Chapter 44

'We will leave'.

The threat from the divine being had hung over Hiruzen's shoulders constantly like an anvil, its weight growing heavier with each passing day. The idea of such words having a chokehold on the Hokage was laughable, even more so when he was supposed to hold absolute power over every Shinobi under his command. However, he, nor Danzo, could have ever prepared, nor ever expect the true power their resident Jinchuuriki possessed.

'We will leave, and there will be absolutely nothing you could do to stop us.'

Forget about erasing mountains or killing armies with a flick of the wrist. What sat within Uzumaki Naruto bordered on the realm of godhood the likes the Elemental Nations hadn't seen since the Sage of Six Paths. The fact that they hadn't left already wasn't anything short of a miracle, a miracle that could be easily reversed by a few wrong words or actions.

'As long as our fates are intertwined, I shall allow no mortal to take advantage of him. He is the harbinger of change, and I will see to it that his flame continues to burn.'

From day one, the cards were never in their hands. They were just playing along while never realizing the bomb at their feet.

'Now, I ask you, will you stand in the way of his destiny, or will you be yet another steppingstone towards change?'

Hiruzen let out another puff of smoke just before there was a knock on his door.

As he expected, the one currently at the forefront of his thoughts walked into the room. Immediately upon entering, the world immediately went on pause, the birds outside and the sounds of the village being silenced entirely. The woman, the Goddess, appeared before him once again, her form as immaculately divine as it was the first time he'd gazed upon it. Truly, Naruto was blessed, in more ways than one.

"You called, Hokage-sama?"

Hearing the formal tone from his surrogate grandson would never not make him feel regret for that day.

"I wish to speak more on our agreement." He replied, earning an inquisitive brow from the Goddess.

"What else is there to say? You are already keeping your side of the bargain, are you not?"

"I am. As promised, all investigations into the validity of your status as Jinchuuriki have ceased. I shall take no steps into controlling you, and I have made sure all other parties understand the same. In return, you both continue protecting the Leaf. Am I correct?"

The Goddess nodded, her features remaining neutral, "You are."

Hiruzen sighed.

"Then we need to talk about the future." Saying that, he reached into the desk and pulled out a file to set on top. Sothis hovered over to look through it thoroughly. "I have given it a lot of thought and have found the best use for your skills, as well as increasing Konoha's manpower. In that folder are 3 promising students currently in the academy. All are likely to graduate within the next 6 months and are capable in their own rights. However, their potential is being smothered due to the nature of our current system. As a result, I believe you will be best suited for sharpening their skills before their graduation."

Sothis looked up from the folder, her eyes quizzical. "You expect my child to nurture kids no older than him?"

"Experience gained on the battlefield is valuable to impressionable minds. Naruto-kun's talent is beyond his peers, and his mind is far more advanced due in no small part to your abilities. What you teach them is up to your discretion, but you will essentially be preparing them for their graduation to Genin. It is the only alternative to giving you a Genin team."

"That's all we have to do?" Naruto asked, getting a nod in response.

"If you truly wish to change this world, Naruto-kun, you first need allies. It will take time for them to grow, but when you're ready, they will be the most valuable assets to your cause—especially when you become Hokage."

Naruto hummed in acknowledgement before looking to the Goddess. "What do you think, Sothis?"

Sothis took a few moments to think it over, her gaze lingering on the picture of the kids in the file. "We accept."

Hiruzen smiled. "Very well."

Shortly after, the world returned to normal, and the folder that had previously been in the Goddess's hand appeared back in his drawer while the woman disappeared to places unseen to the outer world. Naruto and Hiruzen were the only two left behind, the Kage allowing ANBU to acknowledge the boys' presence before discussions could continue. Once again, he pulled the folder from the drawer and sat it on the desk.

"Uzumaki Naruto, as your first order as Tokubetsu Jonin, I have assigned you as the new instructor for the newly introduced 'Scenario Class'. I shall also assign you these three up-and-coming academy students as apprentices for no longer than 6 months, starting today. Be vigilant in your duties, and make sure they become promising Genin by graduation."

Naruto walked over and observed the folder calmly, taking in the information as if he'd heard it for the first time. The practiced motion truly rattled Hiruzen, his mind going over how many times the boy had done this very thing in the past to ensure he came to a satisfactory conclusion. Having hold over time truly was a terrifying power.

