Johan – POV
Iruka-sensei announced, "Sasuke Uchiha and Johan Uzumaki..."
Hmmm... Sasuke Uchiha. Last of the Uchihas...
I smiled a little… and he winced at that... as if something cracked inside him.
As if a ghost brushed past his spine.
I know. Must be Itachi...
He has caused some serious scars...
Wounds that never bled outside, only festered deep inside.
But I don't like his way of doing things... killing with his own hands… spreading blood and gore...
No. I don't like mess. I don't like noise.
What I like is... twisting the minds so thoroughly, so quietly, they kill themselves in the dark…
And you never even have to touch them.
But Itachi… he's truly mad.
He killed everyone… for the village? and he didn't even have a choice...
Did something on the command of Danzo...
Such a fool.
Got this powerful… and still became a puppet.
Did something that shattered his soul... something he never wanted to. Some people are born to become tools...
We started with the hand sign of spar.
The air between us was heavy, soaked with something unspoken.
After that, Sasuke threw some shuriken, and I dodged them with my kunai...
His hands were quick, sharp… but shaky underneath.
He lunged at me, and I deflected that too…
His movements screamed desperation more than precision.
Then he tried to kick me in the face...
I defended it by using substitution...
Had to show everyone, the Hokage, the instructors, that I'm not just ready.
I'm beyond ready.
I've already outgrown this place.
As I smiled again, Sasuke got frustrated.
Taunting him is rather easy.
He's always on the edge. Always trembling inside.
I just push... gently.
Now it's time to test my study on Genjutsu...
Something more elegant. More… surgical.
I cast the jutsu.
And he became a statue.
Frozen in time.
Everyone gasped.
I walked toward him slowly... savoring the moment...
Then placed my kunai on his throat.
No need to gloat. Just… stillness.
I released the genjutsu, and he came out of it.
Shocked… hollowed out…
And oh… he got reminded of Itachi again.
The way he flinched, it was like he was twelve steps back in his trauma.
So sad.
After a moment, Sasuke snarled and jumped toward me.
I didn't move.
Why should I?
When Iruka came in between… exactly as expected.
Why do something… when you have people to do it for you...
Iruka said, "That's enough, Sasuke."
I didn't say anything. Just smiled lightly.
It's always better when your silence stings more than words.
He stared at me… then left.
His back looked heavier than ever.
Naruto shouted to him, "What was that?"
But Sasuke left.
No answer. No fight left in that moment.
Hmm...what should I say.....Today was fun.
Hokage Office – Late Afternoon
Smoke curled lazily in the air, casting soft spirals above the dimly lit Hokage office. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat deep in thought, his eyes narrowed as he watched the unfolding spar within his crystal ball. The faint glow from the technique reflected in his eyes, a dance of chakra, steel, and untapped genius.
Johan Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
The youngest leaves of Konoha. And one of them… was unlike any he'd seen in recent years.
As the spar ended with Sasuke frozen in place and Johan's kunai pressed gently against his throat, Hiruzen's lips curled faintly into a rare, proud smile.
"Very good," he murmured, exhaling a puff from his pipe. "It seems… we have a genius once again."
He leaned back, eyes drifting toward the framed photo of the Fourth Hokage on the wall. Time seemed to slow.
"Minato," he said softly, "your child has grown up... and perhaps, he's even more gifted than you were."
Then his gaze shifted, warmer now.
"And the other one… I can see Jiraiya's fire in him. Maybe… just maybe… he'll become a great ninja too."
But the warmth vanished as quickly as it came.
His expression turned grim. A crease formed between his brows.
"Hmm… Johan has nothing more to learn in the Academy. He's outgrown it. But what can I do...?"
He sighed.
"There's no team ready for early graduation. No path forward through normal means…"
Just then, the door creaked open—without a knock.
The old Hokage's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…What do you want now, Danzo?" he asked, voice cold as steel.
Danzo Shimura stepped into the room, one hand hidden beneath his cloak, the other resting calmly against his cane.
"Give me the boy," Danzo said flatly. "I'll teach him personally."
Silence.
For a moment, only the crackle of the pipe and the quiet hum of chakra.
Then, Hiruzen's head snapped toward him.
"You want to personally train Johan?"
Danzo nodded. "Yes. He will be my successor… in Root."
The pipe fell from Hiruzen's mouth.
His chakra surged, raw, unfiltered, a pressure that cracked the air like thunder. The office itself seemed to tremble.
"I disbanded Root!" he growled, rising from his chair. "Do you think you can walk into my office and say such things without consequence?"
Danzo narrowed his eye. "Hiruzen, listen to reason..."
"No." Hiruzen's voice cut like a blade. "Leave. And don't let me see Root again, or else....."
Danzo's mouth tightened, but he said nothing.
He turned on his heel and slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the walls like a final threat.
Silence returned.
Hiruzen sank slowly back into his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose, the fire in him now a low simmer.
"Danzo won't stop now," he murmured. "Not after seeing what Johan can do…"
He looked out the window, toward the village that never truly slept.
"…I need to do something. Something that keeps him far from Danzo's reach."
He paused, deep in thought.
"…ANBU."
His eyes narrowed.
"He can learn there. Grow in strength… and stay safe. For now."
Then a small nod, resolved.
"But I should ask him first. Yes… that will do."