15 Teammates

Minato's eyes sparkled with pride as he regarded Naoki, announcing with unwavering confidence, "Your Jōnin Instructor will be the exceptionally talented Shisui Uchiha, and your teammate is none other than Itachi Uchiha." The conviction in his voice suggested that he believed this combination would bring out the best not only in Naoki but also in Shisui and Itachi.

Naoki's brow furrowed at Minato's declaration. He pondered, 'Uchiha, huh? I know grandfather was wary of them, and he had his reasons, but it wouldn't be fair to judge them before even meeting them. If my teammates turn out to be as haughty as the rumours imply, then...' His thoughts were interrupted by Minato's final words, prompting Naoki to raise his gaze and inquire, "Wait. Did you say teammate? Aren't teams usually comprised of three members?"

Minato regarded Naoki calmly, responding, "That's true, a team traditionally consists of a three-person cell. It promotes balance and harmony. However, both you and Itachi already surpass most academy graduates in terms of skill, despite your young age. If a third person were to join your team, they might feel disheartened and quit due to the vast difference in abilities."

Naoki listened attentively to Minato's explanation before asking, "I see. So, when and where do I meet my team?"

Minato offered a small, understanding smile. "I'm glad you understand, Naoki-kun. As for your team, you'll meet Shisui and Itachi at 1 pm at the training ground near the Uchiha district. That's when your journey as a team will commence."

Approaching Tsunade, Naoki inquired, "Tsuna-neesan, I'd like to visit Kushina-neechan. I need her help with something."

Tsunade regarded Naoki thoughtfully before replying, "Well, she might be occupied, but you can ask Minato if he thinks it's alright."

Naoki turned to Minato and questioned, "Minato-niichan, would it be okay if I visited Kushina-neechan? I really need her help."

Minato's warm smile reassured Naoki as he responded, "Of course, Naoki-kun. I'm certain she'll be delighted to see you."

Shizune approached Naoki, "Would you like me to accompany you to the Uzumaki compound?"

Naoki shook his head, replying, "No, I know the way. Thank you for offering, though, Shizune-neesan."

With a friendly smile, Shizune said, "Alright, take care, then. And please give Kushina-san my regards."

Naoki bowed respectfully, bidding farewell before stepping out of the Hokage's office. He sauntered through the vibrant streets of Konoha, his pace quickening as he made his way towards the village outskirts. The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the village in a warm, golden embrace. The sky stretched above, a stunning canvas of azure, devoid of any clouds. Naoki couldn't help but smile as he revelled in the beauty of his beloved hometown. Konoha had captured his heart with its majestic trees, bustling streets, and it's warm, welcoming people.

After what seemed like an eternity, Naoki finally reached the Uzumaki compound. He strode up to the door and rapped his knuckles against it.

As Naoki took a step back, the door swung open to reveal a pleasantly surprised Kushina. Her eyes twinkled as she hugged him tightly, "Naoki-kun, you're absolutely adorable, you look like a chibi Nidaime!"

Naoki's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and he gasped for breath, "Kushina-neechan, I can't breathe." Upon hearing his plea, she quickly released him and wore an apologetic expression. Her curiosity piqued, she inquired, "So, Naoki-kun, what brings you here?"

Catching his breath, Naoki replied shyly, "Well, I need your help in creating a seal, so I was wondering if you could assist me."

Kushina beamed, "Of course, I'd be happy to help! I have guests at the moment, but please, come inside." She seized Naoki's hand and pulled him into the house, leading him towards the living room.

Sitting on the sofa were two individuals, a woman and a young boy. The woman possessed fair skin, long, straight black hair with bangs that framed her cheeks, and piercing black eyes. She wore a simple dark-purple blouse, a maroon skirt, and dark blue shinobi sandals. Her very pronounced pregnant belly added a maternal aura to her presence. The little boy, also fair-skinned, had black eyes under which were long, pronounced tear-troughs. His jet-black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and his face was framed by center-parted bangs that reached his chin. He donned a black shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol on the back, bandages around his ankles, black shinobi sandals, and tan pants with a weapons pouch strapped to his back.

"Naoki-kun, meet Mikoto Uchiha, a dear friend of mine and your mother's, and her son, Itachi," Kushina introduced the pair with a warm smile.

Mikoto's eyes widened in surprise as she asked, "Kushina, this is...?"

Kushina answered, "This is Naoki Senju, Akako's son. And from what I can tell, he's a recent academy graduate."

