In Naruto as the Shadow Monarch

Chapter 11

Knock Knock

"Come in," said a man with dark, spiky hair and sharp facial features.

Inochi Sarutobi opened the door and made his way in. 

"Good seeing you, Lord Hokage." Inochi greeted the Hokage like an old friend.

"Ah, Inochi. It's always a pleasure to see an old friend. Please, have a seat." He gestured. Despite the formalities of his title as Hokage, Hiruzen's presence was always one of approachability and wisdom. (A/N: Until he grows old and senile, letting Danzo and the elders walk all over him.)

Inochi took the offered seat, his own expression respectful but filled with a sense of camaraderie that only old friends shared. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

"Not at all," Hiruzen replied with a chuckle, leaning back slightly in his chair. "The village always comes first, but there's always time for good company. So, what brings you here today, my friend?"

"I am here to report on the students' progress this academic year and one particular student that caught my attention. Like usual, the Uchiha are as arrogant and stock up as ever. The Hyuga stays quiet without interacting with others. The Nara are as smart and lazy as ever, especially a student named Kuro Nara. Though he is not from the Head Family of the Shika, he displays far more intelligence than a typical Nara."

Hiruzen chuckled softly at Inochi's description, leaning forward slightly in his chair. The Hokage was accustomed to hearing reports on the progress of young students, and it was clear that Inochi had a particular interest in one of them.

"You know, Inochi, I sometimes wonder if we'll ever see a year when the Uchiha aren't... 'arrogant' or the Nara aren't 'lazy'." He stated as he understood the nature of these clans better than anyone else. "Tell me more about this student named Kuro Nara."

Inochi leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Kuro Nara. He's a bit of an anomaly among the Nara. Not quite as lazy as his peers, but still maintains that nonchalant demeanor. What sets him apart, though, is his mind—sharp, perceptive, and capable of solving complex problems. He also seems to hold onto grudges. Most of the students don't notice it but on the first day of class, he targeted a student and embarrassed her."

Hiruzen's brow furrowed slightly as he was no stranger to the complexities of young ninja, but a student who carried bitterness could be a potential source of trouble.

"Targeted a student?" Hiruzen repeated. "That's troubling, who might that student be?"

"Well, it's Kurenai Yuhi. The one your son seems to have his eyes on." Inochi scratches his head.

"Did the situation escalate?"

"Fortunately, no. It seems that Kuro no longer has the desire to target her and Kurenai has withdrawn coming to the class. It seems that her dad would be taking her on his travels to teach her more about Genjutsu."

"I see," Hiruzen nodded. "If Kurenai has withdrawn, I can't help but wonder if it's directly related to this incident. In any case, we don't have any competent Genjutsu users as teachers so it would be better for her to travel and learn from her father."

As the night wears on, the two continue to discuss the happenings of the academy.

…

YAWN!

Kuro's eyes flutter open as he looks at his surroundings. He realized that he was laying on the ground outside his house. More specifically, in his backyard. Memories of his last night escapade and the dungeon came back.

"I was inside the dungeon for more than a month. Why hasn't anyone come to check on me?" Kuro thought as he got up and went inside the house to shower.

After the shower, Kuro put on new clothes.

"Wait. Are my eyes bugging out? It's only been 1 day? Does that mean the time in the dungeon flows differently?" Kuro rubs his eyes when he sees the date and time. Only 1 day has passed since he entered the dungeon. "That explains why no one has freak out."

Kuro then disregarded the thoughts as he started his daily workout.

Afterward ran to the academy as he completed the daily quest.

…

SItting on his seat, Kuro looks out the window watching the clouds float by.

SLAM!

The door to the classroom opened as Inochi stepped into the classroom with big eye bags..

"Class, I have an important announcement to make. Yesterday, your classmate Kurenai Yuhi, has withdrawn from the academy to travel and learn from her father." Inochii stated as he looked around the classroom before his eyes stopped on me. HE then yawned before continuing "and no, this has nothing to do with what happened on the first day of class." His eyes then stopped at the boy that 'stuck' his leg out.

Yawn

"Also, there will be a training tournament with all the classes next week. The tournament will be held inside the Forest of Death. Further details will be announced before the tournament takes place. Now let's get started with the class."

Inochi started the class and Kuro started to feel bored as the class continued. 

'I decided not to skip class today since I wanted to reward myself. I planned on doing another trick to Kurenai but the news of her withdrawal put a dent to that plan.' Kuro thought as the sound around him started to drift away and Inochi's voice sounded more distant.

As the class carried on, Kuro remained in his deep slumber, his head resting on his crossed arms. 

His peaceful snooze seemed undisturbed by the monotony of the lessons. Inochi's gaze lingered on Kuro for a moment, then shrugged, deciding not to make an issue of it. After all, the Nara clan was known for their laid-back attitude.

Meanwhile, outside the classroom window, the clouds continued to drift lazily across the sky. The sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Inochi continued the lecture, occasionally glancing at the class and making sure no one else was dozing off. The mention of the training tournament, however, caught a few more attentive ears. 

The Forest of Death... the idea of competing there made several students sit up straighter. The forest was notorious for being dangerous, and the tournament was bound to be intense.

Hours passed, and Inochi finally wrapped up the lesson. "Alright, that's all for today. Don't forget, study up for the tournament. You'll need it."

With the end of class, the students started gathering their things. Some were eager, chatting excitedly about the upcoming tournament, while others were less enthusiastic. Kuro, however, remained asleep, undisturbed by the hustle and bustle around him.

As the students began to file out of the classroom, Inochi paused near Kuro's desk, wondering if he should wake him up or let him sleep.

"Eh, he'll wake up eventually," Inochi muttered under his breath and walked out, shaking his head.

Kuro continued to dream, his mind wandering through a realm of dreams where he called upon the Army of the Shadow Legion to fight for him while he lazed around doing nothing.

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