Two Years Later
The wind blew the grass around gently as two boys stood against each other. One had blond spiky hair, three whisker marks adorning his cheeks, and wore a high-collared half-sleeved black shirt with a red spiral at the back. His black cargo pants were secured with white tape at the bottom, and he sported black shinobi sandals. The other boy, with droopy black hair in the front and spiked backwards like a duck, wore a similar black shirt, featuring a red and white crest at the back, paired with grey shorts and shinobi sandals.
Both boys stood across from each other, neither moving a muscle. Then suddenly, they charged at each other, meeting in the middle with a clash of forearms. The impact reverberated through the air, and they quickly transitioned into a series of rapid taijutsu strikes, each boy showcasing advanced techniques that would rival even chunin-level fighters.
Sasuke jumped backward, creating some space between them. Naruto seized this opportunity, forming three Kage Bunshin and charging forward with all four of his forms. Sasuke activated his one tomoe Sharingan, flipping over one of the clones and swiftly dispelling all three with a series of precise strikes before charging at Naruto.
Naruto, anticipating the attack, released his gravity and restriction seals just in time to match Sasuke's speed, continuing their taijutsu fight. The two exchanged blows, their movements a blur as they danced around each other, each strike met with a counter.
After some time, Naruto created three more clones, all four attacking Sasuke with flawless teamwork. Sasuke, however, was quick on his feet. He threw some shuriken, but unbeknownst to Naruto, he had attached ninja wire to them. As the shuriken flew toward the clones, they dispelled, leaving only the real Naruto standing.
The fourth Naruto smirked and dispelled, revealing he was a clone. Suddenly, a small rock next to Sasuke transformed into Naruto, who punched him square in the jaw. Sasuke went flying but managed to turn mid-air, kicking Naruto in the head and sending him crashing to the ground.
Even though Sasuke's jaw throbbed with pain, he ignored it and sped through hand seals mid-air, yelling Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu (Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu). A massive yellow fireball erupted from his mouth, hurtling toward Naruto, who hadn't yet gotten up. The fireball struck him directly, engulfing him in flames.
Sasuke landed gracefully, watching the spot where the fireball had hit Naruto. His instincts screamed at him to turn around. He quickly removed his dual-sided spear, which he affectionately called Hakutora, and clashed it with Naruto's Crimson Tide.
The two engaged in a fierce weapons duel, Naruto's quick sword strikes meeting Sasuke's spinning spear, attacking from both ends. Sasuke's greater reach allowed him to dominate the duel, forcing Naruto to take a few steps back.
Naruto, refusing to back down, sped through hand seals, unleashing Fuuton: Kaze no Tama(Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullets), sending five compressed balls of air at blinding speeds toward Sasuke. Sasuke, utilizing his Sharingan, dodged them with ease, but one hit his torso, phasing through him as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Naruto caught a fist on his right, releasing a burst of chakra that dispelled the genjutsu, revealing Sasuke to his right. But Sasuke had already completed his hand seals, landing on the one-handed tiger seal, yelling Raiton:Denkou Shougeki (Lightning Style: Electric Shockwave). A wave of lightning surged from his palm, striking Naruto and sending him flying backward.
Naruto smirked, dispelling once more to reveal he was a shadow clone. Sasuke, now on high alert, scanned the entire field. 'Front, back, right, left, up… then he's gotta be…' he thought, jumping up to gain a better vantage point.
Just as he leaped, Naruto emerged from the ground, his fist aimed directly at Sasuke's face. The punch connected, but Sasuke quickly kicked Naruto in the chest, knocking the air out of him. Both boys flew in opposite directions, crashing to the ground.
Shisui emerged from the shadows, a proud smile on his face. "Good job, you two! You're both at low chunin level now and ready for the academy, which starts in two days. The academy won't know what hit them!"
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling within them. They had trained hard over the past two years, and now they were finally on the brink of a new chapter in their lives.
In the past two years, Naruto and Sasuke had improved significantly. Naruto had successfully managed to combine the beginner stances of his father's Hummingbird Taijutsu with his mother's Whirlpool Fist, creating his own style, which he called the 'Elemental Fist.' According to him, it mimicked all elements: the speed of lightning, the sharpness of wind, the aggression of fire from his father's style, and the defence of earth and fluidity of water from his mother's style.
