[ First Arc: The Awakening ]
In the forest outside the Hidden Leaf Village, a blonde boy with blue eyes cried uncontrollably, his face showing all the pain and anguish contained by recent events and a life full of hostility and despair.
After all, it's not every day you discover you have a demon fox sealed inside you. The cold stares, beatings, mistreatment—all made sense now. His mind replayed every abuse, every blow received, every display of contempt he had experienced in his short life. A very short life compared to others, but one of the most suffering, without a decent childhood.
Knowing that his idol, the one he looked up to and aspired to be like, was responsible for doing this to him. Falling to his knees, utterly devastated inside, in a mix of anger, hatred, despair, confusion, and all the negative and conflicting feelings that swirled within him, leaving him even more lost.
One of the Chunnin in front of him showed shock and inaction due to the hateful expression on his student's face. Although he never admitted it to him, it was a fact that earned him many critical looks from the students' parents. Yes, it was a fact that Uzumaki Naruto was his favorite student.
Despite his grades and low performance, when it came to the blonde, Iruka was the only one who could see between the lines.
He saw how hard-working and dedicated he was, never boasting about what he knew, always using it to surpass and strengthen himself. A very mysterious boy, but one of the best.
Ignoring the excruciating pain caused by the kunai and shuriken embedded in his body, the Chunnin called out to the blonde, who took a while to respond due to the shock:
- Pay attention, Naruto. Take the scroll and run away as fast as you can. Go to Hokage-sama and tell him everything you saw and heard here. I'll hold Mizuki off until reinforcements arrive. - Umino Iruka said, with a trickle of blood running down the corner of his mouth, soon seeing his student looking at him both worried and fearful.
- Don't worry, everything will be fine. - the Chunnin finally said, as the enemy's voice echoed through the extensive night forest.
- Really touching! It almost made me want to cry. - Mizuki said to the small blonde-haired boy, his face holding a homicidal smile and a look that showed his thirst for blood. Specifically, the blood of the boy in front of him.
Drawing a Fuuma-Shuriken with extremely sharp points, the albino quickly informed:
- But I've wasted too much time here, so do us all a favor and die already, fox boy!" the enemy exclaimed, throwing the fatal weapon towards the blonde, who still didn't move due to the shock.
- But I've wasted too much time here, so do us all a favor and die already, fox boy! - The enemy exclaimed, throwing the fatal weapon towards the blonde, who still didn't move due to the shock.
Seeing the tragedy about to happen, Iruka quickly shouted with all his strength:
- Naruto, duck! - The dark-haired Chunnin shouted, frantic and scared.
Unfortunately, the boy didn't hear what his sensei said. His eyes were fixed only on the weapon rapidly coming towards him, cutting through the wind like the scythe of the Shinigami ready to reap his soul, as he had read in the torn comics from the trash cans. Sadder than ever, the boy resigned himself to accept his death, curling up and closing his eyes, hoping it wouldn't hurt too much.
But strangely, the pain didn't come. Opening his eyes slowly, to his horror, he saw his sensei above him with an expression of pure pain due to the large blade embedded in his back and another point stuck in his neck, with blood pouring all over the ground and on the boy.
He had protected him from the large four-pointed blade with his own body. The boy could only wonder why such a sacrifice was made, especially for him, who had been so hostilely treated by the village his whole life.
- Iruka-sensei… No, why did you do this? Why did you protect me, risking your own life? I killed your parents, didn't I? Why would you protect a monster like me?" the young Uzumaki questioned frantically, shaken by seeing so much blood pouring from his instructor's back. Soon, Iruka coughed up a spurt of blood onto the boy's clothes in a failed attempt to speak.
- Naruto… Never, ever repeat that again… You are not a monster… Don't listen to what Mizuki or the others say… No one knows you like I do… I know how hard-working and dedicated you are… You may fail sometimes, but you never give up, you never surrender… - The Chunnin said first, feeling his body go numb from his back to his legs.
- That's an admirable trait, and I know I can expect great things from you because you are my most precious student... - Umino said, suffering another bout of coughing accompanied by blood, then continued. - Listen carefully to what I'm going to tell you, and I hope you keep this well in that hard head of yours... You are not the Nine-Tailed Fox, you are not a monster... You are Uzumaki Naruto, a ninja of Konoha who holds the noble dream of becoming Hokage.
The Chunnin's words unconsciously touched the depths of Uzumaki's soul. He looked emotionally at his sensei, who responded with an expression of recognition and affection.
He felt all the confusion that existed in his mind and heart completely dissipate. He smiled, but not one of those fake smiles he showed to hide all the sadness he felt.
It was a joyful, genuine smile, extremely similar to that of the Fourth Hokage, which Iruka noticed. Inside him burned a determination never seen before, as it was the best thing anyone had ever said to him; finally, someone accepted his existence.
Unfortunately, the moment was interrupted by the sickly voice of the enemy, who gritted his teeth at his colleague's interference:
- How touching... beautiful, truly beautiful! It's getting impossible to hold back the tears here. - Mizuki laughed in pure mockery and sarcasm, giving Uzumaki an extremely serious look. - You know, Iruka... you've messed up my plans too much. So relax because I've decided you'll be the first to die. - He said, drawing several kunai and shurikens from his shinobi holster.
- Now disappear! - He finally exclaimed, throwing the blades, one of which had an explosive tag attached, capable of destroying ten square meters of the area.
At that moment, Iruka didn't know what to do since his body no longer responded to his movements, likely due to some substance on the blade. He could only close his eyes, imagining his student running for his life.
Seeing his sensei in danger, the Uzumaki determination within the blonde seemed to burn ardently like pure adrenaline, seeking to move his body. He felt a pressure on his neck and a burning sensation in his eyes. With an extremely quick glance, he noticed his reflection in Iruka's Hitai-ate.