Itachi's expression mirrored his mother's surprise as he studied Naoki, who was sizing him up as well. Mikoto gasped, "Akako's child? And he just graduated? Isn't he only five?" Itachi's surprise grew upon hearing his mother's words, realizing there was a younger child who had graduated before him.

Naoki strode towards Itachi, extending his hand as he introduced himself, "I'm Naoki Senju, pleased to meet you. I heard we'll be teammates."

Itachi grasped his hand firmly, responding with a courteous nod, "Likewise."

Upon their introductions, Kushina and Mikoto dove into animated conversations about their pregnancies, sharing that Mikoto's due date was in about two months, while Kushina had four months remaining. Meanwhile, Itachi and Naoki exchanged stories, discussing their respective strengths and areas of expertise. Eventually, Mikoto and Itachi took their leave, leaving Kushina and Naoki to themselves. With a curious smile, Kushina inquired, "So, Naoki-kun, what kind of seal do you need my help with?"

Naoki met her gaze and elaborated, "Well, I'm a water release user, but I haven't yet mastered the art of creating water from my own chakra. This could be a significant hindrance during missions. I was thinking of creating a storage seal capable of holding a vast amount of water, which would activate and release a specific volume of water whenever I use water ninjutsu."

Kushina raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Naoki's innovative proposal. She had never encountered anyone desiring such a storage seal before. After pondering the idea, she responded, "I've never crafted a seal like that, but it shouldn't be too challenging. We can use the principles of a storage scroll, expand its storage capacity, and integrate a seal that connects to your body. That way, when you use water release, it will release the necessary water automatically. How large do you want the storage scroll to be? The larger the scroll, the more water it can hold."

Naoki thoughtfully replied, "I'd prefer a scroll small enough to carry by hand and stow in my weapon pouch."

"Okay, that complicates things slightly, but it should still be manageable," Kushina reassured him.

With the details outlined, Kushina fetched a small blue scroll from her shelf. She then carefully grasped a brush and ink and meticulously inscribed the seal onto the scroll. Her hand movements were deliberate and fluid, reminiscent of water in motion. After nearly ten minutes, she added the final touch to the seal, performed a hand seal, and the seal glowed brightly before dimming.

"Alright, the first part is complete. Now we need to place a seal on you, so it activates when you use water release ninjutsu. That way, you won't need to activate it yourself." She took a sealing paper, penned the required seal, and adhered it to Naoki's abdomen. Upon activation, the paper vanished, leaving the seal etched onto Naoki's skin before it too disappeared. "There, all done. Let's test if everything works," Kushina said with a grin.

They ventured outside, where Kushina unrolled the scroll on the ground before activating it and performing hand seals. "Water Style: Water Wave Jutsu." A torrent of water erupted from her mouth, which the storage scroll promptly absorbed. Naoki watched in awe, struck by an idea.

"Kushina-neechan, could I potentially absorb water from incoming water release ninjutsu by activating the storage scroll?" Naoki inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Kushina considered Naoki's question, her eyes narrowing in thought before she replied, "That's an interesting idea. It should be possible, but it would depend on the available space within the scroll and the power of the jutsu."

"That makes sense," Naoki nodded in agreement.

"Anyway, give it a try and see if you can use a water release ninjutsu," Kushina encouraged. Naoki complied, weaving a series of hand seals. "Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu."

The scroll emitted a faint glow, and water materialized into a flawless water clone. Naoki marvelled at the capabilities of seals and how effortlessly he could execute a water release ninjutsu without a direct source of water. Kushina observed the results, nodding in approval, "Perfect! This truly is a revolutionary storage scroll. It enables water release users to perform water release ninjutsu anywhere."

Naoki pondered for a moment before asking, "Kushina-neechan, would you be willing to teach me more about fuinjutsu and other related techniques?"

Kushina beamed and replied, "Of course! When do you want to start?"

Considering his schedule, Naoki responded, "I'll probably be preoccupied with missions, but I could try to visit you afterward."

"That sounds perfect!" Kushina agreed, her enthusiasm shining through.

The conversation between Naoki and Kushina eventually came to an end, prompting Naoki to depart from the Uzumaki residence. As it was approaching 1 pm, he decided it was time to meet his team at the designated training grounds. Despite his unfamiliarity with Konoha, Naoki managed to navigate the village by asking locals for directions. His journey took him to the other side of the village, where the esteemed Uchiha compound stood. At last, he arrived at the training ground, where he spotted Itachi conversing with another boy, who appeared to be around 12 years old.

This older boy had short, tousled dark hair, black eyes, a relatively broad nose, and well-defined eyelashes that curved upwards at each end. He donned the standard Uchiha attire, consisting of a high-collared, dark-coloured outfit with a tanto strapped to his right shoulder. A harness for his tanto ran diagonally across his chest and fastened over both shoulders.

