Back in the Hokage's office, Son Goku got straight to the point. "Alright, old-timer. I'll need a few temporary residence permits for Konoha. First time in your village—gotta have a proper look around."
The Sandaime, Sarutobi Hiruzen, felt a deep reluctance. As the saying went, troubles not sent by the gods could be avoided, but those sent by fate could not be refused. Given the sheer, incomprehensible power this man possessed, refusing him outright for the village's safety was not an option. With a heavy heart, he procured eleven temporary permits.
"Appreciate it," Goku said, fanning the permits casually. "If you run into any real trouble down the line, maybe I'll lend a hand." With a faint smirk, he vanished from the office using Shunshin no Jutsu—or something so fast it looked identical.
---
After leaving the Hokage Residence, Goku strolled down one of Konoha's quieter evening streets, pondering his next steps. His thoughts were interrupted by a small, solitary figure hunched on a large rock in a secluded corner.
The boy sat with his chin in his hands, a mop of bright yellow hair visible even in the fading light, three whisker-like marks on each cheek. He looked no more than six or seven years old. Goku recognized him instantly.
"Hey there. What's your name? It's getting late to be out here all by yourself," Goku said, walking over with a friendly smile. Honestly, when he'd watched the series, he'd always had a soft spot for Naruto.
That unique blend of profound loneliness, relentless sunshine, and unshakable will was genuinely compelling. Compared to that brooding Sasuke kid, he far preferred this one.
The boy looked up, and his blue eyes widened slightly at being addressed. "My name is Naruto! Uzumaki Naruto! And I'm gonna be Hokage someday!" he declared, his voice loud and bursting with a hopeful energy that seemed to brighten the dim alley.
"Naruto, huh? 'A single roar that shakes the world.' Not bad. Maybe you really will make that dream come true," Goku said with a laugh.
"You... you don't think it's stupid?" Little Naruto's gaze became intense, searching Goku's face. "Everyone else always laughs when I say that..."
"Stupid? What's stupid about having a dream?" Goku chuckled. "The only thing stupid is people who are too afraid to have one at all."
Naruto's entire face seemed to light up from within. "Yeah! I am gonna do it! No matter what anyone says!"
Looking into the boy's fiercely determined eyes, Goku gave an inward nod of respect. This is the stuff that makes a hero, he thought. The contrast with that other Uchiha kid was stark. Seeking vengeance was one thing, but letting it consume your soul? That was a path to nowhere.
"Hey, mister, who are you? I've never seen you around before," Naruto asked, curiosity now outweighing his earlier dejection. He already liked this strange adult who didn't sneer or look at him with those cold, empty eyes.
"Name's Son Goku. Just got into town, actually. Was just wondering where I might crash for the night."
"You can stay at my place! I live all by myself anyway!" Naruto blurted out, his excitement immediate and unguarded.
"That's a solid offer. I'll take you up on it, then. Lead the way," Goku said, his plan falling neatly into place. Being new to this world meant having no local currency; solving the lodging problem this easily was a welcome stroke of luck.
And so, Son Goku found himself walking through the winding streets of Konoha beside its future hero, heading toward a small, lonely apartment. The move did not go unnoticed.
---
In the confines of the Hokage's secure conference room, the air was thick with tension. The news had traveled fast.
"Sarutobi, your judgment is failing you in your old age!" Danzo Shimura's voice was a low growl, lacking any semblance of decorum. "Allowing a stranger of unknown origin to reside in Konoha on a whim? And now he has made direct contact with the kyūbi no kitsune! His target is clearly the Nine-Tails!"
"He is not a fox demon!" Hiruzen's retort was uncharacteristically sharp, his eyes hardening as he glared at his old rival. "He is the son of the Yondaime, as you are well aware. I will not hear that term again. As for our guest... do you think I invited him to stay? I acted for the village's safety. His power is... unprecedented. Our only current course is to observe and hope to avoid provocation."
Hiruzen's grave tone gave the other elders pause. Koharu Utatane leaned forward, her wrinkled face severe. "Explain yourself, Hiruzen. What do you mean, 'unprecedented'?"
The Sandaime let out a weary sigh, the memory of his humiliating defeat still fresh. "I know only that his name is Son Goku. His origins are a mystery. But his strength is beyond any benchmark we possess. I... could not withstand a single blow from him."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
"What?" Homura Mitokado exclaimed, his composure breaking. They all knew Hiruzen's capabilities intimately. For him to be incapacitated in one move... it suggested a threat level surpassing even the Nine-Tails' rampage. The gravity of the situation settled on them like a physical weight.
Danzo's single visible eye narrowed shrewdly. "You are certain of this?"
"Do I seem like a man who would fabricate such a humiliation?" Hiruzen snapped back, his pride still stinging.
Koharu's fingers tightened on the table. "This is a most delicate situation. What is our course of action?"
"Extreme caution," Homura stated grimly. "If Sarutobi's assessment is accurate, recklessness could spell disaster for the entire village."
A steely resolve flashed in Hiruzen's eyes. "We watch, and we wait. But know this: if he demonstrates any hostile intent toward Konoha, I will stand against him with my final breath."
Another heavy silence followed, broken only by Homura's resigned sigh. "It seems we have little other choice for the moment."
Hiruzen turned his piercing gaze directly to Danzo. "Danzo. You will keep your Root operatives on a tight leash during this period. Any unauthorized action that sparks a conflict will be laid squarely at your feet. Do not forget... for now, I am the Hokage."
A palpable chill entered the room. Danzo paused, then gave a stiff, shallow bow. "...Understood. Sandaime-sama." His voice was flat, its tone dangerously opaque. Behind the bandages, his expression was surely one of seething resentment.