DISCLAIMER:
I own neither Naruto nor Solo-Leveling in any way, shape, or form unless it is an OC or a concept not present in the author's original work. Otherwise, many things would have been different.
Also, I will use Japanese names and techniques and write English translations using parentheses. Or I will do the opposite, with the English name and the Japanese version in parentheses. (It will depend on me.)
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Sorry for the wait, guys! I've been writing the chapter for a little while, but after a little bit of time, I've become more itchy with parts of what was written. Thus, I rewrote part of it according to what I felt was better.
Also, Rairi Valelira, my dear commenter. I'm glad you can still enjoy my fiction.
Regarding your question about speed, I suppose you're referring to Naruto's speed. Speed generally refers to his speed with the weight on, even in the Eight Inner Gates Formation — Path of Harmonization.
While I understand that it would depend on the amount of weight, I assume that someone with chakra would have a different kind of relationship with weight, as chakra enables one to do so much more than someone without it.
Look at Lee in the OG series when he acted before his fight with Gaara; he was really damn fast; of course, he limited himself when he protected team 7 against the Sound Team, but he still showed a lot of speed, even when he was about to use the Front Lotus on Sasuke.
Naruto has the 9-tails, the Uzumaki blood on steroïds, and greater vitality and strength growth than anyone would have normally spoken. Thus, his speed with the weight is far more potent than anyone else. As of now, with only chakra usage, he would be between low-Jonin and high-Jonin.
He is as fast, if not quicker, than most Jonin but slower than Kakashi, who retrained himself to go back to his Anbu level, if not above it. And he is slower than Guy with his weights on.
As for your comment, Millerb82, I'm glad that you enjoyed my story up to chapter 6, and yet I'm sad that you aren't enjoying it because of my crossover. It is what you prefer, which I respect.
If I could at least say something about it, I've called the crossover element part in my summary with the "Gradual Lich King! Naruto".
With the next chapter more or less begun, I may stop it for a little while to start the writing of the third chapter of my second story: "Naruto, the Alone-One among the Shadows."
Without further redo, I think we should dive into this chapter.
"Normal speech" / 'thought'
"Biju/Summons/Game System speech"
'Biju/Summons/Game System thought'
Previously, in the last chapter …
"Once the two boards disappeared, I was returned to the main hall of it.
"Well, it was a good run for me! I know; get to know how it is done!" I said with my usual grin before adding: "I now need to go for it since I got 70 floors remaining before I get to liberate her!"
With that, I went back at it!
Current Chapter: The Coming into the Light of the Leveling-One.
- Konoha – Day of graduation at the Ninja Academy -
We now find Hinata and all the other students reunited with the Hokage, both councils, the three elders, Jiraiya, and some other senior shinobis who are here to examine the new batch of graduates since the new installment of the Ninja Academy's current curriculum.
All students but one – being one Uzumaki Naruto. For many who didn't like me or outright hated me, it was a blessing; for those who saw me as neutral – thanks to my Shadow Clone's actions to improve my reputation forward they were more kind of concerned that I wasn't there for such an important moment of my life.
It was the same for those I was on good terms with, except for Hinata and Hiashi, who knew what was happening.
'Where are you now, Naruto-Kun? I know that you wouldn't let such an important moment go to the gutter, would you?' thought Hiruzen and those I was friendly with.
'Please, come back to me Naruto-Kun! So you can see how strong I've become, and I can see how strong you've become,' thought Hinata.
*Hn* 'The Dobe has chickened out like the coward he is! All was a fluke, and thanks to the change, I became far stronger than I ever was!' thought the Brooding God.
For the last part, it was true; since the Academy Curriculum changed, a better assessment of your chakra reserves was taken to fit the chakra control exercise to the student; those in difficulty were tutored by ninjas who were retired to better themselves.
Anko, Kurenai, and Ana Inuzuka dealt quite hard with the fangirls. Some girls were still fangirls, but better than before the change. Some specialization tests were taken for those from non-specialized clans or non-specialized shinobi families to see where they wanted to go.
*Hn* "It seems the Dobe didn't bother to come again! So much bragging for so little! He isn't worthy!" said Sakura.
"Don't say that! If one were to say – he is more of a practical guy than a theory guy like you, Sakura. He was at the top of the class in the battle part of the curriculum. While also being quite swift, and from what I heard and saw, he isn't one to be taken by surprise!" added Ino, with other classmates agreeing.
"It matters not, and he has likely made a pact with the devil for that to happen! I mean, how can the ever-Dobe that failed twice become so much stronger over three months when he is a loser-orphan!" continued Sakura, some agreeing to it, with Sasuke agreeing to it for once.
"You shouldn't sell the bear's pelt without first confirming it is dead! Maybe Naruto was strong but lacked the means to bring out his strength! And why he isn't here, who knows what he is doing right now – it can be everything." countered Shino.
"Silence, everyone!" yelled Iruka, who used his infamous Big Head no Jutsu.
"I will make the call and check if everyone is present; if you are not showing your presence. You will be considered to be out and lose your right to graduate. Let's begin!" continued Iruka
"… Uchiha Sasuke" – "Present" – "Uzumaki Naruto" … "Uzumaki Naruto twice!" – "Uzumaki Naruto thrice?" … "Well, now Uzumaki Naru …" was saying Iruka before the ambient temperature dropped by quite a lot; when some snowing hurl appeared between everyone, everyone took a defensive stance.