Konoha Shinobi Academy

Umino Iruka looked over the document in his hand a second, third, and fourth time before he had fully processed the order.

The order was given, meaning there was no time to argue on his students' behalf. This was happening, and he would be the one to give the news.

It wasn't 'bad', per see. Any chance given to better themselves should not be considered a bad thing, but there was no denying the apprehension he felt at the idea of putting his students' lives in the care of their resident Jinchuuriki.

He wouldn't exactly say he had anything personal against the boy. In all his time in the academy, he had spoken to the Jinchuuriki maybe three times, and all his experiences left him unsettled. His eyes were the brightest shade of green he'd ever seen in another human being, and yet despite that, there wasn't a lick of emotion he could see on the kid's face. It was like he was dead, a walking corpse whose personality was as dry as his tone.

Then there were the multiple accounts from Mizuki and Juri about him seemingly talking to someone they couldn't see. He and the staff were thankful when the Hokage had looked into it personally, and it did become less frequent from what he'd heard. Nevertheless, just having the possibility of their Jinchuuriki having a relationship with the Demon Fox did nothing to assuage their fears.

Iruka wanted to believe that the Hokage had the village's best interests in mind. He recognized the strategic purpose of having students learn under Jonin, no matter how new, but the thought of placing impressionable young minds under the guidance of that kid of all Jonin was, dare he say it out loud, madness.

He was sure his hesitance wasn't lost on the Jinchuuriki either, who stood silently next to him at the front of his class with that same unreadable expression most people knew him for. The weight of the Hokage's order had him bound, and he knew better than to dispute it out loud—in front of the point of stress, no less.

"Class, this is Tokubetsu Jonin Uzumaki Naruto," he started off by introducing the boy, a title he could already see his students questioning. "From today on, he will be the new instructor for the scenario portion of combat class. Though he is your age, I ask that you show him the same respect you would any teacher at this establishment, am I understood?"

Not everyone was accepting of it, of course—Inazuka Kiba being the leader of that group. Unfortunately, he and anyone who followed learned pretty quickly that the Jonin vest wasn't given to just anyone, and he proceeded to work them into the dirt with a simple game of tag so disrespectfully one-sided that Iruka momentarily forgot the Jinchuuriki was the same age.

Say what you want about the Jinchuuriki, but you could not deny his speed. Anyone who could make Uchiha Sasuke look like a toddler in comparison deserved respect no matter their age or prejudice.

Following that was a few more classes, and then it was time for the moment he had dreaded.

"Hyuga Hinata, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke, please stay after class."

As the rest of the class vacated the room, the three mentioned all now stood at his desk, awaiting whatever instruction he would have for them. A few minutes later, Naruto entered the room once again, and two faces immediately soured.

"On orders from the Hokage, you three shall apprentice under Tokubetsu Jonin Uzumaki Naruto. Your training shall take place after school every day until graduation. As I've stated before, please make sure to treat Uzumaki-san with the respect you would any sensei at this establishment. Am I understood?"

He hoped, he dearly hoped, that the Hokage knew what he was doing.

?

Danzo watched as his ROOT Shinobi pulled his heir's heads from the tub of water for the umpteenth time. With his cane, he lifted her head up to meet his eye, sputtering the water in her lungs out through her mouth and nose. Her breaths were quick and ragged, her eyes half lidded and barely able to focus.

"Who do you serve?" He spoke the question he had asked over a hundred times in the past two weeks.

She didn't respond right away but gave the same answer that was expected of her. "I...serve Konoha...Lord Dan-"

Her head was once again submerged before she could finish. Only when her struggles began to grow weak did the ROOT agent to bring her back up, and only when she was done coughing up the waters in her lungs did he ask her once again.

"Who do you serve?"

Danzo's eyes narrowed as he listened, noting the faint wavering in her voice. The answer was correct, but there was still resistance, a thread of emotion clinging to her words. He knew his heir well enough to sense when her loyalty was driven by fear rather than true obedience.

That small act during the Chunin Exams was no accident, nor did he believe she thought of all possibilities. The previous Kagero would have gone above and beyond to ensure the mission, yet spending time with those three had softened her. The Kagero of six months ago would have allowed Higurashi to die before interfering. The Kagero from six months ago would have bit her own tongue before allowing Kakashi to influence her.

