Beyond the Ashen Sky Chapter 3, a naruto fanfic

Chapter THREE

"JiJi, what was my mother like?"

The Sarutobi Clan compound was a serene enclave within Konoha, shielded by towering trees that represented their enduring dedication to the Will of Fire. Built in a circular layout, the compound's heart was its expansive training courtyard, surrounded by stone platforms ideal for shinobi training. The main house featured traditional sloping roofs and intricate wooden carvings of monkeys, the Sarutobi's symbolic animal. Adjacent stood a spacious dojo, its walls lined with weapons, where clan elders passed down knowledge to the younger generation. At the center of the compound was a peaceful shrine dedicated to ancestors, encircled by cherry blossom trees. Scrolls of ﬁre-style jutsu and Sarutobi history ﬁlled the shelves of the clan library, each containing the legacy of generations. The compound's gardens, quiet and tranquil, were perfect for reﬂection, with small streams and stone bridges scattered throughout. Tall stone walls, adorned with statues of vigilant monkeys, offered protection, a symbol of the clan's wisdom and strength.

And in that garden, a young nine-year-old Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze sat beside the Third Hokage of Konohagakure, the man known as the God of Shinobi. Hiruzen Sarutobi took a quiet moment to reﬂect on the question Naruto had just asked him, the boy's clear blue eyes watching his every move. "The famed Red Hot-Blooded Habanero of the Leaf Village," Hiruzen began, his voice carrying both fondness and sorrow. "Your mother, Kushina, was an extraordinary woman. She was a master of fuinjutsu and kenjutsu. But, true to the nickname she earned, she had quite a temper. It often took both your father and her best friend Mikoto to calm her down when she was on the verge of losing it." He smiled wistfully. "But I can tell you this, Naruto. She loved you more than anything in this world. When she found out she was pregnant, that was the happiest day of your parents' lives." Naruto listened intently, taking in every word, even if some of it seemed distant and surreal. He had never met her.

According to Hiruzen, Kushina had died shortly after his birth from an illness, a truth Naruto accepted, but one that never quite sat right with him. "So why don't I get any time to see my father?" Naruto asked quietly, his voice calm but pointed. For the briefest moment, a shadow passed over Hiruzen's face, a frown threatening to break through his calm exterior. But, as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. "Your father… is the most important man in Hi no Kuni, Naruto," Hiruzen answered, his tone steady. "Even more so than the Daimyo. His duties to the village often keep him from spending the time with you that he wishes he could."

Naruto turned his gaze toward the meticulously maintained garden, his expression unreadable. Even at nine, he could tell that Hiruzen wasn't telling the whole truth. His sharp intuition, a gift and a burden, had always allowed him to sense when others were holding back. But he didn't press the issue. Not now. "Have you been practicing the taijutsu katas I gave you?" Hiruzen asked, changing the subject. Naruto's response was a ﬁrm nod. "And your calligraphy?" Another nod.

Hiruzen exhaled a long breath, bringing his pipe to his lips for a steadying puff. His years of war-hardened experience told him that Naruto had seen through his lie. But it was difﬁcult to reconcile this quiet, observant boy with the image of someone wise beyond his years. He stood up slowly, tucking his pipe away into his robe as he looked out at the peaceful garden. "Show me what you've learned," Hiruzen said, his voice gentle but ﬁrm. Before the words could leave his mouth Naruto had already jumped into action, with the speed he could muster he clapped his hands together causing an array going along his right arm to materialize. Before him, a nine-year-old Naruto Uzumaki held a bo-staff, the wood ﬁrm in his grip.

Unlike most kids his age, Naruto was composed, his eyes ﬁxed on the Third Hokage with unwavering focus. He rarely spoke during training, choosing instead to study every movement, every shift of Hiruzen's posture. Today was no different. Silence ﬁlled the space between them, the only sound being the faint rustle of leaves in the distance. Naruto made the ﬁrst move. His bo-staff spun in a blur, a wide arc aiming for Hiruzen's side. Calmly, Hiruzen deﬂected the blow with the tip of his ﬁnger, redirecting the staff with minimal effort. "You're overextending," Hiruzen observed, his voice steady. "Keep your center tight." Naruto didn't reply. He adjusted his grip, stepping lightly back, his eyes narrowing as he calculated his next strike. His stance lowered, more balanced. This time, his staff jabbed forward, aiming for Hiruzen's chest. The Hokage met it once again with just his ﬁnger, sliding it along the length of the staff before ﬂicking it upwards, forcing Naruto off balance.