Once the hurl dissipated, everyone could see someone measuring 1.85m cladded in a dress made of dark blue or blackish tissue for pants, a belt bearing a skull that seemed made of leather, and a rectangular piece of cloth hanging down from it was to be seen.
The shoes were made of bandages that covered the whole foot up to the toes, with what looked like plates covering the foot and lower part of the leg.
The plastron was a mix of leather and some metal with another skull, whose color was dark blue with a patch at the belly level that was dark purple. Shoulder pads with some little spikes were on the shoulders of the person, and a dark purple hood was covering the head.
Overhaul, the individual wasn't what you could call: "Friendly" – until they saw that his eyes were closed off and shut open. Letting everyone shiver at the sight, the eyes were glowing blue.
'What powerful aura emanating from this person! Deathly calm, but could become a storm if angered, and it seems capable of piercing someone up to their soul with one gaze. I need to be as tactful and diplomatic as possible.' Thought Hiruzen, with all others, thinking along the lines.
Three individuals think they could use this individual for their gains – (It's obvious who they are with how things were built.)
"Hello, sir. How can I help you? Are you lost, by any chance, which explains your impromptu appearance here?" asked Hiruzen.
…
*silence*
…
Then, all of a sudden, the person laughed wholeheartedly – taking many by surprise. The laugh lasted a minute before the individual took a theatrical position and said something that shook them up deeply:
"Come on, Jii-chan! How can you forget about me? The one who will take your hat from that balding head of yours! About your precious surrogate grandson!" I humanistically said with crocodile tears.
…
*Silent heart attack* for Hiurzen
"Na … Naruto-Kun! Is that you!" yelled Hiruzen after he recovered from his heart attack he didn't know had happened.
"Indeed, it is me! Who would make such a wholesome entrance when called at the last minute!" I boisterously said while taking my hood off, shocking everyone else even more.
*Second Heart Attack* for Hiruzen and the first one for everyone else.
Why, you may be asked? Well, when you take away a hood to reveal a head that reminded everyone of their hero: the 4th Hokage in terms of facial structure, but with spikier and longer hairs that looked like Madara's own hairstyle if he put his hair in a high ponytail and the hair color being red.
Well, don't expect anyone who knew either Minato or Madara not to have a heart attack.
*humming* "Jii-chan, I think you should hire me as a professional heart-breaker as it seems I'm proficient at giving easy and quick heart attacks!" I jokingly said.
'Understatement of the century!' everyone thought.
'Oh, gosh! I don't think I can hide his parentage any longer! If anyone makes the connection, spread it around,' thought Hiruzen.
'So hot!' thought Hinata and surprisingly Ino with heart in their eyes!
'How can the Dobe be like this and not Sasuke-kun!' said Inner Sakura.
After recomposing himself, Hiruzen said: "I'm glad that you came out just in time not to get expulsed from the curriculum, but where were you for the last week?"
"Here is why, Jii-chan!" I said while giving him a missive with a message in it.
Hiruzen read it thoroughly and gained brief, wide eyes that only the older generation noticed.
"Well, Naruto-Kun, everything is in order!" he finally said.
"Huh, Hokage-Sama, how can everything be in order when nothing was noted for "his leave"?" asked a relatively arrogant civilian counselor.
"SS-Rank Fire Country secret, my dear counselor," Hiruzen replied, making everyone pale. Such rank and scale were such a rarity that only the Fire Daiymio could issue such rank, possibly with only the Hokage and any representative of the Daiymio authorized to know.
"Ho … How could this boy be trustworthy and privy to such an important national security secret?" asked a baffled counselor.
"Well, the reason(s) of why is part of the Secret, dear Makatado. Thus, it cannot be told unless authorized by the Feudal Lord himself." He answered again but asked: "I still need to ask you to "speak" to you about your … choice of gear and other … things, my boy."
"Of course that! How can I not come to spend some time with my favorite grandpa, my boy!" I answered with the same moniker and voice that Jii-chan used on me.
*laugh* "Excellent imitation of me! Maybe I should let you go for infiltration and impersonification jobs," he said with a smile.
This Genin Examination is far better than what I read in the OG series or most fanfiction, which only uses the Academy's three techniques or some writing and the three techniques.
This examination included parkour, trapping, weapon aiming, bladed fighting, theories, and Genjutsu, Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu portions. Which I could say was a really damn better trade-off than before, but I was surprised to see that more people were doing good in this batch of students.
Overall, I classed top 1 to the frustration of many haters of mine, Uchiha s**kers, with Hinata being the Top Kunoichi to the ire of many fangirls of Sasuke.
When the last three portions of the exam came out, I smirked as I knew that I would go against the Emo-king in Taijutsu.
"Well, now we will have the Ninjutsu portion, where you will have to display the Academy's three: Kawarimi – Henge – Bushin or any variants of the clone technique. Aburame Shino, you go first!" said Iruka.
The ninja hopefuls went one by one, with the clan heirs going far above the class, as you can expect from people from clans. Still, the shinobi and civilian hopefuls actually did great, with only two that I do feel will likely fail the exam, but not forcibly by much.
"Uchiha Sasuke, it's your turn. Please, do the Kawirimi … the Henge …, and the Bunshin," said Iruka, with Sasuke performing the techniques after being asked.
"Well, the techniques are well done! Now, you are to show two techniques in which you are proficient enough to be usable on the field." He asked.
Sasuke used the well-known Katon, Gokakyu no Jutsu, which his clan was famous for using. He then used the Shunshin no Jutsu in memory of Shiui, who died at the hands of Itachi.
