Chapter Text
"…and so, it is up to you, future shinobi, to inherit the Will of Fire and protect the ones you love," Sarutobi Hiruzen finally finished his speech.
If Cid had to remove all the water in that speech, he would be left with something like 'Stand proud, you are strong'. Everything else was just about glory of Konoha (their village), how it is superior to other villages (apparently other four existed; he really should dig up some history books and scrolls, but he so doesn't want to…), and why being shinobi is cool. Like, cool in parts other than being able to level hills after you reach a certain power level. Yeah, glory and all that is pretty good motivation for most people, especially…
Cid glanced towards a certain blonde kid with 'painted' whiskers and sky blue eyes that hopefully stared at the old man going away under the round of applause.
…Yeah, people who were shunned away by the village.
Anyway, what Cid was doing here, one might wonder?
Well, that's actually related to the old man's request and Cid's certain wish…
"So, you want me to become a teacher."
Cid was kinda dumbfounded when he realized that he wouldn't just take a couple or so failing students. They went even farther: placing all the failing students into one class and giving it to him.
"Indeed. It pains me to say that, but many potentially talented young people could be shunned away from being shinobi. Education system is… imperfect," seems like village leader's pride made him kinda unwilling to say that, huh, "And sometimes it can make mistakes. One you can close your eyes on, but others are too grave."
Cid closed his eyes (which for everyone else looked like as if the red lights on his 'face' slowly disappeared) and went in thoughts. Does he even need it?
Technically, he doesn't. The best course of actions was actually to speedrun learning chakra and then leave this world and move on to the next. However…
Cid tapped his (gloved) fingers on the table.
He went into new world precisely because he was slowly getting bored with the situation in his fantasy magic world. Like, really: it has gotten to the point where just Shadow's mere appearance caused a sigh of awe from literally everyone in the radius of kilometer. And yes, heiselated by that, don't get him wrong, but at some point people just started seeing Shadow ineveryonemoderately strong and unknown before! It's not even funny anymore!
The moment he tries to take on his new role he always gets hit with self-imposed question:'Yeah, I can reveal myself at some point, but what would that accomplish?'He did it all precisely because he enjoyed the reactions of people and the process of roleplay itself! But now everything he got was just 'Ah, that's Shadow'… Bori-i-ing!
However, this new world was different. Nobody knew about Shadow yet. Nobody knew even about Cid yet. It was a blank slate. The one where he decides what to write.
He even kinda forgot this feeling…
"That would be interesting."
So, yes, he agreed.
He still couldn't quite get why, exactly, old man was trusting him to such extents, but all worked in his favor anyway, so who cares? It is probably related to Naruto anyway.
Alright, he was supposed to appear in class 202… So second year, huh? If he gets the system here correctly.
He stopped for a moment and appraised his appearance.
He decided to, once again, use his John Smith persona. Because super secret elite agent certainly belongs in place that produces super secret elite agents! They're just called shinobi, yeah. However, he made some changes to better fit in with academy.
Blue-and-green outfit, made of costume that was redone a bit to somewhat resemble chunin's (rank) outfit, his usual silver mask that completely closed his eyes from being seen, and of course, his persona's favourite weapon, threads! Also with added needles because why not?
Alright, time to enter!
Most students were nervous.
Who wouldn't be? They went so far and tried so hard (most of them), and yet the difference in talent was simply too much to overcome. Defeated, they were ready for expulsion, and yet academy's administration decided to give them one last chance to redeem themselves, given that they really tried their best… And for most this time was really last. Academy only allows to re-take your yearly course three times. After that you are kicked out no matter how good you are in other subjects.
However, this time they got a new teacher. They wondered if new one would be more lenient or strict than old one…
Creak.
The door opened. However, no one entered.
Confused, students looked around, trying to find the mysterious door opener.
"Greetings."
They almost jumped up, startled at the sudden appearance of a man in slightly modified chunin's outfit with a large silver mask on his face. Nobody even realized when he appeared here, and yet it seemed like he was standing there the whole time.
Seemingly satisfied at their reaction, he rapidly moved his fingers, and students watched in amazement as the door to the classroom closed. Some especially keen ones even noticed something flashing in the air…
"I have no name that you need to know. You can call me…" he paused briefly, "Spider. Spider-sensei. Or uncle Spider. However you wish."
He went silent for a moment and then continued.
"You have been put into this class because administration deemed your talents to be too low for their standards…" he tapped his finger on the table, "But you know what I want to say?"
Spider looked over them.
"Indeed, talents are quite important in world of shinobi," he continued, "Especially when an average person starts comparing themselves with a monster that is produced by some clans. However…"
He moved his hands a bit, and a book fell into his hands.
"Being shinobi is not only about raw power," he skillfully, as if done thousand times before, opened the book at a certain page, "Did you know that a hostile jonin was put down by two chunins and three genins merely because he was way too relaxed?"
Students' brows quirked.
"Indeed. Quite a powerhouse that could easily turn these people into five corpses was defeated by them… Because he did not pay attention. That's what I will teach you…"
He slowly stood up and rapidly moved his fingers, revealing unseen before section that contained a large amount of scrolls and books.
