Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Any similarities between real people, living or dead, or places, standing or demolished, in this story are just coincidences.
But if you like what I do and want to support me, you are more than welcome to donate on Place of Patrons.
[ Naruto's POV ]
I've never been one to dwell on things. Normally, I just roll with the punches life throws at me and keep pushing forward. But discovering my Uzumaki clan heritage? That threw me for a loop.
Suddenly, the dream of becoming Hokage didn't burn as brightly.
Growing up as an orphaned outcast, wanting to become Hokage made sense.
It was more than a goal; it was a statement. I wanted to prove everyone wrong, to transform from the village reject into its most beloved leader.
It was my identity—my drive.
Yet, now that I've learned about the Uzumaki clan, it's like I've been caught in a new current.
This identity, this history, this legacy—it's something tangible, something that was part of me long before I knew it.
It's a badge of honor I wear proudly, unlike the Hokage title, which feels like a distant dream.
As these thoughts swirled in my head, pushing the dream of being Hokage to the background, my new goal became clear: to become strong enough to protect those I love and uphold the Uzumaki name.
"Naruto-kun, I know this is hard to hear... but you are not responsible for the past. Your family's history... it doesn't define who you are," Hinata said, her voice gentle, trying to offer comfort.
I turned to look at her, appreciating her kindness but feeling a deep connection to my heritage.
The Uzumaki—it's not just about me.
It's about all of them, the ones who came before me.
I can't change the past, I can't bring them back, but I can make sure they're remembered with honor.
I forced a smile, trying to show Hinata I was okay, trying to keep up my usual spirited front.
Hinata's voice was soft, barely above a whisper as she said, "It's okay to feel upset, Naruto-kun. It's a big part of your history. But remember, you have friends here... and we... I care about you for who you are now."
I just nodded.
I appreciated her words, her support, but deep down, I was wrestling with a whirlwind of emotions.
I had every right to be upset about my family's past, about their disappearance from history.
But that didn't mean I was going to sit back and cry about it.
I was determined to honor their legacy with every fiber of my being, through my actions, my jutsu, and my mark on history.
Feeling a surge of resolve, my chest puffed up with pride.
This was my new dream—making a mark on history so profound that the Uzumaki name would never be forgotten.
"Thanks, Hinata," I said, my voice gaining strength. "But you know what? Being an Uzumaki, honoring them—it's a part of who I am now. And that's not something I want to ignore. It's something I want to shout about, to celebrate! I can't change the past, but I can definitely shape the future. And hey, maybe that future still has a spot for a Hokage who's proudly Uzumaki."
Despite my outward confidence, a small, nagging voice in the back of my mind began to surface.
Why did no one tell me about this?
Why did Jiji hide it from me?
Why keep the history of the Uzumaki clan hidden from the newer generation?
I remembered Hinata mentioning something about shame, but was that really all there was to it?
Was shame and anger truly enough to justify burying such a significant part of Konoha's history?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I nearly jumped when Iruka's familiar voice suddenly broke through.
"Naruto, please take the book," he said, extending a textbook towards me for the day's lesson.
Startled, I blinked a few times, snapping back to the present. I reached out and took the book from him.
[ Notification: Opportunity detected to acquire skill 'Uzumaki Clan Taijutsu: Swirling Kata'. ]
[ Action Required: Confirm acceptance or declination of class skill. ]
The moment I saw the words on the system screen, I immediately tapped the acceptance button.
[ Skill Unlocked: Uzumaki Clan Taijutsu: Swirling Kata - Level 1 ]
[ Description: A Taijutsu style from the Uzumaki Clan, focused on attacks utilizing scroll arts and Fuinjutsu rather than physical strength. ]
[ Passive Enhancements: ]
- [ Scroll Synchronization: Increases efficiency and speed of scroll arts integration in combat by 15%. ]
- [ Enhanced Agility: Improves dodging capabilities and reflexes by 20%. ]
[ Active Boost: ]
- [ Swirling Assault: Temporarily enhances attack range and speed by 25% for 30 seconds upon activation. ]
- [ Chakra Infusion: Increases the power of scroll-based attacks by 20% during the active phase. ]
My surprise must have been obvious as I stared down at the book in my hand, titled "Basic Academy Style Taijutsu."
It hit me then—through the system's skill table, I had just unlocked the Uzumaki Clan's Taijutsu, "Swirling Kata," even though I only had the basic academy techniques in front of me. This revelation made me wonder what I needed to do to truly master these basic techniques.
[ Alert: System Quest ]
[ Quest: Learn Basic Academy Taijutsu ]
[ Objective: Perform basic Kata. Perform 200 punches, kicks, and rolls ]
[ Reward: Basic Academy Taijutsu ]
[ Failure: None. ]
[ Action Required: Confirm acceptance or declination of class skill. ]
I stared at the notification on the system quest alert, deep in thought. The question loomed in my mind: Did I really want to learn the Basic Academy Taijutsu? I weighed my options carefully.
