Chapter 1: The Awakening of Sora Hatake
The memories surged back with unrelenting force, overwhelming the quiet boy named Sora. In a single night, he went from a nameless orphan to a man burdened with a history of triumph and failure. He was Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha, reborn. The realization filled him with an unsettling mixture of clarity and doubt.
He sat in the small, empty dormitory room, staring at his trembling hands. Though he now remembered the weight of his blade, his skills, and his regrets, one thing was painfully clear, his famed White Light Chakra Sabre was no longer his. It belonged to Kakashi now. This life was a second chance, an opportunity to atone and make a quieter mark on the world.
But something had changed. A fire now burned in Sora's chest, and it demanded he act.
--
The Academy and the Change in Sora
The next day at the Academy, the transformation in Sora was undeniable. The once reserved and unremarkable student now moved with a sharpness that demanded attention. During kunai practice, his throws landed with pinpoint precision, striking the bullseye repeatedly. In taijutsu sparring, his movements were faster, effortlessly disarming opponents. His control over the basic three Academy jutsu was flawless, something even the instructors noted with quiet approval.
It didn't take long for his classmates to notice.
Sasuke Uchiha, always the top student, began to observe Sora more closely. During a taijutsu demonstration, Sasuke's usual smirk faded into a frown as Sora executed a combination that left his opponent on the ground. The competitive spark in Sasuke's dark eyes ignited.
"Who is this guy?" Kiba Inuzuka whispered to Shikamaru during one lesson.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, though his sharp gaze lingered on Sora as if trying to solve a puzzle.
Even Naruto, despite his constant antics, started to notice Sora. While Naruto struggled to keep up with the rest of the class, Sora occasionally offered quiet advice or a small nod of encouragement. It was subtle, but enough for Naruto to feel seen, a rare feeling for the boy who was often ignored or scorned.
--
Graduation Day
The classroom buzzed with nervous excitement as the students awaited their results. One by one, names were called, and most of the students left the room proudly wearing their new headbands. Naruto, however, sat slumped in his seat, staring at his hands.
He had failed.
Sora lingered near the doorway, his sharp ears catching Naruto's quiet grumbles of self-loathing. Before he could offer a word, he heard Mizuki approach Naruto.
"Don't lose hope, Naruto," Mizuki said, crouching beside him with a too-kind smile. "There's another way for you to become a genin."
Sora's eyes narrowed. He remained silent but followed discreetly, overhearing Mizuki's plan to have Naruto steal the Forbidden Scroll of Seals.
--
The Forbidden Scroll Incident
That night, the village was in an uproar. Naruto had stolen the Forbidden Scroll and fled into the forest. Sora, shadowing him from a distance, watched as the boy poured his heart into mastering the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Sora perched on a high branch, his gray eyes glinting with faint admiration. Naruto was relentless. Despite his failures, despite how the villagers treated him, the boy never gave up.
"That boy… he has more heart than anyone," Sora thought. A pang of guilt struck him as memories of his own despair surfaced. "If only I had been half as resilient. Instead of enduring, I…"He shook his head.
For hours, Sora watched in silence until Mizuki finally arrived.
--
Naruto, beaming with pride, held up the scroll. "Mizuki-sensei, I did it! I mastered one of the jutsu!"
Mizuki's face twisted into a sinister grin. "Good, Naruto. Now hand over the scroll, and I'll make sure you're officially made a genin."
Before Naruto could comply, Iruka Umino burst into the clearing. "Naruto, stop! Don't give him the scroll!"
Naruto looked between the two men, confusion etched across his face. "Iruka-sensei? What's going on?"
"I'll tell you what's going on," Mizuki sneered. "Iruka doesn't want you to succeed. He's been lying to you, just like the rest of the village."
The argument escalated until Mizuki revealed the cruel truth: Naruto was the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
Naruto froze, his hands trembling as Mizuki's words pierced him. "You're the reason this village suffers," Mizuki spat. "You're a monster."
Iruka stepped forward, taking the brunt of a thrown fuma shuriken meant for Naruto. He gritted his teeth against the pain.
Naruto ran away, hiding in the trees nearby.
"Why would you protect the monster that killed your parents Iruka" Mizuki
"Naruto, is not the Nine-Tails! He is my precious student. I will protect him even if it cost me own life" Iruka
Mizuki gritted his teeth.
Naruto wiped his tears and steeled himself. His resolve returned as he jumped into the clearing, facing Mizuki. "If you lay a hand on Iruka-sensei, I'll kill you!"
Mizuki laughed mockingly. "You? A failure like you? I'd love to see you try."
Naruto formed the hand signs, summoning a massive army of shadow clones that surrounded Mizuki. The traitor's laughter turned to shock as dozens of Narutos charged him.
--
Naruto's jutsu overwhelmed Mizuki, but the boy's exhaustion caught up with him. He collapsed, falling toward the ground, only to be caught by Sora, who had leapt from the shadows.
Sora gently lowered Naruto, his transformed appearance giving him an aura of quiet authority. Iruka and Mizuki froze, their eyes widening in surprise. Even Hiruzen, observing through his crystal ball, leaned forward.
"Who the hell are you?" Mizuki demanded, glaring at Sora.
Sora smirked, his voice calm but firm. "Just an admirer of Naruto."
"Admirer?" Mizuki barked a laugh. "That brat? He's a failure!"
Sora's smirk faded, his eyes narrowing. "A failure? Unlike you, he has more heart than anyone I've ever seen. He doesn't give up. He keeps fighting, no matter how hard things get."
Mizuki snarled and raised his weapon. "You think you're so high and mighty? Let's see you back those words up!"
Sora gently handed Naruto to Iruka, his expression unwavering. "Step back. I'll handle this."