My first few years of life were spent with me pretty much moving around and getting acquainted with my new body and situation. My new dad, Akimichi Choza, was the clan head and he was often not around as much as he ordinarily would be. I figured it was due to the constant running of missions and council meetings in the aftermath of the Kyuubi Incident. Thankfully, because I'd wound up in Choji's body six months after he was born, I'd missed the Kyuubu Incident by about three weeks. Apparently, the Akimichi Compound was near the Nara and Yamanaka Compounds in the southwest of the Village, whereas the Kyuubi mostly wrecked the northeastern quarter, so we didn't suffer much damage. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the Hyuga who suffered damage to their compound and the village armory.
That meant that the Hyuga and the Village were shelling out tons of Ryo for construction D-Ranks, and since the Akimichi had a predilection toward techniques useful for construction, my new dad was pretty busy supervising clan resources and ninjas. Of course, I'd overheard him talking to Uncle Shikaku about all of this and they formulated a pretty clever scheme to buy up wrecked real estate in the aftermath for use as Clan-owned businesses. It would turn out to be the first of many overheard conversations over the next two years that really proved to me why the Ino-Shika-Cho Alliance was a major player in Village Politics, even though we weren't the most powerful clans individually.
As for myself, I spent a lot of the first two years moving around, learning first to crawl, then to toddle, until I was confident enough to try walking normally. I'd also managed a bit of speech, but it wasn't exactly the sort of mature speech I recalled using. Instead, it was babyish speech, Ma, Da, Testu, and the like for my immediate family. They didn't mind, and I stopped using kiddie words a few weeks later, but Shikamaru was ahead of me on that.
That was another thing, Shikamaru and Ino had each been born within a week of my birth. I didn't doubt that our mothers had planned it out this way so the next generation of Ino-Shika-Cho would grow up together. Shikamaru was a calm, quiet, kid. He hadn't learned to walk until six months after I had, but he outclassed me when it came to speech, even if he didn't say much too often. When he did speak, it was worth listening to. Ino was the opposite, she spoke all the time, but usually, it was just her way of killing time and she didn't generally have much to say beyond just shooting the breeze. It took her less time to learn to walk than Shikamaru had, but still more than it took me.
Currently, the three of us were sitting around playing a game with Beigoma tops the day after Ino's fifth birthday. The object was to keep your top spinning longest, either normally or by knocking over your opponents' tops. It didn't require us to move all that much, which satisfied Shikamaru, and the Beigoma whistled pleasantly as they spun, which Ino enjoyed. Honestly, Ino seemed pretty into music and stuff compared to canon. I wondered idly if she'd be interested in starting a band when we became teenagers? Having a Female Frontwoman could be cool. It would definitely be a change from my last life, where the band I'd been a part of was all dudes.
In the background, Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi were talking with my dad. He'd had me tested at the Hospital during my last checkup to see what affinities and the like I'd had. I suspected from the bandages on Shikamaru and Ino's arms they'd been tested as well. Today was the first day our three dads had time to confer about the results, I wasn't even told what mine were, so I was only half paying attention to Ino's story about her first time in the Yamanaka Flower Shop as we played Beigoma. Instead, I kept an ear open for our gossiping dads. What I heard was very interesting.
"So, I went and got Shikamaru tested and his results are pretty much what we expected. He's got a pretty strong Yin Affinity, so he'll have an easy time with the Clan Techniques. Beyond that, he's a Fire primary and an Earth secondary. No unexpected mutations. What about Ino?" Asked Shikaku.
"Ino's got strong Yin and Yang affinities pretty much balanced against each other. That's one way to lead to mutations and she happens to have two. The first is that she's a Sensor Type. Of course, a lot of Yamanaka are, so that wasn't too unexpected, what was unexpected was the balance between her Yin and Yang affinities is so even that she's got a Perfect Chakra Control Mutation. Both of those will help her in using the Yamanaka techniques. Beyond that, she's an Earth Primary and Water Secondary." Informed Inoichi.
"That's interesting. Lady Tsunade has been pushing hard for her Med-Nin program on the Council, if we support her, it should let Ino learn valuable techniques. We should do that. What about your boy, Choza?" Questioned Shikaku.
