Year 61 of the Hidden Leaf Village
In the Ninja Academy of the Hidden Leaf Village, the classroom buzzed with chatter. Groups of children were scattered around—some girls giggled in circles, some boys yelled across desks, while others sat in thoughtful silence.
Suddenly, the classroom door opened. A young boy stepped in.
His presence silenced the noise.
He was tall for his age, muscular with a well-defined jaw line. Crimson hair flowed down like wildfire, vibrant and full of life. His golden eyes held a smoldering gaze—calm yet burning with intensity. His aura was noble and cold, yet radiated a warmth that felt ancient. Every step he took was swift and dignified, as if he was not just a student—but also a warrior far beyond this realm.
This was Naruto Uzumaki.
After reaching the Qi Transformation Realm, his entire being had changed. He no longer felt like a mere child. His demeanor mirrored his master—Yin Long, a sage unbothered by mundane matters. Without a word, Naruto walked past his classmates and took a seat at the far end near the window, his gaze calm and observant.
Moments later, a cheerful voice broke the silence.
"Naruto! You're late again!" teased a blonde girl with her hair tied in a single ponytail and sky-blue eyes. She pointed at him playfully. "You promised to teach me that method to enhance mental energy—remember?"
Naruto turned towards her and spoke in a composed, formal tone, "Sister Ino, I was immersed in training at a critical point and couldn't return in time. I'll teach you the technique after the academy today."
He cupped his hands together in a polite greeting, offering a small, respectful smile.
Ino's cheeks flushed, and she replied with mock annoyance, "Humph! At least you remember your promise!"
She returned to her seat beside Shikamaru and Choji, though not without a playful pout. "I'll sit here if I want to," she muttered under her breath. Naruto shook his head softly and turned his gaze out the window once more.
A lazy voice soon interrupted the air.
"Hey, Naruto… up for a round of Shogi later? Our last match was close—I almost had you."
It was Shikamaru Nara, the pineapple-haired genius of the class, as he dropped into the seat in front of Naruto.
Naruto gave a small nod.
Before he could speak, another voice chimed in.
"Hey Naruto! Got any more of those pills you gave me last time? They worked wonders for my strength!"
This came from Choji Akimichi, his cheeks chubby and marked with spirals, munching noisily on potato chips.
Naruto opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, a loud bark and a yell followed.
"Oi! Naruto! Today's ninjutsu test—I am going to beat you! I know you're good at taijutsu, but your ninjutsu sucks!"
The voice belonged to Kiba Inuzuka, who stood with a white puppy in his arms, fangs tattooed on his cheeks.
Naruto turned to look at him, his gaze calm.
Beside Kiba stood two more familiar figures.
A boy in a high-collared jacket, face partially hidden behind black glasses—Shino Aburame, ever silent, simply nodded. Naruto returned the gesture.
To the left, a timid girl in a pink jacket with pale lavender eyes kept glancing at him—Hinata Hyuga. Her gaze lingered, unsure yet hopeful.
Naruto slowly stood and cupped his hands again, addressing them, "You may come to my usual training ground after class."
As the conversation ended, Iruka-sense* walked in and began the lesson. Naruto did not pay attention. His mind drifted to memories from three years ago—his second year under Master Yin Long.
---
Flashback Begins
A ten-year-old Naruto sprinted through the training fields, weighted bands strapped to his wrists and ankles. Ahead of him, four boys were cornering two girls.
One of them—Ino—stood protectively in front of a shy Hinata, arms spread as if shielding her.
Just as a boy raised his fist—
"Hey! Stop!"
Naruto yelled, bursting onto the scene and intercepting the punch. The bullies scoffed.
"Oh look, it's the demon fox trying to protect the alien girl. Two freaks walking together," one sneered.
Naruto didn't flinch. He took a martial stance—fluid, deliberate, terrifying in its grace. In a single move, he punched the lead boy squarely, sending him to the ground.
With a cold, superior gaze, Naruto muttered, "Do you know why you maggots get to live carefree lives? Because people like me choose to protect you from war."
The bullies, trembling, ran off crying.
Without a word, Naruto resumed his training run, disappearing into the trees. Ino and Hinata stared after him in silence.
---
The next day…
Naruto lay sprawled across his desk, exhausted. Suddenly—**BAM!** A hand slammed his desk.
He jolted awake to find Ino staring at him intensely.
His eyes widened.
Cold sweat formed.
"Y-Yes, Sister Ino?" he stammered.
She was silent for a moment, clearly surprised by his politeness. Regaining her composure, she snapped, "You saved us yesterday—why didn't you drop us home?"
Naruto's eyes dropped. He spoke softly, "Look around... they're already staring at me like I hurt you."
Ino looked and saw the entire class whispering, glaring at Naruto with suspicion and disgust.
Naruto continued, "I'm the village pariah. If I walked you home and your parents saw your bruises, they'd blame me. I wouldn't even get a chance to explain."
Ino's throat tightened. Her eyes welled up.
"I didn't mean to yell at you," she said suddenly, stepping closer. "I just... wanted to be your friend."
Naruto stared at her, then slowly reached out and shook her hand.
---
Back to present-day Naruto, his gaze drifted back to Shikamaru and Choji. Another memory unfolded.
---
Naruto sat in the park with a Shogi board made of ancient wood, a gift from his master to sharpen his mental prowess and study the Dao of Arrays and Formations.
As he pondered a complex sequence, a shadow fell across the board.
"Hmm… move the silver general to the left," a lazy voice muttered.
Naruto glanced up to see Shikamaru and Choji standing there, both watching the board intently.
He moved the piece as suggested, and his eyes sparkled. "You solved it."
After a few more moves, the game concluded. Shikamaru smirked.
"You're not bad," he said, offering his hand. "Play with me more often. It'll sharpen both our minds."
Naruto shook his hand with a slight smile. From that day, they became Shogi rivals.
Beside them, Choji reached out as well, smiling between bites of chips. Naruto accepted his hand too.
One day, while sitting together under the shade of a tree, Naruto asked curiously, "Choji, why do you always eat chips? No offense, but… everything has a purpose."
Choji smiled and explained about the **Akimichi Clan's Secret Art**—how body fat could be converted into chakra, fueling powerful techniques.
Naruto nodded thoughtfully and took out a small **Body Forging Pill**.
"Here. Take this," he said. "It will nourish you for days and enhance physical growth. Channel its energy into your bones and flesh while meditating."
Choji took the pill and instantly felt warmth flooding his limbs, his body growing lighter yet sturdier. "Thanks, Naruto. You're… really different, you know?"
Naruto simply smiled, eyes gazing at the distant horizon.
---
**To be continued…**