Konohagakure No Sato :
Uchiha Clan Compound :
Sakamoto, the man who had just pinned the Uchiha heir to the floor with such violent efficiency, stood in front of the Last survivor of the Uchiha Clan. He didn't move for a long time. The anger had drained from his face, leaving behind only the weary lines of a man who had spent too many nights awake with the ghosts of his past.
"My sister married an Uchiha," Sakamoto began, his voice barely a whisper, yet it carried to every corner of the ghost town. "She had a son. He was only two years old."
Sasuke, still reeling from the humiliation of being pinned, looked up. His eyes, usually filled with cold defiance, softened with a flicker of sudden, jarring recognition.
"When the massacre happened," Sakamoto continued, taking a shaky breath, "it wasn't just the 'clan' that died. It was my family. I have spent every day of these last few years asking the sky why you were allowed to live, while my sister, her husband, and her innocent child—who weren't even a shinobi—were slaughtered like animals."
Sasuke felt the sting of the words, but the hatred he expected to feel toward the librarian didn't come. Instead, a chilling realization took its place. He wasn't the only one left in the wake of Itachi's blade. He wasn't the only one holding a grudge against the red-eyed demon.
"In that hall, for a moment, I didn't see anything " Sakamoto admitted, his eyes finally meeting Sasuke's. "I didn't see you. I only saw the brother of a murderer. I saw the Uchiha that took everything from me. I acted without thought, clouded by a hatred I thought I had buried."
Sakamoto stepped back and did something that shocked Sasuke. He folded at the waist, performing a deep, formal bow—a veteran shinobi apologizing to a child.
"I have done an unforgivable thing to someone who is hurting just as much as I am. I apologize, Uchiha Sasuke. For what it's worth... I am sorry."
Sasuke didn't answer. He couldn't. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He saw Sakamoto's back as the man turned and walked into the shadows of the Ghost town , but the image that remained in his mind was the mention of a two-year-old child.
Minutes later, the heavy iron gates of the Uchiha Estate groaned as Sasuke kicked them open. He didn't care about the Bingo Book for a moment; he didn't care about the "Dobe" or his team. He stood in the center of the ghost town, the wind whistling through the empty streets where his people used to laugh.
"UCHIHA ITACHI!" he screamed, his voice raw and breaking. "I WILL KILL YOU!"
The scream echoed off the walls of the silent mansions. Sasuke stood there panting, the memories of the blood-stained night rushing back with new, sharper edges.
Before, his revenge was personal—a son's duty to his parents. Now, it was different. Sasuke realized Itachi hadn't just killed the Uchiha; he had severed many bonds and also hurt the entire village.
Sasuke looked down at the thick black book Naruto had tossed him. His grip tightened on the leather binding.
(There are more people like that librarian who want you dead,) Sasuke thought, his onyx eyes darkening with a fanatic resolve.
(But they won't get the chance. I won't let anyone else touch you. I will take the Uchiha's revenge with my own hands. I am the Last Uchiha... and I am your end.)
Sasuke turned and walked out of the compound, his heart a cold stone in his chest. But as he crossed the threshold of the estate, he stopped.
The silver-haired man was there.
Hatake Kakashi was leaning lazily against an ancient oak tree just outside the gates. He had his little orange book out, but he wasn't reading. He was watching Sasuke with a singular, dark eye that held a depth of understanding Sasuke wasn't prepared for.
As Sasuke approached, Kakashi slowly closed the book and tucked it into his pouch. The "lazy" aura was gone, replaced by the weight of a captain who had been waiting for his student
"You must have questions," Kakashi spoke, his voice calm and steady in the evening air.
He pushed himself off the tree and looked toward the Bingo Book clutched in Sasuke's hand, then back to the boy's eyes.
"Let's talk."
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Konoha Streets :
While the ghosts of the Uchiha clan were being stirred at the outskirts of the village, Naruto Uzumaki walked through the heart of Konoha.
The summer sun sat at its zenith, beating down on the rooftops and casting short, sharp shadows on the cobblestones. He walked with the effortless poise in a crowded Village streets , one hand tucked into his pocket, the other casually holding a slip of paper.
Naruto navigated the labyrinthine alleyways with practiced ease, eventually stopping before a shop tucked away from the main commercial thoroughfare. Above the door hung a plaque with bold, stylized lettering:
YOKAI KANVAS INK
(Here it is,) Naruto thought, his expression unreadable.
He pushed the door open, triggering a soft chime. The interior was a radical departure from the sterile order of the Academy or the dusty scent of the Archives.
The walls were a riot of color—graffiti-style murals, intricate sketches of mythical beasts, and framed photographs of finished work. In the far corner, he noticed a series of reclining chairs positioned at odd, diagonal angles—designed not for comfort, but for accessibility.
"Hello. How can I help you?"
Naruto's gaze shifted to the man behind the counter. He was an elder with shock-grey hair, but his posture lacked the frailty of age. His body was lean and well-maintained, yet it was the surface of his skin that drew the eye.
Wearing a loose, half-sleeved yukata, the man was a living masterpiece. Tattoos snaked across his neck, his chest, and even climbed halfway up his face. His fingers and palms were similarly etched, every inch of him telling a story in ink.
Without a word, Naruto produced a sealed envelope and handed it over.
The man raised an eyebrow, his tattooed hand reaching out to accept the letter. As he broke the seal and read the contents, his eyes widened in genuine surprise. He looked up, peering at Naruto over the edge of the paper.
"You asked Hattori to write this?" the man asked, his voice gravelly. "So much secrecy... just to learn how to draw tattoos?"
Naruto gave a sharp, knowing nod.
The man was Uta, a remnant of the civilian branch of the Senju Clan. During the Second Hokage's reign, many Senju had discarded their famous surname to better integrate into the village's civilian population.
Uta had chosen the path of a craftsman, a tattoo artist whose skill was legendary among those who knew where to look. The only reason a man like Hattori—a shadow of the ANBU—had a connection to a civilian tattooist was simple: they were cousins of the same generation.
"I need to keep this matter private, Boss," Naruto said, his tone lighthearted but his eyes dead serious. (It's time to develop a technique that belongs only to me.)
Uta glanced at the forehead protector tied to Naruto's arm. "Depends. When are you free, kid?"
"Most of the time," Naruto replied easily. "I'd prefer to learn between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily."
Uta didn't push for answers. In this village, everyone had a secret, and a student of Hattori's was bound to have several. "Do you want to start today?"
"That would be for the best."
The rest of the afternoon was a blur of ink and charcoal. Uta began by testing Naruto's fundamental artistic ability, fully expecting to spend weeks teaching a brat how to hold a brush.
He was quickly proven wrong.
Uta watched in stunned silence as Naruto's hand moved across the practice canvas with the terrifying precision of a master calligrapher.
Naruto wasn't just 'good'; he possessed a preternatural steadiness. When Naruto explained that he was already an expert in Fuinjutsu (Sealing Arts) and a practiced painter, the pieces finally clicked for the old Senju.
[Skill Acquired: Tattoo Artist] Note: This skill has been synthesized with [Painter] and [Calligrapher] for maximum synergy.
Thanks to his Smart Mind and Dynamic Vision, Naruto bypassed the months of fumbling that usually plagued apprentices. He understood the flow of lines, the tension of the skin, and the chemistry of the ink. By the time the sun began to set, he was already experimenting with the etching tools under Uta's watchful eye.
Naruto wiped his hands, looking at the work he had completed in just a few hours.
(At this rate, in six months, I should be ready to begin the actual project,) Naruto calculated.
Naruto decided then and there to leave five Shadow Clones at the shop daily to handle the repetitive drills, while his main body would return for the more nuanced lessons. He needed his skin to become a scroll.
"You've got a gift, kid," Uta said, leaning back and lighting a pipe. "But skin isn't paper. It breathes. It bleeds. It changes. Remember that."
"I will, Boss," Naruto replied, adjusting his jacket as he headed for the door. "See you tomorrow."
As Naruto stepped back out into the cooling evening air, he felt the weight of his various plans finally beginning to stabilize. Sasuke's matter was already handled by him and now Sasuke and Kakashi's chakra were at the same place according to his Senses.
( Must be bacause of Archives Fiasco )
Sakura was still buzzing around the Konoha streets , Sakura was a variable he would solve later,
( She still needs to be beaten by reality )
Naruto's stomach gave a final,growl. The noon heat was gone, replaced by the twilight of a village , Naruto headed towards his apartment while thinking what his clones has cooked this evening .
( I really need dinner to overwrites yesterday's Pure land Dinner )
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Konohagakure no sato :
BBq Restaurant :
While the tension simmered in the Uchiha district and ink met skin in the tattoo parlor, the rest of the graduating class had gathered to celebrate. The BBQ restaurant was thick with the scent of searing meat and the boisterous energy of youth.
Team 10—Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino—sat on one side of a long wooden table, presided over by the smoking, laid-back Asuma Sarutobi.
Directly opposite them sat Team 8—Kiba (with Akamaru), Shino, and Hinata—accompanied by the village's Genjutsu mistress, Kurenai Yuhi.
The kids were in high spirits. Choji was buried in the menu, ordering for Team 10 with surgical precision, while Kiba boisterously handled the demands for Team 8.
However, as the initial excitement of their team placements settled, the conversation naturally drifted toward the one person who had been the talk of the Academy for weeks: Naruto Uzumaki.
"Hey," Ino piped up, her extroverted nature finally winning out over her nerves. She leaned across the table, looking at the boys. "Did you guys get Naruto's gift? That 'trigger' thing?"
She had wanted to ask all morning, but the presence of the new Jonin sensei had kept her quiet. Now that she saw Asuma was relaxed and Kurenai was engaged in light conversation, she couldn't hold back.
The reaction was immediate. Shikamaru nodded lazily, Shino adjusted his glasses with a silent hum of affirmation, and Kiba let out a bark of laughter. "You bet! It's an awesome blade!" Akamaru yipped in agreement from his lap.
"Show me! Show me!" Ino demanded, her inner fangirl surfacing.
Shikamaru let out a tired sigh, muttering about how troublesome she was, but he reached into his pouch and slid a sleek, dark sheath across the table.
The chatter at the table died down as the two Jonin leaned in. They watched as Ino unsheathed a blade the size of a standard kunai, but far more elegant. Asuma whistled lowly, his eyes narrowing at the black sun mark etched between the hilt and Blade.
"That's an interesting piece of work," Asuma said, holding out a hand. "Mind if I take a look?"
Ino, noticing that the blade Shikamaru received looked far less ornate than her own, handed it over. Asuma took the weapon, feeling the balance. It was light, weighted perfectly for high-speed combat.
" Nice "
As his fingers closed around the handle, his eyes widened. He felt a familiar resonance. ( Don't tell me...)
He channeled a small pulse of chakra into the hilt. His theory was confirmed:
the handle contained a trace amount of Chakra Metal. It wasn't enough to coat the whole blade, but it was perfectly placed to act as a conductor.
(So, the chakra metal is used to send a signal to the Hiraishin seal,) Asuma realized, his mind reeling at the cost.
(The kid spent a fortune. Even a tiny amount of that metal is astronomical...Six genins... six blades... that kid just splurged at least 5 million Ryo on 'graduation gifts' for his friends.)
Asuma handed the blade to Kurenai, only to see her already holding Shino's identical dagger. She inspected the seal with a clinical eye before handing it back to the silent Aburame.
"It's impressive, right?" Kiba boasted.
Ino's chest puffed out with pride. "The boys just got the standard tactical version. Ours is... special."
Asuma smirked. "Hoh? Come on then, show us the goods."
Hinata, blushing at the attention, looked at Kurenai and shyly offered her dagger. Kurenai took it, but as her hand brushed the hilt, she stopped. The craftsmanship was on an entirely different level.
Across the table, Ino unsheathed hers for Asuma.
