Kaito Chapter 102

Kaito Chapter 102

Kushina enthusiastically added, "Yeah, you can't miss out on celebrating with us." She playfully pouted before suggesting another option. "But I was thinking more along the lines of ramen. But BBQ is also great!"

Shikaku scratched his head, initially planning on declining the invitation in order to go drink with Inoichi and Choza. However, Yoshino agreed with Mikoto, leading Shikaku to sigh resignedly as the decision was taken out of his hands in order to avoid upsetting his wife.

Kushina clapped her hands together, finalizing the plans. "Alright then, it's settled! Let's go celebrate! ya know" she announced cheerfully as all the kids cheered and followed her eagerly.

….

The sun shined on the village hidden in the Leafs. As the light filtered through the trees and cast shadows on the ground, a blur zipped past. It was Kaito, moving gracefully through the trees on his way back home. On his back, he carried Naruto in a piggyback ride, the young boy exhausted from the intense training session Kaito had put him through.

"Kaito-nii, you're so mean!" Naruto complained as they reached their house. "You practically tortured me!"

Kaito gently set Naruto down on the front porch before kneeling down to untie his shoe. "You were the one who begged me to train you," he reminded Naruto, looking at him with a hint of amusement. "Are you going to give up after just one session? I thought you wanted to be Hokage like Dad was."

Naruto sniffled and wiped away tears from his eyes. "Of course I do, but couldn't you teach me some jutsu instead of just making me do endless drills?"

Standing up and placing his sandals to the side, Kaito explained patiently, "Learning jutsu without mastering the basics is dumb. You need to have a strong foundation before you can learn ninjutsu."

He lifted Naruto under his arm and slid open the front door, leading them into the cozy living room of their home. Gently setting Naruto on the floor, Kaito smiled and ruffled his little brother's hair.

As the sound of their footsteps echoed through the house, Kushina poked her head out of the kitchen to see her two sons. Naruto lay sprawled on the living room floor while Kaito stood over him.

"Welcome back!" Kushina greeted them with a warm smile. Seems like both of you had a productive day, ya know," she added, giggling. She walked out of the kitchen towards them and asked, "So, how was your first day of training under Kai-kun, naru-chan?"

Naruto looked up at her with tears in his eyes and sniffed. "Mama, Kaito-nii bullied me," he hiccupped and continued, "He made me do so many drills without resting, and every time I stopped, he shocked me with lightning from his fingers."

Kushina couldn't help but be amused by her son's complaint. "Well, Naru-chan," she chuckled, "you did ask him to train you. And besides, it'll make you strong! like kai-kun, ya know"

Kaito rolled his eyes at Naruto whining. "If you keep on whining, Sasuke will surpass you and become the next Hokage,"

Naruto's eyes widened, and he quickly sat up. "No way! I won't let that happen, dattebayo!" he declared defiantly.

Amused by this interaction between her sons, Kushina turned back to Kaito and asked, "So, how did Naru-chan do?"

Kaito simply gestured towards Naruto and replied, "He did well. But he whines too much."

At this accusation, Naruto's face scrunched up in indignation, "Hey! I don't whine!"

Ignoring him, Kaito turned to his mother, waving and saying, "I'm going to take a bath and get ready."

Kushina smiled warmly at her son and replied, "I just finished breakfast, so come soon before the food gets cold." She then looked down at Naruto and added playfully, "Come on, Naru-chan, you have to study after breakfast, ya know."

Naruto let out a dramatic cry at the reminder of his studies. Kushina chuckled and said firmly, "Hey, You're the one who asked us to train you so you can become Hokage, Ya know! so, no backing out now. Go take a bath and hurry up, or you might not get breakfast and will have to study on an empty stomach."

Muttering under his breath, Naruto stomped off to take a bath. Kushina watched him go with an amused smile on her face.

After some time, Kaito emerged fully dressed and ready for the day. He entered the kitchen where Kushina greeted him with a warm smile and gestured to the food she had prepared. "Come, come. I made tamagoyaki with rice and miso soup," she announced proudly as she placed the dishes on the table. Kaito sat down opposite her and thanked her for the food before taking his chopsticks.

Just then, a grumpy Naruto walked in with wet hair and sat down beside Kushina. He continued to grumble about both his mother and Kaito being meanies while they all said "Itadakimasu" and began eating. Naruto was especially hungry and ate quickly, prompting Kushina to chide him, "You'll choke if you eat like that, ya know."

Finishing his meal, Kaito looked up at the clock and saw that it was time for him to leave. With a quick motion, he stood up and created a shadow clone to handle the dishes, while he turned to Kushina. "Well, I'm off, Mom. Need to meet Sensei at the Hokage Tower," he said, walking towards the door.

