Fire of Youth! [1]

"Itachi, for the time being Orochimaru will be busy with his own mission. In the meanwhile, you can partner up with Kisame. He will be back in a while after he completed his mission", 

Pain bland voice sounded through the projection in their meeting. Pain naturally wouldn't tell Itachi about the ongoing project of Orochimaru and the fact that Orochimaru planned to attack Konoha due to personal reasons at some point.

The meeting is short lasting as there's not many changes. The number of their members is uneven to begin with, since Hidan has not joined them yet so with Orochimaru focusing on his research it doesn't matter much.

'Understood', Itachi replied shortly. Itachi did missions on his own, gathering 'funds' for their project as part of his responsibility in Akatsuki. However, he felt a bad premonition in his heart knowing Orochimaru who is obviously greedy for his body and eyes actually shifted his focus on another matter. And that no one seems to know what his mission is entailed to.

***

In the black market, Itachi turned into an isolated corner… his body turned into crows. He reappears in an abandoned building as the crows regather and form his own image. Itachi ran his fingers along the wall - feeling a different texture at a part of the wall, he found the secret compartment.

With a click, a secret compartment is revealed. He placed the scroll containing the information he had on Orochimaru and the Akatsuki so far. Itachi disappears as his body turns into crows again. 

***

A year passes by. Hiruzen sat on his chair, viewing through the crystal ball on the group of seedlings of Konoha.

From the imagery, she saw Tsuyu, in a stern upright stature, her hands folded behind her back as she walked around the 8 people currently pushing up with struggle on the training field of ninja academy.

Hinata, Neji, Sasuke, Kiba, Sakura, Ino, Lee and Guy Sensei; they are all here. 

Wait what is Guy doing there! Hiruzen bulged his eyes out seeing the last person.

"On the battlefield you will have no time to whine!". 

Grunts and gasps sounded as they trained hard, quenching their physical body under Tsuyu's directive. Though a certain someone with Bushier Brow than Lee seems to be happily doing push ups with one hand.

"Inuzuka! Slower! Are you training or screwing!?". Tsuyu uses the stick in her hand to slap Kiba's butt, making sure he's going slow as he's pushing up and down.

'Ah! YES!', Kiba winced but still responded while holding down his grit.

Tsuyu's stern gaze looked over at the group of girls also joining the fray.

"Hinata, Sakura, Ino. A broken body is as good as a dead body. Know your limit. Stop if you need to!".

Sakura and Ino hearing the words let out a gasp and collapse on the dirt. Hinata however kept going. She doesn't want to be left behind. Especially when she sees Naruto working hard. She wants to stand by his side.

Kiba grunted as his eyes glanced at Tsuyu while he's pushing up. He already realised Tsuyu is always going easy on the girls! And he felt like she was always targeting him! It's so unfair! Though he had to hold his tongue otherwise he would get beaten up.

???

Hiruzen watches the scene from his crystal ball. He's quite bewildered at the scene. Over the year, one by one keep joining and willingly train under Tsuyu. Putting aside how he's amazed at Tsuyu's leadership and 'aura', what's with these children? They seem to be injected with chicken blood. Is there war coming? What's with the training? Even ANBU doesn't seem so harsh.

Putting aside his bewilderment, from their class teacher report those that had gone through 'baptism' under Tsuyu all show significant improvement in their combat.

Naruto especially, slowly but surely, over the past year had his skills developing well. While his chakra manipulation still needs work, his improvements in taijutsu are apparent - Naruto became the second best in class in it after Sasuke Uchiha recently from their sparring match.

Let's go back on how this all happens. Starting from Uchiha Sasuke fight with Naruto…

Flashback

"Sasuke! Let's have a rematch! This time I am sure I will beat you!", Naruto loud as usual, with some unchewed food in his mouth issued a challenge to Sasuke during lunch hour.

'What a waste of time. I would rather train than play dumb game with you', Sasuke said mockingly. 

He has no mood in playing around with Naruto. Fighting with Naruto has no benefit, and he only wants strength. Actually when he knew Tsuyu got to advance early he also applied. But he got rejected saying only Tsuyu is a special case. He can't do anything about it and can only remain in this joker class.

