Chapter 3: Learning my Trump Cards and Starting Relationships
NOTE: Academy terms begin around the first of April, just about the middle of Spring. Graduation takes place fourteen to fifteen days before, in March.
And so, the years came and went. I did get the scrolls that the Old Man had promised me after that tea ceremony, and I took full advantage of having them early on. I used most of my time training or studying whatever was in there and I was having much less trouble than I thought I would. I did still get stuck on a few things though, but I was able to make enough progress to work on cooler more powerful techniques earlier than I would otherwise have been able to.
It was in the myriad of scrolls my mother had left for me, along with a very detailed training journal she'd hidden there, that I got to take a look at the Rasengan for the first time. It seems like my dad had created the jutsu just for her. It was there that I found out my dad's way of training for it before he completed the technique.
It wasn't all that much different, besides the fact that he did not use balloons of any kind to train it. "Maybe that's why his was so much bigger and dangerous in the Anime." I thought to myself.
I decided to try and learn it his way once I turned twelve, so not for some time. That took me a whole 30 days of nonstop training and excruciating pain in my hands because of the chakra burns to get a perfect Rasengan in one hand. I want to do that with both hands simultaneously though... Ugh. Suffice to say, those were a very painful few months of training.
I also got a look at the Uzumaki Hidden Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains once I got the scrolls from the Old Man. This was the first technique I looked for, to see if I could learn it at some point. I found it quickly enough, but decided to wait until I was seven to try learning it. The same thought went into training my Wind Affinity. I wanted to cover the basics as much as I could for all of my intended disciplines before I tried getting into the more advanced stuff.
When I did learn the technique, I was not at all surprised at how much chakra those chains required to manifest. Thankfully my control was at about Low A Rank by the time I had gotten to this technique. Which seemed to be about as high as I could get it without medical training, or other specialized training methods that the Old Man was holding onto for when I finally graduate the academy, when I was fifteen.
"Ugh, that's in like forever, ya'know?" I remember groaning at the Old Man.
But yeah, those chains were awesome, though I still couldn't use them for more than a few moments before I was mentally exhausted from the amount of concentration required.
Another great thing about those scrolls was that my mom seemed to have made very detailed notes on all of her - and some of my father's - techniques and training methods. So, I had a much more effective training regime than the one I had previously. I was progressing quite a bit faster physically, and I was steadily increasing my reserves more and more, thanks to all of the studying, meditating and rigorous physical exercise I was doing.
I pulled an Asta and was doing ridiculous numbers of repetitions for my physical exercises, but only once a week for each set of muscle groups, and a rest day in between each day of exercise. Doing it how Asta or many other Shonen protagonists do is just counterproductive because your body needs to rest to grow stronger after an intense workout. Going at it like a maniac will actually make you weaker because your muscles won't regenerate properly, if at all.
I was also making sure to stretch during the day and before bed and boy, I was the most flexible seven-year-old you would ever meet in the Hidden Leaf Village. Fastest too, I didn't do a whole bunch of pranks, but getting Anko flustered in public was a good way to end up on a village-wide-chase of righteous female fury. There were lots of cuddles afterward, though, she was weird that way.
My Wind Nature Training, once I got to it, was also coming along nicely. I was able to finish the Leaf Cutting Exercise within about a week since I didn't have any clones to speed up the process just yet, and it took about a month to get the Waterfall Cutting Exercise down as well. I'd been happy at my progress on this and decided to celebrate with everyone who'd been helping me or was a part of my life at the time. I also began to look into how to train the other elements since canon didn't really give us anything regarding the topic, and I could only come up with so many more ways to refine my Wind Manipulation, ya'know?
I eventually got some Wind Techniques from some unknown donator and got my first taste of powerful ninjutsu. I totally knew it was Danzo, by the way. No one else had the jutsu I was given in their arsenal, I just acted oblivious.
I made sure that even while training intensely like I was, I kept in contact with Anko, who unsurprisingly, took every chance she could to tease me and taught me many more different tea ceremonies, along with techniques for what she called 'casual or discreet information gathering'. Which basically amounted to asking seemingly benign questions that would help me acquire whatever information I was looking for.
She also taught me all sorts of things regarding the life of a shinobi, and the less popular details associated with the profession. She did try her best to keep any over-the-top details out of her explanations, which was a big plus in my book. Other than that, we shared lots of things together. Sweets, training tips, cooking recipes, weapon maintenance tips, we also played a lot of different board games and listened to music together.
Throughout the years we also became rather affectionate towards one another, and I mean actually affectionate. At first it was just teasing I guess on her part, but eventually it changed. I, on the other hand, fell in love with her both as a sister and a friend, which sounds weird, but it's how my mind worked at the time. I always tried hugging her whenever I could, and she was always giving me soft pecks on the cheek whenever she thought it would get me flustered. She rarely failed.
She also visited me often when she had spare time, and we cuddled a lot in those often-overnight stays. I felt that, in a way, I was helping her heal from her recent trauma, and that she was using this as a chance to vent her grievances about whatever was bugging her at the time, or to just feel less alone. I didn't mind, I loved her; and if that made her happy then I'd let her do as she pleased.
I was walking to Anko-nee's place one day, and it was there that I got to meet Kurenai. And boy was she a bombshell, I liked her the moment I saw her and told her as such.
Flashback Start:
"Wow… you're so pretty Onee-chan! I like you!" I exclaimed with a goofy smile and childish bravado. I think she's twenty-two at this point and she's already mommy material. Again, I wouldn't take notice for a while. I might have just turned seven by the time I met her… probably, it was still spring and Anko and Hinata celebrated my birthday together with the Old Man just before. I spent the day after with Ayame and Teuchi.
She smiled lightly at me and bent down to my height, "Aw, I like you too, Naruto-kun. Has Anko been treating you well?" She asked with her own warm smile and motherly attitude.
"Yup! Anko-nee is the best! Ayame-nee too. They always keep me company and teach me lots of things." I reply, just as happy but with a little more subdued, shy look. I stare at my feet trying to come up with some courage. I'd never had a mother figure in this life. So, when I saw these qualities, her motherly countenance, her kind and genuine smile, I unashamedly asked "Can… um… I mean… Will you… will you be my mom from now on?"
