The Dynasty of Tomorrow
Chapter Two: The Uzumaki Clan
Hiruzen blinked slowly once, twice, three times before he told himself, 'Yes, this was happening.'
In walked his former student carrying a young boy, an Uzumaki by the looks of it, with two more Uzumaki's and an extra duo of people while one Uzumaki held a Young child. It was a sight to see as this was quite an unexpected outcome that they all... well almost all willingly followed the safe here.
The struggling Uzumaki was bound with seals and squirmed in the sage's hold despite the seals holding him down. The party of people were all zeroed in on the bound boy who was cursing out Jiraiya.
They were all flustering around their fearless leader it seemed. Their tiny fearless leader had called Jiraiya's mother a very colorful insult. The sage snorted as he couldn't deny the accusation. He had not been particularly fond of the old bat and in all honesty, had called her worse, and to her face.
Idly they watched the young boy strain against the seals plucking them off one by one, impressively so. Especially considering they were creations of their village seal specialist Jiraiya.
Hiruzen eyed the boy from the tip of his artfully styled red hair to the black geta attached to his kicking feet.
Finally, the boy seemed to free himself and rounded on the toad sage. Before anyone could stop the boy a wet slap sounded and a flume of bright pink paint and glitter was swatched into the once pristine white hair of the toad sage.
Jiraiya's cry of outrage was ignored as the seven-year-old appropriately stuck his tongue out at the older man. Then the young boy set his deep blue gaze on him and Hiruzen easily saw the mountain of intelligence hidden behind the calculative stare.
"What does the Hokage of the leaf want from me and my people?" It was disrespectful the way the kid addressed him but the boy had no ties to their village.
Hiruzen was not his Hokage and the young redhead was part of a foreign clan member they had essentially kidnapped. So, Sarutobi let it slide while observing the young boy whose gaze had shifted glancing where all his Anbu had strategically hidden away.
That was most fascinating.
"Greetings Uzumaki Soma and Uzumaki clan. I am Sarutobi Hiruzen and wish to seek an alliance with your clan and leader. My student has brought up a possible idea to bring you and yours into the fold of the leaf as he speaks of each of you and your talents." Hiruzen was still unsure Jiraya was soaking the truth when claiming the young redheaded child was laying this group. Through watching how they all looked to him it to guide this situation, it was evident it was so true. The child's eyes locked onto the Hokage who spoke and the young boy frowned.
"What if I don't want to?" Soma spoke but the flinching around the Uzumaki holding a little girl. The young boy only lifted his hand to ease her and the woman eased down.
It was all Hiruzen needed. It also surprised the Hokage to note that the child truly was this group's leader. Saritobi felt he needed to recruit this boy and his people if not for the village than for who they could become for the newborn they knew not of.
"Would you truly let your people live lives as vagabonds just to hold up pretenses? You are young but there are many out there who wish to harm you just for who you all are. To take advantage of you all." The wizened man eyed the young boy who was clenching his fist.
"So we just up and layover for you to take advantage of us?" The young boy nearly growled and Jiraiya eyed the redhead in wonderment. The boy was without fear, hell without shame to face off someone much older than him and scraping him just for a foothold of power. All in a single-minded effort to ensure his people were to be taken care of and for his small clan to be acknowledged.
Jiraiya eyed his once sensei praying the man won the boy over.
"No, you become the Uzumaki clan here. Open and proud you may in fact draw more of your people, as we were once allies. This would make it a more permanent solution. Would that not be more inductive to your cause. Give a stable home for you and your clansmen." Soma frowned at Hiruzen before the boy flinched and twisted his neck to look behind him. At the office door, it would seem.
It was peculiar but then a sound echoed down the hall showcasing the young boy had amazing hearing as well.
His little brow was creased and Hiruzen faintly heard the soft wailing of a newborn babe.
The Hokage sighed softly as a soft knock echoed in the room and an Anbu came in carrying a baby no older than a month. The mother of the group strained to look at the newborn with a tuff of blond hair and similar facial markings to the seven-year-old that stood before him.
Her gasp drew them all to look to the baby and they could all see it. This child was a near replica of their small leader, and eyeing the lost look on the seven-year-old Uzumaki the Hokage knew they had them.
Truly, Hiruzen had not wished for them to find out about Naruto here and now. It meant someone had ordered the child be brought to the third during this introduction and that went against his orders. He would not waste the opportunity though.