He was stunned by what he saw: his sky-blue eyes had turned pure white; everything was a pure white sclera with no visible pupil. Still impressed and even amazed by such an appearance in himself, he diverted his gaze to the shurikens thrown at Iruka, whom he would protect at all costs, even if it meant fighting to the death, ultimately losing the light in his vision as it seemed in this absurd transformation.
Naruto couldn't see anything, everything seemed like complete darkness. However, strangely, his senses were drastically heightened, like a sensor pulsing at high speed through the earth and everything it touched. He could sense the inhabitants, the animals, insects, worms, larvae, cocoons, and eggs of the forest; he could even sense the Hokage, surprised by the old man's enormous chakra. It was as if everything he sensed took shape, where the darkness continued, and another plane ascended within the darkness.
Everything concentrated with his mind absorbing every aspect, every elevation of terrain, every abyss, lake, training field, rock formation, forest, and the Hokage monument mountain, all gathering in an absurd capacity of sensory intelligence that encompassed a circular radius of 10,000 square kilometers.
With such a vast mental domain, everything quickly receded to focus on the nearby environment, with the two people present as the main focus. Naruto could notice Iruka, Mizuki, and the ninja weapons the Chunnin had thrown. They moved in slow motion, with the blonde analyzing a kunai coming directly to one of his eyes, a shuriken to his forehead, and another circling towards his neck. Amid all these perceptions, he noticed those heading towards his sensei, and his perception accelerated, or rather, it slowed down to natural reaction speed.
Understanding part of the situation and mainly that he had to deal with the Fuuma-Shuriken, Uzumaki pulled the blade from his sensei's back with a quick and precise movement that didn't injure more than it already was. He spun it skillfully with his arms, repelling all the shurikens and kunais in sequence, finally grabbing the last kunai by the handle in an agile spin, using all his speed and weight to throw it back to its source.
Concentrating chakra in the soles of his feet, the trunk that the Chunnin was leaning against exploded into pieces, gravity doing its job, making the albino fall. Escaping the explosion above him and landing on the ground, he heard:
- You hurt Iruka-sensei... you pathetic worm! - The boy shouted, with both Chunnins startled by the recent ocular change in the boy.
- "What's with his eyes? It's simply incredible." - Iruka thought, both euphoric and impressed with the eyes and his student's ability to dodge and deflect the blades.
- "What the hell are those eyes? Is that damn fox taking over his body?" - Mizuki thought, astonished, where the fox boy's eyes were terrifyingly white. - "This might interest Orochimaru-sama. I have to take him at any cost; maybe I'll get a good reward." - The albino completed his reasoning, where his gaze instantly changed from hatred to greed.
Naruto had no idea what to do. He had glanced at all the techniques in the legendary scroll and could remarkably remember all the procedures described paragraph by paragraph. However, of all the techniques, he felt capable of using only one.
Even knowing he could use it, he couldn't see himself defeating a Chunnin. Then, a painful snap occurred in his mind related to defeating Mizuki, where an unknown ability emerged in his mind with a kind of crimson figure slowly performing the movements.
Then, the albino's voice emerged in response:
- Pathetic worm? Don't make me laugh, demon! Do you really think a cursed failure like you stands a chance against a Chunnin? - Mizuki mocked, trying unsuccessfully to destabilize the boy. Naruto ignored him, his mind examining every way to use that strange ability that seemed to dance and adapt to his mind. - Alright then! Show me everything you've got, Nine-Tails Fox!
- You asked for it. - More determined than ever, Naruto felt his mind ascending in knowledge of countless elements, such as "harmony", "proportion of the human body", "golden ratio in mathematics", "beauty" and "centrality of man". With this primary perception becoming abundant in the harmony of his body with his chakra, Uzumaki's body began to process a large surge of adrenaline, sharpening his senses even more. He thought of some hand seal for the newly acquired technique, but unconsciously, his body moved smoothly, with both men seeing Naruto move so quickly that his arm left mirage trails in this upward movement.
The enemy even thought of laughing, but as the movement stopped and the mirages slowly faded, eight orange spheres of pure heat emerged from the palm of each hand. With a fierce and aberrant look, Uzumaki moved his hands forward, and everything launched.
Mizuki tried to jump back, but to his terror, everything was already face-to-face with him in an absurdly burning heat. Just as the Chunnin had previously done with kunai and shurikens, Naruto did with these heat spheres, which exploded consecutively, taking out the entire area within a 10-square-meter radius.
- "What kind of ability is that?" - Stupefied by the Jinchuuriki's technique, the Chunnin managed to escape by completing five hand seals, with a severe burn on his eye and his vest charred with flames, performing a Kawarimi he had previously prepared. - "With that, he could easily kill me if I hadn't prepared for Iruka... but him?"
- "Capturing him alive is going to be a lot of work, especially now that he has a technique like that. It's better to take him out for good." - Decided to kill the blonde, Mizuki leaped, throwing several shurikens at Naruto, making some hand seals in the process with a kind of purple aura spreading through him for a few seconds:
Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! - (Shadow Clone Shuriken Technique!)
The dozen shurikens launched simply doubled, targeting the blonde.
Determined to win the battle now, Uzumaki had his mind illuminated by another ability that already seemed to dance the movements of the crimson figure. However, this time he didn't waste time and let his instincts act on their own.
Again, like a painful snap in his mind, Uzumaki acted by extending his right arm and leg alongside his body, aiming at Mizuki. It was like the sound of a shock in the air as his slap created an air pressurization that repelled all the shurikens, sending the Chunnin fifteen meters into the air with the pressurized wind that caused the flames on his vest to spread in medium-sized flames across his chest and neck.