I already saw Anko as my sister, and Ayame and I shared the very same type of relationship, but I didn't have a mother figure other than Yūgao, but that was a long time ago. I was always hearing about how Kurenai mothered Anko all the time, from Anko herself no less, so to me it made sense. Anko is three years younger than her, if I remember correctly.
She seemed surprised. "Why do you want me to be your mom, Naruto?" She asked, her tone of voice a little softer.
"Well… I… I don't have anyone like that… ya'know?" I reply a little sad about Kushina not being here, she would have been awesome, I bet. "I have Anko-nee and Ayame-nee, but I don't have anyone that cares for me like a mommy would. Your chakra feels nice, like a warm hug, and you're pretty like how a mommy is…" I trailed off at that, getting misty eyed at the one memory I have of Kushina.
Kurenai kept silent for a moment, so at first, I thought she might say no, but my cuteness prevailed. "Hm. Okay then, Naru-chan. I'll be your mommy from now on." She says with a warm smile and with a bit of awkwardness at the word mommy. I did what you would expect of an orphaned kid being adopted and hugged her with tears in my eyes.
Flashback End
Anko had been jealous and pouted at me replacing her with someone so easily and having the guts to do it in front of her. I knew I messed up, so as fast as I could I crashed into her and told her that she was wrong and that I loved her and that she was perfect and nice and pretty, and I would never leave her. She pouted a little more before I started to tear up at her silent treatment while I hugged her tightly.
She eventually let it go and started to cuddle me like a teddy bear. Telling me how much she loved me too, and that she wanted me to be with her forever. I, being the kid that I was, promised to be hers forever. And much to my shame, I worded it exactly like that, and she rolled with it. I would later be told of this event and facepalm at how Anko chose to interpret that statement. But it was an emotional day that day, and I was happy then.
Kurenai, on the other hand, hadn't just told me she would be my family; she went to the Hokage to fill out the paperwork and adopted me properly. I just couldn't move in with her because Jiraiya was still technically my guardian, and he was deep in his spy network at the time and couldn't sign the papers. So, she came to visit me as often as she could; often staying for days or weeks at a time. I likewise did the same at her place.
And so, I took every chance I got to spend any amount of time with her. She was very affectionate and kind. I grew to be comfortable enough to talk to her about almost anything and often confided about my fears or doubts I'd have. I grew to love her as I would a mom quickly, and I never once called her anything but.
Hinata and I became better and better friends as the years went by, as well. Her confidence had been steadily increasing with my help, and I made sure to not let anything undo that progress. I told her all about my sparring with the Old Man and asked her to come watch and spar with me as well. This made her really happy, and she became determined to do better once she saw me and the Old Man having a match. I was also patient with her; never insulting her or calling her weak when she didn't do something right or was too shy during spars. I didn't coddle her during training, but I certainly wasn't mean. Neither was Kurenai, for that matter.
It's not like this was a one-way deal either. She often helped me in refining my Chakra Control. We frequently sparred, often to a draw, and she taught me all sorts of things about proper etiquette and the meanings of flowers and tea ceremonies.
She was a bit afraid of Anko's intensity when they first met, but she slowly got used to it and they became good friends as well, surprisingly enough. Mom made sure not to let Anko corrupt Hinata, though, and I was supe happy about that; one Anko is enough for me, thank you very much.
Hinata eventually became a lot more open about her feelings towards things when speaking with me, and later with Kurenai and her father, a change he welcomed by the looks of it. Having Kurenai as a loving older sister figure was doing wonders for her confidence and self-image as well. This made me happier than I could ever express. She stopped being so gloomy and quiet, something I found cute back then, and was now a proper heiress for the clan, which I didn't really care about all that much. She was also a much happier girl, which is something that I very much did care about.
She met Kurenai when she went to my apartment and Kurenai was the one to answer the door. This was just a few days after I'd been adopted, so I hadn't met up with her to tell her the news just yet. She was surprised but happy for me. She also got super close to Kurenai, and I got her to ask about training with my new mom to learn more things outside of her standard clan techniques. Kurenai specialized in genjutsu, so she wouldn't need to learn any new complicated or time-consuming techniques or concepts to be able to learn it. Genjutsu really only requires fine chakra control and a high Yin affinity or chakra concentration, which could easily be gained through study and meditation; something we both did rather often mind you.
Hinata was also a big advocate for my making new friends. I told her she was the only one I needed, but she insisted I make more.
Last but not least, Ayame. I loved her. I loved her a lot. She always came by my apartment to visit. Sometimes we would play games, cook together, she would help me out with chores every now and again, she taught me about finances and how to search out for deals when shopping, she would cuddle me and tuck me into bed whenever she stayed the night, I got lots of hugs and kisses, she was the best big sister ever. Anko also shared that spot, but I never said this out loud. There was still some competition going on between the two of them.
I don't really have a whole lot of stories about Ayame. She was just so nice and caring, and she was the more responsible sister type. While Anko was the more fun sister type. They both spoiled me the same, but they had different things they liked to do with me aside from the snuggling and small cheek pecks. Which is fine, except that Anko always insisted on kissing each other's lips when I went for her cheeks. I always thought it was normal for them to do, until my mind matured and I noticed how strange it actually was. It had been happening for years at that point, so I just didn't make any mention of it afterwards. There wasn't really a point.
It was after I'd turned ten that I realized that I was no longer alone and had a family to call my own. I cried out of joy when the realization came, Anko had been the one with me then, and she held me comfortingly after I told her why I was crying.
I kept having regular meetings and training with the Old Man, too. These days he seems a lot spryer, a lot happier and motivated too. "I guess having someone to talk to regularly and a willing pupil who cares for and respects you will do that for a wary old master..." I thought as I remembered when I managed to weasel out the names of his jutsu. This was a few weeks after meeting Anko for the first time, which then led to me asking a very peculiar series of questions.
Flashback, Start:
"If your version is called the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, then does that mean that the original is called the Shadow Clone Jutsu? And if so, what does it do?"
