Sukiyaki (Untouchable Memories)

Twelve short years ago, the village of Konoha was ravaged by a catastrophic event that would forever change its fate. The Nine-Tails, a behemoth of chakra and fury, was unleashed upon the village by a rogue ninja. The beast's rampage left destruction and despair in its wake, leveling homes and claiming countless lives.

As the villagers struggled to comprehend the scale of the disaster, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, made a heroic sacrifice to seal the Nine-Tails within the newborn Naruto Uzumaki. The seal, though imperfect, contained the beast's power, saving Konoha from annihilation. 

However, the trauma inflicted upon the village would take years to heal, and Naruto, now a jinchuriki, would bear the weight of the Nine-Tails' presence for the rest of his life…

Naruto's struggle to focus was generally well-known throughout the ninja academy. He'd even had a few unworthy senseis give up entirely on him throughout the years, making it challenging to master even the most basic jutsus. Despite his determination to become a Genin, and eventually Hokage, he had already failed the exams twice.

Even Shanan, who had always been the most patient and the most determined to help her little sweetie overcome obstacles, struggled to find a surefire way to help him retain the information he needed in order to succeed. Though she wracked her brain over it constantly. 

And Sasuke, while less patient, did his best to train with him and go over things they had learned in class slowly.

With their next exam less than a week away, Shanan and Sasuke guided Naruto through the series of hand seals, Sasuke's voice steady and calm. 

Naruto's eyes sparkled with determination, his brow furrowed in concentration. However, as the minutes ticked by under the warm sun's gaze, his focus began to wane. Long shadows stretched across the rooftop, a testament to the passing time.

"Come on, Naruto, just one more time," Sasuke encouraged, his patience waning.

But Naruto's hands faltered, fingers tangling in a messy knot. Frustration etched his face, his scowl deepening. "Ugh, I'll never get this!" Naruto exclaimed, tossing his hands up in exasperation.

Sasuke's expression remained neutral, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of irritability. "You're really giving up already? We've only just started."

Shanan intervened. "Hey, you got the first half down, Naruto. You just need to practice the second half. It's all about muscle memory." She demonstrated the hand seals again, her movements fluid. "Watch closely."

Naruto shifted restlessly, his gaze wandering to the nearby trees instead of Shanan's hands. "Yeah, but this one's too hard, sis. Can't we do something else? I bet I could climb that big tree over there!"

Sasuke sighed, recognizing the familiar pattern of Naruto's distraction. "Focus, Naruto. You'll never become Hokage if you can't master basic jutsus."

"Shut up! I will too!" Naruto declared, his enthusiasm as fleeting as ever. "We've got plenty of time. Besides..." He sprinted to the roof's edge, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Third time's the charm. I'll try again tomorrow, I promise!" With a reckless grin, Naruto leaped down, leaving Shanan and Sasuke exchanging worried glances.

Shanan's shoulders slumped as she turned to Sasuke. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do, Sasuke," she admitted.

Sasuke's eyes locked onto hers. "We're both trying our best to help him, Shanan. But we can only do so much. He needs to help himself."

"I know..." she said, unconvinced. "But it's my job to make sure he succeeds. It'll be all my fault if he doesn't become Hokage." Her heart ached at the thought of letting Naruto down.

An exasperated sigh escaped his lips. He knew Naruto's potential, but his struggles with persistence and focus often hindered his progress. He also knew that no matter what he said to her, Shanan would blame herself if Naruto didn't achieve his dream.

The day of the exam arrived, and Sasuke passed with flying colors. However, unsurprisingly, Iruka sensei failed Naruto, his disapproving head shake accompanied by a disappointed sigh. "Sorry, Naruto. You're not ready." 

The words stung.

Naruto congratulated Sasuke warmly, his pride in his friend's abilities and promotion genuine. Yet, beneath the surface, his heart was shattered. He longed to believe he could overcome his limitations, but all he could do was compare himself to Sasuke – the effortless achiever, admired by all, especially Sakura.

