HIER OF ASHURA

The air in Konoha was crisp and fresh, the autumn leaves swirling gently as a nine-year-old Naruto Uzumaki sprinted down the village streets, a wide grin plastered on his face. Today was a big day. It was his first day at the Shinobi Academy.

"Finally, dattebayo! I'll show all of them!" Naruto shouted to no one in particular, his excitement infectious to those who saw him. A few villagers gave him sideways glances, muttering under their breath, but Naruto didn't care. Today was about proving that he wasn't just the "demon fox boy" everyone avoided.

As he reached the Academy's gates, a voice echoed in his mind, low and steady.

> "Remember, Naruto: the path of a shinobi is built on more than strength. Deception is your greatest weapon."

Naruto frowned slightly but quickly masked his confusion with a cheery grin as a few students passed by him. "Yeah, yeah, Uzuhiko. I get it!" he whispered under his breath.

The voice belonged to his system, the mysterious entity that had awakened within him during his earliest memory of pain—the day Kurama was sealed inside him. Uzuhiko, the AI assistant integrated into his system, had been his secret guide ever since. Unlike the villagers, Uzuhiko believed in him.

> "No, Naruto, you don't get it yet. But you will. I'll guide you."

---

Day One at the Academy

Naruto burst into the classroom, his energy filling the room. Iruka Umino, the Academy instructor, immediately sighed. "Naruto, take your seat!"

Naruto complied, dropping into the chair with a dramatic thud. The other students snickered, most of them dismissing him as the loudmouth they'd heard rumors about.

The first lesson was on the basics of ninjutsu and chakra control, but Naruto's attention wandered. His elite Chūnin-level strength made the class feel too slow. Ever since Uzuhiko's system began training him, his abilities had skyrocketed. He had stamina to rival grown shinobi, a strong grasp of basic techniques, and instinctive combat skills. But Uzuhiko had warned him against revealing his true strength too soon.

> "Your power means nothing if your enemies can see it coming. You must learn to hide in plain sight."

That evening, Uzuhiko's voice rang in Naruto's head as he sat atop the Hokage Monument, watching the village lights flicker below.

> "Naruto, today we begin your true training. The Academy will teach you how to be a ninja. I will teach you how to be a shinobi."

Naruto tilted his head. "What's the difference?"

> "A ninja wields tools and jutsu. A shinobi wields deception. To survive and thrive, you must master stealth, ambush tactics, trap-setting, and espionage. And for now, we'll disguise your training as harmless pranks."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Pranks? You mean I can train and have fun?"

> "Exactly. Here is your first quest."

---

Quest 1: The Chalkboard Trap

Objective: Create a stealthy trap that pranks Iruka-sensei during class.

Rewards: Stealth +2, Trap-setting +3, Confidence Boost.

The next morning, Naruto arrived at the Academy early—a rarity that immediately made Iruka suspicious. But before anyone could notice, Naruto slipped into the classroom and got to work. Using his knowledge of knots and triggers (taught by Uzuhiko during previous practice sessions), he rigged a bucket of chalk dust above the door.

When Iruka entered, the bucket tipped, covering him in a fine layer of white powder. The entire class erupted into laughter, and though Iruka scolded Naruto, the boy's speed and precision in setting the trap didn't go unnoticed by Uzuhiko.

> "Good. Now, refine it. Next time, it shouldn't be obvious who set the trap."

---

Quest 2: Ambush in the Training Grounds

Objective: Ambush Kiba and Akamaru without being detected.

Rewards: Stealth +5, Ambush Tactics +3.

Uzuhiko guided Naruto to Konoha's training grounds that evening. Kiba and his dog Akamaru were playing fetch when Naruto struck. Using a smoke bomb (crafted earlier using Uzuhiko's instructions), Naruto distracted Kiba, then silently moved through the bushes.

When the smoke cleared, Kiba found himself tied to a tree, with Akamaru barking furiously at the ropes binding his master. Naruto grinned from a nearby branch, Uzuhiko's approving voice in his ear.

> "Well done. Your movements were silent, but your escape needs work. Always have an exit plan."

---

Quest 3: The Spy Game

Objective: Gather information on Shikamaru and Choji's favorite snacks without being caught.

