NARUTO: In the Era of Sannin

Yuichi's eyes snapped open.

His breath was shallow, his skin damp with sweat as he stared at the dark ceiling above. For a moment, the silence of the night pressed against him, the faint flickering of lanterns outside casting shifting shadows on the walls.

His heartbeat was steady but uneasy, the remnants of a dream clinging to his mind like mist over a lake.

'What… was that?'

He rubbed his forehead, trying to recall the details, but everything was hazy, slipping through his grasp like sand. He knew it was important, there was a sense of weight to it, something he couldn't ignore.

A conversation. 

A person.

The place had been unfamiliar, shrouded in mystery, yet it felt significant. He had spoken to someone, though the identity remained unclear.

What lingered in his mind was the way the person spoke, benevolent, yet commanding. Their words had held a quiet authority, neither demanding nor threatening, but heavy with meaning.

And the only thing he could remember clearly…

"Be aware, live well, and complete it."

Yuichi sat up, frowning. 'Complete what?'

The words echoed in his mind, but no answers came. Just a lingering unease, like he was forgetting something crucial.

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. Maybe it's just exhaustion. The long journey, the unfamiliar surroundings, it was easy to assume his mind was playing tricks on him.

Yet, deep inside, he wasn't convinced.

Shifting to the edge of his bed, he glanced outside the window. The Fire Capital was still alive, even at this hour. The lantern-lit streets continued to glow, distant voices of night vendors and late-night wanderers drifting into the quiet guest house.

After a few moments of hesitation, he stood. 

"Might as well clear my head."

***

Yuichi stepped outside the guest house, the cool night air greeting him as he adjusted the loose-fitting robe he had borrowed. 

The palace district was significantly quieter than the main streets, but even here, the influence of the capital's grandeur remained.

The stone pathways were clean and polished, the lanterns hanging from golden stands giving off a gentle glow. 

The guards were stationed at their posts, their silent vigilance adding to the stillness of the night.

Yuichi walked aimlessly, letting his thoughts drift.

The dream still nagged at him. The words, the voice, the feeling—it was different from a normal dream. It felt more… real.

"Be aware, live well, and complete it."

He clenched his fists slightly with unease emotion.

'What was I supposed to complete?'

Immersed in thoughts he turned a corner, and suddenly became aware of a presence nearby. Someone was watching him.

His body tensed instinctively, years of training making him hyper-aware of his surroundings. He slowed his pace, keeping his breathing even.

A few steps later, he caught the faintest flicker of movement from the rooftops.

Yuichi didn't react immediately, instead choosing to continue walking naturally. 

'Someone's tailing me? At this hour?' a few questions arose in his mind but they weren't the main focus instead the presence which was following him was. 

The Fire Capital was filled with powerful warriors, and Kagami had warned them to be careful. But why would someone be watching him specifically?

Coincidence? Or something more?

He turned down another path, leading into a more secluded area near the gardens. The presence remained behind.

Yuichi smirked. 'Alright, let's see who you are'.

Then, without warning, he vanished into the shadows with body flicker technique.

Silence.

A silence enveloped the surrounding. 

He steadied his breath, blending into the darkness. The presence that had been following him just moments ago… had also disappeared.

'What the hell?' He felt confused.

Yuichi sharpened his senses, scanning the surroundings carefully. But before he could move-

Shhht!

A faint breeze against his neck.

Cold steel pressed lightly against his throat.

A kunai.

Yuichi's body stiffened, but his mind remained calm. Whoever this was, they were skilled. He hadn't even heard them move.

A voice, low and unreadable, whispered near his ear.

"Not bad. But not good enough."

Yuichi's muscles coiled like a spring, ready to react at a moment's notice. 'Who is this person? And how did they get behind me so effortlessly?'

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he carefully analyzed his options. 'Do I counter? Or Do I wait?'

The pressure of the kunai didn't increase, it remained there, like a silent warning.

Then, as quickly as it appeared, the presence vanished.

Yuichi spun around, but there was nothing. No trace. No sign of movement.

It was as if the person had never been there.

His grip on his own kunai tightened. 'What the hell is going on tonight?' 

Yuichi exhaled sharply, his heart steadying.

Yuichi left the garden quickly, his steps brisk as the unnerving encounter weighed on his mind. He wasn't going to wait around for another surprise.

"Damn it, that was terrifying." Yuichi spoke out loud unknowingly. 

Whoever had pulled that stunt was skilled, far beyond an average shinobi. Even with his heightened senses, he hadn't noticed them until the kunai was already at his throat.

