"300 Push-Ups, 300 Sit-Ups, 300 Squats and finally a 30 Kilometer run. That's today's goal. You fine with that?" He looked at the beaming blond boy beside him with a wide grin of his own.
"Of course I am! Today I'll beat you!" Naruto shouted, too excited for the good of both of them.
It's been a few days since the two started to talk, and since Sukuna had recently started his grind, he thought, why not take the boy with him?
After all, trying to be a friend to the residential Jinchuriki of the village was both a dangerous and time-consuming thing. Especially since the said Jinchuriki was Naruto, who was more people-starved than a man lost in a desert without water.
However, he wished to do it—partly because he felt bad for the boy, and partly because Naruto was his childhood. No matter how much he wanted to, he just couldn't stop himself from interacting with this character, knowing more about him, seeing what made him different from the anime.
More importantly—and perhaps not entirely out of the goodness of his heart—he was investing in the boy. It's easiest to form connections when a person is at their lowest, to form real friendships, to invest in someone's potential.
And if there was one person worth investing in here, it was Naruto. Sasuke wouldn't do—the dude had everything. He wouldn't care about a nobody trying to approach him. The Uchiha were still going strong… not for long, but still…
Naruto, however… perfect for some early bonding to seek rewards later in life.
Sukuna himself was surprised that he was approaching the boy with this intention. Of course, it wasn't all bad—he genuinely was interested in being friends with him. Maybe not this silly, annoying baby Naruto, but a slightly older version of him with an improved brain that could comprehend things besides ramen and a red cap with "fire" written on it.
But he knew for a fact that he wasn't this calculating back on Earth. He could only fault this to Sukuna's memories. Though he wouldn't say it was a bad thing. Even back on Earth, this kind of mindset would've only helped him—let alone here.
"As long as I'm not hurting anyone, it should be fine… seeking power is fine." A sweet voice rang in his head. Almost like a devil's whisper.
"Fine, let's start." Sukuna smiled and started with normal stretching before doing anything more. It causes real bad cramps if he doesn't do that—he already had experienced it.
And Naruto, the blond, obediently copied his new friend because he too had experienced the cramps but didn't understand why it was happening until he couldn't move anymore.
And that was way past after pushing his limits because he didn't wish to lose his new friend.
Sukuna could only sigh at the little idiot's antics. Originally, Naruto ended up coming to him because he wanted to know a quick tip to impress Sakura.
'What does this idiot see in that silly sister of mine?' Sukuna, for once, couldn't say. Yeah, later down the line she improves a lot—both in strength and in character—but now the girl was outright annoying.
Not knowing how to answer that question, he could only advise some general things to distract the boy, like "do better in tests and she might notice you," or "beat up the current boy who she likes."
That last one was his personal curiosity.
The boy was practically a sun the next second by how bright he smiled. Perhaps because now he knew how to impress his Sakura-chan… but maybe more importantly, he got a reply.
A normal reply without any scorn or distaste. The pink-haired boy didn't try to evade him or ignore him.
Of course, Naruto being Naruto, had no idea how to actually go around doing what Sukuna told him.
So from that day, he's been following the said pink-haired boy. Asking him for advice.
Sukuna knew better, though. He didn't mind. Now they were friends and he even started taking the boy to his grind.
"We'll start with the run. Try to keep up." Sukuna grinned and started.
Konoha was big. Very big. It was borderline tax prevention scheme to still call it a village.
One round around the village was enough to hit today's goal.
"So, you never told me why you like my sister?" I asked, really wanting to know how he came to like her.
"Eh? Why?" He first blushed, but then a confused look appeared on his face. He himself didn't know.
Sukuna certainly wasn't surprised by this.
"Forget it." He couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"You said that you wish to become Hokage. Is that true?"
"Yes! I'll be Hokage one day." Naruto beamed.
"Cool…" He just nodded. Right now, the boy just needed acknowledgement—that people knew he existed.
And sure enough, after Sukuna said this, Naruto quieted down. His earlier smile diminished a little.