"Choji's results were unexpected. Not the strong Yang affinity, that's every Akimichi. What was unexpected was that he picked up my fire and his mother's lighting affinities in roughly equal amounts. Lightning affinity is rare in Akimichi, but when paired with his Yang and Fire Affinity, something happened." Sighed my Dad.
"What? He isn't sick, is he?" Frowned Inoichi.
"It's nothing like that. Look, you remember what I told you about the Origins of the Akimichi Clan, yeah?" Queried my Dad.
"You mean he's got it?" Demanded Shikaku, now very intent on the conversation.
"He does. The first Akimichi to have it since we came to Fire Country and set up in Konoha. Choji has the Steel Release Kekkei Genkai." Confirmed my Dad.
"This changes our plans moving forward. The re-emergence of a dormant Kekkei Genkai in the Akimichi Bloodline means your political capital is about to shoot up significantly, we're going to have to plan on how we want to take advantage of that. Then there's the issue of marriages, the Uchiha and the Inuzuka both have a family predilection to Lightning Affinities. We may want to look into marriages for your other clansmen with those clans, though I suspect the Uchiha will want to bleed us dry with concessions first." Began Shikaku, plans beginning to form in his mind.
"Shikaku, you're doing it again." Smirked Inoichi.
That seemed to bring Shikaku up short. He nodded and said, "Right. This calls for a celebration, we can plan after our hangovers clear up. Congratulations, Choza."
"Thanks, Shikaku. You mentioned hangovers? I've actually got a bottle of aged Sake I'd been saving for a few years. We can crack that open and toast to our futures." Grinned my Dad.
Together, our three Dads made their way out of the room, likely headed for the wine cellar. As I turned back to the game, I noticed that Shikamaru had guided his top to topple mine over whilst I was eavesdropping on our dads. With a frown and a cocked eyebrow, I grumbled at him goodnaturedly.
"You weren't paying attention, so that seemed like the best time to strike." Shrugged Shikamaru.
"Yeah, he was probably listening to our dads. Daddy told me I was a Sensor-type and that I had Perfect Control or something. I dunno what that means, but it seems neat." Grinned Ino, pale turquoise eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Troublesome, I turned out completely expectedly. Maybe that means I won't be forced to do extra stuff and can relax more often?" Frowned Shikamaru.
"Shika, your dad doesn't relax a lot and you're his heir." Sighed Ino.
"Troublesome. What about you, Choji?" Asked Shikamaru.
"I've got the Steel Release Kekkai Genkai. S'not been seen in the Akimichi since we moved to the Fire Country from Sea Country." I said.
"Huh. . .you know, I bet our dads are gonna be planning something with that." Pointed out Ino.
"Troublesome Old Men. Well, better you than me, I guess." Intoned Shikamaru.
"Oh no, if I get dragged to extra training, I'm gonna take you with me, Shika." I promised.
"Wouldn't you rather just watch clouds?" Tried Shikamaru.
"Nice try, Shika." I grinned.
"Ino? Help?" Pled Shikamaru.
"No way, I'm not gonna get involved." Scoffed Ino.
"You know, you're dad is gonna make you do sensor training." I pointed out.
"No, he won't, because I won't let him." Sniffed Ino.
As it happened we all would get special training. Mostly in the leadup to our joining the Academy at age eight. For me, that involved a lot of Taijutsu and Bukijutsu training. A lot of it was close enough to the Wado-Ryu Karate I'd done in my old life that it was fairly easy to pick up. Of course, the Bukijutsu was new. Most Akimichi used the Bo staff as a weapon and I did learn that, but over the next three years, I had time to pick up another weapon on top of that. Apparently, the Akimichi Martial Arts styles were all heavily based on the Okinawan Styles of my old life. Wado-Ryu Karate was just the start, there were also a number of weapons.
