What if Naruto Had Gojo Satoru's Six Eyes and Limitless?

The night shattered like glass.

Naruto Uzumaki, age seven, jolted upright in his bed, a scream trapped in his throat. Pain lanced through his skull—white-hot needles drilling behind his eyes. The world around him fractured into prismatic shards, each movement leaving streaks of colored light that lingered impossibly in the air.

"Make it stop," he whimpered, pressing his palms against his eyelids. But that made it worse. Suddenly he could see through his hands—see the intricate network of chakra pathways, pulsing blue-white against the darkness. He could see through the walls of his tiny apartment, through the building across the street, through everything.

Information flooded his mind like a tsunami. Distances, vectors, chakra density, potential energy—numbers and calculations he couldn't possibly understand yet somehow comprehended perfectly. The universe had suddenly torn off its mask, revealing the mathematical scaffolding beneath.

His eyes burned like twin stars.

When he finally managed to crack them open, the reflection in his cracked bathroom mirror froze him in place. Where once were ordinary blue eyes, now gleamed something otherworldly. A deep, oceanic blue with intricate geometric patterns radiating from his pupils like snowflakes. They glowed with an internal light.

"What's... happening to me?" His voice trembled.

A pounding on his door made him jump. The fear spiking through his system did... something. The air around him shimmered, and suddenly the door, the wall, the very space between him and the sound distorted.

"Naruto! Open up! We know you're in there!" A harsh voice—ANBU, he realized, recognizing the chakra signature instantly though he'd never been able to before.

How could he know that?

The knowledge just appeared in his mind as if it had always been there. He could feel their presence—four ANBU Black Ops on his doorstep, their chakra networks blazing like bonfires in his new vision. He knew their exact positions, the weapons they carried, even the minute fluctuations in their chakra that betrayed their emotional states. Worried. Confused. Afraid.

They were afraid of him.

When they broke down his door, what they found was a small blond boy with eyes that seemed to contain universes, curled into a ball, tears streaming down his face.

"It won't stop," Naruto sobbed. "I can see everything. Please make it stop."

One ANBU stepped forward—cat mask, female, lightning-nature chakra. "Lord Hokage was right," she whispered. "It's happened."

Another—bird mask, male, wind-nature—kept his distance. "Impossible. The bloodline was supposed to be extinct."

"Look at his eyes," the cat-masked ANBU hissed. "We need to get him to Lord Hokage immediately. And keep this quiet."

The bird-masked ANBU nodded. "If the other villages learn about this..."

"They won't," said a new voice.

An old man stood in the doorway, pipe in hand, face grim beneath his wide hat. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. His chakra network was vast and complex, like an ancient tree with countless branches.

Naruto tried to stand but stumbled as the world around him warped and twisted. The Hokage caught him before he hit the ground.

"Easy, Naruto," the old man said softly. "I know it's overwhelming. Your mother's lineage has awakened in you. Something we thought lost forever."

"My... mother?" The word tasted strange on Naruto's tongue. No one had ever spoken of his parents before.

"Later," Hiruzen said. "First, we need to stabilize your condition. Your chakra is fluctuating dangerously."

As if to emphasize his point, the air around Naruto rippled again. A potted plant on the windowsill seemed to stretch and distort before imploding into dust.

"What was that?" Naruto asked, panic rising.

"That," the Hokage said gravely, "is why we must hurry."

They transported him through the sleeping village, wrapped in blankets to hide his glowing eyes. Naruto could sense the curiosity and fear radiating from the ANBU escorting them. But more disturbingly, he could see everything. The village sprawled before him in layers of information—buildings, people, animals, every speck of dust illuminated by his new sight. He could see the ANBU stationed on rooftops, the restless sleepers in their beds, even insects burrowing in the soil beneath the street.

And the chakra. Oh, the chakra! It flowed through everything like luminous rivers, pulsing with life. Some sources burned brighter than others. The Hokage beside him was a virtual sun of energy. And within himself, Naruto sensed two distinct sources—his own blue chakra, and something else... something vast and malevolent, orange-red and seething behind a complex seal pattern centered on his stomach.

The Nine-Tailed Fox. He could see it now, imprisoned within him.

They brought him to a hidden room beneath the Hokage Tower, filled with ancient scrolls and sealing equipment. A white-haired man waited there, his chakra signature wild and untamed like mountain winds.

"Jiraiya," the Hokage said. "It's as we feared."

The white-haired man—Jiraiya—studied Naruto with a mixture of awe and concern. "The Six Eyes. After all these generations... and in him, of all people."

"You knew this might happen?" Naruto asked, surprised that his voice worked at all.

Jiraiya knelt to meet his gaze, then quickly looked away as if the boy's eyes were too intense to face directly. "Your mother's clan had legends of such eyes, though none had manifested in centuries. They called it 'The Vision of Infinity.' The ability to see the very fabric of reality... and manipulate it."

"The space around me keeps... bending," Naruto said.

"That would be the Limitless technique," Jiraiya explained. "Control over space itself. Extraordinarily dangerous without proper training."

"I don't understand," Naruto whispered.

The Hokage sighed. "Your mother came from the Uzumaki clan, known for their powerful sealing techniques and life force. But there were legends of an older bloodline within their line—one that could perceive and alter the fundamental nature of space. The Six Eyes were said to enable perfect chakra control and the ability to see... everything."

"Like a dōjutsu?" Naruto asked, familiar with the term from academy lectures on the Sharingan and Byakugan.

"Beyond any dōjutsu known to the Five Great Nations," Jiraiya said. "If what I suspect is true, you can see chakra in all its forms, perceive attacks before they happen, and calculate complex variables instantly. And the Limitless technique allows you to manipulate infinity itself."

Naruto's head spun. "I don't want this. It hurts. Everything's too bright, too... much."

Jiraiya and the Hokage exchanged troubled glances.

"We can seal away some of the sensory input temporarily," Jiraiya offered. "Until you learn to control it."

"Do it," Naruto begged.

The sealing process took hours. Jiraiya meticulously inscribed characters around Naruto's eyes while the Hokage maintained a stabilizing chakra field. By dawn, Naruto's vision had dimmed to bearable levels, though the geometric patterns remained in his irises.

"This is only temporary," Jiraiya cautioned. "The seal will gradually dissolve as you grow stronger. You'll need to learn control."

"Who will teach me?" Naruto asked.

Silence fell over the room.

"That," the Hokage finally said, "is a problem. No one alive possesses these abilities. We'll have to... improvise."

"And keep this secret," Jiraiya added. "If word gets out about what you can do, every village and criminal organization will hunt you. Not just for the Nine-Tails anymore, but for eyes that can bend reality."

Naruto stared at his small hands. Just yesterday, his biggest worry had been mastering a basic clone jutsu at the academy. Now, he carried yet another burden—something perhaps even more dangerous than the demon sealed in his belly.

"I didn't ask for any of this," he said quietly.

The Hokage placed a weathered hand on his shoulder. "No one ever does, Naruto. But great power finds those strong enough to bear it. Your mother would be proud."

For the first time since his eyes had changed, Naruto felt something beyond fear—a flicker of curiosity, perhaps even pride. They had belonged to his mother's bloodline. A connection to the family he'd never known.

"What was her name?" he asked.

"Kushina," the Hokage replied. "Kushina Uzumaki. And she was extraordinary."

As dawn broke over the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto gazed out the window with his strange new eyes, temporarily muted by Jiraiya's seals. The world still appeared in layers of information he was only beginning to understand, but one thing became crystal clear to him:

Nothing would ever be the same again.

"Again!" Jiraiya barked.

Naruto, now eight years old, stood in a clearing deep within the Forest of Death, sweat streaming down his face. Before him, thirty shadow clones popped out of existence as a ripple of distorted space tore through them.

"Better," the Toad Sage conceded. "But your control is still sloppy. With the Six Eyes, you should be achieving perfect precision."

"I'm trying!" Naruto snapped, frustration boiling over. "But it's like trying to paint with a tsunami!"

For nearly a year now, Jiraiya had been secretly training him whenever the wandering sage returned to Konoha. The Hokage had arranged for Naruto to appear to be attending the Academy normally, while shadow clones took his place in classes. Meanwhile, the real Naruto trained in isolated locations, struggling to harness abilities that defied conventional shinobi understanding.

The Six Eyes gave him perfect chakra control—in theory. In practice, it was like being handed the controls to a machine infinitely more complex than anything he was prepared for. The Limitless technique was even worse. The ability to manipulate infinity sounded impressive until you realized that "infinity" meant everything. Space itself bent to his will, but that will was the untamed impulse of a child.

"Watch," Jiraiya said, his tone softening. He performed a simple water jutsu, creating a perfect sphere of liquid suspended in the air. "Feel the boundaries. The space between what is and what isn't."

Naruto closed his eyes, though it made little difference. The Six Eyes saw through his eyelids. With Jiraiya's temporary seals now completely faded, he perpetually viewed the world in its raw form—chakra networks, spatial coordinates, potential energy, even the subtle warping of space-time itself.

He reached out with his senses, feeling the boundary of the water sphere. Then, carefully, he extended his awareness outward, creating an invisible boundary around it—a "Limitless" space where his rules applied.

"Infinity between," he whispered, the mantra Jiraiya had taught him.

The water sphere froze, not with ice, but with stillness so absolute it might as well have been carved from crystal. Naruto had created an infinite distance between the water molecules, preventing them from interacting with each other.

"Good," Jiraiya said. "Now, neutral infinity."

Naruto shifted his focus, inverting the technique. The water sphere began to ripple and distort, its surface becoming a perfect mirror that reflected everything—even chakra.

"And finally..."

"Infinity convergence," Naruto completed, forcing the space within his boundary to collapse inward.

The water sphere imploded, vanishing into a point so small it could no longer be perceived.

Jiraiya nodded, satisfaction evident. "You're learning. The Limitless technique has three basic principles: Blue—creating infinite space between objects. Red—reflecting everything away. Purple—drawing everything inward. Master these, and you begin to understand infinity."

Naruto released his hold on the technique, feeling the familiar drain on his chakra. Despite his enormous reserves—further augmented by the Nine-Tails—manipulating infinity was exhausting.

"Why can't I tell anyone?" he asked suddenly. "Iruka-sensei, or... or Sakura-chan?" A flush crept into his cheeks at the mention of his pink-haired classmate.

Jiraiya's expression darkened. "Because knowledge is power, kid. And this power would make you the most hunted person in the Five Nations."

"More than being a jinchūriki?"

"Much more. The Nine-Tails is powerful, but it's a known quantity. Every major village has their own Tailed Beast. But the Six Eyes and Limitless? That's power no one has seen in centuries. The kind that reshapes the world."

Something in Jiraiya's tone made Naruto uneasy. "You sound scared of it."

The Sage laughed, but there was an edge to it. "Scared? Kid, I'm terrified. Do you have any idea what you'll be capable of once you master these abilities? You could become the most powerful shinobi who ever lived."

"Isn't that a good thing? I could protect the village, protect my friends—"

"Power attracts power," Jiraiya cut him off. "And opposing forces. The stronger you become, the stronger your enemies will grow to match you. That's the way of the world."

Naruto fell silent, contemplating this. After a moment, he raised his hand, focusing on a fallen leaf. The air shimmered as he applied "Blue" principle—infinite space. The leaf froze in midair, unable to move as the distance between its molecules became infinite.

"Is that why you're teaching me to hide it?" he asked quietly. "To seem weak when I'm not?"

A rare smile crossed Jiraiya's face. "Smarter than you look, brat. Yes. For now, you'll continue to struggle with basic jutsu at the Academy. Let them think you're the dead-last knucklehead. Meanwhile, we'll develop your true abilities in secret."

"And the eyes?"

The geometric patterns in Naruto's irises had become more pronounced over the past year. While not as obvious as a Hyūga's pale Byakugan or an Uchiha's red Sharingan, the intricate blue designs were distinctive enough to raise questions.

"Keep wearing the specialized sunglasses I gave you in public," Jiraiya instructed. "We'll say your eyes are sensitive to light. When you graduate and get assigned to a team, we'll need to create a more permanent solution—or reveal the truth to a select few."

Naruto nodded, though the deception weighed on him. Pretending to be a failure at the Academy while secretly training with one of the Legendary Sannin was a strange existence. His classmates—Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, and the others—knew nothing of his burden or his power. To them, he was just loud, obnoxious Naruto, desperate for attention and barely able to perform a basic clone jutsu.

If only they could see him now, manipulating the fabric of reality itself.

"One more exercise," Jiraiya said, interrupting his thoughts. "Infinite Void."

Naruto groaned. "Already? We just started on that one!"

"It's the foundation of your ultimate defense. The ability to create a barrier of infinite space that nothing can penetrate. Master this, and you'll be virtually untouchable."

Concentrating intensely, Naruto extended his awareness outward, establishing a perimeter around himself. Then, applying the principles of Limitless, he expanded the space between that barrier and himself to infinity.

The air shimmered as the technique took effect. Jiraiya hurled a kunai at him—only for the weapon to slow, then stop completely, suspended in the distorted space.

"Good," the Sage approved. "Now maintain it while I—"

The kunai suddenly accelerated, shooting through Naruto's barrier and grazing his cheek.

"Ow!" Naruto yelped, the technique collapsing as his concentration broke. "What the hell, Pervy Sage?!"

"You lost focus," Jiraiya said, unrepentant. "The Six Eyes let you see everything, but you have to actually process what you're seeing. Your barrier weakened on the left side because you were thinking about your classmates instead of the technique."

Naruto wiped blood from his cheek, scowling. "How am I supposed to maintain perfect focus all the time? I'm not a machine!"

Something in Jiraiya's expression softened. "No, you're not. You're a kid with a burden no one should have to bear. But here we are." He sighed, sitting cross-legged on the forest floor. "Come here. Let's try something different."

Cautiously, Naruto approached and sat across from his mentor.

