Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.
You can now get early access to Chapter 69 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon. You can also read up to Chapter 11 of Naruto: Satoru Senju.
patreon.com/riojiyo131
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Well, apparently I broke a rib and have been hospitalized all day, so I haven't been able to post at my usual time.
Apologies to those who have been waiting for a chapter. Better late than never.
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Reika and Mikoto walked hand in hand the entire way to the Uchiha Compound.
Upon arriving, Mikoto stopped in front of the old house that had been her home for so many years. Her eyes softened with an expression full of nostalgia.
"Let's go in… He should already be waiting for us inside," she said with a slight smile.
Reika frowned, confused. Who?
She followed her mother into the living room without saying a word, silently.
There, sitting casually on the old sofa, a man was waiting for them. His dark hair was tied back in a long ponytail that reached the small of his back. He held a cup of tea in his hands, as if nothing in the world concerned him.
Reika immediately noticed the Uchiha Clan symbol on his back. Her gaze tensed.
"Daughter," said Mikoto, "this is Izuna Uchiha. Younger brother of Madara Uchiha and son of Tajima Uchiha. Izuna was the Second-in-Command of the Uchiha Clan in the past."
Reika froze. Izuna? The brother of the legendary and feared Madara Uchiha? The man who, according to the stories, fell at the hands of Hashirama Senju?
What was her mother thinking, bringing someone like that into their home?
And yet… she didn't doubt it. If Mikoto said so, it had to be true. Deep down, she knew it...
If she had come back to life, how many others had returned as well?
The question lodged in her mind like a thorn.
Who was bringing the dead back?
And for what purpose?
"As Mikoto said, my name is Izuna Uchiha," said the man calmly, not even bothering to look at her. "But from now on, you can call me master."
Izuna closed his eyes and brought the cup to his lips, enjoying the tea in silence.
How long had it been since he could relax like that, drinking hot tea in peace? He didn't remember clearly, but he knew it had been too long.
Reika looked at him silently, visibly confused.
What the hell did he mean by calling him master?
Mikoto, noticing her daughter's expression, stepped in before she could say anything.
"Izuna wants to train you, Reika. He'll help you become stronger for the final round of the Chūnin Exams."
Mikoto felt a knot in her throat as she lied to her daughter.
She, more than anyone, knew Izuna wasn't there just for the exams. Naruto had brought him to prepare her daughter for what was coming afterward.
Mikoto remembered the few times Naruto had spoken about the Fourth Great Ninja War… and even about threats more dangerous than that.
She herself would have to grow stronger if she wanted to protect what mattered most: her family.
Reika crossed her arms, still not fully understanding.
"And what are you gonna teach me…? You don't even look that strong. You even look kind of girly."
Izuna almost spat out his tea.
"You also look a bit like my male version. Are you also a girl in disguise?"
Izuna finally opened his eyes and frowned at her.
"First, I'm a man," he said, noticing Mikoto's skeptical look. "Second, I don't look girly," he added dryly. "And third…"
His Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life.
"…I'm much stronger than your idiot brother."
Reika took a couple of steps back upon seeing those eyes.
They had a different shape, but they triggered the same fear she had felt that night, when her older brother had shown hers.
Her hands trembled. She swallowed hard. Then she nodded, resolute.
"What do I have to do…?"
Izuna gave her a malicious grin.
"Nothing. Rest. Your hell begins first thing tomorrow."
Reika looked at him, confused.
It wasn't until the next day, during her first training session, that she understood exactly what her new girly-looking master meant.
...
Only the next day did Naruto find out who he would fight in the final round of the Chūnin Exams.
Since he had left early, he didn't participate in the number drawing.
But fate has a strange sense of humor, doesn't it?
His opponent was still Neji Hyūga.
But why Neji, when Hinata had been the winner?
Naruto frowned at the memory.
Hinata had decided to withdraw from the Chūnin Exams.
Naruto had tried to convince her otherwise, but she truly didn't want to continue.
Hinata had almost changed her mind after seeing him try so hard to convince her.
But Naruto didn't want Hinata to continue the Chūnin Exams if she didn't want to.
He didn't want to force her to do something she didn't want to do.
That's why Neji moved on to the third round.
[Might Duy: I WANTED TO SEE MY GRANDSON LEE'S FIGHT!! IS HE OKAY?! YOU SAID YOU'D STOP HIM FROM GETTING HURT!! HIS NINJA WAY ISN'T BROKEN, RIGHT?!]
[Madara Uchiha: Who cares about that thick-browed brat? I wanted to see the Sand kid! Aside from Naruto, he was the strongest.]
[Hizashi Hyūga: Hinata shouldn't have forfeited! With her current strength, she could've easily made Chūnin rank! Damn Naruto! I'm sure my niece backed out because she didn't want to face him!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: If you keep whining, I'm sending Madara to pay you a visit.]
[Madara Uchiha: Brat, do you think I'm some dog you send to bite whoever annoys you?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Exactly.]
[Madara Uchiha: …]
[Kushina Uzumaki: Mhpm. Leave my son alone. He was so sweet going off with Hinata to take care of her… I hope Minato is learning something now that he's back to life without me, mhpm!]
[Hashirama Senju: Eh? Honestly, I fell asleep halfway through.]
[Mito Uzumaki: I can confirm. I spent the whole time listening to my husband snoring during the preliminaries.]
[Hashirama Senju: Mito, I don't snore! Don't say that!]
[Mito Uzumaki: Husband, your snores are louder than a Chidori.]
[Hashirama Senju: … ]
[Tobirama Senju: That doesn't matter. I'm curious. Mikoto and Izuna should've already met with Sasuke, right?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Mikoto's definitely with her already. As for Izuna… who knows. Once someone is outside the system, I can't track them. I don't know if he decided to keep his end of the deal.]
[Madara Uchiha: Are you saying my brother won't keep his word? I guarantee you Izuna is already training that brat.]
[Might Duy: TELL ME IF MY GRANDSON IS OKAY!!]
[Tobirama Senju: I'm also somewhat interested in this "Might Lee."]
[Hashirama Senju: He's a young ninja from Konoha with a lot of talent. I'm concerned about him too.]
[Might Duy: HIS TALENT IS HARD WORK!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Meh. He's in the hospital after Gaara beat the crap out of him.]
[Might Duy: YOU SAID YOU'D STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING!!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Why would I? Tsunade Senju is returning to the village soon and she'll heal him. Problem solved.]
[Tobirama Senju: Duy, looks like you got scammed.]
[Might Duy: Huh? Why would I get scammed?]
[Sakumo Hatake: Idiot, you gave up all your power to save your grandson, but he was never really in danger.]
[Might Duy: Oh…]
[Naruto Uzumaki: No, seriously. His ninja way is in danger. But Tsunade's just that good at Medical Ninjutsu. She'll fix him. Don't worry.]
[Might Duy: Then it's fine. A few injuries are normal.]
[Sakumo Hatake: You're a real idiot, Duy. You should be more worried.]
[Hizashi Hyūga: I'd be furious if someone tricked me like that.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: In your case, Hizashi, I don't need anything from you, so you don't have to worry about being tricked in the future.]
[Hizashi Hyūga: You…!]