Chapter Three: Before The Battle of Hiko-I
There have been countless pivotal events throughout history. Excluding the Great Wars themselves, several battles have changed the course of history.
The Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
The Kyuubi Rampage in the Leaf Village.
The Birth of Crystal Cemetery.
The Battle of Suki
The Battle of Two Uzumakis in the Leaf…
However, one key battle altered the balance of the world:
The Battle of Hiko.
It was a time of great turmoil, when the very fabric of existence seemed to tremble under the weight of conflict. Nations clashed, alliances crumbled, and heroes rose and fell like shooting stars in the night sky.
But…
That was the first time humans were utterly left stunned by the beautiful and horrifying combination of natural talent, hard work, and divine blessing.
This was the battle that introduced the term *unfair* to the world.
The day when a tailed beast was defeated and humiliated by a child.
The war was raging, and typically, the Hokage did not participate directly in battle. But Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood tall amidst the chaos, his presence a beacon of hope for the weary warriors who fought by his side. They had been locked in a fierce struggle with the forces of Kumo, their strength waning with each passing moment.
They were down to the last bit of their stamina…
"I guess this is it, Sensei," Jiraiya, the legendary Sannin, panted, his once-mighty form now weary and battered from hours of relentless combat.
"Unfortunately—" Hiruzen began, his voice heavy with resignation, but then they heard it.
"Sage Art: Crystal Release: True—"
The words hung in the air like a death knell, carrying with them a sense of awe and dread. And then, the battlefield erupted in a dazzling display of light and sound as Naruto Uzumaki, a boy of unparalleled courage and determination, unleashed his power upon the world.
It was the day when people saw Naruto Uzumaki not as a child, but as one who had far surpassed legends…
The Battle of Hiko would be remembered for generations to come as a turning point in history, a moment when the impossible became possible and the world was forever changed. And at the heart of it all stood Naruto Uzumaki, a boy who had risen from humble beginnings to become an Angel..
~~
Naruto and his future teammates, Yugao Uzui and Cholo Akimichi, found themselves standing outside Ichiraku Ramen. Kushina Uzumaki had dragged them there, herding them like hyperactive kittens. The mouth-watering aroma of ramen wafted through the air, making their stomachs grumble loudly, but their focus was entirely on Kushina's stern expression.
"Are we getting a super cool mission, Mom?" Naruto asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Sensei," Kushina corrected, her eyes narrowing like she was trying to set him on fire with a look.
"Huh?"
"Don't call me Mom. Call me Sensei."
Naruto's eyes went wide as saucers. "You're disowning me?!"
Kushina facepalmed so hard it echoed. "What? No! Just call me Sensei when we're in a team setting."
"Ohhh," Naruto said, nodding like one of those bobblehead dolls. "That makes sense."
Yugao piped up, trying to suppress a giggle. "Does this mean we have to call you Mom, too?"
Kushina's eyes twitched. "No, just Sensei for everyone!"
Cholo, mid-chew on a rice ball he snuck in, looked puzzled. "Wait, can we call you Ramen Boss instead?"
Kushina's stern facade cracked, and she burst out laughing. "You can call me Sensei or Ramen Boss, but nothing else!"
Naruto grinned. "Alright, Ramen Boss! So what's our mission? Are we infiltrating a secret ramen recipe vault?"
Yugao laughed. "Or rescuing dumplings from evil ninjas?"
Cholo, still munching, added, "Maybe we're guarding the village's noodle supply!"
Kushina sighed, shaking her head but smiling. "You three are hopeless. Let's start with not embarrassing me in public, and then we'll see about those missions."
Cholo, scratching his head, interjected. "Um, anyways, Sensei, you were saying?"
Kushina cleared her throat, her tone turning serious. "You guys aren't officially ninja yet."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, his confusion mirrored by Yugao and Cholo.
Kushina's lips curled into a mischievous, almost sadistic grin. "You need to pass a test first. And that test is... pranking the Hokage."
The trio froze, their jaws practically hitting the ground. "What?!" Yugao and Cholo exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing down the street.
Naruto's heart pounded, his mind spinning. "That's so disrespectful!" he blurted out, unable to comprehend the challenge.
Kushina crossed her arms, her expression unyielding. "If you don't complete this task, you fail and go back to the Academy. No exceptions."
The weight of her words settled heavily on them. Cholo's usual appetite for snacks seemed to vanish, and Yugao's confident stance faltered. They exchanged heavy sighs and shared looks of frustration.
Naruto finally broke the silence. "Alright, let's do it. We don't have a choice."
With reluctant nods and grim determination, they accepted the challenge, understanding that their dreams of becoming ninja hung in the balance.
--
As they walked away from Ichiraku, Naruto couldn't help but grumble. "This is crazy! Pranking the Hokage? What are we, suicidal?"
Yugao tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least it's not a written test. I'd rather prank the Hokage than sit through another one of Iruka-sensei's lectures."