He later responded with, "Ah, correct you are my boy. Yes, the technique I derived mine from is called the Shadow Clone Jutsu." He said before pausing to take a puff of his pipe. "The Shadow Clone creates an identical physical copy of the user by dividing the user's chakra equally between parts. The copy is then able to use Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu, among many other things. It also allows for the caster to receive information via the memory transferal process that takes place once the clones are dispelled, along with the clones remaining chakra. Making it great for infiltration and spy missions." he finishes.
I nod and wait for a moment. "So then why don't you just use Shadow Clones to do your paperwork? You'd still remember everything they did, right?" I know this is a repeat phrase, but I swear, no, scratch that. I know, for a fact. That at that moment, time in the Hokage Office stood still for what seemed like centuries.
I looked at the Old Man with near mechanic movement, and I saw him glaring at what I could only assume were the ANBU trying their very best to phase through the wall and escape certain doom. "All of you knew this." He stated it as a fact. "And chose to say nothing!" He wailed and smashed his fist through his desk with enough force that the pieces were sent flying to either side of him and the floor had a very noticeable hole going all the way through to the next floor down.
"Oof, this is some prime-time entertainment right here" I thought to myself as I watched the esteemed 'Professor', the Lord Third Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Throw a massive temper tantrum at his guard for not telling him something he should have very well been able to figure out.
It was even better when a full ten squads of Jonin and ANBU came bursting in through the doors only to find me eating some honeyed sweet chestnuts I had brought specifically for this occasion, and grinning like a madman. While the Old Man repeatedly punched the floor in frustration and what I can only assume to be self-loathing. After a moment of them trying, and failing to understand what was going on they asked, "Uzumaki-san, what is going on here?"
I got up and dusted myself off before I bowed and spoke. "Hello, ANBU-san. I don't really understand." I lied, before I continued. "All I did was ask him why he didn't use Shadow Clones to help him fight the Paper Beast he always complains so much about." I may have embellished things a bit, but at this point I'm still six, so I decided to have a bit of fun with this.
At this, every person in the room just looked at me with...was it awe? "Wait..." I started. "Are you telling me nobody here ever thought of that?" I stared at them incredulous, which I know looked incredibly cute on my features because I got a bunch of 'oos' and 'aws' from the females in the group.
Their silence was telling, and I had to hold the urge to just facepalm right then and there. "How has no one thought of this?!" I cry out internally.
"You guys can't be serious..." I say in as much a deadpan as I can muster.
They all look at each other before sighing collectively, "I'm afraid so..." The ANBU finishes.
Flashback, End:
"Hmmm, yup. It's totally me and not the clones doing paperwork." I conclude.
I also got to analyze the Shadow Clone by watching him do it on the spot. It took some trial and error, but I managed to successfully recreate the technique on my own after about two or three hours; I didn't have the scroll to learn from just yet. I did, however, keep it to myself and only used them sparingly until after I learned it from the scroll proper. I wanted to get a proper look at the jutsu to see if I missed or changed anything. I totally did.
I created a different kind of Shadow Clone, a Yin Release: Shadow Clone. Essentially the same thing, but it was intangible like the standard Clone Technique, but wouldn't dispel after receiving an attack, the attacks would just phase through. It actually used less chakra since it was technically a genjutsu. The original Shadow Clone is more balanced in terms of its Yin and Yang, so it's more like an actual person.
The one drawback to the technique is that I have to dispel the clones myself or they won't dispel at all, again, much like a genjutsu. They also had to be within my sensing range for their memories to transfer back instantaneously; otherwise, I would need to meditate to learn what my clones did and experienced.
One advantage, though, was that they could learn things much faster than the regular Shadow Clone. Like say, instead of spending five hours reading a book, it would look at the book and somehow scan its contents and learn it within a few minutes. Super broken. I found this out when I sent one to the library, forgetting that it couldn't touch anything, and it learned everything by touching the books. I wanted to know how this actually worked, so I went to the library with one and saw the magic happen.
When the clone touched the book, all of its contents floated out of it and spread out like an illusion. The clone then put itself under the illusion and transmitted the book's contents to its own memory. Then it dispelled and I knew the book's contents inside-out, even the authors and footnotes. This was huge and I decided to create my own version of this ability for later use. I also found out that my Yin Clones, as I'd started to call them, only had the ability to use genjutsu and couldn't fight using weapons or taijutsu, it was more like the Genjutsu: Mist Servant Technique but with an additional layer of complexity and possibilities.
Super weird, but it was my best original technique so far, so I was super happy with it.
Anyway, much of their use was for miscellaneous things and studying stuff from the library's new books and reorganizing and studying things I'd gone through before to make sure I got everything and to update any obsolete knowledge or concepts. They were also the ones doing the majority of my research on Sealing Jutsu and completing any books I may not have finished about more civilian subjects that I was interested in. Meditation really was my saving grace for the feedback influx that would occur. I also made sure that all of them were using the Transformation Jutsu, too. I didn't want anyone to know about this. Too many questions would arise if they did.
Mom was happy I told her everything about it; after being caught red-handed using it in my apartment during one of her surprise visits. I made her promise to not tell anyone if I taught it to her for her birthday that was coming up. She agreed and was happy at learning my new technique. Said it made some of her missions a lot easier. She also learned the Ninja Art: Shadow Clone Jutsu so she could teach it to me as thanks; showed me the scroll and her notes on it too, which meant I could use it without secrecy. That was my ninth birthday present.
I immediately used them to organize and catalogue the knowledge I'd acquired in a special scroll I created. I called it the Special Knowledge Scroll. It was a complete, up to date, and meticulously crafted compendium of all of the civilian and shinobi knowledge available to me, that I had either read, or studied at one point or another.
I'd also thought about going for broke and using hundreds of clones to master everything as fast as possible, but that would just ruin the experience. Not to mention, I get to spend time with friends and the Old Man if I don't. I want to enjoy my life in this world, not rush everything and burn myself out. So I just used them more for the academic side of things, I would enjoy experiencing the practical… for the most part.
I was also finally able to finish My Lady's Shrine - something that'd been long overdue, I was eight when I finished it. I had decided to build a small Ancestor type Shrine in my bedroom once I was given my apartment. Then I spent the next two - almost three, years sculpting different figures of her from metal, wood, and ceramic. I had one statue made of each material for both of her forms. The one she had when we made love, and the one she had when she sent me here and took over for Kurama's sealing.
