Naruto: legacy of the lightning

Since I accepted being friends with Obito, he's been following me around, chatting non-stop about how beautiful Rin is. A normal person might say it's unbearable, but I don't care—it's like playing a video game or reading a novel with background music, so I let him be. It's not a problem for me.

Rin notices Obito talking with me and walks over to join us. I nod subtly toward her. Obito immediately understands and smoothly changes the topic.

"Have you mastered the three basic jutsus yet?" he asks, curious.

"Yes, I've been studying and practicing to achieve that," I answer without taking my eyes off the book.

Rin smiles with genuine awe. "That's amazing," she says.

I feel uncomfortable with praise, so I try to change the subject."By the way, Obito, how's your shuriken-throwing going? You seem to be struggling." I turn a page.

Obito shrugs. "Yeah, I'm not good—I just can't hit the targets," he admits, sighing. "Could you teach me?"

"…You probably don't want me to," I reply seriously. "Trust me, I'd make it more complicated."

"Please, how hard could it be?" he says confidently, sensing a challenge.

A moment later, Obito is having an existential crisis."Where did that X come from? Why are letters in math? What kind of torture is this?" he mutters, pressing his temples as if massaging his brain. I was the same when I first saw those formulas.

Rin looks calmer—like she's thought, "I just know I don't know anything."

I show them my method—but I knew it wouldn't work and had warned them.

While they argue about how difficult it is, I drift mentally elsewhere.

Lately, I've been experimenting with kunai tied to threads, creating web-like patterns. Then I had an idea:If I used special thread that conducts chakra, I could create traps—• With fire chakra: burning the enemy.• With lightning chakra: electrifying them in a mesh.

I'll test this next time I visit Tenten's father's shop. I know she's not born yet, but I heard it's the best shop in the village. Prices are rising thanks to wartime demand.Better not make the threads myself—if I start down that path, I'll obsess forever. So I drop the idea.

After school, I go to the training field with Might Guy and his father. Their routines are my only entertainment—training's all there is with no TV, no internet, no visual novels.

That's how my days go. If you're wondering why no one reported me when I beat up five older kids—someone must've pulled strings, because it never happened. That stinks.

Now that I have a friend and training partner, I can test my skills or practice genjutsu—though I'd prefer training with Kurenai if I ever find her. She's probably a year older, so I'd need to create a chance meeting.

So, I cast a basic genjutsu on Obito to test his mental resistance and my skill. He couldn't break it, so I released it immediately.

"Obito, are you okay?" I ask, worried I might've gone too far.

Instead of anger, he looks calm and says seriously, "Do it again."

Huh?

The genjutsu was a simple illusion—countless Rins around him—something he could easily break. I underestimated his simp-level, or maybe I'm just dumb to think he'd want to stop such a paradise.

Honestly, I'd like to test myself with a torture-level genjutsu someday, but not with Obito—not yet. He's only five. Maybe later I'll ask him to undergo one to awaken his Sharingan.

Now, Obito and I train ninjutsu and taijutsu and tool throwing together. But I forgot he's as bad at tools as Naruto was in the academy. I easily beat him, so I dial it back to match his level.

Rin joins now and then. She's not a fighter—more theoretical—so I teach from their school textbook, avoiding complex topics and slipping in a bit of anatomy and medicine on the side.

Sometimes, I pair them up so Obito can practice with Rin. Maybe help his crush. That way, even if Rin dies canonically, she won't hold it against me like the Mist ANBU or Kakashi might.

Since Obito isn't a challenge, I keep looking for someone to test myself—someone who can beat me and show my weaknesses.

That's how I met Might Guy. It was a miracle—he recognized me and offered to train. I agreed. We spar cautiously, then remove weights and go full power.

I don't know much taijutsu—but in my past life I trained in boxing, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, MMA, and even won medals. I wanted to see if it helps here or not.

Guy threw a spinning kick—blocked it with my leg, caught him, and countered with a direct kick to his abdomen.

"Haha, I knew you were good," he laughs as my kick lands on his hardened stomach.

I rush him, trying a jiu-jitsu takedown, but Guy is strong—he breaks free and hops up.

"I can tell you enjoy this too," he says, smiling broadly.

I must've smiled too—unconsciously. We continue our match. Neither of us falls—we collapse exhausted afterwards.

"You're good, Kenji, as expected from someone who trains with us," Guy says, lying on the ground.

Might Guy's father is overjoyed, even tearful, seeing his son give it his all. He invites us for ramen.

That meal was great. Not as good as Ichiraku's, but Teuchi Ōtsutsuki isn't around yet.

Days pass quickly and finally the ninja academy graduation exam arrives.

Kakashi and I are the youngest—requesting early graduation.

"Okay!" the teacher announces. "Here's how the exam works..." He picks up papers. "First, a written test to assess your knowledge and memory. It's based on what we've taught over the years."

He puts another paper on top. "Next, the basic three jutsus test. Finally, a combat test—face another opponent and prove your skills."

He hands us the papers. "Understood?"

"YES!" every student shouts.

The written test begins. Everyone is focused. I read the questions: multiple-choice arithmetic and loyalty-based questions like "What did the Third Hokage do?", "Which Hokage is strongest?" etc.

"This old man's indoctrinating us right from the start," I mutter.

I sigh and fill everything in accurately—or jokingly—about closing underground casinos or letting Danzo run things.

I hand it in quickly. The teacher reviews it, jaw dropping.

Next: the three-jutsu test in the next room.

"Let's see, Kenji Furukawa," the teacher reads and seems puzzled. He expected "Kenji Uchiha," since I'm adopted. My mom kept my original surname so they wouldn't expect Sharingan."Ready to show us the basic three?" he asks.

"Yes," I answer calmly.

"Then start."I perform the clone jutsu—an identical clone appears. He marks it."Good, next."I dispel it and do substitution jutsu—leaving behind a cushion. He writes more.

"Next jutsu."Then I reappear—but first ask, "Can I transform into anything?"

He hesitates, but nods.Puff! A smoke cloud rises and I transform into a tall, muscular adult—about 6'4", shaved sides, low braid, tribal tattoos, tribal makeup, wearing Viking-esque clothes.

The teachers stare, stunned. Then I revert to my normal self.

"You may leave," the teacher says, still taking furious notes—he'll get a raise after this, for sure.

"Thank you," I bow and head to the training field. Being first, I grab tools to train…and begin experimenting with materials to craft a weapon no one's seen here.