Izuna sat down with Naruto by the small pond at the center of the training ground. The evening light reflected off the water, casting soft ripples that mirrored the tension in the air. Izuna leaned on his cane, his eyes—though blind—seemed focused as ever as he addressed Naruto.
"Naruto," Izuna began, his voice calm but direct, "Itachi has asked if Sasuke could join our training sessions. Before I agree, I need to know what you think. This training is special, and if Sasuke joins, it means we'll have to be careful about how much we reveal. How do you feel about that?"
Naruto, who had been sitting cross-legged, listening intently, suddenly shot up, excitement lighting up his face. His eyes sparkled with energy, and before Izuna could say another word, Naruto was bouncing on his feet.
"Are you kidding, Izuna-sensei? That's awesome!" Naruto exclaimed, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "Sasuke's my best friend! It'd be so cool to have him train with us. I can finally show him how strong I've gotten!"
Naruto's excitement was palpable. He'd been holding back during regular academy training, per Izuna's instructions, downplaying his abilities so he wouldn't attract unwanted attention. But now, with Sasuke potentially joining, he saw an opportunity—an opportunity to prove himself.
"I've been keeping quiet about how much stronger I've gotten," Naruto continued, grinning widely. "But Sasuke, he's not like everyone else. He's my friend, and I don't want him thinking I'm some weak loser. I want him to see how strong I really am. No more holding back!"
Izuna raised an eyebrow, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Naruto's spirit was contagious. "Are you sure about this? You know that once Sasuke joins, our training won't be just about you anymore. He's going to challenge you in ways that others won't. He's just as driven to get stronger as you are, maybe even more."
Naruto nodded fiercely, his blue eyes gleaming with determination. "That's fine! Sasuke pushes me to do better, and I push him. It's like… we're brothers or something. He's the only one who really understands me, and I want to spend more time with him. I want to train together, grow together. We can both become the strongest shinobi, side by side."
Izuna stayed quiet for a moment, absorbing Naruto's words. Despite his usual cheerful nature, there was something deeper behind Naruto's excitement—a longing to truly connect with someone, to prove his worth to the person he admired most. Sasuke wasn't just a rival or a friend to Naruto; he was more like family, the closest thing to a brother Naruto had ever had.
Seeing Naruto's eagerness and sincerity, Izuna couldn't help but be reminded of his own past, the bond he once shared with his own Naruto. The weight of that memory sat heavily on him, but he knew that Naruto's heart was in the right place. Maybe, just maybe, training Sasuke alongside Naruto would be for the best.
"Very well," Izuna finally said, his voice steady. "If you're okay with it, then Sasuke can join. But remember this, Naruto: training with me means you'll be learning skills that many in the shinobi world could only dream of. You need to stay focused, even with your best friend by your side. Understood?"
Naruto's grin widened, his fists clenched in excitement. "You got it, Izuna-sensei! We're gonna be the best—me and Sasuke! Just watch!"
Izuna chuckled softly, watching Naruto bounce around like an energetic puppy. He had no doubt that Naruto's bond with Sasuke would only strengthen as they trained together. But there was something deeper at play—Naruto's desire to show Sasuke that he wasn't a loser anymore, that he had the strength and heart to stand by his friend's side, no matter the challenges ahead.
The morning sun filtered through the trees as Naruto made his way to the Uchiha compound, holding the letter Izuna had given him for Itachi. He was excited—not just for the chance to train with Sasuke but also for the opportunity to show his best friend how much stronger he had become.
Naruto was still bubbling with excitement from the conversation the previous evening. Now, as he stepped into the heart of the Uchiha compound, he couldn't wait to get started.
He handed Itachi the letter with a proud grin, eager to get to the sparring. Itachi took the letter, his sharp eyes scanning it quickly, his expression calm and thoughtful. Inside the letter, Izuna had outlined his plan: Sasuke would only be trained by him once he was on par with Naruto. Until then, it would be the responsibility of the Uchiha clan to train the two boys.