"Well done, Sasuke. The techniques are well executed and are battle-ready, with the latter method being less ready, but the Shunshin was meant to be something other than a battle technique.
If the higher-ups and I were to add a comment, please refine your mastery over them with fewer handseals required, as people would easily recognize any of them. So, if you can do any of the two with fewer ones, it would benefit you tremendously," praised Iruka, and the Uchiha nodded to it.
"Uzumaki Naruto, it's your turn! Please do the Academy three!" asked Iruka.
'Hn, the Dobe never will be able to perform the Bunshin!' – 'Even with the change, the brat/demon hasn't learned the Shadow Clone technique.' – 'Go for it, Naruto-Kun!' – 'I'm sure he can do it' were everyone's thoughts.
I Kawarimi with Mizuki when Iruka launched a kunai on me with said replacement target, groaning at this. After that, I used my Henge and took the appearance of Madara with his EMS while saying: "Nine-Tails, you are merely a momentary life, a temporary existence of coalesced energy … an energy that was once a single, ultimate form! And I will merge you back into it with me as the Tool Handler!".
It made shivers through everyone when I said it. A couple of people thought I was speaking of me since they thought I was either the Kyûbi or thought of me as a tool.
"Well, that was something Naruto. Now, can you do a Bunshin, please?" asked Iruka.
"[Tajuu Kage Bushin no Jutsu]," I said with a thousand clones appearing out of nowhere without any smoke like it usually did – thus making everyone except Hinata and Hiashi go nuts, with the latter two having wide eyes to see the sheer amount clones I created.
'How the freak knows the Shadow clone technique! And this much? It shouldn't be even possible!' thought everyone.
*Clump* Iruka had let his clipboard with his mouth wide open to this.
"Hu, Iruka-sensei? Are you all right? Have I done right since I have done a thousand clones? I mean, you haven't specified if it was a clone from the Bunshin or not that I have to do." I asked.
"Well … Nothing is wrong since it was stated for you to produce some battle-ready clones. Since you produced … a thousand shadow clones, I can only say that you passed with honors this part of the Ninjutsu portion. Can you now produce two other techniques of your own?" said a quite stunned Iruka.
*Humming* "What to do? What to do here?" I mused myself before a light bulb appeared above my head – which I was able to take, making everyone face fault at this scene.
'How the hell has he done this!' mentally yelled everyone.
Just after that, the ambient temperature dropped by quite a lot while I gathered my Runic Power, with me using some of my death knight abilities, which I had learned during my time in the Shadowlands.
Once I had gathered enough powers, I launched my [Frostwyrm Breath] ability toward the training dummies.
What happened next was nothing short of a freezing show, with an avalanche of freezing winds so cold that everything in its path froze.
…
*Silence*
…
None could believe what they had just seen. My attack was by far the most powerful ice attack they had ever seen, and all thought I had the Hyoton – Ice Kekkei Genkai.
"What … What was that attack, my boy?" said Hiruzen, who just recovered his voice while having his mind racing in order to protect me from others who would want to abuse me.
"Well, Jii-chan, you see. I've just used my Frostwrym Breath, which isn't a Hyoton Kekkei Genkai ninjutsu, but it is my Shimoton (= Frost Release). I acquired the Bloodline during my week trip through a specific summoning contract: The Yatagarasu." I answered, trying to cover my trail with a summoning contract I had while knowing what the "normal conditions" of obtention of the contract were.
…
*silence*
…
None could believe that not only I had my hand on such bloodline but also such legendary Summoning as it is virtually impossible for any mortal to get their hands on such a contract – as the only way for it to happen is to have been approved by the Shinigami itself.
All by itself, it is ludicrous first to have an audience with it by any means, but to have been approved by the deity successfully was a whole new kind of insanity that none would have dared do.
But to have me – the demon brat for many – having the "audacity" to get an audience with the deity, but to be approved of and get the contract bugged out virtually everyone.
"I … I'm sorry, Naruto-kun, but we may have mis …" I tried to reply to Hiruzen before I interrupted him.
"No, I didn't assume that everyone had made it to be. Aka has an audience with the Shinigami and is being approved by it. I have had it since birth; I need to use the summoning technique to get the contract working.
Also, it didn't take away my ability to have a contract with another animal since I had the contract with the Yatagarasu since birth." I answered.
…
'The Shiki Fujin! It's the only way to explain this, as Minato surely needed to have what it takes in terms of time to seal the full 9-tails.
Thus, he might have sealed only half of it inside Naruto, while the other, I can only presume, Minato sealed inside himself.
Thus, the 9-tailed Fox is half dead and half alive, and giving Naruto a Summoning Contract.' thought Hiruzen, with the older generation, knew what technique Minato used to seal the 9-tails away.
Just after my explanation, Sasuke tried to coerce me into giving him my summoning contract – which was immediately rebuked by Hiruzen, who harshly stopped him by backhanding Sasuke and told him that if he tried again.
He further explained that it may have consequences as he pointed toward the raven on the branch of a nearby tree – being a Yatagarasu that I had on stand-by nearby, so I always have my back protected – which gave off unnatural deathly feelings before the crow said:
"Don't try to coerce anyone, Uchiha; it is not your place to have our contract. Only one at a time can be, and only his descendants over a million generations can be, or the oath taken by the original one is broken. Protection to ensure the oath is shrouded in mystery has been placed to protect Naruto.".
"Yatagarasu-sama, with all due respects. The Gaki isn't that special and is likely going nowhere far in his life and career. While there are …" tried to plead Jiraiya of all people before being interrupted by the crow.
