Tsuki didn't move a muscle, his gaze locked with the Hokages in a silent standoff. Naruto and Sasuke, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, exchanged worried glances.
"Umm, Lord Third," Iruka ventured hesitantly, "what did you mean when you said 'not necessarily,' regarding Tsuki's education?"
The hokage's gaze shifted away from Tsuki, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Recently, you told me that Tsuki pulled off a multi-shadow clone jutsu, even adding Transformation into it. Isn't that right, Iruka?"
Iruka nodded. "Yes, he and his friends got in trouble and used that move to escape while his clones were punished."
"Iruka," the Hokage continued, "Jiraiya will be here soon. He wants to speak with you while I deal with Tsuki."
"Deal with Tsuki?" Iruka's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Depending on this test," the Hokage explained, "Tsuki might graduate early."
A wave of whispers and gasps rippled through the class. Naruto and Sasuke, though surprised, didn't seem envious. Instead, a flicker of longing crossed their faces.
"But..." Tsuki's voice cut through the murmurs, drawing everyone's attention.
The Hokage turned back to face him.
"What if I don't want to graduate early?" Tsuki asked, his voice firm.
Iruka placed a reassuring hand on Tsuki's shoulder. "What? My lessons aren't so boring now, are they?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Cheer up, Tsuki, this is a blessing. It's a great honor to graduate earlier than others."
But Tsuki shook his head. "I want to stay here with my friends."
The Hokage and Iruka exchanged a nervous glance. "Perhaps we should discuss this elsewhere," the Hokage suggested, his tone carefully neutral.
Tsuki followed the Hokage as he ascended the monument, his heart heavy with a sense of unease.
"Class is dismissed early today," Iruka announced, his voice cutting through the whispers and murmurs. "Remember, tomorrow we're studying genjutsu techniques." He then turned and walked towards Jiraiya, who stood atop the Hokage monument, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
As the students dispersed, the whispers grew louder.
"Did you believe that? They're letting the freak become a shinobi! He shouldn't even be allowed near the Hokage."
"Get it over with; this is a good thing. Now there's one less creep in the academy."
The harsh words stung Tsuki, but he kept his head down, his expression carefully blank.
Iruka, meanwhile, had reached Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sama, welcome back to the village," he said, bowing respectfully. "Hokage-sama said you were coming to talk with me."
Jiraiya nodded, his grin widening. "It's been a while since I saw Tsuki and Naruto. How are they?"
"Well," Iruka began, a hint of concern in his voice, "I'm afraid Naruto picked up a bad habit after you left. He's always getting in trouble, pranking and insulting others."
He paused, then added, "However, he's among the best students I have. I think that has to do with Tsuki's influence on him. He's third in the entire class. He could be second or first if only he took lessons seriously instead of forcing himself to study late with Tsuki."
Jiraiya's smile deepened. "Speaking of Tsuki," he said, his tone turning more serious, "if I'm being honest, he's the one I'm here for."
Iruka's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"How is he? Apart from his education, what does he do? Does he have a girlfriend already? Girls his age usually go for boys who have talent and looks. He's not so bad-looking, but he isn't a stud like me," Jiraiya added with a wink and a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Haha, Jiraiya-sensei, Tsuki? No way, he's nothing like that." Iruka chuckled, shaking his head. "He's timid. Unlike Naruto, he doesn't really talk to anyone outside of Shisui and Naruto. Sure, he enjoys hanging out with Sasuke and the others, but talking to girls? I wish he had the confidence for that."
Iruka sighed, his tone softening. "I don't get why he's so hard on himself. The kid's a genius—talented in all kinds of jutsu, smarter than most his age, and even older students look up to him. But the only people he really opens up to are Naruto and Shisui. And honestly? Naruto's gotten him into a lot of trouble, but he's also taught Tsuki a lot."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Well, for one, he pushes himself harder every day because he sees how determined Naruto is. Tsuki's protective, too—especially of Naruto. If someone even thinks about insulting Naruto, Tsuki's the first one to step in. The same goes for Shisui. However, no one's foolish enough to mess with Shisui, who is the respected shinobi he is. But I'm sure if it happened, Tsuki would be there in a heartbeat."
Iruka smiled thoughtfully. "The thing is, Tsuki's special. He's got that same quality Naruto has, you know? That ability to pull people in, to inspire them."
Jiraiya nodded, absorbing Iruka's words.
"I see…" he murmured, a glint of curiosity in his eye.
'Maybe being on missions with this kid won't be so bad after all... Sounds like it'll be interesting,' Jiraiya thought to himself.
----------------------------------------
Tsuki sat across from the Hokage in his office, his small frame dwarfed by the imposing desk. "Lord Third," he began, his voice surprisingly firm for a child his age, "I don't want to graduate early. Do I have to?"
Hiruzen took a cup and poured some tea, his movements slow and deliberate. "Tsuki," he said, his voice kind but measured, "I don't think you truly don't want to graduate early. I believe you don't want to leave your friend, Naruto."
Tsuki's gaze flickered away, the mere thought of being separated from Naruto causing a pang in his chest.
"Would I be correct in assuming that?" Hiruzen pressed gently.
"So what if you're right?!" Tsuki retorted, his voice rising in defiance. "It doesn't matter. I will not graduate early!"