It was his own judgment that has her training lessoned to succeed him in the future. That was clearly a mistake, one he would rectify.

With a small, almost imperceptible nod, he signaled to the ROOT Shinobi to prepare her for another round.

He would have never guessed Hiruzen capable of turning his own heir against his beliefs, but it seems even the soft old fool had a spine after all.

'Well played, Hiruzen.' He thought.

Uzumaki Naruto was nearly there. He was so close to becoming the Hokage this village needed. He just needed a push. A single, guided push that would finally make him the ultimate shinobi. He knew what needed to be done, and he already had plans in motion to make sure it happened.

Iwagakure: Tamahagane Compound

Katsuo gritted his teeth as another needle pierced his skin. Such an insignificant procedure would have normally not even caused him to blink. However, due to the state his body was in, the small pinch was akin to a hot metal rod being pressed into his arm.

He didn't flinch, though. Despite the pain, his gaze locked onto the man sitting across from him.

His hair was dark with strands of gray. His eyes were sharp and piercing, the iris' a shade darker than their usual green. He wore a dark trench coat, the symbol of the Tamahagane stitched onto the shoulder pad and symbolizing his position as the head of the clan.

Sporting a perpetual frown, it was always hard to gauge the old man's mood, but he didn't have to be a mind reader to guess the old shit's mood.

"Leave us." His tone broker no argument, and the nurse currently seeing to his injuries bowed before quickly excusing herself.

Then there were two.

Katsuo matched the old man's perpetual frown with his glare, a silent battle of wills being fought. It was futile, because although one was old and no longer fit for duty, the other was practically a corpse.

"Look at you." The old man began, his eyes roaming the young man's body covered in bandages. "The sole remaining heir of the Tamahagane, and here you are, just a shell. I'd pity you, but I know it would only add to your suffering."

Despite his words, Katsuo forced himself to remain silent, his teeth biting into his cheek so hard it drew blood.

"So bright, yet so foolish. Subaru would weep if he could see you now." A deep sigh left the old man. If Katsuo didn't know any better, he would say he felt genuine regret in that breath. "Your days as a Shinobi are over."

The heir's blood turned cold at the words.

"The damage you suffered did more than just cook your skin. The electricity overloaded multiple chakra points in your system causing them to burst. When chakra points rupture, it destabilizes your entire chakra system. The path sends waves throughout your body to repair the damage as it normally should. Unfortunately, it cannot do so without taking nutrients from your body. The brain sees this as an attack, and is warning whatever it is to cease—hence why you are likely in constant, agonizing pain."

The man paused for a moment, seemingly waiting for a brash response from the young man, but was actually surprised when he remained quiet.

"Even if by some miracle we are able to stabilize the flow of your chakra, there is no guarantee you will ever have enough chakra to form even the most basic E-rank Jutsu...but I guess you don't want to hear any of that."

No, Katsuo did not!

Fuck this! Fuck all of that!

After everything he had been through, after all the blood, sweat, and tears he put into training to one day kill even ONE Konoha Shinobi, he refused to be told he could never exact his vengeance with his own two hands!

It can't end like this! It just can't!

"...I don't know if I should be proud of the fire in those eyes or continue to call you a fool. No doubt, you are your father's son. Even with all his intelligence, his drive was what set him apart from the rest."

Saying that, the old man stood from his chair to stand over the boy.

"It is fortune for you that the winds of change are flowing in your favor. If it had been any other time, you would have simply died a fool. A fool whose name wouldn't even make it onto the Iwagakure monument."

The heir's eyes narrowed, a silent question hanging between them.

"In a year, the history of Iwagakure shall be rewritten. No longer will we sit on the fence as events unfold. We have taken a side, one where Konoha no longer stands at the top." Removing his hands from behind him revealed two glowing palms, of which immediately grabbed Katsuo's attention. "For that future to come to past, you must act as a tool to see it through."

The hands met his bandaged chest, the touch sending shockwaves of pain through his body despite there being no real pressure being applied.

"In the Tamahagane Clan, there is a forbidden Jutsu that is only passed down from head to head. It gives the body immense durability at the cost of drastically shortening one's lifespan...along with the life of the one passing it on." Fading green eyes slowly turned to the heir's, the boy understanding what was about to be done. "If I do this, you will not live to see 30. Your body will never be the same, and after a few years, you shall become one with the earth. Do you understand this, Tamahagane Katsuo?"