Rewards: Espionage +4, Observation +3.

Naruto tailed Shikamaru and Choji as they wandered the village, pretending to be uninterested in anything around them. He followed Uzuhiko's advice:

Blend into your environment. Naruto mimicked a bored shopper.

Use distractions. He made a small bird call to draw their attention away when they turned around.

By the end of the day, Naruto knew everything about their favorite hangouts and snacks (Shikamaru loved dried squid, while Choji couldn't resist barbecue chips).

---

Building Skills Through Pranks

Over the next few months, Uzuhiko assigned Naruto increasingly complex "prank quests," each designed to build critical shinobi skills.

Quest: Replace all of Mizuki-sensei's lesson plans with doodles of frogs.

Skill Focus: Stealth, Infiltration.

Outcome: Naruto successfully sneaked into the teacher's lounge, leaving Mizuki flustered the next day.

Quest: Lead a team of Academy students to prank the Hokage Tower.

Skill Focus: Leadership, Coordination.

Outcome: Naruto coordinated with Shikamaru, Kiba, and Choji to fill the Hokage's office with balloons.

Quest: Build an untraceable water balloon trap for Sakura.

Skill Focus: Trap Design, Precision.

Outcome: Naruto's prank went off flawlessly, but Uzuhiko scolded him for laughing too loudly and revealing his involvement.

> "Remember, Naruto, the perfect prank leaves no trace of its creator."

---

Uzuhiko's Philosophy

Uzuhiko's lessons extended beyond just physical training. Every prank carried a lesson in the art of deception.

> "Naruto, the shinobi who reveals his hand too soon is already defeated. You must learn to be the fool in plain sight—the loudmouth everyone underestimates—while hiding your true strength until the perfect moment."

Naruto began to embrace this philosophy. He played the class clown at the Academy, earning laughs and scorn in equal measure. But beneath the surface, he was growing stronger, sharper, more dangerous.

---

The Ultimate Test

One day, Uzuhiko presented Naruto with a new quest:

Quest: Prank the ANBU

Objective: Plant a fake mission scroll in the ANBU Headquarters without being caught.

Rewards: Espionage +10, Confidence +5, Special System Upgrade.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "The ANBU? You're crazy!"

> "Crazy? No. Ambitious? Yes. This mission will test everything you've learned."

With Uzuhiko's guidance, Naruto spent two weeks preparing. He memorized ANBU patrol patterns, crafted a convincing fake scroll, and practiced disguising his chakra signature.

On the night of the mission, Naruto crept through Konoha's shadows, his movements precise and silent. He bypassed the outer guards, slipped into the ANBU headquarters, and planted the fake scroll on the mission desk.

The next day, rumors spread of a mysterious mission involving the Hokage's office being "haunted." Naruto smirked to himself, Uzuhiko's praise ringing in his ears.

> "You've done well, Naruto. You're beginning to understand what it means to be a shinobi."

---

Naruto's Growth

By the time Naruto turned ten, he was far ahead of his peers in stealth, trap-setting, and strategic thinking. Though he still acted like a goofball, his actions were deliberate, calculated. Uzuhiko continued to challenge him with quests, slowly molding him into a master of deception and combat.

Through pranks, Naruto learned to set traps that could immobilize a team of Chūnin, gather intelligence without detection, and infiltrate high-security areas. His classmates still saw him as a loudmouth who always caused trouble, but that was exactly what Uzuhiko wanted.

> "Naruto, your reputation as a fool is your greatest asset. No one sees the real threat until it's too late. Even allies can't be allowed to know your full potential—yet."

---

A New Challenge

As the Academy year progressed, the instructors introduced sparring matches to assess the students' combat abilities. Naruto was paired with Sasuke Uchiha in one such match. The entire class buzzed with excitement—Sasuke was at the top of the class, and Naruto was widely considered the bottom.

"Prepare to lose, dead last," Sasuke said, his voice laced with arrogance.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "Guess I'll just have to do my best, huh?"

Uzuhiko's voice whispered in Naruto's mind.

> "This is your first true test. Do not reveal everything. Match his strength just enough to push him, but hold back your true power. Outthink him, Naruto."

