The next morning.
After a quick wash, Naruto was about to go for a stroll when he remembered that the Third Hokage had banned him yesterday. Pouting, he returned to his room, looked at the snow-covered street, and decided to pass the time with some morning exercises.
Being only twelve, Naruto's morning routine consisted of simple stretches—no high-intensity training. Too young for that, and besides, he had no clue about proper physical training. Messing around might even stunt his future growth.
After an unknown amount of time, a sound of stones hitting the door reached him. Naruto opened it to find several boxes in the corridor.
Ah, right—the "reading materials" and survival supplies that the Third Hokage had asked ANBU to send during his confinement period.
Dragging all the boxes inside, Naruto eagerly opened one filled with books. A dozen or so titles caught his eye: Ninja Geography, Konoha History, The Will of Fire, and more.
He ignored The Will of Fire and Konoha History for now, picking up Ninja Geography instead. Sure, he knew the plot of Naruto like the back of his hand, but actual human geography and customs in the ninja world? Big gaps. Time to fix that.
Ninja Geography was a light read. In an hour, he had a general understanding of ninja lands. The geography felt… strange. The Land of Rain was perpetually wet, while the Land of Wind was arid, yet they were on the same latitude. Probably chakra-related. This was no ordinary world.
After a small grumble, Naruto picked up Konoha History, grinning to himself. Surely he knew more about Konoha than the Third Hokage by now.
But after a few pages, he paused. Konoha History was… heavily edited. Senju were treated fairly, but the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Inuzuka clans got inflated importance, while the Uchiha were belittled and their achievements minimized.
Naruto sighed. Some things never change.
He set the book aside and finally picked up The Will of Fire. If the Third Hokage sent all these books, it was probably the one he wanted Naruto to read. He had no choice but to play along.
Naruto's Office (Third Hokage)
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, handled some government business before switching on the crystal ball to check on Naruto. He lit his pipe and watched the boy pick up The Will of Fire, a small smile creeping onto his face.
Taking care of the boy's morale was part of his daily Hokage duties. Rumors of Naruto being the "demon fox" had done damage, reducing village stability. But with the Will of Fire instilled, Naruto could still grow into a competent ninja.
A black shadow passed—ANBU, kneeling in front of the Hokage.
"How goes the investigation? Any news on the fox rumors?" Hiruzen asked.
ANBU hesitated. "Master… there are insiders spreading rumors, some high-level figures are even involved…"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. Besides old Danzo, who else would have the guts?
After taking office again, he'd given the Root organization enough power, yet Danzo still tried to meddle with Naruto. Enough was enough.
"Should I… eliminate the rumor?" ANBU asked cautiously.
Hiruzen shook his head. "No. Clarifying now would confirm Naruto's identity as the Jinchūriki. Let nature take its course. His image will grow stronger by enduring suffering and loneliness."
But he can't be lonely forever… maybe it's time to find him some friends.
"Call the Nara patriarch to the Hokage building. I need to discuss something with him," Hiruzen said.
Back in Naruto's Room
By the end of the day, Naruto had finished The Will of Fire.
Honestly? Not much malice toward it, but not much favor either.
At its core, it boiled down to one line: Wherever flames and leaves dance, the fire will never stop. The light of the fire will continue to illuminate the village and make new leaves sprout.
In other words: young people are the future. The older generation sacrifices to guide them. Inspiration, trust, protection—yeah, yeah, slogans.
First and second generations actually lived the Will of Fire. The Third Hokage? Mostly using it as PR to keep Konoha from collapsing.
Naruto wasn't buying it. He wouldn't oppose the slogan publicly—no point—but he wasn't a fan either. It was the villagers' fault if they took it too seriously.
Bored, Naruto tossed the book aside, flopped on the sofa, and napped. Day one of his confinement, and who knew how long it would last?
No matter—he had food, warmth, and books. Perfect for survival.
But as he drifted off, a faint red chakra seeped from the four seals on his stomach.
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