Saitama looked out of sorts. During treetop travel, the guy nervously chewed his lips, constantly glancing back toward Konoha. Anko just shot sidelong glances at the new tokubetsu-jonin, not understanding what happened or why the bald guy seemed so worried...
Last night, the guy and girl suddenly got a mission from the Hokage. B-rank. The two needed to catch up and support Team Gai, who had their own mission escorting an architect to the Land of Waves. Some omissions from the client suggested high-rank mercenaries attacked Team Three. Info extracted from a Mist chunin personally delivered to Konoha by Gai. Thus, Hiruzen sent Saitama with Mitarashi to reinforce Might and his charges.
Though, knowing the bushy-browed jonin, Anko wasn't sure he needed support. No wonder they called the man the "Green Beast." He was one of Leaf's strongest jonin, and his genin team was well-synced and solid. But as they say, God protects the cautious.
As for Saitama, he initially hoped to dodge the weird assignment. His "day-off suit" still wasn't ready, he'd just become tokubetsu-jonin, and he was new in the village. But the Hokage was firm. Hiruzen even gave Saitama a jonin's monthly pay early and half the mission fee upfront. Unprecedented—shinobi usually get mission pay after completion.
After that, Saitama had no reason to refuse heading out. He even perked up, and after visiting the Hokage Tower, a blissful smile lingered on his face for two hours...
But today after leaving the village, the bald guy trembled slightly. Sweat beaded on Saitama's forehead. Considering he didn't sweat even in afternoon heat, it looked very odd.
"Why so nervous?" Anko couldn't hold back. "First-mission jitters?" Mitarashi bared her teeth, scanning surroundings.
"Huh?" Saitama snapped out of his worries.
The kunoichi rolled her eyes and repeated.
"No," the guy started uncertainly. "J-just yesterday I got money from the old man... but left it home under the mattress..."
Mitarashi hmm'ed puzzled, but moments later got it and what Saitama fretted over. The girl chuckled quietly.
"You think someone'll rob you?"
The bald shinobi nodded, giving Mitarashi a worried look.
"Saitama," Anko exhaled, "you live in the Sarutobi clan district. Sarutobi Hiruzen is our Hokage. No idiot would rob you."
"Hm..." Saitama thought hard.
Anko's words calmed him a bit. But only a bit. Memories of his apartment life surfaced. That room was a thoroughfare for local shinobi. Needles in the mattress, shuriken from the sink, surprises from the toilet. No real harm, but...
"I had no ryo before," Saitama wailed inwardly.
Now he actually had some money. And if one prankster looks under the mattress...
"Anko, let's go back," Saitama said, jumping to the ground. He was about to turn and run old-school, no dumb branch-hopping, but Mitarashi's hand softly landed on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Saitama. Your money's safe."
Saitama frowned and stared intently into the kunoichi's eyes. Unknown what he saw, but moments later the bald guy composed himself.
"Fine," he nodded, resuming his usual detached expression. "If anything, the old man'll reimburse, right?"
Anko just sighed heavily.
"We're on mission. Let's hurry."
"Yeah..."
Minutes later they passed Konoha's outer ANBU posts. Saitama sped up noticeably. Anko barely kept up. Surprisingly, the new shinobi stuck precisely to course.
"Saitama, why the rush?"
"Well, uh..." the bald guy scratched his head mid-leap. "Faster we get there—faster we finish the mission... And I'm home sooner."
"Still on about the pay? How long? You're a paranoid bijuu!"
"Better paranoid with money than..."
"Saitama!" Anko hissed, cutting off the bald hero. "Topic closed!"
"Fine," the jonin agreed, indifferently scanning surroundings during a jump.
Saitama figured he was probably worrying for nothing. He didn't live in some rundown edge-room, but Sarutobi clan district—one of Konoha's most influential. So he calmed somewhat and changed subject.
"You guys have a bank?.."
***
Naruto was somewhat down.