There was silence, the heir's expression blank before his jaw tensed. There was no need to ask such frivolous questions when only one goal fueled his very existence.

"I understand."

The confirmation was given.

Having nothing further to discuss, the Clan head pressed his hands firmly onto the boy's chest, the heir's pained groan echoing off the walls. It was a gruesome process, one Katsuo felt throughout his entire body for the next hour.

Nevertheless, when it was all said and done, he would have control once again. The life that was lost this day would only fuel his ambitions.

He would destroy Konoha.

He swore it.

Amegakure

Deep within a cave just below Amegakure, a meeting was being held. The space was wide, damp, dark, and lit only by a few torches on the walls.

In the center of the cave sat a wooden statue of titanic proportions. It's limbs were all held by chains, it's arms cupping together in front of it as if begging for food. Its mouth was open wide, while its eyes were covered by cloth with multiple holes poked into the fabric.

On top of each fingertip stood projected figures in black cloaks with red clouds. One particular cloak stood taller than the rest, the upper portion of the cloak arcing into spikes that closely resembled a Venus flytrap. In the silence, he spoke, everyone hanging on his words as if they were gospel.

"The Chunin Exams have ended, and we come with both good and bad news." The deep voice began, the room remaining silent. "Deidara, I'm sure you'll be happy to know that Iwagakure was unsuccessful in taking this year's victory."

"Ha! Figures. Not like you can expect much from a buncha of fencesitters, am I right, Sasari?" The named Deidara barked out, his final comment aimed at another to his right who ignored him entirely.

"Haha, you shoulda seen it! The Blondie was tossin' out all sorts a fancy shit! We've never seen nothin' like it before, and that's comin' from us!" The voice came from the same plant-like creature, yet its pitch was significantly higher than its counterpart.

"Oh shut up and get to the fuckin' point already. I'd rather his fuckface chew me out than hear about some dumb kids." Another spoke, his tone coming off both arrogant and annoyed.

"I agree with the zealous fool, as rare as it might sound."

"Who the fuck you callin' stupid you blasphemous cock sucker?!" The arrogant voice challenged the new one who had spoken. He received no reply in turn, only fueling his anger.

"We were getting there." The deep voice of the plant returned, bringing silence back to the group for a moment before he dropped the bombshell he had been preparing. "It is confirmed, Uzumaki Naruto does not possess the Nine-Tails."

The silence that followed was palpable. Knowing that a retort was coming, the plant opted to let them get it out as opposed to being talked over.

"Well, if he ain't the fuckin' Jinchuuriki, then who is? I thought you bastards confirmed that we were good weeks ago!"

"We said we THINK, blockhead!" The high pitched voice returned. "It was the first time in decades that the Kyuubi appeared to our senses! Konoha was last seen in the area, so we assumed it was the blonde brat! If you want to blame anyone, blame Itachi for giving us false information!"

All heads turned to the only one in the cave with glowing red eyes. His face could not be seen, but more than likely it remained as unperturbed as they'd always known him to be.

"The information was accurate to my knowledge." He said calmly. "I had no reason to distrust the Hokage on the matter of Konoha's open secret. This was a possibility that was overlooked."

"More like you didn't know, you fucking snake!" The arrogant voice barked.

"You would do well to that pet of yours on a leash, Kakuzu. Otherwise, Itachi and I might just have to put him down." The second tallest joined in, his tone playful yet eager to fulfill his threat.

"Tough shit spoken from someone half a continent away! How about saying that again when I-"

"Enough."

At once, all sound ceased. The voice wasn't loud, but the silence that followed spoke volumes of the power of the individual who spoke. All eyes turned to the figure, and not one dared speak unless spoken to. Purple, ripple-patterned eyes stared forward, unblinking and filled with an otherworldly presence that made even the boldest of them sweat nervously.

"There is no need to search for the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki any longer." The commanding voice reassured. "Though we have confirmed Uzumaki Naruto to not be its container, we have reason to believe that he, and he alone, knows where it is."

"Really? A kid knows what an entire world doesn't?" The arrogant one asked.

"This information comes from a reliable source." A female spoke from beside the leader, getting their attention briefly before it returned to the head.