"He's definitely my blood, even despite the coloring being off. I'm guessing the mother or father come from the royal line." Soma's voice was soft and it was the young teen girl with violet hair who reached out and gently held the babe at their leader's nod. Hiruzen had nodded and let the Anbu holding the newborn to these strangers. The room was tense excluding the soft shushing the two women of the group were aiming at the newborn babe.
It made Hiruzen fret to allow the baby to be in anyone else's arms but these people were to become his first line of defense. With all the hope the old man could muster he would pray this boy would worm their way in their hearts fast. They would be his family, be by blood or by name. He could see swiftly though how fast the group of people who claimed the Uzumaki name practically crowded the babe with a newfound protectiveness in mere moments of meeting the how easily they accepted him though
Hiruzen knew they would all be there for another piece of their family. That they would likely do anything to protect another of their clan, to save an Uzumaki. He could tell this was the young leaders weakness an ND his strength.
It was the young seven-year-old who eyed the Hokage suspiciously, "Why is a newborn your bijuu container?" Everyone in the room stiffened except for the two older Uzumaki who gently cooed to the baby from around the violet-haired teen's shoulders.
The child's crying had subsided and his soft happy gurgles echoed in the room. Hiruzen though was horrified and pale wondering how the boy knew.
Soma rolled his eyes and shook his head forlornly. "I swear it's almost sad how little you all know of fuinjutsu and the beauty of her work. His seal is remarkable, not many will know what he is but there is one flaw that was overlooked." Soma eyed the baby and looked up to the Hokage.
"Uzumaki all know the faint reverberance of seals. We are all born with this knowledge like it is ingrained in our blood and instincts. Some will be more sensitive, hence why the baby and I both share similar facial markings." Soma stopped talking as the baby was brought over to his own small gaze.
It was the older Uzumaki who cleared her own throat bowing her neck in respect to the Hokage. "In our clan, we looked for the facial markings as it was a sign they would be the best chance for a vessel. Be it for the secrets of our arts, the sealing of curses or..." Her gaze fell away now before she murmured.
"The sealing of chakra or bijuu." Hiruzen eyed the seven-year-old who seemed almost grown-up gently holding the baby now softly tutting to the newborn that was now happily sleeping in his equally tiny arms. Naruto it seemed was at ease with his people.
"What is his name?" This came from the more seemingly frail red-headed teen who softly looked to the young blond held by the Uzumaki leader.
"Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto." Hiruzen saw Jiraiya turn away from the boy holding the baby and Soma glared at the man's back.
"Do you turn away from the child because of what he contains?" The sage turned back around so fast it was dizzying. The protest on his lips dying as he eyed the young boy holding Naruto.
Both looking far too much like both Minato and Kushina it was nauseating but the young boy was not someone who would allow the sage to get away with being stupid.
Especially not over a ghost who wasn't even haunting him willingly.
"He looks too much like his father and I am still mourning the man," Jiraiya spoke and Soma continued to frown.
"A weak excuse to drag me here to usurp your responsibilities, no?" The boy knew and they all knew he would see this for what it didn't know not truly how backed into a corner the two men truly were.
Soma Uzumaki would have no way of knowing just how desperate they were to have Naruto be taken in by his clan.
They needed the boy to set up their clan here. For Naruto's only chance to live a normal life, for any opportunity to keep the boy safe.
They needed to settle this group and any others like them in the village as a clan. They needed the Uzumaki name to have some power and fast so Naruto would not fall under the civilian hold once he turned one.
They would force the Hokage to give the boy up to the orphanage and that would not turn out well for the boy in the long run.
"Without you, without a reputation of power or fear, I do not know what my people will do to the boy." Hiruzen was grimfaced. He was not foolish, he had seen how capable his people were when faced with the news of who exactly held part of the nine tails within him.
Many had tried breaking into the hospital to kill the babe until Hiruzen had petitioned a death sentence to any that dared to harm the boy. It would seem Soma could read the older man all the guilt all the pain and the boy sighed before allowing the Anbu to take back the child.
They could not keep the child, not unless they made their stay permanent. The small clan of people knew that even without having to be told such.
Soma their leader looked to each of his people almost struggling with himself before his eyes looked once more to the happily sleeping Naruto in the arms of his anbu protection. The boy seemed to gather himself and faced the Hokage then.
"Fine. We will build our home here in the leaf. Let it be known the Uzumaki live again and we will come back stronger." Soma watched the child be taken away calm and content than when he had arrived before the young boy turned his attention back to Hiruzen.
