Naruto, you're not joking now?"
"I'm serious. Either we achieve our goal together, or we die trying. You and I against everyone else! Ready to swear such an oath?"
"Damn... Yeah. I'm ready."
"Perfect." We high-fived. "I swear to always come to my younger brother's aid."
"I swear..." Sasuke repeated uncertainly.
"I swear to put my younger brother's word and will above all others!"
"I swear!"
"I swear that we will win or die fighting shoulder to shoulder for our goals."
"I swear!"
"So be it." I finished improvising the oath on the spot. If I'd kept going, it would've turned into total crap anyway... "This is our ninja way!" And there it was... The crap.
***
"Wow... Not bad." I said, entering a fairly spacious apartment accompanied by Lord-Hokage.
"You like it, Naruto?"
"Of course, old man... I just don't quite get it."
"This is your apartment now."
"My own apartment? Old man, how... Some orphans live in the orphanage until they're fifteen. Where's this luck coming from for me?"
"You're not just any orphan—you're an Uzumaki Clan orphan. You've already studied history at the Academy, right?"
"Yeah... The Uzumaki were at the origins of the village and..."
"Yes, yes, I know you're a top student, Naruto... Anyway, this apartment used to belong to the Uzumaki. And since you were taken in as a clan ward before their final demise... The old man sighed and was clearly nervous, though this lie wasn't improvised. "I thought it was fair for it to end up with you. Even though the Uzumaki sold it to one of my students, he definitely won't live here, so now that you've turned ten, I think you can live here."
"Thank you, Lord Third." I addressed him formally and bowed. "But... It's kinda empty in here... Not even a proper kitchen."
"Don't worry about that. Consider everything else my birthday gift to you."
"And does Lord-Hokage often give out gifts like this?"
"Do orphans often become the top students of their generation, surpassing clan geniuses?" Touché, old man, touché...
"Well... I think Sasuke and I are about even. Not sure I can beat him..." I started justifying. "Again..." I corrected myself.
Finally, my own place... Dreams do come true.
I can't say that after the toilet oath, Sasuke and I became best friends inseparable like glue. We even sometimes don't greet each other when we see one another before class, but it's not because of anything... We've just studied each other well enough not to sweat the small stuff. The main thing is we know that when needed, Sasuke or I are always there for each other and always help, and the rest is crap. Though now I can casually shock all the girls gnawing their elbows in jealousy by walking up to Sasuke, kicking him, and inviting him to eat with me, Shikamaru, and fat... Choji.
Ken sort of drifted away from our group on his own. He was getting all Cs no matter how hard he tried. He had fewer and fewer common topics with us, so he approached us less and less often. And when I got my own apartment, he seemed outright offended and stopped talking to me altogether. Our last connection broke when I stopped being his roommate.
So we kept studying and training together with Sasuke, and only occasionally did Shikamaru or one of the girls (Sakura or Ino) muster enough nerve to tag along with our group. And if Ino mustered the nerve, Sakura would pointedly ignore us on principle, and if Sakura mustered the nerve... Well, you get it...
With them, we showed at best half of what we could really do. By ten, we'd solidly reached genin level.
Shadow clones are just something else!
Especially using them for training. Even Sasuke couldn't resist and learned the technique for accelerated grinding. But without my stamina and the amount of chakra—which I already had twice as much back then—he couldn't abuse it like I did.
Quick results rundown...
Tree climbing, vertical surfaces, and ceiling standing—mastered. That's the next stage of chakra control. Sasuke mastered chakra control too, albeit late. It boosted all his techniques hugely, including taijutsu. Now with his strikes even stronger and faster, plus a changed fighting style allowing mid-air taijutsu and wall/tree rebounds to attack from all angles, I think a hundred times before sparring him. It's about 40-60 in his favor here.
Contrary to my expectations, Kendo didn't interest him much. Thanks to him, I leveled up my sword swinging, but not by much.
We had no issues with graduation exams. In theory, Mizuki can't approach me now with the offer to... steal the Kage scroll containing forbidden techniques among others.
But after the Uchiha tragedy, I'm still not leaving this guy alone. He won't go alone for sure, right? But if he's still planning to steal the scroll, I don't want to learn about Iruka's or someone else's death just because I miscalculated anime events again.
On graduation day, I still stuck a clone on him anyway—I can casually summon about a hundred now. Shadow clone plus Transformation Technique, and even a Chunin notices nothing.
I figured Ken might fail graduation instead of me and Mizuki would recruit him, but surprisingly, the guy passed and got his headband.
I'll tail him for the day, then see.
Sasuke and I parted ways almost right after headbands and were set to meet at assignment in three days. We declared those three days off from extra training.