After I had completed them, I placed them in a pyramid around a portrait I had commissioned. I then added small, scented candles around the Shrine with a few incense sticks laying in the middle of the shrine.
I still remember the first time I prayed to the Shrine; I had prayed to her before, almost daily since I was able to. But that first time in front of the Shrine, it was magical.
Flashback, Start:
I finished setting up the Shrine, and just admired my handy work for a few minutes. Once I decided it was time for my daily prayer, I sat in front of it and lit the incense sticks. I closed my eyes and called out to her. After but a moment She materialized with a kind and motherly smile. I then crashed right into her and hugged her for all I was worth. I had missed her so much; I hadn't even noticed until now. "Hello, my young warrior. It's been some time." She says with her silky-smooth voice while caressing my hair. We stayed like this for some time. Me enjoying her embrace and her just caressing my hair.
"I've missed you, My Lady." I start. "I have been wanting to thank you for helping me on that first night." I finish, looking up at her with a shy smile. "Will you... will you visit me again soon?" I asked after a brief pause, staring at her beautiful face.
"Fret not my love, I shall not be far." She says with a smile pointing at her shrine. Then crouches down and kisses my forehead. "I will always be near you, Naruto Uzumaki" She finishes with a whisper in my ear as she embraces me once more. Pressing her body closer to mine in a tight motherly hug and rubbing her cheek to mine. Then after a few more moments, she starts disappearing from view and showing me her true form once more as she does so. I smile and wave at her. Then, after finishing my prayer, I decided cooking some dinner and going to bed for the day would be best.
Flashback, End:
I still get butterflies in my stomach when I remember that first visit, and all of the subsequent ones, too. She's been everything I've wanted and needed all my life and more. A feeling I shared regarding Anko, Ayame, Hinata, and Kurenai, as well.
My tenth year was also the year I finally got Kurama to talk with me for more than just a few words or grunts. And most of these are much less hostile and angry than they were beforehand. I also found out that he has a rather peculiar sense of humor. As evidenced when he kept chuckling at my first interaction with Anko-nee.
So yeah, all in all, I think this was perhaps my most productive set of years yet.
It was in the late winter of my tenth year that I went to enroll in the Ninja Academy with my friend Hinata. I still had to come help her deal with some bullies that day, but this time she had helped me send them packing with their tails between their legs.
I had also finally met, - or rather seen - Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino. I could not help but sigh at their naivety about the shinobi profession.
I saw Akimichi Choji, and Nara Shikamaru, lazy as all hell. That's going to have to change.
Inuzuka Kiba, loud, brash, and obnoxious. Needs to change too.
Aburame Shino, too damn quiet, I gotta get him to open up if only slightly.
And finally, Uchiha Sasuke. I sighed at his transformation.
He was pretty alright pre-massacre. Cute kid, too. We met after I saw him for the first time those years back, and we became fast friends. We often competed with one another during our training trips we would take to the forest. We were good friends for about two years, give or take, but the Massacre, unlike the academy enrollment age, was not moved up. So our friendship came to a startling halt, and I was never able to connect with him again, prior to coming to the academy, that is.
That said, hopefully, my being smarter and stronger than most everyone here by a mile will get the Rookie 9 to kick it into high gear. Otherwise, I might have to get Iruka Sensei to help me stage some sparring matches to get them in line before it matters.
Why would Iruka Sensei help me out, or like me at all at this point? Do you ask? Simple. I met him when I was still a toddler and was spending my days at the Hokage Office. We hit it off swimmingly back then, and I often gave him my small pottery projects to keep as gifts. - He still has them, all 20 of them. He's also been a constant mentor and big brother figure for the past few years too. So, this Iruka and I have much more history together. But I digress.
After waiting a few agonizing weeks to start our first term, in April; a time I spent hanging out or training in some form with Hinata, Anko, and Ayame. I entered the classroom while carrying Hinata on piggyback since we'd been playing around on the way there. This got us a bunch of looks from the extras that me and my princess readily ignored in favor of doing literally anything else.
We picked out some seats near the middle in the front. Hina-chan and I had become siblings almost. I loved her to death, and she likewise treated me the same. She was fiercely protective of me and was often the jealous type. Anko and Ayame had similar dispositions.
After getting situated in our seats and looking around to see how many students and potential points of entry and exit were in the room, I asked her if she knew anything about Change in Chakra Nature, something that I'd made sure to work on, eventually I'd master the Five Basic Nature Releases. But currently I can use all five to a degree and haven't mastered any of them. Well… except for my natural wind affinity, as you would expect, but that's neither here nor there.
I wanted to be able to learn the Chidori and use all of the variants the original Sasuke had created; plus, I wanted to be able to do Combination Techniques with my clones, so I did everything I could to develop those natures early on. I never taught Hinata, because she had her own focus she wanted to develop before learning anything else, although that didn't stop her from learning genjutsu from mom.
The only reason I was going to the academy is because it was a requirement to become a ninja of the village, the Old Man was adamant about this and would not budge an inch on the matter.
I was mad at having to come here given that I already knew all of the material. Hell, I'd helped Iruka write most of the updated curriculum in the first place because I told him what he was teaching was crap one time. He'd been mad at me for saying that, but then I showed him and the Old Man all of my training notes – except for the ones with personal techniques and new jutsu ideas, and they were floored at the amount of detail and conciseness. Not just on my jutsu theory, but on history, survival, the shinobi code, regulations; everything ever taught at the academy was there in a much more comprehensive, clearly worded and engaging format.
The Old Man asked if this was the same scroll he'd been shown before, and I said yes. I'd been updating it for the past three and a half years after he saw it and made sure that everything read in a manner that would engage even the most easily distracted learners.
Flashback Start:
"Naruto, how exactly do you manage to keep surprising this Old Man? The amount of time required to create such a compendium of knowledge; and have it be so meticulously organized and structured is unbelievable." He told me, fishing for an explanation.
"You say that like I don't practically live in the village library, Old Man. What else was I supposed to do while I waited to join the academy?" I told him with a deadpan and accusatory tone at the end. Referring to how he made me wait an extra three years to join the institution.
