DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO
|CHAPTER 1
Sakumo Izuno stirred and slowly opened his eyes, confused and disoriented. A cold shiver crept up his spine as he became aware of his surroundings. He was in a damp and dimly lit place that looked vaguely familiar. As he tried to get up, his body felt as heavy as a stone, and his limbs felt sluggish, as if he was trying to move through quicksand.
The air was thick and musty, and it seemed like it had been trapped in this place for ages. Sakumo looked at the walls surrounding him, they were slick with slime, making it seem like he was trapped in some kind of dark, underground cave. He strained to remember how he had ended up in this dreary place, but his thoughts felt like they were moving through a thick fog.
When he sat up, his muscles tense with apprehension, a voice behind Sakumo shattered the silence.
"Hello, Sakumo."
Sakumo spun around and saw a young man with blonde hair and six distinct markings on his face resembling whiskers. He instinctively reached for the kunai pouch that should have been strapped to his leg, but his hand grasped nothing but air.
Dammit! he cursed and made a mental note to start sleeping with a weapon. If someone could abduct him right out of Konoha then he needed to be prepared for anything.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
The blonde man sighed as if he had been expecting the reaction. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki," he said, his voice sounding tired and worn out.
Sakumo's eyes widened in disbelief. He had failed the Graduation Exam twice and had spent the last year in the same academy class as Naruto Uzumaki despite being older. The loud-mouth blonde was three years younger than him and it showed physically. This 'Naruto' in front of him looked his age, maybe even a little older.
"That's impossible," Sakumo said, glaring at the blonde man. "You look a little like him, but Naruto just graduated a few weeks ago. He's only twelve."
Naruto's eyes held a glimmer of pain and sadness. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth," he said, his voice calm but firm. "And I need your help."
"Why do you need my help?" Sakumo asked, his eyes scanning the room for any potential danger, ready to defend himself if needed.
Naruto stepped forward, his expression earnest. "I need your help to save the future," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I have come from a time where everything has gone wrong, and I need your help to set things right."
Sakumo's eyes narrowed. "How do I know I can trust you?" he asked, his hand hovering over the spot where his kunai pouch should have been.
Naruto didn't seem fazed by Sakumo's mistrust. "I understand that you have reason to be cautious," he said. "But I promise you, I mean you no harm. All I want is to make things right."
Sakumo hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. He didn't know if he could trust Naruto, but he also knew that he couldn't stay in this dank and miserable place forever. If there was even a chance that Naruto was telling the truth, then it was worth taking that risk.
"Fine," Sakumo said, his voice resolute. "I'll help you. But you need to explain everything to me."
Naruto nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," he said. "But it'd take too long to explain everything that happened. I'll have to show you."
|NARUTO|
Sakumo jolted awake, his breaths coming in quick gasps. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his palms were slick with sweat. He ran a trembling hand through his hair, trying to calm himself down. As he looked around his room, he felt a sense of unease settle in his gut. What had just happened?
"Did that really just happen...?" he swallowed heavily, trying to process what he'd just seen. The memory of the damp, dreary room he had been in was still vivid in his mind. He could still almost taste the musty scent of the air, and feel the chill that had seeped into his bones.
As he tried to make sense of his experience, Sakumo couldn't shake off the feeling that he was in over his head.
Time-Travel? It didn't sound possible.
Yet, it definitely did happen. Sakumo knew enough about Genjutsu to tell what was real and what were illusions, and what Naruto had shown him was undoubtedly real.
Sakumo's mind reeled as he tried to come to terms with the jarring revelations that he had just experienced. He couldn't shake the feeling of shock and confusion. The knowledge that Naruto Uzumaki had traveled back in time was one thing, but Naruto's memories of the future were beyond comprehension.
He had seen Naruto around the academy before, but he had never paid much attention to the boisterous blonde. The memories of the future seemed almost too vivid to be fake, and the fact that Naruto had actually become the Hokage only added to the surrealness of it all.
"What is happening?" Sakumo groaned, feeling a throbbing headache beginning to form.
As he reflected on the knowledge he had gained, he couldn't help but feel horrified. The things he knew about the shinobi world, of the village that he was ready to serve loyally, were devastating. He had never imagined the amount of destruction and chaos that lay ahead.
Orochimaru's invasion during the upcoming Chunin Exams, Sasuke Uchiha leaving the village, the Akatsuki collecting the Tailed-Beasts, Pain's attack on the Hidden Leaf, the Fourth Shinobi World War which would be the end of the Shinobi Era, were all events that would shake the very foundations of the village.