When it became clear that the Taijutsu regimen was being picked up at an accelerated rate, and that I would pick up my first level of Mastery before I even entered the academy, though I cheated that thanks to past life experience starting me at the proficiency of a First Kyu Brown Belt, my Dad took me to the Dojo we practiced Bojutsu in. Normally, the place was cleaned up of all other weapons, since they would only distract me, apparently. Now though, the walls were covered with rack on rack of weapons, not just Bo, or even Jo and Hanbo, but Sai, Tonfa, Kama, Sansetsukon, Nunchaku, and a paired Tinbe and Rochin. When I stopped to gape, my dad turned to me and started speaking.
"These are the traditional weapons of the Akimichi, brought with us on our escape from Sea Country. Do you remember why we had to leave Sea Country, Choji? I know you've been told the stories." Began my Dad.
"Because the Lord Choshu angered the Jade Emperor by proclaiming the reign of steel under heaven. In response, none of his sons were born with the Steel Release and our enemies used that to force us out of our ancestral homes." I answered.
"That's right. Lord Choshu thought himself a God on Earth as no weapon could pierce his steel body technique. What you might not have been told is exactly how we got kicked out of Sea Country. We were holding onto our heartlands before the Day of Red Bones. The Kaguya Clan attacked and several of our castles and villages fell within months, prompting us to flee across the waves to Fire Country. The Kaguya set up shop in our ancestral lands after we fled, but we brought our weapons and techniques here to Konoha, so that one day, we would be able to return and reclaim our lost homeland." Nodded my Dad.
"So these weapons?" I questioned.
"Are traditional weapons of Sea Country. The Bo is traditional as a starting weapon, but you're progressing so quickly in our Taijutsu that you should be capable of picking up a second without it impacting your performance at the Academy. Pick a weapon." Nodded my Dad.
I looked over at the weapons, hand hovering briefly over the Tinbe-Rochin since that would be unusual enough to throw most Shinobi for a loop. Then I passed up the weapon and grabbed the Sansetsukon. The three-section-staff would probably be more difficult to learn, but it would be surprising in its own right, and I could probably pick up the Tinbe-Rochin later. My dad walked over and nodded at the selection, face creasing a moment in concentration.
"The Tinbe-Rochin would've been easier, but then I guess someone has to make up for Shikaku's Boy's lack of effort." He offered.
And that was my life for the next three years. Training Taijutsu and Bukijutsu with my dad, hanging out with Shikamaru and Ino, and just generally living my life. Ino was indeed being given special sensor training, though mostly in the form of games of hide-and-seek where Uncle Inoichi would hide something of hers with a chakra tag attached to it and she'd have to use her sensor abilities to find it. Shikamaru had gone a different route, training his mind to think up plans and strategies. Board game nights with him were generally a massacre for anyone not on his team.
All the while, things got back to normal in the village, with the aftermath of the Kyuubi Incident being put behind everyone. Before I knew it, three years had passed and entry to the academy was looming. No one so much as came and spoke to us about it, though. As Clan Heir for the Akimichi, it was expected for me to enter, the same as Shikamaru and Ino, really. Unfortunately, it seemed as if the new peace wouldn't last forever. Just two months before the start of my first term at the Academy, the Village got turned completely upside-down.
Orochimaru had just betrayed the village, taking copies of the Village Jutsu Library and more problematically, a number of genetic samples from various children, including various Clan Children. Including my own blood sample from the hospital check-up all those years ago. In the aftermath, Tsunade's medic-nin program was shut down as too much of a security risk and she left the village in a huff. If my non-shredded memories were right, she wouldn't return until Naruto made her, instead, she'd wander around, gambling away her fortune in a drunken tour of the world. It was a depressing thought, but I couldn't dwell on it too long.
The Academy awaited, after all. . .
XXXX
AN: Just glossing over the pre-academy years a bit. Nobody really cares too much about those. But yeah, Choji has the Steel Release in this Fic.
The history of the Akimichi in this fic is radically different from in canon. Initially, they were the top clan in Sea Country, which has a lot in common with the IRL Ryukyu Kingdom, during the Warring Clans Era, everything was going great until Akimichi Choshu pissed off the gods and got the Steel Release rendered dormant for his hubris. Then the Kaguya Clan attacked and forced them to flee to Fire Country. Their journey took them into Noodle Country for most of the Middle Warring Clans Period where they developed the Akimichi techniques to replace the Steel Release.