"Well... DAMN," Asuma blurted out, the cigarette nearly falling from his lips.
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Konohagakure NO Sato :
Next day :
Training Ground 3 :
The morning air at Training Ground 3 was crisp, biting into the skin with a pre-dawn chill that would have made a lesser shinobi shiver. Naruto sat cross-legged against the trunk of an ancient oak, his breathing rhythmic and deep.
Unlike his teammates, who were likely stumbling through their morning routines in a fog of hunger and exhaustion, Naruto was in peak condition. He had prioritized his biological clock, slipping into sleep by 7:00 PM the previous night and waking up at 4:00 AM sharp.
A nutrient-dense breakfast and a series of light calisthenics later, he had arrived at the clearing half an hour early.
(I really want to punch that man in his lazy, masked face today,) Naruto thought, his eyes closed. ( Today I shall have my revenge MUhahah)
Naruto activated his MindHub skill, the mental landscape of the training ground blooming in his consciousness. He began simulating various combat scenarios, mapping out potential traps and calculating the trajectory of Kakashi's likely movements.
Suddenly, his sensory perimeter pinged. He picked up Sasuke's familiar, jagged chakra signature—but it wasn't alone. Another presence accompanied it, one that felt like aged parchment and smoldering tobacco.
(That's the Old Man. So early...) Naruto was puzzeled but soon snorted internally. (Must be time for the 'Will of Fire' lecture..... Right on time)
Naruto remained motionless, masking his own presence as the two signatures reached the entrance of the training ground. Just as they crossed the threshold, the Hokage's massive chakra flickered and vanished, retreating back toward the administrative district. Naruto's eyes twitched with irritation.
(Just when is he going to actually talk to me about the Fourth's legacy? He even handed over that partial jutsu scroll but then went back to his usual dilly-dallying..... The indecisiveness of that man is going to be the death of this village,) Naruto mused, shaking his head.
At 5:40 AM, Sasuke finally stepped into the clearing.
Naruto didn't need his enhanced vision to see the state the Uchiha was in. Sasuke looked like he had been through a mental meat grinder. His skin was pale, his shoulders were slumped, and heavy, dark circles hung beneath his eyes like bruises.
(So this one couldn't sleep a wink,) Naruto thought. (The Bingo Book must have been a hell of a bedtime story.)
"Yo," Naruto called out, his voice cutting through the morning mist. "You good? You look ...well not good "
Sasuke's head snapped up, his eyes sharp but bloodshot. He hesitated for a second, then slowly approached the blonde. He touched the skin under his eyes instinctively, his mind flashing back to his 5:00 AM wanderings through the village.
Sasuke had been intercepted by the Third Hokage on a 'morning stroll.' The old man had spoken of bonds, of not being alone, and of the hidden ties that connected the people of Konoha. Sasuke had looked at the Old Man, then thought of Sakamoto's apology and Naruto's silent support at the estate.
"Whoa, look at those eyes," Naruto poked further, studying Sasuke's face with clinical detachment. "Couldn't sleep, eh? "
Sasuke stared at Naruto, startled by how easily the blonde deducted his state of mind. He remembered the Hokage's words: "There are many people who are your bonds, Sasuke. You are not alone." Looking at Naruto now—calm, prepared, and seemingly untouchable—Sasuke felt a reluctant surge of agreement.
"Hn," Sasuke finally grunted, though it lacked its usual bite.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'," Naruto replied, standing up and brushing the dirt from his pants. He looked toward the treeline. "So, you ready for this survival exercise? Because if you faint from exhaustion while Kakashi is trying to kill us, I'm letting Sakura carrying you "
Sasuke's jaw tightened at the mention of Pink Nuisance , The exhaustion was still there, but a spark of his usual fire returned to his eyes. "I'm ready. Just worry about yourself "
Naruto grinned, a sharp, predatory expression. "Good. Because the 'Banshee' is about 5 minutes away, and her chakra feels like a frantic mess. We're going to need all the focus we can get."
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Author's Notes -
One last Chapter for Team 7 , I can't write Fight Chapters so don't expect too much
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