He sighs at my response and just ignores my accusation like a skilled politician. "I know you've spent a majority of your time there, Naruto, but I've also seen you training near constantly with Anko, Kurenai and Hinata. You also spend many nights working at Ichiraku's, from what I'm told, and I find it hard to believe that you've done all of this without help of some sort."
"I never said I didn't have help, though." I responded, tilting my head to the side. I see his eyebrow twitch minutely. "Ha! A victory for me and my cuteness!" Even Iruka sweatdrops at me. I tilt my head at him, and he turns his head away. "Yes! I'm on a roll today! Victory!" I continued my inner cheering.
"Sigh… So, who's been helping you, then?" The Old Man asked eventually.
"Hm? Not a who, Old Man. What." I responded. "My studies also included Seals and their applications. So, once I got a satisfactory level of progress in those studies, I just added some seals to the scroll that told it how to organize and arrange information already available inside. It also does this whenever I add new information. It uses the newly written info to update any of the sections where that same information corresponds to. Pretty ingenious, right?" I finished my explanation off-handedly.
The Old Man, Iruka, the ANBU, and the elders who had just walked in after I was asked about my helpers, and Kurenai who was waiting for me to go on a mother-son outing in the corner of the office, all unhinged their jaws at my casual reply explaining one of the most useful administration techniques ever developed.
"How much?" The Old Man asked after solid five-minutes of stunned silence.
"Hm? How much what?" I asked, confused.
"How much ramen do I have to buy you so that you can make me some of those scrolls?!" He shouts, shaking me with hope in his eyes.
"Eh? I don't want ramen, Old Man. But…" I think about my response for a moment. "I'll charge you the price of a D rank mission for a small scroll, C rank for a medium scroll, and B rank for a large scroll. If the scroll needs any protective seals and countermeasures, I'll charge you one rank higher than the price of the scroll and you have to supply the scrolls." I continued after a moment.
"If you want to make a bulk order, I'll charge you two ranks up of the smallest scroll in the order, for up to twenty scrolls. You can include scrolls of any size either up or down, from the smallest scroll in your order. Three if they require protection seals. The more scrolls you need, the more you add up the price for a single bulk order and any additions to it." I finished explaining my rates and I see my coffers growing exponentially.
"I might not even have to become a ninja if the look in their eyes is anything to go by." I think to myself looking at their expressions.
"A reasonable rate. It's just you, and there are sure to be many steps into such a complex sealing array. Very well. I'll send you a commission later today for a number of those… what do you call these scrolls?" He finished with a question.
"What do I call them…?" I think to myself for a moment. "Array-List Scrolls" I answered after thinking of a clever name. I modeled the array after a programming function, so it made sense to me.
"Excellent. I'll have an order for them by tonight. How much time do you need?" He asks, nearly salivating for some reason.
"Wel… I'd need about three hours for just one small one, so I guess it would depend on the number of scrolls and their sizes." I told him. It actually takes like thirty minutes, but I don't want to end up living like a hermit.
"Good, I'll let you give me a deadline when the order goes in." He finishes. The elders also told me that they'd be putting orders in as well.
Once that was done with, I asked Iruka, "Hey, nii-san, can I use this as my graduation exam from the academy?" I asked, trying to skip the whole thing entirely.
"Eh? No, Naruto. But, if you want, you can help me update the curriculum. It should give you something new to do before you can attend. And you can skip having to take the paper tests. Would that be alright Lord Third?" He starts, talking to me, but finishes asking the Old Man.
"Hmm. I don't see why not. The Ninja Academy is due for a change in its teachings, and I do believe that young Naruto here, has just provided us with the perfect way to get things done in a minimal amount of time, while maximizing the effects. I'll send the headmaster a notification of the discussion." He says after a moment of contemplation.
"I'll invite the clan heads and elders to review the material and give their own input on the updated curriculum as well. Naruto, how much time do you need for that?" He asks me.
"That depends. Do you want this before, or after your Array-List Scrolls?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"After." He replied, a little too fast given everyone else's reactions to his statement. I laughed out loud.
"Okay. The new curriculum should be ready by my ninth year at the latest." I'm seven currently.
"Excellent. I leave things to you, then. Iruka, I want you to advise him and make sure he doesn't sneak anything in that he's not supposed to." He says, giving me a side eye and knowing look. I take out my tongue and pout at being so easily caught.
I did manage to weasel myself out of having to take theoretical lessons for the most part, and only needed to technically be present for practical examinations or demonstrations; so I was going to be sending a clone whenever I wanted to train or hang out with mom or my sisters.
Flashback End
She replied with that super cute little head tilt of hers that always makes me melt. I then spent the better part of 30 minutes explaining what it was, and how it could augment a person's Fighting Style and jutsu. She said she would like to try to learn this and asked me if I could help teach her once I learned how. I had to hold in my urge to squish her with a hug, she was so adorable!
Not a moment after she had asked me that, Iruka came in with Mizuki. And right off the bat I could feel him giving me the stink eye. "I'm going to have to do something about him before he tries anything funny." I thought. Hinata also seemed to have noticed this.
Iruka then went and introduced himself to the class before asking everyone to do the same and went by seating order. So, since I was in the middle seat before Hinata, I was first of the eventual Rookie 9 to be called.
"Hello, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. My likes are training, ramen, sweet red bean buns and my friends. I dislike traitors - look pointedly at Mizuki, who looks at me murderously - and those who put themselves before others. My dream is to restore the Uzumaki Clan to prominence. And my hobbies include taking walks around the village, doing tea ceremonies, writing the academy curriculum, you know, the fun stuff." I finish with a grin and a pointed look at Mizuki, who looks like he was just made to eat dog shit straight from the source.
"Heh, bet you didn't know that, now did you? You dumb piece of shit" I laugh maniacally at Mizuki's facial expression at seeing his schemes fall flat on their face, while ignoring the disbelieving looks from the rest of the students at my last remark.
After me, it was Hinata's turn. "Hello everyone. M-My name is Hinata Hyūga. My likes are flower pressing and cinnamon buns, and Naruto. I dislike the traditions of my clan, and people who think that they are better than others based on family name. My dream is to one day unify my clan. My hobbies are to train my Clan's Techniques and spending time with my family."
