"What's wrong?" Hiruzen asked, noticing the boy's hesitation. "Do you want to ask me a question?"
"Is it truly okay for me to learn such a precious ninjutsu, Hokage-sama?"
Suzuki sounded hesitant and deeply humbled, making it seem as if he had just been handed the most powerful, forbidden technique in the village's history—even though, in the eyes of most modern ninja, he hadn't.
"Yes, of course." Hiruzen smiled warmly. He stepped forward and personally guided Suzuki through the hand seals of the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique. It was Hiruzen's original creation, a jutsu he was immensely proud of, despite the fact that the current generation often looked down on it.
Naturally, Suzuki understood exactly why the technique was dismissed. Despite being classified as an A-rank jutsu—putting it on the exact same theoretical tier as the Fourth Hokage's Rasengan—most ninja thought it was incredibly basic.
Why was it looked down upon? Because, fundamentally, all it seemed to do was multiply a kunai thrown by an old man.
What was so terrifying about that? A kunai was just a throwing weapon. No matter how strong a ninja's arm was, gravity and air resistance inevitably degraded the weapon's velocity the further it traveled, until it fell harmlessly to the ground. Even if a user created a hundred copies, a simple Earth Wall jutsu could effortlessly block them all. In the eyes of most Jonin, it was a flashy but ultimately obsolete trick.
What the heck was this old man thinking? Suzuki had initially wondered.
Yet, with Suzuki's knowledge from Jujutsu Kaisen and the Manager's help, his perspective on this jutsu changed. By applying the advanced physics knowledge he had synchronized from his alternate self in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, he realized this jutsu wasn't a joke. It was a literal violation of the law of conservation of mass.
This jutsu was an exponential force multiplier. In fact, it was arguably one of the most broken techniques in existence. It was an absolute S-Tier ability.
Why? Because the technique didn't create illusions. It used chakra to duplicate an object instantly. The copies were real, physical mass, and crucially, they retained the exact same momentum and kinetic energy as the original projectile.
One unit of mass, fueled by chakra, instantly became one thousand units of mass. It effectively turned a handgun into a Gatling gun without requiring the user to carry any extra ammunition.
The only problem was that Hiruzen used it inefficiently. The Third Hokage only ever cloned steel. Steel was boring. Steel bounced off armor. But what if Suzuki applied the jutsu to something else? What if he threw a single aerodynamic projectile laced with a volatile chemical reaction, or a uniquely designed explosive tag, and multiplied that by a thousand?
"What do you think? Can you grasp the flow of it?" Hiruzen asked expectantly.
"Can I go out to try?"
"Obviously."
The two left the office and immediately went to the empty field. Suzuki didn't answer with words. He focused his chakra, drew a single shuriken, and threw it. His hands blurred through the necessary seals.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
In a fraction of a second, the single shuriken multiplied into twenty perfect copies, fanning out and burying themselves deeply into the surrounding tree trunks.
"Amazing..."
Hiruzen's eyes widened. He realized he had still been underestimating Suzuki's raw talent.
This was exactly why Hiruzen was growing so incredibly fond of the boy. Suzuki reminded him of the legendary geniuses of the past, but without their fatal flaws. The Fourth Hokage had been brilliant, sunny, and bright, but he had a bizarre obsession with flashy, unnecessarily complex techniques and ridiculous names. Orochimaru had been a prodigy, but his ambition was dark and twisted.
Suzuki, however, was beautifully normal. He might be the only entirely sane person in the entire ninja world!
While everyone else was screaming their attack names and burning massive amounts of chakra on flashy elemental displays, Suzuki was quiet, low-key, and valued absolute efficiency. He was just an orphaned commoner, yet his perfect chakra control, high intelligence, and strong foundation allowed him to turn basic theories into reality.
"I apologize, Hokage-sama. I still can't execute it perfectly, even after your personal instruction," Suzuki said, bowing his head in shame.
Hiruzen had demonstrated the jutsu moments prior, effortlessly creating thousands of copies that blotted out the moon like a rain of steel. Compared to that, Suzuki's twenty copies seemed pitiful.
"No! You did wonderfully!" Hiruzen quickly reassured him, stepping forward.
Hiruzen knew the truth. Creating a standard Shadow Clone was difficult enough, but applying that complex duplication formula to an inanimate object moving at high speeds was incredibly taxing. To perform it successfully on the very first try, even if it was only twenty copies, proved the boy's talent was monstrous.
Watching Suzuki stand there—humble, brilliant, and deeply respectful—a sudden, powerful impulse seized the old Hokage.
"Suzuki-kun..."
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"How would you like to become my personal student?"
"..."
The clearing fell dead silent. Suzuki wasn't the only one who froze; the hidden ANBU guards perched in the trees nearly fell out of the branches in sheer shock.
Take a personal apprentice? Now?!
In his mind, Suzuki rapidly analyzed the man standing before him. He knew Hiruzen had his flaws. The Hokage was aging, increasingly indecisive, and often too soft—traits that had directly led to many of Konoha's current internal tragedies. He just wanted a peaceful village, but his passive methods allowed the darkness to fester.
But if Suzuki was asked to become his student, would he refuse?
Absolutely not.
Becoming Hiruzen's personal student meant acquiring the ultimate political shield. Just look at the Sannin—Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. By virtue of being the Third Hokage's disciples, they possessed a terrifying amount of freedom and authority. Suzuki knew that as his strength and wealth grew, he would inevitably attract the greed of the noble clans and Danzo's Root. But if he was Hiruzen's official apprentice? Anyone who wanted to touch him would have to go through the Hokage himself.
It would be stupid of him if he ever thought to refuse!
However, he couldn't accept it too quickly. He couldn't appear calculating or manipulative. He needed to look like a twelve-year-old boy who had just been handed the moon.
Suzuki's eyes went wide. He looked up at Hiruzen, his mouth slightly open in perfect, fabricated disbelief.
"What do you think, Suzuki-kun?" Hiruzen asked softly, a gentle, grandfatherly smile on his face.
"I... I..." Suzuki stammered, clenching his fists. "It would be the greatest honor of my life to become your student, Hokage-sama. But... is this real? Am I dreaming?"
"I assure you, you are not dreaming," Hiruzen chuckled, his voice warm and steady. "So? What is your answer?"
Suzuki bowed so deeply his back was completely parallel to the ground. "I will do everything in my power not to embarrass you, Hokage-sama! No—Sensei!"
"Hahaha!"
Hiruzen's joyous laughter echoed through the morning air. In that moment, the heavy burden of his old age seemed to lift. He finally had something bright and pure to look forward to again.
"So then, as my new student," Hiruzen smiled, placing a weathered hand on the boy's shoulder, "is there a question you would like to ask me to begin your training?"
"Yes, Sensei."
"Oh? What is it?" Hiruzen looked at Suzuki curiously, wondering what kind of advanced theory this little monster was going to ask about first.
Suzuki stood up straight, his dark eyes entirely serious.
"Is there a way for me to master all five basic chakra natures?"
---
It might be early, but let me think of your idea of the 4th Suzuki.
The first is from Naruto, the second is from JJK, and the third is from Solo Leveling.
What about the fourth?
I am thinking of either Gochuumon Wa Usagi Desuka, Gotoubun no Hanayome, Arifureta, or SAO.
What do you think about it?
Let me know what you think of the four worlds, or if you want to recommend something, please tell me.
Also, why did I choose Gochuumon Usagi Desuka?
Because, I am interested in writing a slice of life with France as the setting, especially the Colmar, and France has the 2nd largest otaku community, if I am not wrong.