Konohagakure no Sato
The Hokage Office :
Within the smoke-veiled confines of the Hokage's office, the air hung heavy with the weight of unspoken history.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, the embers in his tobacco pipe glowing like a dying star as he recounted the recent status of the Jinchuriki and the intricate condition of the seal.
Both Shikaku Nara, the Jonin Commander, and Inoichi Yamanaka, the Head of the T&I Division, noted the Hokage's uncharacteristic distraction, yet they chose silence; they trusted his wisdom and, pragmatically, deemed inquiry too "troublesome" for the current moment.
"After that, we parted ways and Naruto headed back to his 'Home.' What do you guys think?" Hiruzen asked, his voice steady yet searching.
hearing Hokage inquiring about their thoughts & opinions , Shikaku glances at his friend to start first as this is his expertise , Inoichi groans but decided to approach the matter Proffessionaly
" Before the Jinchuri--"
At this point the Hokage intervenes , The shift was subtle but seismic.
" Naruto , Uzumaki Naruto "
This deliberate change in address rippled through the room, washing away the rigid, defensive posture the advisors usually maintained when discussing the village's ultimate weapon. For the first time, they weren't discussing a vessel; they were discussing a boy.
Maybe because of the guilt or sense of duty towards the village , they always addresess it as a Status of Jinchuriki and they has to be cautious about their own stand too , the same for The Hokage .
Hearing the change in address for Naruto , Inoichi's shoulders relaxed as he shared his analysis of Naruto's psychological shift
" Before Naruto's apartment was just a sleeping place and place of isolation he dreaded returning to—a hollow space for a child with too much energy and no one to receive it."
Shikaku also speaks
" And that's why he wonders around the village , trying to draw attention with pranks and other things "
Shikaku noted that Naruto's previous penchant for public mischief was a desperate bid for attention.
Inoichi continues
" Now it seems Naruto is comfortable and accepted his 'Home' and also Konoha , considering his recent outings "
at this point Shikaku raised concern
" What IF , he has just accepted the status quo and given up trying to connect "
At this both Hokage and Nara looks towards Inoichi
" If it was the same then Naruto would have stopped going out or maybe even loathe the village and himself , in my view the main point is , his change of perspective towards people and accepting himself "
Hokage inquires further
" Explain "
Inoichi continues
" Hmmm , Naruto hasn't really stopped approaching people over the days , He has stopped becoming attention-starved child , In his morning run , he responds to all greetings coming his way , He has also accepted people's reaction towards himself and his name .... His always never give up attitude and Optimism has found New direction "
Inoichi argued that Naruto hadn't given up on people; he had simply stopped being "attention-starved". He now greets everyone on his morning runs, accepting their reactions—positive or negative—with a new, directed sense of optimism.
" hmmmm"
" hmmm "
hearing this both Hokage And Nara Shikaku hums and started reviewing his life and routine , during past Two weeks. The Hokage says
" Is it finding better life and instead of looking for acknowledgement and getting accepted "
Inoichi intervenes
" It's not about getting accepted and wasting efforts on those people but .....seeing who already acknowledges him "
Inoichi countered that a defeated Naruto would have stopped training or begun to loathe the village. Instead, Naruto had shifted his focus from wasting effort on those who shunned him to investing in those who already acknowledged him.
Hokage mutters
" Isn't it worrying , I thought his ninja way was to never give up "
Nara chimes here
" It's not about giving up , If it was the same then he would have stopped training to Be Hokage "
" Yes , Naruto still thinks he will be acknowledged by everyone by becoming Hokage but he also understand it's a long process on his way to become Hokage. "
" instead of wasting time on these people , it's better to train and become Hokage faster , while enjoying his life with those who accepts him as he is "
Hearing Inoichi's Explanation , The Hokage starts smoking and sucking his Tobacco pipe in worry .
