Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"One more, please."

The elderly bartender's brows furrowed, but he silently poured his patron another glass. The sound of flowing alcohol echoed in the near-empty bar. Without hesitation, the young man downed the shot glass, ignoring the salt and lime on the dish in front of him.

He slammed the cup onto the polished wooden counter, flushed cheeks hidden by the dimmed lights. Before he could ask for more, the glass was gently pulled away from him. He frowned, only to be met with a stern look, "You've had a bit too much, Dylan."

"It's fine," Dylan slurred. "I'll call an Uber."

"I don't think your Uber driver will appreciate you ruining his car with your dinner."

Instead of responding, Dylan grabbed his cell phone and frantically scrolled through his messages. Only two items caught his interest: "Michelle" and "Work." He opened up his conversations with them and slammed the side of his head onto the bar.

"I don't think I want to be with you anymore, not after that last fight. Let's break up…."

"I'm sorry for informing you out of the blue, but we have decided to let you go due to recent budget cuts. It was an honor serving with you at Fire Station 32…"

He closed his eyes and leaned back as he put the phone away. As he wobbled off his stool, the bartender tried to pat his shoulders. Dylan shook him off with a glare, "I'm not having the best day, Blake."

"It be like that sometimes, chief. We all have one of those days."

Despite his reddened eyes and cheeks, Dylan choked out a laugh. "It do be like that. Can't let these days grab us by the balls. Just need to keep on going."

"After you hit rock bottom, there's no way to go but up," The bartender agreed. "Things will get better, so keep your chin up, ya hear?

"Sure thing, boss, sure thing."

He quickly paid his tab, leaving a sizeable tip, before staggering out of the bar.

"Get home safely!"

Dylan turned around and smiled at the man before drifting to his gray, beat-up Corolla. He dug through his pockets for his keys, but when he found them, his hand hovered over them as he stared at his messy reflection in the car window. He stood motionless for a minute before he entered his car and turned on the engine.

"It's only six blocks away," Dylan mumbled as he punched an address into his phone's GPS. "And I still don't know the directions back home."

His car slowly rolled out of the parking lot and onto the expressway. As he drove, he chugged on the water bottle in his cup holder and focused on his speedometer. He passed a sign stating the local speed limit: 40 MPH. He was going 35.

That was when he noticed movement on the side of the road: a man standing on the side of the road with a smoking car. He waved his arms as Dylan's car lumbered by.

"I'm almost home; I shouldn't stop. Another car will pass by soon." Yet, his right foot was already pressing down on the brakes, his car slowing to a halt just in front of the beleaguered man. "That's what everyone will probably think when driving by. I should check if he's alright..."

Dylan tripped out of his car and stumbled over to the man. Before he could say anything, Dylan felt someone behind him and turned, only to see a blunt object slamming into his head.

He couldn't even gasp before he collapsed, darkness overtaking him.

He gasped and shot up from his futon. The world spun around him as a dull ache flared near his temples. He planted onto the ground with his small, shaky hands to steady himself. An unpleasant sensation tickled his throat, but he forcibly swallowed to prevent anything from spilling.

"A nightmare?"

As he closed his eyes to recall his dreams, his mind was bombarded with twenty-two years worth of memories. Thoughts, desires, ambitions, and emotions flooded his mind as his dull headache turned into a pounding migraine. His body briefly spasmed, causing him to fall back onto his futon.

He stared at the ceiling for a few minutes before whispering to himself. "Takashi Kinjo. I'm Takashi Kinjo."

"Kinjo" brought his familiar, yet unfamiliar, hands in front of his face and studied them. After clenching and unclenching them several times, he pinched his cheeks.

It stung.

"I'm six years old, and I live in… Konoha."

Had he heard the word "Konoha" several hours prior, he would've thought about his house, his family, and the Hokage. Now when he thought about Konoha, all he recalled was what he had seen in various forms of media.

Uzumaki Naruto. Uchiha Sasuke. The Konoha Nine. Ichiraku Ramen. The Academy.

People he had never seen and places he had never been.

He rolled out of his futon and awkwardly walked to the window, his mind guiding his much smaller feet with slow caution. When he reached his destination, he tripped and nearly fell out of his window. Kinjo glanced out of his second-story window and sighed, breathing in the fresh air before turning his downsized head towards a large cliff by the northern parts of Konoha.

Four faces greeted his hesitant eyes, their empty-eyed yet stoic expressions watching over the village hundreds of thousands of people called home, including Kinjo, whose body was now occupied by an interdimensional traveler named Dylan.

A traveler who was dead in his home dimension.

Kinjo comfortably leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. ""Hello, are you there?""

Nobody answered his private thoughts, confirming his suspicions. The previous Kinjo wasn't sharing this body with him; Dylan had his memories and body, but nothing else. Still, his mind was processing the merging of two mental states.

A distant memory of a small boy watching a large, wild beast rain death and destruction upon Konoha.

The Land of Waves. The Chunin Exams. Konoha Crush. Akatsuki. The Fourth Shinobi War.

Danger was coming.

He scurried to a small desk in the corner of his room, grabbing a pencil and paper to jot down everything he knew about the world of Naruto. Kinjo scribbled a list of major plot points, characters, and minor details that would be useful in the future. He didn't remember everything; there were notable gaps in his memory of the Naruto verse. Even so, his notes filled up the entire paper, front and back. He only realized it was written in English after he had finished.

His mind was in disarray, but he understood his situation. Somehow, he was in that world. And in this world, he could either choose to ignore everything and dodge all the calamities while the main characters did their work or gain power to help benefit those that had unfortunately drawn the short straw. With or without him, the world would burn. It was only a question of whether he would play a role or not.

Meta knowledge was valuable, and maybe there were some benefits to maintaining canon as much as possible. The heroes had won, after all. But to damn hundreds of souls and purposely leave others weak while he leaned back and watched left a bad taste in his mouth. Not only that, but he could help people that weren't seen in canon. Shinobi, for all their destructive vices, were also peacekeepers of their respective regions. And with the recent war and the Nine-Tails Attack, the people in Konoha and the Land of Fire would need more help than ever before.

He had never been one to sit on his hands. If he could help, he would help, especially with the knowledge that he had.

"Damn the canon," Kinjo muttered with a lopsided smile."Full speed ahead."

Kinjo's mind shifted back to his family members sleeping in the other rooms on the second floor because, from what he "remembered," he had loving parents and two younger siblings in this world. He might've taken over the previous Kinjo's body and mind, but his love for them resonated within his chest.

He would protect them; it was the least he could do for the former Kinjo.

Chapter Text

Kinjo wearily opened his eyes and blinked several times to adjust to the bright sunlight coming through the window. He shook his head as he recollected the vivid dream when something stabbed into his hand. He opened his fist to see a piece of paper lodged inside.

It was the list.

He quickly stuffed it into a small drawer in his desk, his eyes widening at his surroundings. The room was narrow, with barely enough space for a desk, a futon, and a closet. The walls were painted white instead of a familiar light blue. Noticing that his window was still open, he promptly stuck his head out.

When he looked outside, he saw a bustling city with a blend of modern and pre-industrial aesthetics. Bright-colored shops opened their doors, and people of varying styles and sizes were moving about on the streets. The smell of fresh bread and hot iron drifted into his room, an unfamiliar aroma that was strangely pleasing. From the corner of his eyes, he saw two rapid blurs shoot across the street from rooftop to rooftop.

"It wasn't a dream." Kinjo's eyes widened as the blurs disappeared as fast as they came. Watching animated shinobi moving on a screen was immensely different from witnessing real-life shinobi firsthand.

As his eyes darted towards neighboring rooftops, a loud bang rattled the room as a small girl with light brown hair and bright amber eyes marched into the room. She giddily looked around the room and beamed after finding her brother. Her chubby cheeks lifted by an inch as she spoke. "Brother, momma said it's time for you to get up and eat!"

"Alright… Mika." He replied, his mind recalling a burst of excitement when he saw her for the first time four years ago. "I'll be right there, ok?"

"Ok!" Mika said cheerfully. "And it's my turn to choose the games today!"

"Are we going to play that card game… menko again?" Kinjo inquired.

"Yep!" His sister huffed, "You took my favorite card last time, so I'm going to win it back!"

Mika's attitude brought an immediate smile to Kinjo's face. She reminded him too much of Sarah, his "other" younger sister. "Sure, sure. Now go wash your hands."

As the child ambled away, Kinjo stepped away from the window and stumbled over to his closet. While he changed into a plain gray t-shirt and worn jeans, his eyes drifted to a foggy mirror nearby. Once he finished changing, he grabbed the mirror and stared at it intently.

He looked strikingly like his sister: light brown hair teetering on the edge of orange, seal brown eyes, and a plain but cute face. It was vastly different from how he looked on Earth.

"How am I so relaxed about this?" Kinjo whispered.

Perhaps it was because he was at peace with the fact that he had died, and his siblings would take care of his parents. Or maybe it was because he retained the memories and emotions of the previous "host." Not to mention, the knowledge of this world's future kept him busy from overthinking his unique situation. Regardless, he was… at home in Kinjo's body and Konoha, as shocking as the experience was.

The thought of quashing and replacing the innocent mind of a six-year-old took a backseat as he slowly trekked into the hallway.

He entered the bathroom by mistake before finding the dining room, even though there were only three doors to choose from. When he finally entered the room his family was in, Kinjo carefully looked around. The dining room was small, made smaller by the kitchen squashed into the corner. It was noticeably bare, with only a family picture decorating the dark blue wooden walls. The members of the Takashi family occupied the worn dining table and rickety chairs.

Mika was zealously eating a bowl of rice with some odd food named acorn jelly and miso soup. A few grains of rice were stuck around her mouth, though she continued to eat with reckless abandon.

Satoshi, who had noticeably darker brown hair and eyes similar to Mika's, was chewing on some porridge and seaweed in his high chair.

Meanwhile, Kinjo's mother was starting her meal after she had finished breakfast for her children. She was a young woman that looked like an older version of Mika. Her face lit up when she saw Kinjo wander into the room, "Good morning, Kin. Did you sleep well?"

"I did… mom," Kinjo responded. "And you?"

She yawned and gently stroked Satoshi, who looked up and gurgled happily. "Not very well. Your brother was up all night yesterday; he was crying and raising a ruckus for hours."

Kinjo slid into an empty seat at the table and hesitantly helped himself to some fried eggs. "You should get some rest after you eat, mom. I can wash the dishes and watch Mika and Satoshi."

"You would?" The young woman asked with a yawn.

"Of course." Memories of him taking care of his siblings while both of his parents worked tirelessly filtered through his mind.

"You're growing up so fast. Taking care of your siblings and now washing the dishes too?" His mother patted his head, "Thank you, Kin. That will let me nap for an hour before heading to Shoko's. If your father calls for you, make sure to help him. I'm sure Mika can look after Satoshi alone while you're gone."

"I'm a big girl!" Mika boasted as she accidentally launched her rice-filled spoon across the table.

"You most certainly are a big girl," Kinjo's mother softly laughed, wiping up the mess.

The eldest of the Takashi siblings hurriedly ate his food while his mother fussed over his siblings. He looked at the unfamiliar brunet in the family picture for a few seconds before turning to the family's matriarch, "Is the shop busy today?"

"I haven't heard a sound from the store since it opened a few hours ago, but a shipment from Suna is coming later today. Your father will need your help unloading it and putting it in the storeroom."

Kinjo nodded, his mind elsewhere as he finished up his breakfast. After he finished, he collected all the dishes from the table and grabbed a small bath stool to stand on. As he walked towards the sink, he noticed the pile of clothes on the narrow kitchen counter; it was what had kept his mother up for the past several days.

The sound of running water and his younger sister playing with Takoshi muted his mumbling as he washed the dishes. "I was around four when the Attack happened… It's been two years since the Attack… That means there are a few things that I can change before the main events start. The Hyuga Affair still hasn't happened, nor has the Massacre…."

A dull thud startled him out of his train of thought as his mother placed a bowl into the sink. She ruffled his hair before walking toward her bedroom. "I'll be in my room if you need anything. If you get hungry later, I left some rice balls in the fridge."

"Yes, mom."

While washing the dishes, Mika skipped over to him and grinned, "Hurry up, brother! I want to play!"

Once upon a time, he would've been extremely annoyed at his younger sibling's antics and ignored her. Now, he was almost two decades older mentally, and his desire to spoil his siblings surfaced. He smiled at her and pointed toward his younger brother. "I want to play with you too, but I have to clean these for mom. Make sure Satoshi doesn't eat anything off the floor while I finish up."

"Ok!" Mika bounced to Satoshi, who was crawling slowly under the table. She played peek-a-boo with him, much to Satoshi's and Kinjo's amusement.

Kinjo placed the final dish on the drying rack as he sighed. "Kids: adorable until they hit middle school, then they turn into little devils. Oh… I'm done, Mika!"

Instantly, she scrambled to her room and returned with a deck of menko cards. Faces and names of famous shinobi adorned each card, including Leaf and foreign shinobi. She ran over to him and pulled out a card triumphantly, "I'll beat you with this!"

White, spiky hair. Red markings on his face. A smirk that was both friendly and smug.

"So that's what Jiraiya looked like in real life." Kinjo wrinkled his nose at the picture. "That's really…odd."

"What do you mean, brother?" Mika tilted her head quizzically. "Jiraya-sama is still alive!"

Kinjo blinked rapidly. "Right, I mean… I forgot that you had his card."

"Daddy gave me five menko packs yesterday, remember? He was inside the last one!"

"Maybe I should keep your favorite card since you already have a rare card."

He quickly returned to his room before his sister could reply, though her jaw dropped in horror. As he grabbed the deck of cards in his desk drawer, his eyes fell on the list. Kinjo gripped the list for a moment before dropping it. "Soon."

Kinjo returned to the dining room to see his sister sulking with her cards scattered in front of her. Satoshi was babbling and climbing on her back, leaving drool on the back of her shirt. Mika looked away and crossed her arms when she saw her older brother. It was only when he pulled out her prized card did she look at him.

"A mere Kiri jonin defeated Sarutobi?" Kinjo asked as he shuffled through the deck to find the Kiri shinobi in question. "Who the heck is Gonbee?"

"Brother, you need to address Hokage-sama more respectfully." Mika scolded. "Also, he would never be defeated by anyone. He's the strongest shinobi in the world!"

"Right… I can't just call him by his name.…."

"Get ready, 'cause I'm taking my card back!"

Mika held her Jiraya card at the ready, and Kinjo slowly placed the Third Hokage card on the floor. After aiming, the four-year-old child threw her card onto the floor and hit the corner of her target. The Third Hokage's face lifted towards Kinjo for a second before falling unflipped.

"No, Jiraya-sama!" The younger Takashi cried.

"My turn." After winding up dramatically in front of his sister, Kinjo lightly tapped his card on the floor. "Darn, I missed."

The exchange went back and forth several times before Mika could finally flip the card and win back her prized possession. She laughed as she hugged her card. "I'm sorry Jiraya-sama wounded you, Hokage-sama."

"Wounded?"

"It's like you forgot the rules, brother. If two shinobi from the same village fight, the winner wounds the loser, and the loser gives the card to the winner. But if shinobi from different villages fight, the loser's shinobi is killed, and the card is trashed!"

"How does that make any sense?" Kinjo mused.

"Because ninjas from the same village don't kill each other!"

"Huh, is that right?"

"Now let's play again!"

"Kinjo! Come down for a second!"

The boy in question looked up from his riceball and motioned to his sister, "Take care of Satoshi for me, ok? I'll be right back."

"Ok!"

Kinjo exited the dining room and discovered the stairway leading to the ground floor. After a few uneasy steps, he was in the store's backroom. It was filled with various crates and boxes, both empty and full. One of the crates was labeled "DO NOT TOUCH" in large, bolded letters. Looking towards the door leading to the shop, Kinjo carefully removed the crate's cover and peeked inside.

It was filled with beef jerky.

Shaking his head, he delicately opened the door and peeked through it. There, he witnessed his father standing near the front counter, loudly speaking with a dark-haired man who wore a bright yellow yukata. "I don't need soldier pills for my store."

"But they are a staple among shinobi, are they not? Konoha is the biggest shinobi village and, unsurprisingly, employs the largest number of shinobi. Even purchasing a single crate of these pills can net you a tenfold profit! Especially since the war with Kumo is still ongoing!" The man in the yukata insisted. "Makoto, these soldier pills are from Suna. You're well aware that we make some of the best soldier pills…."

While his father was not a physically imposing man, the stranger flinched when the store owner's onyx eyes glared at him. For a moment, Kinjo thought his father's spiky chestnut hair would shoot out toward the merchant. "My answer is still no, Endo. I don't want anything more than what I already bought."

Endo shrugged. "Suit yourself; I'll go somewhere else then. Thanks for the business, as always, Makoto. Say hi to Aya and the kids for me."

Kinjo stepped into the empty store after the man had left. After hearing the storeroom door close, his father turned to face him and patted his back, "How are your siblings doing?"

A few long seconds passed as Kinjo racked through his memories of interacting with the man. "They're doing fine; Satoshi is asleep, and Mika is watching over him."

"I heard you helped your mother with the dishes this morning! She looked well-rested before heading over to the tailors," Makoto mentioned, nodding in approval. "Looks like you're growing up fast. After Mika grows up a bit more, you can probably help me with the shop throughout the entire day instead of going back and forth."

Instead of retorting, Kinjo looked at the entrance of the store and the crates neatly piled near it. "Why didn't you buy the soldier pills… dad? That man said we could make lots of money from them. Do you hate shinobi?"

Makoto scoffed. "'Course not, son. In fact, a shinobi saved my life a few years ago..."

"How?" Kinjo asked with excitement in his voice.

"That's a story for another time." His father answered with a grimace. "The point is, son, I'm no idiot. I might not have been the smartest kid in my neighborhood, but I was always good with the business side of things. Where is our store located?"

"... Between the western and southern gates, pretty far away from the main roads."

"Good. How many stores like ours are there on the main roads?"

"About ten?"

"Thirteen, actually. That's not counting that giant monstrosity of a market building that opened up last month near the western gate." Makoto grumbled. "And who lives in this neighborhood?"

"Er… Civilians?"

"Civilians that aren't exactly rich. Not to mention, there are hardly any shinobi in this area except for the patrol groups that pass by. Do you understand why I was against buying the soldier pills now? Or shinobi supplies in general?"

"If a shinobi is heading off for a mission and needs supplies, like soldier pills, he can get them in one of the many shops near the main roads. Nobody in this area will buy them either, which means we'll lose money even if they are profitable?"

"That's my son!" Makoto cheered. "Besides, he's probably trying to dump some of the leftover soldier pills Suna made during the war. Those things last a while, and Suna does make them best so. Now, help me move these to the back."

There were four containers near the entrance of the story. Kinjo was handed a small box by his father, holding a much larger crate. The young boy slowly moved towards the storeroom while his father easily rushed forward. Once they reached the back, they stacked their crates in an empty corner.

"What's in these, dad?"

"Some specialties from Suna: turquoise gemstones, salt, cosmetics, and nutrient pills."

"Turquoise gemstones?"

Makoto pulled out a gemstone from Kinjo's crate and handed it to his son. The sky blue stone glittered under the electric lights, though the surface was slightly misty."They're the less pure, inexpensive ones. Cheap, yet beautiful. Even people in our neighborhood can afford them for jewelry or gifts. As for the other stuff, they're in demand everywhere. Salt for cooking and food, obviously. Cosmetics for women and nutrient pills for all folks."

After another trip to carry the remaining crates to the back, his father dusted off his hands and wiped a trickle of sweat from his face. Kinjo was about to grab a pen and the inventory book when his father stopped him. "I think it's time for you to learn how to work at the front of the store. You have an eye for business, just like me. I wouldn't be surprised if you could manage the entire store alone in a few years."

"Uh…" The previous Kinjo might've been overjoyed, but the current Kinjo was frozen in place.

"For now, I'll show you how to use the register." Makoto slapped his back and ushered him forward. "After that, you'll only need to know a few things here and there to run the front of the store smoothly!"

Kinjo reluctantly followed, several memories of his other life crossing his mind as his hands moved toward the register with familiar ease.

"It's beautiful," Kinjo whispered as he sat on his futon. The half-moon shone a dim light into his bedroom, and the clear sky was full of stars. "I almost forgot what the night sky should look like."

After futilely searching for a familiar star, he focused on the list in his hand. At the very top of the paper, he had written several words in large, bold letters.

'FIND OUT HOW TO ENTER THE ACADEMY. RESEARCH RELEVANT INFORMATION. BECOME A SHINOBI.'

He frowned as he read the last several words, "Maybe I should've purposely messed up earlier. Dad seemed a bit too happy."

Working the register, greeting shoppers, and providing information about goods was easy and routine for him. His father seemed surprised but excited when Kinjo efficiently performed basic customer service.

"Damn, I guess it will be harder to convince him to let me a shinobi… I set his expectations too high for the wrong goal. I'll need to change his mind, fast."

Kinjo looked at the calendar hanging on the door of his room. Despite being in a vastly different world, his calendar looked similar to the one he had in his "other" room. "... Since Konoha was using the Gregorian calendar, did that mean Latin exists in this world? Do other nations use the same calendar or a different one like the Lunar calendar?"

He bit his lips before he could ramble further. He remained silent for a few seconds as he sifted through his thoughts. "Focus, focus. Worry about the small details later. For now, I have to focus on my goals.."

Instead of sleeping, Kinjo crossed his legs and closed his eyes. He searched for something he knew he had but never used. A few long minutes passed as he tenaciously looked for a single spark of energy. Yet he was in the dark, and not a single flicker of light could be seen at the end. His mind fumbled blindly, searching for an existing oasis without a map.

"Shouldn't this be a bit easier? I know I have chakra; everyone does. So why can't I reach it?"

He relaxed his shoulders and sucked in a deep breath. This time, Kinjo carried out his search calmly, baiting his chakra to reveal itself as if he was indifferent to the matter.

Still, nothing.

"Fuck." Kinjo cursed as he tossed the list into his desk and rolled onto his futon. "I guess that's going on my priorities list."

Suddenly, an idea emerged from the depths of his mind. It was so simple that Kinjo slapped his forehead with a groan. The fog in his mind lifted, and he was back on track.

"That will do."

Chapter Text

Kinjo was finishing the last spoonful of his breakfast when his father entered the dining room. The man placed his hands on his son's shoulders and grinned, "Since your mom is staying at home and watching your brother and sister today, you're going to be with me in the shop."

His mother was in his parent's bedroom with Mika and Satoshi. She was teaching Mika how to read and write while Satoshi was napping soundlessly in his crib.

"Actually," Kinjo looked his father directly in the eye. "Can I go to the bookstore later? By myself?"

Makoto crossed his arms and stared at the boy. "We can go together after the shop closes. Besides, the folks love you! I think a few of them came back to our store to see you around since I'm not much of an attraction."

His mind was slowly settling in, and he was adjusting to his new life with only a few hiccups. He had been working with his father at the front of the store for almost a week, picking up a few business things here and there. Likewise, his relationship with his mother and his siblings was doing well.

However, he wasn't in this world to live an ordinary, civilian life.

The six-year-old boy frowned internally and forced a few tears to sprout out his eyes. "Today's the only day mom is home, and I finally have some free time for myself. So please, dad?"

Quivering as he watched his son's tearful eyes, the elder Takashi sighed. "Fine, just help me out for a few hours, and you can go to the bookstore by yourself."

"Thanks, dad!" Kinjo said with a broad smile. He stood up and hugged his father's legs awkwardly, earning a soft pat on his back.

"Now hurry up and head downstairs. Since you're only going to be here for a few hours, I'm going to make sure you get a lot of work in."

"I'm heading out!"

As he was about to leave his family's store, his father stepped in front of him and held out a crisp bill. The Leaf symbol was stamped on the right side, and the number 100 was printed clearly onto the corners of the bill. Makoto grinned as his son accepted the money, "Since you've worked hard for the last week, think of this as a bonus to your allowance."

Kinjo blinked rapidly. "Thanks."

"Don't tell your mother, alright? She's been awfully angry that I've been stingy lately." The storekeeper sheepishly rubbed the back of his head as his eyes flickered to his room on the second floor.

After waving goodbye at his father, Kinjo strolled down the street with his hands in his pocket. His right hand fidgeted with the money his father had given him while his left hand brushed the allowance the previous Kinjo had been saving. "150 Ryo… Hopefully, it's enough to buy a few books that I need."

A fleeting image of him entering a used bookstore with his mother entered his mind. It was a long walk from his house, near the center of the village.

The library was too far from his house, as it was near the Academy. This meant that his cheapest source of books was the used bookstore in the center of the village.

He looked around the bustling street, jogging his memory to remember the directions to his destination. It was February, but the sun was shining brightly upon the village, and there was only a slight chill in the air. He was one of many people enjoying the beautiful Saturday outside.

"First, I need to go to the gate."

His short body purposefully strode towards the western gate, the closest village entrance to his home. His previous host had only been to the gate once: when his father had left the village for a trip to the Land of Rivers.

While he needed to visit the bookstore to acquire more information about his new surroundings, the western gate held the clue to his first step toward becoming a shinobi.

After walking for twenty minutes, he finally arrived at the western gate with sweat trickling down his forehead. He leaned on a wall for a few moments to catch his breath. As he rested, he spotted his target from the corner of his eyes.

Instantly, his exhaustion melted away, and determination ignited in his heart. He pushed off the wall and scurried towards his person of interest.

A chunin.

"Such an obvious, simple solution." Kinjo huffed as he approached the unsuspecting shinobi. "Who else to ask about chakra than a person who actually uses it daily?"

The western gate was large and several times taller than Kinjo. The thick, green doors were painted with the Hiragana for "A" and "N," which translated to the word "hermitage" in his mind. Dozens of people entered and exited through the wide-open entrance, with some chunin inspecting cargo and people.

One of the chunin was eating a bento on a nearby bench, his spiky black hair pointing out on both sides. His Konoha headband was fastened on his forehead, just above his narrow, squinty eyes. He was barely a teenager but sported a chunin flak jacket.

"If Brock from Pokemon existed in real life, he would look like this guy with more tame hair," Kinjo smirked. He strutted up to the shinobi with a smile, "Hi!"

The chunin looked down to see a small child waving at him. He leaned forward and patted Kinjo's head, "Hey, little guy, where are your parents?"

"I'm old enough to explore on my own."

"A big kid, amirite?"

"Yep," Kinjo answered. The shinobi was relaxed and in a good mood, which improved the child's spirits. "I'm Kinjo. What's your name?"

"Hayase. Did you need something from me, or are you going around meeting new people?"

"Both. Are you a shinobi?"

Hayase adjusted his headband with a grin, "Damn right; I'm a chunin. Which means I'm better than the average shinobi."

"Then you know how to unlock chakra!"

"You mean "finding" your chakra?"

Kinjo nodded, prompting Hayase to place his bento to the side and placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, "Are you trying to be a shinobi?"

"I am."

"Since you're asking me about how to find your chakra, I'm guessing you're from a civilian family, and you don't know any shinobi. Am I right?"

Another nod, which made the chunin sigh. "Listen, kid. Why do you want to be a shinobi?"

"My dad told me a shinobi saved his life once. I want to be a shinobi to protect my family and home," Kinjo lied smoothly. "Also, I want to do the cool things shinobi can do."

"That's a better answer than most kids your age, but still." Hayase dropped down to Kinjo's height, and his smile faded. "Listen, I'm from a civilian family like you. I also wanted to become a shinobi cause it seemed "cool." I had no idea what I was getting into when I entered the Academy, but it was challenging. And when I became a genin… I got thrown into a war."

"It's not a job for anyone, and you'll face danger daily. Many people drop out or get stuck as a genin, especially kids from civilian families. So, before you spend the rest of your life on this path, are you sure you want to become a shinobi?"

Kinjo almost flinched in surprise at Hayase's intense stare. He had never expected an active shinobi to try and talk him out of joining the Academy. If anything, he had half-expected the chunin to jump at the opportunity to help recruit a child for the shinobi forces, especially since the Leaf was at war.

Perhaps it was because both of them were from civilian families. Or maybe Hayase saw far too many kids fail or die during his tenure as a shinobi. Whatever his reasons were, he waited silently with a grave expression.

"I'm sure," Kinjo replied confidently, returning the intense stare. "I want to be a shinobi."

Hayase let go of the boy's shoulders with a tight-lipped smile, "Don't say I didn't warn you. Since you're insistent on it, I'll help you out."

The chunin patted an empty spot on the bench, and Kinjo sat on it excitedly. He turned to his temporary teacher with wide eyes. "I tried to find my chakra by focusing on it in my head, but I couldn't find it."

"Yeah, it's pretty stupid how easy and hard it is to find your chakra." Hayase shrugged. "Technically, you're supposed to learn this in your first year at the Academy, but I don't care. All those clan kids and kids with shinobi parents will already know how to control their chakra and even use jutsu. Two months of practice will help you, though you'll probably lag behind the kids I just mentioned."

"Why two months?"

"Kid, you want to attend the Academy, but you don't even know when it starts? It starts in April."

"Oh, right."

"Do your parents know?" Hayase rubbed his temples and took another bite from his bento.

"I'm planning on telling them soon."

"Yeah, like today. This is a big decision, kid. It's life-changing. You need to let them know right away. The requirements for the Academy are pretty simple; almost anyone can get in. Make sure to get the Academy handbook, as it'll have all the information you need for enrolling."

"Do you know the title of the book?"

"Just ask for the Academy handbook at any bookstore. They'll know." Hayase clapped his hands and placed them in front of his stomach. "Enough of that; let's talk about chakra. So the way to find your chakra is quite simple. Place your hands in front of your stomach like this, and then concentrate on hardening your abs. Don't focus all your attention on your abs, though; try to "bring out" something within your stomach. Your stomach has the largest concentration of chakra, so focusing on that part will draw it out."

Kinjo placed his hands together in front of his stomach and tightened his stomach. He imagined his guts being pulled out from his body and urged his insides to push forward. For a moment, something stirred in his stomach, and he opened his eyes with a grin. However, instead of feeling the power of chakra, his belly growled.

The boy's cheeks reddened while Hayase clutched his stomach and laughed, "That's what happened to me the first time I tried it! You're on the right track, but let me explain it a bit better. What is chakra?"

"It's an energy you need to be a shinobi."

"That's somewhat right. You can still be a shinobi, even with minimal chakra. Anyways, chakra is a combination of physical and mental energies. Stuff like exercising, using jutsu daily, studying, and meditating can make your chakra more powerful. You can also train to increase the amount of chakra you have, kinda like a muscle. So don't think of chakra as just energy. Instead, think of it also as a physical extension of yourself."

"Got it," Kinjo answered with a frown, returning to his meditation. This time, he tried to draw out the chakra in his stomach while imagining it as an extra limb made of energy, a cumulation of his mental and physical self. He visualized it flexing and unflexing, recalling the sensations of adjusting to a new body.

After a few agonizing minutes, something within heeded his summons.

His insides burned hotly, a spark that quickly blazed into a firestorm. He shuddered as every part of his body heated up from the sensation. Each chakra point was a beacon of power, guiding chakra through every inch of his body.

A sudden shift shook his body as his senses enhanced. His vision noticed the movement of a small squirrel nearby while his limbs lost pounds of weight in an instant. He threw punches into the air, a small whoosh pronounced with every punch. His memory of his past life crystalized, and he could remember every memory in vivid detail. In his drunken state, Kinjo attempted to lift the bench before stopping with a sheepish smile.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Hayase asked with a knowing smirk. "That power-up feeling will die down in a few minutes, but you'll still feel a bit different than before."

"Thanks!" Kinjo exclaimed as he gripped his fists tighter. "I feel ready for the Academy already."

"Right, I almost forgot! Let me jot down a basic chakra exercise for you. It'll help you prepare for the Academy. If you master it, you'll be one step closer to graduating from the Academy."

The young boy gave the chunin a clumsy side hug as the shinobi jotted down the details of the exercise. It was a step-by-step instruction for the Leaf Concentration Practice.

"I'm heading to the bookstore after this. Is there anything I should buy to study for the Academy?"

"Just the handbook should do. For now, train your chakra daily and exercise more; you'll need it."

As Kinjo walked away, he waved cheerfully at the chunin, who was now returning to his post. "Thanks, Hayase-san! I won't forget your help!"

"If you ever become a genin, come find me, kid! I want to see how much you've grown by then!" Hayase shouted with an enthusiastic wave.

The used bookstore was the only shop in a narrow, forgotten alley just three streets away from the heart of Konoha. The exterior was worn and run-down: the green paint cracked, and the windows were mismatched. 'New Tree,' the store's name, was on the slightly crooked sign on top of its white wooden doors. Yet despite its shabby appearance, it was brightly lit, and the interior was filled with comfortable chairs and cushions. It was an allure that drew a considerable number of people to look through the surprisingly spacious interior and vast book collection.

By the time Kinjo arrived at the bookstore, there were only a few hours before sunset. When he entered, his eyes scanned the numerous bookshelves that towered towards the ceiling. He spotted an elderly man sitting behind a desk near the entrance and ran up to him. "Hi. I'm looking for the Academy handbook, a world history book, and books regarding shinobi and chakra."

"Another Academy student, eh?" The older man guessed. He leaned forward and pointed to specific parts of the store. "For the handbook, it'll be in section eight. Quite a few kids dropped out this year, so there'll be plenty of copies there. History books are in section ten, everything from Konoha's history to the world's history. As for books about shinobi and chakra… Are you looking for anything specifically?"

Kinjo pondered upon the question for a few moments before replying. "Do you have books about physical training and taijutsu?"

"Sure do. It'll be near the handbooks in section eight. Just to warn you, all of the books about taijutsu will be about the basic forms and katas. You won't find any advanced styles here. If you need anything else, feel free to come back to me."

"Thank you."

Each area between the bookshelves was marked with a number, making Kinjo's search for the books straightforward. He looked through dozens of used Academy handbooks before discovering the most recent edition. The small, green book with the Leaf logo cost only 20 Ryo, which made him sigh in relief.

Just then, he saw a small child wandering around by themselves with short black hair and a dark green dress, staring at the books and pulling out a small picture book with numerous famous shinobi in them. Kinjo raised an eyebrow as she flipped through the pages and stared at a particular kunoichi with blond hair posing for the camera. The girl giggled and shouted, "So cool!"

"Uhh," Kinjo looked around but found no one else in their section. "Where are your parents?"

"Huh?" She put down her book and floundered around, looking high and low. "Where... mommy?"

He knew what was coming, so he sat beside her and smiled before she turned into a teary mess, "Let's go find your mom, ok?"

She sniffed as her eyes stopped tearing up, "I want book and mommy."

"I'll get you the book too." He checked the price tag on the book and noticed it was only 10 Ryo. "Come on; I'll take you to the front."

Three minutes later, the girl was walking away with her mother, who was firmly holding her hand. She waved at Kinjo as she walked away, to which he returned with a grin. "Come to think of it, I never got her name, huh."

As he turned around to find his next book, he bumped into someone and landed softly on his rear. He rubbed the aching area with a groan and looked up to see who he had run into.

"Are you ok?"

The girl holding out her hand looked vaguely familiar, though not from the previous Kinjo's life. She wore a high-collared indigo shirt with baggy navy blue shorts while her long brown hair was tied into a ponytail. A single mole stood out under her right eye, accenting her wide-open onyx eyes.

"I'm fine," Kinjo answered while squinting his eyes at her.

"Are you mad at me?" The young girl asked, looking away from his gaze.

He blinked and bowed his head."Sorry. I thought I'd seen you somewhere before. I'm Kinjo."

"I'm Izumi. Uchiha Izumi. I don't like staying at the Uchiha Compound a lot, so I like to explore the village. Maybe you saw me when I was exploring."

Kinjo's jaw slacked upon hearing the girl's name. "Oh, that's cool."

"Are you going to attend the Academy too?" Izumi pointed to the Academy handbook that had fallen out of the boy's hand.

"Yeah." He noticed that she was also holding onto an Academy handbook.

"Maybe we'll get put in the same class! How old are you?"

"Six."

"Then I'm older than you." She cocked her head. "I'm seven."

Silence hung over the two as the conversation sputtered out. It took several seconds for Kinjo to speak up, "Did you come here to get the handbook?"

"Yep! The new ones are only a bit more expensive, but my mom said we should save money whenever we can. Before living in the Uchiha Compound, I used to come to this bookstore a lot. So I always come here to get books that I want."

"Isn't the Uchiha Clan, you know, rich?"

Izumi folded her arms and made a face. "My mom and I only rejoined the clan recently, so we're kinda on our own. A lot of the other Uchiha still treat my mom as an outsider, especially since she never awakened her Sharingan and married my dad. They only treat me a bit nicely because I already have my Sharingan."

"You've already awoken your Sharingan?"

"Let's… let's not talk about it." The light in Izumi's onyx eyes faded as she looked at the ground and rotated her foot uncomfortably. "Anyways, what clan are you from?"

Kinjo winced at her reaction but responded calmly. "I'm not from any clan. My family runs a small store on the outskirts of Konoha, a bit south from the western gate."

"Can I come to visit you?"

"Why?"

Izumi looked up, and her eyes twinkled. "Cause I like to explore! I haven't been to your neighborhood before. Plus, we're already friends, and we might be classmates, right?"

"We're friends?"

"We are!"

"I guess we are then," Kinjo chuckled. "The store's name is 'Takashi General Store.' It's a bit small, so it might be hard for you to find it…."

"I'll just walk to your house with you then."

"Right now?"

"After we buy our books." Izumi smiled. "Are you getting any other books?"

"A few more. Do you know anything about physical training and taijutsu?"

"Yep! I'm pretty good at taijutsu. I spar with a few other Uchiha kids almost every day." She led to a nearby shelf and pulled out a few books. "How much money do you have?"

"Not a lot. I only have 150 Ryo."

"Then just these two will do." Izumi handed him the battered books titled 'Genin's Guide to Physical Conditioning' and 'Basic Taijutsu Forms and Katas.' "I have a lot of books about shinobi stuff back at home. Out of all the books I've read, these two are the best."

Kinjo had a sinking suspicion on why she had a lot of books relating to shinobi skills lying around in her house but avowed to side-step the obvious landmine. "Thanks. These two are pretty cheap. I should have just enough money for one more book I want."

"Which one?"

"Just a history book."

"I don't know anything about history, sorry. If you want, I can give you some of my money, and you can use them to buy more books."

"It's fine. Thanks for the offer, though," Kinjo shrugged. This time, he led her through the store to section ten and quickly discovered a thick book about the history of the world that was published two years ago. There was water damage on the cover and rips on the pages, but it was cheap. Altogether, the books came out to a grand total of 140 Ryo.

"You really are a smart kid," Izumi mentioned when she saw the size of the history book.

"You're a kid yourself."

As they left the bookstore after paying, all Kinjo could imagine was the dying face of the girl next to him. She was an innocent child who would be murdered due to the ego and paranoia of others. Even worse, she would die at the hands of her crush.

She was no longer a fictional character. She was a breathing, living being.

Izumi didn't deserve death. Neither did Itachi nor any of the other innocents that were involved in the Massacre.

Now he had the knowledge and a presence in this world. He could make changes; he just needed the power for them.

Izumi flashed a carefree smile, and he gripped his books a little tighter.

Chapter Text

"And that's when a pack of dogs chased me around the street! The people on that street were really weird and just watched and laughed as if it was funny!" Izumi pouted. "I never went back there after that."

"I could imagine," Kinjo answered with a relaxed smile. "I do like dogs, but a pack of them sounds... terrifying."

Izumi nodded. "My mom won't let me get a dog 'cause she said they're too loud. I'm going to make her change her mind, though!"

"I can't have pets cause my mom thinks my siblings and I are the pets." Kinjo mused, recalling those particular words from the mothers of his past and current lives.

"You're kinda small and cute, so I guess?" Izumi giggled, patting the top of his head. He bristled at her touch, but she ignored it and grinned.

"Wait, I just realized... If you're from the Uchiha Clan, then do you know someone named Itachi?"

"Uhh, yeah? He's super smart and mysterious! I've never seen him, even though he lives in the Compound too."

"I see..."

"What do you think you'll have for dinner? My mom really wants me to eat salad, even though I hate lettuce..."

Their conversation continued to drone on. Though there was a noticeable age gap between the two of them, Kinjo felt oddly at ease, and their conversation flowed naturally, with her mentioning random topics and him responding. Before long, they arrived at Kinjo's family store. As he stepped inside, he waved to Izumi, who enthusiastically waved back before hopping away onto the rooftops.

Kinjo was sitting in front of his desk, studying the books before him while stroking his chin. The sun was barely setting into the western sky, though he had already finished his dinner just minutes before. Since he was free for the rest of the day, he was reading about basic katas and taijutsu forms that he would learn at the Academy.

"No wonder the bookstore is allowed to sell this," Kinjo muttered.

He had long forgotten most of his Taekwondo katas and forms after he quit as a red belt. Even so, he recognized the book was for complete beginners, fitting for young kids without any shinobi background or training.

"Still better than nothing. I guess I can start with these and try remembering some of the harder katas from Taekwondo…."

As he placed the book aside, his eyes drifted to 'Genin's Guide to Physical Conditioning.' The image of Izumi sprang into his mind, and he recalled his light conversations with her as they walked to his home.

She didn't personally know Itachi.

One of the items on his priority list was discovering which version of the Naruto world he was in. The novels, the manga, and the anime differed slightly, which meant that any information he had could be outright wrong.

This meant that the information from the Itachi novels was accurate and reliable.

Or so he thought. Then he considered the events outside of the Itachi novels. Would they be consistent with the manga? The anime? Perhaps this world was a mishmash of every Naruto piece out there.

"The anime was the best, so I hope it's the anime Naruto world," Kinjo mumbled.

He decided to put this new piece of information into the back of his mind. If he contemplated this issue any deeper, it would only demoralize him. Additionally, most plot points would remain the same; he just needed to focus on those.

Instead of continuing to read, Kinjo decided to sit on his futon and focus on training his chakra. He tilted his head and placed a single leaf on his forehead.

The notes that Hayase had written for him were clear and concise. While Kinjo knew about the Leaf Concentration Practice, Hayase's notes outlined specific instructions on maximizing his training. The first step of the exercise was to focus on the leaf and keep it attached to his forehead with only his chakra. Since Kinjo had only unlocked his chakra several hours before, Hayase recommended he tilt his head slightly to ease into the exercise. He also warned the young boy to take it slow since it was challenging to control chakra in the initial stages of his training.

Kinjo's newly unlocked energy circulated within his body, and he willed his chakra to his forehead. The flowing chakra was a torrent of warm water circulating through his body, providing warmth and vitality. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his head as his chakra wildly fluctuated, with only a tiny portion listening to his command. His eyes rolled towards his forehead, focusing on the leaf as he tuned out everything around him.

This exercise wasn't only used to improve chakra control but also to enhance a student's ability to concentrate - a method to better a person's mental focus.

As the minutes ticked by, Kinjo felt a little more chakra gathering around his forehead and slightly straightened his neck.

Instead of sticking to his forehead, the leaf slowly fell onto the floor.

"I feel like I just ran a marathon." Kinjo panted as he wiped the sweat from his face. He fell back onto his futon as the strain from the exercise echoed in his body. "I barely managed to control it for ten minutes, and I'm already this exhausted."

He had silently hoped that he had excellent chakra control, or at least larger than average reserves. It seemed like he was out of luck for the former. As for the latter, he had no one to compare his chakra reserves to. He suspected that his chakra reserves were a bit above average from what he felt, but he wasn't sure.

Hayase had pointed out one crucial fact contrary to his prior knowledge: larger chakra reserves did not equate to worse control. There was little correlation between the two. Some were better at controlling their chakra than others. Some were also born with more significant reserves than others. Genetics did influence both, but Kinjo's parents were civilians, not shinobi.

So until he had someone to compare his chakra with, he could not determine if his reserves were bigger than average or if he was just overreacting due to unlocking his chakra recently.

"One more time. I can do this."

Once again, he willed his chakra to his forehead. His insides protested his decision by aching and growling, but Kinjo maintained his composure and focused on the leaf. He lost track of time, but he finally felt a trickle of more chakra responding to his demands. In response, he straightened his neck again to see if the leaf would stick this time.

He never heard his body collapsing onto his futon as darkness overtook him.

Kinjo stirred as something tickled his nose, making him sneeze loudly. He immediately bolted up from his futon and rubbed his eyes while looking around to see what awoke him. He sighted a leaf on his pants and flicked it off to the side. The room was dim, with only the waning crescent moon providing light for his eyes.

His body was aching, but he was awake. He closed his eyes to remember what had happened before he collapsed and sighed. "Chakra exhaustion? I used chakra for maybe half an hour.'

Then again, his body was still adjusting to the feeling and usage of chakra. Combined with his attempts to pour every bit of chakra into the exercise, he drained himself significantly faster than expected.

It was an oversight on his part; he had failed to consider that abysmal control meant he wasted more chakra when using chakra techniques or jutsu.

"I'm definitely not a prodigy then. Itachi was already shooting fireballs at this age, wasn't he?"

The path of a shinobi was long and strenuous; he already understood that much. Thankfully, he still had some time to hone his abilities, but the sense of urgency was still present.

He stumbled out of his room and into the dining room. The clock on the kitchen counter displayed "3:30 AM." It would be two hours before even his father would awake. At least a few hours before his mother left for work.

"No time like the present." Kinjo ignored the soreness and stretched. He trudged back to his room and grabbed the book on physical conditioning, rifling through the yellowed pages. "Volume builds muscle, whereas heavy loads maximize strength. Improving strength boosts recovery of stamina and chakra, increases speed and power, and pushes the upper limits of the body beyond."

"For beginners, it is important to build endurance and the core above all else. Expanding stamina will allow one to train and fight for longer periods, a crucial trait needed to rapidly improve one's growth. Strengthening the core improves balance and stability, a foundation to build upon. As such, this training regimen is highly recommended for those taking their first tentative steps in becoming a shinobi."

The training regimen was uncomplicated yet grueling. Core exercises such as planks and glute bridges, and a light jog on Mondays. Long-distance endurance runs on Tuesdays. Wednesdays' routine was the same as Mondays', while Thursdays were the only rest days. Fridays consisted of interval runs, while Saturdays were also endurance runs. Sundays were a mix of some core exercises and interval runs.

The number of reps for the core exercises was listed. However, the regimen merely suggested "until completely fatigued" for running.

"I guess that's the point. It's telling me to push my limits and all," Kinjo commented.

He marked the page with the regimen and closed the book. After he changed into his usual clothing and a red hoodie, he wrote a note informing his parents that he was out for a run and left it on the dining table.

Kinjo ran out of his house and into the empty streets of Konoha. The silence was almost eerie, as he only witnessed his neighborhood being packed with people. Even so, he continued to jog, enjoying the fresh morning air and the clear view of the sky.

His destination: the Academy.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Or, in my case, a really tiny step."

Three weeks.

It took three weeks for Kinjo to reach the Academy during his morning runs. His family's store and the school were on opposite ends of the village, a distance he greatly underestimated during his first run. And due to his abysmal chakra control, he could not utilize his chakra to supplement his running. Instead, he ran normally for the first two weeks, and his small physique struggled to reach anywhere near the Academy.

After the second week, he finally achieved a breakthrough in his training. It was the cumulation of practicing the Leaf Concentration Practice several times a day, as Kinjo teetered on the edge of chakra exhaustion each time to improve his control.

He could finally keep the leaf stuck on his forehead, though it still fell off if he straightened his neck completely.

However, he thought it was impressive since his chakra control had been nearly nonexistent just several weeks prior. And this milestone allowed him to incorporate another method into his training.

Mixing chakra with his physical training.

The physical conditioning book briefly outlined how a shinobi utilized chakra for endurance training. It was said that the ability would come 'naturally' if the person had a grasp of chakra control. Like the Leaf Concentration Practice, he needed to will his chakra to his lower half and use it to enhance his speed. Thankfully, this was much easier to achieve than the chakra control exercise as he only required a minimal amount of chakra for the process. Additionally, he only needed to direct his chakra to a general location in his body, compared to a single focal point.

Even so, he could only run in short bursts while using chakra. While his control had improved significantly in his few short weeks of training, he still wasted far too much chakra for even the simplest of techniques. He sought to avoid suffering from chakra exhaustion while running; hence he placed limitations on using chakra outside of his home. Still, it was enough for him to increase the distance he covered during his runs, especially his interval runs.

Now, he was running back home after catching a brief glimpse of his goal. His pace was noticeably quicker, yet he was panting heavily as he weaved through the streets. Due to the use of chakra, he could run faster than his old adult self in the other world.

Kinjo decided to stop and take a quick break as his insides throbbed. It was an internal warning that he had used a considerable amount of chakra.

"The free dorms near the Academy for students sounds nice." Kinjo took a long swig from the water bottle hanging from his neck and wiped the sweat out of his eyes. "But running to the Academy daily will help me improve my stamina. A ten-kilometer jog just to get to school…."

As the pain faded to the background, Kinjo slowly jogged back towards his house at a measured pace. His day's regimen consisted of interval runs, which was why he saved up the remainder of his chakra for the final kilometer to his house.

The sun was barely rising in the east as he spotted the one-kilometer marker from his house: a small furniture store painted blue.

"I wish I had music to listen to while running," Kinjo remarked as he willed a familiar, warm feeling to wash over his lower body. He concentrated on the road ahead as the buildings around him blurred away as he raced down the street with familiar ease.

He only realized he had arrived back at his house when he saw someone loitering at the entrance of his family's store. The girl turned towards the sound of footsteps and waved excitedly when she saw who was running. "Kinjo!"

"Izumi," Kinjo answered with a smile. "I haven't seen you in a while."

While the Uchiha had promised to visit soon, he hadn't heard from her since the day he met her at the bookstore. He had assumed that she had forgotten about him and the promise and continued his preparations for the Academy.

"Sorry!" Izumi clapped her hand together and bowed. "I was going to visit you a few weeks ago, but the elders kept me busy until yesterday."

"What did the elders make you do?"

The girl frowned. "They made me train my Sharingan continuously."

"Do you have to train the Sharingan?" He asked innocently, well-aware of the answer to his own question.

"Of course! It's like any jutsu or technique. You have to practice with it to get better. I always faint if I use my Sharingan, so the elders were trying to teach me not to faint while using it. And training me on other cool jutsu stuff."

"So you can use the Sharingan without any problems now?"

"Nope!" Izumi grinned. "I still faint if I use it, and I couldn't do any of the jutsu they taught me properly. The elders got sick of me and called me a failure, so now I'm free again."

Kinjo's jaw dropped. "Isn't that a bad thing?

"Not really. This is like the third time the elders tried to train me, and I failed each time. I think they want me to be another Itachi."

"Huh. Do you think you're better than Itachi at anything?"

"Taijutsu," Izumi replied instantly. "I can beat all the other Uchiha boys my age, though I've never fought Itachi before. He usually plays by himself."

"Then can you train me in taijutsu?"

"Sure! It shouldn't be too hard. Were you running for training?"

Kinjo nodded. "I've been training since the day at the bookstore."

"Wanna race?" Izumi asked as she tightened her sandals, her eyes glistening at the idea.

"Not right now. I'm a bit tired from running all morning." Kinjo yawned.

"Ok, then I'm going to explore your store!"

"Now, wait a minute…."

Izumi rushed into the store before Kinjo could continue. When he followed her inside, she was already chatting with his father.

"Hello, Takashi-san. I'm Uchiha Izumi. Nice to meet you!"

Her cheerful demeanor was infectious, and Kinjo's father smiled in response. "Hello, Izumi. I'm Makoto, Kinjo's father. I'm guessing you're his friend?"

"She is," Kinjo answered in her stead. "I met her at the bookstore a few weeks ago."

"Ah, my son is all growing up. I thought I wouldn't be surprised by your maturity anymore, but look at you! You've got a girlfriend already." Makoto gently elbowed Kinjo's ribs with a knowing smirk. "Make sure to treat her well."

Kinjo pushed his hands into his face as Izumi blushed. "She's just a friend. She wanted to see our store ever since we met."

"Feel free to make yourself at home then. We still have an hour until we open up shop. So until then, the whole store is yours," The man announced, a smirk still plastered on his face. "Since you're Kinjo's friend, I'll give you a discount on anything you want."

Izumi nodded excitedly and rushed to the front of the store. There, she picked up a peculiar-looking turquoise gemstone from a basket and awed at it. "This looks like the Uchiha symbol!"

"It does?" Kinjo asked. He analyzed the stone, which was round with a small tail sticking out. "It looks more like a tadpole."

"Maybe if I painted it the right colors…."

"That would ruin the gemstone."

"I know… I guess it already looks pretty as it is. Maybe I'll get this one and wear it as a necklace."

"The necklace and bracelet strings are on the shelf next to the basket," Kinjo's father called out from under the counter.

A few minutes later, Izumi was sporting a turquoise gemstone necklace with a bright grin. "If this is your store, then where is your house?"

"My family lives upstairs," Kinjo replied, waving towards the ceiling.

"Do you have any siblings?"

"A brother and a sister."

"Can I go meet them?"

Kinjo looked to his father for help, but Makoto nodded toward Izumi. "Sure."

The two went upstairs and greeted the rest of the Takashi family. Kinjo's mother looked surprised but pleased at Izumi's presence. Meanwhile, Mika bounced off the walls and scurried up to Izumi. "Can we play together?"

"Aww, she's adorable." Izumi cooed as she embraced Mika. "I've always wanted a sister."

"Izumi and I need to do something for a second, Mika." Kinjo nudged Izumi towards his room. "After that, you can play with her, ok? Make sure to be a good girl for mom."

"Ok! I'll be the best girl for mom!" Mika declared while jumping into the air.

Kinjo patted her head and ushered Izumi to his room. She tilted her head as he rolled up his futon and placed it by his desk. "Why am I in your room again?"

"Can you watch my kata and give me your opinion on it?"

"You mean the basic ones from the book? They're easy. You've probably mastered it already."

"No, I came up with a few of my own," Kinjo lied.

Izumi's eyes widened, and she eagerly nodded.

He went into his old Taekwondo stance, motioning his hands as if he was directing all his chakra into his core. He then proceeded to the first moves of the seventh Taeguk form with grace.

A knife-hand strike to his right, followed by a straight front kick.

A block with his left forearm, then a turn to carry out the first two moves from his left side.

Another block, this time with his right forearm. He then turned to the center and struck below the belt twice.

These moves were followed by a flurry of punches, kicks, elbow strikes, high knees, and blocks. The kata lasted just over a minute.

"Wow, you came up with that on your own?" Izumi asked while clapping lightly. "It seems a bit slower and more flashy than the forms I was taught, but it looks good. Let's spar and see if you can use that in a fight!"

"Woah, not in here. And I have to go help my dad with the store after I eat breakfast."

Izumi pouted. "Fine. Whenever we get the chance, we'll spar. There's a park near your house, so we can practice there."

The two left his room and joined Kinjo's mother and siblings in the dining room. Mika ran around excitedly and skipped to Izumi, "Big sis, let's play!"

"Sure! What do you want to play?" The older girl answered brightly, patting the younger girl's head.

"Let's play minko!"

"Here." Kinjo handed Izumi his deck with a knowing smile. "I knew she would ask to play that with you; it's the only game she plays these days."

While the two girls played a loud game of minko, Kinjo sat on one of the dining chairs and watched over his brother, who was gurgling happily. His mother was cooking in the kitchen, preparing some extra food for the guest.

Ten minutes later, they were all sitting around the dining table and eating a light breakfast of rice, miso soup, eggs, tofu, and pickled daikons.

"It's nice to have you over, dear," Kinjo's mother remarked as she handed the girl a bowl of miso soup. "How did you meet Kin?"

Izumi accepted her bowl and ate a spoonful of rice. "We met at the New Tree bookstore."

"My, my. Kin and I went there once when I needed some books on sewing. What were you there for?"

"I was getting the Academy handbook. Kinjo was also getting one, and I bumped into him by accident. We became friends after."

"The Academy?" Kinjo's mother's eyebrows rose. "What academy?"

Kinjo interjected. "Oh, the…"

"The shinobi one!" Izumi replied cheerfully, making Kinjo groan.

"Kin? What does she mean by you attending the shinobi academy?"

The boy in question began to sweat as something stirred in the air around his mother. "I… I meant to tell you when I was ready."

"You want to attend an academy dedicated to killing? A war is going on right now, and you want to become a shinobi?" The matriarch's voice became louder and louder with each word. "I will not let my sweet, little boy become a killing machine and risk his life every day. No one in our family has ever been a shinobi, and there won't be any in the future! Seriously Kin! Did you think that I would allow you to become a shinobi? Do you think I will sleep well knowing you could be dying somewhere? What about taking over your father's store? You enjoy working there, don't you?"

He winced as his mother's words dampened his mood. Izumi looked at the two with furrowed brows. "Wait, you didn't tell your mom about joining the Academy?"

"I was going to tell her after I trained and improved a little more…."

Unfortunately, he forgot to warn Izumi before the conversation took that turn.

"Is that why you're running in the morning now?" Kinjo's mother fumed as she slammed her spoon onto the table. "Kin, you are grounded. Grounded! I can't believe I am having this conversation with one of my children right now."

She turned to Izumi, who flinched from the woman's glare. "Were you the one that corrupted my son? He never showed any sign of wanting to become a shinobi until he went to that bookstore!"

"Mom." Kinjo stood up and placed his left arm in front of Izumi protectively. "She has nothing to do with this. This is between you and me."

"It's not just me, young man." She dropped the affectionate nickname she used for Kinjo and tightened her fists. "It's also your father."

Suddenly the door to the dining room opened, and Kinjo's father sauntered into the room with a quizzical smile. "I heard shouting from the store and came up to see what was happening. What's this about?"

Kinjo's heart dropped as he slowly turned to look at his father. He straightened his posture and looked the man straight in the eye before dropping the bombshell. "I want to go to the shinobi academy."

Chapter Text

"The shinobi academy…." Unlike his mother, his father mused at Kinjo's declaration and maintained an unreadable expression. "Why?"

"You told me that a shinobi saved your life a few years ago. I want to be a shinobi to help people and protect all of you. I'm serious about this and am willing to dedicate my life to it."

The two parents looked at each other, remaining silent as an uneasy peace reigned in the room. Kinjo's mother's expression softened, but her scowl remained. His father frowned, a facial expression Kinjo rarely saw from him. "I see."

Makoto lumbered towards his son and towered over him. "I'm not entirely surprised. The moment Izumi mentioned her family name… Well, I suspected it."

"Uchiha," The man's wife spat. "I should've guessed. They hardly leave their compound unless they're shinobi."

"Aya, please stop scaring Izumi. She's a kind, friendly girl. I'm sure she had nothing to do with our son's decision."

The Uchiha moved to the side to see Kinjo's father smiling reassuringly at her, which she returned. He looked at his eldest child, who stood defiantly. "You remembered what I told you."

"Yes, I did," Kinjo answered stiffly.

"I didn't tell you the whole story then, but I guess it's the right time to tell you."

"Mako, just tell him no and be done with it…." Aya urged.

"Give us some space."

As his father dragged him away to his parent's bedroom, Kinjo slowly waved to Izumi. She hesitantly waved back, shrinking when Kinjo's mother turned to her. When he glanced at his mother, all he could see was the depth of her anger in her eyes.

The master bedroom was noticeably spartan, with only a futon, some sewing equipment, and two dressers. After they entered, his father pulled out a coin from his pocket and fiddled with it before speaking. "You see, son, a shinobi saved my life two years ago. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure out what was happening then."

An eerie image of a giant monster destroying entire neighborhoods popped up in Kinjo's mind.

"I do."

"When the demon attacked our village, I was visiting a friend's house near the center of the village, right by the old marketplace. I was in the direct line of fire. The demon unleashed some sort of power and destroyed the entire block I was in." He gripped the coin tightly and closed his eyes. "My friend didn't make it. I only survived due to dumb luck."

"A shinobi?"

His father nodded. "My legs were pinned by the rubble of my friend's house, and I was too weak and injured to lift it off me. The house was still standing but on the verge of collapse. So I waited for my death in the dark for several minutes as the house creaked and groaned. I yelled for help, but I was sure I would die. It was loud that day, son. There was screaming and crying everywhere, and I was one of thousands calling for help."

"Then, a miracle happened." The man rubbed the coin and looked past Kinjo. "Someone had heard me and dashed through an opening in the walls. He lifted the rubble off me and carried me out just minutes before the house caved in. Before I could thank him, he collapsed in my arms."

He placed the coin right in front of his son's face. Kinjo stared at the foreign coin and noticed red marks on the surface.

Dried blood.

"He was dying," Makoto whispered. "When I lifted him up, I noticed a torrent of blood on my arms and clothes; he had a gaping hole in his stomach. I got him to the hospital as fast as I could limp, but he died shortly after arriving. He managed to wake up for a minute before he passed away. He handed me this coin, telling me it was a good luck charm for him and wanted me to have it.

"After he died, I asked for his information, to know who my savior was. I was told he was fighting the demon and evacuating civilians on the frontlines that terrible day. He was rushing to the hospital after receiving a mortal injury. He might have been alive today if he didn't stop to rescue me. He was an orphan who went against all odds to become a fine chunin. His name was Toya Satoshi. "

"Satoshi," Kinjo repeated, his eyes widening at the name.

"Yes, like your younger brother. It was the least I could do for the man who sacrificed himself for a nobody." Makoto let out a bitter laugh. "Our village lost a good man that day, and I sometimes wonder if I should've been the one to perish instead of him."