Sasuke's flawless performance seemed to underscore Naruto's own limitations. Even Shanan's joy for Sasuke's success twisted the knife, intensifying Naruto's feelings of inadequacy. 

When Shanan approached him, concern etched on her face, Naruto brushed her off with a nonchalant smile. "I'm fine, Shanan. Really." He didn't want to burden her with his doubts or diminish her pride in Sasuke. "I just remembered that I promised Hinata we could train together, but I'll be back in time for dinner," he told them, conveniently excusing himself.

Sasuke's gaze lingered on Naruto as he made his way to the door with hands clasped on top of his head, concern flickering in his eyes. He knew he was upset with himself, but it would do no good to talk to him when he was pretending to be unbothered. It'd only make him feel worse if he started crying in front of them about it…

As Naruto wandered through the village, he found himself back at the academy sitting under the tree and watching his now former classmates that still lingered. They were all excitedly discussing their upcoming team assignments blissfully unaware of his gaze. Though, he didn't think they would've cared even if they knew he was there.

"Shadow clones were hard for me too, you know," came a familiar voice from behind Naruto.

Naruto looked up at Mizuki, one of the senseis from the Academy, still choking back tears. 

Mizuki sighed and plopped himself down next to Naruto. "I guess we can't all be as good as Uchiha, can we?" 

A groan escaped Naruto's throat as he turned away from Mizuki and poked at the ground with a nearby stick.

"Iruka just wants you to do well, that's why he failed you," Mizuki started. "But you know, I might know how you can really impress him. A way to instantly make you a Genin."

He glanced sideways down at Naruto before continuing.

"A scroll full of secret jutsus unavailable to anyone but the Hokage. Hey, didn't you say you wanted to be Hokage someday?" he asked.

"Uh-huh…" Naruto said.

"I thought so. But… damn," Mizuki said thoughtfully. "Ah, nevermind, it's locked up where no one can get to it. It'd take someone really skilled to retrieve it. So, oh well. Better luck next time." Mizuki stood up and started to walk away.

"Well, where is it?" 

Mizuki smiled to himself before turning around to face Naruto. "Oh, just in the Hokage's residence. It's pretty big, though. Hard to miss if you find it. But… I'm really not sure someone like you could even get into that place. It takes stealth and–"

"I can get it, easy!" Naruto stood up with a newfound determination, his expression hopeful. "And you promise it'll make me a Genin?"

"Of course! Get that scroll and you'll be better than Sasuke in no time," he said.

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Okay, you got a deal!"

They made plans to meet in the woods after nightfall and Naruto set out for the Hokage's residence. He watched and waited as his stomach growled and he wondered what Shanan ended up making for dinner. But he pushed the thought of her cooking from his mind, knowing they were probably doing what everyone else was doing - discussing team assignments and who Sasuke might pair well with. A pang of jealousy coursed through him, steeling his resolve. 

He glanced around, ensuring he was alone, before focusing on the Hokage's residence. The imposing structure loomed before him, its windows like empty eyes staring back. When he was certain he could infiltrate undetected, Naruto made his move.

He clumsily climbed through a lower window, his hands scraping against the sill. Landing with a soft thud in what appeared to be a child's room, Naruto winced, holding his breath. The room was twice the size of his small apartment, filled with expensive-looking toys and furniture. 

Naruto tip-toed across the room, avoiding scattered toys. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he spotted the door, its handle gleaming in the faint moonlight. He carefully turned the handle and pulled the door open, wincing at the faint creak.

Naruto's heart quickened as he contemplated the Hokage's secrets hidden within. 

If I were the Hokage, I'd keep my most prized possessions close.

He set out to find the largest bedroom, reasoning it would belong to the Hokage.

Climbing the stairs, Naruto's footsteps echoed softly. He reached the top and paused, surveying the hallway. Door after door led to more mysteries, each one heightening his anticipation. 

