Author's notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Edited by Izanagi-MS.
ㅤ
The rays of the rising sun lazily broke through the thin curtains, gently mussing Naruto's face. The boy was awakened by an insistent tapping at the window. He opened his eyelids sleepy and tired after a sleepless night. Mind still hazy from sleep, he slowly pushed back the blanket and crawled to the window.
Surprise mixed with curiosity when he saw a black raven pecking persistently at the glass. Attached to its slender beak was a small piece of paper. Naruto carefully opened the window and removed it from the bird's beak. The paper was crumpled and the ink smudged, as if someone had written in a hurry.
"Training Ground 11, 9 a.m."
The lack of a signature did not worry Naruto. Intuition told him the message was from his mysterious mentor. The boy smiled under his breath. Using a raven to communicate - that was definitely something for the Uchiha clan.
He glanced at the clock. There was little time left. He quickly jumped out of bed and dressed in his favorite orange jacket and black pants. After a quick breakfast and brief chat with his mother, Naruto set off toward training ground 11.
After a while Naruto realized that he had no idea where training yard number 11 was located. He stopped for a moment, looking around helplessly. Then his gaze fell on a young chunin who was walking past him.
"Ano, can you tell me where I can find training ground 11?" Naruto asked.
The chunin stopped and smiled warmly at him. "Of course, I'll be happy to help. It's located north of the Uchiha clan district. You can't miss it - it's a large open area surrounded by a high wall."
"Well, the rumors turned out to be true. The Hokage's son actually became a genin!" thought the woman, smiling broadly at Naruto. A mixture of admiration and pride was painted in her eyes.
He bid farewell to the chūnin and headed toward the indicated place. A mixture of excitement and trepidation buzzed in his heart. He was about to meet his mentor and begin his real adventure as a shinobi!
When he reached the training yard, a large, empty area appeared to his eyes. In the middle stood a lone man with his arms crossed over his chest. Naruto recognized him immediately - it was Fugaku Uchiha, head of the Uchiha clan and one of the strongest shinobi in the village.
"You're late," Fugaku said in a stern tone.
Naruto lowered his gaze. "Sorry, I didn't know where..."
"Don't explain yourself," Fugaku interrupted him. "The important thing is that you're here. Let's start by introducing ourselves. My name is Fugaku Uchiha. I am the clan head of the Uchiha clan. My dream is for the Uchiha clan to become the strongest in the village, and now another one has come along - I want you to become the most powerful shinobi of the village. I sense that there is great potential in you, boy. My hobby and way of life is constant training. I strive for perfection in every aspect of the art of shinobi. What I love is my family."
Naruto understood what he was about to do and also decided to introduce himself. He grunted and straightened up, determination in his eyes.
"My name is Naruto Namikaze. My dream, no, my life's goal, is to become strong enough to protect my loved ones and my village. I yearn to achieve lasting peace for Konoha. My hobbies include spending time with my family and Izumi-chan." the boy introduced himself.
"Good, he has a positive goal and determination, if his eyes are to be believed." thought Fugaku, looking at Naruto.
"I'm not going to test you, because I consider it superfluous," Fugaku announced, and after a moment added. "The first technique I will teach you will be the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu - Shadow Replication Technique. It will help us in your training and speed up the achievement of our common goal. However, I warn you not to mention it to your parents."
"Mhm!", nodded the boy with understanding.
"Tell me, Naruto, have you ever copied shinobi techniques with your eyes before?", asked Fugaku, pointing to his eyes.
"Yes," replied Naruto hesitantly, feeling bad about it. In his mind, the Sharingan was like a cheat, especially in the context of his hard work in training. He had put a lot of effort into his studies since entering the academy, and his peers still thought he was cheating with his eyes. The Sharingan was a heavy and touchy subject for him, one he was ashamed of.
"Boy!", Fugaku called, seeing his thoughts wandering. "Your eyes are a powerful tool. It would be foolish not to use them."
