Three Armies from the Start

Hatake Sakumo had asked Kakashi to meet the two boys. Kakashi paid little attention to Might Guy, but Nara Tsukimi's move had caught his eye. The three Ninja Academy students were still lying where they had fallen.

As far as Kakashi knew, the Nara clan's Shadow Secret Technique couldn't do anything like that. Hatake Sakumo had never mentioned it, either.

A Ninjutsu he created himself? Or a Kekkei Genkai?

Curious, Kakashi walked over and asked casually, "Hey, you two. What are your names?"

Tsukimi turned at the sound of his voice and saw a young Kakashi. That little white-haired kid already had the art of acting cool down pat.

Keep showing off, brat. You might lose an eye someday!

Beside him, Might Guy froze for a moment. Then he grinned, pointed a thumb at himself, and declared, "I'm Might Guy! One day, I'll be stronger than anyone!"

Nara Tsukimi knew that the bowl-cut kid really would pull it off. Kakashi, meanwhile, gave Guy his trademark dead-eyed stare, then turned to Tsukimi.

Feeling Kakashi's gaze, Tsukimi nodded. "I'm Nara Tsukimi. I'm starting this year too."

"Was that a Ninjutsu you created yourself?" Now that he knew Tsukimi's name, Kakashi couldn't hold back the question.

"More or less."

Kakashi gave him a long look. "I'm looking forward to fighting you. Don't disappoint me." With that, he turned and entered the school, carrying himself like someone who had yet to find a worthy opponent.

Of course. At this age, that cocky little white-haired kid belongs at the same table as Optimus Prime!

"Come find me when you have time. We can practice taijutsu together."

After watching Kakashi and his father enter the school, Tsukimi said goodbye to Might Guy and headed back to the Nara Compound. He needed a closer look at the Tara Mask.

Back at his courtyard in the compound, Tsukimi sat beneath the rear veranda and calmly sorted through all the Tara Mask's abilities and rules.

In that moment, the confusion and anxiety he had carried for the two years since arriving in this world vanished.

As expected, the Tara Mask's power was to summon the Nine Shadowkhan Armies.

Compared with the original Jackie Chan Adventures, though, there were two differences. First, the nine armies unlocked in three groups. He had to develop all three armies in a group to their limit—summoning fifty members of each at once—before the next group would unlock.

The second, and most important, difference was that the Nine Generals were gone. Or rather, they had once existed, but crossing into this world with him had changed them.

The Nine Generals had become enhancements to his own abilities. Each general corresponded to one ability, and the further he developed an army, the stronger its enhancement became. Developing an army to its limit would grant him the full enhancement.

The three armies Tsukimi had just obtained had already given him three enhancements.

The Ninja Tribe appeared more often than any other army in the original Jackie Chan Adventures and was exceptionally well-rounded. It gave him precise Chakra control. He had long since mastered tree climbing and water walking, but the Ninja Tribe took his control a step further.

The Samurai Tribe had arguably performed worse than any other army in the original. Perhaps it was because General Ikazuki's mask had ended up on Finn's backside, but the Samurai Tribe had spent its entire appearance getting thrashed.

Its performance had been a complete disaster.

Still, the Samurai Tribe's ability was good: it enhanced his swordsmanship. Sword techniques had a place throughout the Naruto story, making this more than enough to cover Tsukimi's weakness in close combat.

The Troll Tribe, though, was on another level. It enhanced his physical toughness, which would improve not only his taijutsu but also his Chakra reserves.

Chakra was made from physical and spiritual energy. Between his memories of another life and his training in his clan's secret Yin Release techniques, Tsukimi already had plenty of it. With the Troll Tribe's enhancement added on top, he was another step closer to having chakra by the ton.

The Shadowkhan Armies covered medium- and long-range attacks, while swordsmanship and taijutsu handled close combat. He had no obvious weakness at any range. All he lacked was a decisive finishing move. Perhaps one of the remaining six armies would give him one.

While Tsukimi was absorbed in exploring his abilities, Nara Shikaku strolled in, looking as laid-back as ever.

"I've heard what happened at the school gates."

Shikaku sat beside him, his gaze falling on the Shadowkhan Tsukimi had yet to dismiss. His tone grew serious.

"Your technique is completely unlike traditional Nara techniques. Now that you've shown it in public, a lot of people will probably take notice."

"Power that unusual tends to attract prying eyes and schemes. Be careful from now on."

Tsukimi dismissed the Shadowkhan and smiled faintly, unruffled. He was no longer the person who had spent his first days in this world thinking only of survival.

He was no longer the newcomer whose first instinct was to panic and run for his life.

I've got powers now too!

Seeing Tsukimi's newfound confidence, Shikaku said no more about it. Instead, he addressed what had been weighing on the boy.

"Ever since you read through all those records two years ago, you've resisted becoming a Ninja."

Tsukimi started to explain, but Shikaku raised a hand to stop him.

"You don't have to explain. Whatever you were thinking back then, I only sent you to the Ninja Academy because I wanted you to make more friends."

"Your parents entrusted you to me before they died. Even if something does happen someday, I'll make sure you're safe."

Konoha's top strategist really does live up to his reputation.

Shikaku's words swept away Tsukimi's last lingering misgiving. As long as he wasn't being sent off to die, everything was fine.

When Shikaku saw the resolve in Tsukimi's eyes, he smiled faintly.

"Got it sorted out?"

"Yeah." Tsukimi nodded. "I'll take school and training seriously from now on."

As he had examined the Shadowkhan Armies' abilities, he had discovered that fighting was the best way to unlock more of them. The greater his opponent's potential and strength, the more progress he made. Training alone was far slower.

That morning, Tsukimi had planned to coast through school. Now it was no longer a prison to him, but the first stepping stone in his rise.

Every student there was a crop waiting for him to harvest.

"I need a batch of high-grade medicinal herbs to strengthen my body and build a solid foundation."

Shikaku laughed. "Submit a request to the storeroom. I'll approve the whole thing."

With that, Shikaku rose and left, leaving Tsukimi alone in the courtyard.

The forest at night always brought back old memories. Thinking of his previous life, Tsukimi felt a surge of resentment.

He had scored 90.5 on the aptitude test and 89.5 on the essay, placing first overall with 180 points. He had been one step away from landing a civil service post.

Then a truck had run him over.

Damn it! My government job!

In this life, Tsukimi refused to leave himself with any more regrets. He would take control of his own fate.

Two small goals to start with.

First, get through the Ninja Academy!

Second, survive the Third Shinobi World War!

Third—where the hell is the fairness in that?!