The flinching around his young gaze gave him away as he and his party tugged off their Uzushino headbands and handed them over to nearby anbu that had suddenly shown.
Finally, the young boy bowed to the Hokage in respect to be followed by his people.
When the boy straightened he sighed and eyed the Hokage.
"Let's get to it then, a new contract and negotiations for a bid of land." The boy settled before the Hokage and shooed away his people to explore the village they would soon be joining.
It would seem it was time for their leader to do his part and negotiate.
T.D.O.T
Soma Uzumaki huffed irritably after having showcased his abilities. They had all doubted him and the Uzumaki clan head no older than seven had shown how foolish that was.
Though they only doubted him because he stumbled upon seeing Shikaku Nara standing next to the Hokage. Soma want prepared for the flood of emotions that had swapped him and pushed it away to deal with when he was alone later.
Despite the young body, the boy was astoundingly powerful, it was almost to terrifying levels. His companions too had proven their abilities to be that rivaling the boy but none of them surpassed the young child.
Even Azumi had showcased her menagerie of powerful poisons and her immunity to them. As the young mother in the same reflection showed her amazing abilities at iryojutsu in the same breath.
The trio of teens showed flawless teamwork and amazing skills working as a three-man unit themselves with amazing abilities. The male teen Uzumaki Nagato showing that despite being frail and sickly in appearance had an ability that could practically decimate others if he willed it so. They recognized the building pressure would be dangerous but he had been super before it could be shown.
Though when he tried to use the ability his clan leader had smacked him down and scolded the boy for daring to put his health at risk. That had given all the people gathered there some pause as the little redheaded child scolded his older counterpart who apologized promising not to do it again fearing the wrath of said child.
It had sobered the teen who even without the use of his kekkei Genkai was still quite masterful in the shinobi arts.
None of them could even touch the astonishment of power than when it came to the Uzumaki clan head. The kid was seven but plowed through jonnin like they were nothing but nats.
His abilities gobsmacked them all and his tactics alone was enough to prove the boy had a brain behind those deep blue pools of eyes.
The Hokage looked to the boy with a hint of amusement in his gaze as he handed off rankings of Jonnin for the trio and chunnin for the older Uzumaki woman. She would work mainly close to home and as a medical-nin but it was a well-earned ranking.
Soma knew what was coming when the Hokage grinned at the boy. "You will be a gennin, I will immediately place you to observe the current graduating class though." Hiruzen wanted the boy to learn the basics of teamwork before he dared flight him through the rankings and hoped to impress the skill he had on others around him for the betterment of the next generation.
With a snort, Soma agreed and the Hokage knew the kid saw right through him. With that, the Uzumaki were escorted to their temporary lodgings. Many of the people were left stunned that the boy was so amicable to being a gennin but none but Hiruzen and a contemplative Shikaku knew the truth.
The boy had been holding back and would soon prove to be invaluable to his future team placement.
Oh, a joyous day for the hidden village of the leaf.
T.D.O.T
Soma had left his home early and waltzed into the jittery classroom full of gennin hopefuls. They all descended into silence as the flame-haired stranger settled into the class but had not opted to sit with the students but at an offset chair set to the side of the sensei's desk.
Itachi seemed to focus his gaze in wonder at the red-headed boy who ignored the twittering and eyes about him. A boy he had never seen before wearing a Leaf shinobi headband.
Everyone settled once their sensei arrived and explained the boy's presence.
"This is Uzumaki Soma, he has already showcased his skills and was exempt by the Hokage's order to graduate amongst you all. He will be placed into a team among one of your groups." In all the talk Soma it would seem was uninterested. The boy was obviously bored only listened with half an ear before being directed to sit back down in the offered chair near the sensei.
Itachi's team was called fairly quickly and to everyone's surprise, it was the one with the mystery redhead.
"Tenma Izumo. Shinko Inari. Itachi Uchiha and Soma Uzumaki will be team two under the care of Yuki Minazuki." Murmuring suddenly broke out, a four-man squad of gennin was rare and almost unheard of but everyone settled down when the new redhead yawned loudly.
Itachi sighed losing interest, it would seem they had a fourth member for the team for when he inevitably surpassed them and moved onward without them.