"Close your eyes—not that it makes much difference for you, I know," Jiraiya instructed. "Now, instead of fighting against the information overload from the Six Eyes, surrender to it. Let it all in."

"But you said—"

"I know what I said. But I've been thinking. Maybe fighting against your abilities is the wrong approach. The Six Eyes see everything—so let them. Don't try to focus on one thing; expand your awareness to encompass all of it simultaneously."

Skeptical but willing to try, Naruto relaxed his mind, allowing the flood of sensory information to wash over him. Normally, he fought to filter the overwhelming input, focusing only on what seemed immediately relevant. Now, he let it all in—the movement of every leaf, the chakra signature of every creature for kilometers around, the subtle fluctuations in the air currents, even the slow drift of clouds overhead.

It should have been maddening. Instead, a strange calm descended over him as his mind expanded to accommodate it all. The Six Eyes processed the information automatically, organizing it into patterns he could comprehend. For the first time, he wasn't fighting against his ability—he was surrendering to it.

"I can see..." he whispered.

"Everything," Jiraiya finished for him. "That's the true power of the Six Eyes. Not just enhanced vision, but omniscience within your range. Now, maintaining that awareness, reestablish the Infinite Void."

Without moving, Naruto extended his control outward, creating the barrier once more. This time, instead of focusing solely on maintaining the technique, he allowed his expanded awareness to monitor it while simultaneously tracking everything else around him.

Jiraiya threw three kunai from different directions. Naruto perceived their trajectories with perfect clarity, adjusting his barrier automatically to counter each one. The weapons slowed and stopped at the boundary of his Infinite Void.

"Much better," Jiraiya said, genuine pride in his voice. "That's the way. Don't fight what you are. Embrace it."

A smile spread across Naruto's face as he maintained the technique with unprecedented ease. For a brief, shining moment, the burden of his power felt like a gift instead.

Then, at the edge of his expanded awareness, he detected something—a presence, carefully concealed but unable to hide from the Six Eyes. Someone was watching them. Someone with chakra network patterns he didn't recognize.

"Pervy Sage," he said quietly. "We're being observed. Northwest boundary, approximately 800 meters. Single individual, chakra suppressed but still visible to me."

Jiraiya's posture changed instantly, though his expression remained casual. "Well done. You've just discovered another advantage of the Six Eyes—they can detect even the most skilled spies. Maintain your technique but pretend you've dropped it. I'll create a shadow clone to circle around."

Naruto let the visible shimmer of his barrier fade while maintaining the technique itself. Meanwhile, Jiraiya casually formed a hand sign, creating a shadow clone that transformed into a bird and flew off.

Minutes passed in tense silence as they pretended to continue training. Then Naruto sensed a brief flare of chakra from the direction of the observer, followed by their hasty retreat.

"They're running," he reported.

Jiraiya cursed. "My clone was detected. Whoever it was, they're good—ANBU level at least." He turned to Naruto, his expression grave. "This complicates things. If someone suspects your abilities..."

"Who would be spying on us in Konoha's own forest?" Naruto asked.

"Not all enemies are outside the village walls, kid." Jiraiya's voice had dropped to barely above a whisper. "The Third may be Hokage, but there are factions within Konoha who operate in the shadows. Some who might see you as a weapon to be controlled rather than a person to be protected."

A chill ran down Naruto's spine. "Like who?"

Jiraiya glanced around, despite knowing Naruto's Six Eyes would detect any additional observers. "Let's just say that some of the village elders have... different ideas about how Konoha should be run. And about how jinchūriki should be utilized."

"You think they know about my eyes?"

"If they didn't before, they might suspect something now. Which means we need to accelerate your training." Jiraiya stood, brushing dirt from his clothes. "From now on, we train only in secure locations with my most powerful barrier jutsu in place. And we need to come up with a better cover story for your eyes before someone puts the pieces together."

As they packed up to leave, Naruto felt the familiar weight of secrets settling more heavily on his shoulders. He had hoped that one day he could reveal his true abilities, perhaps even be acknowledged for them. Now it seemed the shadows around him were only growing deeper.

"Pervy Sage," he said as they prepared to return to the village. "If these eyes are so powerful... why am I the only one who has them? What happened to the others?"

Jiraiya paused, his back to Naruto. When he finally spoke, his voice was uncharacteristically somber.

"They were hunted to extinction, kid. Extraordinary power draws extraordinary danger. Remember that."

With that chilling thought, they made their way back to Konoha, unaware that the ripples of Naruto's awakening had already begun spreading far beyond the village walls—reaching the ears of those who had spent decades searching for the lost power of infinity.

"Uzumaki! Pay attention!"

Iruka Umino's sharp voice cut through the classroom, jolting Naruto from his thoughts. With the specialized sunglasses masking his eyes, his teachers couldn't tell that he was perfectly focused—just not on the lesson.

"Sorry, Iruka-sensei," Naruto mumbled, playing his part as the inattentive troublemaker.

"What did I just say about the Second Shinobi World War?" Iruka demanded, arms crossed.

Naruto could have repeated the lecture verbatim. The Six Eyes missed nothing, recording every word while simultaneously tracking the chakra signatures of all twenty-six students, monitoring the birds outside the window, and calculating the precise trajectory required to hit Sasuke Uchiha with a spitball without being caught.

Instead, he scratched his head and grinned sheepishly. "Uh... something about... fighting?"

Titters of laughter rippled through the classroom. Iruka sighed in exasperation.

"Stay after class," he ordered before returning to the lecture.

Across the room, Sasuke Uchiha gave Naruto a contemptuous glance. The Uchiha prodigy's chakra network flared with annoyed superiority—a pattern Naruto had grown adept at recognizing in the academy's star pupil.

Four rows ahead, Sakura Haruno turned to shoot Naruto a disapproving look before returning her attention to Iruka. Her chakra signature fluttered briefly—embarrassment mixed with irritation. Naruto pretended not to notice, though his Six Eyes missed nothing, including the way her heartbeat quickened whenever she glanced at Sasuke.

This is so stupid, Naruto thought. For over two years now, he'd maintained this charade—purposely failing tests, struggling with basic jutsu, playing the fool. Meanwhile, his true training with Jiraiya had progressed to levels that would have shocked everyone in the room.

Just last week, he'd mastered Infinity Convergence—a technique that could compress space itself into a singularity. The day before, he'd successfully reflected a Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu from Jiraiya using Red Limitless, sending the flames harmlessly into infinity.

Yet here he sat, pretending he couldn't grasp the simple Clone Jutsu—a technique he could now perform in his sleep, though his shadow clones remained his preference.

When class finally ended, Naruto trudged to Iruka's desk, maintaining his facade of dejection.

"Naruto," Iruka began, his tone softening once they were alone. "The graduation exam is next week. At this rate..."

"I know, I know," Naruto interrupted. "I need to study more."

Iruka studied him, concern evident. "It's more than that. You have potential, but you don't apply yourself. And those sunglasses—you're still having trouble with your eyes?"

The cover story they'd developed was that Naruto suffered from a rare sensitivity to light—a convenient explanation for the specialized glasses that concealed his distinctive irises.

"The old lady at the hospital says it's chronic," Naruto lied, hating the deception. Of all his teachers, Iruka was the only one who showed genuine concern for him.

Iruka sighed. "Well, I've arranged for some extra help. Mizuki-sensei has offered to tutor you before the exam."

Naruto tensed imperceptibly. His Six Eyes had always registered something... off about Mizuki's chakra pattern. Subtle fluctuations that suggested deception.

"That's... great," he managed, forcing enthusiasm into his voice.

"Good. Meet him tomorrow after class." Iruka smiled, ruffling Naruto's hair. "I believe in you, you know. You just need to believe in yourself."

Guilt twisted in Naruto's stomach. If only Iruka knew the truth.

Later, as Naruto walked home through the village, he maintained the constant, low-level Limitless field around himself that had become second nature. Though invisible to others, it created an infinite space between himself and any potential threat—a precaution Jiraiya had drilled into him.

His expanded awareness caught snippets of conversations as villagers whispered behind his back.

"There goes the fox boy..." "Why does he wear those strange glasses?" "My mother says to stay away from him..."

None of this was new. What was new was his ability to perceive the chakra fluctuations that accompanied their words—fear, disgust, uncertainty. Some, however, showed patterns of pity or even sympathy.

He was so focused on these observations that he almost missed the subtle chakra signature following him. Almost.

Without breaking stride, Naruto expanded his awareness. ANBU—not one of the regular guards the Hokage assigned to watch over him. This one's chakra pattern was different, more controlled, with an emotional signature that read as cold calculation rather than protective vigilance.

One of the "other faction" Jiraiya had warned him about?

Naruto turned down an alley, pretending to take a shortcut while actually implementing a maneuver Jiraiya had taught him. The moment he was out of direct sight, he created a shadow clone, swapped places with it, and applied the Red principle of Limitless to himself—reflection, including visual light.

Effectively invisible, he watched as his shadow clone continued walking, with the ANBU shadow following. The operative—wearing a blank mask rather than an animal design—seemed to detect nothing amiss.

Root. That was what Jiraiya had called them. The Hokage's old rival Danzō's personal ANBU force, officially disbanded but actually operating in the shadows.

Naruto waited until both his clone and the Root operative were gone before dropping his technique and heading toward his actual destination—a secure meeting place beneath the Hokage Monument where Jiraiya waited.

"You're late," the Sannin grumbled as Naruto slipped through the hidden entrance.

"I was followed. Root, I think. Blank mask."

Jiraiya's expression darkened. "They're getting bolder. Danzō must suspect something."

"Iruka-sensei says Mizuki offered to tutor me before the graduation exam," Naruto reported, removing his sunglasses to reveal his Six Eyes.

Without the dampening effect of the glasses, the geometric patterns in his blue irises glowed faintly in the dimly lit chamber. Over the years, they had become more defined—complex mandala-like designs that shifted subtly as he focused on different aspects of his vision.

"Mizuki, huh?" Jiraiya stroked his chin. "I've had my suspicions about him. What does your sight tell you?"

"His chakra fluctuates when he talks about loyalty to the village. His emotional patterns suggest deception."

"Trust your eyes, kid. They see truth better than any interrogation technique." Jiraiya unrolled a scroll on the table between them. "Change of plans. We're accelerating the timeline."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the graduation exam is a perfect opportunity. You'll fail—deliberately—and see what Mizuki does."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "You want me to fail on purpose? After all this time pretending to be bad, I can finally show what I can do, and you want me to fail anyway?"

"Think, Naruto. If Mizuki is a traitor, he'll approach you after you fail. We can use that."

"To do what?"

"To begin your emergence." Jiraiya tapped the scroll, which contained complex sealing formulas. "It's time to stop hiding completely. We'll reveal a portion of your abilities—enough to explain your graduation despite 'failing' the exam, but not enough to expose the Six Eyes or Limitless."

Hope sparked in Naruto's chest. "So I can stop pretending to be completely useless?"

"We'll say you discovered your enormous chakra reserves make basic clone jutsu impossible, but you mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu instead—which is true, if incomplete. It's a B-rank technique; that alone will impress people without revealing too much."

Naruto considered this. "And my eyes?"

"Keep the glasses for now. We'll say they're a medical necessity until we're ready to reveal more." Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "The Hokage and I have discussed this at length. It's time for a controlled revelation of your abilities—emphasis on 'controlled.' We reveal what we choose, when we choose."

The plan made sense, but something still bothered Naruto. "What about my teammates after graduation? Don't they deserve to know who they're really working with?"

Jiraiya was silent for a long moment. "The Hokage will choose your team carefully. Your jonin-sensei will be informed of... some of it. As for your teammates..." He shrugged. "That depends on who they are and whether they can be trusted."

"Sasuke Uchiha's chakra signature is... complicated," Naruto said thoughtfully. "Layered with grief and rage, but also determination. His emotional patterns suggest someone driven by purpose, not power for its own sake."

"And what about the girl you're always staring at? Haruno, isn't it?" A teasing note entered Jiraiya's voice.

Naruto flushed. "I don't stare! My eyes see everything at once!"

"Sure, kid. And I only read those adult books for the literary value."

"Sakura is..." Naruto hesitated, searching for the right words. "Her chakra network is smaller than average, but extraordinarily precise. Perfect control. Her emotional patterns are complex—insecurity overlaid with fierce ambition. She pretends confidence but doesn't truly believe in herself yet. She could be... formidable, with the right training."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Quite the analysis. The Six Eyes see more than just chakra, don't they? They see potential."

Naruto nodded slowly. "I think... I think that's why I was drawn to her even before my eyes awakened. Something in me sensed what she could become."

"Interesting." Jiraiya rolled up the scroll. "Well, let's stick to the plan. Fail the exam, see what Mizuki does, and begin the careful process of letting the world catch a glimpse of who you really are."

As Naruto left their secret meeting place, his thoughts were turbulent. For years, he'd lived a double life—the laughingstock of the Academy by day, a master of infinity by night. The prospect of finally showing even a fraction of his true self both exhilarated and terrified him.

What would Sakura think when she learned he wasn't the idiot he pretended to be? What would Sasuke say when the "deadlast" suddenly displayed jōnin-level techniques? How would the village that had shunned him react to discovering the demon-host they feared might actually be the most gifted shinobi of his generation?

More importantly, what would happen when the wider world caught wind of a boy in Konoha with powers thought extinct for centuries?

The graduation exam was just a week away. After that, nothing would be the same.

Little did Naruto know just how prophetic that thought would prove to be.

The day of the graduation exam dawned bright and clear. Naruto stood before his bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection. For a moment, he removed the specialized sunglasses, allowing the geometric patterns in his irises to glow freely.

"Today everything changes," he whispered to himself.

Following Jiraiya's plan, he had prepared meticulously. Fail the exam, draw out Mizuki, and begin the carefully orchestrated revelation of his true abilities—just enough to explain his eventual graduation, not enough to expose his Six Eyes or Limitless techniques.

