KonohaGakure No Sato :
Hokage Office :
The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was stagnant, thick with the scent of cherry-wood tobacco and the metallic tang of ink. Moonlight filtered through the large circular window, casting long, skeletal shadows across the rows of scrolls that lined the walls like silent witnesses.
The only sound was the rhythmic puff-puff of Hiruzen's pipe and the faint, ghostly scratching of a pen from a nearby desk. It was the kind of silence that usually preceded a war declaration, yet today, it was held for a boy and a floor rag.
The Hokage was the first to speak, his voice a gravelly rasp. "Now... what do you both truly think?"
Spying on Naruto through the crystal ball had been a jarring experience for the veterans. Seeing him use the Transformation Jutsu just to walk through the village unnoticed rang alarm bells in their hearts.
If Naruto began to deny his own identity—to see himself as a "demon" that must be hidden rather than a boy of the Leaf—the psychological damage would be catastrophic.
It was the first step toward a Jinchūriki becoming a true monster: losing the desire to be human.
Yet, seeing him release the jutsu to speak with Teuchi, expressing his goals with such crystalline clarity, brought a bittersweet relief. For Hiruzen, it was like watching a blooming flower suddenly stiffen its petals against a storm.
Inoichi broke the silence. "It's best to observe first. We need to ensure he doesn't feel pressured. If we crowd him now, he might retreat further into those masks. He's building a shell, Lord Third. We need to see if that shell is made of resolve or despair."
Shikaku nodded, his eyes fixed on the smoke rings. "It might just be a child's whim. In a day or two, he might be back to painting the monument. Regardless, we let him lead. For the first time, Naruto isn't asking for our attention—he's earning it . The boy is growing up in a single morning. It's... troublesome."
The Hokage puffed a final cloud. "Then I will not approach him for ten days. Increase surveillance to two teams, twenty-four-seven. I want to see if this flame is a bonfire or a match-strike."
" yes Hokage Sama "
" yes "
" Iruka too , don't approach unless naruto approaches first "
" yes Hokage sama "
The Shadow Watch :
High above the office on a narrow stone ledge, two ANBU operatives crouched in the dark. Neko (Cat) checked her gear, while her partner, Kuma (Bear), shifted his weight, his mask tilted in confusion.
"The kid cleaned his toilet," Kuma whispered, his voice incredulous behind his porcelain mask. "I've been watching him for two years. I've seen him eat milk that was turning into cheese. I've seen him use a discarded sock as a coaster. Today? He used bleach."
"He's growing up, Kuma. It happens," Neko replied, though her tone was equally unsettled.
"No, you don't get it. He even lined up his instant ramen cups by expiration date. It was terrifying. I thought it was a high-level Genjutsu for a second. I almost bit my tongue to break the illusion. Is it possible the Nine-Tails likes a tidy house?"
"Quiet," Neko hissed as the office door opened below. "The 'God of Shinobi' is in a mood, and the Jonin Commander looks like he wants to cry. Focus on the target, not the laundry."
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Hokage Office Building :
Jonin Commander Office :
Later, walking down the dim, sterile corridors of the Administration Building, Shikaku and Inoichi moved with the slow, heavy gait of men carrying a secret that was beginning to crush them.
"My kid should be just watching clouds," Shikaku muttered, leaning against a cold stone pillar.
"He complains when his mom makes him do the dishes. He's lazy, he's safe, and he's loved. Whereas Naruto... he's scrubbing floors as a maneuver to avoid being hated. He's nine, Inoichi. Nine."
"Ino only has flowers and Sasuke in her head. "
Inoichi looked out a window toward the dark silhouette of the Hokage Rock.
" Analyzing Naruto like this... looking for 'anomalies' in a nine-year-old's cleaning habits... I feel like a vulture, Shikaku. I feel like I've let down Minato. We promised to look after him, but we ended up looking at him, through a glass ball."
"We all have," Shikaku said, his voice dropping an octave. "But Minato and Kushina knew the burden. They left us a weapon to protect, and we ended up protecting the village from the weapon.? "
"I don't think Minato and Kushina had time to think that far ahead at the end," Inoichi grumbled, his tone sharp with frustration.
"I know you feel guilty," Shikaku reassured his friend. "I do too. So does the Third. But this is what we must do—not just for the village, but for Naruto's safety. We keep watch because we have to."
Inoichi sighed, turning to leave. "I know. It's just... the life our kids live compared to the life he leads. The guilt just eats away at you from the inside."
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Konoha Market Street :
Meanwhile, Naruto was discovering the "joy" of being an anonymous civilian. He walked into a general store, his black-haired transformation holding steady. The lack of glares felt like a physical weight had been lifted off his chest.
"How much for these?" he asked, pointing to a pack of black socks.
"300 Ryo," the shopkeeper said, bored, not even looking up from his ledger.
"And if I buy three packs? Bulk discount?" Naruto asked, his Earth-memories of "Buy Two Get One Free" kicking in.
"800 Ryo. Take it or leave it, kid."
(Capitalist scum,) Naruto thought, but he paid. He moved through the shops with a vengeance. He spent twenty minutes in a home goods store debating the thread count of bedsheets.