The Chunnin tried to act to escape the burns, but soon Uzumaki appeared behind him, delivering a kick that felt like Mizuki's bones collided with a rock wall. Landing with difficulty on the ground, he felt excruciating pain in his spine and agonizing burning on his neck from the flames that finally went out with the fall.
Finally, Uzumaki landed five meters away from the Chunnin, who stood up, panting, both remaining eye-to-eye. A Chunnin utterly possessed with rage at being beaten by a failure who hadn't even become a Gennin, and a surprised Uzumaki with everything he could do and achieve from now on.
The blonde couldn't imagine the limit of this development, noticing that being "blind" had caused a new sense to dominate. He felt his body more resistant and powerful. Besides, his mind whirled like a maelstrom on the high seas, where at every moment of need or action, a required ability emerged in an agonizingly quick snap in his mind, merging with his being.
- "I'm sure those strange eyes have something to do with this sudden improvement in the fox boy. There's no way the worst student in the class could instantly improve to the point of using elemental techniques without hand seals. If so, he becomes even more valuable! Damn, this is getting complicated." - Mizuki thought, trying to predict a move or chance to overcome these rare abilities.
With both staring at each other for the next few seconds, analyzing each other, they finally decided to attack, with the blonde attacking Mizuki in pure Taijutsu. It wasn't his technique that changed anything, but the force exerted in those disjointed blows that impacted as if his body was heavier, bringing such impact to the Chunnin's defenses.
Both exchanged punches and kicks, where with each move, the blonde adapted to the fight, making his euphoria and adrenaline grow even more in a burning flame that made Naruto want to continue the fight until discovering the limits of his perception abilities and combat knowledge assimilation.
Mizuki and Naruto were evenly matched. The Chunnin's vast battle experience allowed him to hold his own against the strength and speed impacting his blows and defenses.
Both moved away from each other, still analyzing. Uzumaki took a quick glance at Iruka's white image in the vast darkness of his sensory field. His sensei's condition wasn't good, as Uzumaki could see a purplish hue spreading through Umino's veins. For the moment, Iruka didn't seem to feel the full extent of his wounds due to the hot blood and adrenaline, but Naruto knew it was risky for his sensei, just as it had been for him years ago at the hands of the villagers.
For the first time, Naruto performed a hand seal against the enemy and said through the extensive smoke that emerged:
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! - (Shadow Clone Jutsu!)
The blonde's voice emerged in a loud chorus, with hundreds of clones appearing, showing the immense chakra of the boy, followed by all advancing against the Chunnin.
Punches and kicks came from all sides, making Mizuki respond in kind, resulting in many clones disappearing every second.
During this time, the blonde ran to Iruka, who looked at him with admiration but without the ability to move.
Umino stared at the completely white eyes of his favorite student, while in the blonde's vision, everything was complete darkness with only forms of living beings in a whitish color.
Naruto could notice a purplish hue infecting his sensei's veins and organs little by little. He thought about what to do, whether to run to the village and call a medical ninja or perhaps drag his sensei there.
Naruto didn't know, but somehow felt someone watching him, not Mizuki, who was trying to destroy the clones.
Then, again like an agonizing snap in his mind, Uzumaki placed his hand on his sensei's wound, causing Umino to curse in pain. Soon, the area began to warm, with the cold and humid night causing water droplets on the grass to evaporate. The place Naruto touched was the hottest, but it didn't damage or hurt Iruka. Instead, it made Umino feel his blood warming, his skin slightly burning and anesthetized, eventually cauterizing the wounds on his back and neck by the temperature of Uzumaki's hand on the area.
As Naruto finished performing this act, Mizuki destroyed the last clone, demonstrating an extremely breathless state, with sweat and blood present in all the bruises on his face.
- You damn demon! I even wanted to take you alive, but now I don't care. - Mizuki said, completely possessed with rage, performing hand seals:
Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu! - (Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!)
Mizuki shouted before blowing a grand sphere of flames.
Kneeling and with his back to Mizuki, Naruto simply stood up, feeling excruciating pain in his head as the sphere approached.
He even thought of touching his head to relieve the pain, but his body moved unconsciously for the last time, raising both arms alongside his body to waist height.
In his vision, the flame sphere was slightly slow, and soon a clear stain was noticeable rising through the dark area his vision showed.
It was as if smoke appeared in that place along with a refreshing and cold feeling on his skin.
To him, it was something normal derived from the technique he invoked. Little did he know this was happening throughout Konoha.
Iruka stared in shock at the drastic drop in temperature in just a few seconds. As the fireball was right in front of the blonde, he blew a cold vapor that caused the sudden extinguishing of Mizuki's Jutsu.
The initial move served only to extinguish the technique, but soon the slowly falling snow turned into a blizzard, making Mizuki feel his body trembling along with a painful burning sensation as if ice was forming around him.
With his mind numb, he barely noticed when he was completely frozen up to his neck, and Naruto fell to his knees on the ground with excruciating pain in his forehead and eyes.
Remembering his sensei, Naruto tried to get up quickly, but this time his muscles began to hurt as if they were being stretched and twisted forcefully in agonizing torture.
He looked at the place where his teacher was previously, his eyes returning to normal, making Uzumaki gasp in despair for not finding him. He even tried to get up, but soon a hand held his body, keeping him calmly on the ground. It was Iruka, now standing with a reassuring smile on his face:
- Calm down, Naruto. - Iruka said with difficulty but still with a proud smile. - Don't worry, I'll be fine. But now I want you to close your eyes. - Iruka requested, seeing his student obey him.
At that moment, Naruto felt his headband being removed, and something cold placed on his forehead.
- There you go, you can open your eyes. - As he opened his eyes, Uzumaki glimpsed his sensei without the Konoha headband, and with a proud smile on his lips. With his hands, Naruto felt the soft texture of the fabric and the cold steel plate of the headband. Still incredulous, he looked at the Chunnin, who widened his smile even more. - Based on everything you've shown me, becoming a Gennin is too little... but it's all I can do for now as your sensei. - Iruka explained while sitting on the accumulated snow on the ground. - Congratulations, Naruto, you passed... you graduated from the ninja academy as the most powerful Gennin. - Iruka finally said with some difficulty but extreme pride, never taking the smile off his face.
- Sensei... I... Thank you. - Uzumaki whispered, feeling tears flooding his eyes, hugging the older man. With a painful spasm, Naruto's body finally shut down.
Iruka saw the moment when Naruto's eyes became glazed and filled with pain, as his pupils seemed to lose focus on what was in front of him and his body shut down, just as he had seen with many exhausted Jounnin from the war who suffered a general shutdown to protect themselves from chakra exhaustion. Seeing this in someone so young who fainted in his arms, Iruka could only sigh heavily, holding Uzumaki's body against him, trusting that nothing bad would happen from now on.
Amidst all this, the scene was being watched by an old man in noble white robes with red details. He looked at everything surprised and admired by the skills demonstrated by the son of those two.
In the eyes of many, performing techniques without hand seals was madness, but he was an Uzumaki, and according to what he knew about a very hyperactive Uzumaki from his past, there were indeed legends of a warrior with remarkable abilities.
An ability that attracted the ambition of many villages, with only Konoha being fortunate enough to have some contact with such a clan in the past. Now, seeing the live proof of an Uzumaki who not only inherited the Uzumaki heritage from his mother but also the bloodline traits from his father in physical appearance, the old man watched as the young man's body slowly transformed as it shut down.
Using his most loyal squad, the Hokage instructed each of them to take Naruto and Iruka to the Central Hospital, recover the sealed scroll, and capture Mizuki, who could do nothing while trapped in the thick pillars of ice, a well-deserved pain for such betrayal.
- It seems your life is about to get better... - The old man with the crystal ball finally said before his office was invaded by two people.
- Sarutobi, they're saying Uzumaki stole the Shodaime-sama's scroll. Is that true?
- The night is going to be very long. - Hiruzen sighed, indicating to his two former teammates to sit on the sofa in front of him.
[ ... ]
{ Dawn of a New Day }
It was already a new day in Konohagakure no Sato. Many merchants were leaving their homes to start another day of work, surprised to find the village exceptionally cloudy with an abundance of snow everywhere.
Throughout the long morning, many children played in the snow covering the streets, while an unshakable laziness pursued everyone, making it hard to get out of bed, leaving everyone wondering how all that snow appeared in Konoha during the summer.
== Konoha Residential District ==
Located meters away from Konoha's commercial district, a kunoichi woke up feeling a bit uncomfortable due to the cold air that had settled over the village.
She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes as the sheets slid off her body, revealing her bare chest, allowing her to stretch lazily.
The woman finally stood up, completely naked, looking at herself in the mirror, trying to find any imperfection, any flabbiness, or any flaw that could explain her boyfriend's actions. However, she saw nothing but dark circles under her eyes, indicating she hadn't had a peaceful night's sleep.
Yuhi Kurenai, a newly graduated Jounnin in the Leaf's military corps. At 22 years old, she was an expert in Genjutsu in the Leaf Village. Known for her exotic and unique beauty among many, she had a reputation for being extremely reserved and apathetic, showing her true self to only a few people in her circle of friends.
One of those people was Sarutobi Asuma, her ex-boyfriend, and the reason her eyes were swollen, as she had spent the whole night crying because he had once again acted like a perfect scoundrel, blatantly cheating on her without even caring about her presence. After a real scandal, she broke up with him, but he mocked her in response, saying that as the son of the Third Hokage, he could snap his fingers, and she would come crawling back to him, humiliating her even more.
She felt anger at herself because she knew it was true. After all, this wasn't the first time it had happened, and from a very young age, she had developed an emotional dependence on him. She mentally cursed the power he had over her while grabbing some clothes from her wardrobe and heading to the bathroom, preparing a bath with some calming essences to relax her body before starting another day.
[ ... ]
After an hour of pure relaxation in the bathtub, the red-eyed brunette was finally fully dressed.
Her outfit consisted of a short red top with several white bands covering her body. Her right arm was covered by a long red sleeve, while the left one was bare, with bandages on her wrist and forearm.
The metallic headband, sewn onto a black fabric, went on her forehead, pushing back the fringe that covered her face. Looking at herself in the mirror again, trying to find something, any tiny flaw in herself that made Asuma act the way he did with her, she sighed just as an Anbu agent appeared in her window. His identity was unknown, but a bear mask covered his face.
- Yuhi Kurenai! Hokage-sama requests your presence in his office at ten o'clock. Please, do not be late.
- Hai, I'll be there. - The brunette responded unemotionally to the Hokage's agent, who then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
The Jounnin didn't know what the Hokage wanted but hoped it was a mission, preferably a long one far from the village, where she could distance herself from her ex-boyfriend to forget the latest hurt that plagued her being.
[ ... ]
== Konoha Central Hospital ==
A few hours after the incident in the forest at the village's entrance, Naruto finally woke up. He opened his eyes and was startled by his inability to see. Panicking, he brought his hands to his face almost instantly, sighing in relief upon realizing that bandages covered his eyes. He made a move to try to remove them but felt a wrinkled hand stopping him:
- Stay calm, Naruto! - An old man said in a paternal tone, making the blonde relax a bit. - These bandages are to protect your eyes. You exerted great effort with them last night.
- Jiji-chan, how's Iruka-sensei? - The blonde asked in a worried tone, making the Hokage smile. - Is he okay?
- Yes! I'm fine, Naruto. - Iruka responded this time, making the blonde turn his head toward the voice. - I'm here in the bed next to you... Don't worry. - The Chunnin finally said, relieving Uzumaki.
- Iruka-sensei, how did I do that? I trained the shadow clone jutsu all night from the scroll, but everything else I did... It was like I was blind and could only see outlines and forms of energy in a completely dark world, where something seemed to instruct me to perform those movements. - Uzumaki said excitedly, avoiding mentioning that he remembered everything written in the sealing scroll, fearing reprimand for stealing something so precious to the village.
- Calm down, and I'll explain. - Said the Sandaime, exhaling a puff from his pipe out the window. - This is all because of the Onitensei. - Hiruzen mentioned, making the blonde puzzled by the name.
- Oni... what?! Is that some kind of disease? - Naruto asked, making the Hokage laugh, as it was clear the boy's physical change was noticeable, but his mentality was still in the process of changing.
- Onitensei, Naruto. - The Sandaime corrected, patting the young man's hair. - It's your bloodline lost in time... Based on eras, the titles derived into legends... Over the ages, it was known by many false names, such as Kazegan, Uzugan, Shinigan, Yorungan... Many legends depict it with derived names... However, the closest ones are based on your bloodline... Onigan, derived from the Onitensei bloodline of the Uzumakis.
- But... if there are so many names and they are so rare... Why would I awaken something like this? Will I go blind? Do I have a clan? - Naruto asked everything in complete doubt, while both men in the room smiled conspiratorially at the blonde Uzumaki's euphoric state.
- Let's take it one step at a time... You awakened a very rare Doujutsu that even I don't have many in-depth answers to provide. - Hiruzen began, while sitting on the bed, making the blonde sit up.
- Onigan is a title referring to an ancient Oni legend, derived from On'yomi, meaning "hide" or "conceal". - Maybe that's why your vision went dark, sharpening and enhancing your other senses, making you a better sensory combatant. When one sense is missing, all the others are heightened to alarming levels.
- A well-known and broad area of the Uzumakis, who were excellent sensory warriors, with ancient arts focused on sealing.
- As I said... these are just tales and legends, where the Onigan had many derived names and titles, as only one person from the Uzumaki clan managed to awaken such ocular power of such magnitude.
- That was Uzumaki Darius... The King Uzukage, and the first to create a clan as vast as Konoha itself, which at its peak confronted more than four ninja villages that attacked them in an extermination partnership. - Hiruzen said, making the Uzumaki smile, admiring the thought of being as powerful as that Uzumaki who did not fear confronting other villages.
- So I have a family? I mean, Uzumakis... - Naruto commented softly, making Sarutobi smile conspiratorially, understanding the lack of affection and attention the boy felt, creating a strong desire to build a family.
- Unfortunately, no! We have no news of any living Uzumaki... - Sarutobi replied with a heavy sigh upon seeing the boy's downcast state. - A long time ago, the ninja villages sought conflicts with Uzushiogakure. After Darius managed to exterminate 75% of the ninja armies of the villages... he simply took all the Uzumakis on the battlefield along with their advanced technologies, leaving only ruins after a colossal explosion that would frighten any tailed beast.
- I understand... - Naruto said after a while, visibly saddened but soon cheered up. - But it's okay! At least now I have something special to remember Uzu's sacrifice and a way to keep myself stronger."
- I'm glad you think that way. - Said the old Hokage with a smile. - Kushina-chan would definitely be proud... - Hiruzen said, taking a puff from his pipe, then widening his eyes as he looked at the unresponsive Uzumaki.
- K-Kushina? That was my mother's name, wasn't it? Tell me, jiji-chan, please... - Naruto said with hope in his voice, feeling a bit disoriented and unable to tell where the Sandaime and Umino were positioned.
- Yes, Naruto. Your mother's name was Uzumaki Kushina, and she was a very beautiful and powerful kunoichi, not only a student of Senju Tsunade but also an instructor to many skilled kunoichi in our village in their ninja careers," Hiruzen explained, making Uzumaki smile excitedly upon learning about his mother.
- And my Otou-san... what was his name? - Naruto asked, even Iruka showing curiosity.
- I'm sorry, Naruto. Unfortunately, I can't reveal your father's name at the moment for your safety... - Hiruzen said, to the boy's disappointment. Noticing this, the Hokage proposed: - Let's do this... Last night, I had a rather inconvenient meeting with my council, who wanted to force you into an organization that I know very well wouldn't do you any good... - The Hokage said, which Iruka understood to be Konoha's NE Faction.
- Because of this, I have volunteered to train and instruct you properly as the last remaining Uzumaki.
- I will take a year off from my role as Hokage to prepare you adequately. I know this is very sudden, but it was the only option to keep you away from people who don't have your best interests at heart...
- If in a year you complete the training to a point where you can protect yourself, I will reveal who your father was, and you will receive all the assets you inherited from that discovery.
- I'll be trained by a Hokage? - Naruto asked, impressed, making Sarutobi smile.
- And not just any Hokage, Naruto. The Hokage-sama who led Konoha to victory in three previous wars, master of five elemental arts, and the second to be titled the Great God of Shinobi.
- A title only previously given to the grand Shodaime Hokage. - Iruka explained, further impressing Uzumaki.
- You're amazing, jiji! - Naruto praised with his distinctive and excited tone.
- Thank you, Naruto... but I must ask you not to tell anyone what I just said. Your Doujutsu is something very rare and coveted in the ninja world. If they find out you possess something like this, it's likely that attacks on you could occur. - The Sarutobi Hokage explained, to which Naruto gave him a thumbs up.
- Don't worry, Jiji-chan! I won't tell anyone. - Naruto replied with apparent enthusiasm in his voice.
- Great! Because we have another matter to discuss... - Hiruzen said excitedly as he got out of bed, just as one of the responsible doctors entered the room to remove Uzumaki's bandages.
After a few minutes, the doctor removed the bandages, performed a brief eye and sensitivity test, and finding no apparent problems, allowed Naruto to be discharged and go home.
- Naruto, when you awakened your Doujutsu, it also triggered the awakening of another Kekkei Genkai.
- Pay attention, as I will explain each of those you used last night and where you can go from here. - Hiruzen said, with Uzumaki's consent as he hardly noticed his physical state.
- The first is your Onigan... As I mentioned earlier, it has many titles, but one well-known fact is that it doesn't have excessive usage costs. Literally a "Doujutsu without a price", as the chakra required to keep it active is so low it is hardly felt, if any chakra is being used at all. Only you can find clear answers with your own development.
- However, don't underestimate it. Power with such grand potential is not usually easy to perfect."
- But Hokage-sama, Naruto's eyes turned completely white. It was as if he had no focus, but he responded very quickly to things. - Iruka said, to which the Sandaime quickly commented.
- That means your Onigan is in its first phase, obviously. - Hiruzen reflected on what Kushina used to say and then complemented. - According to your mother's words... In the first phase, it blinds the user, showing only the ocular sclera. You said you could see forms of life and structures in the darkness? Maybe that's your sensing ability guiding you, forming a mental map illustrated in your mind, as a mind that feels everything around can map out margins and presence. - Hiruzen pondered, combining ideas and what he had read in legends. - And all this perception and reaction speed... it could be a unique ability to respond to killing intent. In the future, Naruto, you might encounter high-level shinobi who can emit an aura of killing intent, and you might even acquire this ability... but for now, it seems your Onigan not only brings advanced sensory perception but also a reaction speed to killing intent.
- And I haven't even touched on the elemental control factor, as there are no certainties about chakra nature manipulation. From what I heard from your mother, Uzumakis didn't shape chakra, they bent nature to their will. - Hiruzen said, drawing Iruka's attention. - And it seems that's why Naruto performs such automatic movements, a harmonious state between his chakra and body that allows him to bend whatever he wants. I say this having seen Darius-sama in combat, and I can say with conviction that I am an inexperienced child in elemental arts compared to all the grace and control that man had in using not just one, but all natures and their adapted fusions at such speed, agility, and lost martial arts of the Uzumakis. - Seeing Naruto and Iruka's admiration for everything he said, he guided Naruto to the bathroom, where there was a mirror.
The reflection in the mirror did not match his real appearance at all.
He was taller, the marks on his face were well hidden, still visible but not as much as before. His hair was longer, and he looked about seventeen years old.
His muscles were larger, nothing extravagant, but admirable due to the hospital gown being half open, allowing him to glimpse a defined and firm chest.
As he continued to stare at himself in surprise, the Hokage's voice emerged:
- This is another bloodline. But this time from your other clan, which may be mentioned in the future. In general, it's called "Tenshi no Karada", or better put, "Angel's Body".
- A second Kekkei Genkai that allows the user's body to drastically improve, making it more resilient, physically stronger, allowing better chakra flow through the body, with a high chance of resistance to Genjutsus, although we can't be certain, along with other qualities we are yet to discover.
Your own development will reveal the limits of everything. - Hiruzen explained, returning to Uzumaki's bed, who continued to squeeze his muscular arms. - I don't need to tell you that you have just awakened highly powerful weapons for a shinobi, right? And I haven't even mentioned that you, my boy, are the shinobi with the highest chakra capacity here in the Hidden Leaf Village. Why do you think such simple techniques were your worst nightmare at the academy, and yet I pushed the instructors to pass you every year, even if you failed the Jutsus, allowing you to stay with your peers year after year?
- You now carry a legacy much greater than any clan in our village. All your maternal lineage, with high-level abilities for a Gennin, has automatically adapted to your paternal lineage, making your body improve with each technique, each grip, and each strike from Mizuki, quickly making you as strong as a Chunnin, and one day, you will be able to do all this without restrictions, becoming as powerful as a Hokage.
- That's what I want! In our one year of training, I will push your body to the extreme, and if everything goes well, we might revive the noblest clan this world has ever seen, a world that was too petty to accept that our world is in constant evolution, even us ninjas.
Seeing that he had said a lot, with his potential student remaining silent.
The Hokage asked:
- Are you understanding? If you prefer, I can explain a bit more slowly... - Hiruzen said to the blonde who was now sitting on the bed.
- No need... For the first time, I managed to hear an explanation and understand it right away. I just don't know what to say... until yesterday, I couldn't even create a clone... now I have an awesome Doujutsu, an enhanced body, the most chakra in the village... and also a tailed beast, the largest one, actually. - Naruto said in self-analysis, really not knowing how to act, while Iruka's eyes widened, realizing that Mizuki had said some harsh things, and Naruto wasn't stupid to let anything pass related to him and all the prejudice tied to him. - It's going to be pretty difficult to control everything, isn't it? - Naruto asked, giving a pat on his stomach, which the Hokage understood as the Uzumaki's inquiry.
- Indeed, especially considering that your pet consumes more than half of your chakra just to keep it imprisoned. But once you overcome that, and you will! You will probably be as powerful a ninja as the Fourth Hokage, or much, much more. - Hiruzen said with a content smile, seeing the blonde treat the Fourth Hokage as his primary source of inspiration. - But that's not all I need to inform you about. - Hiruzen began, drawing the attention of both Iruka and Uzumaki. - Well, given the enormous potential you demonstrated last night, and the fact that you managed not only to awaken a very rare Doujutsu but also another lineage of bodily enhancement.
- It has been decided that you will receive the privilege of practicing polygamy. - Hiruzen finished, surprising the Chunnin, who turned pale, while Uzumaki showed confusion and silence.