The teams were soon collected and team two were picked up by their own sensei. They had been settled before Yuki Minazuki a somewhat nondescript man who gazed at each of his students curiously. Only for it all to burst out when Izumo went off ranting about Itachi and this 'new kid' who had the nerve to both be arrogant and showy. The older boy was incensed while Shinko, their female teammate, swiftly came Itachi's and Soma's defense.
Itachi stayed silent as it was not in his nature to aggravate this situation. He had no need to become invested in this team. Shinko was defending Itachi and nearly red in embarrassment for Izumo being rude to the newly added Soma.
Soma on the other hand only eyed the sensei with a bored gaze before glancing at Izumo. The redhead let a small bit of killing intent leak out of his hold stilling the ranting boy immediately and drawing Itachi's curious gaze in his direction.
"Would you kindly shut up? Your voice is grating and you are proving to be foolish to doubt those that placed you on this team. It is your sensei's and Hokage who deemed you fit as to be partnered up with us 'children' so take kindly to their wisdom." Soma looked away from the group finally easing the tension he had set and cowing his team in the same breath.
Itachi was intrigued but knew better than to hope that this boy would become a true teammate to him. He had been training under his father for years and neared chunnin levels as it were.
He would be leaving this team behind soon enough, Soma was only here to cover his place once he did leave.
T.D.O.T
It was discombobulating being in his younger body. The few years he had built himself up from practically scratch was something else. He had been trapped alone on an island with meager means to take care of himself.
Luckily for the nine-tailed jinchuriki, he had always lived a life of self-sufficiency. Soma had ensured he hurried into forcing his body to develop because he knew with every day that passed he was wasting precious time.
He just missed saving his parents but as some events come to pass this too must have been something that he would not have been allowed to circumvent. Life is full of inevitables, were he to intervene and save his parents it was very likely they would have passed on in another way. Or they could have been fine, honestly, this time travel thing was difficult to decipher.
Life was peculiar and almost laughable with how easy it was to impose your will into things once you know they are there. Soma sighed eyeing his team and internally he missed team seven.
This man Yuki seemed inherently jealous of Itachi's skill. Soma was not one to show off anymore, he had given up that in his first lifetime. Yet, Uzumaki Soma could see that jealousy extends to himself when showcasing his few abilities during their initiation test.
They had passed, of course, Naruto knew the true meaning of these exams, and his newest teammates fell in line had figured out the purpose of the exam, and had easily enough fallen into line for them all to work together. It was ridiculously easy to take down a jonnin like Yuki though.
Soma had been spoiled first having had Kakashi as a sensei, then Jiraiya and Yamato was no slouch either. Yes, this Yuki did not inspire much hope for betterment. Soma and Itachi drove the team forward through mission after mission of D ranks. Several C ranks were handed to them and completely flawlessly to the point that they had gained some notoriety. Enough to draw the Daiyamo's attention and be appointed his guard during his visit to the hidden village.
To Soma, it was all terribly dull. The boy had spent several years pushing and scraping to become powerful as quickly as possible to circumvent their fate as soon as was possible. To muddle his power and force him into a position where he would have to keep idle was irritating.
He was thinking that all throughout their scouting ahead of the Fire lords traveling party. Until he could feel him. Soma stopped as he had been laying the group due to his sensory abilities. So his team too halted, they all saw an orange masked man and Soma knew immediately who that was.
The Uzumaki quirked a brow at the grey shrouding and Orange mask with black insignia on it. The wild growth of black hair too was different, but Soma would never forget that bubbling of power. Even if it was wild and turbulent as of that moment.
Obito was a foolish bastard and a coward to the redhead. Pathetic in the eyes of the Uzumaki, only because he ran away from it all, he gave up on his team in a moment of misconception.
Soma had never given up on Sasuke, had always known the man would return to them and be true and honorable once again. He had never been shy about digging out the truth and seeking to know the why of Sasuke and his actions during his many years away from the leaf.
Much of it had made sense to Soma, he knew and understood why Sasuke followed the path he had. Less to do with wanting his friends harmed and more to do with wanting the deaths of his clan repaid.
Obito allowed himself to be immersed in his manipulation to the point that he immediately gave up on Kakashi when the boy had seen him kill Rin.
Never did he consider that his by-the-book teammate was tricked into such a situation. Never did he take into account Rin's own fault and motivations for not defending herself, for throwing herself before Chidori.
No consideration was given only grief and bemoaning took Obito and that was all his friendship with Kakashi was worth. It was disgustingly narrow-minded but Soma was always one who easily fell into forgiveness so he could just be a bad judge of character.