Earlier, Master Saitama promised a spar and scheduled training for today. Amazing sensei agreed; even more amazing he suggested it. Lately much piled on him: bald mentor became jonin, settled in Konoha with his own house; Anko-sempei taught general subjects, probably not to Saitama-sensei's liking. Yeah. Probably why he offered Naruto personal training—to escape studying awhile. Whatever the reason, little Uzumaki was glad; closer to his goal: become strongest.
Blond even skipped morning training for the spar, just light warm-up; face Master Saitama at full strength. He waited, hoped, ready for real training with his master.
But teacher and Anko-sempei suddenly got summoned on mission, duration unknown... Sure, Naruto had training plans and near-future tasks: perfect Fire techniques, master Wind element, hunt in Forest of Death (rabbit and mantis meat running low). Also think about money. Master Saitama treated it with great care and diligence. So Uzumaki figured pupil should inherit teacher's Will. Boy even noted holidays with shop/market discounts. Genin decided save for fuin-seal weights—pricey, but training way more productive. D-rank missions won't cut it though. Maybe side job? With clones, not burdensome...
"Wish Master Saitama'd hurry back," Naruto thought, strolling to Seventh mentor meeting spot.
Despite D-rank uselessness,
Uzumaki today decided show up in person with team; in the flesh. Kakashi said such missions help genin "mesh" and gain teamwork experience. What perks from Inuzuka kennels or farms, Naruto didn't know, but respected jonin wouldn't lie?
Yeah, super-training hung over Uzumaki, but whole day ahead; he'd hit hellish body quota.
Genin faced weeding beds again. Making dozen clones, Naruto worked with teammates. Meanwhile copies studied libraries, practiced ninjutsu. Periodically dispersed clones' info made original Naruto wince, freeze, process knowledge/experience. Head ached, temples throbbed, but no nosebleed yet. Overall better than yesterday.
"Getting tougher. Maybe stronger already, dattebayo?" Uzumaki pondered.
"Nah," flashed thought, "haven't trained body today yet..."
New anatomy/med-ninjutsu basics chunk froze blond statue-like, sank into light meditation for better absorption. Naruto so "in himself" he missed lunch and Team Seven with clones finishing task.
"Good job," Kakashi waved, eyeing genin. "Done early today. See ya tomorrow..."
"Wait, sensei!" Sakura exclaimed. "What about money?"
Hatake's eye widened in surprise.
"What money?"
"What do you mean what? For the mission."
"Hm..." Kakashi scratched chin, scanning trio. Sakura/Sasuke tired. Naruto fresh/bouncy but distant, gaze afar.
"Don't get it, Sakura," sensei eye-smiled, waved. "Tomorrow, kids." Jonin poofed away. Sakura's eyelid twitched.
"Sensei, jerk!" she burst. "Doesn't teach, now withholds pay..."
Uchiha ignored, just scowled at Naruto, glancing at clones. Latter distant too, seemed not notice jonin leave.
Sakura, ignored by teammates, pouted arms crossed, sniffling offended. Little kunoichi sorta accepted Sasuke's behavior—unreachable ideal, dream. But Naruto ignoring her... stung somehow. She wanted outrage, but usually silent Uchiha spoke.
"Naruto, how about a spar?.."
***
Sasuke Uchiha thought of Naruto, periodically shooting envious scowls at his clones.
Couldn't grasp how idiot achieved such results. Haruno still skeptical of blond's skills, but Uchiha understood...
Naruto changed. Suddenly. Academy taijutsu spars, Uchiha always won. Blond never shone brains—opposite. Uzumaki last everywhere, worst grad.
But bell test memory: not just combat, analytical skills Naruto showed amazed Sasuke.
"Pretending in Academy? Why?"
Unclear. Many called Sasuke genius. But vs Naruto, just talented kid. Uchiha recalled Kakashi fight. Jonin showed power gap quick, neutralizing brunette. Naruto roughed Kakashi good, fantastic skills. Vertical/water walking solid/confident. Weird cloning hid real Naruto long. Fire techs from copies weak but endless, no issue; blond chakra near infinite. Weapon copying intriguing. Exploding tags in clones... unfair, insanely effective; idea from idiot/genius. If Sasuke vs Kakashi, boom-death. Harem jutsu—useless, but Uzumaki used brilliantly.
