Chapter Text
In the forest of the Land of Fire, a hidden village in the trees coexisted in harmony with nature. The villagers walked along dirt streets tending to their chores, and children chased each other in childish games. At the village's edge, a large circular building offered a view of the entire territory up to the great polished stone wall that surrounded the entire area, offering protection.
On top of this building, a man wearing loose clothes like a robe and a large hat with a red tip smoked his pipe, enjoying the peace.
- Master Sarutobi. - An ANBU appeared behind Sarutobi, on one knee. - We have news about the border with the Land of Wind.
- And so? - He asked, blowing smoke from his mouth.
- Things seem calm, and the Kazekage is preparing for the Chunin exam. I believe everything will proceed without problems.
- Great, let me know if anything changes.
- Understood. - The ANBU disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the old man alone.
- I hope everything is as well as it seems. - A foolish hope, but a comforting one.
While the Hokage tended to the village, children said goodbye to their parents and ran to the ninja academy building, ready for the final exam that would define their future. Among them, one had no one to say goodbye to; he walked alone with his head down, as if counting his steps.
His unruly blonde hair swayed in the wind, and he wore blue sandals with orange pants and a jacket. His blue eyes glanced at the joy of the adults and children around him, which made him avert his gaze and move on. He entered the noisy classroom along with the other students who were chatting animatedly about their day, sitting next to Kiba Inuzuka, a student who walked with a puppy on his head.
Lost in the conversations around him, he decided to rest his head on the desk and get lost in his thoughts, waiting for the teacher to arrive. His nails were bitten, a sign of the nervousness he felt about the final exam.
The girls' conversation stopped with the arrival of another student. Sasuke Uchiha entered the room with his black hair reflecting the light and his onyx eyes shining due to the sun coming through the windows, wearing white shorts and a blue shirt. The admiring gazes of the girls turned to him as they all whispered in the room.
Since entering school, his charisma and talent had distinguished him as the favorite prodigy and one of the most talented of his generation; he always walked with a friendly smile on his face, which made him even more popular. He took his place one desk above Naruto, next to Shikamaru Nara, known for his genius intellect.
Sakura Haruno, a pink-haired student wearing a red dress, arrived in the room soon after and sat on the other side of Sasuke, which attracted the wrath of Ino Yamanaka, who entered right after.
Ino: Hey, what do you think you're doing? - She approached furiously.
Sakura: Isn't it obvious? I'm taking my rightful place!
Shikamaru: Damn, is this going to start this early? You should have chosen another seat.
Sasuke: Sorry, I didn't want to cause problems. - He scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.
Ino: What did you say, Pineapple-head? - Before the argument could heat up, teacher Iruka entered the room.
Iruka: Alright class, everyone to your seats! - The room fell silent and organized as soon as the order was given; not even a peep could be heard among the children. - Great, as you all know, today is the last day of class, and to pass and earn your Genin headbands, you all need to perform a simple task. Each of you needs to make an illusionary clone. Anyone willing to go first?
Ino: I'll sta-
Sakura: I'll start! - She stood up from her chair.
Ino: Hey, you interrupted me, you Marquise forehead! - She turned to face Sakura.
Sakura: What did you call me, Cage-Warden? - The two pressed their foreheads together, sparks flying from their eyes.
Iruka: Enough! - A slap echoed on the teacher's desk, silencing the duo. - If you have time to argue, you have time to be first. Ino, come here!
Ino stood up and walked down the steps while sticking her tongue out at Sakura, who had a vein throbbing on her forehead. She stood facing the class and made a hand seal representing the '+' sign, then a clone appeared beside her.
Ino: Very simple - She crossed her arms and puffed out her chest proudly.
Iruka: It's not perfect, but it's decent enough. Next time, try to put a little more chakra into the transformation; some of your accessories didn't appear on the clone!
Ino: What? - She looked at her copy and noticed that some of her bandages and earrings were missing, then she dispelled it to Sakura's delight. - Damn!