Which one?

Methodically, Naruto opened each door, peering inside. Some rooms were cluttered with books, others with strange artifacts. He snickered, imagining the Hokage's eccentricities. 

What would an old guy like him need all this stuff for?

After what felt like an eternity – twenty doors, each one a disappointment – Naruto found it. The largest bedroom, fit for a king. Or, in this case, the Hokage. The bed, an enormous four-poster, dominated the room. Shelves and cases overflowed with ancient tomes, glittering treasures, and deadly weapons.

And there, at the room's center, rested a giant scroll. 

Naruto's eyes widened as he approached, his heart pounding. "That's gotta be it." His whisper barely audible.

Reaching the case, Naruto's fingers trembled as he removed the scroll. Its weight felt substantial in his hands, filled with promise. Mizuki's words echoed in his mind: "This will make you a Genin." Naruto's imagination ran wild – mastering jutsus, skipping ranks, becoming the youngest, most powerful Hokage the village had ever seen.

With the scroll clutched tightly, Naruto turned to leave, his mind racing. The darkness outside seemed to fade into the background as he envisioned his future glory.

As Naruto waited to meet Mizuki in the woods, he couldn't resist the temptation to read a portion of the scroll. He knew he probably shouldn't or that he likely wouldn't even understand the proper technique, but he was way too curious not to at least peek. 

He unrolled it and scanned the words and illustrations of the first technique. 

"Multi Shadow Clones? Of course, my worst jutsu… But imagine if I could go from not being able to make one, to making a hundred! It'd wipe that smug look off everyone's faces. Even Iruka Sensei would be impressed." 

He read over the instructions, the hand signals were clearly mapped out. And to his surprise, it didn't even look that difficult to do! 

Naruto waited anxiously for Mizuki's arrival, his mind racing with the promise of power. Hours passed, and with each minute, his determination grew. Finally, he couldn't resist the urge to practice the jutsu…

After about thirty minutes, Iruka Sensei showed up. His expression was stern, concern etched on his face. "Naruto, what's going on? Most of the Jonin in the village are searching for you. We received reports of the Hokage's scroll being stolen…"

"Guess I'm busted, huh, Iruka Sensei?" Naruto said sheepishly, trying to sound nonchalant despite the scroll clutched in his hands. "I only had time to learn the first jutsu, but I'm ready to show you!"

"What do you mean, Naruto?"

"That's how it works, right? I do one of the jutsus from this scroll and you make me a Genin? That's what Mizuki Sensei told me!"

Iruka's eyes widened. 

Mizuki… the same person who alerted everyone to Naruto's theft, sending the village into a panic.

Just as understanding dawned, a hail of kunai sliced through the air, targeting Iruka and Naruto.

"Naruto, run!" Iruka shouted, pushing him back and taking a kunai to the thigh. Fortunately, the rest of them missed him, but he was in a lot of pain.

The sudden attack shattered the night's calm, and Naruto's world was thrown into chaos.

But in all the confusion, Naruto stuck around, frozen in uncertainty. 

Mizuki took this opportunity to reveal a deep secret. His eyes gleamed with malice as he took a step closer to Naruto. "There's something you should know, Naruto. Something the village has kept hidden from you."

"Mizuki, no!" Iruka objected. "That's forbidden knowledge. Don't tell him!"

Mizuki sneered. "See? Everyone in the village knows, Naruto. Don't you want to know why everyone here hates you?"

Iruka's eyes pleaded with him. "No, Mizuki! Don't do this!"

His smile grew wider. "Even Iruka Sensei would do anything to stop me from telling you. But I think you deserve to know the truth."

Iruka's desperation intensified. "Mizuki, stop! You're playing with fire!"

"The truth, Naruto," Mizuki's voice dropped to a whisper. "Is that the Nine-Tails... the beast that destroyed the village and killed Iruka's parents among countless other shinobi... is sealed within you."