'A test? A warning? A prank?' He wasn't sure, but he had no intention of staying in that garden to find out.

As he made his way back toward the guest house, his mind still tangled with unease, he spotted a familiar figure walking toward him.

Kagami.

The older shinobi was strolling casually, his hands tucked into his sleeves, a faint, amused smile on his lips. Even in the dim lantern light, Yuichi could tell something was off, his face was slightly flushed, his posture more relaxed than usual.

'He's drunk… or at least a little tipsy.'

But despite the signs, Kagami's movements were steady, his steps precise. His eyes, though carrying a certain warmth, remained sharp. A shinobi of his caliber wouldn't be vulnerable even after drinking.

"Yo," Kagami greeted, his tone easygoing as he stopped in front of Yuichi. "What are you doing out here at this hour?"

Yuichi hesitated before responding. He had no intention of bringing up the strange presence in the garden. Instead, he kept it simple.

"Just woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep," he said. "Figured I'd take a walk."

Kagami exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Tch. You're training too much. It's messing with your sleep cycle."

Yuichi didn't deny it.

"Back when I was your age," Kagami continued, crossing his arms, "I was the same. Always pushing myself, never giving my body time to rest. You remind me of me…" He paused, then chuckled midway through his scolding. 

"Ah, but it doesn't matter. You'll learn when your body finally gives out on you."

Yuichi smirked. "That's not exactly comforting advice, Kagami-sensei."

Kagami stretched his arms above his head, yawning. "Still… looking at you and Sakumo, I can't help but think back to when I was younger. I had a friend back then, a rival, really. We were like two sides of the same coin."

Yuichi's interest piqued.

Kagami's past wasn't something mentioned in the source material. This was entirely new information.

Curious, he asked, "What happened to him?"

Kagami's smile faded. His expression grew distant, his eyes darkening slightly.

"He died," he said simply.

Yuichi felt a pang of regret for asking, but Kagami continued before he could say anything.

"First Ninja War." He sighed, exhaling deeply. "We always thought we had time. That we'd grow stronger, compete, and push each other forward. But war… war doesn't care about that."

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.

Yuichi wanted to say something, but what? He wasn't good at comforting people.

Instead, he just nodded.

Kagami suddenly yawned again, moving his fingers absentmindedly in an odd pattern, similar to a one-handed hand seal, but not quite. Yuichi noticed it but dismissed it, assuming it was just a habit.

Deciding to change the subject, Yuichi found the perfect opportunity to ask something that had been troubling him.

"Kagami-sensei," he started, "I've been thinking about my weapon choice."

Kagami raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"I use my sword a lot in combination with my bloodline abilities, but I can't decide whether I should go for a heavier, longer blade or a shorter, lighter one."

Kagami hummed thoughtfully before reaching into his jacket's upper left pocket. He pulled out a small scroll, unfurled it with a flick of his wrist, and in a puff of smoke-

A blade appeared.

Yuichi's eyes widened.

Kagami picked up the sword and extended it toward him. "Here."

Yuichi hesitated before taking the weapon. It was perfectly balanced in his grip, neither too heavy nor too light. The blade was primarily black with a crimson-red pattern resembling flowing energy or blood veins. The handle appears rough and organic, resembling twisted, gnarled wood or bone.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, far superior to the standard swords he had been using and strangely it felt as though the hilt and handle wasn't separate from the blade itself.

"Kagami-sensei…?"

"I've been watching you," Kagami said with a grin. "Your problem's been obvious for a while now, and it's not just about size or weight. Your old weapons aren't compatible with your new Chidori technique either. So, while I was out, I picked this up for you."

Yuichi stared at him, momentarily speechless.

He was grateful, deeply so.

"I—"

"Before you start thanking me," Kagami cut in with a smirk, "I got something for Sakumo and Mio too. So don't go thinking you're special."

Yuichi chuckled at the misunderstanding but didn't correct him. Instead, he nodded. "Thank you, Kagami-sensei."

Kagami ruffled his hair roughly. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't cut yourself with it."

But just as Yuichi was about to store the weapon-

He felt it.

A presence.

The same presence from earlier.

His body tensed. His senses screamed at him.

And before he could react-

Shhhht!

Cold steel pressed against his neck.

Not just his.

Kagami, too, had a kunai at his throat.

Yuichi's breath hitched. 'Not again!'

Kagami's reaction was different. He remained still, his expression unreadable.

A voice- low, smooth, and utterly confident, spoke from the shadows.

"Not bad," it mused. "But not good enough."