Itachi, always a strategist, found Izuna's conditions fair. Naruto had clearly advanced far beyond Sasuke's current level, and there was no point in having the boys train together under someone like Izuna until Sasuke could hold his own. Plus, this arrangement would allow the Uchiha clan to keep a close eye on Naruto's progress while also giving Sasuke the push he needed.
Itachi folded the letter and looked down at Naruto, who was already bouncing on his toes, eager to get to work. "All right, Naruto," he said with a slight smile. "You and Sasuke can train here in the compound. You'll have the space to spar, and I'll make sure you're both given the attention you need. But remember, this is an important opportunity for Sasuke. He's going to work hard to catch up to you, so don't hold back."
Naruto grinned and gave a confident nod. "You got it, Itachi! I'll make sure Sasuke gets stronger, too!"
Soon after, Sasuke arrived at the training grounds, his usual cool demeanor in place. However, there was a flicker of excitement in his eyes. Sparring with Naruto meant testing his limits, and Sasuke never backed down from a challenge. The two boys exchanged glances, their rivalry unspoken but clear.
The sparring match started, and almost immediately, the difference in power between the two was obvious. Naruto, moving with the confidence and agility he had gained from training with Izuna, dodged and countered Sasuke's strikes with ease. The younger Uchiha's movements were fast and precise, but Naruto's strength and speed were on a different level.
In the middle of the fight, Naruto landed a clean hit, sending Sasuke skidding backward. The spectators—Uchiha clan members who had gathered to watch—were shocked. Many of them still saw Naruto as the "Nine-Tailed brat," a troublemaker not worthy of their attention. But seeing him so effortlessly defeat Sasuke, the clan prodigy, left them speechless.
Sasuke, however, wasn't one to stay down for long. He got up, wiping a bit of dirt from his cheek, his eyes filled with renewed determination. Rather than being discouraged, Sasuke was even more motivated. He wasn't jealous of Naruto's strength—he admired it, respected it. But that didn't mean he wouldn't push himself to surpass Naruto, no matter how hard he had to train.
"You're strong, Naruto," Sasuke said, his voice steady despite his frustration. "But I'm going to catch up. I'll get stronger—strong enough to train with Izuna, too."
Naruto flashed a grin, his eyes filled with encouragement. "I know you will, Sasuke! That's why I'm here. We'll both get stronger together. I'll show you everything Izuna-sensei taught me."
And so, their routine began. Every day, Naruto arrived at the Uchiha compound, and every day, he and Sasuke sparred. Naruto, being surprisingly skilled at teaching, showed Sasuke the techniques and exercises he had learned from Izuna. From chakra control drills to basic forms of the elements, Naruto helped Sasuke refine his skills.
At first, Sasuke was frustrated. Naruto's speed, power, and technique were far ahead of his own, and the gap between them seemed impossible to close. But Sasuke was nothing if not determined. With every defeat, he pushed himself harder. With every training session, he grew stronger, faster, more skilled.
And Naruto, always enthusiastic, was right there to help. He showed Sasuke how to channel his chakra more efficiently, how to combine jutsu with physical attacks, and how to anticipate an opponent's moves—lessons he had learned the hard way from Izuna.
Word began to spread throughout the Uchiha compound. Many of the clan members would come to watch the sparring sessions, marveling at how far Naruto had come and how hard Sasuke was pushing himself to keep up. The clan members, many of whom were skeptical of Naruto at first, couldn't deny the raw talent and power the boy had gained. Some even began to see him in a different light.
For Sasuke, this was more than just training—it was a test of his limits. And though he didn't openly express it, the bond between him and Naruto was growing stronger. Naruto wasn't just a rival or a teammate anymore; he was a friend, someone who understood what it meant to struggle, to be looked down upon, and to fight against the odds.
