Your Regret, My Shadow

The sparring matches were over. Takashi Murakami announced the results and left; he still had to report what had happened to the Third.

Before the crowd could disperse, a ring of students surrounded Nara Tsukimi.

"Damn it... You were holding back when you fought me, weren't you?"

Asuma stood at the front, his face dark. As the Hokage's son, he had never suffered an embarrassment like this: someone had gone easy on him, and he still hadn't won.

Tsukimi kept smiling. "I wasn't holding back. I just discovered another way to use the shadows and wanted to test it."

If I actually said I was holding back, you'd explode, wouldn't you?

Tsukimi wisely kept the truth to himself. Besides, it wasn't entirely an excuse. He really had discovered something new during the fight.

Until now, Tsukimi had summoned the Shadowkhan by using Chakra to power the Tara Mask. The Shadowkhan themselves weren't made of Chakra and contained none of it. Unlike the Nara clan's traditional secret techniques, summoning them didn't require Chakra to change the shape of shadows.

If it did, Tsukimi's current Chakra reserves couldn't possibly sustain more than thirty Shadowkhan.

But while the Shadowkhan he summoned weren't made of Chakra, they could carry and extend it. During his fight with Asuma, for example, his Chakra had traveled through the Shadowkhan to a spot behind Asuma, where he used a Kunai's shadow to cast the Shadow Imitation Technique. In effect, the Shadowkhan gave him a mobile means of controlling Chakra at a distance.

Asuma's expression eased a little at that explanation. Before he could speak, Obito cut in.

"Don't get cocky, Tsukimi. You only beat that show-off Kakashi. Once I awaken my Sharingan, neither of you will stand a chance against me."

Obito scratched the back of his head, his expression conflicted. He couldn't hide the shock in his eyes, but he still had to talk tough.

Even Rin Nohara looked helpless at that. She shook her head with a smile and said gently:

"Obito, you have to face the gap between you and someone else before you can improve. Kakashi and Tsukimi really are on a different level from us now."

"Tsukimi really is amazing, both in strength and tactics."

Kurenai Yuhi stood behind Rin. The future beauty with flowing waves of hair was still shy for now.

Tsukimi thanked her. Seeing Obito still putting on a brave face, he had an idea and looked at him earnestly. "Honestly, if you could keep yourself from looking at Rin during a fight, I think you could make it to the finals too."

Tsukimi wore such a sincere I'm not lying expression that Obito turned red and lost his composure on the spot.

"Is it that obvious? No, wait! What are you talking about? When did I sneak looks at Rin?" Even as he protested, he stole another glance to see her reaction.

"It wasn't sneaking a look... It's a Ninja thing! How can that count as sneaking a look?" He went on with increasingly baffling talk about the "Uchiha clan" and the "Sharingan," setting everyone laughing. The playground filled with cheerful noise.

Rin could tell Tsukimi was teasing Obito. She said nothing, but her cheeks reddened as she edged closer to Kurenai.

Might Guy pushed his way forward, eyes blazing. He raised his right thumb and flashed his gleaming white teeth.

"Amazing! Tsukimi! Kakashi! You're both people I'm going to catch up to! Youth never fades!"

As the others chattered, Kakashi stepped forward too. He hadn't made a mistake with his Swordsmanship, Ninjutsu, or tactics in that match. Though he had still lost, it reminded him of his father's words.

"If you give it your all and still lose to him, that isn't a disgrace. It's the best chance you have to grow."

You were right, Father!

Kakashi looked Tsukimi straight in the eye. His voice was steady, without a trace of discouragement.

"I lost this time. I'll train hard, then challenge you again. Next time, I'll win!"

"Sure. I'll be waiting."

The moment Kakashi admitted defeat, Obito finally found his chance to mock him.

"Hahaha! Stupid Kakashi! That's what you get for always showing off. You lost to Tsukimi too!"

Kakashi glanced at the laughing Obito and slowly delivered two words.

"An idiot."

It took almost nothing for Kakashi to get under Obito's skin. Those two words set him off.

"What are you so smug about, show-off Kakashi? Once I awaken my Sharingan, I'm going to teach you a lesson!"

But as Obito kept talking, he broke into a foolish grin, lost in a fantasy of his own.

"Heh heh heh. I'll keep getting promoted and earning merit, and then I'll become Hokage and make everyone acknowledge my name!"

That's Idiot Two for you. You really are an idiot!

Still, this is an opportunity. Tsukimi's eyes shifted as a plan came to him.

"Becoming Hokage isn't that simple, Obito. Remember: becoming Hokage isn't what earns you everyone's recognition. Only someone who's earned everyone's recognition can become Hokage!"

Well, Third, I know you old geezer must be spying on the matches with your crystal ball. Did you hear that? Hurry up and give me a ton of points!

Showing my talent will catch Danzo's attention? No need to worry. He can't outplay me!

The students around Tsukimi couldn't yet grasp the deeper meaning of his words, but they were impressed anyway. They decided to repeat them to the adults at home.

A little later, the dismissal bell rang. The crowd gradually thinned as students left the school in twos and threes.

The setting sun dyed the whole village red. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the window of the Hokage Office, gazing into the distance.

Nara Shikaku had already taken his leave. Hiruzen thought back to what he had seen through the crystal ball. The boy's words seemed to echo in his ears.

"Becoming Hokage isn't what earns you everyone's recognition. Only someone who's earned everyone's recognition can become Hokage!"

"Hiruzen."

The call interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts. The office door opened, and Shimura Danzō walked in. Bandages covered half his face, making him look especially grim.

He skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Give me Nara Tsukimi. That boy possesses a unique secret technique. With his temperament and strength, he no longer belongs at the Ninja Academy."

Danzo stood before the desk, leaning forward. His gaze was sinister, his tone forceful.

"Root is where he belongs. Hand him over, and I'll train him myself. I'll make him the village's most powerful weapon!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat back down behind his desk and relit his pipe. Only then did he look up at his old partner. His voice was calm, but his resolve left no room for argument.

"No. Tsukimi is meticulous and exceptionally gifted. He also has a good heart and a deep understanding of the village and the Hokage."

Recalling what Tsukimi had said on the playground, Hiruzen Sarutobi grew even more certain.

"That boy has a strong Will of Fire. Your Root isn't right for him. He should grow up in the village's sunlight."

Danzo's expression darkened further. "Hiruzen, you should understand. A genius like him was born for the Anbu. Only in Root can he realize the full extent of his talent."

"I said no."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood, his gaze turning cold as he stared at Danzo.

The two held each other's gaze for a long moment before Danzo spoke again.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Danzo's mouth twitched. Unable to suppress his anger any longer, he turned and slammed the door behind him.

Bang!