Naruto: Power through Bonds

In the classroom, the names Uchiha Itachi and Shimura Denji were already legendary. Both were considered the top geniuses in their year, and perhaps in the entire school.

Itachi carried the weight of his illustrious Uchiha name, excelling in every test with perfect scores. Denji, on the other hand, earned his reputation not through grades, but through a series of fist-first "discussions." Even upperclassmen had learned to tread carefully around him, cementing his reputation as a school bully of sorts.

The two had never faced off directly before, but their mutual presence sparked constant debate over who was truly stronger. The majority leaned towards Itachi, as the Uchiha clan's prestige spoke volumes. Yet, plenty of voices cheered for Denji, especially after he left a few bruises as proof of his strength.

This day, however, was different. The crowd's excitement boiled over as they prepared to witness their long-awaited showdown.

"Go, Denji! You have to win!"

"Take down that smug Uchiha!"

"They're both so cute, but… Denji's cuter! Go, Denji!"

The atmosphere was electric, with the students cheering wildly. Even those who'd felt Denji's punches couldn't deny their interest in the match. Despite his rough exterior, Denji was surprisingly well-liked among his classmates. He never scared them off with a cold glare; he always had a rough charisma that drew them in.

Itachi, by contrast, was the picture of solitary Uchiha perfection: contemplative, aloof, and impossibly skilled. His serious demeanor and quiet nature fit the Uchiha stereotype perfectly, leaving him admired but distant.

Even Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned forward, intrigued by what would unfold. This match was sure to be a spectacle.

On the practice field, Denji and Itachi stood a few meters apart, locked in a silent stare.

Earlier that day, Denji had personally requested Shuichi Kazama to pair him against Itachi. If he was going to graduate as the top student, he needed to leave a lasting impression. A duel with Itachi, followed by victory, would guarantee his reputation.

And, well, he really wanted to take a swing at Itachi.

"Both of you, perform the Seal of Confrontation!" Shuichi Kazama's voice rang out.

The two boys raised their hands and formed the seal.

Kazama stepped back, announcing, "Begin!"

Itachi instantly adopted a defensive stance, while Denji stood motionless. For a moment, it seemed like he wouldn't even move—then he turned his head toward the instructor.

"Sensei, I don't think we'll be able to perform the Seal of Reconciliation later," Denji said nonchalantly.

Kazama opened his mouth to respond, but Denji had already vanished.

The students gasped in awe.

"He's so fast!"

In the blink of an eye, Denji had crossed the distance to Itachi. Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened. That speed, that movement—it reminded him of Uchiha Shisui's famed Body Flicker Technique.

Alarm flashed in Itachi's eyes as Denji's fist flew toward him. He tried to block, raising his arms defensively, but the attack landed before he could fully react.

A loud smack echoed across the field, and suddenly, Itachi was gone—in his place, a puff of smoke dissipated into the air.

"A Shadow Clone?" Hiruzen stood abruptly, his guards equally stunned.

It wasn't just Denji's speed that caught everyone off guard. It was the fact that he had managed to use the Shadow Clone Technique, a B-rank jutsu, in his first year of academy training.

Denji stood in the center of the field, brushing off his hands. "I told you, sensei, there's no need for the Seal of Reconciliation. But no worries. I'll be back tomorrow. Tell Itachi to come again."

With a brief hand sign, Denji dissolved into a cloud of smoke, revealing he'd been a Shadow Clone all along.

Hiruzen was flabbergasted. "Another Shadow Clone?"

...

In the shade of a tree outside the school grounds, the real Denji lay stretched out, enjoying a leisurely nap. The commotion back at the academy would ensure that Itachi drew all the attention, while Denji himself waited for his reward to roll in.

[Host established a bond with Yamanaka Jun and obtained the Earth attribute Nature Transformation (Excellent).]

[Host established a bond with Nara Shikaku and obtained Yin attribute Chakra (Ordinary).]

[Host established a bond with Hiraashi Eiji and obtained 0.5 standard units of Jōnin-level Chakra.]

[Host established a bond with Sarutobi Hiruzen and obtained Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning attributes (Genius).]

Denji opened one eye, a grin spreading across his face. The Third Hokage's bond had finally paid off—and in a big way.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is renowned as the "Professor of Ninjutsu." While he doesn't possess any unique bloodline abilities, his mastery of all five elemental chakra natures allows him to create highly effective combination techniques, placing him among the upper echelons of Kage-level shinobi.

That said, his performance during the battle against Orochimaru isn't the most reliable measure of his true power. After all, he was an aging ninja in his seventies, already injured before the fight began. What kind of strength can you realistically expect from someone in that condition?

In terms of raw ability, the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage arguably represent the peak of what a "normal" ninja can achieve without special bloodline advantages. The Third Tsuchikage might also be in that category, though his mastery of Dust Release—a rare and unique advanced nature transformation—sets him apart.

Still, seeing the potential rewards from the Third Hokage's bond is impressive. If the first stage of rewards yields genius-level mastery over all five chakra natures, it's hard not to wonder what the second and third stages could offer.

"Tsk, old man," Denji muttered with a wry grin. "Looking at what others can do, it's no surprise you never became Hokage."

"This old man's chakra attributes are incredible," he muttered. "If this is just the first stage, I can't wait to see what comes next."

Chuckling, Denji rose and activated the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing in a flash.

…

Back at the academy, Shuichi Kazama tried to keep his composure. The test still had to continue, despite the fact that both students had used Shadow Clones. Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a slight smile and reassured him.

"Let the others finish. I'll have a word with Denji and Uchiha Itachi afterward."

The remaining tests proceeded without further incident. By the time they ended, Hiruzen spoke a few encouraging words to the students and left quickly, instructing an ANBU guard to summon Danzo and Fugaku to his office.

In the Hokage building, Danzo and Fugaku met briefly before being ushered inside. Fugaku bowed politely, while Danzo offered only a brief, impassive nod before stepping in.

...

Later that evening, Danzo returned home, clearly pleased with how things had played out.

"Denji, are you awake?" he called.

Denji emerged from his room, a book in hand. "What's up, old man?"

"Well done today," Danzo said with rare approval. "Seeing the Uchiha put in their place… It's quite satisfying."

Danzo was very happy to see the Uchiha clan suffer a setback, and he was even more comfortable when it was his grandson who made the Uchiha suffer a setback.

"It was just one Shadow Clone," Denji said, downplaying it.

"Yes, just one," Danzo said, his tone shifting. "But tomorrow, you'll have to face him again."

Denji raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes," Danzo said firmly. "Hiruzen will be there again, along with myself and the other two elders. Uchiha Fugaku will also be watching. This will be more than just a student exam—it will be a true test."

"So," Danzo continued, looking Denji straight in the eye, "do you have the confidence to defeat Uchiha Itachi again?"