I woke slowly, sunlight filtering through the window. For an instant, confusion threatened to return, but a quick glance around confirmed reality: the modest apartment, the ninja headband on the nightstand. Last night hadn't been a dream. A genuine smile, the first truly relaxed one since my arrival, spread across my face. The initial shock and whirlwind of processing gave way to a growing euphoria. I was here! In the world of Naruto, as the protagonist, and with the Six Eyes! It was every fan's wet dream, an incredible opportunity. Who wouldn't want to be in their favorite anime with such an absurdly useful power? I dared say the Six Eyes were among the most broken eye abilities in all of fiction.
I looked at the old alarm clock on the nightstand: 7:03 AM. Classes at the Academy didn't start until 10:00 AM. I had almost three hours. Perfect. Time to explore my new capabilities more thoroughly and do a little planning.
First, I turned my perception inward, using the Six Eyes to examine my own chakra system. It was fascinating. I saw the intricate blue network coursing through my body, vibrant and dense. In my abdomen, I clearly distinguished the complex Eight Trigrams Seal, and behind it, the colossal mass of red, furious Kyuubi chakra, compressed like a dwarf star about to explode. It was awe-inspiring, but strangely, I felt no fear, only analytical curiosity.
Moving away from the seal, I observed my own blue chakra. I noticed something interesting: a white, almost ethereal energy subtly emanated from my heart area, while a black energy, equally subtle, seemed to originate in my brain. Both energies converged and mixed with my blue chakra as it circulated through my network. Spiritual and physical energy? Yin and Yang? I'd need to research chakra theory more.
Then, I focused on something I'd noticed last night but hadn't had time to analyze: small strands of red Kyuubi chakra constantly leaked from the seal into my system, being absorbed into my own chakra. Now I understood why the original Naruto had so much stamina and massive reserves, but also why his control was so poor. This constant influence, though empowering, was like having static on the line; it hindered fine modulation.
Even though the Six Eyes let me control it easily, I thought, it's still an impurity, an unnecessary crutch, and a potential vulnerability. Time to clean house.
Concentrating intensely, I used the near-surgical precision the Eyes gave me to isolate those red strands within my chakra flow. Then, with meticulous control that would have taken the original Naruto years of training (if he ever managed it), I began to dilute that red influence, breaking it down and assimilating it controllably into my own blue chakra. My body was already accustomed to the Kyuubi's chakra presence, so there was no rejection or danger. It was… surprisingly easy, like filtering murky water. I watched in fascination as my blue chakra didn't increase in quantity, but became visibly denser, purer, as if its quality had significantly improved. There were no more red interferences. With a satisfied smile, I performed a final scan with my Eyes across my entire system. Clean.
Now, what next? Training. The anime memories were useful, but limited. I knew the basic theory of wind nature manipulation thanks to Naruto's training with Asuma, but about the other elements (earth, fire, lightning, water) I knew almost nothing practical. I'd need to seek out information, scrolls, perhaps a good teacher.
Don't get ahead of yourself, I told myself. Work with what you have. My mind recalled one of the most iconic techniques. Would it be possible? I focused chakra into my right palm. I visualized the rotation, the containment… Naruto's memories of the arduous training with Jiraiya were vivid, but with the Six Eyes analyzing every ebb and flow of energy, the process was different. I could see the correct shape, the perfect rotation, the contained sphere. I molded the chakra, feeling the resistance, the wild energy wanting to disperse, but my control was absolute. In seconds, a bright, swirling blue sphere floated in my palm: the Rasengan.
A genuine laugh escaped my lips. The Rasengan! It was one of my fan dreams come true. How many times had I tried to mimic the move in my old life? I held the sphere for a moment, feeling its concentrated power, before dissipating it with a thought. It was incredibly easy.
Okay, base attack acquired. Now, nature manipulation. I focused again, bringing my palms together. I remembered the leaf-cutting method concept. With my Eyes watching my own chakra flow, I imbued it with the sharp, cutting property of wind. It was almost instantaneous. I felt the change, the energy becoming sharper.