"You may not have the talent to compare yourself to the most blessed in the generation… However, that doesn't mean you cannot pick up your own style and dirty tricks that would render these same blessed people crippled," he smiled briefly.
They shuddered a bit. The smile was… too dangerous. However, one black-haired boy only clenched his fists tighter and stared at the teacher in hope.
"Are you ready, kids?" he raised his hands, and suddenly hundreds of steel threads revealed themselves in all their glory, surrounding the whole auditorium, "Welcome to Spider-sensei's course of taijutsu and weapon usage! Chakra is not required!"
"What did they teach you? Again!"
It has been a week since Spider-sensei replaced Mizuki as their taijutsu teacher, and… It was tedious.
It was so tedious that most students collapsed on the first day after the set of 'exercises' he set for them… he then complained that they were still too weak and fragile to actually learn anything from him. Except for one black-haired boy, that is.
Everyone around couldn't help but pity him: the condition he suffered greatly altered the way his chakra worked, rendering him unable to use even the most basic ninjutsu and genjutsu, which were practically a requirement to pass further and become shinobi. However, he did not give up and continued pushing forward. And continued, and continued…
But hard work can only take you this far.
That is, until one enigmatic teacher appeared.
"Self-trained, and not half bad…"
That was the evaluation Spider gave the boy. And considering how low he placed everyone else, that was quite a compliment.
"Still…" teacher continued, deflecting yet another punch, "your technique lacks something…"
As it turned out, Spider was not only proficient in using threads, which is already impressive, but also is a master of hand-to-hand combat. Which was actually a given, considering he was placed as their taijutsu teacher.
"Rock Lee, was it?"
The boy only looked up and nodded with fires of determination in his eyes.
"I see…" Spider smiled, "Find me after the classes. That goes for all of you. Those who want to become better, you will have to dedicate all of your time for it."
Apparently teacher forgot his previous words about them being too fragile (he actually didn't; he just thought about an interesting training method that he would like to use).
Truth to be told, teacher's lessons already brought some results. His almost non-stop training made wonders on their bodies… even though the cold logic dictated that a period of rest is required after the physical stress they put themselves under (definitely not Eminence that cheats via using mass healing).
Either way, if things continued as they go, at the end of the year students had all hopes they could pass taijutsu with flying colors, which would allow some with weaker ninjutsu and genjutsu abilities to pass the overall tests. Especially one black-haired boy with null aptitude towards these fields.
"It goes… well," Sarutobi noted.
"Too well, if I may add," Utatane added.
Indeed, Shadow (or as he called himself now, Spider) was too immersed in being a teacher. It went to the point where he started teaching kids some… advanced techniques that are supposed to only be given out after graduation.
However, it seems like he genuinely was helping the students out, and that would go well with empowering village.
"So, you say it is nigh impossible to actually defeat him without suffering major losses?…" Danzo frowned.
"Possible," Hiruzen suddenly nodded, "However, the damage is not worth the risk."
"Tailed Beast can be resealed," Danzo's scrutinizing gaze pierced through him.
"I will not back down, Danzo. Naruto will live. The Nine Tails will not be resealed."
"You are making a mistake, old friend."
"And so are you."
'Whew…'
Well, now that was an experience.
Apparently, teaching a bunch of lost little kids in the middle of nowhere on how to survive and teaching a bunch of little kids that are a part of the system are absolutely different topics. In first case, he just needs to make sure they don't die and are well fed, clothed, and housed, then teach them the most important stuff. In second case, he can't stray away from the education plan… That much, anyway. He honestly didn't give a single f*ck and stretched the boundaries as much as possible. Why, yes, he did just teach one guy with a dream of becoming strongest taijutsu user (aka martial artist) some interesting stuff, why do you ask?
You know, that kid reminded him of himself… Wait, he already said that towards Naruto, didn't it? Eh, that just means there are two potential trainees… What, he didn't tell?
Muh-ha-ha!
He finally conducted a plan! See, this Naruto was actually trying to mimic Cid's cool speeches when he though nobody saw it! And now Cid was preparing some really cool stuff to celebrate Naruto's entering the academy!… Yes, he delayed it by a week. But preparations are worth it!
He still remembered how they called Naruto Uzumaki a demon, and so he thought: 'Why not?'
Like, Demon Diablos turned out to be sweet girl, so why the hell not? Especially considering he still has various demons' cells in his possession. In short, while Cid would help Naruto in achieving his goal, it would be also interesting to see if the previously kind-hearted kid would turn out to be a monster… Not that Cid thinks Naruto would, but even 0.1% chance is a chance.
Also because he remembered one important thing.
Namely, since they are practically a family, Naruto might just like roleplaying as someone cool… Eh, who is he kidding, of course Naruto will like it! Every kid dreamed of being a cool almighty powerhouse, after all!
And all almighty powerhouses look cool and imposing! Naruto is still a kid, but that only gives him more time!
Oh, yeah, and girls. If he is surrounded by cool girls, it only makes the scene better. Trust.
…Alright, that's because Cid suffered from overwhelming female attention, so Naruto will suffer, too! It's familial curse now!
