Author Notes
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Time Skip: 5 Years Later
Six years had passed since Naruto stumbled upon Orochimaru's hidden base. In that span, significant transformations had taken root within him. He dedicated himself to rigorous training using the scrolls unearthed from the storage room, achieving mastery in ninjutsu, kinjutsu, medical jutsu, and even fūinjutsu.
Defying the scrolls' depiction of fūinjutsu as a formidable challenge, Naruto effortlessly embraced its complexities, as if the very essence of the art flowed naturally in his veins. This marked not just a skill acquisition but a revelation—a testament to the latent potential that had been waiting to unfurl within him.
Navigating the academy presented minimal hurdles for Naruto. Despite the instructors neglecting to teach him vital skills or the proper techniques, he possessed pre-existing knowledge acquired from the scrolls within his base. In addition, his secret trips to the library, where he discreetly acquired history books and academy-level ninjutsu scrolls, further fortified his grasp of the curriculum.
Yesterday's triumph in the Genin exam left an indelible mark on Naruto, and today, he embraced the role of Genin with an air of subtle malevolence. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as team placements unfolded. Seated ominously at the back of the classroom, Naruto's attire exuded a sinister charm – a dark black hoodie, cargo pants, shinobi sandals, and fingerless gloves, all woven together in shadows.
His presence, though inconspicuous, carried an unsettling aura, hinting at depths yet unexplored. The classroom, bathed in the dim light, bore witness to the emergence of a Genin with an enigmatic and somewhat foreboding allure, ready to embark on a journey that promised more than the ordinary.
In his quest to uphold a harmonious relationship with the Hokage, Naruto orchestrated regular visits to the old man. He skillfully donned a mask of cheerfulness, ensuring that no inkling of suspicion clouded the elder's mind during their interactions. The dance of secrecy and diplomacy played out seamlessly as Naruto navigated the delicate art of concealing his true intentions.
During his tenure at the academy, Naruto strived to avoid standing out too conspicuously, achieving passing grades on his exams. While his scores were not particularly remarkable, they fell within the realm of normalcy—not exceptionally low, yet not soaringly high either.
In the quiet recesses of his contemplation, Naruto was abruptly jolted back to reality by the entrance of Iruka and his assistant, Mizuki. Chaos ensued as girls clamored over who would sit next to Sasuke. Naruto couldn't comprehend the intense fascination with the guy – he didn't seem all that special.
In a futile attempt to restore order, Iruka endeavored to communicate with the unruly students, but his words were swallowed by the persistent uproar. Frustration etched across his face, Iruka, in a moment of exasperation, resorted to an unconventional tactic – his special jutsu, the Big Head no Jutsu. A sudden hush fell over the room as Iruka's enlarged countenance bore down on the noise. "Shut up!" he thundered, the command resonating with a mix of authority and exasperation.
A hush descended upon the classroom. "Alright, everyone. First and foremost, heartfelt congratulations to each one of you for acing your exams and earning the title of Genin," Iruka announced, his words delivered with a genuine smile that permeated the room.
"Now, today, the moment you've all been waiting for – your team placements. Team 1..." Iruka's voice resonated through the room, creating an air of anticipation as he began to unveil the names of the team members along with their designated numbers.
"Okay, Team 7, Sasuke Uchiha." When Sasuke's name was announced, a hush fell over the girls, each one quietly offering prayers to the gods, hoping to land a spot on his team.
"Sakura Haruno." The moment her name escaped Iruka's lips, she leaped up, breaking into a jubilant victory dance. A chorus of whispered curses erupted from some girls, but amidst the disappointment, hope lingered for the remaining spot.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Iruka's words hung in the air, and an emotional wave swept through some of the fangirls, visible tears marking their disappointment.
"And your sensei will be Kakashi Hatake," Iruka concluded, the final piece falling into place for Team 7.
"So, my new teammates are an arrogant bastard and a weak female," Naruto mused to himself.
While Sakura continued her exuberant celebration, she remained unaware of the third member's name.
As for Sasuke, his response was a nonchalant "Hn."
The room fell into a hushed silence as Iruka continued, "Team 8: Hinata Hyūga, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka. Your sensei will be Kurenai Yūhi." Kiba grinned at the mention of Hinata's name, while she seemed disappointed.
"Team 9 is still reserved for a team that passed last year, so no Team 9 this year."
"Team 10: Chōji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, and Ino Yamanaka. Your sensei will be Asuma Sarutobi." As the teams were announced, Choji and Shikamaru exchanged nods and smiles, leaving Ino pondering what she might have done to deserve this fate.
"Okay, just wait for your senseis; they will come to pick you guys up," Iruka instructed before departing the class.