But Naruto was learning. He didn't stumble this time. Instead, he twirled the bo-staff overhead and brought it down in a swift, vertical strike, his body ﬂowing with the motion. Hiruzen stepped to the side, his ﬁnger brushing the staff aside with practiced ease. "Better," Hiruzen said. "But you're still thinking too much." Naruto's grip tightened. His mind raced, analyzing Hiruzen's minimal movements, the way the old man used only his ﬁnger to deﬂect each strike. His next move needed to be faster, more unpredictable. Naruto shifted his stance, lowering the bo-staff in front of him as if preparing to strike low again. With a burst of speed, he lunged forward. But instead of striking where Hiruzen expected, Naruto vaulted himself using the staff, ﬂipping over the Hokage's head. As he spun in the air, his staff came down, aimed directly for Hiruzen's shoulder.

With a single ﬁnger, Hiruzen blocked the downward strike effortlessly. "Good," Hiruzen said, nodding as Naruto landed on his feet, breathing slightly heavier but still calm. "You're starting to move without hesitation." Naruto stood tall again, his eyes narrowed in concentration. His bo-staff rested in his hands, but now he was shifting the weight differently, feeling out the ﬂow of his attacks and defenses. Hiruzen's expression softened for a moment. "You must remember, Naruto. A weapon like that staff is an extension of your body. When you move, it moves. The moment you hesitate, it loses its purpose. Focus less on your strikes—more on how your body guides the ﬂow of the ﬁght." Naruto gave a single nod, still silent. His mind absorbed the lesson, and without delay, he shifted again, spinning the bo-staff before him in a smooth rhythm. This time, he attacked with more ﬂuidity, his strikes no longer seeking to overpower but to test, probe, and exploit openings.

Hiruzen smiled inwardly. The boy was starting to understand. Naruto struck with a sweeping motion, transitioning into a series of thrusts. Hiruzen's ﬁnger moved with precision, deﬂecting each strike, but Naruto wasn't pushing too hard. Instead, he ﬂowed, his bo-staff spinning in harmony with his movements, shifting from one attack to the next. Just as Naruto swept low with the staff, Hiruzen ﬂicked it aside, but the boy pivoted smoothly, bringing the other end around in a wide arc. The strike was faster this time, more unpredictable. Hiruzen blocked it again with his ﬁnger but had to shift his stance, just slightly. A subtle smile formed on Naruto's lips as he landed lightly on his feet. He had made the old man move. Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with approval. "That's enough for today."

Naruto lowered the bo-staff, panting slightly, but his face remained composed, only the smallest ﬂicker of satisfaction visible in his eyes. "You're improving," Hiruzen remarked, his voice full of pride. "But remember, Naruto—true strength lies not in the weapon, but in the mind and heart of the one who wields it. That calmness you show, it will serve you well. Keep honing it." With a nod he resealed the bo-staff "I think it's time to depart, thank you for the time jiji."

Later - Nara Clan compound

Shikamaru was lazy, often berated by his mother how little he does but he often told her it was too much of a drag to do anything which only caused his mother to berate him even more, but there were was something he enjoyed and that was spending time with his complicated but intriguing best friend Naruto Namikaze. Everytime he spent time with the young Namikaze it left him with more questions than the perverse times they had hung out together, like why he never saw Naruto with some kind of guard even with his father. The young Nara even found the energy to ask his father once but he was even given an exact answer.

"The Hokage can be a short sighted man sometimes." His single sentence response from his father, but now we ﬁnd the two young men locked in a match of the young Nara's favorite game Shoji. He taught the blond how to play the game a little over a month again and he had already grown by leaps, something that Nara found interesting. "The Academy is going to start soon." A nod was Nara's response, something also strange he found was the blond's limited vocabulary. He didn't really talk much, sticking to gestures and head nods, like a development response to his lack of present parentage, the thought made Nara sigh.