- Wait a minute!... - Naruto said thoughtfully, standing up and walking towards the open window. Both ninjas in the room thought Naruto wouldn't understand, but soon he turned around, and Hiruzen noticed a certain sparkle in his eyes. - You mean... I can have a family? - Naruto asked, feeling that this awakened power was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
- Well... it's a bit more complicated. You will have to marry and be engaged to multiple women simultaneously. - The Sandaime replied, letting out a small laugh while observing the blushing face of his potential student. - But in any case, yes... You will finally be able to have a family, and with all the women you want. - Hiruzen said, already imagining indecent things.
- In fact, I already have a potential candidate. I just need to talk to her and formalize everything. - Hiruzen explained, seeing Naruto's face tighten a bit.
- But, will she agree with this? I don't want anyone being forced to marry me... - Naruto explained, related to being the jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, where he was concerned that no one would want anything to do with him because of it.
Receiving a smile from Umino and Sarutobi, the Hokage soon declared:
- There's no need to worry! I've made it clear to my advisors that all the requirements for the practice of polygamy will be chosen by you, with my direct consent and no one else's.
- Your first potential wife will be introduced to you by the end of the afternoon, where we will have a lot to discuss. I will personally take care of the presented suitors to avoid any exploitation or idiotic plans from my advisors. - Sarutobi finally said, with Uzumaki consenting, who couldn't help but smile excitedly at the thought of having a family.
- Finally! Now I can go... I want to see what I can do with these new abilities. I promise I will be ready for our training. - Naruto said to the Hokage, who smiled at Uzumaki's determination.
Iruka felt proud to have been Uzumaki's teacher, and despite him awakening all these abilities, there was still much to teach him in the subjects he hadn't adequately studied.
With the Hokage's consent, Uzumaki soon left the hospital excited, making the two men laugh, content that he wasn't shaken by the discovery of having a tailed beast sealed within him.
- It's him, isn't it? - Iruka initially asked the Hokage. - Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage, right? - Iruka asked again, to Sarutobi's laughter.
- The boy's appearance is indeed identical to his father's in his youth. It will be difficult to hide such a secret, which is why we must prepare him in this one year of training to defend himself from the enemies Minato-kun made during his journey. - Sarutobi said, as both looked out the window to see Uzumaki running swiftly among the villagers towards training ground zero. - But let's leave that for after the festivities... I want him to at least enjoy everything with new engagement prospects, so we can start the training and missions of the new Gennin generation. - The Hokage finally said, with Iruka agreeing.
[ ... ]
Kurenai made her way to the Hokage building slowly. Despite all the hurts and sadness clouding her mind and hurting her heart, the attention she received from the male public as she passed by massaged her ego and gave her a bit more confidence. Her exotic beauty attracted the looks of many people in the village and often earned her several compliments. Despite this, she never paid attention to them, as unlike Asuma, Kurenai had an aversion to any kind of betrayal.
It hurt her that he had no consideration for her, given that they had been involved since they were thirteen, only officially starting their relationship after they turned eighteen.
Her mind wandered between her memories of that time, both good and bad. This until she felt her body collide with something medium but strong enough to knock her down. Still dazed from the fall, she felt two hands gently supporting her, and then she raised her face to see who was helping her, finding it to be a blonde teenager.
He couldn't have been more than seventeen years old, with quite unruly blonde hair, three faint whisker-like marks on each cheek, and intense, penetrating blue eyes.
Such a look made her lose herself in them.
They conveyed so much security, care, and concern that she let herself be carried away by them until his voice brought her back to reality:
- I'm sorry, I was in such a hurry that I didn't see you passing by. Are you okay? - The blonde teenager asked with concern to the brunette.
- Yes, I'm fine... don't worry. - She replied, getting up with his help and giving him a grateful smile.
- Good to hear. - The boy said, giving a wide smile that captivated her. Unlike many boys his age who pretended to be serious, here was someone who didn't mind showing how he felt. - Again, I'm sorry for knocking you over, and excuse me, I'm in a bit of a hurry. Goodbye! - The blonde finally said, giving a playful bow like a knight to a queen, leaving the Jounnin immediately blushing from the scene and the unaccustomed directness of it all.
The woman watched the teenager walk away, her cheeks still slightly flushed, with a smile that brightened her day and cut through all her earlier melodrama. She continued to her destination, intrigued. How could a fifteen- to seventeen-year-old boy affect her so much that she couldn't forget those vivid blue eyes, sincere smile, and his warm and welcoming presence, like a hug from the sun itself?
She was so distracted that she didn't realize she had arrived at her destination and was already standing before the Hokage. He looked at her, noticing the kunoichi's distraction, and then inquired:
- Is there a problem, my dear? - Hiruzen asked the red-eyed brunette.
- No, Hokage-sama. - She replied, still a bit thoughtful. - Nothing you need to worry about.
- Alright. - The Sandaime said, exhaling a puff from his pipe. - I called you here because I have a proposal to make.
- I'm all ears. - The Jounnin said, paying attention.
- Do you know Uzumaki Naruto?
- I've heard some things about him. - She replied, thinking about the blonde she had just bumped into. - In fact, I think I just ran into him, but he seems older and more mature than they say. - She finished with a laugh, considering how unique those eyes were in the village.
- Hum... great, and what is your opinion of him?
- Well, he seems like a good boy, except for the fact that he threw the whole organization into chaos with his pranks of painting the Hokage monument and incredibly showing speed and dexterity to escape from all the squads... as far as I remember, there are even some training missions from the agency that Kakashi-san said were related to improving physical conditioning. - Kurenai laughed at the absurd idea she had heard back then, but from her Hokage's laugh, it seemed it wasn't that far from the truth. - Honestly, I don't understand how people can be so hostile to him, given that he doesn't resemble the being he carries inside him in any way, both in appearance and actions. And even if we follow the path of the tailed beast risk, it's rather irrational to make an enemy of the one who prevents the real evil from befalling our village. - The Jounnin finally said, as the Hokage pulled a document from his desk, fully satisfied with the response and still never understanding the villagers' logic of acting prejudiced against someone who could unleash a mass of raging chakra driven by animosity or outright hatred.
