Naruto sat cross-legged in the field, fully engrossed in the scroll that Jiraiya had given him.
The words flowed before his eyes, each page revealing new insights and techniques to improve his taijutsu. It was a vital step in his journey to become stronger.
As Naruto reached the main part of the scroll, his focus intensified. The descriptions of various taijutsu styles used in Konoha piqued his curiosity. The scroll delved into the history, principles, and applications of each style, offering a wealth of knowledge that Naruto had never encountered before.
His excitement increased as he read about the different taijutsu masters who had honed their skills and created unique fighting styles. The scroll showcased the ferocity of the Strong Fist style, the agility of the Gentle Fist style, the genius of the interceptor fist, and the precision of the Eight Gates technique.
Naruto's mind buzzed with possibilities. He had always relied heavily on his ninjutsu and the power of the Nine-Tails, but now he saw an opportunity to expand his repertoire and tap into the rich taijutsu heritage of Konoha. Perhaps by adopting and adapting one of these styles, he could create a unique fighting style of his own.
However, amidst this sea of newfound knowledge, two words leaped from the scroll, capturing Naruto's attention like a jolt of electricity. His cerulean eyes locked onto those words, refusing to release their hold.
His eyes remained fixed on the words that jumped out at him from the scroll.
"Taijutsu style practiced by the Uzumaki Clan."
"..."
"..."
His voice faltered, barely a whisper escaping his lips. "Uzumaki?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"What?"
The world around the blonde seemed to freeze in an ethereal stillness, as if the universe itself needed a moment to process this revelation alongside him. Confusion gripped his heart, and a torrent of thoughts cascaded through his mind. The blonde was in disbelief.
"That... That can't be."
"That's my last name."
"Why is my last name mentioned with clans in Konoha?"
Then it hit the blonde like a lightning strike—the realization. It was right in front of him the whole time.
"That must mean that…"
"I... have a clan?"
"I have a family."
"Why are they now?"
"Are they even still alive?"
Questions raced through the blonde's mind as he tried to make sense of it all. The questions seemed to multiply with every question the blonde asked himself.
"Why did no one tell him about this?" Every question Naruto asked himself. His anger grew with every word. "
"WHY WAS THIS NOT MENTIONED TO ME?"
"WHY WAS MY FAMILY NOT MENTIONED TO ME?"
His fist hit the ground. This was his family, his clan, kept hidden from him. They denied him his parents, and now they deny him his family.
Flashback
"This is for this month's living expenses," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, said as he handed Naruto an envelope. As the Hokage, Hiruzen had taken on the responsibility of providing for Naruto, who had no guardian or family to support him. However, his duties as the Hokage left little time for him to form a deeper connection with the young blonde. The visits to Naruto's apartment became limited to these essential supply deliveries, leaving Naruto to wonder why he lived alone and without parents like other children.
But since he was the Hokage again, there was not much time available for the only man and the blonde to properly bond and be there for him. He only made time to visit Naruto's apartment to supply him with the essentials. Unfortunately, that was the only time the blonde received company.
Naruto Uzumaki always wondered why he lived alone and without family or parents. Whenever he went outside, he would see mothers sending their kids to play in the playground and send them to the academy. Why was he different?
The blonde stared at the envelope that contained the funds, thinking about what to ask the old man. He wanted to know. He needed to know why he was different and why he didn't have a family.
contemplating what he wanted to ask the old man. The burning question in his heart demanded answers. With determination in his eyes, he mustered the courage to speak up. "Hey," he called out, capturing Hiruzen's attention as he was walking out.
Hiruzen turned back to face Naruto. The blonde drew his attention from the envelope and on to the old man; his face was expectant and impassive, waiting for the blonde's question.
"Why don't I have a family? or mom and dad?
At this question, Hiruzen's mind flashed back to that fateful day, the day of the Kyuubi's rampage. Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki sacrificed themselves to restrain and re-seal the Kyuubi into their own child, condemning him to a life of solitude without growing up with a family or parents. Minato and Kushina knew this was going to happen, But they believed that their son would live through the loneliness and become the one to save them all. Minato believed that he was the one to save them from that masked man. He re-sealed the Kyuubi back into Naruto in hopes of mastering its power to fight against the masked man.
"Naruto, my son, be careful out there and always remember that wherever you go, I will always be with you. Your mother and I loved you dearly, and we have faith that you will conquer hatred and bring a new era to the Shinobi world. I am sure of it."
Minato sealed the yang half of Kyuubi's chakra within himself using the reaper death seal and sealed the yin half within Naruto. The 4th Hokage knew it was a risk, he knew it was selfish, and he knew it could backfire, especially sealing the yin half. But he believed in his son, and he believed he could save and preserve the village with his actions, and he believed that his son could conquer the Kyuubi's yin half and use it against the masked man.
"Master this power, my son; conquer its hatred and use it for good. I know you can do it."
