Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.
You can now get early access to Chapter 72 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon. You can also read up to Chapter 14 of Naruto: Satoru Senju.
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The next day, at the Third Training Ground.
"Satoru, let me introduce you to your two new instructors from now on" said Kakashi.
Satoru looked up, surprised, at the two figures standing in front of him.
Kakashi gestured with both hands toward two masked ANBU, both wearing cat masks, though each had unique details distinguishing them.
To Kakashi's left stood a woman with long, waist-length purple hair. Her bangs were brushed to the right. Her pale skin stood out beneath her uniform.
Satoru already knew her. She had been one of the ANBU assigned to watch over him alongside Itachi and Kakashi himself.
The other ANBU, also wearing a cat mask, observed him silently, tilting his head slightly as if trying to read him.
Satoru didn't recognize him immediately, though he had his suspicions.
The only clear feature he could distinguish was the man's long brown hair.
"This is Yūgao Uzuki, codename Cat, one of my subordinates. From today, she'll be your Kenjutsu instructor," Kakashi explained.
Satoru nodded, giving Yūgao a brief and respectful glance.
Then Kakashi slightly turned his head toward the other ANBU.
"And this is Tenzō. He'll also be one of your instructors. He'll help you develop your Wood Release."
Satoru frowned slightly at the mention of the ANBU's name.
In the future, Tenzō would be assigned as Team 7's new instructor under the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju... his mother.
He would later be known by his codename: Yamato.
Tenzō had also been one of the sixty children kidnapped to serve as test subjects in Orochimaru's experiments.
During those experiments, they had been injected with the DNA of the First Hokage, hoping to replicate the legendary Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release.
Everyone died. Everyone, except Tenzō.
Satoru knew that story well.
It was one of the many reasons why he wished for the death of Danzō Shimura, who had cooperated with Orochimaru in these atrocities.
How dared he collaborate with Orochimaru and use his own great-great-grandfather's DNA as if it were just another tool?
"As for what I'll be doing in the meantime..." Kakashi started, tempted to sneak off and nap under a tree. Unfortunately for him, that wasn't an option. "I'll be teaching you the Rasengan..." he added, without much enthusiasm.
Satoru nodded to himself. Knowing Kakashi would be teaching him the Rasengan was definitely good news.
Once he completed his training with the three instructors, he would begin developing both the Chidori and the Rasengan, creating his own versions and stronger variants.
He would also have to start mastering another element. Probably water release, as he had access to many techniques thanks to Tobirama Senju.
The Senju Compound was full of Water Release scrolls.
"Who's going to train me today...?" Satoru asked, his gaze slowly drifting between them.
Behind his mask, Kakashi smiled.
"None of us. Your training starts first thing tomorrow. Today, I just wanted to introduce you."
Satoru rolled his eyes just before the three of them vanished in the blink of an eye.
...
That same afternoon, while walking through the streets of Konoha, Satoru grimaced when he spotted a lively, energetic blonde girl sprinting toward him the moment she saw him.
"Satooooru~! I finally found you...! Satooooru~!" she shouted, jumping up and hugging him around the neck, refusing to let go.
Satoru smiled slightly. She was one of the few people around whom he didn't need to activate Infinity.
"Satooooru~! Treat me to some ramen, please~!"
"Satooooru~! I want ramen, but I can't pay for it...!"
"Satooooru~! Don't ignore me, please~!"
Satoru, trying to ignore her while she clung to him like a koala, kept walking with a sigh. Yet the girl's persistence eventually made him give in.
"Alright, but just one bowl..." Satoru agreed, already knowing how this would end.
"Only one?! Come on, don't be stingy~!" Naruko protested, puffing her cheeks.
Even though he had already said yes, the bold little girl still complained.
"You know I'll pay you back in the future, don't be stingy!" she pouted and, for the first time since hugging him, let go—only to cross her arms in fake indignation.
"I've got a drawer full of your IOUs, Naruko..." Satoru sighed, rubbing his temple as a mild headache started to settle in.
"I will pay you back someday! I'll be super rich when I grow up, believe it!" Naruko shouted, pointing at him enthusiastically.