Kaito sat on his house porch, wearing his sandals as Kushina walked out to see him off. She gave him a once over and asked, "You've got everything you need?"

"Hai, Mom. I've got everything I need," Kaito replied, standing up and putting on his sandals. "I might eat lunch with my friends, so I might be a little late."

With a smile, Kushina handed him a bento box and told him "Here you go i made some Takoyaki for him to eat later." She hugged him tightly and kissed his head. "Have a good day and good luck. I hope you get promoted soon."

"Thanks, Mom." Kaito hugged her back before leaving.

Leaving his house behind, Kaito jumped onto the nearest tree branch and began traversing As he hopped from branch to branch with ease.

After a few minutes of travel, he reached the gates of the Hyuga compound and nodded to the guards stationed at the entrance. Hotaru was not yet outside, so Kaito leaned against the wall while he waited.

Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Kaito decided to practice his elemental Rasengan. He raised his hand and focused chakra into his palm, causing a swirling ball of Chakra to form. as the Rasengan fully formed, he added water nature chakra little by little until the Rasengan glowed with a deep blue hue and emitted the sound of rushing water.

"It's definitely easier to keep the Rasengan stable when adding less nature chakra, but it also decreases its power," Kaito thought to himself as he released the Water Release Rasengan. The water splashed onto the ground and onto his hand as it dissipated. It was clear that he still had some work to do on perfecting this technique.

After a while, Hotaru strolls out of the Hyuga compound and spots Kaito waiting for her. She quickly makes her way over to him, greeting him with a warm smile and a "Good morning, Kai-kun. I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long." Kaito waves away her concern and responds with a nonchalant "No no, I just arrived." He then pulls out the box of freshly made takoyaki his mother gave him and offers some to Hotaru, asking "Would you like some?" As they start walking towards the Hokage Tower, they chat and munch on the savory snacks.

As they approach the towering structure, they spot Itachi leaning against a nearby tree with his eyes closed. They make their way over to him, Kaito calling out a friendly "Yo, Itachi! You been waiting long?" as they draw near. Hotaru greets him as well with a cheerful "Good morning, Itachi-kun." Itachi opens his eyes and nods to both of them before saying "No, just arrived a few minutes ago."

Kaito hums as he offers some takoyaki to Itachi with a skewer in hand. Itachi accepts with a grateful smile and takes a bite. Kaito then turns to Itachi and asks "Is our sensei here yet?" Itachi shakes his head.

The three of them stand around the tree, snacking on the warm takoyaki as they wait for their sensei to arrive. After a few minutes, Shikaku appears and they all greet him with an enthusiastic "Good morning Sensei!" Shikaku acknowledges them with a nod and says "Great, you guys made it just in time. Come on," beckoning them to follow as he begins walking towards the Hokage Tower.

Kaito, Hotaru, and Itachi fall into step behind their sensei.

As they reached the Hokage's office, Shikaku and his team were ushered in by the secretary.

Itachi and Hotaru followed suit and bowed. "Hokage-sama."

Kaito bowed and addressed the Hokage "Lord Third."

The Hokage sat behind his desk, surrounded by piles of paperwork. He took a long drag from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke before looking up at them with a warm smile. "Ahh, Team 11, just in time," he said, rising from his chair and walking around to stand before them.

Standing before them now, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed another cloud of smoke and spoke with pride in his voice. "I want to commend the three of you on your exceptional performance in the Chunin Exams. Each one of you displayed incredible skill, strategy, and teamwork throughout the competition. After careful consideration by the judges, it has been decided that the three of you have earned the promotion to Chunin."

Hiruzen's secretary handed him a Chunin vest. Turning to the team, Hiruzen said, "Itachi Uchiha, please step forward." He handed Itachi the Chunin vest, saying, "You have once again proven why you are considered a prodigy of the Uchiha clan. Your tactical acumen, combined with your mastery of genjutsu and ninjutsu, was nothing short of extraordinary. Your performance in the Chunin Exams was a clear indicator of your readiness to take on greater responsibilities."

Itachi accepted the vest and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Hokage-sama," before stepping back.

After Itachi stepped back, Hotaru stepped forward.

Hiruzen continued, smiling, "Hotaru hyuga, your perseverance and determination were truly commendable. Breaking free from that Water Prison Jutsu took immense strength and willpower. Your mastery of the Gentle Fist technique, combined with your quick reflexes and strategic thinking, made you a formidable opponent. You demonstrated not only the strength of the Hyuga clan but also your personal growth as a shinobi. Your decision to forfeit the final round, knowing your limits and considering the best outcome for your team, was a testament to your wisdom and maturity. your selflessness and strategic insight have proven that you are not only a skilled fighter but also a wise leader. Your actions have shown that you are more than ready for the responsibilities of a Chunin. You have truly embodied the spirit of the Leaf Village."