"Don't sweeten me with your rotten words, Toad summoner; I can never be lied to nor be put under Genjutsu as my mind and senses are … deathly unbiased.
Thus, only individuals who can do and master any of the arts of my summoning clan can do it.
Onto having Naruto's non-existent great potential, you claim Naruto to have. I have to retort the fact that it is one of the greatest lies I have ever listened to in my millions of years, as we of the Yatagarasu clan are essentially immortal.
Naruto possesses the greatest potential I have seen in several millennia. Even though Uchiha possesses less, he does have a good chunk of it, but it is far from the level that Naruto has.
Which is even more dampened by his thirst for vengeance toward his elder brother for the mass slaughter of the Uchiha clan.
The only way for the Uchiha to obtain his full potential is to let go of his hatred and vengeance objective and instead wish to bring Itachi to justice and let go of the pain that he latches onto while letting it fester like an open wound. Only then, may he know peace and true strength.".
"As if you underst …" tried to say Sasuke in rage before everyone felt it. A humongous pressure is pressuring everyone down to the ground with literal visions of hell and death.
"Don't finish this sentence, Uchiha; I have seen far too many cases like yours. Many of them are far worse than yours, so much so that if you were to graze it with your senses merely.
Not even the gods themselves would even want to be in your presence by so much distance that insanity would be the only description." said the crow while holding a deathly stare from its glowy blue-icy eyes.
'Such a humongous pressure! No wonder that virtually no record of any summoner was recorded, as anyone who would even dare to displease any of them would get destroyed to smithereens.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Yatagarasu-sama; it's just … that nobody truly knows anything about your kind. Thus, most of the youngest generation does not really understand what needs to be done in your presence." Replied apologetically, Hiruzen with a bow.
"Don't apologize. It was an order of the Shinigami only to have those who received the blessing or were approved by the deity have access to our contract. Thus making it very unlikely that anyone truly knows of our real power." Said the crow.
"Well, my boy. You have far more in reserves than I would expect from you. Even though I already know that you must be aware. But beware, as many would do anything to get their hands on such powers and summoning.
Gladly that the most powerful ones in the summoning realm do have dominion over who they want as their summoner." wisely said Hiruzen.
"Thanks for your concern, old man! I'm sturdier than ever, on the other hand. I still get to showcase a technique of mine?" I said, with Iruka confirming it.
"[Shimoton: Shimogakure no jutsu | Hidden in the Frost technique]," I said with a frosty mist appearing out of a small frost crystal that appeared before shattering into the fog.
"This technique is based on the Kirigakure no Jutsu of Kiri but with my frost ability. It is far denser than the original while having the side effect of slowing down the reaction time of anyone but me or anyone I consider an ally. Yet it has the major unavoidable drawback of not working up in hot weather unless a major source of water is nearby." I said while I released the technique.
'Incredible, not only does it remove any sensory ability. But I have a shorter reaction time while inside it! Assassination would be easily done while inside of the area.' Though many.
With this demonstration, the examination went on fairly well. I confronted the Uchiha in the Taijutsu portion, which ended with me winning and, surprisingly, having the Uchiha awaken the Sharingan out of nowhere, or not really.
'The showcase of Amaria, my Yatagarasu companion, had tremendously accelerated the reawakening of his Sharingan, as it was already awakened but stood dormant because it occurred before he blacked out. I'll have to monitor the situation more closely.' The higher-ups were thinking along the same lines, more or less.
In the end, I graduated as the Rookie of the Year for this graduation exam for my exceedingly good performance, which went well beyond what was required of an Academy student.
Hinata, Shika, Choji, and other civilians who warmed up to me during my time away from what I could make of the memories of the clone that was left in my stead went on to celebrate at the Yakiniku BBQ restaurant.
All the while, I knew I would have to stay up at midnight to stop a certain traitor.
- Midnight at the shackle -
"Dammit! The demon brat is far too powerful to be fooled and fail the exam! A bitchy exam that was upped in difficulty, but not enough for it to fail." Said Mizuki, who took a little break before speeding to Orochimaru's outpost with the Forbidden Scroll and gaining power.
"Nice weather and moon, isn't it, sensei?" asked a voice from the shadows that seemed to be the voice of someone with the voice of a demonic entity overlapping with the first voice.
"Who … what are you? What are you doing here!" asked a sweating Mizuki, who tried to locate where the voice came from.
"For who I am, it is none of your concern; I'm here because it is time! It is the time of your death!" said the voice.
"hn, my death! When you are hiding like a b**ch? Ha, if you were truly here for my life, you would not be hiding!" replied an increasingly less and less sane Mizuki.
"Arise, from the Veil of the Great Beyond! Arise to serve your master's will and bring him to me!" said the disembodied voice before screeches and noises came from all sides.
Like a hellish nightmare, humanoid forms with glowing blue eyes appeared all around Mizuki. Forms that looked like humans but had difformities and walked to circle the traitor.
The forms confirmed Mizuki's deep fear by having moonlight, revealing them to be zombies and skeletons armed with melee weapons and bows.
'Oh no, undead! Crap, it is bad! Really bad, as there seems to be no end to these abominations, and I have one person I don't know where they are.' thought Mizuki before going to the threes, thinking he was safe.
Only to find pain as arrows embedded themselves on Mizuki's back – "Damn, there are probably dozens if not hundreds of them!" he thought before darting off on the threes as he was able to maintain himself up on the trees shakily.