"But...," Naruto tried to explain, but Fugaku immediately interrupted him with a stern look.
"There is no 'but'!", shouted Fugaku firmly, and seeing further indecision in the boy's eyes, he added: "Your eyes are a tool, so use them! I'm sure you know how to turn on your Sharingan, correct?" At his nod, he continued. "Watch exactly what I do, because I want you to copy this technique."
Naruto began to channel chakra to his eyes, two tomoe swirled to life as Fugaku stole a glance. "Truly a unique dojutsu, even amongst the Uchiha Clan. What else could that color mean?"
He then slowly demonstrated the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, allowing the boy to copy it. Before Naruto could attempt to perform it, however, Fugaku stopped him.
"This jutsu allows the user to create copies of himself. The user's chakra is equally divided between their clones. Creating one clone will transfer half of the user's chakra to, creating two clones will give each one a third, and so on. Depending on the amount of chakra one has and the number of clones created, this can lead to its rapid depletion, which can be dangerous. Unlike the Bunshin no Jutsu, Kage Bunshins are physical. They are indistinguishable from the original, even by dōjutsu."
Fugaku continued describing the technique with Naruto absorbing his words.
"Kage Bunshins can be used as decoys, to conceal the identity of the original user, perform their own jutsu and actions independent of the user, and provide can either disperse on their own or be dispersed by the user. Once dispersed, the clone's experience and chakra are transferred back to the user."
Naruto repeated Fugaku's last words in his mind: "Once dispersed, the clone's experiences and the remaining chakra in it are transferred back to the user..." He suddenly understood why Fugaku wanted to teach him this very technique. "If the experiences are transmitted, so is the knowledge gained by the clone..."
"I see you understand, boy. That's how I want to use this technique, to teach you many things at once. I especially want to use your unique heritage for this purpose."
"My heritage?" asked Naruto, curious about Fugaku's words.
"Yes, Naruto. For one, your chakra capacity will only continue to grow as an Uzumaki. One day I suppose you will have more chakra than me. The second is your eyes, the Sharingan and their extraordinary power to copy techniques. Combined with Kage Bunshin, they can become a powerful learning tool. Imagine that a clone can learn a technique and then pass that knowledge on to you when you return. In this way, you can learn many techniques at an accelerated pace."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. He had never thought of Sharingan in this way. The possibility of speeding up his training was extremely tempting.
"I want to teach you how to use this technique to its maximum potential," Fugaku continued. "But remember, Naruto, power comes with responsibility. Use the Kage Bunshin wisely."
Naruto nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement inside him. He was ready to start learning to become a stronger shinobi.
"I understand," Naruto replied, clenching his fists in determination. Fugaku's words stuck in his mind. He had never tried this technique before, but he was determined to learn it.
"Good. Now try to perform the technique," Fugaku instructed, his stern gaze resting on Naruto. The boy nodded, focusing on the chakra pulsing inside him. He imagined a stream of energy flowing through his meridians, like a rushing stream.
Naruto closed his eyes, using the insight of his Sharingan to help him perform the technique. He formed a cross-hand sign and molded his chakra.
Smoke swirled in the air around him, quickly obscuring him. When it cleared, three identical clones stood around Naruto.
"Excellent!" praised Fugaku, and the shadow of a smile appeared on his face. "You managed to create three clones the first time. That's impressive, Naruto."
Naruto smiled broadly, pride spreading across his chest. He knew he still had a long way to go, but this success felt like another step toward his goal.
Their quiet conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of an ANBU member.
"Uchiha-sama, Hokage-sama calls for a council meeting." Fugaku nodded, his onyx eyes flashed with an unfamiliar glow. After receiving confirmation, the ANBU disappeared without a shunshin.
"Naruto, I want you and your clones to get down to reading these books" Fugaku ordered, pointing to a pile of books that suddenly appeared next to him.
"Understood," Naruto replied with a note of determination in his voice. The boy knew the gravity of the situation. The village council was not called for no reason.
