An elderly man picked up a small wooden stick resembling a long toothpick and peered closely at its tip, squinting. A second later, the tip ignited, and he lifted a smoking pipe filled with tobacco from his wide desk, carefully lighting it by jabbing the burning end into the wide bowl. He immediately put the other end in his mouth, took a draw to get it going, exhaled quickly, then leaned back in his chair and took another puff.
"Deny." He said, closing his eyes and exhaling smoke forward. Two elderly men of Asian appearance sat on the visitor chairs in front of his desk. One gray-haired man in glasses with disheveled hair and a deeply elderly woman whose face showed no emotion. A third chair stood empty nearby, and the one who should have been sitting in it stood by the window, leaning on a small cane and gazing at the night village. Another elderly Japanese man, though still retaining his natural brown hair and wearing a short flat-top cut. Part of his head along with his left eye was wrapped in bandages, and he held his right arm horizontally, hiding it in his sleeve. At the words of the old man in white-red robes sitting at the desk and smoking his pipe, he merely clicked his tongue.
"What do you mean 'deny'?" The elderly woman asked indignantly.
"Heh..." The old man exhaled another puff of smoke, placed his free hand on the desk, and stood from his chair. "You came to me, the Lord-Hokage, for approval of the assault plan, right?" The two elders before him nodded and began to fidget, starting to rise.
"That's right." The elderly man replied.
"Well, I'm denying you. If the need arises for..." He gestured with his pipe hand at the documents on his desk. "Extreme measures..." He continued and took another puff. The tobacco in his pipe heated up, and he looked into the woman's eyes first, then the man's, exhaling smoke toward the man by the window. The two interlocutors silently awaited his explanation. "Then it will be my plan and my people."
"Root could spare you the need for..." The man by the window began, but the Hokage interrupted him.
"Enough! I've said my piece... My people, my plan, and my orders. I'll give them only when I'm convinced there's no other way. You're all dismissed." He said and took another puff. The elders rose and headed to the office door. The man with the cane followed, the cane deliberately clacking loudly with each step. "Danzou!" The Hokage called after him. "The documents... Take them." The man turned, gave a shallow bow, silently approached the desk, set his cane beside it, gathered the documents with one hand, tucked them under his arm, picked up the cane, and headed for the door again, stopping sharply at the threshold and speaking.
"There's no other way. I'm sorry..." He said and closed the door behind him.
"You can come out now." The old man with the pipe in his mouth said, turning to the panoramic window behind him. A short shinobi in a gray body armor without pauldrons or collar appeared in front of his desk. The shinobi wore a special animal mask, and his hair was tied into a small braid at the back of his head. Without fully materializing from thin air, he immediately dropped to one knee, slammed his right fist into the ground, and bowed to the old man who had turned away. "You didn't have to use that copied technique. You can't fool someone like me or Danzou anyway."
"I'll keep that in mind, Sarutobi-sama." He replied curtly.
"You heard everything?"
"Yes."
"What do you think?"
"I wouldn't... No matter what your decision is... It's not for me to judge."
"However... Danzou might demand your head from me too, though unlikely, but I wouldn't bet my last money that your loyalty to Konoha would stop him."
"How much time do we have?" The shinobi asked.
"I think the limit..." The old man took another puff. "End of spring. That's if you can delay the police preparation timeline. They're already openly abusing their authority and practically sabotaging my decisions. Are you sure they haven't figured you out yet?"
"Absolutely... Father trusts me completely. He knows I'm passing info to you, but he expects me to feed you misinformation."
"And are you?" The old man asked with a smile, turning to him.
"Sarutobi-sama..." The young man began, but the old man waved it off and glanced at his pipe, which had almost no tobacco left.
"Never mind... I understand. I think you've got your winter task. You're dismissed, Itachi."
"Understood." He said and dissolved into thin air again.
