Naruto: One Eye Tenseigan

The clearing was bathed in golden light, the trees casting long shadows across the grass. Naruto stood before a wooden target nailed to a thick tree trunk. In his left hand, he clutched a kunai, the weight feeling foreign and unwieldy.

He took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes as he focused on the target. "Alright," he muttered to himself. "Just gotta get used to this."

His fingers tightened on the kunai's hilt as he raised his arm and hurled it toward the target. The blade spun awkwardly through the air before embedding itself into the dirt several meters away from the mark.

"Darn it!" Naruto growled, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

Tomaru watched silently from his perch, his face impassive.

Naruto retrieved the kunai, gritting his teeth as he tried again. And again. And again.

The blades veered left, right, too low, too high—never once hitting their mark. Each miss deepened Naruto's scowl, his shoulders tensing as his patience wore thin. "Why can't I get this?!" he shouted, stomping his foot.

High up in the tree, Tomaru sat hidden among the branches, his form blending into the dappled shadows. His expression was, as always, a mix of calm indifference and quiet amusement. Naruto's antics were predictable, yet strangely entertaining.

Tomaru wasn't here to coach Naruto or offer words of encouragement. No, he was just… ensuring the future stayed on track. After all, if Naruto decided to throw in the towel, his future was in jeopardy too.

It wasn't because Tomaru hadn't prepared himself for the possibility of taking on the big bads of the world. He had the skills, the brains, and the patience (well, some patience). But there was always that nagging thought in the back of his mind: What if I handle this, and it turns into an even bigger mess?

Naruto had a knack for getting things right—or at least, ending things in a way that people could live with. If Tomaru took the reins, sure, he might achieve victory, but would it be the kind of victory that left the world in one piece? Probably not. He could already picture the chaos he'd leave behind—entire regions in shambles, alliances in tatters, and a few too many grudges festering for the next generation to deal with.

It wasn't humility. It was pragmatism. Naruto just had that rare talent for inspiring people, changing hearts, and building bridges. Tomaru didn't.

Why bother fixing something yourself when the expert's already on the job? thought Tomaru. He wasn't like Shikamaru, who could craft entire battle strategies while napping under a cloud. Tomaru had a brain, and he knew how to use it, but overthinking wasn't his style.

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "Man, Shikamaru's probably snickering somewhere, calling me lazy. But it's not laziness—it's efficiency," he muttered to himself.

This was his second chance at life, after all. What was the point of working himself to death like Guy and Lee? They lived by their own ridiculous "power of youth" creed, but Tomaru didn't share their enthusiasm for that level of effort. Life was supposed to be enjoyed, not turned into an endless grind.

Naruto was doing what he did best: training to save the world. Meanwhile, Tomaru planned to do what he did best: observe from the sidelines, step in when necessary, and let the real experts handle the heavy lifting.

Naruto had this irritatingly unique talent for pulling off miracles. The kind of miracles that didn't involve mass destruction or a long list of grudges. 

Naruto could talk down warmongering lunatics like Nagato with nothing but a few heartfelt speeches?

A speech! And it worked. Nagato, the man who believed in peace through destruction, had a full-on existential crisis and decided to resurrect an entire village. If that wasn't insane enough, Naruto had somehow done the same thing with Obito, a man so far gone that he'd started a world war to live out some fantasy dream.

He let out a yawn and shifted into a more comfortable position. His life motto had always been simple—leave the tough stuff to the professionals and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Still, as much as he grumbled about it, Tomaru couldn't completely detach himself from Naruto's journey. If the kid stumbled, Tomaru would be there to nudge him back on track, even if that meant getting his hands dirty.

After all, world peace wasn't just about Naruto's destiny. It was also about Tomaru's chance to live a peaceful, comfortable life without too much hassle.

With a soft sigh, Tomaru turned his attention back to the blond ninja. Naruto had taken a break to shout something about ramen and then immediately launched himself into another set of drills. Watching him was almost exhausting, but also oddly reassuring. The kid was determined, no matter what.