Minato Namikaze and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki, died on that fateful day, leaving their newborn child to live a life of solitude.
Hiruzen remembers it like it was yesterday. What happened was terrible—terrible for Naruto and the village. He wished he could tell the blonde that his parents were the most important people in the village, to tell him that his father was the 4th Hokage and that his mother was part of the prestigious and renowned Uzumaki clan, but now was not the time.
The old man let out a tired sigh
"Didn't I tell you before? Although it was quite some time ago…"
The blonde's anger flared.
"That's not what I want to hear! You're talking about when that beast called the Kyuubi ran amuck, right?"
Hiruzen stared at the blonde, expecting him to continue.
"Well, that's not what I'm asking about! I just want to know... Who were my parents? What kind of people were they?"
The old man stared at the young boy. From the outside, he was impassive, making sure not to give the young boy anything. But on the inside, he was thinking about how amazing they truly were.
Hiruzen sighed once again and continued,
"There's no use asking about that." With that last sentence, the 3rd Hokage made his way out of the blonde's apartment, leaving Naruto in solitude once again.
End of Flashback
He would talk about this with Jiraiya later. He would get this information out of him one way or another.
But for now, he needed to calm down and focus on the task at hand. Training was the priority at the moment, Time is his most valuable asset, and not wasting it will be beneficial to him in the future. He would have a long talk with the pervert when he got back.
As he continued to read the scroll, the blonde's eyes lit up as he realized the uniqueness of the Uzumaki Clan's taijutsu style. It wasn't solely reliant on special dojutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan, but instead focused on the mastery of fundamental principles.
This caught the blonde's interest even further, as it aligned perfectly with the fundamentals of his style of fighting. He could adopt this into his fighting style
With each page he turned, Naruto became more engrossed in the intricacies of the Uzumaki taijutsu. He learned about their emphasis on speed, precision, power, and technique, which resonated deeply with his own fighting spirit. It was a style that catered to all the essential elements of combat, without relying on specific bloodline or specific abilities needed to incorporate this style effectively.
The scroll mentioned how the Hyuuga and Uchiha taijutsu styles were flawed and how they relied too much on their kekkei genkai. The Hyuuga relied too much on the byakugan for their gentle fist to see their opponents chakra points, and the Uchiha's interceptor fist relied too much on the sharingan to read their opponents movements and counter accordingly. These were extremely serious weaknesses which could be exploited in battle.
As he absorbed the knowledge, Naruto's mind began to envision himself in battle, executing the Uzumaki Clan's techniques with finesse and confidence. He imagined combining their swift movements with his own indomitable strength, creating a formidable and unpredictable fighting style.
Naruto couldn't help but wonder about his own connection to the Uzumaki Clan. Was it merely a coincidence that he bore the same last name, or did it signify something deeper? He knew that Jiraiya, his mentor and the one who gave him this scroll, would have answers. Naruto's anticipation of discussing this with Jiraiya only grew stronger.
But for now, Naruto remained focused on absorbing every piece of information within the scroll. He was determined to master the Uzumaki Clan's taijutsu style.
As Naruto reached the final pages of the scroll, his eyes widened with surprise. The Uzumaki Clan's taijutsu style didn't solely rely on unarmed combat; they were also masters with the blade. The thought of incorporating a blade into their already formidable style intrigued Naruto immensely.
The scroll revealed that the Uzumaki Clan's taijutsu seamlessly integrated sword or weapon techniques with their swift, powerful, and precise movements. The addition of a blade elevated their potential in combat, allowing for unpredictable strikes and enhanced versatility. Naruto couldn't help it, but he was interested. The blonde wanted to start incorporating this into his fighting style; he could already feel the change and how it was perfect for him, how it complimented him perfectly, and how it was extremely compatible with his original style.
Naruto finished reading the scroll and closed it gently, his cerulean eyes fixated on the cover as he stood up. A surge of anticipation coursed through his veins, fueled by the knowledge he had just absorbed. The words on the scroll echoed in his mind, emphasizing the importance of mastering the foundational aspects of taijutsu.
Speed, power, agility, precision, and technique—all these elements were the building blocks of the Uzumaki Clan's formidable style. The blonde understood that he needed to lay a solid foundation in these areas before he could fully embrace the unique techniques of his clan. It was a path he was willing to tread.
As he stood there, Naruto closed his eyes, allowing the knowledge to sink in and permeate his being. He could feel the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders, the weight of carrying on the legacy of the Uzumaki Clan. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swelling within him, knowing that he was part of something greater than himself.
With a determined expression on his face, Naruto took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He knew that this was just the beginning of his journey. The scroll had given him a glimpse of the Uzumaki Clan's strength, but it was up to him to unlock its full potential.
"I won't let this knowledge go to waste," Naruto muttered to himself. "I will master these foundational principles and become something great."