Comparing the two styles was straightforward. Iruka had often explained the origins of the Taijutsu taught at the academy—it was a diluted version of the Senju clan's Taijutsu.
Designed to be foundational, the Academy Taijutsu allowed for flexibility, enabling students to integrate additional martial arts techniques as they progressed.
Essentially, it was crafted to complement any other fighting style, whether Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, or another discipline.
On the other hand, the Swirling Kata, amusingly, was also a complementary style, but in a different sense.
It specifically complemented the class features of scroll arts and Fuinjutsu. Predominantly focused on evasion and defense, the Swirling Kata was structured around agile movements and positioning to avoid attacks.
The offensive capabilities were not direct but were executed through Fuinjutsu and scroll arts.
I've always been a brawler, fighting up close, so learning the academy style seemed like the obvious choice.
But the excuses started rolling off my tongue almost automatically.
I wanted everything about me to be a representation of the Uzumaki clan.
After all, in the rat dungeon, I saw the real power of Fuinjutsu.
I realized then that the Uzumaki clan's Taijutsu, which is better for mid to long-range combat, worked well with my scroll arts.
It was a stark contrast to the close combat focus of the academy style.
My experiences had shown me the advantages of keeping a distance in battle. Plus, I was really keen on unlocking the Chakra Chains, a crucial part of my clan's heritage.
The Swirling Kata seems right for me.
Why should I bother learning Basic Academy Taijutsu?
It would take a lot of time and effort to master something that might not even be all that beneficial in the long run.
Why bother? I'm an Uzumaki.
With a decisive click, I declined the quest. It felt crucial to focus on techniques and skills that aligned with my identity as an Uzumaki and my future goals.
"I need to concentrate on what will make me stronger in the way I naturally fight," I murmured to myself, feeling confident in my choice.
Iruka's announcement brought a buzz of excitement to the classroom.
"Okay students, after you've revised the basics, let's do some practice spars," he declared, leading the class outside to the training grounds.
Naruto sighed.
Great, I can't use the offensive part of my Uzumaki style in the spar. I only know two seals—Explosive and Storage. Storage is useless in a physical spar, and Explosive... well, it's too dangerous for my opponents.
As the class paired up for sparring, Naruto sighed, wishing the day was already over. He was eager to delve deeper into the system, to explore more of its mysteries and capabilities. The potential of what he could learn and achieve was far more appealing than the sparring session ahead.
"Guess I'll just have to wing it and hope for the best," Naruto thought as he prepared to step onto the training ground.
[ Name: Uzumaki Naruto ]
[ Status: Chakra Imbalance (Difficulty in controlling chakra, -100% performance in executing simple Jutsus) ]
[ Title: Academy Student ]
[ Level: 2 ]
[ Class: Shinobi of the Uzumaki Clan ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ HP: 350 / 350 ]
[ AC: 11 ]
[ CP: 10k / 10k ]
[ Lineage Traits: ]
- [ Chakra Chains ] ( Locked )
- [ Mind's Eye ]
- [ Healer's Body ] ( Locked )
[ Class Features: ]
- [ Scrolls Arts ]
- [ Fuinjutsu ]
[ Feats: Observer ]
[ Stats:
- [ STR: 12 ]
- [ DEX: 14 ]
- [ CON: 10 ]
- [ INT: 13 ]
- [ WIS: 12 ]
- [ CHA: 9 ]
- [ VIT: 11 ]
- [ LUK: ? ]
[ Stat Points Remaining: 0 ]
[ Allies: - ]
[ Equipment: ]
[ Exp: 630 ]
[ Description: Uzumaki Naruto is the dead last of the Konoha Academy, having failed the graduation twice before and clearly not prepared to graduate. While most of his past is a mystery, Uzumaki Naruto has found his clan. ]
Every academy student learns one important saying: The life of a Shinobi is held by the tip of the knife that is knowledge.
Many people believed Naruto was oblivious to this saying, or too foolish to understand it.
If he could, Naruto would gladly retort, "You're all the stupid ones, temes."
How could he pull off such masterful pranks without a solid grasp of knowledge? He knew everything about his targets—their habits, the best timing, and all the necessary prep work.
Pranking was practically an art form that required serious smarts.
Lately, especially after the whole Fujino debacle, Naruto had begun to truly value his system's Observer feat.
It was like having cheat codes in a video game; he barely had to lift a finger to gather all the crucial intel he needed.
"I should do a prayer ritual thanking the system with ramen," Naruto mused, then winced at the thought of wasting good ramen.
"Nah, that's too much. Maybe I'll just drop 10 yen in the next beggar's cup."
Satisfied with this plan, he nodded to himself and scanned the classroom, eyeing a few students he knew could give him trouble in the Taijutsu spar.
As the sparring matches began, nothing particularly special caught Naruto's attention until he observed some of his stronger classmates. Shikamaru gave up against a civilian ninja of level 2, prompting a few chuckles around the training ground while Naruto's eyes, observed.