For a dozen minutes, Mizuki tried his best to avoid arrows, spears, and whatever obstacles that was on his way until he was yanked back on the ground by a seemingly rusted hook that hooked him in the belly and smelled a seemingly rotting and decaying smell; to finally turn to the source of it and pale even more at the most gruesome sight he ever witnessed.
A 4.57m tall and girthy amalgamation of flesh sewn together, with a big open hole on the belly with the ribs and rotting insides of the beast at the sight of everyone.
It has a butcher cleaver on the left hand, a hook attached to a chain on the right hand, and a protruding third arm located on the back and to the monster's left side.
"If it is your greatest minion, you must be a pathetic little skinny bitch that cannot do anything on his own!" said a crazed Mizuki.
"Oh, really? How about you turn around." Said the voice.
Mizuki did just that to finally reveal the full horror of the situation as he saw me in my full armor and my sword unsheathed.
"No … no … no … no! Impossible! It cannot be real!" yelled Mizuki before fainting without recognizing me due to my aura giving off deathly sensation.
After which, I attached him to a tree and waited for his waking up.
*groan* "Where … where am I?" he grogily asked.
"Attached to a tree where you fainted." was my answer.
"You! You are responsible for my torment! Why did you do that? I was on a mission to trap Orochimaru!" he tried to misdirect me.
"False; I got a sensory ability that told me you weren't convoked to the Hokage's office to be granted such a mission. And don't deny it; I heard you spoke about gaining power with Orochimaru." I answered.
At this moment, Iruka came to one of the trees, saying, while not recognizing me as Mizuki, and the other onlookers had a dreadful insight: "What's going on here? Who are you?"
"I'm apprehending a traitor who stole the Forbidden Scroll, sensei!" I answered him while taking the hood off.
"And these … undead and this … abomination! How come they don't do anything to you?" yelled Iruka.
" I'm their master; they will obey my every order!" I answered, shocking the two Chunins, Hiruzen, the Clan Heads, and two elders seeing it through the crystal ball.
"Your servants? What do you mean? Did you use necromancy on poor people? What have any of them done to you?" asked a despairing Iruka.
"What did they do to me? Nothing, yet they have committed sins of different kinds, and they want redemption, but they are still to be punished. Thus, I took them under my command to perform both deeds.
The tall monstrosity is called an "Abomination" and is an amalgamation of many flesh and minds of the most twisted ones.
For the necromancy part, I do suppose that it can be considered another thing I learned from the Yatagarasu Summoning clan, Iruka-sensei …" I said before I took my hood off and made everyone freeze to the fact I practiced necromancy while I launched an ice-blue chain to the tree at blinding speed, and we heard a scream.
"It seems that Danzo wanted to hear things out! Too bad that I felt him way over from my parents' estate." I said before putting the Root Agent into a stasis scroll.
In the queue, Hiruzen and the shinobi council arrived with Hiruzen saying: "Is … is it really you, my boy? Why! Why do you know and practice Necromancy? Wait, let us go to the Council Chamber so we can discuss things without disturbing the civilians and Danzo. While Mizuki and the Root Agent are dealt with?".
"Indeed, I will return them to where they come from," I said while summoning a dark portal that enabled the undead to leave this place.
'Are these portals transporting them back to wherever they come from? If so, it is a far greater technique than the Hiraishin of Minato and Tobirama!' thought the onlookers.
"Now that it is done, shall we go?" I asked.
- At the Council Chamber an hour late -
…
*Heavy silence*
…
*unbridled sobs* "I'm so sorry, Naruto-Kun! … I should have done so much more for you! I should have been stronger to ensure that at least you would be far safer to ensure that you would grow well." Said the sobbing mess that Hiruzen was, with his age, weighing full on him.
"May Kami have mercy on us, or at least those who had the least amount of responsibility in this whole shitty troublesome mess." Said Shikaku with a grim face, and the rest nodded to it.
"To even fully know that these two would fall so low to try to deprive someone of its legacy and inheritance for some stuff said target didn't commit, among other things, is a new depth of low." Said Hiashi.
"Dear Shinobi council, I do suppose that you can make sure that Konoha can remain up and running for at least a week or two?" I asked, with them raising a brow at the question, except one.
Before they could ask, Hiashi said, "You intend to do it, Naruto-san? It is the same thing that you did for me and my family, but for Hiruzen?" which made everyone's confusion grow even further.
Without speaking a word, I went to the center of the room to take the same crystal I gave Hiashi out of nowhere and put it above the ground. I then began to incant something for the next five minutes; once I had done so, the six crystals shone.
When their shining stopped, everyone took a look only to gasp at the sight.
Before them stood six people whom they had never thought of seeing in the realm of the living who were the Senju Brothers: Hashirama & Tobiram; Mito Uzumaki; Sarutobi Biwako & Sarutobi Raido and his wife, Mayana Sarutobi
(A/N: The two last characters are originally in name only, as the parents of Konohamaru were never described in anything the author made. Mentioned, but nothing more.)
"Bi … Biwako Hime? … Sensei? … Son? What's the meaning of this Naruto? Are …" erratically tried to say Hiruzen before Biwako went to him and hugged him tight – showing him they were fully brought back to life and not through Edo Tensei.
"Shuush, don't speak anymore, my love! He used a means only he could do and know, as per his status within Death. He prepared for it a long time ago when he prepared the same thing for Hiashi." She said to him, making Hiruzen melt, and she sobbed again with Raid, and Mayana went to their father to hug him, too.
"I do suppose that the meeting is adjourned with how Jii-chan cannot continue with his current … situation?" I asked.
