Chapter 54 – On the Eve of Graduation
Naruto had thought running into Guy two days ago was just a fluke.
But the moment he jogged past yesterday's route, he heard that voice.
"It's you!"
"It's not me!"
"Definitely you!"
Guy flipped through the air and landed in a flourish. "You can't fool me! That height, that back—exactly the same!"
Still, he had to admit he was stunned the mysterious Ninja was Naruto.
He'd pictured a battle-hardened veteran.
"…"
Naruto tugged the corner of his mouth.
Can we not talk about height?
"What can I do for you, Guy-senpai?"
He prayed it wouldn't be some "youthful showdown."
He respected Guy, but the cringe could dig out a three-bedroom apartment.
"How do you usually train?"
"Oh, that—100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, 10 km run every day."
"That simple?"
Guy blinked, then accepted it.
Physical training should be plain.
"Thanks!"
Guy left without looking back.
From today he'd add Naruto's routine to his own.
"In like a whirlwind, out like one too."
Naruto scratched his head.
The workout came from One-Punch Man Saitama.
Hope Guy doesn't go bald.
Time flew.
Naruto's elementary-Ninja days were almost over.
Two years earlier Neji graduated and became a full-fledged Ninja.
Same as canon: teammates Tenten and Rock Lee, Jonin leader Guy.
Naruto had peeked—Guy's hair was still thick, no sign of balding.
With Naruto's boost, Neji had Eight Extremes Fistand Sage Mode—above an average Jonin.
Naruto wasn't worried about his missions.
Plus Guy could open the Eight Gates—one punch, one kick, half-dead enemies.
Only pity: Neji almost never visited the Treehousegrove anymore.
Naruto didn't mind—one fewer debtor and light-bulb.
Yep, that 20 million ryo debt was still unpaid.
"Sasuke, I've got gossip."
For once Naruto wasn't training; he sat by the fishpond. "Wanna hear?"
"Spit it out."
Sasuke glanced at him.
He now wielded three-tomoe Sharingan, Fire and Lightning jutsu, and could tie Kakashi—elite among Jonin.
Yet in two years he hadn't beaten Naruto once.
His confidence was taking a beating.
"We'll be on the same team."
"Fine. At least you won't drag me down."
Sasuke felt a flicker of joy but stayed cool.
"…"
Naruto resisted decking him. "Who do you want as our third?"
Canon said Sakura Haruno.
One: top kunoichi civilian, decent talent.
Two: her bond with them both.
But things were different now.
Naruto didn't like her.
"Whatever."
Sasuke shrugged.
Besides Naruto, no one here deserved to be his teammate.
Hinata? He barely knew her.
An Uchiha didn't spar with girls.
"How about Sakura or Ino?"
Naruto face-palmed.
"Whatever" my foot.
Don't you want a wife?
Planning to live with your brother forever?
Kids these days.
"Too weak, too loud."
Sasuke frowned.
Weak compared to them; loud because they bickered in front of him.
Better to train.
"True."
Naruto nodded.
Early Sakura was annoying.
Later she was solid.
Sakura-senpai could be fierce.
"So, getting a girlfriend?"
"No. I'll revive the Uchiha first."
"How?"
"By becoming the strongest in the Ninja World."
Sasuke answered instantly.
"…"
Naruto sighed—this genius logic.
"Even if you're the strongest, no girlfriend means no kids. If you die, the Uchiha are extinct."
"Huh?"
Sasuke froze.
Made sense.
He'd never thought of it.
Naruto shook his head—time for Dad to step in.
He eyed Sasuke like a worried parent, plotting how to remodel Sakura.
What girls did Sasuke like?
Simple: stronger than him.
Nearly impossible.
Besides Naruto, Sasuke had the most cheats.
Sakura beating him? Dream on.
Still, tweak her personality—make her Sakura-senpai or late-Sakura first.
"Think it over."
Naruto left Sasuke pondering life.
The day before the graduation exam,
the Treehouse received an unexpected guest—
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He scanned the vast orchard and veggie plots, heart twitching.
He still couldn't accept it.
What Ninja tended flowers daily—especially Minato's kid?
But facts were facts.
He had to roll with it.
Luckily, aside from that, Naruto was perfect—another Minato.
School scores locked at second, but his grasp of the Will of Fire unmatched.
Hiruzen's favorite student.
Strong too.
Per Jiraiya and Kakashi, fast learner, massive Chakra—Konoha's future pillar.
He looked forward to it.
"Naruto."
Hiruzen found him among the peach trees.
"Morning, Third Grandpa."
Naruto tossed him a peach.
A normal one.
In two years the grove had become "ten-li peach-blossom," twenty special trees inside.
He used the Sage Chakra peaches as soldier pills.
"Congrats on graduating."
Hiruzen wiped and bit.
"Thanks."
Naruto swung his legs from a branch. "Busy Hokage-sama didn't come just for that, right?"
"One thing—team assignments. I'll put Sasuke with you, but I'm unsure of the third. How about Hinata?"
He was here to farm goodwill.
Long ago he'd planned Sasuke, Hinata, and Narutotogether.
Reasons simple:
Sasuke was Naruto's best friend.
Hinata was the girl Naruto liked.
Thick bonds.
Guaranteed the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki wouldn't defect.
Coming personally showed how much he cared.
"Switch Hinata for Sakura."
Naruto knew Hiruzen's motives.
Hinata was his anyway.
But poor Sasuke needed help.
Plus he had another plan—
Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Maybe Sakura could awaken it.
Naruto wasn't about to sacrifice himself.
"I kill me"?
Weird Mangekyo might pop out.
If that failed, he'd think of something else—
maybe coordinate with Uchiha Itachi?
Amid his wild thoughts, graduation day arrived.
Up early, Naruto suddenly remembered his Shadow Clone.
No news, no achievements.
He'd almost assumed it had died in some forgotten corner.
He generally avoided breaking up canon couples.