A/N: This chapter might be smaller than expected ಥ_ಥ
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I made it back to the orphanage just as the sun was fully up. Nonō was already in the kitchen. She gave me a look the kind that said "I know it but I can't prove it" but didn't say anything to her.
I showered. Changed. Headed to the Academy.
My body was tired. Not wrecked, but tired. Sparring with experienced ninja at 4 AM will do that to a person. The burn on my arm was already healed, JARVIS accelerated the recovery while I walked—
«You are experiencing mild fatigue. Chakra reserves at 72%. Recommend light activity today.»
It's a school day. All I do is sit.
«Hmm. Acceptable.»
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The Classroom
Naruto was already there when I walked in. He was standing on his desk, standing on his actual desk, arguing with Kiba about something.
"RAMEN IS BETTER THAN MEAT!"
"MEAT IS BETTER THAN RAMEN, YOU NOODLE-HEADED IDIOT!"
"THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!"
"NEITHER DOES YOUR FACE!"
I walked past them. Sat down.
Sasuke was in his seat, reading a book. His hair was still the same duck-butt style. His eyes still had that intensity. But there was something different about him.
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(Quick A/N: in 3 years a some things had changed. First Mikoto being alive changed lot of things. For Example Sasuke has a mother at home, who makes him dinner, asks about his day, ect.
He's still quiet and driven, but not consumed by revenge. He doesn't isolate himself like in the original. Ryū and Sasuke had became friends slowly. Started with Sparing together in previous years, Sasuke saw Ryū was strong and it became a friendly Rivalry between them).
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Sasuke looked up. Caught me staring.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just wondering if you actually read that or if you're pretending."
He held up the book. The History of the Uchiha Police Force. "why do you care what I am reading."
"Emo lite."
"What did you call me?"
"Emo lite. You're not full emo. Just lite. Diet emo."
He glared at me. But there was no heat in it. "You're an idiot."
"You're the one reading a book about cops."
"It's history!"
"Same thing."
He threw the book at me. I caught it. Tossed it back.
Naruto hopped off his desk and landed next to me. "What are you guys fighting about now?"
"Nothing," Sasuke said.
"He's being a nerd," I said.
"YOU'RE BOTH NERDS!" Naruto declared. "I'M THE COOL ONE!"
"You just called yourself cool," I said. "That automatically disqualifies you."
He opened his mouth to argue.
The door slid open. Iruka walked in.
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Iruka had the kind of presence that could shut up a room full of ten-year-olds without saying a word. He stood at the front. Crossed his arms. Waited.
The chatter died.
"Good morning," he said.
"GOOD MORNING, IRUKA-SENSEI!" Naruto yelled. Everyone else just mumbled.
Iruka sighed. He'd given up on getting everyone to yell in unison years ago.
"Today is sparring day."
The class erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"YES!"
"Who am I fighting?!"
Iruka raised his hand. "Settle down. Settle down!" When the noise didn't stop, his head expanded. Literally. Giant head jutsu.
"I SAID SETTLE DOWN! "
The room went quiet. Some kid in the back might have peed a little.
Iruka's head shrank back to normal.
"Thank you. Matches will be randomly drawn. I'll call your names. When you hear your name, go to the training yard."
Naruto grabbed my arm. "I hope I get Sasuke!"
"You want Sasuke?"
"I'm gonna beat him! In front of everyone!"
Sasuke, sitting two rows ahead, didn't turn around.
«Sasuke's heart rate increased slightly. He heard Naruto.»
Good. Let em sweat.
---
We filed out to the training yard. Wooden fence. Dirt floor. A few training dummies in the corner that no one ever used.
Iruka stood in the center. Unrolled a scroll.
"First match: Ino Yamanaka vs. Sakura Haruno."
Ino flipped her hair. "Finally. I've been waiting to wipe that forehead off the map."
"At least I have a forehead!" Sakura shot back. "You have... pigtails!"
"PIGTAILS ARE CUTE!"
"THEY'RE STUPID!"
"LADIES!" Iruka's eye twitched. "Seal of reconciliation. Now."
They grudgingly made the hand sign. Then Iruka stepped back.
"Begin."
They charged at each other like two angry cats. Hair pulling. Slapping. No technique. No strategy. Just pure, unfiltered stupidity.
After three minutes of chaos, Iruka stepped in.
"Draw. Both of you, sit down."
They glared at each other but sat.
Naruto leaned over. "Why do girls fight like that?"
"I don't know," I whispered. "And I'm never going to ask."
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= Kiba vs. Hinata =
Iruka cleared his throat. "Next: Kiba Inuzuka vs. Hinata Hyūga."
Kiba grinned. Akamaru yapped from inside his jacket.
Hinata's face went pink. She glanced at me, glanced away then glanced back.
They stepped into the ring. did Seal of reconciliation. Kiba was bouncing on his heels. Hinata had her hands up in the Gentle Fist stance.
"Begin."
Kiba charged. Fast. He'd been training—I could see it. His footwork was better than last year. He threw a punch, then a kick, then another punch.
Hinata blocked. Her Gentle Fist was precise. Every strike aimed at his tenketsu. But Kiba had Akamaru.
The little dog jumped out of his jacket. Bit Hinata's ankle. She stumbled.
"Hey! That's just a 2v1 at this point" Naruto yelled.
Kiba didn't let up. He pressed the advantage. A flurry of strikes not slooby, but effective enough. Hinata blocked most, but one got through. A palm strike to her shoulder.
She fell out of the Ring.
"Winner: Kiba Inuzuka," Iruka said.
Kiba helped her up. "Good fight, Hinata!"
She nodded. "Y-you too, Kiba-kun."
She walked back to her spot. Looked at me again. Then looked at the ground.
«She is embarrassed about losing in front of you.»
I guess She fought well and tried her best.
« But she still wanted to impress you.»
JARVIS. She's ten.
«Emotions do not care about age.»
Tell that to the judge.
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Shino vs. Choji
Iruka called the next match. "Shino Aburame vs. Choji Akimichi."
Shino walked to the ring. His glasses glinted in the sun.
Choji walked to the ring. Eating chips like usual. He didn't stop eating chips.
"Seal of reconciliation."
They made the hand sign.
"Begin."
Choji threw a punch. It very was slow. He wasn't taking it seriously.
Shino sidestepped. A cloud of bugs swarmed from his sleeve. Choji jumped back too late. The bugs were already on him.
"I give up," Choji said. He didn't even sound upset. He just wanted to get back to his chips.
"Winner: Shino Aburame..."
Shino nodded. Walked back to his spot. His bugs returned to his sleeve.
Choji sat down. Opened a new bag of chips.
Naruto stared. "That's it? That's the whole fight?"
"He didn't want to get bugs in his food," I said.
"yeah That's fair."
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Ryu vs. Shikamaru
Iruka looked at his list. He paused.
"Next... Ryū vs. Shikamaru Nara."
Shikamaru sighed. The kind of sigh that came from the soul.
"Troublesome."
We walked to the ring. Shikamaru looked like he'd rather be taking a nap. I looked like I'd rather be taking a nap too. We had a lot in common.
W did Seal of reconciliation.
He raised his hand...
"I forfeit...," Shikamaru said.
Iruka's hand froze. "What?"
"I forfeit. He'll win easily. It's a waste of energy."
"You don't even know that!"
"I've seen him train a couple of time with Naruto. I'm not fighting him."
Iruka looked at me. I shrugged.
"Winner: Ryū."
Shikamaru walked back to his seat. Sat down. Put his feet up.
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Naruto vs. Sasuke
Iruka cleared his throat. The class leaned forward.
"Final match: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Sasuke Uchiha."
The class buzzed.
Naruto shot up like a rocket. "YESS, FINALLY!"
Sasuke stood up slowly. Rolled his shoulders. Walked to the ring.
Naruto was already there. Bouncing. Pacing. Doing little shadowboxing moves.
"Seal of reconciliation," Iruka said.
They made the hand sign. Naruto's hand was shaking. Not from fear just from excitement.
Sasuke's face was calm
Iruka stepped back and said.
"Begin."
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Summary Table on Naruto.
Skill Level After 3 Year's .
Age: 10
Chakra Control Excellent (tree/water walking)
Clone (E-rank) Perfect
Transformation jutsu: mastered
Substitution: mastered
Wind: Leaf Cutting Mastered
Wind: Waterfall Cutting Partial not "Fully mastered."
Wind Jutsu's list (learned form Ryū):
wind release:Gale Palm, Rank: C
wind Release:Great Breakthrough Rank: C
Taijutsu: the normal Academy style Taijutsu.
Strength: way above normal 10 year olds because he's been training with in physical training for the past 3 years.
Speed: the same can be said for his speed.
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END CHAPTER 23
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A/N: Leave some power stones and if like this Fanfiction.
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Btw if you want to read some advance chapters then check out my P@treøn, links in the synopsis.