She barely stammered the one time. This was amazing progress. Also, rather forward with the confession, I like it. I was so happy for her that I held her hand when she sat back down and gave her my best silly grin. To which she responded with a smile and small blush.
I pretty much ignored the rest of the introductions because I honestly couldn't be bothered. But it was with Sasuke's introduction that I remembered that sadly, not all of us had happy carefree lives.
It had been around the winter before my eighth year, that the Uchiha Massacre took place. I honestly didn't even care that much. I had barely any interaction with them, and that's counting my time spent with Sasuke being my friend. He was the only one, besides Itachi as 'Weasel' that I had any relationship with anyways. I lost contact with Sasuke after that. I resolved to get him to not let him go crazy before we graduated.
Other than that, it was a pretty boring first class.
After we got sent on lunch break. Hinata and I went straight to Iruka sensei.
"Hey Sensei, how's it going?" I ask him casually.
He looks at me with a tired expression. "You know, you shouldn't be so casual around school Naruto. Even if we are already well acquainted."
"Well, yeah, but it's lunch break, right?" I ask, tilting my head to the side.
He sighs again, then smiles. "What do you need Naruto?"
"Well, did you notice Mizuki giving anyone the stink eye besides me? Or did you not notice?"
At this, he straightened. "Naruto, are you sure?" I nod.
"Yes, I can sense a person's emotions through their chakra, and his were non-too pleasant when he looked at me. I don't care if he doesn't like me for whatever reason. But I don't want any of my graded assignments or practical lessons to be anywhere near him. I don't think he can be trusted to not meddle in some way."
Iruka nods at this and says "Very well. I will tell Lord Third about your observation and will take care of grading all of yours and Hinata's assignments and evaluations just in case."
"Thanks, Iruka Sensei" I reply with a smile and small bow. I then go and leave the classroom to get some food with Hina-chan.
Later that same day, I entered the Hokage Office to see a rare sight. The Old Man sitting on the large sofa, pipe in one hand and Sake in the other, with three clones slaving away at the paperwork. "Hey Old Man" I greet.
"Ah, Naruto, my boy. What can I do for you this fine evening" He gives his customary greeting. I then explain what happened with Mizuki. "I see..." He remains quiet for some time.
Then he begins, "I want you to notify me of any developments with this. Iruka has also informed me of your observations and has been tasked to do the same. Do not, under any circumstance unless it's life or death, engage him in any manner. We will let this run its course to see what his intentions are, before I take any decisive action. Do you understand?" He commands.
"Yes, Lord Third." I respond.
"Good." He relaxes his demeanor and continues. "How was your first day?"
"Ugh, where do I start?" I reply dramatically before giving him a foxy grin.
After that first little incident, Mizuki seems to have gotten the hint because he never looked at me that way again. Or at all. For the rest of the school year. He did his damndest to ignore me whenever possible and I was glad since the approach was mutual.
Hinata and I blew through the class rankings, me especially since I wrote the damn lessons with Iruka. This had the added effect of getting Hinata more respect at home, which in turn helped boost her confidence even more. However, I was still somehow one of the least popular kids in my class, especially once they found out I was the one responsible for the harder, more comprehensive lessons. But since I could beat everyone up without breaking a sweat nobody was willing to try anything.
That little bit of information got Sasuke's attention for a moment, before he snuffed it out. This first year proved to be much more stress inducing regarding Sasuke than I would have ever imagined, and I was not expecting this to be easy by any means, but at this point I felt he was just being stubborn. He would not budge an inch. One. Miserable. Inch.
Hinata, on the other hand had flourished and made some friends with Shino Aburame, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, and by extension Shikamaru Nara. Which also had the added benefit of getting me acquainted with them early on. She had also made friends with the soon to be 'Handsome Green Beast of the Leaf' and Tenten, who were a year ahead of us and were in her cousin Neji's class. The guy was still a prick, but since Hinata could bite harder than he could bark, he wasn't that big of an issue.
We'd met once during Hina-chan's seventh birthday since I, being the kind of kid I was, invited myself to her place and picked her up from the boring thing she was being subjected to. I refused to call that depressing event a gathering, let alone a party of all things. He tried to give me crap, but Hinata put him in his place right quick with the most intense look I'd ever seen on her kind, soft features.
I spent my first through third years at the academy, trying to help my friends and fellow future Leaf Ninja out of their funks earlier in life. I was able to help Rock Lee become a menace in Taijutsu early on, break Ino Yamanaka out of her fan-girl affliction. Though this time it was me she had been crushing on, something Hinata was, at first, very against but for whatever reason mellowed out after some time. Convincing her to train seriously, often with me and Hinata being there to coach and motivate her.
Ino, was much less of a gossip now than remember her being, although that might have been the fanfics that wrote her that way. She was, however, super flirty with me. But instead of being annoying with her adoration, like she was with Sasuke in the original, she just really tried whatever she could to spend time with me. I saw no issue with being friends and we did a lot of stuff together. Hinata made sure to be with us for most of those outings since she, again, was fiercely jealous of me and did not mess around with who got close to me. Eventually, Ino calmed down and she became a proper friend of mine and Hinata's, instead of just a fangirl.
I managed to get Tenten to learn more than just shuriken, ken, and bukijutsu and steered her in the direction of using genjutsu to augment her fighting capabilities. We became friends much faster than I did with Ino, and we got along swimmingly. She mentioned she liked a guy, but said he was not really that nice of a guy. I just told her that if he wasn't nice to her or anybody, then he wasn't worth it, regardless of his looks or skills. She started to look at me differently then but was much less reserved and became a constant in my life after that.
She told me she was interested in sealing, so I made sure to have her be my Sealing Jutsu research partner, and convinced her to become Lee's sparring partner, which made for a formidable tag team later on. The two grew incredibly close, and I was sure they'd become an item at some point. That did not play out how I thought it would.