Simple. Controlled. Safe.

So why did he have this gnawing feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong?

The Six Eyes showed him everything within their range, but they couldn't see the future. Still, over the years, Naruto had learned to trust the subtle intuition that sometimes accompanied his enhanced perception—a nagging sense when variables didn't quite add up.

"Focus," he reminded himself, sliding the glasses back on. "Just stick to the plan."

At the Academy, the atmosphere crackled with nervous excitement. Students huddled in groups, practicing hand signs and quizzing each other on basic jutsu. Naruto slouched into the classroom, projecting his usual carefree attitude despite the tension coiling within him.

"Look who decided to show up," Kiba Inuzuka called out, his chakra network bristling with competitive energy. "Ready to fail, dead-last?"

Naruto forced a laugh. "Just watch, dog-breath! I'll pass with flying colors!"

Nearby, Shikamaru Nara raised an eyebrow, his normally lazy chakra patterns sharpening with suspicion. Of all his classmates, Shikamaru's perception worried Naruto the most. The Nara heir missed nothing, and sometimes Naruto felt those calculating eyes seeing through his carefully constructed facade.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, but his chakra fluctuated with curiosity.

Iruka entered, calling for silence as he explained the exam format. Written test first, followed by practical demonstrations of the three basic Academy jutsu: Transformation, Substitution, and Clone techniques.

The written portion proved challenging—not because Naruto didn't know the answers, but because he had to calculate exactly how many questions to get wrong to maintain his cover while still appearing to have tried his best. In the end, he scored just high enough to pass that section, though barely.

Then came the practical examination.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka called, gesturing toward the testing room.

Heart pounding with anticipation, Naruto entered. Iruka and Mizuki sat behind a table, evaluation forms before them. Naruto's Six Eyes instantly analyzed Mizuki's chakra: tightly controlled, but with telltale ripples of deception beneath the surface.

"Begin with the Transformation Jutsu," Iruka instructed.

Naruto formed the hand signs, deliberately making them slightly sloppy while channeling precise amounts of chakra. With a puff of smoke, he transformed into a reasonable—but imperfect—copy of the Third Hokage.

"Acceptable," Iruka noted, marking his sheet. "Next, Substitution Jutsu."

Again, Naruto performed adequately but not impressively, switching places with a chair across the room with slightly more noise and smoke than necessary.

Then came the moment of truth.

"Finally, demonstrate the Clone Jutsu," Iruka said. "Create at least three functional clones."

Naruto made a show of concentrating intensely, gathering chakra, and performing the hand signs. With his Six Eyes and perfect chakra control, creating normal clones should have been effortless. Instead, he deliberately disrupted his own chakra flow at the last moment.

A pathetic, colorless clone appeared beside him, lying flat on the floor like a deflated balloon.

Mizuki's chakra flickered with satisfaction. Iruka's with disappointment.

"Failed," Iruka announced, genuine regret in his voice. "I'm sorry, Naruto, but you can't pass without demonstrating a functional Clone Jutsu."

"But I tried so hard!" Naruto protested, injecting real frustration into his voice. It wasn't entirely an act—the humiliation of deliberately failing burned, even knowing it was part of the plan.

"Rules are rules," Iruka said firmly, though his chakra network revealed his sympathy. "Perhaps next year."

Mizuki leaned forward, his chakra pattern shifting subtly. "Iruka, perhaps we could make an exception. He did pass the written test, and his other jutsu were acceptable..."

"No exceptions," Iruka said firmly. "That wouldn't be fair to the others who worked just as hard."

Naruto hung his head, playing the devastated student as he left the examination room. Outside, he avoided his classmates, finding a solitary swing to occupy while the others celebrated with their families. Through his expanded awareness, he tracked Mizuki's movements, waiting for the inevitable approach.

It came as the sun began to set.

"Mind if I join you?" Mizuki asked, his voice gentle with fabricated compassion.

Naruto glanced up, maintaining his crestfallen expression. "I guess."

Mizuki sat beside him on the adjacent swing. "Iruka is hard on you because he sees himself in you, you know. He was an orphan too—always trying to get attention through misbehavior."

"At least he became a ninja," Naruto muttered.

"There might be another way for you to graduate," Mizuki said, his voice dropping conspiratorially.

Naruto's awareness sharpened, though he kept his posture defeated. "Another way?"

"A special test, for exceptional cases." Mizuki leaned closer. "If you can retrieve a certain scroll from the Hokage's private library and learn one technique from it, Iruka will have to pass you."

And there it was—the trap, exactly as Jiraiya had predicted. Naruto pretended to brighten with hope.

"Really? What scroll? I'll do anything!"

Mizuki described the Scroll of Sealing—one of Konoha's most forbidden treasures—and explained where to find it and where to meet after obtaining it. His chakra signature pulsed with dark anticipation, clearly expecting Naruto to fail or be caught in the attempt.

"I won't let you down, Mizuki-sensei!" Naruto promised with feigned determination.

As Mizuki departed, Naruto expanded his awareness further, detecting a familiar chakra signature observing from nearby—one of Jiraiya's toads, monitoring the exchange. The plan was proceeding perfectly. Now he needed to inform the Hokage and retrieve the scroll as discussed.

But as night fell and Naruto prepared to set the trap in motion, a complication arose.

"Naruto."

The voice came from behind him as he approached the Hokage Tower. Sasuke Uchiha stood in the shadows, his chakra network tense with suspicion.

"What are you doing here this late?" the Uchiha prodigy demanded.

This wasn't part of the plan. Naruto scrambled for a plausible explanation.

"None of your business, jerk," he replied, falling back on their usual antagonistic dynamic.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You're up to something. Something to do with failing the exam."

"So what if I am?" Naruto shot back. "Not everyone gets everything handed to them like you do!"

A flicker of genuine anger crossed Sasuke's face. "Nothing was handed to me. Everything I have, I earned through sacrifice."

The raw pain in Sasuke's chakra network gave Naruto pause. The Six Eyes revealed emotional trauma layered so deeply that it formed the foundation of Sasuke's entire being—a wound that had never healed.

"Look, just leave me alone," Naruto said, softening his tone slightly. "This is something I have to do."

Sasuke studied him for a long moment. "Whatever you're planning won't work. Shortcuts don't make a real ninja."

"Maybe not," Naruto conceded. "But I have to try my way."

Something in his voice must have reached Sasuke, because after a tense moment, the Uchiha simply turned away.

"Your funeral," he muttered, disappearing into the darkness.

Naruto waited until Sasuke was beyond the range of his expanded awareness before proceeding to the Hokage Tower. The encounter had shaken him more than he cared to admit. Despite their rivalry, he'd always respected Sasuke's determination. The thought of deceiving him—deceiving everyone—left a bitter taste.

The extraction of the scroll went exactly as planned. The Hokage, informed of the scheme beforehand, had arranged minimal security and a convincing show of being caught off-guard by Naruto's "Sexy Jutsu"—a ridiculous technique Naruto had developed as part of his fool persona.

With the massive scroll secured to his back, Naruto headed for the designated meeting spot in the forest. There, as instructed by Jiraiya, he opened the scroll and pretended to study it while actually waiting for Mizuki to arrive.

What he hadn't expected was Iruka finding him first.

"There you are!" his teacher exclaimed, dropping from the trees with anger and concern warring in his chakra network. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

This also wasn't part of the plan. Naruto's mind raced. Iruka wasn't supposed to be involved in the sting operation.

"Mizuki-sensei told me about the special test," Naruto explained, maintaining his cover. "He said if I learned a technique from this scroll, you'd let me graduate!"

Confusion rippled through Iruka's chakra. "Special test? Mizuki told you..."

Understanding dawned on his teacher's face just as Naruto's Six Eyes detected multiple shuriken cutting through the air toward them.

"Look out!" Naruto shouted, instinctively activating his Infinity Void defense around both himself and Iruka.

The shuriken slowed dramatically as they entered the distorted space, stopping completely before reaching their targets. For a heartbeat, they hung suspended in midair—a physical impossibility that Iruka couldn't help but notice.

Naruto cursed inwardly. He'd revealed a Limitless technique without meaning to. Dropping the void, he allowed the weapons to clatter harmlessly to the ground, hoping Iruka would attribute the phenomenon to a freak air current or his own quick reflexes.

"Well done, Naruto," Mizuki's voice called from the branches above. "You found the scroll. Now hand it over."

Iruka stepped protectively in front of Naruto. "So that's it. You're a traitor, Mizuki."

"And you're a fool," Mizuki sneered. "Protecting the demon who killed your parents."

Naruto's blood ran cold as Mizuki continued, revealing the secret of the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within him—the reason the villagers had always shunned him. Though Naruto had discovered this truth years ago through his Six Eyes, hearing it spoken aloud before Iruka was devastating.

"That's why everyone hates you," Mizuki finished. "Even Iruka despises you for containing the monster that killed his family!"

"That's not true!" Iruka shouted, his chakra blazing with protective fury. "Naruto is not the fox! He's one of my precious students—a citizen of Konoha!"

The genuine emotion in Iruka's defense stunned Naruto. His teacher's chakra network showed no deception—only compassion and a fierce determination to protect him.

Mizuki laughed. "Noble sentiments. Now die with the demon!"

He launched a massive shuriken directly at them. Time seemed to slow as Naruto faced a critical decision. He could use his Limitless techniques openly to stop the attack—revealing his secret abilities—or maintain his cover and risk Iruka being injured.

In that split second, Iruka made the choice for him, shoving Naruto aside and taking the shuriken in the back.

"Run... Naruto..." Iruka gasped, blood seeping through his flak jacket.

Something snapped inside Naruto. The careful plans, the controlled revelation—none of it mattered compared to Iruka's life. His teacher had acknowledged him, defended him, been willing to die for him despite knowing about the Nine-Tails.

"Don't touch him again," Naruto said, his voice deceptively calm as he rose to his feet.

Mizuki laughed. "Or what, demon brat?"

Naruto removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes that now blazed with blue geometric patterns. "Or I'll show you what infinity looks like."

Before Mizuki could react, Naruto formed a cross-shaped hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The forest filled with hundreds of solid clones—far more than a genin should be capable of creating. But that was just the beginning.

As Mizuki gaped in shock, Naruto activated the Blue principle of Limitless, creating infinite space between Mizuki and the ground. The traitor suddenly found himself unable to move, suspended in midair by forces he couldn't comprehend.

"What... what is this?" Mizuki gasped, panic etching his features as he struggled against the invisible bonds of distorted space.

"This is what happens when you hurt someone precious to me," Naruto replied, his voice quiet but carrying clearly through the night air.

The shadow clones surged forward, each one landing solid blows on the immobilized traitor. Naruto was careful not to use his more devastating techniques—Infinity Convergence could have compressed Mizuki into nothingness—but the message was clear. This was no ordinary genin.

When it was over, Mizuki lay unconscious, battered but alive. Naruto released his Limitless technique and rushed to Iruka's side.

"Iruka-sensei! Are you okay?"

Iruka stared at him, eyes wide with astonishment. "Naruto... your eyes... those techniques... what was that?"

Naruto helped his teacher into a sitting position, applying pressure to his wound. "It's a long story. One I wasn't supposed to tell yet."

"Those weren't normal shadow clones," Iruka said. "And that thing you did, keeping Mizuki suspended... I've never seen anything like it."

Naruto sighed. The carefully controlled revelation had become considerably less controlled.

"I've been... training in secret," he admitted. "These eyes are part of my mother's bloodline. They're called the Six Eyes."

"Six Eyes?" Iruka echoed, wincing as he shifted. "I've never heard of such a dōjutsu."

"It was thought to be extinct. The Hokage and Jiraiya have been helping me keep it secret while I learned to control it." Naruto hesitated. "Are you angry that I deceived everyone?"

Iruka studied him for a long moment, then shook his head with a pained smile. "No. I'm proud of you, Naruto. Whatever these abilities are, you used them to protect, not harm." He reached into his pocket, removing his own forehead protector. "Close your eyes."

Confused but trusting, Naruto obeyed. He felt the cool metal of the headband being tied around his forehead.

"Congratulations," Iruka said. "You graduate."

Naruto's eyes flew open, the geometric patterns momentarily flaring brighter with emotion. "But the exam—"

"You just demonstrated mastery of an A-rank jutsu and... whatever that space technique was. I'd say that more than qualifies you for genin rank." Iruka's expression turned serious. "Though I think you and I—and the Hokage—need to have a long talk about these secrets you've been keeping."

Relief and joy surged through Naruto. Not only had he graduated, but Iruka had accepted him—both as a jinchūriki and as the wielder of mysterious dōjutsu powers.

As ANBU arrived to secure Mizuki and the scroll, Naruto helped Iruka to his feet. The night's events hadn't gone according to plan, but perhaps this outcome was better. A more honest beginning to his life as a ninja of the Hidden Leaf.

What he didn't realize was that his display of power, though limited, had not gone unnoticed. Beyond the range even of his expanded awareness, a figure in a spiral mask had observed the encounter with great interest—particularly the distinctive pattern in the boy's eyes.

"Limitless and Six Eyes," the masked figure murmured. "After all these centuries... how fascinating."

The wheels of destiny had begun to turn in ways not even Naruto's all-seeing eyes could anticipate.

The Hokage's office was silent as Hiruzen Sarutobi digested the report from Iruka and the ANBU who had witnessed the aftermath of Naruto's confrontation with Mizuki.

"So," the old man finally said, puffing on his pipe, "our hand has been forced earlier than anticipated."

"I apologize, Lord Hokage," Naruto said, standing at attention with his new forehead protector gleaming above his replaced sunglasses. "I acted on instinct when Iruka-sensei was in danger."

Hiruzen waved away the apology. "You did what was necessary to protect a comrade. No one can fault you for that." He turned to Iruka, who sat with his back freshly bandaged. "And you say he used both the Shadow Clone Jutsu and some sort of... spatial manipulation?"