"WIll you be in attendance?" "Yes, my jiji signed me up for it." His jiji, Nara didn't know exactly who this person was but thanked Kami for something like that. It felt inappropriate to ask who his jiji was but he left the topic alone and kept it in the deepest pits of his mind. Finishing their game with a stalemate the Uzumaki took his leave of the Clan compound heading home for the day.

Night - The Hyuuga Clan Compound

It was too easy to inﬁltrate the compound and slip away with little to no resistance. Thankfully, the brat seemed useless in the shinobi arts; at this pace, and with the infamous Forest of Death ahead, he could reach the Kumo ANBU waiting at the border. But fate had other plans. Sensing something approaching, he came to a stop, placing the Hyuuga princess in a nearby bush, and Kunai poised to strike. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours as a blonde-haired kid walked out of the shadows. "Mister, I'm lost. Can you help me get home?"

Stunned silence was his response. Some brat no older than ten managed to survive this deep inside this accursed forest? Wait, this was simple. He could just kill him now before any ANBU portals came. With his mind made up, the Kumo elite jumped at the boy, Kunai aimed at his throat, but he wasn't expecting a bo staff to appear out of nowhere. Three strikes: Femoral Nerve, Sternum, and Elbow Joint, all landed in quick succession. Spinning around, the bo staff synced with his movements as he ﬁnished off with a strike to the kidnapper's coccyx, causing him to fall over incapacitated.

Without wasting a second, Naruto dashed toward the victim, lunging her over his shoulder, until a new sensation washed over him like a tidal wave. Dropping her and ducking down, he narrowly avoided a kunai aimed for his throat. It was getting ready—adrenergic impulses rushed through his body. Lowering himself into a stance, he saw the beginning of hand seals. "Raiton: Kaminari Ami—Lightning Release: Thunder Net!"

Naruto's pupils widened as a net of thunder closed in on every possible escape route. In a moment of imagination, he pole-vaulted above the net but was met with a sharp hit to his solar plexus. The Kumo jounin had predicted his movements, meeting him above the net and sending the blonde ﬂying with a football kick. Wasting no time, he rushed toward Naruto, weaving hand seals and molding chakra in his tenketsu.

But before he could do anything, something latched onto his leg. With a violent jerk, he was sent barreling away through the trees. For the briefest moment, he glimpsed long sage-green hair before being thrown aside. Naruto slowly opened his eyes, dazed. The ﬁrst thing he noticed was the sight of sage green hair. The next was a ﬁgure clad in a modiﬁed jounin ﬂak jacket, tailored for agility and adorned with intricate patterns symbolizing the Senju clan crest. He epitomized both strength and elegance. His dark, form-ﬁtting pants and sturdy, lightweight boots gave him a practical edge, while a simple yet elegant belt around his waist held an assortment of tools and scrolls. Finally, the signature Konoha forehead protector was wrapped around his shoulder.

"You were good, brat, but you're too young to face someone like that." Naruto looked up, blood pooling down his face as the mysterious ﬁgure smiled down at him. Without weaving a single hand sign, roots sprouted around Naruto, surrounding him as the faint green glow of medical chakra went to work. Turning, the Konoha shinobi saw the Kumo elite charging forward, weaving hand seals and molding large amounts of chakra in his tenketsu. "Raiton: Raigen Raikōchū—Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion Flash of Lightning Pillar!" A bright light

covered the area, forcing Naruto to cover his eyes instinctively. "Raiton: Raijin no Yari—Lightning Release: Thunder God's Spear!" In an instant, a massive spear of thunder pierced the light, creating a tunnel that barreled toward the unsuspecting Konoha shinobi. Removing his hands from his pockets, the Konoha-nin weaved a set of hand signs in quick succession and slammed his palm on the ground. "Kuchiyose: Rashōmon—Summoning: Rashōmon." From the ground, a giant gate sprouted with a demonic face, taking the spear of lightning head-on. In an explosion, dust ﬂew around the area, momentarily obstructing everyone's sight.