[ Name: Akimichi Chouji ]
[ Status: Fat (Increased HP and CON due to robust physique, -2 penalty to DEX for reduced agility) ]
[ Title: Academy Student ]
[ Level: 5 ]
[ Class: Shinobi of the Akamicki Clan ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ HP: 498 / 498 ]
[ AC: 10 ]
[ CP: 250 / 250 ]
[ Lineage Traits: ]
- [ Yang Physique ]
[ Class Features: ]
- [ Controllable Analgesia ]
[ Feats: N/A ]
[ Stats: ]
- [ STR: 14 ]
- [ DEX: 8 (10 - 2 penalty) ]
- [ CON: 16 (14 + 2 from Enhanced Stamina) ]
- [ INT: 10 ]
- [ WIS: 10 ]
- [ CHA: 10 ]
[ Allies: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara ]
[ Equipment: ]
- [ Weapons: REDACTED ]
- [ Armor: REDACTED ]
- [ Gear: REDACTED ]
- [ Magic Items: REDACTED ]
[ Description: Akimichi Chouji, a member of the Akimichi clan, is known for his large frame and appetite, both of which contribute to his powerful shinobi abilities, especially in body manipulation jutsu. Chouji is a kind-hearted young man, but he is sensitive about comments related to his weight. ]
[ Note: Removal of redactions may occur through leveling up or engaging in combat. ]
Naruto raised his eyebrows as he read the description in Choji's profile.
"So that's why those rumors started," he thought, recalling the whispers that a student ended up in the hospital for calling Choji a 'fat pig.'
Despite the severity, nobody really believed the rumors at first—Choji was known as one of the kindest kids around.
Still, it quickly became an unspoken rule among the students: making fun of Choji's weight was off-limits.
[ Name: Inuzuka Kiba ]
[ Status: Hot Headedness (Prone to rash decisions, -1 to WIS during high-stress situations) ]
[ Title: Academy Student ]
[ Level: 5 ]
[ Class: Shinobi of the Inuzuka Clan ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ HP: 190 / 190 ]
[ AC: 12 ]
[ CP: 250 / 250 ]
[ Lineage Traits:
- Animalistic Senses
- Dog Affinity
[ Class Features:
- Animal Companion ]
[ Feats: None ]
[ Stats:
- [ STR: 10 ]
- [ DEX: 14 ]
- [ CON: 10 ]
- [ INT: 10 ]
- [ WIS: 7 (8 - 1 penalty) ]
- [ CHA: 10 ]
[ Allies: None ]
[ Equipment:
- [ Weapons: REDACTED ]
- [ Armor: REDACTED ]
- [ Gear: REDACTED ]
- [ Magic Items: REDACTED ]
[ Description: Inuzuka Kiba, a member of the feral Inuzuka clan, is known for their close bond with ninken and animalistic abilities. Kiba, though average for an Inuzuka, is a competent shinobi with excellent tracking skills and fierce combat abilities. He often acts on impulse, which can affect his judgment in critical situations. ]
[ Note: Removal of redactions may occur through leveling up or engaging in combat. ]
Naruto quietly whispered to himself, slightly taken aback by this information.
"Wait, he actually uses the dog in battle. I thought that was just a pet."
Naruto watched Kiba and his ninja hound, Akamaru, with a mix of envy and fascination.
"I should get myself a companion too," he thought.
"Maybe I could unlock an achievement for a dog... or a bird... or maybe something cooler?" His mind raced with possibilities. Growing up, he'd never had any pets; Hiruzen always said it was too much "responsibility." Naruto scoffed at the memory.
"I am responsible," he muttered under his breath.
[ Name: Aburame Shino ]
[ Status: Emotionally Detached (Increased focus: +2 to INT, Reduced social interaction: -2 to CHA) ]
[ Title: Academy Student ]
[ Level: 6 ]
[ Class: Shinobi of the Aburame Clan ]
[ Race: Apostles of the Tyranids ]
[ HP: 500 / 720 ]
[ AC: 10 ]
[ CP: 500 / 500 ]
[ Racial Traits:
- [ Symbiotic Relationship ]
- [ Nest's Physique ]
[ Class Features: ]
- [ Insect Affinity ]
- [ Hive Mind ]
[ Feats: Analytic Mind ]
[ Stats: ]
- [ STR: 10 ]
- [ DEX: 10 ]
- [ CON: 14 ]
- [ INT: 18 (16 + 2 from Emotionally Detached) ]
- [ WIS: 20 ]
- [ CHA: 6 (8 - 2 from Emotionally Detached) ]
[ Allies: None ]
[ Equipment:
- [ Weapons: REDACTED ]
- [ Armor: REDACTED ]
- [ Gear: REDACTED ]
- [ Magic Items: REDACTED ]
[ Description: Aburame Shino is a member of the acclaimed Aburame clan known for their silent nature and appreciation of the little things. Known to host a colony of kikaichu within their bodies that make their techniques and abilities not just powerful but also extremely creepy. Shino is the heir to the clan and a very capable shinobi in training.]