Having been invested in his thoughts Soma jolted when Izumo charged toward Obito and in a flash Soma had plucked the boy away from the crazed man's flashing blade.
Everyone froze as Soma effortlessly called a clone to rush the boy back to his group and slammed one of his ready-made seals into the opening Obito had made for him. Despite the man being a master with a blade he was at this stage still clumsy in his 'made' body.
The older man jolted as if shocked and choked growling angrily at the small boy who had done the unthinkable in mere moments.
The seal glowed and sunk through the fabric of the clothing and settled into the man. Obito sneered at the red-haired boy and Itachi was swift in coming to defend his teammate. Itachi's gaze was a blazing red and Soma was biting through his thumb already marking out a seal next to him.
Cursing and in pain, Obito called upon his power to make a quick escape and figure out what exactly the boy had done to him.
Soma frowned a bit miffed at the missed opportunity. His unfinished seal would take time for the masked nin to remove but it would buy him all the time he needed.
"What was that Uzumaki," Itachi spoke his eyes taking in every detail of the red-headed boy next to him. He had thought Izumo was done for and then that this masked man would kill Soma who he had built immediate respect for. Soma canceled out his blood seal before huffing and turning back toward their stunned group.
"I was placed in your team because the Hokage wishes for me to showcase some of my skill before he pushes me to advance forward. I'm supposedly determined to be an influence on you guys, no matter how far we go." Soma eyed Itachi's red gaze and hummed softly.
"It would seem you had awakened your bloodline. Good for you." It was all Soma said before walking back to their team. Itachi instinctively cut off power to his eyes and followed after Soma in wonderment.
A good influence indeed.
The rest of the mission went off without a hitch and both their team members quit after that mission. Soma had said nothing to deter them but their sensei used it as an excuse to hold both boys back from moving forward to becoming chunnin. Two more students had been added onto the boy's squad and they performed well but it was obvious Yuki was holding back his two gennin intentionally.
He held back both prodigal kids and Soma was not affected by the issue, whereas Itachi was frustrated by it. Soma used his time to hone his skills with Itachi practically attached to his hip. They grew exponentially in power and even their team and sensei could not keep up with either boy after a few years had finally passed.
In the years of his genin life, Soma had risen to uphold his position as their clan head.
Several lost members of their clan found a home in the hidden village due to their bloodline linking with their young leader. Soma himself established himself easily despite his lack of rank. It was effortless to take over guardianship of Naruto, almost pathetically easy.
Though it only led to people looking into the development of this young clan head. Through this, the redhead met Itachi's best friend another Uchiha named Shisui. Soma had held back a frown when facing the Uchiha who in his mind was aimed for tragedy. Well, hopefully, Soma could get him away from that path in life.
Soma knew of the Uchiha's and their truth after the death of Danzo in his former life had passed. That man had a hand in many of the dark deeds of the village and Soma already had plans to ensure everything would end swiftly before it began.
He had done so subtly at the current time frame. Circumventing any idiotic circumstances of others calling the Uchiha traitors. Stopping any rumors dead when they spoke or whispered of them being behind the actions of the Kyubi attack.
As a former student of the village's spymaster, Soma had gathered easy ways to ensure the Uchiha would not be dishonored and the village had other things to worry about. A perfect example being the fact that a clan heir and clan head were being held back by their sensei from moving past the stage of genin. This oddly influenced the Uchiha to feel like the Uzumaki clan were on their side through turmoil.
That plus the Uzumaki had ensured to settle their clan as close to the Uchiha to show their own trust in the clan. It had somehow eased those in power to back off the Uchiha in certain regard and settled the already ruffled feathers before Soma had settled his clan there.
Now all anyone could talk about was the two prodigies.
Word had spread and suddenly both Soma and Itachi were freed to join in the exams as a two-man squad. The only two-man squad to ever be allowed in History.
Soma had frowned when Danzo had been eagerly stepping in to push both boys to progress in ranking. Soma had been sitting on an idea for a long while. With this final push, the boy sent a formal letter to the Uchiha clan head. It was nothing intricate just a greeting from one clan to another.
He then set off to join his teammate in training for the chunnin exams.
The exams were being held in the leaf as they had ended war not many years prior and only those in alliance with the leaf were joining in the exams. Suna sadly being the only other competition joining in the exam for the current time until other villages would later reach out.