The match began, and Sasuke rushed forward with a flurry of punches and kicks. Naruto dodged with ease, his movements quick but not too quick. When Sasuke overextended on a kick, Naruto tripped him, sending the Uchiha sliding across the mat.

The class erupted into laughter, and Sasuke's face burned with humiliation. "Lucky shot!" he snarled, leaping to his feet.

Naruto grinned but didn't respond. Uzuhiko had already taught him to conserve his energy, and he focused on keeping Sasuke on the defensive. Each of Sasuke's attacks was met with a perfectly timed dodge or block, and Naruto occasionally countered with harmless but effective strikes.

> "Good. You're frustrating him. Let him make mistakes."

Sasuke eventually lost his temper, overcommitting to a powerful punch. Naruto sidestepped and lightly tapped Sasuke on the back, making him stumble forward.

"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka announced, though his tone was surprised.

The class fell silent. Sasuke glared at Naruto, while others muttered in disbelief. Naruto just shrugged, scratching his cheek.

"Guess I got lucky!" he said, laughing nervously.

> "Excellent performance. They'll chalk it up to chance, but you've learned much from this encounter. Remember, deception, even in victory, is key."

---

Stealth Training Through Pranks

As Naruto's reputation grew among his peers, so did Uzuhiko's training quests. While the Academy continued teaching basic jutsu and theoretical lessons, Naruto focused on stealth missions Uzuhiko created for him. Each prank doubled as a training exercise.

Objective: Hide in plain sight during class for an entire day.

Reward: Improved stealth, patience.

Naruto smeared chalk dust on his face to blend with the classroom wall and stayed perfectly still during a lecture, evading even Iruka's sharp eyes.

Objective: Slip a "Congratulations, Hokage-sama" banner into the Hokage's office without alerting the guards.

Reward: Advanced infiltration tactics.

Naruto used a clone as a decoy and snuck past ANBU patrols to hang the banner.

Objective: Steal one of Sasuke's onigiri and replace it with a rubber one.

Reward: Espionage, precision timing.

Naruto succeeded, leaving Sasuke baffled when his bite turned into a squeak.

Each quest pushed Naruto's skills further, teaching him not only how to execute pranks but also how to think like a shinobi. He learned to anticipate his opponents, to manipulate their expectations, and to vanish without a trace.

---

Meeting His Parents Through the System

One night, after completing a particularly challenging quest to rig a bucket of ink above the Hokage Monument's maintenance ladder, Uzuhiko spoke with unusual seriousness.

> "Naruto, you've done well. Your progress has been remarkable. As a reward, I will unlock something special for you."

Naruto blinked. "What do you mean, Uzuhiko?"

> "The seal that binds Kurama also holds fragments of your parents' souls. They have been integrated into my system as a safeguard and guide. It's time you meet them."

Before Naruto could respond, the world around him shifted. He found himself in a glowing white space, where two figures appeared: a man with spiky blond hair and a warm smile, and a woman with vibrant red hair that seemed to radiate energy.

"Naruto!" the woman cried, rushing forward to hug him.

The man followed, his blue eyes glistening with pride. "It's so good to finally meet you, son."

Naruto's voice cracked. "You're... you're my parents?"

The man nodded. "I'm Minato Namikaze, your father. And this is your mother, Kushina Uzumaki."

Naruto's tears fell freely as he clung to his mother. "I-I thought I didn't have a family..."

Kushina stroked his hair. "We've always been with you, Naruto. And we're so proud of the person you're becoming."

Minato placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Thanks to Uzuhiko, we can guide you in ways we couldn't before. We'll be here whenever you need us."

Naruto smiled through his tears. "Thank you... all of you."

---

A Shinobi in the Making

Naruto returned to his training with renewed determination. With Uzuhiko's guidance and the support of his parents, he continued to balance his Academy life with secret quests.

Though the village still saw him as a prankster and a troublemaker, Naruto knew the truth. Each prank, each mission, each lesson brought him closer to his dream—not just to become Hokage, but to be a shinobi capable of protecting everyone he cared about.

And as Uzuhiko's quests grew more challenging, Naruto understood that the greatest weapon a shinobi could wield was not strength, but the ability to remain unseen until the moment it mattered most.

Naruto Uzumaki was no ordinary student. He was a shinobi in training, and one day, the world would know his name.