[ Note: Removal of redactions may occur through leveling up or engaging in combat. ]
Naruto edged behind Choji, his face twisted in a grimace as he watched Shino gently handling a ladybug.
The whole idea of living in symbiosis with insects made his skin crawl.
"Creepy," he whispered, barely audible.
Choji, confused by Naruto's sudden need for a human shield, turned to question him, but Naruto quickly cut him off.
"I'll buy you a dozen bags of chips if you let me hide here," he bargained hastily.
Choji's eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically, settling back to his previous stance, effectively screening Naruto from view.
From his hideout, Naruto peeked out just enough to see Shino place the ladybug back among the leaves.
"Why isn't his race just human?" Naruto mumbled to himself, baffled and a bit freaked out.
Shino seemed to sense his gaze because he looked up and met Naruto's eyes for a fleeting moment.
Naruto instantly ducked, fully hiding behind Choji.
Shino held his gaze on them a moment longer before turning his attention back to his insects.
Naruto sighed in relief, whispering a silent thanks to Choji for the cover.
Seeing that the coast was clear, Naruto turned his attention to his rival. Sasuke Uchiha was there, seemingly oblivious to the numerous girls vying for his attention all around him.
"Lucky emo bastard."
Naruto's gaze then shifted to Hinata, who caught his eye for a moment before shyly looking down. He felt a sense of relief.
"At least Hinata is not like the rest of them."
[ Name: Uchiha Sasuke ]
[ Status: Unawakened Sharingan (Dormant due to psychological trauma, +2 DEX, +3 INT, +1 WIS per Level), Avenger (+25% to all stats when attacking REDACTED ), Firebug (-15% cost to Katon jutsu, +10 damage to Katon jutsu), Paranoia (Increased alertness: +2 to WIS, Decreased trust: -2 to CHA), Antisocial (Reduced social engagement: -3 to CHA, Increased self-reliance: +2 to CON) ]
[ Title: Academy Student ]
[ Level: 8 ]
[ Class: Shinobi of the Uchiha Clan ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ HP: 1170 / 1170 ]
[ AC: 17 ]
[ CP: 1180 / 1180 ]
[ Lineage Traits:
- [ Sharingan ] ( Partially Locked )
- [ Natural Affinity: Raiton (Lightning Style) ]
[ Class Features: ]
- [ Natural Affinity: Katon (Fire Style) ]
- [ The Golden Heart ]
[ Feats: ]
- [ Avenger ]
[ Stats: ]
- [ STR: 19 ]
- [ DEX: 16 (14 + 2 from Unawakened Sharingan) ]
- [ CON: 20 (18+ 2 from Antisocial) ]
- [ INT: 15 (12 + 3 from Unawakened Sharingan) ]
- [ WIS: 11 (8 + 2 from Paranoia + 1 from Unawakened Sharingan) ]
- [ CHA: 13 (18 - 2 from Paranoia - 3 from Antisocial) ]
[ Allies: None ]
[ Equipment: ]
- [ Weapons: REDACTED ]
- [ Armor: REDACTED ]
- [ Gear: REDACTED ]
- [ Magic Items: REDACTED ]
[ Description: Uchiha Sasuke, bearing the scars of his clan's tragedy, struggles with paranoia and antisocial tendencies. His psychological trauma has kept his Sharingan dormant, yet he remains a highly skilled shinobi. Driven by vengeance and marked by his past, Sasuke's journey is one of both internal and external battles. ]
[ Note: Removal of redactions may occur through leveling up or engaging in combat. ]
Naruto blinked in disbelief.
"What the heck are these stats?," he thought, astounded by the sheer numbers. Sasuke's stats were significantly higher than most of their classmates.
As Naruto read through Sasuke's description, he felt an unexpected kinship. "To think we're this similar," he mused.
Sasuke, feeling a persistent gaze, turned his head slightly to catch Naruto looking at him.
There was a look in Naruto's eyes that Sasuke couldn't quite place – was it sympathy? The notion confused Sasuke. Why would Naruto, of all people, look at him with sympathy?
Shaking off the perplexing thought, Sasuke refocused on the task at hand. Today's sparring session was an opportunity for him to test the fruits of his rigorous training from the previous week. He was determined to gauge his progress and see if his efforts had enhanced his skills. The matches were wrapping up.
Shino had just beaten Kiba, and Choji took down a civilian student.
That left just me and that teme, Sasuke. "The last match will be between Sasuke and Naruto, please step onto the field," Iruka announced, and I couldn't help but groan.
"Great, I'm up against the strongest in this class and I can't even use explosive seals," I muttered to myself, glaring at Sasuke's indifferent expression.
I wondered how that cool facade of his would crack if he had to face off against my explosive seals.
I paused for a moment, stretching my tongue against my teeth in annoyance, then reluctantly stepped up to the dirt field.
The afternoon sun was blazing, and I could feel my palms beginning to sweat.
[ World Quest Alert ]
[ Quest: Overcoming a Mountain ]
[ Objective: Defeat Sasuke Uchiha in a spar ]
[ Rewards: ? ]
[ Failure: 20 Exp ]
[ Action Required: Acceptance or Declination of Quest ]
Why am I so nervous just because Sasuke is stronger?