Hotaru bowed her head. "I'm honored, Hokage-sama." She received the Chunin vest and stepped back, allowing Kaito to step forward.

Hiruzen handed Kaito the Chunin vest and said," Kaito Uzumaki. Your innovative techniques and quick thinking were particularly impressive. The way you mastered four of the five elemental releases and combined them with your other abilities showcased not only your versatility but also your creativity. You kept your cool under pressure and adapted to each challenge with remarkable agility. Your leadership and quick decision-making in the heat of battle were exemplary. You demonstrated a deep understanding of both your own abilities and those of your opponents, allowing you to outmaneuver them effectively. You set a high bar for your peers."

Kaito accepted the vest with a "Thank you, Lord Third," and stepped back, lining up with his teammates.

Hiruzen looked at them with pride and said, "I and the village will look forward to seeing how you grow. I have no doubt that you will continue to excel and contribute greatly to the future of our village."

The three of them bowed and said, "Thank you, Hokage-sama," and "Thank you, Lord Third."

Hiruzen chuckled, "Now, go and celebrate your achievements. You have earned it."

Shikaku nodded and ushered them out of the office.

Once outside the Hokage's office, Shikaku turned to them and said, "Let's go to the barbecue shop so we can discuss." He suggested this, and they nodded eagerly, following behind him, excitedly talking about being Chunin.

...

After a while, they were all sitting in the barbecue shop, having placed their orders. As they waited for their food, Shikaku turned to them with a proud expression on his face. "First and foremost, I want to tell you how incredibly proud I am of each and every one of you. Throughout the Chunin Exams and my time as your sensei, you have all shown exceptional skill, intelligence, and teamwork. You've exceeded my expectations."

Then, Shikaku turned to Kaito. "Kaito, your creativity and quick thinking combined with your strength have always been a strong point. You bring a lot of ingenuity to our team."

Kaito beamed at the compliment. "Thanks, Sensei."

Next, Shikaku directed his attention to Hotaru. "Hotaru, Your resilience and determination were truly inspiring during the exams. And your ability to make strategic decisions under pressure not only demonstrated your physical strength but also your mental fortitude."

Hotaru blushed slightly at the praise. "Thank you, Shikaku-sensei."

Finally, Shikaku looked at Itachi and said, "Itachi, your calm and strategic mind combined with your formidable skills have always been a pillar for this team. You lead by example and embody what it means to be a true shinobi."

Itachi humbly replied, "Thank you, Sensei."

Shikaku then took a deep breath before continuing. "There is something important I need to tell you all. As newly promoted Chunin, you are no longer my students in the same way. This means I will no longer be your Jonin sensei and won't be leading your missions as often as before."

Hotaru was surprised by this news and asked, "Does that mean we're on our own now?"

Shikaku nodded. "In a sense, yes. As Chunin, you will start to take on more responsibility and even lead your own teams on missions. It's a big step, but I have no doubt that each of you is ready for it. However, this doesn't mean we won't work together anymore. I will still occasionally join you on missions."

Hotaru looked a bit sad at the thought of Shikaku not leading them anymore. "We'll miss having you as our leader, Shikaku-sensei."

Shikaku gave a warm smile. "And I'll miss leading all of you. But this is part of your growth as shinobi. I want you to know that being your team leader has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Over the time I've been your sensei, I've been incredibly proud to call each of you my students."

With a final deep breath, Shikaku concluded, "Now, go celebrate your achievements. You have definitely earned it."

Kaito, Hotaru, and Itachi replied in unison with heartfelt gratitude, "Thank you, Shikaku-sensei."

After finishing their meal, Shikaku left the team after wishing them good luck and reassurance that he would be there to help if they needed anything. As they parted ways with their sensei, they decided to make their way to the top of Hokage Mountain to discuss their plans as a team.

From the peak, they gazed over the village while discussing. After some time, Itachi split from Hotaru and Kaito after they agreed to meet up tomorrow for their first mission as chunin at their usual meeting spot for tomorrow.

Kaito then escorted Hotaru back to the Hyuga compound before heading home himself. As he made his way back, Kaito thought about the future. "in the canon timeline, things with the Uchiha clan got worse after Itachi's Chunin Exams," he thought to himself with a sigh. "I don't know how much has changed or if things have gotten worse." Taking a deep breath, he ran his hand through his hair. "I need to focus on what's in front of me and continue to grow stronger."

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