Lee and I became the best of buddies rather quickly. He did struggle at first, but after I started training with him and showed him how to properly train his body and mind, his entire countenance changed. He was much more serious, but a damn lovable goofball when the mood struck. We sparred often, and I always had to hand it to him. He learned taijutsu quicker than anyone I've ever heard of. He also made sure to train in various forms of bukijutsu to not be a one-trick-pony, but my man loved his fisty-cuffs. He also didn't pay attention to girls just yet, he said he liked Tenten after they'd gotten close, but apart from that he pretty much just trained and spent time with me and the others normally. Same with Sakura after they met later on, but she was… hm… a little more receptive to other guy's attentions at that point, I felt like.
I had already started to look at girls a little differently by this time but didn't do more than maybe have a second look at them if I thought they looked nice. I had better things to do.
I got both Choji and Shikamaru to train seriously by beating them viciously in practice spars and telling them that the real world would not be as kind as me. It took me a few weeks, with some intervention from Iruka and their parents, for it to sink in that the life they chose was not one where you could just skate by and live easily and without worries. It was a brutal, bloody, and dangerous profession where lives are constantly on the line, and being lazy or reluctant to fight is more likely to just get your friends killed than anything else.
Eventually, per necessity of both the course, and the constant beatings, they got out of their reluctance to actually put in any sort of work during spars and began to seriously train and spar with everyone they were matched up with. Even themselves. This got me and Shikamaru to become really close, Choji not lagging all far behind in terms of our relationship, either. I finally had male friends in this life, which I was happy about.
I also, much to Hinata's joy, got Shino to open up and become a more active member of the group. This version of Hinata loved 'adopting' people she liked into her family, and she liked Shino enough to call him nii-chan. I was so surprised when I heard it the first time, I was convinced I was in a genjutsu and tried dispelling it. It was relatively easy getting him to learn more than just Clan Techniques to deal with opponents who may have counters to techniques used frequently by the Aburame Clan, this man was not one to argue against sound logic, and I liked it. We became really good friends too, eventually the five of us would get Sasuke to open up, and Kiba to shut up and think. The perfect team, I have to admit.
Hinata also began to train in techniques outside of the Hyūga Clan Style. She wanted to become as proficient as possible with her own family's arts before taking my advice. I understood why and didn't push her to do so before she felt she was ready. A big part of her skillset upgrade included me teaching her the Old Man's jutsu, which he had taught me after my first month in the Academy; and the Rasengan when I'd learned it myself. I also kept my promise to Hinata and helped her learn to use her lightning, and later fire affinities to help improve her Gentle Fist Techniques and give her other ways to fight opponents other than straight up Taijutsu.
This then had the added effect of getting all of our friends interested in learning their chakra natures to train them. We discussed Chakra Nature, Change in Chakra Nature, Chakra Shape Manipulation and how to determine these as part of the curriculum, but my suggestion to give practical lessons at the academy was vetoed by each and every single person who saw it in my original curriculum draft. I'd been disappointed at that and was rather inconsolable when I heard the ruling, but I digress.
As you would imagine, learning all of these things early on would open the door for Tenten, Ino, Kiba, Shikamaru and Choji to become much more versatile in their fighting styles. It will still be quite some time before all of them have mastered their nature affinities, but it is a step in the right direction for them. I say them, because Hinata and I have both mastered our Main Affinities. I'd mastered three of the five by this point, I was twelve; Hinata was still working on her Fire Affinity.
The next thing I managed to weasel out from the Old Man, was the Clone Jutsu: Super Explosion. I got it after showing him my Sexy Jutsu to knock him out – that I modeled it after my favorite Anime Waifu from my first life. That, and as payment for an extra special Array-List Scroll he commissioned, since he wanted it off the books. I was thirteen years old when I got it.
But, even after all of these things. The one thing I believe I can call my crowning achievement, was finally rekindling my friendship with the resident emo of our class.
It was at the beginning of our third year. I finally called Sasuke out on his bullshit attitude, in front of the class, after I beat him in another sparring match. I, and everyone else, even the sensei, had noticed that his technique and progress had stagnated, and he was making zero progress.
Flashback Start:
"Damn it, Sasuke!" I yell as he starts to walk away after our match ended. "Why can't you see that this isolationist attitude of yours is only hurting you! You've been stuck at your level for months! Let me help you! We were friends once, why can't we be friends again!" He, like always, refused to do the reconciliation sign after our spar. I always brushed it off, but today seemed to have been my boiling point.
"It's none of your business. You don't know what it's like…" He starts off coolly but trails off with a thousand-yard stare at the forest, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
"I don't give a shit! So what if I don't know what it's like?! That's no reason to throw away what little you have left you dumbass! It should be even more reason to hold on to it for as long as you can, with all of the strength you can muster!" I walked up to him and held him by the collar of his shirt.
"Get off of me, Naruto!" He tries to remove himself from my grip and I hold on as hard as I can. He tries to push me off when he can't and starts to struggle vainly. "I don't need you! Or anyone else! I'll acquire power on my own and kill that bastard!" He continues to struggle.
I give him a headbutt, to see if that'll fix his head. "All you're doing is creating even more weaknesses! Isolating yourself, wallowing in your grief, beating yourself up over something you couldn't have possibly been able to prevent; all you're doing is deteriorating your own psyche and defenses!" I yelled out and pushed him down to the floor. "You've stagnated, Sasuke. You're torturing yourself. You haven't eaten a proper meal in months. You're skinny, weak, you can't even do a proper Fireball anymore, can you?" I tell him as I walk over to him, slowly preparing for his retaliation.
"Argh!" He screams out and tries to tackle me to the ground. He fails and begins trying to punch me. I block and kick him in the chest. He grabs my leg and pulls me with him to the ground, trying to grapple me into submission.
"You! *Pant* You… know… nothing! *Pant* *Pant* I… lost… Everything!" He yells as I hold him in a headlock, trapping his arms with my legs. I see his Sharingan activate before my eyes and let him go. I see he has one tomoe in each eye and decide to give him a power up. We began a fast-paced taijutsu exchange that took me to the limits of my own abilities at the time.
His punches, kicks, everything he could do to attack me were much more powerful and precise, but he quickly grew tired and started to lose steam. I pushed him further and further once this exhaustion kicked in and got him his second pair of tomoe. After that, though, he lost his balance and fell from exhaustion.