Next step: combine it. I formed another Rasengan in my left hand, stable and perfect. Then, slowly, I began to imbue it with my wind-nature chakra. But not like I remembered Naruto doing it at first (just adding it). Guided by my intuitive understanding of chakra thanks to the Eyes, I tried to integrate it, converting the Rasengan's own chakra into wind chakra while maintaining the shape and rotation.
I watched in fascination as the blue sphere began to take on a pale green hue and emit a high-pitched hum. The blades of the Rasenshuriken didn't form. Instead, I had a Rasengan that seemed made entirely of condensed, spinning wind. I analyzed it: yes, it was different. Not an addition, a conversion. The base chakra was wind. What would this do? More cutting power? Penetration? I couldn't test it here. I dissipated the green sphere.
Now, I tried replicating the Rasenshuriken as I remembered it. I formed a normal Rasengan and, this time, consciously added wind chakra around the core, without trying to fully merge it. And there it was: the spinning blue core of the Rasengan, surrounded by four giant blades made of pure, whistling wind chakra. I analyzed it. Just as I remembered: two types of chakra coexisting, linked by partial fusion but still distinguishable. I smiled. What took the original Naruto months of training with clones, I had achieved in minutes thanks to the Six Eyes. It was an overwhelming advantage.
But I needed more than raw offense. Defense? Support? I thought of Gojo and his Infinity. Impossible to replicate without his cursed technique, but could I do something similar with wind? I focused, extending my wind chakra to form a dome around me, 360 degrees. It was easy to create, a bubble of wind almost invisible but palpable to my perception. It was static, good for defense if I stood still, but impractical.
What if I stick it to my body? Like a cloak…
I guided the wind chakra to envelop my body like a second skin, an incredibly thin but dense layer. And then I felt something unexpected. My feet lifted off the floor. I was floating! Just a few centimeters, but floating nonetheless. I tried small hops and felt an elastic resistance beneath me, like an air cushion. I could bounce! The wind cloak generated a kind of constant repulsion or lift. I could fly, or at least levitate!
I also noticed the repellent effect was all over my body. I tried to pat my cloak-covered arm with my other hand, and my hand bounced off before touching the skin. Interesting. I dissipated the general cloak and focused on coating only my right arm with that thin layer of wind chakra. Visually, only a very slight greenish shimmer was visible. I clapped my hands: my left hand bounced off the invisible barrier on my right arm. Made sense.
Attack (Rasengan, Wind-Rasengan, Rasenshuriken), Defense/Repulsion (Wind Cloak), and Support (Flight/Levitation). Not bad for a couple of hours of experimentation. But this was just the beginning. I needed to master all five elements, seek out jutsu, perhaps combine them… My mind was buzzing with possibilities.
I was so absorbed I almost didn't notice the time: 9:15 AM. Shit, almost two and a half hours! I put my experiments aside for the moment. I took a quick shower, the hot water feeling like a luxury after the previous night. Stepping out of the bathroom, I headed to the closet. My face contorted in a grimace of disgust at the sight of the infamous loud orange jumpsuit. No way. I rummaged through the scarce clothing. Fortunately, I found some black ANBU-style pants. I vaguely remembered they were a gift from Hiruzen on some occasion; apparently, the old man wasn't thrilled with my usual wardrobe either. I'd wear these. I also found a white long-sleeved shirt with the red Uzumaki symbol on the back. Perfect. I got dressed: white shirt, black pants. I took Naruto's standard blue ninja sandals; I'd buy black ones later. Finally, on the nightstand, I saw the ninja headband. I took it, feeling the cool metal, and tied it firmly on my forehead.
I looked at myself in the small bathroom mirror. Wow. The change was remarkable. Without the orange jumpsuit, in dark, functional clothes, and the headband on my forehead… I looked like a miniature Minato Namikaze, but with the whisker marks on my cheeks. Far from making me look ugly, the whiskers gave me a somewhat wild air, an interesting contrast to the fine features inherited from the Fourth Hokage. I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside. Time to go.
I left the apartment and headed to the Academy. As I walked, I noticed the villagers' stares. They weren't just hate or fear anymore (though some of that was still there), but also awe and confusion. I heard whispers: "Does he look like the Fourth Hokage…?", "Is that possible?", "But he's the demon kid…", "Did you see his clothes?". I ignored them.
I reached the Academy at 9:50 AM. Ten minutes early. I entered the classroom. As expected, my early arrival and new appearance (clothes and headband) caused a stir among the few students already there. Normally, this body arrived late and goofing off. I ignored the stares and whispers. No one greeted me, and I greeted no one; Naruto's memories confirmed that was the norm. I wasn't going to force it.
I walked past Sakura, who was chatting animatedly with Ino near the area where Sasuke usually sat. Neither seemed to notice my presence, absorbed in their conversation. Better that way, for now. I headed to the back benches, where I saw Hinata sitting alone, as usual. She looked at me with her pearly eyes full of surprise as I approached, before quickly looking away, a blush staining her cheeks. I smiled inwardly.
"Hi, Hinata. How are you?" I said calmly, sitting down beside her.
She jumped. "N-Naruto-kun! G-good… I'm fine, th-thank you for asking," she stammered, nervous, not daring to look at me directly.
I smiled kindly at her. "Glad to hear it." I decided not to push her further; I didn't want her to faint. But with my Eyes, I could perceive her stealing glances occasionally. I left her be.
I used the remaining minutes to analyze my classmates with the Six Eyes. As expected, there was a clear difference in chakra levels. The clan heirs (Shino, Kiba, Chōji, Ino, Shikamaru, Sasuke, Hinata) had noticeably larger and denser reserves than the students from civilian backgrounds. Among the heirs, Sasuke stood out; his chakra was almost double that of the other heirs, and I felt a particularly strong energy linked to his mind, likely the source of his natural talent for genjutsu and rapid learning. Compared to all of them, however, my own chakra, now purified and combined with my Uzumaki reserves, was an ocean. And the quality… like comparing thick syrup to water. Yeah, I had a considerable advantage.
I noted Shikamaru. His chakra wasn't exceptionally large, but his mind's energy was almost as dense as Sasuke's, perhaps even more refined. Understandable, given his Nara intellect. The others were… average for future ninja, nothing particularly noteworthy for now.
Right at 10:00 AM, Iruka-sensei entered the classroom. Immediately, the murmuring ceased and everyone sat up properly.
"Alright, listen up everyone!" Iruka began, his voice resonating with authority and pride. "First of all, congratulations to everyone on graduating from the Academy! You've worked hard, passed difficult tests, and are now ready to take your first steps as shinobi of Konoha." He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. "But don't get complacent. The path ahead of you is much more arduous and dangerous. You will face missions that will test your skills, your determination, and above all, your bonds as comrades. Starting today, you cease to be mere students and become Genin of the Leaf. You will be assigned to three-person teams under the guidance of a Jōnin-sensei. Remember: teamwork, trust, and mutual support will be crucial for your survival and success. Give it your all and make Konoha proud!"
"Now, I will announce the Genin team assignments." Iruka took a list from his clipboard. "Team 10: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Chōji Akimichi. Your sensei will be Asuma Sarutobi."
"Team 8: Hinata Hyūga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame. Your sensei will be Kurenai Yūhi."
"Team 7…" Iruka paused almost imperceptibly before continuing, "Naruto Uzumaki…"
I could perceive with my Eyes how Sakura, sitting further ahead, slumped slightly over her desk with a look of utter disappointment and horror. I ignored her childish reaction.
"…Sakura Haruno…"
Her head was still down, probably cursing her luck.
"…and Sasuke Uchiha."
That certainly got a reaction! Sakura's head shot up, her previous despair instantly replaced by radiant euphoria. She jumped out of her seat, pumping her fist in the air.
"YEEEEES! DID YOU HEAR THAT, INO-PIG! TRUE LOVE WINS! I'M ON SASUKE-KUN'S TEAM!" she yelled at the top of her lungs towards where Ino sat, who shot her a death glare.
I completely ignored her spectacle. Sasuke, for his part, simply maintained his stoic expression, though I could detect a minimal fluctuation of annoyance in his chakra at Sakura's outburst, plus the slight curiosity I'd already noted when our names were called together.
"Your assigned sensei is Kakashi Hatake," Iruka concluded. "Those are all the teams. Wait here for your respective Jōnin-sensei to come pick you up."
Gradually, the Jōnin started arriving. Asuma appeared first, taking Team 10. Then Kurenai arrived. I stood up as she called for Team 8. I approached Hinata.
"Well, Hinata, looks like we have to wait. Take care." And, on impulse, I gave her a quick, light farewell hug.
Hinata turned beet red and almost stumbled backward. Kurenai, her new sensei, shot me a look that was part warning, part amusement at her student's reaction. I smiled at Hinata.
"Bye. I'll look for you tomorrow to treat you to something to eat, okay?" I added.
That was the last straw. Hinata let out a small 'eep!' and her eyes rolled back as she fell backward, caught just in time by a somewhat exasperated but smiling Kurenai. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow, as if to say, 'See what you cause?'.
I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a little guilty but also amused. The few remaining students (mainly my team and some civilians awaiting different assignments) looked at me strangely.
It was then that Sakura stood up abruptly. "Naruto, you idiot! What are you doing to Hinata!?" she yelled, walking towards me with her hand raised, clearly intending to hit me as she usually did.
But I wasn't that Naruto anymore. Before her hand could land, I caught it mid-flight, my grip firm but not crushing.
"Who gave you the right to try and hit me, Haruno?" I said, my voice calm but cold. I released her wrist with a light push. "Mind your own business."
She looked at me with astonishment and fury. "What the hell is wrong with you, Naruto!? You're acting so weird today!" she yelled, trying to hit me again with her other hand.
This time, I wasn't so gentle. With a swift movement, I deflected her blow with the back of my hand and, following through, I slapped her. It wasn't brutally hard, but it was enough for the sound to echo in the silent classroom and leave a red mark on her cheek.
"Don't you ever lay a hand on me again, Haruno," I repeated, my voice low and threatening.
I know hitting her was wrong. Part of me knew it. But another part, the one that remembered years of watching her scorn and hit the original Naruto in the anime, the one that remembered her fake confession to manipulate him… that part felt a dark satisfaction. I had wanted to do that for a long time. Maybe it was excessive, but the message had to be clear from the start: I wouldn't be her punching bag.
Sakura brought her hand to her cheek, her eyes filled with shock, disbelief, and perhaps a little fear. Everyone in the classroom fell silent, staring at me in astonishment. Even Sasuke gave me a curious, prolonged look before returning to his usual indifference. Sakura, without another word, backed away and went to sit down in her seat, visibly shaken.
No one said anything. I simply returned to my seat and leaned back, waiting for Kakashi. While the others were probably whispering or eyeing me warily, I closed my eyes and began analyzing my wind cloak technique again, thinking about a good name for it.
I was so absorbed that I almost didn't notice when, much, much later, the classroom door slid open and a head with silver hair and one visible eye peeked in.
"Well… my first impression of you guys…" Kakashi Hatake said in his characteristic bored tone, "…is that you're pretty boring. Meet me on the roof in five minutes."
And he disappeared in a shunshin.
I sighed. Here we go, I thought, knowing exactly what was coming next.
And here it is, fulfilling the one-a-day promise, don't know for how long, but here it is. If there's anyone here who'd like to participate, you can suggest a name for the wind cloak. And leave your power stones! It doesn't cost you anything.