"You're not going to make fun of me?" he asked, half hopeful and half already accepting the fact—way too much used to it already.
"…Hmm, should I?" Sukuna wasn't trying to become another Iruka. Rather than telling the boy he believed in the scrawny kid in front of him, Sukuna would rather let Naruto himself decide whether he wished to put so much weight on other people's opinions of him.
Naruto, to this, looked even more confused. Sometimes he forgot that even after children are mature in this world, ultimately they are still kids, let alone Naruto, who was a kid even after fully growing up.
"What I mean is, it doesn't really matter what I think. And honestly, I shouldn't matter. Ultimately, it's your dream. If you wish to do it, then don't care about what other people think. Just go for it." He explained as the run by now had started to put considerable pressure on them. They had recently increased the training parameters and weren't used to the goals yet.
"I… hmm, but shouldn't what my friends think matter? We… hmm, we're friends, right?" Naruto asked again with hesitation.
'So, he wishes to know what I personally think. Not just people to acknowledge him but rather someone to believe in him too. Perhaps then maybe he can believe in himself—not just this fake bravado… he puts in front of everyone.' Sukuna understood what the boy was lacking.
He couldn't help it—he too was considerably young when he died. How was he supposed to know how to console a child?
"If you're just asking for my thoughts…" he said as he stopped running. It was hard to talk seriously while panting. He wasn't the only one panting—Naruto was worse.
Naruto too, seeing his friend stop, stopped himself.
"If you ask me… then I don't think you can become Hokage." He thought and with a serious face looked into Naruto's eyes and said it to him.
Naruto stiffened.
Sukuna caught the quiver around Naruto's mouth and jaw. He really wanted to hear 'yes.'
"I see…" Naruto nodded.
"Now tell me, Naruto. Will that stop you in your goal since I don't believe in you?" Sukuna asked as he crossed his hands over his chest, acting much more mature than his body's current age would allow.
Naruto, upon hearing this question, didn't react immediately. Sukuna noticed the blond's small hands clench up. Mustering all the courage his small body could produce, he shouted once he fell back to his de-facto answer.
"No way! I don't care what you say—even if you're my friend! I'm gonna be Hokage no matter what! To be Hokage is my dream. Believe it!" the blond shouted. Eyes defiant, like asking to be refuted in any way.
Sukuna, however, unlike what Naruto thought, smiled. It wasn't a laugh directed at him or his goal, but a real smile.
Walking closer to the blond menace trying to be brave—no, he was brave, very brave, though still a menace—Sukuna gently put his hands on the other boy's shoulder.
"And that's what will make you a Hokage one day." Sukuna smiled and patted his shoulder once again.
Naruto, however, paused. Half confused and half surprised at these words.
"Even after no one believes in you, you're ready to go forward and reach out for your dream. You have the courage to face all those who will say no to you. That's already a Hokage, Naruto.
You, Uzumaki Naruto… have the courage to never give up." Sukuna made a fist and gently slammed it on the baffled blond's chest.
"That will make you Hokage… Remember that."
"Sukuna…" Naruto, as his mind finally caught up, this time couldn't stop his tears from streaming down.
"If you can stay the same and are ready to work hard for your dream… Then yes, I do believe you can become Hokage one day." Sukuna gave the kid one last look as he flashed a genuine smile at him before resuming his run. Though much slower, giving Naruto time to catch up.
Naruto, too overwhelmed at the moment, just followed behind him. For the first time, someone had finally put their belief in him.
'I'll never give up. I'll be Hokage one day. Just you wait.' Naruto mustered all the remaining energy in him to wipe the tears—now was not the time to cry.
This was the day he found a person who believed in him. If anything, from today onwards, he has to work extra hard—not only for himself but also for the person who put their belief in him.
And far away from this place, this scene was seen by an old man puffing on his pipe in a glass ball with a smile on his face.
"Haruno Sukuna… at such a young age, this boy understands what it means to be a real shinobi. The new leaves are growing just right…" He showed a genuine smile and from his office looked out, at the four carved faces on the Hokage Monument.
xxx
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