As Naoki neared them, the older boy walked towards him, a warm, friendly smile on his face. "You must be Naoki Senju. I'm Shisui Uchiha, your Jōnin instructor. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Naoki reciprocated the smile and said, "Nice to meet you too," shaking Shisui's hand firmly.

Together, Naoki and Shisui joined Itachi. Shisui looked at both of them and suggested, "How about we introduce ourselves? Although I already know Itachi, it's still better for all of us to share a little about ourselves. I'll go first. My name is Shisui Uchiha, I'm 12 years old, and a Jōnin of Konoha. While I don't have any specific dreams, my hope is to protect this village and my clan. Itachi, why don't you go next?"

Itachi contemplated briefly before saying, "I'm Itachi Uchiha, and I'm 7 years old. My ambition is to put an end to war and conflict, and protect Konoha and my clan."

Shisui nodded approvingly and turned to Naoki, urging, "Your turn."

Naoki nodded in response and shared, "My name is Naoki Senju, I'm 5 years old. My dream is to revive my clan, become Hokage, and protect the Hidden Leaf Village."

Shisui's eyes twinkled as he smiled warmly and observed, "It seems we have quite a bit in common. All three of us graduated at a young age, wish for our clans to prosper, and are devoted to protecting our beloved village." He continued, "Before we start taking on missions, let's have a spar between the three of us — you two versus me. This will not only allow me to assess your skills but also help us familiarize ourselves with each other's abilities and develop a sense of teamwork. As your Jōnin instructor, this exercise will also enable me to identify areas in which you might need extra guidance or improvement."

As they prepared for the spar, the air buzzed with anticipation. The sun overhead cast a warm glow on the training grounds, and the scent of freshly cut grass filled their nostrils. Naoki, Itachi, and Shisui all readied themselves, excitement coursing through their veins. This would be the first of many encounters, the beginning of their journey together as a team, and an opportunity to forge an unbreakable bond that would carry them through the trials and tribulations that lay ahead.

Shisui stood with an unruffled posture, his keen eyes sharp as a hawk's, while Itachi and Naoki tensed, poised to strike. With a nimble nod from Shisui, the spar commenced. Naoki channelled his chakra into his legs and rapidly appeared in front of Shisui using the Body Flicker Jutsu. Electing to go on the offensive, Naoki initiated the spar with a taijutsu duel.

Launching thunderous punches and ferocious kicks imbued with chakra-enhanced strength, Naoki assailed Shisui. However, Shisui effortlessly evaded and parried the onslaught, slipping in and nudging Naoki's arm away. This adroit manoeuvre not only spared Shisui from the brunt of Naoki's power but also granted him an opportunity to counterattack.

Just as Shisui readied his counter, a volley of shuriken whizzed toward him. When they were inches away from striking him, Shisui suddenly vanished, reappearing 10 metres away. He locked eyes with Itachi and said, "Impressive. You seized the perfect moment to strike with deadly accuracy—a blow that could have felled a Genin or a newly promoted Chunin. However, a shinobi with a modicum of battle experience would readily evade that."

Naoki glanced at Itachi and nodded. They both disappeared using the Body Flicker Jutsu, reappearing on top of a tree, out of Shisui's sight. Naoki turned to Itachi and said, "We've already discussed our strengths, but let's go over them again briefly. If I recall correctly, you excel at Fire Release and Shurikenjutsu, right?" Itachi nodded, and Naoki continued, "As for me, I mostly excel at Water Ninjutsu, but I can use basic Fire, Wind, and Lightning Release. I'm also proficient in the Shadow Clone Jutsu and I'm ok at Shurikenjutsu, though it's not my specialty. I can use Chakra Enhanced Strength, but Taijutsu is probably my weakest area."

Itachi's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he considered their combined abilities. "Our strengths can complement each other," he said in his calm, measured tone. "Your Wind Release could amplify my Fire Release, making it more potent. We could try to corner Shisui, then use our enhanced Fire technique to overwhelm him. Additionally, you could create clones to utilise your Water Release, while having your clones enhance it with Lightning." Naoki listened carefully and nodded in agreement, ready to put their plan into action.

Shisui, stationed in the centre of the training ground, patiently awaited their next move. Suddenly, shuriken sliced through the air with a blistering speed and pinpoint precision. Shisui deftly dodged, but just when he thought he was safe, Naoki and Itachi unleashed a wind-enhanced fireball.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

The Gale Palm fed the fireball, amplifying its size and hastening its approach. Contemplating the use of the Body Flicker, Shisui found his paths obstructed by a colossal lightning-enhanced water tornado.