"Indeed, young one! Thank you for such an opportunity to be granted to us, even if it is between three and seven days. It will be more than enough to ensure that everything will be done!
Let us take care of Hiruzen; once emotionally stabilized enough, we will go over what is required to make sure that Konoha's future can be bright again!" said Hashirama, with others nodding.
Before we left, I said: "Dear Clan heads, I do believe that dark times are ahead of us! We need to prepare ourselves, as it will surely require improving ourselves.
I've already begun to do it for Ino, and if I recall, it was the day she returned home without really speaking to you, Inoichi, until dinner.
Hinata has already been "done."…
Shino does not require that much, but some improvements can be made to ensure he will grow for the better.
Shikamaru is more or less in the same boat as Shino but requires other kinds of improvements for himself.
Choji needs to leave his shell of incertitude, which can be done, but it requires some trifling.
Kiba is the most problematic alongside Sasuke, with the latter being even more so. For the former, it is his reckless and kind of sexist behavior that is the problem for which I know, in theory, what to do, but I'll require some time for it to be created.
I fear that the Uchiha is already more than a foot inside the grave because of the mind-breaking experience Itachi gave him. I do suspect that Itachi might not have been truly himself at this point, just like Yagura isn't himself into prolonging the Blood Purges in Kiri.
Sakura? She can be saved from her foolishness, but it would require more … digging into her family for that." I finished explaining and receiving nodes.
For the next two weeks, the teams' assignments were postponed, with Asuma and Konohamaru barely making public appearances. They were excused as it was a private matter with the Hokage.
Danzo, the civilian counselors, and the Sanins became worried that Hiruzen had yet to address it and that it could jeopardize their plan.
- Two Weeks later | Hokage's office –
"Come in!" said Hiruzen's voice on the other side of the door, but Kakashi knew that something was up and very important.
When Kakashi entered the room, he went wide-eyed at the scene, and the two elders, the Jonin-Commander Shikaku and the Anbu-Commander were present.
"Ha! Kakashi, my boy! I'm glad that you made it in time after you received my message. Come take a seat!" said Hiruzen with the grandfatherly tone he was famous for.
"What do you want to … speak with me? Why are the rest here?" asked a suspicious Kakashi.
"To say everything, Kakashi, the last two week's events took a toll on me, and I feel my old bones weigh upon me even more than before … I know it; I can clearly say that my days are counted.
How much? I don't know, but I do accept it as time goes by. But in my soul and consciousness, I cannot let some unfinished business linger any longer!
Thus, I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Sandaime Hokage, will assign you your first Ex-Rank mission. Unfortunately, it will be the first and last mission of that type I will provide you with." said Hiruzen with authority and sorrow.
*heavy silence*
'His days are coming? An … Ex-Rank mission! What is going on?' thought Kakashi.
"Why me? Why all of a sudden? What recently happened that led to this?" asked a still-shaken Kakashi.
"Come here, my boy. It is time for you to explain it to your Father's last student." Could you let me know if the reply was?
'Wait, Naruto is here? I didn't even sense him!' thought Kakashi.
I came from the shadows that enveloped me, and then I explained everything.
By the end, Kakashi was as much of a sobbing mess as Hiruzen was a week ago.
"Why! Why … can't I protect those who are precious to me? Am I forever cursed to this hell!" yelled Kakashi in anguish, with tears falling from both eyes.
"There is a way … this … Ex-Rank mission. It's me who commissioned it; I asked for it so you may find peace and finally move on." I replied.
"Re … really? How? What?" asked a dispairing Kakashi.
"Ex-Rank missions are one of a lifetime. Each is intrinsically unique from the other, never the same at its core. I've already done mine during the last three months of the Academy to find myself. Yet, it is still at 16,67% completion of it since the Shadowlands, or the afterlife, is really damn vast and are comprised of six zones:
Oribos The Eternal City: The Capital of the Shadowlands.
The Maw: The "Hell part" of this realm to which those who are unsavable from their sins are sent.
Revendreth: It is where the Anima – the energy of this the Shadowlands – is collected for the good functioning of the realm.
Bastion: It is home to those whose duty is the safeguarding of the souls from the realm of reality/living to the Shadowlands
Maldraxxus: a war-thorned region that served as home to the army of the Shadowlands if war against other planes of existence occurred.
Ardenweald: Its role is to serve as the restoration place for being known as the Wild Gods – demi-gods that guide the inhabitants of the Realm of Reality – when they are slain before returning to reality.
For you, Kakashi, I'll be sending you on a journey that will lead you to Limbo through a portal in the Maw – as the Shadowlands are in shambles, souls can't go there.
Instead, they are sent to Limbo … Where exactly in Limbo? I can only guess, but it would be "close to home" if I were to say.
Could you tell me what your objectives will be? As I said, it is a mission that will bring you peace of mind; thus, only in your heart shall you find them!
The duration will likely last a week here, which in the Shadowlands and limbo would be equivalent to … seven and a half years. All the while having a slower physical aging process," I said to him.
A small feeling of warmth was coursing through Kakashi, who just learned that he could finally find peace out of nowhere! And from his Sensei's son, no less!
'Sensei, you would be really damn proud of your son! Even after this living hell, this … merging and having to settle both experiences of life into one with all the good and bad of both … he still has goodness in him.
Heck, he is still searching for himself, yet he goes out to help others find themselves! Yep, you would be proud of him!" thought a tearful Kakashi.