So what?
I've faced opponents like the rat spearman and the rat king, who were stronger than me, and I beat them.
I'll beat Sasuke too.
With a burst of resolve, I formed a half ram hand sign, my pointer and middle fingers pointing up while my thumb held down the other two fingers—a gesture signaling my readiness for a duel. Sasuke mirrored my gesture.
"Hajime!" Iruka's voice rang out, signaling the start of the match.
I watched Sasuke assume the famous Uchiha stance: he leaned forward on his right foot, his left foot stepping back, his right hand poised forward.
I knew this stance well from watching countless mock battles.
It was crafted to counter an opponent's moves, a technique I hadn't fully figured out yet.
Maybe it involved the Sharingan, but honestly, I didn't care.
Instead, I adopted the Swirling Kata stance, moving fluidly in a spiral.
My body was relaxed yet alert, palms open and facing outward as I stepped lightly, ready to deflect and redirect.
I could see the flicker of surprise in the eyes around us, quickly dismissed by most—probably thinking I was just joking around. Ignoring their skepticism, I focused on Sasuke, whose indifferent gaze was fixed on me, calculating.
It was an interesting matchup: his style was all about countering, while mine was about evasion.
Minutes ticked by as I maintained my swirling movements.
Clearly growing impatient, Sasuke charged forward abruptly.
He feigned a jab towards my head, but quickly pulled back his fist, aiming an elbow strike at the side of my guard instead. Reacting instantly, I dipped my torso and shifted my weight to my back leg, narrowly avoiding the blow.
Seizing the moment, Sasuke attempted a shoulder-check, aiming to knock me out of my circular path.
However, his move wasn't as effective as he had hoped; I barely budged, staying firmly within the circle.
A bead of sweat trailed down Sasuke's face, marking his surprise.
He hadn't expected such resilience and skill from someone who was considered the class's dead-last. His interest piqued, Sasuke now took the spar more seriously and adopted a more aggressive stance.
Despite his preference for the classic Uchiha style—a style known for its counterattacks and precision—Sasuke was well-versed in other techniques. He knew he might need to tap into these alternative styles until he could awaken his Sharingan, giving him the edge he desired.
As Sasuke launched into a flying knee kick, I smoothly transitioned into the anticlockwise spiral of the swirling Kata. This form was all about movement: a defensive clockwise spiral to evade and an offensive anticlockwise spiral to close in.
I felt the ground beneath my feet as I traced the spiral pattern, each step grounding me further into my technique.
Dodging Sasuke's flying kick by a hair's breadth, I continued my inward spiral, closing the distance between us with precision.
Normally, at this moment, my outstretched hand would carry an explosive seal to mark my opponent—a swift, decisive end to any spar.
But today, against Sasuke, such measures were off the table.
No seals, no lethal force.
He was a rival, not an enemy.
So, I opted for a simple jab.
Shifting my weight forward and twisting my hips to add force, I extended my arm in a smooth, fluid motion.
My fist aimed for Sasuke's side, targeting a spot just under his ribcage—a place to disrupt his balance and breath without causing severe harm.
As my fist connected with Sasuke's side, the impact was sharp and quick.
Sasuke's body tensed as he absorbed the hit, his breath catching slightly from the unexpected jab.
The force of my punch pushed him sideways, breaking his momentum and throwing him off balance for just a moment.
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded across my face—a hot flash of agony as my jaws clanked shut from the impact, sending shudders up through my skull.
With blurred vision, I raised my half-open hand between us, partly to defend, partly to prepare for a more aggressive move.
I might need to grab a fistful of his shirt soon, just to keep him at bay.
The taste of blood filled my mouth, metallic and thick.
No Academy medic would tend to this self-inflicted wound—another one of those ridiculous rules that seemed to apply only to me.
I spat a glob of bloody saliva to the side, eliciting a loud "eww" from the Sasuke fan club.
A chuckle escaped me, briefly lightening my mood.
I realized what I did wrong.
That jab—it was solid, but it broke the flow. The offensive aspect of the swirling Kata is meant to be more of a poke, a setup for the seal that delivers the actual damage.
By throwing a full jab instead, I disrupted the continuity of the spiral movement.
This break in flow meant I lost the rhythm that the Kata relies on to blend defense seamlessly into attack.
With gritted teeth, I spat again, clearing more blood, and readied myself.
Sasuke threw a punch aimed at my exposed face, but I was quick to block it with my back hand.
He grimaced as I counterattacked, driving a punch into his stomach.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
In my desire to represent the Uzumaki heritage, I had pushed myself so hard that I ended up reverting to just being a brawler. The Swirling Kata was amazing, no doubt, but I had boxed myself into relying solely on it, simply because it carried the Uzumaki label.
"Is this my goal?" I asked myself.
Is this how I plan to honor my family?
By fighting and limiting myself until I'm backed into a corner, forced to revert to just being what I am—Naruto?