Iruka: Now you, Hinata!
The girl with white eyes, blue hair, and a white jacket let out a grumpy sigh and walked to the front of the class. She made her '+' sign and summoned a perfect clone, which was no surprise to anyone. Hinata, despite her clear animosity toward others, was by far one of the greatest prodigies in the class, learning to perform basic jutsus long before most students.
Iruka: Very good, now you, Sasuke!
Sasuke: Yes, teacher!
Sasuke walked down the steps past Hinata, who bumped his shoulder and didn't even bother to apologize. The other girls in the class glared at her, but she didn't care much. The boy simply ignored the gesture and stood facing the class, summoning his clone with mastery.
Iruka: It's perfect.
Sakura: Of course, I expected no less from my Sasuke.
Ino: Who said he's yours, Marquise forehead?
In a few seconds, the room exploded into a discussion among the girls. Hinata and all the other boys covered their ears, tired of hearing this scene repeated throughout all the school years.
Iruka: THAT'S ENOUGH!! - Everyone fell silent again - Naruto, your turn!
The class watched as the boy walked to the front without any enthusiasm. Since his first day at school, he hadn't made friends with anyone, not even the teachers. Some boys tried to talk to him on the first day, and he was quite receptive, until their parents scolded them and the friendship ended before it even began. Over time, he became better known as the Fox Boy.
Naruto concentrated and molded his chakra as much as he could. A wave of power disturbed the air beside him, but all that came out was a poorly made version of himself, writhing on the floor and white as a sheet of paper, then it dissolved into smoke. The room burst into laughter as Naruto clenched his fists tightly; he hated that place with all his might.
Iruka: Ugh, you're lucky you passed the substitution and transformation tests, or I'd fail you right now. Go back to your seat!
Naruto glared at Iruka with hatred; he was by far the most neglected student at the academy. Not wanting to waste more time, the blonde walked back to his seat with a clenched fist and sat in silence. Then the students continued to go one after another until everyone was finally approved.
Iruka: Despite some disappointments, I have to say you all managed to pass, but don't stop training because of it; you still have a long way to go. Today you will be divided into trios and receive your identification headbands, which prove you are real ninjas. Tomorrow you'll take photos to fill out your forms, and then you'll be introduced to your future masters, Elite Jounin. You'll go on missions with them, learn and grow stronger together until you reach the peak of the ninja career. Let's begin.
The class watched in silence as Iruka revealed the future ninja formations. None of them knew they would be trained by an elite Jounin, which only heightened expectations.
Iruka: The formations are as follows: Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji!
Ino: Damn!
Shikamaru: Whatever!
Choji just kept eating without saying anything; he already knew what his formation would be, as his father had told him stories with the duo's parents.
Iruka: Hinata, Kiba, and Shino.
Kiba: It's not bad at all!
Shino: ...
Hinata: Hmpf.
Kiba: Hey, I didn't like that sigh of yours!
Hinata: I'm not here to please you.
Iruka: Sasuke, Sakura, and maybe Naruto.
Sakura: Really?! - Her eyes shone like stars as she threw herself at Sasuke, hugging his arm. - Did you hear that, Sasuke? We'll be together!
Sasuke: Hey, take it easy - He pushed her away by the shoulders and looked away, his face blushing.
Ino: Shameless! - She gritted her teeth in frustration. - Teacher Iruka, why can't I join Sasuke's team instead of Sakura, or Naruto?
Sakura: As if! Even if he doesn't pass, Sasuke and I will be a perfect duo together. Without having to worry about dead weight like you!
Ino: Say that again!
The two started arguing again, and Naruto just stared out the window, but clenched his trembling fist hidden between his arms. A trickle of blood dripped from his lips, but he quickly wiped it away.
Iruka: I'm sorry, Ino, but the formations were designed to complement the members' weaknesses, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio is a tradition that has existed for over ten generations, even before the Village was founded.