His ninjutsu had progressed well, having mastered the academy three techniques—Kage Bunshin, Henge, and Kawarimi—to the point where he could perform all three with just a one-handed tiger seal, and he could use Kawarimi without the seal altogether. He had also learned a few elemental jutsu, one for each element from his parents' library:
1. Fuuton: Kaze no Tama (Wind Style: Air Bullets): an offensive jutsu.
2. Suiton: Mizu no Kabe (Water Style: Water Wall): a defensive jutsu.
3. Doton: Iwayado no Soko (Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole): an evasive jutsu.
Naruto had successfully completed the first steps of all three of his elements—wind, water, and earth—and was currently working on the second stage. This involved cutting a rock for wind, crumbling a rock for earth, and turning water into a floating sphere.
His kenjutsu was progressing well, learning from the scrolls in his parents' home. Although he had just learned to fight with the sword and hadn't yet mastered any specific kenjutsu techniques, he was waiting for the right moment to delve deeper. His Fuinjutsu skills were also impressive; he had finished level 2, learned the level 1 and 2 Uzumaki Sealing Techniques, and was now working on level 3. Additionally, his sensor ability had improved greatly, allowing him to sense most people within a 2 km radius.
For Sasuke, the progress was equally remarkable. He had completely mastered his one tomoe Sharingan. With it, he could predict movements to a degree, slow things down in perception, and cast basic genjutsu with just a look. Although he couldn't copy any jutsu at this stage yet, he didn't mind. Itachi had once told him, "Learning and mastering jutsu are completely different things. The Sharingan can help you copy a jutsu by looking at it, but it will always be weaker than the original until the jutsu is mastered."
Sasuke's taijutsu was also going well, as he had mastered the Interceptor Fist in conjunction with his Sharingan. His ninjutsu was solid, having mastered the academy three techniques to the same degree as Naruto. He had finished the first step for his lightning transformation and the second step for fire transformation, which involved combusting a rock. Currently, he was working on the second step for lightning, which required breaking a rock into pieces with lightning vibrations, and he would soon start the third and final step of fire style, which involved creating a ball of flames in his hand.
Sasuke knew three fire style jutsu and one lightning style jutsu, all offensive:
1. Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu (Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu).
2. Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu (Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire).
3. Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu (Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique).
4. Raiton: Denkou Shougeki (Lightning Style: Electric Shockwave).
His spear training was progressing well, and his shuriken jutsu improved daily. He could almost replicate Itachi's technique of hitting mid-air kunai to change their direction and hide blind spots.
As they stood there, basking in the glow of their accomplishments, Shisui clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. "Alright, squirt and duck, let's wrap up for today. You've both done exceptionally well, but remember, the academy will be a whole new challenge. Stay focused and keep pushing yourselves."
Naruto grinned, "You got it, niichan"
As they were leaving, Naruto turned to Shisui, a playful grin on his face. "So, how are things going with you and Ayame nee-chan?"
Shisui's cheeks flushed a light pink, and he let out a nervous laugh, quickly recovering with a smirk. "Good, actually. We went to third base last night."
Naruto's face turned beet red, his eyes widening in shock. "W-What?!"
Sasuke, standing beside them, looked utterly confused. "What does 'third base' mean?"
Naruto quickly shook his head, waving his hands. "You don't need to know that, Sasuke! Trust me!"
"Why not?" Sasuke pressed, raising an eyebrow.
Naruto sighed dramatically. "The only reason I know is because my baka ero niichan decided to teach me!" He shot a glare at Shisui, who was now chuckling at their banter.
Shisui laughed, shaking his head. "Now that you two are going to the academy, you'll need to know this stuff."
Both Naruto and Sasuke exchanged bewildered glances. "Why?" they asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.
Shisui's laughter deepened, and he leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret. "No reason… just remember the horror of fangirls."
Naruto's eyes widened in realization, while Sasuke remained perplexed. "Fangirls?" he echoed, still trying to piece together the conversation.
