Storm of Shadows

Prologue

Info on Chika

History

Over one thousand years ago, Chika was appointed as the first captain of the 2nd Division. During this time, he fought back against the Lichtreich when they invaded the Soul Society, by blowing off their body parts with powerful blows(kicks and punches), ultimately helping defeat the Quincy army and later settling down during the ensuing peacetime as he found things worth protecting.

Personality
According to Yhwach, Chika was infamous for being a brutal and cold-blooded killer, which he demonstrated by massacring the Quincy of the Lichtreich when they first invaded Soul Society.

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Eight years after Naruto's birth

At the Academy

The classroom was buzzing as Iruka droned on about Konoha's foundational history. Naruto lay with his head propped on one hand, eyelids drooping, his shaggy white-yellow hair spilling over his face.

It wasn't boredom exactly, no, Naruto was fully awake, listening to Iruka's voice filter through the room like background music. He liked blending in with the noise, unnoticed. After all, this was his stage, and Naruto Uzumaki knew exactly how to play his part.

From his half-lidded gaze, he sensed a flare of malice aimed directly at him. Naruto's bloodlust simmered, ready to spill over, but a quiet voice murmured in his mind, as if trying to rein him in.

"Control it, Naruto-Sama," Kaminari Yoroi's voice was smooth and steady, laced with a dark amusement. "Save it for someone more deserving."

Naruto let out a deep, calming breath. His smirk broadened as he lifted his head lazily, locking eyes with the source of the malevolent glare, Mizuki. The man's narrowed eyes gleamed with a kind of irritation Naruto had come to relish.

"Oi, Mizuki-sensei," Naruto called out in a lazy, amused drawl. "Careful with all that scowling. You're gonna give yourself wrinkles. And we don't want you looking older than Iruka-Sensei, do we?"

Mizuki's lips tightened into a severe line as several students stifled chuckles. Iruka turned, trying to hide a smile himself, though he shot Naruto a half-hearted glare.

"Pay attention, Naruto!" Mizuki's tone was clipped, the kind of forced patience that always hinted at hidden resentment. "You're here to learn, not to nap."

Naruto shrugged, glancing sideways at Shikamaru, who was struggling to keep his eyes open, head drooping like a wilting flower. He nudged him with an elbow, earning a groggy mutter about "clouds being way more interesting than history." Naruto suppressed a laugh. If Mizuki hated him for zoning out, he wondered why Shikamaru didn't catch the same flak. Ah, well, not his problem.

A soft voice rumbled through his mind then. "These villagers are fools," Kurama remarked, his tone steeped in irritation.

Naruto chuckled, shifting in his seat. "Let 'em hate me," he thought back. "Doesn't make a difference." Though inwardly, he mused about how satisfying it would be if they ever tried to act on that hatred. If they did, he wouldn't think twice about leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.

As the lesson dragged on, Iruka suddenly turned to the class, his eyes brightening as he posed a question to engage them. "Who do you all think was the strongest Hokage?"

Immediately, hands shot up around the room, and one of the students eagerly called out, "The Fourth Hokage! He was the fastest of them all, right? Not to mention he prevailed against 1000 iwa ninja." The student added that Minato killed the Nine-Tails.

Naruto's smirk softened for a moment. Listening to the awestruck admiration of his father stirred something within him, a quiet pride he rarely allowed himself to feel. If only they knew, he thought, the idea of revealing his lineage tempting, yet far too valuable a secret to give away.