After the dust settled, the Kumo elite scanned the area. Within a minute, he searched for his opponent, standing atop the giant gate, hands returned to their places in his pockets. Who the hell is this guy? Some kind of Konoha hidden weapon? I must warn Raikage-sama about him. As if reading his mind, Akira spoke up in a calm voice. "You won't get the opportunity to. By the time this is over, you won't even remember what happened here today." A grin formed on his face as he weaved a series of hand seals, molding a large amount of chakra and releasing it. "Mokuton: Mokuryū no Jutsu—Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu" The trees around them danced to life, shaping into a large wooden dragon. Placing his hands back into his pockets, he watched as the dragon coiled in the sky before diving down, swallowing the Kumo elite whole.

The dragon crashed down, splintering trees, branches, and logs, knocking the Kumo elite shinobi unconscious. The giant gate disappeared in a puff of smoke as the shinobi fell silently to the ground. Naruto was in shock; that Kumo shinobi would have easily made work of him, and that… creature had appeared out of nowhere, laying him out with a single jutsu—Wood Release at that. In a swirl of leaves, a platoon of ANBU and a contingent of Hyuuga clansmen appeared amidst the chaos, led by the Clan Head, Hiashi. The ANBU knelt as Hiashi gave a quick bow to the now-named Akira. "Akira-san. Thank you." The Konoha shinobi nodded before turning to a healed Naruto. "That young man intercepted the kidnapper long enough for me to catch up. Out of his depth, he stood his ground and even caused some damage."

All eyes turned to Naruto, and Hiashi narrowed his eyes, recognizing the pre-adolescent boy. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, Naruto-san, for halting his escape." Akira's eyes rose slightly at the name. Roots wrapped around the Kumo elite as Hiashi turned toward the bound man.

"Allow me to handle that."

"No."

Hiashi looked at Akira with a deﬁant expression. "He attempted to kidnap my eldest daughter."

"Killing him will break the treaty we signed with Kumo. Let's take this to the Hokage."

Hokage Tower - Hokage Ofﬁce

The room was silent as Minato stared into the blank eyes of his only child. Sighing, he turned to the ANBU. "Take him to T . I want every dirty little secret he knows. Have Itachi plant a suggestion in his mind to read through the Kumo archives and forbidden techniques. Have the sealing team tag him as well. You'll get our pound of ﬂesh and more by the time this is over. And don't forget to remove anything relating to Akira. Anything." "Hiashi, I apologize for allowing this to happen. We'll have his head before the week is up, I promise you that." After those words, the room quickly cleared, leaving Minato, Naruto, Tsunade, and Akira. Silence ﬁlled the room for a moment before Minato exploded. "What the hell were you thinking, Naruto? Taking on a Kumo shinobi! Let alone a jounin?!"

Naruto stood there, processing his father's reaction before tilting his head in confusion. Tsunade, to her credit, stopped herself from squealing at the gesture she found cute. She turned her head and sent a glare at Minato, who returned it, their eyes locked in silent communication. What the hell are you doing yelling at him?" "He needs to know what he did was irresponsible." "Even so—" Before the unspoken conversation could continue, Naruto spoke up. "JiJi always told me to stick up for those who couldn't defend themselves. I acted after coming up with a plan."

"You were almost killed!"

"You're wrong."

"What?"

"You're wrong. I sent out a pulse of chakra to alert anyone nearby, and I felt Akira-san's pulse in response." Silence hung in the room, followed by a chuckle, then full-blown laughter from Tsunade. Akira sent a sly look to Minato, who dropped down in his seat. He was wrong; Naruto had thought the whole situation through, and there was nothing to say in response. Reading the room, Naruto took a bow before exiting, and no one stopped him. "Kakashi, Itachi, from now on, you're on the protection detail for my son." There was no response, only a subtle shift in the atmosphere—the shadows of the Hokage had shrunk. "Don't be so hard on the boy, Minato-kun. Honestly, you should be promoting him for what he did today. Immobilizing the head of Kumo's shinobi force? Is he a genin?"

"He hasn't even joined the academy."

"You trained the brat well, then, Minato-kun."