The conversation turned toward Naruto's ultimate goal. While the boy still intends to become Hokage to gain universal acknowledgment, he now views it as a long-term process. Shikaku pointed out the harsh reality:
" No one can get accepted by everyone Hokage-sama , even if it's you , having designed this kind of dream is just a punishment for child , even in academy there are always some who may not speak but always have opinions inside "
Inoichi also starts to back his friend
" Naruto is looking for bonds in his life , even then and now , it's still same , only the process is different , He is also looking at village in optimism especially those who didn't get affected and still greet him the same instead of the Shunning Crowd "
The Hokage says
" Minato , not only did he use Ghoul seal but he also used a new Untested 8 trigram sealing , but Of all things he let out a gap in seal so which Naruto can become perfect jinchuriki , he may have had vision at that time for Naruto to be Hero but That same Chakra full of malice also affects nearby people unconsciously it's not all villagers fault "
Hiruzen sighed, reflecting on Minato Namikaze's legacy. The Fourth had used an untested Eight Trigrams Sealing method, deliberately leaving a "gap" in the seal so Naruto could eventually access the Nine-Tails' chakra and become a hero.
However, that same chakra, saturated with malice, unconsciously affected those around the boy, contributing to the villagers' coldness. While other villages isolate their Jinchuriki to foster a bond with the beast.
hearing this The Nara and Yamanaka stopped the objection from leaving their mouth. The Nara spoke
" according to Other Village's Jinchuriki , their usual method to become Jinchuriki is to isolate him to outskirts and let Tailed beast and Jinchuriki 'bond' over time "
Inoichi says here
" But all those Jinchuriki knew about their destiny and have already accepted it , especially Tailed beast are only sealed after 12 years of age , just like Kushina or Bee from Kumogakure "
" It's first time a Tailed beast is sealed on someone's birth with such complicated seal too , we also can't help but be cautious , especially for The village "
Replies Nara and Office the office becomes silent .
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Konoha Academy Library :
Seven days after his hospital visit, Naruto stepped into the hushed aisles of the Academy Library. His internal "System" calculations were relentless: his Academy Student skill had leveled up to 3rd year after nine sign-ins, Naruto wonders around the Library to look over some other materials while thinking
( just yesterday the academy student leveled up to 3rd year after 9 sign-in , basic maths means 16+25+36= 77 days , the skill will reach 6th year academy student in 77 days )
But there is only 24 days left before academy starts
( hmm let's focus on some diffrent sign-in locations , let's start with different shops next week )
having decided the next course of action , Naruto shifts back and looks around Konoha Library.
The Library includes all scrolls , courses and additional Books , It's only limited to 6th year of academy student stuff , Anything further seems to Be Placed at Konoha Archives .
That includes different Ninjutsu to some Secret Techniques collecting over the years by the village and of course it's not free .
Only Academy Library is free
( hmm Medical ninjutsu related stuff )
Looking breifly at the bookshelf with too much books in it , Naruto comes to a conclusion
( It Only has 70 % of stuff that i got from sign-in and there are no jutsu's )
Thinking it over Naruto heads to the Librarian , the stern-looking baba
" ano "
" hmm "
The elderly woman glances towards the blonde
" Why is there no classes of Medical Ninjutsu in academy "
" That's advanced stuff kid , which class are you "
" In 4th year i guess , soo"
" Hm it's Too early for you but listen i will explain briefly , During 6th year or after graduating if someone wants to speacialize in any field , then they need to apply and pass that Divisions test , and all the materials here are the things you will need to study , Like Intelligence Department , Medical or even Sealing Division etc. "
The women speaks concisely and calmly to the kid , who stumbled in an empty library during holidays
" so that's how it is , but how to find which one to go "
"*sigh* that's what academy and life will teach you overtime and even if you pass a test , you will first be only an intern , later if they seem you are worth training you will become legit , For you little kid , first focus on this year stuff hmmm , Anything else "
" No , Thank you Grandma "
" I am not that old , little twerp , shooo"
Naruto runs away when he saw an Oni materializing in background
( Scary Baba )
getting some stuff for 4th year and other brief introduction of
Fuinjutsu
Iryoninjutsu
Espionage
Intelligence Corps
Barrier corps
T&I corps
Medical corps
And other general departments introductionary Books Naruto approaches scary Baba again to borrow them , and finally runs away with his bag.
As Naruto walked through the village, bag heavy with knowledge, he realized he hadn't performed his daily sign-in. His eyes landed on a familiar sight: a flower shop, vibrant and identical to the one in his memories.