Iruka nodded. "Hundreds of solid clones—far beyond genin level. And yes, he somehow suspended Mizuki in midair. It wasn't a wind technique or any jutsu I recognize."

"The Limitless technique," Hiruzen murmured. "A fundamental power of the Six Eyes."

"You knew about this, Lord Hokage?" Iruka asked, unable to hide his surprise.

"A small circle has been aware since Naruto's eyes awakened five years ago." The Hokage gestured to the ANBU guards. "Leave us. This information is classified at the highest level."

When they were alone, Hiruzen activated a privacy seal, preventing any eavesdropping. "Iruka, what I'm about to tell you is an S-rank secret, potentially more dangerous than even Naruto's status as a jinchūriki."

Iruka straightened, his expression solemn. "I understand, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen nodded to Naruto, who removed his sunglasses, revealing the geometric patterns that now glowed faintly in his blue irises.

"The Six Eyes," the Hokage explained, "are an ancient dōjutsu believed extinct for centuries. Unlike the Sharingan or Byakugan, they do not derive from the Ōtsutsuki bloodline but represent an entirely different evolution of ocular power. They grant the user perfect chakra control, the ability to see all forms of energy and information, and most importantly, mastery over space itself through the Limitless technique."

Iruka stared at Naruto's eyes with newfound understanding. "That explains why he always struggled with basic jutsu at the Academy—he was hiding his true abilities."

"A necessary deception," Hiruzen said. "If word spread about a child with such power, every major village and criminal organization would target him. Not just for the Nine-Tails anymore, but for eyes that can perceive and manipulate reality itself."

"The glasses..." Iruka began.

"Specialized tools to conceal the distinctive pattern," Naruto explained. "And to help filter the sensory input. The Six Eyes see everything—chakra networks, emotional states, spatial coordinates. It was overwhelming at first."

Iruka's expression shifted from shock to concern. "All this time, you've carried this burden alone?"

"Not alone," Naruto corrected. "The Hokage has guided me. And Pervy Sage—I mean, Master Jiraiya—has been training me in secret."

"Which brings us to our current dilemma," Hiruzen interjected. "Now that Iruka has witnessed your abilities, we must adjust our strategy. The original plan was a gradual revelation of your skills, beginning with your shadow clones but keeping the Six Eyes and Limitless secret for much longer."

"What happens now?" Naruto asked.

Hiruzen tapped his pipe thoughtfully. "We proceed with team assignments as planned. You'll be placed on Team 7 under Kakashi Hatake, alongside Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno."

Naruto's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his teammates, particularly Sakura.

"Kakashi already knows about your eyes," the Hokage continued. "As for your teammates... we'll let Kakashi decide how much to reveal and when. In public, you'll continue wearing the glasses and limiting displays of your true abilities."

"And the story we're giving for his graduation?" Iruka asked.

"The truth, partially," Hiruzen replied. "Naruto mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu after learning it from the Scroll of Sealing and used it to capture a traitor. His mastery of an A-rank technique more than compensates for his inability to perform a basic clone jutsu. That much is public knowledge now."

"And my eyes?" Naruto asked.

"A medical condition requiring protective eyewear," the Hokage said firmly. "Nothing more unless absolutely necessary."

As the meeting concluded, Iruka placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I wish you had trusted me sooner," he said quietly.

"I wanted to," Naruto admitted. "But it wasn't just my secret to tell."

Iruka smiled sadly. "Well, now I understand why you were always staring out the window during lessons. You weren't distracted—you were seeing things the rest of us couldn't."

"I never missed a word you said," Naruto assured him with a grin. "Even when I pretended not to be listening."

Two days later, Naruto sat in the classroom for team assignments, trying to act normal despite the curious glances from his classmates. Word had spread about his defeat of Mizuki and mastery of the Shadow Clone Jutsu, transforming him overnight from dead-last to subject of intense speculation.

"I don't get it," Kiba was saying loudly. "How does the worst student suddenly learn an A-rank jutsu?"

"Perhaps he was holding back," Shino Aburame suggested quietly. "Why? Because appearances can be deceiving."

Shikamaru watched Naruto with narrowed eyes, his chakra patterns indicating intense analysis. Of all his classmates, the Nara heir seemed most suspicious of Naruto's sudden transformation.

Sasuke, seated nearby, appeared indifferent, but Naruto's Six Eyes detected subtle changes in his chakra flow—curiosity beneath the practiced disinterest.

When Sakura entered, her gaze fell immediately on Naruto's forehead protector. "You passed?" she asked incredulously. "How?"

Before Naruto could answer, Iruka entered and called for silence. As their teacher announced the team assignments, Naruto carefully monitored the reactions around him.

"Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha."

Sakura's chakra flared with joy at being teamed with Sasuke, then dimmed slightly at the inclusion of Naruto. Sasuke's network pulsed with irritation, though whether at Naruto or Sakura or both, was unclear.

"Your jonin instructor will be Kakashi Hatake," Iruka continued.

As the remaining teams were announced, Naruto contemplated the dynamics of his new team. Sakura, with her perfect chakra control and analytical mind. Sasuke, with his Sharingan dormant but powerful. And himself—the Six Eyes and Limitless user masquerading as a simple shadow clone specialist.

It was a powder keg waiting for a spark.

After the announcements, the new teams gathered with their jonin instructors—except for Team 7. Hours passed, and Kakashi still hadn't appeared.

"He's late," Sakura fumed, pacing the classroom.

Sasuke sat with his fingers interlaced, the picture of patience except for the subtle irritation in his chakra network.

Naruto, meanwhile, had expanded his awareness throughout the building, tracking their tardy sensei as he deliberately dawdled, reading a small orange book whose content made Naruto blush when his Six Eyes inadvertently perceived the text through the cover.

"He's coming," Naruto announced without thinking.

Sakura turned to him, surprised. "How do you know?"

Naruto scrambled for an explanation. "Uh... lucky guess?"

Before she could press further, the classroom door slid open, revealing a silver-haired jōnin with his forehead protector slanted to cover his left eye. Kakashi Hatake surveyed them with his visible eye, his chakra network revealing far more interest than his bored expression suggested.

"My first impression..." he drawled. "You're all boring. Meet me on the roof."

As Sakura and Sasuke headed for the stairs, Kakashi caught Naruto's eye and tapped his own covered eye significantly—a silent acknowledgment of their shared secret. Then he vanished in a swirl of leaves.

On the roof, Kakashi had them introduce themselves—their likes, dislikes, and dreams for the future. Sakura mostly gushed about Sasuke. Sasuke declared his ambition to restore his clan and kill "a certain someone." When Naruto's turn came, he hesitated, aware of the gap between his public persona and private truth.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," he began. "I like ramen and... people who acknowledge me for who I am. I dislike the three minutes it takes for instant ramen to cook and those who judge others without knowing them." He adjusted his sunglasses. "My dream is to become Hokage and protect everyone in the village—to be seen for myself, not what others fear I might be."

Kakashi's eye crinkled slightly—the only indication he recognized the layers in Naruto's statement.

"Very good," the jōnin said. "Now, before we begin our duties, we'll have a little test. Meet at Training Ground 7 tomorrow at 5 AM. Don't eat breakfast—you'll throw up."

As Kakashi disappeared again, Sakura turned to her teammates. "A test? But we already passed the graduation exam!"

"This must be different," Sasuke said. "Jōnin often test their assigned teams personally."

Naruto nodded, already analyzing the scenario through his Six Eyes. "He's right. And I think we should eat breakfast anyway."

"What? But Kakashi-sensei said—" Sakura began.

"Think about it," Naruto interrupted. "What kind of test would make us throw up just from having eaten? He's probably trying to weaken us before we start."

Sasuke studied Naruto with newfound interest. "You're sharper than you let on at the Academy."

Naruto felt a flush of pride at the acknowledgment, however grudging. "Yeah, well... I've been training a lot recently."

"Clearly," Sasuke replied, his tone suggesting the conversation was far from over.

As they parted ways, Naruto expanded his awareness to track his teammates' departures. Sakura headed home, her chakra network cycling through emotions—excitement about Sasuke, uncertainty about the test, and confusion regarding Naruto's unexpected insights.

Sasuke, however, didn't go straight home. Instead, he veered toward the Hokage Tower, his chakra focused with purpose. Naruto realized with a jolt that the Uchiha was seeking information—about him.

This complicated matters. If Sasuke started asking questions about Naruto's sudden transformation from dead-last to shadow clone master, how long before he stumbled upon deeper secrets?

That evening, Naruto met with Jiraiya in their secure location beneath the Hokage Monument.

"Kakashi's going to test us tomorrow," Naruto reported. "And Sasuke's already suspicious. I saw him heading to the administration building after team assignments—probably to look into my records."

Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Not surprising. The Uchiha brat is perceptive. But don't worry—your official records have been carefully managed. Nothing there will reveal the Six Eyes."

"What about the test? Should I hold back?"

"Use your shadow clones freely—that's now public knowledge. The Limitless technique and Six Eyes remain your trump cards, to be used only if absolutely necessary." Jiraiya demonstrated with a hand movement. "If you must use Limitless, keep it subtle—small distortions that could be attributed to chakra manipulation or wind jutsu."

Naruto nodded, though uneasiness persisted. "It feels wrong, deceiving my teammates."

"They're not ready for the truth," Jiraiya said firmly. "The Uchiha boy is obsessed with power for his revenge. How do you think he'd react to learning his 'dead-last' teammate possesses abilities that might surpass even a fully developed Sharingan?"

The question hung in the air, unsettling in its implications.

"Get some rest," Jiraiya advised. "Tomorrow's test will likely focus on teamwork—that's Kakashi's obsession. Find a way to collaborate with your teammates without revealing too much."

The next morning, Naruto arrived at Training Ground 7 well-fed despite Kakashi's instructions. Sasuke and Sakura were already waiting, the former stoic, the latter yawning widely.

"Did you eat?" Naruto asked them quietly.

Sasuke gave a nearly imperceptible nod. Sakura looked guilty. "I did... your reasoning made sense."

Kakashi arrived three hours late, offering a ridiculous excuse about helping an old lady. He then explained the bell test—two bells, three students, one must fail. They had until noon to take a bell from him.

"Begin!" he announced, and the three genin scattered into the surrounding forest.

Or rather, two did. Naruto remained standing before Kakashi, adjusting his sunglasses.

"Aren't you going to hide like the others?" Kakashi asked, visible eye curved in amusement.

"Why bother?" Naruto replied. "Your chakra network extends outward like a sensory field. You'd know exactly where I was."

Kakashi's eye widened slightly—the only indication of his surprise. "Interesting observation," he said, voice lowered. "Your eyes see more than I realized."

"They see everything," Naruto confirmed quietly. "Including the true purpose of this test."

"Oh?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"Teamwork," Naruto stated confidently. "Three genin against one jōnin—individually, we have no chance. Together, we might. The two-bell setup is just to divide us."

Kakashi's chakra rippled with approval, though his expression remained neutral. "If you've figured that out, why not share it with your teammates?"

"I'm about to," Naruto said with a grin, forming a familiar hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Dozens of Naruto clones popped into existence, charging Kakashi from all directions while two broke off—one heading toward Sasuke's hiding place, another toward Sakura's.

"Clever," Kakashi acknowledged, effortlessly dispelling clones with precise strikes. "But predictable."

What wasn't predictable was Naruto subtly applying the Blue principle of Limitless to the space around one of Kakashi's feet, creating just enough distortion to throw off his balance during a roundhouse kick.

The jōnin stumbled—almost imperceptibly—but his chakra flared with shock. His visible eye narrowed as he scrutinized Naruto with newfound wariness.

"That was..." he began, then shook his head. "Interesting taijutsu, Naruto."

Meanwhile, Naruto's clones had reached his teammates with his message: the test was about teamwork, not individual success. Sasuke, initially skeptical, recognized the logic of the argument. Sakura, trusting Sasuke's judgment, agreed to cooperate.

What followed was a coordinated assault that surprised even Kakashi. Sasuke's fire jutsu herded the jōnin toward a trap set by Sakura, while Naruto's clones provided constant pressure and distraction. When Kakashi used a substitution jutsu to escape, Naruto's Six Eyes tracked his real position, allowing the team to adjust instantly.

"His chakra signature is twenty meters north, in the trees!" Naruto called out, directing his teammates.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "How can you tell?"

"I've been training my sensory abilities," Naruto replied quickly—a half-truth at best.

The final push came when Naruto, calculating trajectories with his Six Eyes, whispered a plan to Sasuke. The Uchiha, recognizing its potential, set up the perfect scenario: a fire jutsu that forced Kakashi to dodge right into the path of Sakura's carefully timed punch to the ground, creating a fissure that destabilized the jōnin's footing.

In that moment of imbalance, Naruto applied the slightest Limitless distortion to the space around the bells, causing them to swing just enough for Sasuke to snatch them both with lightning-fast reflexes.

The timer rang. Noon had arrived, and Team 7 had secured the bells.

Kakashi stared at them, visible eye wide with genuine surprise. "Well," he said finally, "this is unexpected. No team has ever actually taken the bells before."

Sasuke held up the two bells, then without hesitation, handed one to Sakura and the other to Naruto.

"We did it together," he said simply. "We succeed or fail together."

Sakura's eyes widened, chakra network blazing with admiration for Sasuke's gesture. Naruto accepted the bell with a grin, though internally he was shocked by the Uchiha's uncharacteristic teamwork.

"Sasuke," Kakashi said slowly, "you're willing to give up your bell knowing it means you might fail?"

The Uchiha shrugged, a gesture at odds with the intensity in his chakra network. "A true avenger needs strength. But strength requires..." he hesitated, as if the words were unfamiliar, "...reliable allies."

Kakashi's eye crinkled in a smile. "Well said. And on that note—you all pass!"

"What?" Sakura exclaimed. "But the rules—"

"Those who break the rules are scum," Kakashi intoned seriously. "But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. That's the real lesson of this exercise."