"We will be moving forward with our plans. Due to many new developments involving the destabilization of the Hidden Villages, we will be moving forward with our plans a lot sooner." The projected figures held up a single finger. "One year. In one year, the integrity of peace shall collapse. In the confusion, we will strike. And in the wake of destruction brought about by their own folly and greed, we will act, obtaining 7 of the 9 Bijuu."

A whistle echoed through the cave, courtesy of Deidara and the arrogant one.

"So what you're sayin' is we got a year to prepare before shit hits the fan? It's about goddamn time!" The arrogant one laughed.

"For once, I agree with the religious zealot." Deidara added.

The rest gave agreeing nods or grunts, showing support for the change in plans.

"Then, if there is nothing else, go now and prepare. When next we meet, we will be prepared for war."

With those final words, the group all disappeared in static blurs.

Meanwhile, on top of a tower at the center of Ame, ripple-patterned eyes opened to a room, one he was not entirely alone in.

To his left stood a woman, her head blue with piercings in her bottom lip. An origami flower sat comfortably on the right side of her head, a sign of both her hobby and her abilities. Much like him, she wore a black cloak with red clouds, symbolizing her allegiance to their cause.

Then there was the one on his right.

Donning the cloak as well, he stood as tall as him. The only discernible feature to the man was his hair, while the rest of his face was covered behind a spiral mask that held only one eye socket.

"It is done." The man, Pain, spoke to the masked figure.

"Good. Very good." Was all the man replied with.

"How do you know we can trust the apprentice of that snake?" The woman, Konan, asked the mask.

"We can't. However, given what little information we have on the Kyuubi, our options are limited. Nevertheless, the odds of him lying are minimal. It is to be expected of Orochimaru to bite us in the back. The question lies in why he is suddenly so confident."

"It matters not where he gained such hubris. It will be futile once the Bijuu are in our hands." Pain said, his ripple-patterned eyes gazing out into the rain of Amegakure. "When that time comes, he will be dealt with accordingly, along with any who stand in the way of God."

Konoha Training Ground 7

Naruto stood in front of the academy students, all three looking at him with varying expressions.

They were meant to be his allies in the future. They were meant to be pawns in a game he was playing to change the world. He didn't like the thought, yet every time he felt discomfort at his actions, he remembered Edelgard's words. They had become a comfort as of late, even if they were filled with other feelings he still did not yet understand.

"Okay, now that we are here, it's time to introduce ourselves. Let's start by saying your name, hobbies, and dreams for the future." Naruto started, using the method his sensei had used 6 months prior.

"Is that really necessary?" Sasuke, the boy who'd confronted him at the festival, asked, his tone bored and uncaring.

"You can leave if you want. Go back to the academy, and I can train someone else who will actually listen." Naruto replied.

Sasuke scoffed but did not argue further.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. My hobbies are training, and my dream is to restore my clan's honor...and kill someone."

"That's not suspicious." Sothis mused, floating by the boy and poking a ghostly finger through his cheek.

Naruto ignored the comment and looked towards the pinkette.

The girl, Sakura, straightened up before speaking. "I'm Haruno Sakura! My hobbies are...what I like is...my dream is..." Every pause was followed by the girl looking at the emo kid before squealing like a lovestruck teen.

"This one already seems like a lost cause, and I haven't even seen her fight yet." Sothis muttered, now floating above the pinkette.

Last but not least was the Hyuga, who smiled upon receiving his attention. "As you already know, my name is Hyuga Hinata. My hobbies are cooking, and my likes are spending time at Ichiraku Ramen. My only dream is to live knowing I never gave up again."

"At least one of them is tolerable." Sothis hummed in clear approval.

"Good. Now that we got that out of the way, I think it's time to explain what exactly we'll be doing for the next 6 months. But first, I need assurances." Naruto held up a finger. "One, you will tell no one what we do during our training. I do not care who it is or their importance in your life, you will tell no one. Two: once we start, you are not allowed to quit. If you do not feel as if you are ready to put your life on the line to better yourself as Shinobi, then this is your one and only chance to say so. And three," his gaze suddenly hardened to an extent that the academy students visibly tensed. "If you ever use what I tell you confidence against me, I will make sure you never form another handsign again. Are we clear?"

The threat held weight behind it, making even Sasuke feel uneasy.

