This chapter is mostly focused on other characters. Cid is only mentioned in passing.
Rock Lee stood up again.
He has long knew that ninjutsu and genjutsu, two of shinobi's main fields, were unavailable to him. By all accounts, he should have just given up. And yet, he refused.
He believed that so long as he puts enough effort, he can still become one of the best ninja in the world with nothing but taijutsu.
But…
He punched the training dummy, fists soaked in blood.
Despite putting everything he had into training, he still didn't manage to compare to top-tier students. Even some of the middle level managed to come on top of him. At this point, Lee was growing desperate.
What? What can he do to fix it?
He stopped for a moment to take a breath. Sweat mixed with blood ran down as he looked at the still standing dummy. His punches and kicks barely managed to make a dent in it.
There has to be a way. Something that would help him-
"You are doing it wrong."
Lee immediately turned around and saw a familiar man in modified chunin's suit, eyes hidden behind the silver mask; despite that, he still had a feeling that older man scrutinized the result of his actions.
"Spider-sensei…"
Spider, the substitute taijutsu teacher. It has been a week since he replaced the suddenly ill professor, and during that time everyone finally felt improvement in their studies. The older man not only taught them taijutsu and basics in weapon use, but also gave them useful advises in other fields, especially ones related to chakra control.
Of course, all of that did not apply to Rock Lee, considering his inability to use chakra in normal way.
"You are doing it wrong," Spider repeated, "You try to use just your fist in punches, but that way only reduces your attack power. Your whole body should support your every attack, regardless of how it might seem disconnected from the assaulting limb."
Of course Lee knew that. At this point he was just punching the dummy without any technique involved.
"I see something bothers you," Spider slowly walked up to him and sat down on the stump, moving his fingers; the tree's branch moved towards them, protecting from the burning sun rays.
"Sensei…" Rock Lee clenched his fists, "You know about my inability to use chakra in normal ways, right?
"…Indeed," Spider exhaled and confirmed.
"Then…" Lee brought up the theme he feared the most, "surely there is a way for me to still become shinobi, right?"
A long silence permeated the air. Sensei was seemingly in thought. The young boy slowly grew desperate, yet didn't dare to interrupt him.
"…There is one," Spider finally spoke, raising his head.
"T-There is?!" Lee almost jumped up.
"There is. However, the road will be perilous, full of dangers, yet opportunities shall be plenty likewise," older man raised himself with the finally visible threads.
"I-I am ready!"
"Once you enter this path, there's no backing down," Spider wore a cold expression.
"And I will not back down!"
Older man smiled.
"Good. Your spirit is strong. Everything else can be fixed and patched with training."
He raised his hands and moved his fingers erratically. Suddenly the surrounding bushes started moving, revealing training sets.
"I shall teach you the Eighth Battle Style."
"Greet each other."
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Shinigami only knows why, dad in his teacher suit brought another kid to the training. The kid in question was a boy with almost shiny black hair, same black eyes, and the largest smile Naruto has ever seen on anyone else.
"Hello! My name is Rock Lee! I may be unable to use ninjutsu and genjutsu, but I strive to become the strongest taijutsu master in the world!"
As if infected by the bright atmosphere the black-haired boy radiated, Naruto found himself smiling back.
"I am Naruto, dattebayo! The future Hokage!"
"Naruto-kun, then!" boy shook his hands, "Spider-sensei said that we would train together from now on! I hope we can be friends!"
All (non-existent) suspicions Naruto had towards the black-haired boy dissipated immediately upon hearing these words.
"Of course, ttebayo! We are friends!"
"I see you have found common ground," Shadow spoke softly, yet both kids jumped up at how older man suddenly appeared right near them.
"Old man! I almost got scared!"
"Well, I should have my own share of amusement, now shouldn't I?" dad chuckled and upon seeing their confused gazes added, "You don't need to answer that question."
"Uh, sure?"
Naruto wasn't sure.
"Now," Shadow clapped his hands, "Despite not being able to use chakra for ninjutsu and genjutsu, you should still be able to use basic chakra exercises."
"Yes, Sensei!" Lee listened fervently.
"These exercises would allow you to negate most of your shortcomings, such as being limited to the ground level battles. However, we will not end here."
With a clap of his hands a scroll appeared in his palms.
"Basic fighting style. It is a prerequisite to know the basics before we can proceed to the next level… Yes, Naruto, that concerns you, too."
"I know, ttebayo…" blonde kid pouted.
"Once you learn both scrolls, you can come to get more advanced teachings. Of course, you are free to ask both each other and me for advice. Now, allow me to demonstrate them, so you can see what to strive for…"
Sensei first walked up a tree like he was on the ground, then jumped off and dropped on water. And when Lee says 'on', he means 'on'. It was as if Sensei landed on solid ground instead of liquid.
"These are chakra exercises. Once you learn them, you will be able to walk on almost any surface without problems."
He went silent for a moment and continued.
"Now, I shall show it to you exactly one time, and then you can proceed with questions."
He raised his palm and gently pushed one of the dummies (when did they appear here?). And yet, despite being deceivingly gentle, the push forced the dummy to propel backwards until it met a tree and stopped.
"I have not used any chakra for that," Sensei exercised his hand, "This is pure martial art, refined to perfection. I do not expect you to finish it any time soon, and simply am giving you an example of what you can do with sole martial art."
"Yes, Sensei!" Lee stared at the broken dummy in elation.
Finally.
Maybe he can actually become shinobi!
"Any success in obtaining something from him?" Danzo Shimura spoke quietly to a subordinate kneeling in front of him.