"Hey, Sasuke-kun... Wait up." Mizuki called to him just a couple blocks from the Academy.
"Mizuki-sensei?" Sasuke turned, questioningly.
"What sensei..." Mizuki played humble. "Iruka was your main instructor; I was just backup. So you finally decided to become a shinobi like your brother?" Sasuke's face changed instantly.
"You want to talk about Itachi? Sorry, but I'm not in the mood."
"No, I... I just saw your exam results. You're very strong, but..."
"Mizuki-sensei... With all due respect, I didn't show my full strength. Just the level needed to graduate with honors. I'm way stronger in reality."
"Stronger than the second 'top honors' student?" Mizuki said.
"Why are you bringing this up?"
"Naruto... I know you two sometimes train together. You're friends, but I'm sure you don't know a lot about him."
"What's Naruto got to do with it?"
"Oh... He's the key reason for a lot of events, but first—what do you know about the Nine-Tails attack?" At this point, my clone perked up, got closer, and taking the form of a stray dog, stepped out from the corner.
"Just the basics..." Sasuke said.
"What if I told you it's all connected... The demon fox attack, Naruto, and his power. And yes... Naruto is way stronger than you can imagine, and if he wants, even Itachi couldn't do anything..."
"Bullshit." Sasuke summed up. "I've seen everything Naruto can do. We're about equal in strength."
"You and he know far from everything, but I can prove it. The Hokage has a secret scroll with proof of my words. Help me, and I'll help you, Sasuke-kun."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"If you get the scroll, even Itachi will be easy prey, but first..." At that moment, he spun sharply and threw a kunai straight at the stray dog's head—which was my clone. It turned back into me and poofed.
***
"What a piece of shit!" I cursed, including in Russian, running and jumping through the village after sunset, dodging patrols searching for those two. Suddenly, Iruka appeared before me.
"Naruto? What the hell are you doing running around? Didn't you hear the village is on alert?"
"Heh-heh... Just heading home, Teacher Iruka."
"Your home's in the opposite direction. Don't try to fool me, Naruto. Is this you and Sasuke again?"
"Me and Sasuke?" I feigned surprise.
"Why do you need the Kage techniques scroll? Naruto, this isn't a joke anymore. Not a ninjutsu spar. Know what happens for this? You just graduated!"
"Teacher Iruka, I swear, this time it's not us..."
"You're so sure, like you know something I don't... Naruto, either you tell me everything now, or I drag you to Lord-Hokage!"
"Teacher Iruka, with all due respect, don't drag the old geezer into this. You can relax—this time I'll handle it."
"Handle what? Sasuke?"
"Damn it, Teacher, we don't have time. If anything, I'm already stronger than you! Let me pass or I'll go through you."
"You? Stronger..." Iruka was clearly pissed at the phrasing and bit his lip in anger. In an instant, he charged, elbowing me in the gut hard enough to send me flying—but I stayed on my feet thanks to chakra gathering.
"Naruto, there are tons of pissed-off shinobi around besides me. Tell me where Sasuke is and what you're up to!" I just grinned and whipped out my wooden sword from its sheath, hurling it at Iruka, who dodged easily with a puzzled look.
"Naruto, you can't beat me. Don't try..." My shadow clone vanishing right in front of Iruka's face made his eyes go even more wide than before. The wooden sword flying behind him turned into me and lunged forward at full speed.
Yeah, I was that sword.
Iruka naturally chased after me, but...
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
And I split into ten copies, totally confusing Iruka, who tried to pinpoint the real me by footsteps and confirmed they weren't illusions—but real shadow clones.
Screw you, Teacher Iruka.
I slipped Grandma, slipped Grandpa, slipped from another world. I'll definitely ditch you.
I found Sasuke and Mizuki about half an hour later by "go where there are fewer people."
The first was by a tree at one of the training grounds, scroll in hand, panting hard. The second was geared up beside him.
Judging by the scattered kunai, explosion marks, and Sasuke's fireballs around, Mizuki had framed him. The trees here are massive—enough to hide that carnage.
"Sorry, Sasuke, but hand over the scroll."
"Heh... I didn't risk my skin jumping traps just to give you this valuable thing."
"Then you won't be the last Uchiha—your brother officially will!" Mizuki yelled, hurling explosive-tagged kunai at Sasuke. Three kunai in three directions, and Sasuke couldn't dodge anymore.
"Shadow Clone Technique!" I landed from above right on the center kunai, covering it with my clone's body. The blast just shook Sasuke lightly. Right in front of Mizuki, I tossed my wooden sword; he leaped back sharply, and shuriken flew at me.
This ain't dumb kids... It's serious. He instantly clocked my position and countered. Mid-air, I shielded with another clone, rebounded, and dove down. Landed on the hilt of my sword stuck in the ground.