I paused, a new thought crystallizing in my mind.
I am an Uzumaki, yes, but I am also Naruto. Why was I focusing solely on the Uzumaki side of me?
Why was I ignoring the person I am?
A surge of clarity washed over me.
I am Naruto Uzumaki, and I'll honor them by being me.
Sasuke swung a hook toward my head, but I immediately entered into a clockwise spiral. Midway through, as I came around to his side, I seized the opportunity.
Jumping up, I launched into a corkscrew punch—an aerial maneuver where I extended my body horizontally, my fist leading into a spin and landing the punch directly into Sasuke's eye.
The blow made Sasuke stagger a bit. I paused, anticipating his next move.
True to form, he retaliated with a high kick aimed at my face.
I spun on the ball of my heel, ducking low in a swift, fluid motion that allowed me to dodge his attack.
Continuing the spin, I extended my leg, sweeping Sasuke's lone supporting leg right from under him.
He fell hard, kicking up dust as he landed.
I didn't waste a moment.
Standing quickly, I extended my leg for another kick.
I noticed the darkening in Sasuke's eye as he instinctively moved to protect his head. Anticipating this, I redirected my kick to his stomach, exploiting his momentary vulnerability.
Sasuke gasped for air, his body folding over as he clutched his abdomen.
The pain from the blow was evident in his wince, and for a moment, he struggled to regain his breath.
Silence enveloped the entire class, jaws hanging open in disbelief.
No one had ever lasted more than a minute against Sasuke in a spar, let alone engaged in such a fierce and bloody battle as the one unfolding between Sasuke and Naruto.
Iruka, watching intently, felt the impulse to step in and stop the fight.
But he hesitated, recognizing the significance of this moment for Naruto.
If Naruto had managed to push Sasuke to this extent, it meant he had been training intensely in secret, dedicating weeks, perhaps months, to improving himself.
Iruka couldn't bear to cut short this demonstration of Naruto's hard-earned progress.
Meanwhile, the rest of the students were utterly stunned.
The class clown, the prankster, the perennial dead-last—they watched as he turned the class's top performer into a disheveled contender.
Sasuke, always cool and composed, was now grappling to maintain his poise.
"Sasuke-kun! You can win this!" Sakura shouted, her voice breaking the silence and rallying Sasuke's fanbase into a chorus of encouragement.
In contrast, Hinata watched Naruto with admiration. As their eyes met briefly, she smiled warmly and nodded at him.
As Sasuke tried to regain his balance and reestablish his position in the center, Naruto didn't give him the chance to fully correct his stance.
With a burst of speed, Naruto tackled him back to the ground, pinning him before he could set himself properly.
Naruto unleashed a flurry of strikes, capitalizing on his advantageous position. Sasuke, meanwhile, curled up into a defensive posture, trying to protect his head and torso from the onslaught.
Each of Naruto's blows was filled with a predictable rhythm, a vulnerability common among fighters who hadn't yet learned to vary their attack patterns.
Sasuke, sensing the repetition in Naruto's movements, looked for an opening. As Naruto raised his arm for another strike, Sasuke made his move.
He caught Naruto's wrist, using his grip as leverage to twist his body sideways.
This grappling maneuver was a basic but effective wrestling technique aimed at reversing their positions.
Naruto tried to maintain his dominant position by shifting his weight, attempting to prevent Sasuke from turning the tables. He used his other hand to try and pin Sasuke's shoulder to the ground, aiming to stabilize himself and regain control.
However, Sasuke managed to slip one leg between Naruto's, using his knee to push against Naruto's thigh, creating space between them. With a quick heave, Sasuke used his legs as springs, attempting to buck Naruto off.
Naruto clung on, but the gap allowed Sasuke enough room to maneuver into a better defensive position. He locked his arms around Naruto's waist, preparing to execute a basic wrestling escape.
As Sasuke locked his arms around Naruto's waist, preparing to execute a basic wrestling escape, Naruto countered unexpectedly by spitting in Sasuke's eye. The momentary flinch was all Naruto needed to gain the upper hand. Sasuke barely had time to react before he felt a sharp explosion of pain in his face as Naruto's elbow connected with it. Dazed and disoriented, Sasuke found himself lying on the ground, with Naruto looming over him.
For a brief second, as he lay there, Sasuke's vision blurred, and he saw not Naruto, but Itachi above him—someone stronger, someone who had taken everything from him. The painful memory triggered a surge of anger and hatred in Sasuke's heart.
Fueled by these intense emotions, Sasuke sprang up with a sweeping leg kick aimed at Naruto. Naruto, quick on his feet, jumped back to dodge the attack. For a brief moment, confusion flickered across Naruto's face as Sasuke charged toward him, driven by the wounds Itachi had left on him—wounds of hatred and despair.
As if clouds were parting in the sky, clarity struck Sasuke. He could now predict Naruto's annoying spiraling movement. As Naruto moved in a clockwise spiral, Sasuke did the opposite. He executed an anticlockwise spiral, but with a twist—he jumped, transforming the spiral into a circular motion. Extending his leg out, he slammed his foot directly into the back of Naruto's skull. The force and speed of the attack sent Naruto crashing headfirst into the ground with a resounding slam.