Then they marched into Fire Country and were one of the second slate of Clans to sign onto Konoha, after the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Senju. They joined as part of a bloc with the Yamanaka and Nara, cementing the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance that continues to this day.
Anyway, the next chapter will involve the first day at the Academy and our first look at the rest of the Rookies.
Stay tuned. . .Last edited: Aug 2, 2023308KnightofTempestAug 2, 2023View discussionThreadmarks Chapter 2 View contentKnightofTempestHas no AudienceAug 3, 2023#17On my first day at the Academy, I was dropped off by my Mom and Dad, with Tetsumaru there as well. It was sort of tradition for the Clans that their heirs be dropped off and picked up by their parents on the very first day of each year of the Academy. Since Clan Heads were constantly busy, it was the only way for the Clans to ensure their heirs had time with their parents bringing them to the Academy. Honestly, it spoke pretty well of the Leaf if you asked me. With the way some of the other villages were spoken about, I'd be shocked if their clans did even this much.
Hell, if what I'd heard about Iwa and Kumo was at all right, they'd never actually fully demobilized their forces from Wartime Standing after the Third Shinobi World War, their Clan Heads probably had even less time than ours did. I don't know that I necessarily believed the rest of the stuff people said about Iwa and Kumo since a lot of it was probably propaganda. To hear the Fire Monks tell it, Kumo's Shinobi tended to be white or black of skin because the Gods were required to intervene in the mortal realm to balance the karma of such a wicked nation out among its people, resulting in such drastic coloration. Most of the stuff was along those lines.
My Mom and Dad walked me to the gate of the Academy, trailing behind me a few steps and having Tetsumaru padding by my side. Over the past several years, I'd grown from a chubby baby into a less chubby eight-year-old. Apparently, I was on track to develop the sort of physique the Akimichi encouraged. Most people thought we were fat, but that wasn't entirely the case. Most Akimichi were stout, sure, but in the same way, a power-lifter or sumo wrestler was stout. Sure there was fat there, but the underlying muscle more than offset that.
Aside from starting to develop that kind of physique, I also had my hair done long in a sort of spikey curtain that reminded me of a miniature, auburn version of Jiraiya's Hairstyle. I also wore a different set of clothing than Choji had in canon, though I'd had to suffer through Ino's comments when getting it fitted. A red Karate Gi with a green undershirt, wristbands, and boots. The symbol for Akimichi-Ryu Karate was done up in black lettering on the back, and the Akimichi Clan Mon was done in black lettering over my heart. The whole thing was capped off with the Seidan Black Belt I'd earned under the training of my father and various uncles.
I sort of looked like a Palette Swap of Son Goku with longer hair, and honestly? I was kinda here for it. Naruto may have been the designated protagonist, but I'd keep pace as best I could. I seemed to recall he might have outpaced most of his classmates after he'd come back from his training trip, but my memories of that were spotty at best. Still, I was definitely not about to let someone like him or Sasuke leave me in the dust.
"Look alive, pup. We're coming up on the Academy Grounds now." Growled out Tetsumaru, nosing into my side.
I looked up and sure enough, the gates of the Konohagakure Shinobi Academy were looming up ahead. As I watched, Kiba and Akamaru were being escorted inside by a Gruff Woman and her One-eared, one-eyed, Ninken. Auntie Tsume was honestly fun in small doses, if fiery at times, but Kiba complained about her a lot. Kuromaru, her Ninken Partner was a lot quieter than she was, though no less gruff. I called out and waved to my cousin, aunt, and their respective Ninken.
"Oi, Choji, settle down will ya? It's just the Academy." Grumbled my Cousin. Tiny Akamaru yipped in response from his spot under the fur hood of Kiba's gray hoodie.
"Exactly, it's our first steps toward being real Ninja! Don't tell me you aren't excited about that!" I grinned.
"Pssh, yeah right. Akamaru and I are gonna blow through the Academy stuff no problem. I bet you that I graduate in two years since I'm just that great!" Puffed up Kiba, Akamaru yipping in affirmation.