Considering my rain cloak, hood removal while standing on the sword was pretty epic.
"Naruto..." Sasuke said, getting up. "I got this... He's a weakling..."
"Got it, Sasuke. Rest up..."
"Nine-Tails..." Mizuki said.
"Ooh... You know about that too?" I feigned surprise.
"I know everything, demon! You brats can't beat me... Hand over the scroll or I..." Suddenly, a rain of shuriken and kunai poured down on him. Luckily for Mizuki, he shielded his head, but couldn't dodge everything. Several shuriken embedded in his body armor at the shoulders; others grazed his forearms.
After he leaped back, Iruka appeared behind him. I'd never seen Teacher Iruka this furious. Barely had Mizuki sensed the threat behind and turned when a spinning roundhouse smashed into his torso, hurling him five meters into the nearest tree.
"Pick on someone your own weight!" Iruka yelled at him, barely glancing at Sasuke and me.
"Heh-heh..." Mizuki winced in pain trying to laugh as he stood. "You're no match for me, Iruka-sensei..." At that moment, he formed a hand blade with his right fingers, and an explosive seal lit up by Iruka's right foot—tied to a kunai. Looks like the bastard tagged him before the hit and dropped it.
I reacted instantly, making ten clones while still on the sword. Several formed a soccer wall shielding Sasuke—who was nearly out of chakra after failed fireballs on Mizuki—and one clone dove to cover Iruka.
Boom!
All kunai and shuriken stuck in the ground from Iruka's rain became shrapnel. Three clones guarding Sasuke poofed from the metal hits. The one by Iruka poofed too. The shockwave grazed me good, forcing me off the sword. Iruka seemed mildly concussed, shredded body armor and vest from shrapnel, but worst—a shuriken hit bone right at his foot, stuck in it. Iruka's out for now.
Mizuki smugly drew two kunai from his belt, spun them on his fingers, and struck a dramatic pose.
"So who's next to fight? You, Nine-Tails?! Show me what you got. Your pathetic ten clones won't help! Before you is a Chunin-rank shinobi and..."
Well, well... Mizuki got me good. Time to show what I can really do.
"Mass Shadow Clone Technique!"
This time I strained full force and made about 90 clones. Could've done more, but I focused on quality. Nearly all stood on trees, chakra-anchored. I wore a gray tracksuit with a hooded trekking cloak over. And open-toed slippers—summertime boots here are too hot.
Too bad no weapons on me, but clones were enough for Mizuki. I subtly turned some into massive shuriken, making him jump and run everywhere. First twenty clones were easy for him. He sliced them with kunai at insane speed. But then he tired, missing grabs and face strikes. Mizuki's no slouch in taijutsu either. Took out another thirty before exhausting from side-to-side leaps, sudden leg grabs, back armbars. And whenever I succeeded, a "surprise" overhead kick to the face.
In the end, he took too many hits; his face was bloody mush from constant kicks. Fingers broken, knees busted, arms barely moving from wooden sword beatings.
When I dramatically approached and held a knife to his throat, the other shinobi arrived for our party and insisted we head to the old geezer.
To the Kage building, naturally...
Debriefs dragged till morning. Finally, the old man called Sasuke and me to his office; Iruka went to the hospital.
"So, what am I to do with you kids?" The old man asked dramatically gazing at the village dawn through his panoramic window.
"Understand, forgive..." I tried joking and caught Sasuke's angry glare—like he knew where I stole it from.
"Heh... Naruto, that was rhetorical."
"Got it..." I said, miming zipping my mouth and tossing the key.
"Here's the deal. I'd strip your shinobi headbands to hell, but since an Academy teacher was involved and you're basically minors, as top performers, you'll be in one team. Sasuke, Naruto... No punishment or sentence. We're not here for trial. But next time... Use your heads!" The old man snapped.
We bowed to leave...
"Naruto... Hold up please." The old man said. Sasuke left; I stayed and turned to him. "Shadow Clone Technique, huh? Where'd you learn it..."
"Read in the library that shinobi used to do it. While practicing, I often ditched Academy and spied on adult training a couple times. Saw the seal..." I lied, showing the cross seal. "Two years of training, and this is the result."
"Hm..." The old man frowned, pacing his office eyeing other Hokage portraits, stopping at Minato. "You should know... That's jonin-level. Looks like you really are a genius to master it at your age..."
"Genes..." I said, startling the old man—I caught his second-long glance. "Uzumaki Clan was known for stamina. Seems it showed in me."
"Heh..." He sighed in relief. "You'll make a fine shinobi for our village. You can go..."
"Thanks, Lord-Hokage." I bowed. "I'll become a shinobi surpassing even the Fourth. That's my ninja way!"
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan