A single tomoe Sharingan has the less than all-powerful benefit of enhanced vision and photographic memory. It also provides a faster signal between eye and brain. While a distinct leg up over a normal eye, it pales in comparison to the 2-tomoe or 3-tomoe.
Nevertheless, I currently have only the one tomoe, so I shall use it to my advantage.
And so as long as I am able I keep it activated, as I read, and as I train, but not while in school, ever. Call it keeping secrets, but I find no purpose in flaunting to my classmates my soon to be technique-stealer.
And so they know nothing of the red eye that only Uchiha carry, Kakashi not nearly on a team with Minato as sensei yet.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
"Hello, Namikaze-san what can I help you with?" Truly, it's not often the blond approaches me
"I request a spar, to test myself against you." He's not the first to say something along those lines; I think I understand Shikamaru a bit better now.
"You think you're up for it, peon?"
"Of course! I'm going to be Hokage!" Yay for you, you didn't add the ever disappointing 'when I grow up'.
"That is acceptable, where shall I find you when the time is for our fight?"
"Uhh," He rubbed his neck hair in a suspiciously sheepish manner, "I haven't picked a spot yet."
"You asked me without arranging a place of confrontation? You could have chosen ground that favored you."
"I didn't think you'd actually agree." At least you're honest, little one.
"So you came with no expectation of success, how brave."
"Anyway, I know a good spot."
"So do I, Konoha has plenty of open spaces for ninja to fight, and plenty of forested places too."
"Then after you."
"I merely stated I knew places to confuse you, you are still the host and must still find the field of confrontation."
"Right." I am being rather difficult aren't I?
After school I followed the young Minato to a wide, open area with zero trees, an amazing feat for a place like Konoha.
"Rules?"
"Anything you got but no weapons." Good-bye then, future Hokage.
"In that case, please let me know when to begin." Minato really is quite adventurous, inviting me to a completely private spar like this.
"Hajime!" He yelled and stood stock still. I looked at his feet, clever boy.
"Did you think that would work?" I asked as I turned around to face a charging Minato.
"No!" From the side! Double clever.
"You shouldn't have revealed your position." Were my words to the almost sickly looking boy as I slammed my foot into his gut. Kawarimi?
"Smart, you impress me Minato."
"Hyaah!" A drop kick? Naïve. The kick walloped where 'I' stood. Causing the bunshin to fade as the ruse was revealed; however, it seemed Minato compensated and his landing was not affected.
I looked straight into his eyes, launching an E-rank genjutsu.
"Everything… is yellow?" He asked as I gave him a yellow smile.
He jumped back as he cried his defiance, "Kai!"
"Close, but no miso." It sounds funny I admit but 'no cigar' isn't a saying here.
I had circled around at my fastest pace as soon as the genjutsu was laid, leaving a bunshin to act like me.
I punched quickly as he made a hasty defense and I bemoaned the fact that weapons were not allowed.
He somersaulted backwards to absorb the force and I knew better than to follow after.
"Try this for size, Namikaze." Three hand-seals later I was surrounded by ten bunshin. We each cracked our neck and took a stance, ready to pounce on the little boy who dared to challenge our superiority.
I wove in and out of the bunshin as I advanced, Minato blocking illusory punches all the while. I went to his left as the other ten each took an angle, as one we jumped in each in a slightly different pose.
The orphan blocked me, I narrowed my eyes.
"I can sense you."
"Of course, I forgot that you were a sensor."
"Forgot?"
"Forgot, didn't know, no matter." I went through hand-seals slowly behind my back.
"Is that right?"
"That's right, I shouldn't try this on you but, I will." I launched my Phoenix Sage Fire and the young boy, limiting the power so that it would not be fatal.
"Holy! I didn't know you had stuff like that!"
"Everyone learns, this may hurt so please dodge my friend."
Instead he charged straight at my fireballs hitting the dirt as he got close. If I had my Sharingan activated I could have reacted in time but as it was the fire impacted the ground.
I lurched forward to take the battle to close range, engaging the future Hokage in fierce taijutsu.
"I see you know your academy taijutsu well Minato-san, allow me to show you something more."
I switched to the almost unfamiliar interceptor style, speeding through the practiced moves too fast for the surprised blond to react.
I finished the combo with a left legged kick, finally downing my opponent. I offered my hand to the orphan.
"You impressed me, Minato-san."
"Thanks! Just call me Minato."
"Then I suppose it's polite for me to let you call me Nanashi."
"Of course, Nanashi."
"You ok?"
"Just a few bruises."
"Works for me, you live at the orphanage, yes?"
"Yeah, until I'm a genin at least."
"If you require no aid to proceed to your residence I shall leave you now." I love talking funny.
"I'm fine, Nanashi, see you tomorrow."
"Indeed, live long and prosper." Inside jokes are the best kind, yes?
Minato took off in the direction of what I knew was the orphanage, and I left for my own home.
"Mother, I have returned." I greeted said female figure.
"Welcome back Nana-chan."
"I need to go wash up; I hope to see you later."
"Of course, no problem."
I went to the bath that we owned and relaxed in its soothing embrace. And my thoughts turned to the ever present question, why?
Why did I try so hard to get stronger? Was it because there were few books and no internet? Was it because it was the path of least resistance? Or was it because I was naïve enough to believe I could really change a thing?
It was a question only I could answer, which didn't reassure me.
I needed a confidant, someone I could trust with my knowledge, but there was no one.
Minato was no good, if I told him his sense of justice would end him or me in the loony bin. And if not that; then the course of events would be altered too significantly by his own machinations.
My own family could… this discussion was useless; I'd never trust myself to tell anyone this, or trust anyone enough to tell them it either.
I removed myself from the bath after I had spent sufficient time and effort to become clean. I looked at my right hand, activating my Sharingan as I did so. I clenched the hand hard as I gazed upon it intensely, making a solid fist.
I loosened the hand and clenched it once more, again not moving my eyes.
I was determined; I knew I was; I only went through this little ritual when I was. But then, what was I determined to do?
I needed a goal, something I would fight for and protect. What would it be? My arrogant clan? The self-righteous Konoha and its citizens?
No, I needed something more… worthy.
I punched the wall before clothing myself in the Uchiha style I owned; I looked at the fan on the back of the jacket before shrugging and putting it on.
Perhaps some carving would release some of my useless questions back to where they belonged.
I informed my mother that I would be in the Uchiha training ground with the most trees and brought my shorter whip and my kunai and shuriken.
I cut down a branch with my sharpest kunai and began peeling the bark five inches from one end. I then sharpened the bark-less end quickly.
I grabbed the crude representation of a medieval sword and experimentally swung it, smiling nostalgically as I did so. Sword-fights with wooden sticks seemed so long ago.
I stabbed it into the ground and then wrapped my whip around it. I pulled back suddenly and with force, causing the sword to go flying behind me.
I put my hand down to my pouch and then whipped my arm out throwing two shuriken at once. They both flew true and impacted into a large tree, close to each other.
I picked my whip back up and began swinging it around cracking and curling it at will, until a tree branch interfered that is.
Something I'd have to work on.
XXX
I have come to the realization that whips are far from deadly, the most damage it can do is severe bleeding and poking eyes out, it's next to impossible to remove limbs with it.
That, however, is somewhat beside the point, the point is… Today I get to fight Hiashi.
I stepped into the arena as my stoic dark-haired opponent walked in calmly on the opposite end.
"I look forward to a good match, Hyuuga-san."
"I will not hesitate, Uchiha-san." Well, that's good and all, but Jyuuken strikes are not allowed in the academy.
"Begin!"
I took the academy stance and my opponent took a modified version of it.
I began the first engagement by charging low with a tackle, with the intention of bringing Hiashi to the ground.
The Hyuuga nimbly dodged to the side but had no method of countering me. I stood up straighter and attempted a punch.
Hiashi used his right hand and deflected my strike, countering with his left. I kicked, letting the Hyuuga's attack land as my own did so.
Each of us stumbled back, but he more so. I smirked widely before tripping in the loose dirt of the taijutsu ring, as expected; Hiashi came in with a small axe kick.