Main: Naruto predicted Kakashi, grasped test true meaning. From start. Training ground forest, calculated ahead, briefed Uchiha on mad plan.
Naruto's recent behavior changed too. Less noisy. Today silent, deep thought.
Mentor? Seemed plausible vs Academy acting.
Who? Who competent train even Naruto-idiot. Take another pupil? Sasuke with such mentor hits goal. Goal: clan revenge, get stronger. Admit weakness temporary. Swallow pride as last Founding Clan, beg other shinobi strengthen Uchiha...
"Find how Naruto got strong..." Sasuke decided mentally.
"Naruto, how about a spar?.." Hard words for Uchiha. But must.
Sakura blinked astonished. Uzumaki deep thoughts, missed brunette, unaware addressed.
"Damn Naruto..." Sasuke thought.
Approached blond closer, proud repeat.
"Huh?" Naruto eyed Uchiha. "Spar?"
Uzumaki scratched head, grinned.
"Sasuke-dumbass, finally deem me worthy rival?.."
"Naruto-moron," Sakura cut in. "Sasuke-kun best at everything. Won't last second against him."
"Quiet, Sakura," brunette scowled. "So?"
"Not against, dattebayo," Naruto shrugged. "Master Saitama on mission, spar canceled—fighting you fine. Heh-heh..."
"Master Saitama? Is that his teacher?"
"This Saitama is your mentor, right?" Sasuke voiced his assumptions.
"Yep," the blond grinned again, scratching his head. The Uchiha mentally dubbed this pose the "Naruto pose." Or the grinning idiot pose. Though right now, despite the outward goofiness, Sasuke was taking Uzumaki quite seriously and had no intention of underestimating him.
"So that's how it is," the Uchiha thought, nodding slightly. "That explains a lot..."
Now it made sense to the boy where Naruto's progress had come from. After all, a personal mentor was great support for training. Sasuke remembered when his father and... brother had trained him.
"Itachi," he clenched his teeth, forcing away the untimely resurfacing memories.
For the last few years, Sasuke had trained alone. Teachers had little to offer the last scion of the Great Clan. At least they didn't try to teach him anything new, and out of pride, he didn't ask. The standards required of Academy students were laughably easy, and the Uchiha handled them with ease. But Sasuke knew that in terms of talent, he was just a pale shadow of his brother. They called him a genius, but compared to Itachi, that "title" was like a mockery...
"Master Saitama is the strongest," Naruto continued, pulling Sasuke from his thoughts. "And someday I'll become as strong as him. No, even stronger than Master Saitama! And then I'll become Hokage! That's my ninja way, dattebayo..."
"Yeah, we get it," the Uchiha rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly, thinking: "And why repeat it to us hundreds of times? The previous ten were plenty... but this Saitama. Is he really as strong as Naruto describes?"
"But I should warn you, Sasuke," Uzumaki smirked slyly. "I'm not the same guy I was at the Academy."
The Uchiha just snorted at that, but the thought flashed through his mind:
"I hope so. Maybe with Naruto's help, I can meet his teacher..."
The trio of genin strode confidently toward Training Ground 66. That's where Sasuke and Naruto had agreed to have a training fight and test each other's skills.
The sun blazed mercilessly. As luck would have it, there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Sakura trailed behind the boys, glaring discontentedly at Naruto's back. She'd decided to watch the genin brawl. And though she was sure the Uchiha would win the spar—she saw him as the epitome of perfection—the girl still couldn't just let the object of her adoration go off without her.
Her stomach rumbled periodically, hinting to its owner that it was lunchtime. But Haruno stoically endured the discomfort. Even the general weakness from work and hunger couldn't deter her from following her beloved.
"Well, here we are!" Uzumaki announced cheerfully.