"Thank you, Naruto… or Constantin. I still don't know what to call you since you are both Naruto and Constantin while being neither one. I do hope that you'll be able to find yourself in this life! I also do suppose that you were the cat that went inside sensei's estate," said Kakashi.
"I thank you for your words of encouragement; as for the last part. As if I would have let anyone go in without my consent!" I replied with a wide grin before adding: "I know it must be hard for the part about Obito, but I've searched for any data about him prior to my journey in the Shadowlands, and it all coincides with my hypothesis. Even during my time in this other realm, I've tried to look up for his soul, but it ended up that his soul never crossed out to there in either Limbo or the Shadowlands."
"Don't excuse yourself for that. I do not want to believe it, but I have the Mangekyo Sharingan in only one eye, and the fact that I'm not a Uchiha doesn't make sense. Since all Mangekyo Sharingan users had both eyes on themselves and were "alive."
On top of the fact that the body of Madara wasn't found in the tomb and the Konoha-Kiri incident, which, when you take the perspective of the two sides that have partaken in it, is just too much evidence pointing toward it, even to attempt to deny it in the slightest." Said Kakashi while putting his hand on his Sharingan Eye.
"Indeed, while I and the majority of the world work in the light, many players are working into the shadows – *takes a puff of smoke* – Kakashi, as my time is coming to an end, I want you to take the mantle, the torch of the Will of Fire. I know that you may not consider yourself up to the task, but I believe that you'll be worthy once your journey in limbo is finished.
Afterward, it will only be a matter of skills and internal diplomacy to secure the key players for it, which I'm sure you'll be able to do," said Hiruzen.
"Understood and understandable, Hokage-Sama!" replied the cyclop.
*chuckle* "As for you, Naruto, you won't stop calling me Hokage-Sama, will you?" asked an amused Hiruzen while I said I would never stop it for anything in the world, except for family, of course, and the onlookers chuckling at it.
…
- One week later | Team Selection -
After everyone arrived and Iruka made the call, he said: "Thanks, everyone, for coming here for the placement in your team; first of all, I'm really pleased to see so many of you, with regrettably only two of your old classmates not passing the test.
Secondly, each team was put together to ensure that the overhaul balance of the teams could be well maintained, with some exceptions.
Now, I'll make the team placement. Beware; if you have complaints about it, go refer to the Hokage for that."
"Team 1: …
Team 7: Uchiha Sasuke – Aburame Shino – and Hyuga Hinata are under the tutelage of Hatake Kakashi. Your team will be an offensive/tracking team …" said Iruka when Sakura screeched, whining about not being with her "Sasuke-kun" and saying that Hinata stole her rightful place.
"Stuff it, Genin Haruno! If it were to be the old system of forming teams, it wouldn't be a problem. But the one we have isn't the same, and if you want to complain, go to the Hokage!" said Iruka, who was using his Big Head Technique.
Before continuing: "Team 8: Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, and Yakumo Kurama under the Jonin of Yuhi Kurenai for a Genjutsu squad – as for Yakumo, she was given the pass thanks to the Shinobi Council, the Hokage, and the Feudal Lord to integrate the Ninja program under supervision due to medical and personal issues that were resolved.
Team 9 is already in circulation; thus, we are now at Team 10 with Akimichi Choji, Inuzuka Kiba, and Nara Shikamaru for a capture and fighting cell," said Iruka.
"Sensei, why wasn't Naruto called on?" asked Shino, while the two mutty emos and a Banshee thought I had been expelled from the program and was there uninvited.
"It is simple: Naruto was put into a one-person cell as a Tokubetsu Genin for his already impressive skills that would have made any potential team unbalanced.
Another thing to add is that he is a special Ninja who is a war deterrent and has war potential, thus warranting him not joining any team, for it would make any teammates targets.
It will also enable him to be as flexible as possible in terms of missions and potential paths to go," he replied.
"Why weren't we made aware of such a thing before!" asked an angry Sasuke, who was followed by others.
"It's simple; it is an SS-Rank Hokage's and Shinobi Council's eyes only secret – thus, only these two political bodies could have known of it, or anyone allowed by them." was the reply.
"Well, since I don't have a sensei, I'll be going now! Hey Hina-chan …" I said before whispering something to her.
"Hai, see you later, Naruto-kun!" she replied while her cheeks became pink.
With that, I went to Hokage's Tower before tocing to the door, and he answered it.
"Ah, my boy, it's a pleasure to see you there! I'm sure you want to have some missions already," he happily said, and my answer came: "Indeed, there are at least ten missions, with one that is physically demanding!"
"Here you go! I do hope that you'll be able to turn the heart of Konoha's people! Now go, I do have paperwork to do." Said Hiruzen before doing a staring contest match with his nemesis.
"Heu, Jii-chan! I do hope that you know it is easy to get rid of this "abomination" through the Shadow Clone technique.
If chakra is an issue, here is a chakra-charged crystal of mine. It is a complex item that is based on Natural Energy and turning it into chakra.
It will require the owner to pour 1/16 of their chakra to imprint their ownership over the crystal—once done, they'll be able to have an accelerated chakra replenishment," I said.
…
"Damn you, MINATO!" screeched Hiruzen, with everyone in the village sweatdropping at its leader's antic.
"Thank you so much, my boy! You are a life savior, as I will be able to pass the remaining time in a more comfortable position than before!" said the old man.
"It's no biggie! By the way … very shortly, I will begin a writing career with various themes. I will obviously grant a special edition only for you and Kakashi. I won't write smut, but I may include some … spicy moments … but the most I will write would be lime series." I said while popping Shadow Clones that dispersed themselves between the nine non-physical missions.