"You… you don't have the right… you should have been there…" He whimpers and I have a hard time understanding him.
"What?" I asked, having a bad feeling.
"You should have been there! You should have saved them! You could've saved them! All of them!" Sasuke screamed off the top of his longs. He tackled me to the floor in my surprise at his statement.
"You could have saved them! All of them! But you didn't! You weren't there! You left me alone!" He starts to throw punches at me, wildly. "You left me!" He starts to sob and cry inconsolably as he loses his strength and just cries on top of me, holding me by the collar. "You left me…" He whimpers finally, and I'm stunned.
"I… I… I…" I try to find the words, but nothing comes out. There was nothing I could say. So, I chose to hug him, I didn't care about the awkward position, nor about the spectacle we'd made. I hugged him and told him I was sorry.
We stayed like that until he fell asleep from exhaustion and malnutrition. He was kept at the hospital for two weeks to help him recover and get him some much-needed psychological therapy. I visited him every day after school. He was silent the first few times, but eventually we began to talk about anything and everything. He confessed that he'd often thought about approaching me after or during class when we began classes, but that he was too mad and angry at everything to consider it as more than weakness and a fleeting thought.
He also confessed that he was in love with his only fangirl, Sakura Haruno. But didn't think he deserved her after how much of a dick he'd been to her these last five years. Yes, you read that right. Sakura was the only one that tried reaching out to him ever since the massacre, apparently, and they'd only met briefly before that by chance. She'd been smitten with him ever since.
I told him that he shouldn't worry about whether or not he deserved her, just if she still wanted him or not. He was still reluctant but promised himself to give himself the chance to be with her at some point.
We slowly rekindled our friendship after that and became good friends, enough to make Hinata jealous of our closeness.
Flashback end
Something that I forgot to mention was that a little into the second portion of my third year, Mizuki was 'apprehended' on suspicions of treason when a little birdy let it slip that he was having regular contact with Orochimaru, through a spy that was somewhere around the village.
I certainly have nothing to do with that actual bit of truth coming to light via the rumor mill amongst ANBU and the T and I department. I remember that afterwards, Anko almost crushed me to death with her ample bosom when it turned out that my little slip up at the T and I office had been true.
It was this little escapade that got the Old Man to finally teach me his Bōjutsu as thanks for helping unearth a traitor in his ranks… and to stop me from asking constantly hahaha.
I also made a lot of progress with Kurama in the past few months leading up to my fourth year in the academy. It was slow going for those first few years, but after enough smiles and pestering, he seemed to have finally decided to take me seriously. I was happy when he said he would tell me his name if I ever proved myself to him. I almost ran past the bars to hug him, but the seal kind of got in the way. After this I had pouted for being denied my 'giant fox plushy', which made him growl, though it had sounded suspiciously like he was trying to disguise a chuckle.
I often go into the seal to just talk or listen to him rant and rave about his siblings, humanity, and the Uchiha. Sometimes, I'd just go in to meditate while he slept, because yes, the fox liked his cat- er, fox naps.
Now, something that I noticed was that Kurama was slowly starting to get larger and larger as the years went by, something I later confirmed with both him and My Lady. I also noticed that he seemed to mellow out as time went on as well, likely the influence of his Yin half.
When I first started trying to get along with him, he would yell, and growl, and tell me that he would break out of the seal someday. He always tried to find ways to rile me up and get me to use his chakra - something that he gave up on almost immediately, because my life so far has been pretty good. The he started trying to get me to doubt my affections towards Hinata, the Old Man, Jiraiya, Anko, and my favorite cat and dog masked ANBU - both of whom I haven't seen much of recently now that I stop and think about it. But then that failed almost as quickly as his previous approach, and he changed his approach yet again.
This went on constantly for the first two years after I'd talked to him first, then in the third through ninth years, he would occasionally try to do the same thing after some banter. Until, finally, a few months ago he just stopped and decided to just bitch and complain about anything and everything.
I normally hang out in the seal for a few hours whenever I'm tired or feel like having a day off from the constant training and studying, just so that he sees that I'm there to listen to and speak with him should he want to. I'd say we've become good friends, but I feel like I should wait for him to fess up before claiming anything of the sort.
I was walking toward the Academy on the first day of my fourth year, when I realized that the past few years had seemingly passed by in what seemed like the blink of an eye for me. And while I don't doubt my abilities thanks to the constant training, and lessons I get from Iruka and the Old Man, I am not at all excited about what the next few years will entail.
NOTE: Ages for when MC met other characters
Age 2-3: Iruka Umino
Age 4: Ayame, Teuchi
Age 5: Hinata Hyūga, Sasuke Uchiha
Age 6: Anko Mitarashi
Age 7: Kurenai Yūhi, Hanabi Hyūga, Neji Hyūga
Age 10: Remaining members of the Leaf 12
NOTE #2: Milestones, since I realize that my non-linear story telling may cause some confusion
Age 5: Begins training in sealing jutsu with basic books found in library, makes detailed notes about everything he reads or learns in a large scroll made by Jiraiya
Age 6: Creates the Yin Release: Shadow Clone, starts to look into learning about genjutsu more seriously
Age 7: Learn Adamantine Sealing Chains, begin training wind affinity, get adopted by Kurenai, create Array-List Scrolls and rob the village blind XD,
Age 8: Begin developing other four affinities through training, trial and error, complete first draft of the academy curriculum, finish Lady Death's Shrine
Age 9: Learns Ninja Art: Shadow Clone, updates, reorganizes, and recompiles his knowledge and that which is publicly available in the village in his newly created special knowledge scroll
Age 10: Start Ninja Academy, learn Shuriken and Kunai Shadow Clone techniques, become good friends with Ino, Lee, and Tenten, get Kurama to talk to him, creates the first of many pervy ninjutsu
Age 11: Get majority of Leaf 12 to kick it into high gear, become good friends with Shino, Shikamaru, and Choji,
Age 12: Learn Rasengan – both hands simultaneously, acquire level-3 mastery over all five basic elements, start recreating the Wind Style: Rasengan
Age 13: Become friends with Kurama, learn Third Hokage's Bōjutsu, reconnect with Sasuke Uchiha, learn exploding clones
