Naruto: A Life On The Battlefield

A glorious return, a promise for an opponent, a white-haired man shocked by my progress. Surviving a trial that nearly anyone else would die from just to grab power.

Where was I three days later? In the goddamn barracks of squad one hundred and seventy-three. Extremely pissed off.

Sakumo had made no move to let me join his team, after our battle with Russo he simply told me to return to my squad. My return also happened on a Monday in the week the squad was on rest. Like before each squad in the army was to fight one week on the battlefield and one week off.

Not that I disliked my squad nor did their excitement at seeing me alive tear at my heartstrings. It was particularly nice seeing the 'eternal genin' let out tears of joy the second I walked in the barracks.

I wasn't trying to be cocky but I wanted to be out there, improving. Not sitting here playing cards with the Dunce twins and Tiber.

"Do you have any two's?" Tiber asked with a lazy drawl.

I was moments away from throwing the cards up in frustration when Captain Nara walked in.

"The commander has called for you," He said then immediately left for his room. 'Gotta love the Nara, straight to the point'

"Thank the Sage," I said with a sigh as I threw my cards on the table and stood up.

"Better say bye to the 'Crimson Mirage' everyone, probably won't see him again for a while," the special Jonin Roku said as he walked into the living area. A playful smirk on his face.

"The hell are you talking about?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. They seemed to ignore my question as everyone in the squad came forward. 

All either forcing a handshake or grabbing and shaking my shoulder.

"Dammit, get off of me you weirdos," I said as I flickered across the room.

"We all figured this would happen eventually so we all sprang to give you a gift." Captain Nara said as he came out of the tunnel where the beds were. A small package about the size of a forearm.

He handed it to me with a small smile. I was beginning to understand what was going on, they all figured I'd be getting a promotion as soon as I left. It was heartwarming, I opened the box with interest.

It was some kind of mechanical arm guard?

"Suna's puppetry is usually something nobody without specific training can use, but the guys in research and development have begun remanufacturing a couple of pieces for our use," Yura said as he motioned for me to put it on. In a certain way that made the large mechanism lay on my inner arm connected by a few black leather straps.

"This costs us a good chunk of merit and ryo. All you've got to do is push a small amount of chakra into the mechanism." Yura said as I did just that. "Though be careful, make sure your palm is facing forward"

A metallic twang echoed through the living room as a two-foot-long blade extended out of my palm. 'Ok, that's badass….' I could tell at a glance that this wasn't just a simple blade. It was once a puppetry weapon and I was sure I could add poison to the mechanism. Not only that but at a glance I could tell the blade had a high percentage of chakra steel in it. Meaning I could add a chakra flow on top of whatever poison I manage to get my hands on.

It wasn't some battlefield-shaking weapon but it was definitely going to come in handy with a little grease added to the blade to negate the sound and I could try my hand at being stealthy. Could really put my panther traits to good use with a weapon like this.

Mufuso said that every sage trained by animals would inherit a certain trait. My trait happened to make me a ghost to anyone who wasn't a Sage. Whenever I entered sage mode my chakra and scent were completely hidden. Even the sounds I made were even further muffled on top of my shinobi training.

They didn't realize how fitting this gift was so I did my best to thank them.

"Wow, this is awesome. Thank you, everyone," I said with a smile as with another dose of chakra the blade retracted with another twang of steel.

They all surround me one more time before wishing me well and leading me toward the door. 

It took me a mere few minutes to walk into Sakumo's office. The man himself seemed annoyed, an array of papers in front of him seemed to make him scratch his head in annoyance.

"Why couldn't you just keep things low-key," Sakumo said with a sigh as he kept reading over a document.

"That's boring, how am I supposed to improve?" I asked which caused the man's eyes to narrow.

"That is probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard, you've improved more from being away from this battlefield than on it. That month reprieve you earned and now reverse summoning yourself to escape a rabid jinchuriki," the man replied and even though I tried I couldn't refute him.

"In front of me, I have multiple requests, from the police force, a clan head, and the Jonin commander himself. What do they all want?" I could tell he wasn't really asking so I waited for him to continue. "You've been deemed a significant asset, significant enough that a lot of bigwigs are trying to go over my head and have you return to the village."

"Why?" I asked. It was news to me, I thought I'd kept my entrance and battle with Russo under the radar.

He didn't answer, he simply took a small book from his Jonin vest and opened it. Flipping through a few pages until turning it around. I could smell the fresh ink and hear fresh and crisp paper as he flipped through it. 'An updated bingo book?'

Tometsu Uchiha 

Moniker: 'Crimson Mirage'

Threat rating: A

Age: 12

Shinobi rank: Chunin

Chakra Nature: Unknown

Notable achievements: Forcing Russo of the Iron Sand to retreat with the assistance of Sakumo Hatake.

Abilities: S-rank speed, S-rank Kenjutsu, fully matured Sharingan, Senjutsu. Unknown ninjutsu and Genjutsu proficiency but estimated to be near Jonin level. Undetectable by sensor shinobi. An extremely developed body flicker Jutsu to the point it seems like an entirely new movement technique, estimated to be on par with Sakumo Hatake's renowned 'thunder step'. A summoning contract of unknown power and prestige.