Sakura looked at Ino and stuck out her tongue while pulling down her eyelid with her finger, which only made her even angrier.
Iruka: You're all dismissed. Show up tomorrow on the school rooftop to take your photos! And Naruto, you must go to the third floor to take your final test.
With that, all the students passed by the desk where their headbands with the village symbol were and left the room. In the hallways, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura walked side by side.
Sakura: Who do you think will be our teacher, Sasuke? - She tied the headband on top of her head.
Sasuke: Probably some teacher who will stop teaching at the school, but I'd like it to be my brother! - He tied the headband on his arm above his sleeves, which were separate from his shirt sleeves.
Sakura: I can't wait to show this headband to my parents. And you, Naruto, what will you do when you earn yours? - She looked excitedly at Naruto.
Naruto: Hm?... - He glared at her irritably and quickened his pace away from the duo, disappearing into the hallways.
Sakura: Wow, how rude!
Leaving the academy, the duo met their relatives waiting for them at the exit. Sakura said goodbye and ran to her parents, while Sasuke spotted Itachi. He wore a black overcoat with pants of the same color. The younger brother ran to his older brother, who greeted him with a smile upon seeing the headband on his arm.
Itachi: So you did it, didn't you?!
Sasuke: I can't wait to show Dad!
Itachi: He hasn't talked about anything else. He even managed to get me time off from ANBU just to pick you up today.
The duo walked away while Itachi watched Naruto leave alone. A bitter taste rose in his mouth upon seeing him; he wanted to greet him, but the Leaf ANBU strictly forbade any Uchiha from having contact with him unless absolutely necessary.
Naruto turned the corner and was finally alone. He clenched his fist as he remembered the fiasco of the Shadow Clone execution. Since he was a child, he had had great difficulty performing simple techniques and never understood why, and of course, Iruka's neglect didn't help.
As he walked, people in the village moved away or gave him icy stares that made him walk with his head down. The memory of Sakura calling him dead weight came to mind, making him clench his fist.
Naruto: I'll show her!
As the sun set, he entered his home and locked the door. The place was modest, with only two rooms and a bathroom, a table and cupboard in the kitchen, and a bed in the bedroom. But what bothered him most was the silence he had unfortunately grown accustomed to. He sighed and sat on the bed. On the small desk next to the lamp, he saw one of the many books he read when he had nothing to do. "The Basics of Becoming a Ninja." Flipping through the pages, he returned to the chapter he was on.
Chapter 6
To become a ninja, it's not only necessary to master chakra control but also to know how to compensate for your deficiencies!
Naruto thought for a moment, then went back a few chapters.
Chapter 2
Besides chakra, a ninja's main weapons are their equipment. It's always good to have a backup weapon for difficult situations. Some special weapons can react to chakra and be shaped by the user to meet their standards.
Naruto: A ninja weapon... Could that be what I'm missing?!
He thought about which weapons he could use but remembered he would never be able to buy one; the money he received from the Third Hokage was barely enough to buy food. He looked around the room and saw a mop leaning against the wall. He got up and unscrewed it from the handle.
Naruto: React to chakra... Is it the same as a Transformation Jutsu?!
Naruto concentrated and expelled his energy outside his body, but his chakra didn't flow into the handle. So he intensified it even more until the energy expanded and swallowed the object. He smiled at the result, but then the handle shattered into a thousand pieces, sending wood splinters everywhere, frustrating the boy.
Naruto: Of course, it's not like this is a ninja weapon after all! - He threw the remaining piece against the wall and returned to the book.
Chapter 3
A ninja must keep their mind calm at all times; this helps them think rationally in difficult situations and control chakra more efficiently. Some ways to train for a calm mind: Meditate, drink special beverages, take special pills, or train in dangerous conditions.
Naruto: Hm... Meditating doesn't seem like a bad idea.