"Well, keep going, Naruto," Tomaru said under his breath, smirking. "The world's counting on you... and so am I."

—

Naruto's spirits lifted as he returned to Tazuna's home, the warmth of the setting sun on his back matching the fire reignited in his chest. Though his right arm remained heavily bandaged, the lightness in his step and the glimmer of determination in his eyes told a story of renewed hope.

Inside, the dining room carried a comforting air, the aroma of steaming bowls of rice, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables mingling with the soft murmurs of conversation. Tazuna sat at the head of the table, quietly sipping his sake, while Tsunami busied herself serving the dishes.

Naruto plopped into his seat with his usual enthusiasm, rubbing his hands together. "Alright, let's dig in!" he announced, reaching for his chopsticks with his left hand.

But the moment he tried to grip them, they slipped through his fingers, clattering noisily onto the table. His grin faltered as he scratched the back of his head.

"Man, this is harder than it looks…" he muttered, picking the chopsticks up again.

Sakura, seated across from him, glanced up from her bowl, her eyes narrowing as she watched him struggle. The sight tugged at something deep in her chest—a pang of guilt that hadn't quite dissipated since their last battle. Naruto, who always bounced back, was now facing something even more challenging than physical pain: helplessness.

Naruto tried again, clumsily maneuvering the chopsticks toward a piece of fish. His hand wobbled, the chopsticks trembled, and the fish slipped from his grasp, landing unceremoniously back on his plate. He let out an exasperated sigh.

"Darn it," he muttered under his breath.

Sakura hesitated, glancing at Sasuke, her gaze shifted back to Naruto. Finally, she pushed back her chair and stood.

Naruto blinked as she approached. "Sakura-chan?"

She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she picked up his chopsticks, gently placed them in his left hand, and knelt beside him. Her movements were firm but careful as she guided his fingers into the correct position.

"You're still getting used to it," she said softly, her voice steady despite the faint flush creeping into her cheeks. "Let me help."

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "Sakura-chan, I can—"

"Just eat," Sakura interrupted firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Without waiting for his reply, she picked up a piece of fish with her own chopsticks and held it out to him. "Here."

Naruto froze, his face turning as red as his favorite ramen bowl. "Uh… Sakura-chan, I… you really don't have to—"

"Don't be stubborn, Naruto," she said, her eyes softening even as her voice retained its edge. "You've been through enough already. Let me help you, okay?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment longer, glancing around the table. Sasuke didn't even look their way, though the slight twitch of his eyebrow suggested he was paying more attention than he let on. Tazuna raised an eyebrow but said nothing, while Tsunami smiled faintly, clearly touched by the interaction.

Reluctantly, Naruto leaned forward and took the offered bite. His face burned with embarrassment, but the warmth of Sakura's gesture was impossible to ignore.

"Uh… thanks," he mumbled, chewing quickly to cover his awkwardness.

Sakura returned to her seat, her hands wrapping around her bowl as she glanced at Naruto. "You'll get the hang of it soon," she said softly, her guilt easing slightly as she watched him manage his next bite more confidently.

From his corner, Kakashi, who had been leaning casually against the wall, observed the scene with an amused eye. "Looks like someone's got their fire back," he commented, his voice light yet carrying an undertone of approval.

Naruto grinned, his energy returning in full force. "You bet I do, Sensei! I'm not gonna let this slow me down. I'll figure out a way to fight even better than before!"

Kakashi straightened, his posture signaling the shift to a more serious tone. "Good. You'll need it."

Naruto tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Sakura and Sasuke both glanced at Kakashi.

"We'll start training tomorrow," Kakashi said simply, his tone unreadable.

Naruto leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "What kind of training?"

Kakashi's visible eye curved in a crescent as he chuckled. "You'll find out tomorrow."