401 Chapter 1

Prologue.

...

The sun rose over the hidden village of Konoha, casting a warm orange glow on its inhabitants. The streets were flooded with villagers, going about their daily lives.

However, one figure stood out from the crowd. A young blond boy with wild, untamed hair, named Naruto. His bright blue eyes were filled with mischief as he surveyed the scene before him.

Despite his elder brother, Shun's efforts to make Naruto straightened out, he couldn't help but play a prank or two on the villagers who always seemed to look at him with hate-filled eyes.

Whether he pulled a harmless trick with a whoopee cushion or used smoke bombs to create chaos, Naruto couldn't resist the urge to stir up some trouble.

Today was no exception. Naruto had his eyes set on a particularly grumpy shinobi, who always glared at him whenever their paths crossed. Determined to teach him a lesson, Naruto devised a plan. He carefully hid behind a barrel, waiting for the perfect moment.

As the shinobi approached, Naruto unleashed a barrage of exploding tags, scattering them in front of the man. Moments later, a series of loud blasts echoed through the streets, throwing dust and debris into the air. The villagers panicked, covering their ears and shouting in fear.

Emerging from behind the barrel, Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at his successful prank. However, his laughter quickly died down as his eyes met with those filled with anger and hate. The usual, he thought.

Feeling the attention finally on him, Naruto realized perhaps he had taken things too far this time and chuckled nervously before running away in full speed.

On the way, he remembered his today's daily quest.

[Quest: Take Last place in the Exams.]

Although he didn't understand what this quest meant, he knew the voice that had been with him for so long wouldn't be lying to him.

Still, he resolved to try his best in the upcoming exams. He had made a promise with his brother and he was determined to fulfill his own end of the bargain.

With newfound resolve, Naruto made his way towards the Ninja Academy. It was the beginning of a new chapter in his life. Today was the day of the graduation exam, and not just any exam, but the exams that'll mark the beginning of his life as a Shinobi.

However, he prayed that the exam content wouldn't be the clone technique.

Naruto had always struggled with the technique, despite his enormous physical strength from daily exercises.

His clones were usually sloppy, either failing to take proper form or dispelling, seconds after creating them.

But Naruto refused to let that discourage him. He knew that mastering the clone technique was crucial for a shinobi.

The wind gently rustled his hair as he reached the classroom, and as usual, he was late.

...

In the bustling classroom of the Ninja Academy, Iruka-sensei's voice rang out sternly. "Naruto, you're late again, and today is the day of the graduating exams!" His frustration was evident, and the eyes of the entire class turned to Naruto, who had just entered the room, panting.

Naruto, with his spiky hair and blue eyes, scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin on his face. He had a knack for arriving late, especially on important days, and today seemed to be no exception.

From all corners of the room, his classmates couldn't resist making fun of him. "Naruto's setting a new record for lateness!" one student exclaimed with a mocking tone, prompting a ripple of laughter.

Kiba, with a mischievous grin, chimed in, "Naruto, you really think you'll become a ninja if you can't even get to class on time?" Laughter erupted, and a few students playfully mimicked Naruto's goofy walk.

Even Sakura, the girl Naruto secretly admired, couldn't help but roll her eyes and mutter, "Typical Naruto, always late and seeking attention."

But Naruto wasn't about to let this moment pass without a response. He clenched his fists, his voice filled with determination, despite the mocking. "You guys can laugh all you want, but one day, you'll look up to me and call me Hokage-sama! Believe it!"

His defiant words hung in the air, and for a moment, the whole class went silent before the students all burst out laughing at Naruto who humphed and went to his seat with a determined glint burning in his eyes.

Little did he know, this would be the beginning of an epic tale, filled with adventure, friendship, and the destiny of a village resting on his shoulders.

Naruto Uzumaki was about to embark on a journey that would forever change his life and the lives of those around him.

...

In a hidden lair deep within the a certain village, the infamous assassin known as "Bat" was about to meet with his superior, Kurotsume.

Shun, who often took his alias a bit too ironically, had a tendency to make even the most serious situations comical.