"Cr-crystal, sir!" The pinkette answered immediately, followed by a more demure 'yes' from Hinata and a grunt from the Uchiha.

Getting the confirmation he wanted, he gave Sothis the go-ahead.

*CRASH*

At once, the world stood still. The academy students all looked around in the confusion that was to be expected of someone watching trees and animals suddenly come to a stop. Their shock no doubt heightened upon seeing Sothis, in her adult form, lying comfortably in the air and ignoring all laws of physics.

"I know what you're thinking, and yes, it is awesome, but before I get to that," he stopped to gesture at the floating girl. "Students, this is Sothis. Where she's from, she's Kami. Everyone say 'hello Kami-sama'."

Whether it was because they were too shocked or they simply didn't want to speak, none of them said anything.

"It is said that mortals fear what they do not understand." Sothis amusedly stated.

"Or maybe it's because you're hot in that form, and they can see your panties."

The comment earned Naruto a kick to the back of his head, the violent act only moving the blonde slightly while the Goddess held her now-aching appendage.

"Um, Sensei, can you please explain what is going on?" Sakura asked. The nervousness she felt was shared with her fellow academy students, something Sasuke would never admit out loud. Thankfully, Naruto did not waste any time to explain.

"As Iruka-sensei said, I will be your personal trainer until graduation. Unfortunately, they started this far too late for it to really matter in your careers, and though I'm a miracle worker, I'm not Kami. She is." He pointed to Sothis, who rolled her eyes. "Sorry in advance if this hurts your feelings, but you guys suck. In fact, everyone in the academy sucks, which is not entirely your fault. The academy has grown soft, and it is now my job to fix what little I can in what little time we have available."

"That supposed to explain what all of this is?" Sasuke pointed out, his gaze unwavering and more than a little suspicious.

"This," Sothis gestured around them, "Is the void. A dimension between time and space that which I rule. Within it, time does not pass and life does not age. You do not gain mass, but retain knowledge and muscle memory. Injuries do not sustain, and death does not exist. All of this will be key in welding your skills, as it has for my little idiot."

"Basically, this will be the place we will train, 6 days a week, 4 hours a day. 3 hours will be in here, while the last in the real world to keep appearances." Naruto cut to the chase.

"So, we are receiving thrice the amount of training?" Hinata deduced, to which both Naruto and Sothis confirmed with a nod.

"It is not without risks. There will be pain—lots of it. How strong you become will be entirely up to how hard you work. All I ask is that you don't give up. It won't look good on your record if you do."

Sakura hesitantly raised her hand, and all attention was suddenly on her. "W-what happens if we don't make it through the training?"

'What happens if we quit' was basically what she was asking, and Naruto had an answer.

"Before I answer that, I think it's best that I tell you about the test." Saying that, an identical copy of himself appeared next to him in a shimmer. "This is me, specifically Previous Me. He does not get stronger, and he does not adapt to you over time. Everyday, you will fight him, and your goal is, ultimately, to kill him."

"K-kill?" Sakura weakly mumbled.

"Yes, kill. For the sake of your training, his background is that of a rogue Shinobi you have all been tasked with eliminating. Failing to kill him within the time limit will doom everyone in Konoha, which means you all fail. In this test, there are only three ways to fail. One, you quit. Two, you tell anyone outside of this circle about what goes on here. Trust me, I will know. And three, you fail to kill Previous Me. Do any of these three, or if I feel you are no longer worthy, not only will this training end, but I will erase any and all memories of our interaction. Depending on how far we are into your training, you will have wasted precious time—time you could have put towards becoming Genin. That is how serious we are about this."

The weight of Naruto's words hung in the air, pressing down on each of the students. They glanced at each other, uncertain but understanding the seriousness. They each understood that this was no ordinary training, and the consequences that would follow if they were not up to standard.

This is what they signed up for—what it meant to be Shinobi of the Leaf.

Sasuke clenched his fists, the mention of "failing" igniting a spark of determination in him. He would face this challenge, no matter the cost, if it meant becoming strong enough to achieve his goals.

Hinata swallowed but nodded to herself, her resolve unshaken. This was her chance to prove that she wouldn't give up again.

Sakura looked fearful, but her curiosity and desire to be strong enough to stand by Sasuke's side outweighed her doubts.