"The village council ... hmm, I think I even know what it will be about," thought Fugaku, then disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
ㅤ
–
ㅤ
Fugaku entered the meeting room, nodding in greeting. He was the only one besides the Hokage who didn't hide his surprise at being summoned to the meeting, something which didn't escape the attention of others.
"Since everyone is present, it's time to present the reason for the meeting," Minato announced, placing his hands on the table. He looked at those gathered, and his blue eyes flashed with determination. "I would like to revoke a law established by Nidaime-sama."
The Hokage's words caused a wave of surprise and agitation among the council members.
"What law is it exactly?" Fugaku asked, clenching his fists under the table. Although he knew perfectly well what the law was about, he felt uneasy at the thought of change. The law allowed gifted children to take the genin exam early, as long as all shinobi academy instructors agreed.
"I'm referring to a law allowing children with exceptional talent to take the genin exam before the legal age, provided all academy instructors agree," Minato explained, watching the reactions of those gathered. There was silence in the room, with each council member weighing the arguments for and against the change.
"Minato, if I understand correctly, you want to block this possibility?" asked Danzo Shimura. After a moment, he added, "This law was established by the Second Hokage so as not to waste the talents of young shinobi."
Minato acknowledged this. "Yes, I realize that. However, let's not forget the real purpose for which the shinobi village system was established. The villages were established to protect children from having to participate in wars at an early age. We should protect the innocence of the new generation for as long as possible to ensure a brighter future for them!"
Silence fell in the room. Many council members, especially those who had children of their own, agreed.
"While this is true, I'm curious, what made you want to change this law, Hokage-sama?" Homura asked.
"My son took the genin exam and passed it at the age of five. I don't want another child to experience the darkness of the shinobi world at such a young age," announced Minato.
An argument immediately ensued. Council members expressed their opinions, arguing for and against the Hokage's proposal. Some feared that abolishing the right to an early genin exam would discourage talented children from developing their skills. Others felt that protecting children from the atrocities of war was paramount.
"Although I understand the concerns of some of you, I have still made the final decision to abolish this law," announced Minato in a firm voice.
Some council members did not hide their outrage.
"This is outrageous!" shouted Danzo Shimura, slamming his fist on the table. "How can you deprive talented children of the opportunity to develop their skills!"
"It;s my duty to protect all Konohagakure children, and this law puts them in danger!" the Hokage rebuked, not taking his eyes off Danzo. "In the shinobi world, children grow up too fast."
"Hokage-sama, what about those children who have already begun shinobi training?" asked one of the council members.
"They will continue their studies at the academy until they reach the legal age," Minato explained. "Only then will they be able to take the genin exam."
The discussion continued for some time, but in the end Minato put his weight behind it. The right to take the premature genin exam was abolished.
ㅤ
–
ㅤ
Fugaku stormed out of the meeting room. The Hokage's decision to abolish the right to take the premature genin exam had hit straight at his ambitious plans for Izumi. The girl was undoubtedly talented, and now her path to becoming a shinobi had been lengthened.
"Tsk... Even though I sensed this turn of events, I still feel the bitterness of defeat." he thought as he went to deliver the news to Naruto.
When he arrived, he found the boy engrossed in reading, accompanied by his clones.
"Hmm... To be honest, I didn't think he would be so eager to learn." thought Fugaku with a note of satisfaction in his voice. "That's good, at least I know he'll obey my orders."
"Naruto," stepping in front of the boy, who immediately took his eyes off the book and raised his head to look at his mentor.
"Sensei..."
"From now on, we will meet here for regular training. You will not participate in D-rank missions. I consider them a waste of time and worthless for shinobi development." announced Fugaku firmly.
"You are to report here every day at 7 am. I'll assign you training tasks, and I'll take care of the Police Force's duties myself. I will return here in the afternoon to check your progress. If they turn out to be satisfactory, you will be rewarded. Remember that any satisfactory result will be rewarded, and any inadequate result will be punished. This will be the nature of our relationship - mentor and student. Do you understand!"