The old man slowly paced the office, setting his pipe on the desk. Sighing sadly, he examined the portrait of the First Lord-Hokage. It was a painting; in those days when he was young, color cameras hadn't been invented yet, and he and his brother—the Second Lord-Hokage—had rejected the idea of hanging a black-and-white photo. He skipped his own color photo from twenty years ago and looked at the photo of the blue-eyed blond. He was the only one smiling in his picture.
"Minato-kun... Heh..." The old man exhaled and turned back to his desk. "I wonder what decision you would have made?" He asked the empty room.
Winter's first day had arrived, time to dress warmer. I spent all my orphan stipend on clothes, and then, like the devil from a snuffbox, the old man appeared and summoned me to Teacher Iruka's office. Glancing at my bruised eye covered with a big bandage, the old man just smirked contentedly and smiled.
Asshole.
I get that my pissed-off face and puffed cheeks look too childish, but I'll remember that smirk, you old geezer. If I was still thinking about trying to save your ass from Orochimaru in a few years, forget it now.
Though maybe by then I'll change my mind ten times and humanity will win out over grudges against the old man, but I added him to the asshole list with a gel pen anyway.
"Uh... Lord-Hokage?" I said, feigning surprise. "That's not fair, by the way..."
"What about?" He asked.
"I thought you were just a retired shinobi when I bumped into you around the village. You even covered for me and Ken from patrols once, and helped assemble a fishing rod from trash another time."
"Heh-heh..." When I'm off duty strolling the village, I don't wear this uniform. "I'm here on business now, Naruto."
"Huh? What could the Lord-Hokage want from an orphan like me?" I feigned surprise again. I know exactly why you're wasting time on me...
"Well, I'm not just here for you." He began lying. "You know the village council allocated aid to the orphanage this winter—we sent lots of warm stuff. Jackets, shoes, hats, pants, gloves. They say it'll be a snowy winter, and you're the only one who hasn't gotten any yet."
"Yeah? But I already spent my stipend on clothes... Damn it!"
"Didn't Teacher Iruka tell you?"
"Uh... Maybe he did, but..." I started defending Iruka so he wouldn't catch extra hell. I bought the clothes anyway, and there... Damn, still sucks—someone could have said something. Nope, after the fight with Sasuke, everyone's scared to even talk to me. Everyone except fat... Choji and Shikamaru, and those two with clothes news... Anyway, no surprise they didn't tell me. They probably don't even know.
"Got it." The old man said on an exhale. In Japanese it sounds like "suuuka," and it always makes me smile. "Anyway, you can go to the orphanage if you're missing anything—they've got plenty left, and here." He handed me an envelope. Looks like money inside.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Call it compensation. It wouldn't be fair if you ended up without your stipend. About one and a half months' worth."
Something came over me... On one hand, I really wanted that money, but...
"Thanks." I said, swallowing and tucking both hands behind my back. Then I gave a shallow bow. "But I don't need your help, sir."
"Mmm..." The old man looked at me surprised. "Naruto, you said you were out of stipend money. I think these won't be extra."
"But I'll decline anyway, sir. Sorry for the rudeness." I bowed again and tried to turn and leave.
"Wait, Naruto." I turned. The old man stared into my eyes, and we stood like that for about ten seconds. "Alright, your call. You can go." He dismissed me.
I know I shouldn't have, money doesn't smell, but... I've got too many questions for this old geezer that wouldn't be appropriate right now. Why does Naruto have his mother's surname? What about the Fourth Hokage's inheritance? I don't believe one of the most active ninja—and later a whole Lord-Hokage—had nothing but the Fox at death. What about the Uzumaki clan inheritance? If I remember right, the First's wife was from that clan too. If I'm the last Uzumaki in the village, are you saying Mom had absolutely nothing? A relative of the Lord's wife? Come on...
I get secrecy measures, the Fourth's sealing of the Fox wasn't peak fatherly care, but... Hiding the Hokage's son as an orphan?!
Alright... Let's think... A boy born around the time the Fox attacked the village and the Fourth's family died. Blue-eyed blond... Uzumaki! Blue-eyed blond Uzumaki! Kushina paraded her pregnancy around the village—everyone knew whose kid it was... Her husband a blue-eyed blond who also happened to be Lord-Hokage...
