The Ninja Academy

(Author's note: I'll gloss over Shisui's death and a few other miscellaneous matters. I'd rather focus more on things related to the protagonist.)

The days passed, and before he knew it, Josuke had turned six. He'd be starting at the Ninja Academy in just a few days.

A few things had happened over the past three years.

First, Shisui, the Uchiha Clan's Genius Ninja, who was as famous as Itachi, had died. Josuke couldn't possibly have known about that, but he'd roughly guessed when it happened based on the timeline of Naruto.

Second, the Uchiha Clan's hatred of Konoha had been growing deeper and deeper, and they were on the verge of an explosion. These past few days, his dear big brother Itachi had also been nowhere to be seen. He hadn't come home in days.

His good-for-nothing father, Fugaku, often locked himself in his room too, and Josuke had no idea what he was thinking about.

Josuke couldn't stop it. He was still too weak.

Over the past three years, Josuke had learned to refine Chakra and picked up low-level Ninjutsu like Great Fireball and Phoenix Sage Fire. He'd also tested his Chakra affinities and discovered he had all five: Earth, Wind, Fire, Lightning, and Water. That was pretty great.

But Josuke couldn't help wondering: why did he have Water? The Uchiha kid had Water. Could it be that he possessed the Second Hokage's manly presence?

He didn't even dare think about it. Those memories of the past brought tears that wouldn't dry.

Of course, when it came to making friends, Josuke and Sasuke had gotten to know Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, and others over the past three years. They'd all become good friends. As for Sakura and the other girls, Josuke still didn't know a single one of them.

Still, Josuke figured that with a face identical to Sasuke's, he was sure to charm a whole crowd. Heh.

Naruto had changed a lot over the past three years too, and made even more friends.

Choji and Shikamaru were two of his good friends.

Josuke's current plan was to leave the village as soon as the Third Hokage kicked the bucket. He'd see if he could study Ninjutsu under Orochimaru or Jiraiya—and, ideally, learn Senjutsu too.

That way, when he had to face an enraged kid—no, Six Paths Obito and Madara—in the future, he'd be able to go toe-to-toe with them.

For now, he definitely had to practice Ninjutsu. He also planned to study the Eight Inner Gates under Emperor Gai. There was no way he'd learn the later gates, so Josuke figured learning the first three or four would be enough for the time being.

Besides, the Eight Inner Gates would lay the foundation for Josuke's physical strength in the future.

All right, it was settled.

As Josuke thought, he kept practicing his Ninjutsu.

After a quick sequence of Hand Seals, energy surged inside him!

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

A fireball appeared in front of Josuke and shot toward the wooden post!

With a bang, the Great Fireball blasted the post to pieces.

Josuke lightly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

At his current level, he could release four fireballs before his Chakra ran out. He could only use Phoenix Sage Fire three times. His Chakra reserves were still too low.

But then again, he wasn't even a Genin yet. But a Konoha Genin...

All right...

As he thought, Josuke formed Hand Seals again.

Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu! (I changed it, I changed it—our ancestors' legacy!)

One little fireball after another scattered toward the front like flowers, exploding in midair one after the other.

Phoenix Flower Jutsu and Great Fireball were the Ninjutsu Josuke was best at right now. Each had its strengths, but Phoenix Flower required a noticeably higher level of Chakra control.

"Phew."

After using Phoenix Flower, Josuke's Chakra was completely depleted. He panted heavily. He really was still hopelessly weak.

But then he remembered he was only six and had plenty of time, so he didn't dwell on it.

Soon, the day the Ninja Academy opened arrived, and Josuke's life as a ninja began.

"Be careful on your way!"

Early that morning, Mikoto had made breakfast and waited for the two little ones to wake up.

Breakfast was rice balls.

Josuke grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth.

Mikoto chided him from the side. "Slow down. No one's going to steal it from you."

Josuke flashed his pearly white teeth and grinned.

"All right, Mom. Sasuke and I are off to school. From now on, we'll be self-reliant ninjas!"

Josuke was excited. He'd been waiting for this day for a long time.

Well, actually, not that long.

At that moment, Mikoto felt that time had flown by. In the blink of an eye, her two children had grown up...

After breakfast, the two of them left home under Mikoto's watchful gaze.

"Sasuke, we're going to become ninjas."

Josuke said to Sasuke.

Sasuke looked unimpressed. "You're way too excited. I'm going to surpass Brother Itachi."

Josuke rolled his eyes. Sasuke really lived up to his reputation as a show-off. He could brag anytime, anywhere.

The two moved quickly and reached Konoha's Ninja Academy in no time.

After confirming their class at the new student reception desk by the entrance, they went to their classroom.

As soon as Josuke opened the door, he saw Naruto greeting Shikamaru. When Naruto saw Josuke, he greeted him enthusiastically too.

"Josuke, over here!"

Naruto pointed to the empty seat beside him.

Josuke was speechless.

"Naruto, you don't think we can just sit wherever we want, do you? There's a seating chart."

Josuke pointed to the sheet of paper posted nearby.

Sasuke coolly added, "Idiot."

Naruto was left frozen in place.

Josuke checked the seating chart and went to his assigned seat. He was surprised to see who his deskmate was.

It was Rock Lee!

Josuke remembered that Rock Lee should've been in the previous year's class, though... Why was he here?

Probably the Butterfly Effect. ☜ When in doubt, blame the Butterfly Effect.

Josuke's birth had changed Rock Lee's life path a little—but not much.

As for why it happened, and why it wasn't much, the comments section could fill that in.

As it turned out, the combined effects of Josuke's arrival and the Nine-Tails' Attack had delayed Rock Lee's enrollment by a year.

But talk about finding what you sought when you weren't looking!

Now that he'd befriended Rock Lee, there was no way Might Guy wouldn't teach him the Eight Inner Gates, right?

So Josuke cheerfully stepped forward to introduce himself.

"Hello, I'm Uchiha Josuke. Nice to meet you."

Josuke smiled faintly and held out his hand.

When Lee saw that his assigned deskmate was such a social butterfly, he felt a little less awkward.

He took Josuke's hand and replied,

"My name is Rock Lee. Everyone calls me Lee, or Rock Lee. I'm very happy to meet you too! Let's burn with the fire of youth together!"

Lee had already entered half-youth mode, and his words were starting to sound a little chuunibyou.

The two quickly hit it off.

Meanwhile, not far away, two girls were discussing the two handsome boys with identical faces.

"Ino, look at Sasuke. He's so handsome and so aloof. I like him so much."

The two girls were none other than Konoha's famous Plastic Sisters, Ino and Sakura.

Ino nodded, resting her head on her left hand as she looked toward Josuke. "I think Josuke's really handsome too."

Josuke had no idea that Ino was peeking at him. If he'd known, he definitely would've blurted out, "What the hell?"

Then Sakura said, "Th-then you can't like my Sasuke. Josuke is yours."

Ino's cheeks flushed slightly. She gave Sakura a light smack.

"Sakura, what are you talking about? I just appreciate handsome boys, that's all."

The classroom was noisy, but Josuke couldn't hear what everyone else was saying.

By then, Josuke had already completely won Rock Lee over with a barrage of flattery. He'd even gotten Lee to promise to take him to meet his teacher sometime.

Needless to say, that teacher could only be Emperor Gai.