A few minutes later, Asuma Sarutobi arrived to gather his team. Other senseis followed suit, collecting their respective teams. Kurenai Yūhi came to gather her team, and soon the class was left empty, filled only with the anticipation of the ninja journeys ahead.
Time Skip: Three Hours Later
Three agonizing hours crept by, each passing minute stretching Naruto's patience to its limit. While frustration bubbled beneath the surface, he managed to maintain a composed exterior, a stark contrast to the visible restlessness gripping the room. Sakura's attempts to engage Sasuke in conversation were met with indifferent grunts or outright disregard.
"Damn, when is this guy going to show up?" Naruto silently fumed.
As Naruto contemplated leaving, the door swung open to reveal a mysterious figure. Gray hair framed his face, and one eye remained concealed beneath an enigmatic gaze. Dressed in dark blue shinobi attire, he bore the emblematic Jounin vest, an emblem of authority. A mask covered his mouth, adding an air of mystery to his presence.
"Meet me at the top of the academy building," the stranger commanded before dissolving into a swirling cloud of white smoke. The room buzzed with anticipation, leaving Naruto to ponder the cryptic encounter as he prepared to ascend to the appointed meeting place.
Rooftop Scene
"Okay, let's kick things off with some introductions," the enigmatic gray-haired man suggested.
"We already have a sense of each other, so why don't you start first, sensei?" the pink-haired girl proposed.
"Hmm. My name is Kakashi Hatake. As for my likes... I'll keep that to myself. Dislikes? None of your business. Dreams for the future? I don't have any. Hobbies... well, I have quite a few," Kakashi divulged with a hint of mystery.
'So, he's a bit of a mystery. Lazy, perhaps? Well, I suppose it doesn't matter much to me. There's probably not much this guy can teach me,' Naruto mused to himself.
"Pinkie, it's your turn," Kakashi prompted, his gaze lingering on the pink-haired girl.
"Well, I'm Sakura Haruno. Likes..." She hesitated, stealing a glance at Sasuke, then giggled. "Dislikes? People who try to act cool like Sasuke. My dream is..." Another glance at Sasuke, another giggle. "And my hobbies? Gardening and, well, thinking about Sasuke." She concluded with a coy smile.
"So, she's a fangirl, just like the reports mentioned," Kakashi pondered with a slightly dejected expression.
"Your turn, kid," he stated, pointing at Sasuke.
"I'm Sasuke Uchiha. Don't have many likes, but I dislike a lot of things. My hobbies are training. My dream... no, my ambition is to kill a certain man and revive my clan," Sasuke declared with an intense gaze, his eyes reflecting the weight of his ambition.
"An avenger," Kakashi mused, observing the depth of Sasuke's determination.
"Your turn, kid in black," he added, turning his attention to Naruto, whose mysterious attire hinted at a concealed complexity.
"Sasuke and Sakura's turn had come as well since they didn't know much about him. The only thing they were aware of was that for some reason, adults harbored a strong dislike for him.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I have a penchant for training, relish learning new things, and have an undying love for ramen. Dislikes? Well, there isn't much. My hobbies include reading, and as for my dream, it's still undecided."
Kakashi observed Naruto, a veil of mystery shrouding the young ninja. His presence seemed to carry an air of enigma, leaving those around him intrigued.
"So, this is the Jinchūriki," Kakashi thought, recognizing the weight Naruto bore.
"Alright then, meet me tomorrow at Training Ground 7 at 6:00 am for your exam, and make sure not to eat anything."
The three genin wore expressions of bewilderment. "Sensei, we passed the exam," Sakura insisted.
"Sakura, that was merely a preliminary assessment to check if you meet the requirements. This, on the other hand, is a true test to determine if you're fit to be a genin. Fail, and you'll find yourselves back at the academy," Kakashi explained, his masked face concealing an enigmatic smile.
"So, what are the odds of us passing?" Naruto questioned.
"Well, 66% of all graduates will falter, leaving you with a mere 33.3% chance of success," Kakashi stated before executing the Body Flicker Technique, disappearing in an instant.
The team members were left stunned by the unexpected revelation. Sakura was the first to recover from the shock.
"Hey, Sasuke, want to go on a date with me?" she asked, but Sasuke paid no heed, turning to the vacant space where their mysterious teammate had stood.
Next Scene
Naruto returned to his base, his mind focused on the task at hand. 'I've still got some time,' he reminded himself, determined to continue his work on the curse seal. Three years ago, he stumbled upon a scroll in the lab detailing the enigmatic properties of curse seals. Intrigued by the promise of power, Naruto dedicated himself to unraveling their secrets. After studying Orochimaru's cryptic notes, he began crafting his own version of the Cursed Seal of Heaven. 'Just a few more days,' he thought, eager to complete his creation as he entered his office to resume his work.