How the hell do you hide the Hokage's son who looks exactly like the Hokage and has his wife's surname? Is this a shinobi village or a village of idiots?
If the Third just announced Kushina's kid died in the battle, and they gave me the Uzumaki name for fun, then...
Great plan, old man... Fucking brilliant if I got it right. Reliable as Swiss watches.
Whatever, screw the old liberal geezer. Right now it's a day off, and I'm heading to the infirmary to finally peel this eye bandage off. Docs said minimum two weeks, but three days in at the dressing change they were shocked how I heal like a dog, and two days later I figure it's safe to remove. The shiner'll linger a couple more days, but whatever.
The fight with Sasuke ended in my total rout, which wasn't surprising.
I'd hoped to shock everyone and be the first to kick his ass, but no dice. Things started well... On luck and reflexes, I barely dodged his lunge. Though I should thank Kiba for using that move on me first—basically charge the opponent and grab after a low or high jump. Key is closing distance in one or two steps, then grab with at least one hand and smash at full speed. If Kiba uses fist or elbow, Sasuke goes for knees.
But he didn't land on me, though his lunge was perfect. Step and he's in my face. Lucky I didn't blink. He tried grabbing my t-shirt, but wrong guess... I sidestepped, grabbed his arm, and did a pain hold. But he was way more resourceful. Handstanding from that awkward spot, he nailed my right eye with his heel, then kept kicking my face while inverted. I blocked those and the body shots I ate, then retreated.
The wild haymaker was super sudden and fast... I barely arched back, then he tried a spinning sweep, but I jumped up and wound up to strike. He didn't panic but backed off sharp. Then he lunged again aiming two wild hooks to the jaw left and right—that was his big mistake. After Choji, I'd gotten good at blocking those. If he'd led left and I ate right where the eye's bruised, I'd have taken it. But right first—I blocked, pinned his arm down. Left coming... Auto-blocked it, and with both his arms tied up a second, I foot-smacked his chest without aiming much and hit. Sasuke slid back a couple meters but stayed on his feet and recovered fast. First time someone gave him that much fight, and honestly, I shocked myself.
Never skip hand-to-hand classes—they pay off when you least expect.
But a second later I got cocky, seized initiative, and couldn't capitalize. He dodged my fists, then did a soccer slide tackle right from standing, tripping me mid-step with his legs, then flattened my back, wrenched my arm, and pinned my head to the ground. Iruka called it for him, but I didn't tap.
Shikamaru and everyone freaked when I foot-kicked Sasuke in the chest. Girls rushed him post-fight to check if he was okay, while they ragged on me like "what's this stray think he's doing if he can't win, don't even try." Everyone except Shikamaru. He admitted he didn't expect it, but the outcome was predictable. If I'd won, his eyes would've gone from Asian to European. Sasuke ragged on me a couple days too, but different—no superiority or grudge. Like... with respect?
Winter finally let me nail that obstacle course run with the leaf on my head. Embarrassing I didn't get the trick right away...
Fucking chakra.
This world's got a legal cheat code. Chakra can do damn near anything you want, but even realizing teachers magnetize the leaf to the head with chakra, it took me about twenty tries to pass the course that way. But by the third week of winter, I could run it like that—and that's just step one. Master chakra control and I'm a full superhuman by eight-something. Didn't show Iruka or Shikamaru or Choji. No course in winter anyway... Spring reveal.
But with extra training on weekends and early mornings—max one or two post-breakfast tries—I couldn't hide from one guy on the main training ground.
Rock Lee... Or just Lee. Though they called him other shit more often, but no need to cuss extra. I really pitied the guy. He knew he couldn't use chakra and to avoid flunking academy tried compensating with pure physicals.