Shun, wearing his all-black attire with a bat-shaped mask, entered the dimly lit room where Kurotsume awaited. He approached with a nonchalant swagger, as if he was walking onto a stage. "Hey there, Kurotsume," Shun said with a sly grin. "Ready to bask in the glory of my latest mission success?"

Kurotsume, a stern face didn't share Shun's enthusiasm for theatrics. He glanced at Shun, his voice dripping with annoyance. "Bat, we have important matters to discuss. Show some respect."

Shun chuckled, completely unphased. "Respect, schmespect! You know, Kurotsume, I'm so good at this whole assassination thing that I've already planned your birthday party for next year. It's going to be a blast!"

"What?" Kurotsume's eye twitched beneath his mask, failing to understand what Bat was trying to convey. "This isn't the time for jokes, Bat. We're dealing with a delicate political situation here."

Shun leaned in, his tone conspiratorial. "Delicate, you say? Well, don't worry, I've got a plan for that too. I call it 'Operation Bat-tastic Diplomacy.' It involves fireworks and a parade of rubber ducks."

Kurotsume facepalmed, wondering why he ever thought sending Shun on missions was a good idea. "Bat, please, just give me the mission report."

Shun shrugged dramatically and handed over a scroll. "Here you go, the masterpiece of a report. I even drew some doodles to make it more interesting."

Kurotsume sighed as he unrolled the scroll, only to find stick figure drawings of bats and exaggerated ninja stars. He couldn't help but shake his head in exasperation.

Shun, undeterred by Kurotsume's lack of enthusiasm, crossed his arms and winked. "You know, Kurotsume, if you ever need someone to lighten up the mood in this dark office of yours, just call on Bat. I'm here to bring smiles, even in the face of danger!"

As Shun pranced out of the room, Kurotsume couldn't help but let out an exhausted chuckle. Dealing with Bat was undoubtedly a unique challenge, but there was something strangely endearing about his quirky and comical approach to life as an assassin in this dark world.

...

Shun's POV.

Sigh...

I wonder what I should do now... As I stood alone on the rooftop of a building in front of a bustling street, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of boredom.

I had just completed the mission successfully and handed in my detailed report to the superiors.

My task had been to assassinate a potential rogue noble, suspected of fanning the flames that had fueled the recent civil war

Of course I knew he was just a pawn but, a dead pawn is a good pawn... I guess.

It had been a mission that had taken me days of meticulous planning and precise execution, he was being guarded by numerous Jounin rank Shinobi afterall.

In the end, it had been almost too easy, a testament to my abilities as a shinobi. Sigh... Maybe I should get a hobby?

As I stared out into the city below, the lights of the village twinkling in the distance, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing.

The thrill of a challenging mission, the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I executed my skills flawlessly, it was what had always driven me.

But now, with the mission complete, I found myself in a state of ennui. Perhaps it was time to explore other interests, to find something beyond the life of an assassin.

The prospect was good initially. Afterall, I wanted to be forgotten and slip into the shadows. Thankfully, five years of active service has helped me achieve that.

The idea of a hobby, something to occupy my time and mind, started to sound appealing.

Perhaps I should take in some students? Naruto and his crew would also be graduating this month... Hmm, perhaps they would be able to fight against eachother in the coming Chunin Exams...

I glanced at the moon, its silver glow casting a melancholic hue over the rooftops. Maybe I could take up stargazing, or perhaps learning a musical instrument. Anything to fill the void that had settled within me?

Nah. Kimizu is enough to fill that emptiness when I begin feeling it. Plus, I doubt it would be challenging to actually learn something new...

The woes of being me... Am I right?

With a final sigh, I made my decision. Tomorrow, I would begin tender in my resignation and pick up some students.

Maybe it would bring a new sense of purpose to my life beyond the shadows and secrets of the ninja world.

***

A\N: 1.5k words. This arc will be fast-paced and straight to the point. I believe we all want that.

PS: Main focus will be in Shun and his escapedes while watching Naruto and his team grow.

That was his initial wish, Incase we've forgotten. He wanted to watch the entire world play out without missing anything.

He won't involve himself like most Fanfic like to do, but he'll chip in a word or two when due... That is when and where I feel is due. Tee-hee 😜😜