As their new sensei explained the importance of teamwork, Naruto couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in Sasuke's demeanor toward him—a reassessment in progress. The Uchiha's chakra patterns revealed confusion, reluctant respect, and intense curiosity.

Later, as they prepared to leave the training ground, Sasuke fell into step beside Naruto.

"That sensory ability," he said without preamble. "It's not something Academy students learn."

Naruto tensed. "I've been training outside of class."

"With who?"

"Here and there," Naruto evaded. "I've had a lot of free time, being an orphan and all."

Sasuke's chakra flickered with something like recognition—one orphan acknowledging another's solitary existence. "Your taijutsu has improved too. And those shadow clones..."

"I guess I'm full of surprises," Naruto said with a forced grin.

"Hmm." Sasuke studied him from the corner of his eye. "The records in the administration building said you failed the clone jutsu portion of the exam, then were granted special graduation after apprehending Mizuki-sensei with shadow clones." His tone made it clear he found this account suspicious.

"That's what happened," Naruto confirmed, technically truthful while omitting his use of Limitless.

"No one masters an A-rank jutsu overnight."

"Who said it was overnight?" Naruto countered. "Maybe I've been practicing for years."

This gave Sasuke pause. His chakra network pulsed with realization—considering for the first time that Naruto's incompetence might have been an act.

"Why would you pretend to be the dead-last?"

Naruto thought carefully before answering. "People underestimate you when they think you're weak. Isn't that a shinobi principle? Deception?"

A flicker of genuine respect crossed Sasuke's face. "Perhaps you're not as much of a loser as you seemed."

Coming from Sasuke, this was high praise indeed.

"Thanks... I think," Naruto replied.

As they parted ways, Naruto knew this was just the beginning of Sasuke's questions. The Uchiha was too perceptive, too hungry for power to ignore the inconsistencies in Naruto's abilities. Sooner or later, he would discover more than Naruto was authorized to reveal.

What then?

"Again!" Kakashi instructed, his visible eye fixed on Naruto's form.

Team 7 had been training together for three weeks now, slowly building their skills and teamwork through D-rank missions and daily practice. Today, they were focusing on taijutsu—specifically, adaptability in combat situations.

Naruto launched himself at Kakashi, carefully limiting his movements to what would be expected of a talented genin rather than someone with the perfect spatial awareness of the Six Eyes. He threw a punch that Kakashi easily dodged, followed by a sweep kick that the jōnin jumped over.

"You're telegraphing your moves," Kakashi critiqued.

Naruto nodded, making a show of adjusting his stance while secretly consulting the vast spatial calculations his Six Eyes provided. With his next attack, he purposely left an opening in his defense—one that Kakashi immediately exploited by tapping Naruto's exposed ribs.

"Dead," the jōnin declared. "Next!"

Sasuke stepped forward, his movements fluid and precise. The Uchiha still lacked the Sharingan, but his natural talent made him formidable nonetheless. He exchanged a flurry of blows with Kakashi before being summarily defeated, though he lasted longer than Naruto had deliberately allowed himself to.

Sakura went last, her technique technically correct but lacking power and battle instinct. Kakashi defeated her within seconds.

"You're all improving," their sensei assessed, "but too slowly. Naruto, you have power and stamina but need refinement. Sasuke, excellent technique but you're still too rigid in your thinking. Sakura, perfect form but no real-world application."

Sakura's chakra network pulsed with disappointment. Over the weeks, Naruto had observed her growing frustration with herself—recognizing her role as the weakest combat member of Team 7 despite her intelligence.

"That's enough for today," Kakashi concluded. "Tomorrow, 7 AM, bridge. We'll see about getting a more challenging mission."

As their sensei vanished in a swirl of leaves, Sasuke immediately headed for the training posts, clearly intending to continue practicing alone.

Sakura hesitated, then approached Naruto instead of following Sasuke as she usually did. Her chakra betrayed nervousness.

"Naruto," she began, "can I ask you something?"

Surprised by the direct address, Naruto nodded. "Sure, Sakura-chan."

"How did you improve so much? Between graduation and now?" Her eyes were sincere, lacking their usual irritation when dealing with him. "You were the worst student, but now..."

Naruto's heart quickened. Coming from Sakura, this almost sounded like admiration.

"I guess I just found my own way of doing things," he answered carefully. "The Academy style didn't work for me, but shadow clones clicked right away."

She frowned. "But it's more than that. Your awareness during missions, how you always seem to know where everyone is... it's like you have eyes in the back of your head."

If only she knew.

"Just good instincts?" he offered weakly.

Sakura studied him, her analytical mind clearly unsatisfied with his explanation. "And those sunglasses? You never take them off, even during training."

"Medical condition," Naruto recited the cover story. "My eyes are sensitive to light."

"Hmm." Her chakra fluctuated with skepticism. "Well, whatever it is... I was wondering if you could help me train sometimes. I don't want to keep being the weak link."

The request stunned Naruto. Sakura Haruno—the girl he'd admired from afar for years—was asking for his help.

"Of course!" he agreed immediately. "Though I'm not sure what I could teach that Sasuke couldn't show you better."

Sakura glanced toward the Uchiha, who was systematically destroying a training dummy. "Sasuke-kun is... not the teaching type. And asking him feels like admitting weakness." She lowered her voice. "But you... you know what it's like to struggle and improve. That's what I need right now."

The sincerity in her chakra network touched Naruto deeply. This wasn't about romance—it was about growth, one shinobi reaching out to another.

"Tomorrow after the mission?" he suggested. "We could work on chakra control techniques. With your perfect control, you could probably master medical jutsu or genjutsu really easily."

Her eyes widened. "You think my chakra control is perfect?"

"Well, yeah. I've seen you walk up trees without even thinking about it. That's not easy."

A pleased blush colored her cheeks. "Thanks, Naruto. Tomorrow it is."

As she walked away, Naruto felt a strange sensation—the weight of her genuine acknowledgement warming him more than any childhood crush ever had.

His contemplation was interrupted by Sasuke's approach, the Uchiha's chakra network betraying intense curiosity despite his neutral expression.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"Sakura wants some extra training," Naruto explained.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "From you?"

"Believe it or not."

"Hm." Sasuke was silent for a moment, then fixed Naruto with a penetrating stare. "Spar with me. No Kakashi, no holding back."

Naruto tensed. "Who says I'm holding back?"

"I do," Sasuke stated flatly. "You telegraph your attacks against Kakashi, but not when we face real enemies. Your awareness extends far beyond what you pretend. I want to see what you're really capable of."

This was dangerous territory. Sparring all-out would inevitably reveal aspects of the Six Eyes' spatial awareness that couldn't be explained away as good instincts.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Naruto hedged.

"Afraid?" Sasuke taunted, though his chakra revealed genuine curiosity rather than malice.

"No," Naruto sighed. "Fine. Just taijutsu, though."

They moved to an open area of the training ground and squared off. Sasuke immediately launched a lightning-fast attack—far quicker than what he'd shown against Kakashi. Naruto realized the Uchiha had been holding back as well, though for different reasons.

The Six Eyes allowed Naruto to perceive Sasuke's every movement in perfect detail—muscle tensions telegraphing attacks, minute shifts in balance revealing openings. Without consciously deciding to, Naruto responded with fluid counterattacks that utilized this information.

Sasuke's eyes widened as Naruto evaded a punch that should have connected, countering with a palm strike that nearly caught the Uchiha off-guard.

"I knew it," Sasuke muttered, increasing his speed further.

What followed was a taijutsu exchange beyond genin level. Sasuke pushed himself to the limit, while Naruto walked the dangerous line between showing his true reflexes and maintaining his cover. After several minutes of increasingly intense combat, they broke apart, both breathing heavily.

"You see attacks before they happen," Sasuke accused, wiping sweat from his brow. "Like a dōjutsu user."

Naruto froze. "That's crazy. I just have good reflexes."

"Those glasses," Sasuke continued, his chakra pulsing with realization. "They're not for a medical condition, are they? They're hiding something."

Before Naruto could react, Sasuke lunged forward with unexpected speed, hand outstretched toward Naruto's face. Pure instinct took over—Naruto activated the Limitless technique, applying the Blue principle to create infinite space between Sasuke's hand and his sunglasses.

The Uchiha's fingers stopped millimeters from Naruto's face, unable to cross the distorted space between them. Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as he pushed harder, meeting an invisible, immovable barrier.

"What... is this?" he demanded, chakra flaring with confusion and awe.

Naruto released the technique immediately, but the damage was done. Sasuke stumbled forward as the resistance vanished, nearly colliding with Naruto.

"What did you just do?" Sasuke asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Nothing," Naruto lied, panic rising. "You must have hesitated."

"I didn't." Sasuke's eyes bored into him. "That was a technique. Something stopped my hand without touching it."

Naruto took a step back, mind racing. This was exactly what Jiraiya had warned against—revealing too much, too soon, especially to Sasuke.

"I have to go," he said abruptly, turning away.

"Naruto!" Sasuke called, frustration evident. "Whatever secrets you're keeping—they won't stay hidden forever."

Naruto paused without turning. "Some secrets protect more than just the secret-keeper, Sasuke. Remember that."

He left the Uchiha standing in the training ground, confusion and determination warring in his chakra network. The confrontation had been inevitable, Naruto realized. Living and fighting alongside teammates while hiding fundamental aspects of his abilities was unsustainable.

Something would have to change—and soon.

The next day brought an unexpected development. True to his word, Kakashi had secured them a C-rank mission—escorting a bridge builder named Tazuna to the Land of Waves. As they gathered at the village gate with their client, Naruto expanded his awareness, instinctively scanning for potential threats.

What he found troubled him immediately. Tazuna's chakra network pulsed with patterns of deception and fear—far beyond the normal anxiety of a civilian embarking on a journey with ninja escorts.

"He's lying about something," Naruto murmured to Kakashi as they prepared to depart.

The jōnin glanced at him sharply. "Your eyes?"

Naruto nodded subtly. "His chakra shows fear beyond what this mission would warrant."

"Noted," Kakashi replied quietly. "Stay alert."

As they set out, Naruto continued monitoring their surroundings with his expanded awareness. The Six Eyes missed nothing—not the nervous fidgeting of Tazuna's hands, nor the subtle chakra signatures of two shinobi hidden in the trees ahead.

"Sensei," Naruto said casually, making a show of adjusting his backpack. "Two signatures, hiding in ambush formation, approximately fifty meters ahead. Chūnin-level chakra reserves."

Kakashi nodded slightly, his own stance shifting imperceptibly to battle-readiness. "Sasuke, Sakura," he said conversationally, "remember our formation training."

The other genin tensed, immediately understanding the coded warning. When they approached a puddle on an otherwise dry road, Naruto didn't need his Six Eyes to recognize the poor disguise—though they did reveal the complex chakra network beneath the water surface.

What followed was the team's first real combat test. The Demon Brothers attacked, seemingly killing Kakashi before targeting Tazuna. Sasuke reacted with impressive speed, immediately engaging one attacker while Naruto and Sakura moved to protect their client.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto called, creating a defensive line of clones.

The battle was brief but instructive. Sasuke handled his opponent with surprising skill for a genin, while Naruto deliberately limited himself to shadow clone tactics rather than Limitless techniques. Kakashi, of course, had merely been observing, appearing at the perfect moment to subdue the enemies once his team had proven themselves.

"Well done," the jōnin praised as he secured the unconscious assassins. "Especially you, Naruto. How did you know they were there?"

Naruto hesitated, aware of Sasuke and Sakura listening intently. "I... smelled them. My senses are enhanced because of... you know."

The Nine-Tails explanation was plausible enough, and technically true—the fox did enhance his natural abilities, though his detection had come from the Six Eyes.

Kakashi turned to Tazuna, his demeanor hardening. "Now, I believe you owe us an explanation. This is clearly no ordinary C-rank mission."

As Tazuna revealed the truth—about Gato, the poverty of Wave Country, and the importance of the bridge—Naruto monitored the old man's chakra. This time, he detected no deception.

"Please," Tazuna concluded. "Without the bridge, our people will starve. I couldn't afford a B-rank or A-rank mission, but that's what this has become."

Kakashi sighed, turning to his team. "This is beyond your experience. We should return to the village."

"No," Sasuke said immediately. "I can handle it."

"We've already proven ourselves against those assassins," Sakura added, though her chakra betrayed her nervousness.

Naruto nodded in agreement. "We can't abandon him now. His people need that bridge."

Kakashi studied them each in turn. "Very well. But from now on, we proceed with extreme caution. Our next opponent won't be chūnin-level."

How prophetic those words would prove.

Their journey continued by boat, crossing the misty waters toward Wave Country. Naruto's Six Eyes pierced the fog easily, revealing the massive, unfinished bridge looming ahead—a testament to Tazuna's determination and engineering skill.

"Impressive," Naruto murmured.

"It will change everything for our country," Tazuna said proudly. "If I can live long enough to complete it."

After landing, they proceeded on foot through dense forest. Naruto maintained his expanded awareness, constantly scanning for threats. When his Six Eyes detected a powerful chakra signature ahead—jōnin-level at minimum—he immediately signaled Kakashi.

"Danger," he whispered. "One o'clock, about seventy meters. Much stronger than the Demon Brothers."

Kakashi nodded almost imperceptibly. "Everyone down!" he suddenly shouted as a massive sword whirled through the air above them.

The blade embedded itself in a tree, and atop it stood a tall, muscular shinobi with bandages covering the lower half of his face.

"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi identified grimly. "Demon of the Hidden Mist."

What followed was a battle beyond anything the genin had experienced. Kakashi revealed his Sharingan eye, engaging Zabuza in high-level combat while ordering his team to protect Tazuna.

As mist enveloped the battlefield—Zabuza's Hiding in Mist technique—Naruto faced a critical decision. His Six Eyes could see through the mist easily, tracking Zabuza's movements when even Kakashi's Sharingan struggled. But revealing this ability would raise questions he couldn't answer.

