Naruto: Blacksmith

In March, the sky had yet to fully awaken from the cold grip of winter. The morning mist still carried traces of snow.

Kuro walked through the streets, feeling the chill against his skin.

He had just finished showering, and his disheveled hair was still damp.

Despite his casual appearance, his delicate face, coal-black eyes, and neatly pressed clothes drew everyone's attention.

Though his expression was bored, there was a softness to his features that made him attractive.

More than one passerby couldn't resist turning their heads for another look.

His house was about three kilometers from the Academy, making it a little over a twenty-minute walk.

When he arrived at the school, the classroom was nearly empty; only two or three children had arrived early.

They gathered in a corner, chatting and laughing like all children do in schools, oblivious to the fact that a new classmate had just entered.

Everything felt so relaxed and calm.

Kuro stopped at the door, a faint smile on his face.

He had seen this scene many times before.

In his previous life, when he was in elementary school, he had witnessed similar moments.

Back then, he was an innocent child. Seeing his classmates laughing and chatting, he always joined in.

At that time, he too was innocent and naive, like the children in front of him.

But now…

There's no way to go back to the past.

"Ugh..."

With a sigh, he walked into the classroom and sat in the last row. Closing his eyes, he immersed himself in quiet meditation.

He knew that ninjas had to learn a vast amount of knowledge—from geography, mathematics, physics, and chemistry, to psychology.

Those aspiring to become specialized ninjas had to master even more fields, often surpassing the difficulty of university programs in his previous life.

This knowledge was crucial, as it was directly tied to a ninja's survival.

Battles between ninjas weren't simply clashes of brute force.

They were strategic combats where tactics, the environment, intelligence, and stealth made all the difference.

When the power gap wasn't overwhelming, the winner was the one who knew how to leverage all available resources.

For example, during the mission in the Land of Waves, Kakashi had used his knowledge of the snow rabbit's habits to detect an ambushing ninja before the attack.

But…

What would have happened if Kakashi hadn't recognized that detail?

Perhaps he would have escaped unscathed, but what about Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, or even Tazuna, the mission's protection target?

Although that incident had a favorable outcome, the case of Madara and Black Zetsu was a bloody lesson in what happened when knowledge failed.

Despite understanding the importance of this learning, Kuro didn't feel confident.

He wasn't completely incompetent, but he didn't excel either. Considering he hadn't even finished university in his previous life, he didn't have high expectations of standing out in this area.

"One step at a time…" he murmured resignedly.

He didn't have an effective method for learning everything taught at the Academy, but he trusted that he could forge an object in the future to help him improve his study skills.

In any case, he wasn't too worried.

Real mission experience would be his best teacher, and time would help him gradually master this knowledge.

The reason the Academy had extended graduation to six years during this peaceful period was precisely to give students more time to learn and develop. This ensured a higher survival rate when they eventually became ninjas.

While lost in thought, the classroom began to fill up gradually.

His attention then shifted to his future classmates, with whom he would spend the next six years.

Many of them were unfamiliar. Some were completely new faces, others only vaguely recognizable.

However, there were a few he was very familiar with, especially because of events he remembered from the future.

For instance, the graduation day when Naruto and Sasuke would kiss for the first time.

Recalling that scene of the two kissing, Kuro couldn't help but laugh.

Suddenly, a face appeared close to his desk, with a pair of curious blue eyes blinking at him.

Kuro's smile froze instantly.

"What are you laughing at?"

Kuro pressed his hand against the face and pushed it away without a word.

Naruto, undeterred, leaned back in, his curiosity growing.

"Why were you smiling so happily?"

Kuro glanced at him sideways but didn't respond.

I can't tell you I was thinking about you kissing Sasuke.

Do you want trouble? Because that's how you get trouble.

"Hey! Don't be such a killjoy. Tell me!" Naruto insisted, leaning in even closer.

Kuro sighed and turned his head to look out the window, ignoring him.

Naruto rolled his eyes, but soon a mischievous grin spread across his face, and without warning, he opened his mouth, intending to bite him.

However, before he could, the sharp squeals of the girls in the classroom drew both their attention.

A boy with black hair and dark eyes had just entered the classroom. He wore a short-sleeved dark blue shirt and white shorts, with a clan emblem on his back.

He walked calmly, hands in his pockets, his face reflecting tranquility.

A group of girls squealed excitedly around him.

Sasuke?

Kuro couldn't help but touch his nose, slightly uncomfortable.

He has his style, but it's completely different from mine, more like Sasori's vibe.

Why aren't there girls squealing around me?

Do girls prefer cold guys?

While pondering, the squeals turned into curses.

Kuro shifted his gaze and noticed that Naruto, who had been next to him a moment ago, was now standing in front of Sasuke. He was scrutinizing him from head to toe with curious eyes.

Sasuke, initially surprised, maintained his composure thanks to his family's education. He looked at Naruto with a calm but curious expression, not understanding why this boy seemed so… interested.

Why do I feel like this guy has an inexplicable attraction to me?

"You're nothing special!" Naruto finally declared, crossing his arms and frowning.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" he asked, intrigued.

"Well... you've got two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears like everyone else. But you're not even as handsome as me!" Naruto scrutinized him suspiciously and added, "Are you using some kind of charm jutsu?"

This guy…

The corners of Sasuke's mouth began to twitch. The urge to punch him was growing rapidly.

The girls around him erupted in protests and began cursing Naruto.

"Why are you all yelling at me?!" Naruto shouted, raising his hands in innocence. "I didn't say anything wrong!"

The protests grew louder, and soon he was surrounded by a group of angry girls.

Sasuke, ignoring the chaos Naruto had caused, calmly made his way to an empty seat in the front row. He sat down and assumed a cold, composed posture.

From the back of the classroom, Kuro watched the entire scene in disbelief.

"He's the…" he murmured, at a loss for words.

Although he had seen similar scenes in the anime, experiencing it in person was completely different. There was an energy that couldn't be conveyed through a screen.

Living it is definitely something else.

________

Time: If you're craving more (and I know you are!), I have just what you need. On my Patreon, you'll find exclusive chapters. Join our community and be the first to discover what happens next!

👉 [patreon.com/Athome790]

Your support fuels me. Thank you for the support! 💖