It was finally the day, the beginning of the original Naruto storyline.
Akuma was now seven years old, while Naruto had turned twelve. The village bustled with its usual energy, but for Akuma, today marked something significant. This was the moment when everything began.
Three weeks ago, the Ninja Academy graduation exam had been held. Naruto, who had failed at first, ultimately passed by learning the Forbidden Shadow Clone Jutsu from the stolen scroll. Now, with his headband tied around his forehead, he was officially a genin.
Which meant… Team 7 was about to be formed.
The trio that would change the course of history—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—were about to start their journey.
Akuma considered killing them before they could become a threat.
Naruto, Sasuke, and even Sakura—right now, they were weak. But he knew what they would become. If left unchecked, they would rise into ninja capable of shaking the world, interfering with his ultimate goal—to destroy all five great villages.
He could kill them easily in their current state. A single decisive strike, and they would never reach their potential. But Konoha was not the place for that. If he acted now, the village would hunt him down relentlessly. The risk outweighed the reward.
Now was not the time.
His focus remained on completing his bonus mission—the one that would grant him chakra. Until that was secured, he would not make any reckless moves.
For now, they would live.
Their time would come.
For nearly a year, Akuma had not seen any ANBU ninja spying on him. His best theory was that the Third Hokage had ordered Danzo to cease surveillance.
Then he noticed three new ANBU watching him—silent figures who never spoke. Immediately, suspicion crept in.
At first, it seemed like a minor change, something he could dismiss. But as the days passed, his unease only deepened.
His doubts solidified when he saw two of the ninja hiding from the Third Hokage. That wasn't normal ANBU behavior. It was then that Akuma realized these ANBU weren't sent by the Hokage, but by Danzo himself. This could only mean they were Root ninja.
Right then, Akuma devised a plan—to leave a good impression on the Hokage and warn him about men like Danzo. His suspicions were confirmed when he smacked one of the ninja on the head and caught a glimpse of the cursed tongue seal inside their mouth—a seal used only by Danzo's Root.
From the looks of it, his plan had succeeded. Danzo had finally stopped spying on him. That was a victory.
However, one problem arose from that incident: now, every month, the Third Hokage would visit him, always with some ridiculous excuse. Hiruzen would sit across from him, his calm demeanor unwavering, and proceed to lecture him about how a shinobi should be—about honor, loyalty, and the so-called "right way" to live.
Every word, every lesson, seemed rehearsed. The same speech, over and over again. Akuma knew Hiruzen was trying to brainwash him into becoming loyal to the village. At first, he pretended to listen, feigning interest. But it wasn't long before the monotony began to gnaw at him.
It reached the point where Akuma found himself actually missing the ANBU spies. At least they were silent, lurking in the shadows. They didn't make small talk or offer unsolicited advice.
Today, Akuma was heading toward his usual training area, but this time, things were different. He wore the green jumpsuit that Guy-sensei had given him. It wasn't his first choice—it was bright, and the fit felt odd on him—but today, he chose to wear it. After all, it was his birthday, and Guy-sensei and Rock Lee absolutely loved seeing him in it. Akuma didn't like the green jumpsuit, but for their sake, he decided to endure it for the day.
Normally, Akuma preferred to wear a dark-colored Gi with the sleeves removed, just like Akuma from Street Fighter. The Gi felt like a second skin, perfectly attuned to his body, as if it were a part of him. Even his hairstyle matched with Akuma from Street Fighter. He found it fascinating how natural it felt—his body seemed to understand the fabric, moving effortlessly within it. It was almost as if his body had a mind of its own.
When he wore the Gi, everything became easier. His movements flowed with precision, and every technique was executed effortlessly. His body didn't have to think; it just moved, instinctively knowing what to do. There was a harmony between him and the gi, a silent communication that enhanced his power.
Despite his youth, Akuma resembled a miniature version of Street Fighter's Akuma. That was only natural—after all, he had been blessed with the body of Akuma from Street Fighter.
When Akuma approached his training ground, he saw all the members of Team Guy gathered around a large table with a cake in the center. He walked up to them and said, "Hello, everyone. Sorry I'm late."
The reason for his delay was simple—he wasn't used to wearing the green jumpsuit, so it had taken him extra time to put it on.
Upon seeing Akuma in the jumpsuit he had gifted him, Might Guy's face lit up with joy. "Finally! Now the three of us truly look like student and teacher! Didn't I tell you, Akuma? You look great in that jumpsuit! Isn't that right, Rock Lee?"
Rock Lee, brimming with enthusiasm, immediately saluted and shouted at the top of his voice, "YES, Guy-sensei! Little Brother Akuma looks amazing!"
Hearing that, Might Guy turned to Tenten and Neji Hyūga, his expression suddenly serious. "And what about you two? Why aren't you wearing the jumpsuits I gave you?"
The two exchanged awkward glances before Tenten quickly responded, "Oh! Guy-sensei, I... uh... forgot to wear it."
Might Guy then pointed at Neji. "What about you, Neji?"
Neji, unfazed, simply replied, "I lost it."
Hearing that, Might Guy gave him a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Neji! Your sensei has plenty more! I'll give you a new one tomorrow!"
Neji's face instantly darkened.
Akuma, watching this unfold, understood exactly what Neji was going through.
Before anything else could be said, Rock Lee eagerly interrupted, "Guy-sensei! It's time for Little Brother's birthday celebration! Can we start?"
Might Guy nodded enthusiastically. "You're right, Lee! Let's begin this celebration!"
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If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!