"Trust me, you'll understand soon enough," Shisui said, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Two Days Later
The sun shone brightly as Naruto made his way to Sasuke's house, excitement bubbling within him. Today was the day they would officially start their journey as genin at the academy. He knocked on the door, and soon enough, Sasuke's mother, Mikoto, answered with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Naruto! Is Sasuke ready?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with maternal pride.
"Yeah! I'm here to pick him up!" Naruto replied, grinning widely.
Just then, Sasuke appeared, looking slightly disheveled as he adjusted his shirt. Before he could step outside, Mikoto pulled him into a tight hug. "Take care, sweetheart. Make friends, and remember to eat properly!" she said, her voice filled with warmth and concern.
Sasuke's face turned crimson, and he squirmed in her embrace. "Mom, come on! I'm not a kid anymore!" he protested, but the embarrassment only deepened as she continued to fuss over him.
Naruto chuckled, trying to suppress his laughter as he watched his friend's discomfort.
Finally, they broke free from the hug, and the duo set off toward the academy, Sasuke still red-faced but relieved to be out of the house.
As they entered the classroom, they scanned the room for a place to sit. They chose a spot in the middle row, where they could see everything happening around them. Almost immediately, a few classmates caught their attention.
In the front row sat a boy with pineapple-shaped hair, his eyes half-closed and a perpetual look of drowsiness on his face. He slouched in his seat, looking like he could collapse any minute, his mind clearly somewhere far away. "What a drag," he muttered under his breath, barely awake.
Next to him was a chubby boy with swirl-like birthmarks on his cheeks, munching on a bag of chips. He had a cheerful demeanor, his eyes sparkling with joy as he crunched on his chips, completely oblivious to the world around him. "These are the best!" he exclaimed, offering a chip to the boy next to him, who merely waved him off.
Across the room, a blond-haired girl with light blue eyes caught Sasuke's attention. She was chatting animatedly with her friends, her laughter ringing through the classroom. Her hair was styled in a high ponytail, and she had a bright smile that could light up any room. Sasuke couldn't help but feel a little nervous; he found her to be quite pretty.
Then there was a boy with red fangs on his cheeks and a small puppy perched on his head. A puppy on his head, his loyal companion, looked just as energetic as him, wagging his tail and barking playfully. "Hey, Akamaru! Let's show them what we've got!" he said, grinning widely.
Nearby sat a boy with glasses, his coat covering half his face. His dark glasses hid his eyes, making him seem even more enigmatic. He sat quietly, observing the room with a keen interest.
In the corner, a girl with deep blue hair and lavender eyes caught their attention. Despite her timid nature, there was a gentle strength about her. She fidgeted with her hands, glancing at Naruto and Sasuke with a mix of admiration and shyness.
But the last student didn't just catch their eyes; she caught their ears. A girl with bright pink hair and the biggest forehead Naruto had ever seen was screeching at the top of her lungs.
Naruto winced, rubbing his ears. "Geez, does she have to be so loud?" he muttered, earning a chuckle from Sasuke.
"Welcome to the academy," Sasuke said dryly, shaking his head as they both tried to process the lively cast of characters around them.
As Naruto and Sasuke waited in the classroom, the anticipation hung in the air. After about ten minutes, the door swung open, and two chunin walked in. The first had a pineapple-style ponytail, medium skin, and a noticeable scar across his nose. He wore the standard Leaf shinobi attire, complete with a chunin flak jacket.
The second chunin wore his headband like a bandana, with grey hair falling from it. His pale skin contrasted sharply with the smirk that played on his lips, giving him an air of mischief. Something about him seemed off to Naruto, who instinctively felt a sense of unease.
"Good morning, everyone!" Iruka greeted, his voice warm and inviting. "I'm Iruka Umino, and I'll be your sensei for the next four years. Congratulations on starting your journey to become shinobi!"
The other chunin, followed suit, introducing himself with a casual wave. "I'm Mizuki. Let's make this a great year!" His tone was friendly, but Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to him.
"Now, I'd like each of you to introduce yourselves," Iruka continued, gesturing for the students to stand one by one.
As the introductions began, Naruto and Sasuke didn't pay much attention to the others, but they perked up when certain names were called.
"Shikamaru Nara," the lazy boy said, his voice barely above a whisper. He slouched in his seat, looking like he could fall asleep at any moment.
"Choji Akimichi," the chubby boy said, munching on a snack as he introduced himself.