Tsunade stiffened, which didn't go unnoticed by Akira. "Minato hasn't trained or signed his son up for the academy. All of the thanks goes to sensei," she spoke, and Akira was confused. "I'm sorry, what have you done?" "He's too afraid to look at the brat because it reminds him of Kushina." "Allowing someone else to raise your child." she scoffed unfolding her legs she stood her looking towards the door Naruto left out of with a somber expression on her face. "C'mon Akira it's time to go home."

Hi no Kuni - Konohagakure Main Gate

Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, Konoha's eternal gate guards, were accustomed to the quiet monotony of their post. Most villages left Konoha well alone these days, given its ever-growing strength. But the stillness of the day shattered when two ﬁgures approached—ﬁgures whose mere presence sent a ripple of tension through the gate. Bingo book targets. One of them easily tripled the bounty of Asuma Sarutobi. The ﬁgure on the left was tall and imposing, with sharp, angular features that exuded intensity. His silver hair was slicked back, and he wore a dark, sleeveless shinobi outﬁt designed for stealth and agility, paired with a Mist Village ﬂak jacket. His piercing blue eyes scanned the surroundings, while a jagged, sleek sword hung loosely at his side. His forearms and legs were wrapped in bandages—a trademark of warriors hardened by battle.

Beside him stood another towering man, this one noticeably more muscular. His light grayish skin and short, spiky black hair marked him as Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist. Dressed in Kirigakure's ANBU uniform, his forehead protector was slung sideways, adding a rebellious edge to his appearance. His dark brown eyes were cold, calculated. Izumo opened his mouth to speak, but the two Mist shinobi stopped in their tracks before he could get a word out. The only sound was the rhythmic approach of footsteps. Emerging from the shadows were two of the most formidable ninja Konoha had ever produced: Jiraiya and Orochimaru of the Sannin.

Orochimaru's golden eyes immediately locked onto the pair from the Mist, a subtle smile curling on his lips as his arms crossed over his chest. "I smell a snake," he remarked, his tone oozing amusement, but his gaze spoke of something darker—killing intent. "What's the Hidden Mist's former Mizukage doing here, and with the Demon of the Mist, no less?" Zabuza's eyes narrowed as he instinctively lowered himself into a combat stance, ﬁngers brushing against the hilt of his blade. Jiraiya, ever the sentinel, mirrored the action, his usual jovial nature replaced by a readiness for battle. But the former Mizukage, Raijin Shimizu, placed a ﬁrm hand on Zabuza's shoulder, halting him in his tracks. "We're not here for a ﬁght," Raijin said, his voice calm yet commanding. "We've come to speak with your Hokage."

Hokage Tower - Hokage Ofﬁce

In an unprecedented gathering within the walls of the Hokage's ofﬁce, key ﬁgures of Konoha stood together. The entire Sannin, the ANBU Commander, Fugaku Uchiha, Akira Senju, and Minato Namikaze himself—each of them watching the two Mist-nin with equal parts curiosity and caution. This level of attention was usually reserved for a Kage Summit, but the gravity of the situation demanded it. Zabuza, ever the blunt observer, scanned the room. His thoughts were irreverent but keen. 'This is a dick-measuring contest if I've ever seen one. These Konoha guys don't mess around.'

Raijin, sensing the unspoken tension in the air, discreetly elbowed Zabuza to keep him in check. Then, stepping forward, the former Mizukage spoke with purpose. "As you all know, Kirigakure is in the middle of a civil war. Or, more accurately, a genocide. The current Mizukage is systematically purging anyone with a bloodline limit." Minato's blue eyes, always calculating, betrayed little emotion, though he already knew the grim truth. Konoha's intelligence network was vast, and nothing escaped its reach. The genocide in the Mist had weighed on him for months, but interfering in the affairs of another village was dangerous—it could be seen as an act of war, or worse, as a sign of Konoha's overreach.

Raijin continued, his voice unwavering. "My daughter, Hana Shimizu, alongside Mei Terumi, is doing everything she can to resist, but we're running out of resources. Fast." The room was silent as Raijin laid out their plight, and it was Minato who ﬁnally broke the silence with a pointed question. "Why come to us, Raijin?" The former Mizukage's response was immediate, calculated, and cold. "Because Konoha is the strongest village in the world right now, and everyone knows it. You, Yondaime, are known for being compassionate and morally just. But more than that—we're desperate."