Naruto's mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the weight of this revelation. 

The Nine-Tailed fox, sealed within him?

Before he could process this information, Mizuki launched one of his giant shuriken right at him. With no time to react, Naruto cowered, expecting the worst.

And when nothing happened to him, he opened his eyes to see Iruka shielding him with his body.

"You're okay, Naruto," Iruka whispered, before coughing up blood. The giant shuriken had struck the center of his back and was lodged between two of his vertebrae.

Mizuki laughed dryly. "You'd protect the beast that murdered your parents? Don't you hate him for what he did?"

Iruka's arms shook as he looked down at Naruto. "No, I don't hate him. I know how it feels, Naruto. I've walked in your shoes, faced similar struggles. You're not alone. I know it's hard, but I'm here for you."

"As if he'd believe you after all the times you've failed him?" Mizuki sneered.

Naruto's eyes widened, and he turned to run. Mizuki's words and the shocking revelation fueled his anger and confusion.

"Naruto, wait!" Iruka yelled after him, but Naruto was already gone, vanished into the trees.

Naruto ran blindly, his heart pounding in his chest. The revelation echoed in his mind: the Nine-Tails, sealed within him. How had this been kept secret from him for so long? And why was the beast inside him?

Eventually, he slowed, catching his breath behind a nearby tree. Worry crept in – how would Shanan and Sasuke react when they found out? Would they abandon him like everyone else? Naruto hoped they wouldn't discover the truth.

His worries consumed him, oblivious to the unfolding drama nearby. 

Unbeknownst to him, a brief chase had just unfolded…

Mizuki, disguised as Iruka, stumbled and fell to the ground. As he struggled to regain his footing, his form shifted, revealing his true identity. "How did you know it was me?" Mizuki spat, disoriented.

Then, Iruka, disguised as Naruto, landed nearby, his breathing labored. The faint sound of his transformation jutsu releasing signaled his return to his true form. Exhausted, Iruka slumped against a nearby tree, his back resting on the trunk.

Naruto peeked around the tree, witnessing the scene unfold. 

Iruka's voice, weak but resolute, spoke out. "Because I'm not Naruto... If you want to hurt him, you'll have to go through me." He coughed, wincing in pain. "But you should know, Naruto is stronger than you think... He's stronger than everyone thinks. You underestimate him because you're afraid of him, but he's not the beast you all treat him like."

Naruto's gaze fell upon Iruka's battered form. The kunai wound in his thigh and the recent shuriken injury had taken its toll. Yet, Iruka's determination remained unwavering.

Mizuki punched the ground, before struggling to his feet. "I was gonna wait to kill you, Iruka, but I'm tired of hearing your drivel!" With a fluid motion, he spun his second giant shuriken, the deadly blade glinting in the fading light, and charged towards Iruka.

Iruka, exhausted and wounded, closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. His thoughts turned to Naruto, hoping he had bought enough time for the young ninja's escape.

But just as Mizuki was about to strike, a blur of orange and yellow intercepted him. Naruto launched himself at Mizuki, kicking him to the ground.

"Stay away from my Sensei!" Naruto growled, his eyes blazing with determination.

Mizuki's twisted smirk returned. "And what are you gonna do if I don't?"

Naruto's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he stood up straight, his confidence radiating. "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he yelled.

In an instant, the clearing was filled with the sound of duplicates materializing. A hundred tangible clones surrounded the trio, their eyes fixed intently on Mizuki. Each clone was identical, mirroring Naruto's fierce expression.

The air was electric with tension as the clones awaited Naruto's command, ready to defend their creator and his sensei.

Mizuki's jaw dropped, stunned by the sheer number of clones. "But... how? How could you create this many without weaving a single sign?"

Naruto's confidence soared as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "That's my business," he said with a smirk. He couldn't help but wonder if this was how Sasuke felt when he pulled off something cool. "Now, are you gonna come and take this beating, or do we have to come to you?" 