The thought of the devastation that Konoha would face in the coming years was almost unthinkable. The weight of it all was crushing, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was anything he could do to change the course of events.
Sakumo sat there in silence, lost in his thoughts about the knowledge he had just gained. The future was uncertain, but he knew that he had to do everything in his power to protect the village he loved.
I guess it could be worse, Sakumo thought as he lay back on his bed, the dull light of the early morning creeping in through the window. His body sank into the bed and he let out a long, heavy sigh, his mind still reeling from the shocking knowledge he had gained about the future.
But not all of it was gloom and doom. There was one thing that brought him solace: at least he wasn't going to die.
The file the Third Hokage had given Naruto file had his date of death just a few weeks from now. The knowledge that he would have died in a few weeks' time had it not been for Naruto traveling back in time was terrifying and Sakumo couldn't help but shudder at the thought.
He had worked so hard to graduate from the Academy, had even failed the graduation exam twice, and the thought of dying so soon after finally succeeding was unbearable.
But his relief was short-lived as a sudden realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.
The Academy!
Today was the day he was supposed to take the graduation test. With all the new memories and information about the future flooding his brain, he had almost completely forgotten about the most important day of his life.
Sakumo scrambled out of bed and hurried to get dressed. He slipped on his shinobi attire and grabbed his kunai pouch, taking a deep breath before rushing out the door.
I have to make it to the Academy in time for the graduation test!
The weight of the future and the knowledge he had gained threatened to overwhelm him, but he couldn't let that happen. He had to focus on the present and pass this test.
|NARUTO|
The ninja academy in Konoha was a sprawling complex of buildings, with the main classrooms featuring a stadium-style seating arrangement. The seats rose in tiers, each one giving the students a better view of the teacher's podium at the front of the room.
As Sakumo burst through the door, he felt the eyes of his classmates upon him. They were all seated, silent and staring, waiting for the chunin instructor to begin the graduation exam.
Iruka, the instructor for their class, was not pleased with Sakumo's tardiness. He shook his head disapprovingly, his eyes boring into Sakumo's as he spoke. "Late on the day of the graduation exam? You've already failed twice, Sakumo. You won't get a fourth chance."
Sakumo sank into the first free seat he could find and not a second later the bell rang, signaling the beginning of class.
He really had been cutting it close. Very, very close.
With class now started, Iruka gave Sakumo one last disappointed look before addressing the rest of his students.
"I'm sure all of you know that today you will all be taking the graduation exam. The exam will be on the three academy jutsu. When your name is called, please report to the testing room." Iruka said, before leaving the room.
Sakumo sat at his desk, his mind racing with thoughts of the future. He watched Iruka-sensei leave the room and felt like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. His foot bounced nervously as he leaned back in his chair, the creaking sound of the wood filling the silence.
The room was quiet except for the sound of clothes rustling as the other students shifted in their seats. The air was thick with anticipation, each student waiting for their name to be called so they could begin the exam.
Sakumo felt his nerves continue to build as each name was called. He fidgeted in his seat and as he thought about what he knew, he could feel the weight of the knowledge pressing down on him like a heavy stone. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was living in two worlds at once - the present and the future, intertwined and inseparable.
Maybe I should tell someone, Sakumo wondered. It would make protecting the village a lot easier if more people knew.
"No!"
Sakumo jumped at the sudden voice in his head, the sound of Future-Naruto's voice echoing like a shout in an empty room. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
"What why not?" he asked Future-Naruto. "Wouldn't it be better to prepare together, to have more people aware of what's to come?"
Future-Naruto's voice was sharp and insistent. "Absolutely not. You would be labeled a lunatic and turned over to Ibiki and the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force. They might even bring in a Yamanaka and have them rip apart your mind until there is nothing left but mush."
The vivid description made Sakumo wince, his stomach churning with fear. The idea of being tortured and interrogated for telling the truth wasn't very appealing.
He was going to pass on the torture, thank you very much.
But the thought of keeping his knowledge to himself felt like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode at any moment.
Future-Naruto seemed to sense his anxiety. "Don't worry," he said reassuringly. "Just focus on preparing yourself. Train hard and become the strongest ninja you can be."
"In a world like ours, that is really the only choice."
Sakumo's thoughts drifted to the possibility of moving to another village and living as a civilian, but the idea felt like a fleeting dream. In a world as treacherous and unpredictable as theirs, leaving the ninja life behind and becoming a civilian was not a guarantee of safety.
He knew that even if he managed to escape the future threats against Konoha and survived the Infinite Tsukuyomi, it would only be a matter of time before some other threat caught up with him.