"Hinata Hyuga," the shy girl said, her voice soft and barely audible, as she fidgeted with her hands.
"Kiba Inuzuka," the boy with the puppy on his head announced confidently, a grin on his face as he patted Akamaru.
"Shino Aburame," the boy with glasses said, his tone calm and collected, his eyes hidden behind dark lenses.
As the introductions continued, Sasuke felt the eyes of many girls on him, their expressions filled with admiration. He glanced at Ino, who was looking particularly pretty, and felt a slight warmth in his cheeks.
When it was Naruto's turn, he stood up, but as he did, he noticed Mizuki sneering at him from the corner of his eye. "Naruto Uzumaki," he said, trying to sound confident, but the sneer made his heart sink.
After Naruto, Sakura Haruno stood up, her voice ringing out with a hint of indignation. "Why is he allowed to be here? My mom said he's a bad boy!"
Naruto looked down sadly, feeling the weight of her words. Sasuke shot a glare at Sakura, his expression darkening as he felt protective of his friend.
"Sit quietly, Sakura," Iruka interjected firmly, trying to maintain order in the classroom. The atmosphere shifted slightly, and Naruto felt a mix of emotions swirling within him, but he remained silent, focusing on the new journey ahead.
Iruka stood at the front of the classroom, his expression serious as he addressed the students. "Now that you've introduced yourselves, we'll be conducting some tests to see where everyone stands. We'll start with a written test."
Mizuki nodded in agreement, moving to distribute the test sheets. As he handed them out, Naruto felt a strange sensation wash over him. When Mizuki placed the sheet in front of him, he noticed a faint shimmer—a genjutsu. With a quick flicker of chakra, he silently dispelled it, and the questions on the sheet changed slightly. Frowning, he realized that the answers would have been different had he not caught it.
Naruto quickly filled in the test, his mind racing as he recalled the information he had studied. He finished in record time, confident that he had done well.
After the tests were graded, Iruka announced the results. "Naruto, you got the highest score! Sasuke is close behind, and Sakura came in third."
Naruto beamed with pride, while Sasuke nodded, a small smirk on his face. Sakura, however, looked less than pleased, her cheeks puffing up in frustration.
"Now, we'll head outside for a shuriken and kunai throwing test," Iruka continued, leading the students out to the training grounds. "You'll each have five shuriken and five kunai, and you'll need to throw them at ten targets."
As they lined up, Naruto watched as most of the students struggled. Shikamaru barely put any effort into his throws, hitting only three out of ten targets. "What a drag," he muttered, clearly uninterested. Choji managed to hit four, while Ino hit three. Kiba also got four, and Shino and Hinata both managed five.
When it was Sakura's turn, she stepped up confidently but ended up missing all ten targets. Naruto couldn't help but snicker, which earned him a sharp glare from her. "What's so funny, Naruto?" she screeched, her voice piercing the air. "Can you do better?"
"Just watch!" Naruto declared, stepping up to the line. He took the kunai from Mizuki, only to realize they were in terrible condition—blunt and unbalanced. Nevertheless, he threw them with all his might, hitting eight out of ten bulls eyes and managing to get all ten targets, missing only because of the poor quality of the weapons.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, knowing Naruto could have done better. When he glanced at Naruto, he received a silent message that said he would explain later.
Sasuke stepped up last, throwing with relative ease. His precision was unmatched, and he hit all ten targets, each one a perfect bullseye.
"Impressive, Sasuke!" Iruka praised, nodding in approval.
"Now, we'll move on to taijutsu spars," Iruka announced, dividing the students between himself and Mizuki. "You'll need to survive for 15 seconds to earn 50 points, and you'll get an additional 10 points for every second you last beyond that."
Shikamaru gave up the moment the clock hit 15 seconds, while Choji managed to last 25 seconds. Ino only lasted 12 seconds, and Shino held out for 18. Kiba managed to last 21 seconds, Sakura only lasted 5 seconds, and to everyone's surprise, Hinata lasted an impressive 30 seconds, showcasing her hidden strength.