Raijin's words hung heavy in the air. Minato leaned back in his chair, his ﬁngers tapping rhythmically against the wooden surface of his desk as he considered the weight of the request. Inaction could stain Konoha's reputation, and if the Mist fell, the balance of power in the shinobi world could shift in dangerous ways. Finally, Minato made his decision. "Dragon," he called out, addressing the ANBU Commander. "I'm activating Team Nightfall."

Every pair of eyes in the room widened in surprise. Team Nightfall. The elite ANBU squadron consisted of Kakashi, Itachi, Obito, Yugao, Shisui, Yamato, and Dragon himself. They were a ghost story, a force of nature whispered about among shinobi, credited with ending conﬂicts before they even began. The team hadn't been activated since the end of the Third Shinobi War. Even Raijin, hardened as he was, felt a shiver of apprehension. He'd heard rumors of Konoha's top ANBU contingent—the ones who had subdued entire minor nations during the war—but never thought he'd see them in action.

Raijin pulled out a scroll and handed it to Minato. "This is a list of what we're willing to offer Konoha in exchange for your help once the war is over." Minato unraveled the scroll and quickly scanned its contents. The list was long—too long. Promises of ten million ryo over ﬁve years, the upcoming Chūnin Exams, and other substantial offers, but none of it caught Minato's interest. With a ﬂicker of chakra, the scroll ignited in blue ﬂames, crumbling to ash before Raijin's eyes. The former Mizukage raised an eyebrow, but the Konoha ofﬁcials didn't so much as ﬂinch. Minato was known for cutting through the noise and getting to the heart of what he truly wanted.

"Your offer was lengthy and dull," Minato said, his voice calm. "I want two things. First, an alliance. If either of our villages is in danger, the other comes to assist. Second, I want ﬁve percent of Kirigakure's naval vessels." Raijin let out a chuckle, then a full laugh, the tension in the room breaking for a moment. It was a bold demand, but a shrewd one. Kirigakure controlled the seas, and even a small portion of their navy could give Konoha strategic superiority. "Alright, Yondaime. You've got yourself a deal." Minato nodded, satisﬁed. "Orochimaru, I want you to lead the mission. You leave ﬁrst thing tomorrow morning."

Later That Day - Namikaze Residence - Ofﬁce

Minato sat at his desk in the Namikaze residence, pouring over documents while Orochimaru and Jiraiya stood before him. The quiet was almost unnerving until Jiraiya ﬁnally broke it. "There's a group of twelve S-rank missing-nin operating in the shadows. They call themselves the Akatsuki, and Hanzo the Salamander is among them." Minato's pen froze in midair. Hanzo was a legend—a terrifying one. Orochimaru then added, "That's not all. Kaito Tsukino has gathered his own group of S-rank nuke-nin. Four of them." Minato sighed, the weight of the news heavy on his shoulders. "Keep an eye on them. The Academy's next year will hold the heirs of almost every major clan in Konoha. We can't afford to let this escalate."

Next Day - Uchiha Clan Compound

At one point in his life, Fugaku Uchiha had seriously contemplated plunging his clan into civil war. The plan would have worked. A hand-picked group of the Uchiha's ﬁnest, waiting for the right moment—when his eldest son, Itachi, and Shisui were out of the village—would strike. He'd attack the one thing the Hokage cherished most, even if he didn't know how to show it—his son, Naruto. The distraction would be simple: a well-placed Sharingan genjutsu, some hired missing-nin like Kisame Hoshigaki or Sasori of the Red Sand, and chaos would unfold. Meanwhile, the Uchiha police force would occupy Akira Senju and the other high-ranking shinobi, keeping them at bay just long enough.

It could have worked.

But everything changed after a single meeting. It didn't last longer than ten minutes, but it secured everything the Uchiha had fought for. Clan property was restored, a larger budget was allocated to their endeavors, Fugaku was appointed head of the Department of Investigation, and perhaps most importantly—a Uchiha was seriously considered for the role of the next Hokage. For the ﬁrst time, the possibility of the ﬁrst Uchiha Hokage felt real. The anger that once burned beneath the surface of the Uchiha clan had subsided. Fugaku now had the pleasure of leading a content clan, awaiting the day his eldest son would take the mantle. Yet, there was one persistent irritation—watching the blonde son of his rival, Minato, pummel Sasuke in the training grounds.