Ninja or civilian, danger could find him anywhere in this world and he didn't need knowledge of the future to know that.
Sakumo remembered vividly the moment he became aware of the brutality of the world he lived in. It was a moment that had seared itself into his mind, a moment that had made him acutely aware of the harsh reality of their world.
The rain was pouring down in sheets, blurring his vision as he struggled to keep his eyes open. His grandfather stood stoically beside him, his presence offering nothing in the way of sympathy or comfort in the midst of the downpour.
"Remember this tragedy, Sakumo," his grandfather's voice was low, yet forceful, as if he was imparting a crucial lesson.
Tragedy...
The word felt heavy and ominous, especially for a ten-year-old boy and it echoed in Sakumo's mind as he surveyed the scene before him. Rows upon rows of graves, solemn and silent, stretched out as far as the eye could see, like a macabre field of stone sentinels. It was a sight that no child should have to witness, but it was a reality that they all had to face in their world.
Sakumo's gaze wandered across the rows of tombstones, each one a solemn reminder of the cost of being a ninja. It was a dangerous life, one that demanded everything from those who pursued it. And yet, for some reason, Sakumo couldn't imagine doing anything else.
"You'll be a ninja soon enough," his grandfather's voice was as unforgiving as the storm, "and the village will need your strength. You must become strong."
Sakumo swallowed hard, his chest tight with emotion. He understood why his grandfather would say such words at a time like this. It was to teach him the importance of strength in the ninja world, but the lesson felt bitter and cruel in the face of so much loss.
As he stood there frozen in the rain, his body drenched and miserable, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his grandfather's expectations pressing down on him.
His grandfather's clan, the Fūma clan was a renowned ninja clan distantly related to the Uchiha Clan. They were famous in at least the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire for their use of the giant Fūma Shuriken; a large four-bladed weapon with preeminent sharpness and they had a reputation for being fierce and aggressive.
Sakumo had grown up in the shadow of his family's legacy, a legacy that seemed to overshadow everything he did. His mother had been a special jonin before she was killed in the Kyuubi attack, and his father had never been promoted beyond Genin and had died months before Sakumo was born from a poison he'd been exposed to during the Third Shinobi War.
Both of them had been ninjas, but Sakumo's grandfather had never forgiven his daughter for marrying a man from the Izuno clan, one of the lesser-known ninja clans in Konoha. They were known for their cat-inspired ninjutsu and their one-sided rivalry with the Inuzuka clan but were most famous for being the only ninja clan in Konoha that had never had a member promoted to jonin.
Saskumo's grandfather had disapproved of Sakumo's mother's choice, and even after she had passed away, he refused to acknowledge the last of his line as anything other than a member of the Fūma clan.
The legacies of two ninja clans weren't the only legacies he had on his shoulders. Sakumo's name itself was a weight around his neck. He had been named after one of the greatest Shinobi in Konoha history: Sakumo Hatake, the Legendary White Fang. His mother, just a chunin at the time had been part of the mission that would eventually lead to Sakumo Hatakae's suicide. Ashamed of how she acted, in her grief and guilt, she had named her only son after the man who had saved her.
Now, Sakumo stood in the rain, feeling the weight of those legacies bearing down on him like the cold, unyielding rain. It was a lot of pressure to live up to, but Sakumo refused to let it crush him. He had always dreamed of becoming a great ninja, just like his mother and father had been. He wanted to prove to his grandfather and everyone else that he was worthy of his name and that someone from the Izuno clan was capable of greatness.
Soaking wet in the rain, his grandfather probably wouldn't notice if he cried. Still, Sakumo didn't want to, but the tears came naturally spilling out.
People with Konoha forehead protectors. Civilians from the village. The countless dead had no family connection to anyone present. All but one of the Uchiha had been killed by one of their own in a massacre.
"Grandfather," Sakumo's voice trembled, barely audible over the sound of the rain. "Why did you bring me here?"
His grandfather was silent for a moment, as if considering his response. "You are a clever boy," he finally replied.
Sakumo waited, his eyes fixed on the graves as his grandfather spoke again.
"I wanted to make sure you saw this reality."
Sakumo knew what his grandfather meant, even if he didn't say it outright. This was the harsh truth of the ninja world—a world where strength was paramount, and the weak were left to die.
Ninja are creatures that fight, Sakumo. Never forget what you've seen here today."