Soma didn't need to worry about Garra in this life time as he had give out of his way to ensure the boys seal was fixed before it could ever prove to be a problem in the first place. Though that was something he would need to check in on at another time.
The young redhead hated this stagnant feeling and despised the fact that he would be required to play politics for the foreseeable future. He really needed to get a higher ranking in the village as well. Soma had no intentions of becoming Hokage this time around but was determined to fix the village before the younger him could align with the former's dream.
It was strange to think of himself in another form, and even stranger to know that his younger self was being raised alongside Karin until he could grow a bit more in years.
So much still needed to be done and Soma was not going to rest until it was all taken care of.
T.D.O.T
Eyes followed the young Uzumaki clan head as the boy walked the streets of Konoha. His long Kimono top was a solid black only decorated by the Uzumaki swirl on each shoulder. The long hanging sleeves were tied back and weapons were easily hidden along with the small form though none could be easily sighted.
For once the boy wore shinobi pants that his top was tucked into. Yet, astoundingly Soma still walked silently in sleek black geta.
Soma Uzumaki had his long hair braided down his back with a tuff of glimmering hair that slipped out of the braid instead framing his soft angular face.
The boy was imposing even if he barely stood at the waist of most adults. The last few years as a genin the Uzumaki had aimed his entirety to ensure he had worked out the kinks of working with his younger body.
Laid out the groundwork for his reforming clan and trying to figure out a way to pull someone to his side so he could resolve several instances that were sure to arise. Karin was now four about to be five and Naruto was on the cusp of turning two.
This led to a particular predicament.
After becoming a Jonnin, Soma would be free to officially adopt and become the guardian of Naruto. It was the only way to circumvent his age that was holding him back from doing so. It was why the Uzumaki leader worked so hard in his team, despite the odds against him. It was also why he had established himself so well in a political setting and endeared to do more along those lines.
He held those thoughts till he arrived home and settled himself at their dining table assured it would be unlikely he would be bothered. He had everything planned out he just needed to await the upcoming exams.
Word had spread despite the thirds law against speaking of it the village found out Naruto was the vessel for the nine-tailed fox. Since they lived so close to the Uchiha though none have been bold enough to dare trample onto Uzumaki ground to come after the boy. Besides if they had, Soma's seals would have handled them.
Now though he was unsure if he should be more open to the clans around him. All these thoughts because of the future that was running fast his way. Konan came into the room holding a sleepy Naruto and Soma's attention was drawn to the boy immediately.
Astoundingly he could admit he had been a cute kid. Naruto's fluffy mane of gold hair and sparkling soft blue eyes made him look nothing but adorable.
His chubby cheeks with whisker marks made him look foxlike as well. It had been a perversely sadistic enjoyment for Soma to buy a bunch of fox-themed baby clothes after his first round of several D ranks came through.
Currently, he was wearing a fluffy onesie with a hood that had fox ears attached to it. The onesie was a lovely white and had a long tail but vaguely made Soma think of a bunny. Though it could be because his little Naru was just a baby.
In this lifetime, Naruto was as sheltered and protected as other clan children would be and Soma ensured Naruto could have a happy life. He worked long and hard thankful for his fellow clan members who decided it was better to pool money until their clan head could rise in rank.
They all knew it was also a bit of his clan wanting to take care of their oh-so 'grown up' but tiny Uzumaki clan head.
Konan had her hair pulled back into a braid and eyed the contemplative young boy. He was as serious as an adult but Soma always softened around his people. It warned her heart watching him coo to the baby in his arms.
Konan kissed Naruto's head and pecked Soma's cheek before moving about the room to set the table for dinner. Nagato and Yahiko were cooking dinner tonight and Karin was on a playdate for the day. So she had volunteered to set the dinner table.
"You've had back-to-back missions since the Fire lords escort day. I don't think any of us have really seen much of you." Soma smiled softly at Konan who seemed to be thriving in the warm environment of the leaf village.
Soma was actively involved in all aspects of his clan even if they sometimes knew it was a shadow clone checking on them they all knew he cared enough to even do that.
It had been strange at first for Konan but she loved and appreciated it all the more now. Konan finished setting down the table wear and Soma stubbornly held Naruto in his arms despite Konan reaching for the boy. She smiled and let her hands drop but eyed the red-haired boy who was happily sitting in his chair cuddling their little Naru.
"Soma! Soma!" Naruto was happily speaking his guardian's name. It was a collection of words the blonde had been picking up. Most of what he learned was mainly grammar and how to write from Azumi. Once Soma adopts the boy was when Naruto's long extensive training would begin.