"Oi, Brat! Don't get cocky, especially in front of other Clan Heirs!" Snapped Auntie Tsume.
"It's just Choji, though? He's family!" Protested Kiba. That earned him a swat to the back of the head from Auntie Tsume.
"Brat, go back far enough and all the Clans are family, that's how marriages work! It's no excuse to start yapping away when you haven't even seen your competition yet!" Scolded Auntie Tsume.
"Kinda harsh, Sis." Frowned my Mom.
"Come on, you know what boys his age are like! If you don't stomp on this sorta thing fast it only gets worse! Remember that guy you used to date? The Waterfall Nin? What wound up happening to him?" Scoffed Auntie Tsume.
"True enough." Sighed my Mom.
"Hi, Auntie Tsume!" I grinned.
"Hi yourself, squirt! You being good for your mom? Not giving her any lip like your cousin gives me?" Nodded Auntie Tsume.
"He's a good boy, Tsu. You know that." Groused my Mom.
"Just making sure, Mits. I can't have my kid sister raising another Hellion. I got enough of that with Kiba." Laughed Auntie Tsume.
"Come on, Choji. These two could be a while, let's get you and Kiba inside and ready for classes." Intoned my dad as he ushered Kiba, Akamaru, and I through the gates of the Academy.
As we entered through the gates, I noticed several others were already there. Shikamaru was laying down under a tree, taking a nap even as Ino sat nearby grumbling at him. Over by a small patch of flowers was a Kid wearing dark glasses, a hooded jacket, and a high-collared shirt who I recognized as Aburame Shino, heir to the Aburame Clan. Sitting on the swing was a pale-eyed Girl with purple hair in a Hime-style haircut and wearing a purple and pink shirt and hoodie combo. Hyuga Hinata, current Heiress of the Hyuga Clan. Sitting in the corner was a kid wearing gray shorts and a dark blue t-shirt. Sasuke Uchiha, heir to the Uchiha Clan and future orphan in around two years or so was tossing a practice kunai up and down in the air, catching it as it fell and never once cutting himself.
Aside from them, there was a gaggle of Civilian-Born Kids of which I only recognized one of them. It was kind of hard not to recognize Haruno Sakura since her hair was naturally pink. The Haruno Clan were a major Civilian Merchant Clan that had produced a scattering of ninja after living in a Ninja Village for over fifty years. One of those was Sakura's Father, Haruno Kizashi who had made it to Chunin before deciding to retire and go into the family business. It had worked out for him since the Haruno Trading Company had grown by a decent amount and he'd had a family with Kizashi at the helm. The Haruno mostly traded luxuries, Jade from River Country, Tea from Tea Country, Chakra Metal from Iron Country, Silk from Grass Country, and so on. It had made them extraordinarily rich.
The other Civilian Kids were of no real consequence. Most would wind up failing the Bell Test and washing out to the Genin Corps, some would wash out of the Ninja Program altogether and begin a life as civilians. Most didn't come up after the first few chapters or so of the Manga. In this case, though, it seemed like the small mob of Civilian Kids was all pointing and laughing at something, I heard calls from the mob for whoever they were bullying to give up and go home. That the Target didn't belong there. I had a pretty good idea just who they were jeering at. There was only one person that all the civilians would have been told to not associate with by their parents. Of course, most Shinobi Clans didn't have that sort of problem, but a single, Clanless Orphan was often beneath their notice.
Sure enough as if to confirm my suspicions, a loud voice rang out from over by the angry mob of Civilian Kids. "I'll show you! I'm gonna be the best Hokage ever someday, Dattebayo! Then you'll see how much I belong!"
I winced at that. Naruto definitely had no idea how to talk to people because ear-piercing shouting wasn't exactly the way to win friends and influence people. He probably would've done better by punching the Civilian Kids. This was a Shonen universe, after all. Case in point, the Civilian Kids started insulting Naruto more and tossing small pebbles at him. That was a step too far for me to feel comfortable standing on the sidelines while it happened. I started to march over to where the Civilian Kids were bullying Naruto, only to hear Shikamaru call out.