"Water Style: Water Tornado Jutsu!"

"Lightning Style: Lightning Palm!"

The Lightning Palm jutsu intensified the water tornado, propelling it into the B-rank category—a formidable jutsu that far outclassed any C-rank technique.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, Shisui performed a series of hand seals and completed his jutsu just as the water tornado and fireball closed in.

"Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!"

BOOM!

A deafening explosion reverberated through the air as the wind-enhanced fireball collided with the lightning-enhanced water tornado. The searing heat of the fireball and the force of the water tornado carved out a massive crater, shrouding the area in a thick mist.

Itachi and Naoki surveyed the aftermath, sweat beading on their foreheads. "Did we get him?" Itachi inquired.

"We might have gone a bit overboard," Naoki admitted, glancing at Itachi.

Just as they were about to investigate, they heard a yell but were too late to react.

"Earth Style: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"

Both Naoki and Itachi felt hands gripping their ankles, pulling them into the ground until only their heads were exposed.

Shisui materialised before them, grinning. "Never let your guard down, no matter the situation. But I must say, I can see why the Hokage entrusted me with just two Genin." Shisui surveyed the aftermath of their combined techniques: the obliterated trees and the colossal 10-metre crater. With a wry smile and a bead of sweat rolling down his face, he continued, "I could have been killed out there."

Itachi and Naoki exchanged sheepish glances, realising the intensity of their combined powers. Shisui helped them out of the ground and dusted them off, chuckling.

"Alright, let's take a moment to analyse what just happened," Shisui suggested. "Your teamwork and the way you combine your strengths were commendable. However, you should always have a plan B and be mindful of the collateral damage you could cause."

Itachi and Naoki nodded, absorbing Shisui's words of wisdom. Despite the intensity of their spar, they knew they had much to learn from their experienced mentor.

As they caught their breath and tended to their wounds, they were reminded that the path of a shinobi was not only about raw power and flashy techniques but also about strategy, adaptability, and the ability to learn from every situation. And with Shisui guiding them, they were eager to continue honing their skills and developing into formidable shinobi.

After bidding farewell, Shisui utilised the Body Flicker Jutsu to arrive at the Hokage's office. He ascended the stairs and knocked on the door, waiting for a response. Upon entering, he kneeled down and respectfully announced, "Hokage-sama, I have come to deliver my report."

Minato, recognizing Shisui's voice, motioned for him to rise and share his findings. Shisui complied, nodding before recounting the day's events.

"I now see why you chose to form a two-man cell instead of a traditional three-member team. Both Naoki and Itachi possess exceptional power for their age, and their teamwork is remarkable, especially considering it was their first battle together. They skilfully combined their elemental ninjutsu, creating a Wind-Enhanced Fireball and a Lightning-Enhanced Water Tornado—both surpassing the C-rank level."

Minato listened intently, his expression a mix of shock and amazement. Although he knew both prodigies were exceptionally strong for their age—perhaps even more so than Kakashi—he was still astounded by their ability to push the boundaries of C-rank jutsu. As Shisui concluded his report, Minato shook off his surprise and asked, "I assume you'll be starting missions with them tomorrow?" Shisui nodded in confirmation, and Minato continued, "Very well. Ensure that you teach and guide them properly. They are invaluable assets to the village, particularly in the aftermath of the war."

Bowing deeply, Shisui replied, "Yes, Hokage-sama," before taking his leave.

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter, hope the fight was enjoyable. I'm still new to fight scenes, so I hope to improve in the upcoming chapters.

What do you think about having Shisui as a Jonin Instructor? Before anyone says he's too young, it was stated that Shisui become a Jonin at 11 and soon had his own genin team. So, I decided to increase his age slightly, so he's a Jonin by the Itachi and Naoki became Genin.

Also, get ready for more action based chapters, which will include missions, team bonding, training and the Kyuubi attack, which will happen in IDK how many chapters. Also, expect the story to diverge heavily from the original plot before cannon officially starts.

Also, if anyone is wondering about love interest, do not worry about it as it will happen wayyyyyyyyyyyyy later in the story. Also, I will take different approach to the love interest.

If you have any critiques or suggestions for the story, please comment. Also, comment if there's any grammatical errors or anything like that.

Seeing comments, about what to improve on and people interacting with the story, motivates me. Also, send power stones as it is a massive motivation factor to me.

https://discord.gg/vgJrmuV7

Hope you enjoyed, see you next chapter~