When Zabuza appeared suddenly in the midst of their defensive formation, targeting Tazuna directly, Naruto had no choice. He couldn't let their client die to protect his secret.

"Behind you!" he shouted, already moving to intercept. "Sasuke, three o'clock!"

Working in tandem, the genin parried Zabuza's attack long enough for Kakashi to engage him again. As the jōnin-level shinobi battled, Sasuke gave Naruto a piercing look.

"How did you see through the mist?" he demanded quietly. "Even Kakashi-sensei with the Sharingan was having trouble."

"Not now," Naruto hissed, genuine fear for their lives overriding concerns about his cover.

The battle reached its climax when Zabuza trapped Kakashi in a water prison. Facing a deadly decision, Naruto and Sasuke executed a brilliant combination attack—using shadow clones and a transformed windmill shuriken to force Zabuza to release Kakashi.

What neither Sasuke nor Kakashi realized was that Naruto had subtly applied Limitless to ensure the plan's success—creating infinitesimal distortions in space that guided their weapons with perfect accuracy when they should have missed.

When a hunter-nin apparently killed Zabuza with senbon needles to the neck, Naruto's Six Eyes immediately detected the deception—the precise placement of the needles had induced a death-like state rather than actual death.

"Kakashi-sensei," he began, but the silver-haired jōnin collapsed from chakra exhaustion before Naruto could warn him.

With their teacher incapacitated, Team 7 transported him to Tazuna's home to recover. There, as Kakashi rested, Sasuke cornered Naruto outside.

"You knew Zabuza wasn't dead, didn't you?" the Uchiha demanded without preamble.

Naruto tensed. "What makes you say that?"

"Your expression when the hunter-nin appeared. You saw something." Sasuke's intense gaze bored into Naruto. "Just like you saw through the mist. Just like you knew those assassins were waiting in ambush. Just like you stopped my hand without touching it during our spar."

Naruto remained silent, unsure how to respond without revealing too much or outright lying to his teammate.

"Those glasses," Sasuke continued, stepping closer. "Take them off."

"No."

"What are you hiding, Naruto?" Frustration colored Sasuke's voice. "We're teammates. Your secrets could affect our survival."

"Some secrets aren't mine alone to tell," Naruto replied carefully. "Trust that I'm using whatever abilities I have to protect the team, not endanger it."

Sasuke's chakra network flared with conflicted emotions—anger, curiosity, even a hint of betrayal. "Does Kakashi know?"

Naruto hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."

"And he keeps your secret too." It wasn't a question. Sasuke's jaw tightened. "Fine. Keep your mysteries. But remember—on the battlefield, unpredictability from allies can be as dangerous as enemy attacks."

As Sasuke walked away, Naruto sighed heavily. The Uchiha was right—their team's effectiveness was compromised by his deception. But revealing the Six Eyes and Limitless to someone as power-hungry as Sasuke carried its own risks.

The following day, when Kakashi awoke and confirmed Naruto's suspicion that Zabuza was still alive, the team began intensive training to prepare for the inevitable rematch. Kakashi taught them the tree-walking exercise to improve chakra control—an exercise Naruto had mastered years ago but pretended to struggle with.

While Sasuke worked diligently on the technique, Sakura mastered it almost instantly, demonstrating once again her perfect chakra control. Naruto deliberately made slow progress, careful not to surpass Sasuke too quickly despite his actual mastery.

When Sakura tired and took a break, she approached Naruto as he pretended to rest.

"You're still holding back, aren't you?" she asked quietly.

Naruto startled, nearly losing his grip on the tree. "What do you mean?"

"The way you're learning this technique," she elaborated. "You're pacing yourself, making sure Sasuke doesn't notice you could probably do it easily."

Her perception was startling. Perhaps he'd underestimated Sakura all along.

"What makes you think that?" he asked carefully.

"Little things. How you watch Sasuke's progress before adjusting your own. How sometimes you climb higher when he's not looking, then deliberately fall." She smiled slightly. "I'm not as combat-capable as you two, but I notice patterns."

Naruto was speechless. All this time worrying about Sasuke discovering his secrets, he'd overlooked Sakura's analytical mind.

"Why would I hold back?" he asked, deflecting.

"That's what I can't figure out," she admitted. "Unless..." Her eyes widened with sudden insight. "You're trying not to threaten his pride. That's it, isn't it? You know how important being strongest is to Sasuke-kun."

It wasn't the whole truth, but it was a reasonable explanation Naruto could work with.

"Something like that," he acknowledged. "Sasuke needs to be the best to achieve his goals. I have my own path."

Sakura studied him with newfound respect. "That's... surprisingly thoughtful of you, Naruto."

"I do have my moments," he joked, grateful for the partial truth that satisfied her without revealing too much.

As days passed and they trained for the coming confrontation, Naruto found himself increasingly torn between his obligation to hide his abilities and his growing bonds with his teammates. Each time he held back in training, each evasion when questioned about his perceptions, the deception weighed heavier.

Then came the fateful day on the bridge. Construction had continued despite the threat, with Team 7 providing security. When mist began rolling in—thicker than natural fog—Naruto immediately expanded his awareness.

"They're here," he warned Kakashi. "Zabuza and the fake hunter-nin, approaching from the north end. The workers are already down—unconscious, not dead."

Kakashi didn't question how Naruto knew these details, immediately organizing their defense. "Sakura, guard Tazuna. Sasuke, you take the hunter-nin. Naruto, create shadow clones to evacuate the workers. I'll handle Zabuza."

As battle erupted across the bridge, Naruto quickly dispatched his shadow clones to move the incapacitated workers to safety. Meanwhile, Sasuke engaged the masked ninja—Haku, as they soon learned his name was—in what quickly became a deadly duel.

Through his expanded awareness, Naruto monitored both battles simultaneously while completing his own task. Kakashi and Zabuza were evenly matched, trading water jutsu and sword strikes in a deadly dance. But Sasuke was quickly being overwhelmed by Haku's ice mirrors technique, trapped within a dome of reflective ice surfaces from which senbon needles rained down with deadly precision.

Even as Naruto completed the worker evacuation, he felt Sasuke's chakra fluctuating dangerously—pain, determination, and the desperate pushing of limits. The Uchiha was in serious trouble.

Without hesitation, Naruto rushed to help, entering the ice mirror dome just as Sasuke activated something momentous—his Sharingan, flickering to life in both eyes.

"Sasuke! Your eyes!"

Despite the awakening of his clan's dōjutsu, Sasuke was still outmatched. Haku's speed between mirrors exceeded what even the novice Sharingan could track. Senbon needles pierced Sasuke's body from multiple angles, each strike precisely targeting non-lethal but immobilizing points.

"I can see his movements now," Sasuke gritted out, "but my body can't keep up!"

Naruto assessed the situation through his Six Eyes, instantly comprehending the mathematics of Haku's technique. The ice mirrors formed a perfect geodesic structure, creating optimized angles for attack and retreat. The space between mirrors was being traversed at speeds that bent normal physics—a technique not entirely unlike his own Limitless abilities.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto created a dozen clones, using them as both shields and counter-attackers.

"Useless," Haku's voice echoed from every mirror simultaneously. "Inside this technique, I am the fastest shinobi alive."

"We'll see about that," Naruto muttered.

What followed was a desperate battle of attrition. Naruto continuously created shadow clones that Haku systematically destroyed, while Sasuke attempted to counter with fire jutsu that proved ineffective against the specialized ice.

As needles continued to find their marks, Sasuke's movements grew sluggish. When Haku launched a particularly vicious barrage aimed at vital points, Sasuke's body moved on pure instinct—directly into the path of needles meant for Naruto.

Blood splattered across the bridge as Sasuke collapsed into Naruto's arms.

"Why?" Naruto gasped, supporting his teammate's weight.

Sasuke coughed, blood speckling his lips. "My body... moved on its own... idiot."

Through his Six Eyes, Naruto assessed the damage—severe but not immediately fatal. Still, without medical intervention, Sasuke would die.

"You shouldn't have done that," Naruto said, carefully laying Sasuke down.

The Uchiha's lips twisted in a pained smirk. "I hated you, you know."

"Save your strength."

"No... listen." Sasuke's newly awakened Sharingan fixed on Naruto's sunglasses. "Your secrets... I wanted to know them because I thought... they might help me kill him." A shuddering breath. "But now... I just want to understand my comrade."

With trembling fingers, Sasuke reached toward Naruto's face. This time, Naruto didn't activate Limitless to stop him.

Sasuke removed the specialized glasses, revealing the geometrically patterned blue eyes beneath. For a moment, the Sharingan met Six Eyes directly—two ancient dōjutsu facing each other for perhaps the first time in centuries.

"I knew it," Sasuke whispered, a complex mix of emotions flooding his chakra network. "Your eyes..."

Then his hand fell, and consciousness slipped away.

Something snapped inside Naruto. Rage—purer and more focused than he'd ever experienced—flooded his system. As his emotions peaked, both the Nine-Tails' chakra and his own Limitless techniques responded simultaneously.

Red, demonic chakra swirled around him as the space within the ice mirror dome began to distort visibly. The air shimmered with both fox-like chakra and the bending of reality itself.

"Is this the first time you've seen a comrade fall in battle?" Haku asked from within his mirrors. "This is the way of shinobi."

"Shut up," Naruto growled, his voice distorted. The geometric patterns in his eyes blazed brighter than ever, visible even through the red chakra aura surrounding him.

"Interesting," Haku observed. "Such strange eyes, and that chakra... You're both a jinchūriki and something else entirely, aren't you?"

Naruto didn't respond with words. Instead, he extended his awareness outward, applying the Red principle of Limitless to the entire ice mirror structure. For the first time in battle, he unleashed the full power of his ability without restraint.

"Infinity Reflection!"

The ice mirrors, rather than merely reflecting light and images, suddenly reflected everything—including Haku's own attacks. As the masked ninja attempted to launch another senbon barrage, the needles reversed direction mid-flight, forcing him to dodge his own weapons.

"What is this?" Haku gasped, genuine shock breaking through his calm demeanor.

"Space itself rejects you," Naruto stated, the fox's chakra enhancing his voice to a bestial growl. "Nothing can enter, nothing can leave... except me."

With speed enhanced by both the Nine-Tails and his perfect spatial awareness, Naruto launched himself at the mirror where Haku had taken refuge. As his fist connected, he applied the final principle of Limitless—Purple, convergence—to the impact point.

The ice mirror didn't merely shatter; it imploded, the space within it collapsing to infinitesimal dimensions. Haku was thrown clear, his mask cracking as he tumbled across the bridge.

Naruto pursued relentlessly, the surrounding space warping with each step he took. When he reached the fallen ninja, he grasped him by the front of his robe, raising a clawed hand for a final strike.

That's when Haku's mask fell away completely, revealing a face Naruto recognized—the kind stranger he'd met in the forest days earlier.

"You..." Naruto faltered, the fox's chakra receding slightly.

"Why do you hesitate?" Haku asked quietly. "I have failed as Zabuza-san's tool. I deserve death."

Through his Six Eyes, Naruto perceived the truth in Haku's chakra—a soul of genuine gentleness warped by harsh circumstance into a weapon.

"You're not a tool," Naruto stated, the fox's influence diminishing further. "No one is."

"Everyone is someone's tool, Naruto-kun," Haku replied sadly. "Even you, with those magnificent eyes of yours. Someone is using you, guiding you, shaping your power for their purposes."

The words struck deeper than any senbon. Hadn't Jiraiya and the Hokage been doing exactly that—controlling his development, deciding when and how his abilities should be revealed?

Before Naruto could respond, Haku's chakra suddenly spiked with alarm. "Zabuza-san needs me!"

Breaking free from Naruto's loosened grip, Haku formed a hand sign and vanished in a swirl of ice, reappearing across the bridge where Kakashi was preparing a lightning-based attack aimed directly at Zabuza's heart.

What happened next occurred so quickly that even Naruto's Six Eyes barely tracked it—Haku throwing himself between Kakashi and Zabuza, taking the full force of the Chidori through his chest.

"No!" Naruto shouted, instinctively applying Limitless to cross the distance instantly—creating a momentary distortion that compressed the space between his position and Haku's.

He arrived too late. Haku, impaled on Kakashi's lightning-wrapped arm, smiled peacefully as life faded from his eyes.

"Thank you," the ice-user whispered. "I was useful... one last time."

As Haku's body slumped and Kakashi withdrew his bloodied hand, Naruto's expanded awareness detected new arrivals—Gato and a small army of mercenaries at the far end of the bridge.

What followed was chaos. Zabuza, freed from Kakashi's technique by Haku's sacrifice, went on a rampage against Gato and his men despite grievous injuries. Naruto, his secret abilities now partially exposed, used his shadow clones to support the wounded Demon of the Mist in his final battle.

When it was over—Gato dead, the mercenaries routed, Zabuza dying beside Haku's body—snow began to fall gently on the bridge.

"Kid," Zabuza called weakly as life ebbed from him. "Those eyes of yours... I've heard legends..."

Naruto knelt beside the dying shinobi. "What legends?"

"In the ancient scrolls... of Kirigakure..." Zabuza coughed blood. "Eyes that bend reality... the Limitless Blue... carrier of infinity."

"How do you know this?" Naruto asked urgently.

Zabuza's lips curved in a bloody smile. "Seven Swordsmen... have access to forbidden knowledge... beware, boy. If others learn... what you carry..." His voice faded as his eyes fixed on Haku's peaceful face. "Haku... I'm coming..."

With those words, the Demon of the Hidden Mist passed into darkness.

Later, after burying Zabuza and Haku on a cliff overlooking the ocean, Team 7 gathered at Tazuna's house to recover. Kakashi, still weak from chakra exhaustion, had summoned Naruto to speak privately.

"Your control slipped," the jōnin stated without preamble.

