Konoha, Training Ground 17
Sakumo stood in the clearing, donned in a green chunin vest. His left arm bore a distinctive red sleeve emblazoned with the flame crest of the Hokage's ceremonial robe. A short blade was strapped to his back, perfectly centered.
His face, unremarkable and devoid of expression, could easily be mistaken for that of an ordinary man. Yet, everyone present understood the truth—he was anything but ordinary. This was a man as dangerous as an unsheathed blade waiting to strike.
Naruto's indifferent gaze flickered briefly with curiosity. To wear the Hokage's robe, even partially, while holding the rank of jonin was no trivial matter. "功高震主 (A servant overshadowing his master)," the phrase echoed in Naruto's mind.
If things continued as they were, it was only a matter of time before Sakumo was named the Fourth Hokage after the Third stepped down. However, Naruto's memories of the original timeline told a different story. Based on Kakashi's recollections, Sakumo, unable to bear the humiliation of being dishonored, eventually took his own life.
Naruto connected the dots—this smear campaign had Danzo's fingerprints all over it. After all, Danzo was notorious for his schemes.
But now Danzo was dead. Would that change everything?
---
[Ding! Character quest triggered…]
[Quest Objective: Defeat Sakumo Hatake.]
[Quest Reward: Three-Tomoe Sharingan.]
As Naruto pondered Sakumo's fate, the crisp voice of the system echoed in his mind. His gaze shifted, scanning Sakumo from head to toe.
"Does Sakumo even have Uchiha blood?" Naruto mused skeptically. Perhaps the system's judgment was influenced by lineage.
Still, the reward was too tempting to ignore. "Guess I can't hold back now," he thought.
Sarutobi, standing between the two, raised his hand before declaring, "Begin!"
Naruto and Sakumo's eyes locked. The intensity in their gazes was palpable.
---
The two figures blurred as they clashed, their movements too fast for most to follow. The sharp sounds of fists meeting flesh filled the training ground, echoing with each exchange.
To Kushina and Mikoto, the duel appeared evenly matched. But Sarutobi, seasoned from decades of combat, knew better.
From the way the fight progressed, Naruto was at a disadvantage. Despite their equally flawless taijutsu, Sakumo's larger frame gave him an endurance advantage. If this stalemate continued, Naruto would be the first to fall.
Naruto frowned, frustrated by the limitations of his smaller body. Each strike he launched required redirecting Sakumo's power before counterattacking—a tactic that drained stamina quickly.
---
Sakumo aimed a powerful kick, forcing Naruto to retreat. Sliding back, Naruto's heels carved deep grooves into the ground.
"Not bad, kid," Sakumo said, pausing to catch his breath. "To think you could hold your own in taijutsu against someone who single-handedly fended off a squad from Kumogakure."
Naruto, panting heavily, smirked. "Sakumo-senpai, has anyone ever told you you're terrible at giving compliments?"
Sakumo paused, genuinely taken aback. After a moment of thought, he replied, "No, I don't think anyone has."
Naruto chuckled wryly. "Well, my bad for pointing out the obvious truth."
He weaved hand signs at lightning speed. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball roared forth, heading straight for Sakumo.
Sakumo's eyes gleamed with approval. "Switching from taijutsu to ninjutsu? A wise move." But his tone shifted. "Still, this level of ninjutsu won't work on me."
---
In one fluid motion, Sakumo unsheathed the short blade on his back. It was plain and unadorned, like something forged by a blacksmith for common use. But in Sakumo's hands, it was anything but ordinary.
The fireball hurtled towards him, illuminating the training ground. Yet Sakumo made no attempt to dodge. Gripping the hilt tightly, his blade began to glow faintly with blue chakra. With a single slash, he cleaved the fireball in half, dispersing it into smoke.
As the dense smoke enveloped the field, Naruto seized the opportunity. He hurled a Flying Thunder God kunai towards Sakumo.
At Sakumo's level, pinpointing an incoming projectile by sound alone was second nature. With precise timing, he deflected the kunai effortlessly.
"Here's my chance!" Naruto thought, activating the Flying Thunder God Technique.
---
In a flash, Naruto appeared mid-air behind Sakumo, his long blade arcing toward the older man's neck.
Sakumo's eyes narrowed. "The Flying Thunder God Technique… so it's true!"
Reacting instinctively, he raised his short blade to block. The clash of steel resounded as sparks flew between the two weapons.
---
"Naruto's amazing! Did you see that, Mikoto? He's holding his own against the legendary White Fang!" Kushina exclaimed, gripping Mikoto's shoulders and shaking her with excitement.
Mikoto groaned. "I see it, I see it! Stop shaking me—I'm getting dizzy!"
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