"I can't become Hokage if I'm waking up with a stiff neck from a lumpy pillow," he muttered to himself, testing the firmness of a pillow.
He bought a new toothbrush (blue, not orange), and then clothes .
God knows why the 'old' me chose orange jackets in the middle of summer, Naruto thought. He had never bothered to get new essentials because he had always hoped Grandpa Hokage would take him shopping. No more
three sets of durable black pants, and—after a long, internal struggle—a set of plain white T-shirts.
3 sets of new underwear and socks.
New shinobi sandals, shoes, and house slippers.
4 half-face masks (Kakashi-style).
He even stopped at a grocery stall, eyeing the vegetables with a critical eye he never had before.
"Give me these carrots and the eggs," he told the vendor. The woman smiled at the "polite young man," even throwing in an extra green onion for free.
Naruto felt a pang of cold irony. All it takes is a different hair color and a bit of silence for them to treat me like a human. .
By the time he finished, his frog wallet was significantly lighter—only 6,000 Ryo remained. He was broke, but for the first time, he was equipped.
Naruto returned to his apartment and spent the afternoon scrubbing surfaces and arranging his new life. Exhaustion finally took over, and Naruto drifted into a deep sleep.
Naruto dreamed of becoming the "Big Boss President Hokage," kicking Madara's ass and dealing with Kaguya's booty .
Naruto woke up with a start around 7:00 PM, his stomach growling. Time for the "ground-breaking" invention of both worlds: Instant Cup Ramen.
(Can't stop the act completely yet,)
Naruto muttered, boiling water and adding two eggs to the mix for actual protein.
After eating, Naruto cleared the table. the air was finally clean. Naruto sat on his new sheets, the smell of detergent a comforting shield. He had a goal.
The Transformation Jutsu
Naruto remembered the importance of this basic Academy jutsu. Whether it was transforming into a Fuma Shuriken to save Kakashi, using the Sexy Jutsu to stun a Hokage, or the Reverse Harem against the mother of the Six Paths herself—the Transformation Jutsu was arguably more important than the Rasengan itself.
"Transformation Jutsu!" Poof.
He tried to mimic the Third Hokage. The height was wrong—he looked like a dwarf in a bathrobe. He tried again. The pipes smoke was missing.
He pushed his chakra, feeling the Inner Strength passive skill calming his mind, suppressing the urge to scream in frustration. Every failure wasn't a frustration; it was a data point.
Failure after failure. Time after time. But as he pushed his chakra, his "Passive Skill" began to kick in, smoothing out the rough edges of his control. He decided to focus on one target: The Third Hokage in his iconic hat and robes.
"Transformation Jutsu... again!"
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In the Hokage's office :
Hiruzen watched the boy through the crystal ball. It was 11:30 PM. The "God of Shinobi" was mesmerized. He saw the boy squandering massive amounts of chakra, failing over and over, yet getting slightly better with every single attempt. The efficiency was low, but the will was terrifying.
"To think, even with the Kyuubi's chakra interference, he can come this far without advanced control exercises," Hiruzen whispered. It was the first time he had ever seen Naruto train with this kind of obsession instead of planning a prank.
Inoichi, who had stopped by on his way home from a late dinner, watched the screen as well. He saw Naruto squandering chakra like a fountain, failing over and over, only to get slightly better each time.
"With this rate of progress, he'll hit graduate level in two or three days," Inoichi noted, a small smile forming. "Minato and Kushina's child... that talent for chakra is finally waking up."
Hiruzen nodded, his eyes misty. "The efficiency is low, but the will is terrifying. "
Inoichi felt a sense of relief and decided it was time to head home. He arrived at his front door, still smiling about Naruto's growth, only to find the lights on and a very angry wife waiting.
Inoichi finally reached his front door at nearly 1:00 AM. He was still smiling, heartened by the sight of Naruto's progress. He stepped inside quietly, sliding his sandals off, hoping to slip into bed unnoticed.
The lights snapped on with a violent click.
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS, YAMANAKA INOICHI?!"
Inoichi jumped, his heart nearly leaping out of his throat. His wife, Yamanaka Hana, stood there with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed like a hunting hawk. A heavy iron frying pan rested on her shoulder like a battle-axe.
"Wait, dear! The Hokage—we were observin—"
"OBSERVING WHAT? THE BOTTOM OF A SAKE BOTTLE AT IZAKAYA?"
"No! It was Naruto! He's... he's cleaning! He folded his shirts, Dear! He's doing great!" Inoichi stammered, backing away toward the kitchen.
"OH, SO THE BOY CLEANS HIS ROOM AND THAT JUSTIFIES YOU IGNORING YOUR OWN FAMILY?!" Hana took a step forward, the pan glinting in the light.
" IS THERE ANOTHER WOMAN? IS THAT THE 'TRAINING' YOU'RE WATCHING?!"
"Hana, put the pan down! I'm the head of Intelligence, I shouldn't be intimidated by cookware—"
CLANG!
The sound echoed through the Yamanaka compound, scaring the birds from the trees. Inoichi saw stars, then galaxies, then the Sage of Six Paths himself. As he slumped against the wall,