His efforts already showed insane results. In our voluntary spar, he sat me on my ass in ten seconds, and by my estimates he's twice-three times faster than Sasuke, but he held back with me to avoid one-shotting my head. His fists from tree work were like... rocks. Yeah, rocks. Stretching perfect. Even from "wrong" stances, his power and stability outclass mine or Sasuke's. After a couple kicks from him, I joined his early winter trainings most of the season, and by mid-second month, I nearly matched his endurance and speed. Well, his throttled version. Say I hit half his real power—if he went full, every hit would crack bones or shatter them. I bulked as best I could at eight-plus... Anyway, I added variety to Lee's moves, showing not just ninjutsu's a weapon. I wanted to show off too, so one spar I brought a stick.
A stick I crudely carved into a wooden katana. And yeah, to beat an experienced stick-swinger like me, Lee went full speed, but I won 'cause his stick was worse and snapped.
After, Lee bought us both (his money each) the cheapest wooden katanas. Superstitious vendors wouldn't deal with me, so stick fights—which are harder to break—got funner.
From that February, I carried my wooden sword almost always and even jokingly challenged Sasuke to swords. He told me to fuck off and said if he had a sword, he'd beat me easy. Couldn't provoke swears...
Academy was normal, started theory on all this chakra stuff—I knew most from my old world. Practicals were throwing kunai and shuriken at targets; my results average, good day a "4" above average but rare. Knife fighting in gym with wooden kunai. No stabbing with real metal allowed.
Carried the sword on my back imitating Geralt of Rivia, but told everyone I wanna be like ANBU guys. Bought extra belt, sewed a stick-sized sheath—done.
In my secret notebook, more questions on other shinobi deaths. Not just anime anymore—they're real people. Shikamaru turned out a decent guy. No coward, not superstitious like most local idiots, lazy like me in my past life. Sasuke... Hard to say, barely talked, keeps distance from most kids, and after the Uchiha tragedy...
Which should happen soon. By my math, latest this summer. Sasuke won't hit nine yet. Can I influence it? Should I...?
"Guys, I just wanna go... Please, give it back..." The girl whined plaintively, almost whimpering, trying to retrieve her winter hat.
"Wanna go? Who said you could leave?" The guy a head taller started mouthing off. "Maybe your guards are around, princess? Oh, princess of what? Princess of those blind freaks?"
"Heh-heh-heh..." Came from two other guys a year older.
"Nah, princess of crybabies... They say Hyuga's the strongest clan in the village."
"Yeah, strongest my ass. How can those colorblind freaks fight right if they can't tell kunai from a stick?!"
"Hey, why'd you shut up?" One addressed her and noticed tears welling in her eyes. "Gonna cry? Better tell me snow color—I heard you're not just blind but colorblind too."
"Please..." She repeated. "Give back the hat and bag, and I'll go..."
"Or what? What'll you do, blindy?" He stepped up and shoved her; she flew a meter and fell into the snow. "Come on, show crybaby power..."
"I'll show power now!" A voice rang from above.
The girl heard it too and looked around, spotting another boy her age on a far branch near the oak's top.
Only following her gaze did they spot me.
"Hey up there, who the hell are you?"
"Her classmate!" I yelled from the tree so they'd hear. "Uzumaki Naruto! Anyone know me?"
"Yo... Damn... That's the blond punk." The one on the right said. "He fights Uchiha even—maybe skip him?"
"Scared?!" The leader barked. "We're three, he's one! Come down, defender! We'll beat you quick and head home."
"Suit yourselves..." I said and hurled my wooden katana from the branch right between the three retards. Perfect timing to test my strength, boys. No mercy. Lucky for idiots I got no real weapon. My stick sank straight into the snow; I faked a high fall. Trees here's massive. Right now dropping from thirty meters. Good no height fear from past life... Midair I shed my jacket, pushed off it with chakra, flew to the next tree grabbing a branch, jacket flying at them.
The three morons didn't notice the switch right away. Hinata's look said she did... While they fixated on the jacket, I gathered all fight chakra in seconds and jumped again, landing precisely on the sword hilt with both feet, grabbed two idiots by the collars, hopped again tossing them up, then crashed down hilt-close to the wooden sword.