Kinjo only offered a tentative nod as he listened to his father ramble.

His father smiled. "Ha. And now, my eldest son is trying to run away from the family business and go about his own path."

"It's what I want to do,"

"I know. I can tell. I am your father, after all. When you were working in the store, you never seemed happy. If anything, you looked bored and uninterested."

"Yet, when you told me you wanted to attend the shinobi academy… I saw a fire in your eyes. Something that I have never seen from you before."

His father sat on the floor and gingerly placed the coin on his lap. "I'm not going to try and stop you. You're determined, and even if I try to stop you here, you'll try to find a way regardless of my opinion. Now, before I let you enroll there, I need to make sure of something."

"Shinobi have a reputation for being ruthless killers, soldiers that carry out the will of the village. But that man… Satoshi had something more that made me realize that shinobi aren't that shallow. He had a heart, even as a shinobi."

"Can you promise me that even if you become the greatest shinobi this world has ever seen, you will still retain your heart? To always be my and your mother's son and the older brother to your siblings? A shinobi with a soul?"

"I… Of course. Yes."

Makoto handed him the coin and slapped his back. "Then you have my permission, son. Go out there and let everyone know about the great Takashi Kinjo: part-time general store worker and full-time shinobi."

Kinjo accepted the coin and carefully placed it in his pocket. "I won't let you down."

"I know you won't... You know what? Maybe I should've taken up that offer to buy soldier pills. I have to support my son somehow, after all." 

Kinjo sighed at his father's attempt at a joke. "Just when I thought you were a little cooler than before."

"You mean you didn't see me as an amazing father? I'm hurt, son."

The father laughed as the son groaned. "Also, don't be too harsh on your mother. She wants what she thinks is the best for you, and I understand her views. And she's not entirely wrong about her worries either. Since you've made this important decision, I trust that you've been working hard not to make us worry in the future?"

"I've been training every day, and I can even control my chakra… somewhat."

"That's my son. You'll be in the Academy for several years, so you have all the time you need to improve your shinobi skills. By the time you graduate, I'm sure you'll be more than strong enough to take care of yourself. Now, let's go out there and face the music, shall we?"

When the two left the room, the occupants of the dining room turned toward them with expectant eyes. Kinjo's mother waited patiently with her arms crossed, glancing at the Uchiha occasionally. Izumi was silent and squirming in her chair, her gaze avoiding the Takashi matriarch. Though Mika was busy playing with Takashi, her head was turned toward her father and brother.

"He's going," Kinjo's father announced.

"Makoto!"

"Aya, trust me. It's something he absolutely wants to do. There's no point of us chaining him here when he wants to go out there."

The woman's face reddened as she massaged her temples. "Do you not care that our son might die in some foreign land, never to return home?"

"You're underestimating him. He's already determined to become a great shinobi. He wakes up earlier than me so that he can train."

"Even if he's the best, he isn't immortal! Lord First was killed in battle, even though he is considered the greatest shinobi in history! And what about Lord Fourth? A freak of nature killed him! Our son can't deal with the threats out there!"

"And if our village is attacked again, who better than our own son to protect us? He is growing up very fast, Aya. I think he might be smarter than me already. If he continues to grow at this rate, then I'm sure there will be very few people that can threaten him by the time he grows up!"

"They'll send him to war when he's twelve, Makoto! Twelve! Some kids are being sent out much younger than that!"

"Then he has six years to train and prepare himself. He's already training hard now. Imagine what he'll be like in six years!"

"Even if he turns out to be a skilled shinobi, I don't want to lose our son! He'll be turned into a mindless killing machine, like all the other ones in this village!"

"He won't." Kinjo's father turned to his eldest son with a grimace. "I know he won't. Kids, I think you should step outside while the adults talk."

The argument between his parents had captured Kinjo's complete attention, to the point where he finally realized that his brother was crying and waving his fists while screaming, "Mama!"

Kinjo ushered Izumi and his siblings to the store, which was still closed. As he listened in on the commotion upstairs, Izumi tapped his shoulders and bowed her head. "I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble."

"No… I think this might be for the best. They needed to discuss this now instead of later. It's my fault anyway; you have nothing to apologize for." Kinjo answered.

"I think your mom hates me now."

"She's just overreacting. I'll tell her how great you are when she's done arguing with my dad."

Izumi looked at the floor and rubbed her hands. "Still, I feel like I messed things up."

"I'm sure things will die down soon. Until then, can you show me a few katas?"

"I can't show you any of my clan stuff," Izumi replied with a frown. "I can show you other ones, though!"

"I thought you only knew your clan's forms?"

Izumi scoffed. "That would make me way too predictable. I'm the best at taijutsu, remember? I know a bunch of forms and katas. Come on, let me show you."

She ran into one of the aisles and started to demonstrate her knowledge. Kinjo barely managed to stop her from accidentally side-kicking a shelf. He tensed his shoulders as he watched her go through a series of motions slower than before, his attention drifting away from his parents to focus on the overeager Uchiha.

He never discovered what his father said to persuade his mother, but several hours later, both of his parents gave him permission to enroll at the Academy. His mother looked defeated when they reaffirmed his father's decision, while his father smiled jovially.

He was going to be a shinobi.

"Come on, Kinjo. You have to try harder than that."

"Easy for you to say, Izumi."

Kinjo focused on the girl before him, aiming at her torso and striking quickly with his fists. She was weaving and dodging all his strikes without breaking a sweat. The two were in a small park that was a five-minute walk from the Takashi family's store. It was a tranquil recreational area with a pond, an open field, and numerous trees that towered over the narrow footpaths. The park was in a quieter part of the neighborhood, and only a few people were inside the park, making it a perfect location for the two future Academy students to train.

It had been a few days since Kinjo's parents agreed to let him join the Academy, and he was learning the basics from his friend in preparation for the Academy, which started in a month and a half. The duo had been "sparring" for over an hour, but the boy had yet to hit her. His Taekwondo kata was useless for sparring, as he was too slow to utilize it, and the moves were too predictable. Meanwhile, Izumi had only been evading his hits instead of attacking, as they knew she could knock him out in one go.

"You're trying to punch too hard," Izumi commented as she redirected Kinjo's punch with the palm of her hand. "You can't leave any gaps when attacking. Otherwise, someone better than you will wallop you while you're off-balance."

Her partner didn't respond verbally but shortened his punches and jabbed while his forearms protectively guarded his core. She grinned as one of his punches grazed her guard. "Better. I'm going to fight back now, so try to keep up."

In a flash, her right fist was just inches away from his face, and Kinjo stepped back in a panic.

A blink and her legs were barreling towards his stomach, which he blocked with his arms. His bones creaked as he pushed her leg away and aimed a knife hand at her throat.

Izumi grabbed his hand and struck his jaw faster than he could raise his guard. While being hit, he flailed out with his right leg, wobbling from the blow and the sudden imbalance from his attack.

"Always keep your eyes on your opponent. You're as good as dead if you don't know where your opponent is," Izumi advised as she grabbed his leg, pinning him while striking his chest with her right palm. "Also, if you look away while attacking, your attacks will be weaker and miss. It also makes your opponent more aggressive."

Kinjo staggered back, gasping loudly. Izumi came up to him and began to babble. "Are you ok? Do you want to stop for today? I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"It's fine." He assured her while rubbing his aching chest. "I can keep going."

Usually, Izumi was carefree and excitable. However, when she started sparring with him, her expression turned serious, and she emitted an air of professionalism and maturity. To Kinjo, the contrast was jarring. It was as if she had aged several years in seconds, her analysis and comments about his fighting style reinforced by wisdom beyond her years.

She nodded hesitantly. "Don't flinch when you get hit. If your opponent hits you, stay calm and focus on landing a clean hit so that you can hit them back."

Then the beating continued.

She was graceful as a ballerina when she fought, shifting her feet swiftly and moving with practiced ease. Her ability to fluidly switch between various forms made taijutsu look like an art, a choreography.

However, instead of spinning into the air in front of an entranced audience, she was pummeling him into the ground with ruthless efficiency.

Several minutes later, Kinjo was lying on the ground in a heap while Izumi stood over him with a sheepish grin. He could taste dirt and a hint of iron in his mouth.

"I don't think I'm that good at teaching." Izumi sighed.

"No, you were fine." The young boy groaned as he pushed himself off the ground. "I learned a lot from this… This wasn't even a spar; I was basically a punching bag."

"You're a lot better than when I first started sparring. You'll get better over time." Izumi insisted as she helped him up. "I'll teach you something called Araki-ryu the next time we spar. It's really cool, and there's a lot of grappling! Let's move on to the next part of our training today."

They took a short break to recuperate and sat on the fresh grass in the clearing. She picked up a dandelion and blew on it, watching as the small fuzzy petals floated off into the cloudy winter sky. "Is your mom still mad at me?"

"Yeah, she's just being childish," Kinjo frowned as he recalled his parents' fight two weeks ago. "I think we just need to give her some time. After all, I'm the first in my family to become a shinobi. This entire experience is new to my family."

His mother conceded the battle but not the war. She continued to treat Kinjo affectionately but tried using her relationship with him to make him reconsider his enrollment in the Academy. The Takashi matriarch also shunned Izumi, warning him of the dangers of hanging out with a "dangerous girl" like her and grumbling about the Uchiha clan.

As such, Izumi was barred from visiting his family home, though she occasionally visited the shop and played with Mika.

"I like your mom, but she's scary," Izumi confessed.

"It's not just you. Mika was wary of my mom for a few days after the argument. Even dad looked like he wanted to sleep in his shop instead of his room."

"Maybe you can visit my house and meet my mom. She's a lot nicer."

"Isn't the Uchiha Compound off-limits to outsiders?" Kinjo inquired.

Izumi tilted her head. "Who told you that? Anyone can visit as long as a Uchiha accompanies them."

"Huh, I didn't know that."

"Eh, I'm still getting used to the rules too." She waved her hand as she looked up at the sky. "I didn't want to move to that stuffy place, but my mom said we had to. She said it was a new rule or something."

Kinjo froze as he digested her words. The seeds of rebellion were already planted. All he could hope was that it wasn't too late to uproot them.

"Back to training!" Izumi exclaimed as she shot up from the ground. "I'm gonna teach you the easiest jutsu you need to master to graduate from the Academy: the Transformation Jutsu."

"Why is it the easiest?"

"Because you don't need to have good chakra control to use it. And you told me you're having trouble with your chakra control."

"I'm not that bad at it." Kinjo retorted. "I can stick the leaf on my forehead without craning my neck… for like a few seconds. Does it usually take this long to master that exercise?"

He still practiced his chakra control and stamina daily, but it took longer to see results than expected. Sticking the leaf on his forehead was only the first step of the exercise. He still had to learn how to rotate it in the direction of his chakra and then rotate it in the other direction.

At times, he couldn't tell if the leaf was sticking due to his chakra or sweat.

"Maybe? I think it depends on the person. I took a while to master that too." Izumi scratched her head. "I'm not that good with ninjutsu, but I'm pretty sure I'm better than you."

"Ouch."

"It's true! The elders might think I suck 'cause I can't use my Sharingan or learn all their complicated jutsu stuff, but I know how to use the three basic jutsu."

The boy patted her shoulders, "You don't suck. You might not be great at ninjutsu, but you're great at taijutsu. Besides, you know three more jutsu than I do, and you're good enough to teach me."

Izumi blinked before smiling. "I never thought I would be lectured by a kid that's younger than me, but thanks."

"Again, you are only one year older."

"Still older," She teased. "Anyways, Transformation Jutsu. The hand signs are simple: Dog, Boar, and then Ram. When trying to use it, you should imagine your body shifting into the person you want to turn into. Picture your chakra changing your outer appearance, kinda like changing your clothes."

"That's a bit… weird, but yeah, I hear you. What should I transform into?"

"Hmm… It's easier to transform into something close to your size and shape… So how about you transform into me?"

"What?" Kinjo stared at her with widened eyes. She stared back with a quizzical smile.

"What? You're only a bit shorter than me, and you can look at me before transforming. It'll turn out more accurate if you transform into me!"

"If you say so, sure…."

Kinjo observed his counterpart with a reluctant gaze, noting all her prominent facial features and visualizing his face turning into hers. He also noted her clothes and limbs, imagining the correct shade of purple and blue for her shirt and shorts.

He tried not to overthink about turning into a girl.

"I think I'm ready," Kinjo declared as he warmed up his fingers.

"Remember, dog, boar, and ram. You got this!"

Kinjo loosened his shoulders and placed his hands together, calling upon his chakra to change his outer appearance. His mind recalled the hand signs that Izumi had shown several days prior.

Left-hand flat over his right fist.

Both of his wrists inwards and touching each other. He winced while maintaining the awkward position.

Hands together vertically, with the left thumb on top.

"Transformation Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke surrounded him, and when he saw his body again, he noticed some peculiarities.

Such as the fact that his transformation didn't go all the way.

He remained a dude, that was for sure.

Kinjo looked around and realized he could see Izumi eye to eye without any support. His fingers were longer and more slender, and his hair was lighter and reached his shoulders. Glancing at his clothes, his shirt was brighter than Izumi's, and his pants were slightly too long.

"This is really weird."

Izumi giggled as she walked around him to inspect his handiwork. "Mmm… First off, you don't have any eyebrows."

"What?"

"Come and take a look."

The duo scurried to the pond, and Kinjo stared at his reflection. His jaws dropped as Izumi laughed uncontrollably next to him.

He had no eyebrows, the anti-Lee. And he noticed his nose and ears remained unchanged.

"Remember, you have to focus on all aspects. You got my eyes, my mouth, and my mole right. But you got a lot of things wrong," Izumi lectured.

"Yeah, like the fact that I'm still a guy."

"Oh." Izumi blushed. "That is definitely wrong."

"I think I might've messed up the boar hand sign. That sign is uncomfortable to form."

"You get used to it. That's why you should also exercise your wrist every day. You need flexible wrists to do the hand signs fast and to throw things like kunai."

Kinjo nodded as he rotated his stiff wrists. "Anything else?"

"Mmm. Make sure you're thinking about sending the chakra across your body when doing the jutsu. That might be why you stayed as a boy."

"Got it, thanks. I guess I'll practice transforming into my siblings and parents too."

Izumi giggled again. "Make sure not to transform into your mom without eyebrows. I don't think she'll ever forgive you for that."

They laughed together as Kinjo dispelled his jutsu and tried not to imagine his mother without eyebrows.

Only a week remained before the Academy started, so Kinjo decided to expand his skillset before his first classes.

Located in the northeastern parts of Konoha, the Uchiha Compound sat in a forgotten corner near a lowly populated residential area. It was detached from the central business districts of the village and away from the major entrances. The Hokage Tower loomed to the west like a watchtower, an eye carefully observing the clan. The Konoha Military Police Headquarters was located between the two, an unsteady middle ground between Konoha and the Uchiha.

He stood in front of the entrance to the Uchiha Compound: a tall, intimidating gate with two Uchiha banners adorned on the top. Several large buildings peaked over the area's walls, while the open gates revealed an ordinary-looking street filled with shops and people.

At first glance, the compound seemed like any other part of Konoha. Yet, the intense gaze of an Uchiha chunin sitting in front of the gate, the endless walls, and the lack of civilians entering the district suggested otherwise.

It wasn't its own district; it was its own nation like San Marino, surrounded by a much larger Italy.

Kinjo frowned. "I thought the compound was smaller than this."

"Our clan is one of the biggest in Konoha, with over a thousand people. A lot of them are shinobi, but some are civilians too." Izumi remarked.

"So, everyone in the clan lives here?"

"Pretty much. Maybe a few people with some Uchiha blood live outside, but they're only distantly related to the clan."

"Huh."

They walked through the gate, with Izumi smiling and waving at the chunin watching them. Surprisingly, the shinobi waved back, his expression softening at the girl's antics.

Izumi noticed Kinjo's stiff shoulders and patted his back."Takeshi is nice. He watches over my training sometimes. He just likes to glare at people 'cause he thinks it makes him look scary."

"Does he just sit there all day?"

"No, silly. He's only there once a week for a few hours. He's not the only entrance guard."

The pair strolled through the streets, with Kinjo eyeing the various shops and houses. The buildings were noticeably more traditional and were painted in darker shades than he had seen in his home's street. Tiled roofs, sliding doors, and front yard gardens appeared to be the norm in the district.

He also counted more than a dozen Uchiha banners in a single street alone, reminding him of his hometown in his other life. It was also quieter than he was accustomed to, with only faint whispers and sounds of movement reaching his ears.

"Here we are!" Izumi announced as she placed her hands on her hips. "Home sweet home."

Her home was on the topmost floor of a two-story weathered apartment. The apartment was a mix of traditional and contemporary design: a modern complex with old-fashioned windows and doors. It was in better shape than his own house, but it certainly wasn't luxurious. Yet, Kinjo marveled at the apartment appreciatively as he climbed up the stairs with her. "Where did you live before you moved here?"

"In the southeast, near where the Nara Clan lives. Why?"

"Just wondering." Kinjo fidgeted as they reached her apartment, labeled as "206." "Is your mom ok with me visiting?"

"Yep! She likes it when my friends visit. I think she gets more excited than me sometimes." Izumi chattered as she smiled. "I'm sure she'll like you too."

She opened the door and threw her shoes aside while running in. "Mom, I'm home!"

The apartment was surprisingly well-furnished with a clean kitchen, a modest living room with several couches, a balcony that oversaw much of the Uchiha Compound, and two bedrooms. A woman was sitting on the living room sofa when the duo walked in.

"Welcome back!" Izumi's mother hugged her daughter with a grin. After she finished hugging Izumi, she turned toward Kinjo. "This must be your friend from outside the compound! It's nice to finally meet you, Kinjo. My daughter has talked about you almost every day."

She was a physical inverse of her daughter: dark caramel eyes and jet-black hair, which fell loosely at her hips. She was significantly taller than Kinjo's father, yet her warm expression ran contrary to her large presence.

Then again, his mother was kind until she was angry.

Kinjo prayed that he would never anger Izumi's mother.

"I'm just gonna grab dad's stuff and go out to train with Kinjo!" Izumi shouted as she stormed off to her room.

"Would you like any cookies?" Izumi's mother asked as she pulled out a container from the kitchen cupboard. "I baked them yesterday."

"Sure, thank you."

He graciously accepted three matcha cookies and chewed them softly. "These are good, ma'am."

"That's good to hear. I was afraid Izumi would eat all of them by herself, but thankfully, you dropped by." She sat on one of the dining room chairs and motioned for him to sit on the sofa. "She hasn't beaten you up, has she?"

"Uh…" His thoughts betrayed him, and images of his best portrayal of a human rag doll popped into his head. "No?"

Izumi's mother sighed. "That girl… She gets far too overexcited at times. I'm sorry if she hurt you badly."

"It's alright. I'm used to it."

"Well, you shouldn't be." She frowned unhappily. "I swear, she's too much like her father."

He stopped eating and looked at her, his eyes widening at the comment. "Is she…"

"She's looking at pictures of her father. He passed away two years ago while doing his duties as a shinobi." Her tone was rather monotonous and dispassionate at the mention of her dead husband.

Kinjo's brows furrowed as he placed the last cookie on the table. "Is there something wrong, ma'am?"

"It's nothing. Just give my daughter a few minutes, and she'll be out."

Instead of inquiring further, he slowly ate the last cookie as a heavy silence permeated the room.

"I'm back!" Izumi announced as she kicked open the door to her room and rejoined them. She was carrying a small pouch of kunai and shurikens, along with a tanto. "What were you guys talking about?"

"We were just waiting for you, sweetie. Make sure to practice safely and come back home before six."

"Of course, mom! Come on, Kinjo, let's go!" Izumi practically dragged Kinjo away as his eyes remained on her mother.

Something wasn't right, but was it his place to ask?

Kinjo flicked the kunai towards his target, his fingers lightly holding the bottom half and releasing it with minimal resistance. It spun several times before bouncing off the wooden dummy's arm.

The practice range was only a short walk from Izumi's apartment, and the two were training their kenjutsu with varying degrees of success. Thankfully, bare wooden walls covered the range's perimeter, preventing loose projectiles from hitting a passerby.

"That's better! Aim for the body, though, since it's the biggest target on a person," Izumi suggested.

Another flick. This time, the kunai spun only three times before lodging into the dummy's stomach.

Izumi grinned and patted Kinjo's shoulder. "Nice!"

"At least I'm better at this than the tanto." Kinjo winced as he recalled his poor attempt at swinging the tanto. It involved a partially destroyed fence, a sliced bonsai, and a scolding from a chunin for his reckless swinging.

"Now watch me again when I throw the kunai. I think you're using your hands too much when throwing. You should only be flicking your wrist with a small burst of chakra. That'll make the kunai go straight and fast."

She took several steps back from Kinjo's position and turned into a blur as she released the kunai directly into the dummy's head.

"Can you do it a bit slower?"

"Sure?" Izumi shrugged. She winded up slowly, throwing the kunai with minimal use of her dominant left hand.

It landed on the target's neck.

"Right, I think I get it." Kinjo copied her motions with his right hand and launched a kunai straight into the stomach. Another attempt resulted in a hit to the shoulders.

"Let's practice a bit more, and then we can go back to my house to eat!"

He nearly accepted without much thought but quickly shook his head. "I think I'll go home after this. I need to… help my parents with a few errands."

"Oh." She looked down at the ground with a pout. "Ok. My mom is cooking tonkatsu, and it's really good! Maybe you can stay for a little bit?"

"Maybe next time. By the way… your mom mentioned your dad earlier."

Izumi stiffened. "She did?"

"Yep."

"Did she tell you about… you know."

"Him dying during the Attack?" Kinjo finished.

"So you know now." She picked up a kunai and threw it shakily, striking the dummy in the leg. "She probably told you I was looking at his pictures while you were waiting."

"She did."

Izumi took a deep breath and sat on the ground feebly. "My dad died a hero. He died fighting the Nine-Tails and protecting the village. He didn't need to be there, but he was. He wanted to protect the village, so he died fighting."

"I… I was near the Nine-Tails when it attacked, and my dad saw me. He rushed to save me while fighting and died. That was when I got my Sharingan."

Kinjo remained silent for a few moments before speaking. "I'm sorry… for asking. And for your dad dying."

"It's ok. You're my friend, so you should know." Izumi smiled bravely. "He's why I want to become a great shinobi."

A stream of tears trailed from her eyes, and Kinjo gently hugged her from behind. He patted her head as she sniffled. "He would be proud of you."

As he held her, he wondered why Izumi's mother reacted the way she did to the mention of Izumi's father. Was there a problem with their marriage before his death? Or was something missing from Izumi's recollection?

Whatever it was, he hoped it wouldn't jeopardize the relationship between the two.

These moments gave him the motivation to continue his work. He could never be truthful to the people around him, but perhaps it was for the best. Exploiting his meta-knowledge to change his surroundings would help people.

At least, that was what he kept on telling himself.

Chapter Text

Whatever he expected from the Academy, it certainly wasn't…this.

Kinjo didn't expect a grand ceremony filled with adoring civilians and the Hokage himself. After all, the only remarkable thing about his class was Itachi, who looked impassive as he led the pack.

However, he did expect some sort of entrance assembly. Or at least some kind of presentation or tour of the Academy for the new students. Instead, he barely had time to wave to his father and sister before he and his four dozen classmates were marched into a classroom.

The Academy was large and spacious, with over a dozen different rooms, an outdoor training ground, a practice range, and a small library. Everything looked new, from the shiny hallway floors to the fresh white paint on the walls. Kinjo could tell that the Academy had been remodeled or built recently while walking through the campus.

After he and the others were ushered into one of the larger classrooms, Kinjo awaited quietly in his seat while the room was filled with the loud noise of chatter. Izumi found him a few seconds after they had entered and sat beside him with an excited grin. "We're finally going to be shinobi!"

"After six years," Kinjo answered, drumming his fingers on the desk. "Maybe if we do well, they'll let us graduate early."

"I need to practice my ninjutsu then…."

"Settle down!" A man shouted as he limped to the front of the classroom, causing the noise to fade. He was middle-aged with an eyepatch on his right eye, his sole functioning eye glaring at the students around him. His silver hair glistened from the sunlight coming through the windows. "Welcome to the Academy, squirts. The name is Taku, and I am your chunin instructor for the rest of your time in this place."

"My job is to teach you everything you need to survive and thrive as a shinobi. I am not here to be your friend, nor am I here to coddle you. You will learn to outsmart, outpower, and kill your enemies under my tutelage. If you cannot keep up, you will work harder to graduate and become a fine shinobi of Konoha. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sensei." Kinjo, Izumi, and a handful of others were the only ones that answered him clearly. The reactions from the rest of the class were mixed.

Taku snapped, a crackle of electricity sparking between his fingers. The loud noise made several students jump in their seats. "Am I clear?"

"Yes, sensei!" The children answered enthusiastically, with a tinge of fear.

Kinjo studied the chunin with narrowed eyes. His teacher was undoubtedly different than what he had imagined.

Then again, Konoha was still at war with Kumo. Perhaps the Academy emphasized discipline and hard work to prepare future generations better for the war effort.

"If you thought that your first day here would be relaxing and meeting new people, then you are wrong." Taku declared.

At that moment, a short boy with gray hair walked through the doors and handed the chunin instructor a stack of papers. He walked down the aisles and passed them out, speaking loudly as he went. "This is a practical assessment to test your knowledge before you begin your official classes at this Academy. This will not affect your placement within the class, but you should finish this test to the best of your abilities."

When Kinjo received it, he saw the sheet was filled with difficult questions that covered a variety of subjects. There were thirty questions in total, and none were multiple choice.

"You may begin. You have ninety minutes."

Kinjo read the first question in detail and frowned. 'Why did Kumo launch a dastardly invasion of Konoha shortly after the death of Lord Fourth? Explain the historical grievances between the two villages and the reasons for the outbreak of war.'

"Guess I shouldn't be surprised… They're training us to be a Konoha shinobi." Kinjo muttered under his breath as he jotted down what he remembered from his history book.

He recalled the rivalry between Konoha and Kumo was traced back to the destruction of Uzushiogakure. Kumo invaded the Land of Whirlpools with Kiri and razed it, wiping out one of Konoha's chief allies during the height of the Second Shinobi War. When Kumo attempted to build an outpost on top of Uzu's ruins, Konoha intervened, and the war escalated quickly. After that, relations between the two villages were cold even on the best days…

Kinjo quickly wrote everything down and read through his answer again. The book was published months before the death of the Fourth Hokage, but it would have to do. He quickly moved on after noticing that five minutes had passed.

'When is it acceptable to kill civilians? Give a specific example that supports your claims.'

Kinjo blinked.

He decided to skip that question for the end and moved on to the next question. It had a picture of a large cylinder with two cones on each end, along with various measurements.

'Your assassination target is hiding in a grain silo similar to the above figure. Based on the measurements, what cubic feet volume is needed to drown your target?"

"Every question is going to be about fucking murder; I swear," Kinjo swore silently. After running through a few equations, he had his answer.

He peeked over at Izumi, who was still staring at the first question blankly. Before moving on, he patted her on the arm and gave her a thumbs-up.

She revealed a strained smile before looking back at her empty test paper.

Regardless of his personal feeling on the matter, he continued the test and finished several minutes before the deadline.

The only other person to finish before him was Itachi, who maintained an aloof expression while staring out the window.

The rest of his time at the Academy was filled with lectures by Taku. Since Kinjo and his classmates were new, they were expected to spend the first year at the school in the classrooms with some physical training weaved in between the classes.

There were one hundred Shinobi Rules that they were required to memorize. Some were simple, such as Rule Number Four: "A shinobi must always put the mission first." Others were longer and more extreme, such as Rule Number Eighty-One: "A shinobi must destroy any opposition that threatens their village, without exceptions."

Apparently, such was life for a shinobi. They were even required to carry around little green books with the Shinobi Rules to memorize.

Towards the end of the lecture on the rules, a chunin walked in and spoke with Taku privately for several minutes before the white-haired instructor restarted his talk.

"Alright, squirts. I will now go over why we're being attacked by the scums in Kumo. Apparently, most of you don't know anything about the current war, so it is now my job to keep you informed. Before I explain the reasons behind Kumo's aggression, are Uchiha Itachi and Takashi Kinjo here?"

Itachi stood up immediately. Kinjo could not see his expression, but he was sure that the older boy was calm and collected.

Meanwhile, Kinjo took several seconds to stand. His eyes were fixed on his chunin instructor as he smoothed his shirt.

Izumi noticed Kinjo's reaction and patted him on the arm comfortingly.

"The head instructor is looking for both of you. Go to the meeting room by classroom #208 immediately."

Kinjo hurried from his desk to the sliding doors, giving Izumi a hesitant grin before walking through.

When he stepped outside, he glanced at the room numbers and looked around the hallway.

"It's that way."

He flinched, turning around quickly to find a raven-haired boy with obsidian eyes.

It was the boy genius himself.

Kinjo stood silently for a few moments before opening his mouth to speak. "Hi, I'm…."

"Takashi Kinjo. I know, I heard the instructor."

With that, Itachi walked away, presumably towards their destination.

"So much for light conversations," Kinjo uttered as he followed his counterpart. "They're probably calling me in with Itachi because I did well on the written exam. I did graduate college, after all…."

He entered the room shortly after Itachi. Two adults awaited their arrival inside the small room, which was furnished with a large oak desk and several chairs. A young man with black hair and sharp onyx eyes was seated in one of the chairs, while a beautiful woman with brown hair and pupilless brown eyes stood next to him. Both of them sported flak jackets.

All the eyes in the room turned to the duo as they stiffly stood in front of the shinobi.

"Uchiha Itachi and Takashi Kinjo. I am chunin instructor Mimura Hamaki, and this is head instructor Yamanaka Asami. I believe you're aware of why we called you here?" The male shinobi asked.

"Takashi and I did well on our written test," Itachi stated, a hint of confidence in his voice.

"Correct," She stated as she observed the two. "Itachi, you received a perfect score. Kinjo, you missed two questions. However, only two other students answered even ten correctly."

"Most of that test was from a written exam the sixth-years took last year. Which means, intelligence-wise, you two are smart enough to graduate."

"Which questions did I get wrong?' Kinjo interjected as he looked at Itachi.

"The cryptology question and the question involving fuinjutsu."

"Oh."

"Back to what we were saying," She dropped into the seat across Hamaki. "As the head instructor, I have decided to allow the two of you to take a mock graduation exam. If you pass this mock exam, you will be allowed to take the actual graduation exams after you finish the necessary courses required for a genin."

"I will take charge of Kinjo's test," Hamaki announced. "Itachi, you will be overseen by the head instructor. However, we will be at the same place for the first part of the test."

A few minutes later, the group was at the outdoor training ground with Itachi facing off against Kinjo for the taijutsu portion of the exams. Kinjo gulped as Itachi smoothly entered his stance.

"As is tradition, please make the Seal of Confrontation by raising your index and middle finger." The head instructor requested.

Both students raised their fingers at each other. Kinjo narrowed his eyes at Itachi, whose face remained unchanged.

Kinjo finally shifted into his default form: a blend of taekwondo and Araki-ryu, an old fighting style Izumi taught him.

"You may begin."

No one moved for several seconds. The stares of the two instructors hung heavily in the air as Kinjo shifted his arms to block any blows to his core while keeping his hands open. Itachi observed him briefly before appearing in front of him in a flash.

A fist struck Kinjo's nose, and a kick crushed his stomach. An elbow nicked his head as he slammed into the ground, stirring dust into the air. Specks flew into his eye, causing him to close his eyes as tears threatened to spill out.

Struggling blindly, his hands managed to grasp Itachi's leg and pulled while pushing himself up with a yell. The stinging in his nose faded as something smashed into his shoulder.

Kinjo tumbled onto the ground again, his right hand instinctively floating to his numb shoulder. He finally opened his eyes, his surroundings blurred by Itachi's frown.

Barely avoiding a stomp to his chest, Kinjo rolled away and rose onto his feet with shaky legs. Sand clung off his arms, and every grain was a pound of weight dragging him back to the earth.

He swiped at Itachi's neck, only to find air and a kick he shielded with his arm.

His heart pounded louder.

Kinjo lashed out with a kick, scraping Itachi's unprotected leg as he was whacked in the temple by another punch.

His legs were swept off the ground before he could grab Itachi's neck, his final attack parried with a simple side-step.

He came to with a mouth full of sand and old breakfast. The dizziness made it difficult to swallow.

"Winner, Itachi." The head instructor declared, nodding towards the victor. "Now carry out the Seal of Reconciliation by linking your fingers like a handshake to end the fight."

Kinjo weakly raised the fingers on his right hand and stumbled towards Itachi. His counterpart frowned deeply but locked fingers with him and shook them.

"Good fight," Kinjo croaked.

"You too," Itachi deadpanned.

The pair were separated shortly after, with Kinjo heading off to the practice range with Mimura while Itachi went into an empty classroom with the head instructor.

"He's a once-in-a-generation prodigy, that's for sure," Hamaki commented as he looked through his superior's assessment of Itachi. "He has no faults. Perfect scores in every part of the test, and he completely destroyed Kinjo during the spar. Poor kid."

"Kinjo needs much more work on his taijutsu," Asami admitted. "Though, I don't think any student in this Academy can beat Itachi in a spar. However, we are not here to praise the Uchiha Clan's new rising star. We are here to assess two students fairly and decide their placement."

The chunin were back in the meeting room after Kinjo and Itachi had finished their mock exams. The two boys were outside while they waited for the instructor's decision. Piles of notes about their assessment of the students were scattered across the table, and files filled with the students' personal information were also present.

Asami read out the student file for the other chunin to hear. "Takashi Kinjo. Born to a civilian family. None of his family members are shinobi, yet he scored higher than most sixth-years on that test. Nobody is expected to pass that test as a first-year."

The written mock test was a war-time standard to spot bright students who could graduate early. Despite the grandstanding for the other nations, Konoha needed more shinobi desperately. They were still recovering from the Nine-Tails Attack, the day which dozens of chunin and jonin perished. Not to mention the war against Kumo due to Kumo's 'military intervention' into the Land of Hot Water after the Yukage was mysteriously assassinated shortly after Lord Fourth's death.

Konoha couldn't show weakness, especially not during these troubling times.

She had heard rumors about Itachi and expected him to pass, but Kinjo was a nobody. The fact that he nearly achieved a perfect score despite being from a poor, civilian family was… enlightening.

"So his intelligence can be scored as an S?"

Each student had a rank assigned to every skill and trait after their third year at the Academy. It was scaled to the Academy's standards, though it offered a glimpse of a student's potential. Itachi and Kinjo were exceptions, as they had taken the mock graduation exam and considered advanced for their age.

S was the highest rank for an Academy student, high enough that their abilities in that area were considered better than the average genin. F was the lowest, meaning the student had almost no future in that area.

"A, for now. Kinjo has a few holes in his knowledge, but otherwise, he's astonishingly intelligent."

"I agree with your grading of his taijutsu abilities: a D." Hamaki placed his own thoughts into the report. "He has potential and grit, but he needs more training. His form was sloppy, and his attacks were all over the place. He couldn't do anything against a superior opponent."

Asami winced while recalling the brutal scene. The civilian-born student was utterly trounced by his opponent, and the fight lasted less than a minute. "When Itachi landed the first two blows, he nearly missed his elbow strike out of sheer surprise. I think he expected Kinjo to fight better since he thought Kinjo was a prodigy like himself."

"He managed to hook Itachi's legs, but he got pushed down again after a shoulder hit. After that, it was just Itachi dismantling whatever was left of his defense. I saw Kinjo land maybe two hits during the entire fight." Hamaki interjected casually.

She nodded. "What about the rest of the mock exam? Any more flashes of brilliance from him?"

Hamaki cleared his throat. "His accuracy with the shuriken and kunai was average. I gave it a C. He hit the target most of the time, though only about half of his throws landed on vitals. He managed to break the genjutsu I discreetly put on him by overloading his chakra, which seemed a bit accidental but effective. Genjutsu is a C, though that is only for breaking genjutsu."

"Can he not cast genjutsu?"

"I'll get to that in a second," Hamaki continued. "As for the three basic jutsu, he could only do one: the Transformation Jutsu. He managed to use the jutsu without a hitch, and his transformation looked exactly like me except for a few minor details. His chakra control is a bit underwhelming, but not the worst. It'll improve over time, so I gave him a C in ninjutsu. However, I don't expect him to be competent in casting genjutsu soon."

"What about his capacity?"

He was the only instructor in the Academy who was a natural sensor. "Certainly well-above average. In fact, besides his intelligence, his chakra reserves are the only thing comparable to Itachi. I ranked it as a B."

She loudly tapped her fingers on the table. "So Kinjo is not a prodigy."

"Correct."

"But he has potential?"

"He's much more mature than the other kids in his class, other than Itachi, of course. He has the fortitude and attitude to improve quickly. If we encourage him to nurture and develop his fundamental shinobi skills, I believe we can have a capable shinobi within a few short years."

"And since he's already book-smart, he can solely focus on improving other skills, such as taijutsu and ninjutsu," Asami finished, her fingers coming to a halt. "I was going to send Kinjo back to his original class. However, I think he might be better off training with kids older than him."

"Adapt, or die."

She rolled her eyes. "We're not Kiri. If Kinjo doesn't adapt, we'll send him back to his original class. For now, stick him in a class with fourth years and report his progress back to me in a month."

"Of course, ma'am. As for Itachi?"

"Have him join the sixth years. He'll be graduating after he finishes the required courses."

"What happened?" Izumi cried as she fretted over Kinjo.

"Itachi happened." Kinjo flinched as her hand brushed a large bruise on his right arm. "He destroyed me in the spar for the mock exam."

Classes had finished early for the day, and the two were making their way toward the Uchiha Compound to continue their training. Kinjo's body ached at the thought, but he gritted his teeth and continued his march. He directed his mind to soak in the sunny spring weather and the pleasant aroma of buns and rice as the duo passed through the outskirts of the business district near the Hokage Tower.

"Oooh, that Itachi. I'm going to beat him up the next time I see him. Nobody hurts my friends!"

Kinjo waved his hand. "It was a practice spar, and he was better than me. Besides, you've beaten me up more than he has."

Not to mention, he only had a few months of training under his belt. Itachi had been training for years, hence the massive gap between them in terms of skill. He was also in the process of finding a suitable fighting style, something he would need to work on immediately.

"I was teaching you, not beating you up," Izumi retorted. "Is that why you were gone for the whole day? The mock exam thing?"

"Nope, I got put into a class with fourth-years."

"Fourth-years? You're skipping the first three years?"

"Yep."

She frowned, "That means we're not going to be in the same class."

"I'll still train with you every day, and we can still eat lunch together." Kinjo pointed out.

"I guess… Why can't I join the fourth-years too? I'm better than you at sparring and throwing kunai!"

"I got a near-perfect score on the written exam. That means I can focus my training on taijutsu and ninjutsu instead of reading all day like the other first-years."

"Then help me study too!" Izumi grabbed his arm and looked at him with widened eyes. "Please?"

Kinjo winced as he heard something crack in his shoulder. "Sure, just… take it easy on the arm, please."

"Oops, sorry." She let go of his arm with a sheepish grin. "I knew you were smart, but I didn't know you were that smart. So today, let's go to my house, and you can help me study until dinner!"

"We can study after we do our usual training."

"But you're bruised and injured all over!"

"It's fine," Kinjo assured. "I need to train. I can't reach Itachi's level unless I train more."

Izumi frowned. "Ok, but we're still going to study today. I'm going to get really smart and join your class."

"I'll make sure to be the best teacher so you can move up quickly."

Before they could enter the Uchiha Compound, the duo was stopped by an expressionless boy standing just in front of the gate.

He raised an eyebrow. "Itachi."

"Kinjo." Itachi acknowledged with a curt nod. He stared at Izumi, tilting his head questioningly.

Izumi glanced back at him, her cheeks reddening by the second. She ran past Itachi without looking back, "I'll meet you at the practice range!"

It seemed the ship was sailing faster than he had expected.

An awkward silence engulfed the boys as they looked at each other pensively.

"Yes?" Kinjo asked as he lightly rubbed his sore nose.

Itachi stared but refused to say anything.

Kinjo sighed. "Apology accepted. I didn't even get to say hello before you beat me up."

"It was a test."

"A test that I wasn't ready for, especially not against a genius."

That drew a small stir from Itachi. "You are also a genius, are you not?"

"Only academically, and in certain areas for that too."

"You have no set form, your fundamentals are horrible, and you're weak in ninjutsu and genjutsu as well," Itachi remarked tonelessly.

Kinjo snorted, "Thank you for the confidence boost."

"But you've been training hard, that I do know. You trained with that girl several times in our compound."

"Were you...?"

"No, you just stick out like a sore thumb."

"I see," Kinjo answered with a frown. "Well, do you have any other insults for me?"

Itachi blinked as his eyes drifted to the side to avoid eye contact. "Why do you train so much?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because most kids our age like to play and goof around rather than train."

"I'll answer if you do."

"I asked first," Itachi replied flatly.

Kinjo rolled his eyes but smirked. "I have people I want to protect and things I want to change. My dad was saved by a shinobi who was bleeding to death. The shinobi would be alive today if he had left my dad to die, but he didn't. He told me to be like that person, a shinobi with a heart. That's what I aim to be; a shinobi that helps people and brings peace, even if it's risky."

"I see." Itachi hesitated before turning away. "Wait here for a moment."

Within the blink of an eye, Itachi disappeared, and Kinjo was alone with the gatekeeper staring at him. He waved awkwardly at the impassive man, who nodded curtly.

While he waited for Itachi to return, Kinjo reassessed his words. He wasn't proud that he appealed to Itachi's core ideals to earn some brownie points, but it was a surefire way to gain Itachi's trust and goodwill. Most of the people he were close to in canon, such as Shisui and Izumi, were like him in that aspect.

But to think that in about six years, Itachi would wipe out the entire Uchiha Clan and carry the weight of killing his family and kin. That was one of many reasons that Kinjo was willing to risk himself to make changes. What he told Itachi wasn't a lie.

No child should have to murder his family and friends to atone for the sins and failures of others. No child should have to watch his parents die at the hands of his beloved older brother due to the machinations of old men. No child should have to watch his father be sacrificed for reasons he couldn't even begin to understand. No child should be emotionally abused and scorned for a crime they didn't commit.

These things were typical in this world. Being a shinobi was unforgiving, and mercy was as scarce as water in a desert. Yet, if wanting to prevent these things was too idealistic or radical, then perhaps Itachi was right. Maybe they should do something about it. Or at least lay the groundwork for others to build upon. Someone needed to open up that can of worms, and he was willing to be the can opener. 

"What are you doing?"

Kinjo pivoted with his hands at the ready, grimacing at the sudden movement. Itachi held a piece of paper while gazing at him, his inscrutable expression prominent as always.

He looked away as he answered. "I was just waiting for you to come back. What's that?"

Before speaking, Itachi dragged him into the Compound and away from the prying eyes of the gatekeeper. "It's a Chakra Induction Paper. Just channel some of your chakra into the paper, and it will show your affinity."

"Sounds simple enough," Kinjo answered, accepting the paper and channeling chakra into it. "So... Why are you offering me this?"

Itachi frowned, the first emotion he had displayed since beginning his conversation with Kinjo. "I thought you wanted to improve yourself to protect and change the world, no?"

"I do."

"Then don't ask."

The paper ignited and turned into ash.

"Not surprising, since most people that live in Konoha have a Fire affinity," Itachi commented.

"What affinity do you have?"

"Water."

"Really?"

"Yes."

He looked at the ashes on the ground and looked back at Itachi. "Why are you having me test my nature affinity when my chakra control is still shaky?"

"My father drilled into me that seeing results is a great motivator. Even if you can't use any Fire jutsu immediately, you'll naturally improve with practice and increase the quality of your training."

"Do you know any Fire jutsu?" Kinjo asked.

Itachi shrugged. He pulled out a scroll from his pocket and handed it to Kinjo, "A few, but it'll be easier for you to learn reading this."

He clinched the sizeable scroll and stared at it, "Are you allowed to give me this?"

"Those are common Fire jutsu. Simple for me to obtain but difficult for a civilian like you. They'll be good goals for you to work toward and give you a headstart with your elemental training."

Kinjo remained silent as he ran his finger through the edge of the scroll. Instead, it was Itachi that broke the silence. "I hope we can spar again soon, on equal footing."

Itachi stuck out his hand for him to shake, and Kinjo gripped it with every ounce of his strength.

They shook.

Chapter Text

Kinjo opened up his new treasure and devoured its content. Every line was analyzed, and every hand sign was absorbed within ten minutes.

It had been three days since Itachi had handed him the scroll, though he hadn't touched it since he received it. His days were filled with classes from morning to mid-afternoon, additional training with Izumi until dinner, and then study sessions with her until he returned home. After his defeat at Itachi's hands during the mock exam, Izumi was beating taijutsu lessons into him, mentally and physically.

She also blushed whenever Itachi's name was mentioned, which was adorable.

He didn't want to practice any jutsu from the scroll in the Uchiha Compound since he wasn't sure if the scroll contained Uchiha-specific jutsu. Launching Uchiha-only fireworks within the district would only lead to awkward questions.

However, Izumi was busy spending quality time with her mother this evening, which gave him some free time to read through "his" scroll.

He was in Training Ground Fifty-Two, a forgotten training ground that bordered the village's walls near his home. It was devoid of trees, with only a few small shrubs dotting the rocky landscape. A large pond sat in the middle, an oasis in the desolate wasteland called a training ground. The earth was untouched and flat.

The perfect site for his independent training.

"Great Fireball Jutsu, and a few other Fire jutsu after I get the hang of the Fireball… Itachi doesn't hold back, does he?" Kinjo remarked as he finished reading and let out a low whistle.

His chakra control training was coming along well, as he could finally stick the leaf on his forehead with only his chakra. The next step in the exercise was to rotate the leaf in the direction of his chakra flow, which was clockwise.

That was harder than he had expected, which wasn't surprising.

His steady improvements in control allowed him to learn the Body Replacement Jutsu and the Clone Jutsu. His clone looked similar to Naruto's clone during his graduation exam. He was far from mastering them, but he was slowly getting there.

While it was exciting to learn and use the three basic jutsu, Kinjo was giddy at the opportunity to learn something more flashy and dazzling.

"Six hand signs, simple enough." Kinjo went through the hand signs quickly. "Focus on collecting chakra and kneading it into fire. Try to use a limited amount of chakra for the first attempt."

He didn't want a repeat of the fainting incident the first time he tried to overexert his chakra.

After taking a deep breath, he recited the name of the jutsu and fired. "Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Something erupted from the depths of his stomach. It quickly swept through his throat and entered his mouth, expanding at an alarming rate. It was as if he had eaten ghost peppers, and the spiciness was sweeping through.

Instead of a giant fireball, a thin stream of fire erupted out of Kinjo's mouth. Immense heat basked his face, yet his mouth felt like a warm tornado was whipping through. He held in a cough as his throat and lungs were choked with oxygen.

The fire roared for a few seconds, scorching the earth in front of him and creating a small ditch. Kinjo enjoyed the view before he was cut off the flow of his chakra as his insides twitched.

His "Great" Fireball created a trench that was several inches deep. It was as wide as his foot and was several feet long. It wasn't impressive, but it was his first nature jutsu, and it worked.

Before he could let out a cheer, he stumbled on his feet and fell, his legs shaking and his mouth gasping for air. For the moment, the ground was the softest bed in existence, and sleep threatened to overtake him. He lay there for several minutes as the effect of the jutsu faded.

He thought he hadn't used much chakra for the jutsu, yet he was sweating and aching.

"My 'fireball' wasn't that big, but I used a lot of chakra. My control still needs work..."

It was the only logical explanation for his sudden dizzy spell. Due to his nascent chakra control, he wasted much chakra trying to use the jutsu. Instead of his chakra contributing to the power and intensity of the fireball, much of it was lost while he was kneading it to fire.

As a result, his fireball was narrow and weak instead of the powerful and impressive Great Fireballs he remembered from the anime.

"Still, no wonder this is a rite of passage," Kinjo mused. "You need a fair amount of chakra to use it correctly."

He hoped that Itachi wasn't screwing with him and that anyone could learn the Great Fireball Jutsu.

"I'll do the Fire transformation exercise then... Should've done that before the actual jutsu itself."

His eyes wandered to the pond, a shining oasis in the wasteland. He shook his head to ignore the traitorous thoughts in his head, yet they persisted. "No, I shouldn't try walking on water. It doesn't matter if I would look like Jesus; it's still a bad idea. I definitely have to master the Leaf Concentration Practice first."

He took a tiny step forward, which was met with his other foot stepping back. "No!"

Kinjo sighed as he ran towards the pond, placing the scroll off to the side. "Screw it. I still have some chakra, and I'll look like Jesus."

"Here goes nothing." He slowly placed a foot onto the surface of the water and stepped.

"Brother, why are you soaked?"

"It's a long story, Mika."

"Shinobi stuff?"

"Yep."

Kinjo returned home after dripping water everywhere in his neighborhood. He had underestimated the depth of the pond, and the water came up to his chest. Thankfully, he was sensible enough to leave "his" scroll on dry land before his overeager attempt at walking on water.

The first two steps on the pond were a success, but after that, reality hit him like a truck. After the third step, he sank like a rock.

He wasn't Jesus; he was just a shinobi in training.

"What kind of shinobi stuff?" Mika asked as Kinjo walked towards his room.

"Walking on water stuff."

"That's so cool! Can I walk on water?"

He laughed and patted her head as she jumped excitedly. "Maybe when you're older, Mika."

After changing out of his wet clothes, he walked into the dining room to see his family gathered together for dinner. Satoshi was crying "Ma" and "Pa" every chance he could, though he did let out a "Ki!" when he saw Kinjo. Mika was eating a beef rice bowl with gusto, inhaling the food and asking for seconds.

His father was in a boisterous mood, gesturing with his hand and yammering away as his mother ate her food with a tired smile. "Can you believe that Arata tried to ask for a bigger discount on the beef jerky? I sold him some of my personal stash since that beef jerky is hard to find. Instead of being grateful, he asked for more and for cheaper. The audacity of that man…."

Makoto beamed when he saw Kinjo shuffle into the room. He ruffled his son's hair and slapped his back. "How is my favorite shinobi doing?"

"Shinobi in training, dad," Kinjo answered as he picked up his utensils. Dinner was simple yet looked mouthwatering: some clear soup with vegetables, pickled ginger, and a beef rice bowl. The delightful smell wafted into his nose, making his stomach growl impatiently.

"Did you do anything interesting today?"

His mother turned away at the mention of his shinobi training. Her warm expression toward him hadn't changed, yet he could feel the unspoken rift even at the dinner table.

Meanwhile, Mika stopped eating her favorite meal and looked at them with widened eyes. Before Kinjo could speak, she interjected, "Brother walked on the water today!"

"Just two steps, actually. I'm still practicing," Kinjo admitted.

"Still, that's impressive. I didn't know shinobi could walk on water," His father rubbed his shaven chin. "Maybe you can help me run messages to the Land of Water. I've always wanted to import some seafood from there…."

"I'm still ways off from running on water, dad."

His father sighed, "One can dream."

"Did you learn anything else that's cool?" Mika asked.

"I can breathe fire now, though only for a few seconds. It's pretty exhausting."

She gasped and turned to their mother while babbling. "Momma, I want to breathe fire too!"

"I think one shinobi in the family is enough, dear." His mother emphasized as she stroked her daughter's head. "Remember Kin, no shinobi training in the house or the store. You need to rest and spend time with your family too."

"Yes, mom." Kinjo nodded.

His mother was clearly unhappy with his enrollment at the Academy, showing a strained smile every time he announced the results of his training. Yet, she was much more tolerant of his choice than her initial reaction to his declaration of becoming a shinobi.

Though, it was a bit unnerving to see her smiling and coddling him every time he was home.

After finishing dinner, Kinjo sat in his room with a leaf slowly spinning on his forehead when he heard a knock. He scrambled to hide the leaf in his desk and opened the door to see Mika waiting with an impatient pout. "What is it, Mika?"

Mika rushed into the room without giving an answer and slammed the door behind her. "Show me!"

"The Transformation Jutsu again?"

She bobbed her head.

Kinjo peeked his head out the door and glanced around the hallway.

There was no one in sight.

He locked the door and shushed her. "You have to be quiet then, ok?"

"Ok!" Mika cheered a bit too loudly.

"Shh!"

"Ok."

After running through the three hand signs, he glanced at her. "Transformation Jutsu."

A puff of smoke blinded him before disappearing. He was several inches shorter than his usual height, and an uncomfortable emptiness settled in below.

"Well?" He said, his voice sounding lighter and higher than before.

"Hi, Mika! I'm Mika!" The "real" Mika said while giggling. "I like this better than your transformation into Jiraya-sama."

His room was now occupied by two Mikas: one still laughing and the other looking embarrassed.

"Next time, I'm turning into the Hokage," Kinjo mentioned. "Being a girl is still weird."

"Isn't that disrespectful to Hokage-sama?" Mika asked while circling his transformed body.

"It means he's so awesome that I want to be like him."

"Ok! Then if you turn into Hokage-sama, you have to talk like him!"

Kinjo rolled his eyes. "How do I talk like him?"

She cleared her throat and deepened her voice. "You, shinobi! Get me a beef bowl!"

"That's what you would sound like if you were the Hokage, Mika."

Mika beamed. "I get beef bowls if I become Hokage?"

"Of course. And you also get free minko cards." Kinjo joked.

"I want to be Hokage, then! I'm going to be a shinobi like you, brother!"

Usually, he enjoyed joking around with his sister, but now was not one of those times. He set his hands on her shoulders and shook his head. "Mika, mom and dad need you here to look after the store and Satoshi. Besides, being a shinobi is hard."

"Nu-uh. I don't want to work in the store! I want to go out and do cool stuff like you!"

"It's cool being a shinobi, but it's also dangerous," Kinjo lectured. "At the Academy, the teachers tell us it's dangerous outside the village. We're fighting another village right now! Also, as a shinobi, you have to be able to do terrible things like killing."

"Why are you a shinobi then, brother?"

"Well… someone has to protect the village and our family."

Mika placed her hands on her hips. "Then I can too!"

"Mom isn't too happy with me being a shinobi. She's going to cry if you decide to become one."

"It's okay! I can take care of Satoshi, make momma and daddy happy, and be a shinobi!" Mika declared.

"Mika…"

"So teach me, bro… sensei!"

"I said no, Mika. Besides, you're too young."

"Then I'll grow up faster than you and become the best shinobi!"

He smacked his hand into his face and exhaled. He should've expected something like this when he decided to become a shinobi. His siblings in his other life also tried to imitate his actions and choices, even when they were teenagers. Mika was the same, perhaps even more so.

Kinjo could only hope that she would soon grow out of her "wanting to become a shinobi" phase. It was hypocritical, but he wanted her to grow safely and healthily. As a shinobi, neither was guaranteed. Besides, he didn't want to see his sister murder people or go through some of the more… awkward parts of kunoichi training.

"Maybe you'll grow up and decide you want to do something else. Sewing is pretty fun, right? Mom is teaching you that."

Mika made a face. "I hate sewing."

"Is there anything else you want to be then?"

"Shinobi!"

A frightening image of his sister smiling and laughing while shredding other shinobi to pieces popped into his mind.

"God help us all," Kinjo mumbled in English. He transformed back to his original self and ushered her out the door. "Ok, but don't tell mom or dad that you want to be a shinobi, ok? It'll be our secret."

"Ok!"

As he watched her waddle into her room, he silently prayed to whatever deity that sent him here that she would take an interest in something other than being a shinobi soon.

"Remember to eat all of your lunch."

"I will, dad."

It was a week after he had received the scroll from Itachi. He had felt physically and mentally exhausted the day after, but he had recovered within the week and continued his chakra training at the old training ground. He had already worked out in the morning and was preparing to leave for school.

"Oh, and take this." His father handed him a bag of beef jerky.

Kinjo accepted the bag and tilted his head. "Why?"

"Well, you're a growing boy who's becoming a shinobi. You need all the protein you can get!" He pulled out a book and showed it to Kinjo with a smirk. "I've been reading this to help you become bigger and stronger."

"How To Feed a Child Shinobi… The title is really unimaginative."

"I know, but it's fantastic! I've been trying to get your mother to cook some of the meals written in this book, but she looked horrified. I'll keep trying, though."

"Was she horrified because… you know? Or was she horrified cause the recipes in there are bad?"

His father shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe I shouldn't have suggested a cricket-based dish for the first request."

"Dad."

"Kidding. Now one more thing before you head off to the Academy."

"Is it another joke?"

"I see you're starting to understand your old man better." Makoto walloped his back, knocking the wind out of Kinjo. "If you need anything, let me know. We might not be rich, but we'll support you as much as possible. Can't have the first shinobi in our family fail because he couldn't afford a kunai or two!"

Kinjo stared at his father and dipped his head.

He knew he was being selfish. His path to becoming a shinobi meant that his family would have to make sacrifices, even if he received a scholarship. And while they were high on his priority list, it was always second to his primary goal of helping others with his foresight. In his mind, he justified it by claiming that helping people would strengthen Konoha and would protect his family to survive the onslaught.

Yet, he was grateful for his father's and his sister's support. His father was his financial and emotional pillar, while his sister was a ray of sunshine that always lifted his spirits. Even his mother helped by cooking him light but nutritious meals.

Once he earned some pay from his missions, he would ensure that his family received most of it… After he got his essential shinobi tools.

"Have a great day at school, son."

His father enveloped him in a huge, which he stiffly returned. "Thanks, you too."

With that, Kinjo jumped to the roof of his family's home and hopped through the rooftops. The ten-kilometer run was a workout for him even after three months of training, but his pace was now swifter, and he was amping up his training. His backpack bounced off his back as he leaped from rooftop to rooftop with chakra bursts.

Thirty-five minutes later, he was panting in front of the entrance of the Academy. After taking a swig of water from his water bottle, he trudged inside and entered his classroom.

Classroom #202 looked the same as all the other classrooms, with numerous desks, benches, and a chalkboard. The classroom was empty when he walked in, the clock on the wall notifying him that there was still half an hour until classes began. He sat by the window in the middle row and pulled out his books to read.

Regarding academics and intelligence, he was ahead of most of the kids in his class. Math, literature, and science were easy for him since he had over sixteen years of schooling. Even so, there were a few subjects that he needed to study, such as cryptography, fuinjutsu, and battle tactics. Luckily, most of the students were also unfamiliar with the latter topics; hence he could easily keep up with the others.

He was an adult in a child's body, with plenty of knowledge and memories. His chakra also sharpened his focus and his ability to study, which made him absorb information faster.

Perhaps that was one reason his reserves were large, though he had no way to verify the theory.

Thankfully, he could read every form of Japanese writing without difficulty. It was as if his previous knowledge was translated into Japanese, thus allowing him to understand even the most challenging Kanji, Katakana, and Hiragana characters.

Just as he finished a chapter about explosive seals and their uses, a chubby boy with dark brown hair and emerald-green eyes shuffled into the room. He scanned the room before his eyes landed on the lone boy sitting in the classroom.

"Kinjo!" He shouted as he stumbled across the room with a delighted grin. "How you doing?"

Kinjo smiled at his loud classmate and placed his book down. "Hey, Shin. You're early again."

Akimichi Shinsuke pulled out a bag of mini melon bread and munched. Crumbs landed on his maroon shirt and khaki pants. "You're here earlier than me. Besides, I need time to settle into the mood to read my books."

"Textbooks?"

"Nah, you know what books I'm talking about."

With that, Shin collapsed into the seat next to him and pulled out a stack of shinobi adventure novels from his bag.

Most of his classmates had ignored Kinjo when he first transferred into their class. It wasn't difficult to see the reason why. Not only was he three years younger, but he was also a stranger with no connections to the class. He was also quiet and reserved, uncertain of how to reach out to a group of kids. He didn't really have a vested interest in reaching out to them, either.

Izumi and Itachi were exceptions; both befriended him through mutual interests and were much more mature than their age suggested.

Additionally, childhood friendships, friend groups, and cliques were already entrenched amongst the fourth years. Unsurprisingly, this meant that he was socially isolated from the class, though there wasn't any malice directed at him.

Shinsuke was an exception to this norm. He, like Kinjo, was an odd man out, but for entirely different reasons. Instead of studying and socializing, Shin spent most of his time reading adventure novels and eating at the Academy. He was generally friendly and had a few friends but preferred the sanctity of his books.

The two had sat together on Kinjo's first day at the Academy and reached a mutual understanding. They both enjoyed their books and enjoyed good food.

That was all that was needed for a friendship to start.

"By the way, my dad got me some beef jerky. You want some?"

Shin stopped chewing on his bread and whipped his head towards Kinjo. "What type of beef jerky?"

"I dunno. My dad did say it was hard to find…." Kinjo handed him the bag with the beef jerky, and Shin ripped it open with widened eyes.

"No… It can't be." Shin inhaled the rich scent of the jerky and swallowed one whole. "It's the Suzuki beef jerky from the Land of Rivers! Do you know how valuable these are?"

"Not really?"

"Oh, man. Your dad must have some deep connections there. There's a waiting list for Suzuki jerky in Konoha!"

"You're joking." Kinjo grabbed a jerky and chewed. The succulent flavor was incomparable to some of the dry jerky he had eaten. It was tough yet broke apart easily in his mouth. "You're not joking."

"I'll pay you for this."

"How much?"

"500 Ryo."

His jaws dropped when he calculated the amount in his head. It was enough to buy a pair of kunai. "It's a deal."