Notes: Apprentice of Sakumo Hatake the 'White Fang'. The body flicker variant in question seems to make the child move so fast he leaves dozens of afterimages who are capable of attacking. Proudly posted on his back is the title 'Sage of Panthera', it is speculated that it boosts his physical attributes and gives him the ability to 'mask' his chakra signature. Recommend extermination before the shinobi joins Konoha's S-rank roster. All information was provided by 'Russo of the Iron Sand' during a single confrontation.

Bounty: 37,000,000 million Ryo (Sunagakure)

"Fuck...." I whispered out. It was insane how much Russo had learned in a five-minute battle where I only attacked him once. 

-

{Hidden Quest Complete}

A Notable Warrior

Objective: Become recognized through the Elemental Nations as an Elite Jonin-level threat, an A-ranked shinobi.

Rewards: 1 perk point, 45,000xp

(Level up….X2…. 20 stat points added)

-

"Indeed, luckily for you, I have a lot of pull when it comes to shinobi under my command. As the commander of this army, the only person I receive orders from is the Hokage himself. So the 'requests' from Lord Danzo and Lord Kagami were simply rejected." Sakumo explained much to my relief. Yet before I'd wipe my brow or sweat I could sense there was more.

"Though when the requester becomes one of the Sannin fully backed by the Hokage…. Well, it becomes a polite order" Sakumo trailed off as my shoulders slumped. 'Sage Dammit....'

"You've been called to return to the village under the guise of a mission, by Orochimaru of the Sannin. I'm not supposed to tell you but I and Captain Yura Nara have been ordered to give a full list of what we know of your abilities," Sakumo said with a small smile. 

'Well….. I guess I couldn't keep all my cards close to my chest. Not when I'm on the battlefield trying to survive' I thought to myself as I let out a sigh. 

"You are ordered to return post haste and report to Lord Hiruzen upon arrival," Sakumo finished. "Though I will be sending Rizen with you to watch your back and make sure your journey is as smooth as possible."

"Ok…." I could salvage this situation. I'd probably be grilled by the Hokage and his advisors. But I could handle that.

"Expect to be questioned, thoroughly. Your drive to become strong, your feelings about the village, your stance on the war. You'll be asked many questions as the leadership will want to learn about you now that you've become an asset. You being my apprentice will protect you from a lot of it and your clan should protect you from the rest"

"Though I have a request of my own if your stay in the villages becomes prolonged." Sensei trailed off. I looked at him and waited. "My wife should be in labor within the next couple weeks, if you find that you have a few hours to spare I'd appreciate it if you checked up on her for me."

'Was sensei blushing….' I tried my best to hold in my chuckles but froze when his saber flew across the room and cut my cheek.

"You've received your orders chunin, leave at once," he said as he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Seemed I was talking to a clone the entire time.

"Why can't everyone just leave me alone..." I said with a sigh as I walked out of Sakumo's office.

"Because you pulled Senjutsu out of your ass and went toe to toe with Russo…. Obviously." Rizen said from behind as it seemed he was waiting for me on the side of Sakumo's office.

"The scammer returns," I said with narrowed eyes.

"Scammer? Now that's just harsh."

"Don't worry, if you win this race I'll give you a B rank jutsu that doesn't need a nature transformation…" I quoted him nearly word for word.

"Yeah it needs chakra flow, plus it's sealess," Rizen said with an infuriating smirk. 

"Whatever, let's just head to the village," I said as he had a point, sealess elemental jutsu were incredibly rare.

"Young prodigies, so ungrateful," he said as he kept up his infuriating smirk throughout the entire first day of our journey.

For a genin team, it would take well over a week to return to the village from this deep in Suna. But for two people who had a sufficiently mastered body flicker jutsu? We'd be back in the village in about three days.

Besides a few bandits and vagabonds our journey was pretty smooth. 

We traveled mostly in silence besides a bit of banter the talkative Sarutobi clansmen started.

"There's no reason to be so worried, kid. Dad probably just wants to get your measure," Rizen said, seemingly picking up on my nervousness.

"Easy for you to say; my boss isn't also my dad," I said as I finally realized why the man was so laid-back and 'chill'. 

"True" he agreed with a chuckle. Instead of reverence when meeting the 'god of shinobi' it was just saying hi to his father.

"Will it take off that scowl and stop your fingers from twitching if I put in a word of goodwill for you before I return to the Suna front?" Rizen asked to my surprise. 

"I appreciate it, but it should be fine. I'm just overthinking it," I said with a sigh. 

Still, despite my nervousness, it was a great relief to see the large gates of Konoha.

-

Level 28 (18,000/25,000) 

Name: Tometsu Uchiha

Chakra: 10,200/10,200

Title: Sage of Panthera- Absorb natural energy twice as fast as a normal sage.

(Secondary) Title: Prodigious Killer- Boosts stats by twenty percent when fighting an enemy of a higher level than yourself

Strength:49

Dexterity:67

Agility:62

Endurance:40

Intelligence:204

Stat points:20-(40)

Perk Points:1-(2)

-

'I had changed a great deal since I last entered these gates' I commented to myself with pride as I walked into the village my head held just a little bit higher.