Step and full-power gut punch to the leader sent him flying to the nearest tree—three meters. Sadly, my chakra's spent. Well, the usable part.
Gripping the bandaged stick-sword hilt, I yanked it from the snow as the two I tossed landed five meters on their asses. Snow saved their bones. As they hit, I pounced and full-swing wooden sword to limbs. Two hits each.
"Naruto, enough!" Hinata yelled, standing and running to me. "They get it..." She added uncertainly.
"You get it?" I asked the pain-screaming kid thugs.
"Aaa... Yes! Shit! Ow..."
"Grab your buddy and scram!" I yelled, picking up her bag then hat. Shook snow off and handed it while the three hauled ass carrying their limp damage-sponge pal.
"Th-thank you so much... N-Naruto-kun..." She managed and bowed low.
Oh boy... Bowing to a stray like me...
"No biggie, Hinata. They deserved a lesson. Why walk the park alone in winter? Always with guards, but here..."
"I just stopped by Teacher Iruka's for a textbook and... Thought I could go home alone without waiting for Dad or his men, and they..." She blushed, eyes down.
"Bitch..." I said in Russian—which means "Got it" in Japanese—picking up my jacket and shaking snow off. "C'mon, I'll walk you to the Hyuga quarter?" I asked, zipping up and slinging the "sword" on my back.
"Uh..." She hesitated. "N-no need, it's close and I know the way and..." She waved hands.
"C'mon... Don't want you running into trouble again—just two streets." I said, grabbing her hand and half-dragging her. She barely kept up but didn't resist.
"Tell me, why didn't you put them in their place yourself?"
"Huh?" She didn't get it.
"You're Hyuga... I read a bit—your clan's hand-to-hand techs. Training since four. Academy moves come easy too."
"But they're older... Even I can't take three older students..."
"Aaa... You thought they were students? Nah, leader got kicked from Lee's class a year ago for skipping, these two never went to Academy. Not rivals at all."
"Oh..." She deflated completely, walking on autopilot. Five quick minutes to Hyuga quarter. I know the village pretty well now... Not every corner, but...
"Why so down?"
"I... Thanks for walking me, Naruto..." She bowed again.
"C'mon... No need to be so polite with me."
"Gates to clan quarter there." She pointed. "I can go alone..."
"Hold up..." Still holding her hand, I stopped her. "To the gates."
A grumpy Hyuga guard met us.
"Scram, runt... We don't feed beggars!" He eyed my dirty jacket and squinted.
"Hey, uncle..." I got his attention and thumbed over my shoulder.
"Uh..." He freaked. "Princess Hinata?!" He fumbled opening the gate and yelled something garbled to other guards; someone bolted ahead and up to warn somebody. I got the gist—super-fast talk's hard to parse.
"Good day. Kasu-san. Kora-san." She noted two Hyuga guards. "Please, don't be mad at Naruto—he helped me a lot and walked me here."
"Uh-huh..." I nodded.
"Helped, huh. Heh..." They let Hinata through; the one she called Kora escorted her.
"And you..." The second started uncertainly.
"Her classmate. Waiting for your elder or whoever handles her..." I nodded at the departing princess. "Safety..."
"Why?"
"Wanna shove it down his throat. You know your princess got jumped?"
"What?! Jumped?!"
"Uh-huh... Looks like village of idiots here too, so..." Didn't finish as a long-haired Hyuga guy in black kimono appeared. Not Hinata's dad... Too young, but close. Wore Leaf headband. Probably like Neji, branch family.
"You're Naruto-kun?" He smiled and eyed me.
"Uh-huh..." I cut off his thanks. Maybe extra, but whatever—I don't care. He didn't bow like Hinata either. I summed up the situation, added next time if she's alone I'll pass by and those idiots are lucky if they just steal something—not "someone serious" like the Cloud kidnapper.
Didn't mention kidnapping attempt—couldn't know. Swapped for "someone serious." Should wake these fools up and make Hyuga comb the academy-orphanage route. Village benefit.
