章 36: Kaito Chapter 36

Kaito Chapter 36

Kushina grinned. "The chakra Conversion exercise, eh? It can be quite difficult, but I can give you some pointers. After all, I am a master of Water Release Ninjutsu."

Dinner continued with animated conversation, filled with laughter and stories. As the night deepened, the family retired for the day, their hearts filled with love and warmth.

…

The sun rose high on April 1st, casting its warm glow over Konohagakure. Six months had passed since the devastating Nine-Tails attack, and the village was slowly but surely healing. While there were still signs of the destruction - the ongoing construction projects, the lingering grief - Konoha was on the mend, both physically and economically.

The streets were once again bustling with life. Merchants hawked their wares, children played in the sun, and a sense of normalcy slowly returned. Amidst the activity, a trio walked purposefully toward the base of the Hokage Monument.

Leading the way was a woman with fiery red hair, cascading down her back like molten lava. She wore a vibrant green and red dress, its hues echoing the rising sun. In her arms, she cradled a baby with wispy blonde hair, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. This was Kushina Uzumaki, the red hot hobanero , and her infant son, Naruto.

Walking beside them was a young boy, no older than five or six years old. He wore a simple black outfit, accented by a white long-sleeved jacket. On the back, emblazoned proudly, was the Uzumaki clan symbol, a swirling spiral representing their indomitable spirit. A smaller version of the symbol adorned the right sleeve, just above the cuff. This was Kaito Uzumaki, Kushina's eldest son and Naruto's older brother.

"Mom, are you sure you're okay?" Kaito asked, concern etched on his face as he looked at his mother. "I can go to the academy on my own. You don't have to strain yourself, you know."

Kushina smiled at him, her fiery hair flowing down her back like molten lava. "I'm fine, Kaito-kun," she assured him, her voice gentle. "Besides, we wouldn't want to miss your first day at the academy, would we?" she cooed at the giggling infant in her arms, Naruto.

Kaito sighed, unable to resist his mother's infectious optimism. "Alright, alright. But I'll leave a shadow clone hidden just in case," he mumbled, his eyes lingering on Kushina's face. He had noticed her increasingly frequent abdominal pains, and each episode gnawed at his heart. He didn't want her to push herself, not on his account.

Kushina ruffled his hair playfully. "You worry too much, Kaito-kun," she teased.

Together, they continued their walk towards the Konoha Ninja Academy. The air buzzed with excitement as aspiring young shinobi, their faces flushed with hope and anticipation, streamed towards the imposing building. Kaito, on the cusp of turning six, was finally old enough to join their ranks. He was the eldest son of MInato Namikaze and kushina Uzumaki, and he was determined to make his parents proud.

A short while later, Kushina and Kaito arrived at the bustling Konoha Ninja Academy. Nestled near the base of the Hokage Monument and within close proximity to the Hokage office, the academy buzzed with the energy of a thousand potential shinobi. As they approached, they were met with a sea of hopeful faces, parents, and other family members.

"Wow, there are so many kids joining this year," Kushina exclaimed, her eyes scanning the eager crowd. "Come on, Kaito, let's get you registered." She took his hand and led him towards a Chunin overseeing the registration process. After completing the necessary paperwork, Kaito and his mother were directed towards the academy's training grounds, located behind the main building.

As Kushina and Kaito entered the bustling training ground, they were greeted by a sea of aspiring young ninja and their families. Parents chatted excitedly, children bounced with nervous energy, and the air crackled with anticipation.

Kaito's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces. He spotted one of his best friends, Itachi Uchiha, standing with his parents, Mikoto and Fugaku. A smile spread across Kaito's face as he led his mother towards them.

"It's good to see you, Mikoto, Fugaku-sama," Kushina greeted warmly, her fiery hair flowing around her shoulders. "And you too, Itachi-kun."

Kaito bowed respectfully. "Fugaku-sama, Lady Mikoto," he greeted.

Mikoto smiled back, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, Kushina, Kaito-kun. How have you been?"

While the adults chatted, Kaito turned his attention to his friend. "Yo, Itachi," he said, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "It's been a while, eh? How have you been?"

Itachi, calm and composed as ever, nodded. "Hai, Kaito. It has been a few months."

Kaito's grin widened. "So, what have you been up to? I hope you've kept up with your training," he challenged, his eyes sparkling with playful competitiveness. "Our sparring record still stands at 20 to 15 in my favor."

Itachi's brow furrowed slightly. "It won't be that way for long," he retorted, a hint of determination in his voice.

Kaito hadn't had much time to interact with his friends in the past six months. His days were filled with intense training sessions under Kakashi's watchful eye, tending to household chores, and caring for his infant brother, Naruto, while Kushina's recurring abdominal pains prevented her from doing too much.

While engrossed in conversation with Itachi, Kaito caught a glimpse of a blur rushing towards him. Before he could react, he was tackled by a midnight blue-haired whirlwind.

"Oof!" Kaito exclaimed, momentarily stunned by the sudden assault.

It was Hotaru Hyuga, another one of his close friends. She quickly disentangled herself from him, her chest heaving with exertion.

"It's good to see you too, Hotaru-chan," Kaito chuckled, despite being slightly disoriented.

Hotaru, her lavender eyes gleaming with a mixture of relief and annoyance, punched him playfully on the arm. "Huff... Do you know how worried I was...you baka?"

Kaito scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry... sorry," he replied with a sheepish smile.

He had completely forgotten about Hotaru. The guilt and self-loathing he felt after the Nine-Tails attack, coupled with his rigorous training and constant worry for his mother's health, had consumed his thoughts. Seeing Hotaru alive and well, however, filled him with immense relief.

"How have you been? Are you okay?" Hotaru asked, her concern evident in her voice.

Kaito managed a reassuring smile. "I'm doing fine, thank you for asking." He was grateful for her concern. The reunion was interrupted by the arrival of Hiashi and his wife, Hotaru's parents. They greeted Kushina and Kaito warmly.

"Ah, right," Kaito said, remembering his manners. He gestured towards Itachi. "By the way, this is Itachi Uchiha." He then turned to Itachi and said, "And this is Hotaru Hyuga."

Hotaru bowed slightly. "It's nice to meet you, Itachi-san."

Itachi nodded politely. "It's nice to meet you as well."

From the corner of his eye, Kaito caught his mother grinning mischievously. She seemed to be enjoying the interaction between him and Hotaru, which made him roll his eyes playfully. He knew she was probably hoping for something to blossom between them, but Kaito was too focused on his training and his family to think about romance right now.

Just as they were about to continue talking, a Chunin instructor announced, "The academy orientation is about to begin. All students, please line up in front of the podium, no more than seven in a line. And parents, please move to the back. Thank you."

Hearing that, Kushina turned towards Kaito and his friends with a huge smile and said, "Good luck, you guys!" Their parents echoed her sentiments before moving towards the back.

With that, Kaito and his friends moved towards the podium and lined up. While standing in the line, Kaito looked around and said, "There are 84 in my batch."

Shortly after that, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, made his way towards the podium. As the leader of Konohagakure and a respected shinobi, his presence commanded immediate silence from the children.

Standing tall on the podium, the Third Hokage addressed the gathered children, his voice echoing across the crowd. "Congratulations on your acceptance into the Academy everyone!" he announced, a proud smile spreading across his face. "From this day forth, I urge you to dedicate yourselves to your training, striving towards your goal of becoming a shinobi."

Kaito, however, just rolled his eyes at Hiruzen's seemingly endless "brainwashing" speech.

Once the Hokage's address concluded, the students were ushered towards their respective classrooms. Kaito, along with his friends Itachi and Hotaru, found themselves assigned to Class 1A. This class, consisting of 21 students, was a diverse mix of clan children and a few civilians.

As they entered the classroom, a girl with long brown hair and a purple shirt approached Itachi. "Itachi, here!" she called out.

Kaito recognized her instantly – Izumi, Itachi's love interest.

Itachi walked over and greeted her. "Hi, Izumi. This is Kaito and Hotaru," he said, introducing his friends. "And this," he added with a smile, "is Izumi Uchiha."

Both Hotaru and Kaito offered their greetings.

Just then, an instructor entered the classroom. "Alright, everyone, please take your seats."

The students settled down, Itachi choosing to sit beside Izumi a row ahead of Kaito and Hotaru, who sat together in the row behind them.

The instructor began checking attendance. As he read through the list, he called out, "Hana Inuzuka."

Kaito recognized the name instantly – Kiba Inuzuka's older sister. So she's the same age as us, he thought with a flicker of surprise.

Following the attendance check, the instructor cleared his throat and addressed the students. "My name is Taji Hiruko," he stated, "and I will be your homeroom instructor for the foreseeable future." He paused, allowing the information to settle before continuing. "I'm sure some of you have already been taught ninjutsu within your families, but here at the Academy, we not only focus on individual skills but also on teamwork and collaboration. It's crucial to master the fundamentals, so please pay close attention and dedicate yourselves to your training."

With that, Hiruko proceeded to outline some of the classroom rules and expectations. Once finished, he declared, "Now then, everyone, let's head down to the training grounds to assess your skill levels." He then ushered the students out of the classroom and back onto the training field.

As the students and instructor made their way to the training grounds, parents lingered nearby, eager to witness their children's first steps in their shinobi journey. Kaito spotted his mother Kushina holding baby Naruto among them and offered a friendly wave, which she returned with a warm smile.

Upon reaching the training grounds, the instructor announced the day's training schedule. "Alright, class," he declared, "we'll begin with the obstacle course, followed by shurikenjutsu and taijutsu."

A competitive spark ignited within Kaito. He turned to Itachi, a smirk playing on his lips, and challenged, "Loser buys lunch for the winner."

Itachi, ever composed, simply nodded in agreement. "Hai," he replied.

The students were led to a challenging obstacle course. The instructor explained, "When I blow the whistle, run through the course as fast as you can. Class 1A, you're up first."

With a sharp whistle, the race began. Kaito and Itachi burst forward, leading the pack.

"See you at the finish line," Kaito quipped to Itachi, pushing his speed further.

He navigated the obstacles with practiced ease, reaching the finish line first. Close behind him were Itachi and Hotaru, who claimed third place. Kaito, holding back to avoid overwhelming Itachi, couldn't help but grin victoriously.

"One win for me," he declared, earning a slightly winded smile from Itachi. He then turned to Hotaru, who was catching her breath, and offered a supportive, "You did well, Hotaru."

Hotaru nodded, her chest rising and falling with exertion.

From the crowd, Kushina's enthusiastic voice rang out, "That's my boy!" causing Kaito to blush and sheepishly scratch the back of his head.

As the other classes completed the obstacle course, the instructor motioned them towards the target area. They were then called up a few at a time for the shuriken throwing test. Kaito stood with Hotaru, Itachi, and Izumi, patiently waiting their turn.

A smug kid standing beside Itachi threw his kunai, landing 4 inside the target and 5 outside. "Ha! Beat that!" he declared, directing his challenge at both Itachi and Kaito.

Unfazed, both Itachi and Kaito threw their kunai simultaneously, hitting the center of the target with perfect accuracy. Hotaru, demonstrating exceptional skill, landed 9 kunai inside the black target and only 1 outside. Izumi, while not quite as precise, still managed to land 5 kunai within the target, with 5 falling outside.

The kid who had challenged Itachi earlier stared at both Kaito and Itachi with a dumbfounded expression. "What's with him?" Kaito inquired, glancing at the kid, Kamano if he recalled correctly. Itachi simply offered a shrug in response.

"Huh... well, whatever. That's a draw!" Kaito declared, to which Itachi nodded in agreement.

The results of the shuriken test were finally announced, revealing that both Itachi and Kaito had secured the top spot, while Hotaru earned a well-deserved second place.

The instructor gathered everyone and announced, "Alright, when I call your names, come forward and perform the Seal of Reconciliation. Begin when I say 'Hajime!'" He proceeded to call out the names one by one.

While others paid attention, Kaito ignored them and engaged in conversation with Hotaru. This continued until his ears perked up when he heard her name called alongside Hana Inuzuka.

"Good luck," Kaito offered to Hotaru as she confidently strides towards the center.

"I don't need luck," Hotaru replied with a smirk, her expression brimming with smug confidence.

Hotaru and Hana both performed the Seal of Reconciliation. As soon as the instructor, Taji called out "Hajime!" and retreated, the fight began. It was brief yet impressive.

Hana rushed towards Hotaru, unleashing a flurry of punches, but Hotaru displayed incredible agility, dodging each blow effortlessly. With lightning-fast reflexes, Hotaru countered with a single palm strike, sending Hana crashing to the ground, unconscious.

"She's strong," remarked Itachi, impressed by Hotaru's display of skill.

"Hmm," Kaito hummed in agreement, nodding. To himself, he thought, "She didn't even use the Byakugan... She might be as strong as Itachi right now."

As Hotaru returned, Kaito greeted her with a smile, praising her performance, "You did well."

As the instructor opened his mouth to announce the next pair, Kaito's hand shot up, interrupting him.

"Sensei," Kaito declared, his gaze fixed on Itachi, "I would like to fight Itachi."

The instructor, surprised by the unexpected request, looked to Itachi for confirmation. After a brief pause, Itachi offered a slight nod, accepting the challenge.

"Very well," the instructor conceded, gesturing for them to step forward.

Once they stood facing each other, Kaito turned to the instructor, "Sensei, may we use ninjutsu?"

The instructor, aware of Kaito's lineage as the son of the Fourth Hokage, hesitated for a moment. He then glanced toward the Hokage, who had been observing the exchange. The Hokage, sensing the potential for a remarkable demonstration, gave a firm nod of approval.

With a sigh of understanding, the instructor finally relented, "Alright, you may proceed."

Both Kaito and Itachi acknowledged this with a determined nod. They faced each other, their expressions resolute, holding the Seal of Confrontation. Kaito, his eyes focused on Itachi's, declared, "Let's go all out, Itachi." Itachi, meeting his gaze, responded with a silent nod.

As the tension crackled between them, the instructor called out, "Hajime!" and swiftly retreated, leaving Kaito and Itachi to face each other in what promised to be an epic clash.

At the instructor's signal, both Kaito and Itachi launched into action, colliding in a flurry of punches and kicks. The exchange was a whirlwind of motion, each blocking and countering the other's blows with lightning reflexes.

Kaito, impressed by Itachi's ability to keep up with him, grinned. "Let's step this up a notch!" he declared, increasing his speed dramatically.

Itachi found himself struggling to keep pace. Recognizing the shift in momentum, he broke off the exchange and leaped back, creating some distance between them.

Anticipating Itachi's attempt to create space, Kaito hurled a kunai towards him. But in a display of advanced skills, the single kunai multiplied into ten mid-air, raining down on Itachi as he landed.

...

From the sidelines, Kushina couldn't contain her excitement, cheering loudly for Kaito. As Mikoto silently cheered for her son.

Fugaku, however, observed the exchange with a frown. "Itachi is struggling to keep up with that kid," he muttered. He narrowed his eyes further when Kaito effortlessly performed a sealless Shuriken Kage Bunshin.

Across the field, the Third Hokage watched the spar with keen interest. Puffing thoughtfully on his pipe, he mused, "Sealess Shuriken Kage Bunshin at his age...that boy has immense potential."

…

Itach, with swift reflexes, deflected several of the kunai with his own. He then leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the rest of the deadly projectiles. However, Kaito, anticipating Itachi's next move, had already appeared in front of him. "That all you got, Itachi?" Kaito taunted, launching a powerful kick aimed at his opponent.

Itachi crossed his arms in an attempt to block the attack, but the sheer force sent him flying towards the ground. With a quick roll, he managed to regain his footing, but before he could regain his balance, Kaito was upon him again. They engaged in a fierce exchange of punches and kicks, the air crackling with their raw energy.

Itachi, for the first time, found himself struggling to keep up with Kaito's relentless assault. "He's gotten faster... I can't keep up," he thought, his mind racing to find a counter.

Suddenly, as if a switch had flipped. Itachi started anticipating Kaito's movements, reading his punches and kicks before they landed. With this newfound awareness, he landed a clean counter punch, catching Kaito off guard and sending him stumbling backward.

Seizing the opportunity, Itachi launched into a relentless offensive, forcing Kaito to defend himself desperately. But Kaito was not ready to give up. He matched Itachi's intensity blow for blow, their movements mirroring each other in a breathtaking display of skill.

Just as the battle seemed to reach a stalemate, Itachi grasped Kaito's hand, using it to swiftly form a series of hand seals: Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger. Then, using Kaito's own leg as a springboard, he launched himself into the air and shouted, "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, hurtling towards Kaito like a fiery dragon.

Kaito, watching the fireball approach, smirked and quickly formed his own hand sign. "Suiton: Mizurappa!" he cried, spewing a powerful jet of water that met the fireball head-on. The two forces collided in a spectacular explosion, engulfing the arena in a thick cloud of mist.

Both Kaito and Itachi charged forward, their forms obscured by the swirling fog. Just as they were about to collide, a figure materialized between them, catching their wrists with astonishing speed.

As the mist swirled around them, the figure who had intervened came into focus. To everyone's surprise, it was none other than Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi's father.

"Your spar has gotten out of hand," Fugaku stated firmly, releasing their wrists.

Kaito sheepishly scratched his head. "My bad, Fugaku-sama," he mumbled. "We got caught in the moment."

Itachi echoed the sentiment with a slight bow. "Sorry, Father."

Kaito turned to Itachi, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "And congratulations on awakening your Sharingan, Itachi," he declared, forming the Seal of Reconciliation.

Itachi froze in shock. "Have I awakened it?" he wondered, tentatively reaching up to touch his face.

Fugaku cleared his throat, drawing Itachi's attention back to him. With a nod, Itachi mimicked the Seal of Reconciliation, acknowledging Kaito's statement.

Fugaku watched them with a calculating gaze. "He pushed Itachi on purpose," he thought to himself, "and... he was still holding back."

The instructor, finally emerging from his stupor, announced, "Alright, on to the next fight!" He resumed his duties, overseeing the remaining spars.

Itachi remained deep in thought, oblivious to Izumi's enthusiastic congratulations. Meanwhile, Kaito chatted animatedly with Hotaru,

The rest of the spars, though conducted with passion, failed to match the intensity of Kaito and Itachi's duel. As the day drew to a close, Kaito exchanged farewells with his friends and left with his mother, his mind still buzzing from the day's events. The awakening of the Sharingan marked a significant turning point in Itachi's life, and Kaito, the catalyst for this change, couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment and excitement for what the future held.

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