When it was Sasuke's turn, he noticed Mizuki holding back significantly. This infuriated him; he didn't like being underestimated. In a moment of frustration, he punched Mizuki square in the face, followed by a swift kick to his ribs. The unexpected attack earned him extra points for landing hits, and he managed to survive for 45 seconds without even using his Sharingan.
Finally, it was Naruto's turn. Mizuki, clearly agitated, came at him much faster and more aggressively than he had with the others. Iruka frowned, noticing the unfair treatment.
Naruto dodged Mizuki's attacks, realizing that he was being underestimated. With a determined look, he released his seals and charged at Mizuki. The chunin was taken aback by Naruto's sudden burst of speed. In a swift motion, Naruto punched Mizuki in the groin, causing him to hunch over in pain.
Not done yet, Naruto kneed him in the chin, sending Mizuki flying backward. But Naruto wasn't finished; he appeared beside Mizuki in mid-air, elbowing him in the back and sending him even higher. With a powerful flip kick to Mizuki's stomach, he brought the chunin crashing to the ground, knocked out and bloodied.
Iruka rushed toward Mizuki in concern, while Naruto innocently asked, "Is he okay? I hope I didn't do any harm."
Iruka knelt beside Mizuki, checking for any signs of serious injury. "Mizuki, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. Mizuki groaned in response, clearly dazed from the unexpected onslaught.
Naruto watched with a mix of concern and satisfaction, feeling a sense of triumph for standing up for himself. The other students were wide-eyed, some whispering in awe at what had just transpired.
With Mizuki taken care of, Iruka turned to the class. "Alright, everyone, the academy is dismissed for the day. You've all done well, and I'm proud of each of you."
As the students filed out, Naruto and Sasuke walked side by side, discussing the day's events. "Did you see the way Mizuki was acting?" Naruto asked, shaking his head. "He was trying to sabotage me with that genjutsu on the test."
Sasuke nodded, a smirk forming on his lips. "He definitely got what he deserved. You showed him not to underestimate you."
Naruto grinned, feeling a rush of pride. "Yeah, but I didn't expect to knock him out like that. But I wouldn't have been able to beat him had he not underestimated me."
As they walked home, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the village. However, their peaceful stroll was soon interrupted. They sensed a commotion behind them and turned to see a horde of girls running toward them, hearts in their eyes and excited shouts filling the air.
"Naruto! Sasuke! We love you!" they screamed, their voices high-pitched and enthusiastic.
"Uh-oh," Naruto said, his eyes widening in panic. "We need to get out of here!"
Sasuke nodded, and they both took off running, the girls hot on their heels. The sound of their footsteps echoed behind them, and Naruto could hear the girls shouting sweet nothings and declarations of love.
In a moment of desperation, Naruto created two clones. "One of you, use Henge to turn into Sasuke! And lure them away!"
One of the clones nodded and transformed into a perfect replica of Sasuke, while the other clone stayed Naruto. "Let's go!" Naruto shouted, leading the way as they sprinted in a different direction.
The clone that looked like Sasuke ran in the opposite direction, and the girls quickly shifted their attention, chasing after the illusion.
Once they were a safe distance away, Naruto wiped the sweat from his forehead. "That was close!" Naruto exclaimed, still panting.
Sasuke, who had been running alongside Naruto, looked back to see the girls distracted by the clones. "You really know how to create chaos, don't you?" he said, shaking his head with a smirk.
"Hey, it's not my fault they're obsessed!" Naruto replied defensively. "I just wanted to get home without being mobbed."
As they continued walking, Sasuke turned serious. "So, what really happened with Mizuki? You think he was trying to sabotage you?"
Naruto nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "Yeah, I think he was. He was acting like everyone else did, trying to make me look bad. But I showed him that I'm not someone to mess with."
Sasuke chuckled, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You definitely did. I'm glad you stood up for yourself."
They walked in comfortable silence for a moment, the sun dipping lower in the sky.
"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto said, breaking the silence. "Do you think we'll always have to deal with stuff like this? The tests, the girls, the teachers?"
Sasuke shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Probably. But that's part of being a shinobi. We'll face challenges, and we'll have to learn to overcome them together."
Naruto grinned, feeling a surge of determination. "Yeah! Together, we can take on anything!"
As they reached the entrance to their neighborhood, they exchanged a fist bump, solidifying their bond as friends and future teammates.