For Sakumo, the memory of that tragedy would remain etched in his mind, a constant reminder of the harsh reality of the ninja world. His grandfather had passed away not long after the Uchiha massacre. It was a double blow for Sakumo. He had lost not only his grandfather but also a part of his childhood memories. The old man had been a source of comfort and inspiration for Sakumo, and he had instilled in him a sense of duty and responsibility towards the ninja world.
Which was why, even now, five years later, the memory was still vivid in Sakumo's mind. The funeral for the Uchiha had been an eye-opener. He had never seen so much death in his life. It was a solemn occasion that had left a lasting impression on him. The Uchiha clan was a powerful and influential one, and their sudden demise sent shockwaves throughout the ninja world.
Sakumo had always known that death was a part of the shinobi life, but he had never fully grasped the magnitude of it until that day. He realized that the world he lived in was a dangerous one and that death could come at any moment, even to those who were not part of the ninja world.
Not every member of the Uchiha clan was a ninja, yet they still died. Sakumo knew that he couldn't escape the ninja world, no matter how much he wanted to. He had to face it head-on. The only way to survive in this world was to be stronger than everyone else.
"Izuno Sakumo!"
Sakumo was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard his name being called. He stood up and made his way to the door, knowing that it was time for his graduation exam. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
As he walked down the hall towards the exam room, Sakumo couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. He knew that the exam would be difficult, but he was determined to pass.
When he walked into the exam room, he immediately noticed the line of tree logs stacked against the wall at the front of the room. He knew that he would have to demonstrate his strength by breaking one of them.
Iruka and another chunin, Mizuki, sat at a table at the back of the room. Sakumo didn't know Mizuki well, but now thanks to Future-Naruto he knew that the chunin had a devious nature and would trick Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Sealing.
Laid out on the table in front of the two instructors were two dozen blue forehead protectors with engraved metal plates sewn on the front. Sakumo swallowed hard as he stared at them. He had dreamed of wearing one of those protectors ever since he was a child, but he knew that he had to earn it.
"Izuno Sakumo, begin," Iruka said in a serious tone.
Sakumo took a deep breath and focused his chakra. The Clone Jutsu was one of the more difficult techniques, but he had practiced it countless times.
He made the correct hand seals and then concentrated, doing the required Jutsu. "Clone Jutsu!" he said. Thick-as-soup smoke particular to ninjutsu exploded into existence around him. Sakumo waited with bated breath for the smoke to clear. When he saw his clones, he almost fist-pumped.
He had done it—three perfect copies!
"Very good," Iruka nodded. "Now the Transformation Jutsu."
Sakumo breathed a sigh of relief. The Transformation jutsu wasn't really that difficult. With a little practice, almost anyone could transform themselves. Fighting or using another jutsu while transformed was another story. But a simple, no-frills transformation?
Easy.
He made the Transformation jutsu hand sign.
"Transform!"
Sakumo cloaked himself in smoke while Iruka watched. He stepped out of the smoke and grinned at Iruka. "Like looking into a mirror, right, sensei?" he asked.
Iruka smiled. "Not bad, Sakumo," he said. "But you still have one more jutsu before you can pass."
Sakumo's transformation faded and he frowned. The Substitution jutsu had been the reason he'd failed last year and the year before.
"I'm not going to fail again," he muttered to himself, slowly forming hand signs for the jutsu slowly, methodically, feeling the chakra flow through his body as he did so. He couldn't risk his ninja career by trying to hurry.
His fingers moved in a fluid motion as he completed the hand seals. Tiger—Boar—Ox—Dog—Snake!
"Substitute!" he shouted as he released his chakra.
In an instant, Sakumo disappeared in a puff of smoke. In his place, one of the wooden chairs that had been lined up against the wall fell to the floor, revealing that Sakumo had successfully executed the Substitution Jutsu.
"Yes!" he exclaimed, relief washing over him. He had done it. He had passed the graduation exam.
Iruka stood up from his chair, a small smile on his lips. "Izuno Sakumo, you pass," he announced proudly. "Congratulations."
Sakumo felt a wave of elation rush through him as he turned to face Iruka. He couldn't believe it. He had worked so hard for this moment, and it had finally paid off.
Iruka picked up one of the forehead protectors from the table and walked over to Sakumo, holding it out to him. "Please, turn around," he instructed.
Sakumo turned around, his heart racing with anticipation. He felt Iruka tie the forehead protector around his head, the weight of it settling above his eyes. He had never felt so proud in his life.
"Congratulations, Sakumo," Iruka said, patting him on the back. "You can head home now, but report back to the academy in one week. You'll be assigned to a genin team then."