"Ha?! You are just scared ain't ya? Haha scaredy cat!", Naruto raised his arms to form makeshift cat ears while dancing goofily and pushing his tongue out. Hinata thought he's cute though, don't judge her taste.

Sakura stood to defend Sasuke.

'Baka Naruto! Don't you hear he doesn't want to deal with you!', Sakura clenched her fist. Almost ready to punch him.

'Eh Sakura-chan… don't be angry, I just want to show him I improved-ttebayo!', Naruto said a little less loudly while scratching his blushing cheeks.

Sasuke felt the veins on his head bulging in annoyance and anger. After thinking for a second, he decides to trash him. Naruto always knows how to push his button. He decides to teach him a lesson this time and make him just stop.

'Fine. If you wanted to be beaten so much', Sasuke snorted.

"Yosha! Sakura-chan! I will win for sure, watch me!", Naruto especially wants to show off to Sakura. Amidst his ignorance, a maiden with silver eyes and short hair felt a little abandoned.

Ino stood from her seat, adding unasked support for Sasuke.

'Sasuke-kun, you will win!'. 

Sakura glared at Ino for trying to steal the spotlight. Ino glared at Sakura back. 

'N-Naruto-kun… I believe in you…', Hinata mustered her courage to support. Due to their time spending together Hinata can actually interact with Naruto like friends do. Although, she only exchanges simple sentences.

"Ah? Thank you Hinata! Hehe. See Sakura-chan, even Hinata believes I can win!". Naruto said proudly.

Kiba with his arms behind his back feels amused, he felt like teasing Naruto.

'I will support Sasuke', he said jokingly, smirking. Woof woof, Akamaru added.

Naruto felt betrayed and his heart is heartbroken.

"Kiba! How could you! I thought we were friends-ttebayo!", Naruto pouted. Kiba let out a hearty laugh, amused at how stupid Naruto looks.

'Gosh you are cute hahaha!'. Kiba snorted seeing Naruto's puppy eyes. Naruto blushed after hearing the comment.

"I am not cute!!! I am handsome!". Naruto's face turned red.

Sasuke was already annoyed waiting.

'Let's get this over with, loser, he didn't wait for Naruto to reply as he just walked straight out of class towards the training ground.

The girls went out to see the handsome Sasuke fight the class clown Naruto, with Ino and Sakura competing to be the better cheerleader. Only Hinata supports Naruto among the girls.

But don't get them wrong, everyone recognizes Naruto's strength - well, in taijutsu at least. Even if he's the last place in class, but that's due to everything else… still no one would underestimate him in fights. But in everyone's view Sasuke is the best (after Tsuyu left that is).

Shikamaru looks at a lot of people going out to watch the two fight. Choji is snacking chips as usual, and he would appreciate a show while snacking.

'Shikamaru, let's watch em'.

'What a drag…'. Shikamaru went along anyway.

***

Training Field

 Naruto made a seal of confrontation before Sasuke. Sasuke raised his eyebrows, not expecting Naruto to actually care about such custom between them. Since usually he doesn't care. Well, Tanya did a good enough job to make sure he's not too ignorant about socially important stuff.

Sasuke did the same seal, even if he doesn't view Naruto as equal.

Naruto clenched his fists as he raised both his arms. His eyes are sharp, and he is not underestimating Sasuke at all. His stances are exactly the Empire's standard CQC drilled by Tanya into him. 

Sasuke has already seen it the past few months at times during Naruto's training with others and as far as he is concerned Naruto is relatively good in the class over time but to challenge him out of all people is a joke.

'Come on, let's get this over with'.

Sasuke looks at Naruto, as if taunting him with a mocking expression.

"I will beat you this time you bastard!", Naruto rushes forward with a jab to the head. But Sasuke dodged it with ease.

Sasuke counters with a fist in an instant; but Naruto's reaction is able to keep up as he blocks the incoming fist with his other arm. He chained with an uppercut towards Sasuke's jaw!

Sasuke's eyes widen as he barely moves backward to dodge it. His heart is beating fast as a sense of crisis and seriousness overtakes him. 

No. How is he keeping up with me!