Cholo, still looking pale, muttered, "I'd rather fight a hundred rogue ninjas than do this. At least then I'd know what I'm up against."
They stopped in front of the Hokage's office, staring at the imposing building. Naruto scratched his head. "So, what's the plan? Who's got an idea that won't get us thrown in a dungeon?"
Yugao smirked. "How about a classic? We swap out the Hokage's paperwork with pictures of ramen."
Cholo shook his head. "No way. He'd know it was us in a second. We need something sneaky, something... ninja-like."
"We should tric separately first." Yugao suggested.
Cholo nodded, finally looking excited. "Alright, let's do it. For our ninja dreams!"
Determined to prove himself, Cholo decided to go first. He thought hard about his plan, finally settling on a clever disguise. He donned an old, tattered robe and applied some makeup to look older. With a steaming bowl of miso soup in hand, he confidently approached the Hokage's office.
Inside, the Hokage sat at his desk, reviewing important documents. Cholo knocked softly, then entered, bowing deeply. "Hokage-sama, I brought this for you," he said, his voice shaky but sincere. "I think you're doing an excellent job maintaining the peace."
The Hokage looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly. He recognized the boy instantly but chose to play along. "How kind of you," he said with a knowing smile. "Please, have a seat and join me."
Cholo's heart pounded as he sat down. The Hokage pushed the bowl of soup toward him. "It's only fair that you share it with me," he insisted.
Cholo hesitated but had no choice. He took a spoonful, his eyes widening as the intense heat hit his tongue. The soup was loaded with chilies and spices, far too much for him to handle. Tears streamed down his face as he struggled to finish, the Hokage watching with an amused glint in his eyes. Defeated, Cholo fled the office, his mouth on fire, his plan a complete failure.
Naruto and Yugao waited outside, eyes wide as Cholo stumbled out, gasping for air and chugging water from his canteen. "What happened?" Naruto asked, barely able to contain his laughter.
Cholo's face was red and puffy, his voice hoarse. "That soup was like drinking liquid lava. He knew it was me the whole time!"
Next was Yugao. She decided on a more direct approach, banking on the element of surprise. She took a deep breath and burst into the Hokage's office, her face contorted with panic. "The village is under attack!" she screamed, pointing out the window.
The Hokage, more experienced and cunning than she anticipated, saw through her ruse immediately.
"As the Hokage, I cannot leave you kids here in this unsafe soon-to-be battleground. Therefore—"
With a swift hand sign, he transported her to the top of a high tower in the village. Yugao stood there, the wind whipping around her, her eyes wide with shock and fear. She had no idea how to get down.
As she looked over the edge, her legs trembling, she realized just how outmatched she was. Another failed attempt.
From below, Naruto and Cholo watched as Yugao's tiny figure appeared at the top of the tower. "Oh boy," Naruto muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "This isn't going well."
Yugao's voice, small but frantic, reached their ears. "Get me down from here!"
Cholo sighed. "Great, now what?"
Naruto grinned. "We get creative. Let's use some teamwork. Cholo, you ready to play catch?"
Cholo's eyes widened. "You want me to catch her? Are you nuts?"
"Hey, you're the strongest one here," Naruto pointed out. "Yugao, can you make it to the edge safely?"
Yugao, clutching the edge of the tower, glared down at them. "You better catch me, Cholo, or I swear—"
With a deep breath, she jumped, arms flailing. Cholo positioned himself below, bracing for impact. She landed hard in his arms, knocking the wind out of him, but he managed to stay on his feet.
Naruto ran over, grinning. "Nice catch! Now, let's regroup."
Yugao straightened up, dusting herself off. "Okay, maybe that wasn't my best idea. Your turn, Naruto."
Naruto nodded, determined not to let his team down. He grabbed a stack of papers and a bucket of glue, hatching his most devious scheme yet.
Minutes later, Naruto burst into the Hokage's office, panting dramatically. "Hokage-sama! Urgent documents from the Academy!"
The Hokage looked at Naruto, amused. "And what do you need me to do with them?"
Naruto, feigning seriousness, handed the stack over. "Just your signature, sir!"
The Hokage took the papers, only to find his hands covered in glue. He sighed, shaking his head with a smile. "Nice try, Naruto."
Then 'poof'! It was a shadow clone!
Naruto's face fell as he realized that individual efforts were doomed to fail against the cunning Hokage. He quickly regrouped with Yugao and Cholo, who were both dejected and disheartened.
"We need to work together," he said determinedly, his eyes shining with resolve. "We have to come up with a plan that combines our strengths. It's our only shot."
Yugao and Cholo exchanged weary looks but nodded in agreement. They huddled together, brainstorming ideas and pooling their skills. They knew this was their last chance to prove themselves, and they couldn't afford to fail.
They needed something smaller yet clever enough to catch the Hokage off guard. After brainstorming for a while, they came up with a new, more reliable plan.
Cholo would create a distraction by talking with the guards.
