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"...have observed from you, many chunin cannot even perform the techniques you've shown. And the level of chakra control you possess—not many jonin can manage that," Itachi said as he looked over at him.
Naruto simply nodded. "Well, I've worked quite hard. I've been training since I was four years old... maybe even younger, to be honest. The shinobi world has always intrigued me. It's harsh, but fascinating."
Itachi nodded in agreement. "Your physical strength is impressive, Naruto. It seems Guy-sensei has trained you well."
Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment. Even before Guy's training, his physical strength had always been notable. But he had to admit, several of the exercises he was doing incorrectly were corrected by Guy, and for that, he was genuinely grateful. Guy was a good person. Naruto liked spending time with him.
He nodded again. "Yeah, Sensei Guy has been a huge help in improving my physical abilities. He's been a great partner to spar with too—and he keeps up with me during the runs around Konoha."
Itachi smiled slightly. "What about your true jutsu, though?"
Naruto just shrugged. "The Namikaze library holds a lot of secrets... a lot of jutsu."
That ended the topic—for now. Itachi noted it, even though he wanted to ask Naruto about the mysterious technique he used to move at such incomprehensible speed. No eight-year-old, no matter how gifted, could naturally move that fast. There had to be a technique, possibly one Naruto created himself. But since Naruto hadn't shared it, Itachi decided to wait. He would earn the boy's trust over time. If Naruto became comfortable enough, he might share it. And if the Hokage asked, Itachi would have no choice but to report it—but he hoped Naruto would be the one to reveal it himself.
Then Itachi asked, "Why did you decide to graduate so early? You know you're still young, right?"
Naruto looked at him and smirked. "One could ask you the same thing, Itachi. After all, didn't you graduate at five?"
Itachi nodded. "That's true. But it wasn't my choice. If I'd been given the option, I would've stayed in the Academy longer and made more friends."
There was silence for a while, before Naruto spoke. "You don't like this world, do you?"
Itachi didn't respond to that. Naruto simply nodded as if understanding.
"Well, you see, Sensei, I already went through the entire Academy syllabus on my own. To be honest, I wasn't impressed at all. I knew staying there would've been a waste of time. Sure, I could've made friends in the Academy..." he paused briefly, then continued,
"...but I can make friends through real missions. Friendships forged in battle, forged through real-life struggles alongside fellow shinobi—those bonds are much stronger than ones formed while just playing ninja in class."
Itachi looked at Naruto, surprised by how thoughtful the boy's answer was. He gave a slight nod.
"We're approaching the border. Let's rest for a while."
Naruto nodded in agreement and decided to relax a bit. Truthfully, he could've reached their destination much faster—he was more than capable—but he wouldn't say it aloud. Deep down, he was eager for action. A part of him wanted to explore the Shinobi world, to test himself, to see what it had to offer. The thrill of battle, the adrenaline of combat... He wanted to grow stronger, to gain experience, and to carve his own path in this dangerous world.
—Time Skip to the Next Day—
The next morning, Itachi and Naruto continued their journey. They moved swiftly through the terrain, and Itachi noticed something peculiar—Naruto showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever. Not even a hint.
Itachi made a mental note: I'll need to speak with Guy-sensei about the training regimen he's given Naruto... To have this much stamina at just eight years old is incredible.
Even as a jonin at Naruto's age, Itachi had never possessed stamina like that. He had raw power, talent, and intelligence—but not that level of endurance.
Suddenly, an explosion erupted across the forest clearing, triggered by a cluster of explosive tags. Debris flew into the air as Itachi's eyes narrowed. He immediately activated his Sharingan and scanned the surroundings.
"Stay alert, Naruto," he said sharply.
Naruto gave a silent nod, already sensing multiple chakra signatures rushing toward them—fast and aggressive. One of them in particular stood out. It wasn't quite on Naruto's level, but it was still impressive. Powerful enough to be a serious threat.
Itachi's eyes narrowed further as he focused. "One… no, ten… no—more," he muttered.
A frown crossed his face as he cursed under his breath.
"This isn't just a coincidence..
This mission was meant to be a simple scouting assignment—a scenic route, nothing more. But now it was clear: it was a trap.
Damn it…
He and the Hokage should have been more cautious.
Within moments, both Naruto and Itachi found themselves surrounded. Itachi quickly realized they were being ambushed by Iwa's ANBU. His eyes darkened as he clenched his fists, cursing again. More chakra signatures flared up—stronger ones.
Several jonin-level shinobi emerged from the trees and landed silently around them. The tension in the air thickened. Itachi already had his kunai drawn and his stance ready. His Sharingan spun to full power—three tomoe revolving rapidly—when he saw the next figure step onto the battlefield.
It was the Jinchūriki of Iwa—Han.
The ground trembled slightly under his arrival as he walked forward with deliberate steps, glaring at the two Konoha ninja. This situation was escalating fast.
Itachi narrowed his eyes even further. This is getting out of hand.
Han smirked and said, "Well, what do we have here? Itachi Uchiha, the prodigy of the Uchiha Clan… and if it isn't the son of the Yellow Flash himself."
His gaze shifted to Naruto, who met his eyes without a hint of fear or even emotion. Han noticed it—and it irritated him.
The arrogance of this kid… thinking that just because he's the Hokage's son, he's untouchable.
But Han shook it off.
It doesn't matter. The Hokage won't even hear about it. We'll make sure no trace leads back to Iwa. We'll end both of them here.
He turned back toward Itachi, smiling coldly. "You already know why we're here, don't you?"
Itachi didn't flinch. "You're here for Naruto-kun, I suppose. My apprentice."
Han chuckled. "Pretty obvious—even for a genius like you, huh?"
Itachi remained silent, his gaze cold.
Han continued, feigning generosity, "Look, we're reasonable people. We'll let you walk away—if you hand the kid over to us. After all, it's nothing personal."