The guy tossed me some pocket change. No big money, but I took it. He insisted I keep quiet about it; I promised. Hm... Ramen today? Tasty stuff... Especially if Teacher Iruka or Shikamaru treats—haven't spent mine on it yet.
Probably overdid it with the clan folks, but think they'll remember the good even from a rude punk like me.
Break lasted just the last week before spring. Nothing changed for me... Trained like mad all winter, real results. Substitution Technique, basic chakra control, core movement techs like insane branch-to-branch jumps—mastered.
Spring surprised Iruka and everyone. Kiba begged teachers for rematch a few times—denied. I trolled him we could free-for-all anytime.
For clan kids, that attitude... Kibas already nuts at eight-half, maybe doesn't care, but if parents hear... Doghouse on chain till graduation. If lucky.
Spring brought sharp warmup. Month later, I hit leader in my group—right after "Uchiha Sasuke" on the board: "Uzumaki Naruto," scores almost tied.
Say, out of 100 monthly points. He always min 97. This month 98, usually 99-100. Dropped two on drawing—which ends this year. I finished at 94; "Team A" closed by Sakura at 92. Insane... Fourth place 86. Guess who? Nope...
Hint: Starts with fat...
"Where you going, kid?" Police shinobi with emblem stopped me. So familiar, damn...
"To Uchiha Sasuke. He invited me over. Classmate, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Aaa..." The fat cop with sword on back got it. "If so, go ahead."
"Thanks." I bowed shallow and entered.
God, thanks—the guards here's a bunch of degenerates...
Sasuke, I didn't find right away—it turned out he was at the lake honing his clan's Fireball technique, or as I called it in my world, "Dad's Breath Technique." I won't repeat that joke around other Uchihas...
Racing to the lake, I made it in time and became a witness to the spectacle. The Fireball in his execution was impressive. It was bigger than Sasuke himself, but the technique was far from perfect—parts of his arm and face were at serious risk of getting burned. But the very fact that at just over eight years old, he could release that much chakra at once, multiple times, and even add fire control...
"Holy f-f-fucking hell..." I blurted out, clapping my hands.
"You?! What are you doing here..." Sasuke said, not expecting such guests.
"The guards at your district gate are a bunch of degenerates," I immediately ratted out the two at the entrance. "I said I was visiting you, your classmate—no questions asked, they let me through."
"What?! Why are you here?"
"Just dropped by, that's all. What, you having fun all alone here?"
"I'm not having fun..." he replied, calming down. "I'm training."
"I noticed, but it's more fun together." He didn't respond to that, figuring I was mocking him. Then he started forming seals again for the "Dad's Breath Technique." "Listen, it's none of my business, but... it seems like you're missing something..."
"Missing something? Me? Naruto, you're of course..." He didn't finish. "Listen, this is our clan technique, and I KNOW how to use it."
"Oh yeah?" I fired up. "Fine, tell me. Maybe we can break it down step by step like they taught us at the academy with the Illusion or Substitution Technique? Besides turning chakra into fire with seals, did they explain anything else about it? Do you know the exact minimum chakra needed, or how to split that huge fireball into several, huh?"
"Into several? Are you insane? That's..."
"It's possible... I'm sure almost all of yours can do it. But even this ball of yours dissipates too quickly. Try this..."
At that point, I described my rough understanding of how the thing works in the anime and advised him, for starters, to hold two fists up to his mouth and use them to regulate the oxygen supply for combustion. Don't fill your lungs completely—about two-thirds—and blow hard but carefully. In a thin stream... I thought I'd have to spell it out, but he seemed to get it.
"Fine, I'll try... 'Fire: Fireball!'" That's when I was floored. He grasped everything I told him perfectly on the first try and nailed it spot-on. First time! Now that's what I call a genius, damn...
He was surprised too. Now the fireball actually worked like a fireball. The thick stream for creating volume suddenly narrowed to a thin one since I'd cut his oxygen supply by a third, and the thin stream pushed the ball forward toward the middle of the lake. Only when it stopped getting fuel did it go boom... A light rain from the fiery explosion over the lake drenched us both.
