Naruto: The Medical God

Naruto sat on the swing, his fingers tightly gripping the coarse rope, eyes glued to the fight unfolding before him. His heart sank as he watched Shin step forward, putting himself between Naruto and Sasuke. Why does it always have to be him? Naruto thought bitterly. Why can't I stand up for myself?

The fight began suddenly, both Shin and Sasuke moving with a speed that made Naruto's chest tighten. Their fists clashed in the air with a resounding thud, and the crowd of students around them erupted in gasps and whispers.

Naruto's nails dug into the rope. He couldn't look away, no matter how much he wanted to. Sasuke was ferocious, each movement calculated and brimming with confidence. Shin, though, was something else entirely. He moved with a precision Naruto could only dream of, his calm demeanor never faltering.

He's so strong... Naruto thought, bitterness creeping into his chest again. And I'm just sitting here, doing nothing. Like always.

Naruto flinched when Shin pulled out a kunai and hurled it at Sasuke. The weapon cut through the air with precision, but Sasuke easily sidestepped it, his smirk widening.

Then Shin's hands blurred into motion. Ram, Snake, Tiger.

"Kunai Clone Jutsu!" Shin's voice rang out, loud and confident.

Naruto's eyes widened as the single kunai multiplied into four identical copies, all arcing toward Sasuke. The crowd gasped in awe, and for a moment, Naruto forgot to breathe.

"That's..." Naruto whispered to himself, his thoughts trailing off as he recalled seeing Shin practice the technique in secret.

Sasuke, however, didn't falter. With quick reflexes, he struck each kunai out of the air, three of them dissipating into harmless smoke. The last clattered to the ground at his feet.

Naruto bit his lip. Even Shin's jutsu doesn't work against someone like Sasuke.

Naruto's heart sank further when Sasuke mocked Shin. "Is that all you've got, Hamada?" Sasuke sneered, confidence dripping from his voice.

But Shin didn't react the way Naruto expected. He smirked—a sharp, knowing expression that sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. "You should finish defending before talking, Sasuke."

Naruto's breath hitched as he noticed Shin's subtle hand motion. Then, like a flash, the kunai that had fallen to the ground zipped back through the air, slicing toward Sasuke's face.

Sasuke barely dodged in time, the weapon cutting a thin line across his cheek. Blood welled up from the shallow wound, and Sasuke's expression darkened.

He used chakra threads... so that's what he tried to do the entire last two weeks... Naruto realized, awe filling his chest. So he made it... he didn't just throw that kunai... he controlled it.

Naruto's eyes flicked back to Shin, who stood tall and composed, his kunai dangling from his fingers as though daring Sasuke to make the next move.

Naruto's fingers gripped the rope tighter, his knuckles whitening. The fight continued, but he barely registered the movements. All he could think about was how powerless he felt sitting there, watching Shin fight Sasuke.

He's amazing... he's always been amazing, Naruto thought. And what am I? A failure. Someone who can't even pass the academy exam.

The feeling of powerlessness grew heavier with every moment. Every strike Shin landed, every clever trick he used, only drove the weight deeper into Naruto's chest.

"I can't even stand up for myself..." Naruto muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the cheers and gasps of the crowd.

I'm nothing compared to him... Naruto thought, bitterness and self-loathing tightening his chest. Nothing.

Naruto's hands trembled as he lowered his head, letting his bangs fall over his eyes. The fight raged on, but he couldn't bring himself to watch anymore.

"I don't deserve friends like Shin," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. I can't protect anyone. I can't even protect myself—"

"Do you want to become stronger?"

Naruto flinched, his heart jolting at the sound of the voice coming from behind him. It was soft, almost soothing, yet it carried a weight that demanded attention. He spun around, his blue eyes wide, and found himself face to face with a figure he hadn't noticed before.

The man stood just a few steps away, his expression calm but enigmatic. His silver hair gleamed under the sunlight, and his amber eyes seemed to pierce through Naruto, seeing far deeper than the surface.

"Do you want to become stronger?" the man asked again, his voice a quiet whisper that seemed to echo in Naruto's mind.

Naruto hesitated, gripping the swing's ropes tighter. "Mitsuki-sensei?"

Mitsuki's lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. He took a step closer, crouching slightly to meet Naruto's gaze. "I see it, you know. The way you look at them—at Shin, at Sasuke. Like they're untouchable." His voice softened, almost conspiratorial. "But they're not."

Naruto blinked, unsure how to respond. "I... I just—"

"You're frustrated," Mitsuki interrupted, his tone smooth and understanding. "You think no one sees your potential. They only see the failures. The mistakes."

Naruto's breath hitched. How did he know?

Mitsuki's smile deepened as he saw the flicker of recognition in Naruto's eyes. "But I see it, Naruto. The fire inside you. It's small now, yes, but with the right guidance, it could become something unstoppable. Something even they would fear."

Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, the words sinking into the cracks of his self-doubt. "But... how? I can't even pass the academy exam. How could I ever catch up to them?"

Mitsuki tilted his head, his amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Catching up isn't enough. If you want to surpass them, you'll need to take a path they're too afraid to walk. One that demands more than hard work. It requires sacrifice."

Naruto's hands trembled as he gripped the rope, torn between fear and the flicker of hope Mitsuki's words ignited. "What kind of path?"

Mitsuki leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "There's a way for you to unlock power beyond anything you've ever imagined. But it's not for the faint of heart. It will push you to your limits—and beyond. Are you ready for that, Naruto? Are you ready to show everyone who you truly are?"

Naruto swallowed hard, his throat dry. "I... I don't know."

Mitsuki straightened, his expression unreadable. "The choice is yours. You can stay here, watching others shine while you sit in the shadows. Or..." He turned slightly, his voice taking on a softer, almost hypnotic tone. "You can take the first step toward becoming someone they can't ignore."

Naruto stared at him, his chest tightening. The crowd's cheers for Shin and Sasuke faded into the background, replaced by the relentless pounding of his heartbeat.

"I..." His voice cracked, but he forced himself to continue. "I want to become stronger. No matter what it takes."

Mitsuki's smile widened, satisfaction glinting in his eyes. "Good." He gestured for Naruto to follow. "Then come with me. I'll show you the way."

Naruto slid off the swing, his legs moving almost on their own. He followed Mitsuki, his thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and determination.

As they disappeared into the crowd, Mitsuki glanced over his shoulder, his amber eyes gleaming with something far darker than understanding. "This will be the beginning of your transformation, Naruto," he murmured, though his voice was too low for Naruto to hear.

To be continued...

***

***

How was this chapter guys? Hoped you liked it!

Sorry if I am not uploading that much recently, I'm still on holiday. I promise that when I return home, I'll upload more.

Also, be sure to check out my original novel, Hyperborea!