CHAPTER 5

After our Team's Formation, we went on many missions together. I was normally introverted and didn't spend much time with the team but was forced to Socialize due to Naruto. He didn't take no for an answer and tried to drag me everywhere telling that I was lazy like Shikamaru. And he and Hinata were becoming closer together everyday.

Tsunade was also close with Naruto and started treating him like her little brother, since he reminded her a lot of Nawaki and also wanted to be Hokage. As in canon, she even gave him her grandfather's necklace. She started teaching Hinata some Healing techniques as well.

But she was initially a little wary of me, seeing how I could match her strength. After her Report of our assessment was given to Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, he immediately summoned me with many Anbu to assess if I was some threat and how I knew A- Rank techniques like Chidori and Rasengan. Surprisingly, Jiraiya was also there at the Hokage Tower. 

Hiruzen asked, "Sasuke, the reason I called you here is to understand, how you know A-rank techniques like Rasengan and Chidori. They are not simply taught to anyone and most even don't know how to use them. Could you explain?"

I was expecting this confrontation. The problem with both my Tsukiyomi and Koto Amatsukami is that I could use genjutsu only on 1 Target at a time. My Koto Amatsukami was like the one which Itachi's crow had. I decided that I had to act like a Prodigy and activated my EMS. They were shocked looking at my eyes. 

I immediately cast Koto Amatsukami on Hiruzen to alter his Mind sub consciously, "Come on Hokage Sama, I am a natural prodigy. You only told me about these techniques that day an year ago when we went to a restaurant and explained how they worked. I was able to recreate them based on my understanding just like how I can use Raikage's Lightning Cloak Nintaijutsu".

It looked like a bulb went on in Hiruzen's head and he spoke sheepishly "Oh right now I remember. Forgive me Sasuke, sometimes this Old man can't remember everything due to age. But you are a natural prodigy if you are able to recreate them when I just told you the theoretical understanding. Sorry Sasuke for dragging you here, go home and continue to hone your skills to be the Pride of Uchiha". And so I was dismissed, even though others were still a little wary of me. 

Nothing much happened after that in our Missions and we didn't even go to Land of Waves to fight Zabuza. Everywhere there was a sense of tension and I don't know why, but the Chunin Exams also didn't happen. Once, I asked Tsunade, "Sensei, aren't the Chunin Exams scheduled to happen this time around? I see no one discussing anything about it".

She looked at me and spoke, "It's true that the Chunin Exams should happen every year this time around. But the situation right now between the Hidden Villages is not good with talks about another war. I don't know if you have heard, but many of our Jonin and Anbu were slaughtered in Kirigakure along with other Shinobi Villages ninja. The civil war in the Bloody Mist is reaching it's breaking point with the previous Mizukage killed and a new Mizukage replacing him".

Ohk, that was news. I didn't understand how there could be these many changes due to some Butterfly effect. I knew that Mei became the Mizukage somewhere before Shippuden, but here she seems to have become 2 years earlier.

There were many other changes to the Canon Timeline as well. One, Jiraiya started actively training Naruto when he came to know that I could use Rasengan and Fire Release version of it. He also took Naruto to Mount Myoboku for an year to personally train Naruto just in case another Shinobi war breaks out.

And so, Naruto returned from Mount Myoboku in an year having gained a Toad Summoning Contract and Sage Mode. He could now use Rasengan and Wind Release: Rasen Shuriken as well. Well that was too fast of a Power Up. He now looked tall as he was in Shippuden, getting a growth spurt faster than in Canon.

Right now, I assumed this was some 1.5 years before Shippuden began in the timeline. Tsunade one day called us for a team meeting, "Okay team, as you know we are not having Chunin exams to tense situation between Shinobi villages. In order to not get rusty, tomorrow we are going to have group training matchups with other Genin teams. So be prepared".

Naruto was grinning like an idiot and looked at me, "Haha look at me Sasuke. I have become so strong in this year, that now you will start acknowledging that I am stronger than you". I looked at him in a deadpan expression. Him stronger than me! In his dreams.

The next day, we arrived at the training grounds and saw 3 other teams – Team Kurenai, Team Asuma and Team Guy. Surprisingly, even Kakashi and Yamato were there along with Sai in Anbu getup. I thought Sai was Danzo's Root member, but here he was in Anbu. And Jiraiya was also there.

Sakura and Ino were looking at me but to my surprise they just smiled and tried to initiate small talk instead of being Fan girls. Guess they Matured. Naruto and Lee got along right away and started animatedly speaking with each other. Neji was scowling at Hinata, while Tenten was speaking with her in a normal manner.

Once everyone were settled, Guy announced excitedly, "Alright my Youthful Shinobi, everyone let's burn with passion. Today I am going to be your announcer and referee, and here are the Matchups:

Match 1: Sakura vs Ino

Match 2: Hinata vs Tenten

Match 3: Naruto vs Neji

Match 4: Sasuke vs Lee

Match 5: Kiba vs Shikamaru

Match 6: Shino vs Choji

The Matches went as expected without much surprises. 

Sakura and Ino's match was a draw like in Canon. But here Sakura was using Genjutsus a lot, probably due to Kurenai and surprisingly Ino was adapting well to it. It looked like they continuously sparred and this was some regular Tuesday for them.

Hinata vs Tenten was a pretty good match and was very even until Hinata defeated Tenten in the last moment with Gentle Fist Air strike which she could not dodge. Neji was obviously gobsmacked not expecting such display from his cousin who he thought was weak and hated her.

Naruto vs Neji was pretty fast. Neji was very confident that he could beat Naruto and started spewing the same Backstory and his belief that Fate was pre-determined. Surprisingly, Neji didn't insult Hinata, maybe after seeing her defeat Tenten, but he told he hated Hinata and thought Naruto was a Loser. Naruto immediately proceeded to thoroughly defeat Neji with his Sage mode, thereby shattering his perceptions about world and destiny. Everybody minus me were pretty shocked at Naruto's power.

Mine and Lee's match I would say was pretty good once he started becoming serious and opened his Inner Gates, to which I could match with my Lightning Cloak Nintaijutsu. It was a full on Taijutsu Physical Brawl at Blinding Speeds.

Guy was obviously shocked, "How is Sasuke moving at such speeds, he is not even using Inner Gates and he is matching Lee?"

Tsunade was smirking, "Sasuke could always move like that, even before he became a Genin. That Lightning Cloak increases his Strength and Speed to extraordinary levels and he can also match my Strength. Don't forget our bet Guy, all of my students are going to win against your students and you will have to give me your money". Guy was visibly sulking.

I eventually defeated Lee. In the next Match, Shikamaru defeated Kiba with his strategy given that Kiba usually goes headfirst into any situation without thinking. Shino won against Choji in his match, which was not a surprise there.

And so, the Training matches were completed.