THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.
The wooden rod struck Naruto's chest with dull, meaty impacts. He'd graduated from bamboo stickes months ago. His skin had toughened enough to withstand the upgrade.
Now he was conditioning the muscle tissue beneath.
THUNK. THUNK.
The rhythm never faltered. Naruto's face showed concentration but no pain. A year of this had built his tolerance to remarkable levels.
Rustling came from the undergrowth ahead.
Naruto's eyes flicked toward the sound but his striking pattern didn't change. Probably a deer or wild boar.
The bushes parted.
An old man stepped into the clearing, wearing casual civilian clothes. White hair, weathered face, kind eyes.
Every villager in Konoha would recognize that face. It was carved into the mountainside overlooking the village.
THUNK. THUNK.
Naruto continued training, not breaking rhythm. Stopping mid-session would release the built-up internal pressure, wasting the morning's work.
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth to speak.
SNAP!
Metal teeth crashed together with a vicious clang.
Hiruzen looked down. A boar trap had clamped onto his right foot. Blood welled up around the steel jaws, staining his sandal.
He looked up at Naruto.
Naruto looked back, eyes wide with genuine horror.
THUNK. THUNK.
But he didn't stop hitting himself.
An apology was written all over the boy's face. His eyes screamed "I'm so sorry!" His expression said "Please don't execute me!" But his wooden rod kept falling in steady rhythm.
Hiruzen sighed and sat down on a nearby rock. He pried the trap's jaws apart with practiced chakra-enhanced strength, removed his foot, and performed quick medical ninjutsu to stop the bleeding.
When he looked up again, his eyes widened slightly.
Two years had transformed Uzumaki Naruto. The scrawny, malnourished child was gone entirely. In his place stood a compact powerhouse of lean muscle and disciplined movement. Seven years old and already built like a chunin.
So he wasn't having a mental breakdown. He found some kind of training method. A physical conditioning technique I've never encountered.
Curiosity replaced his initial concern. This type of body tempering was completely unfamiliar, yet clearly effective.
Hiruzen watched quietly, a hint of envy creeping into his thoughts. If I'd trained like this in my youth, perhaps I wouldn't feel so... worn down these days.
Three hundred meters away, two ANBU operatives crouched on a high branch.
The first, designated Hawk, stared at the clearing. His body went rigid. "Is that..."
Wolf, his new partner, followed his gaze. His eyes widened behind his mask. "Lord Third? What's he doing here?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped on something. Metal flashed. Blood appeared.
Wolf's voice came out strangled. "Did the Hokage just get caught in a boar trap?"
Hawk turned to his partner very slowly. "No."
"But I just saw—"
"You saw an ordinary old man." Hawk's tone was dead serious. "A civilian who wandered into the forest. Not the Hokage. Definitely not."
Wolf stared at him. "Are you serious right now?"
"Completely serious." Hawk's gaze was intense. "The Third Hokage would never, ever get caught in a boar trap. Therefore, that cannot be Lord Third. Logic dictates he must be an ordinary civilian."
Wolf turned away. My previous partner was so much better than this idiot.
Naruto exhaled long and slow, then lowered the wooden rod. His muscles burned pleasantly, properly worked and ready for recovery.
"I'm really sorry, Lord Third. I never imagined that trap would catch you." He bowed deeply.
How does the Hokage get caught in a boar trap? The question bounced around his mind, but he kept it to himself.
"Call me Grandpa, Naruto." Hiruzen's smile was gentle, almost grandfatherly.
"Okay, Grandpa Third."
Naruto pulled out his medicine jar and began applying the paste to his arms.
Hiruzen watched the practiced, efficient movements. Something twisted in his chest. This child, training alone in the forest, treating his own wounds, with no one to help or encourage him.
"Naruto, let Grandpa help you with that."
Naruto paused, then smiled. "Thank you, Grandpa."
He handed over the jar. Hiruzen poured paste into his palm and sniffed. The scent was complex, medicinal. He recognized a few components, but most were foreign to him. Interesting.
"How much pressure should I use?"
"You can press firmly. The medicine needs to penetrate." Naruto turned his back, exposing the network of faint scars and fresh bruising.
Hiruzen's hands settled on the boy's shoulders. Muscle moved beneath his palms, dense and developed far beyond what seven years should produce. Heat radiated from Naruto's skin.
A faint blush colored the old Hokage's cheeks. Such vitality. Such physical power in one so young.
"You can go harder. Yes, that's good. Keep that pressure, Grandpa Third."
Hiruzen found the right rhythm quickly, years of experience making his hands sure and steady. He worked the medicine into Naruto's back with methodical precision.
Naruto's face relaxed, tension melting from his posture.
"Naruto, you're probably wondering how the Hokage got caught in a boar trap, aren't you?"
A slight hesitation, then Naruto nodded.
Hiruzen chuckled softly. "The truth is, Grandpa is just an ordinary old man. I spend my days worrying about paperwork and village management. Making Konoha prosperous and strong. Sometimes I get distracted."
"Making Konoha prosperous..." Naruto's voice was thoughtful. "Is that your dream, Grandpa?"
"My dream?" Hiruzen's hands paused, then resumed their work. "Yes, I suppose it is. Do you have a dream, Naruto?"
"Yes!" Naruto's response came immediately, fists clenching with sudden intensity.
Warmth spread through Hiruzen's chest. "Let me guess. You want to become Hokage someday?"
"No." Naruto's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "My dream is smaller than that. I just... I just want to have lots of friends."
Hiruzen's hands stilled.
Naruto's shoulders hunched slightly, head bowing forward.
So lonely. Even with all this strength, all this discipline, he's still just a child who wants companionship.
Such a simple dream. Such a heartbreaking one.
Hiruzen's throat tightened. "Would you like Grandpa to help you with that?"
Naruto's head snapped up. His back straightened. Energy returned to his posture. "Grandpa Third, I've already figured out how to make friends! In the near future, you'll definitely see me surrounded by them!"
The transformation was instant. From dejected to determined in a heartbeat.
Hiruzen's smile widened. This child's spirit is remarkable. "Well, Grandpa looks forward to that day."
He finished applying the medicine and set the jar aside. "I should get back. The paperwork never ends, I'm afraid."
"Goodbye, Grandpa!"
Hiruzen's eye twitched. He's already saying goodbye while I'm still sitting here. But children were honest like that. No malice, just directness.
He stood, brushing dirt from his clothes. Before leaving, he met Naruto's eyes. "If you ever need anything, you can come find Grandpa. Anytime."
Naruto nodded vigorously.