The next morning, Konoha bustled with its usual activity as sunlight illuminated the busy streets. Naruto walked casually toward the Hokage office, scratching the back of his head while trying to ignore the strange stares he kept receiving from villagers and shinobi alike.
"Why is everyone looking at me like that…" Naruto muttered to himself.
Ever since the strange golden chakra appeared, he felt different. Not just stronger, but heavier somehow, as if something ancient was quietly watching through him.
As Naruto pushed open the Hokage office door—
"YOU'RE LATE, NARUTO!"
Tsunade's voice thundered across the room.
Naruto immediately stood straight.
"Sorry, Tsunade-baachan!"
Tsunade glared at him from behind her desk.
"I sensed a strange chakra from you last night."
Naruto's playful expression faded slightly. He knew hiding it would be pointless.
"I don't understand it either… it just appeared."
Tsunade slowly stood and walked toward him. Her sharp amber eyes carefully studied every movement Naruto made.
Naruto swallowed nervously. For some reason, standing this close to her made him uneasy.
Without warning, Tsunade placed her hand against Naruto's chest, directly over the seal on his stomach.
Instantly—
The golden chakra pulsed.
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly.
"What… is this…" she whispered.
The chakra felt warm, overwhelming, and strangely comforting at the same time. A faint blush appeared across her cheeks before she quickly stepped back.
Naruto tilted his head.
"What's wrong, Baachan?"
Tsunade turned away immediately.
"Nothing! I was just… examining your condition."
Shizune, standing nearby, stared in shock. She had never seen Tsunade react like that before.
Tsunade took a deep breath and regained her composure.
"You will undergo special supervision starting today."
Naruto groaned.
"Seriously…?"
"That is a Hokage order."
Naruto sighed in defeat as he turned and walked toward the exit.
As he stepped into the hallway, he nearly bumped into someone.
"Ah! Naruto!"
Ino stood in front of him, holding several intelligence documents. Her confident smile quickly shifted into curiosity as she stared at him.
"Oh, Ino? Since when do you work here?"
She flipped her hair slightly.
"I assist with intelligence reports now. But… you look different today."
She stepped closer, her blue eyes locking onto his.
Naruto felt his heartbeat quicken slightly.
Without realizing it, the golden chakra around him pulsed again.
Ino suddenly froze.
"Why does it feel… warm…" she murmured quietly.
Her cheeks turned faintly red before she quickly shook her head.
"I-I probably just didn't sleep well!"
Naruto laughed awkwardly, completely confused.
As he continued walking down the hallway, Ino watched his back silently.
"Why… do I suddenly want to stay near him…" she whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage office, Tsunade stood near the window, staring toward the village streets below.
"Shizune…"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade?"
"If Naruto truly inherited an ancient power…"
Her expression grew serious.
"He could become the world's greatest protector… or its greatest threat."
Shizune looked worried.
"Do you think he will lose control?"
Tsunade remained silent for a moment.
"I don't know… But I do know one thing."
Her gaze softened slightly as she remembered the warmth of Naruto's chakra.
"That power is affecting more than just his strength."
Outside the building, Naruto walked through the village, unaware of the emotions and concerns beginning to form around him.
The villagers greeted him with admiration, but many shinobi watched him cautiously.
Naruto simply smiled and waved like he always did, pretending nothing had changed.
But deep inside, the golden chakra flickered again, pulsing like a distant heartbeat.
And hidden within the shadows of Konoha's outer walls, a mysterious figure observed the village from afar.
"So… the Sun God's heir has finally awakened…" the figure whispered.
The figure slowly disappeared into the darkness.
And without Naruto realizing it, his life was about to change in ways he could never imagine.