Naruto nodded, his sunglasses back in place though the damage was done. "Sasuke saw my eyes. And I used Limitless techniques openly."

"Against Haku's ice mirrors." Kakashi's visible eye was grave. "That wasn't shadow clones or Nine-Tails chakra. You warped space itself."

"I had no choice. Sasuke was dying."

"I'm not criticizing your decision," Kakashi clarified. "But we need to address the consequences. Sasuke knows you have a dōjutsu now, and he saw you use abilities beyond anything in the standard shinobi arsenal."

Naruto slumped against the wall. "What do we tell him? And Sakura?"

"Sakura didn't witness your abilities directly, though she's certainly noticed inconsistencies. As for Sasuke..." Kakashi sighed. "The Hokage will need to be consulted. This changes our timeline for revealing your true nature."

"What about what Zabuza said? About ancient scrolls in Kirigakure mentioning my eyes?"

Kakashi's expression sharpened. "That's concerning. If written records of the Six Eyes exist in other villages, others might be searching for them—or for you, once word spreads."

"It was going to happen eventually," Naruto said quietly. "Jiraiya warned me years ago. Extraordinary power draws extraordinary danger."

"Indeed." Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Rest now. When Sasuke recovers, we'll decide how much to tell him. And when we return to Konoha, the Hokage will need to know everything."

The next few days passed in uneasy tension. Sakura divided her time between caring for Sasuke and giving Naruto curious, sidelong glances. Though she hadn't witnessed his abilities directly, she'd certainly noticed the shift in dynamics and the furtive conversations between Naruto and Kakashi.

Sasuke, meanwhile, remained bedridden but conscious, his newly awakened Sharingan deactivated but his mind clearly active. Through his bedroom door, Naruto's Six Eyes could perceive the Uchiha's chakra network cycling through complex emotions—curiosity, frustration, determination, and something that might have been respect.

When the bridge was finally completed a week later, Team 7 prepared to depart. Sasuke, still moving stiffly but recovered enough to travel, approached Naruto as they packed.

"We need to talk," he said without preamble. "About your eyes."

Naruto tensed. "Kakashi-sensei says we should wait until we return to the village."

"Since when do you follow rules?" Sasuke challenged, a hint of his old arrogance returning. "Your eyes aren't a normal dōjutsu. I saw what you did to those ice mirrors—you didn't break them, you... folded reality around them."

"It's complicated," Naruto hedged.

"I'm sure it is." Sasuke's tone softened marginally. "You saved my life, Naruto. Whatever secrets you're keeping... I'm not your enemy."

The sincerity in Sasuke's chakra network was unmistakable. For perhaps the first time, the Uchiha was extending genuine trust—something his pride rarely allowed.

"The Hokage has classified information about my abilities," Naruto explained carefully. "It's not just my secret to tell. But..." he hesitated, then continued, "they're called the Six Eyes. They let me see... everything. Chakra, emotions, spatial relationships, physical vulnerabilities—nothing is hidden from them."

Sasuke absorbed this with remarkable calm. "And the space manipulation?"

"The Limitless technique. It's the Six Eyes' primary combat ability—control over infinity itself."

"Infinity?" Sasuke repeated incredulously.

"The ability to create infinite space between objects, reflect attacks into infinity, or converge infinity into a point," Naruto simplified. "It's... hard to explain."

To his surprise, Sasuke nodded slowly. "The Sharingan showed me fragments of what you did. It was... beyond anything I've ever seen." A complex emotion flickered through his chakra—recognition of power that potentially surpassed his own ambitions.

"This doesn't change anything between us," Naruto said quickly. "I'm still your teammate, still the same Naruto."

"No," Sasuke contradicted, "you're not the dead-last I thought I knew. You're someone much more interesting." His eyes gleamed with newfound respect and challenge. "When we get back to the village, I want a real spar. No holding back, no pretending. Your eyes against mine."

Before Naruto could respond, Kakashi called them to the bridge for the farewell ceremony. The grateful citizens of Wave Country had named the structure "The Great Naruto Bridge" in honor of the boy who had inspired them to stand against Gato's tyranny.

As Team 7 departed amid cheers and well-wishes, Naruto couldn't help but feel that a threshold had been crossed. His carefully managed secret existence was unraveling—first Sasuke, eventually Sakura, and then who knew how many others.

The journey back to Konoha was tense with unspoken questions. Sakura, observant as ever, clearly sensed the shift in dynamic between Naruto and Sasuke but couldn't pinpoint its cause. Kakashi maintained vigilant awareness, particularly after Zabuza's revelation about Kirigakure scrolls.

They were a day from the village when Naruto's Six Eyes detected something alarming—chakra signatures following them, expertly concealed but unmistakable to his perception.

"Sensei," he murmured, dropping back to walk beside Kakashi. "We're being tracked. Three shinobi, jōnin-level at least, maintaining distance of approximately half a kilometer."

Kakashi didn't visibly react, but his chakra sharpened with alertness. "Headbands?"

"Can't see from this distance," Naruto admitted. "But their chakra patterns are unfamiliar—not Konoha shinobi."

"Maintain normal pace and behavior," Kakashi instructed quietly. "We're almost home. If they were going to attack, they would have done so in more isolated territory."

Despite Kakashi's reassurance, Naruto remained hypervigilant as they completed their journey. The unknown shinobi maintained their distance until Team 7 came within sight of Konoha's gates—then vanished so completely that even Naruto's expanded awareness couldn't track them.

"They're gone," he reported to Kakashi as they approached the village checkpoint.

"For now," the jōnin replied grimly. "Report directly to the Hokage after check-in. This mission debriefing can't wait."

The Third Hokage listened gravely as Team 7 reported the events in Wave Country—the battle with Zabuza and Haku, Sasuke's awakening of the Sharingan, and most significantly, Naruto's exposure as a Six Eyes wielder.

"This complicates matters," Hiruzen said, puffing on his pipe. "Particularly Zabuza's mention of Kirigakure scrolls. If written records of the Six Eyes exist in other villages, we must assume the secret will spread faster than anticipated."

"Sasuke has seen my eyes and some of my abilities," Naruto confirmed. "And Sakura suspects something, though she hasn't witnessed anything directly."

The Hokage turned to Sasuke. "And what do you make of what you've seen, young Uchiha?"

Sasuke met the old man's gaze steadily. "Naruto possesses a powerful dōjutsu unlike any I've heard of. His abilities seem to manipulate space itself." He paused. "Whatever it is, it saved my life. I have no intention of exposing his secret."

Hiruzen studied him carefully, then nodded. "Good. Because as of this moment, all information regarding Naruto's Six Eyes is classified as an S-rank secret, punishable by the highest penalties if revealed without authorization."

"What about Sakura?" Naruto asked. "She's part of our team too."

"A valid point," the Hokage conceded. "Kakashi, do you believe Sakura Haruno can be trusted with this information?"

Kakashi considered the question. "Sakura is intelligent and loyal. Her analytical mind would be an asset rather than a liability if properly informed. Keeping her in the dark while her teammates share this knowledge could damage team cohesion."

"Very well," Hiruzen decided. "You may brief Sakura under controlled conditions. Beyond Team 7, only myself, Jiraiya, and select ANBU are cleared to know the full extent of Naruto's abilities."

As they left the Hokage's office, Naruto felt a complex mixture of relief and apprehension. The burden of secrecy would be lessened among his immediate team, but the wider world was beginning to take notice.

That evening, Team 7 gathered at a secure training ground. Sakura arrived last, her chakra network revealing nervous curiosity.

"What's going on?" she asked, noting the privacy seals Kakashi had established around the perimeter. "Why all the secrecy?"

"There's something you need to know about Naruto," Kakashi began. "Something that changes our understanding of Team 7's capabilities and dynamics."

Sakura turned to Naruto, who stood silently beside Sasuke. "This is about why you've been holding back in training, isn't it? And those sunglasses..."

Naruto nodded, then slowly removed the specialized eyewear. Sakura gasped as the geometric patterns in his irises became visible, glowing faintly in the evening light.

"They're beautiful," she whispered, then caught herself. "What... what are they?"

"A dōjutsu called the Six Eyes," Kakashi explained. "Unlike the Sharingan or Byakugan, they grant perfect chakra perception, spatial awareness, and the ability to manipulate reality through techniques known as Limitless."

For the next hour, they explained everything to Sakura—how Naruto's eyes had awakened years ago, how he had trained in secret with Jiraiya while maintaining a facade at the Academy, and how his abilities had been classified as an S-rank secret to protect him from those who would exploit such power.

Sakura listened with growing understanding, pieces clicking into place. "That's why you always seemed to know things you shouldn't—enemy positions, chakra natures, emotional states." Her eyes widened further. "And during the bell test, when Kakashi-sensei stumbled for no reason—you did that, didn't you?"

Naruto nodded. "A small spatial distortion. Just enough to throw off his balance."

"And the tree-climbing exercise?"

"Mastered it years ago," Naruto admitted. "Perfect chakra control is one aspect of the Six Eyes."

To her credit, Sakura didn't seem angry about the deception—merely thoughtful. "So all this time, while I was thinking of you as the team's weakest member..."

"He was potentially the strongest," Sasuke finished, his tone neutral but his chakra revealing complex emotions.

"Why tell me now?" Sakura asked.

"Because secrets between teammates get people killed," Kakashi stated flatly. "Sasuke nearly died in Wave Country before Naruto fully utilized his abilities. That can't happen again. Team 7 needs to function with complete awareness of each member's capabilities."

"Plus," Naruto added with a hint of his usual grin, "I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not around the people I trust most."

The sincerity in his statement wasn't lost on Sakura. Her chakra network pulsed with surprised warmth at being included in that circle of trust.

"So what happens now?" she asked.

"Now," Kakashi said, "we begin training as the team we truly are. Sasuke with his Sharingan, you with your perfect chakra control and analytical mind, and Naruto with his Six Eyes and Limitless techniques. No more holding back in team exercises."

"Though in public, I'll still wear the glasses and limit my more unusual abilities," Naruto clarified. "The wider world isn't ready to know what I can do."

"And if they did," Sasuke added with unexpected insight, "every village and organization would target you for those eyes."

The gravity of this reality settled over the team. For the first time, they stood together with full knowledge of each other's true nature. The facade had fallen, replaced by something potentially stronger—but also more dangerous.

As night fell over the training ground, Naruto expanded his awareness one last time, scanning the perimeter of Konoha with his Six Eyes. The mysterious trackers from earlier were gone, but he couldn't shake the feeling that somewhere out there, others were already moving in response to whispers of the blue-eyed boy who could bend infinity.

The wheels of destiny had begun turning. And there would be no going back.

News from Wave Country traveled faster than Team 7 could have anticipated. Within days of their return to Konoha, rumors began circulating among the jōnin—whispers of the bridge battle where extraordinary techniques had been witnessed, where reality itself seemed to bend.

Naruto sensed the change immediately. With his Six Eyes, he could perceive the subtle shifts in how certain shinobi regarded him—speculative glances, chakra networks flaring with curiosity when he passed. The sunglasses concealed his distinctive irises, but suspicion had been sown.

"They know something happened," he reported to Jiraiya during one of their now-regular training sessions. "Not specifics, but enough to start asking questions."

The Toad Sage frowned, watching as Naruto demonstrated a refined application of Limitless—creating a sphere of infinitely distorted space that rendered kunai trajectories unpredictable to anyone but himself.

"Inevitable," Jiraiya sighed. "Your team's mission was officially classified as C-rank but paid as A-rank. That alone raises eyebrows. Add in rumors of unusual jutsu, and people start connecting dots."

"What's our move?" Naruto asked, releasing the technique.

"Acceleration," Jiraiya replied. "The Hokage and I have discussed this at length. Rather than reactive damage control, we're shifting to a proactive approach."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning it's time for the Six Eyes to make their official debut—on our terms, controlled and calculated."

Naruto's heart raced. After years of hiding, the prospect of openly acknowledging his abilities was both liberating and terrifying.

"How?" he asked.

Jiraiya grinned. "The Chūnin Exams are coming up. The perfect stage for a carefully orchestrated revelation."

The plan, as Jiraiya explained it, was elegant in its simplicity. Rather than fighting persistent rumors or maintaining an increasingly transparent deception, Naruto would reveal the existence of his dōjutsu during the exams—but not its full capabilities.

"We'll acknowledge the Six Eyes as a rare dōjutsu with enhanced perception and chakra control," Jiraiya elaborated. "Comparable to the Sharingan or Byakugan—impressive but not world-shattering. The Limitless techniques will be described as advanced space-time ninjutsu derived from the eyes' perceptive abilities."

"A half-truth," Naruto noted.

"The most effective kind of deception," Jiraiya confirmed. "We reveal enough to satisfy curiosity and explain your abilities, while still concealing the true extent of what you can do."

For the next several weeks, Team 7 trained with renewed purpose. With Sakura and Sasuke now aware of Naruto's true capabilities, their team dynamics evolved dramatically. Kakashi pushed them harder than ever, designing exercises that leveraged each member's unique strengths.

Sasuke, driven by both pride and genuine determination, trained relentlessly with his newly awakened Sharingan. Though initially frustrated by the gap between his abilities and Naruto's, the Uchiha's competitive nature soon transformed that frustration into focused growth.

"Again," he would demand after each sparring session, Sharingan blazing as he attempted to track and counter Naruto's Limitless techniques.

Sakura underwent perhaps the most dramatic transformation. With her perfect chakra control now recognized as a vital team asset rather than a mere academic advantage, she devoted herself to medical ninjutsu and genjutsu—areas where her precision gave her natural advantages.

"The Six Eyes can perceive genjutsu instantly," she noted during one training session, "but not everyone has that advantage. If I can master illusions that fool even experienced jōnin..."

"You become our secret weapon," Kakashi finished approvingly.

As for Naruto, he focused on refining his control over Limitless, particularly in combat applications. The raw power had always been there, but finesse and strategy were what would truly set him apart.