They shook, and Kinjo watched as Shin devoured half of the bag before storing the rest in his bag. After a few minutes of small talk, they returned to their books.

Kinjo enjoyed the comfortable silence between him and Shin as other students rushed into the classroom. He tuned out the chatter of students and focused on reading more about the application of storage seals.

"Settle down! The class begins now!"

He looked up to see a familiar silver-haired chunin standing in front of the chalkboard. Taku scowled as he wrote his name on the chalkboard. "My name is Taku, and I am your new instructor. Your previous teacher was sent to the front; that is all I can say on that matter."

His previous teacher, Masahiro, was a gentle and soft-spoken man who appeared to enjoy teaching his students. Even though he was in the class for three days, Kinjo respected the man for being passionate about his work.

Unfortunately, he was now stuck with the drill instructor, which given the situation outside of the village, wasn't the worst thing that could happen.

Though, it would probably mean much more yelling.

"Open up your cryptology textbook to page eighteen. We will have a quiz on the first two chapters in a week, so make sure you are paying attention in class!"

Several groans echoed through the classroom as the sound of pages turning and papers shuffling was heard. Kinjo obliged his new instructor's directions and turned his attention to the chalkboard, where Taku drew some rudimentary code wheel.

Meanwhile, Shin giggled as he flipped through his novel and munched on melon bread.

Kinjo made a mental note to jot down some notes for his friend.

Afterschool was a continuation of his classes, to some degree.

"I don't get it."

"It's not that hard, Izumi. Just carry the two, and add them together. Simple, right? "

"Why do I need to learn math as a shinobi? I'm not going to multiply someone to death!"

"You definitely can." Kinjo mused.

"What?"

"Never mind."

Izumi and Kinjo were sitting in her room at the apartment. Her room was small and was stuffed with various shinobi tools, books, and scrolls. The walls were painted a light green, and a single window sat above her desk. The only clue suggesting a girl lived in this room was two giant cat plushies sitting on her bed, next to a poster with all the Hokage posing.

"If I could beat up this math problem, I would win," Izumi grumbled as she scribbled numbers into her notebook.

Kinjo laughed as he kept one eye on her paper and the other on his forehead, where a leaf was rotating clockwise. "That would defeat the whole purpose. We're studying stuff like math and science to train our brain and our spiritual energy."

"What's spiritual energy?"

"Chakra has two parts: physical energy and spiritual energy. Physical energy involves exercising and training, increasing endurance. You're good at that. Spiritual energy involves studying and meditating, making you smarter and your chakra stronger."

"So… I need to be smart to be a good shinobi?"

"I guess?" Kinjo answered as he thought of a certain blond obsessed with ramen.

"Ok." Izumi looked down at her notebook with a frown. "I guess I'll use my brain for this."

Studying hard would not only help Izumi get into the advanced classes but also help her overall growth. She didn't have much chakra to begin with, as she struggled to use anything beyond the three basic jutsu and couldn't use her Sharingan. Since she was constantly training physically, it was time for her to train her mental state.

Which meant doing multiplication and division tables.

"No, no. That was a good try, but you needed to carry a six over here instead of a five. Try again."

Izumi pouted. "I wish I was as smart as you. That way, I wouldn't need to study so hard."

"And I wish I was good at taijutsu like you. It's why we're helping each other out, right? We're all good at something."

"I guess…" Izumi trailed off as she heard a knock on her door. "Mom?"

"Sweetie, there's someone here looking for you and Kinjo. I think his name is Itachi?"

Kinjo stopped spinning the leaf on his forehead and looked up while Izumi turned a bright shade of crimson. He grinned as she marched to her bedroom door and ripped it open.

Standing in front of her door was Itachi, who had taken a step away from the door. Her mother was nowhere to be found.

"Do you need something?" She asked calmly. Kinjo noticed her fingernails digging into her palm.

Itachi's face was unreadable, but he moved when he caught a glimpse of Kinjo. He held up a book bag and allowed himself into the room. "I was planning on studying a few things with Kinjo."

Izumi shuffled to her desk and collapsed into her chair, staring at Itachi the entire time. Itachi gave her a look but turned his attention to Kinjo and sat on the floor. "I thought you might be interested in some of the tactics we're covering since your classes are probably boring you."

"I'm helping Izumi right now, though," Kinjo stated.

He glanced at her, who was busy staring into the depths of her textbook instead of gawking. "She seems to be studying well by herself."

"Oh yeah, she's definitely intelligent. But I'm just making sure she's not making careless mistakes." Kinjo replied, shooting a knowing grin toward Izumi.

"Then it shouldn't be a problem. Come take a look."

"Sure, sure." Kinjo glanced through the textbook Itachi placed in front of him and frowned. "I'm learning formations right now. This is definitely more advanced."

"The sixth-years are studying more practical applications in hypothetical situations, which have been enlightening so far. For example, this scenario here on page 92…."

"We just started our classes at the Academy, and you're already on page 92?"

"It isn't too difficult. After some time, I began to recognize a pattern to all the tactics and formations."

"You should really inform the Academy about that… Our tactics and formations can't have recognizable patterns since the other villages will catch on."

Itachi frowned. "That's certainly possible. I'll bring it up with my instructor tomorrow. However, I want to see how you answer this scenario."

Kinjo read the scenario while rubbing his chin. "You are being pursued by nine enemy shinobi. You are leading a squad of six Konoha shinobi, including yourself. Your team has recovered valuable intelligence needed for the war effort. Two of your squadmates are heavily injured, though stable enough to be moved. The enemy shinobi are faster than your team due to your injured, and they will catch up to you in minutes. Your team is twenty kilometers from the border to the Land of Fire; what is your decision?"

"Interesting scenario, don't you think?" Itachi probed.

"It definitely is."

There was no doubt in Kinjo's mind that this was some sort of test. Itachi wanted to see if he was the person he claimed to be. While Itachi had been relaxed around him, he was trying to pry a bit into his personality and morals.

He already knew his answer.

"The scenario is missing a few pieces of information. What is the average rank of the enemy shinobi? What about my team? What skills does my team have that I can utilize to fight a delaying action? Who are we being chased by? I could come up with a more detailed answer if I had more information. With the information at hand… I would likely try to hold them off alone as long as I can to allow the others to flee."

"Why?"

"If I'm at a rank high enough to lead two teams, then I should have the necessary skills. I can make traps, bring summons, fire off some ninjutsu, or use clones. Something to buy valuable time and allow the team to escape. Even if only a few take the bait, that's a few shinobi off my team's back.

"If I know that the shinobi team is stronger than us, maybe someone else can assist me. But as the team leader, you must lead and show by example. And what example would I be if I leave my fellow comrades to die while I flee?"

Itachi remained silent for a minute before nodding his head. "I agree. Some things are more important than your life."

The irony of that statement was not lost on Kinjo, who contained a snort that threatened to spill out. "Anything else?"

"I wrote down a few notes that you may find helpful when you take these classes. I'm sure you are also trying to graduate as quickly as possible."

"Somewhat. I want to be better prepared before I graduate. If I want to graduate earlier, I can, and I will."

No, skipping three years was already enough. If Kinjo felt he was ready to graduate earlier, he would. Until then, he was going to work on his fundamentals.

"I'll take my leave then; my brother is waiting for me at home. He just learned how to run, and it's been an… exciting experience." Itachi rose to his feet and walked toward the door.

"Hold on for a moment!" Kinjo yelled as he rushed to Izumi. While Itachi was waiting for him, he quickly turned to her and whispered into her ear. "This is your chance."

"My chance at what?"

"You know, your crush on Itachi?"

"I do not have a crush on Itachi!" She sputtered loudly.

To his credit, Itachi looked away and pretended he didn't hear anything. Kinjo took the opportunity to elbow her shoulders and point to Itachi. "Itachi likes strong people. He also hasn't awakened his Sharingan yet. So if you mention that you have the Sharingan, it'll catch his interest."

"How do you know that?"

"Call it my intuitions."

"Your what?"

"Forget it. Just tell him. This is your chance! He's in your room."

Kinjo nudged her forward as she dragged her feet. Izumi whispered something to Itachi, which instantly caught his interest, and the two began chatting quietly near her bed.

He wouldn't deny it; he shipped them hard. And he was going to ensure that Itachi never killed her.

After chatting for a few minutes, Itachi gave Izumi a reassuring smile. In turn, she fidgeted her fingers and glared at Kinjo.

He just whistled and looked away.

Itachi was about to walk out the door when he jerked back towards them.

"I nearly forgot, but thankfully, I'm still here. I think it's important for you two to know this, just in case." Itachi grimaced as he observed the two in front of him. "This will be officially announced in a few days since Hokage-sama is doing some damage control to soften the impact of the news."

"What is it?" Izumi stammered.

"Orochimaru has defected from Konoha. He is now a missing-nin."

Kinjo blinked.

Chapter Text

Taku's voice boomed through the outskirts of Training Ground Ten as the two classes of fourth-years awaited eagerly. "Remember, you have two hours to acquire your opponent's scroll! Breaking any of the rules will mean immediate removal and a failing grade on this portion of your exams. You have ten minutes to prepare, starting now."

Kinjo ran into the training ground before his teammates, thundering to his team's giant scroll and supplies. He reached the area first and rifled through the bags.

One hundred rubber kunai, one hundred rubber shuriken, several spools of ninja wire, half a dozen shovels, and five Sealing Scrolls.

"So, how do we divide this up?" Kinjo muttered as he ran his fingers through the tools.

"I'll divide it up! You stand there and watch." An older, blue-haired boy named Yuji shouted as he arrived at the scene and waved Kinjo away. Some kids looked at him sympathetically, but most of them shuffled away from him as he stared at them. His silent demeanor made him seem more pitiful, as evident by his classmates' sympathetic whispers. 

"They're fighting again..."

"He is the youngest one in our class, though..."

"He shouldn't be that mean to him..."

Kinjo shrugged and backed away towards the woods as his teammates argued over their roles and equipment. HIs pockets had sizeable bulges due to twenty kunai and shurikens, along with a spool of ninja wire and a Sealing Scroll. He walked up a nearby tree with ease and looked around the arena from the topmost branch.

Training Ground Ten was the ideal training ground for training Leaf shinobi. The diameter of the area was approximately ten kilometers, with nothing but trees in sight. Most of them were of equal height, except for a few tall trees that stood out like landmarks on the horizon. The sun was high in the sky, providing plenty of shade for the ground below. From what Kinjo could discern, there weren't any clearings or bodies of water in the vicinity. They would have to fight carefully and stealthily to win.

A voice called out to him from below. "Hey, Kinjo! What are you doing up there?"

"Just checking the surroundings," Kinjo yelled back as he flipped off the branch and landed on the ground. "Are there any clan kids in the other class?"

Shin scratched his nose as he munched on his melon bread. "Huh? Oh, clan kids? There's that super annoying Nara girl. I don't know anybody else that's from a clan."

"A Nara Clan member… That's going to be troubling. Shin, how about we set off on our own?"

"I was going to sit and read until the end." Shin sat in front of a nearby tree and pulled out a novel. "My brother said that you can get a passing grade by showing off a bit toward the end, so that's what I'm going to do."

Kinjo hopped onto the tree trunk and stood above him. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, don't you want to win?"

"Not really."

"Come on, it'll be fun! I need someone to watch my back too."

"Nope," Shin answered, swallowing an entire melon bread whole.

"I'll get you a whole bag of the Suzuki jerky just for you."

He rose to his feet and stuffed the bag of bread in his pocket. "You should've said that in the first place!"

"The bribe was my last resort," Kinjo said with a smirk. "What did you get?"

Shin pulled out the supplies he received from Yuji: three kunai and a shuriken. "He told me that I sucked and I should just defend our scroll."

"Well, this will be a good way to prove him wrong. We'll get creative and beat the other team on our own. Let's go!"

Looking back, Kinjo saw his teammates digging holes and setting traps with the shovels and ninja wire. Some students were missing, undoubtedly moving ahead to blitz into enemy territory and steal the scroll.

They jumped through the forest using the tree branches and found an endless painted line separating the two sides. Kinjo dragged Shin into a sizeable bush and whispered. "Make a clone and have it sit on the tree branch. We don't want to get knocked out the moment it starts."

"Bunshin no Jutsu." The copies of Shin and Kinjo hopped onto a nearby tree while the users distanced themselves from the line. From what they could see, none of their classmates or opponents were in the area.

"We'll wait a few minutes for our teammates to rush in and distract them. While they're distracted, we'll pick off anybody that strays to our side and move up." Kinjo pointed towards the west, where towering walls surrounded the training ground. "From there, we'll stick to the outer edges of the walls and make a beeline straight for their scroll."

"How are we going to get their scroll?"

"I have a plan for that, I think."

"I should've stayed behind and read my book…."

Kinjo patted Shin's back. "Too late for that."

A loud whistle pierced through the forest, and Taku's voice rumbled once more. "Begin!"

Three figures from their side crossed the line in a blur. One of them turned around and stuck his tongue out at the clones, exposing Yuji's face to the hidden pair.

"Guess he wants to take all the credit himself," Kinjo remarked as the trio moved deeper into enemy territory.

"You're trying to do the same thing."

"Because I knew the other kids were going to do something like that. Watch; a few people in their class are going to try the same thing."

They only had to wait a few minutes before eight students materialized on the tree branches and attacked the clones. The group looked around when "Kinjo" and "Shin" disappeared while one of the girls shouted orders to the others. "They're probably around here somewhere, spread out! We can't risk them attacking us from behind!"

"That's the Nara," Shin mentioned as the leader of the group, a raven-haired girl with intense brown eyes, passed their hiding spot. "What do you think happened to Yuji and the others?"

"They probably got pummeled to the ground. If this group met theirs, then they were outnumbered three to one."

"We should try to escape then, right?"

"Nah, they've split up, and I have an idea. Here's what we're going to do…."

Nara Chiaki's eyes darted around as she looked for her target. Her three "squadmates" were behind her, supporting her actions and watching her flank. She gritted her teeth as she passed a familiar tree with her opponents nowhere in sight.

When they crossed the line, she saw him. The moment she saw who was in the tree, her vision tunneled onto him.

Kinjo.

She had seen him several times during the year. He was usually with Shinsuke in class and an Uchiha girl during lunch. A quiet, isolated kid from a civilian family with no previous shinobi training. Yet, in months, he had uprooted her from the top of the fourth years and established his position as the top dog.

When he first joined her grade, Chiaki heard rumors of how he was smart but bad to average at everything else. She had worried when she heard how Kinjo joined their grade while being three years younger, but it seemed as though she was panicking over nothing.

After all, she was the best. Maybe not the best in taijutsu, but the best in everything else.

Then Kinjo improved rapidly. Throughout the school year, he became stronger, faster, and smarter. By New Year's Day, he had left her in the dust and was climbing even higher.

No matter what she did, she couldn't catch up to him.

Chiaki couldn't accept it.

Compared to the other members of the Nara Clan, she lacked intelligence. Her grades for classes involving textbooks were mediocre, which led her to redouble her efforts in training. After three years, it paid off, and she earned the top spot in her class.

A Nara only learned the basic Shadow Possession Jutsu unless they showed exemplary skill and rank. It was a heavily meritocratic clan, which only passed down its most potent techniques to qualified individuals. And since she was from an orphan of a minor family within the clan, she would need to prove her worth to qualify.

She needed to be the best, to prove that she was as competent and determined as her parents were. Especially after what they had sacrificed.

"We should just go," One of the boys with her suggested. "There's only two of them."

She stopped on a tree branch and answered. "Go find the others and get the scroll with them. I'll be fine with Sato and Yuko."

After he left, Chiaki glanced around to look for a red figure in the forest. She leaped back as a kunai sailed by her and bounced off the trunk.

In one step, she and her teammates were hiding behind trees, peeking from cover. Her fists tightened as she strangled a kunai.

She loosened a scroll from her belt and whipped it out, sticking it onto the tree in front of her. Chiaki motioned with her hand, scrambling to a new set of trees as she jerked her vision through every tree nearby.

When she clasped her hands together, the Sealing Scroll activated.

The scroll released a rabbit that scurried away, shaking a nearby bush and making noise.

A kunai hit the rabbit dead on. She smirked and turned as it fell onto the ground.

"There!" Chiaki flicked two shurikens and pushed her teammates to move forward. While they rushed head-on, she jumped onto a nearby tree and circled around. Her heart beat faster as she zoomed, an image of her victory playing in her mind.

From above, she saw Kinjo and his friend exchange a flurry of kicks and punches with her teammates. Her target grappled Sato and slammed him to the ground, pinning his arm behind him as Shinsuke boxed Yuko away from him. She winced as Sato yelled in pain and cursed Kinjo.

Chiaki landed on the ground behind them and placed her right hand above her left. "Shadow Imitation Jutsu."

It would only take a second for her to win the fight. The rules stated that she couldn't use any jutsu outside the basic three, but this was her chance to reclaim her title.

If she broke the rules to win, so be it.

A cry from Shinsuke made Kinjo whip his head around toward her. He jumped off Sato as Yuko kicked her opponent away and punched at Kinjo's head.

Her shadow hurtled toward him, making her sweat.

She saw Kinjo's hand signs in slow motion. Tiger, boar, ox.

He was trying to escape, but it was too late; her shadow reached his.

Her grin threatened to split her face as Yuko's fist collided with his forehead, knocking him to the ground.

Then he disappeared into a cloud of smoke, his body replaced by a log.

"What?" Chiaki dashed away and scanned her surroundings. "How?"

"If you practice enough, you can use a jutsu without using all the hand signs. I just needed three for Kawarimi."

Something pounded the top of her head, sending her sprawling. As her vision wobbled, Chiaki saw a grinning kid with a red hoodie and green shorts standing upside down on a tree branch. "You shouldn't cheat."

Chiaki tried to retort but lost consciousness as Kinjo jumped down and smacked her temples.

Kinjo smirked as a desperate kick tickled his hair. His opponent had a limp arm and lashed out with his other arm. Dodging the feeble punch, Kinjo punched his stomach and tripped his legs when he keeled over. An elbow to the back of the head finished him off as he slumped onto the ground quietly.

"That wasn't how this was supposed to go, Kinjo. You told me that all I would need to do is sit and look pretty while your grand plan would do the trick."

"I said it was Plan A. Plan B was to beat them up if that failed." Kinjo walked up to a nearby tree and pulled down the Sealing Scroll hidden underneath one of the branches. When he activated it, a pile of rocks dropped to the ground. He collected the ninja wire on the roots of the tree and kicked a patchy part of the ground that revealed a small hole.

"So you messed up."

He motioned to the unconscious Nara girl and the unfamiliar boy with a graceful bow. "The results speak for themselves."

"Ok, then why did we tie her up?" Shin nudged his stubby chin at the only conscious member of the group. She was tied up in ninja wire and looked at the boys with widened eyes.

"Because my plan to get to their scroll revolves around her."

"For bait?"

"Something like that." Kinjo walked up to the girl and sat down beside her. "What's your name?"

"Yuko."

"Here's the deal, Yuko. If you tell me any useful information about the defenses around the scroll, then I'll let you rest here next to your teammates. You'll still be tied up, but we'll come to get you later, I promise."

"And if I don't?" Her voice quivered.

Kinjo tapped the dull kunai on his palm while he inspected her thoroughly, his mouth twisting into a vicious grin. He threw the weapon into a nearby tree, and it embedded itself with a loud crack. After pulling out another one, he pointed it at her face. "Then I'll need to send you to sleep."

She peeked at her fallen teammates and widened her eyes as Kinjo threw a kunai right past her ear. "I'll tell you everything! There are pit traps all around the scroll and some booby traps on the trees nearby. The password is orange, yellow, and gray. It's what Chiaki made up to stop anyone from trying to get the scroll with the Transformation Jutsu!"

"That's all I needed to know, thanks. Sorry about… you know."

"It's ok. Thanks for not beating me up."

After tying up the other two, they made their way to the wall to begin their attack...

"Help! Guys, help!"

Yuko stumbled toward the students guarding the scroll and rolled around. Her body was bound by wire, turning her into a cocoon that cut deeply into her arms and legs. Her screams rattled the forest, startling her teammates.

"Yuko!" A boy ran up to her and pulled on the wire. "Where's Chiaki and the others?"

A girl ran up to them and blocked him with a scowl. "Hold up, Ken. It might not be her."

"The password is orange, yellow, gray. It's really me." Yuko whispered frantically.

Ken pushed the girl away and untangled her, showing her a reassuring smile. "It's definitely her. What happened out there?"

"They attacked us out of nowhere and ambushed us! Their entire class is coming!"

"What?"

Four shurikens zipped toward the group, striking the two near Yuko in the head. They fell onto the ground in a heap while Yuko shook the remaining wire off her. She dived to the ground with a smirk. "We're under attack!"

"Their entire class is here!"

"Quick! Fire back!"

Another flurry of shurikens and kunai convinced a pair out in the open to plunge for cover. The students behind cover began to toss kunai and shuriken in the general direction of their attackers. Yuko saw a few of the kids move around on the sides, attempting to flank their opponents.

Yuko suddenly sprung up from her position and skipped over the pitfall traps. She snatched the scroll while laughing, zooming up a tree before the others realized what was happening. As she scampered away, she flashed the v-sign at her teammates.

It wasn't until she and Shin were clear from the area that "she" finally dropped her Transformation Jutsu.

"That was your plan?" Shin shouted angrily. They looked back and saw the group finally understanding the trickery and chasing after them.

"A damn good one at that!" Kinjo whooped as a kunai whizzed by them. "Now run!"

They raced through the forest and toward the dividing line. Another pair of kunai zipped by them, missing Kinjo by inches. Shin glared at him as he threw a shuriken at one of their pursuers, hitting them dead on. "Are you sure it's a good plan?"

"It is!"

Just then, Shin cried out as a kunai struck his back and slipped from his tree branch. Kinjo grasped Shin's arm and pulled him up, a shuriken slapping his knee. He winced as he hopped away, placing more weight onto his other leg and leaning on Shin.

A dozen people were chasing them, both on the branches and on the ground.

"Maybe it wasn't the best plan," Kinjo admitted.

A loud cry made him turn his head. He witnessed one of the pursuers fall into a pitfall trap and disappear from sight. Another tripped on seemingly nothing and tumbled off a tree branch. Yet another was hit by several kunai and shuriken that dropped from a branch nearby.

"Our teammates," Kinjo commended, saluting a tree nearby as they neared their goal. "They trapped the entire place. Must've been to delay the other team if they got the scroll."

"Was this part of your plan?"

"Nope, but it works."

The sound of children cheering and running around permeated the air as Kinjo stepped through the gates of the Academy. Dozens of parents milled around in the courtyard, waiting for their children under the warm spring sun. Kinjo's parents were nowhere in sight per usual, but Izumi was by his side as they walked past the swing set and toward their usual place.

"Time flew by really quickly," Kinjo mentioned as he kicked a rock and sent it rocketing into the sky. He swore he saw a star flash for a moment before it faded away. "Can't believe the school year is already finished."

Both of them looked the same as they did when they first started at the Academy, though they had grown a few inches since.

"Yeah, but we'll be back at the Academy in a month!" Izumi cheered. "And this time, I'll be among the fourth years! By next year, we'll be classmates again."

She had passed her final exams with flying colors and requested an advancement into a higher class. Her request was approved after a special test prepared by the instructors, though she was still a year behind Kinjo.

Meanwhile, Kinjo had also aced his exams and finished at the top of his class. He and Shin managed to capture the scroll, leading to his class' victory and him earning full marks for his "remarkable use of taijutsu, ninjutsu, and creative thinking."

On the flip side, Chiaki and Yuji looked battered and sore from their loss. Chiaki looked incredibly pissed at him when he walked out of the training ground while Yuji was grumbling about Kinjo's age.

"Which means we're going to study hard over the break. You can read my notes and my old textbooks so you can ace your classes again next year."

Izumi dropped her shoulders and frowned. "Aww… I don't want to study over the break."

"Well, if you want to skip another year and graduate with me, then you'll need to."

"I know, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. It's like eating lettuce." She turned to him abruptly and looked back at the Academy. "Do you think Itachi is going to graduate with perfect scores?"

He snorted. "Is that even a question?"

Since today was the last day of the school year, the graduation exams were being held. Itachi had consistently maintained perfect scores throughout the year, so Kinjo wasn't fretting over his friend.

"Guess not. Do you think we should throw a party for him to celebrate?"

"We tried that on his birthday, and he hated it. Maybe we should just congratulate him normally," Kinjo replied.

An impassive Itachi frozen stiff while being showered by confetti was a terrifying memory that stubbornly refused to leave his mind.

"Maybe I should get Itachi a card."

It had been months since she blushed at the mere mention of his name. While she was still jumpy around him, Izumi could converse with Itachi normally. Kinjo made sure he was "busy" several times a month to let the two have some alone time together. Unfortunately, they only hung out a few times while he was gone since Itachi preferred to train by himself while Izumi spent the time studying.

That didn't mean he stopped trying with a few suggestions here and there.

"Sure, sure." Kinjo shrugged. "I got him a book. He needs a better hobby than training and deadpanning."

"What book?'

"Tale of the Utterly Gusty Shinobi. I think he'll like the main character."

"Never heard of it."

Kinjo sighed. "You don't read anything but your textbooks."

"I do! I read a lot of books," Izumi insisted.

"Picture books don't count."

"Hey!"

They were still bickering as they reached the entrance of the district. Before the pair could step through, they were interrupted by the loud sound of a person clearing their throat.

"You two are as loud as ever," Itachi grumbled as he hopped off the roof of the gate.

Izumi flinched as he landed near her and pointed the finger at him. "How did you get here before us?"

"I didn't even need to take the graduation test; they gave me full marks based on my past performance. The official ceremony for the graduates is tomorrow," Itachi answered nonchalantly, his hand brushing over his Konoha headband. "You should've asked to graduate this year, Kinjo. You would've passed."

Kinjo shrugged. "Still need to work on my taijutsu a bit and work out the kinks with my ninjutsu."

"You can do that with a jonin instructor."

"Better safe than sorry. There's a war going on."

"Hey! I can pass too!" Izumi interjected.

"He's covered sixth-year material with me. You haven't." Itachi said.

She frowned as she pierced the ground with her foot, creating a sizeable hole. "Favoritism."

"More like you were already cramming three years of learning."

"Let's not argue when we're supposed to be celebrating today." Kinjo pulled out his gift and handed it to Itachi. "Congrats on graduating, Itachi."

He accepted the gift with a ghost of a smile. "Thanks."

"I'll get you something later," Izumi mumbled. "I thought I had some time."

"A picture book?" Itachi wondered.

"I don't read picture books!"

Recently, Itachi had been joking slightly more and displaying a bit more emotion during their conversations. Whether it was due to him and Itachi hanging out with one another regularly, he didn't know.

Kinjo grinned as the two quarreled, though his face went slack when a vaguely familiar man approached them.

The man had long, shoulder-length brown hair and the same eyes as Itachi. He was dressed in a dark blue open-front apron with the Konoha Military Police Force symbol under his flak vest. As he looked at the group, his stern glare was accented by the creases on his face.

He had never met the man personally but had heard stories about him from Itachi and Izumi. All he knew was that Uchiha Fugaku was a strict man that took his job as the head of the Uchiha Clan and the Military Police very seriously.

"Itachi." He gave a curt nod to his son and scanned Kinjo and Izumi. "I see you are with your… friends."

"Father," Itachi answered with a respectful bow. "You already know Izumi. He's Kinjo."

Kinjo bowed deeply and hung his head. "It's an honor, sir."

"It is nice meeting you. However, I am here on important business, so forgive me if I ignore you for a few minutes."

Fugaku walked past him and patted his son's shoulders. "I've been told your results. Well done."

If he weren't stone-faced serious, the scene would've been touching. Unfortunately, Kinjo was forced to inscribe another moment of the infamous impassive Uchiha into his mind.

"Thank you, father." Itachi smiled.

"Our family will have a personal celebration later tonight, so return home by six."

"Of course."

Fugaku looked at Izumi, who stiffened under his gaze. "I heard from Itachi that you're improving quickly, Izumi."

"I am, Uchiha-sama," She stammered.

"You have come a long way from failing the training of the elders. Perhaps you will be a Genin next year. If you do, we will have three bright shinobi leading our clan one day." Fugaku's gaze shifted to Kinjo. "Itachi has mentioned how you nearly matched his score on the entrance exam and how you are at the top of your class, despite being from a civilian family. That is quite… admirable."

"Itachi has helped me much," Kinjo replied.

"Still, it is good to see him making friends with exceptional people his age."

Itachi cut into the conversation by waving his hand at Kinjo. "He's talented in his own right, father. He can use the fireball already."

"Truly?" Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Who taught you the jutsu?"

"A friend," Kinjo answered, avoiding eye contact with Itachi.

Surprisingly, Fugaku chuckled. "I see. While our clan created the jutsu, more than a few non-Uchiha shinobi can use it in Konoha. After all, we are in the Land of Fire."

"Father has a Fire affinity like you, Kinjo. He is one of the best fire users in Konoha," Itachi mentioned with pride.

"That is a flattering statement, but Lord Third is much better than I am with fire. However… perhaps, I could give you some advice."

Kinjo looked up. "You would, sir?"

"I have some time before I need to return to my post, and I have advised young Izumi plenty of times, so yes."

The group moved to an empty training ground next to the practice range. Unlike Kinjo's personal training ground, this place contained a few isolated trees and bushes. The grass was patchy and dry, while a large pond sat near the entrance. The charred remains of several trees and bushes produced a pleasant smell of smoked wood chips.

"Use the Great Fireball," Fugaku ordered as he crossed his arms in anticipation.

He instantly obeyed, running through the hand signs and opening his mouth. "Great Fireball Jutsu!"

His fireball was the size of a giant medicine ball and engulfed the center of the pond in a fiery spiral. Unlike his first attempt, he kept up the jutsu for almost ten seconds before cutting it off.

It was still a work in progress, but he could make and maintain an actual fireball.

Izumi clapped while Itachi smiled. Meanwhile, Fugaku let out a low grunt. "It's smaller than Itachi's fireball but impressive nonetheless. Do you know any other Fire jutsu?"

Kinjo nodded. "A few."

"Then focus on those. The most dangerous Fire user is one that has mastered basic Fire jutsu and employs them effectively. You are still young, so instead of trying to expand your repertoire, think of ways to enhance the power of your current jutsu. What is Shinobi Rule number twenty-two?"

"A shinobi must always use all resources available to them."

"All resources. What can strengthen the intensity or power of fire?"

He recognized what the man was saying. Kinjo had come to the same conclusions while training with his Fire jutsu, but his words reaffirmed them. "Oil, gunpowder, sawdust."

"Things that you can acquire easily or even produce with chakra." Fugaku clapped his hand together and breathed out several giant fireballs onto the pond.

Kinjo shielded his eyes from the bright mini-suns that rose above the water's surface. The sudden rush of heat was as if he had opened a door to a sauna, making him gape at the intensity of the jutsu. He breathed in and smelled the heavy scent of oil, a welcoming yet repugnant smell.

When Fugaku was finished, the water in the pond was gone. Only a torrent of steam rising from the barren earth remained.

"Itachi, if you will."

"Water Wave Jutsu," Itachi acknowledged, spewing a wave of water and refilling the pond.

Fugaku continued his lecture. "Fire is considered one of the weaker elements due to its inflexibility. It can rarely be used defensively, hence its reputation as an offense-only nature. Water counters fire, and even skilled Fire users will struggle against a competent Water user.

"That is why you must get creative and use whatever you have at your disposal to tip the balance in your favor. There is no such thing as "playing fair" when you are in a fight for your life.

"That does not mean you ignore defense. I recommend you begin looking for a way to balance your offense and defense. There are plenty of ways to do this, whether it is through armor, summons, weapons, or even other nature jutsu. Remember my words as you train."

"Or maybe something that can boost my Fire jutsu and provide defense at the same time…." Kinjo noted.

"Oh? I'm sure a talented child like yourself has many excellent ideas."

A nagging thought gnawed at his mind. Was Fugaku giving him advice out of the goodness of his heart? Or was there some other ulterior motive related to the potential Uchiha Rebellion? After all, if the Uchiha Clan rebelled, they would need assistance from other shinobi within Konoha…

He kicked those assumptions out of his head. It wouldn't happen, not when he was here. If he had to help Shisui use his Mangekyo Sharingan to brainwash the coup conspirators to prevent the Massacre, he would.

"Thank you, sir." Kinjo bowed his head again. "I learned much."

"Now, before I leave, are you two going to the graduation ceremony tomorrow?"

Kinjo shook his head while Izumi nodded fervently. "I have to help my family at the store tomorrow. Sorry, Itachi."

"It's fine. You already gave me a gift; that's more than I could ask for," Itachi answered as he waved the book in his hand.

As much as Kinjo wanted to attend Itachi's graduation ceremony, he knew Danzo would be there. And it was far too early to make his presence known to the head of Root. After all, surprise was an essential tool for a shinobi.

Even if Danzo knew who he was, it was better for Kinjo to not interact with him and give anything away by accident.

Calamity was approaching quicker than he liked, but he still had time. In that time, he would prepare for the worst.

Chapter Text

A thin stream of flame streaked out of Kinjo's mouth while he stood on the pond. His legs wobbled as he closed his eyes and churned his insides. The fire sputtered but continued to burn, a torch of progress that shone on the water's surface.

Another tremble, and his eyes flew open. He ran to the safety of the earth, his feet creating larger rings with each stride. Kinjo's feet sank into the water on the last few steps, dampening his sandals and legs as he scrambled onto the shore.

He flopped on the ground like a fish and checked his wristwatch. "Thirty seconds this time… Huh."

It was a few months after his second year in the Academy began, and he was about to turn eight. He had learned plenty in the past year, with Itachi and Izumi assisting his training immensely. He was confident that if he took the Genin test with his current abilities, he would pass it with flying colors. Yet, he still had much to learn; the last place he wanted to learn was on a battlefield.

The training was a new method to exercise his chakra control and his Fire affinity. While he could stand on the water for hours on end, he wasn't able to use any jutsu while water walking. His concentration and control were limited to one or the other. Hence his attempts to master both at the same time.

"If I can't do this much, then I can't start on the more advanced nature training," Kinjo grumbled as he jumped onto his feet and embraced the warmth of the sun. "Breathing it out of my mouth is hard enough… Summoning flames on other parts of my body or even turning my chakra into something like oil sounds tiring."

He had a big headstart on the other students, thanks to his rigorous training over the past year and a half. Nevertheless, there were limits to his training. Kinjo wasn't a prodigy like Itachi; it took him time to improve every aspect of his shinobi skillset. Chiefly, his ninjutsu.

After planting his feet and running through six hand signs, Kinjo opened his mouth. "Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu."

Half a dozen baseball-sized fireballs shot out of his mouth and whizzed around like fireflies. He furrowed his brows and used his hands to direct them to collide with targets drawn onto the ground,

All of them struck their targets, making him grin.

He had the first step nailed down. Now, he would need to work on the second step: infusing these fireballs with shurikens or other things to make them deadly.

Kinjo pulled out a handful of shurikens from a pouch in his pocket and placed them in front of his mouth. He held them loosely as he blew toward the sky. 

The shurikens left his hand and attached to the fireballs, spinning into the sky as he used his hands to guide them. The fire tugged and responded to his commands but struggled to carry the shurikens into the air. Instead of soaring to their targets, they bombarded the ground before him, making him leap back with a frown.

"So there's a limit to what I can control with the fireballs…." Kinjo grimaced as he picked up the shurikens. A few were dented from the impact as his hand instinctively reached toward his wallet. "That's another week of allowance gone."

He placed them back into his pouch and ran his fingers through his hair. "I guess it all comes down to practicing my nature transformation."

His hands weaved two hand signs: ox and tiger. He exhaled noisily and created a clone from the embers spewed out of his mouth. "Ember Clone Jutsu."

"Yo," His clone waved at him after it finished forming. Occasionally, the clone flickered, revealing the intense flames beneath the surface. A thin layer of chakra held it together, completing the illusion of a solid clone. "The usual?"

"Yep. Make sure to keep a close eye on the conversion process itself."

The other Kinjo nodded.

"Here I go again," Kinjo clapped his hands together and focused on his stomach. His chakra swirled, changing its form and burning his insides. He maintained the fire while holding his breath, the flames tickling his throat.

He placed a single leaf in his mouth and allowed a small amount of fire to seep in. His face twisted as the taste of ash and burnt leaves invaded his senses. Small grains rattled around his mouth while the bitter powder pulsated heat on his tongue.

"Looks good. It looks much better than the first time we tried this thing." His clone mused. The clone was entirely made of fire and could sense the conversion of Kinjo's chakra. "We have the Great Fireball Jutsu nailed down already. Why are we training like this again?"

"It's good practice."

"Why have the leaf inside the mouth?'

"You're my clone; you know exactly why…." Kinjo belched, spitting out the ashes and rinsing his mouth with water. "We can't turn our chakra into ash if we don't get used to this feeling."

His clone scowled. "Just seeing you react makes me want to throw up."

"Don't worry, that's for next time."

"Now what?"

Kinjo dug out the remaining ash in his mouth with his hands. "Now, we try again. This time, we turn up the heat and use leaves to create a smokescreen.."

"I hate my job."

"You're me."

"You hate it too."

"Practice is practice," Kinjo shrugged.

He shoved several leaves in his mouth and ran through several hand signs. His words were muffled, but he managed to shout out the jutsu. "Hiding in Ash Jutsu."

Compared to the other Fire jutsu he knew, this one was technically the easiest. The instructions were simple: create a smokescreen using chakra-infused ash that blocked an opponent's vision and burned them if they touched the ash.

The snag was that converting his chakra into ash was a step beyond him. He could mold his chakra into fire relatively quickly now, but changing chakra into ash or any other substance was the next step in his transformation training.

He hadn't grasped that even after spending months of effort.

His solution was to… get creative. Which, in this case, meant using actual ash from his mouth to use the jutsu.

A spray of ash shot into the air, blanketing the air in a thick cloud. It followed the wind and whirled around, floating higher and disappearing after a minute.

"You can't control it 'cause that ash wasn't infused with chakra."

"I knew that." Kinjo retorted.

"You looked a little too happy."

"Yep, it's our first time trying it, and it worked."

"If the wind blows in the wrong direction, it's useless."

Kinjo tapped his head. "Spray it into their face."

"We put the leaves in our mouth, use the jutsu, and spray the ash into someone's face all in the heat of battle? Can we even do that when we're locked in close combat with someone?" His clone probed, grabbing a leaf from Kinjo and spewing out a smokescreen of his own.

"That's why we're going to practice both our ninjutsu and tessenjutsu. Our new toy might help us with blowing the smokescreen into the direction we want." Kinjo pulled out a flat weapon from his back and grinned. "It's time."

The weapon of choice for Uchiha Madara.

There were dozens of different weapons he could've chosen. Instead of selecting a more popular option, like a sword, he settled on the gunbai as he saw its potential. The fan would give him more defensive coverage and allow him to create space for himself in a close-combat fight. If he added a chain, he could use it as a long-range weapon. Additionally, he could use the fan to enhance Wind jutsu, which he could use to supplement his Fire jutsu. While that was a goal for the far future, he knew it would be a devastating ace if he mastered the fan.

The gunbai was the product of saving up money for a year. His allowance and his sale of jerky to Shin allowed him to gather around 5000 Ryo. It was just enough to purchase a gunbai from a weapons store, one that was made out of oak. While the fan was considered a weapon tailored to the Uchiha, it wasn't illegal for him to wield one. However, he had to search several stores to find a gunbai, and he would have to make a personal order for any replacements in the future.

It was dark green with crimson-red borders, resembling a burning leaf. The fan came up to his chest, and the handle was wrapped with black tape, making gripping easier. A small magnet was lodged into the middle, which locked the gunbai in place when he stored it on his back.

"Too bad I can't learn how to use it from the Uchiha… I'll need to find a teacher."

"Ask the man from the weapons store if he knows anyone. Maybe there's some other non-Uchiha shinobi that uses it."

"I was just going to say that."

While several Uchiha used the gunbai for combat, his request for a teacher was denied by Itachi as most of the forms and styles were considered hiden. The only advice he received was to practice with the gunbai and familiarize himself with the weight and length. After that, he needed to weave it seamlessly into his close combat techniques.

"Easier said than done," Kinjo held it with two hands and swung at his clone, who evaded his attacks. "This is surprisingly light, though."

"It's pretty thin and made out of wood. Imagine if we get one that's made of metal."

"That would be pretty… metal."

"I hate myself," His clone deadpanned.

The fan whooshed over the clone's head as it ducked away from a blow to the head, its form flickering from the sudden gust of wind. "How does it look?"

"You look clumsy as hell, like a rowdy drunk."

"So, nowhere near combat-ready."

"Three out of ten, if I'm being generous." The clone said as he dodged several strikes to avoid getting bashed.

"Then more reason for me to practice more." Kinjo jabbed the gunbai at the clone's legs, forcing him to jump into the air.

He whacked his clone while it was in the air, using the fan as a giant fly swatter. The gunbai went through the clone harmlessly, who looked at him in disapproval. "You were thinking of a fly swatter, weren't you?"

"What do you think?"

"That we're lame." The clone muttered before disappearing into a plume of smoke.

"Maybe I can ask Izumi about any sword styles that might help…."

"That was so cool! You made a copy of yourself and beat it up!"

He turned around to come face to face with his sister, who was looking up at him with a dazzling smile.

His sister had grown three inches in a year, and her hair was now beyond her shoulders. She was still smaller than he was, but she was definitely growing bigger.

"Mika? What are you doing here?" Kinjo asked as he attached the gunbai to his back.

"Daddy told me where you were! I followed his directions, and here I am!"

Kinjo groaned. "I shouldn't have shown him where the training ground was."

"I want to see more!" Mika cheered. "You said you can do fireballs! I want to see you make them!"

"They're not for show. One day, I'm going to have to fight to the death and use them to win."

"But I wanna see," She whined.

"Ok, but if I show you my fireball, then you have to promise you won't be a shinobi and stay at home with mom and dad."

"No!"

"Then no fireball."

She sat in a huff and crossed her arms, her eyebrows furrowing as she thought. After a few seconds, she had her answer. "Ok, fine! Just show me the fireball."

"You promised," Kinjo reminded her. "Great Fireball Jutsu!"

A fireball the size of a water-walking ball manifested on top of the pond, boiling the water below. Mika watched with wide eyes and a gasp as the fire swirled.

Kinjo cut off the jutsu shortly after, as he had already used up a considerable amount of chakra from his earlier training. "Happy? Now let's go home."

"Show me how to do it!" Mika demanded.

"It took me a year and a half to get that right. Besides, you haven't even started training your chakra."

"Then teach me!"

"Mika." Kinjo's voice deepened as he glared at his sister. "You promised."

"I had my fingers crossed!"

Instead of answering, he tossed her on his shoulders and walked out of the training ground.

She wriggled to break free from his grasp. "No! I'm going to be a shinobi!"

"I swear… I'm going to turn into mom one day." He grumbled as he carried her away.

"You too?"

"What, did Sasuke beg to learn the fireball?"

"No, but he has been getting too close to me when I'm training."

Kinjo, Itachi, and Izumi sat together in an outdoor yakisoba restaurant outside the Uchiha Compound. While the Uchiha district had many good restaurants, Izumi claimed it was "too stuffy" at times. Hence, they were in the center of the village, away from the eyes of other Uchiha.

A few weeks had passed since Kinjo ran into his sister at his training area, and she was still bugging him to no end. He had brought up this new issue with his friends and discovered Itachi displaying a sympathetic frown.

"Having siblings sounds tiring," Izumi observed as she flicked her chopsticks around. "How do you guys laze around at home?"

The two boys looked at each other and smirked. Itachi spoke up first. "We don't."

"It's either training, studying, or caring for our siblings," Kinjo added. "Or, in my case, working at the store during weekends."

"For me, taking missions."

She massaged her temples and placed her head on the table. "That sounds terrible! Even I relax for an hour or two before I go to sleep. How are you guys alive?"

"We sleep as well," Itachi said.

"Even when we're sleeping, we train. I wake up every day with a leaf swirling on my forehead."

"Weren't you the one that said Itachi needed a better hobby?" Izumi mused.

"I… enjoy good food?" Kinjo said.

"Right, good food." Her stomach growled as the scent of noodles and meat became sharper. She blushed while looking at Itachi. "That wasn't me."

Itachi stared at a passing couple and turned back to her. "I'm sorry. Did something happen?"

"You're a natural," Kinjo mused as he leaned back in his chair. "So, any interesting missions lately?"

He frowned. "My jonin leader refuses to accept anything difficult or go anywhere near the frontlines. We've been mainly doing C-rank missions that involve delivering messages to outposts."

"Sounds more exciting than sitting around here."

"Ooh, you've also been going to those meetings, right? What do they talk about?" Izumi inquired.

Suddenly, Itachi stood up and glared at Izumi, peeking at Kinjo while moving toward her. After sharing a few hushed words with her, he returned to his seat while she looked frightened. It was an unfamiliar burst of anger that he had never seen in him, as he was usually serious but friendly.

Even without knowing what they said, Kinjo understood what they were talking about; the secret Uchiha Clan meetings discussing their grievances against the village.

Since he became a genin, Itachi was busy on Saturday evenings, excusing himself for "personal training." Kinjo never questioned him about this to avoid suspicion but noticed Itachi's downcast expression whenever he saw him the next day. There were still about five years left before the Massacre occurred, but it was sobering to see familiar events beginning to happen.

Itachi smiled at him, his previous anger absent. "Sorry about that. It's clan stuff,"

"Sure, sure. I'm sure the Uchiha Clan has a lot of cool and top-secret clan stuff."

"It's more boring than you may think."

"Adults talking usually is," Kinjo acknowledged. "By the way, Izumi, do you know any sword styles that can be used for a fan?"

"Your gunbai?" Izumi pointed to the weapon strapped on his back. "I think I might know a few that can help…."

When their food was served, any mentions of the Uchiha secret meetings faded away.

As Kinjo dug into his inviting chicken teriyaki yakisoba, a boy walked up to their table and waved at Itachi. "Yo, Itachi. With your girlfriend again?"

"Shisui, you're finally back," Itachi smiled at the newcomer as he welcomed him. "You've met Izumi before, but meet Kinjo."

"This is your other friend, huh? Pretty small circle you kept for yourself." Shisui chuckled as he shook their hands. "Nice to meet ya. I'm Shisui, Itachi's other friend."

"You only have a few friends yourself," Itachi noted.

The older boy was taller than even Itachi, and his raven hair reached the bottom of his neck. His attire was similar to Sasuke's before the Chunin Exams, in addition to a tanto on his back. He was already famous, with rumors abounding of his ability to use the Body Flicker Jutsu to its utmost potential. Itachi had mentioned Shisui in passing a few times, but he was always busy with missions due to his talent.

Kinjo clasped Shisui's hand as he looked at his grinning face. He looked at Itachi, who looked content at his friends' presence, while Izumi was fidgeting at Shisui's comment with a bright smile.

A shudder ran down his spine as Shisui chatted up Itachi again. He looked at his plate with distaste, flicking the noodles as his eyes gravitated toward the other two boys.

It was a picture-perfect moment: a group of friends eating in the middle of a busy village, filled with bustling streets and shining into the evening sky with its electric lights.

The first step was coming soon in two weeks; he was prepared to use his knowledge to save a life. Just a single life seemed insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but every life was worth saving, or at least trying to save.

"Especially when I know what to do," Kinjo muttered to himself.

"With this treaty, the war with Kumo will now come to an end, and peace will rule the Land of Fire once more."

Cheers broke out at the Hokage's declaration as hundreds of shinobi and thousands of civilians assembled in front of the Hokage Tower celebrated the news. Next to the Hokage was a Kumo shinobi, whose right eye was covered by his headband. He waved at the crowd with a smirk, eliciting a loud response.

No one knew what the terms of the treaty were, but it didn't matter. After years of war, Konoha was now at peace. No more shinobi needed to die in a bloody struggle over foreign territory. No more civilians would be murdered, and towns would no longer be razed.

It was over; that's what mattered.

As if it was that simple. Even in the other world, it was never that simple.

Kinjo scowled at the arrogant Head Jonin of Kumo and ran away from the ceremony to a nearby public restroom. After it emptied out, he entered one of the stalls and focused his mind on an actor he remembered from his previous life. He flicked through two hand signs and transformed.

When he walked out of the stalls and to the sink, he was now Simu Liu with a flak vest and black pants. He touched his face in the mirror and smirked. "It's time for a crossover."

He patted his pants, which still carried the three envelopes he had prepared beforehand. Walking out of the bathroom, he ran to the Hyuga District nearby and examined his surroundings. A Hyuga shinobi wearing standard combat attire caught his eye, and he jogged over to him with an envelope in hand. When they were far from other pedestrians, Kinjo waved him to the side.

"Hello," Kinjo's deep, modified voice rumbled as he spoke. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

The Hyuga stared at him and raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"

"No, but I need you to help me with something. It's a crucial and pressing matter."

"What is it?"

Kinjo handed him the envelope and patted his hand. "Deliver that to your clan head. The content of this letter is sensitive, but feel free to open it to ensure it's safe."

"How about you open it and prove to me that it's not an attempt at Hiashi-sama's life?" He answered as he shifted his feet.

"Sure." Kinjo shrugged and opened the envelope. He took out the letter and flipped it. "It's just a letter."

"It will still be screened nonetheless." The Hyuga snatched the letter and stuffed it back into the envelope. "What is so important about this?"

"He will know. I am just an information broker, nothing more. Make sure he receives the letter before night falls. If not, this information will be worthless. Now, if you'll excuse me."

Before the Hyuga could ask more questions, he replaced himself with a log and watched the bewildered shinobi look at the envelope. Without opening it, he ran towards one of the mansions with due haste.

"Success? Hopefully," Kinjo muttered. "Still have to give these two out, just in case. Why hedge my bet on a single stranger?"

With that, he hopped away, looking for new targets.

Hyuga Hiashi gripped the letter and rested his head with the other. "How?"

He was sitting alone in his room, isolated from the rest of the mansion. This was the second letter he had received in two hours. The screening of the letters found no evidence of explosive tags or any written formulas that could threaten his life. The first was delivered by a breathless genin from the Branch family, and the second was sent to him by a doubtful chunin from the Main family.

Both had reported a strange Leaf shinobi who they had never seen before handing them the letters, urging them to hand over the letters as fast as possible. Once it became clear the letters were non-threatening, they were sent with due haste.

Hiashi could see why the letters required his attention.

He had already read the first letter with great interest, and the second letter was the same as the first. Yet, reading the content shocked him each time because it was impossible, improbable.

Placing the letter on the small tea table before him, his eyes scanned the words again.

"To Hyuga Hiashi-sama, with great respects.

I will get straight to the point. There will be an attempt to kidnap Lady Hinata by Kumo, who are after the Byakugan. The kidnapper will be the Head Jonin of Kumo, the very man that is leading the Kumo delegation for the peace talks. This entire negotiation is a ruse for them to acquire one of Konoha's most prized dojutsu.

Do not kill the Head Jonin, as I have discovered that Kumo may attempt to use his death as a negotiation piece to acquire the Byakugan if the kidnapping fails. Capture him, and let him be interrogated. He is the second-in-command of Kumo; he is bound to have plenty of information that can be used as leverage.

Additionally, I wish Lady Hinata the happiest of birthdays. I hope her birthday will consist of nothing but safety and joy.

Best regards,

Simu."

"If this… Simu is correct, then Kumo is more daring than I ever imagined." Hiashi grimaced as he imagined his daughter being kidnapped. "This seems too far-fetched to be true."

Why would Kumo choose today, out of all days, to kidnap Hinata? Due to her birthday celebrations, most of the Hyuga members, including himself, were within the district. If a Kumo shinobi attempted to invade his house, he and the others would know almost instantly.

Then he remembered... The festivities. Even the usual stoic members of the Hyuga Clan enjoyed the occasional celebrations. A large party to celebrate the war's end was planned to occur within the Hyuga Compound late in the evening. He had planned to attend as well, to honor the members of his clan that fought in the war and to raise a toast. The entire clan, including the Branch members, was expected to attend. Was it possible that someone within his own clan betrayed this information to unsavory informants?

And the peace treaty being a ruse to seize the Byakugan? Why? Kumo wanted peace just as much as Konoha did. The war over the Land of Hot Water had stalemated, and both sides were exhausted from the war. Perhaps Konoha desired peace more than Kumo, but the situation was not ideal for anyone involved.

"Even so, Kumo would've never acquired our dojutsu if the kidnapping failed."

The internal workings of the Hyuga Clan were a secret to protect the clan from outside threats. If information about the Caged Bird Seal became public knowledge, then it would threaten the security measures that were kept to keep the dojutsu safe. It was why the Seal, and all information about it, were hiden.

Not even the Uchiha Clan knew about the Seal; otherwise, they would've used it for themselves. If there was a clan that was more prideful than theirs, it was the Uchiha Clan.

"I will need to inform Hokage-sama about this information broker, but for now," Hiashi yelled out the window. "Atsushi! Keiichi!"

"Yes, Hiashi-sama!" The two Branch members flickered into his room.

"I want both of you to be on the lookout for any intruders tonight. Be vigilant, as someone will attempt to infiltrate our compound. Alert the guards as well."

"Of course, Hiashi-sama!"

"And if you discover the intruder, do not engage them and inform me immediately. I will confront him myself. No matter what happens, he must be captured alive to pay for his crimes. I will not tolerate failure."

As the two Branch members dispersed, Hiashi activated his Byakugan and looked around the house. His vision settled on his young daughter playing happily with his wife in the living room. Seeing Hinata made him grip his fists and slam them onto the table.

It was doubtful that Kumo would attempt such a blatant act of aggression, but if any of their shinobi did, they would pay.

He deactivated his dojutsu and stood outside the living room. For the next several hours, he tailed Hinata from a distance, ensuring she was carefree and happy instead of screaming in fear. Hiashi smiled as his wife laughed with their daughter, enjoying her third birthday.

When night fell, he reactivated his Byakugan and scanned the surroundings of his home. Every opening and potential entrance was carefully watched using the all-seeing dojutsu. As the minutes ticked by, a seed of doubt was planted in his mind. Was the letter just a joke to make him feel paranoid and angry on his daughter's birthday?

"Hiashi-sama," Atsushi appeared in front of him and bowed. "Someone has snuck into the property from the eastern walls. Keiichi is shadowing him as we speak, but the intruder is hasty and advancing towards the main building."

The eastern wing was where Hinata and his wife were sleeping.

Ice ran through his blood as he gritted his teeth. "Rally the guards and alert every shinobi in the vicinity. I will not allow this intruder to escape at any cost."

After the Branch member left, Hiashi bolted to the eastern wing of his house and swept the area with his Byakugan. From the corner of his eyes, he spotted a masked man leaping into the air and landing on the roof. Far behind the intruder was Keiichi, who had a kunai in hand and was prepared to strike the man down at a moment's notice. He noticed Hiashi in the distance and nodded.

Hiashi motioned to him and jumped onto the roof. The intruder sprung away, hurtling away from the mansion and toward the empty streets.

"You will not get away." Hiashi proclaimed as he entered his Gentle Fist stance and chased after him. "You dared to enter my house so brazenly; I assume you have an important goal in mind!"

The masked assailant turned towards him with lightning crackling between his fingers, but as he did, Keiichi dashed out of the shadows and attacked from the rear. Seeing that his opponent was temporarily distracted, Hiashi bolted into melee range and struck out his hands. "Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

Keiichi blocked his escape with his body, throwing several kunai at the legs of the stranger to cripple him. The trespasser jumped and rushed Keiichi, but Hiashi was a step faster and stepped into his opponent's guard without hesitation. "Two hands!"

His hands slammed into the stomach and chest as he changed course. "Four hands!"

"Eight hands!"

"Sixteen hands!'

"Thirty-two hands!"

"Sixty-four hands!"

After the barrage ended, he crumpled onto the ground. Hiashi removed the mask hiding his face and saw an unfamiliar man in agony. He swiftly knocked him out before he could say a word.

"That… that is the Head Jonin of Kumo! What is he doing here?" Keiichi stammered as he inspected the trespasser's face. The stranger wasn't wearing any distinct gear to display his village loyalties, but the Head Jonin of Kumo had been seen in the ceremony just several hours prior. With that in mind, Hiashi believed in his clan member's words.

Hiashi held back a fist aimed at the Head Jonin's throat. If Simu was correct, and he was correct so far, then Kumo would use the man's death as leverage to force terms. The Head Jonin's killer would've been demanded, which would've been him.

And it was entirely possible that due to his position as clan head, his twin brother would volunteer to take his place.

It was a sobering thought.

Death was too kind for him; he would pay for his crimes with valuable information for Konoha. If given the opportunity, Hiashi would lead Konoha's forces himself to strike a crippling blow against Kumo.

A dozen Hyuga Clan members and ANBU landed in front of them. Hiashi shoved him to ANBU with a scowl. "Inform Hokage-sama that this man invaded my house and attempted to kidnap my daughter for her dojutsu. There must be repercussions for this."

As the group carried the Head Jonin away, Hiashi looked toward the eastern wing of his home with an unsteady smile.

Chapter Text

If someone told him several years ago that he would be on the lookout for a man dressed in a tight green suit and a stereotypical bowl cut running about screaming "YOUTH!" he would've branded the person as insane.

Alas, it was just another day of his life in Konoha.

More than two years had passed since Kinjo arrived in this world, yet every day was eventful and unique. Today was no different, as his hunt for the Green Beast of Konoha continued. His hunt for a gunbai teacher was a failure, but he would not stop his search for Maito Gai,

"He should be back in the village," Kinjo mumbled as he looked around the village on top of a tall building in the business district. He put the cheap binoculars away and gazed up at the cloudy sky. "The war has been over for a while now."

The war in Kumo had ended a month after New Year's Day, with a divergent peace treaty that supported Konoha's strategic aims. Initially, the treaty declared the Land of Hot Water as a demilitarized zone, with Kumo and Konoha remaining out of its affairs. There were other clauses added to the treaty to smooth relations between the two great villages, but the section involving the demilitarized Land of Hot Water was the most crucial one.

However, after some "re-negotiations" after the initial celebrations, Yugakure was now an ally of Konoha, and Kumo was forced to make other undisclosed concessions. This unexpected revelation lightened the mood in Konoha, making many believe that the dead didn't die for nothing.

It was a significant change to the canon.

Not only that, but Hizashi was still alive, and with it, the members of the Hyuga Clan would be affected by the changes. Would Hiashi be a different father to Hinata? Would Hanabi be born? What would Neji be like in eight years when the main events unfolded?

If there was one thing that calmed his mind, it was that Yugakure would remain a shinobi village for the foreseeable future. This meant that Hidan, who defected because of Yugakure's turn to a pacifistic tourist village, would stay under Akatsuki's radar. Or at least he hoped. If his hopes were true, then he would have already saved dozens of people from being murdered, including Asuma.

The future was now in flux. He had to believe it was for the better.

"TEN LAPS TO BEGIN THIS YOUTHFUL DAY!"

"Ah, there he is."

Kinjo turned his head to the eastern parts of the village with his binos, spotting a young adult clad in a shudder-inducing green outfit sprinting around the perimeter of the village. His hair looked like an upside black bowl from a distance, which complemented his brush-like eyebrows.

He looked… handsome, in a peculiar way.

During his first few weeks in Konoha, he attempted to locate the famed taijutsu specialist for several hours per week. His searches were in vain as he couldn't find the shinobi, which he later concluded was due to the war with Kumo. Due to the war, many shinobi, including Gai, were out of the village for extended periods. Now that the war was over, Gai had returned.

After tracing his first lap, Kinjo hopped across the rooftops to intercept Gai on the outskirts of the village near his home. However, by the time he had arrived, Gai had blown past the interception point and was on his way toward the Hokage Monument.

"Holy shit," Kinjo uttered as he watched the dust clouds rising behind Gai. "He was this fast even when he was eighteen?"

It took less than ten minutes for Gai to round the entire village and arrive before him. Kinjo dived into his way and stretched out his arms, "Stop!"

Gai skidded to a halt, creating a long skid mark as he veered to avoid a collision. After he stopped, he made an exaggerated pose and grinned at Kinjo. "Ho? A daring youngster stopping me in the middle of my morning training? What do you need from this Might Gai?"

"I'm Kinjo. I was wondering if you would help me er… with my physical training regimen. I heard that you were the best for that."

"You came all the way here to ask me about… training?"

"Yes?" Kinjo answered while taking a step back.

Gai vibrated in place and pumped his fists into the air. "Truly the power of youth! Of course, this Noble Gentleman of Konoha will help you with your training!"

"Uh… Thank you."

"Now, let us run five laps around the village together before we begin!"

"Wait, that isn't part of the training?"

"Of course not!" Gai's voice boomed. "Running laps is merely the warm-up! It takes me less than an hour to run the laps!"

"You run over three hundred kilometers for warm-up?" Kinjo asked after he ran the math through his head.

He counted with his fingers as he processed the numbers."Only that much? I need to increase that number! We'll run ten laps!"

Kinjo's jaws dropped. "The most I've run at one time was twenty kilometers…."

"Everyone needs to start from somewhere! You will never be able to run twenty laps around the village if you don't believe. You may fail today, but you must believe you can! And one day, it will happen."

"I was just looking to get some taijutsu and physical training…." Kinjo said as a trickle of sweat rolled down his neck.

"I see," Gai nodded. "That is why we will run twenty laps. Endurance is the cornerstone of every shinobi, and today, we will test yours to the very limit!"