Fugaku stared at Naruto with penetrating eyes, scrutinizing him. He wanted to see a shadow of fear or doubt in his eyes but only saw a fire there.
"Understood, Fugaku-sensei," he replied firmly. He didn't want to disappoint someone who was willing to give him so much time and attention. In his heart, he promised himself that he would do absolutely everything not to disappoint his new mentor's expectations.
Fugaku nodded approvingly, and his eyes flashed with satisfaction. In Naruto's brief response, he fully understood the potential inherent in the boy standing before him.
"Good." A positive remark it may be, it sounded more like an order. "However, today's training comes to an end. You need time to absorb your clones and analyze the knowledge you have gained."
Naruto nodded as a sign of understanding.
"As an assignment, think about which shinobi fields you would like to specialize in. Remember this choice will impact your future path," Fugaku added. "However, before you can do that, you still have to complete one more task."
Fugaku reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of chakra paper.
"This paper was cultivated by special chakra-sensitive trees," he announced, handing it to Naruto. "Transfer some chakra to it, and it will react in different ways depending on your chakra nature."
Naruto looked at the sheet of paper with curiosity. He was already looking forward to discovering his chakra nature. He focused his hand and transferred a small amount of chakra to the paper.
He watched in disbelief as the piece of paper vibrated and shrank in his hand, with bright blue sparks shooting from its edges. He felt a tingling in his fingers, and his hair stood up under the electricity. A loud crackling sound echoed in the air.
"So a lightning nature..." Fugaku mused for a moment, tightening his hand on the hilt of his sword. "That doesn't change my plans, though. Sharingan and Kage Bunshins will allow me to teach him other natures of chakra without any problem..."
"As you can see, boy, you have a lightning chakra nature" announced Fugaku, glancing at the wrinkled sheet of paper, from which light arc were still coming out. "However, this only means that it will be easier for you to learn this element. It doesn't exempt you from learning the others."
Naruto nodded, staring intently at the piece of paper. Determination shone in his eyes.
"Remember that there is a certain balance between the natures of chakra," Fugaku began to explain, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Raiton towers over the Doton but gives way to the Fuuton. Fuuton in turn becomes powerless against Katon. Katon yields to Suiton while Doton triumphs over Suiton."
Fugaku watched Naruto with penetrating eyes, anticipating his reaction. A mixture of severity and concern was painted in his eyes.
"Raiton is special among the elements. It is superior to both Suiton and Doton, but remember these words. Mastering all natures of chakra is the key to true strength. Don't be discouraged by the difficulties you encounter on your way. Train hard, and with my help, you will achieve everything you desire."
Fugaku lifted his gaze to the sky, and a ray of sunlight illuminated his face. The sun's rays highlighted the slight wrinkles on his face, traces of years of hard training and battles.
"A shinobi's strength is not only in his technique or skill," Fugaku continued. "True strength comes from within, from determination and an unbreakable will to fight. I believe in you, Naruto. You have within you everything it takes to become a great shinobi. Remember that your destiny is in your hands."
Fugaku looked at Naruto with penetrating eyes. "That's it for today. Disperse the clones, go home, and think about the path you wish to follow as a shinobi."
Naruto nodded, focusing on his flow of chakra. He held up a single Ram sign to release the technique, absorbing the clones' knowledge and leftover chakra. For a moment, he lost control of his body, wobbling on his feet. With Fugaku's help, he managed to sit up and catch his breath, fighting the wave of nausea.
Fugaku watched his protégé closely. He knew that Naruto was young, but at this age the mind is like a sponge, absorbing knowledge with incredible speed. The technique had never been used to train shinobi before, and the risk was great.
"Relax, Naruto," Fugaku said, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "It's normal to feel dazed. Your mind needs time to process all this information."