The days turned into weeks, and while Sasuke still hadn't reached Naruto's level, he was getting closer. Each session brought him closer to the strength he needed to finally train with Izuna. And as he progressed, his respect for Naruto only deepened. There was no jealousy between them—only a mutual drive to become stronger together.
And through it all, Naruto continued to lead by example, showing Sasuke that strength wasn't just about power or skill. It was about heart, determination, and the will to never give up, no matter how hard the fight.
Sending Naruto to train with Sasuke at the Uchiha compound had always been part of Izuna's larger, calculated plan. Underneath his outward role as Naruto's mentor, Izuna's true aim was to gain insight into the inner workings of the Uchiha clan, something he had been strategically positioning himself for over time. Naruto's growing friendship with Sasuke provided the perfect opportunity to get closer to the clan, and Izuna knew how to use it.
When Naruto entered the Uchiha compound to spar with Sasuke the next day, Izuna accompanied him. He played the role of a harmless, blind cripple with only one arm, an appearance designed to deceive. The Uchiha clan barely gave him a second thought. As he quietly mingled among them, observing their culture, dynamics, and abilities, no one suspected that this unassuming figure was anything more than he appeared.
Meanwhile, the sparring matches between Naruto and Sasuke became a daily spectacle in the Uchiha compound. Clan members, curious and intrigued, would gather to watch the two boys battle. Sasuke, ever determined to catch up to Naruto's strength, pushed himself harder every day. And while the Uchiha clan initially viewed Naruto with disdain, as the "Nine-Tailed brat," they couldn't ignore the undeniable strength and skill he demonstrated. Slowly but surely, Naruto's status among the clan began to shift.
But while the clan's attention was focused on the boys, Izuna was quietly assessing them. He was getting the measure of the Uchiha clan: their individual abilities, their loyalties, their internal conflicts. Through his observations, he gathered crucial information that he would later use for his larger plans.
After Naruto and Sasuke finished their daily sparring, Izuna would often turn his attention to the clan's elites. It didn't take long before Itachi and Shisui, recognizing Izuna's immense power from their previous encounter, began seeking him out for their own training. Both Itachi and Shisui knew that in the looming confrontation with Danzo, they needed to be stronger than ever. Izuna's brutal training sessions were their answer.
The sparring with Izuna was nothing short of brutal. Itachi and Shisui, despite being prodigies in their own right, found themselves pushed to their absolute limits. Every session left them battered and bloodied, but with each defeat, they grew stronger. Izuna was relentless, showing no mercy in his teaching, and the two Uchiha quickly learned that pain tolerance was just as crucial as skill in their development.
They couldn't deny the results. Their speed, agility, strength, and endurance increased with each grueling session. And more importantly, they were learning how to endure pain, to fight through it, and to remain focused even in the most dire of situations. Izuna was preparing them for something far greater than simple sparring—he was preparing them for the harsh realities of war and betrayal. The time to confront Danzo and his schemes was approaching, and Itachi and Shisui knew that if they were to have any hope of defeating him, they needed every ounce of strength they could muster.
Izuna, for his part, remained a shadow in the background. He allowed Itachi and Shisui to improve at their own pace, guiding them through lessons of pain and survival. He knew that the Uchiha clan, as powerful as they were, had weaknesses. And he needed to understand them fully before making his next move.
In the meantime, he kept his role as Naruto's unassuming mentor intact, watching as Naruto's bond with Sasuke grew stronger. Izuna had no intention of revealing his true power to the Uchiha just yet. For now, he was content to remain in the shadows, gathering information and waiting for the perfect moment to act.
As the days passed, the tension in the village continued to rise. Izuna could feel it—the storm brewing just beneath the surface. And when the time came, both Naruto and the Uchiha would be crucial pieces in the larger game that was about to unfold. Izuna's calculated plan was falling into place, and soon, the village would see just how dangerous a shadow like him could be.
Author's Note:
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