"Unfortunately, no, Danzo-sama," the kneeling masked elite only lowered her head further, "Outside of being an Academy teacher and Naruto's parent figure, the object does not appear in the public. We cannot find him privately, considering his prowess and abilities related to shadows."
"I see," Root's leader tapped on the table, "What about Jinchuuriki?"
"There's no vessel ready as of yet, Danzo-sama; however, we have found one of the surviving Uzumaki. Despite being barely a quadroon, he still has the aptitude required for sealing the Nine-Tailed," she slowly took out the report of the Root's fuinjutsu masters.
"Excellent," another subordinate accepted the report and checked it for nasty surprises, while Danzo continued getting the information, "Now, have you learned anything about Hokage's state?"
"Root's mentalists theorize some kind of mental intervention was done on the Hiruzen-sama's psyche. It is hard to believe a man with such stable ideals and discipline would allow an unforeseen factor that could pose a threat to village's safety to walk around everywhere it pleases," the still kneeling subordinate took out another stack of papers, "This is the conclusion they came to after multiple tests and extensive research."
Danzo allowed the subordinate to place the papers onto the table and started studying them. A small black rat ran past the table; people who are responsible for keeping the base clean clearly don't deserve their pay.
'As expected…'
The summon, or whatever it was, did have some kind of mental influence. However, it seemed like the influence only served to make it… more pleasing to the eye.
At some point after their meeting Danzo has come to a conclusion that the being that calls itself Shadow might have the ability to impact the mental state of people around itself. Danzo himself has not suffered any damage, however Hokage, as it seems, might have fallen under its lull.
Upon realizing that Danzo immediately ordered to conduct a series of tests to make sure his old comrade would not make any rash decisions. It seemed like he managed in time.
Now, there was only one thing Danzo knows for sure can defeat a genjutsu of that level.
And seems like their plans have to be pushed a little bit earlier.
"Eagle."
Immediately a third masked figure appeared kneeling on the floor.
"Contact Raven. The Uchiha have to be destroyed in order to ensure village's safety. We will proceed in one year."
Uchiha. Their eyes have innate ability to see through genjutsu and inflict their own. And they also wished to restore the 'glory' of their clan via making a revolution. Fools. However, it also played for village's benefit, as with it Danzo would have a legitimate reason to wipe them out… Or rather, as legitimate as he can make the public believe. And then Danzo would have access to their eyes. Sharingan.
Once Danzo manages to get his hands on at least one eye, he would be able to confront the being. The village's safety has to be maintained. No matter the costs.
"I see…" Raven Anbu nodded upon hearing the new instructions he got from the higher-ups.
After the messenger left, Raven allowed himself to fall down on the ground.
'That's how it is, huh?…' he mused internally.
Raven, or rather, Uchiha Itachi was the genius of his clan. Merely four months after enrolling into Academy he was already allowed to graduate with perfect grades. Barely a few years later he already became Anbu, the elite squad of the village.
And yet…
His own family was readying their kunais in order to overthrow the current government, as they believed to be neglected by the village despite being one of the founding clans. Truly, a foolish thought… That was supported by the majority.
Danzo Shimura, leader of Anbu's Root branch, has made an offer.
One, Itachi fights on the village's side in the upcoming conflict, and village would allow Uchiha Sasuke and other surviving kids to live in peace… as much peace as there can be.
Two, Itachi refuses the offer. In that case, complete annihilation of the clan. No survivors.
He let out a sad chuckle. Is it even a choice?…
He remembered how back in his childhood (barely 10 years ago) he believed that he would be able to bring peace with his talents… And yet here he is, on the verge of another bloodshed.
Fate loves irony.
Itachi raised his gaze to the sky, only to be met with a black-and-purple bird with surprisingly smart red eyes.
"Hah…" a sigh came out by itself.
There was also another factor in play; the new Academy's teacher. Apparently, he was highly skilled in taijutsu… Which most Uchiha lacked, being reliant on genjutsu and Sharingan's ability to read and predict opponent's movement. Of course, if they can catch him into genjutsu, it would be a victory, but… Surely the attack would go with a large squad. Genjutsu by itself is one of the least destructive abilities, completely useless in large group fights; it's whole purpose was catching people by one and taking them out in stealth.
Where did they even get someone of that skill? Anbu's Root? Probably…
Then village clearly has enough power to eradicate the clan.
He turned his gaze from the bird and stared into at the full moon.
One year, right?…
Cid pondered on Rock Lee's chakra… if it could even be called chakra.
Despite theoretically being physical and spiritual's energy mix, it was… kinda different. On the basis, it would allow all the same stuff like surface-walking and body enhancement that was possible with chakra, but all of that ninjutsu-genjutsu-you-name-it would be impossible because of how much different boy's energy was compared to chakra.
If he had to guess, the 'chakra' was on different… 'spectrum', if he can say that. Or rather, instead of being almost equally physical and spiritual energy, it was instead… Physical mostly, then mind, then spiritual? Yes, apparently mind had its own energy…
However, what was interesting is how strongly Lee's energy affected his body. Instead of being normal chakra and sitting in the channels, his energy seeped into the body. Slowly, by minuscule amounts, but seeped. Even Naruto did not have such changes, and he was supposed to be the protagonist! Is it the hidden powerhouse trope he sees? Because he is very pleased if it is!
A boy shunned by the village, with a mysterious dark power dwelling inside of him… Another boy with strange energy structure rendering him unable to use usual abilities, forced to develop his own style… Oh, yes, this is going great!
Who knows, maybe he will find another good trope here? He needs to get as many as possible! Gotta catch them all!
Some kind of different energy? Cid is going to struck gold with this world.