Naruto: Shadows of the Divine Flame

The Academy was starting to feel like an endurance test—not for my body, but for my patience. Every lesson was something I had already mastered, every sparring match a carefully calculated act of restraint. If I went all out, I'd shatter every wooden dummy, humiliate every classmate, and probably give Iruka-sensei a heart attack.

That wasn't the goal. Not yet, anyway.

Today's lesson was on shuriken and kunai accuracy. Simple. The target dummies stood lined up at the far end of the training grounds, red circles painted over where the vitals would be. The other students took turns, most of them barely hitting their marks.

Naruto, predictably, missed everything.

"Gah! Stupid kunai!" He threw another one, and it somehow ricocheted off a tree and nearly hit Iruka, who dodged just in time.

Iruka sighed. "Naruto, you need to aim *before* you throw."

"I am aiming!"

I watched as Sasuke stepped up, his movements smooth, controlled. His shuriken sailed through the air, striking the targets dead center. A few of the girls, including Ino, started swooning. I rolled my eyes.

"Alright, next—Raiden."

I walked to the throwing line, taking my time as I picked up a handful of kunai. My body already knew the perfect angle, the exact force needed.

Too perfect. I needed to mess it up a little.

I threw three kunai, making sure they weren't dead center, but still good enough to look competent. The blades struck near the vital points, enough to earn some nods of approval without drawing too much attention.

Sasuke glanced at me. He knew.

I smirked slightly and walked back to my spot.

Next up was Hinata. She hesitated before throwing, her kunai hitting the target, but not quite in the right spots. I noticed the way she frowned slightly, disappointed in herself.

"You adjusted your wrist at the last second," I said quietly when she returned.

She blinked up at me. "I… I did?"

I nodded. "Just a little. Trust your initial aim."

Her eyes softened, and she gave me a small nod.

Iruka moved us on to the next exercise—sparring. I ended up paired with Kiba. The Inuzuka was grinning like he'd already won.

"Hope you're ready to lose, Raiden!" He cracked his knuckles, Akamaru yipping excitedly from his perch on Kiba's head.

I tilted my head. "Do you actually believe that, or are you trying to convince yourself?"

Kiba's eye twitched. "Oh, you're on!"

Iruka called for us to start, and Kiba charged, his movements wild but fast. I dodged easily, stepping aside just as he lunged.

He spun and came at me again, claws extended. I could already see ten different ways to end this fight, but I decided to make it interesting.

Kiba swiped—only to hit nothing but air.

I was behind him before he even realized I'd moved.

"You're predictable," I said.

"Like hell I am!" He spun, aiming a kick at my side. I caught it effortlessly, twisting just enough to throw him off balance. He stumbled, barely managing to land on his feet.

"You rely too much on instinct," I continued. "It makes you fast, but reckless."

Kiba growled, frustration clear on his face. "Stop talking like you're my sensei!"

I shrugged. "Then stop fighting like a beginner."

Kiba let out an irritated yell and rushed forward again, this time feinting left before lunging from the right.

Better. But not good enough.

I ducked, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground with a loud *thud*, groaning.

"Point goes to Raiden," Iruka announced.

I held out a hand. Kiba scowled but took it, letting me pull him up.

"You're annoying," he muttered.

"So I've been told."

The rest of the class continued, but my mind was elsewhere. I had been suppressing my abilities for so long that it was starting to feel unnatural. My body wanted to move faster, react quicker. It was like holding back a flood with a wooden dam.

The Senju Sage Body made me naturally stronger, faster, more durable. I healed quicker. My stamina was leagues above even the best of my classmates. Add in my Uchiha lineage, and I was essentially built to dominate any battlefield.

And then, of course, there was Wood Release.

I hadn't used it in public, not even once. Not yet.

But sometimes, when I was alone, I would let a single vine curl around my fingers, just to remind myself it was real. A power unique to the First Hokage… and now, me.

No one knew. And I intended to keep it that way.

For now.