Naruto had tried training before, but it couldn't be called serious training. All he did was try to hit shuriken at a target tied to a tree and managed the feat of missing almost all of them. The lack of a teacher was clear.
Naruto: What if I try to use chakra control while meditating?
He sat on the floor with his legs crossed and concentrated his energy in his abdomen, expelling his chakra once again. Then he tried to keep his mind empty while the aura flowed from inside to outside his body.
It worked for a few minutes. In his mind, he saw a blue flame, something small and controlled that burned continuously. But something seemed wrong; behind this flame, a red fire emerged, something giant and out of control that swallowed the blue flame and plunged everything into darkness. And from within the darkness, red eyes appeared, eyes that shone with such intense hatred that even the shadows around seemed to recoil.
With a start, Naruto woke up breathing heavily and sweating cold, struggling to calm down as he stood up. He looked out the window and saw the moon shining high in the sky, showing that he had been meditating longer than he realized.
-
What a crazy dream!
Deciding to ignore what happened, Naruto prepared to sleep and went to school the next day. He arrived along with several other students who were in line to take their photos on the second floor. But as instructed, he went to the third floor for his interview with Hiruzen and an assistant who wore a blue headband covering his entire head and round, dark glasses.
Hiruzen: So you're saying Iruka decided to give you one last chance to pass?
Naruto: He said the rest of my grade was worth a second chance. - Those weren't exactly his words, but it was implied.
Hiruzen: And do you think you can perform this technique before your first mission? - The old man took a drag from his pipe.
Naruto: I hope so.
Ebisu: We have our doubts about Iruka's judgment. We can't let an unprepared student become a ninja.
Naruto: Tsk, so I'll repeat the year?
Hiruzen: I'd like to see your current skill level. If we judge that you're not ready, we'll send you back to the academy. - The cigar smoke left his mouth. - But if you perform the illusionary clone, we'll allow you to continue.
A drop of sweat ran down Naruto's face. He knew he was terrible at performing illusions; the clone itself was a basic offshoot of Genjutsu that required elevated chakra control. Then something came to his mind. "Next time, try to put a little more chakra into the transformation; some of your accessories didn't appear on the clone!" Iruka's words came to his mind.
Naruto: "So that means I just need to put in more chakra this time? I have to try."
He swallowed hard and made the '+' sign with his hands. This time, the clone didn't appear as quickly as in the test. The energy became a whirlwind, surprising Ebisu with its quantity and drawing a slight smile from Hiruzen. Then the clone appeared, perfect in every detail. Naruto smiled; after that, there was no way to fail him.
Ebisu: This is impossible! - He stood up from his chair in disbelief and walked over to the clone.
Naruto: What? What do you mean impossible? It's perfect! - He waved at the clone, but instead of his hand passing through, it touched it. - What is this?
Ebisu: This is a Shadow Clone, a forbidden jutsu created by the Second Hokage! Where did you learn it?
Naruto: I just put more chakra than usual into it; there was no way I could have guessed this would happen!
Ebisu: Just that? - He examined the clone, looking for any imperfection as if seeking an excuse to fail Naruto. He even flicked the clone's forehead, and it bit his finger in warning, making him recoil.
Naruto: Am I failing?
Hiruzen: On the contrary, you passed! - The old man let out a puff of smoke and stamped Naruto's form with the approval seal. - You and your team will meet your Jounin trainer tomorrow morning, so don't be late.
Naruto: Right, I'll be the first to arrive.
Naruto took the headband from the table and put it in his pocket, then walked to the door while his clone dissipated. As soon as the smoke cleared, he felt an itch on his forehead, as if he had been flicked. The sensation intrigued him, but he decided to think about it later.
Hiruzen: Naruto, aren't you going to wear your headband? - The boy froze at the exit.
Hiruzen: Erm... I don't want to get it dirty, so I'll keep it stored for now!
Hiruzen: When you're on a mission or training, wear it. It's not just a symbolic object; it's your identification as a member of the Leaf's defense forces.