Sasuke stood up, feeling the weight of numerous eyes on him. As he turned around, he sensed their fear, their eyes wide as they looked at him as if he were someone else—as if he were Itachi. The realization chilled him.
"C-congratulations, Sasuke! You have unlocked your Sharingan," Iruka stammered, his voice breaking the tense silence as he rushed towards the fallen Naruto. Sasuke froze, pulling out his kunai instinctively, his heart racing. When he looked down, what greeted him in the reflection were two red irises marked with a single comma—the fabled one tomoe Sharingan.
Naruto's eyes fluttered open, and he immediately squinted against the harsh light flooding the room.
As his vision adjusted, a head-splitting headache surged through his skull, feeling as if he had slammed his head against a wall.
The pain was sharp and throbbing, pulsating with every beat of his heart.
"Naruto, here."
He heard a familiar voice and saw a blurry hand extending towards him with a pill. Gratefully, he took it, his fingers clumsy and weak.
He was handed a glass of water, and he gripped it with both hands, bringing it to his lips with shaky movements.
The water felt cool and soothing as he swallowed the pill, helping to ease the raw dryness of his throat.
As the medication began to take effect, Naruto felt the vice-like grip of the headache gradually loosen.
"How are you feeling?" the voice asked.
"Like I want ramen," Naruto murmured almost instinctively as he looked around, trying to orient himself.
He was in the school infirmary.
The room was stark and clinical, with white walls and the faint smell of antiseptic. Beds were lined up with crisp, clean sheets, and medical equipment was neatly arranged throughout the space.
"Of course you do," Iruka said with a gentle chuckle, setting the glass down on a nearby tray.
[ Quest Failure: 20 Exp ]
He dismissed the notification with a wave of his hand.
"Guess I lost," Naruto grumbled, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"Naruto." Iruka placed his hand on his shoulder, prompting him to look up. "You were amazing out there. No one in your class has pushed Sasuke to that point. If it wasn't for Sasuke awakening that Sharingan..."
"Sharingan, you mean those red eyes?" Naruto interrupted, his tone shifting as he connected the dots.
"You saw them?" Iruka asked, surprised.
"Of course, I was confused why the teme's eyes were red. So, he awoke the Sharingan," Naruto said, a smile creeping onto his face as he remembered that the Unawakened Sharingan gave the teme some stat boosts which meant the awakened Sharingan gave that emo a bigger boost.
"Loser had to get a power-up to beat me."
Iruka sweat-dropped as Naruto held his head high, clearly proud despite the defeat. "Good, you're back to normal," he said with a relieved sigh.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't worry, I was just worried what Sasuke's last attack might have done. The nurse said you were fine but..." Iruka's voice trailed off, his expression tinged with anxiety.
"Thanks, Iruka-sensei, but you should leave, you have classes to teach," Naruto said, dismissing the concern with a wave of his hand.
"Naruto, school is over," Iruka replied, a slight amusement in his tone.
"Oh, so I missed school," Naruto said, his smile broadening.
He seemed genuinely pleased by the news, his earlier troubles momentarily forgotten.
Iruka sighed and pulled out a hefty notebook.
"Hinata left me with these," he explained, opening it to show the meticulous notes inside.
"She took two sets of notes in class—one for herself and one for you."
Naruto looked down, and to his surprise, he felt a few tears escape his eyes.
The gesture touched him more deeply than he expected.
"Guess you found a friend, huh, Naruto?" Iruka said with a warm smile. Naruto nodded, quickly wiping his face to hide his emotions.
"Here, eat some," Iruka said, handing Naruto a plate of apple slices cut into bunny rabbit shapes. Naruto accepted the plate, his curiosity piqued.
"Don't worry, I made those," Iruka continued with a mischievous grin. "They were from your girl-l-l... friend," he rolled the 'r' exaggeratedly, teasing Naruto about Hinata.
"Thanks, sensei," Naruto replied, his response washing over Iruka's playful intent with complete obliviousness.
But was Iruka deterred? Not at all. The hint of mischief remained in his eyes as he prepared for another attempt to tease Naruto.
"I think you should get Hinata a gift," Iruka suggested, watching Naruto's reaction closely.
"I'll get her a gift, sensei," Naruto responded, his voice carrying a tone of determination. He seemed oblivious to the deeper implications of Iruka's suggestion, his mind already racing through potential gifts for Hinata.
Iruka sighed, shaking his head slightly as he mumbled under his breath, "I hoped that kick Sasuke gave you would cure your obliviousness."
"Did you say something, sensei?" Naruto asked, his attention snapping back to Iruka.
"I think we need to talk, Naruto," Iruka said, his tone shifting.
"We do?" Naruto asked, curious about what was on Iruka's mind.
"Yeah, firstly, I tried to check some information about Uzushiogakure, but I couldn't find any. I'm sorry," Iruka explained, looking a bit apologetic.
