Naruto slept frustrated.
After returning to his apartment, Naruto dragged himself to his room, his mind still occupied by the events of the day. Dealing with Ino, Ayame, and even Inoichi had been more tiring than any physical training.
Acting was troublesome.
Pretending to be a harmless child was even worse.
With a click of his tongue, he threw himself onto the bed. His eyes barely remained open before exhaustion pulled him into a deep sleep.
In his dream, Naruto found himself back in Konoha as he was now.
He saw his earlier attempts at martial arts training.
"Tch, my body's too weak," he had realized early on, giving up on that path entirely. His current vessel simply wasn't capable of supporting the techniques he once used in his previous life. Instead, he dedicated himself solely to ninjutsu and the physical techniques of this world.
The dream moved forward rapidly.
Days became months.
Months became years.
He watched himself study jutsu with relentless determination, mastering chakra control, learning new techniques, and pushing his body beyond its limits. Strength accumulated little by little until he became one of Konoha's strongest shinobi.
Then he tried to leave the village.
Again and again.
Yet every attempt failed.
No matter what he did, he remained tied to Konoha.
Eventually, he stopped trying.
If he could not leave Konoha, then he would rule it.
The dream shifted once more.
He had become Hokage.
After he became Hokage, he became rather soft in that dream, since he reached his goal to rule Konoha.
His face was carved into the mountain alongside the previous Hokage. Standing atop the monument, he gazed down upon the village below.
At least I achieved something in this world.
Then his vision darkened.
A shadow spread across the village.
At first it was small.
Then it continued growing high towards the sky.
Larger.
And larger.
Until all of Konoha was swallowed beneath it.
A colossal figure appeared behind the Hokage Monument.
Naruto recognized it immediately.
The statue of Xuan Tian.
As the Heavenly Demon.
The figure towered above the mountain like a divine being looking down upon mortals. An overwhelming pressure descended upon the world. Naruto felt it pressing against his body, forcing him to his knees.
He couldn't look away.
His own Hokage face, which had seemed like an achievement moments ago, now looked insignificant beneath the shadow of the Heavenly Demon.
The difference was like comparing a candle to the sun.
One represented the limits of this world.
The other represented the path he had once walked.
A path that sought domination over heaven and earth.
Naruto jolted awake.
His body was drenched in sweat and his breathing uneven.
For a few moments, he simply sat there. He silently stared at the darkness, remembering the dream again.
Then he grabbed a cup of water and emptied it in one gulp.
His mind raced.
Suddenly, he laughed.
"Haahaaahaaa."
His eyes gleamed with realization.
So, this… is what I'm missing.
I am losing my true self.
My original self.
The Heavenly Demon.
Since arriving in this world, he had unknowingly begun adapting to its way of thinking. Graduation, academy life, becoming a shinobi—those things had started occupying his attention.
The dream had reminded him of something important.
His goal was never to become Hokage.
His goal was power.
Absolute power.
The next morning, Naruto began his usual body training.
He ran throughout Konoha, crossing streets, rooftops, and training paths without stopping. Sweat poured down his face as he pushed his weak body harder and harder.
Only by strengthening this vessel could he fully walk the path he desired.
When he finally returned home, he found a package waiting outside his door.
His new outfit.
After cleaning himself and finishing his routine, he changed into the black clothes.
Standing before the mirror, Naruto smirked.
This suited him far better than the orange outfit.
Soon enough, it was time for the academy's photo session.
Naruto arrived wearing his new attire.
When his turn came, he stood before the camera with folded arms. Turning slightly sideways, he gave a small scoff.
"Hmph."
The photographer felt strangely pressured under the boy's gaze and quickly took the picture.
The photo captured Naruto with his forehead protector tied around his arm, his arms folded and his eyes looking sideways with a visible scoff on his face.
After the photos were done, Inoichi arrived to escort him to the Third Hokage's office.
Inside, the Hokage greeted him with a warm smile.
"Naruto," he said kindly, "I just wanted to check on you. How have you been?"
Naruto shrugged.
"I've been fine, old man. But there is something I need."
He looked the Hokage directly in the eye.
"I need the basics—clothes, weapons. None of the shops let me buy anything. I want you to make some arrangements with these things."
The Hokage blinked at the straightforward request.
Inoichi also got shocked.
After a moment, Hokage nodded.
"I understand, Naruto. I'll speak to the shops. There's a weapons store in Konoha you'll be able to access to buy armory at reasonable prices, and I'll make sure there are ninja stores that will provide the essentials to any ninja, including you."
Naruto says, "thankyou old man".
Then Naruto asks, his voice steady though his gaze remained intense.
"I also want to clarify one thing, is my father, the fourth hokage? we both have same resemblance, same eyes and same hair color"
The Hokage froze.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Finally, he nodded.
"Yes, Naruto. The fourth hokage was indeed your father. He sacrificed his life to save you and all of Konoha. He hoped you'd be honored as the hero who held the Nine-Tails back for the village."
Naruto scoffed, eyes narrowing.
"A hero, huh?"
He shook his head.
"I think a hero can't be getting a treatment like I am."
The Hokage sighed heavily.
"We wanted to keep the details of the Nine-Tails a secret… but somehow, the information spread throughout Konoha."
The Hokage reached into his desk and pulled out a key and scroll.
"Your father's house is still preserved. His belongings, his privacy… they're all intact. You, as his son, you have every right to them. Here is the key and its location details."
"we took care of the house from robbers, we preserved it to you to have it. everything that house holds is yours to take."
Naruto accepted the key and location scroll.
"Thanks."
His expression remained calm and unreadable.
The Hokage watched him closely.
Most children would have shown happiness, sadness, anger, or resentment after learning something like this.
Naruto showed none of them.
The boy standing before him felt strangely distant.
Colder.
More mature than he should be.
As Naruto turned and left, a faint feeling of unease settled in the Hokage's heart.
After Naruto left, the Hokage glanced toward Inoichi.
"Keep a close eye on him."
Inoichi nodded.
"of course."
Outside the Hokage's office, Naruto looked at the key in his hand.
Minato's house meant little to him emotionally.
However, a useful asset was still a useful asset.
If I'm going to train as I want, I'll need a place far from prying eyes.
His apartment wasn't suitable for the plans he had in mind.
Following the directions, Naruto made his way through Konoha.
As he continued walking, he noticed the path leading toward a forested area.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
The new house would provide far more privacy than his current apartment.
And privacy was exactly what he needed.
(To Be Continued...)