That's how I started coming to their district almost regularly. You know, the Uchihas turned out to be pretty friendly and responsive guys in reality. Now I pity them even more... They're like elves. Arrogant assholes at first glance, but once you befriend them...
By the end of April, during one of our joint training sessions with Sasuke where we were already beating the crap out of each other with sticks full-force, I met Itachi.
A perfectly normal guy. A bit tall for his 13 years, though, and his face is just so... sad, I guess... Looks like a pale Jackie Chan kid. He was thrilled to learn Sasuke had a friend like me. The reason for his interest was that Sasuke stopped bugging him with requests for training help and spent his free time with me instead. Though not often...
In the end, Itachi even hooked me up with his training sword. Said I could keep it. Now that's a hookup! Nothing like my bandaged stick. This one has a real hilt! Awesome.
After watching our stick-fighting games for a bit, he made a displeased face and even set aside time for us, saying we were doing some kind of cr... instead of Kendo.
Well, something like that, but without the swearing...
He showed us the basic stances and a few fundamental moves and techniques, then took off. Promised more, but... A month passed, and we didn't see him again. Not even Sasuke...
"Uzumaki Naruto! Step forward," Teacher Iruka announced. He was sweating more than ever right now. Today was the open hand-to-hand combat assessment, held in the presence of the... senile old geezer...
Pfft...
Lord-Hokage, of course...
"Uchiha Sasuke! Step forward."
"You gonna hold back?" I asked as we closed in for the handshake.
"As if..." He snorted, and we separated.
"Get ready... Fight!"
We started with a rush at each other, exchanging high-speed blows, trying to smash through each other's blocks. Remembering my grappling advantage, I tried to grab his forearms, but no dice... Sasuke had learned that and kept stepping back in time to avoid getting caught.
Exchange of thrusts...
We both dodged. If this turned into an endurance battle, victory was mine, and he knew it, so he'd go on the offensive... There it was... Jumping attack with a downward kick. I leaped back... Sweep, I jumped up, and he tried to knock me out of the air—and he even succeeded, but only...
"Trap..." I said as we both hit the ground, even though he was on top. Good old triangle choke. I decided to just strangle him. I hadn't shown this wrestling move to anyone yet.
But Sasuke wouldn't be Sasuke if he didn't find a way out. He used brute force. I wasn't expecting it and was pretty shocked when he just hoisted my body up from the awkward position and leaped forward full-force, slamming my back into the ground. Hurt like hell...
Trying to capitalize on his advantage, he ran into the consequences of his forced oxygen deprivation.
He could barely climb on top of me, but his arms were shaking, and his chakra wouldn't obey. I slipped out like an eel from a hot pan and got to my feet. He rose too, straining a bit.
All I had to do was wait. I even backed away from him facing backward to let him catch his breath. Leg... Whoops... Block and grab. Sweep... He jumped and yanked his leg free from the hold—damn, that was close. I pressed forward with a flurry of punches; he blocked and dodged, even tried a counter, but that's where I caught him! Knee to distract, then a sharp throw over my shoulder... After that, I used all my strength to pin him to the ground as best I could. Iruka, with obvious reluctance but seeing Sasuke couldn't escape, finally declared my victory.
That's it!
First student of the Academy for the third month of spring—Uzumaki Naruto!
Everyone was floored by my successes over those three months. And after Sasuke personally came up, shook my hand, congratulated me on the win, and trudged off to the locker room with a sad face, the others had no choice. Even Sakura and Ino, though reluctantly, came to congratulate me. Hinata was the most eager. Shikamaru was disappointed—he'd bet a huge ramen on the Uchiha. He'd have to pay up.
The night in the village was quieter than usual. I couldn't sleep for a long time, and by my calculations, about a month from now, when we get our year-end report cards, the Uchiha clan tragedy should happen. I made a note about it in my diary and went to bed.
The next morning, Sasuke didn't come to class, and the village declared mourning...
"Did I miscalculate..."
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan