NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 3: 2 & 3
Chapter 2: A Noble's Path
Naruto struggled to find the time to explore the abilities he saw in his dreams. The demands of being a Hyūga, constant training, clan duties, and the rigorous schedule of academy life, left little room for personal endeavors. Whenever he broached the subject of learning swordsmanship, Hiashi and the elders dismissed it. They clung to their traditions, viewing Naruto's request as an insult to the Hyūga's ancient and revered Gentle Fist style.
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Years Later: Academy Graduation
The day had finally come for the Academy students to graduate and be assigned to their teams. Naruto, ever the embodiment of poise and discipline, stood out among the crowd. He was placed on Team 7 alongside Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and their jōnin sensei, Kakashi Hatake.
Meanwhile, Hinata was grouped with Shino Aburame and Kiba Inuzuka, under Kurenai Yūhi's guidance.
As Hinata prepared to leave with her team, Naruto called out to her. "Lady Hinata," he said in his composed tone, "do not bring shame to the Hyūga name."
Hinata flinched slightly under his gaze but bowed respectfully. "Yes, Naruto-niisan."
Kurenai's eyes narrowed as she watched the exchange. She disliked how the Hyūga clan treated Hinata, seeing it as overly strict and cold. Her glare did not go unnoticed.
Naruto's sharp voice cut through the tension. "It is unbecoming to glare, Lady Kurenai."
Startled, Kurenai quickly masked her expression. "My apologies," she replied, though her tone carried a faint edge.
Kiba sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Why does Naruto always have to be such a prick?"
Naruto's gaze shifted to him, cold and unwavering. "As a clan heir, Kiba, you should act accordingly. Your conduct reflects not just on you but on your entire clan."
Kiba groaned. "Yeah, whatever."
---
One hour later
Team 7 waited in the empty classroom, but their sensei was nowhere to be found. Naruto, growing weary of the wait, stood up.
"Where are you going?" Sakura asked, glancing up from where she sat.
"Home," Naruto replied curtly.
Sasuke followed suit, rising to his feet. "If he's leaving, I'm leaving."
Sakura hesitated but ultimately trailed after Sasuke.
---
At the Hyūga Estate
Naruto stepped into the estate to find Hiashi waiting for him. "How did your meeting with your sensei go?"
"The man never showed up," Naruto answered, his voice laced with mild irritation.
Hiashi nodded knowingly. "Your sensei wouldnt happen to be, Kakashi Hatake?"
Naruto inclined his head.
"Punctuality has never been one of his strong suits," Hiashi remarked. "You have at least two hours to kill before meeting him. Come with me. Let us spar."
---
The Hyūga Training Grounds
In the serene yet imposing training grounds of the Hyūga estate, Naruto and Hiashi faced each other. Both activated their Byakugan, their veins pulsating with chakra as their all-seeing eyes came to life. Hanabi sat nearby, her gaze flickering between her father and brother with awe and anticipation.
The two combatants took their stances, the elegance of the Gentle Fist evident in every subtle movement.
Hiashi struck first, his palm glowing faintly with chakra as he aimed for Naruto's chest. Naruto twisted gracefully, deflecting the blow with a palm of his own before countering with a fluid strike toward Hiashi's abdomen.
Hiashi sidestepped, pivoting to unleash a rapid sequence of strikes aimed at Naruto's tenketsu. Naruto blocked and parried, his movements precise, each clash sending faint ripples through the air.
"Impressive, Naruto," Hiashi acknowledged. "But you still have much to learn."
Naruto's mind raced as he recalled the techniques from his dreams. He decided to test them.
With a burst of speed, he attempted Senka (Flash Blossom), darting to Hiashi's side in an effort to strike his Hakusui. Hiashi, however, anticipated the move, stepping back and countering with a swift strike to Naruto's shoulder, disrupting his attack.
"Too predictable," Hiashi commented.
Undeterred, Naruto tried Utsusemi (Cast-Off Cicada Shell). He moved at blinding speed, leaving behind a near-perfect afterimage. For a moment, Hanabi gasped, thinking Hiashi had landed a blow, only to realize Naruto had reappeared behind his father.
Hiashi turned swiftly, a faint smirk on his lips. "Impressive execution, but it won't fool me."
The sparring intensified as they both employed the "Eight Trigrams techniques", each clash showcasing their mastery. Hiashi executed a flawless Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms, his strikes swift and unrelenting. Naruto responded in kind, matching his father's technique blow for blow, the ground around them trembling from the sheer force of their strikes.
---
"You've grown stronger, Naruto," Hiashi admitted. "But strength alone isn't enough. Mastery requires patience and discipline."
Naruto bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the lesson, Father."
Hanabi clapped softly from the sidelines, her eyes wide with admiration.
---
2 hours later
Kakashi finally arrived at the Academy, only to find it deserted. With a sigh, he muttered, "Late again, I suppose."
____
Chapter 3: The Test Looms
It was 12 PM, and Kakashi finally arrived at the Academy, only to find it deserted. Rubbing the back of his head, he muttered, "Guess I'm late. Again."
---
At the Hyūga Estate
Kakashi's first stop was the Hyūga estate. The guards, familiar with his reputation as a Konoha shinobi, escorted him to the training grounds where Naruto was immersed in practice.
Kakashi watched with genuine admiration as Naruto moved with calculated precision, his strikes deliberate and graceful, each one a testament to his mastery of the Gentle Fist style. "Impressive," Kakashi remarked. "You have an elegance to your training, Naruto."
Naruto paused, his sharp blue eyes locking onto Kakashi. "You must be Kakashi Hatake," he said curtly, his scowl deepening.
Kakashi, scratching his head sheepishly, nodded. "That's me."
Naruto's gaze hardened. "A man of your stature should behave more professionally. Your tardiness is disgraceful. Punctuality is a mark of respect."
Kakashi opened his mouth to offer one of his infamous excuses, but Naruto cut him off. "Hiashi-sama already told me about your... colorful explanations. Don't waste my time with such nonsense."
Kakashi blinked, a bit stunned. "Well, this kid's going to be a fun one," he thought wryly.
---
The pair visited Sakura's home. Kakashi gave her his typical excuse, claiming he got lost on the path of life.
Sakura narrowed her eyes and said flatly, "Cut the crap"
Naruto glanced at Kakashi, his irritation evident. "At least someone else sees the absurdity of your behavior."
Kakashi sighed inwardly. "Even Sakura's getting in on it."
---
Walking Through the Uchiha Clan District
Their final destination was the Uchiha Clan district. The silence of the area hung heavily in the air, making every step feel amplified.
Kakashi thought about the tragedy of the Uchiha clan, his visible eye darkening briefly. "I suppose this place holds nothing but pain for Sasuke now."
Naruto observed the surroundings with a neutral expression, though his mind reflected differently. "A place of such great history and power… reduced to a ghost town."
Sakura, however, was too preoccupied with the idea of seeing Sasuke to notice the somber atmosphere.
When they arrived at Sasuke's home, Kakashi called for him. Sasuke stepped outside, his dark eyes immediately focusing on Kakashi with a glare.
Kakashi, unperturbed, gave his signature eye-smile. "Turn that frown upside down," he teased lightly.
Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance, his irritation palpable.
---
Introductions
Kakashi decided it was time for formal introductions. "Alright, let's get to know each other. I'll start. My name is Kakashi Hatake. My likes, dislikes, and hobbies? None of your business. As for my dream… well, I haven't thought of one yet."
Sakura followed next. "I'm Sakura Haruno. My likes..." She glanced at both Naruto and Sasuke, her cheeks flushing slightly. "My dislikes are Ino-pig. My hobbies..." Again, her gaze flickered between Naruto and Sasuke. "And my dream..." She looked at them once more, inner Sakura cheering loudly.
Kakashi sighed inwardly. "Definitely a fangirl."
Sasuke was next. His voice was cold and unwavering. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan and kill a certain someone."
Sakura's heart practically leaped from her chest. "So cool!" she thought, her eyes sparkling.
Naruto, however, was unfazed. He thought to himself, "That single-minded thirst for revenge will consume him. Such an obsession is unbecoming of a noble."
Finally, it was Naruto's turn. He stood with a noble bearing, his voice measured and formal. "I am Naruto Hyūga. My duty is to uphold the honor of the Hyūga clan and serve the village faithfully. That is all."
His tone was so detached and professional that even Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Man, this kid's more rigid than the elders at the council meetings."
---
The Real Test
Kakashi clapped his hands. "Well, now that introductions are out of the way, let me explain something important. You're not officially genin yet."
Sakura's jaw dropped. "What?!"
Kakashi smiled. "There's one more test you need to pass. It's tomorrow at Training Ground 7. And one more thing, don't eat breakfast. The test will be so intense that you'll likely puke."
Naruto remained stoic, though he silently noted Kakashi's flair for the dramatic.
With that, Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
---
Naruto, ever the gentleman, turned to Sakura. "Lady Sakura, allow me to escort you home."
Sakura blinked, surprised but delighted. "O-Oh! Sure!" Inner Sakura screamed, "Yes! Alone time with Naruto!"
Naruto and Sakura bid farewell to Sasuke.
As Sasuke watched Naruto's retreating back, his fists clenched. "I won't let him outshine me tomorrow. He's not better than me."
Tbc