"Choji, what are doing?" Asked Shikamaru.
"Those kids are throwing rocks at another kid. I'm going to go make them stop. We should be on the same team, here, given what our profession will be. You don't bully teammates." I answered.
"Troublesome." Muttered Shikamaru.
"Choji does have a point, Shika." Offered Ino.
"I didn't say he was wrong, just troublesome. I was having so much fun just relaxing, now I have to go help Choji pick a fight." Sighed Shikamaru.
"Yeah, well there's like seven of them throwing rocks at that kid and only three of you. You're gonna need some help, me and Akamaru each count for two other guys, so we'll help you out and even things up." Boasted Kiba. Akamaru yipped an affirmative in response.
Together we all headed over toward the knot of civilians and just before we were going to start throwing punches, an honest to Gods steam whistle went off stopping everything in its tracks as its shrill cry pierced the early morning air. My group turned, as did the Civilian Kids, and as the teachers made their way out to the front of the schoolyard to give a speech to the new class of Academy Students, I managed to shove my way over to Naruto and help him up. As Iruka began to drone on about tradition, history, and the importance of a well-prepared Shinobi Force, I brushed Naruto off and looked at him for the first time.
Naruto was a scrawny little thing, malnourished from too much instant ramen and not enough fresh food since he lived alone. His orange jumpsuit was somehow even more eye-catching than my red and green gi. A mop of short, spikey, blonde hair and wide blue eyes were his second and third most distinguishing facial features. The first was the whisker-shaped birthmarks on his cheeks, a parting gift from the Kyuubi, though he didn't know it yet. He had a guarded look on his face like he wasn't sure if I was going to start in on him too. I headed that off with a smile and a friendly introduction.
"Hi. I'm Akimichi Choji, me and my friends saw those kids picking on you and were coming to help, but the teachers sorta beat us to the punch there. Why don't you hang out with us so you don't have to worry about those guys?" I introduced myself.
"Really? You wanna be my friend? All the other kids have been told to stay away from me. What's the catch?" Questioned Naruto.
"The catch is that we're all gonna be Konoha Ninja when we get out of here. That means we're all gonna be on the same side. People shouldn't bully teammates like that." I answered.
"Huh. You're a good guy, huh? I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and someday, I'm gonna be Hokage, Dattebayo! Nice to meet ya!" Grinned Naruto.
And that was how I befriended Naruto and brought him into the friend group. As it would turn out over the course of the Academy, that was probably the best thing that could've happened to Naruto. He wasn't great at studying and he was a straight-up brawler when it came to Taijutsu. Since the first year of the Academy was almost entirely academics with a few PE classes for Basic Academy Taijutsu Forms or Conditioning, and the like thrown in, Naruto was drowning in such a way that only having friends would help him avoid. I and Shikamaru did what we could to help him out academically and cover the holes in his Taijutsu forms, but every week he had a new thing he needed our help with. As it turned out, we'd discover that one of the teachers was giving Naruto faulty instruction.
We wouldn't find that out until the week after our first Bukijutsu lesson, though. . .
XXXX
AN: Ok, so we see our first look at the other members of Choji's Academy Class. More will be fleshed out about some of them later, but a lot of this chapter was just set up.
Also, yes. I realize that some of the stuff about the Anti-Kumo Propaganda treads dangerously close to IRL Racism, but if I'm being frank, it's the sort of thing that realistically would be spouted in a Village that has been locked in an eighty-plus-year protracted struggle with a place like Kumo. They also have propaganda against Iwa and Kiri that isn't exactly PC either. For example, they teach that the overwhelming majority of Kiri Shinobi are bloodthirsty psychopaths who live for the thrill of battle.
If you want multiple world wars, you get all of the stuff that comes with that. Including propaganda.
As to the common trope of Mizuki purposely teaching Naruto wrong, give it a sec. Naruto has friends now to come to for help, so doing that is gonna be less effective. I have something planned for that which some folks might not see coming. I dunno.
At any rate, the next chapter will be the first Bukijutsu lesson of year one of the Academy.