Naruto nodded, struggling to restrain his trembling hands. He felt exhausted.
"Rest now," Fugaku instructed. "Tomorrow we'll talk about what you've learned."
Naruto closed his eyes and leaned on his mentor. Despite his fatigue, his mind was still active, analyzing new information and making plans for the future. Eventually, the fatigue proved too much and he lost consciousness. Seeing this, Fugaku decided to take Naruto with him and bring him to Namikaze's house.
Fugaku looked at the boy with concern. He carefully picked him up and threw him on his back. He knew that Minato and Kushina would not be happy to learn that their son had fainted during training. He could already imagine Kushina's anger and Minato's stern look. "What a drag..." he thought with a sigh.
On the other side of the village, a certain Nara clan head sneezed.
ㅤ
–
ㅤ
"Fugaku-sensei!" Naruto greeted his mentor, bowing low.
Fugaku looked at him with penetrating eyes. "So Naruto, have you thought through what you want to learn yet?"
Naruto nodded. "I want to first focus on Kenjutsu, Genjutsu, and Ninjutsu," he said.
"Kenjutsu and Genjutsu are areas in which I can easily educate you," Fugaku replied. "However, Raiton requires special skills which I will need help to teach you. Let's focus on the first two."
Fugaku handed Naruto scrolls and books on Genjutsu, then added, "Create clones to delve into the secrets of illusion and Genjutsu techniques. You, on the other hand, have another task. I take it that the leaf balancing exercise has already been mastered?"
"Yes, Fugaku-sensei," Naruto replied while creating clones that immediately took to reading.
"Hmm" Fugaku grunted. "It's time for another skill that will allow you to better control your chakra - tree climbing. Watch carefully with your Sharingan"
Demonstrating the task, Fugaku climbed vertically up the tree trunk with ease. His movements were smooth and precise. When he reached halfway, he turned to Naruto.
"This is an essential skill in the life of a shinobi. Remember balance and harmony! Focus on the flow of chakra and adjust the amount to the shape of the trunk. Get to work!"
He then handed Naruto a kunai so that he could mark his progress with it, after which he left the training yard, heading toward the Uchiha Police Department.
Left with the memories from his Sharingan, Naruto proceeded to attempt to climb the tree. He understood that the key to success was precise control of the chakra in his feet. He had to find the perfect balance to stay on the vertical surface.
Theory, however, proved easier than practice. After an hour of fruitless attempts, frustration began to fill his heart. Resigned, he sat dejectedly at the foot of the tree
"When I use too much chakra, I push away from the trunk," Naruto analyzed, staring at the surface gouged by the kunai. "Too little chakra and I just fall. Fugaku-sensei balanced it perfectly. Where is the secret to this skill?"
Thoughts were boiling in his mind. He recalled Fugaku's words about balance and harmony. He began to think about how to translate these concepts into practice.
Suddenly his gaze fell on a stream flowing at the foot of a tree. Gazing into the rushing current, he noticed how the water easily flowed around the stones he encountered, adjusting to their shape. At that moment Naruto was dazzled.
"Aha, this is it!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet. "Climbing a tree is not a battle against gravity, but a dance with chakra!"
Naruto once again set about the task. This time he focused on the smooth flow of chakra, adjusting the amount to the shape and slope of the trunk. At first his movements were clumsy, but with each step he became more confident.
After several hours of persevering against gravity and chakra, he climbed to the top of the tree in triumph. He gazed with delight at the panoramic view stretching before him, feeling pride and satisfaction at his goal.
At the same time, his clones absorbed information from books and scrolls on Genjutsu. After they finished reading, one by one they dispersed, sending a stream of knowledge about illusions and mind manipulation techniques to the original.
Naruto, still unsatisfied with his skills, decided to continue practicing. He also began experimenting with its use, testing various techniques and combinations.