Several people nearby turned to look. Some whispered, others frowned in disdain. They looked at her the same way they always did.
Satoru noticed too. He frowned, annoyed.
Naruko, however, either didn't notice... or had simply learned to ignore it. To live with it.
When she realized she wasn't winning him over, Naruko pulled her ultimate card.
"Satooooru~! You're being so mean to me...! Mean, very mean...! I need at least three bowls, one isn't enough!" she cried, dramatically throwing herself to the ground and starting a shameless tantrum.
Satoru rolled his eyes, completely ignoring her as he kept walking like he didn't even know her.
"Satooooru~!" Naruko gasped, clutching her chest as if her heart had just broken. "Wait! I'll accept just the one bowl! Please wait for me!"
Satoru smiled, amused, with his hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt, listening to her chase after him.
...
At Ichiraku Ramen, they sat on the stools in front of the counter.
"Old man Teuchi! Satoru's treating me today! Bring us three of your best ramen bowls!" Naruko yelled excitedly.
"Naruko, you..." Satoru glared at her for ordering more than agreed.
"Don't look at me like that, one of them's for you..." she pouted.
From the kitchen, Teuchi poked his head out with a cheerful smile.
"Coming right up! Three Deluxe Ichiraku-style ramen bowls for my best customers!"
"I seem to remember saying I would only buy you one bowl..." Satoru muttered as he readied his chopsticks.
"Huh? When did you say that? I don't remember!" Naruko said, averting her gaze nervously.
Satoru raised an eyebrow and pinched her cheek without mercy.
"Satooooru~! That hurts...! Stop~!"
After teaching her a little lesson, he let her go. And just then, Teuchi served the ramen.
Naruko immediately started eating happily, slurping the noodles with a huge grin.
"Ahh~! This really is the food of the gods~!" she said between bites, completely enchanted.
Satoru shook his head, amused, watching her from the corner of his eye.
He had met Naruko a year ago when he turned five.
They were the same age, their birthdays only a few days apart.
It had been Hiruzen himself who introduced them, hoping they would become friends.
Back then, Naruko had welcomed him with the biggest smile he had ever seen. For her, any chance at making a friend was like a gift.
Satoru, on the other hand, had been annoyed. He thought the old geezer was wasting his time with pointless nonsense.
But that very afternoon, she had dragged him to Ichiraku Ramen and, before they parted ways, handed him her first IOU.
She never stopped giving them to him after that.
Satoru didn't really mind. Money was one of the few things he would never lack in life.
What did concern him were Hiruzen's intentions behind introducing them.
Beyond that, it also wasn't normal for Naruko to come looking for him that day—especially considering he had told her a few days earlier that he'd be busy and couldn't play.
So, what had made her come, knowing that?
"Hey, Naruko..." he called, wanting to get straight to the point.
With Naruko, he could always be direct. She was terrible at lying or hiding things. A simple girl.
She turned toward him, still with her mouth full.
"Wha...?" she asked, right before slurping a noodle.
"Why were you looking for me?" Satoru asked, raising an eyebrow. "Besides wanting free ramen, I mean."
Naruko immediately coughed, choking slightly, and patted her chest to catch her breath.
"W-well... you know... you know... I know..." she began stammering, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, avoiding his gaze.
Satoru narrowed his eyes, watching her suspiciously.
"We're friends, right? And friends don't keep secrets..."
"I-I'm not keeping any secrets..." she mumbled, still not daring to look at him.
"That's a relief. Because if I found out you were hiding something from me... knowing I never hide anything from you... I'd be really sad," he said calmly, emphasizing the last part.
Naruko's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide.
"It was Grandpa Hokage!" she blurted out, as if the words burst out on their own. "He said you seemed sad lately and told me I should spend more time with you! He also said not to tell you...! Ah...!"
She quickly covered her mouth, horrified at how easily she had confessed.
Satoru watched her silently for a few seconds, frowning slightly... but then sighed and gave her a soft smile.
"Thanks for telling me, Naruko. You can order another bowl if you want."
Naruko's eyes lit up like she had just won the lottery, and she nodded enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, Satoru stared at his bowl of ramen, though his mind was elsewhere.
What the hell is that old man plotting...?