The smooth-haired youngster was taken by surprise as I aimed a kick at his open groin. He widened his eyes at my dirty tactics and retreated before great pain came, putting his hands down in a guarding fashion as he did so.
"I didn't realize you were so dishonorable, Uchiha."
"I'm a ninja, even if only in training."
"I see." He lowered into an impressive natural pose.
However he was far to stoic and stringent to lower his guard, so there was no way I would fall for it.
His eyes took a calculating gleam, before the veins around them bulged grotesquely.
"Adults and children! Isn't that over board Hiashi?" I asked.
"I think not, considering your own condition." The Byakugan can see it? Very interesting.
"I don't need such tricks to beat you," I glanced meaningfully at the watchers.
"I see; arrogance." Harsh, although perhaps true.
My one major advantage remains, he won't use Jyuuken strikes in academy spars.
"Get it on or I'll be forced to call the match a draw!" The teacher was right; the academy has limited time for all these spars.
I quickly shifted to the interceptor style and jumped in. Right hook, left straight, spin kick, jump back.
Nothing, the Byakugan really can see 360 degrees. However, it doesn't give the almost predictive powers of the Sharingan.
I jumped forward with an extending kick but Hiashi easily countered.
I'll keep it close then.
I punched and used my elbows, keeping me feet on the ground so that he had no chance to jump back. The speed of the Hyuuga hand was put to the test, and it won out, clearly Hiashi was getting ready to learn that 2, 4, 8… 64 technique.
"I concede; your Byakugan is too much for me." I bowed in surrender as he in return bowed in respect.
Later I saw Hiashi looking at his slightly purple arms in wonder, I smiled at that.
XXXX
To start making my own jutsu, I needed plenty of chakra, and tons of chakra control.
Well, tons may be an exaggeration but I did need more than I had. So, make up stuff or go with what we know? Tree-walking it is.
Tree-walking can be learned in a few hours so I'm not worried about the ordeal.
I went to where Hiroshi-sensei and I usually trained and picked a tree to abuse. Chakra in the feet, to stick to the tree; Kakashi said that a running start would help, and I doubt he'd sabotage his cute genin's training.
The kunai to mark distance would be forgone though.
One awkward landing later and I was second guessing; it'd be much easier to just wait.
No! Giving up is for wimps, I should not admit that I am, indeed, a wimp. Perception is ninety-nine percent of reality they say.
Run at the tree put one foot, golly half my trouble stems from the fact that when I run at a tree I put just one foot on and then jump off. I never knew I'd be conquering this old habit.
But if I stuck the first foot on then I could not jump off, this would be my goal.
Three hours and some wounds later I had done enough to satisfy myself and I went in for supper.
One dinner of yakitori later and I was in my library.
I looked through book titles and scrolls but couldn't find anything that I hadn't read that interested me.
Perhaps some wandering was in order.
I exited the house; the days were plenty long so I had at least two hours left before dark.
It's never struck me before but I'm actually quite high strung aren't I? I notice when people in the crowded streets of Konoha walk within fifteen feet of me.
The percent of ninja is quite high in Konoha, one in seven persons are shinobi. Grim faced war veterans and cheerful youngsters, scarred but still not jaded middle aged men, patriots and…
Pale skin, dark hair, yellow eyes; where do I recognize that from? I got it, only one person answers that description, Orochimaru.
Had he started his experiments yet? On that note, you can't really blame him for his rather distasteful methods. He had no god, no higher law, and no constitution to prevent it.
Indeed, in a secular view what he did was even commendable; he preserved higher learning and advanced technology after all.
As far as I know Konoha has no bill of rights, if it does then he would be punishable by law, if not… then no.
The same could hardly be said for Danzo. He was a thief and an old man set in non-progressive ways, truly an abomination to liberals. Indeed, he made no move to 'better mankind' instead he was a long term visionary, a nationalist so whole-heartedly for his home country that he would listen to none but himself.
Orochimaru was… looking at me. He still wore a jonin flak jacket at this point.
I narrowed my eyes back at him; I doubt he'd even begun his delving into the mysteries of his body possession technique. Still, one could never be too careful.
He moved over in my direction, "Kukuku, you're the one they call the next genius? Interesting."