Soma focused on Naruto who went off on a tangent about a book Azumi read to him that day. His words were mostly gibberish but he loved to listen nice the less.
They were able to get Naruto right before the boy turned one, released to the clan and technically an orphan of the clan until Soma could adopt him. Soma had been practically glued to Naruto's side and was active in feeding, changing, and taking care of the babe unless he was pulled away by missions.
The Uzumaki head was devoted to the baby, even despite them finding more clan members and drawing them to the leaf the boy stayed devoted to the blonde.
Soma sighed and handed the happy baby back to a confused Konan.
"I have to pack for the upcoming exams." Soma eyed the happy blonde baby feeling even more determined to rise up in rankings.
T.D.O.T
Soma sighed softly sitting at Itachi's side. They had arrived far too early in the exam hall for the chunnin exams and the red-head was growing tired of all the glares being sent their way.
They were the two youngest gennin and the two who seemed to draw the most attention without having asked for it. Itachi though had practically dragged the Uzumaki out of his bed in the morning, which honestly surprised Soma.
He never expected the Uchiha to be so eager.
Soma felt relief when he spotted the imposing figure of Ibiki who was trailing after a towering blonde man wearing a deceptive smile. Soma quirked a brow seeing Inoichi Yamanaka stand before the crowd of gathered gennin.
A pang of pain reverberated when seeing the man whose death had crushed his daughter in such a way that it led to her own demise.
Soma settled into his seat stiffly and could notice Itachi at his side stiffen and eye the redhead.
" Hello to you all. I am Inoichi Yamanaka and I will be the proctor to your first part of the chunnin exams. Please come forward for your assigned seating."
It took a scattering of moments for everyone to find their new seats and for Inoichi to follow the same script of rules he had listened to the first lifetime so long ago.
Soma stayed silent through it all completed the test and awaited the 'tenth question'. He could feel the eyes on him though. Inoichi wasn't subtle about it, he watched the Uzumaki like a hawk.
They had rarely ever spoken and if they did it was only in passing, but Soma knew people watched him. Especially the clan heads. There was no doubt in his mind that Inoichi had wanted to interview the Uzumaki's when they first arrived but because they had been the ones to kidnap the clan and drag them to the village Hiruzen had declined the incentive of double-checking the clan.
It obviously rubbed the Yamanaka clan leader the wrong way. Soma only settled himself back into his seat with ease and shut his eyes. He didn't care what others thought of him, he only cared how they perceived Naruto. When the tenth question came Soma kept his eyes shut and just listened.
"For your final question, you can only obtain the question if you offer up one of your teammate's weaknesses." Soma's eyes opened and he rolled his eyes before craning his head back and found Itachi. Soma stood without waiting for any prompting in the middle of Inoichi's explanation and yanked Itachi out of the room. A group of irate shinobi followed immediately after the two youngest leaf genin.
The Uchiha was fuming and furious but immediately shut up when they were collected with several others and escorted before a secondary examiner. Soma eyed a much younger-looking and irritable Asuma who was introducing himself as a proctor for the second exam.
Itachi had stared at Soma shocked the boy had known and had saved him from ruining their chances at this exam. Had he been going through the exam on his own he would have automatically passed this part because of his lack of teammates.
Yet, Soma never hesitated to not giving up vital information on his teammate.
Soma was bored, the exams were only loosely different to his times taking them but he needed to get through them. He was in uncharted territory but he was not unfamiliar with working through it all. Given instructions to return to the forest of death the within the next hour Soma turned to Itachi who was observing him before the pair split to say their goodbyes to their families and grab their gear.
Soma had body flickered himself home and fussed over Naruto peppering the babe with kisses before he charged back to the forest of death. One day he would finally crack the code of his father's famous flying thunder god technique. For now, he had to settle for being immeasurably proficient with a body flicker.
Itachi was already waiting with several others for the exam to take place.
They were quiet, Soma standing there minding his own business and Itachi watching him...menacingly. Or constipated, Soma had never been good at reading Uchiha expressions. Sasuke and his past relationship were proof enough that they didn't think on the same wavelength.
Soma sighed as Asuma went on a tangent about their goals and duties while within the forest of death. He knew for a fact that this would be unfair. Not only was Soma overqualified for the chunnin exams but so was Itachi. He also didn't want to disrupt the time flow too wildly so he would follow Itachi's lead when taking on an opponent on the inside. He had won once so whomever he targeted had to be part of this time-flow and his aim was to ensure he didn't screw someone out of their coveted spot.