"... Can we run just five laps?"

"Hmm… Very well, we will run five laps. Now forward! Let us burn our youthful energy and show the world our determination!"

If there was something he should've expected, it was this. Yet, Kinjo had hoped that young Gai was less intense than his adult self. Unfortunately, it seemed as though he was more fervent about his workouts.

Then again, he needed to shift gears and train harder. He planned to graduate in just over a year and needed to use that time wisely. His fundamental shinobi skills were set, but he always had room for improvement.

Which meant training with Gai, whose endurance, speed, and taijutsu skills were second to none.

Instead of complaining, Kinjo tightened his sandals and bolted ahead of his "teacher." His feet pounded the ground as he zoomed forward, his surroundings turning into colorful blurs and distorted sounds. He heard his heart hammering as he pushed to his limits, his hair spraying all over his face from the wind. Time flew by as fast as the buildings he passed, his senses distorted by his efforts.

"Looking good," Gai grinned as he pulled up next to him, making Kinjo slip during his run. Kinjo's tunnel vision cleared in an instant, and his eyes adjusted to the sudden clarity of his surroundings.

They were now near the Hokage Monument, kilometers away from where they were before. Kinjo looked over to Gai and noticed that he was jogging.

His best sprint was hardly a jog for Gai.

And for the first time since he had met Fugaku, Kinjo realized the severe difference in skill between himself and a jonin.

A frown formed on his face, which Gai called out with a shout. "Don't look so down! Ignore the distractions and focus on your goal!"

Kinjo gritted his teeth and ran a bit faster. Gai sped up to match his stride and flashed a blinding smile. "That's it! I can see the fire of youth burning inside you! Let us run even faster!"

Kinjo ran for his life for the next three hours as he sped around the village with Gai. After the fifth lap, his lungs felt like tanks filled with fire, and his legs swayed to the wind. His clothes were weighing him down from the amount of sweat they had absorbed, and every step he took felt like he was walking on a porcupine.

"I can keep going," Kinjo reassured Gai as he drifted to the side and heaved on top of the Hokage Monument. "Just… give me a minute."

"That is enough for today. You worked hard. That was all I was looking for." Gai patted him on the back.

"What about taijutsu training?"

"For next time."

"I can do it today," Kinjo wheezed.

"It is good to rest and recover after a tough session. If you train without rest, you will only injure yourself and reset your progress!"

"I need to learn as much as I can… I only have a year until I become a genin."

"I thought you were a genin already!" Gai said as he inspected him. "No protector… How old are you?"

"Eight."

"Only an eight-year-old Academy student, yet such determination and passion for improving…. Tell me, do you have someone that you want to surpass? Perhaps a classmate or a well-known shinobi?"

"Uchiha Itachi," Kinjo answered. "He's a natural genius, and he's a lot better than I am, even though we're almost the same age."

He swore that Gai's eyes glowed as he shouted."Yosh! I will take you on as my student."

Kinjo sucked in a breath of fresh air as his lungs finally settled. "Really?"

"Of course! You bravely jumped in my way to ask for training and persevered for hours even though you were exhausted. Not only that, but you asked for more training! You probably know this well, but I am quite a popular man! I have had many shinobi ask me to train them."

"Then why me?"

"Because you endured and even asked for more! Every shinobi that asked before you faltered and gave up after I made them run continuously. They claimed my training was too extreme! Yet, that training allowed me to come this far in the first place! They lacked the dedication, the will to continue forward!"

"So… you're allowing me to train with you because I survived your warm-up?"

"PERSEVERANCE!" Kinjo jumped when Gai shouted the word. "That is the key to success! You may think you are lacking because of that Uchiha youngster. But you are a genius as well, with your perseverance! You will beat your rival one day, and I will help you beat him!"

Gai gave him a thumbs-up with a wink. His antics made Kinjo smile, despite the sharp ache spreading in his legs."He's not my rival; he's a friend."

"Your greatest rival can be your closest friend! Ask my eternal rival Kakashi!"

"Who is Kakashi?"

"My best friend and rival! I am better than he is, but he is very close to me in terms of skill. We have numerous epic battles against each other every year, and I am in the lead with twenty-two wins to his twenty-one!" Gai boasted as he thumped out his chest. "Now, let me make myself clear. I am a busy man with my own training and missions. I am more than happy to guide a fiery youngster like yourself, but you must give me one hundred and ten percent each time I train with you."

"I'll give it all I got."

"And you must believe you can succeed, no matter what. You must believe you can beat the Uchiha youth and achieve your goals. If I can beat an elite genius like my friend Kakashi with only determination and effort, then you must believe you can do the same!"

Despite his opinion of Gai's antics, Kinjo bowed his head to his new mentor. Gai was indeed the epitome of positivity and hard work. Sure, Naruto was similar personality-wise and more powerful, but Gai wasn't a jinchuriki or the successor to various powerful and wise teachers. He was a shinobi that couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu and flunked the Academy's entrance screening.

Yet, he endured and trained zealously, eventually reaching a point where he could go toe to toe with Madara with just taijutsu. He was a true role model for any aspiring shinobi, especially for those from a non-clan background.

"Of course. Thank you for taking me as a student, sensei."

"Then it is settled! Now let us do five hundred push-ups to begin your official training!"

"Wh… Yes, sensei."

"No, you are not allowed to leave the house for another week, Mika!"

"Mommy, please?"

"I said no!"

Makoto interjected and placed his hand on Mika's head. "Aya…"

"I said no, Mako! And that is final. She should learn sewing and cooking, not throwing knives or hitting people!" Kinjo's mother huffed as she placed her chopsticks down and glared at her family members. Only Satoshi was spared from the mother's gaze as his laugh echoed throughout the dining room.

Kinjo looked away as he munched on his dinner, still sore from his lessons with Gai. His body was still adjusting to the insane regimen that Gai had cooked up for him just a week ago. He had seen this conversation multiple times throughout the past two and a half years, and it escalated each time.

"She doesn't like cooking or sewing, and you know that."

"Then she can take up another hobby. Yumi is opening up an art school soon. She can attend some classes there…."

"Aya, she can't even draw stick figures, and you want her to draw?"

"Anything but that. One is enough."

"And look at our son! He's at the top of his class! Before he attended the Academy, he looked bored and stuck. Now, he's turning into a finer man than you and I could've ever dreamed of. Maybe she will be the same."

"She is six. Our daughter is hardly old enough to understand what it means to be that."

"Mommy, daddy, stop fighting," Mika cried as she shook her mother's arm. "I won't ask anymore."

"Of course, dear." Her mother cooed as she stroked her back. "Sorry, that mommy is acting like this. You see, we have something to tell the three of you."

"You're pregnant?" Kinjo guessed.

His father clutched his stomach and laughed. "See? Our son is brilliant."

"How did you know, Kin?" His mother whispered.

"A lucky guess?" And the fact that her appetite surged to the point where even he felt sick looking at her eat.

"Smart boy," She stroked his head and giggled. "Well, you'll have a new sibling in a few months! Aren't you excited?"

"Oooh! I hope it's a girl! I want a sister!" Mika declared as she waved her spoon. Her previous determination was replaced by excitement.

Even Satoshi joined the conversation. His younger brother was now four years old and a full-fledged child. "I want a sister too!"

"I don't mind either or," Kinjo added.

Counting his previous life, this was his fifth sibling. At this rate, he could field a basketball team consisting of his siblings.

"You'll have to stay home whenever you have the chance." His mother smiled at him.

He shivered at her sweet demeanor and fell silent. Only his father's understanding nod calmed his frayed nerves.

Itachi glanced at Kinjo, who was swinging his gunbai with deadly accuracy. It glowed briefly before slamming into the tree with a loud thwack, a storm of leaves raining down on them. He raised an eyebrow and turned his head to his friend with a questioning gaze. "What was that?"

"Something that I've been practicing with Gai sensei," Kinjo said as he pulled out the fan embedded an inch deep in the trunk. "It's his Leaf Hurricane combined with a fan… I'm calling it Leaf Tornado."

"Tornadoes spin. You weren't spinning."

"I suck at naming things, and I'm still working on the move."

He didn't reply, opting to look at the jostled tree branches with a smile. A comfortable silence overtook them as Kinjo continued his practice while Itachi enjoyed the stillness of the small park within his home district. The only sounds he heard were the swishing of the fan and the soft chirping of birds on the various trees that populated the park.

"What did you want to talk about?" Kinjo asked.

Itachi remained silent.

"The only times you call me out alone is if it's about something serious, like your missions."

"We train together, occasionally."

"If we were training, we would be at a training ground, not a park."

Itachi hummed as Kinjo sat down next to him, his gunbai strapped to his back in a blink of an eye. The weapon was large as he was, yet Kinjo wielded it without difficulty.

The younger boy had always been as sharp as him, and he appreciated his blunt attitude when they were alone. When they met for the first time, Itachi had been intrigued by the possibility of interacting with a fellow genius that was his age. He had been disappointed at Kinjo's seeming lack of skills, but he had made up for it with his maturity and intelligence. Itachi's first recollection of him was the surprising depth and thoughts in his eyes, something he had only seen in Shisui from their age group.

Kinjo's confession of wanting to help people and improve the world struck a chord in him. That was why Itachi jumped into a friendship with him; they were alike in many ways, and he held the same views as Itachi and Shisui.

His first and only friend outside of the Uchiha Clan.

Thankfully, his father approved of the friendship as Kinjo rapidly improved as a shinobi, surpassing other students in his class.

Admittedly, he couldn't tell Kinjo everything, especially about the discontent within his clan. Still, his conversations with him were refreshing. Itachi was grateful that he had someone to converse with, especially one he could confide in on complex and serious matters. He also spoke to Shisui whenever possible, but Shisui was also busy with his obligations as a shinobi.

Though, he sensed a thin wall separating the two of them. Every move Kinjo made was calculated; he could tell since he was the same. Yet, Kinjo was rather straightforward when it was just the two of them. Perhaps he saw Itachi the same way Itachi saw him, but he didn't need to ask. Their current friendship was enough.

"How is your training with Gai?" Itachi questioned.

"It's good," Kinjo replied. "I've learned a lot in a month. He's a good teacher."

"I heard he's a jonin now. Maybe he'll be your jonin instructor."

"Nah, he mentioned that he didn't want a full team yet because he wants to "enjoy his youth," whatever that means."

Itachi closed his eyes and leaned on the tree. "He seems… interesting."

"He's a character," Kinjo affirmed. "A Ryo for your thoughts?"

"My team has received another A-rank mission."

"Really?" Despite his question, he didn't sound surprised.

"I'm escorting the Fire Daimyo for his annual visit to Konoha next week."

"And you're worried about it?"

He nodded. "Somewhat."

"Are you worried about yourself or your teammates? Your teammate… Genma."

"Tenma."

"Right, Tenma. He nearly died in your team's previous mission."

"That's part of the reason, but I'm also feeling somewhat… unnerved about being assigned two high-ranking missions in a short period. I was told that this mission would be easy, but considering my last mission… I'm not too sure.."

When Itachi opened his eyes, he saw Kinjo place his chin on his hand and stare at the golden sunset in the distance. He stilled, his expression blank as he scrunched his eyebrows together. Itachi felt a shift in the air as Kinjo pondered longer than he had anticipated, tranquility transforming into an unbearable stillness as his friend remained quiet.

Did Kinjo know something he didn't?

Kinjo's memories recalled the events of Itachi's novel with frightening clarity. The Fire Daimyo mission was one of the most critical events in the first book, an event that would shift the tone of the story.

Tenma would die at Tobi's hands during the mission, and Itachi would awaken his Sharingan shortly after.

If he warned Itachi, Tenma would most likely survive, and Itachi would not awaken his Sharingan, at least for some time.

If he didn't warn him, events would progress as per canon.

Kinjo chewed his lips as Itachi stared, a spark flicking out of his mouth as his chakra responded to his thoughts. He fiddled with the shoulder strap of his fan as his mind raced faster than his fingers.

For a moment, Kinjo leaned towards the latter option. There was no telling what would happen to Itachi if he didn't have his Sharingan. With the village seemingly testing his abilities through challenging missions, Itachi could lose his life if he didn't have the dojutsu. The books never detailed all his assignments, meaning the Sharingan was potentially necessary for him to survive.

And while Itachi was skilled, Kinjo wasn't sure if he was skilled enough to become a chunin without his Sharingan. Itachi became a chunin a year after unlocking them, blowing his peers out of the water by combining his genius and his Sharingan. Shortly after, he joined ANBU, and the Uchiha conspiracy began in earnest.

There were no guarantees that the conspiracy wouldn't start if Itachi wasn't a chunin, and Itachi would become weaker than his canon self. Kinjo didn't see any benefits in warning him about Tenma's impending demise...

He slammed the back of his head into the tree and sighed. Itachi cocked his head and glanced at Kinjo but waited for his reply wordlessly.

"Take caution during your mission," Kinjo finally said while massaging his temples. "No offense, but I'm not sure why they gave you and your team that mission. Genin guarding the Daimyo, even though that mission should be an A-rank? Something is off about this entire thing. Be on your guard, and make sure your teammate doesn't do anything stupid. Don't let him charge at an unknown enemy since he might actually die."

"You think someone would attack the Daimyo in broad daylight?"

Kinjo shrugged. "Konoha has plenty of enemies. A few probably heard that the Daimyo is being escorted by a genin team instead of a jonin one. Even with his bodyguards, he's a much easier target to assassinate now. If someone wants to create chaos in Konoha, cutting off its finances would be a good way to start."

"Makes sense," Itachi agreed. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Be careful."

"I will, thanks."

As they departed the park, Kinjo looked back at the tree with a frown. He shivered as he remembered his final thoughts before giving Itachi his answer. They were cold and calculating, detached from his usual confident and hopeful outlook. Compared to his eagerness to change the Hyuga Incident, his thoughts toward saving Tenma were lukewarm.

His growing friendship with Itachi clouded his judgment; he didn't want Itachi to die due to his intervention. Despite all his bravado to save people with his knowledge, he was hesitant to risk his friend in his schemes to save people.

Kinjo had to be confident in Itachi's abilities, whether he had the Sharingan or not.

Perhaps his "success" during the Hyuga Incident blinded him, but he believed he could make changes without severe consequences. Or at least consequences that he and others couldn't deal with. A small part of Kinjo clung to the hope that he could achieve his goals without answering a question brewing in the back of his mind.

Would his actions really save more people, or would they lead to something far graver than canon events?

If he was stronger, he would succeed. He just needed the determination to see it to the end.

For a brief moment, Kinjo swore he felt someone watching him from one of the trees nearby. Yet, when his eyes drifted over to an inconspicuous tree, it was empty.

Perhaps it was just the wind.

Red eyes glowered at Kinjo as he looked up from his lunch. They continued to peer into him, tracking him while he dug into his curry and sipped a can of orange juice. As he finished the can, the red disappeared, replaced with a familiar shade of dark grey.

Kinjo checked his watch and nodded. "A minute."

"Ugh," Izumi panted as she wiped some sweat from her forehead. "I thought it was longer this time."

They were sitting in the cafeteria of the Academy, a large sprawling room filled with tables, chairs, and food. Its white walls were adorned with various posters with pictures of famous shinobi and inspirational captions. It sat on the edge of the campus, providing a clear view of the neighboring Hokage Tower. Since lunch was free for students, Kinjo spent most of his lunchtime at the cafeteria, stuffing himself with food.

Izumi usually joined him; today, she practiced using her Sharingan while eating.

"It's still better than a few months ago. Remember when you first started to train it? You could barely use it for five seconds."

"Still, I only have one tomoe," Izumi pouted. "And I can't use the Sharingan in a fight if I can only use it for a minute."

"You can still use it to tip a fight in your favor," Kinjo said with a shrug.

"I guess…"

"You'll improve over time, don't worry too much."

"I can't practice at home since my mom gets angry… The last time I used it at home, I passed out while taking a bath, and she yelled at me about my dad or something. She was complaining about how I was pushing myself too much and I was being reckless."

"Maybe you should take it easy when you're at home."

"I will. I don't want to get yelled at again. But you're going help me with ninjutsu training again today, right?"

"Of course. We still need to work on your Great Fireball Jutsu. You made a fireball, but now you need to make it bigger."

She beamed. "It's nice that we both have the Fire affinity. You can teach me cool jutsu, and I can help you with other stuff! By the way, what did you do with Itachi yesterday?"

"We talked about his new mission." He looked around before leaning in. Itachi told him he could tell Izumi about his mission since she was also his friend, and despite her outgoing personality, she was good at keeping secrets. "He's going to escort the Fire Daimyo when he visits next week."

"Really?!" She shouted. Several nearby students turned toward her with questioning gazes, causing her to sink into her seat and hide behind her food. "That's awesome."

"He'll probably be a chunin before we become genin," Kinjo mused as he finished his lunch. "Do you have enough energy to try using your Sharingan one more time?"

"Maybe for like ten seconds. Are we doing that exercise?"

"Yep."

"Ok, go!"

Izumi's eyes transformed and narrowed in on Kinjo's hands. He ran through a series of hand signs before pulling them away. "What jutsu?"

"Oh! I know this one…." She tapped her forehead and clapped. "Water Bullet! It's the one that Itachi likes to use."

"Got it in one."

"Why am I doing this again?"

"Because if you know what jutsu your opponent is using, you can counter it before they even finish their hand signs."

"That's why you're making me memorize a bunch of hand signs for jutsu and making me study harder," Izumi whined. "Having the Sharingan is like a chore sometimes."

Kinjo rolled his eyes at her comments. Her antics made it easy to forget that she was a Uchiha. "If Itachi's dad heard you, he would kick you out of the compound."

"He can't since the elders are nagging me about training again."

"You've improved quite a lot over the past two years."

"I bet I'm still not good enough for them. By the way, I drew something last night; want to see it?"

"Sure."

While he watched over his siblings and worked at the store in his free time, Izumi enjoyed drawing. She showed him her drawings every now and then, and he had to admit they were pretty damn good.

Except for her drawings of Itachi. They made Itachi seem like a pretty boy, even more so than he already was.

She pulled out her sketchbook and flipped the pages before setting it down on the table. "Isn't this neat?"

It was a picture of the two of them. She was posing in the front with a kunai in each hand while he stood behind her.

"It looks good, but why is my forehead protector strapped on my arm?" Kinjo asked.

"I dunno. I just think you would look weird with it on your forehead."

That sparked an argument over his forehead until the end of lunch. Discussing the finer points of facial symmetry with a nine-year-old was… entertaining, to say the least.

When lunch ended, he shuffled back to class with the rest of the fifth-year students and slumped into his seat. A few of his classmates looked at him warily, but he ignored them as he pulled out his textbooks.

Shin was already sitting, giggling while reading his adventure novels and munching on a bag of corn chips.

"How's the novel?"

Shin grinned as he waved the cover in front of Kinjo. "It's great! I still have to read the sixth volume, but I bet it'll be amazing like this one."

"Cool."

"Got any more of the jerky?"

"None for today. Dad has to restock."

"Aww," Shin turned his attention back to the novel.

The classes droned on for the next several hours, his attention dwindling until the class reached the fuinjutsu lessons. He widened his eyes and jotted down notes from the blackboard as Taku scrawled down the sealing patterns of the explosive tag. After comparing the notes in his notebook to the blackboard, he leaned back in his chair.

"Kinjo!"

He blinked as Taku folded his arms and gestured to him. "Yes?"

"What are the patterns around the "explode" kanji for?"

"They exist to prevent the seal from receiving damage in harsh environments. The patterns are distorted kanji for words like "water" and "resistance." Also, they allow you to bleed some of your chakra into the seal so that the explosive tag only resonates with your command."

"Excellent, but you also forgot another crucial reason for the patterns: preventing the explosive tags from misfiring. After being infused with chakra, the "explode" kanji is volatile, and the entire seal is needed to contain its power."

Taku slammed the podium with his hands, creating a stir within the classroom. "Remember that, not only for the sake of the exams next month but also to not blow up after becoming an official shinobi! You must learn how explosive tags work and how to draw their seals. Otherwise, you cannot spot fatal damages that may trigger the explosive tags. Even the slightest alteration to the seal can have devastating consequences."

While Taku was usually intense and disciplined, Kinjo noticed a more noticeable grimace on the instructor's face as he spoke. He underlined the functions of the seal in his notebook and closed it shut.

Several hours later, he was packing after the last lecture when Taku called him over. A black-haired girl was also there, and Kinjo noted that she was from the other fifth-year class.

"I'm sure you both know each other," Taku said as he motioned for the pair to sit.

"I know who he is," She replied.

He stared at her face for a few seconds before opening his mouth. "Chiaka, the Nara."

Chiaka glared back. "Do you have a problem with the Nara clan?"

"No, why?"

"Settle down, you two," Taku growled. "Forget about the incident in last year's final exams. You are both aspiring shinobi for Konoha. I will not tolerate any discourse in the ranks."

"Yes, sensei." They both responded.

"I called the two of you over here because the head instructor has decided to allow you to take the graduation exam next month."

"Finally!" Chiaka cheered. "I'll take it!"

"I expect you to double your efforts, Chiaka. To make up for what you did."

She quieted down shortly after. Kinjo remained silent and rubbed his chin.

"What about you, Kinjo? Will you take it?" Taku inquired.

"No. I'll take the exam next year."

He had barely started training with Gai, and he still had a few things he wanted to work on before making the final leap to becoming a shinobi. A jonin instructor would be helpful, but he had his taijutsu and ninjutsu training already covered. A stable source of income would be useful, but he could hold out for a year.

"I suspected as much. Very well. Chiaka, you will take the graduation exam next month. Kinjo, you are slated to take it next year. I hope you do not refuse then."

Chiaka looked at him incredulously, but they both nodded and dismissed themselves from the classroom. As he made his way to the exit, she grabbed his shoulders. "Why aren't you taking the exam?"

"Personal reasons."

"You're the best in our year."

"That doesn't matter."

"It does! Do you want to be stuck in the Academy for another year?"

"Not really, but as I said, I have reasons," Kinjo repeated. "Why do you care?"

She scratched her head and sighed. "Whatever… Also, I'm sorry."

"You mean you using the Shadow Possession Jutsu on me?"

"Don't mention it again, but yes."

Kinjo waved her off. "As sensei said, it's water under the bridge now. In fact, it didn't even cross my mind until he mentioned it earlier. I need to go now, so see ya."

As he walked away, he saw her face reddening and her feet stomping the ground in frustration.

Did he say something wrong?

Itachi spun his head to a sound in the forest, clutching his kunai tighter. His shoulders slacked as a deer ran before the Fire Daimyo's convoy and disappeared into the cluster of trees.

"Are you ok?" Shinko, his female teammate, asked as she noticed the kunai in his hand. "You've been jumpy the entire day."

"I'm fine… You can never be too careful."

Nearby, Tenma snorted. "You're just being paranoid."

Several of the Daimyo's bodyguards looked at him with concern, but Itachi glanced away and scanned his surroundings. The Daimyo was in the carriage, out of sight and ignorant of the outside. The two Guardians accompanying the convoy stuck close to the carriage while Itachi's jonin instructor, Minazuki Yuki, followed behind his students.

They were several hours away from the gates of Konoha and only encountered merchants and traveling civilians, yet Itachi couldn't let down his guard even for a moment.

Several minutes passed uneventfully, with only the chatter between the bodyguards and the chirping of birds disrupting his senses. Tenma and Shinko strolled carelessly, ignoring Itachi as he remained a step ahead of them.

He tensed as a masked man stumbled onto the highway, a sword strapped to his back. The Guardians and the other bodyguards followed suit and pulled out their weapons, stopping the convoy. Itachi whipped out his kunai and waited for an attack.

However, the stranger sauntered toward them with a skip in his step. His voice was springy and friendly, similar to how Izumi spoke. "What's going on? Is there a parade? A celebration?"

"Back up and make way for the Daimyo!" The tall, brown-haired Guardian named Kitane proclaimed.

"Oh, the Daimyo! I apologize; I had no idea! Do you know where Tokai is? I'm visiting my family there."

"Tokai is down the way we came from. It's only a fifteen-minute walk from here," Kitane answered. Itachi noticed his hand was still on his kunai holster, but his grip had loosened.

The Fire Daimyo peeked his head out from his carriage, "Why did we stop?"

"Just a traveler asking for directions, Daimyo-dono."

"I'll be on my way then!" The masked man's sole eye peeking out of the mask glowed as his sword materialized in his hand in a blink.

Itachi jerked his head away and threw a kunai at the man, who side-stepped to dodge. While looking at the others, he witnessed everyone's eyes glossing over and slumping in place. Tenma, who broke free instantly, was the only other person unaffected by the sudden genjutsu attack.

If there was one thing Tenma was good at, it was his genjutsu abilities, aided by his flawless chakra control.

"He's after the Daimyo!" Tenma yelled as he rushed forward before Itachi could act.

Be on your guard, and make sure your teammate doesn't do anything stupid. Don't let him charge at an unknown enemy since he might actually die.

As Tenma neared the masked man, Itachi tackled him and sent him flying off the road. Itachi's eyes missed the gleaming metal by inches as it swished over him.

When he looked up, Itachi felt a surge of power rising from the masked man. The air stirred as his demeanor changed, his voice lacking the jaunty tone from before. "Risking your life to save your teammate? How foolish. Do you think your sacrifice will mean anything in the end?"

Itachi bolted backward as he stared at the blade arcing in the air. The masked man's sole eye narrowed as he raced forward in pursuit, the sword's momentum shifting into a honed thrust. He twisted his torso to avoid the edge hurling toward him, but it stabbed his chest and showered the air with blood.

He bit down a muffled scream as he jumped back, a scalding sensation burning his wound. Tenma shouted in the background, but all he could hear was the steady dripping of his blood. Each drop was louder than the last, dying the earth in a deep crimson.

"Disappointing," The masked man said. "I thought you would amount to something more."

For the first time in his life, Itachi felt a particular emotion thumping against his chest.

Fear.

He had no equals among his peers and was always praised for his genius. Yet, none of that mattered in the face of an adversary far beyond him. The mask on his face was much like Itachi's, only physical. It was as if he was facing his older, future self: a faceless phantom fighting with cold, ruthless efficiency.

His eyes glared at the masked man as he pulled out a kunai and went through a series of hand seals. "Water Bullet Jutsu!"

The jutsu was one of his most powerful ones, a powerful jet of water that could destroy even the sturdiest of structures. Yet, the jutsu passed through the masked man as if the water was an illusion. Within a blink of an eye, he was on top of Itachi once more and swung his sword at an impossible speed.

The masked man disappeared for a moment as a pair of kunai sailed through his head, allowing Itachi to jump back in time to avoid the blade. Tenma screamed at Itachi while pulling out a pair of kunai, "Run!"

Itachi groaned as he steadied his feet. The pressure on his shoulder was like a burning branding iron pressed against the gaping wound. He immediately fired several shurikens and breathed out fire. The burning shurikens whizzed towards his target with impeccable accuracy, boring down on the masked man even as he moved.

Unwilling to wait, Itachi rushed forward with a kunai drawn as he contemplated the strange ability of his opponent. He felt a taste of iron in his mouth, making him wince.

"You fool." The masked man batted the shurikens hidden within the flames and teleported behind Tenma. "In the end, it is futile to resist. You will be next."

Itachi's eyes widened, fear morphing into desperation. His limbs screamed as he poured everything into advancing to his teammate, his legs splashed by the pool of his own blood. Still, he pressed forward, his will remaining unfettered.

He couldn't let his teammate die, not while he watched helplessly. He was better than this.

Suddenly, time slowed as the sword pummeled toward his teammate, who only realized his doom a second too late. His vision sharpened, and he saw every twitch of his teammate and enemy. Somehow, he knew the precise trajectory of the masked man's actions, slowing as if he were struggling in quicksand.

The Sharingan. He had awakened it.

He steadied his feet and threw another spread of kunai at his opponent. The masked man faded, the projectiles flying harmlessly through him. But Itachi noticed a moment of hesitation and aimed a Water Bullet at the blade with the remaining ounce of his strength.

Itachi theorized that he could only hit the masked man when he attacked, like when he stabbed him. It was a desperate gamble, one he prayed would work.

The jutsu rammed into the sword a second before it reached its target, giving Tenma a chance to scurry toward him. Itachi finally collapsed, his legs refusing his commands as he released a wet cough. Tenma gazed at Itachi's wound and paled at the blood dripping from his mouth and chest.

While the Water Bullet deflected the attack, the masked man remained upright and loomed over them. Tenma jumped back as the blade pressed into Itachi's wound, sending a jolt of electricity throughout his strengthless body. "You could've lived if you didn't try to save your reckless teammate. In the end, your sacrifice was for nothing."

Water from the sword dripped, diluting the pool of red surrounding him. From the corner of his eyes, he saw a stream flowing from Tenma and smelled the stale smell of urine. The sight sapped the last of his strength as he battled for his consciousness from the darkness threatening to vanquish him.

"I'm sorry…." Tenma whispered.

The last thing Itachi saw was the sunlight deflected from the blade and the empty gaze of the masked man. His defiant stare never looked away from the eye hidden behind the mask.

Just before he lost consciousness, he felt the blade pulling out of his chest as the sound of footsteps thundered toward him.

"Itachi!" Kinjo shouted as he banged open the hospital room's door and bolted inside.

"Yes?"

He blinked as he saw Izumi fumbling with an apple next to Itachi, lying in his bed in a hospital gown.

"Are you alright?"

Itachi leaned into his soft pillow and groaned, "No."

Kinjo sighed in relief as he sat next to Izumi and placed a box of coffee jelly, Itachi's favorite sweet, on the nearby table. He caught a glimpse of the bandages wrapped around his chest and grimaced at his pale complexion. "What happened? Your dad only told me that you were in the hospital."

"He said there was an accident while his team was guarding the Daimyo," Izumi said. "He got trampled on by the Daimyo's horses. They had really sharp horseshoes and hurt him badly."

"Horses… Really?" Kinjo raised an eyebrow at Itachi, who coughed and looked away.

She handed Itachi an apple as she scolded Kinjo. "You should let him rest; he can't talk a lot since his chest hurts when he talks."

"He's not going to… die or anything, right?"

"He almost did, but he had a medic as a teammate, and she patched him up before things could get worse. He lost a lot of blood, so his sensei rushed him back to Konoha to save him and arrived just in time. He woke up a few hours ago."

"I thought you said he couldn't talk much?"

"I asked the nurse," Izumi responded, munching on a misshapen apple slice and handing one over to Itachi.

There was no way a horse could injure Itachi enough for him to require bed rest. Konoha wanted to avoid rumors of weakness or an assassination attempt by pretending Tobi's ambush never happened.

The basic gist of the situation through the cover story was understandable. The Daimyo's convoy was attacked by Tobi, and Itachi was injured trying to stop Tenma from being killed. Since Tobi used a sword to kill Tenma in canon, it was likely that Itachi was stabbed and barely adverted death.

A crushing weight dropped his shoulders, forcing him to look away from Itachi. He looked out the window and gazed upon the peaceful village. "Are your teammates ok?"

"Both of them are fine," Itachi mumbled.

"Even Tenma?"

He nodded.

"That's good."

Tenma was alive; he had succeeded and helped save a life. Yet, a sinking coldness seeped into his blood.

It had almost cost his friend, a powerful shinobi who would rock the fate of this world. If Tenma had lived, but Itachi had died…

A life for a life...

Kinjo ignored the question and clamped down on his thoughts. His information prevented a death. Itachi was the one that suffered, but both of them knew the risks of their actions.

It was the right thing to do.

At the same time... this incident was a wake-up call. He had gambled, and that gamble had nearly led Itachi to an early grave. He was unwilling to play god over the lives of his friends and loved ones due to his own desires. If he was going to utilize his knowledge to save people, then he was only going to risk himself.

There were enough assholes and egotistical bastards that played with the lives of others in this world. He was unwilling to throw himself onto that pile.

Kinjo fiddled with the bloody coin his father had given him in his pocket. The only life he was going to risk was his own, which meant he needed to get stronger.

"Itachi also got his Sharingan!" Izumi cheered. "He and I can finally train that together!"

"He did?" Kinjo perked up at the news.

"Yep! He's already got two tomoe too!"

Maybe there was another silver lining to this situation. "Great. If you're ok with it, I want to see it after you recover."

"Naturally," Itachi answered. "Izumi, can you get me a coffee jelly?"

As she fetched his snack, Kinjo looked at Itachi grimace at the slightest movements while coughing.

He wanted to apologize but knew it was idiotic to admit his true background. If there was one secret he would take to the grave, it would be that. The last thing he wanted was to be locked up in a cell and interrogated for eternity. He shuddered as he imagined Danzo or some other unsavory individuals gleefully extracting information from him and using it to further their own selfish agenda.

At the very least, he owed Itachi something. Kinjo didn't know what he would need to pay, but if the time came when Itachi needed something from him, he would repay the favor.

It was the least he could do.

In a small family home near the Academy, Tenma entered his room and locked the door behind him. He collapsed onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, sighing as he recalled the Fire Daimyo mission.

He was grateful for Itachi's help, but at the same time, lambasted himself for freezing up twice and even pissing himself.

Itachi received praise and commendations from the Daimyo and even the Hokage for risking his life to protect the Daimyo. The mission was classified, but those who knew about the mission held Itachi up on a pedestal.

A pang of jealousy echoed in Tenma's chest as his cheeks reddened further. Even though he had broken the genjutsu and tried to fight the masked man, all he received was a stern talk from his sensei and snickers from the Daimyo's bodyguards due to his soiled clothes.

This happened after every mission his team went on. Itachi would be praised as a genius and glorified while he was left behind to pick up the pieces.

If only he were stronger…

"If you were stronger, you wouldn't be treated as a disposable piece."

Tenma jumped out of his bed and reached for his kunai, but a hand locked his arms in place. He turned to see a man in a sheep mask and ANBU attire stare back at him. "Who are you?"

"A friend," The man answered in a high-pitched voice. "I heard about your mission and came here to help you."

"Help me with what?"

"To get stronger. Isn't it unfair that your teammate has all the spotlight, yet your efforts and skills go unrecognized? I've read the briefing for your Iwa spy mission; it only praises Itachi. Your name was only mentioned at the end: how you nearly died trying to arrest the spy. I'm sure a promising genin like you did much more than that."

He gripped his fists as his cheeks heated up in anger. "I can get stronger on my own and become better than Itachi."

"I'm sure you will, but some help wouldn't hurt, would it? I read that you are excellent with genjutsu…I can teach you some advanced techniques. We are both Leaf shinobi, after all."

A voice in the back of Tenma's head screamed for him to refuse the offer. His chest tightened from the atmosphere surrounding the man, and his legs shook from looking at him.

Even so, the offer was tempting. His sensei was laid-back and inattentive, only teaching a few things here and there while leaving most of the training up to his students. He also didn't know much about genjutsu, leaving Tenma to fumble in the dark.

He would become much more powerful if he could learn things from this ANBU member, who offered him advanced genjutsu techniques. Perhaps even allowing him to take the upcoming chunin exams…

Besides, this man was on his side. There wasn't anything wrong with accepting his help.

"Sure," Tenma finally said.

"Excellent, we'll start tomorrow then. Find me at Training Ground Forty-Nine, just outside the village walls."

"What do I call you?"

"Call me Sheep."

Unbeknownst to Tenma, the man smirked behind his mask as his lone Sharingan flashed.

Chapter Text

Kinjo leaned against the wall by the southern gate as he scanned the crowd for a familiar face. It was early on in the winter and traffic into Konoha had slowed significantly, with only a few caravans and farmers passing through to sell their goods within the village. Despite seeing the same sights for the hundredth time, he enjoyed the colorful variety of people entering his hometown and the clashing of sounds, ranging from normal chatter between the chunin guards to the heavy thundering of wagons and horses.

Finally, after waiting for half an hour, a familiar sight graced his eyes. A young boy with black hair, another with grey hair, a girl with greyish-brown hair, and a tall lanky man with dark hair. Kinjo's mouth curled into a grin when he saw the group. "Itachi."

Itachi turned to the shadows and spotted Kinjo in the shade. He raised his head and smiled. "Kinjo."

"Welcome back," Kinjo answered. "How was your trip to the Land of Rivers?"

"Uneventful," Itachi said. He turned toward his jonin instructor, who gave him an uninterested nod. "Just a normal escort mission with a few bandits involved, nothing more. Why are you here?"

"You told me you would be back today, so I decided to wait for you. I'm taking it easy today."

"I see… Then let's head to the compound together."

"After you," Kinjo replied with a grin. Itachi's female teammate, Shinko, smiled at him while Tenma, the other teammate, looked away. Kinjo wasn't sure why, but he felt as though Tenma was… even more cold and detached than Itachi initially was to him. Perhaps Tenma's rivalry with Itachi meant that he disliked those that were even friendly to Itachi.

Itachi's jonin instructor Yuki looked nonplussed as usual. Kinjo noted that the man was doing an excellent Shikamaru expression. As Itachi and Kinjo were about to walk away, Yuki cleared his throat. "Itachi, it's your turn to turn in the mission's report. Do that before excusing yourself from the team."

"I'm well aware, sensei," Itachi pulled a scroll from his pocket and stared nonchalantly at his jonin instructor.

"O..Oh, good. Well then, carry on. Team 2, you are dismissed for today. Enjoy the rest of the week off until our next mission."

With that, everyone went their separate ways while the duo walked toward the Hokage Residence for the mission report. On the way there, Kinjo turned to his counterpart while thumbing toward Yuki in the distance. "Did you scare him or something?"

"Why would he be afraid of me?" Itachi asked, tilting his head.

"I don't know; he sounded a bit nervous there."

"Perhaps he's exhausted after Tenma and I both repeatedly inquired about the Chunin Exams throughout the mission."

"You're taking it this year?"

"Next year. Possibly the one in April. If not, then the one in October. At first, my sensei didn't want us to take it, thinking we weren't ready. But Tenma nagged him while I… asked firmly. He conceded."

Kinjo snorted. "So you did scare him."

"He's a jonin," Itachi deadpanned.

"And you're well due for a promotion to chunin. This is your twenty-fifth C-rank mission this year."

"I'm not concerned with rank or rewards. The missions are for the benefit of the village."

"I know," Kinjo waved his hands dramatically. "The more missions you guys take, the more reliable and valuable our shinobi force is to the general public. Not to mention, more money for the village to replenish from our losses during the… Nine Tails Attack and the war with Kumo."

"I believe you are well due for a promotion as well,"

"Just a few more months. Then I'll get to explore the world a bit as well."

Itachi looked up at the looming Hokage Tower as his eyes flashed. "Then we start to change the world."

"Yep," Kinjo said as he looked away. His eyes drifted to the right side of Itachi's chest, the place where he was stabbed by Tobi. "Soon."

As they entered, they were greeted by the tirade of a middle-aged man with the Uchiha logo on the back of his jacket. "Four years! It's been four years since I was forced to give up my home and business to move back into that place. I lost everything due to that stupid decree. I was told I would be compensated, but I haven't seen a single Ryo!"

A nearby chunin approached him and stretched his hands while backing off. "Sir, if you can come back at a later date after we check your records…"

"My records?" The Uchiha man roared, his eyes glowing red. The chunin cowered at the sight and backed away further. "I sent those in three times already. And yet, nothing! Not even a word of recognition!"

"I promise I'll look into it right away, sir, now if you will…"

"No," he growled. "I will stay right here until I see my promised payment."

Kinjo felt Itachi stir next to him and watched as he marched up to his clan man with a frown. The man looked down at Itachi, and his eyes widened with recognition. Itachi crossed his arms and looked up. "You are embarrassing our clan, Yasushi."

"Itachi… Surely you understand. We are being slighted for our heritage, and I will not take this lying down!"

"I know," Itachi said, his tone relaxed and calm. "However, throwing a tantrum here won't change anything. We need to show we are better than this."

"They don't care. I am not the only one that's been insulted this way. Our complaints always fall on deaf ears," Yasushi hissed. "They ignored us when we needed to expand the compound to accommodate the influx of new residents after that decree. They've refused to allow us to travel outside the village without those stupid permits..."

Itachi's forehead creased, "I will discuss with my father about this and find a solution. For now, leave."

Yasushi's face reddened, and it seemed as though his lid would blow. However, the man backed down at the last possible moment and sighed. "Fine, but this is the last time I will endure this insult. Next time, I'll bring a crowd to demand answers."

"Of course. I will see you later."

The two bowed to each other, and Yasushi walked out without another word. Itachi handed his mission report to the frightened chunin and gave a small bow before walking out. Kinjo looked back at the chunin, who glared at Itachi's back and shook his head. "Is everything alright with…"

"Yes, everything is fine," Itachi replied automatically. "Yasushi is… hot-tempered. He's usually prone to outbursts."

Kinjo's face darkened as he walked silently with Itachi to the Uchiha Compound. The symptoms, the anger, they were already there.

The coup would begin in earnest half a year after Itachi became chunin, around the time he joined ANBU. From that point onward, it would be even more difficult to reverse the tide as Konoha would be well aware of the situation and plan to destroy the Uchiha due to their treason. With Itachi planning to take his chunin exam soon, that left him with about a year to either slow down or prevent the coup.

He had less time than he originally thought.

If nothing was done, then… that would happen.

And there was no way in hell he would allow such an atrocity to happen, not under his watch.

As he was busy with his thoughts, he barely noticed a flying projectile slamming into Itachi and tossing him to the ground. Kinjo turned with his gunbai at the ready but slackened as he realized the "projectile" was merely a small boy that looked strikingly similar to Itachi. The boy giggled as he hugged Itachi with all his might. "Brother!"

"Sasuke," Itachi chuckled and rubbed the boy's head. Kinjo had never seen Itachi look so… vulnerable and affectionate before. It was unsettling but also adorable. "Don't you have lessons with Father in the morning?"

"Already finished!" Sasuke boasted. He pointed to Kinjo. "Who's that?"

"Of course, you two have never met since Sasuke always stayed at home. Kinjo, meet my younger brother Sasuke. He's four. Sasuke, this is Kinjo, my friend."

"Cool fan!" Sasuke chirped.

Images of a Uchiha and a Uzumaki fighting at the Valley of the End played out in Kinjo's mind. He silently mused as he considered looking for the other half of the pair.

Kinjo stared at Sasuke, who looked up at him with a bright smile. He bent down next to the boy and shook his small hand, "Nice to meet you, Sasuke."

"Four hundred and twenty-four, four hundred and twenty-five…"

"LOWER! Do not cheat yourself from improvement by cutting corners! Lower yourself all the way down."

Kinjo let out a breath as he pushed himself down and up. He felt some soreness in his arms and chest, but not a single drop of sweat was visible on his skin.

"Four hundred and ninety-nine, five hundred," Kinjo announced as he finished the last of his pushups.

"Yell it out!" Gai hollered while squatting next to him.

"FIVE HUNDRED!"

"Excellent! You're looking much better than when we first started months ago. Now we will continue our warm-up with five laps around Konoha! We can not waste such a beautiful day on strength training alone!"

"Beautiful day?" Kinjo looked up at the dreary, cloudy sky. Even when he squinted into the distance, he was unable to see a single ray of sunshine beaming through the endless blanket of clouds. It was late December, with only a few months separating him from his graduation exam. Even Konoha experienced downcast weather during the winter months.

"Yes! We must enjoy the clouds while they are here, as they will cool us while we train! Now forward, young Kinjo! We must get through our training regimen for today!"

He was familiar with his mentor's style and knew the man would never take "no" for an answer. As such, he wordlessly jumped to his feet and jogged before Gai could yell at him.

He maintained a brisk pace for his run around Konoha while trying to ignore Gai, who was up to his usual amusing yet astonishing antics. Instead of running with his pupil on foot, he was running with his hands as they circled around the perimeter of the village. "If you can not keep up with me, then I will have you run another five laps to improve your speed and stamina!"

"I'll keep up," Kinjo answered, increasing his speed to match the upside-down Gai. "In fact, I'm going to go all out to beat you!"

"Exactly what I wanted to hear! Now run, Kinjo! Let us brighten up the village with our youthful energy!"

With every lap, they passed by several shinobi positioned on the walls or civilians carrying out their business. Many waved at them as the duo ran, while others rolled their eyes at Gai's form. Kinjo gave them a small nod as he ran past them, his eyes zoned in on the path ahead. His worn sandals pounded the ground with a steady rhythm as he used every step to push himself faster.

Just over an hour later, the pair returned to Training Ground Fifty-Two after finishing their five laps. Kinjo wheezed as he drank some water while Gai was filled with vitality and spirit. "Another excellent run around our beautiful village! I'm sure the villagers and shinobi we saw were invigorated by our display of passion and youth!"

"I'm sure they were Gai-sensei," Kinjo mumbled as he straightened his posture and took in a sharp breath.

"Come, we have no time to waste! We must spend every minute improving ourselves!" Gai dragged him to the center of the training ground. He tossed him into the pond, forcing Kinjo to flip and land on his feet. "Now, let us spar."

In an instant, Gai's posture stiffened as he leaped onto the pond's surface with only a slight ripple to signify his entrance. His eyes bore into Kinjo with fiery intensity as his mouth settled into a confident smile, and his hand rose in front of his torso. Kinjo stared back with squinted eyes and frowned, taking up an open form with closed fists.

"Remember, you are not allowed to use your… Tataki." Gai pointed to Kinjo's gunbai, which was strapped to his back. "Such an unyouthful name for a graceful weapon."

"Because it's meant to pound the enemy, Gai-sensei."

"No matters! As always, your goal will be to hit anywhere but my arms and legs. I will only use one hand to fight you. Begin!"

Kinjo rushed forward without hesitation, teetering on the edge of Gai's range. He lashed out with a swift jab, water spraying up into his eyes from the speed. Gai blocked his jab easily, smirking as his eyebrows wiggled with encouragement.

He followed his jab with a diagonal kick aimed at Gai's hips. Instead of his intended target, Kinjo's foot slammed into an iron wall, a loud crack that echoed through the empty training ground. He winced as he looked down, his foot numb after hitting Gai's shin.

"You'll need to do better than that. You have too many openings!" Gai laughed as he grabbed Kinjo and tossed him again, causing him to bounce and then sink into the water.

Kinjo rose back onto his feet with a scowl, loosening his posture and jumping back in without missing a beat. "Dynamic Entry!"

"Too predictable!" Gai rose into the air and slammed his fist into Kinjo's side, his eyes widening as he ducked to dodge a spin kick by an upside-down Kinjo. He backed away and watched as his student landed on his hands and sprang backward like a trained gymnast. "Hah! Better."

Water dripped from his face as Kinjo coughed and ignored the water clogging his nose. The smell wasn't unpleasant, but the taste made him cough. He blew his soaked hair aside and charged in again. This time, he jabbed and kicked from a distance and pulled out his attacks moments before Gai could grab him.

Now it was Gai that rushed in to attack, punching hard enough for a slice of wind to streak past Kinjo's ear and deafen it. "You still rely too much on keeping your opponents at an arm's reach! What if someone faster or stronger breaches your guard and gets close to you?"

"Then I'll break off or use what you taught me to force them to back out," Kinjo shouted. He sliced the ground with a leg-sweeping kick and forced Gai to jump. "Leaf Gale!"

An elbow into Gai's guard, followed by a side punch to pry aside Gai's arm, gave Kinjo an opening to bash a knee into his groin. Gai dodged by a hair, but Kinjo noticed his eyes had widened for a split second as the strike caused his pants to flutter.

They continued to spar for an hour more, with Kinjo pounding away at Gai's guard while Gai only countered if he overextended. Each hit resonated with a satisfying thud, yet neither side stopped as their bodies blurred and created whirlwinds.

Finally, Gai batted away Kinjo's fist and shoved him away with a jab to the chest. Kinjo wheezed and fumbled back onto his feet as Gai towered over him. "I have felt enough of your youthful energy! Your guard needs a bit more work, but I assume your weapon will help you with such."

Kinjo drew his gunbai and nodded. "But I shouldn't rely solely on it; it's a tool, not a crutch."

"Excellent! You still remember!" Gai gave a thumbs up. "Now, let us continue our training with your gunbai."

Gai was a taijutsu master, but his bukijutsu was impressive as well. However, he preferred fighting with his fists as his taijutsu was superior to his bukijutsu, and he claimed that "he broke the weapons he wielded too easily." Thankfully, Gai did know how to wield a gunbai, or well enough to teach some forms and techniques to Kinjo.

And they continued their training once more, this time with Kinjo's gunbai merging into his close combat form to complete the puzzle.

"I'm home!" Kinjo shouted as he trotted up the stairs and entered the dining room. He sported a few bruises, and his gunbai displayed new scratches, but he scrambled to the fridge for a cold drink without any difficulty.

Mika ran up to him and hugged him. "Big brother! Welcome back!"

"Is mom still at the tailor shop?"

"Yep! Satoshi went with her, so I've been watching Maki on my own." She held up Maki, who laughed when she saw him.

The tiny child was gurgling happily in her crib, causing Kinjo to smile in response and coo at her. He stuck out his finger and poked Maki's tiny cheeks. "You're my fifth sibling; you know that?"

"What?" Mika asked with a puzzled expression.

"It's nothing."

"Ok! Is Izumi coming to play today? Can I watch your shinobi training? I want to play with your fan!"

"She might drop by later today, but she's also busy with her own training Mika. Besides, what did I tell you about shinobi training?" Kinjo asked with a raised eyebrow.

His sister pouted and crossed her arms, "That it's dangerous, and I shouldn't be near you when you're doing your cool jutsu stuff."

"Exactly. Besides, you need to watch Maki."

"Daddy can watch her! He's downstairs!"

"He's running the shop; he can't take care of her and work at the same time. The shop is busier 'cause it's winter."

"But I want to watch!" Mika whined.

"No," Kinjo said firmly. He placed his hand on her small shoulders and sighed. "Look, Mika. Being a shinobi is hard and dangerous. I don't want you to become a kunoichi and get hurt for something I chose to do. If something goes wrong, I need you to care for mom and dad."

"Did you do something bad, big brother?"

"I'm just saying hypothetically, if things went badly."

"What does that mean?"

"Never mind, but no shinobi training."

Mika huffed and pulled out some menko cards from her pockets. "I'm six now! You were six when you joined the Academy! I want to join too! I want to be on a menko card and breathe fire!"

Her desire to join the Academy and become a kunoichi had only worsened as of late due to his looming graduation. He was certain that if he had never landed in this world, she would've never formed an interest in the shinobi forces. Perhaps it was selfish and even hypocritical for him to be this opposed to her becoming a kunoichi, but he did not want to place his sister at risk.

"What's all the ruckus about?" Makoto asked as he entered the room.

"Isn't the shop busy right now?"

"I closed it temporarily to restock the shelves." He looked around to see the menko cards in Mika's hands and smiled. "Ah, it's about that again?"

"She's safer at home," Kinjo replied. "You know that, dad."

"So were you, but you chose to become a shinobi. You can't blame your sister for wanting to follow in her older brother's footsteps." Makoto ruffled Mika's long hair as she giggled. "Besides, if she did join the Academy, she would have the best teacher in the world."

"Dad."

"I know, I know. Just… think about it. I've already made some inroads with your mother on the issue. That's why she took Satoshi to her work today."

Kinjo blinked. "You… used Satoshi as bait?"

"Well, more like "kindled his interest in something other than being a shinobi." He was never like Mika, partially due to your mother wanting some normalcy in the house."

"It's the same thing."

"You're a shinobi; don't you have tactics for distractions or the like?"

"Not by using our family members, no."

"Good," Makoto grinned. "If you promise to let Mika follow you the next time you train, I'll give you the thing that you were asking for."

"You have it?" Kinjo asked as he bolted toward his father.

"I do. But promise me."

"... Sure."

"Kinjo, if she changes her mind, she can withdraw from the Academy. Sure, your mom might not like it, but I want Mika to do what she wants to do as well. If it means sending her there to see if she really wants to become a shinobi, then that is what I'll have her do. It's a bit unfair that only you get the opportunity, no?"

"Right."

"If she does make it all the way, I'll make sure to instill the same discipline and values in her as I did with you. So you won't have to worry about your sister zipping around the village firing off fireballs at every stray cat she sees."

"Of course, now can I have it?"

Makoto rolled his eyes. "It's downstairs; let's go get it. I'm not sure why you want something that's used for starting fires while camping when you can breathe fire, but..."

Kinjo barreled into Izumi's defenses with relentless energy, forcing her to take a step back and redirect his strikes. Each blow left marks on her arms, though her face was only mired with a slight grimace.

She flipped away from him as he brought up his leg, separating them by several feet instead of mere inches. His steady tempo of pummeling her was offset by the sudden break, and he scrambled to redirect his stance.

Before he could collect himself, she jumped in and pierced through, landing a staggering blow on his shoulder. He jerked away from another punch and slammed into her with a flurry of kicks, "Leaf Hurricane!"

She dodged the first back kick, but his second kick outsped her maneuvers and rammed into her stomach. The blow sent her sprawling onto the ground, leaving behind a trench of sand and dust as her body screeched to a halt. Kinjo remained in place and waited, a smile curling at the edges of his lips.

Izumi coughed and pushed herself up with her shaking arms. However, instead of looking at him with a malicious glare, her eyes lit up as she grinned. "This is the first time you've broken through my guard so easily."

"We haven't had a serious spar in months since I've been busy," He mentioned. "The fight isn't over yet."

"You really want me to?"

"If you don't practice with it now, how will you use it when we're fighting someone outside the village? Besides, I'm pretty sure I can beat you when you're not using it."

"Don't say I didn't warn you!" Her Sharingan spun into existence and motioned for him to attack. The two tomoe in each eye bore into him like an all-encompassing darkness.

He obliged and raced forward, holding back the smallest of movements as he ran. After faking a twitch on his right arm, he twisted his body and barreled into her.

Whatever she expected from him, it wasn't this. A kick, sure. A punch, expected. But a full-on body tackle? Unpredictable, even with a dojutsu that could read movements.

They grappled in the sand, scrambling for an advantage as dust and wind whirled into their face. Sand caked onto their skin from the sweat, with each grain pressing into them like thorns. He pushed his elbow into her already injured stomach, earning a pained gasp from her.

Amidst the dust storm, she bashed her knee into his groin and pushed his chest as he howled. His head spun from the pain, and his previous plan shattered as she kept her distance with precise strikes aimed at his torso. Her style went from her usual form to a more advanced Uchiha one, then back to a style that resembled judo. There was no pattern, only a mishmash of styles that united into one fluid chorus.

His only advantage now was his superior speed, a fact both of them knew. He launched a storm of punches and kicks to wear her down, but her dojutsu and the distance allowed her to parry them with pinpoint accuracy. A few strikes slipped by, but their effects were minimal compared to before.

A small gap opened as she missed a punch to his head, prompting him to lash out with a punch. As she moved to dodge it, he smacked her hips with a kick and dashed forward.

She parroted his movement and rushed in, leaping and whipping with both of her legs, "Leaf Hurricane!"

"What?" He screeched to a halt and dodged the first kick, focusing his attention on her lower half.

His head was rocked by a punch, and his legs went slack as a kick knocked him onto the floor. Her foot mounted his chest as she peered above him with a smile, "I told you."

"Throwing me off guard by shouting "Leaf Hurricane," baiting me to look at your legs, and then punching me down… Smart."

"You were faster, so I had to be smarter."

Kinjo chuckled as she helped him up. She was talented in canon, but her constant training with him and her drive to study had changed her. He had no doubts that she was ready to be a genin; perhaps she was better than some genin already.

The crowd of students watching from the sidelines started clapping as he dusted the sand off her. Taku came up to them and nodded curtly. "Excellent spar, but I expect neither of you to use "Leaf Hurricane" or the Sharingan during your spars with other students."

"Wasn't planning on it," Kinjo answered. He looked around and gave Shin a thumbs up. The Akimichi responded by waving.

Taku stared at him with a blank face. "Good. While the Academy is a place to learn and grow, you must also show restraint, especially against your fellow Leaf shinobi. Step out of the ring and let the next pair take their turn."

As they headed into the crowd, Kinjo noticed a few girls looking at him with rapt attention. When he walked past one, she giggled and ran to her friends. Izumi noticed and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

He was a bit shorter than Izumi after her recent growth spurt, but he was also growing. And his facial features were more prominent than before. Combined with his spiky brown hair, he looked… pretty good. He was still a child and nowhere near as good-looking as Itachi, but his calm demeanor and above-average looks meant he warranted some unwanted attention.

Kinjo groaned. Thank god he was graduating in two months. The thought of a child looking at him with romantic interest made him nauseous.

"How?" Kinjo's jaw slackened as he watched his sister giggle and run around with enhanced speed.

"Look, big brother! I'm going super fast!" Mika shouted as she zipped around the pond of Training Ground Fifty-Two. She was moving fast enough to make him a bit dizzy from watching.

"When did you teach her about chakra and using it for running?" Izumi questioned. After her spar against Kinjo at the Academy, she had decided to tag along and join him in his afternoon training. She glanced at Mika with a lopsided grin, amused at her antics.

"Two days ago? I didn't teach her about the "using chakra to run" part, though."

"Maybe she's just a natural?'

Kinjo laughed hysterically while collapsing onto the ground in a heap. "It took me weeks to get that far, and she gets it… just like that."

"I mean, you're smart. She's… talented? Seems like a family thing." Izumi shrugged.

"Right, right…"

"Don't get discouraged now! Come on, let's train and show her why we're almost genin!"

"Give me a minute," Kinjo responded. "I'm still coming to terms with this. Hey Mika!"

"Yes?" Mika zoomed in and stood next to him in record time, making him topple over. "What is it, big brother?"

He pulled out a Chakra Induction Paper that he had at hand and handed it to her. "Put some chakra into this."

"Ok!" She placed her fingers on the paper and closed her eyes. It took a second to see the results.

The paper was soaked.

"Look, big sis, big brother! I made water!"

Izumi walked over and patted her head. "Your brother has a Fire affinity, which means you… beat him?"

"Water… Itachi also has a Water affinity…" Kinjo mumbled as Mika clapped. "Do all geniuses have a Water affinity?"

"Does that make us dumb?" Izumi asked, tilting her head.

"… Don't think about it. Let's go practice our Fire jutsu…"

"And since your sister has a Water affinity, Itachi can teach her!"

Kinjo blanched. "I think he would die from the combined energies of Mika and Sasuke annoying the heck out of him."

Sunshine blanketed Konoha in a pleasant embrace as its inhabitants enjoyed the warmth on an afternoon in April. Kinjo was one of them, resting on the tire swing in front of the Academy's entrance with the sun reflected on the shiny shinobi protector on his forehead.

"I expected nothing less from you, son," Makoto declared as he slapped his son in the back. "Great work."

"Thanks," Kinjo answered, rubbing his back. "Where's mom?"

"With Satoshi and Maki, you know how she is."

"I still expected her to…"

"She'll congratulate you at home. She's been more sensitive since Mika started the Academy."

Mika had started her term as a student at the Academy just a month prior. Kinjo didn't know the full details of the events leading up to that moment, but he did know that his mother and father had fought over the issue multiple times. While he had steered clear from their arguments, he was almost certain that one of them had turned physical, though it wasn't due to his father. The man had the patience of a saint and instead endured and defended the choices of his eldest children to the end.

It had gotten better since Mika's first day at the Academy, but things were still a bit frosty at home.

While the two spoke, Mika sprinted out of the Academy's entrance and tackled Kinjo, embracing him in a bear hug. "I knew you could do it, big brother! You're the best!"

"Thanks, Mika," Kinjo replied with a smile. "Did you pay attention in class?"

"Yep! My teacher even said I'm one of the smartest kids she'd ever seen!" Mika boasted as she placed her hands on her hip. "Are you proud?"

"I am."

Mika looked giddy as she ranted about the things she had learned during her classes when someone dropped from the branches. Mika and Makoto both jumped back in a similar fashion, but Kinjo only raised an eyebrow. The figure placed its arm around Kinjo's shoulders. "Did you forget about me?"

"'Course not. But was that really necessary?" Kinjo questioned.

"Duh." Izumi jabbed her elbow into his ribs, her forehead protector gleaming into his face. "Let's go to my house to celebrate! Mom made all my favorite food for today!"

"Sure thing, sure thing. Dad, is it ok to…?"

"Of course. Have fun with your girlfriend."

Kinjo sighed while Izumi rolled her eyes, "He's not my boyfriend."

"Ah, right, that would be the Uchiha boy I met that one time. Where is he?" Makoto mused.

Izumi was stunned to silence, but Kinjo answered in her stead. "He's on a mission but should be back soon."

"He's going to stop going on missions after this one to prepare for the Chunin Exams in October," Izumi stated after regaining her cool.

Makoto nodded and waved his hand. "Hopefully, we can invite him over for dinner after things cool down between me and your mom. Now go on, and have fun."

As Kinjo was dragged away by Izumi, he spotted a small boy from the Hyuga Clan speaking excitedly with a man. When he passed by them, he overheard their conversation for the briefest moment.

"It was fun, Father! I made another new friend today! She only talked about her older brother and the Fireball jutsu, but she was interesting."

"That sounds a bit like Hinata with her new younger sister," the man chuckled. "I am happy you are doing well at school, Neji."

Kinjo's head snapped back, and he stared at the father and son pair. The two were smiling, without a care for the world. It was an impossible sight.

"What is it, Kin?" Izumi asked.

Instead of approaching Neji, Kinjo turned around and shook his head. "It's nothing."

Chapter Text

"Next cell, number five. Akimichi Shinsuke. Takashi Kinjo. Uchiha Izumi."

Izumi high-fived Kinjo, who continued the chain by slapping Shin. The trio were sitting near each other, and the announcement made all of them break out into excited grins.

"Your jonin instructor will be Shirakumo Hayama," Taku announced. "I wish you three the best of luck."

Kinjo caught the slight grimace on the chunin's face as he announced the instructor, which earned a curious glance toward the door. A grizzled man with long grey hair and a hideous scar on the right side of his mouth bared his teeth and motioned for the three to step outside.

The trio followed him into the hallways, and he inspected each of them like a general inspecting his troops. His hardened expression made Kinjo straighten his posture, especially as the jonin's eyes lingered on him for a few moments longer than the others. "I am Hayama, as you may have heard. I am now your jonin instructor for the foreseeable future."

"It's nice to meet you, sir!" Izumi yelled out, causing Shin and Kinjo to wince.

"Good, I like your enthusiasm, Uchiha Izumi. You'll need it to remain as my pupil." Hayama said. He started walking down the hallway, and Team Five followed behind him. "You may have heard that we are dealing with some shortages in manpower and that the standards to become a genin have… dropped in recent times. However, I still have the authority to send you back to the Academy or place you in the Genin Corps if you do not meet my expectations."

This time, it was Shin that spoke up, "What's the Genin Corps?"

"A place where your aspirations to become a shinobi die. I have read the files for all three of you, and I'm impressed by your close combat abilities. A student training under Gai, an Akimichi, and one of the best taijutsu fighters of your generation. However, I found some parts of your skillsets… lacking, to say the least, which is why I have a test prepared for you. Pass the test, and I'll acknowledge the three of you as my students. Fail, and well… that talk won't be pleasant."

"What's the test?" Kinjo asked. "Do we have to fight you head-on for something or?"

"Ha! Fight me directly? You're a decade too early for that." Hayama laughed heartily. He led them out of the Academy grounds and toward the northwestern portion of Konoha. "No, it's much simpler than that. However, it will determine if you have what it takes to grow under my tutelage and become a well-rounded shinobi. You three may be the last team I take before I enter semi-retirement, and I want to ensure that it's a team worth taking."

Training Ground Nine was filled with trees and bushes but lacked much else. A small clearing was in the center of the grounds, with a long line drawn in the middle and a small wooden pedestal toward the far end of one side. The pedestal held a glass bottle and was loosely secured onto the platform with a rope, approximately fifty meters from the center line.

Hayama pushed the team to the side without the bottle while he stood in front of the pedestal with his arms crossed. "The test is simple; knock over or destroy the bottle. However, there is a catch; you can not cross the line. All body parts must remain behind that center line, but you may use any jutsu or weapons to complete your task. I will 'guard' the bottle and use any means to defend it. You have an hour."

"We can use anything and everything, correct?" Kinjo inquired.

"Yes. Show me your best. Impress me with the flashiest, most advanced jutsu you have to topple that bottle. Remember, if you fail, you will need to reconsider your career choice. You may begin."

The jonin readied his stance and waited for his students to attack. However, before Shin or Izumi could fire any jutsu or weapons, Kinjo grabbed them and dragged them to the edge of their side. He shoved them into a huddle and looked at his puzzled teammates, "It's probably a test of skill and teamwork. He's a jonin while we're genin. There's no way he expects us to overwhelm him."

"So, you're thinking of just giving up?" Izumi scowled. "I didn't think you were a quitter, Kin."

"No, no. What I'm saying is he's expecting us not to have a lot of long-range firepower. I don't think he knows what you and I are capable of," Kinjo glanced at Shin. "Shin, do you have anything up your sleeve that can help us?"

"Uhh… maybe my Partial Multi-Size Technique? I can use it to enlarge my hands and chuck stuff at him? I've never really used it like that before, but I think I can do it."

"Like scoops of dirt or?"

"And trees. I'm strong enough for it," Shin boasted, puffing out his chest and sizeable stomach.

"Perfect. I have an idea then…"

The trio strategized for several minutes before dispersing and taking up positions. Hayama tapped his foot while checking a pocket watch. "A strategy session? Not too bad. It seems as though you have some brains rather than being all brawn. Now, what have you come up with?"

Kinjo and Izumi answered with two large fireballs at the jonin and the bottle.

Hayama chuckled for a moment before responding to their attack, "Water Style: Water Wall."

A thick stream of water burst from Hayama's mouth as he covered his surrounding with a large water dome. The fireballs crashed into the wave, vaporizing the water and creating a sizeable fog around the jonin. Kinjo felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead as the temperature and humidity rose with every passing second, a sauna in the middle of a forest.

As the duo continued their fire attack, Shin towered behind them and clapped his hands together. "Partial Multi-Size Technique!"

Shin's hands grew into a comical size, large enough to manhandle boulders. He cracked down two trees with a loud thump and heaved them at the jonin. "Battering ram!"

The logs flew toward Hayama, and Kinjo was able to make out the dark figure in the fog as he turned and slashed out with his sword. A powerful arc of wind was unleashed from his blade and sliced the logs mid-air, making them tumble on the ground harmlessly. The arc rushed forward at Kinjo and Izumi, forcing both of them to dash away.

Izumi cut off her fireball and threw a spread of kunai at the bottle, while Kinjo followed with a row of shurikens and set them on fire with his Phoenix Fire jutsu. They were sweating profusely, though Kinjo was not panting like Izumi.

Kinjo smelled burning metal as they whizzed through the air toward their target. He quickly threw a set of kunai before pulling out his gunbai and tossing it at the bottle. The metal chain attached to his fan was wrapped around his wrist as he watched the multitude of projectiles flying in the air. Shin also followed through by throwing a giant clump of dirt, a globe of earth, amongst the storm of steel.

As the fog cleared, Kinjo saw Hayama's impassive face as he swatted away the kunai with his sword and blasted away the shurikens with another wave of water. He sliced through the chunk of dirt with his blade, which glowed green briefly before returning to normal.

Kinjo had hoped the gunbai might be just enough to slip by, but Hayama knocked it down with the handle of his sword at the last second and stepped on it triumphantly. "Is that all you got? The fireballs were impressive but too predictable. The logs were a nice touch, but too slow."

Kinjo slipped back with his teammates and whispered. "Izumi, can you use the Hiding in Ash Jutsu yet?"

"No," Izumi groaned. "I think I can fire a jutsu or two more before burning out, but the fireball was a lot more tiring cause we used it for half a minute!"

"It's fine; save your chakra for that," Kinjo ordered. "Shin, what about you?"

"I'm ok, but I can only expand sparingly. Only like twenty seconds at a time," Shin's hands were back to normal size as they were shoveling melon bread into his mouth. "I still have the other thing I can try too."

"Good, let's try plan number two. Ready?"

"Ready." "Ready!"

"Back for more?" Hayama mused as they stepped forward. "At least you're strategizing and being creative to slip by me. Let's see what else you have up your sleeves."

Kinjo chewed on the inside of his cheeks and urged his chakra to morph into small dusty particles. He held back a gag as he felt a wave of ash surge from his throat and breathed them out, creating a substantial cloud of ash and dust that sprang toward the jonin. He felt Izumi move next to him, tossing her last kunai and using a toned-down version of the Phoenix Sage Fire to control her shurikens as they weaved in the air.

"Ash? Interesting." Hayama swiped the air with his wind-infused chakra blade, dispersing most of the jutsu. However, Kinjo willed every last chakra-infused particle to move back toward its target, causing the jonin to slash again and move while blasting away the shurikens with water. Both Kinjo and Izumi shifted their techniques like homing missiles, tracking the jonin's every movement and occupying his attention.

Shin stepped forth from his position behind Kinjo and whipped out a bo from a scroll. "Multi-Size Technique!"

The Akimichi's body expanded like a balloon being filled with water. His staff grew larger with every passing moment, reaching the size of a tree trunk. After a few seconds, he tossed it, sailing toward the bottle while Hayama was shrugging off the other techniques as if they were flies whizzing around him. Kinjo tugged at his gunbai and sliced it toward the bottle as well, two large weapons that bore down on their final target.

Unsurprisingly, Hayama noticed the weapons after batting away the last of the shurikens and slammed down the gunbai again with his foot while slicing through the bo and the gunbai's chain with his sword. He shoved the staff away with a jet of water, and it landed a few feet to the left of its intended target.

"My staff!" Shin cried as he pulled back the remaining piece, which had shrunk in size. He rubbed the slashed tip and sighed. "Mom is going to kill me; this was one of hers…"

"Damn. Only if you could've expanded my gunbai and swatted everything down. Too bad I threw it recklessly before." Kinjo muttered as he patted his male teammate on the back.

"Nah, I can only expand certain things. Like this bo is made specifically for our clan, and I just broke it…"

Izumi joined them and sighed. "That didn't work either, Kin."

"Yeah, that was a long shot; it was too similar to the first plan. We still have one more plan, though."

"Do you think it'll work this time?"

"Let's hope it does."

She closed her eyes and nodded. "Let's go!"

This time, Shin and Kinjo chucked their kunai at Hayama while Izumi awaited at the wing. Kinjo threw a spread of shurikens after throwing his kunai and leaned back. He took a deep breath before firing his Phoenix Sage Fire jutsu.

Hayama deflected the kunai with his sword and laughed at the incoming burning shurikens. "Again?"

Kinjo held out his arm and smiled. The shurikens dispersed in various directions, creating a dome around the jonin. "Yes."

Before Hayama could swat down the shurikens, they glowed and flashed in the air with blinding luminosity. Kinjo and Shin whipped their heads away to avoid the mini suns from burning their eyes, but not before they threw their remaining kunai at the bottle.

Kinjo felt water splashing his clothes and glanced over his shoulders. His face was immediately basked with the light from the shurikens, blinding him and making him cry out.

Finally, when the dots in his vision disappeared, Kinjo saw Hayama standing with his blade pointed at the genin with a smile on his face. The ground was littered with weapons, small trenches, and puddles of water. "An interesting tactic… What was that jutsu?"

"Phoenix Flash Fire," Kinjo answered. "It's a technique I made up. The shurikens are made with magnesium, which glows like the sun when it's on fire."

"Truly? An interesting technique and a useful one. I'll give you marks for that. It was a good effort, but the bottle still stands."

"Actually, sensei, you should look behind you."

Hayama turned to see the bottle tipped over and shattered by a pair of kunai. He rotated to look at the trio once more, with his smile faded away. The jonin glanced at Izumi, who was whistling innocently with her pupils now back to normal. "I noticed the Sharingan, but how?"

"Leer of the Peculiar." Izumi grinned. "Not a powerful genjutsu, but you were distracted by the flashes, and I managed to sneak one on you after you briefly opened your eyes. I added a more noticeable one on top, so you wouldn't realize it was a two-layered genjutsu. It's very subtle and causes a moment of hesitation, but that's all we needed. "

"Delaying my reactions by a second to slip some kunai past me while making me think I swatted them all away after breaking free from the genjutsu…"

"We pass, right?" Kinjo asked, crossing over the line to retrieve his gunbai.

"... Close enough."

"What do you mean?" Shin spoke up after pulling a bread bag from his pockets.

"What is Shinobi Rule Forty-Four?" Hayama answered, pointing at his head.

Izumi's expression dropped while Kinjo's jaw slackened. Even Shin stopped before opening his bag. The three of them answered in unison, "A shinobi must see the hidden meanings within the hidden meanings."

"And what did I say at the beginning of this test?"

"I knew something was up! I saw something weird in Kin's and Shinsuke's chakra when I used the Sharingan, but I didn't know what it was!" Izumi ranted.

"You would use any means for defending," Kinjo stated in a monotone voice. He raised his index finger and burst chakra through his body. "Kai!"

Instead of a broken, knocked-over bottle, he was greeted by the sight of a bottle in perfect condition that stood several meters to the left of the jonin, a good distance from where he had thought the bottle was. Only then did Kinjo notice everything they had thrown at Hayama had been purposely directed to his right.

"I can't say I'm a master of genjutsu, but I have learned a few tricks over the years," Hayama announced while sheathing his blade. "While you three were distracted by the test itself, I slipped a genjutsu on all of you when we first entered the clearing. An advanced one that shifts an object in your vision to somewhere else. It's called the Echo of Autumn, which I will teach you in the near future, Izumi."

"That sounds really cool; too bad I won't…" Izumi blinked. "Wait, we passed?"

Hayama chuckled. "Three separate plans of attacks with a good show of your overall abilities, which turned out to be more balanced than I initially thought? Not to mention a good demonstration of teamwork and building off each other's skills? Yes, all of you passed. Congratulations."

Shin and Izumi cheered while Kinjo sighed in relief. "Thank god. Those magnesium shurikens cost almost a year's worth of allowance… And I had to borrow some of Shin's and Izumi's kunai and shurikens."

"Well, I will pay for your equipment until you earn money from missions," Hayama promised. "I wouldn't want my new star pupils to get killed because they were Ryo-pinching."

Kinjo bowed and then looked up into the clear sky. It was a good day.

"Have you asked about the apprenticeship with the Hokage yet?"

"You've asked me every time we've met for the past few months, Kinjo."

"As I said, you're a prodigy and can learn much more with better guidance. Also," Kinjo frowned and leaned in closer so he could whisper. "You know why. I'm not stupid, Itachi. I've seen it multiple times now. Your clan and Konoha have issues, serious ones at that. Someone needs to bridge the gap, and you're… the most suited person for it. Being the Hokage's apprentice will help."

Itachi glared at him but looked away after a few moments. "How long have you known?"

"Since that time I saw your clan member shouting at the Hokage Tower. After that, there was that confrontation between the civilians and the Military Police…"

"For a while, then. I appreciate you caring for my clan's well-being, but this is something beyond you."

"I know. Which is why you need to do it."

Kinjo initially thought of approaching Hiashi directly and trying to petition the Hokage for suggestions on how to ease the tension between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha. However, he quickly discovered several colossal snags in that plan. Chiefly that Simu officially didn't exist; he would be interrogated the moment he stepped into the Hokage's office. He wouldn't be trusted because of a single event that happened to play in Konoha's favor.

Sure, maybe Hiashi could vouch for him, but he had no idea if the Hyuga clan head would stick out his neck for his ideas. Nor was he confident that his words would be taken seriously, considering he lived in a world of shinobi, where deception and ruses were the norms. On top of all this was the fact that the Hokage probably knew the situation of his village better than Kinjo did and might take offense from an outsider boldly petitioning ideas about a delicate situation. So he scrapped his ambitious plan as idealistic but otherwise grand and idiotic.

Instead, he dropped off a letter at the Hyuga Compound once again, this time with a different henge and delivering it through a mail shinobi. While he may have earned some goodwill from his previous letter, the last thing he wanted was to be captured and interrogated, as the information he gave out was sensitive and top secret. He wrote the letter with a different handwriting and used gloves while handling the paper and writing utensils. Standard shinobi protocols.

The letter held some… information that only he could potentially know due to his knowledge about the shinobi world from his past life. It would be the last letter from his anonymous persona, as the village would scour around for the person with such dangerous knowledge.

Hopefully, his letter would be taken seriously and provoke an immediate reaction from the Hokage.

Ultimately, he was a single genin with limited resources and skills in a world filled with people who could shatter mountains. He had knowledge but had no way to enforce said knowledge in a direct manner, at least for now. The most he could do was nudge the ship in the right direction to sail through the hurricane.

He could only pray that the Hokage, Hiashi, and Itachi would eventually find a solution.

It had only been a week since he had officially become a genin. Yet, he was confident that this gambit was the most important one of his shinobi career. His hand unconsciously went into his pocket, where the coin was sitting. His fingers rolled around the rough edges as his thoughts wandered.

Itachi adjusted his headband, fiddling with a loose string hanging out the back. "I'm not sure if Hokage-sama will accept. I'm only ten, and I'm still a mere genin."

"You'll be chunin soon. I'm sure he's wise enough to see the potential in you and the potential change you can bring for the Uchiha Clan and Konoha," Kinjo advised. "Have faith, Itachi. I know you can do it."

"... Sometimes, you sound like my father. I'll submit the request tomorrow."

The two sat wordlessly among the trees in the park within the Uchiha Compound and stared at the empty sky together. Kinjo pulled out a scroll and scrunched his eyebrows together while Itachi closed his eyes as a breeze passed. "Fuinjutsu?"

"How did you know?"

"You only look that confused when studying fuinjutsu."

"Well yeah, it's like calligraphy, art, and jutsu combined into one squiggly mess," Kinjo replied.

Itachi smiled. "Two of them being your worst skills."

"My art isn't that bad. Ask Izumi." Kinjo grumbled.

"I'm sure the resident artist of our group will compliment your fine squares and circles." Itachi deadpanned. "Why fuinjutsu, though?"

"It has potential. I can combine it with my ninjutsu to lock down an area or increase its firepower. Imagine sealing gunpowder or oil in a scroll so I don't need to waste chakra making those during a fight. Or a barrier to contain fire to a certain area."

"You put a lot of thought into it, but most powerful fuinjutsu seals require time for preparations. In a fast-paced fight, that is all but impossible."

"Which is why I'll need to plan in advance and use it selectively," Kinjo agreed. He scribbled some patterns on a new scroll and sighed. "That doesn't look completely right."

Itachi peeked over his shoulders and pointed at a few areas on the paper. "A basic sealing seal. That symbol is too lopsided, and these lines should be curvier."

"Thanks." Kinjo felt a tingling in the back of his neck and discreetly looked at a nearby tree. There was no one there, but he swore he saw a fluttering of leaves that seemed too strong to have been caused by a mere breeze. "Ever get the feeling that we're being watched?"

"The entire compound is being watched. There's a reason why every member of my clan was forced to move back here."

"You knew?"

"It's necessary," Itachi dismissed his question. "One of my clansmen may have been involved in the Nine-Tails Attack. Even in a village like ours, that is a good reason for surveillance."

Kinjo opted for silence, sighing in relief as his precaution earlier wasn't unwarranted. Yet, Itachi's words gave him a pause.

Itachi was idealistic, which Kinjo saw as a strength. His idealism was what helped save the world in the end. However, Itachi was blissfully unaware of the more atrocious acts Konoha had committed, whether it was due to Danzo or Hiruzen. This thought was only reinforced after witnessing the Uchiha having valid concerns about their position in the village.

Konoha ignoring the minor grievances and failing to address the serious ones would eventually snowball into a catastrophe. A catastrophe Konoha would solve by committing genocide.

If Itachi did become Hokage, then perhaps his idealism would temper Konoha's darker tendencies. However, that remained to be seen.

"Hey, guys!" Izumi shouted out as she ran toward them. "Sorry, I'm late! Mom made me do some chores! She was fussing over me more than usual after I told her we might get our first mission soon. What were you two up to?"

Itachi looked up. "You should be Kinjo's art tutor. Otherwise, he might blow himself up with a badly drawn exploding seal."

"I can create explosions without an exploding seal, thank you very much," Kinjo grumbled.

It was pouring. Dramatic or emotional scenes always had grey rainy weather with even greyer clouds to emphasize the mood. Spring showers weren't uncommon, but the current weather was more than a mere shower. Kinjo knew something was up when a sudden downpour bombarded the village out of nowhere, leading to his team ending training a bit early.

Instead of heading home, he decided to make his way to Ichiraku Ramen, located just a few blocks from the Academy. Not just because he was hungry but because he had a gut feeling that he would see a familiar face there.

At least, that was his excuse. As he neared the shop, the aromatic smell of pork and broth, with a hint of ginger and soy sauce, made his stomach howl. He could almost hear the boiling ingredients even above the rapid taps from the raindrops.

"Welcome back!"

"Hello," Kinjo waved at Teuchi, who was cooking behind the counter. He scanned the stall and saw that all the seats were empty. He shook off the water from his clothes and slid into a seat directly in front of the man. "How's the business doing, sir?"

Teuchi added several spoonfuls of tare before pouring a milky broth into a large bowl. "As busy as always! You just missed the dinner rush. Hopefully, we'll get a few more customers, but we might close early today because of the heavy rain. Not too many folks are willing to get drenched for a bowl of ramen."

"I just finished training. Hot broth and noodles sounded good after a workout in this weather."

"Haha! You have excellent taste, just like your old man! How is he doing, by the way?"

"He's doing fine, and so is the shop." Kinjo watched as Teuchi twirled a large pile of noodles into the bowl and sliced a hefty number of chashu pork slices on top. "Did you need something from him?"

Teuchi shook his head. "Not for now. I'll ask him for some shiitake mushrooms at next week's business association meeting. I'll need to make sure he accepts the full payment this time."

"Well, you do give me free ramen."

"That's the least I can do when he gives me those big discounts when I buy ingredients from him! He needs to think about your family more. He works hard to secure some difficult suppliers, yet he's always so generous with his prices. Your father is very popular with the business owners around Konoha."

"He's the best," Kinjo agreed.

"Not to mention, he always brags about his young and talented eldest son." Teuchi grinned. He placed some green onions, mushrooms, and boiled eggs into the bowl before sliding it before Kinjo. "Your usual: tonkotsu ramen with extra tare, chashu, and onions."

Kinjo's eyes widened at the giant heap of food. "This seems… bigger than usual."

"Consider it my congratulatory present for your graduation. Also, since you're a shinobi now, you'll need to eat more to grow!"

"Thank you." Kinjo speared his chopsticks into the noodles and savored the chewy noodles. He drank some rich, salty broth before turning back to Teuchi. "By the way, where is Ayame?"

"She's sleeping upstairs. That daughter of mine is far too eager to help me with the business and exhausted herself running around during the dinner rush. I'll tell her you said hello. You should visit more often! She doesn't have too many friends her age, and she likes it when you're here."

"I'll keep that in mind. I'm sure I'll come here more often since my team's usual training ground is nearby."

They chatted for a few minutes before Teuchi glanced toward the street and motioned with his hand. "Come in!"

Kinjo looked back to see a tiny blond peek into the shop. He shivered as he walked in, his trembling blue eyes bouncing back and forth between Kinjo and Teuchi. He stumbled onto a seat at the very end of the counter and shrank away when Kinjo smiled at him.

After meeting Sasuke a few months ago, Kinjo expected to meet Naruto. Yet, he was still taken aback by how small Naruto was and how docile he acted.

Teuchi pointed to the menu and grinned. "What can I get for ya?"

"Uh…" Naruto glanced at Teuchi and then back to Kinjo. "I… I don't have any money."

"No worries, lad. Think of this as my treat for a first-time customer!"

"Then… can I get the miso ramen?"

"One bowl of miso ramen, coming right up!" Teuchi whipped out the ingredients dramatically compared to before and exaggerated his movements to Kinjo's and Naruto's amusement.

While waiting for Teuchi to finish cooking, Kinjo tapped the small boy's shoulders. Naruto flinched and scooted to the edge of his seat, but Kinjo smiled reassuringly to ease the boy's frayed nerves. "What's your name?"

"Naruto?"

Kinjo chuckled. "No, that's not my name. Is it yours, though?"

"Naruto," the blond answered.

"I'm Kinjo; nice to meet you."

He stuck out his hand for Naruto to shake. Naruto stared at his hand and tilted his head. "You… don't hate me?"

"Why would I hate someone that I just met? I know who you are, but to me, you're just another kid like my sister."

"He's right," Teuchi interjected while pouring the broth into a bowl. "You seem like a nice kid. I've seen you around here before."

Naruto's shoulders eased up as he shook Kinjo's hand, and a giant smile formed on his face. The smile was even more prominent when Teuchi put the miso ramen in front of him. "Now, eat up!"

"Thanks!" Naruto dug into his bowl with gusto while Kinjo joined him and finished his own.

They finished around the same time just a few minutes later, with Teuchi watching with his arms crossed approvingly. Naruto let out a loud burp and scratched the back of his head sheepishly while Teuchi's laughter boomed through the sound of the rain. "I've never seen someone eat my ramen with such enthusiasm. Feel free to come back anytime, Naruto."

"I don't have money right now… but I will when I become a great shinobi and the Hokage!" Naruto announced with a grin. "I'll pay you back then, I promise!"

"Well, until you make enough money as a shinobi, ramen here is free for you until I say otherwise," Teuchi replied. He handed Kinjo an umbrella from behind the counter. "Kinjo, why don't you walk him home? It's late, and it's still raining dogs and cats. You can return the umbrella the next time you visit."

Kinjo nodded as he opened up the umbrella. "Of course. Thank you, sir. Come on, Naruto, I'll take you home."

The pair walked out after Kinjo discreetly snuck a bill under his empty bowl, and Naruto looked up at him with an uncertain smile. "Are you a shinobi?"

"Yep. Just got my headband two weeks ago," Kinjo said, moving his headband up and down with his free hand. "You wanted to be a shinobi too, right?"

"Yeah! I want to be the Hokage one day!"

"Sounds like an excellent goal. If you work hard enough, I'm sure you'll get there someday."

"Can you teach me shinobi stuff then?"

"... Maybe some other time. My sister is your age, and she also nags me about 'shinobi stuff' all the time. I think you would like her. Anyways, what did you do today? Anything interesting other than visiting the ramen place?"

Naruto blinked and listed everything he had done for the past week in an excited tone. As the blond jumped up and down from his tale, Kinjo listened to his every word and answered with similar enthusiasm.

He knew he was biased. It was hard not to be because he knew who Naruto was and what he was capable of becoming. Yet, he assured himself that even if he didn't know about Naruto, he would've treated the boy with kindness and respect.

Because when a small lonely boy drenched by the rain came into Kinjo's vision, his first thought wasn't to ignore him; it was to help.

Naruto was five years old, an age when he was supposed to enjoy his childhood and live carefree. Yet, he was socially isolated and shunned by the local population for circumstances beyond him. It was cruel, yet it was often the norm, even in Kinjo's previous life.

People, even entire communities and races, were demonized for illogical reasons, and their persecution was normalized through self-serving justifications.

It was a wonder that Naruto turned out the way he did despite everything working against him.

He wouldn't try to indoctrinate or train Naruto. No, Naruto needed to go about his own journey as his own person. What Kinjo could do was to be someone he could talk to, a person that could make his childhood just a bit easier. There was still time until canon, and he was going to ensure that Naruto enjoyed that time as a child, not as a shinobi.

After all, if he couldn't help a small boy feel a little more alive, how could he expect to change the world?

The Hokage Tower loomed visibly even during the dead of night. The building itself wasn't particularly tall, but a presence emphasized the residence more than any other building in the vicinity. That presence was even more pronounced this particular evening as a muffled spike of power echoed through the night.

Within the Hokage's office was a simple desk strewn with papers and scrolls. A stack of folders, books, and stationary equipment guarded the front of the desk. It was messy, yet there was a sense of order amidst the heap when the Hokage sat behind it all.

The elderly man had his hand interlocked in front of his face and stared at Hiashi, who had waited for the Hokage to read the content of the letter. His large hat accented his intense stare, which bore into the clan head. "Can you vouch for this… 'Simu?' This information seems far-fetched, at best."

"He was the one that gave us information during the Kumo Incident, Hokage-sama," Hiashi answered.

"It could've been a ruse to earn our favor and then use that opportunity to accuse one of my trusted advisors of an abominable crime."

Hiashi grimaced. "There is a way to check if his claims are true."

"Ah, that is true. Are you willing then, Hiashi?"

"If it is as Simu says, then I also have a vested interest in this matter. I am more than willing."

The Hokage lit his pipe with his teeth and inhaled for a few seconds. He leaned back in his chair and sighed, releasing a plume of smoke. "Hound."

"Yes, Hokage-sama?" A voice asked. The speaker remained out of sight from the two occupants of the office.

"Bring Danzo to me."

"Right away."

"And have your left eye at the ready."

"... As you say."

Instead of waiting for the Hokage to order him, Hiashi tensed and activated his Byakugan, glaring at the entrance to the office. A few silent minutes ticked by as Hiruzen rhythmically tapped his desk with his fingers while Hiashi stared at the door with his veins bulging. The stench and smoke of the tobacco filled the room and grew with each passing moment as Hiruzen inhaled his pipe constantly, his eyes hidden under his hat.

Finally, Hiashi squinted and snarled before deactivating his Byakguan. "His right eye is sealed. I don't recognize those patterns."

"... I see." Hiruzen rose from his seat and placed his pipe away. "Hound, ensure that you are observing him."

"I am, Hokage-sama."

The subject of their talks strolled into the room, with every methodical step sounding louder than the previous ones. He ignored the stares and looked serene as he stood in the middle of the office, with only his tense shoulders giving away his reaction to the atmosphere. "You shouldn't smoke this much considering your age, Hiruzen."

"Danzo," Hiruzen acknowledged. He shifted his hat to bring his glare into full view, his eyes brimming with intensity and disapproval. "I have a request for you."

"What is it?"

"Remove the bandage around your right eye."

The Hokage's request was met with a small frown. "I am not sure what you have been told, but I am blind in that eye, Hiruzen."

"Then why are there seals that are indecipherable even to the head of the Hyuga Clan on that eye?"

Danzo glanced at Hiashi before turning his attention back to the Hokage. "As protection. It is necessary to protect my blind side."

"Remove it, Danzo."

A burst of air blasted from the Hokage, sending papers and books flying into the walls. Danzo remained inscrutable even after the display of power. "Of course, Hokage-sama. However, I expect repercussions for these false accusations."

The pair watched as Danzo unwrapped the bandages with slight hesitation before revealing a blank white eye. "As I said, I am blind in this eye."

"He used chakra on his entire body for a brief moment before he revealed the eye," Hound mentioned as he materialized by the Hokage's side.

"Do you take me for a fool, Danzo?" the Hokage asked as he slammed his desk with his fists. "Do you think I do not know what Izanami is? After all the years I have spent working alongside the Uchiha and fighting with them on the battlefield?"

"It was necessary to use chakra to undo the sealing of the eye," Danzo replied promptly.

"Then you would not object if I required a DNA test on that eye? Perhaps I will need to thoroughly examine the records of all Uchiha whose bodies were not recovered as well. I recall there was one case…"

"... That would be unnecessary. However, I assure you it was…"

"Do you realize the implications of your actions, Danzo?" Hiruzen admonished. "Grave robbing one of Konoha's most precious dojutsu or worse?"

Hiashi stepped back and readied into a fighting stance. "If he is willing to steal the Sharingan, then it is not impossible for him to possess the Byakugan as well, Hokage-sama."

The Hokage nodded. "Which is why there will be severe repercussions."

"The usual punishment is death."

"As I said, severe repercussions. Hiashi and Hound, you two may excuse yourselves. I will need to speak with Danzo alone. Thank you for your assistance on this matter. I will inform you of the details later on, Hiashi."

"Will you be fine?" Hound questioned.

"I will manage. I expect everything that transpired in this room to remain within this room."

Hound left silently through the window while Hiashi glared at Danzo and the Hokage before leaving the office.

The two elders were left alone, with Hiruzen circling back to his seat and sinking into the comfortable leather. Danzo watched, his soulless eyes tracking his counterpart's every movement. "It was a necessity for defending Konoha."

"A necessity?" Hiruzen stared at him in disbelief. "Do you realize how hypocritical you sound, considering your opposition to any concessions toward the Uchiha Clan and pushing them to the brink?"

"Concession to threats will only stir up their enthusiasm for violence and treachery."

"Treachery that they have a valid justification for due to your actions, Danzo. Can you imagine if the Uchiha Clan discovered that one of the village elders snatched their dojutsu off one of their clansmen's corpses? You are their fear and paranoia about the village manifested."

"So what will you do then, Hiruzen?" Danzo scoffed. "Execute me?"

Hiruzen stroked his beard as he stared at the ceiling. "No."

"I always knew you were too soft for that hat."

"Instead, I will now have total oversight of Root. Any and all Root operations within Konoha will cease immediately for the time being. However, I will grant you some leeway in maintaining your missions outside the village limits. You are also removed from your position within my council, and you will submit yourself and all Root members to a weekly medical check-up to prevent this from occurring again."

"... The sleeping tiger finally awakens."

"You can only get away with so much. Especially when the head of another clan with a powerful dojutsu was here to witness it." Hiruzen said. "Additionally, your opposition regarding the current Uchiha situation will cease, especially considering the new information I have received about the truth behind the Nine-Tails Attack."

Danzo frowned. "I assume this 'new information' also spoke of… my eye? Are you naive enough to believe it so willingly? Don't you suspect this may be another village's ploy to fracture our leadership?"

"This informant also provided valuable information regarding the Kumo Incident. Information that has placated Kumo for some time and strengthened our position among the villages. Perhaps I should see if Jiraya knows about him…"

"What information was on there?"

Hiruzen sat motionless for a few moments before handing him the letter. "Perhaps it will ease some of your concerns regarding the Uchiha Clan and give you something else to focus on."

The elder skimmed through the content before looking back at his old friend. "A rogue Uchiha? One that we wrote off for dead? They are the one that carried out that attack?"

"There are a few that I know of. As I mentioned earlier, bodies that were never recovered. The details match up perfectly with what happened that night. If the informant didn't know the perpetrator, then it's impossible for him to have this knowledge."

"How convenient this informant was under his genjutsu for years."

"The captor knew about your Sharingan. Simu only discovered this information from him."

"Which means we have bigger issues, especially regarding our internal security," Danzo finished. "How do we know this rogue Uchiha is not aligned with the Uchiha Clan?"

"You've placed the Uchiha Clan under surveillance for years now. Have your agents reported anything of the sort?"

"... Growing discontent, but not outright rebellion or working with foreign villages. The few Uchiha that venture outside the village are also watched, but it's not impossible that…"

"I have had enough of bickering with you over the Uchiha Clan." Hiruzen declared. "We will make amends before this rogue Uchiha does anything to poison the well further. There is another piece of information that we can investigate. If that also turns out to be true, then perhaps we can both acknowledge that Simu has given us truthful information."

"Orochimaru and this Akatsuki in Amegakure… It may be worth investigating. There must be a reason why this rogue Uchiha and Orochimaru are a part of this organization. They are potential threats to Konoha."

"You may decide on the Root agents you will send for the task, but I want the names and the mission report on my desk before you send them off. After all, Simu noted that this organization is treacherous, filled with S-rank criminals. Secrecy and caution must be maintained at all costs."

"Of course," Danzo remarked. "As for your… negotiations with the Uchiha Clan. What will you propose to them?"

"What they've wanted this entire time: de-segregating of the military police, along with listening to their grievances and acting on them," Hiruzen responded.

"There is a reason why no other clan is willing to be a part of the Military Police."

"Hiashi volunteered his clan. He informed me that the attempted kidnapping would've been foiled before it began if a Hyuga was on patrol on the night of the Kumo Incident."

Danzo nodded. "I see the potential. The Byakugan would improve our internal security, spotting potential infiltrators and foiling any subversive activities long before they become a larger issue. But why now?"

"It doesn't matter. However, this will allow me to cite the Kumo Incident as the reason for this change in course, thus appealing to the Uchiha Clan without making it look like capitulation."

"Even with this, and solving their other trivial grievances, it will not be enough. The Uchiha are too prideful and will demand more."

Hiruzen pulled out an application and smoothed it out over his desk. "But this will be. This was submitted to me several days ago, and I have decided. I will take Uchiha Itachi under my wing once he becomes chunin and groom him to be my eventual successor. It will erase any remaining concerns the Uchiha have about the village leadership."

"Itachi… An apt choice - something both of us can agree upon."

"He has wisdom far beyond his years, and his growth after unlocking his Sharingan has been nothing short of extraordinary. I believe his genius exceeds even that of my former student."

"... Your plan may work."

"It will work, Danzo. That I will make sure."

"... That bumbling old fool. At an age where he should be enjoying retirement, instead, he is set on softening the village with his ideals." Danzo mused as he sat in his private room within the Root Headquarters. "Perhaps this is an opportunity for him to shed his Will of Fire and force him to face the realities of keeping the village safe by any means necessary."

The evening had not gone the way he had planned, yet for some reason, he was not bothered by the developments. The information about the rogue Uchiha gave him some pause, but he would use every resource he had to discover more. Perhaps Kabuto could pursue the lead at Amegakure after he finished his mission in Kiri...

"He is finally alive, instead of shackling along since the attack…"

Danzo scanned the file on his desk and tossed it away. A single picture fell out, revealing a boy with light brown hair and seal brown eyes. He was smiling for his ninja registration photograph, though Danzo could see a glint in his eyes that set him apart from his peers. "A boy that has Itachi's ears. Capable of one day reaching greater heights, with the right guidance."

His agents had reported some interesting things about Kinjo's behavior and words. If he weren't born and raised in the village, Danzo would've even suspected him of being a clever foreign agent masquerading as a child. Yet, from all accounts, the boy was just that mature and wise. And he had untapped talent, with intelligence and wits to match.

He had considered recruiting Kinjo into Root before but dismissed the idea almost instantly. The boy was too well-known to various people throughout the village and displayed a heavy reliance on relationships. It would've raised too many questions with far too many issues.

His previous decision was now turning out to be a silver lining. Even in his current position, he could at least influence the future.

While Itachi was ruthless and capable, Danzo knew Hiruzen's influence would rub off on him in time. His old teammate had a penchant for spreading the Will of Fire, as irresponsible as it was. The foundations were already there; Itachi nearly died saving his teammate during the attack on the Fire Daimyo.

"I can not allow a narrow, old-fashioned view to dominate our village's leadership," Danzo chuckled, an unfamiliar rattle that sounded more like gasps rather than laughs. "Looks like our battle will continue onto the next generation, Hiruzen."

After all, there was nothing suspicious about advising and teaching an up-and-coming talented shinobi from a civilian background. The Fourth Hokage had been picked up and tutored by Jiraya. With the time Danzo now had, he could pass it off as a newfound interest in teaching youngsters with potential. And if they picked up more than just techniques from him, who was to judge?

He was sure he would be watched, but even Hiruzen would see the tangible benefits of having him pass down his abilities to a successor.

It was time for the roots that protected the great tree of Konoha to rise from the earth and make their presence known. He had found the public face for them.

Chapter Text

"KINJOOOOOO!"

"Gai sens…?"

Gai grabbed Kinjo by the shoulders and threw him into the air, causing him to scream as he flew a few meters before landing on his feet. The jonin grasped his hand and shook it. "I knew my youthful student would become a genin easily! It is truly shameful that my mission prevented me from witnessing your grand entrance into the shinobi world three weeks ago. Tell me, did you show our combined passion and energy to your other sensei? Perhaps stun him with a leg-sweep or even a Dynamic Entry?"

"Actually, he tested us on our long-range abilities, and I wasn't able to show off any of my taijutsu," Kinjo admitted.

"That fiend!" Gai formed a fist with his right and stuck it out in front of his chest. "What sort of villain denies my student the chance to display his splendid talents?"

Kinjo laughed as he stood on his toes and patted Gai's fist down. "I'm sure there'll be chances to show off what I learned from you, sensei. He already knew I trained under you, so he wanted to test my team and me on other things. You don't need to act angry 'cause of me."

"Still, I expected him to give you at least a manly fight to prove your worth!"

"He's sparred with me a few times now and complimented me on my taijutsu abilities."

"Ah, but you need to impress! I'm sure he knows of this Green Beast of Konoha and expects more from you. I believe it is time for you to take the next step in your training!"

"Really?" Kinjo perked up. Was it possible that he could learn Gai's signature ability?

"Of course! You have trained diligently for over a year. Now that your fundamentals are set, I will pass down something much more advanced. This is something that only the most youthful have ever earned, so do not be disappointed if it does not suit you! You are still a great shinobi, no matter what anyone else tells you!"

"I'm ready.'

Instead of dragging him to their usual training ground, Gai took off his backpack and rummaged through it. Kinjo peeked over and saw the mess inside but leaped back when Gai pulled out something and raised it over his head. "I knew this day would come, so I had already prepared this for you!"

"Oh… shit."

"A very unyouthful word, Kinjo," Gai chided. "I will ignore it for now since I am sure you are in awe of its majesty."

Kinjo blinked and slowly nodded. "... Sure?"

The item wasn't a scroll or a notebook with techniques written into it; it was a green jumpsuit.

A mini green jumpsuit.

"Now try it on!"

"..." Kinjo stared at the jumpsuit and sighed. After some initial reluctance, he snuggled into his new outfit and turned to Gai. "How do I look?"

Gai circled around him, rubbing his chin and stretching out certain parts of the jumpsuit. After a minute, he rose to full height and gave him a thumbs up. "Excellent! You do not look as spectacular as me in that outfit, but I'm sure it'll grow onto you in time! It is an extremely durable and comfortable jumpsuit that will expand to fit the wearer's size. I'm sure you're falling in love with it already."

"It is pretty nice," Kinjo shook his limbs and noted the jumpsuit fit him just enough to leave some breathing room. He only wore it because he felt Gai's excitement and as thanks for his guidance, yet it was rather… neat.

That didn't mean he would wear it around everywhere. He was sure his mother would faint, his father would collapse from laughter, and his friends would tease him at every opportunity. Not to mention, no enemy shinobi would take him seriously if he wore it into combat.

No, his red hoodie and olive green shorts would serve him just fine. The jumpsuit would serve as a training uniform. After all, only Gai and Lee could pull off this stunning jumpsuit as their regular outfit. It complemented their... hair.

"Now we can work on what I mentioned earlier," Gai said. He tossed Kinjo a set of weights. "I'm sure some may argue that you are too young to utilize my techniques, but I believe you have what it takes. What I will teach you now is something dangerous, enough to cause you serious injury or even death. As you can already tell, you will need to use this ability sparingly only to protect something precious to you. Something precious enough to risk your life. Do you understand?"

"I do… but how hard is it to learn?"

"For the next few months, you will need to wear those weights around and be comfortable enough to fight in them without impeding your movements. My techniques strain the body to extreme limits, so you must learn to withstand it. You will need to be able to use every muscle in your body as if it is second nature to you, so that you can activate the techniques on command."

Kinjo grabbed the weights and attempted to lift them, his knees and arms buckling at the immense pressure. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he felt as though he was moving through molasses. He strapped them on after a few moments of struggling against the weight. He took a light step, which felt like he was walking into quicksand. He attempted to punch, but his arms felt like he was pushing boulders with each hand.

He sank to the ground and felt the soil tremble beneath his feet. Kinjo huffed as he lifted his trembling arms toward Gai. "Is there a way to adjust the weight?"

"As I thought, starting you off with the training for the Fifth Gate is far too much. Seep your chakra into the weights and think about Brains as you do."

While sitting on the ground, Kinjo placed his hand over his weights and followed Gai's directions. Soon, the name on the weights shifted from "Guts" to "Brains."

"Good, now strap one of them onto your head behind your forehead protector. The rest will remain on your limbs. As you may have already guessed from the name, the first part of the body you will train… is your brain! Strengthen the muscles on your neck and focus on balancing your head. In time, you should feel a strong tug within your head, almost like a button being pressed. That will be your goal from now."

"Aren't you supposed to train the brain by memorizing things?"

"Nonsense! Your brain is both brawn and brain!"

"... I'll trust you, Gai sensei."

The weights were much more manageable, allowing Kinjo to move with only a tugging sensation on each area of his body. He kicked while balancing his heavier head and jerked back, feeling his thighs and calves protesting the movement. "I can do this."

"Of course, you can!" Gai flashed him a smile. "All efforts are pointless if you don't believe in yourself! You may be young, but I know you can do it! And I will be here to help you kick through the ceiling. Now, do you think you can spar with those weights?"

"I won't know if I don't try," Kinjo grinned, stepping into his open-fist position.

Hayama clasped his hands with his index fingers and thumbs into the air and then interlocked them. "Ash Clone Jutsu."

A massive cloud of dust swirled out of the jonin's mouth and solidified into an identical clone, who turned and smirked at Kinjo. Hayama patted his clone's shoulders as he lectured. "An Ash Clone is not as durable as an Earth Clone, nor as malleable as a Water Clone. However, it will provide flexibility in your tactics and allow you to set up another jutsu or technique. For example, you can disperse the clone to create ash clouds to obstruct your opponent's vision, a long-range form of Hiding in Ash Jutsu. Or have the clone use their own jutsu to supplement yours. One advantage the Ash Clone has over the others is that you can infuse it with more chakra through your ash. Hence, you can make an Ash Clone have a tenth of your chakra or up to a third."

"Understood," Kinjo answered.

"Now, there are some weaknesses with the Ash Clone." Hayama breathed out ash onto the small pond below them and went through the hand seals. Instead of consolidating like before, the ash floated around the water. "If the ash makes contact with water before forming the clone, like rain, then it is all but impossible to form an Ash Clone. High humidity areas will also generally lower their performance, as the Ash Clone is a Fire jutsu."

"So if a shinobi uses Water jutsu and dampen an area…"

"Yes. It's why more powerful shinobi generally use a Water Clone or an Earth Clone."

"I knew fire had its weaknesses, but wow."

"Even a jinchuriki with a Fire affinity will struggle against a skilled shinobi with a Water affinity, yes," Hayama reassured. "Which is why you should be vigilant around shinobi that show even an inkling of knowing advanced Water jutsu."

The two were training within Training Ground Twenty-Five, a small forested area with a large pond and sizeable clearings. They were standing at the center of the pond as Kinjo practiced his chakra control while learning new Fire jutsu from his sensei. In the background, Izumi tried to walk on water but failed after reaching the halfway point between the shore and the center of the pond. Meanwhile, Shin attempted to walk up a tree but only managed to reach a bit above halfway before tumbling onto the ground in a heap.

"How come Kin gets to learn cool stuff, and I'm here getting drenched?" Izumi whined as she slipped under the surface and swam back to shore.

Even from a distance, Kinjo could make out Shin grumbling in a loud voice. "At least you can walk up a tree."

"Keep it up, you two! You're letting a nine-year-old beat from a civilian family beat you in using chakra?" Hayama barked. He glanced down at Kinjo and whispered, "It's just to motivate them. I have nothing against non-clan kids."

"He's teaching me something really cool, Izumi! I think you would like it a lot!" Kinjo hollered.

"Not funny, Kin!" Izumi yelled back.

Kinjo turned back to his sensei. "No offense taken. Now, back to Fire jutsu?"

Hayama chuckled. "Right. Since you can already make ash with your chakra and you can control your chakra decently well, an Ash Clone should not be too difficult. I'm impressed you've taken the second step into your elemental training already."

"I started when I was six," Kinjo admitted. "What would be after ash?"

"Oil. Gunpowder would be the final one, but that's usually reserved for members of the Sarutobi Clan. It is considered one of the highest levels of chakra transformation within the body and is also very dangerous. If used incorrectly, it can explode in your mouth or stomach."

Kinjo winced as he recalled the few times when his chakra accidentally transformed into fire while training to create ash. "That… doesn't sound very safe."

"Which is why only a few shinobi attempt to reach that stage. An oil burn in your mouth is much different than a violent explosion." Hayama grunted. "It is believed that the Sarutobi Clan has a safer method of transforming gunpowder, but they keep it close to their chest."

"So, will I be learning oil-based Fire jutsu after I learn the Ash Clone?"

"No. First, master the usage of ash. It is useful as a distraction or screen during a fight. We will also expand the number of jutsu in your arsenal so you have more variety instead of relying on Phoenix Sage Fire or the Great Fireball. Even your Phoenix Flash Fire can be countered if an enemy sees it more than once. A predictable shinobi is a dead shinobi."

"Could I learn another element like Wind to empower my Fire jutsu?" Kinjo reached to his back and flashed his gunbai.

Hayama frowned. "One step at a time. While your fan may help your main affinity in the future, it is important to master that first before jumping into other elements. Even a jonin will only utilize two or three elements at most. Molding your chakra into oil is not the final step for your Fire transformation; you must also learn how to make Fire with other parts of your body. Considering your tutelage under Gai, I would assume that would also be important to learn. It can increase the power of your taijutsu significantly."

Kinjo placed his hands under his chin and pondered on that thought. "That does sound deadly. Flaming hands combined with punches…"

"It will allow you to deflect kunai with your hands." Hayama lit up his hands with fire and punched the pond, creating a loud sizzling noise along with smoke. "And even cut wires and chains. After intense training, it's even possible to create fireballs with your hands alone. There are limitations, as breathing out fire will always be more potent and easier. However, it is still incredibly useful and powerful. That is the peak of Fire mastery."

Despite hearing what his sensei had just said, Kinjo closed his eyes and focused his chakra on forming fire in his palms. A warm sensation flowed through his veins, tickling his arms and hands as an intense heat grew more prominent with each passing second. Despite urging for more, his chakra faltered and refused to burst out of his skin.

Hayama patted his back. "You'll have to work for it. Come on, let's go check up on your teammates. After all, I can't show favoritism."

"At least it'll be useful for keeping my hands warm."

The pair ran to the shore, where Izumi was resting on the ground while Shin was leaning on a tree and snacking. Hayama clapped his hands and gathered his students around in a half-circle. "Good work today. A bit of sparring, along with physical conditioning and chakra control practice. Izumi, since you've made tremendous progress with your control over the past week, I'll have you join us in our next ninjutsu session. During our next meeting, I'll have you practice your genjutsu on Kinjo and work on your kenjutsu. Shin, you'll need to practice a bit more, at least to the point where you can walk some distance on the water. Keep training your clan techniques at home whenever you have the chance, as that is beyond my expertise. "

While Izumi cheered and Shin groaned, Kinjo glanced at the tree Shin was practicing on before. He noted a long scratch on the top quarter of the tree and gave his friend a reassuring thumbs up. Shin returned it with a tired smile. It looked like Kinjo's previous tips on tree walking helped, as he was making good progress.

"What cool jutsu are you going to teach me?" Izumi questioned, running up to him with a bounce in her step.

Hayama smirked. "Well, I was placed as your team's jonin instructor for a reason; my main affinity is Fire."

"I thought it was Wind or Water?" Kinjo inquired.

"No. I only know a few Wind jutsu, mostly involving my sword. Unfortunately, I do not have much talent for Wind. As for Water, that was the second element that I learned. Water is a very useful and malleable element."

"Huh."

Shin raised his hand. "Uhh, but I have an Earth affinity."

"I know more than a few jutsu for Earth; it's the element I've been working on myself. Don't worry, I'll train all of you into the finest team in Konoha. None of you will be left behind the others."

The team waited patiently as Hayama cleared his throat and continued. "Since you've trained with me for exactly a month now, we will go on our first mission in five days. I've already picked up a mission suitable for our team."

"What will the mission be about?" Izumi asked.

"Will it be helping out at a restaurant? Maybe assisting a bakery?" Shin added.

Kinjo made a guess of his own. "Pulling weeds?"

"No. You kids think too lowly of yourselves. Sure, all of you can use more training and practice, but so far, you three have been the most advanced bunch to come out of the Academy, at least for me. We'll be going on a standard escort mission to our allies in Yugakure. It's a C-rank, so the pay will be nice, especially since our client is wealthy. None of you have been outside the village before, correct?"

All three shook their heads, causing Hayama to grin. "Excellent. It'll be like a field trip. The worst thing we'll need to worry about is a bandit attack, which I'm sure my excellent pupils will be able to manhandle. Regardless, prepare yourself physically and mentally, as we will be on alert throughout the entire trip."

"Don't genin usually do D-rank missions?" Kinjo questioned.

"Usually, but our village has been taking on more missions with reduced manpower, so most D-rank missions are handled by the Genin Corps or less prepared genin teams. I think all of you will do just fine on this mission. Besides, you have this crusty old war veteran to protect you in case anything goes wrong."

"We're definitely ready!" Izumi pumped her fists. "The start of the legendary Team Five! We're going to be the best shinobi ever!"

Kinjo leaned back and smiled as his teammates traded fist bumps. Finally, he had a mission to start his shinobi career and earn money.

After training with his team, Kinjo remained at the training ground and meditated. He closed his eyes as he focused on his other senses and leaned in to feel the world around him. He relaxed as he felt the rough bark of the tree branch under him and enjoyed the soft howls of the wind as he processed what he had learned. The shade of the oak tree provided additional comfort as the sun bore down on the village with increasing intensity, and the faint smell of daffodils calmed him.

"Heya," a familiar voice called out. Izumi hopped onto the same tree branch and tapped his shoulders, making him stir.

"What's up?"

"Nothing much. I'm bored, so I thought I would sketch while hanging out with you," Izumi replied. He heard a rustle from her canvas bag as she pulled out her art supplies. "Sitting still like a statue again?"

Kinjo smiled. "It's called meditating. It's a good way to wind down after training."

"Just shoot out fireballs or something; you'll be winded in no time."

"Pfft. Where's Shin?"

"He said he had to go help his mom at his family's restaurant, but he might come by later."

"We should visit sometime soon," Kinjo remarked.

"Maybe after the mission. If I go right now, I'll stuff my face and use up all my allowance."

"Sure. We'll invite Itachi and Shisui along too. After all, who doesn't like barbeque?"

"Weird people?"

"Weird people," Kinjo agreed. "And maybe after that, you can visit with just Itachi."

"As if," Izumi snorted. "He's way too busy."

"I'm sure he has time for a date."

He wasn't able to see her expression as his eyes remained firmly shut. However, he imagined her rolling her eyes at his remarks and continuing to sketch the forest. The pond would be a nice centerpiece of her drawing.

After meditating for a few moments in silence, he heard a muffled footstep near the base of their tree. "Shin?"

"Uh, Kin? A creepy old man is staring at us with one eye."

Kinjo blinked and looked down. There, he saw a person he had hoped to avoid for the rest of his life.

Danzo looked up at him with an awkward smile. It was as if he was twisting his facial muscles to do something unfamiliar, which Kinjo guessed was an attempt at looking 'friendly.' Kinjo bit back a curse as he raised his voice. "Did you need something?"

"... Takashi Kinjo. I would like to speak with you. Come down," Danzo stated calmly.

"I may be a kid, but I'm still a shinobi."

"I am well aware. Which is why I wish to discuss something with you."

"... You're going to stay there until I come down, aren't you?"

"I am. So please, come down so we can have a chat."

"I dunno Kin, he seems kinda weird," Izumi whispered.

"Yeah, well, I'll try to make this quick," Kinjo replied.

He jumped down from his branch and landed in front of Danzo. The elderly man scanned him with his lone eye while his false smile remained plastered on his face. "Perhaps you have heard of me, but I am Danzo. I was once the Hokage's teammate."

"Ok?"

"I've heard that you were a talented shinobi. It is quite impressive that you graduated at the age of nine."

"I know my life story, thank you."

"You have an attitude, good. It will help you weather some of the more difficult times during your shinobi career." Danzo wheezed out a chuckle. "Some of the greatest shinobi had very peculiar personalities, including Lord First and my teacher, Lord Second."

"That's very interesting, but I was in the middle of relaxing, sir." Kinjo deadpanned.

"Ah, I've rambled on for too long. It must be due to my old age. I'll let you go back to your friend after you answer a question for me. If there are ten men, and one of them is sick with a contagious disease and is beyond saving, what would you do?"

Kinjo frowned. "Why should I answer a cryptic question from a stranger, even if he is a former student of the Second Hokage? And how do I really know if you're who you claim to be?"

Instead of looking annoyed or angry, Danzo only widened his smile. "One must always be paranoid at the slightest hint of danger. I admire your caution, despite your inexperience. For showing some fine shinobi qualities, perhaps I can be of assistance to your training."

"I think I'm fine."

"Oh, I think this may be something that interests you."

"I'm sure it has some strings attached, so no thank you."

"The only string is the one holding this scroll closed." Danzo pulled out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Kinjo. Instead of grabbing it, he stared with his arms crossed defiantly.

Taking the hint, Danzo pulled it back, only to loosen the string and open up the content within to Kinjo. "I have forgotten many things due to the passage of time, but I have retained some useful knowledge. Knowledge that I hope can be passed on to the next generation and be used to defend Konoha. This is a scroll containing the instructions for sealing basic ninjutsu. I've heard that you have some interest in that area."

Despite his mind replaying what Danzo carried out in canon and screaming caution, Kinjo perked up at the mention of fuinjutsu. His hands twitched, but he kept them firmly within his arms. "For all I know, it could be something that explodes in my face once I draw it."

"Do not look a gift horse in the mouth," Danzo warned as a slight crack appeared in his facade. He whipped out an empty scroll and painted it with the same seal shown in the instructions. He ran through a series of hand seals and poured an unfamiliar Wind jutsu into the scroll, which sucked it in like a vacuum cleaner. "Do you believe my words now, boy?"

"... Where did you even pull out that paintbrush from?"

Danzo ignored him as he recomposed himself with a grimace. He stepped back and placed the first scroll on the ground. "Proceed with caution, but do not ignore those who are seeking to help. This scroll is yours to keep; do as you may with it. I have an urgent business to attend to, but I'm sure this won't be the last time we meet, Kinjo."

With that, the elderly man walked away, leaving Kinjo with a complicated expression and a confused Izumi, who witnessed the scene. "I knew it; he's weird."

"Yeah, he is." Kinjo picked up the scroll and tossed it up and down. "He certainly is."

"I don't think I can eat anymore, mom."

"Nonsense, you're still a growing boy. Here's another rice bowl."

Kinjo groaned as he slumped onto the table, a stack of empty bowls towering over his head. Mika giggled as she poked his sides, making him complain louder. "Mom."

"Kinjo." His mother's words were cold enough to make Kinjo's skin crawl.

He sighed and picked up his spoon. He was hungry due to his team training earlier on in the day. The key word being 'was.' Now, he felt as though he had swallowed a beach ball. "I'll still be eating on the trip."

"Well, you won't eat my cooking for weeks!" Aya exclaimed. "You need to have your fill to make up for that time."

"Dad."

"Listen to your mom Kinjo," Makoto said without looking up from his own food.

Aya ignored his words as she turned her attention to Maki, feeding the baby with some mushed food. She also stroked Satoshi's head as he spoke. "Yumi sensei said that my pictures were the best and that I used colors coolly!"

"Your art is excellent, Satoshi. Draw more and show them to mommy, ok?"

"Ok!"

When Satoshi continued to talk about his pictures, Mika waved her spoon and spoke up. "Mom! I did really well on my Hiragana test! I'm even fifth place in the class!"

"That's nice dear," Aya cooed. "I'm sure that'll be useful if you decide to become a teacher or maybe even a novelist!"

"Don't wanna! I'm gonna be a shinobi!"

"Mommy said that girls shouldn't be fighting. I don't like fighting either." Satoshi said.

Mika glared at the second youngest Takashi family member. "Being a shinobi is cool."

"Nu-uh."

"Yuh-huh. It's cause you're too young to understand."

"Hey!" Satoshi turned to their mother. "Mommy, she's being mean again!"

"Now, now. Mika, that wasn't very nice. Apologize to your brother," Aya chided.

"He started it!" Mika huffed.

"Aya," Makoto chimed in. "Let it rest. If Mika wants to be a shinobi, then we should support her. Don't make them fight each other."

"She still has time to become interested in other things. I won't give up on my daughter so easily, Makoto."

"Until then, let our daughter do what she wants. You wanted to be a painter when you were growing up. Then you got interested in cooking, then weaving…"

"Aren't you even worried in the slightest about our eldest children?"

Makoto gripped his spoon tighter. "Is that even a question? I know how you feel, but we can't shield them from the world forever. They need to find their own path. Kinjo has already found his; Mika and Satoshi need to as well."

Aya sighed. "And if all of them want to become shinobi?"

"We'll have the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Hokage in our house then."

"Makoto."

"Have faith. Kinjo will be fine during his mission. When he comes back, he'll go right back to caring for Mika and the others. He'll make sure to train Mika and protect her. Right, son?"

"Right," Kinjo asserted. He felt as though a line had been drawn on the dining table, an invisible barrier separating his parents. Yet, he was relieved that his dad was relentless in his defense of Kinjo's decision.

His mother, on the other hand…

"Kin, I love you, which is why I want the best for your future and health. So please, be extra careful during your trip," Aya remarked with a warm smile.

Kinjo nodded wordlessly.

Two different parents with very differing views of their children's ambitions. Both loving and caring for their children in their own ways. In the end, all he could do was hope their schism would end.

Mika bounced around Kinjo as they strolled down the streets of Konoha and enjoyed the afternoon air. Mika glanced around eagerly while Kinjo held her school bag, weaving through the weekday crowd buzzing around. There were only two days left until he left for his mission, and he was spending as much time as he could to train and watch over Mika. "Where are we going, big brother? I thought we were going home?"

"Since mom is home to watch Maki today, we're going on a little trip by ourselves," Kinjo replied. "I'm going to introduce you to a few of my friends; I think you'll like them."

"Oooh, are we going to a weapons store? Or maybe a beef bowl shop?"

"A ramen restaurant."

"Aww… Is there a beef bowl shop near the ramen shop?"

"We could look for one while we're walking around, sure."

"Yay!" Mika cheered.

Kinjo patted her head affectionately and held her hand as they explored the streets near the Academy. A block from Ichiraku Ramen, Mika tugged his hand and dragged him toward a small hole in the wall shop. She tip-toed to see the steam rise from a row of buns sitting on the stall's counter and took a deep sniff. "That smells really good!"

"Beef and vegetable buns. They do smell good." Kinjo agreed.

"Hello!" a young woman ran out from the back and skidded to a halt in front of them. "Do you want some? They were made fresh just minutes ago! Only fifty ryo for five!"

He looked down at his sibling, who was staring at him with wide, pleading eyes. Kinjo pulled out a handkerchief and wiped a bit of drool leaking out of her mouth while he chuckled. "We'll take five."

"Excellent. Here you go!" the shopkeeper handed him a bag after he forked over some money.

He winced as he felt the piping hot buns prickling his skin and blew on it carefully before handing it to Mika. If she noticed the heat, she didn't show it as she bit into the bun with savage ferocity.

"Slow down, Mika. You'll choke if you swallow without chewing," Kinjo scolded.

The shopkeeper laughed. "She's a big eater, isn't she?"

As Mika demolished the first bun and begged for a second, a small girl with twin hair buns and short bangs peeked out the entrance of the kitchen and ran up to the shopkeeper. Mika saw her and jumped. "Tenten!"

"Tenten?" Kinjo wondered out loud as he watched Tenten jump over the front counter and land with her hands pushing outward.

"Mika!" Tenten squealed as she hugged her. She saw Kinjo looming above and widened her eyes. "You helped me in the bookstore that time!"

"You know my big brother?"

"Yah! He helped me find my mom when I was lost. He's nice."

"He's the best brother!" Mika boasted as she huffed out her chest. "Tenten is in my class, big brother."

Kinjo glanced at the name of the shop and read 'Liu Bun Shop.' "A bun store? Isn't she more…"

Tenten tilted her head. "Huh?"

"It's nothing. I just thought you would like weapons for some reason."

"Nope! I want to be a medic-nin and surpass Tsunade-sama!"

"Right..."

"Big brother, can Tenten come on our adventure too?" Mika asked as she hugged his leg. "She's my friend!"

He glanced over at the woman he presumed to be Tenten's mother, who clapped her hands together. "That sounds great! Tenten, you can go with them as long as you promise to finish all your homework once you come back."

"I will, mom!" Tenten answered as she drifted next to Mika.

They waved at Tenten's mother as they walked away to finish their journey to Ichiraku Ramen. After a few minutes of listening to the kids talk about everything from food to classes, he finally saw a familiar sight and herded them inside.

Unlike the last time he was here, the restaurant was packed with patrons slurping down noodles. Teuchi and Ayame were running around to accommodate all the guests and make ramen, so he silently slipped in and looked around. He saw Izumi, Itachi, and Sasuke sitting at the end of the counter and guided the two children toward them. Izumi noticed him first and waved her hand eagerly. "Kin!"

"Izumi!" Mika abandoned her talks with Tenten and bolted to tackle her with a hug. She pointed at Sasuke with a curious look. "Who's that?"

"I'm Sasuke!"

"And I'm Itachi, his older brother. It's nice to meet you, Mika," Itachi greeted her with a hint of a smile.

Mika quivered and ran behind her older brother. Itachi's smile faded into a confused frown as she hugged Kinjo. "He's scary."

"He doesn't bite," Kinjo promised. "Come on, you'll like them. You like Izumi, and you've only met her a few times, right?"

"Still! Maybe I'll play with just Tenten and Izumi."

Tenten grabbed Mika's hand. "Then let's go to the park and play tag!"

"We can go to the park after. For now, introduce yourselves," Kinjo stated firmly.

"... I'm Mika."

"I'm Tenten!"

"Why is your sister so afraid of me?" Itachi asked.

Kinjo sighed. "... Do you really want me to answer?"

"Anyways, Kin! Why are we here? The ramen seems good, but it's super busy," Izumi interjected.

"A play date for the kids while we watch them and hang out. There's one more kid coming. He should be here soon, but maybe I should've gone to his apartment to pick him up…"

Before he could continue, a loud voice boomed through the restaurant. "Scram, kid! Can't you see that you're making people uncomfortable?"

The restaurant fell quiet, as even Teuchi stopped working to look up. He saw Kinjo and gave him a friendly wave, though Kinjo barely had time to respond before he walked outside to deal with the situation.

As expected, Naruto was fidgeting near the entrance of the shop while an older man scowled at him. Nearby civilians walked past them or frowned in disapproval at Naruto. "I… I was only…"

"Only what? Trying to bother us while we're eating?" the man shouting at Naruto was tall and imposing, with short brown hair and serious grey eyes.

Kinjo stepped in front of the boy and held out his arm protectively. "Leave the kid alone. He's allowed to eat here like the rest of us."

"Don't stick your nose into things you don't know anything about, child. Now move out of the way so we can shoo that boy away."

"I would suggest you step away," Kinjo gripped his gunbai with his right hand and held his left hand out into a Rat seal. "Some of us are trying to have some peace and quiet after training."

The man noticed Kinjo's forehead protector and bared his teeth. "Did you think I would be scared because you have a headband?"

"..." Itachi walked out and placed a hand on Kinjo's shoulders. Kinjo turned to see his friend's eyes glowing red, an intense glare that pierced into the man. He swore he saw all three tomes swirl in fury. "Step away."

The man's face paled as he stared at the Sharingan up close and personal. Instead of continuing his tirade, he marched away while grumbling profanities, leaving the three children alone. The crowd dispersed as soon as they saw Itachi talk down on a man several decades his elder.

"Thanks."

"That's what friends are for," Itachi said, his familiar onyx-black eyes gleaming in the sunlight.

Kinjo looked down at Naruto, who was holding his red hoodie with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry… I was about to go in, but… you were all having fun…"

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Naruto." Kinjo smiled reassuringly and patted Naruto's shoulders. "You did nothing wrong. That man was an idiot and a bully. Come on, let me introduce you to the others."

He caught Itachi's curious glance as he urged Naruto to go in. "You do know who that is, don't you?"

"... Do you care about it?" Kinjo asked.

"No."

"Then what's the issue? Come on, let's get the kids fed before they bounce off the walls and run around the shop."

Itachi nodded. "Sure. Sasuke, come say hello to Naruto…"

"How are they not exhausted?" Kinjo wondered. "They've been running around like that for hours now."

"Aren't they all shinobi in training? We were pretty active at their age too." Izumi said. She winced when Kinjo bumped her into Itachi, who stared at him. "What was that for, Kin?"

"Nothing. Anyways, if you two want to sit by yourselves at the pier over there, I'll stay behind and watch the kids."

Itachi groaned as he gently moved Izumi away from him and toward Kinjo. "No thanks. I need to watch Sasuke as well."

They were sitting on a bench in a sparse park near the Uchiha Compound. After the encounter at Ichiraku Ramen, they decided to take their ramen to go and eat at the park for an impromptu picnic. Thankfully, despite some initial reservations and awkwardness, the four younger children bonded fast, with Naruto and Mika arguing about beef bowls and ramen while Sasuke and Tenten chatted about animals for some reason.

The three genin watched the others play tag while they sat and talked. None of them batted an eye when the kids jumped onto nearby trees for their game and zipped around like cheetahs.

Kinjo leaned away as Izumi scooted close to him. "So, what was your dad's reaction when he found out about the apprenticeship?"

"He smiled for the first time since I unlocked my Sharingan," Itachi replied. "After he announced it to the clan, we had a small celebration."

"I told you it would work out."

"Remind me to never doubt your words of advice."

Izumi waved her face in between the two. "The Compound is expanding too! My apartment is always noisy cause of all the construction happening nearby. They also said we can move out of the Compound in a few months if we want, and I'm gonna live by myself once I get enough money from missions!"

"... Izumi, you're ten," Kinjo said.

"I can live by myself!"

"You can barely get out of bed in the morning."

"I'll buy an alarm clock."

"What about your mom?"

"She'll be fine," Izumi reassured. "She knows I'm a big girl now."

Itachi and Kinjo shared a look and turned away. Izumi noticed their behavior and huffed. "I can totally live by myself."

"..."

"Bullies. Anyways, how about we train a bit here? I need to burn off some energy." Izumi asked as she stood up and dusted her black pants. Her attire had changed from her usual baggy clothes to a slim purple dress with a kunai holster strapped to her pants.

"... Do you want to give Itachi and me an aneurysm?"

"Why? We can do some simple stuff, like practicing Fire jutsu or walking on the lake."

"What he means is," Itachi interrupted. "Sasuke and Mika would strangle us both by hanging on to our necks while begging us to learn shinobi things. Which is why we have not mentioned anything shinobi-related this entire time."

"I think it's safe to assume Naruto and Tenten are probably the same. All kids that want to be shinobi act that way," Kinjo continued.

Izumi huffed. "Of course they do! They're trying to be great shinobi! I think if they want to learn stuff, we should teach them."

"If that's the case," Kinjo went through two hand signs and puffed out ash, which solidified into an Ash Clone. "I'll leave a clone behind, so you'll have some help handling them when they race over here."

A flock of crows flew around Itachi and formed into a clone. "I think I'll do the same."

Right on cue, the kids spotted them making their clones.

"Big brother! I want to do that too! Mom isn't here, so you can show me!"

"Brother, how come you're doing cool stuff by yourself while you won't even teach me the Great Fireball jutsu? Father said it's time for me to learn!"

"... Big bro Kinjo, that's super cool! I want to learn it!"

"Wait, can you three use medical ninjutsu? You guys probably can, right?"

"Here they come. Itachi, run for it."

"Right behind you."

The two disappeared into plumes of smoke while Izumi stared in horror at the stampede bearing down on her. She gritted her teeth and waved her fist into the air, "This is so unfair, guys!"

Chapter Text

Kinjo grabbed the strap of his sling bag as he took in the sight of his family's store. The familiar store sign, the stripped blue-painted walls, and the sparkling windows made him feel a bit reluctant to leave the place he called home. The trip would only be for a few weeks, yet it would feel like an eternity considering he had returned here at the end of each day for the past three years.

"Remember to be careful. No wandering off without your… sensei. And don't use up all your money on souvenirs," his mother warned from the entrance of the store. "However, I wouldn't mind if you got me some nice perfume or bath salts."

"'Course mom." His father left on an urgent trip to the Land of Tea the night before while his sister had already departed for the Academy. Hence, his mother was the only one to see him off while his youngest siblings were sleeping upstairs.

"Now, give me a big hug before you go."

She embraced him and kissed the top of his head before grabbing his arms and lowering herself to his height. His mother wasn't very tall but was still heads above him. Her amber eyes shone through her long light brown hair as she smiled warmly. "Return home safely, Kin. Once you get back, I'll cook you all your favorite foods."

"Even chicken?" Kinjo asked jokingly.

"Even that. Now go on; you don't want to be late."

As he trudged away, Kinjo looked back to see his mother waving at him with a wet glint in her eyes. He grinned reassuringly and waved his entire right arm as he stepped forth to the southern village entrance. He jumped onto a nearby rooftop and dashed to his destination.

He arrived a few minutes later to see Hayama and Shin waiting for him. His sensei was dressed in his usual jonin vest and navy blue pants, his void black eyes glancing at the walls. Shin's outfit was a simple brown shirt, grey jacket, and tan shorts. Kinjo landed next to them smoothly and dusted off his sandals as he looked at them. "Am I late?"

"A few minutes early, actually. The clients won't arrive for some time, so don't fret." Hayama said. "Besides, Izumi isn't even here yet."

"Knowing Izumi, she'll be a bit late. She likes to cut things close," Kinjo replied.

Shin munched on some melon bread on toast as he sat on the ground and leaned on his comically large bag. "Oh well, more time for me to snack and read."

The jonin frowned as Shin started skimming through a novel. "Shin, I saw you go through an entire bag of bread already and your pack hasn't shrunk. How many snacks do you have in there?"

"... Can I choose not to answer?"

"Oh for the Sage's sake. It better not slow you down, and I expect you to drop it if we get into a fight. If it does slow you down, I will burn the entire bag."

"Yah, I know."

"Remember, you'll have to carry that to Yugakure."

"I need this much for that trip, and then I'll restock when we get there!"

Kinjo held in a muffled laugh as his large friend ate while Hayama loomed over him while letting out an exasperated sigh. The sigh grew even louder as Shin's emerald green eyes went ablaze after reading a page from his book. "Now that's a fight scene! Haha!"

"... You'll have plenty of fight scenes yourself as a shinobi. No need to imagine them through a book."

"It's not the same, sensei," Shin remarked.

"I dunno, I think our genin test was a pretty good fight, somewhat," Kinjo said.

"But that didn't have the action, the drama, the stakes!"

"We literally launched fireballs and tossed giant logs with our shinobi career on the line."

"Still!"

This time, it was Kinjo's turn to sigh as he rolled his eyes and peeked at Shin's novel. Hayama crossed his arms disapprovingly but waited silently for the last member of their team to arrive.

After fifteen minutes, Izumi arrived, panting heavily and saluting the jonin. "I made it!"

"... Ten minutes late," Hayama answered. "Since it's our first mission, I'll overlook it for today. However, in the future, I expect you to be several minutes early for all our team meetings before a mission. That is the bare minimum I expect from all of you, understood?"

"You said it would be like a field trip," Izumi pointed out.

"Yes. A field trip for shinobi, not for Academy students that can barely throw a kunai. All of you are proud shinobi of Konoha, and I expect you to act as such. Behaving immaturely or being laid back during training is one thing; doing so in front of clients and civilians is another. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir!" the genin shouted out automatically. At times, Hayama spoke and acted like a drill sergeant, provoking them to act like soldiers rather than students. They were soldiers, but for the most part, it felt as though they weren't.

With their first mission looming over their heads, Kinjo finally felt a tightness in his chest and tingling in his limbs. This was it, this was what he had trained for.

"Kinjo," Hayama barked. "What is Formation A?"

"It's a staggered column formation, sensei. Two members of the team on each side, with one section leading and the other section trailing."

"Izumi, why is this the primary formation for escort missions?"

"Because it allows us to have at least two team members to engage the enemy regardless of what direction they attack us from, sensei!"

"Good. Shin, how do we respond if we are attacked from the rear?"

"We enter Formation C, a vee formation, with the rearmost members of the sections engaging the enemy while the frontmost members cover the remaining two hundred and seventy degrees. This way, we are not ambushed from another direction while dealing with the known enemy!"

"Good. At least you remembered everything you learned and practiced. Now, let's wait and look like professionals for our clients. Remember, they need to be reassured of our abilities and discipline. Otherwise, they will not hire help from Konoha in the future."

The three remained silent and checked their gear as their clients rolled through the streets with wagons and horses. A tall, middle-aged woman with blond hair and purple eyes strutted up to Hayama and bowed her head. "It's been a while."

"How are you doing, Katsumi?" Hayama greeted.

"Fine. I was surprised you decided to accept my request for an escort. The last time you did was years ago."

Hayama waved at the three genin, who all bowed to Katsumi respectfully. "I've been assigned to a new younger team. Hokage-sama believes I'm getting too old for high-stake missions"

"I see," Katsumi eyed the team apprehensively and nodded. "How is your previous team doing?"

"Doing well. Kurenai and Raido are chunin, and Asuma is even a jonin now."

Kinjo stared at his sensei. "You trained Asuma?"

"Years ago." Hayama waved him off and continued his chat with their client. "He's even better than me at using Wind chakra for his blades now. It seems like only yesterday that they were just children. Asuma was the most arrogant of the bunch, always speaking bluntly and claiming he would be better than his father.."

"And now he's a jonin," Katsumi chuckled.

"Time flies."

"Well, there's still plenty of time to continue…"

The grey-haired jonin coughed, and Kinjo noted a slight blush at the edges of his cheeks. "Anyways… kids, this is Katsumi. She's the head of a merchant group and our patron today."

Katsumi smiled. "Nice to meet you three. If Hayama is giving you a hard time, let me know. I'll make sure to scold him on your behalf."

"Don't babysit them for me, Katsumi," Hayama grumbled. "I'm trying to instill discipline, and you're treating them like… kids."

"Oh, I'm sure they're deadly despite their size; they're your students, after all."

"Right, so. Formation A, steady pace. The sooner we get to Yugakure, the better. However, we're not in a terrible rush, so we'll practice maintaining formation and the like during our trip. Remember, above all else, you must protect the cargo and the lives of our patrons. Understood?"

"Yes, sensei!" Team Five answered.

"You weren't as loud as you were in your younger years. I think your old age is catching up to you. You're fifty, after all," Katsumi teased.

"And this is why I haven't taken up any escort missions in years," Hayama sighed. "Let's get moving before my poor aging body aches from standing up for hours."

The merchants hopped onto the back of the wagons as the convoy moved forward. Team Five remained on the ground, walking beside their clients in formation. As they left the confines of the village, Kinjo noticed that the wagons were not filled with valuable goods or such. Instead, the wagons were piled with boxes containing scrolls and weapons, with each box labeled 'Haga Merchant Corps.' "Are those sealing scrolls?"

"Kinjo, do not ask our patrons what they're transporting. Confidentiality is an important aspect of our work," Hayama reprimanded. He was manning the rearmost position of the formation, scanning the environment with a watchful eye.

"It's fine, Hayama. Almost everyone knows what our company transports." Katsumi turned to Kinjo from her seat. Kinjo was in the left section with the jonin and was between Izumi and Shin, who were on the right side. "The sealing scrolls contain grain, fruits, and other products."

"Huh, I never thought of carrying food that way. My family runs a grocery store, and we don't have anything like that."

"Ordinary sealing scrolls can't prevent food from spoiling for reasons I do not know. On the other hand, stasis sealing scrolls can; thus they are much more expensive. Which is why only shipping companies or rich clients like shinobi villages and the Daimyos have the money to buy them and use them in large quantities. There are only a select few fuinjutsu masters in the world that can produce them, so the demand is high, but the supply is low. Especially after the Uzumaki Clan was scattered from Uzu."

"Interesting. I did know there were different types of sealing scrolls, like ninjutsu sealing and seals that eject objects at different speeds. I've been working on mastering the very basic sealing seal."

Katsumi's eyes sparkled. "You're interested in fuinjutsu? Good. That's a valuable skill to have. If you figure out the secret behind stasis sealing scrolls in the future, let me know and I'll buy as many as I can."

"Enough chit-chat, Kinjo. Eyes on your surroundings." Hayama shouted.

"Yes, sensei," Kinjo answered. He glanced at the thick forests beside the large main road and kept one hand rested on the handle of his gunbai. The sun was high in the sky, yet there weren't any shadows nearby as there was a flat, empty border between the trees and the main road.

After an hour of walking, they passed by a small group of merchants with wagons, seemingly returning from the northeastern parts of the Land of Fire or Hot Springs. Katsumi briefly hopped off and chatted with a man in the group. It was then that Kinjo noticed a team of Leaf shinobi escorting the group, including a familiar face. A girl with shoulder-length black hair and sharp hazel eyes stood a head taller than him.

"Yo, Chiaki," Kinjo greeted.

His former Nara schoolmate blinked for a few moments before pointing at him. "It's you!"

"I am me, yes."

"I thought you would stay back at the Academy for another three years."

Kinjo shrugged. "Felt like a good time to graduate and learn more from a jonin instructor."

"Well, I already have a year of experience as a genin. This is our team's twenty-first mission," Chiaki responded with her nose upturned. "We're even taking the chunin exams this year!"

"Best of luck to you then," Kinjo recalled that Itachi would also be taking the chunin exams within a few months and prayed that Chiaki would not be misfortune enough to face him.

Chiaki blinked at his response and growled. "Are you always this boring and laid back?"

"Is there something wrong with being a bit laid back?"

"You're on a mission!"

"And you're chatting with me while you're on a mission too."

"Chiaki! Let's go, we're leaving. You can talk to your friend back at the village!" Chiaki's jonin instructor ordered.

The pair looked around and noticed their respective groups were about to move. The Nara frowned at Kinjo before swishing her hair and following her team. "He's not my friend."

"Good luck with your chunin exams."

"... Thanks."

"If you run into Uchiha Itachi during the exams, run."

"On second thought, never mind."

As Kinjo rejoined his convoy, Katsumi laughed and teased him. "Is that your girlfriend?"

"Nope. Just a girl I knew back from the Academy. I beat her once during an exam, and she's been pissed at me since then," Kinjo answered, keeping his eyes fixed on his surroundings.

"Ah, so enemies to friends, to perhaps something more… ?'

"Please don't even joke about that."

"I'm just kidding. Youth, such a wonderful time that flies by quickly. Enjoy it while you can."

Kinjo choked back a cough as he redirected the conversation. "So… what does the Land of Hot Springs produce?"

"The Land of Hot Springs mainly produces potatoes and mineral water, but not much else. Since Konoha and Yugakure are allied, the Land of Fire receives priority in trade, in exchange, the Land of Hot Springs receives a discount from anything they buy from us."

"Who did the Hot Springs trade with before?"

"They traded with some of the minor nations nearby, along with the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. Now? Mostly just from the Land of Fire. We sell grain, fruits, tea, weapons, and hosts of other things in exchange for potatoes and mineral water."

"I see." Mercantilism and economic imperialism. Kinjo wasn't too surprised; it made sense that the Land of Fire and Konoha would attempt to expand and increase their economic power. The richer the Land of Fire was, the more funding and missions Konoha would receive. Not to mention, the Daimyo was the ruler of a vast country, and what sort of ruler didn't like more money?

It also made the Land of Hot Springs dependent on the Land of Fire and, in turn, made it much more unlikely for it to backstab its primary trading partner and ally.

They traveled for a few more hours with little interruption, with the only disturbance being a brief exchange between Hakumi and a farmer trying to sell his wagon of rice. After a few minutes of haggling, the head of the merchant group pointedly refused, and the man trudged away with a scowl. As the sun set in the sky, the convoy slowed down and entered a small village in the middle of nowhere.

It was a sleepy little settlement with only a few houses and a number of inns and stables guarded by a few Leaf shinobi. Judging from the number of wagons, horses, and people, Kinjo guessed it was similar to a rest area in his old world. He had half-expected to camp within the forest, but this suited him just fine.

"We'll be staying here for the night," Hayama announced to his team as the merchants led their horses to a nearby stable and secured their wagons. "Tomorrow, we'll mix up our formation and have Kinjo lead from the rear. We'll also work on rotating positions while moving, so rest up and be ready."

"Isn't the strongest person supposed to watch from the rear?" Izumi wondered.

"Yes. However, you must practice taking up every position in a formation. After you become chunin, you will work with various types of shinobi. Thus, you must ensure you understand and know how to fulfill any position demanded of you. Izumi, you will be leading from the rear the day after tomorrow. Shin, the day after that."

The team was separated into two different rooms, which Hayama warned was a luxury they would most likely never enjoy again. Before Kinjo could walk into a room with Shin and his jonin, Izumi grabbed him. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going with the guys?"

"Nope, you can just stay in the room with me!"

"... Did your mom teach you the difference between boys and girls yet?"

"Yep!"

"So… I go with the guys, yeah?"

"Don't care! We'll be in separate futons anyways. I've always wanted to do a sleepover!"

Kinjo face palmed as he looked over to his sensei for support. Hayama walked up to Izumi and scolded her. "Izumi. We're on a mission. You can do sleepovers back at the village, alright?"

"Yes, sensei," she answered as she hung her head.

The boys walked into their designated room and looked around. The room was small and cramped, with barely enough space for three futons and a small coffee table with cushions. A window sat right across the entrance, providing a clear view of the rest of the settlement.

One of the walls had a tiny closet for storing clothes and bags, prompting them to throw their bags into it. Only Shin's bag bounced back.

"Your bag is still too big, Shin," Hayama said. "Toss some snacks out."

"Then what will I eat?" Shin's voice wavered at Hayama's suggestion.

"The food at the inn?"

"... Is it good?"

"This inn has some good rice bowls with toppings and quite a lot of barbeque options since there's a large ranch nearby."

"... Meat!" Shin cheered as he raced to the door.

Hayama grabbed him before he could go further and pointed to the bag. "If you dump some of the snacks, I will cover half of the cost of your dinner."

"Why not all of it, sensei?" Kinjo inquired.

"I know very well how much an Akimichi can eat. The last time I ate dinner with an Akimichi and paid the bills…." Hayama grimaced.

Shin stared at the jonin with widened eyes and slackened jaws. "You're… making me choose between my snacks and dinner?"

"Yes. I expect you to make a choice right now."

Kinjo's knee suddenly buckled as the ground resonated and trembled as if the earth was threatening to swallow him. He looked at Shin, whose light green eyes were gleaming unnaturally. His fists grew larger with each passing second, which prompted Kinjo to lean back toward the window. The air was palpable, and Kinjo swore he saw waves of anger emitting from his friend's large back.

The Akimichi shouted as he expanded his chest and rattled the room. "I won't let anyone force me to choose between foods, I will eat all good food without wasting them!"

Hayama smirked. "Akimichi Shinsuke, if you break anything within the inn, the repair costs will be deducted from your mission pay. Which means you'll have less money for food in the future."

"I have lots of food at home but need food here right now!"

"There's a simple solution to the situation," Kinjo interjected, planting his feet on the floor with chakra. "Have Shin eat his snacks and then eat dinner so his bag and dinner bill shrinks."

Suddenly, the tremors slowed to a complete halt as Shin shrunk and grabbed his bag. "You're a genius, Kinjo! I'm going to eat as much as I can today!"

"... The point of this was to discipline him in his eating habits," Hayama whispered as he pulled Kinjo aside. He sighed as Shin shoveled a stack of melon bread into his mouth and gulped it down with water. "If he doesn't learn to control his urges now, he'll be a liability in every mission."

"I thought he would blow up our room."

"I would've knocked him out long before that could happen. I also need to discipline Izumi on her more immature habits while we are out in public…"

"What about me?"

The jonin clapped his back. "Other than talking too much to our client, you're fine. Make sure you're not distracted while we're moving. Talking is fine, but ignoring your duties to talk is not. I expect you to help me when I'm trying to control the other two."

"Yes, sensei."

"Good. Now help me drag Shin off his bag."

Kinjo woke up the next morning feeling numbness in his left arm and heavy breathing on his neck. He turned to see Shin had rolled onto him, flattening his arm in the process. To his right by the window, Hayama was fast asleep and sleeping like a log in a sleeve. It was still dark outside; the clear sky shined with countless stars and a half-moon.

After gently shaking off Shin and hopping to his feet, Kinjo grabbed the weights in his bag and slipped them on after changing into his jumpsuit. His black wristwatch, a shabby yet reliable thing with a dull wooden cover, reported it was four-thirty in the morning.

The usual time for his morning routine.

He snuck out of the room through the window and landed on the large courtyard in front of the inn. A pair of Konoha chunin were roving around the settlement, and one of them waved at Kinjo as he jogged to a nearby tree. He stretched for a few minutes before loosening his posture and striking the trunk repeatedly.

Five hundred punches and five hundred kicks with each limb. Every attack was calculated to match the form Gai had drilled into his head. Low kicks followed through with high kicks. Jabs continued with a series of uppercuts and side hooks to overwhelm the defenses. His weights made him feel as though he was fighting underwater, but his strikes were still fast enough to look like blurs to the ordinary eye.

Each hit resonated with a dull thud on the rough bark and shook the tree free of leaves. The small dent grew wider with every hit as if his limbs were baseball bats instead of masses of bones and flesh.

Having variety in his taijutsu would be useful in the future, as it would make him unpredictable and allow him to utilize his speed and strength to their utmost potential. However, Gai's form and training would be more than enough until then. As Bruce Lee once said, 'I fear not the man who practiced ten thousand kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick ten thousand times.'

It took half an hour to complete his reps. After he finished his last kick, he felt beads of sweat trickling through his entire body and soreness in his neck and joints. He shook his legs and puffed out his chest as he took in a deep breath before dropping onto the ground to do some push-ups. Kinjo carefully balanced his head as he dipped to the ground with each push.

"... Four hundred, four hundred and one, four hundred and two."

A few minutes later, Kinjo was finished with another part of his morning routine and leaned against the tree trunk with his head slumped. Six hundred push-ups with weights were impressive, but he was still leagues behind physical monsters like Gai.

He tried to invite Shin and Izumi to join him in his training regimen, but both flatly declined. Izumi wanted to spend her time and effort on other aspects of her shinobi skills, such as ninjutsu, kenjutsu, and her Sharingan, while Shin collapsed at the thought of having to run three hundred kilometers for warm-up.

Kinjo didn't blame them; Gai's training was intense and wasn't for everyone. The only reason he pulled through was because he knew he needed strength for what was to come. And even then, the load added to his limbs and head almost made him doubt his choice.

Without the weights, he knew he could easily do double the reps, but his new method of training added a new heavy layer and strained him to his limits. Instead of feeling winded like usual, he was panting and massaging his chest and triceps.

There were three more exercises left for his morning training. No matter how sore or tired he was, he needed to finish.

He walked up the tree and breathed in the cool morning air as he hung upside down on a tree branch with his legs. He rolled himself up with only his abs and lowered himself all the way down.

"Nice outfit."

Kinjo spat out a breath as he turned to his left and saw Hayama standing perpendicular to the tree, his feet firmly planted on the trunk. He hung upside down for a second to gather his composure and continued his reps. "Thank you? Weren't you asleep?"

"No. You jumping out the window woke me up immediately. Damn the wars for making me jolt up at the smallest changes in the air," the jonin said.

"I apologize."

"No need. I got plenty of sleep, and I'm enjoying the morning air," Hayam took an exaggerated breath and exhaled. "Do you do this every day?"

"Every day without fail, yep."

"Your routine is impressive; there aren't too many kids your age willing to dedicate themselves to training like this. What motivates you?"

"I need to become stronger to achieve my goals."

"What sort of goals?"

"Helping people, and protecting those close to me."

Hayama nodded. "Admirable goals. They're plain, but if they motivate you to go this far, then maybe I should force Shin and Izumi to set serious goals themselves…"

"What about you, sensei?" Kinjo asked.

"Me? An old fart like me only has one goal in life: to live long enough to retire. I already have enough money saved to buy a nice big ranch nearby here. I'll enjoy some good barbeque and steaks while lazing around. Maybe get married if I can find someone…"

"Like our client?"

"Ha! Good one. As amusing as that sounds, Katsumi is already married. Even if we did marry somehow, she would be the death of me. I've been trained to 'handle' enemy shinobi, not a feisty woman."

"She seemed nice."

"Trust me, you'll see what I mean once you grow up. There's a major difference between a client's public face and private face," Hayama assured.

Kinjo suppressed a laugh. "Sure, sure."

"I'm serious. Do not get entangled in the hair of a brash and loud woman. They will haunt you for the rest of your life."

After finishing his inverted situps, Kinjo pulled himself onto the tree branch and sat for a few moments to see the sun rising in the distance. Hayama joined him and patted his right shoulder. "Got anything else you have to do?"

"Three hundred pull-ups, and then two hundred and fifty squats. After that, I'm done for the morning."

The jonin whistled. "If this training doesn't help you overpower every other genin out there, I don't know what will. Keep up the good work, and make sure you're ready to head out in an hour. I might be willing to wait for you, but I bet Katsumi and the sun won't be."

"'Course sensei."

Thirty minutes later, he was dragging himself through the hallways and into the washroom shared by the men on his room's floor. As he rinsed himself down and changed into his usual attire, Shin whizzed in and bumped into him. "Woah!"

Kinjo grasped his arm before he slipped onto the floor and steadied him, lifting the large Akimichi with only a slight tug. "You ok?"

Shin widened his eyes as he peered down at him. He was double Kinjo's height and several times his weight, yet he was moved without much effort. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. You should be more careful, Shin. You could've knocked yourself out."

"I'm already late! I need to wash up so I can go eat!" Shin boomed. "If I wash myself fast enough, I'll be able to have a whole thirty minutes for breakfast!"

"Breakfast does sound good right now."

"It's the most important meal of the day, along with brunch, lunch, an afternoon snack, and dinner."

"Shin, you just listed every meal."

"Nah. There's also the morning snack, the pre-lunch…"

"Pre-lunch?"

"Not as important as lunch, but it's a good way to prepare yourself for it."

"... My stomach is aching now."

"A good breakfast will help your stomach then," Shin brushed his teeth and splashed his face with water in record time. "Let's go!"

The pair walked from the washroom to the dining hall, a large spacious room filled with a wide variety of people. Most of them were from the Land of Fire due to the prominence of brown-haired and black-haired people in the crowd. Yet, there were some more unique hair colors, such as green, blue, and even purple. Kinjo also noted a few different headbands, such as the ones for Shimogakure, Yugakure, and even Kiri.

"Katsu rice bowl, score!" Shin paid for five bowls and stacked them on his tray while Kinjo ordered a chicken rice bowl for himself. They sat at an empty table in the corner of the dining room and looked around as they ate.

"Shin."

"Mmmph?"

"Why do you want to be a shinobi? No offense, but your mom runs a restaurant, right? Why not just work there or something?"

Shin coughed and choked on his rice, springing Kinjo into action. He handed his friend a glass of water and slapped his back as Shin swallowed a large piece of katsu that was stuck in his throat. Kinjo waited for his friend to regain his bearing before continuing. "Sorry if that was rude."

"Naw, don't worry; I'm not mad at you. I want to explore the world and try every type of cuisine! Imagine the delicious food out there that almost no one knows about. They're just waiting for someone to come and feast on them and maybe spread it everywhere!"

"You can do that as a civilian too."

"But I get paid to travel around, and I get exercise in so I don't gain more weight. My clan techniques require a lot of energy, so being a shinobi lets me get exercise and go around trying new food from elsewhere! Win-win!"

Kinjo patted his friend's arm. "If you find good food somewhere, call me. I'm always down for good food."

"You betcha. I heard Yugakure has really good potato dishes. Potato stew, potato salad, meats, and potatoes…"

"Potato croquette and french fries too, right?"

"What the heck is a 'croquette?' And 'french' fries?"

"Oh… like deep-fried rolls filled with potatoes and thin slices of fried potatoes?"

"Those exist?" Shin dropped his jaw. "Those sound delicious! I definitely need to try them!"

As the dark brown-haired Akimichi rattled off about more potato dishes, Kinjo buried his chin into his hand and pondered on this new revelation.

French fries and burgers were the staple foods of his previous life. Croquette was more niche but certainly delicious and popular. If they didn't exist here… could he start a fast-food business? His father had a network of suppliers, and his mother was a fantastic cook. If he saved up a bit of his mission pay, he could start the ball rolling for a small restaurant.

Could this be a way to enrich himself and his family?

He mentally shelved the idea for now. It was important that he focused on his mission first.

"Wait." Kinjo looked up as Shin's list of potato dishes came to an end. "We forgot about Izumi."

"And sensei…" Shin looked mortified at the thought.

"He's awake. Izumi probably isn't; she's not a morning person."

"I still have two more bowls to finish though!"

Kinjo stood up from his chair and placed his half-full bowl aside. "I got it."

He raced to Izumi's room and rapped on her door with his knuckles. "Izumi! You need to get up! We're going to leave in like ten minutes!"

"..."

"Izumi, sensei said that our lunch for today is salad and nothing else. So if you don't want to starve for the entire day…"

"I'M AWAKE!"

"Easy as pie." Kinjo chuckled.

Chapter Text

The convoy continued its march on the wide and long highway to Yugakure. Two weeks had passed since they had left Konoha, and they were still a day's journey away from reaching their destination. Nothing noteworthy happened during the past several weeks, with the group resting at small rest area settlements or making camp in the woods during the evenings. Other than Shin looking disgruntled due to his empty backpack, things were relatively calm and boring.

This was not the shinobi life that Kinjo had envisioned.

"Ok, we'll take a short break here before we get moving again," Hayama shouted as the group slowed to a halt and parked next to the woods. "Ten minutes to hydrate and finish any business."

Kinjo leaned against a wagon and took a swig from his water bottle as the employees of the Haga Merchant Corps took inventory for the umpteenth time. Izumi joined him and sighed as she looked around. "This is nice. Just taking a nice stroll through the country and visiting other villages. I wish we could do this for every mission."

"You like fighting though," Kinjo commented.

"Yeah! But this is nice too. I think it's great that the bad guys are letting us enjoy our first mission."

"Don't jinx us; we might get attacked for real."

"This close to Yugakure? Nope! I think we'll be fine."

"Hey guys," Shin said as he wiped some sweat from his forehead and reached into his pocket to pull out a single melon bread. "... I knew I should've packed more."

Kinjo offered him his water bottle, which he accepted. "You're doing great, Shin. Sensei will take over for you tomorrow, so keep your chin up."

"Yah, leading from the back sucks, even though I've already done this four times already during the trip. Sensei yells at me if I even take a bite of food while walking."

"It's good practice. We'll have missions where you can't bring weeks' worth of snacks, so it's better you prepare now."

"Can I sit out those missions?"

"No," Izumi and Kinjo answered in unison.

Shin grumbled under his breath. "Do you think we can buy one of those nice sealing scrolls from our client?"

"I think sensei would torch it if you do," Izumi chirped.

"And I won't stop him if he does," Kinjo added. "Remember, we're a team. We need to work together and focus during every mission. Otherwise, we can't watch each other's back when something goes wrong."

"... Did sensei ask you to tell me that?" Shin asked.

"No comment."

"Gah! Sensei has even turned Kinjo against me!"

Izumi rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a big crybaby. I think Kinjo's right."

"You're literally two years younger than me."

"At least I don't cry about eating!"

"Guys." Kinjo stepped in between the two of them. "Let's not fight in front of our patrons. I don't want that talk with sensei again."

His teammates turned to see a few of the merchants chuckling at the scene and straightened their faces instantly. As they settled down, Katsumi approached them and smiled. "Hayama said that he was meeting with someone and went on ahead. He'll return in an hour or so, but we'll keep moving since we're very close to Yugakure. Can we count on you three to protect us?"

"Of course," Kinjo answered promptly. He glanced at his teammates to note their reactions. Izumi nodded confidently, while Shin also assented after a few seconds of hesitation.

"Great! Then let's get moving!"

"Who is our sensei meeting?" Izumi wondered out loud.

"A friend of his," Katsumi mentioned as she waved and walked back to her wagon.

Shin cleared his throat and gathered his teammates in a huddle. "Formation D: three-man vee formation. One person on each side, except the front. If we come under fire, we rotate to the left by ninety degrees to cover all sides. It seems like the forest is thicker on the right, so Kinjo will take the left side, and Izumi will take the right. Izumi, remember to use the Sharingan every few minutes to track any movements or signs of chakra. It'll be harder without sensei, but we've practiced for the last two weeks for this. We got this."

While they knew their formations from their manuals and lessons, Hayama ordered the designated leader for the day to vocalize everything when giving instructions. Partially so the leader could demonstrate their comprehensive understanding of formations and tactics, but also so that the rest of the team could be refreshed.

"Let's go, Team Five!" Izumi cheered.

Kinjo grinned. "Nice briefing, Shin. I trust you to make the right calls."

As the team dispersed, Kinjo excused himself, claiming he needed to take a leak. Once he was clear from the convoy and his team, he breathed out an Ash Clone. "Follow the convoy and try not to be spotted."

"'Course," his clone answered while pounding his fists. "Insurance?"

"Yep. Can't be too careful, even though we haven't seen anything larger than a deer in the woods these past few weeks."

"Right. Should I stay on our side or Izumi's side?"

"Our side. Izumi will spot you from her side, and she can handle herself."

"Sounds good." The clone hopped away into the trees without another word.

Kinjo rejoined the group and took up his position in the convoy. He scanned the woods and hovered his hand near his shoulders, his chest tightening with every step. He glanced at his watch every few minutes, staring at the seconds as they ticked by at a glacial pace. A sudden bristling nearly caused him to toss a kunai at the disturbance, but he slung his kunai back at the last second as he saw a brown snake slither out.

"No need to be so nervous," Katsumi remarked as he quickened his pace. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Hayama is a fine teacher, and I trust that he taught all of you well."

He kept silent as his eyes inspected every inch of the forest next to him.

Forty minutes ticked by with no sign of anything out of the ordinary. Kinjo finally loosened his posture, though he kept a hand on his gunbai. However, his teammates seemed much more relaxed compared to before, with Shin strolling behind the group and Izumi looking at her side of the forest sparingly.

Something in the forest gleamed unnaturally. Kinjo dashed forward, his heart leaping out of his throat, and whipped out his weapon. He covered Katsumi a split-second before a dozen kunai embedded themselves into the wood, his client shrieking in surprise at the attack. He grunted as his fan vibrated from the impact of the projectiles, his grip tightening as he swung to dislodge the kunai.

He whipped out a Great Fireball into the woods, setting the forest ablaze with a house-sized fireball. Kinjo smelled an unpleasant smell filling the air as the trees burned and tried to check up on Katsumi, but a masked shinobi wearing a simple black tunic and pants jumped out of the flames and dashed at Kinjo with a sword.

Kinjo wielded his gunbai and parried the person's strike with ease, forcing his attacker to back away from the wagons before Kinjo spat an immense fireball onto his opponent at point-blank range. He smirked as his opponent burned from the sudden burst of fire, yet something sliced his left arm and made him wince. His senses screamed for him to drop, and he ducked to the ground in a split-second, right as a blade sliced an inch off his spiky hair.

A burnt log stood where his enemy should've been. Instead, the masked shinobi was unharmed and looming over Kinjo with their sword.

Desperate, Kinjo quickly tilted his fan sideways, presenting its flat face like an impregnable shield. His assailant's strike was dulled as it collided with the fan's scarred surface, thwarting their advance. Kinjo pushed forward, and the man's feet slid back, creating long streaks in the dirt. The man was double his size, yet Kinjo shoved him as if he was a paperweight.

However, his seemingly unstoppable charge slowed as the throbbing pain in his left arm weakened him. The masked shinobi broke the deadlock and weaved under the fan, slamming Kinjo's chin with an uppercut while his sword held back the gunbai.

Kinjo's teeth rattled from the hit, and he bit back a curse as he felt something oozing out of his tongue. Shaking his head, he lowered himself and slammed his shoulders into his opponent, turning into a red blur. His opponent sliced Kinjo's right shoulder and made him shout in agony, but was forced to leap back just before Kinjo's elbow struck him.

The masked shinobi lunged in again, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. This time, Kinjo readied himself with his feet planted firmly on the ground and angled his block to leave a gap between him and his assailant. Their weapons met with a loud bang that vibrated in Kinjo's ears.

Kinjo growled as he shoved his opponent's blade away and twirled. His fan glowed green before crashing into the sword like a runaway propeller, "Leaf Tornado!"

The sword shattered, but the unknown shinobi slammed their forearm onto the gunbai to block it before kicking outward. Kinjo scoffed as he knocked down the hit with the handle of his fan while avoiding a fist that zipped past his jaw. Dodging another abrupt punch, Kinjo rammed a kick of his own into the enemy's gut and swatted him away with his weapon.

His opponent flew through the air and landed in a heap a few meters away. Kinjo bolted toward him and pointed his gunbai at the masked man, wincing at the stinging pain in his right shoulder and left arm as he held his weapon. He steadied his trembling and kept the fan inches away from his opponent's face.

The unknown shinobi gasped, and blood leaked from under their mask; the arm they used to block his fan bent at an awkward angle. "Please don't..."

Kinjo heaved his gunbai at their head but hesitated. They were defeated, and from the looks of it, they were affiliated with a shinobi village. The enemy shinobi likely had information about the person that hired them to attack the merchants.

He was also unarmed, and a nagging voice in the back of his mind pleaded to spare the man. Ice ran through his veins and locked his right arm into place.

Before he could ponder further, something slammed into his back and sent him sprawling onto the ground. Kinjo coughed as he tasted the familiar bitter taste of earth and spat out chunks of dirt. His shaking hands dug into the dry soil and pushed his body up just as another person entered his vision.

The stranger's appearance was the same as the shinobi he had just defeated, and Kinjo's jaw slackened as the 'defeated shinobi' dispersed into a puddle of water.

A Water Clone. His sensei's previous warnings blared through his mind as he held back a fireball.

From the corner of his eyes, Kinjo saw Izumi engaging the same masked shinobi and Shin deflecting shurikens with his Partial Multi-Size Technique. As he rose, he rifled through his pouch and shouldered his gunbai, the sharp wood digging into his skin.

Pulling out his magnesium shurikens, Kinjo tossed them with his right hand and lit them on fire, launching a flurry of kunai immediately after. Without waiting for his opponent to react, he charged in with his fan, partially shielding his eyes.

His assailant stood still for a moment and waited as though they expected his Phoenix Flash Fire. When the ablaze shurikens continued their course toward them instead of creating a dome, the enemy shinobi sprayed a jet of water and drew his sword.

However, the shurikens continued to burn despite the water drenching them, and Kinjo willed them to converge on the enemy despite the shurikens being knocked off course. He reached his opponent at the same time his projectiles did as the enemy shinobi sliced at his legs. A blinding flash of light surrounded them before an explosion rocked the ground.

A black cloud of smoke shrouded the scene, hiding the remains of any survivors from the large blast.

"Kin!" Izumi screamed.

Izumi panted as her opponent dashed away for the umpteenth time, blasting her with a spray of water. She ducked and rolled out of the way, bouncing up with her toes and barreling to her target with practiced ease.

She had maintained her dojutsu for the past several minutes, and beads of sweat rolled down her dirt-streaked face as she blinked to clear her vision. Her Sharingan swirled as she saw her opponent backing away and running through a familiar sequence of hand signs in slow motion.

Her Fire jutsu and genjutsu were nullified by her opponent, and she lacked a bag of tricks, unlike her teammate. Yet, she had an idea.

She took a sharp breath and huffed out a Great Fireball as the masked shinobi released a Water Bullet. The two jutsu collided mid-air, producing a sizeable steam cloud in the center while Izumi slid onto the ground. Her fingers ran through the hand signs of a basic jutsu as she masked her technique in the steam.

Once Izumi was sure she was hidden, a clone appeared next to her and turned sharply to the right. She continued her slide to the left and pincered her opponent with her illusion. Her face unwillingly sprouted a grin as she played out the next part of the plan in her mind.

As her cover drifted away, Izumi watched as her clone rushed in and faded away after being 'hit' by a sword. A millisecond later, she was right on top of him, swinging her tachi down at her opponent and locking blades to prevent them from fleeing. She gritted her teeth as she pushed down, just as her opponent broke free and swung.

They traded blows from every angle, metallic clanging echoing through her ear as they traded blow after blow. A stab at Izumi's hips knocked her off balance as she twisted her body unnaturally to dodge with a pained cry. It was immediately followed by a strike at her wrist from the handle of her opponent's sword.

She knocked it away with her own handle and sliced her tachi sideways at the masked shinobi's neck. A kick to Izumi's right leg slowed her momentum, but she desperately held her aim with her trembling hands and lowered her aim as her legs buckled.

Her tachi hit something, causing Izumi to yell in triumph as she twisted her wrist to shift her slice into a sharp stab.

The long curved blade skewered the masked shinobi in the stomach, causing them to slump onto the long blade and cough violently.

Izumi tugged at the handle of her tachi and stumbled as she pulled it loose. As her opponent fell forward, the Uchiha leaned over and heaved, her upset stomach rumbling as she tasted something acidic at the back of her throat.

She whimpered as she stabbed the fallen enemy in the back, just as her sensei had taught her. Her eyes returned to normal, her dark eyes tearing up as she looked at the dead body.

This was her duty as a shinobi, yet Izumi's resolve shook from killing someone for the first time. If she had hesitated for even a moment during that fight…

Instead of bleeding out, the masked shinobi dissolved into a puddle of water. Izumi flinched, looked around, and saw her teammates fighting.

Her traitorous thoughts faded as she scurried to Shin, who tossed a clump of dirt at his nimble opponent. The enemy slashed through the earth and slammed a Water Bullet straight into Shin consecutively. Izumi caught Shin as he was shoved back by the powerful wave of water crashing into his enlarged hands. She grinned up at him as she held him up, her small arms keeping the Akimichi standing.

Shin smiled back and expanded his torso as the pair rushed the enemy. The masked shinobi dodged the rolling Akimichi right as Izumi appeared behind him, her tachi slashing downwards. Parrying with their own sword, their opponent tumbled away and landed right in the path of Shin's Human Bullet Tank.

The masked shinobi blasted Shin with a wave of water and pushed him into Izumi just as she was recovering her footing from her attack. The two fell onto the ground together, and Izumi slowly pushed herself up using Shin's massive stomach.

An explosion shook the ground, and Izumi stumbled. Behind her was nothing but black smoke - no dirt, no trees, and no Kin. She couldn't hear over the sound of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears, but her throat was raw as she screamed over and over. "Kin!"

Izumi activated her Sharingan unconsciously, scouring the smoke for any hint of chakra. All she saw were scattered remains on the ground. Her sword fell from her hand and landed on the ground with a thump.

Kinjo had to be alive. He had to be. She chose to help Shin first as she believed in Kinjo's abilities. Her frenzied mind refused to accept the fact that her best friend had potentially died due to her choice.

The air stilled as Izumi felt a wave of fury emitting from Shin, who had pulled out his bo and twirled it with practiced ease. He growled as he shot forward but slowed to a halt as a giant fireball engulfed the enemy before he could reach them.

"Izumi?" Shin asked uncertainly as he looked at her.

She whipped her head to see a battered Kinjo limp out of the woods with a pained smile. "Hey, guys…"

He never finished his words as Izumi tackled him and wrapped her arms around his chest, causing him to wince. "Kin! But I thought… but you…"

"Blew up? Nope. Switched out with my Ash Clone right before I set the exploding tags off."

"Never do that again!" Izumi scolded as tears dripped down her cheeks. "At least warn us, you idiot!"

"Very touching… But have you three considered checking on our patrons or ensuring that the area is cleared of all enemies?"

The trio turned to see their jonin tower over them with his arms crossed. His eyes looked tired as he inspected his students and sighed.

Izumi broke her hug and ran up to Hayama. "Sensei! The enemy shinobi! They came out of nowhere and…"

"A test," Hayama stated matter-of-factly. "It was a test."

"What do you mean this was a test?" Kinjo pressed.

"It was a test to see how well you three would respond to an ambush while you had your guards down. Don't think I didn't notice how the three of you were relaxing after two weeks of peace and quiet."

"So… there were no enemy shinobi," Shin said, kicking a nearby puddle of water.

"The 'enemy shinobi' were my Water clones, as you may have noticed during your fights."

Kinjo rubbed his temples and groaned. "One of them used a Body Replacement Technique right in front of me…"

"I used it, and one of my Water clones attacked you from behind after jumping out of the convoy. I was also the shinobi you fought before you launched your final assault."

"The clients knew?" Izumi asked with her jaws dropped.

"Of course. Katsumi has done this before, which was why I took on her escort request. That's why I didn't specifically target them during the attack. The attackers would've succeeded if this were a real ambush aimed at killing our patrons and destroying their cargo. All of you were too focused on fighting rather than defending."

Katsumi strolled up to them and frowned. "Hayama, they're still kids with plenty of time to learn. You weren't so tough on Asuma and his group when they were your students."

"That was before my first team was almost completely wiped out during the last war," Hayama answered bluntly. "Asuma and his group were arrogant but a level below this group when they first started."

"Still."

"Shinobi business, Katsumi. Let me handle this."

The middle-aged woman sighed and waved her hand. "Do as you will."

Hayama cleared his throat. "Let me be clear; when you are out of the village, you are to never relax. Heck, even within the village, you should always be on guard. The only place a shinobi can relax is hell. If you three were on your guard initially, you would've responded to the attack swiftly and maybe coordinated together. Instead, all of you were immediately on the back foot and gave ample time for the ambushers to achieve their objective. Two of you were far too tunnel-visioned on defeating your opponents and left the convoy at risk by doing so. It is better for the enemy to escape rather than cutting them down after they killed our patrons."

He continued as the trio remained at attention. "The clones fought to specifically counter your fighting styles and used abilities demonstrated by an average chunin, which should be the bare minimum you should expect in any fight. Kinjo, good work creating space for yourself to wield your gunbai and Fire jutsu, but you left yourself open too many times and relaxed before you confirmed that your enemy was dead. Not only that, you froze before landing the killing blow. I give you marks for preparing an Ash Clone for substitution before the fight and utilizing your Phoenix Flash Fire to mob me at the end. However, I expect you to never hesitate again, and to use everything you have to bring an opponent down, even if it means killing. You would've most likely perished in a real fight against a serious opponent.

"Izumi, excellent usage of techniques to close the gap and engage the enemy in close combat. You figured out that your genjutsu and ninjutsu were ineffective and avoided wasting your chakra. I noticed you read my clone's Water Bullet perfectly with your Sharingan and used the chance to create a natural smokescreen with your Fire jutsu. That was very creative of you. However, you failed to follow through with some of your attacks and nearly missed the kill during the last spurt of the fight. Your tachi gave you the extra inches you needed to beat the clone, which was why I had you choose it over a katana due to the tachi's longer reach and better slicing power. You also let your guard down far too fast after stabbing the clone. Some shinobi have ways to ensure their opponents die with them, and I expect you to act fast to ensure that your enemy is dead before letting your thoughts wander.

"Shin, you were the only one that attempted to defend the convoy, which I applaud you for. Yet, you were unable to figure out a way to deal with my clone from a distance other than hurling things at it. We will work on your Earth jutsu when we return to the village, but I expect you to compensate for your lack of diversity regarding long-range firepower with something else for now. You could throw kunai with exploding tags or keep the enemy on their toes by waving your enlarged bo around. Remember, a predictable shinobi is a dead shinobi. Once the enemy has seen your moves a few times, they will eventually figure out a way to fight around it. Unfortunately, your clan techniques are widely known; if you show it once, they will have a rough idea of how to counter you. You will need to end the fight before they do. Do all of you understand?"

"... Yes, sensei." the three of them mumbled.

The jonin smiled at them reassuringly. "I know you feel bitter about this since you feared for your life and were battered by my clones. However, this surprise ambush ensured that you gained some experience in fighting an unknown enemy. It is better to learn while being bruised, rather than learn by getting your limbs sliced off. All of you learned not to freeze up and gained valuable insight into your deficiencies. I expect when a real fight occurs, these same mistakes will not happen again. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now let's continue our mission to Yugakure. Once we arrive, I'll let you three rest up and enjoy yourselves for a few days. My treat."

"Really?" Shin perked up. "Does that mean…"

"Yes, I will pay for some of your food. Same thing for you two, Kinjo and Izumi. We'll also get some training done since we're in a different environment."

As Izumi and Shin let out exhausted cheers, Kinjo slid his gunbai onto his back and narrowed his eyes as he recalled his fight. The Body Replacement Technique and the exploding tags had been a last resort move, a surprise attack used in conjunction with his magnesium shurikens. Magnesium burned even when doused in water, though he feared that his gamble had failed for a second after the shurikens were hit. It was only due to lucky happenstance that he had prepared an Ash Clone beforehand. For some reason, he had a feeling that his first mission would be derailed, and it did, just not in the way he had imagined.

And that brief moment of hesitation… He needed to eradicate such thoughts before they cost him his life.

They were lucky that Hayam was their instructor. Kinjo didn't want to imagine what would happen if he froze up during a real fight.

"I should've done better," Kinjo muttered. Even though he didn't have his weights on, he felt outmatched against the clone.

"Don't beat yourself up." Hayama leaned in and whispered. "I went especially hard on you since I knew what you were capable of. My clone was purposely faster and more aggressive against you compared to the clones that Izumi and Shin were facing. Not only that, but you had to fight twice, once with my clone and once against me. Even then, you slapped away my clone and came up with plans to beat me during the fight."

Izumi picked up her tachi and sealed it into a small sealing scroll before slipping it into her kunai holster. Kinjo recalled how Hayama had instructed her to hide her sword to grant her an element of surprise against unsuspecting opponents. While he stewed in his thoughts, she dusted off her clothes and pointed at him accusingly, "You owe me a sweet potato roll once we get to Yugakure!"

"Sure, sure," Kinjo answered as he held up his hands in surrender. "As many as you want."

"And practice the Ash Clone with me!"

"Yeah, I will. We're a team, remember?"

"Wish I had a Fire affinity," Shin muttered. "I feel left out sometimes."

"Aww Shin, it's ok!" Izumi cooed. "I like you better than Kin right now."

Hayama chuckled as he walked toward the convoy, "You kids can be so adorable sometimes. Come on, let's go."

Compared to Konoha, Yugakure seemed like a small town rather than a shinobi village; it was defended by wooden palisades rather than large, imposing stone walls. Yugakure was about a fifth of Konoha's size, emphasizing the vast difference between a major village and a minor one. Yet, the sizeable flow of traffic and the presence of Yugakure shinobi quickly shattered the notion that this was a minor town. Every Yugakure squad he saw was paired with a few Konoha shinobi, and Kinjo guessed they were working together to strengthen cooperation and teamwork between the two villages.

As the convoy rolled into Yugakure, Hayama urged his students to say goodbye to Katsumi, who smiled and patted their heads. "All three of you are splendid shinobi already. Listen to your sensei, but don't be discouraged by his words. He can be a bit mean sometimes, but he does have your best interests at heart."

"No need to coddle them, Katsumi," Hayama said gruffly. "If you need someone to escort you, you can call for my team."

"Will you ambush your own students again?"

"No promises."

"Oh well, guess I'll have to wait until you get a new team."

"I'm too old."

"That's what they all say," Katsumi remarked with a wink. She sauntered away with her group and waved energetically before disappearing into the busier districts of Yugakure.

"... Are you sure you don't have something going on with her?" Kinjo asked.

Hayama grunted. "Enough of that. First, let's head to a nearby inn and rest up for the day. Tomorrow, I'll have you three train and then give you a small tour of the village. We'll also visit a hot spring since that's the main attraction around here."

"Hot spring!" Izumi skipped forward. As Team Five made their way down the road, she accidentally ran into a tall man and stumbled back. "Sorry, mister!"

The man had medium-length gray hair and unfriendly purple eyes. His mouth twisted into a sneer as his hand gripped his weapon, a giant halberd tinted in red and silver with white tape wrapped around it. He wore a black leather jacket, navy blue pants, and shin-high black sandals. Kinjo noticed the Yugakure headband on the man's forehead and the distinct lack of modifications to it.

"Watch where you're going, squirt," the man cackled. "I don't think your team of shitty Konoha brats and an old geezer can protect you if you wander off."

Kinjo unwillingly gripped the handle of his gunbai and drew, but his sensei pushed down his weapon. Hayama smirked at the Yugakure shinobi and stepped into his face. "... The Mad Dog of Yugakure. There's no need to start a fight here. After all, we are friends, Hidan."

Chapter Text

"Haha! Finally! Someone that calls me by that name to my face! All the shinobi in this village are pussies and stutter when they see me!" Hidan's grin grew bigger as he stared into Hayama's eyes.

"You know him, sensei?" Kinjo asked as he took a step away from the Yugakure shinobi.

"Of course I do." Hayama folded his arms and stood tall in front of Hidan, tapping his finger on his forearm. "The only Yugakure shinobi to have an entire page dedicated to him in the bingo books."

Izumi leaned back with widened eyes, prompting Kinjo to grab her arm and pull her away from Hidan. The gray-haired man snickered as he twirled his giant halberd. "Protecting your little girlfriend? How precious. Maybe keep an eye on her so she doesn't run into the deadliest person around here next time, yeah?"

"I don't need protection!" Izumi growled, her hand sliding over to her kunai holster.

"Feisty one, huh? You know, I think I like my brat better; at least she's quiet and doesn't run into people."

Kinjo's jaw dropped as he stared at the man in horror. "You have a kid?"

"Yes, I have a kid! Do I look like an irresponsible adult to you, you shitty brat?" Hidan shouted as he stepped aside to reveal a tall girl wearing a plain black shirt and grey pants with the Yugakure headband. She held a spear imposingly while Hidan pranced around her. "See? This is my student. She can behave, unlike all of you."

Hidan's 'kid' stared at them without moving, her blank grey eyes lingering on each Konoha shinobi for a few seconds before turning away to look at the sky. Her long seafoam green hair fluttered from the light breeze, its ends split like lightning. She held a long spear with a jagged edge, a glint of steel shining from the sunlight.

"... This has to be the most mismatched student-teacher pair I've ever seen," Hayama commented. "You talk enough for the two of you combined. How did the loud bombastic Mad Dog get chained to a quiet girl with manners?"

Hidan bristled at the jonin's remarks. "Chained? Chained? Do you think a little girly brat can chain me? Who the heck are you? Are you sure you're leading a team of genin? You're more of a babysitter than a teacher, you damn geezer."

"We just finished our first mission as a team, and we were supposed to be on our way to our inn to relax. Then we ran into… a valuable ally that decided to insult us to our face."

"Your student ran into me first."

"And she apologized."

"We can settle this in a more formal way," Hidan growled.

Hayama glanced at his team and smirked. "No thanks. I have a team to take care of, not just a single, well-behaved student."

"I knew you were a babysitter. Your 'students' are fresh-faced kids that are barely potty trained!"

"And you couldn't be trusted to handle an entire team."

Hidan's nostril flared as he ran his hand on the length of his halberd's handle, a flare of power oozing from the man's body. To his credit, Hayama only raised an eyebrow in response and lit his index finger on fire.

Kinjo wasn't sure what Hidan's skill set was since he guessed that Hidan had not discovered the Jashin sect yet. However, he was sure that the two would trade blows if someone didn't de-escalate.

Before Kinjo could move, Hidan threw back his head and barked out a laugh. "Pahaha! It feels good to have someone to banter with, finally. Every shitty shinobi in this village is too uptight or terrified of me. I like you Konoha shinobi more now."

The Konoha jonin relaxed as he flashed a grin. "I would've never guessed that you would like Konoha out of all people."

"Why wouldn't I?" Hidan replied. "I get to kill, the reason why we exist in the first place. Before, no one would hire this boring shitty village for their missions, and I could only kill bandits and a few rogue shinobi. Killing them was like sleepwalking. Now? I work with you loose Konoha shinobi, and kill someone every week! I killed three dozen Kumo shinobi during the war, and a lot more after that. These past few years have been a blessing by the Sage himself! I even visited the Fire Temple to offer the heads of those I killed as an offering, but the monks there seemed turned off by it for some reason."

"I could… see why they would be surprised at that offering," Hayama answered with a nervous cough.

"They were only surprised? Maybe they thought I didn't have enough heads… Hmm…"

"Maybe money might be better."

"Pah! Money? I thought monks would be detached from such… stupid vices. Kiran and I don't need money."

"Your student?"

"The strongest kunoichi in Yugakure," Hidan boasted with a feral grin. "Only fitting that the strongest shinobi here is her teacher."

The girl, who was now identified as Kiran, turned to look at her teacher with a frown. She stared into his eyes, and Hidan nodded. "I see… you want me to fight?"

Kinjo watched as Kiran pulled out a book and flipped through the pages before pointing at a specific page with a familiar picture in the corner. Hidan squinted at the picture before turning back to Hayama with widened eyes. "Hmm… an actual opponent that won't get tossed around by me like a ragdoll. Maybe you're not so shitty after all, brat. Good thinking."

Kiran snarled, making Hidan roll his eyes and slap her head with his halberd's handle. "Watch and learn brat. You'll see how real shinobi fight."

"I didn't accept anything," Hayama interjected. "As I said, I have to take my kids to…"

"How about we show our brats an actual fight? If you win, you can have all my stinking money."

"... And I if I lose?"

"Then I can tell everyone I beat the shit out of the sensei of the Hokage's son," Hidan snickered.

Hayama rubbed his chin. "Hmm… how about no?"

"Pahaha! Not tempted by money? I like you more and more, despite you being a geezer."

"How about we spar with only ninjutsu? I know what you're capable of and want to see it in action. The kids will still see us fight, and they might learn a thing or two."

"... Fine. I thought you were more of a man, but you have to act like a pussy in front of the children. Can't let them see death and horrors just yet, yeah?"

"Something like that."

"Let's go have our 'fight,' then," Hidan grumbled. "Follow me."

Hidan led them out of the village, flashing his sharpened teeth at any nearby shinobi as he walked by. Any Yugakure shinobi that saw him scurried out the way while the Konoha shinobi gave looks of pity to Team Five. Kinjo noticed that almost all the shinobi they passed fingered their respective weapons as if they were expecting a fight.

They arrived at a small open field just a few minutes from the village. The area was devoid of humans, and Hidan sauntered to the far end while humming and brandishing his halberd. "Another day as a shinobi, another fight to enjoy myself…"

"Let's not try to kill each other. Remember, this is a demonstration for our students," Hayama hollered as he whipped out his sword.

"I know damn it! Kiran needs to see me go all out for once. Maybe that brat will finally understand not to underestimate her damn sensei."

Hayama chuckled as he warmed up for the impromptu spar. Kinjo and the others approached him and apprehensively glanced at his opponent. Shin spoke before Kinjo could, "Is he that scary, sensei?"

"He's called the Mad Dog for a reason," Hayama said. "An obsessive powerful shinobi that wants to murder all his enemies."

"What are his abilities?" Kinjo asked.

"Well, you'll see soon enough. Let's just say he's insane, and his techniques show that."

"Go kick his butt, sensei!" Izumi shouted in encouragement. "I don't like him, he's creepy!"

"That's the plan. Now back up, kids, things might get a bit… heated."

The genin stepped back and joined Kiran, who was staring at a faraway mountain with uninterested eyes. Despite being quiet and solemn, Kinjo felt an odd presence emitted from the older girl. She was probably two or three years older than him, yet Hidan had called her the 'strongest kunoichi of Yugakure.' There was definitely something lurking underneath her disinterested exterior, which reminded him of Itachi.

"On your mark," Hayama yelled.

"Go!" Hidan cackled as he tore off his jacket and sliced his chest and arms with the sharp edge of his halberd.

Izumi screamed as the gray-haired shinobi giggled as blood burst from his body like an exploding soda can and swirled around him as if it had a mind of its own. Hidan's eyes glinted as his blood flew to Hayama. Kinjo stared at the bright red liquid with sickened fascination, noting that even his sensei looked uncomfortable, and gripped his sword tighter.

"Kahaha! It's been too long since I released it all into the open!" Hidan howled. "It's time for some exercise, kiddies!"

The Konoha jonin sliced through the air with his Wind-chakra-infused blade, sending out multiple arcs of Vacuum Wind to cut through the rush of blood. Yet, a second before being hit by the wind blades, the blood molded and changed color, turning into a sickly red-brown color.

Instead of dispersing the sea of blood, the Vacuum Wind blades bounced off after making only a few scratches.

"Is that all you got?" Hidan taunted as he waved a fist toward his opponent. The blood turned back into a bright red color and instantly shifted into liquid form.

Hidan's blood resonated with his command and crashed toward Hayama like a tsunami wave. He sheathed his sword and weaved between the blood waves, dodging each flood with nimble precision like a trained circus acrobat. Kinjo saw that his sensei was watching Hidan the entire time and noticed that Hidan unconsciously made some movements with his hands to control to flow of his blood.

When Hidan clapped his hand together, Hayama dug into the ground right as Hidan's blood hardened and slammed together like a vice.

"Fight back, you geezer! You said you were going to look cool for your kids, but you're running away now like a pussy now?" Hidan scowled.

Kinjo witnessed the gray-haired shinobi plop a few pills in his mouth discreetly between his taunts. Hidan grimaced after swallowing but continued his maniacal cackles as he weaved his arms around like he was conducting an orchestra.

Just then, Hayama bursted from the ground near Hidan with his fist raised. Hayama weaved seven hand seals faster than even Kinjo's eyes could follow. After finishing a Tiger seal, he huffed out his chest and released a torrent of fire as Hidan desperately maneuvered his blood to shield him.

Even from a distance, Kinjo felt the immense heat radiating from the fire, making him shield his eyes with his gunbai at the immense heat and luminosity of the flame. He felt his open mouth dry up in an instant, and the air became staler with each passing moment. Even the sound of the fire sounded like a storm instead of the usual steady hiss. Hayama's flamethrower was magnitudes more potent than anything Kinjo had witnessed.

"Great Fire Destruction," Izumi muttered next to him in awe. "That's… one of the strongest Fire jutsu."

The fire crackled against Hidan's blood and burned through the hardened layer bit by bit. Hidan's face dripped with sweat, yet his grin remained plastered on his face as he waved his arm and burst his blood into liquid form. Some blood evaporated from Hayama's attack, but the remainder converged on Hayam from all sides.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Hidan screamed. Parts of his blood returned to him and hardened around his arms to form giant blood gloves as he dropped his weapon. He rushed into Hayama, who blocked a wave of blood with an earth wall. Noticing his opponent charging in, the Leaf shinobi opened his hands, bursting into flames like he had turned on a gas stove.

Kinjo's eyes remained unblinking as the two dueled with their ninjutsu-empowered arms, fire meeting blood as they slammed into each other. The air rustled with each hit, a tinge of metallic smell wafting into Kinjo's nose with every parry. Though the fight seemed intense, neither of them seemed intent on killing the other and, instead, went through a series of motions more akin to a kata.

Finally, after a minute of close combat, Hayama sprayed a jet of water into Hidan's face while ducking a violent punch. The Yugakure shinobi growled and picked up his halberd while aiming for his own legs, a flurry of green hair appeared between them as the air crackled with lightning and water.

"Stop," Kiran stated plainly as she glowered at her sensei. Her voice was quiet yet firm and high-pitched.

"When did she…" Kinjo looked around to see his teammates just as confused as he was.

Hayama blinked but backed away while massaging his hands. Meanwhile, Hidan glared at his student but obliged as blood flowed back into his cuts and the wounds disappeared. He grinned at Kiran, who looked unamused by the ordeal. "So, am I the best or what?"

Kiran sighed. "No."

"Fucking party pooper. As if you could do better, shitty brat," Hidan pointed at Hayama with a shit-eating grin. "Next time, if you visit by yourself, I expect a fight to the death!"

"Maybe a fight until one of us becomes exhausted. I want to spend some years in retirement before I die. But it was an interesting fight."

"Pahaha! Fighting till we die of exhaustion sounds like a great way to go! I'll hold you to that, you damn geezer! You have to keep on fighting till you win!"

"Next time. Right now, a dip in a hot spring sounds nice," Hayama said.

Hidan chortled. "I know the best hot springs around here. Good for the skin and the blood too! Leave your shitty inn aside and follow me."

The Yugakure pair walked away as Hayama joined his genin and knitted his eyebrows together. After a moment of thought, he sighed and pushed them forward. "Come on, kids… looks like our plans have changed."

"Are we really following him?" Kinjo inquired as they walked.

"Yes, because he seems like the type to never shut up and constantly follow us around as long as we're in Yugakure. Unless you want to head home now, we'll have to humor him a bit."

"But you beat him!" Izumi replied.

"More like we were taking it easy," Hayama clarified. "He's one of the most powerful Water users alive. Even my Great Fire Destruction barely chipped his blood shields."

Kinjo peered up at his sensei with a slackened jaw. "... His blood things were Water techniques?"

"The highest form of mastery. Since blood is mostly water, it is technically possible to control your own blood like water. However, the strain it places on the body usually kills the user after a few seconds. How he manages to do it without immediately dying, I don't know."

"The girl seemed really strong too. She was watching with us, and then she was next to that crazy guy in an instant!" Shin mentioned.

"The bingo books didn't say he had a student, so she must be his new pupil. Let's hope she doesn't pick up any bad habits from him," Hayama grumbled. "The last thing I want is to know two homicidal foul-mouthed maniacs, even if they are allied with our village."

"Hurry your asses up!" Hidan yelled. "Oh wait, Kiran, should I be a bit nicer to that damn geezer and his team of babies?"

"... Foul-mouthed indeed," Kinjo agreed.

"I do admit, this is one of the best hot springs I've been in," Hayama mentioned as he leaned back on a nearby rock and sighed.

Hidan splashed into the hot spring, earning an annoyed look from Hayama. "Pah! I live here in this shitty village; of course I know every damn nook and cranny."

Kinjo and Shin sat on the opposite end of the small spring, sparsely occupied by a few civilians. A man took a step toward the spring they were residing in but backed away once he saw Hidan grinning at him.

The hot spring was in a forgotten alley near the busy business district, though it had a very calm and laid-back atmosphere. Shin was snacking away on some boiled potatoes while Kinjo sat and listened to his sensei and their new 'friend' talk.

"So, what inspired you to use your own blood to fight?" Hayama asked as he closed his eyes.

"Do you think I tell every shitty shinobi about my secrets?"

"Well, yes. You do have a loud mouth…"

"And you have a snappy mouth for a damn geezer," Hidan grumbled. "There's a weird ass clan in the Land of Hot Springs called the Chinoike Clan. Ever heard of those creepy fucks?"

Hayama shook his head, but Kinjo leaned in and sat straighter as Hidan continued. "Last I heard, their entire clan murdered each other. They would've been some killer shinobi. Anyways, they had some sort of special freaky dojutsu or something and could control other people's blood."

"Really," Hayama answered, his tone sounding unconvinced.

"What, you don't believe me, you damn geezer?"

"I do. I've seen and heard things, but never about this Chinoike Clan and blood manipulation to that degree."

"Whatever. That's where I got my genius ideas from. Some of the shitty leaders around these parts thought I wiped them out. Pahaha! That would've been great if I could since killing them would've been a fucking challenge! Too bad I was only nine when they slaughtered each other."

"But sensei mentioned that if a person used blood techniques, they die instantly," Kinjo spoke up.

"Because most pussies aren't willing to risk it all!" Hidan growled as he shot up. "Shinobi are supposed to risk their lives and fight, damn it! I nearly died while learning my techniques, and now I can kill as many people as I want with them! No risk, no reward!"

Hayama groaned. "We get it, you're a maniac. Now, some peace and quiet, please."

For some reason, Hidan stumbled over to the two male genin and inspected them. "Hmm… A tub of fat and a buff shrimp. And then there's that air-headed idiot as well."

"Hey!" a female voice protested from the other side of the fence.

"Not the team I expect the former Hokage's son's sensei to be taking. What got you interested in these shitty brats anyways?"

"You would be surprised," Hayama replied. "What about your student?"

"Pahaha! Even if your entire team fought her at once, that shitty brat of mine would blow them away!"

"Is that a challenge?" Kinjo asked, raising an eyebrow at the taunt.

"What kind of shinobi doesn't love a good fight?" Hidan cackled as he leaned into Kinjo's face. "Right, Kiran?"

"... Please shut up," a quiet voice stated. Kinjo also heard a crackle of lightning, along with Izumi's surprised yelps.

The Konoha jonin frowned and waved Kinjo off. "Don't go picking fights yet, Kinjo. You'll have plenty of fights in your near future."

"Chunin exams? You're thinking of submitting your team of babies into that cluster fuck? Hmm… maybe they can fight my brat during that test. She needs to unleash her fury somewhere."

"We'll see," Hayama remarked. "We still have some time to decide. They can take it in five months or perhaps next year in April."

"Ha! Maybe I'll submit my brat to the same test your shitty brats are taking to see her wipe them to the floor!" Hidan boasted.

And with that, the hot springs finally went silent. Kinjo settled into the water and closed his eyes, pondering upon his sensei's statement.

Team Five's return trip to Konoha was uneventful, especially since the trip only took four days, and Hayama calmed their nerves by leading from the rear each day. Kinjo remained vigilant for every second during their trip, waiting for his sensei to ambush the team again. Izumi and Shin were noticeably nervous as well, passing knowing glances at each other and sneaking peeks at the jonin whenever they could. However, nothing out of the ordinary occurred, though Kinjo was sure that Hayama would test them again if they lowered their guard. Regardless, his hand remained on his weapon even as a familiar set of walls came into his vision.

"Konoha!" Izumi cheered. She raced forward ahead of her team, but Kinjo zipped by her and reached the gates well ahead of her. He smiled as she pouted after reaching him. "It's not a race Kin."

"Last one to enter the village has to submit the mission report, remember?"

"Oh… yeah! Shin, run!"

By the time Shin started his sprint, Hayama was already next to his two other genin. Kinjo watched as the Akimichi jogged to them and hung his head, "Aw shucks… I wanted to eat."

"I was kidding about the mission report. It's tradition to turn it in as a full team for our first mission." Hayama said with a laugh. "After that, you can return home and rest for our next mission."

As they entered, Kinjo waved at the chunin guards and noticed a familiar face among them. He walked up to him and bowed his head. "Nice to see you again, Hayase."

A chunin with spiky black hair blinked for a few seconds before slapping his fist onto his open palm. "You're the kid from back then! It's good to see yo… wait, you're a genin already?"

"Got my headband a month ago," Kinjo answered.

"Congrats! Wow! At this rate, you'll catch up to me in no time, " Hayase laughed. "You just finished your first mission?"

"Yep."

"Nice! I knew you were serious about the whole shinobi thing, but it's good to see that you've made it this far already. I bet you'll be even with me pretty soon at this rate. Stay safe!"

With that, Kinjo parted with his team and waved back at the beaming chunin.

The team ran on the top of the rooftops and arrived in front of the Hokage Tower in minutes. Kinjo stared at the large building with a hitched breath and looked around discreetly. Memories of his letter to Hiashi and the evident results materialized in his mind, forming sweat in his hands.

He calmed his unsteady heart and sighed. If they knew the true writer of the letter, then he would've been arrested weeks ago.

The list he had made when he first arrived in this world was burned months ago. There was no evidence of his actions or any hints that someone suspected something. Unless the Hokage was specifically observing him at all times with his crystal ball, he was safe.

The sweat pooling in his hands remained, yet he stepped forward with an impassive face as the team entered the tower.

Kinjo had half-expected the team to drop off their mission report at the front desk like last time when he was here with Itachi. Yet, his sensei marched the team up the stairs to the very top floor and nudged them into an office after knocking on the door. The shinobi working within the building allowed them through, some of them giving respectful nods to Hayama as they passed.

Behind the door sat the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. While sitting at his desk, he was reading a paper and looked up when the door opened.

Hayama nodded and waved at his team, who bowed in response. All three genin stood upright and waited silently as their sensei spoke with the elderly village leader. "Hokage-sama."

"Ah, Hayama. Welcome back to Konoha. How was your new team's first mission?" Lord Third asked. His serene, easy smile made Kinjo relax, especially as the Hokage kept his eyes on the jonin.

"Smoothly. The team managed well."

"Before or after you ambushed them?"

"Both."

The Hokage chuckled. "That brings back fond memories of him complaining about your methods when he was a genin. How time flies."

"Is he back in the village?"

"No. He's out on a long-term mission; he won't be back for some time."

"I see…" Hayama straightened his posture and bowed his head while handing the Hokage a scroll. "Team Five, reporting a successful escort mission to Yugakure, Hokage-sama. All information pertaining to the mission is written in the report, including some interesting tidbits of Yugakure's most notorious shinobi."

"Oh? I'm guessing Hidan? How did you come across him?"

"The man was itching for a fight. He was as mad as the rumors made him out to be, and he also has a mysterious apprentice."

"I will make sure his profile is updated after we confirm your information," the Hokage acknowledged as his eyes flickered over the scroll. "For now, you are dismissed. Excellent work, Team Five."

As Kinjo left the office, he glanced back at the Hokage. The elderly man turned his chair and stared out the window in the direction of the Uchiha Compound. As the door closed, he only saw a spark flickering from the Hokage's finger as he lit his pipe and released a puff of smoke.

Instead of heading straight home, Kinjo dropped by his usual training ground and stretched as he created an Ash clone. He needed a moment to cut loose and to stew in his thoughts. As the clone waited for him to finish, he placed his bag aside and strapped on his weights as he reviewed what had occurred during his mission.

Fuinjutsu, diplomacy and economics, standard mission procedures, the ambush, Hidan…

"Chunin exams…" Kinjo mumbled. "Maybe I should find a new person to spar with to size myself up."

His clone backed up several meters as Kinjo rotated his limbs, the weights feeling lighter than when he had put them on weeks ago. "Let's go."

"'Course," the clone chimed in reply. The clone was created with a third of his chakra, yet it was not weighed down by the weights and had all his speed and strength.

Kinjo picked up a small pebble and flicked it into the air. The pebble floated for a few seconds before dropping, touching the ground right as he dashed in against his clone.

"Training right after returning to the village? That is excellent dedication."

Before the two Kinjos collided with each other, the clone dispersed into ashes as the real Kinjo turned to an unwanted sight and sighed. "Hello."

Danzo strolled through the bare training ground with his arms held behind his back. His lone eye scanned his surroundings as if he expected an ambush to appear out of thin air. Yet, his mouth was twisted into a familiar awkward smile. "We meet again."

"... I didn't know you took walks around rocky hellscapes like this training ground," Kinjo mentioned.

"It is important to be familiar with different types of landscapes. You never know where you might fight," Danzo mused. "The first mission my team received outside of the village involved fighting in a swamp. It was terrible, especially for Hiruzen. He was powerful then but relied much on his Fire jutsu. I'm sure you would know why that was disadvantageous for him."

Instead of making a snide comment, Kinjo answered seriously. "Humidity and a lot of water nearby."

"Correct. Thankfully, our other teammate and I were well-versed in Water and Wind, respectively. Hiruzen was injured, but I saved his life and dragged him back to the village."

Kinjo opted for silence as he walked to the pond and huffed out a giant fireball that glowed above the water. The Great Fireball was large, enough to engulf his house and more. Yet, he only felt a slight tug as he maintained the fiery sphere.

If Danzo knew about this training ground, then he was likely aware of Kinjo's abilities and background. The best course of action was to ignore him and continue as usual, replying only if it was something notable or important.

"The coming of age rite for the Uchiha Clan. If you were a Uchiha, you would be considered an adult and a shinobi for performing the jutsu splendidly." Danzo shook his head. "Such an archaic tradition, but perhaps that is all that remains for some."

Kinjo almost shot back at Danzo's comment about the Uchiha, but bit his tongue and continued. The last thing he would do was to reveal his hand against the dealer himself.

After a full minute, Kinjo felt a lurch in his core and flipped the stream of fire into a barrage of ash. A cloud of ash floated above the pond like dark rain clouds, swirling and obeying Kinjo's command as he formed various shapes and layers.

He recalled Hidan's fight with his sensei and closed his eyes as he commanded the ash to swirl around his fists and harden. Only after a few specks grazed his skin did Kinjo notice his mistake, waving the ash away and wincing as he blew on a few small burn marks that peppered his knuckles.

"An admirable idea, but the heat is unbearable to most. Ash is still a Fire jutsu, and it can inflict severe burns. Perhaps if you had the right equipment, such as gloves or even your fan…"

"The best idea I've heard all day," Kinjo mumbled. He whipped out his gunbai and tried again, forming a layer of ash on his gunbai. Even after swinging it around, the ash remained clumped onto the fan and sizzled when it hit the water. "Could be used for a nasty burn against an opponent… Thanks."

"No need to thank me. As I told you in our previous meeting, I am seeking to pass down my knowledge to the next generation. I am far too old to defend the village directly."

"Right… so why me? Why not Itachi or someone else?"

"I have my reasons," Danzo answered vaguely. "As for your friend, Uchiha Itachi… he will be a student of Hiruzen. I'm sure you are aware of his future as Hiruzen's potential successor. I supported the ultimate decision."

"You did?" Kinjo kept his tone partial but widened his eyes at Danzo's remark.

"I believe he will make a fine Hokage one day, especially under Hiruzen's tutelage."

Kinjo had a sinking feeling why Danzo selected him. "I see…"

"How much progress have you made with my gift?" Danzo inquired, his eye narrowing.

"... Some progress. The exact look of the symbols and the rigid stroke order are hard to remember."

Any capable artist could copy the design of a seal and create a new one if they so wished. Yet, it wouldn't make their copy an actual seal. A seal needed to be drawn in a precise order, along with a comprehensive understanding of each stroke and symbol. It was like completing a puzzle; one needed to know the seal's overall effect and understand how each piece fit together to complete the image.

"Patience. You can not expect to learn the grandest and most powerful techniques in a single month. Every step will take time, and with some experience, those steps will become shorter and shorter. If you can demonstrate that seal properly the next time we meet, I will prepare a suitable reward for your efforts."

"I have other things to focus on as well."

"As we all do." Danzo ambled away, waving a limp hand stiffly at Kinjo. "I await the results of your progress, Kinjo. We will meet again."

Kinjo shook off the ash from his gunbai as he watched the elder walk away and groaned. "Maybe I should go into the Forest of Death or something to train. I don't think he would follow me in…"

"I think he would still follow you. My father knows of him, and he's mentioned that the elder is a stubborn old man. I believe he angrily referred to him as a 'cyclops' once."

"Itachi?" Kinjo turned to see his friend smiling with one hand in his pocket. "... Why do I attract so many people that just sneak up on me? First, it was sensei, then it was Danzo, and now you too? How did you even know I was back?"

"I have my ways," Itachi dismissed his remark. "You should go back home; your sister is waiting for you. She's been lonely ever since you left for your mission."

"You were at my house?"

"A few times. I only returned a week ago, but I've already brought Sasuke and the others together to play a few times. Naruto also misses you, and he should be at Ichiraku right now."

"Figures." Kinjo chuckled. "Let's head over to Ichiraku then. Your brother is at home too, since it's a Sunday, right? You can get him, and I can go pick up Mika. We can meet together at Ichiraku and catch up a bit."

Itachi nodded. "Sure."

The two split off and raced to their respective homes. When Kinjo arrived at his family's store and opened the sliding door, a brown blur zipped out of the back and tackled him. "Big brother!"

"Mika." Kinjo hugged his sister and rubbed her head. "I'm back."

"You're safe! Any souvenirs for me? How was Yugakure? Did you fight any bad guys?!"

Kinjo pulled out a small fossil from his pack and handed it to his sister, who swiped it from him with glee. It was a thin leaf preserved in amber, which glistened brightly in the light. "I did get something for you."

"Oooh, a rock with a leaf inside!" Mika fiddled with it and pocketed the stone. "What else?"

"A beef bowl flavored potato chips, an exclusive from Yugakure."

"Yay!" she cheered loudly.

"First, I have to say hi to mom and the others. Then we'll head over to Ichiraku to see Naruto and the others. You can eat the potato chips after, ok?"

"Ok!"

"Welcome back," his father greeted as he slapped him in the back after making his way to the front. "Yugakure is quite lovely, right? Your mother and I went there on our honeymoon, and it was…"

"It was great," Kinjo finished. "When did you get back?"

"Just a few days ago. The business at the Land of Tea was a bit… messy, but it ended well. Now wash up and put away your things before heading out again. And leave some time for your old man later tonight 'cause we'll have a big celebration for your safe return."

Kinjo hugged his father and went upstairs after letting him continue his work in the store. He hesitantly opened the dining room door, peeking in and looking around. Inside was his mother, along with his two youngest siblings. His mother looked up when he entered and beamed. "Kin!"

She ran over with Maki in her arms and embraced Kinjo. "Welcome back."

"I'm back safely, as I promised," Kinjo said as he pulled a few things from his bag. "I even got you your bath salts and perfume."

"I'm just glad you're safe," his mother sniffed, ignoring the gifts.

For the first time in a long time, he embraced her fully.

"So… Tenma is scarily good at genjutsu?"

"Somehow. He was capable even before that mission, but since then, his growth in that area has reached frightening heights. He's even tricked me a few times."

"Tricked you?" Kinjo asked, dropping his chopsticks.

"He works hard," Itachi assured. "I believe his skills are more than enough to become a chunin. And we still have a few months to train before the actual test."

The pair were chatting within Ichiraku, which was sparsely populated as it was between lunch and dinner. Next to them were Naruto, Sasuke, and Mika, all slurping away at their ramen bowls and talking up a storm. Even Ayame had joined their conversation as Itachi and Kinjo spoke privately at the edge of the bar.

"But, you're… you. I'm not saying he's unskilled, but to be better than you at genjutsu?"

"I am still better in ninjutsu and taijutsu."

"Yeah, but still. Something just feels… off. I don't know."

Itachi tilted his head. "Perhaps it is because my jonin sensei is… less active compared to yours. Preparing us for potential life and death fights would've helped immensely during our team's earlier missions."

"True…"

"Your sensei was also testing your abilities to your utmost limits, and you managed to not only push his clone back with your strength alone but also hit him hard enough to make him internally bleed."

"After getting knocked around."

"You were ambushed."

"Which should've never happened," Kinjo groaned. "I have so many things I need to work on and not enough time in the world."

"I'm sure you will do fine. On the other hand, I need to dominate the chunin exams to achieve my goals."

"Ah yeah, Hokage's apprentice thing and all. Best of luck; you'll win with your eyes closed."

The Uchiha blinked. "If I have my eyes closed, then how can I use my Sharingan?"

Kinjo stared in disbelief, which turned into an annoyed glare as Itachi smirked. "... I almost believed you there for a second."

"Kin. Itachi." Izumi muttered as she walked into the shop. "I swear you two forget about me every time."

"I invited you, and you declined," Itachi retorted.

"Yep, because my mom nagged me about going home right away after the mission! I said I would go after!"

"And now you're here," Kinjo finished.

Izumi pouted as she slid into a seat next to Kinjo. "... Short ribs steak ramen with extra meat and eggs, along with some tofu, please."

"Of course," Teuchi said with a grin.

"I swear, mom has been getting worse recently," Izumi grumbled. "She checked every part of my body to make sure I wasn't injured. And she interrogated me for half an hour about the mission. She wasn't happy that sensei ambushed us."

"She was just worried like any parent when their kid goes out of the village as a shinobi." Kinjo shrugged.

"I know, but… ugh."

"I heard your sensei is considering your team for the chunin exams," Itachi spoke up, redirecting the conversation. "Are you two ready?"

Izumi brightened up immediately. "Yep! I can totally kick everyone's butt!"

"... We'll see," Kinjo replied.

It had only been two months since his graduation from the Academy. While the idea of taking the chunin exams as early as possible was appealing, he was still young and had plenty of time to learn and grow. He had many things to train, from Hayama's Fire jutsu to Gai's Gates to Danzo's fuinjutsu scrolls.

The last thing he needed was being maimed or killed for a test he wasn't prepared for.

He would keep his mind open to the idea, but for now… he had time.

It was still seven years to canon. With the Uchiha Massacre seemingly averted, time was one thing on his side. At least, he hoped.

Chapter Text

Kinjo slammed his gunbai onto the unsuspecting man's head, cracking his skull and pummeling his body into the ground. Nearby, Izumi cleaned her sword, which was covered in blood, a beheaded man lying still underneath her feet.

He sighed as he glanced around and ensured his surroundings were clear. Once he was certain they were alone, Kinjo slapped his weapon on his back and walked over to the Uchiha. "I swear they always underestimate us 'cause we're small."

"Yep! That's good 'cause we can beat them up after they let their guards down." Izumi sheathed her blade and held it while waiting. "I can't believe this country can't handle a group of bandits; they're not even that big or scary."

"The Land of Rice doesn't have a shinobi village, remember? Their military is pretty small too."

"Maybe they should make a shinobi village."

"I would rather they don't."

"Why?"

"... So they can hire our village for help? More missions and pay for us."

It was definitely not because Orochimaru created his Otokagure in the Land of Rice. Definitely not.

Izumi nodded. "Huh, that makes sense."

"Let's not dawdle around; we still have to deal with the main camp," Kinjo said as he motioned for her to follow.

Team Five was split into two groups: Kinjo and Izumi in one, while Hayama and Shin were in the other. They were attacking from different angles to pincer the main camp, and the bandits they had killed were sentries on the outer limits of the bandit haven. The camp was in the middle of the woods, below a mountain range hidden in the southeastern parts of the Land of Rice.

Three months had passed since their first mission to Yugakure. They had taken plenty of missions outside of the village during that time, ranging from delivery missions to outright clashes with non-shinobi groups. They were more than familiar with battle; Hayama had made sure of that.

As the pair dragged the dead bodies into nearby bushes, Kinjo stared at his kill and winced. The 'man' he had killed was actually a teenager, a young life snuffed out from a broken neck. His hand unconsciously reached for the bloody coin in his back pocket. "These bandit scums have been killing and plundering merchants and locals for months now. They deserved to die."

"Well, duh?" Izumi replied.

"It's nothing; I was just talking to myself."

"Ok?"

"Let's get ready. We'll need to rush in after they're distracted."

They submerged themselves in the vast shadows of the trees, leaping branch by branch with careful precision and softening their landings to muffle any sounds. The moon was faint in the sky, providing little shine and comfort to the unknowing bandits below. Kinjo checked his watch with a careful spark from his index finger as they weaved through the forest, noting that they still had five minutes to reach their destination.

A bandit appeared in their vision, patrolling the ground as they waited above in the trees. Izumi pulled a kunai from her holster, but Kinjo patted her hand. "He's too close to the main camp. There might be others nearby."

Sure enough, seconds later, another bandit joined the first one, and the two chatted as the duo continued their way through the forest.

Finally, they arrived near a clearing lit brightly by numerous torches. The camp had dozens of hastily built shelters made out of wood, along with four bigger structures which Kinjo knew were their storages, armory, and meeting place. Wooden walls protected the outer limits, and Kinjo counted nearly a hundred people milling around. Most of them were armed with swords and spears, with a distinct lack of any evidence to suggest a shinobi among the bandits.

Kinjo and Izumi crouched on the topmost branch of the tallest tree nearby and watched silently at their prey below. He pulled out his gunbai and gripped it tightly with his gloved hands while Izumi pulled out her sheathed tachi from a scroll. Both breathed out ash carefully and joined by two of Kinjo's Ash Clones and one of Izumi's. Kinjo also sprayed a coat of ash onto his gunbai, the powder radiating heat as it wrapped around the fan like a blanket.

"Remember not to burn down everything," Kinjo whispered.

"I was going to tell you that," Izumi retorted quietly. "You always pull out a Great Fireball whenever you get the chance."

"Whatever. On the sensei's mark."

Two minutes later, an explosion occurred on the other end of the camp, followed by a wave of water that doused the entire area and most of the torches. The bandits yelled in confusion when a giant rolling ball crashed into the walls, followed by someone wielding a sword and blowing away the bandits with a mix of fire and water. The ball unrolled into a person, who immediately slammed the ground and created large earthen spikes.

Immediately, Kinjo and Izumi sprang into action. Izumi unsheathed her tachi and sliced any nearby bandit that she saw. Meanwhile, Kinjo rushed forward and whacked a bandit who broke his sword, hitting his fan, a satisfying sound of shattering steel followed by a loud crack.

He bolted into the center of half a dozen bandits in close proximity to each other, spinning and whipping his gunbai around as if it was weightless. "Leaf Tornado!"

His ash-covered fan slammed into the bandits in a blur, the heat radiating on his skin and the impact rattling his hands. Kinjo counted his fan hitting seven people during his attack, throwing them all up like ragdolls. Towards the end of his spin, a woman charged forward with her spear and jabbed at his legs.

Kinjo frowned and side-stepped the slow attack, throwing a kunai into her face in a fluid blur. A spray of blood landed on his cheeks, making him grimace as he looked around for more while she slumped to the ground. His ears pounded from the sound of roaring blood, his body heating up as he entered a familiar flow of battle.

Some of the bandits looked at him in shock, finally noticing that their opponent was a small child. Yet, Kinjo held out his hand and motioned for the others to attack him with a calm expression. An eager man swung his sword at his head just as Kinjo jumped away and replaced himself with his clone, which exploded in a thick cloud of ash. The bandits nearby screamed in agony when the ash covered their faces, entering their mouths and noses and making every breath a suffocating cough of burns.

He smelled charred flesh and burning cotton as he moved, yet Kinjo's expression remained impassive while he continued his assault, teleporting behind a large nervous man and crashing his gunbai into his legs. The bandit toppled onto the ground and managed a small whimper before Kinjo heaved the flat side of his fan onto his face, his head splitting open like a crushed watermelon.

Most of the remaining nearby bandits broke ranks, and Kinjo dispersed his other Ash Clone to create a wall of hot ash around his opponents, herding them into a square. He sighed and released a Great Fireball onto his opponents, roasting them alive with a giant ball of inferno that lit the night.

The smell of burning leather, combined with singed hair and a tinge of metal, assaulted Kinjo's nose, amplified by the charred corpses of his new victims. This was not his first mission killing someone with fire, but the vile smell after the act never left his nose or his mind.

When the smoke had cleared, Kinjo was surrounded by more than a dozen dead bodies, many still aflame. A lone bandit remained, his legs shaking as he clutched his katana and looked around at his dead comrades.

Kinjo offered a smile of sympathy before throwing his gunbai with enough force to send the man flying into the ground a dozen meters away. He tugged at the chain attached to his fan, and it flew back to him in an instant.

Before settling down, he went through all the dead bodies and whacked them in the head to ensure they stayed on the ground, as his sensei had instructed him numerous times.

Despite his quick victory, his face was expressionless as he glanced back at Izumi. She sliced through a man that was barely taller than her and finished off her last opponent with a fireball. Her Ash Clone was nowhere to be seen, presumably cut down by a bandit or used for an attack. Half a dozen bodies were strewn around her, many sliced up like ribbons.

"It never gets much easier… but they deserved it. Killing them saves lives. If it weren't me, it would've been someone else," Kinjo muttered, the nauseating smell still drifting into his nose. As Izumi walked over to him, his mouth twisted into an uneasy smile. "Nice work."

"... I hate these bandit missions. I don't like cutting people up." Izumi blew her hair out of her face to reveal her Sharingan with three tomoes and stabbed every corpse in her vicinity while cringing.

"Tell me about it." He looked away to see his sensei and Shin moving through the camp, slamming into the armory and clearing the insides with ruthless impunity. "No time to waste. We need to clear each building. We still have people to save."

From their scouting prior to their onslaught, Team Five had determined that the people the bandits had kidnapped were kept in one of the bigger buildings, near the main meeting hall. While Hayama and Shin handled the bigger buildings, Kinjo and Izumi ensured that none of the remaining bandits left the camp alive and watched the other team's flank.

Even a skilled shinobi could die due to a careless mistake or a stab in the back.

"It's your time to shine," Izumi mentioned as they sprinted to a nearby hovel.

"Do you want to burn a few down yourself?" Kinjo asked.

"Nope! Don't want to use up too much of my chakra."

He rolled his eyes before craning his neck at the starry night sky. He shot out a dozen consecutive fireballs, each the size of a basketball, and made them rain onto each hovel. As each house burned, he gripped his gunbai with one hand and a kunai with the other. Izumi did the same with her sword, her Sharingan seemingly glowing in the warm glow of the burning buildings.

A dozen bandits fled their alit homes while shouting, prompting Kinjo and Izumi to rush in and dispatch them all within seconds. After the last bandit was cut down, the two made their way to their sensei and other teammate. Izumi glanced at him with a pout. "Was that jutsu Incinerating Hail Technique? That was cool."

"Yes, yes. It's very cool. You can gush after we finish the mission."

"Oh, yep! My bad."

Before they arrived, Hayama and Shin walked out of the building sporting grins. Behind them were two dozen civilians kidnapped by the bandits, including a small boy that Kinjo had seen in a photo before.

"We got them," the jonin announced while sheathing his blade. "Good work."

Team Five returned to the village without fanfare and turned in their mission report before heading off to celebrate the completion of their tenth mission. Shin led them to a familiar restaurant that had become their team's de facto lunch hangout, especially since Shin's mother owned it.

"I still can't believe your mom runs this place, Shin," Kinjo mentioned as he looked up at the large neon sign.

"Why?" Shin asked as he inhaled the smell of grilled meat drifting through the air.

"I dunno, it just seems… like fate."

"Fate because you love meat and eat stacks of it every time we come here?"

Kinjo read the sign, 'Yakiniku Kyu,' and nodded. "Yeah, I guess."

"Come on guys, let's go inside and eat!" Izumi shouted as she waved the rest of the team forward.

The team entered a crowded restaurant filled with patrons. A few servers were walking around to take care of the guest while a short, stout woman with curly brown hair sticking out under her serving cap rang up a group in front of the register. When she spotted Team Five, her face lit up, and she enveloped Shin while rubbing his head. "Shinsuke! How was the mission? You're looking a bit thin. Did you eat alright in the Land of Rice? I heard they have some excellent rice, but…"

"Mom," Shin grumbled. "Not this again. You're embarrassing me in front of my team!"

Kinjo and Hayama chuckled while Izumi snickered. Shin's mother, Kyoushi, looked undeterred as she squeezed her son tighter. She turned to Hayama and bowed. "Thank you for always looking after him. I know he can be a handful."

"It's not a problem; he's my student, after all," Hayama reassured. "Is the usual room open?"

"Of course. Go right in, and I'll bring up some plates for you."

They headed upstairs into a private room in the corner of the restaurant. It contained a long low table with two grills and a view of the busy commercial district. Two fans hung from the ceiling, waiting for the cooking to suck up the smoke and smell.

"Why didn't the Rice Daimyo or whatever hire someone before the situation got that bad? Why wait until after one of the nobles' kids was kidnapped?" Izumi complained as she sat down near the window. "The poor locals were suffering for over a year."

Shin sat next to her while Kinjo sat with Hayama across the table. Kinjo leaned against the wall and sighed. "He seemed really stingy with his money, maybe that's why."

"You're probably right, Kinjo," Hayama affirmed. "The village offered to send a more experienced team consisting of chunin to handle them, but the Rice Daimyo refused because 'it cost too much.' Unfortunately, his sentiment is shared with a number of our clients. Sometimes, they prefer a more inexperienced team since it's cheaper, putting themselves and their team in potential danger."

"There were a lot of bandits this time, though. The last group of bandits we fought, there were only a dozen of them," Izumi said.

"Doesn't matter if there are a dozen or a hundred," Hayama declared. "I knew you three were more than capable enough to handle this mission. To those that aren't shinobi, it looks as though we are using magic and moving at impossible speeds. As long as you're careful, you can dispatch entire groups by yourselves."

Izumi huffed as she crossed her arms. "If it's that easy, they should've hired us before it became such a big problem! The bandits had been there for a while, and the locals were terrified."

Shin looked disinterested in the conversation as he looked forlornly at the door while Hayama calmed her down. "Some people only act when something personally affects them, Izumi. You can't get mad over every problem that crops up during our mission."

"... Once I get older and stronger, I'm going to go give that Rice Daimyo a piece of my mind," Izumi declared.

"You said that last time about the rude merchant we had to deal with," Kinjo mused.

"Him too!"

He laughed as Kyoushi walked in with plates of meat and rice loaded up on her tray. She placed them on the table and placed a bowl filled with hot charcoal underneath the grills. "Take your time and eat up! There's plenty of meat to go around."

"Meat!" Shin cheered as he grabbed a plate and sniffed. "Pork belly… I've missed this."

"Shinsuke, you can eat after ten minutes. Let the others eat first," Kuji warned as she walked out of the room.

The Akimichi grumbled and leaned back while the rest of Team Five placed the meat on the grill and waited for it to cook. Before they could dig in, there was a knock on the window, and Kinjo turned to see a short shinobi wearing a bird mask outside. Hayama raised an eyebrow but opened the window and greeted him. "What do you need?"

"Hokage-sama requests your team's presence in his office as soon as possible." the ANBU member answered.

"Was there something wrong with our mission report? Shin's handwriting isn't the best, but it should be legible…"

"It's for a new mission."

"I see… can we eat first?" Hayama pointed to the pork belly sizzling on the grill.

"... Very well, I will inform him that you will see him in an hour."

As the ANBU operative bolted away, the genin glanced at their sensei, who looked deep in thought. Izumi spoke up first. "A new mission already?"

"Seems so," Hayama said as he cut up some pork belly. "Odd… Lord Third rarely sends an ANBU member to fetch a genin team, even if he has a mission in mind for us. And to call us in so hastily too…"

"Huh. Should we be worried?" Kinjo asked.

"The only reason he would call us like this is because there's an urgent mission that we fit the requirements for, and there isn't anyone else available. Which isn't too unlikely, but something to keep in mind."

"Maybe an eating contest?" Shin commented as he stared at the pork belly hungrily. Despite his stomach growling, his hands remained firmly away from the table.

Hayama scoffed as he passed a piece to Shin, who gobbled it up. "Probably a C-rank mission on the 'more difficult' end of the mission pile. Anyways, eat up, kids. We might be sent out immediately, so mentally prepare yourselves before we head to Hokage-sama."

As Kinjo dug into his rice bowl and chomped on three pork belly pieces at once, a sinking feeling settled into the bottom of his stomach. Perhaps it was due to the training he received from Hayama, but something felt inexplicably off about the situation.

He shook it off and continued eating. The Hokage would give him answers, so he would wait until then.

Maybe it was good news…

"Another incident has occurred near the Land of Rice, the biggest one yet," the Third Hokage announced as he gripped his pipe. "I have called your team here because your previous mission may be related to this."

"And you want us to investigate?"

"Precisely. For over a year, we've had instances of mysterious robberies and thefts involving some of the far villages near the borders of Rice and Hot Springs. They weren't serious enough to warrant a full shinobi team to investigate. However, a few days ago, an entire village was raided and destroyed. With the information I have received from your previous mission, I have determined that it is a potential cell related to the bandit group your team eliminated."

"Which you want us to track down and destroy since it could lead to a diplomatic row with the Land of Rice. You called us specifically because of our familiarity with these bandits and our recent mission to the area."

"As sharp as ever," the Hokage praised."Some officials in our Daimyo's court are… eager to expand our power and influence into other nations nearby due to our successes with Yugakure. However, considering our current diplomatic standoff with Kumo, we can not take any aggressive actions against our neighbors, even if we are not at fault. Threatening the balance in Rice may result in both Kumo and Iwa working against us, as our alliance with the Hot Springs has upset the other major villages. Thus, it is imperative we settle the matter with Rice quietly before word leaks out to the public and the Daimyo, which would force our hand."

"Why would it force our hand?" Kinjo asked. His hands were steady as he stood at attention in front of his village leader. This was not his first briefing, and he was familiar with the elderly man's presence, despite the immense power behind the Hokage's voice.

"Because, young Kinjo, the Rice Daimyo is very… reluctant to part with his money. That was one of the chief reasons the bandit problem grew as large as it did. A problem that he could've easily taken care of long ago by paying for a shinobi team. Yet, he didn't, and the problem grew so large that it spilled over to our land and caused misery to our land's people. I believe we can settle the matter peacefully and quietly, but it is likely that our Daimyo will press the Rice Daimyo for concessions and reparations for the damages."

Kinjo nodded. "Which will either be accepted and be seen as an aggressive move by the other villages, or rejected and warrant an even bigger crisis."

Technically, the Fire Daimyo allowed Konoha to act independently from the Daimyo's courts. The shinobi village had numerous tax exemptions, which was why the village had a sizeable civilian population. However, the Daimyo handled much of the village's finances and 'rented' out the land the village sat on. As the military arm of the Land of Fire, Konoha was expected to obey the Fire Daimyo to a certain extent. If the Daimyo really wanted a war with another nation… then Konoha would follow.

Usually, going to war was left up to the villages. Even so, wars required the Daimyo's approval, and in return, the Daimyo could also call the villages to war.

The Hokage took a hit from his pipe and smiled at Hayama. "I see you've passed down some of your wisdom to your students."

"He has always been the sharpest of the bunch," the jonin chuckled as he patted Kinjo on the back. "Both Shin and Izumi are fast learners as well."

"Considering your team's mission successes so far, I'm inclined to believe you. As you may have guessed, this is a C-rank mission. However, the pay will be the equivalent of an A-rank mission due to the mission's importance. Do you accept the mission, Hayama?"

"Of course. Leave it to Team Five, Hokage-sama."

"Excellent. You are set to leave in two days' time. I know your team is tired after returning from your previous mission, so I will give you a day's worth of rest before sending you off again. I place my faith in you, Team Five."

With that, the team departed the Hokage's Office with a clear understanding of their mission. Yet, that sinking feeling in Kinjo's stomach persisted.

It was several minutes past seven in the evening, yet the sun was still shining brightly as it was barely the beginning of August. Kinjo walked to Naruto's apartment while holding hands with Mika, who was skipping energetically. He hadn't seen her in two weeks, and her desire to monopolize him was evident as her hand held his like a vice. The streets were rather empty, though nearby restaurants and stores were full as people settled down for dinner and nightly activities.

"What are we going to eat with Naruto today, big brother?" Mika asked as she hummed.

"Mom packed us some beef bowls," Kinjo answered as he held up a paper bag. His sister perked up, but he calmed her down with a head pat. "Since Naruto is eating your favorite food today, we'll eat his favorite food next time, ok?"

"Ok… but if we let him pick what he wants, he always eats ramen!"

"You always eat beef bowls when you can too."

"But… they're good!"

"So is ramen."

She frowned. "Which one is better: beef bowl or ramen?"

"Both," Kinjo replied.

"You can't say that, you have to pick one!"

He shook his head and laughed, relaxing for the first time in weeks. Mika pouted and protested his indecision, but he ushered her along and arrived at a large apartment complex. It was only a ten-minute walk between his house and Naruto's, as they were both on the western side of the village. As they climbed up the stairs to their destination, Kinjo glanced towards the village and enjoyed the peaceful sight of sprawling buildings and trees.

"... I've almost forgotten how the village looks from above," Kinjo muttered. His team only received a short amount of downtime between their missions. Usually, he spent time with his close ones and trained during those breaks, but even then, everything seemed like a blur before he was forced to head out for another mission.

It was unreal how busy his life had become.

"Come on, big brother! Don't be such a slowpoke!" Mika hollered as she jumped up the stairs and landed smoothly on her feet.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm on my way," Kinjo grumbled as he marched up the stairs.

They didn't need to knock as the moment the pair arrived in front of Naruto's apartment, the door flung open and creaked on its hinges. Inside was the familiar blond, who was grinning from ear to ear. "Big bro! Mika!"

"Hi!" Mika waved as she dashed inside.

"Is that ramen?" Naruto pointed at the bag in Kinjo's hand with widened eyes.

Kinjo shook his head as he walked in and closed the door. "Beef bowls. Ramen will come next time."

Naruto groaned. "I knew it! She always gets beef bowls! I'm going to convert her to the ramen club today for sure!"

"Good luck with that," Kinjo said as he rubbed Naruto's head. His fuzzy blond hair tickled Kinjo's hand as the small boy puffed out his chest.

"... Are we going to be learning shinobi stuff today?"

"Not until you're a bit more grown up, Naruto. Being a shinobi is tough work, and it's better for you to play around and have fun for now. You can always be a big bad shinobi when you get older."

"How much older? Because I want to do cool stuff and get strong so I can become the Hokage!"

"Maybe when you're nine or ten," Kinjo assured him as he set the bag down on the dining room table. "For now, let's eat."

The trio dug into their rice bowls while Mika and Naruto chatted between themselves. Kinjo smiled as he saw Naruto laughing and making exaggerated movements with his hands as he spoke to Mika, who replied with similar enthusiasm. "No way! You caught a fish that big?"

"Yeah! And even gramps came by and congratulated me for it!" Naruto boasted.

"Why do you call Hokage-sama 'gramps?'"

"Because he's an old man, that's why!"

Mika giggled. "He is kinda wrinkly."

"He is! Like a raisin!" Naruto agreed.

Both of them collapsed into fits of laughter, and even Kinjo scoffed at the image of a raisin with the Hokage's face on it. "Finish your food first, then you can laugh about the Hokage being wrinkly."

"Oh yeah! What did you do at the Academy today, Mika?" Naruto asked. "Learn anything awesome? Did you get to throw a kunai?"

"It was only boring book stuff again…. Oh! We did do some weird leaf spinny exercise thing with our foreheads. Big brother did that a lot when he was at the Academy. The teacher told me I was really good at doing that! But there was a boy in our class that couldn't do it at all and kinda cried…"

"Wait, what was his name?" Kinjo inquired.

Mika furrowed her brows and frowned. "... I dunno. He has really bushy eyebrows, though!"

"I see…" Kinjo grimaced. It was something that he should've remembered despite the recent hubbub.

Rock Lee. Gai's student and son in all but name.

It was never Kinjo's intent to replace Lee as Gai's 'star' student. Gai was a sensei he greatly admired and learned much from. Yet, no one could truly master and carry on Gai's teachings other than Lee.

While Naruto's life was arguably worse, Lee was written off by many early on due to his inability to use genjutsu and ninjutsu. There was nothing more discouraging than being told to give up because of a lack of talent. If there was anyone that could use some comfort and happiness, it was Lee.

Perhaps he could bring Lee into the group since Mika and Tenten were his age. Or even nudge Gai in his direction…

He would have to look into the matter.

They finished eating in record time, and before Mika and Naruto could scatter to play within the apartment, Kinjo held them back and pulled out a few books from the bag. "I think you two might like this."

The books were the books Kinjo had purchased when he arrived in this world, years ago when he first met Izumi and began his shinobi career. There were other books in the pile as well, mostly from his Academy days. They ranged from subjects like math and history to ninjutsu theory and squad tactics.

"These are the books you need to know by heart before becoming a genin," Kinjo asserted. "A good shinobi isn't just strong or fast; they're also smart and wise. If you want to achieve your goals, you need to study."

"Aww, but studying is so boring!" Naruto whined.

"I already read a lot of books in class, big brother," Mika complained.

"Well… how about this? I'll make a quiz for each book. If you finish a book and ace the quiz, I'll show you how to do some cool stuff."

Naruto's eyes gleamed. "Like walking on water?"

"Or blowing stuff up!" Mika laughed.

Kinjo backed away unconsciously at Mika's statement. "... Sure. We'll go with that. But remember, you have to read them thoroughly."

As Naruto scurried away with the books, his sister looked up with teary eyes. "But why did you only give him books?"

"I'll get extra copies for you," Kinjo reassured her by patting her shoulders.

It was hard to imagine that Naruto would have the fate of the world on his shoulders a decade later. While Kinjo was reluctant to train him in the shinobi arts this early on, he was willing to give Naruto a small push to grow and develop into a finer shinobi. If Naruto's raw power and talent could be combined with an intelligent mind, then the sky was his limit.

Until Naruto was ready, Kinjo would do his best to help people and to weed out the obstacles to a brighter future. It was the least he could do, considering the changes he had made so far.

Kinjo stretched and cracked his neck as he easily moved his weight-bound limbs. He shadow-boxed while jogging in place, his arms lashing out like whips with every thrust.

Four months of constantly wearing his weights outside his missions allowed his strength and speed to exceed his expected limits. At this point, he was confident he could outspeed most of his peers and punch well above his size. Yet, that was not the final goal in his mind.

"Isn't it better for you to rest with your family, Kinjo?" Hayama asked as he watched his student while frowning.

"Just a short spar, sensei," Kinjo said. "I'm pretty close; I can feel it."

They were in Training Ground Nine, where Kinjo's shinobi career officially began. It was early morning, with the sun slowly rising just above the eastern horizon. The freezing wind bathed his skin with waves of chilled air, yet his warm body exuded immense heat, making him feel toasty despite his thin hoodie and shorts.

"... I see. Well, it would be useful as an ace up your sleeve, and if you think this will help you reach it, then so be it. Ready?"

"Ready."

The two entered their respective fighting stances, with Kinjo's Strong Fist Style squaring off against Hayama's own. While the jonin stood around with his arms crossed, Kinjo lowered his core and opened his posture with his right fist ahead of his left.

Kinjo kicked off with his back foot and dashed in, the cold air becoming freezing slices scraping against his skin. He jabbed out his right fist at Hayama's face while lowering himself. When Hayama slapped the punch away, Kinjo immediately dashed behind his sensei in a blur and plummeted towards him with a drop kick, the added weights making his leg drop like a tree trunk. His teeth chattered as his grin grew, the foot an inch away from his target.

Hayama rolled away in the nick of time, with Kinjo's kick creating a small crater that threw up a spew of dirt. The jonin raised an eyebrow but motioned for his student to continue with his chin. "Control your attacks. Focus on trying to hit me rather than destroying me. You're the one that suggested we needed to maintain a flow. Don't lose focus."

After pulling his foot out of the ground, Kinjo wiped away some dirt from his mouth and dashed forward. Kinjo was within Hayama's guard in the blink of an eye, and his initial punch resounded in a loud thump against the jonin's forearms. For a brief moment, he saw a glimpse of Hayama's eyes, squinting and looking at him with disappointment. He felt a surge of chakra within.

The jonin twisted his body away and weaved through Kinjo's ensuing attacks gracefully, avoiding each strike by a single hair. A front kick barely grazed Hayama's jonin vest while Hayam's elbow nudged away a headbutt. The missed headbutt forced Kinjo to snap away and readjust the weight attached to his head, his neck groaning from the pressure.

After the short lull, the dance continued.

With every miss, Kinjo gritted his teeth harder, his swings becoming more violent. Every time he attacked, his surroundings blurred, yet his teacher moved even faster. It was as if Kinjo could slow down time, but Hayama could freeze it.

He needed to be faster. He needed to hit stronger.

Something clicked in his mind, a tug that itched his brain.

Kinjo jumped in with a flurry of punches aimed in and around Hayama, an endless stream of fists that enveloped the air to the normal eye. Each punch was expertly dodged by the jonin, who even folded his entire body to jump above a sweeping Leaf Whirlwind by Kinjo.

The Elusive River Style, Hayama's fighting style, was aptly named.

After twenty minutes of playing their strenuous version of 'tag,' Kinjo wheezed out a breath and waved his hand. He swore he felt something in his head that was different than before. Yet, it was just out of his reach. Something was missing.

Instead of winding down, Hayama struck out with his fists and rattled the bones of Kinjo's arms, which were desperately closed together to block the hits. Kinjo looked at his sensei with widened eyes, holding up his numb arms in surrender. This wasn't part of the exercise.

The jonin's leg slammed into his stomach, blowing Kinjo away while he clawed at the ground to recover his footing. He barely had time to gag before something entered the edge of his vision.

Without thinking, Kinjo scurried out of the way as another punch shot toward his face, barely missing his nose by an inch. He felt the rush of wind from his sensei's punch tickle his nose, beads of sweat rolling down Kinjo's neck as he swerved his bruised torso away from a kick.

Instead, a fist slammed into his chin and knocked him into the air. Kinjo felt something crack in his mouth and gasped but shook his head to clear his vision.

Hayama was above him, winding up his leg.

Kinjo cried out as he narrowly dodged being diced in half in mid-air, rolling onto the ground moments before Hayama's foot pierced the ground like a spear. Instantly, Kinjo's skin chilled as he shivered at the sight.

His sensei was actually going to kill him.

He barely saw the next kick barreling towards him, but for a moment, Hayama's leg slowed down and suspended itself in mid-air. Kinjo felt something clicking in the back of his head, a rattling that grew louder as his mind screamed for his body to move faster than he was able.

"KINJOOOO!"

The leg crashed into Kinjo's stomach and sent him flying. He tumbled on the ground and rolled a few meters before slowing to a halt, his clothes laced with dirt and wrinkles as he pushed himself off the ground.

"Who the hell…" Kinjo growled as he turned to see a familiar man with a bowl cut looking at him with widened eyes. He frustratingly sighed before his scowl melted away into a soft smile. "It's good to see you, Gai-sensei. It's been a few weeks."

"It is inspiring to see my dashing student training this early in the morning! I'm overjoyed that you are willing to train from dawn to dusk like me between your missions." Gai raised his thumb and blinded Kinjo with a radiant smile. "Come! Let us run fifty laps around the village together and release our youthful energy to start off this beautiful day!"

"Kai!" Kinjo yelled as he released himself from his sensei's genjutsu. Suddenly, the dread creeping in his heart and the icy feeling enveloping his skin disappeared. "... More training is always nice."

Gai blinked before embracing Kinjo and muffling him with his jumpsuit. "You are truly my student! How goes your new training?"

"The funny thing is…"

Hayama landed next to them, looking at Gai with a raised eyebrow and an amused smile. "Gai. I haven't seen you since that mission to the Land of Frost. Thank you for training my student."

"It is good to see you again, Hayama! I hope that Kinjo is showing you the same enthusiasm he has when he trains with me," Gai replied.

"He does. You've trained him into an excellent shinobi. We were working on your technique, and he was close to achieving it."

"Is that why you were beating him into the ground?"

"Kinjo theorized that the way to harness the First Gate was to force his body into a situation where it needed to move beyond its limits. Which is why I decided to… escalate to force the awakening."

Gai rubbed his chin. "Hmm… I suppose he is correct to look at it that way. That is a method I never considered, but it could work. However, that is not the only thing that is necessary to use my technique. The weights are meant to intensify pressure upon his body and force it to strain itself, preparing it for the extreme stress of the Gate of Opening. Additionally, I warned Kinjo about when to use the technique. That is also a clue on how to reach the Gate of Opening."

"I see." Hayama nodded. "Then perhaps Kinjo will need to figure out the rest on his own."

"The genjutsu method was helpful. Fearing for one's life combined with Gai sensei's warning… I think I know how to reach the final step. Thank you, both of you."

"Of course!" Gai boomed with his arms crossed. "You will succeed and reach your goals! Because when I first started training you, I promised that I would help you surpass your rival and become a splendid shinobi! You are a splendid shinobi, but you are still young and have plenty of time to grow into something even more magnificent! I have no doubts that you will finish the Gate of Opening and go beyond. Now come! Let's train some more. We will never be as young as we are right now, and we must spend every minute improving ourselves!"

Kinjo turned to Hayama, who grinned at him. "Go on. As much as I enjoy training you, I think Gai is a better teacher than I am when it comes to physical training and taijutsu."

"Thank you," Kinjo said, bowing his head. "And sorry for waking you up so early."

"It's not a big deal. As I said, I am a terrible sleeper."

With that, his jonin instructor walked away with a wave.

"Now, show me the Gate of Opening!" Gai proclaimed, watching his pupil expectantly.

"Got it." Kinjo took off his weights and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and tightened his muscles, focusing on the leftmost part of his brain. The only image occupying his mind was his father in distress and needing him to move faster than humanly possible.

If it meant protecting those he loved and saving people, he was more than willing to risk his life. That was why he was a shinobi.

He slammed his right foot on the ground and gripped his fists tightly as a surge of energy exuded from his body. His brain rattled within its cage, and Kinjo felt the bars weaken as something in his mind clicked. With a triumphant cry, he felt his inhibitions give away and urged his body to move.

In the blink of an eye, Kinjo rushed forward and slammed his fist into a tree, bashing into the trunk and toppling the tree over. He looked around and saw that he had moved a hundred meters in a single jump.

His hands felt strong enough to crush boulders, and his legs vibrated as if they were attached to jet engines. His head pounded like his heart, yet it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. Power coursed through his veins, warming every inch of his body with tangible chakra.

He had never felt more… alive.

"Great Fireball Jutsu!" Kinjo roared. He breathed out an immense fireball, double the size of what he was familiar with. The fireball mushroomed into a giant sphere akin to the size of a small moon and engulfed the ground, creating a massive crater.

"Excellent work, Kinjo!" Gai said as he placed his shoulder on Kinjo's shoulders and squeezed. In an instant, the energy disappeared, and Kinjo slumped onto the ground, his legs giving away. "The Gate of Opening. Remember the power, and learn to respect it."

"That was an… experience," Kinjo answered while he panted and sprawled onto the ground with his limbs spread apart.

"After you open the Gates, there is a physical and mental crash. The technique forces your body to exceed your limits and push your body beyond what it is normally capable of. The longer you use it, the more deadly it is to you. As such, there is a price: ripped muscles and tendons at best, death at worst. That is why you must remember to open the Gate to protect someone precious to you. That desire must be strong enough for you to risk your life."

"I'll make sure to remember that - always."

Gai grinned and pumped his fist. "I know you will. Because you and I still have many years as shinobi together! And I will not rest until you surpass your rival one day!"