Naruto: Right... - With that, the boy left the room, leaving Hiruzen and Ebisu alone.
Ebisu: Master, are you sure this is a good idea? He didn't even perform the correct jutsu.
Hiruzen: He showed enough talent to perform a forbidden jutsu, even if by accident. With the right mentor, he'll go far; I'm sure of it.
While walking through the hallways, Naruto bumped into someone younger who fell backward. He was a gap-toothed boy with a leather cap on his head and a blue scarf around his neck.
Konohamaru: Hey, watch where you're going, idiot! - At first, the blonde thought about helping but decided to ignore him and keep walking. - Hey, I'm talking to you! Do you know who I am?
Naruto: You're a brat with no manners! - The boy froze in place upon hearing the irritated response.
Minutes later, the older boy left the school and walked through the village streets toward his home, thinking about how he could make that type of clone again.
Naruto: So I just need to put in more chakra than usual; it doesn't seem that hard. - As he walked, he heard the sound of something dragging behind him, which made him look and see a square box painted like a rock. - Is this a joke? ROCKS AREN'T SQUARE, YOU IDIOT!!
Konohamaru: Ah, so you noticed?! You must be a great ninja! - The boy came out from inside the box. - I'm Konohamaru, the future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, and I challenge you!
The boy ran toward Naruto with a war cry and pulled two wooden shuriken from his pocket, which he waved above his head. Just as he was about to throw them, he tripped on his own scarf and fell face-first on the ground at the older boy's feet.
Naruto: Are you serious? - The boy lifted his scratched face to him with a few tears in the corners of his eyes. - Don't tell me you're going to cry!?
Konohamaru: I'M NOT GOING TO CRY!! - He jumped up and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. - I want a rematch!
Naruto: Ghk, why don't you go home?
Konohamaru: I don't want to go home; I want to fight and get stronger. That's the only way I'll be able to defeat the old man!
Naruto: The old man? You know what, never mind! Find someone else to fight. - Naruto turned his back and started walking away.
Konohamaru: I don't want someone else! - He stood in front of Naruto. - The old man told me he was meeting someone this morning; it's you, isn't it? If you met with him, it means you must be an amazing ninja! I want to know what dark secrets you're hiding.
Naruto realized he was talking about Ebisu but decided to ignore it. But seeing that arguing was impossible and that he was already attracting people's attention, the blonde took a deep breath and calmed down.
Naruto: Fine, if I teach you a technique, will you leave?
Konohamaru: Deal! - He extended his hand to him with a grin from ear to ear, and Naruto just shook it.
Naruto: Great, I'll teach you the Transformation Jutsu. Pay attention: you have to interlock your pinky, ring, and thumb fingers. Then you extend your middle and index fingers, touching the fingertips of both. After that, you concentrate the chakra from your abdomen to your hands and think about what you want to transform into. Then just say, Transformation Jutsu!
Before Konohamaru's eyes, Naruto transformed into another Konohamaru identical to him, making the boy's eyes shine like stars.
Konohamaru: That's amazing!
Naruto: Now you! - Naruto dispelled the transformation and returned to normal.
Konohamaru: Okay. - He replicated Naruto's instructions as best he could. Some villagers around watched expectantly while pretending to pay attention to their tasks. - Transformation Jutsu!
Smoke exploded in all directions, and when it dissipated, Naruto saw the boy transformed into a fat, deformed version of him. A vein throbbed on his forehead as people laughed discreetly around them.
Naruto: Is that supposed to be me? Looks like melted ice cream! - He hit the younger boy's head so hard that the transformation dispelled and forced him to crouch down holding his head. - I already taught you the technique; the rest is up to you!
He walked away muttering with heavy steps, receiving disapproving looks from the villagers around. Meanwhile, the old Sarutobi watched the interaction of the two in his crystal ball with a smile on his face. The interaction didn't have the best outcome, but it was good to see his grandson being treated like a normal person for the first time.