Like before he held a heaven scroll and he immediately opened a seal from the carved etchings on his belt ensuring the scroll was sealed and hidden away. Itachi watched in wonderment and the two-faced their gate ready to go. For better or worse their chance to move forward was now.
T.D.O.T
Soma eyed the trio of older gennin trapped in a mixture of Itachi's Sharingan and his chakra suppression seals. They were only minutes away from the tower and had only been inside the forest for all of two hours. Soma sighed before following after Itachi who was already leaving toward the tower. Soma had only stopped to seal away the earth scroll with the heaven scroll.
They passed into the tower and soma tossed out and opened both scrolls. Soma frowned as did Itachi when a surprised Yuki appeared before them. Itachi didn't like that he had to be stuck with their soon-to-be former sensei. Soma on the other hand could care less. The two separated and settled down for the upcoming three days to pass. It didn't take long and there had not been many people who passed through the doors before the timer went out. All from the leaf and all much older than both boys.
Once Hiruzen arrived Soma knew these matches would determine who would become a chunnin. There would be no need to have a grand showcasing of fights this exam. Soma knew it because it had happened in his lifetime when he was presiding over the exams himself. He sighed and watched several other proctors and examiners enter the hall and geared himself up for the match.
It was officially time for him to become someone Naruto could look up to. Soma stretched and Itachi himself did the same.
It was like Soma had presumed and it took but a few breathless moments of him tactfully taking down his opponent. He knew once he lay a suppression seal over the other teen and held a kunai to his neck he had passed. Itachi had already faced his own match and placed his opponent under his Sharingan tied him up and let the proctor call the match.
Soma came back to himself when the match was called and he released his opponent. The nine-year-olds had dominated the matches and were set to face one in the final bout. Soma grumbled to himself not exactly wanting to showcase his abilities like a monkey in a cage. The nine-year-olds faced off and Soma decided to finally vent out some of the frustration he had for the Uchiha in general.
Itachi had been a pain in the ass from the moment he had been placed on his team.
Just like Sasuke these brothers sure knew how to grate on his last nerve. The fight was quick and Itachi was horrified his Sharingan did not work on Soma. Soma was fighting with his eyes closed, and fighting accurately. The pair exchanged blows but eventually, Itachi grew tired of the stalemate and body flickered behind the Uzumaki.
Soma only twisted minutely before slamming a fist into a shocked Itachi's gut.
How had he known?
They grapple I for a moment until he felt a cold sensation coming from his gut and spreading to the rest of him. He was slowly stiffening but moved fast trying to fight the effects of whatever seal was placed on him and pissing through to take down Soma.
How was he so strong and why had he been hiding it all this time on his team. Soma stared him down standing over him and Itachi jolted as Soma disappeared it was only then that Itachi realized he had lost from the get go.
His body sank down and someone caught him to lie him down gently.
He sighed and the match was called when he could not rise. A seal glowed on his stomach stopping all movement and the real Soma stared down at him from above his head. Itachi had lost the moment he faced off Soma. The other boy had sat back watching his clone take down the prideful Uchiha and Itachi had never known till that moment.
It was humbling.
Itachi needed to learn all he could from this guy, he could only become greater with Soma Uzumaki at his side. He would not let his partner slip away.
Soma was declared the winner but he eyed Hiruzen and jolted seeing a familiar masked man settled behind the third hokage. The tuff of silver hair and bored expression was like Soma always remembered. He had to hold back his tears and look away from a face that has haunted him for the last decade. Kakashi Hatake, his former captain and a man whose death will always haunt him. Not like Sakura who died at Sasuke's hand.
He died because Soma himself had lost control of his bijuu and Kakashi was the foolish man who dared try to save him.
Soma would never forgive himself for that but would ensure Naruto would have zero chances to entwine with the same fate he had.
Kakashi eyed the two boys puzzled by the Uzumaki's avoidance of him but intrigued by both of their displays of power. Kakashi leaned to the Hokage's ear and softly spoke. "I'll take them both." Kakashi turned away and left not knowing he was entwining his fate with someone who would change his life. Not knowing of what his agreement to take on the two chunnin would change the course of history so greatly.
He didn't know and Soma didn't know how this would change him and his future self for the better.
Thank you for reading