Naruto : a hero's journey

Ten months had passed since the start of the academy, and the looming exams had most of the children on edge. As the pressure of the upcoming tests weighed on their minds, Satoru found himself spending his free time completely differently.

For the past two weeks, he had been visiting the home of Miku, a sixth-year student, who had fallen ill.

Miku, bedridden and pale, had tried countless times to send Satoru away, insisting that he should be focusing on his studies and not on taking care of him.

"You don't need to be here, Satoru," Miku said weakly for what seemed like the hundredth time. Satoru ignored him, as he had done each time, and carefully adjusted the damp cloth on Miku's forehead.

"I know the exams are important, but I've got it under control. Besides, you need someone here."

Miku, clearly frustrated, sighed heavily. "I'm just holding you back. Your exams are coming up, and you're here wasting time on me…"Satoru shook his head as he stirred the soup he'd made earlier. "It's not a waste of time if it's for a friend," he said, his voice steady.

He had learned basic cooking from some of the older kids at the orphanage, and now those skills were coming in handy. "You're not a burden. I've got my studies handled, and helping you out isn't going to change that."

Miku, though still uncomfortable with the situation, couldn't help but respect Satoru.

"You're too good for your own good," Miku muttered. "One day, people will use that against you."

Satoru smiled faintly as he sat back down beside Miku. "Maybe, but right now, you need rest more than I need to be at the academy."Miku closed his eyes, feeling the cool cloth on his forehead soothe him as he tried to go back to sleep, wondering how a boy so young could already carry such responsibility and compassion.

As Miku lay in bed, his fever making it difficult to sleep, his thoughts drifted to how he met Satoru eight months ago. It all seemed so distant yet vivid, replaying in his mind like a scene from a dream.

Eight months ago, Satoru and his gang were training near the river at the academy's training grounds. Dai and Tatsuo, were racing each other across the water, their splashes echoing through the air.

Satoru, on the other hand, had wandered a bit deeper into the river. He was more interested in the shiny rocks at the riverbed than in the race itself.

As he swam near a rock formation, something unexpected happened. A group of older kids, training nearby with jutsus, caused a tremor. The vibrations dislodged a large rock above Satoru, and before he could react, it crashed down, trapping his leg beneath it.

His heart pounded in panic, and though he tried to call out, the water muffled his voice. His struggles went unnoticed. Up above, Tatsuo and Dai, exhausted after their race, looked around and realized Satoru was nowhere in sight.

A hint of concern crossed their faces. Tatsuo quickly dove underwater, scanning the river for any sign of his friend. His eyes caught sight of Satoru thrashing beneath the surface, his leg pinned under the massive stone.

'He's trapped,' Tatsuo thought, fear gripping him for a second. He quickly surfaced and called out to Dai, who, without hesitation, joined him. They had to work fast if they were going to save Satoru.

Dai swam toward Satoru with urgency. His friend was trapped underwater, struggling as the large rock pinned his leg.

Dai pushed against it with all his might, gritting his teeth as the boulder shifted slightly. He could see the worry and fear etched on Satoru's face, and that only spurred him to push harder.

'I have to help him,' Dai thought, but no matter how hard he strained, the rock barely budged. His chest was beginning to ache from holding his breath. Glancing at Satoru's leg, he noticed the skin was bruised and swollen, blood has started to seep out from under the rock. He feared that he may have done more damage.

Dai's lungs burned, and he knew he had to get air soon. With a regretful look at Satoru, he pushed himself up to the surface, gasping for air. As soon as he surfaced, he saw Tatsuo rushing toward the water with another boy—Miku.

They must have found help.

Without wasting time, Miku dove into the water, swimming quickly toward Satoru. Dai immediately followed him back down. When Miku reached the rock, he assessed the situation, Tatsuo transferred air mouth to mouth keeping his friend from drowning, Miku giving a nod to Dai as if to say, 'Let's do this together.'

The two of them positioned themselves on either side of the boulder.

With a deep breath and a final push, they managed to lift the rock just enough for Satoru to free his leg.

Tatsuo, waiting on the side, helped by swimming closer and keeping Satoru calm, pressing his hand against Satoru's shoulder reassuringly.

Satoru, finally free but exhausted, had little strength left. Miku took charge, pulling Satoru up to the surface. As soon as they broke through the water, Satoru gasped, gulping in air."Hang on, we've got you,"

Miku reassured him, his voice steady.Tatsuo and Dai quickly followed them to the riverbank. Once they were on solid ground, Miku wasted no time.

"We need to get him to the academy's medical staff."

As Satoru woke up, the sterile smell of the hospital filled his senses, and he immediately noticed his leg wrapped in a cast. Shocked, his thoughts raced, 'Did I break some bones? How bad is it?' He tried to sit up but felt a dull pain radiate through his leg.

Before he could think more, Miku, Tatsuo, and Dai entered the room, followed by a doctor. She was a woman in her late twenties, with sharp yet kind eyes that spoke of her experience. Satoru could see faint scars on her hands, hinting at a past life filled with conflict. He'd heard whispers about her before—a former ninja who had fought in the First Ninja War, now choosing a quieter life as a school nurse after experiencing personal tragedies.

