Chapter 3
[Naruto left the village and headed to the back mountain. He lay down on the soft green grass.]
[Hands behind his head, he gazed at the drifting white clouds, reaching out with his small hand as if to catch one.]
[He grasped only air. Staring at his empty palm, he fell into quiet thought.]
[Soon, the gentle breeze and birdsong lulled young Naruto to sleep.]
[An elderly white-haired man approached.]
[He greeted the boy warmly.]
"Hello there, Uzumaki Naruto!"
[Naruto rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked up.]
"Who are you? How do you know my name?"
[The old man smiled kindly.] "I am the Third Hokage."
[Realizing who stood before him, Naruto's eyes widened in shock.]
[The Third pulled out an enrollment form.]
"Naruto, you're seven now—old enough for the Academy. I've already signed you up."
[Naruto took the paper, staring at his name in confusion.]
[The Third smiled gently.]
"I was misunderstood by the village once too. But if you become an outstanding shinobi, they'll accept you."
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns eternal. The flame will continue to light the village and nurture new sprouts."
[Young Naruto didn't fully grasp the words, but since they came from the Third Hokage, they had to be true!]
[If becoming a great shinobi would win acceptance… why not aim straight for Hokage?] [Then the whole village would acknowledge him!
Orochimaru: Poor Naruto-kun—brainwashed by Sensei at such a young age. Lucky for me, that pyramid-scheme pitch never worked on me!
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Orochimaru, you traitor—how dare you speak? Konoha raised you, and you repaid us by allying with Sunagakure to invade!
Yamanaka Ino: So Naruto wanted to be Hokage even back then…
Nara Shikamaru: Being Hokage sounds like a huge hassle. Only an idiot would want the job.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: ...
Senju Tobirama: ...
Shimura Danzō: ...
Uchiha Madara: ...
Senju Hashirama: Hahaha...
Uchiha Obito: ...
Seeing the big shots react, Shikamaru quickly corrected himself.
Nara Shikamaru: Wait—I misspoke. Only an idiot wouldn't want to be Hokage!
Hatake Kakashi: Obito, you're here too?
Uchiha Obito: How could I miss a party this big?
Nohara Rin: Obito… Kakashi… It's so good to see you both!
In the Akatsuki hideout, the masked Obito stared at Rin's name, momentarily lost.
Beside him, White Zetsu sighed inwardly. All that grooming, and he's still this pathetic…
Ōnoki: Back on topic—why is it always Konoha people? And what does this video even mean? This old man doesn't get it.
Kurotsuchi: +1
Akatsuchi: +1
Deidara: +1
Ōnoki: Deidara, you traitor—still showing your face?
Deidara: Gramps, why so heated? Careful you don't break your back.
Akatsuchi: Wow, Deidara actually cares about the Tsuchikage. He's not so bad!
Ōnoki: Idiot—he's mocking me!
Uzumaki Kushina: What happened to Naruto after? Didn't he go to the Academy? Keep playing!
At Kushina's urging, the sky screen shifted. The white-bordered frame vanished, replaced by the black-bordered one. A new scene slowly emerged—not Naruto entering school, but something eerily familiar.
[Konoha Village.]
[Bustling streets.]
[Naruto walked through the village as before.]
[This time, hands in pockets, expression calm and detached.]
[Villagers still whispered "demon fox" behind him.]
[But Naruto didn't run. He turned and gave them an icy glare.]
[The whispers died instantly; no one dared continue.]
[At the mask stall, he didn't pause—he walked straight past, showing zero interest in childish toys.]
Senju Hashirama: This Naruto feels… different.
Uzumaki Kushina: Is this really my cute little Naruto?
Uzumaki Naruto: That's me? I don't remember any of this!
Haruno Sakura: He looks exactly like Naruto, but the vibe is completely different.
Akimichi Chōji: Yeah… this one seems super cold.
Hyūga Hinata: No matter which Naruto… he's really handsome!
Sakura & Ino: Hinata???
Hinata: Ah—sorry! That slipped out. Hanabi was messing with my phone…
Tenten: I get it!
Namikaze Minato: I never imagined our son would have admirers like this!
Uzumaki Naruto: Huh? Someone likes me? Sakura, are you finally confessing? Why didn't I notice?
Haruno Sakura: Dream on, idiot!
The screen continued.
[This Naruto also reached the back mountain.]
[Instead of napping, he skillfully started fishing.]
[His technique was expert—like a seasoned angler.]
[In moments, he pulled up three or four large fish!
Ōnoki: How did you know? I just caught a ten-pound fish yesterday!
Deidara: Gramps, nobody asked.
Ōnoki: Shut it, Deidara. Come to the Land of Earth for a duel—I'll strip you from this world with Dust Release!
Deidara: Triggered! Gramps is triggered!
Kurotsuchi: Quiet, both of you—look! The Third Hokage is back!
Sure enough, on the black screen, the familiar white-haired old man appeared again.
[The Third approached, drawn by the aroma of roasting fish.] "Mind sharing one with this old man, kid?"
[This Naruto didn't flinch at the sudden appearance.]
[He flashed a polite smile, showing perfect white teeth.]
"Want some? Go catch your own."
The chat room exploded. No one expected this black-frame Naruto to be so bold!
Senju Hashirama: Hahaha! "Catch your own"—fair point!
Senju Tobirama: A bit rude, though. Hiruzen is still the Hokage.
Terumi Mei: He doesn't know it's the Hokage yet. And even if he did—does being Hokage entitle you to eat a seven-year-old's catch for free?
Uzumaki Kushina: Our Naruto caught those himself! @Hiruzen Sarutobi Any problem with that?
Hiruzen Sarutobi: ...
Hiruzen: Kushina, I've never experienced this black-frame world. And as Hokage, I wouldn't get mad over a single fish.
Orochimaru: Then what would make you mad, Sensei?
Hiruzen: Obviously—shut up, Orochimaru. This isn't your turn to speak.
Orochimaru: Then when is my turn? (anticipating…)
Namikaze Minato: ...
Senju Tobirama: ...
Tsunade: ...
Shimura Danzō: You're pushing it, Orochimaru!