As he walked out of the classroom, Sakumo felt a mix of emotions. He was thrilled to have passed the academy, but he knew that this was just the beginning of his journey. He was eager to prove himself as a ninja and become one of the most powerful in the village.
Outside the school, students who had passed the exam were celebrating with their families and enjoying the moment. Parents were hugging their children, proud of their achievements, and beaming with joy. It was a sight to behold, and Sakumo couldn't help but feel a pang of envy as he looked at the happy families.
But then he saw Naruto sitting on a swing, alone and forlorn, watching the happy families with a sad expression on his face. It was a stark contrast to the happy atmosphere around them. And that's when a plan began to form in Sakumo's mind. A dangerous plan, one that could potentially get him killed. But if he didn't try, he was probably going to end up dead anyway.
Sakumo knew that with the shitstorm heading for Konoha, a weak genin like him wasn't going to last long. He didn't have the luxury of time to waste on training or missions. He needed power, and he needed it now.
"There is no easy way to becoming—"
Sakumo ignored Future-Naruto and walked to the time-traveling blonde's younger self.
As he approached Naruto, he noticed the hostile stares of some of the parents in the area. They didn't seem to care that Naruto had saved the village from destruction. All they saw was the demon fox that had nearly destroyed them all. It wasn't fair, and it made Sakumo angry.
Naruto looked up, shocked that someone was purposefully standing near him. "What do you want?" he asked, rudely.
"Just saw you over here without a headband," Sakumo shrugged. "Figured you failed."
"What's it to you?" Naruto snapped, glaring at him.
Sakumo looked back at the happy families. He could see the parents were even looking at him distrustful looks for even being near Naruto. He had been too young to remember the attack, but it was well-known how devastating the Kyuubi's rampage had been.
Hundreds of ninja had died, and thousands had been injured. Never mind the damage done to the village itself. If it wasn't for the Fourth Hokage, Konoha might have been completely destroyed.
Sakumo understood that a lot of the village didn't hate Naruto, but were afraid of him. And that wasn't fair. Naruto didn't ask to be a jinchūriki. He didn't deserve the village's scorn.
If it wasn't for Naruto, the entire village might have been destroyed.
"Oh! That's him, isn't it?" a mother hissed in their direction.
"Yeah, that's him," another mother nodded. "I guess he flunked."
"Good. Someone like him can't become a ninja! Think of what might happen!"
"I know! If his true nature ever emerges, we'll all be—"
But before they could go on, a third mother quickly interrupted them. "Shhh, you two! We're not supposed to talk about him, remember?" she chided.
"Don't listen to them, Naruto." a kind voice said.
Sakumo yanked his head up. Mizuki stood in front of him, smiling at Naruto with false sympathy.
"C'mon, let's get out of here," Mizuki patted Naruto on the shoulder.
Before they left, the chunin glanced back at Sakumo as he led Naruto away.
"Congratulations on graduating, Sakumo. I didn't get a chance to say it inside."
"Thank you," said Sakumo, staring at Mizuki's back. He waited until the two of them vanished around the corner, then he started to follow them as Mizuki led Naruto to a tall building at the edge of Konoha with a panoramic view of the village
They sat on the balcony in silence for a while until Mizuki finally spoke. "Don't hate him, Naruto. He means well."
"Who?" Naruto asked.
"Iruka. He lost his parents when he was very young, so he's been alone most of his life. Going through all that has made him a very serious man."
"Pfft! So why does he keep picking on me?" Naruto griped, puffing out his cheeks.
"He thinks you're like him."
"Like him? How?" Naruto asked with surprise.
"You don't have parents either," Mizuki explained. "Iruka wants you to become as strong as he has had to be. Can you at least try to understand?"
Naruto frowned and stared straight ahead. "But I really wanted to graduate," he muttered.
Sakumo saw Mizuki give Naruto a quick, sharp glance. Then his face softened to its usual mild expression. "I'll give the traitor this, he's a damn good actor," he thought, as Mizuki continued speaking.
"You want to graduate? Then do something to impress Iruka," the chunin suggested gently.
"Like what?"
"I have an idea. Do this, and Iruka will definitely have to let you graduate."
"What is it?" Naruto asked excitedly.
Sakumo listened closely as Mizuki told Naruto all about the Scroll of Sealing and where to find it.
Naruto talks to his new vessel!
I know Karasuki doesn't actually poison people who go back in time, but I figure since it was used by the Otsutsuki clan who aren't from Earth it makes sense for time travel to affect humans differently.
Leave a review if have a comment or suggestion!
Thanks for reading!