The Hokage sipped his tea, his eyes studying the boy before him. "From Iruka's report, it seems you three are at the top of the class. It may not be long before Naruto and Sasuke graduate early, too."
Tsuki's fist clenched at the mention of his friends leaving.
"You're a master in all ninjutsu in Konoha," he muttered, his voice low and accusing, "but you're still a terrible liar."
Hiruzen's eyebrows rose in surprise. "A bad liar?"
"You only want me to graduate early because that'll get rid of me in the village," Tsuki declared, his voice filled with a bitterness that belied his young age. "One less problem. That's all I am, huh? Kids my age aren't allowed to graduate early; we all know that. You want me to believe you'll make an exception for me?! Admit it, it's the reason Jiraiya-sensei is back!"
Hiruzen's eyebrow twitched, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes.
'Kakashi was right,' Hiruzen thought, a wave of regret washing over him. 'It's difficult to hide an ulterior motive from this boy. Or maybe it's because I attempted to deceive him like he was a child.' He took another sip of his tea, the bitterness mirroring his own feelings.
'Knock! Knock! Knock!'
"Come in!"
Jiraiya strode through the doors, his usual boisterous energy tempered by the tense atmosphere in the room.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I don't want to graduate early!" Tsuki exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration. "Lord Third is trying to get rid of me, and I won't let him."
Jiraiya glanced at the Hokage, a question in his eyes.
"Jiraiya," Hiruzen explained, his tone apologetic, "I'm afraid Tsuki's attachment to Naruto and some others is clouding his judgment. He refuses to graduate early because he's worried he won't get to spend time with Naruto."
"No, I'm not!" Tsuki retorted, his voice rising in anger. "You just don't want me to stay in the village! You're scared of my eyes! Your fear blinds you, old man!"
He pushed his chair back abruptly and stormed out of the office.
Whoosh!
Three Anbu members materialized, blocking his path.
"Leave me alone," Tsuki warned, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't want to fight."
"Sensei, call the Anbu off!" Jiraiya shouted, his tone urgent. "He's a child!"
"Call them off before things get out of hand!"
"Jiraiya," Hiruzen said, his voice heavy with regret, "things are already out of hand. I'm sorry, we tried it your way." He nodded, and the Anbu moved to apprehend Tsuki.
Tsuki's face hardened, his Rinnegan blazing with a defiant light. He clenched his fists, his body tensing in preparation for the inevitable conflict.
One of the Anbu members swiftly weaved hand seals and slammed his palms onto the ground.
"Lightning Style: Spider Web!"
A network of crackling electricity snaked across the floor toward Tsuki, leaving him with mere seconds to react. His mind raced, searching for an escape route.
With a sudden leap, he pulled a concealed spoon from his sleeve and flung it towards the Anbu.
'So quick...' Jiraiya observed, impressed by the boy's reflexes.
The spoon missed its mark, sailing out the open window.
'Oh no...' Jiraiya instinctively moved to intervene.
But Tsuki's lips curled into a sly grin.
'Fwoosh!
In a blink, he vanished, reappearing outside the window where the spoon had landed.
"Was that the Flying Raijin?!" Jiraiya exclaimed, spotting the kunai Tsuki had left behind as a marker.
'No, that's a new teleportation jutsu,' he realized, his mind racing. 'Probably only accessible to his Rinnegan.'
Tsuki wasted no time. "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Boom! A dozen clones burst into existence, scattering throughout the village, their identical forms creating a confusing spectacle for the pursuing Anbu.
"Hmph." Tsuki, now disguised as an unassuming man with a wide-brimmed hat, blended into the crowd.
'I can't go back to the apartment to see Naruto now,' he thought, his heart heavy. 'It's probably being watched. I also need a weapon. I'll probably have to fight someone and maybe even kill them... on purpose this time.'
A new resolve hardened his gaze. 'But what if I head to the Uchiha grounds to look for Shisui? Maybe he can help me out.'
After procuring some kunai from a local shop, Tsuki made his way to the Uchiha training grounds, his heart pounding in his chest. Shisui was nowhere to be found, and a growing sense of panic gnawed at him. 'Where else could he be?'
Then, he remembered their secret meeting spot by the Naka River. With renewed hope, he raced towards the riverbank.
"There you are!" he exclaimed, relief flooding him as he spotted Shisui's familiar silhouette. He transformed back to his normal appearance and rushed forward, embracing his mentor in a tight hug.
Shisui, taken aback by the sudden display of affection, gently returned the embrace. "Tsuki," he asked, concern lacing his voice, "is something wrong?"
Tsuki pulled back, his eyes wide with fear. "The Hokage wants to get rid of me," he blurted out, his words tumbling out in a rush. "He sent Jiraiya-sensei to take me away from the village, and now that he failed, he's sending Anbu members to hunt me down."
Tsuki's brow furrowed. 'Wait a minute... This chakra...' A cold shiver ran down his spine as a realization dawned on him. He gently pushed Shisui away, his gaze hardening.
"You're not Shisui!" Tsuki's voice trembled, his Rinnegan flaring with a newfound intensity. "He has a different chakra from yours!"
(Edited on: 21/09/24)