"Power without precision is just wasted energy," Jiraiya reminded him regularly.

When Kakashi officially nominated Team 7 for the Chūnin Exams, none of them were surprised. What did surprise them was the intensity of interest from other jōnin—particularly those from visiting villages.

The day before the exams began, while Team 7 trained in one of Konoha's public grounds, Naruto's Six Eyes detected a familiar chakra signature observing them from nearby—Gaara of the Sand, the One-Tail jinchūriki whose presence in the village had been noted with concern by Konoha's security forces.

"We're being watched," Naruto murmured to his teammates, adjusting his sunglasses.

Sasuke and Sakura tensed imperceptibly, continuing their exercises while subtly shifting positions to better respond to potential threats.

"Sand shinobi," Naruto continued quietly. "The redhead with the gourd—a jinchūriki like me."

Sakura's chakra flickered with concern. "Should we inform Kakashi-sensei?"

"No need to escalate," Naruto decided after assessing Gaara's chakra more carefully. Despite the violent turbulence in the Sand ninja's network—indicating severe mental instability—there was no immediate intent to attack. "He's just... curious."

When Gaara finally emerged from concealment, approaching Team 7 directly, the killing intent radiating from him was palpable. Even without sensory abilities, Sasuke and Sakura immediately recognized the danger.

"You," Gaara addressed Naruto, ignoring the others completely. "Mother wants your blood. She senses something in you... something beyond the demon you carry."

Through his Six Eyes, Naruto could perceive the chaotic interplay between Gaara's own chakra and the corrupted seal containing Shukaku. The poor integration between beast and host had created a psychological fracture that manifested as "Mother"—the One-Tail's influence seeping through.

"Your seal is degraded," Naruto observed calmly, drawing surprised looks from his teammates. "The One-Tail has too much influence over your consciousness."

Gaara's eyes widened fractionally—the only indication of his shock. "You can see... Shukaku?"

"I can see many things," Naruto replied, deliberately removing his sunglasses to reveal his Six Eyes.

The geometric patterns in his blue irises seemed to captivate Gaara, whose own chakra network momentarily stabilized in response to the visual stimulus.

"What are those eyes?" the Sand ninja demanded.

"A dōjutsu called the Six Eyes," Naruto explained, following the script prepared with Jiraiya and the Hokage. "They allow me to perceive chakra systems and spatial relationships with perfect clarity."

"Including the beasts within us," Gaara surmised, unconsciously touching his forehead where the kanji for "love" was carved.

"Yes."

Something like recognition flickered across Gaara's face. "In the ancient scrolls of Suna... there are legends of eyes that see the truth of all things. Eyes that belonged to neither Uchiha nor Hyūga, but to a clan long thought extinct."

Naruto tensed internally, though his expression remained neutral. First Zabuza's mention of Kirigakure records, now this reference to Suna scrolls. How widespread was knowledge of the Six Eyes in the ancient archives of the Five Great Nations?

"The exams will be... interesting," Gaara concluded, turning to leave. For a brief moment, the madness in his eyes cleared, replaced by something almost like clarity. "We are not so different, you and I. Vessels for powers beyond human understanding."

As the Sand ninja departed, Sasuke and Sakura moved closer to Naruto.

"What was that about?" Sasuke demanded.

"I'm not sure," Naruto admitted. "But it confirms something Jiraiya and the Hokage feared—there are historical records of the Six Eyes in multiple villages. Knowledge that was thought lost is still preserved in ancient archives."

"Is that bad?" Sakura asked.

"It means I'm not as unique as we thought," Naruto explained. "Or rather, the potential for these eyes might exist elsewhere. If the bloodline wasn't completely eradicated..."

"There could be others," Sasuke completed the thought, his Sharingan activating unconsciously as the implications sank in.

The Chūnin Exams began the following day with the written test administered by Ibiki Morino. For Naruto, whose Six Eyes could perceive the answers on other examinees' papers without effort, the challenge was trivial. More interesting was observing the various methods other genin employed to cheat—from Sasuke's Sharingan copying to Hinata's Byakugan scanning.

The true purpose of the test—to assess information-gathering skills rather than knowledge—was immediately obvious to him. When Ibiki presented the final question with its ultimatum about never becoming chūnin if answered incorrectly, Naruto's perception of the proctor's chakra network revealed the bluff instantly.

Teams passed or failed, and those remaining moved on to the second stage—the Forest of Death, overseen by the intimidating Anko Mitarashi. As Team 7 prepared to enter the forest, Naruto expanded his awareness to its maximum extent, creating a mental map of the immediate terrain and detecting the positions of nearby teams.

"Two teams approaching from the north," he murmured to Sasuke and Sakura. "Another setting an ambush three hundred meters east. We should head west initially, then curve south to avoid immediate confrontation."

Sasuke nodded, his Sharingan activated. "Let's secure an Earth scroll quickly and proceed to the tower. The longer we're in this forest, the more chances for something to go wrong."

How prophetic those words would prove.

Their initial progress was smooth. Naruto's Six Eyes allowed them to navigate efficiently while avoiding other teams. When they did engage—ambushing a team from Rain Village—the battle was swift and decisive. Sasuke's fire jutsu, Sakura's precision genjutsu, and Naruto's shadow clones overwhelmed their opponents without revealing any of their more specialized abilities.

Earth scroll secured, they headed toward the central tower. That's when Naruto's expanded awareness detected something alarming—a chakra signature unlike anything he'd ever sensed before. Not merely powerful, but fundamentally wrong—like natural energy corrupted and twisted into something that violated the basic principles of reality.

"Stop," he whispered urgently to his teammates. "Something's coming. Something... inhuman."

Before they could react, a massive wind jutsu tore through the forest, separating Team 7 with hurricane force. Naruto found himself thrown nearly a hundred meters from his teammates, momentarily disoriented by the sheer power of the attack.

Recovering quickly, he expanded his awareness to locate Sasuke and Sakura. What he saw chilled him to the bone. The source of the corrupted chakra—disguised as a Grass ninja but radiating power far beyond genin or even jōnin level—was engaging Sasuke directly. Sakura stood frozen nearby, caught in what appeared to be a fear-inducing genjutsu.

"Infinity between," Naruto whispered, activating the Blue principle of Limitless to cross the distance in a fraction of the time normal movement would require. Space compressed around him as he moved, covering ground with uncanny speed.

He arrived just as the Grass ninja revealed their true nature—peeling away a facial disguise to expose serpentine features beneath. Through his Six Eyes, Naruto could see the complex chakra network that identified the intruder beyond any doubt.

"Orochimaru," he breathed, recognizing the signature from Jiraiya's descriptions and the Hokage's warnings.

The Snake Sannin turned at Naruto's arrival, golden eyes widening with genuine surprise as they fixed on Naruto's exposed Six Eyes. In the chaos of the attack, his sunglasses had been lost.

"Well, well," Orochimaru practically purred. "What an unexpected prize. I came for the Sharingan, but it seems Konoha has been hiding something far more interesting."

Through his expanded awareness, Naruto could see the calculating shifts in Orochimaru's chakra—recognition, avarice, and a terrible sort of hunger.

"Those eyes," the Sannin continued, "I thought them extinct. The Six Eyes of the Uzumaki's forgotten bloodline. More valuable even than the Sharingan."

Sasuke, partially recovered from Orochimaru's initial assault, moved to stand beside Naruto. His Sharingan burned with determination despite the fear evident in his chakra network.

"Whatever you want, you're not getting it," Sasuke declared, hands forming signs for a fire jutsu.

Orochimaru laughed, the sound devoid of human warmth. "Such bravado. But I've revised my plans. The Sharingan can wait. Those eyes," he fixed his gaze on Naruto again, "the power to perceive and manipulate infinity itself... I must have them."

"Not going to happen," Naruto stated firmly, dropping into a combat stance. "Sasuke, get Sakura and run. I'll hold him off."

"Don't be a fool," Sasuke hissed. "He's a Sannin. Even with your eyes—"

"Trust me," Naruto cut him off. "I'm not planning to beat him. Just delay him long enough for help to arrive."

Even as he spoke, Naruto had extended his awareness outward, searching for ANBU patrols. To his relief, several were already converging on their position, alerted by the massive chakra spike of Orochimaru's wind jutsu.

Orochimaru seemed to sense this too, his forked tongue flicking out to taste the air. "It seems our time is limited. Very well—a sample will suffice for now."

He moved with blinding speed, stretching his neck unnaturally as his fangs aimed for Naruto's throat. What happened next would be discussed in whispered awe by those who later reviewed the ANBU reports.

Naruto activated all three principles of Limitless simultaneously—something he'd practiced but never attempted in actual combat. Blue to create infinite space between Orochimaru's fangs and his neck, Red to reflect the kinetic energy of the attack back at the attacker, and Purple to compress the space around the Sannin himself, momentarily restricting his movement.

"Infinite Void: Tri-Principle Convergence!" Naruto shouted, the geometric patterns in his eyes blazing with blue light.

The air around them shattered like glass as space itself warped and folded. Orochimaru's elongated neck froze mid-strike, caught in a distortion that bent light around it. Then, as the Red principle took effect, his body was violently repelled backward, crashing through multiple trees before stabilizing.

For a brief moment, genuine shock registered on the Sannin's face. "Magnificent," he whispered, eyes gleaming with covetous fascination. "Not just the eyes, but mastery of Limitless as well. You are full of surprises, Naruto Uzumaki."

The effort of maintaining such a complex technique had cost Naruto dearly. His chakra reserves, though vast, were severely depleted. Even drawing on the Nine-Tails' energy wouldn't sustain another attack of that magnitude.

Orochimaru seemed to sense this weakness, his expression calculating as he prepared for another assault. "The Six Eyes grant perfect chakra control, but even infinity has its limits when wielded by a child."

Before he could attack again, multiple ANBU appeared around Team 7 in defensive formation. Among them, Naruto recognized the chakra signature of one particularly powerful operative—his mask plainly visible now that secrecy was moot.

"Orochimaru," Kakashi stated coldly, Sharingan exposed and crackling with lightning chakra.

The Snake Sannin assessed the situation with clinical detachment. "Another time, then." His gaze lingered on Naruto. "We will meet again, bearer of the Six Eyes. Your power belongs in hands that understand its true potential."

With that ominous promise, Orochimaru melted into the forest floor, his chakra signature fading beyond even Naruto's expanded awareness.

As ANBU secured the area and began escorting Team 7 toward safety, Kakashi turned to Naruto, concern evident despite his masked face.

"Are you alright?"

Naruto nodded weakly, exhaustion setting in as the adrenaline faded. "He knew about my eyes, Sensei. Not just recognized them—he knew what they were called, what they could do. He came for Sasuke but changed targets when he saw me."

Kakashi's expression darkened. "This changes everything. Orochimaru's interest in dōjutsu is well-documented, but if he's specifically targeting the Six Eyes..."

"Then the secret is well and truly out," Naruto finished grimly.

Later, in the Hokage's office, the full implications were discussed. Team 7 had been withdrawn from the Chūnin Exams for their protection, though officially it was described as injuries sustained during the second stage.

"Orochimaru's knowledge of the Six Eyes is deeply troubling," Hiruzen stated, looking older than Naruto had ever seen him. "It confirms our fears that ancient records of your bloodline exist in multiple villages."

"He called it 'the Uzumaki's forgotten bloodline,'" Naruto reported. "Does that mean my mother's clan knew about these eyes?"

The Hokage exchanged glances with Jiraiya, who had been summoned immediately upon Orochimaru's appearance.

"The Uzumaki were known primarily for their sealing techniques and extraordinary life force," Jiraiya explained. "But there were always rumors of older powers within certain branches of the clan. It seems the Six Eyes were one such power—perhaps so rare that they manifested only once in many generations."

"Which raises another possibility," Hiruzen added gravely. "If the bloodline runs through the Uzumaki line, there may be other potential carriers among Uzumaki descendants scattered after the fall of Uzushiogakure."

The implications hung heavy in the air. Naruto wasn't just the last known Six Eyes user—he might be one of many potential carriers of the dormant bloodline.

"What now?" Sasuke asked, speaking for the first time since their rescue. His Sharingan had deactivated, but the intensity in his eyes remained. "Orochimaru won't stop coming for either of us."

"Indeed," the Hokage agreed. "Which is why we're accelerating both your training. Kakashi will continue as Team 7's leader, but with supplementary instruction from specialists." He turned to Naruto. "Jiraiya will take a more active role in developing your Limitless techniques."

"And me?" Sasuke questioned, an edge to his voice.

"I've arranged for an ANBU specialist in genjutsu countermeasures to work with you," Hiruzen replied. "Orochimaru's psychological tactics are as dangerous as his ninjutsu."

Sakura, who had been silent throughout the meeting, finally spoke. "Lord Hokage, if I may... I'd like to request specialized medical training. If my teammates are being targeted by someone like Orochimaru, my current skills are insufficient to support them."

Hiruzen studied her with newfound respect. "A wise request. I believe Tsunade's apprentice, Shizune, could spare some time for basic instruction while she's in the village."

As they left the Hokage Tower, Naruto felt the weight of destiny settling more heavily on his shoulders. The careful revelation they had planned for the Chūnin Exams had been violently accelerated by Orochimaru's appearance. Now, rather than a controlled disclosure, rumors would spread like wildfire—whispers of the blonde-haired genin with eyes that could bend reality.

"It was always going to happen," Sasuke said quietly as they walked, seeming to read Naruto's thoughts. "Power like yours can't remain hidden forever."

"I know," Naruto admitted. "I just hoped for more time."

"Time for what?" Sakura asked.

Naruto gazed up at the Hokage Monument, his eyes tracing the stone faces of Konoha's leaders. "Time to become strong enough to protect what matters when everyone comes hunting for these eyes."

The gravity of his words settled over Team 7 like a shroud. The relative peace of their genin days had ended.