Konoha's streets were littered with debris, the air heavy with smoke and grief. Naruto helped clear rubble, his grin bright as he joked with the villagers. "Don't worry, the future Hokage's got your back!" he said, hauling a beam with a group of genin. But inside, he was a storm. The Third Hokage's death was a blow—not just to Konoha, but to his quest for answers. The old man knew why the Fourth chose him, why the village hid it. Now, those secrets were buried, and Naruto's distrust of everyone—Kakashi, Jiraiya, even his teammates—grew heavier.At Tazuna's bridge, he'd learned power could protect; in the exams, it could win respect. But against Orochimaru, it hadn't been enough. Naruto needed more—more control over the Nine-Tails, more jutsu from the scroll, more cunning to outsmart the village's lies. He trained in secret that night, summoning five hundred shadow clones, their movements a whirlwind. He reached for the Nine-Tails' chakra, feeling it burn, steady now but still wild. "I'm getting there," he muttered, his grin gone in the dark. The fox was his, and he'd master it.Jiraiya found him the next day, his booming laugh breaking the somber mood. "Kid, you're a hero now, but you're still a mess!" he said, tossing Naruto a scroll about summoning techniques. Naruto grinned, calling him "Pervy Sage," but his eyes were wary. Jiraiya knew about the Nine-Tails—his hints were too obvious—but he wasn't talking. Naruto took the scroll, his mind on the Scroll of Sealing. Jiraiya's lessons were useful, but he was another gatekeeper of the truth.The village was leaderless, and rumors swirled about finding a new Hokage. Naruto's heart twisted. A new Hokage meant new barriers, new lies. He needed power to break through—not just chakra, but influence, respect. Gaara's defeat had shown him something else: power could change minds, even those filled with hate. He'd keep his mask on, keep training, keep digging. The truth was out there, and he'd tear it from Konoha's grip.