She approached him with a firm tone. "Calm down, kid. The injury isn't as bad as it looks." Her words were matter-of-fact, but there was a strange comfort in them. "I've seen far worse during the war," she added, looking over his leg as if it were just another day for her. "You're lucky. This is nothing compared to the injuries I used to heal."

Satoru took a deep breath, 'If she's handled worse, then this really isn't that big of a deal.'

The doctor continued, "It's just a minor fracture. You'll be up and running again soon enough, so don't worry too much. With proper rest and a little healing jutsu, you'll heal pretty quickly."

Satoru nodded, relaxing for the first time since waking up. Dai, meanwhile, sat beside him, a guilty look on his face. Tatsuo patted his shoulder, reassuring him that everything was going to be fine.

Miku hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and introducing himself. "I'm Miku. I guess... I should properly introduce myself, huh? I'm the one who saved you."

Satoru smiled weakly, feeling the lingering soreness in his leg. "Thanks, Miku. You really saved my life back there. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown up."

Miku scratched the back of his head, looking uncomfortable. "I don't know if I deserve that much credit. It's kind of my fault too, you know? My friends and I... we were the ones training with explosive tags. The tremor from one of the blasts caused the rock to fall."

Hearing this, Satoru quickly shifted the conversation, not wanting Miku to feel worse. "Hey, let's not dwell on that. What's your dream, Miku? Everyone in the academy has one, right?"

Miku seemed surprised at the question and paused, looking a little embarrassed.

He glanced at the floor for a second before looking back at Satoru.

"Well, it's kind of silly, but... I want to become the Hokage. You know, someone who can save everyone, just like how the Third Hokage saved me once."

Satoru's smile widened. "That's not silly at all. In fact, you're already a hero to me, Miku."

Miku laughed, feeling a bit shy. "You're just saying that because I saved you."

"No, I mean it," Satoru replied sincerely, his eyes full of gratitude. They both chuckled at the moment, feeling the tension in the room dissolve.

As the doctor gently ushered them out to give Satoru some time to rest, Miku gave him one last reassuring nod before leaving the room with Tatsuo.

Dai, however, lingered for a moment longer, guilt still evident on his face. Without saying much, he stood up and quietly left, muttering something about going to train. His frustration at being unable to help earlier was still eating at him.

Tatsuo smiled and told him to get well soon.

Miku sat in bed, his mind wandering back to the many times he had crossed paths with Satoru. It started small—he would see the boy waiting outside his class, ready to greet him with a bright "Good morning!" before running off to join his friends.

There were also moments in the playground when Satoru and his group would come over, practically begging Miku to train them. They were always so eager, so full of energy and determination, especially Satoru.

Then there were the days when Satoru would go from house to house, knocking on doors and asking if there was any work he could do to earn some money. He'd offer to cut grass, walk dogs, babysit—anything that would help him save up. That's how he first met Miku's family.

Satoru had come over asking if they needed help with anything, and from there, the boy had become a regular presence in their lives.

Miku remembered how Satoru started coming over for dinner, his presence so frequent that Miku's parents began teasing that he was like a little brother to him. Miku never argued with that—they were right.

Over time, Miku had grown fond of Satoru, seeing him more as family than just a friend. The boy's unwavering determination and kindness had a way of endearing him to everyone he met.

Back in the present, Miku glanced at Satoru, who was sitting in the chair beside his bed. He was reading a book—one from the third grade syllabus, even though they were only in the first grade. Satoru would occasionally jot down notes, completely engrossed in the material.

Miku couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and confusion. 'How can someone study things two years ahead and still understand them?' he shook his head in disbelief.

"Satoru, do you ever stop?" Miku asked, half-joking, but genuinely curious.

Satoru looked up from his notes and gave a small smile.

"No time to stop, Miku. I've got a lot to catch up on, and I want to be prepared for anything." He shrugged, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Miku shook his head again, laughing softly. "You're something else, you know that?"

Satoru sat quietly in the dim room, feeling a sense of calm despite the looming exams. 'I've prepared well,' he thought, glancing at his neatly arranged notes and books.

The academic part would be easy, he had studied diligently, understanding things way beyond his grade. And thanks to Miku, who had helped him with his physical training, he felt more confident about the exam.

He turned his head to look at Miku, who had fallen asleep again, breathing steadily. Satoru smiled softly, feeling a sense of gratitude. 'Get well soon,' he wished silently, thinking about how much he owed Miku not just for training but for being like an older brother.

Miku had done so much for him over the past few months. The least he could do was stay the night and help take care of him. Plus, free dinner and the third-grade books in Miku's house were always a bonus.

Satoru glanced down at his hand, focusing his thoughts. A faint shimmer of blue appeared on his palm. Chakra. Something he couldn't even grasp ten months ago, and now, here it was, resting in the palm of his hand.

It was far from perfect, but the feeling of progress brought a sense of pride. 'I can do this,' he thought.