"Why would you be interested in me, Orochimaru-sama?" My eyes were still narrowed and I was ready to draw my kunai at the slightest provocation.
"A doujutsu is always interesting, especially with such a curious wielder, we'll meet again, Nanashi-kun." He left me and as I watched his back he walked away in his own slithering style.
Well, Orochimaru knew about me then? He won't try anything for now, he's a discreet person. Well, until he's ready for the big reveal, then his arrogance can kill him.
It seems Jiraiya is not in the village and I'm not going to be bothered to ask after Tsunade.
When you think about it it's really quite remarkable. Shikaku is around my age, which means many years shall pass before the big stuff happens, not to take away from the 3rd shinobi war, but the 4th is so much more.
Perhaps I can prevent Naruto being born? No, there is no need, all I need to do is help out Nagato so that he does not become Pein, and stop Obito from getting crushed by rocks.
Not that it'd be so simple, I was unaware of the events surrounding both happenings, going to Ame and killing Hanzo before Yahiko died could work, but I was nowhere near strong enough to try that.
As for Obito… sometime when he was on Minato's team and in the 3rd shinobi war, nearer to the end, was all I knew.
So no, not at all simple, I would need a capable sensei, someone as strong as a Sannin.
This was a serious dilemma, only about five available people qualified for that.
Danzo, the Sannin themselves, and Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi was unavailable because of his duties as Hokage.
The Edo Tensei could provide me with the Shodaime or Tobirama but I was unable and unwilling to use it.
Being on Minato's team with Jiraiya could work, but I doubt if I really want that. Orochimaru… he could be useful, very useful, but Tsunade, there was no way I would be learning advanced medical techniques, if I could get ahold of Kabuto's method then I would be happy.
And Sakumo, he was most certainly plausible; I knew little of him, not nearly enough to fill me with bias so I was more than prepared to study under him. Danzo was extremely unlikely, he was probably far too busy founding Root and playing around politically to take a genin team.
However, it was far more likely that I'd be landed with a no-name jonin that isn't weak at all but is in no way famous. The library would be my friend after I had learned all I could from Hiroshi-sensei.
I walked back home, I had not spent more than an hour in the city, judging by the position of the sun in the sky.
XXX
The most diverse and all-around ninja art had to be fuinjutsu. I'm forgetting something though aren't I?
I am already aware that few have talent and fewer still have the patience for it. I'm also aware of the possibility of destroying myself with seals.
In fact, I have a fairly good understanding of the whole situation if you ask me. So what was it?
Uzumaki seal-masters… Mito! That's what I was forgetting, Mito was still alive. If I could become her unlikely student, could I learn more than otherwise possible?
Still, I find it hard to believe that she'd train me, an Uchiha of all things, in the sealing arts. She probably dislikes the clan as a whole since the entire thing with Madara.
Nevertheless, I would not admit defeat until it was sealed with Mito's own insignia. I would find the red-head and ask her, if she refused, so be it.
It took me little more than five minutes to learn that Mito lived outside Konoha proper, almost two hours walk away in fact. Probably a precaution, since if the seal failed the Kyuubi would be released. Or was it because Konoha held only sad memories for her?
I steeled myself and went out to the country house she lived in.
As embarrassing as it may be, I walked straight into the barrier that surrounded the place.
Soon the owner came out of the house, wearing talismans upon both ears as adornment.
"Are you lost, child?" She may have been old but her beauty had not yet faded, her hair still as red as it had been many years before.
"I," I composed myself, "I am not, Mito-sama. My name is Uchiha Nanashi and I came seeking instruction in the sealing arts."
"Of your own will or because your family sent you?"
"Of my own will." I held her gaze.
"I have no interest in passing on my secrets boy, let alone to an Uchiha."
"I see, I shall return tomorrow to see if you have reconsidered."
"I won't."
"It matters little, I said I shall return and so I shall, good-day Mito-sama."
I had been prepared for it to go worse, but this was not unexpected.
If Mito had no intention of passing on her arts –and I doubt she lied- then what of the Kyuubi? When Kushina died, what then?
Had she truly thought that the little brat I went to school with could calm Kurama's great hate? It seems I am not the only hopeful one.
XXX
"Hey clan-boy, ready to lose again?"
"That was two days ago and I lost to Hyuuga Hiashi-san."
"The other clan brat? Yeah, that's what I meant."
"It seems you over-estimate the class Uzumaki-san, I can count those who could best me in this room on one hand."
I stepped to the side as dirty water poured down on where I usually sat.
"Really, Uzumaki? That's the third time; conversation to distract me won't help you." I nimbly jumped up as an arrow with some kind of putrid material on the end whizzed past.
"Che!" She looked away, her red hair swaying lazily behind her as she did so.
"Namikaze! Look out when you sit down." I informed Minato as he somewhat sleepily walked in.
"Huh? Oh."
The same dirty water that tried to soak me was also avoided by the blond.
"You ruin everything all the time, eye-freak."
"Are my eyes freakily good or are you just scared of unnatural eyes?"
"I ain't scared of your freaky eyes, clan-boy."
"Then I stand answered, my eyes are freakily good." Word games are easier and more fun than pranks any day.
"Stop arguing….." The teacher trailed off looking at each student's forehead in disbelief. Okay, maybe pranks are fun to.
On every single students forehead there were the words 'I hate you sensei', at least, in the said teacher's eyes.
"Sensei? What's wrong?" Mebuki was the speaker.
Aoki Yoshiro rubbed his eyes and blinked twice and then looked at my almost smirking face. He narrowed his eyes and called, "Kai!"
"Uchiha Nanashi, detention!"
"What for?"
"For placing a genjutsu on your teacher."
"I didn't do any such thing, and I will be most offended for the sake of students everywhere if you punish me for something you cannot even say I did." Ok that was a blatant lie, but I got to practice some time.
"You're the only kid here who can even use genjutsu."
"And how do you know that this so-called genjutsu was placed on you inside this room!?"
"I… I don't."
"So do I still have detention?"
"No, you weaseled out of this one, but I'll be watching you."
I made the most righteously offended and disbelieving face I could possibly muster, aiming it straight at the almost-sorry teacher. Making faces is super effective!
It was a harmless prank anyway, unless he's one of those dudes who commit suicide when idiot kids say, 'I hate you!'
History was first today, and then a taijutsu lecture, which most kids thought was useless; I found the philosophy and uses of hand-to-hand combat intriguing.
Then was sparring, I was against some no-name that was easily crushed, my thoughts too occupied to show mercy.
School ended, at length, and I immediately made my way to Uzumaki Mito's residence, to ask her opinion now that she had slept on it.
"I have returned for your answer." I informed the eldest red-head I knew of.
"First, come inside where we can talk."
She didn't immediately turn me away, that can only mean good things.
"Why do you wish to know fuinjutsu?"
"I want to expand my capabilities, I find fuinjutsu intriguing."
"What is your view of it?"
"There is no view of it; if one views it in a manner they limit its potential." Hopefully a philosophical answer can impress her. Though the fact I took a whole fifteen seconds to make that up won't.
"How much do you know about fuinjutsu, Uchiha child?"
"The wise man knows that he knows nothing, I may not be wise but I know this."
She smiled, "That's all well and good, but how much do you know?"
"It uses Kanji and lines, ink and chakra, sometimes blood, and can seal even tailed beasts, like the one in your gut." If that's not common knowledge I may have just dug my own grave.
"The one in my gut?"
"The Kyuubi."
"I see; I wasn't aware that kids your age were privy to such information."
"I'm not, but I have my methods. In any case, fuinjutsu is easily the most diverse and difficult of the ninja arts."
"Indeed it is, as I said though, I have no intention of passing on my secrets."
"You know too much, don't you? If someone had your skill but no morals… you shudder to think what could be done."
"Yes, that is correct, and so I shall take my knowledge with me to the grave."
"I shall respect your wishes, Mito-sama."
"One little tip for you, don't limit yourself, and by no means limit fuinjutsu."
"I shall remember, live well and farewell, we probably won't meet again." I left, then, disappointed that I could not be taught by the most legendary sealer, but glad I had at least tried.
If I were to learn the art I would need to use the library, if Tenten could use basic fuinjutsu by fourteen, so could I.
I made my way to the Archive, as it was called, to see if they had anything useful for a clan-boy like me.
"Excuse me, librarian, but where can I find some texts on fuinjutsu? My name is Uchiha Nanashi, pleased to meet you."
"Ninja ID?"
"I'm an academy student, I don't have one."
"E-rank texts are all I can show you then, and fuinjutsu is a D-rank skill at the lowest rung."
"I assure you, I am a D-rank ninja, I can demonstrate if you wish."
The man shrugged in a 'lead the way' fashion, obviously willing to make the exception if I succeeded.
"Katon: Great Fireball!" I yelled for the man to hear as I blew a fireball into the sky harmlessly outside.
"How old are you, kid?"
"Seven," I answered innocently.
"I tell you what kid; I'll let you look over any D-rank stuff you like."
"Thank you very much, sir."
"Not an issue, Uchiha-kun, I'll write you up a permission slip."
We went back inside and he grabbed a blue credit card looking thing and wrote my name on it, took a picture, and then signed it himself.
"Have fun kid, and don't blow yourself up."
"I will take your kind words to heart."
I found what I was looking for, a book on fuinjutsu, D-rank of course.
Fuinjutsu for Dummies, somebody has a sense of humor.
I checked it out for a few ryo and took it home.
"What book is that, otouto?"
"Fuinjutsu book, Nii-san."
"First whips and now sealing, what next, a flying technique?"
"That's a really swell idea, flying sounds good; in fact, I bet I know a way to make it work." In theory flying in a chakra dense world should be easy with enough chakra, simply convert chakra to fire nature and use that like a jet engine. Or use wind chakra on your body directly to elevate yourself.
"You and your science bunk."
"Just because I know a way doesn't mean the way is easy, it won't be happening for a while." I mean really, the Land of Sky needed the whole Zero-tails to work, although a one-man scheme should take much less effort.
Plus, I'm not even sure if the Land of Sky even existed in Naruto-verse, could be a product of fan-fiction. But I doubt it.
Two Months Later
The fuinjutsu book, while thick, only provided scant knowledge about the subject as a whole. But it was useful, I have learned that fuinjutsu is more complicated than High-school as a collective heap, and biology sucks.
The book, however, did highlight how to make a storage scroll, something very useful, as well as the common explosive note as examples.
Making chakra ink was taught and with my Sharingan it was easy to copy the explosive note and make another. Let it never be said that my explosive notes don't work.
By far the most interesting, however, was the fact that you could make your own seals, though great care was needed, by linking together Kanji. A practical example is this, right here in my hand.
My first original seal it stores only water. Liquid storage has always been an issue with the common storage scroll, but behold! With this, my glorious invention, even storing blood for times of war shall be made possible!
Now it's time to test it.
I presented my scroll to the river that was near Konoha, activating it and plunging it underwater as I did so. Lo and behold, the water that came in contact with the seal disappeared.
I removed the scroll from the river and stopped channeling chakra to it. With this Suiton users everywhere shall worship me!
The scroll started to fall apart, turning as liquid as the water it contained.
Well, perhaps they won't.
Still, it did work, if only temporarily, and I am unharmed so that can only be a good thing. I only need a way to stabilize the scroll itself while not interfering with the liquid storing function.
Aha! A stability seal somewhere else on the scroll, that should do it.
Unfortunately this also yielded lack of success, the scroll took forever to open and close and way too much chakra to be useable.
But it worked, and that is what counts. I'll keep a storage scroll for water on me at all times, never know when you'll need to douse a fire.
While I was eager to sell the scroll, I knew it would be useless to Konoha as it is; the number of Suiton users was too low and the chance of Kiri getting their hands on it too high.
Perhaps if I limited the stability seal more?
As it turned out when I linked twelve limiters to the stability seal I could store about twenty liters of water at once without the scroll turning to liquid and releasing its contents. This was optimum as the delays were, at this point, negligible.
The chakra cost was still a little high for my tastes, but anybody could handle it.
The fact that the more water the scroll contained the more prone it was to becoming like water opened up a serious fact: fuinjutsu did not make sense.
However it might be more proper to say, "Fuinjutsu makes its own sense, you just have to understand it." Which is easy to say but hard to do, reason being; fuinjutsu is no ninja art; it is its own thing, not created by man, only discovered by him.
Perhaps writing was originally only used for seal-making? It's intriguing but irrelevant.
This all took ten days of testing to discover. And, looking back, I can see why fuinjutsu is unpopular; it takes hours to create a single reliable seal and days to create a simple new one. It's known that Minato spent four years on the Hiraishin, and I'm fairly sure he had Tobirama's notes for the technique.
XXX
To the great consternation of our class, a certain orphan blond is rising up the hierarchy. The Hyuuga particularly seem concerned by his rising strength.
Our red-haired 'life of the classroom' however was less than impressed.
And one, two, three, "You think you're something, huh, worthless blond? I tell you what; I'll show you your place right about now."
She seemed serious, if her gait as she walked over to Minato is any method of telling.
"What is my opinion on fighting in the classroom, Uzumaki?!"
"Fighting shall be conducted outside in a proper manner, or is for combatting enemies in war time, sir!"
"That's right, and what is my expressed view of beating down fellow academy students?"
"Beating down shall not occur; rather, organized spars with a proctor of some sort shall take place."
Aoki really beat this into her huh, guess she needs it; he does seem the drill-sergeant type I guess. Still, how much detention did he give her to make her remember this junk verbatim?
"Good. Sit down class." Yoshiro has steadily become less cheerful and stricter – like military – starting this year. Must be to get it through thick genin skull, we don't allow insubordination; I mean this is an army of professional killers we're talking about.
I rolled my shoulder as I sat down, putting my feet up on the desk. It's out of character for this me, who is always polite to everyone. But hey, I have, or had, a large rebellious streak. I won't say a mile wide because that would be disparaging.
We also have the so called 'killing classes' in which you get lectured about taking life and the best way to do it. Most of the kids write it off but Mebuki took it so badly she looks queasy every time we have lectures.
It seemed like the kind of thing Tobirama would have implemented, I like the guy already.
Still today has none of that kind of thing, instead we have manners and civilian acting. Which sounds useless at first glance – and most kids here are the first glance only type – but it's actually quite useful, since it doubles as a way to spot who is a shinobi.
Today is also our 3rd kunai and shuriken throwing contest, the only reward is bragging rights unfortunately.
Kunai first, I'll be somewhere around third to last. Shin'Ichi got 4/5 and both the Hyuuga and Minato got 4.5/5 with one whole being a fatal hit and a half being a non-fatal wound.
The rest of the class mostly received 3/5, give or take one.
Isao got a three kill hits and two wounds, making his total four. And now I was up.
"Clan-boy, bet you'll miss two!"
I pressed my tongue against my bottom lip, keeping it contained within my mouth. It seems a demonstration is in order.
Stay humble, even the best can miss, and shoot! Two in the head, one in the neck, and two in the heart.
"Thank you very much." I closed my eyes and gave a head-bow to the entire class.
Still, if I were given seven kunai I would miss one out of them.
Kushina stepped up to the throwing line, the kunai I had used already returned to me.
Her anger will cloud her aim at this rate. A hot temper is truly the curse of fighters. She landed all five in the chest still, unluckily for her, two kunai missed kill zones so she ended with four out of five.
The shuriken went more poorly for me; I ended with only 3.5/5 while Minato got a lucky –by his own words- 5/5 putting him into the lead for shuriken throwing of this class.
While Kushina is still an irate red-head I dread how bad she'd be without her friend Mikoto, said black-haired individual was an Uchiha and something of an older sister figure to Kushina.
Curiously, Hiashi and Hizashi seem to have drawn closer to each other.
XXX
I went home that day less convinced of my ability to stay the top of my class next year and even this one. Maybe it's because the academy doesn't include my whip-wielding abilities and new-found fuinjutsu skills? Or is it perhaps because my age advantage is plateauing finally? No matter, pride and arrogance do not befit me and superiority is a sure-fire way to breed such things.