"That's okay, Iruka sensei. Hinata told me about Uzushiogakure," Naruto replied, relaying the information Hinata had shared with him.
Iruka seemed surprised but nodded. "I'll try to see if I can find more information," he promised.
"Thanks, sensei," Naruto said gratefully.
"Well, aside from that, let's talk about your spar," Iruka brought up the topic of the earlier match.
"What about it?" Naruto asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Don't worry, you aren't in trouble," Iruka reassured him, noticing the anxious look on Naruto's face.
Naruto nodded, still nervous.
He scrambled mentally for an excuse about how he knew the swirling Kata.
He obviously couldn't reveal the system—that would be too retarded, even for him.
"Naruto..." Iruka began, but he was cut off by Naruto's sudden outburst.
"I made that Taijutsu up!" Naruto blurted out loudly.
Iruka blinked in surprise.
"Wow, but I think, Naruto, you should stop your experimentation and learn the academy style. Combine both. It's not like the academy style is going to clash with your very own fighting style," Iruka suggested as he placed a book down.
Naruto nodded, already realizing that he didn't want to limit himself to just the Uzumaki label. Anything that could make him stronger, Uzumaki-branded or not, was good for him.
"I'll learn it, sensei," Naruto declared with determination.
"You stay here; I'll get the nurse to give you a check-up," Iruka said, preparing to leave the room.
"Sensei," Naruto called out, stopping Iruka in his tracks.
"Thank you for staying by my side even after school is over."
Iruka blushed slightly at the heartfelt thanks.
"Let's get ramen, after the check-up," he suggested, smiling.
"Yatta!" Naruto cheered, his spirits lifting instantly.
"But if the nurse says no, we eat something else," Iruka added, knowing well Naruto's penchant for ramen.
"Fine," Naruto grumbled, clearly not thrilled with the possibility of missing out on his favorite food.
[ System Quest Alert ]
[ Quest: Learn Basic Academy Taijutsu ]
[ Objective: Perform basic Kata. Perform 200 punches, kicks, and rolls ]
[ Reward: Basic Academy Taijutsu ]
[ Failure: None. ]
[ Action Required: Confirm acceptance or declination of class skill. ]
A few minutes later, Iruka returned to the infirmary, accompanied by the school nurse, who was a retired medical ninja. They were discussing Naruto's condition as they entered.
"So, I don't think Naruto is suffering from any form of brain damage..." Iruka's voice trailed off as he and the nurse stopped dead in their tracks, staring in disbelief. Naruto was on the floor, rolling back and forth energetically.
"Naruto, what are you doing?" Iruka asked, trying to make sense of the scene.
"Rolls," Naruto replied matter-of-factly, pausing his rolling to switch to pushups.
"Why?" Iruka probed further, his confusion growing.
"To learn the academy Taijutsu," Naruto stated, as if it were the most obvious answer, pushing up and down with determination.
Iruka turned to the nurse.
"He clearly has brain damage."
Author Note:
1- If you read Choji's profile, you'll find these two things: Controllable Analgesia and Yang Physique. The Akimichi clan's body expansion jutsu works a lot on the idea of Yang or the chakra of form; hence, why Choji can change his physique to that of giants or a ball or whatever. Controllable Analgesia, as the name suggests, is analgesia that is controllable. Now, what is analgesia? It is the medical condition where you don't feel pain, so when Choji uses body expansion, it's got to hurt, and this class feature is the reason Choji isn't screaming when his body expands like a balloon.
2- In Shino's profile, you find the race not human but Apostles of the Tyranids. Tyranids are a reference to the 40k Warhammer universe. Context: Tyranids are extragalactic invaders in the Warhammer 40k universe, originating from outside the known galaxy. They travel across the universe in massive fleets called Hive Fleets, each acting as a super-organism made up of countless individual bioforms, all linked psychically to a Hive Mind.
And before you ask, no, the Aburame clan isn't related to the actual Tyranids, and no, I am not going to be bringing 40k into this fanfic, period.
3- Sasuke Uchiha's class feature, the Golden Heart, is actually a reference to one of the things we know about the Uchiha clan in Naruto: they love or hate unlike any other, hence the golden heart. Also, Sasuke's lineage traits include a Lightning affinity because the Uchiha don't have a lightning affinity naturally; hence, why Fire Affinity is in Class features.
I really loved writing this chapter, from Naruto's realization that he isn't just Uzumaki or just Naruto, he is Naruto Uzumaki, and continuing it with Naruto pushing Sasuke to the edge by mixing his brawler side with the spiraling movements of the Swirling Kata. With Sasuke being reminded of Itachi, someone stronger, someone who loomed over him while he was on the ground in pain, that caused him to reawaken the Sharingan.
Yeah, Sasuke won, but Naruto pushed the man to the extreme.
And a reminder, Naruto has had the system for 3 days now and he was still nerfed since he couldn't use Explosive seals.
Boom!
Give me your thoughts in the Reviews.