"Oh, I see! That would be a great way to increase your income and influence over the Elemental Nations! In the name of Kakashi and myself, we thank you in advance for the special editions you reserved for us. For the lime part, I thank you for this, since I read less and less the work of my student as it pains me to think about what has become of my students." Replied Hiruzen.
The discussion continued until midday, at which point I invited Jii-chan to a bowl of Ramen, which he gratefully accepted, enabling us to create more precious memories.
- One Month later –
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, to have come on such short notice. I know it was out of the blue, but it had to be shared; from sources, it is known that something is coming up that will certainly hit us during the Chunin Exams.
I wish to know how far the training of the last batch of Genins and the previous years went.
For the Chunins, it will be done in time, while for you, my dear Jonins. I'm sure that you received the appropriate notification for such a thing, and I can assume you'll act accordingly?" said Hiruzen – every jonin answered: "Hai Hokage-sama!"
The Jonins explained how the progress of their charges went by, and it went like the following:
In the Genin batches of previous years, the training intensified with the academy's changes. Thus, it provided an excellent boost to Konoha's forces' capabilities.
For the current year's recruits, due to the changes made, the level far exceeded that of the previous year's "overhaul.". Also, this first month showed that the majority of the civilian shinobis were apt to take their baptism by fire with their first C-Rank overhaul at a rate of 50%.
The clan heirs were as I predicted; Sakura required some digging into her family to save her from her current situation, as potentially, she was a little above stagnation.
Even Ino's progress, which seems to be in line with what I've done, is a mystery, as Inoichi made a tantrum with the message I gave to Ino.
The young heiress has become less and less of a fangirl with time. She has a great future in front of her, and having her with Kurenai matches up with the clan techniques, enabling more devastating mind attacks and far easier intel-gathering capabilities.
Yakumo had a dazzling progression in her skill set, and she took less advice in Genjutsu as she was far greater than Kurenai in this department. She focused more on other skills, such as non-elemental ninjutsu and mostly Taijutsu, which encompassed her genjutsu prowess.
If she can create a fighting style that can include hand-to-hand combat and her insane Genjutsu prowess, I fear that only Naruto or Hinata can stop her.
Shino and Shikamaru are quite good, but as Naruto said, they require a more specific increase in their arsenals. With better taijutsu and the possibility of an anti-elemental & anti-Genjustu Kikachus for Shino, he will be a powerhouse like never before.
Shikamaru's problem is laziness, but Naruto's assumptions are good. Shadow manipulation could be huge for recon and transportation, as the young Nara could use his shadows to move from one shadow to another and dissimulate himself inside one.
Team Guy is going nicely, too. Neji has progressed at an even faster pace since the peace that I brought up. Lee seems to get fired up to it and increase his skills to greater heights to match Neji's increase.
Tenten seemed to have concluded staying moderate with the mastery of all weapons but no true mastery of one. And took upon herself to take far more time to master each one of them. To top it off, she began elemental manipulation in order to amplify her Bukijutsu skills.
For Lee, Hiruzen heard from me that I was searching for a way to enable Lee to mold chakra. The hair-bawl boy could only do taijutsu because he couldn't mold chakra.
For Kiba, it seems that the solution to stop him from further going down the path he is heading is to use this serum that this "Tesla" blood clone of Naruto is creating.
Hiruzen shivered at the memory of when he met the six Blood Clones dubbed High Lords. Each one of them had his personality, and Tesla was sugar-high for research and development, like Orochimaru, but with far better ethics than his students.
From what Hiruzen could get from this method, it would inject a substance that alters for a certain period the gender and anatomy of the patient into their opposite gender. It was something that he wanted to see if it could somewhat change Jiraiya if used on him, but he thought against even thinking of it for fear of a permanent mental scar.
But Sasuke seems to be the one true failure. He is driving himself more and more into vengeance.' Thought Hiruzen.
Also, the more he thought about the clan's massacre, the more Hiruzen knew Danzo had to somehow brainwash Itachi into doing such a thing to his younger brother. There was no other way to explain it since it was obvious that the civilian council was generally on his side; thus, having Sasuke scarred was a boon.
'To add up, Naruto said that Danzo was linked to … oh by Kami, it's the key! Shisui had the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Danzo took it and certainly used it to incite his plans! I'll have Naruto inspect for everyone to see if they aren't under the whatever illusion technique of the Mangekyo Sharingan of Shisui.' Thought Hiruzen.
"Thank you all for your time and explanation; please take time to reevaluate your skillset and send me the content of your evaluation.
The Chunin Exams will be soon upon us, and the global tension is rising. I cannot fathom how even to begin to say not to underestimate the current state of things. Peace is even more precarious than ever, as actors in the shadows are certainly on the move.
Thus, I foresee that the Exams to come will reshape everything that we know of today and the past. So get prepared to the best of your abilities," ordered Hiruzen. Everyone answered positively before leaving, except Kakashi.
"I'm glad you saw my hidden message for you to stay here; we are to go see Naruto and get you on board with what he has been doing for the past year and a month." Said Hiruzen.
"Let me guess, he became more wholesome or something?" asked Kakashi, with Hiruzen chuckling at it.
"You'll see that in a bit … he became far more wholesome than you can even think." Answered Hiruzen.
To be continued …
Post-Scriptum: Here it comes! The tension is rising; actors are moving their pawns. The chessboard is taking shape! How the Chunin Exam will reshape the world's current geopolitical landscape? It is up to you to see and read the next chapters!