Landing lightly on the ground, Naruto wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his eyes ﬁxed on Sasuke, who stood just a few feet away. Both boys waited, each calculating the other's next move. A tense silence ﬁlled the air before Sasuke ﬁnally made the ﬁrst strike. Sasuke darted forward, ﬁst aimed for Naruto's face. But Naruto was faster, ducking beneath the punch and delivering a sharp palm strike to Sasuke's chest, causing him to cough and stumble. Without wasting a second, Naruto pivoted, catching Sasuke's left arm and ﬂipping him over his shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground. Sasuke barely had time to react, but when Naruto went for a follow-up jab, the Uchiha rolled away and ﬂipped onto his feet in a seamless motion.

Sasuke knew he couldn't let this go on. Taking to the air, he weaved through hand seals as chakra surged through his tenketsu. Recognizing the familiar sequence, Naruto formed his own hand seal. In an instant, a clone appeared by his side, mirroring his actions. Sasuke's eyes gleamed with focus as he completed his jutsu. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu - Fire Style, Great Fireball Jutsu!" he roared, unleashing a massive ﬁreball, a signature of the Uchiha clan.

But Naruto was prepared. "Doton: Doryūheki - Earth style, Earth Wall" he stated, slamming his hands into the ground as a towering earth wall rose to meet the ﬁreball. His clone acted simultaneously, summoning spikes of rock with Doton: Doroku Gaeshi - Earth Style, Mud Wall Spikes," sending jagged stone barreling toward the airborne Uchiha. Sasuke's Sharingan ﬂared to life, and time seemed to slow as he analyzed his predicament. He twisted mid-air, launching a ﬂurry of kunai at Naruto in a desperate attempt to create an opening. As the kunai sailed through the air, Sasuke gripped one of the spikes from the earth jutsu, using it to push himself to safety.

But pain shot through his side as a kunai struck true, throwing him off balance. He careened into a tree, planting his feet against the trunk to stop his momentum. Gritting his teeth, Sasuke slid down, his Sharingan still scanning the area for Naruto. Rustling came from above. Instinctively, Sasuke looked up—a mistake. Naruto struck swiftly. A jab to the kidney, a kick to the shin, and ﬁnally, a counterclockwise spin ending with a blow to the temple. Sasuke collapsed, unconscious. From the sidelines, Fugaku remained silent, processing what he had just witnessed. The blonde brat had outmaneuvered his son, not with sheer power, but with sharp tactics. Naruto had used his clone as bait, distracted Sasuke with a kunai, and positioned himself perfectly to strike from his blind spot.

Fugaku's mind wandered. The newest student of the God of Shinobi.

Naruto retracted his staff, sealing it back into his array, and then bowed respectfully toward Sasuke's father. His voice calm and steady, he spoke, "Thank you for the training time, Fugaku-san. Same time next week?" Fugaku simply nodded, watching as Naruto turned and left the compound, leaving silence in his wake. He sighed, stepping forward toward his defeated son, who was now slowly regaining consciousness, dazed and confused.

"You lost. Again."

Sasuke clenched his ﬁsts, his jaw tightening as he slammed a ﬁst into the dirt, frustration boiling over. But then, he felt the reassuring weight of his father's hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, son," Fugaku said softly. "The tactics he used... they're not something a boy his age should be coming up with. Next time will be different." Sasuke looked up, his expression a mix of determination and frustration, but his father's words gave him some solace. Standing up, he dusted himself off, the two of them walking back into the Uchiha compound together.

— Chapter THREE end —

Author's Notes: Chapters will be about 5k words now, I want to cover as much as possible and I'm debating the idea of actually turning the Bloodline War into an entire Arc or many just like a chapter dedicated to the ﬁnal battle… I like that idea, I'll see how I feel when I wake up. There most likely won't be a chapter release tomorrow but if there is there is but if there isn't most likely due to me having a lot on my plate. Thanks for reading!