Yugao, leveraging her stealth, would prepare a bouquet of flowers laced with harmless but irritating pollen that induces sneezing. She would disguise herself as a courier from a renowned flower shop and deliver the bouquet to the Hokage, claiming it was a gift from a foreign dignitary.
Naruto would be in charge of ensuring that the Hokage's usual routines were subtly altered, making it seem like the village council had organized the delivery as a token of appreciation. This way, the Hokage would not suspect the prank.
With their plan set, they moved into action.
Yugao, dressed as a professional courier, approached the Hokage's office with a large, beautifully arranged bouquet. She gave the receptionist a smile. "This is for Hokage-sama. These flowers are a gift from the Land of Flowers as a token of their esteem," she said, bowing slightly.
The woman nodded. "I shall make sure he gets it."
Yugao bowed once more and left. The receptionist carried the flowers to the Hokage and informed him about it.
The Hokage, intrigued but cautious, accepted the bouquet. "Thank you," he said, taking a moment to appreciate the flowers before placing them on his desk.
As the Hokage continued his work, the pollen from the flowers began to take effect. Within minutes, he started sneezing uncontrollably. "Achoo! Achoo!" He tried to maintain his composure, but the sneezing fits only got worse.
Cholo, who had been observing from a hidden vantage point, signaled to Naruto and Yugao. The three of them watched, trying to stifle their giggles as the Hokage sneezed uncontrollably.
The Hokage inspected the bouquet more closely and discovered the pollen. He chuckled, impressed by the harmless yet effective prank. "Alright, you three," he called out, knowing exactly who the culprits were. "Show yourselves."
Naruto, Yugao, and Cholo stepped forward, grinning sheepishly. The Hokage looked at them with a mix of amusement and respect. "You managed to prank me without causing any real harm. Well done. You've shown creativity and teamwork. Welcome to the ranks of the ninja."
Later, at Ichiraku Ramen, Kushina joined them. "You three did well," she said, ruffling Naruto's hair. "But remember. More challenges await."
Naruto grinned, slurping his ramen noisily. "Bring it on, 'Sensei'. We're ready for anything!"
Cholo, still flushed from the spicy soup incident, added with a laugh, "As long as it doesn't involve hot soup, I'm in."
Yugao, finally relaxed after her harrowing experience on the tower, smiled confidently. "Yeah, we can handle whatever comes next. Together."
Kushina watched them with pride. "That's the spirit. Just remember, as ninja, you'll need to rely on each other and think on your feet. Today was a small taste of what you'll face, but I have no doubt you'll all grow into fine shinobi."
They all raised their bowls of ramen in a toast, the camaraderie and determination clear in their eyes. The trio knew that this was just the start of their journey, and they were ready to tackle whatever came their way, as a team.
~~
Those were the best times. Pranking the Hokage as a test and all…
How long has it been? It feels like yesterday when he came out of THAT cave after drinking the nectar of the fruit…
He wondered if Yugao had a kid. She always seemed to be obsessed with that boy with lung problems. She had promised that he would be her children's godfather.
'I am physically a teenager, I wonder if they are older than me…'
He turned to the old man driving the cart.
"Hey, old man," Naruto began, voice low and thoughtful. "How long has it been since the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked the Hidden Leaf Village?"
The old man, face etched with deep lines, shrugged. "Hmm... couldn't tell ya. But it's been over 20 years since the Fourth Great Shinobi War."
Naruto sighed, thinking about the wars. "A fourth one, huh?"
Naruto stared at the apple tree by their cart, his gaze distant. The apples were ripe, but he wasn't interested. His mind was somewhere darker.
"Who's the Hokage now?"
The old man's face darkened. "The Eighth was murdered three years ago," he said quietly, as if speaking louder might make it worse. "The acting Hokage is a Nara, I think."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Who was the Eighth?"
"Umm..." The old man hesitated, shifting uncomfortably on his seat.
"Why do you hesitate?" Naruto's tone was sharp, demanding.
"It's... Menma Uzumaki..."
Naruto froze. Silence hung heavy in the air. Suddenly, birds erupted from the trees, filling the sky, scattering in fear. Naruto's killing intent surged, palpable and intense. The old man's face turned ashen. His body trembled, and then he bent over and vomited, barely holding onto consciousness.
"Who was it?" Naruto's voice was cold, almost deadly, the air around him thick with menace.
"W-what?" The old man's voice trembled.
"Who killed Menma?" Naruto demanded, his voice like ice, freezing the old man in place.
The old man swallowed hard, his fear almost tangible. "I-I think it was someone named Boruto..."
"Boruto..." Naruto repeated the name slowly, testing it on his tongue. His eyes darkened, and his aura grew even more oppressive. "Is he alive?"
"M-maybe… they never found him..."
Naruto clenched his fists, his knuckles white. The killing intent around him was suffocating, the old man could barely breathe.
The first thing Naruto planned to do after freeing the old man's village from this Kaito was to avenge his brother. No one would stand in his way.
TBC