Mizuki's face twisted in rage. "Why, you little–!"

Naruto shrugged. "Fine, have it your way then."

With a synchronized battle cry, the clones descended upon Mizuki, unleashing a flurry of kicks, punches, and stomps. Naruto watched as Mizuki was pummeled into the ground.

Once Mizuki lay bloodied and unconscious, Naruto released the jutsu, the clones dissipating into thin air.

Concern etched on his face, Naruto rushed to Iruka's side. "Are you okay, Sensei?"

Iruka sat up straight, a proud smile plastered on his face, despite his battered state. "Naruto, you did it! You actually did it!"

He coughed up a trickle of blood, but dismissed it with a wipe of his hand, his focus on Naruto. "I knew you would... You've come so far, Naruto."

"Thanks, Iruka Sensei, but... we should probably get you outta here. You really don't look too good."

Iruka chuckled, followed by a pained groan. His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Yeah, but first, I owe you something for that jutsu..." 

Shanan woke up at dawn to find Naruto's bedroll empty, a knot of worry forming in her stomach. He hadn't returned for dinner, and Sasuke had laid it out for him, hoping he'd come back soon. Her heart ached thinking of Naruto alone, tears streaming down his face, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it was all her fault.

Determined, she vowed to teach him the Shadow Clone Jutsu, no matter what it took.

Just as she jumped out of bed to start her search, the door swung open. Naruto walked in, a hint of a smile on his face, looking almost... triumphant.

"There you are!" Shanan exclaimed.

Sasuke stirred, groggily opening his eyes.

"Sorry, Sasuke," Shanan whispered, before turning her attention back to Naruto. "Where were you?" she asked.

Naruto's face suddenly flushed with shame as he looked down. "Well, I guess I'd rather you hear it from me," he said. 

Sasuke, now fully awake, listened intently, his eyes narrowing.

"I left so I wouldn't ruin your celebration, Sasuke. Then Mizuki found me and tricked me into stealing the Scroll of Seals." His face flushed with embarrassment. "But I learned one of the techniques, and then Iruka Sensei showed up." Naruto's expression turned somber, remembering Iruka's sacrifice. "He protected me from Mizuki, got hurt pretty bad for me..." He looked down at the ground, thinking about how much worse it could've been. But then his face lit up with pride as he continued, "But I did good though. I made a hundred shadow clones and beat the hell out of Mizuki!" His eyes sparkled as he revealed his new headband, replacing his old goggles.

Shanan's hands flew to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. Her lip quivered, and she struggled to contain her emotions. "Dammit, Naruto!" she whispered, embracing him tightly. "You could've gotten yourself killed!" Sniffling, she pulled him closer. "But... I'm so proud of you."

Sasuke's surprise gradually gave way to admiration, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

Naruto's brow furrowed. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just... I knew you'd figure it out, loser," Sasuke said gently.

Naruto's face lit up with a sheepish grin. "Shut up, jerk..." He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Anyway, you guys should've seen just how cool I was! I didn't even use hand signals... Kept my hands in my pockets and everything."

Shanan laughed, shaking her head. "Well, I didn't create it to make you look cool, but I bet you looked awesome!"

Naruto flashed his signature thumbs-up, accompanied by a crooked grin. "Believe it, sis!"

Sasuke and Shanan exchanged an amused glance before enveloping Naruto in a warm, tight hug. Pride and affection radiated from their faces.

With their graduation behind them, the next step loomed: Genin teams. The trio spent the rest of the day discussing potential teammates, weighing compatibility and mismatches. Wonder filled their conversations as they speculated about their new Senseis.

Shanan's thoughts turned bittersweet. She recalled Sasuke's anxiety before her team assignment. Would the boys form strong bonds with their new teammates? Would the three of them grow apart as their paths diverged? She hoped their teams would be as exceptional as hers, but deep down, she feared time would wear down their bond.