You'll Regret It, I'll Be Hokage

The sparring matches had ended. After announcing the results, Takashi Murakami left; he still needed to report what had happened to the Third Hokage.

Before the crowd could disperse, students surrounded Nara Tsukimi.

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

Asuma stood at the front, his face dark. As the Hokage's son, he had never felt so humiliated: someone had gone easy on him, and he still hadn't won.

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

If I told him I'd gone easy on him, wouldn't he explode?

Tsukimi wisely kept the truth to himself. Besides, it wasn't just something he said to spare Asuma's feelings. He really had learned 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, unlike the Nara's traditional secret techniques, which used Chakra to alter the shape of shadows.

If they had worked that way, Tsukimi's current Chakra reserves could never have supported more than thirty Shadowkhan.

But although the Shadowkhan he summoned weren't made of Chakra, he could channel and extend his Chakra through them. During his fight with Asuma, for instance, his Chakra had traveled through a Shadowkhan to a spot behind Asuma, where he had used the shadow of a kunai to cast the Shadow Imitation Technique. It was like mobile, long-range Chakra control.

Asuma's expression eased at Tsukimi's explanation, but before he could speak, Obito cut in.

"Don't get cocky, Tsukimi! All you did was 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 talked tough.

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

"Obito, you have to face the gap between us if you want to 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 wavy-haired beauty was still shy.

Tsukimi thanked her. Seeing Obito still talking tough, he had an idea. He looked at him seriously. "Actually, if you could stop yourself from looking at Rin during a fight, I think you could make it to the finals too."

Tsukimi wore such an earnest I'm not lying expression that Obito's face went scarlet.

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

"It wasn't sneaking looks... It's a ninja thing! Can you even call that sneaking looks?" He went on with a string of excuses about the "Uchiha" and the "Sharingan," until everyone burst out laughing. The playground rang with it.

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

Might Guy pushed forward, eyes blazing. He thrust up 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 in his Swordsmanship, Ninjutsu, or tactics during that last fight. Though he had still lost, it reminded him of his father's words.

"If you give it everything you have and still lose to him, that isn't a disgrace. It's your best chance 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 and challenge you again. Next time, I'll win!"

"Sure. I'll be waiting."

The moment Kakashi admitted defeat, Obito seized 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 said two words.

"You idiot."

It took Kakashi only those two words to get a rise out of Obito.

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

But as he spoke, Obito drifted into a daydream, grinning foolishly.

"Heh heh. I'll keep earning promotions and making a name for myself. Then I'll become Hokage, and everyone will know who I am!"

That's Idiot Two for you. A real idiot!

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

"Becoming Hokage isn't that simple, Obito. Remember: you don't earn everyone's respect by becoming Hokage. You become Hokage because you've earned everyone's respect!"

Well, Third Hokage, I know you old geezer must be watching the match through your crystal ball. Did you hear that? Come on, give me a huge boost!

Worried that showing my talent will draw Danzo's attention? No need. He can't outplay me!

The students around him couldn't grasp the deeper meaning of Tsukimi's words, but they sounded impressive. They decided to repeat them to the adults at home.

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

The setting sun painted the entire village red. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the window of the Hokage's office, gazing into the distance.

Nara Shikaku had already said goodbye and left. Hiruzen thought back to what he had seen through the crystal ball, and the boy's words seemed to echo in his ears.

"You don't earn everyone's respect by becoming Hokage. You become Hokage because you've earned everyone's respect!"

"Hiruzen."

The call broke Hiruzen Sarutobi's train of thought. The office door opened, and Shimura Danzō walked in. Bandages covered half his face, making him look particularly grim.

He skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Hand Nara Tsukimi over to me. That boy has a unique secret technique. Given his temperament and strength, he no longer belongs at the Ninja Academy."

Danzo stood before the desk, leaning forward. His gaze was hard, and his tone left little room for argument.

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

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat 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 was unmistakable.

"No. Tsukimi is meticulous and exceptionally gifted, but he also has good character. He has a deep understanding of the village and of what it means to be Hokage."

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

"That boy has a strong Will of Fire. He doesn't belong in your Root. He should grow up in the sunlight of this village."

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

"I said no."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rose to his feet. His gaze turned cold as he stared Danzo down.

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

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

"Danzo, I'm the Hokage!"

Danzo's mouth twitched. Unable to contain his anger any longer, he turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Bang!