Each had their own desires, and each were prepared to take on whatever it was waiting for them. It oddly made Naruto feel proud, a sensation he hadn't felt sense Tayuya, a feeling he welcomed.

"Now that we are on the same page. Previous Me, if you please."

A flash, and the next thing the students knew, the previous version of their sensei was right in front of them, his fist buried in Sasuke's stomach. A moment later, the teen rocketed backwards, and the Previous Naruto used their momentary bafflement to bring his leg up and slam his foot into Hinata's face.

The action was enough to finally break Sakura away from her shock, but not fast enough. As the Previous Naruto spun, something appeared in his hand and was now held against the pinkette's throat—a sword. Like that, she was frozen stiff once more, and so were the other two recovering students.

"And like that, one of you is already dead." The original Naruto declared.

The Previous Naruto's sword was removed from the pinkette's throat and he returned to the original's side, each academy student looking at them in either awe, fear, or hatred.

"As you can see, this will not be easy. I have trained thrice as hard as all of you combined, and have seen actual battle. You are soldiers, and sooner or later, you will fight someone equal, if not stronger, than me. I am here to prepare you all for when that time comes."

Like the sadist he was beginning to think he was, the previous him smiled at their expressions before giving them a 'come hither' motion.

Sasuke was the first to oblige, charging at the doppelganger with reckless abandon. Pulling a kunai from his pouch, he threw it in hopes of it being a decent distraction while he closed the distance. The distraction was only momentary as the Previous Naruto expertly deflected it out of the air with little movement while raising his leg to block the kick to his thigh. Raising a hand, he deflected a dab to his face, followed closely by many others that were meant to get the doppelganger moving while making sure he didn't have enough room to swing his sword.

It only proved to make him predictable, a fact the blonde proved by catching a kick to his side and using it to toss him across the field once more.

The moment the Uchiha left his grip, he was forced to dodge a palm strike aimed to his back by the Hyuga, who had managed to close the distance in the short time it took to discard the Uchiha. A follow-up kick had him blocking with his arm, followed shortly by deflecting multiple Jūken strikes meant to cut off his system.

Unfortunately for her, he knew a practitioner of the Hyuga Gentle Fist style, and though he wouldn't say it out loud, Neji was leagues better than her. Though the execution of their styles was different, he still knew the movements and what was possible by the Hyuga.

For example, the kick to his calf followed by a palm strike directly into his center of chakra. He allowed the calf kick to hit, buckling intentionally before catching the palm strike and twisting her wrist. Hinata's gasp of pain wasn't allowed to leave her before she was lifted off her feet. Her body crashed into the incoming bullet that was Sasuke, sending the teens tumbling.

Sakura hesitated, her eyes darting between her downed classmates and Naruto's clone. She clenched her fists, trembling, and finally mustered the courage to make her move. Dashing forward, her hands moved into three signs before three identical copies of herself appeared running beside her. At once, all pinkette's raised their hands into a fist aimed at the clone.

She was far too slow, and far too predictable. The Previous Naruto caught the real Sakura's fist mid-air, twisted her arm behind her, and pushed her down, immobilizing her—the other two illusionary Sakura's shimmering out of existence.

The real Naruto looked to the girl currently being held hostage before going to the Hyuga and Uchiha who, to their credit, were back on their feet and charging once again. Watching his clone use Sakura as a human shield while using his sword arm to easily deflect, redirect, and in one case, wrap around Sasuke and toss him out of the Training Grounds entirely, he couldn't help but feel a little bad.

"...Maybe allowing him to use the sword was overkill." Sothis commented, to which he couldn't help but agree. They weren't like he, Neji and Tenten in the academy. Sasuke was likely the only one even close, but the other two were severely lacking.

A sigh left his lips as he pinched the bridge of his nose. They had a long way to go if they were meant to be his elite force when he eventually became Hokage.

A/N: I know, this chapter is basically like a montage, and I'm sorry for that. The festival was actually thought up last minute and I really wanted to write it, so I did.

As for news, as much as this might upset people, I am still open to the harem ending. There's like a 30% chance that it will happen, but if it does, then Byleth will be in it. However, that would literally be at the END. It's not set in stone, but want the idea to be out there.

Nothing further to add. Still feel like shit, but am thankful it's only the flu.

As always, thanks for the follows, favs, reviews, and have a DAMN good day!