In the late afternoon, Fugaku returned to the training area. He was surprised to see how Naruto, using the chakra and the knowledge he had gained from the exercise, had learned to use it to speed up his movements. The boy moved at low-genin speed, impressive for his age.
"This is no ordinary talent..." thought Fugaku in disbelief. "I only showed him an exercise for controlling chakra and gave him one tip, and he learned more from it than I predicted. Surprising!"
A mixture of surprise, pride and curiosity was painted in his eyes. He had never seen such talent in anyone before. Naruto was like a diamond in the rough that, with the right cut, could become an extremely valuable gem.
"I see that you have achieved more than I expected," Fugaku said, smirking. "You've earned your reward. Come with me, we'll have dinner together with my family. Izumi will certainly be happy to see you."
Joy flashed in Naruto's eyes. "Really?" he asked, unable to believe his happiness. Every moment spent with Izumi was worth everything to him, even the hard training.
Fugaku didn't bother replying, simply walking toward the Uchiha clan's neighborhood.
ㅤ
–
ㅤ
When Mikoto saw them, a warm smile blossomed on her face. She still couldn't believe that her husband had taken little Naruto under his wing.
"Hmpf... I never expected my husband to still be able to take charge and guide the next generation," Mikoto thought.
"Izumi!" she called out loud enough to be heard by her daughter, who was in another room.
"Yes, kaa-san?" replied Izumi loudly.
"Dinner, and we have a guest!" Mikoto shouted, and a look of surprise appeared in Izumi's face. "Naruto will be with us for dinner."
Not a moment passed, and Izumi appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, staring at her friend Naruto. Her onyx eyes widened with surprise and joy. She hadn't seen him in a while, and her longing for him was already giving her a hard time.
Mikoto watched her daughter's reaction with a smile. She knew Izumi and Naruto were important to each other, and she was glad they could spend time together.
"Come on, dinner is ready," Mikoto said, inviting them into the dining room.
There was a warm and family atmosphere in the dining room. Naruto felt at home, surrounded by the kindness of the Uchiha family.
After dinner, Naruto and Izumi slipped out into the garden, leaving Fugaku and Mikoto alone.
"I still can't believe you took Naruto under your wing," she announced, looking at her husband with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. "What made you do that?"
Fugaku smiled mysteriously. "I myself don't believe what I'm saying, but this boy is more than a genius, Mikoto." Seeing the astonishment on her face, he added, "I showed him the tree-climbing exercise, and do you know what this boy came up with?"
Mikoto shook her head, her curiosity growing. She saw a mixture of pride and admiration in Fugaku's eyes.
"This boy taught himself how to use chakra to speed up his movements!" he announced proudly. "Imagine, Mikoto - he moved nimbly like a cat leaping from branch to branch!"
Mikoto was stunned. She had never heard of anyone who could control chakra so perfectly at such a young age.
"It's amazing," she repeated, still unable to believe what she was hearing. "I always knew this boy was special."
Fugaku nodded, and his smile became even wider. "I'm glad you can see that. I believe Naruto has a great future ahead of him. He may even become one of the best shinobi in Konoha's history."
ㅤ
–
ㅤ
Izumi could not hide her excitement. "Is it true that tou-san became your mentor?" she asked him excitedly as soon as they were alone in a secluded corner of the garden.
Naruto smiled broadly, his pride betrayed by the note of satisfaction in his voice. "Yes, that's right. Fugaku-sama took me as his personal apprentice."
"What's training like with my tou-san?" Izumi inquired. Despite being her father, Fugaku had little time to spend training Izumi which left a sense of longing.
"He's definitely strict, but he's also fair. He doesn't give me preferential treatment, but I know he's doing it for my good."
Naruto breathed deeply and told her about the last moments spent under Fugaku's watchful eye and his training. Izumi listened intently, and her heart was filled with happiness at her friend's development.
But at the same time, there was an ache in her heart. Naruto really was proving to be a prodigy. "At this rate, he'll be leaving me in the dust. Will I ever be able to stand beside him?"