- I'm glad you think that way... - The Hokage began with a slight smile, then continued. - Because the proposal I'm going to make to you is to marry him. - Sarutobi said bluntly, leaving Yuhi staring at him in confusion.
- You're joking, right?
- No, I'm not! In fact, this is a crucial matter for the village, being decisive to further strengthen our military power in this great crisis. - The Hokage immediately replied.
- But he's only thirteen, and I understand that shinobi adulthood is upon graduating from the ninja academy. From what I heard, he failed the Gennin exam. Why would I want to marry him? What led you to make this proposal to me?
- Naruto... as you may have heard, stole the sealing scroll last night, which belonged to the Second Hokage, under the influence of one of the academy instructors, Mizuki.
- Iruka, another of Naruto's instructors, found him in the forest, and before he could do anything, he and Naruto were attacked by Mizuki. During the fight between the two Chunnins, Mizuki revealed to Naruto that he was the jailer of the Kyuubi no Youko (Nine-Tails Fox).- Hiruzen explained, sighing. - He was very shaken and, for a moment, even hated the village... but Iruka protected him and showed him that there were still people who cared about him, that the ninja side of the village did not hate him like the civilian side. This gave him more confidence, and then he faced Mizuki to protect Iruka, who had been severely injured.
- During the fight, Naruto awakened a rare Doujutsu from the Uzumaki clan, which consequently also activated the bloodlines from his father's side, giving him an enhanced body, as you saw minutes ago.
- And since he is the last living Uzumaki, it was decided that he would be allowed to practice polygamy here in the village, with the aim of reviving his clan, which is why your name came up as a candidate to be his first wife," the Hokage concluded, exhaling smoke from his pipe.
- And why me? There are so many kunoichi in the village his age. - Kurenai asked, puzzled but not agitated, showing her ability to handle complicated situations without being shaken.
- First, the initial wives need to be adults of childbearing age, to start producing heirs as quickly as possible.
- And we need high-caliber ninja skills to protect and train him, since besides his bloodline, he also carries a very powerful Bijuu that will surely be the target of enemies' ambition. - Sarutobi said, exhaling another puff from his pipe. - In other words, trustworthy kunoichi are necessary, and I trust you blindly. - Sarutobi concluded, seeing the young woman smile.
- Besides, I know very well what you've been through at the hands of my son. I apologize for his behavior; I know I didn't raise him that way. Perhaps the loss of his mother in the past disaster, and my incompetence in raising a son, led to this outcome... but if I can change anything with my position as Hokage, this is the way I found.
- It's all right, Hokage-sama. Don't worry about it. - Kurenai said gently. - But regarding Naruto, this isn't an easy decision. Do I need to give you an answer now? - She finally asked.
- No, my dear... if you want, you can take some time to think about it, as Naruto himself stressed that he won't marry anyone who isn't fully in agreement or comfortable with it. - Hiruzen explained calmly. - Take all the time you need! Although I must ask that if you consider accepting, come to my office before 8:00 PM, so I can finalize all the documents at twilight to prevent my advisors from trying to force anything prematurely.
- All right. Excuse me, Hokage-sama. - She said, bowing slightly and then turning to leave. She stopped before reaching the door, seeming thoughtful, then turned back to the Hokage. - Where could I find Naruto? I want to observe him without his knowledge; maybe that will help me decide more quickly.
- At this hour, he should be training in the secret location I provided for him. It's an old training area used by previous Hokages, decommissioned because it's too far from the village center. - Hiruzen explained seriously, and the Jounnin understood to keep it secret. - There he can train without being disturbed by civilians and can be watched more securely by my chosen escorts.
- I'll send an ANBU agent, to accompany you to the destination. - The Hokage said, snapping his fingers, and a bat-masked agent appeared kneeling before him. - Kira, could you take Kurenai to Naruto's training location?
- Hai, Hokage-sama! Kurenai-san, please follow me. - He requested, and then they both disappeared in clouds of smoke.
- "Well, Naruto-kun... the first step has been taken. Now it's up to you." - The Hokage thought, exhaling another puff from his pipe.
And with that, I conclude the first chapter of The Chronicles of the Wind. Many of you may have read the old version by the original author, while others may not even be aware that the original author passed this story on to me to continue.
Well, to start with, I want to inform everyone that I've been creating some fanfics on this site for a while now. Initially, I started being active because I was in high school and unemployed, but now things have changed a lot.
I'm employed, I have a girlfriend, and a dog. It's really complicated to maintain a good flow of postings when my focus is on my reality.
Anyway, I'm announcing that I'll be posting this fanfic weekly, and in case of any problems, I'll post a notice that will always be deleted when I upload a new chapter.
I hope everyone is enjoying this new interaction in the story, the references I made to other Doujutsus from other authors' fanfics, and how I'm approaching the events.
Soon you'll see great differences from version 1.0, so I just ask for your support in the comments, whether it's criticism, opinions, ideas, compliments, or insults haha.
I really would love to see everyone interacting in the comments, as it is my only source of inspiration to continue posting this fanfic.
Anyway, I really hope you're enjoying it, and don't forget to comment.
I'll respond to everyone below, you guys are awesome, see you soon. XD
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Fuuma-Shuriken:
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Hitai-ate:
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Solar Spheres:
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Kawarini:
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Shuriken Kage Bunshin:
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Kage Bunshin:
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Arctic Breath:
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