"What the..." came Sasuke's voice.
The Uchiha froze in his tracks. Because of that, Sakura nearly crashed into the brunette's back but stopped herself just in time.
"Maybe I should've crashed into him and then fallen? Then Sasuke-kun would've helped me up... taken my hand..." The fantasies flooding her head made the girl blush. But shaking her pink hair, she dispelled the daydreams and peeked out from behind the Uchiha.
"Oh... those are my clones training. Don't mind them," Naruto said casually, continuing toward the center of the training ground.
Sakura's mouth fell open involuntarily at the sight, her eyes widening in astonishment.
The clearing was swarming with Naruto clones. Roughly a hundred were practicing fire jutsu; the smell of scorched grass filled the polygon, even though most of the blond's techniques shot upward. Another fifty sat in lotus position; piles of leaves surrounded each. Looking closer, you could see the Naruto replicas plucking a leaf from a tree and slicing it with willpower, then grabbing the next and slicing again... endlessly, or until they ran out of leaves or chakra. Plus, several dozen blonds had paired off and were sparring while standing on the lake's surface...
"Is this some kind of illusion?" the Uchiha frowned.
Uzumaki burst out laughing at the question.
"No, Sasuke," he turned to his teammates. "The clones aren't illusory—they're shadow clones. Saitama-sensei suggested this training method. Turns out shadow copies can transfer knowledge and experience to the original. Kage Bunshin is the best technique, dattebayo..."
Sakura only half-listened to the blond as she surveyed the training ground. She couldn't believe her eyes. Naruto had always been considered the worst graduate. But now the genin was demonstrating something supernatural. Fire and Wind jutsu training, walking and fighting on water. And that many clones... It required an unimaginable amount of chakra.
"Sakura, of the three of us, you're the weakest and most useless. I don't know why you even became a shinobi..." Sakura recalled her beloved's words. Those words and the Uchiha's contemptuous look had hurt her deeply back then. She'd thought Naruto was the most useless of the three. But what she'd seen here wasn't an illusion—even Sasuke was stunned. And what the blond had shown during the bell test wasn't luck. Haruno reached grim conclusions: she was the weakest and most worthless in Team Seven, despite all her Academy achievements.
But what could Sakura do? How could she become useful and strong? She was clanless, had no personal mentors, and Kakashi-sensei taught nothing—and probably never would. The girl trained every day for half an hour, sometimes even an hour, just to maintain her figure. She had no access to special techniques, and with her relatively small chakra reserves, ninjutsu definitely wasn't her path. Though Academy teachers often praised Haruno for her excellent control, beyond that and top grades in academics, she had nothing.
Naruto snapped the little kunoichi from her self-flagellation:
"Well, Sasuke, shall we warm up?"
The Uchiha shook off his shock and nodded grimly:
"Aren't you gonna dispel the clones?" the brunette snorted, eyeing the training horde of clones at the far end of the ground. "That confident, huh?"
"No," Uzumaki grinned in anticipation. "We agreed on taijutsu sparring. But if you wanna use everything, I won't hold back either..."
"Taijutsu's enough for now," the Uchiha interrupted the blond. "I don't wanna accidentally kill you."
Naruto laughed good-naturedly, scratching the back of his head. Before, he'd probably have gotten mad and rushed into the fight at such a taunt. But Sakura noticed that over the last ten days, Naruto had changed a lot. And now she wasn't so sure of her beloved's victory.
Uzumaki stepped back a bit further, beckoning the brunette with a hand.
"Pfft..." the Uchiha said, following his teammate.
Sakura stood there, fists clenched, biting her lip.
"This idiot can't beat Sasuke-kun, right?" flashed through her mind.
"Of course not. Sasuke-kun's the best," her alter ego echoed.
Naruto stopped. His body was relaxed and seemed completely open. The Uchiha froze in an unfamiliar fighting stance a few meters from the blond.
"Good, Sasuke," Uzumaki bared his teeth predatorily, sizing up his opponent. "Attack..."
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan