One Year Later…
An elderly shopkeeper yawned and stretched, his joints creaking in protest as he prepared for another day of work. He shuffled to the front door, ready to greet the morning sun and his first customers.
"Well, I better get the shop open."
He swung the door wide, only to be met with a sight that made his heart sink. His once-pristine storefront was now a chaotic canvas of paint splatters and graffiti.
"Hahaha!"
The sound of childish laughter echoed down the street as two figures darted around the corner, their silhouettes barely visible in the early morning light.
"Hey, it's those two kids again!" a neighbor shouted, his voice laced with frustration.
"Nice one!" Naruto exclaimed, high-fiving Tsuki.
"Those two kids are so bothersome," The old man bitterly said,
"Yeah, and they don't even have parents, so we have no one to complain to!" an old lady added.
The two boys continued their celebratory sprint back to their apartment, their laughter a testament to their successful prank.
"Man, that was so fun!" Naruto exclaimed, collapsing onto the couch.
"You're right," Tsuki agreed, flopping down beside him. "Did you hear how mad they were?"
"Out pranking the villagers again?" Kakashi's voice cut through their revelry. He sat in his usual corner, engrossed in his ever-present book.
Naruto and Tsuki exchanged nervous glances. They knew what was coming: another tiresome lecture from their long-suffering caretaker.
This was the third time this week they had been caught red-handed. The worst part wasn't the scolding itself, but the awkward silence that followed. They would steal glances at each other, fighting back giggles, their shared mischief a constant source of amusement.
Kakashi sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. 'They aren't even listening.'
He closed his book and left the room, shaking his head in exasperation.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Naruto and Tsuki burst into laughter, their camaraderie a balm against the world's indifference.
"May I come in?" Lord Third's voice echoed through the apartment as he stepped inside.
"Here's this month's allowance," he said, placing a small pouch of coins on the table. "Make sure you spend it wisely." He turned to leave, but Naruto's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Hold on," Naruto said, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
Hiruzen turned back, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Hmm?"
Naruto took a deep breath, his blue eyes filled with a yearning that tugged at Hiruzen's heart. "Tell me about them," he pleaded. "Tell me all about my mom and dad."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "I'm certain I've told you before, although it was quite some time ago."
"I don't mean that!" Naruto's voice rose in frustration. "You're talking about when the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked, aren't you? I already know plenty about how it attacked the village and killed tons of people, including our parents. But that's not what I'm asking you to tell me about now! What I want to know is… who were our parents? Really!"
Hiruzen's expression softened, but his resolve remained firm. "There's no use asking such questions, Naruto. It won't bring back the dead." With a heavy sigh, he turned and left the apartment.
"We can't keep the truth from him forever," Kakashi remarked, his voice barely audible. He leaned against the wall, seemingly engrossed in his book, but his keen senses had picked up on the emotional undercurrents in the room.
"We're keeping him safe by keeping this from him," Hiruzen replied, his voice a weary whisper. Then, he too was gone, leaving a palpable silence in his wake.
Kakashi closed his book, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "I know you're there, Tsuki," he said, his voice directed towards the empty corner of the room. "Stop hiding. Lord Third can't sense you, but I can."
Tsuki emerged from the shadows, his Rinnegan eyes wide with surprise.
"I see we haven't wasted our time training," Kakashi remarked, a flicker of approval in his visible eye. "Your ninjutsu has improved."
Tsuki remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"Why are you and Lord Third hiding our parents from us?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kakashi sighed. "Didn't you hear? It's to keep you safe."
Tsuki shook his head, his long hair obscuring his Rinnegan eyes. "You're not helping us. Actually, I don't care about my parents. I only care about Naruto and his problems. You're just creating a void in his heart." He paused, his voice hardening.
"But… if you don't tell him, I will. I already figured it out. I did my research on the night the Nine-Tails attacked the village, and then I added the pieces of the puzzle together."
He met Kakashi's gaze, his resolve unwavering. "It wouldn't make sense for Lord Fourth to have a random child in the middle of the forest. Plus, there's the strange chakra inside Naruto. I can see it with my eyes. And they have the same hair color, so… I might just tell him."
Kakashi studied Tsuki, his surprise masked by his usual stoicism. 'It's hard to believe he's just a child,' he thought. 'To figure out who Naruto's parents were with little to no information…'
"Don't expect me to keep this a secret for long," Tsuki continued. "I'll tell Naruto because he's my friend and deserves to know the truth. I may not tell him today or tomorrow, but I will tell him."
With that, Tsuki turned and left to find Naruto. Today was a special day for them both—their first day at the Ninja Academy.
"Naruto, hurry up!" Tsuki called out. "We're gonna be late if you take any longer!"
Naruto, still struggling with his shirt, groaned in response.
"Come on, Sasuke is probably there already!" Naruto urged, his competitive spirit flaring.
They jumped out the window and raced towards the academy, their laughter echoing through the streets.
Upon arriving, they navigated the bustling corridors, Tsuki acutely aware of the whispers and stares that followed them.
'Just as usual, everyone is looking at us that way,' Tsuki thought, his frown deepening. People always seemed to shy away from his gaze, their unease a constant reminder of his otherness.
"Come on, there they are!" Naruto exclaimed, grabbing Tsuki's arm and pulling him towards a group of students huddled near the back of the classroom.
"You guys were almost late!" Sasuke's voice, sharp and critical, cut through the chatter. "You're such losers."
"Damn it, I'll beat you here next time, Sasuke!" Naruto retorted, playfully shoving his rival as they took their seats.
Tsuki settled into his own desk, his gaze drawn to the boy sitting beside him—Sasuke.
"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto whispered, leaning closer to his rival, "has Itachi taught you any new jutsu yet?"
Sasuke shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "He's been busy with his work as a shinobi. But at least he and Shisui train together sometimes."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "I can't wait to meet Shisui of the Body Flicker! Are we still going to watch them train later?"
"Shut up for a minute," Sasuke hissed, nudging Naruto with his elbow. "Look ahead of us."
"Ahem!" A man cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the chattering students. He wore a green flak jacket and had a distinctive scar across his nose. "Good morning, students of the Academy," he began, his voice firm but friendly. "I'm your new sensei, Iruka Umino. First things first, introduce yourselves and tell us why you want to be shinobi."
One by one, the students stood and shared their aspirations, some with confidence, others with nervous stumbles. Finally, it was Naruto's turn. He strode to the front of the class, his usual boisterousness momentarily subdued.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," he declared, puffing out his chest, "and I'm going to be Hokage! Believe it!" He punctuated his declaration with a wide grin and a thumbs-up, eliciting a few giggles from his classmates.
"Now, Tsuki Uzumaki."
Tsuki rose from his seat, his heart pounding in his chest. As he walked towards the front, he could feel the weight of countless gazes upon him. Whispers swirled around him, their hushed tones carrying a mix of curiosity and fear. He caught glimpses of icy glares and averted eyes as he passed.
'I have to admit, Naruto does far better than I do in handling this,' Tsuki thought, his anxiety growing with each step. 'Since I got these eyes, I don't enjoy being the center of attention, good or bad. I'm a little bit nervous right now.'
He glanced back at Naruto and Sasuke, drawing strength from their presence. With a deep breath, he faced the class.
"M-my name is Tsuki Uzumaki," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He cleared his throat, steeling his resolve. "I'm going to be the most powerful shinobi of all time. I'll prove to everyone that I can be a hero too!"
He returned to his seat, his cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and determination. Naruto offered him a reassuring high-five as he passed.
After a few more introductions, Iruka launched into a lecture on the basics of ninjutsu. Then, with a mischievous grin, he announced, "Now for the next lesson. Instead of just introducing yourselves, I want you to show your skills in ninjutsu."
A collective groan rippled through the classroom.
"Okay, don't worry," Iruka's voice boomed across the training ground, "we're just going to start with the basic Clone Jutsu. And the first one up… uh… is Sasuke Uchiha."
A collective sigh rippled through the female students, their eyes fixated on the raven-haired boy.
"You ready?" Iruka asked.
Sasuke stepped forward, his expression a mask of cool indifference.
"Wow, he's from the Uchiha clan?" a blonde girl whispered, her voice filled with awe.
"Yeah," a pink-haired girl chimed in, "he's an elite among elites."
Naruto clenched his fists, his competitive spirit ignited. "Why do you always have to act so smug?!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Sasuke. "You think you're so hot, then prove it!"
"Just did," Sasuke retorted calmly. With a single hand seal, a perfect clone of himself materialized beside him, leaning casually against a nearby tree.
The class erupted in gasps of astonishment.
"When did…" Naruto trailed off, his jaw agape.
"Impressive, Sasuke," Iruka praised. "With this jutsu, if you attack the clone—"
But Naruto was already on the move, charging towards Sasuke with a battle cry.
"Wait, Naruto, that's not him!" Tsuki tried to warn his friend, but it was too late.
Poof! The clone dispersed in a cloud of smoke, and Naruto crashed headfirst into the tree, his momentum carrying him several feet up the trunk before he tumbled back to the ground.
"He's hopeless…" Iruka muttered, shaking his head.
"Hey, get up," Tsuki said, extending a hand to help Naruto to his feet. Sasuke, despite his earlier aloofness, also offered assistance.
"Why do you have to be such a loser all the time?" Sasuke teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
Naruto grumbled in response, rubbing his bruised forehead.
"Well," Iruka cleared his throat, regaining control of the class, "I guess we'll have to move on now. Next up, Tsuki Uzumaki."
A hush fell over the training ground as Tsuki stepped forward. Whispers, like the rustling of leaves in a breeze, filled the air. He could feel the weight of their gazes, their curiosity mixed with apprehension. Some students avoided his eyes altogether, while others stared openly, their expressions a mask of fear.
The divine power of the Rinnegan radiated from him, an invisible aura that both captivated and intimidated those around him.
"Hey, isn't that the guy who attacked the Hokage?" the pink-haired girl whispered to her blonde friend.
"Yeah," the other girl replied, her voice hushed. "I heard he has the Rinnegan, the most powerful dojutsu in existence."
Tsuki's frown deepened. He hated the whispers, the stares, the constant reminders of his otherness. But he wouldn't let their fear deter him. He had a point to prove.
"Whenever you're ready, Tsuki," Iruka prompted gently.
Tsuki nodded, his Rinnegan eyes narrowing in concentration. He swiftly wove a series of hand seals, his movements fluid and precise.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof!
The air crackled with energy as dozens of clones materialized around Tsuki, their numbers growing until they filled the entire training ground. Some perched atop the trees, others lined the rooftops, and still more stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their gazes fixed on Iruka and their classmates.
The entire class, including Iruka, stared in stunned silence.
"Is that even possible?" someone whispered, their voice barely audible above the collective gasp of astonishment.
Tsuki stood amidst his army of clones, his chest heaving slightly but his expression unwavering. He had proven his power, silenced the whispers, and defied their expectations.
"Well, it's to be expected," Iruka mused to himself, observing the scene with a mixture of awe and apprehension. "Hokage-sama told me how talented this boy would be because of those eyes."
Tsuki, meanwhile, basked in the stunned silence of his classmates. 'Thanks to big brother Kakashi,' he thought with a surge of gratitude, 'I mastered this move.'
As the day drew to a close, Tsuki, Naruto, and Sasuke walked home together, their earlier rivalry momentarily forgotten.
"Just wait until tomorrow, Sasuke!" Naruto declared, his competitive spirit reignited. "I'm going to beat you!"
Sasuke merely shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Whatever."
Naruto pouted, then turned to Tsuki with a grin. "We all know the only person in our year who can beat me is Tsuki. He's the best at everything he does."
Tsuki blushed slightly at the praise. "Well, once Naruto and I finish our training, all three of us will be the most powerful shinobi in history, right, Naruto?"
"Believe it!" Naruto exclaimed, striking a dramatic pose.
"Anyway," Tsuki turned back to Sasuke, "can I come train with you and Itachi sometime?"
Sasuke considered the request for a moment, then nodded. "Sure."
With a newfound sense of purpose, Sasuke took off running, leaving Tsuki and Naruto to scramble after him.
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha clan's training grounds, Itachi and Shisui were concluding their sparring session.
"So, how's Sasuke doing at the Academy?" Shisui inquired, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"I'm sure he's fine," Itachi replied, his voice calm and steady. "He trains diligently and has good friends to support him."
Shisui nodded in agreement. "He respects his peers, especially that child you told me about."
"Tsuki Uzumaki, right?" Itachi confirmed.
'I'm glad Sasuke has him as a friend,' Itachi mused to himself. 'He will challenge Sasuke and push him to become even stronger. I have no doubt.'
(Edited on 12/9/24)