Kinjo slowly rose to his feet and gripped his sensei's arm. "Thank you, Gai sensei. Also, I was wondering if you were interested in taking on another student. He's even more motivated and better than I am…"

After Gai sprinted into the distance to continue his daily training, Kinjo leaned against a tree and sighed as he watched the rising sun. His joints creaked as he moved his arms, but his thoughts drifted to the power he felt with the Gate of Opening.

"It empowers ninjutsu too…" Kinjo muttered. "That'll be dead useful in the future. Now I need to practice the Front Lotus and work for the Gate of Healing…"

As he felt the light wind cooling down his heated cheeks and damp hair, Kinjo glanced at a nearby tree and sighed. "You can come out."

There wasn't a response.

"I know you're there. Save us both the trouble and show yourself."

A lone masked figure hopped off a branch covered by shadows and landed in front of Kinjo with ease. His long ash-grey hair was prominent around his deer mask, and he was dressed in standard black ANBU gear. "How did you detect me?"

"I figured that the old man wasn't watching me directly. That leaves only one other option." Kinjo fanned himself with his clothes as he rose to his feet. "So, what does Danzo want with me this time?"

"He wants to know if you have completed the task he gave you."

"Not even a 'How are you doing' or 'How was your last mission?' Wait, if you're spying on me, then shouldn't you already know?"

"... I do not spy on you all the time."

"So there are others then."

"It does not matter. Have you finished the task?"

"You tell me." Kinjo whipped out a scroll from his pocket and drew a seal he had practiced hundreds of times. The seal glowed for a moment before settling into the parchment. Within a blink of an eye, he breathed a small fireball and poured some of his chakra into the scroll.

The fireball was sucked into the paper, leaving an undamaged scroll with a glowing seal. Kinjo waited a few seconds before activating the seal remotely with his chakra, a ball of fire hovering over the scroll before dispersing into the wind.

"You have completed it then. Congratulations."

"Only took a few months."

"Which is quicker than most. The art of fuinjutsu is a neglected one, often overlooked and seen as trivial or archaic. In the right hands, it can move mountains and control the forces of nature. You are lucky to have Danzo-sama to help you with your training."

"You speak from experience?" Kinjo asked as he leaned against a tree.

Danzo's agent nodded. "I do. It was something I attempted to learn to establish a unique style for myself. Unfortunately, I lacked talent in the area. However, I am not here to discuss my life story. I am here to give you an option for your future endeavors."

"An option?"

"There is always an option." The masked man pulled out a pair of scrolls and one in each hand. "In my right hand is a scroll containing the methods of Wind elemental training, along with a pair of powerful Wind jutsu. With enough effort and time, perhaps a year or two, you may be one of the youngest to wield two elemental natures. "

"... Tantalizing. And the other?"

"Danzo-sama did not say much about this one other than that it is related to fuinjutsu. It could be something simple, or it could be something extremely difficult that takes years to master. It will have instructions and information to help you piece together a seal, but other than that, I do not know."

Kinjo pondered the agent's words with a fist under his chin before smiling. "Is this a moment where I need to 'look underneath the underneath' and choose both?"

"Clever, but no," the man chuckled. "You can only choose one."

Knowing Danzo's attitude and recalling his previous interactions with him, Kinjo knew that this was a test. At least, he was sure that this was a vague and nonsensical test Danzo was utilizing to pry more of Kinjo's personality and thought process.

He knew it wasn't the best idea to accept anything more from Danzo… yet the things he was offering piqued Kinjo's interest.

Damn the elderly man for offering him something he couldn't find elsewhere.

After a few minutes of silence, Kinjo took the scroll in the agent's left hand.

If Danzo was going to hound him, then it was better for him to learn a few things before breaking things off and to humor the man so he wouldn't knock down his house's door. He didn't want the 'cyclops' scaring the hell out of his family.

The masked man let go of the scroll and placed the other into his pocket. "The fuinjutsu scroll. Danzo-sama expected you to make that choice."

"I have enough on my plate for elemental training," Kinjo said. "If I can't master my main affinity, then what good is a second one that I have less inclination for?"

"Sound logic. Yet, you do not know what is in that fuinjutsu scroll. It could be something potentially useless."

"It's not the end that matters, but the process of getting to the end that does. The basic sealing scroll isn't extremely useful, but it helped me understand the basics of fuinjutsu. Now I know what to avoid and focus on when working on a seal." Kinjo raised the scroll toward Danzo's agent with a grin. "I'm sure this scroll will help me learn more, even if I can't fully utilize the seal."

A memory surfaced in his mind as Kinjo finished speaking.

'One step at a time. While your fan may help your main affinity in the future, it is important to master that first before jumping into other elements.'

Patience was key. He needed to take things one step at a time. One step for his elemental training, another for his fuinjutsu learning. Besides, his sensei could help him with Wind elemental training.

"... Interesting words. I will make sure to inform Danzo-sama of your development and your choice. Take care, Kinjo."

After the masked man left, Kinjo looked around and walked out of the training ground. He opened the scroll and read through its content, much of which was gibberish to him. After glancing through the text, he placed the scroll away and jogged back home.

He could dive into the scroll later on. For now, he had a mission to prepare for.

Chapter Text

A standard mission and a routine trip. Those were the things Kinjo had hoped for.

Yet, seeing a pair of frightened civilians trembling at the mention of his destination, his rising hopes quickly plummeted.

"... How bad is it?" Kinjo inquired softly.

The man gawked at the younger boy after hearing his question. Kinjo's small size hardly screamed maturity or capability, yet the dark-haired man glanced at his forehead protector and visibly relaxed. "Thank Kojin… a shinobi."

"I'm here to help, but I need to know what happened. Do you have any information about what happened to the settlement named Chisaimatsu?"

"No one knows," the woman mumbled, her blond hair shimmering as she shook her head. "The entire village was destroyed in a single night."

"Bandits?"

"There haven't been any nearby that we know of," the man answered. "But the village and its people… the remains are horrific as if it was a massacre on a battlefield. The few that witnessed it haven't been the same after seeing it. No one has approached it for over a week now."

The woman's eyes gleamed behind her hair, glaring at Kinjo's headband. "Is there another war going on? Was it an attack?"

"No. We're looking into the matter, but we think it may have been bandits."

She didn't look convinced, but her glare softened as she backed away.

"Please hunt down the savages that caused this. None of the nearby villages, including ours, have felt safe since Chisaimatsu was destroyed. The few merchants that passed by this area have all been scared off," the man pleaded.

"My team will do its best," Kinjo said. "For now, please take care and stay safe."

As he returned to his team, he heard scattered remarks about 'Kojin cursing Chisaimatsu' and 'shinobi arriving too little, too late.' He ignored them and joined the rest of his team, who also finished speaking with the locals of the small town.

"There isn't much to go on," Hayama mentioned as he cracked his joints. "The locals seem scared out of their wits about what happened to the village."

"Same with the people that I talked to," Kinjo affirmed.

"I met a guy that actually saw the village after it was destroyed. His description made me want to puke," Shin said.

Izumi frowned. "It must be really, really bad. The old man I was talking to ran away when I mentioned the name."

"Well, kids, it looks like we'll have to go to the village to get more answers. We'll maintain a steady pace and arrive by tomorrow morning."

Team Five immediately entered Formation F and continued its trek toward Chisaimatsu. Hayama led from the front, with Kinjo to his right and Izumi and Shin to his left. The group traveled silently as they looked forward, only sparing a few glances to the side and rear to check their environment.

Within seconds, the town disappeared from sight, and they were within a tranquil forest filled with pine trees and crisp air. Despite the serene natural sight, Kinjo's mind was occupied by terrible images he had conjured based on what he had heard.

A burned settlement filled with ash and smoke.

Skeletal remains of the dead.

Lifeless streets filled with rubble and bodies.

His previous missions had been somewhat challenging in their own ways and involved some form of death. But not ones involving civilians and destroyed villages.

Kinjo shook his head and glanced at Izumi, who focused on the path ahead. Her shinobi exterior clamped down her usual bubbly personality. It was a sight he was growing accustomed to, yet it was more intense than usual. Shin was the same, his snacks out of sight and his jaw unmoving. He hardly ate while moving during their missions, but the size of the pouch remained unchanged throughout the trip.

Even Hayama's expression was unusually grave. Not a single word of encouragement or relief escaped his lips. Instead, the jonin's face was smeared into a scowl, accenting the large scar bordering his mouth.

Hours passed in a flash, and darkness consumed the forest early as the tall trees covered the fading sun. Hayama motioned for the team to halt and led them to a small clearing nearby. After pulling out a scroll to materialize their camping gear, he clutched his sword and waved them off. "I'll take the first watch; the three of you rest. Kinjo, you're due up in two hours. After that, Izumi, then Shin."

Even with Hayama's reassurance, Kinjo scanned his surroundings discreetly as he gathered up a pile of thin, dry twigs and leaves nearby. Meanwhile, Izumi dug out a small hole for a fire pit while Shin pulled out some dried food for them. After Kinjo piled the smallest twigs on top of a bed of leaves, he pulled out a scroll and triggered the seal with his chakra.

A small fireball emerged from the seal and lit the tinder. Some smoke arose in the beginning, but it disappeared as the flame grew in strength. The fire roared and provided warmth for the genin, obscured by a screen that dulled the luminosity of the flames.

"Two minutes," Kinjo said as he checked his watch. "That's a new record."

"It's not a competition, Kin." The crescent moon and the dulled light from the fire provided little aid to his sight, but he clearly saw Izumi roll her eyes.

"Every minute of sleep counts, right Shin?"

"You mean every minute of eating," the Akimichi responded with a laugh. He chewed on a piece of bread and sighed. "The best way to relax."

Kinjo grabbed a piece of jerky and devoured it before settling into his sleeping bag. He turned to see his sensei leaning on a tree nearby, the jonin's tired onyx eyes glued to the vastness of the forest. While he was tempted to join his sensei and talk to him, Kinjo remained in place. Sleep and mission procedures took priority over socializing.

His gunbai was an inch away from his right hand, and Kinjo unconsciously gripped it as he lay down. As his body drifted to sleep, he hoped things would turn out for the better tomorrow.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be sleeping for the rest of the trip.

Kinjo rubbed his eyes as Team Five trudged through the destroyed village, dozens of bodies strewn throughout the ruins of a once thriving village. A few buildings remained upright, but most were shattered beyond repair. Broken stones and jagged wood were all that were left, naked by the destruction of their exterior. The summer sky was blanketed with clouds, a looming shadow that engulfed the village and the shinobi within.

There was a smell in the air, the familiar scent of charred flesh, but also something… crisp and metallic, almost like melting plastic. Kinjo sniffed, coughing violently as the smell grew with each passing step. Seeing a corpse of a brunette child with half of her body burnt away did little to soothe his stomach, especially when the body looked a bit too similar to his sister.

Observing the results of his handiwork against adults was one thing. It was another to witness the aftermath of a vicious carnage against people of all shapes and ages.

Walking beside him were his teammates. Izumi grimaced as her foot accidentally stepped on a severed hand while Shin clutched his bag of melon bread, his usual appetite nowhere to be seen. Both of them looked around warily, sweat rolling down their faces. Kinjo wasn't sure if it was due to the humid summer air or the sight of the destroyed settlement.

Hayama remained impassive as he crouched next to the dead body of a young boy and closed their eyes with his fingers. He inspected the corpses around him and touched a nearby wall with furrowed brows. "No wonder the locals nearby didn't want to come anywhere near the village… this wasn't a simple bandit attack."

"I suspected so," Kinjo agreed. His hand ran through an unusual skid mark branded onto a nearby stone wall, its surface completely blackened. He looked around and saw that a number of the bodies had noticeable slashes created by a sharp edge. However, most of them lacked any obvious fatal wounds. The only odd thing was the variety of scars shaped like tree branches that many of the bodies displayed on their bare skin.

"They died really fast," Shin said. "Most of the bodies are here at the center of the village. They would be scattered around more if it were a bandit attack."

The jonin shook his head and rose to his feet, his hand gripping his sword. "The bandits could've rounded them up here and slaughtered them, but that's not what happened. What happened was… shinobi."

Kinjo's hand instinctively went to his back while Izumi's Sharingan spiraled into existence. Shin dropped his bag and pulled out his bo, twirling it and expanding his fists.

"Izumi, do you see any chakra residual?" Hayama asked.

"A lot… almost everywhere. On all the bodies too."

"Especially on the scars, correct?"

"Yep. Are they…"

Hayama scowled. "Lightning scars. These villagers were hit with lightning."

"... Kumo?" Kinjo said, drawing his gunbai and holding it in front of his torso.

"Maybe, maybe not. However, it is a funny coincidence that this village is not too far away from the Land of Lightning. This area saw some action during the war." Hayama drew his sword and motioned with his hand. "We'll withdraw back to Konoha for now."

"Why? We should go after the ones that caused all this! We can't just leave empty-handed!" Izumi argued, her voice trembling at his remarks. Kinjo saw her tomoes spiral rapidly before her eyes returned to a familiar shade of black.

"Our mission is done. We were told to investigate and found evidence of a shinobi attack rather than a bandit one."

"We were ordered to pursue and destroy, though, sensei," Shin mentioned.

"Only if it was the same cell as those bandits were destroyed in Rice. We didn't see a single shinobi when we previously fought the bandits, and I highly doubt the shinobi that attacked this village were involved with them. No, this is something far more dangerous."

Izumi brandished the scroll containing her tachi and stopped Hayama from marching away. "You trained us to be ready for anything, sensei. We can deal with a few shinobi."

"Kids, you have your orders; now move." Hayama's voice boomed into a yell, causing all three genin to wince.

"Let's go, Izumi," Kinjo stated as he held down her hand. "If he says we should leave, we should leave."

"But…"

"No buts. Rule Forty-Nine."

"... A shinobi must follow their commander's instructions," Izumi recited. She sighed before shrugging him off. "Let's go."

As Izumi wandered away by herself, Shin patted Kinjo's shoulders as they walked behind the other two. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm sure she'll feel better by tomorrow."

"I know, and I agree with her. I understand why she's frustrated, but if sensei thinks there's something wrong, we need to listen."

"Do you think it's something even he's scared of?"

"Maybe," Kinjo muttered. "Or maybe he's afraid of us being injured or killed."

With that sobering thought, silence drifted between them as they looked back at the village. A pang of regret sprouted in Kinjo's heart for being unable to help avenge the unfortunate victims of a shinobi's rampage or even bury the dead. Without their help, this region would suffer from the scepter of Chisaimatsu's destruction, as the civilians in the nearby town warned.

Yet he was unwilling to risk himself against the unknown, especially with his team by his side. And he wouldn't gamble their safety for his own satisfaction, ever.

"Shin, with me. We'll have two people up at all times for the night. We'll change shifts in three hours."

Kinjo and Izumi finished setting up their camp in record time and slipped into their respective sleep gear within seconds. Their campfire was a speck compared to the previous day's flame, a protocol drilled into them for months in case they faced a hostile shinobi.

A mere possibility that they rarely had to entertain before this mission.

Just hours ago, the towering pine trees that surrounded them seemed like familiar allies, pillars of their homeland providing shade and security. Now, covered in the blanket of darkness, they were stakes that surrounded them, providing cover for their enemies. The only source of light was the small fire, which itself was dulled.

Silence passed between the pair as they lay down and stared at the branches clouding their vision of the night sky. Kinjo fiddled with the handle of his gunbai and peeked at Izumi, who was doing the same with her tachi. He turned his head back to the forest, breathing in and out while closing his eyes. It did little to calm his escalating heartbeat.

A few seconds later, he heard something rustle, and his eyes snapped open, his gunbai shooting off the ground faster than his torso. Kinjo's neck strained as it whipped to the source of the noise, only to see Shin eating a protein bar while sitting on a nearby stump.

The large brunette noticed the commotion and motioned for Kinjo to calm down with his hand. Kinjo sighed and nodded, leaning back into the soft soil and loosening his shoulders.

He branded a phrase into his mind in his desperate bid to sleep.

'Don't think. Don't think.'

His creased forehead smoothed out after a few minutes, lulling him into a light slumber.

Minutes, hours passed. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he had fallen asleep.

Yet he knew exactly what caused him to wake.

His hair frayed on its ends and shot up into the air before he did, his body forcing him onto his feet before his mind could follow. He felt the cool handle of his gunbai, brandishing it as he awakened.

An explosion rocked the campfire, his sight going pitch black as the loud crack of lightning soon followed. The brief spear of light lit up his surroundings, revealing a teenage boy with blue hair and matching intense eyes. Before Kinjo could swing his gunbai, the stranger blurred from existence and slammed Kinjo's forehead into the stump.

Kinjo was back in the darkness, and it was pounding in his head. He felt his grip on the fan loosen, the profound flashes of pain vibrating through his skull. The only comfort was that his forehead protector was padded, rendering him with a splitting headache rather than a cracked skull. The pounding of his heartbeat in his ear was replaced by a constant ringing, shaking his balance.

A single thought rang through the din clamoring in his head - the enemy shinobi had slammed Kinjo into the stump and left him there, as if it was enough to kill him.

He was glad to be alive, but… he felt his pride prickling in annoyance.

As Kinjo struggled to his feet, he saw another flash of light nearby, his sensei lighting the forest with fire and fending off a man from Izumi.

Something large rolled to him from the shadows, and Kinjo instinctively lashed out with his weapon, only to see it was his teammate spiraling out of control. Reading Shin's movements, Kinjo dropped his gunbai and tensed his shoulders as he slammed into the boulder and pushed, his hands shuddering at the immense ton slamming into them. The Akimchi slowed to a halt and shrunk, rocking onto the ball of his heels and settling down with Kinjo's help.

"Thanks," Shin muttered, his head visibly spinning.

"Anytime."

"There's two on Izumi and sensei, and there's two on me." Shin gestured to the duo closing in on the rest of Team Five while another two were fighting Hayama and Izumi. "Two were on me."

"I'll get the closest one, you take the other one."

They glanced at each other knowingly and launched away in different directions. Kinjo took a short second to coat the outer side of his gunbai with ash before he jumped into the fray.

An unfamiliar girl was dousing Hayama's flames with water spewing out of a gourd strapped to her back. Her purple hair shimmered in the light and was set ablaze by Kinjo's Great Fireball. She scowled, managing to jump away in time and swiftly patting away the fire singing her hair. Her mouth widened and shot out condensed water orbs from her throat like bullets, blanketing the air and homing in on Kinjo.

Twisting and turning to dodge her attacks, Kinjo threw a flurry of shurikens at his opponent during his dance, sapping a moment of her attention to close the distance and come out swinging. She flipped out of the way, but his gunbai slammed into one of her long arms in mid-air, throwing her off balance and making her land on her back. He swallowed the damp air and fired a large speeding fireball at his opponent: a Flame Bullet without the oil, but fast and deadly all the same.

A millisecond before his attack disintegrated the girl, an older boy sliced through it with a sword, its blade crackling with branches of lightning.

It was the same blue-haired shinobi from before.

Kinjo was already on the move, a familiar energy surrounding his gunbai as he slammed into the blade. "Leaf Tornado!"

Instead of shattering as Kinjo expected, the sword met his gunbai with only a shudder. Lightning flowed from the sword, but the wood merely groaned and endured despite the immense pressure.

He gritted his teeth, slamming his fan into the blade again like a paddle, only to see the blue-haired boy leap into the air above him, his hand still on the sword, and launch a beam of lightning from his fingers right at Kinjo's head.

Rolling away in the nick of time, Kinjo blocked a Water Bullet with his gunbai before it slammed into his chest. The wood creaked in protest from the attack as Kinjo glanced up to see his previous foe standing up and grabbing her left arm, which was swollen and streaked with burns. Izumi was right behind Kinjo, fending off the blue-haired teen with her tachi and Sharingan.

"Izumi, Plan A!" Kinjo yelled as he took a deep breath and puffed out his chest. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Izumi push her opponent away with the length of her sword and breathe out.

Two immense flamethrowers sprouted from their mouths, carpeting every angle with immense heat. Kinjo and Izumi stood back to back, rotating their feet and setting their surroundings on fire everywhere. He could feel the sweat dripping from the back of her shirt, which dried up before reaching the ground. All he could hear was the steady hiss of their fire and the ringing in his ear from before.

After a few seconds passed, the two closed their mouths. Their surroundings were ablaze, and Kinjo saw the purple-haired girl coughing and gasping as the water dome around her dissipated, her clothes drenched from the barrier.

Their other opponent was nowhere to be seen.

His teammate opened her mouth again to finish off their vulnerable opponent, but Kinjo grabbed Izumi's wrist frantically and jumped into the air. "Below!"

The earth opened like a famished hippo's mouth as lightning streaked from the crack. Kinjo pushed Izumi away and flipped his fan to its flat side, protecting his body with the aegis of his makeshift shield. The lightning slammed into the timber, the gunbai shuddering from the potent nature chakra.

Beads of sweat rolled down his neck as he heard something crack and was pushed higher into the air. Pushing down on his fan with the weight of his body, Kinjo quickly weaved a series of hand seals and blasted a Great Fireball onto the ground while peeking from behind his fan. He felt a thin stream of lightning grazing his cheek, making him shout in agony as if a rusty kunai slashed his skin.

Even so, his fireball was enough to stop the surge of lightning, and Kinjo landed on his feet safely. He looked up to see the blue-haired shinobi dust himself off and grimace, a prominent frown that deepened the features of his opponent's chiseled face. Meanwhile, parts of Kinjo's fan were splintered, noticeable scars running along the formerly smooth flat surface. He scowled as he picked off a loose splinter and rubbed his palm on his beloved weapon.

Izumi stumbled over to Kinjo and leaned on his shoulder. Her clothes were ruffled, and her long brown hair was messy, but she lacked any noticeable injuries. "Thanks, Kin."

"No worries," Kinjo answered as he looked back at his counterpart, who was picking up the purple-haired girl. Moments later, he and Izumi were joined by Shin. The Akimichi was sporting a variety of wounds on his arms and looked battered and bruised. Another unknown shinobi, a young boy with black hair and dull yellow eyes, joined the opposing group, brandishing a pair of sai. "A full party… great. Where's sensei?"

"He dragged another shinobi deeper into the forest," Shin replied. "That shinobi was strong and almost killed me if it wasn't for sensei jumping in and beating him off."

"... We'll have to deal with the enemy quickly and help out sensei."

"We got this," Izumi declared confidently.

Kinjo smiled despite their situation, wiping the blood leaking down his face. He brought up his gunbai as the opposing team readied themselves across the large hole in the middle of the clearing. Flames flickered around them and created thick clouds of blackened smoke, a visible aftermath of Izumi's and Kinjo's joint attack. The crispy smell of burning pine calmed Kinjo, and the increased heat fired up his blood. "Let's go."

He gripped Shin's arms, digging the heel of his feet into the ground before hoisting Shin around. Kinjo rotated twice and tossed his friend through the air. Shin zipped toward the enemy a foot above the ground and rolled into a Bullet Tank seconds before slamming into the earth.

The enemy shinobi barely dodged the human missile but was caught between Izumi and Kinjo, both repositioning themselves during Shin's attack. The pair projected another set of fireballs, incinerating everything within the vicinity and rushing in to fight their opponents head-on.

Instead of facing a flurry of lightning or water, Kinjo clashed with the dual sai wielder, slamming his fan up at the struggling black-haired boy who barely held on with his two blades. Kinjo's opponent slid in closer to utilize his weapons, yet Kinjo batted him away and kept him at arm's length. His attempts to check on his teammates were deterred by his foe, who sped into his guard aggressively and lashed out.

Kinjo swerved around the other boy's attacks without breaking a sweat, dodging a swipe at his head and blocking a jab with his battered gunbai. One of the sai stuck onto the fan, and Kinjo slid in with a sweeping kick at the enemy's legs.

To the boy's credit, he jumped over the Leaf Hurricane and immediately jerked his head away to dodge a punch, only for Kinjo to hook his punch around and slam the boy's face on the fan with brute force. Kinjo winced as he felt the hit's vibration ringing through his opponent's skull and promptly shook his head as he recalled the beginning of the fight.

"Payback," he mumbled.

Dazed and confused, the black-haired boy rocked back and forth while Kinjo swung his weapon to cave in the boy's chest. Yet, from the corner of his eyes, he saw the blue-haired teen piercing through Izumi's guard with lightning bursting from his sword. In mid-swing, Kinjo tossed his gunbai, the attached chain warming his hand as it slid out and soared toward Izumi's opponent.

The blue-haired shinobi saw the incoming fan and turned his sword to counter, prompting Kinjo to tug at the chain. His distraction bought precious seconds for Izumi to hop away, yet her Sharingan was nowhere to be seen - she was running out of chakra already.

His weapon returned to him in a moment, but his black-haired foe reoriented himself in that short span. This time, it was Kinjo on the offensive, running in and slamming his gunbai at his overwhelmed opponent's defenses.

He swiped at his opponent's legs, forcing the sai wielder to jump away, and tossed a kunai to keep his opponent off balance. Kinjo dashed behind his enemy in a single jump and slammed his foot into the sai wielder's back in rapid succession, sending the boy tumbling onto the ground in a heap.

After knocking the black-haired shinobi's head again with his fan, Kinjo rushed to help Izumi, who was bleeding from her right arm and barely deflecting the increasing ferocity of the blue-haired shinobi's strikes. Kinjo flicked a dozen shurikens and lit them on fire, gesturing with his hands and converging all of them onto the enemy.

His attack was instantly noticed, and the other shinobi pranced away with ease. Kinjo breathed in sharply and desperately shifted his shurikens out of the way in time before they struck an exhausted Izumi.

A clap of lightning later, and the shurikens cluttered to the ground in broken heaps, the blue-haired shinobi looking at Kinjo with an inscrutable expression.

Kinjo peeked at Shin, who was handling the purple-haired girl in close range and steadily slamming his bo onto her limbs. He glanced at Izumi, who was panting and loosely holding her tachi.

In a split second, he made his decision.

He broke into a full sprint and charged at the blue-haired shinobi with his gunbai, shuffling his feet to dodge several streaks of lightning that grazed his clothes and slammed into the shinobi's sword with the flat side of his fan.

Instead of pulling out for another hit, Kinjo pushed forward and shoved the bewildered shinobi away from his teammates with his fan. The two slid deeper and deeper into the woods, with Kinjo gritting his teeth and straining every muscle in his body to propel the enemy forward.

It took several seconds for his foe to respond, bending his knees and grinding his feet on the soil to escape Kinjo's onslaught. Before the blue-haired shinobi could push himself out of the way, Kinjo broke his charge and spat a Flame Bullet in his opponent's face.

The blue-haired shinobi was blown away from the attack with burning clothes and singed skin, yet he rose to his feet while clutching his sword without a hint of pain displayed on his face.

The two were now alone, away from the others, surrounded by the endless sea of trees. The night obscured their figures, forcing Kinjo to squint to see his enemy.

"You're not from the Uchiha Clan, are you?" the blue-haired shinobi asked.

"..." Kinjo snorted, bending down and laughing at the teen's question. "You've been trying to kill me and my teammates for a while and expect me to answer?"

"Then the answer is no. I suspected you were a Uchiha since you were using a gunbai and Fire jutsu. But you haven't used the Sharingan even once. That girl did, though she was… disappointing, to say the least."

"You could've just said you were from Kumo: hyper-focusing on a bloodline user and using lightning. I'm guessing your Raikage sent you to capture a Uchiha for whatever you do with people with bloodlines in Kumo?"

The blue-haired shinobi laughed, his raspy voice echoing through the forest. "Big words from such a small child. You have no idea why we're doing this."

"Humor me."

"Why would I?"

Kinjo rolled his wrist, turning his fan like a propeller, and dug in his feet. "Because I'll beat it out of you if you don't."

His opponent stood silent for a few seconds before chuckling. "Do you know who I am?"

"Am I supposed to?"

"Chinen Katsu. A shame since I thought I would be well-known considering the victories I scored during the war."

"So you are from Kumo," Kinjo said as he readied his fan.

"Formerly a Kumo chunin," Chinen corrected.

"A missing-nin. Even worse then."

"A child like you wouldn't understand," the Kumo shinobi answered, his voice dripping with boredom. "If you were stuck in a war for years, forced into impossible tasks with little support from your village, then you would desert too."

While his foe was jabbering away, Kinjo closed the distance and bashed his gunbai into Chinen, who parried with his sword and backed away. "Antsy today, aren't we?"

"Then why attack us?" Kinjo growled, whipping his fan at his opponent again. The edge narrowly missed Chinen's stomach, the wind from the attack rustling the missing-nin's tattered dark gray shirt and navy blue pants. "How convenient that a team of missing shinobi from Kumo 'found' a Konoha team that happened to have a Uchiha, a dojutsu that Kumo would love to have."

"As I said, a child like you wouldn't understand!" Chinen slammed his sword downwards, aimed at Kinjo's head. Kinjo easily blocked it with the flat side of his gunbai and shouted as he heaved both weapons up, using the opening to land a solid kick into the man's gut. His attack didn't go unanswered, and Kinjo barely saw the sword's handle before it slammed into his face with a loud thud.

Kinjo cried out and jumped away, rubbing his nose as he felt something rushing out of his nostrils. He smothered the blood with the sleeve of his sweater and rushed in right while Chinen was pushing himself off the ground. Wood clashed against steel once again, emitting a resounding crack before the two pushed against each other with equally matched strength.

Chinen broke away and flipped onto his feet, landing several meters away from Kinjo. Before Kinjo could rush back in, the Kumo shinobi held up his hand. "All my team wants is that jonin… I believe his name was Hayama? Him and the Uchiha. If you give up now, we'll let you and the Akimichi boy go. Surely, you don't think you can win this battle, do you?"

"Awfully convincing offer, considering you've been trying to kill me for the last few minutes."

"If I wanted you dead, you would be buried in the ground already." Chinen waved his hand dismissively. "My team was going for capture, but since you're an ordinary child with no bloodlines or extraordinary abilities, I'm willing to let you go with your other friend."

Kinjo stepped forward, hoisting his gunbai. His face was impassive while he waited for his opponent, the blood in his nose flowing to a halt and his stomach warming up. "You can take them over my dead body."

"... Then so be it." Chinen flicked his sword, lightning crackling on the metal and lighting up the forest. It was the first time Kinjo saw the teen's face clearly: a well-shaped face with a long scar across his forehead. The burns from the Flame Bullet highlighting his scowl and features, spotting the smooth tan skin with streaks of black. His eyes glowed from the erratic shine of the lightning charging out of his sword, and his light-blue hair whipped around in the air.

Kinjo felt the chakra emitting from the teen, shuddering at the tangible energy vibrating onto his skin.

The air suddenly felt heavy and crisp, forcing Kinjo to gulp and making Kinjo's hair rise to its ends. His hand hovered over the hidden space in his kunai holster before he gripped his hand into a fist. The only sound Kinjo could hear was the voice in his head, screaming for him to run away.

To his own dismay, Kinjo considered the offer for a few moments. He was facing a seasoned chunin, a war vet to boot. And if his foe were anything like his sensei, Chinen would be a tricky and powerful opponent with a sixth sense drilled into him. Kinjo still had much to do, and dying here would lead to a more awry future.

He still had the chance. No one would fault him for running from a foe far beyond his rank and ability.

'Can you promise me that even if you become the greatest shinobi this world has ever seen, you will retain your heart? To always be my and your mother's son and the older brother to your siblings? A shinobi with a soul?'

The coin in his back pocket felt like an anvil, weighing him down and rooting his feet.

He shook his head and cleared his thoughts. The answer was obvious. Chinen and his team threatened to take away Izumi, a person Kinjo had resolved to save, and Hayama, his mentor. If he turned tail at every hint of danger, how could he save people and change the world? How could he even hope to protect his family and friends?

"Those who abandon their friends are worse than scum," Kinjo muttered.

He jolted his feet off the ground and charged.

Chapter Text

No plan survives first contact with the enemy.

It was a phrase that rang true in his old home and more so in his new home.

Yet, planning or strategizing wasn't discouraged among shinobi. Far from it, the quote was to help the newer genin to understand that even with the best fault-proof plan, nothing was completely predictable.

It was a lesson Kinjo was learning the hard way as he dueled Chinen.

"Leaf Tornado!" Kinjo growled while he swung around and bashed at his opponent's guard. The Kumo shinobi stepped back and watched the fan miss by a hair, wasting no time to create some space and fire off a sizzling arc of lightning from his sword, aimed at Kinjo's torso.

Kinjo swung his fan down and ducked, the lightning frying the top of his hair and blasting into a nearby tree. The tree exploded and burned, providing a torch of light in the dark forest. He grimaced at the thought of the lightning slamming into his worn fan again and shot forward to close the gap between them.

Immediately, Chinen launched several long blades of lightning from his sword, each slice humming and snapping through the air. Kinjo weaved through them with a bated breath, easily dodging two slices aimed at his chest and jumping over another that threatened to chop off his legs. Each streak of lightning tore up the ground and threw up dirt, forcing Kinjo to shield his eyes with his arms as the attacks scarred the earth, creating long trenches.

He finally reached his opponent with nimble precision, but he felt the rhythm of his breathing quicken. His immense bursts of speed were edging into his stamina.

The chunin showed no sign of exhaustion despite firing off multiple powerful Lightning jutsu. He was certain; the only way to win would be up close, where Kinjo could utilize his speed and power.

This time, his fan honed in on Chinen's sword, daring his foe to meet him head-on. Chinen smirked and obliged but quickly frowned when Kinjo slid onto the ground and used his fan as a shield to sweep in a Leaf Hurricane. The high kick with his right leg barely missed the Kumo shinobi's chest, but the low kick with his left slammed into Chinen's shin with a satisfying crack, making the chunin howl in fury and slam down with his sword.

The fan blocked the full bear of the attack, but it pinned Kinjo to the ground. He grunted when he felt the wave of electricity threatening to pierce through, a shudder vibrating through the gunbai. The groaning of the wood grew louder with each passing moment, and Kinjo rolled away several meters without his fan, jumping back in with a pair of kunai drawn.

He realized his mistake just in time and tossed them at Chinen's face rather than clashing metals. The Kumo shinobi swiped it away with his sword, giving Kinjo a brief moment to tug at the freed gunbai and return it to his hand. The surface was even more beaten than before, and Kinjo felt the fan protesting in agony from the abuse when he touched its face..

"Good try, but not enough," Chinen gloated loudly. The solid blow to his shin seemed negligible as he moved with only the smallest limp on his right leg. "My offer is still open."

Kinjo said nothing, dashing at Chinen before he could fire off more Lightning jutsu. He baited the chunin into deflecting a side strike while lashing out with his left fist, a blur of movement launched almost simultaneously. Yet, the chunin raised an eyebrow before smacking away his fan and slicing at the loose arm with glee. Desperately, Kinjo kicked upwards to knock the swing off course and narrowly grazed the handle of the sword.

His 'light' kick knocked the sword away, but before Kinjo could swing around to deal a crushing blow, the sword was eating into his gunbai again. Flares of lightning surrounded his weapon like waves of water threatening to spill over a dam.

He loosened his strength and flipped away, and this time, it was Chinen who chased him with aggressive intensity. Kinjo ducked under a bolt of lightning shooting out of Chinen's sword and narrowly side-stepped a slash, noting their difference in height offering a small window of opportunity.

His breathing grew louder.

Instead of continuing to dodge, Kinjo lowered his posture and bounced on his toes. Chinen noticed his movements and swung down at him, his eyes flickering over to the worn gunbai as his sword bore down on it.

A millisecond before the two weapons crashed into each other, Kinjo side-stepped and whacked his gunbai into Chinen's right side. The chunin twisted his foot to dodge, though Kinjo noticed a slight wince on the Kumo shinobi's face before the powerful swing grazed his shoulder.

A tremble echoed through Kinjo's hands as he felt the hit, causing Chinen to drop his sword and blast Kinjo away with a powerful wave of lightning coursing out from his entire body.

Kinjo tumbled away with his body jerking in awkward angles from the lightning. Even so, the needle-like pain stabbing his nervous system wasn't enough to deter his triumphant sigh of relief when he saw Chinen grabbing his shoulder. The tattered sleeve failed to cover the swelling, fresh burn slash where his fan had landed and the chunin's right hand was shaking.

He just needed to dive back in…

"You… You little shit," Chinen roared. "I was going to let you go down fighting, but I'll make your death as painful as possible."

Shaking and rising to his feet, Kinjo sprouted a pained smile while shakily grasping his weapon. His mouth felt dry and coarse, like burnt sandpaper. He winced as his right leg trembled from the aftermath of the shock, forcing him to look down to see his pants on fire.

He batted the flames out right before lightning rammed into him, barely giving him time to shield himself with his gunbai. While Kinjo gritted his teeth and broke away from the attack, another bolt of energy jolted his right foot, sending him crashing onto the ground as his leg gave away.

While falling, Kinjo witnessed a wave of lightning streaking through the air, with Chinen standing in the distance with a mad smirk on his face. Kinjo's heart pounded into his ribs, beating rapidly as if trying to escape. He waffled through his kunai holster and yanked out his magnesium shurikens, tossing them into the air and lighting them as he collapsed onto the ground.

A streak of lightning crashed inches away from him while he rolled away and shielded his eyes. The shurikens went wide and boomeranged to Chinen, but before he could swat them out of the air, they sparked into mini supernovas.

Kinjo heard the chunin scream in confusion and felt his hair rise from the rush of lightning surging from his foe. Yet, he ignored the cries and breathed out two Ash Clones. One immediately charged at Chinen, lacking the limp leg that Kinjo suffered from. The other hoisted Kinjo onto his feet, just in time to see the Ash Clone dodge and weave Chinen's attacks from a close distance.

For a moment, Kinjo leaned onto his clone and took deep breaths. He grimaced when he tapped his right leg on the ground, a sharp pain echoing through his thigh. His right foot felt limp and numb, devoid of the stinging annoying the rest of his leg. Kinjo clamped his jaw shut as he moved his leg with his hand, gritting his teeth and settling it onto the ground.

Kinjo fired a dozen fireballs into the air, orbs of flames glowing in the blank night sky. Immediately, he spat a torrent of fire at his enemy right as the fiery projectiles rained onto Chinen, still occupied by his Ash Clone.

Both attacks crashed into Chinen and the Ash Clone, but Kinjo wasted no time to grab his remaining Ash Clone's arms and nod. The clone nodded back and hurled him around before tossing him at the crater and smoke where the Kumo shinobi once stood.

He darted through the air like a shot put and honed in on the distorted figure in the smoke, the smell of burnt skin and cloth flowing into his nose. The thick smoke clouded around the Kumo shinobi, hiding Kinjo's assault as he slammed his gunbai into a coughing Chinen, his shirt burnt and his skin littered with burns. The gunbai rammed into the sword held loosely by his opponent's left hand.

The sword sailed through the air and landed meters away, a triumphant yell escaping Kinjo's lips as he slammed his gunbai into the chunin.

Instead of sending Chinen flying like his sword, Kinjo felt a powerful slam dulling his swing. He looked up to see his foe's left hand surrounded by lightning, flickering through the whole length of the arm and pulsating immense power. "Did you think it would be that easy, kid?"

The outer face of Kinjo's gunbai was layered with scorching ash, yet Chinen's face betrayed no signs of pain as he pounded into the fan again. This time, Kinjo heard the wood crack and a glimmer of light shone through. He loosened his hold on the gunbai and lashed out with a punch, slamming his fist into Chinen's limp arm while his Ash Clone appeared behind Chinen and struck from behind.

Chinen's lightning crackled around him, vaporizing the clone and shocking Kinjo's fist. Without thinking, Kinjo propelled himself away with his left foot, springing on the ground with his hands to reposition himself. The moment he touched the ground, it exploded upwards and thrust him into the air. He looked down to see the lightning surrounding Chinen's hand gone, instead gripping it into a fist and aiming at the ground below Kinjo.

Before he could drop to the surface, Chinen opened his mouth and blasted lightning, the chakra forming into a spear and booming toward Kinjo.

Kinjo twisted and held up his gunbai, his only defense against the attack. Moments before the lightning crashed into the fan, he pushed off with his hands and dropped onto the ground on his back.

He watched as his gunbai was struck by lightning and exploded into pieces, the wood raining over him as the remains of his weapon tumbled onto the dirt.

The fan landed on the ground, shattered and broken. The largest piece remaining was the handle and a jagged piece attached.

In the distance, an explosion thundered through the forest, followed by a loud shout. Kinjo recognized the voice; it was Shin's.

"It seems like Shigeru arrived," Chinen mused, twirling his fingers and swarming Kinjo with another set of lightning. "Only if you have listened… you could've run off with your other friend. Instead, he and you will die while we take the Uchiha and your sensei."

Kinjo ducked away and moved nimbly with his hands and left foot, cartwheeling and springing onto the ground while keeping an eye on the earth. Pillars of dirt shot out of the ground, but Kinjo slammed through them with his fists and continued his defense.

Narrowly dodging a bolt of lightning zipping past his cheeks, Kinjo breathed out an ash cloud to obscure the enemy's vision and sent out another Ash Clone to distract Chinen. All he heard behind his smokescreen was Chinen's frustrated shouts and the crack of lightning.

He panted while dragging his injured leg, weighing his options. He felt the fatigue creeping through his blood, sprouting a wave of nausea that made him cough.

Time was running out, his options more so.

There was still one more ace up his sleeve… yet it was a gamble. How much would it take to bring down Chinen? Would he 'only' rip his muscles, or would it lead to something far worse, especially with his injured leg?

As if it was responding to his thoughts, his right leg spasmed and shook, rearing up for a final assault. His right foot, numb as it was, moved ever so tenderly, making him chuckle.

Gai's words rang through his head as he gripped his hands into fists and lowered his arms.

'That is why you must remember to open the Gate to protect someone precious to you. The desire must be strong enough to risk your life.'

His friends needed him. He was injured, and his weapon was destroyed against an overwhelming opponent.

This was what he had trained for.

After he readied his mind and body, Kinjo parted the smokescreen and dispersed his Ash Clone. Chinen turned to him with his sword gleaming from the lightning sparking around it and grinned. "Ready for your final lesson as a shinobi?"

"Sure. I'm a fast learner."

"... If you weren't from Konoha, I would almost like you." Chinen readied his sword with his left hand. "Too bad it turned out this way."

The Kumo shinobi rushed in, his blade arcing high and his body morphing into a blur. Kinjo took a sharp breath and closed his eyes, shaking the leftmost part of his brain.

He still had people to protect, people to save.

He needed to move, to win.

A familiar lock shattered in his mind, and Kinjo's eyes flipped open, Chinen's swing boring down on him in slow motion. His senses flared, allowing him to track the exact trajectory from the smallest twitch in Chinen's shoulders. A surge of energy strengthened Kinjo's limbs, his legs bouncing and shivering. He felt himself diving deeper into his pool of chakra, an unknown reservoir previously denied to him.

His legs moved before his mind commanded them, swinging him behind the bewildered chunin in a single step. Kinjo pulled back his fist and rocked every drop of his strength into his punch. Chinen raced his sword to slice off Kinjo's arm, but Kinjo swiped his fist away and slammed it into the blade from the side.

The metal broke in half, splitting the gleaming blade into pieces. Kinjo's eyes flickered to his own destroyed weapon and smiled.

Chinen's face morphed from triumph to shock. Kinjo lashed out again, smashing the teen's chiseled face with a blinding hook. His fist scraped enough skin to bring out blood, a sizzling burn scarring his opponent's cheek. The Kumo shinobi staggered to the side from the strike and barely had time to register Kinjo's figure in the night sky.

A hail of aflame shurikens, followed by a series of dazzling flashes and an immense fireball, bombarded Chinen in the blink of an eye. Kinjo rushed into the smoke to find a small earthen barrier surrounding the teen, with visible cracks and holes. He slammed his legs through and entered, finding the shell empty.

Instead of running away, he slammed his fists into the ground, creating an immense crater. A small tuft of hair was visible amidst the destruction, and Kinjo grabbed it, dragging his foe out of the ground like he was pulling carrots.

Something snapped in his shoulder, but Kinjo continued his onslaught.

"What the…" Chinen shouted as his eyes widened.

He swung Chinen around and slammed him into a nearby tree, a loud crack echoing through the night while a pained cry escaped the older boy's lips. Chinen shakily rose to his feet, only for a kunai to lodge itself into his left arm and Kinjo to slam into his spine with both feet.

The teen collapsed for good, his spine shattered, and his arms useless. Blood dripped from various wounds, and burns were visible across his entire body. His shirt was completely gone, and his pants barely held onto him.

Kinjo stood over the older boy and winced when the crash rattled his body. His shoulders and arms felt shredded, while his right leg went numb from the aftermath. The chakra within his body refused to listen, and the ringing in his ears returned. He stumbled onto the ground, admiring his handiwork and lying down for several minutes to reorientate himself. He could only breathe, and even the air felt like spikes poking into his lungs; if Chinen could move, Kinjo would meet his end.

Minutes ticked by with no movement from either fighter. Finally, with a sliver of strength returning to him, Kinjo slowly pushed himself off the ground, stumbling to the remains of his gunbai. Kinjo grabbed the handle with the jagged end and dragged himself to Chinen. Every step felt like stepping on glass, and his arms swung loosely back and forth, but he preserved.

He knew his fight wasn't over yet.

It took him three minutes to shamble ten meters. Kinjo pressed the broken fan toward Chinen's throat and scowled. "Now talk."

"... What the hell do… they feed the kids at… Konoha?"

Despite the situation, a smile tugged at the edges of Kinjo's lips. "Good food."

"Maybe I should've… eaten my veggies when I was… younger."

"Making jokes won't convince me to spare you," Kinjo replied. "Enough chit-chat, talk."

Silence reigned between the pair. Chinen's eyes were dim yet contained a small bit of life. Kinjo wasn't sure how his face looked, but he hoped it was intimidating enough for a nine-year-old child. From the corner of his eyes, he spotted the coin his father had given him resting on the ground next to Chinen. He patted his back pocket and felt a small hole in its bottom.

"I…I only wanted to help my team," Chinen muttered after he coughed, his arms lying limp and broken. "I thought… I could start a new life. Away from war… Away from all these pointless fights and battles… But the rest of my team… they're younger, more headstrong… just young genin… They wanted to go home, back to their families and friends. I thought I could talk them out of it… but they insisted, and our jonin leader agreed with them… That man was always craving attention and fame… a coward."

Kinjo's eyes lit up in realization. "... Desertion is punishable by death. But if you brought back something of worth, like a Uchiha and the head of a reputable Konoha jonin…"

Chinen nodded, wincing as his head landed on the ground weakly. "Maybe, just maybe… we would be punished, but not with death… continue our lives afterward. At least… my teammates hoped."

"It wouldn't have worked."

"One can always hope… hope is a dangerous thing."

"So you just went along with it?" Kinjo inquired as he pressed his broken fan into Chinen's neck, blood seeping into the Kumo shinobi's chest. "You murdered all those people in hopes of… someone of worth to turn up? An entire village massacred because your team was homesick?"

"Wouldn't you do the same?" Chinen spat. "I… I can't relate to my teammates… grew up as an… orphan… But I understand… home… it's where we all want to return to… it was something I wanted to make for myself."

An uncomfortable pause passed between them as Kinjo digested his words and recalled his previous home. A life he had suppressed in his mind yet visible through his thoughts and actions.

He wasn't a child, at least not mentally. His previous home of twenty-five years had seen to that.

"... We all want to return home." Kinjo sighed. "Some of us can't, even if we want to. Still, even if I was given a choice of returning home, with the cost being murdering hundreds of innocents… I would rather build a new life and find a new home."

"We are the same then," Chinen smiled weakly after he closed his eyes.

Kinjo shook his head. "No, we're not the same. You might've not wanted to, but you killed those people anyway."

"... Do you think… your village is any different? That you can… always call it home? One day… you will be like me… alone and abandoned… A useful tool… nothing more… That is the fate of every genius… When that happens… you will do the same… kill and destroy anything… to find a new home."

Kinjo inspected his fallen opponent. Chinen's eyes remained closed as if he was resigned to his fate.

Chinen wasn't wrong. It was a common theme in this world; those who were too skilled or competent seemed to be on the receiving end of fate's wrath. Losing loved ones, losing faith in their respective villages, being isolated from their peers… Kinjo mentally jotted down a list of those that fit the description, and it was uncomfortably long.

Even so…

"... Our headbands don't represent who we are, but where we're from. Our actions show who we are," Kinjo declared. "And what you've proven is that you're scum."

As he lifted up his weapon, a small voice in the back of Kinjo's mind protested. Chinen was injured and unable to fight. He could easily be brought back to the village and interrogated, perhaps even used in a prisoner's exchange that was still ongoing with Kumo. If the Kumo shinobi was as noteworthy as he claimed to be, then there was a good chance that his village would be extremely happy to make a public example of him. Perhaps it would help thaw the tense relationship between Konoha and Kumo.

Killing Chinen wouldn't bring back the dead.

He swung his fan and stabbed it into the teen's chest. A spray of blood shot out of Chinen's mouth, his body slumping into a corpse as splinters caved into his chest.

For some odd reason, Kinjo didn't doubt Chinen's words. He seemed… desperate. While there was a good chance he was lying and spinning a tale to absolve Kumo of all responsibilities, he sounded sincere in their exchange. He even tried to de-escalate before their fight.

After all, why would Kumo send a team of a jonin, a chunin, and two genin to capture a high-value target in the middle of hostile territory?

Even so, Kinjo couldn't forget or forgive. The teen had committed a horrible atrocity and threatened to kidnap two of his team members. Chinen's death wouldn't calm the dead, but it would give the living some peace of mind.

He sealed the body into a sealing scroll, an intermediate one that could store corpses. After finishing the deed, Kinjo looked up at the night sky and picked up his coin, coated with a new sheen of blood. He peeked back at the destruction caused by him and his foe, a giant new clearing filled with craters and holes in the middle of the forest, and limped off to his team.

"Chinen Katsu… I'll remember the name. May you find some peace in hell."

It took him too long to reach his teammates, limping and dragging his feet through the woods.

When he arrived, Kinjo witnessed Izumi and Shin pounding a new shinobi, presumably 'Shigeru,' to the ground. The Kumo shinobi's blonde hair glistened from the fire of Izumi's jutsu before he was smacked in the head by Shin's bo from the rear and collapsed onto the ground in a heap.

Kinjo raised an eyebrow and emerged from the shadows while his teammates high-fived each other. The other two shinobi that Kinjo fought were strewn on the ground, defeated yet alive. While ensuring that all of them were unconscious, Izumi spotted him and tackled him with a hug. "Kin!"

She had seen better days, with her long hair in a tangled mess and her dress torn in various places, revealing numerous cuts and bruises on her skin. Her forehead protector was diced up, and her tackle was significantly weaker than what he was used to. Yet, she was alive, and so was Shin. That was all that mattered.

"Ow," Kinjo mumbled as he cringed from the sharp pain in his stomach and chest. "Not too tightly, Izumi. I'm hurting everywhere."

"Oops! Sorry." She backed off and inspected him head to toe. "You look beaten up."

He looked down to see his hoodie tattered and his shorts burnt. He hadn't noticed during his fight before, but his clothes were as battered as he was. "Yeah… I was."

"Did you defeat the blue-haired guy?" Shin asked excitedly. He was the most energetic of the three of them, though his body had a few minor injuries. The Akimichi also looked… thinner.

Kinjo nodded. "I did; he's dead."

Izumi's face fell, but she patted his arm while Shin clapped his shoulders. "Good work."

"Same goes for you two," Kinjo looked at the slumped bodies and glanced into the distance as another explosion rocked the ground. "What about sensei?"

"Probably beating up the other shinobi. Let's go and help him now!" Izumi said. She dragged the two boys from the clearing and deeper into the woods, following the charred remains of trees to reach where their sensei was fighting the last enemy.

While exhausted from his fight, Kinjo felt a spurt of energy spurring through his veins. Team Five was still in danger until every one of their enemies was dead or unconscious. He prayed that Hayama would handle their last opponent without difficulty.

Even with the three of them, they would be mere nuisances against a fully trained jonin.

A sigh of relief escaped his lips when they arrived at their sensei's location. Hayama's eyes were intense, staring at his opponent like he was staring into the abyss. He was breathing heavily but lacked any injuries. Even his clothes were ruffled rather than torn or cut.

In contrast, the Kumo jonin had seen better days. His brown hair was singed, and his face and arms were bloodied. His sword was broken at his feet, along with a pile of kunai and shurikens. He was teetering on the edge of collapse, his feet barely keeping him standing. Kinjo was certain that a light breeze could topple him from how he looked.

Hayama opened his mouth and released a torrent of blue fire, three long spires shaped into the figures of dragons and engulfed his foe. The dragon heads roared at the beleaguered enemy, who looked up to see the living fire rush in with astounding speed. The Kumo shinobi weakly spat out water and formed a wall around himself, halting one dragon and forcing it to hiss into the water before fading into steam. The scene reminded Kinjo of his genin test against his sensei, with Hayama masterfully blocking every fire jutsu with water. Instead, he was brutally punching through the water with fire, a technically achievable but difficult feat.

The remaining two pierced through, fire triumphing over water, and boiled the man inside the barrier. Kinjo watched with fascination as the water wavered and collapsed while the fire lit the Kumo shinobi alight and caused him to scream.

In a split second, Hayama was next to his opponent and punched him through the water barrier, knocking the burning man onto the ground and ramming his sword through his back. Blood seeped from the sword after Hayama pulled his blade out, the smell of death materializing from the mortal wound.

"Glad to see you three are alright," the sensei mentioned after he sealed the body and jogged up to them. "Kazuhiro was a tad more difficult to defeat than I thought. I was worried you would need my help, especially with that chunin in their midst."

"We fought against a chunin?" Izumi tilted her head and frowned.

"Chinen Katsu," Kinjo said. "I defeated him."

"By yourself?"

"Yep."

Their sensei looked down at the group's youngest and crouched next to him. "Are you injured anywhere? Does anything feel broken or misaligned?"

"I think I ripped a few muscles in my shoulders and legs. My right foot is still numb too." Kinjo lifted his foot to prove his point, dangling it in the air and watching it limp over at an awkward angle. "Lightning hit me twice."

"I see," Hayama answered with a relieved grin. "… And your fan was destroyed during the battle?"

"I still have this piece left." Kinjo held up the jagged remains with blood stained on its sharp edges. The magnet from the fan was miraculously attached to the stump.

"Do what you want with it. But if I were you, I would keep it. It's not every day that a genin fights and wins against a chunin for their first fight against a shinobi. It would be a good way to remember the fight."

"... I'll keep it."

"To think that you would defeat a chunin, though… I'll teach you more advanced techniques when we return to the village. For now, I'll send a message to the nearest outpost so they can come and collect these shinobi."

"Sensei," Izumi cut into the conversation by waving her hand. "I think we should let them go."

Kinjo's body stood erect like he was shocked by Chinen again. He turned to his teammate with a puzzled expression on his face. "... Why?"

"Before their hidden teammate attacked us, the two that we beat up said they only wanted to go home by capturing us," Shin answered in Izumi's stead. "They were going to leave after losing and live out their lives as civilians."

"And you believe them?" Hayama asked.

"No," Shin and Kinjo responded together.

However, Izumi placed her fist under her chin and sighed. "I don't know, sensei. I think they were serious. Besides, we beat them up once! We can beat them up again if they try to fight us in the future."

"Izumi," Hayama folded his arms and towered above her. "They're shinobi, and they massacred an entire village. Are you naive enough to let them go without any punishment?"

"I… I just think they should get a second chance. If they get sent to T&I, they'll suffer for the rest of their lives! And they're our age too! Kin, Shin, you agree, right?"

Shin hesitated, but Kinjo interjected and looked at Izumi sternly. "We can't let them get away."

"Kin!"

"There is always time for mercy, but this is not one of them. Even if they keep their word and avoid us, Kumo could discover and capture them in the future. And if Kumo manages to extract information from them, they'll know of our abilities and profile, along with the rest of the shinobi villages. Not to mention, as sensei said, they're criminals. If they get tortured or jailed, that's on them."

"You know he's right, Izumi," Shin said. "I know you don't like doing stuff like this, but we have to; we're shinobi. It's to protect us and Konoha."

She wallowed in silence but eventually nodded. "Ok. You guys are right."

"They'll be treated somewhat more lightly due to their age and rank. They're not our problem now," Hayama reassured, biting his thumb and placing his hand on the ground.

After the puff of smoke disappeared, a single bird remained behind and looked at its summoner. The bird was large, with black feathers and a large red pouch on its chest. Despite its unusual appearance, the animal was large, almost the size of Kinjo.

"Hayama, making me run errands again?" the bird cawed. "Meet any fools that require my presence?"

"I considered it, but my opponent was more slippery than expected. I never got the chance to call you in. Sorry about that, Takeo."

"Hmmph… Excuses again, as per usual. I know it's been some time, but I didn't expect you to have grown kids so soon."

Hayama flicked the bird's chest, making it huff up its red pouch in anger. "Kids, this is Takeo, my summon. He's a bukanbird. Takeo, these are my new students."

Kinjo's mind translated the foreign term. The bird was known as a 'frigatebird' in his previous life, but since the world was heavily Eastern-influenced, it was instead named after a type of large Japanese warship used during the Imjin Wars. Or, in this world's case, used by the Land of Tea and the Land of Water.

"Of course, you don't have your own chicks; you're always too busy with your shinobi work," Takeo said while he greeted the rest of Team Five by flapping his wings. "Now, I assume you want me to be your messenger bird again. You only summon me when you need an urgent message delivered."

The jonin took a moment to pull out a scroll and pen and scribbled a message onto the parchment. He handed it to the bird after he finished. "Two dead, three captured. We need a team to secure the prisoners. My team is too battered to handle all of them ourselves."

"Very well, I will deliver it." Takeo snatched the scroll from Hayama's hands. "I expect a large portion of squid and fish after I return."

"I already have to feed an Akimichi…"

Takeo pecked his long beak at the jonin.

"I will!" Hayama grumbled. "Now go. Time is of the essence."

"A chunin?"

"Indeed. He was a Kumo shinobi with a notable record during the war. Presumed dead after a mission went awry toward the end of the conflict."

"Yet, Kinjo killed him."

"I've read through his report of the fight… It was an exceptional effort from him, considering his age and time as a shinobi. The others did well, taking down three genin. But defeating a chunin is entirely different."

The Hokage stood up from his seat and strolled over to the window. He looked at the quiet streets of the village, only occupied by a few Uchiha and Hyuga Military Police members on their nightly patrols. "I'm sure you've asked yourself the same question, but are they ready for the chunin exams?"

Hayama stood with his arms behind his back, glancing at his village leader with an impassive expression. "I think they need more experience and training. Izumi is quite skilled with her tachi. Along with her proficiency in genjutsu and ninjutsu, she's a capable kunoichi. However, she lacks stamina and maturity."

"A Uchiha with a soft heart," Hiruzen mused. "It's good to hear of such a thing. As for the Akimichi, Shin?"

"Robust and capable. He follows protocols and guidelines very well. He falls short in leadership and ninjutsu, though his clan techniques and strength should not be underestimated."

"I see… And Kinjo?"

"He is the one closest to a promotion in the near future. This mission demonstrated his capabilities, even if his decision to fight the chunin was reckless. He also helped keep Izumi in line and temper idealism with pragmatism."

"I hope that hasn't affected your team's morale or relationship."

"It hasn't. Izumi was disappointed, but she seemed more upbeat after we returned. Though, it seems like she has things to deal with at home."

The Hokage walked back to his desk and pulled out his pipe. "Are you sure that they are not ready? They are young but have plenty of time to grow into their rank. Along with Itachi, they could show off quite a performance in Kusagakure in two months, especially with the Fire Daimyo's court and Iwa attending."

"I'm sure," Hayama announced. "I will put them up for the chunin exams after the one in Kusa."

While they were talking, the door to the Hokage's Office opened and revealed a one-eyed man wearing robes. The Hokage lowered his hat and sank into his chair. "Danzo."

"Hiruzen," Danzo nodded curtly before turning to Hayama. "I've heard of your student's recent exploits on your team's latest mission. It is truly a shame that you've decided against the team's participation in the next chunin exams."

"It is my decision to make, Danzo," Hayama responded.

"By all means, I do not object. However, I believe Kinjo can earn some valuable experience in preparation for his promotion to chunin through other means."

"You sound confident in his abilities, Danzo," Hiruzen said. "Perhaps it has something to do with you keeping tabs on young Kinjo?"

Hayama raised an eyebrow, but Danzo's face betrayed nothing as he continued. "An exceptional talent should be nurtured and urged to grow. Considering your commitment to Uchiha Itachi, I thought you would be more inclined to accept the idea. That is why I believe Kinjo should be given additional options to prove his capabilities."

"What is your idea?"

Danzo cleared his throat and pounded his cane onto the floor. "Have him co-lead a standard mission, perhaps a patrol or a delivery to a rural outpost. I can lend a few available Root agents for the task if necessary. They can pose as members of the Genin Corps or the such to add a layer of authenticity to the mission. After they return, he can be evaluated by the participating agents, and we can continue forward from there. After all, the chunin exam isn't the only way to receive a promotion; we've done promotions on demand or the field numerous times, Hiruzen."

"That is… surprisingly simplistic coming from you. Has semi-retirement finally cooled your head?" Hiruzen asked.

"It has given me time to pass time in a more calming manner."

"Very well, I will approve of the idea if Hayama agrees," the Hokage turned to his son's mentor and waited. "If you need more time to make a decision and speak with Kinjo, I can grant you a few days."

"It's fine, Hokage-sama. I believe this might be a good experience for him. I approve."