Chapter Three: Limits of Power

Naruto appeared back in the Hokage's office a bit later.

As he did, he had to admit to feeling a bit disappointed. It wasn't that he wasn't glad to be back home. It was just that, aside from Hinata, Ayame and Teuchi, there was nobody at home waiting for him. The Old Man was waiting, though, Naruto guessed.

"So Naruto, you're back. How was your vacation?" asked Sarutobi Hiruzen, looking through paperwork. Naruto's first memories were of the old man, looking down at him when he had been formed.

"Pretty good, Old Man," said Naruto. "But... well..."

"Yes?" asked Sarutobi.

"I'm really having trouble with the village," said Naruto. "I mean, I want people to acknowledge me. But whenever someone comes close to acknowledging me, someone pulls them back. I feel like I'm wasting my time."

"Naruto, the circumstances of your birth were a traumatic event for many," said Sarutobi. "We lost one of our greatest leaders, and also much of the village was destroyed. It is only natural that these things should take time.

"Perhaps you should focus on finding a way to speed the process, instead of complaining?"

"Yeah, whatever," said Naruto, mentally thinking of the Uchiha district. They'd never even seen that one coming. Served them right for trying to control him. "I don't get it. You've got, like, infinite power, and everyone loves you. I've got infinite power, and everyone regards me as annoying."

Sarutobi laughed. "Well, I wouldn't call my power infinite. At my age, you come to terms with your own limitations.

"But, that may have more to do with what I do than what I can do.

"My ANBU tell me that my former student Tsunade is now sporting a pair of fox ears and tail. Also, her behavior has changed a great deal.

Naruto smiled, feeling a bit nervous. The Old Man was pretty much his only authority figure. Well, aside from, um... him. Naruto didn't know him was because he'd blocked the memory until he needed to remember. "Yeah, that was uh... fun."

"Fun?" asked Sarutobi.

"Oh, come on, she was stealing money to gamble it away!" said Naruto. "I'm doing her a favor by breaking her out of bad habits."

"Would this be the same way you demanded sacrifices from the Hyuga Clan?" asked Sarutobi.

"I did not demand sacrifices!" said Naruto. "I just asked to see Hinata, and everybody started making assumptions!"

Sarutobi laughed. "I believe you.

"However, you must admit that your... benevolent actions tend to be misinterpreted by the populace."

"Well, that's their problem for not understanding my awesomeness," said Naruto. And the fault of MADARA UCHIHA, of course.

"Actually, I was going to say something similar," said Sarutobi.

"Wait, seriously?" asked Naruto.

"The people of the village do not understand you," said Sarutobi. "Some of them have shrines and sacrifices to you, but it is to ward you off. You have gotten the reputation of a trickster spirit. One who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants."

"They're right. I do whatever I want, whenever I want. It's lucky for you I want good things," said Naruto, kind of annoyed.

The Old Man took a draft of his pipe. "Even so, I do not think you really understand them either. A mortal who acted the way you did would get into trouble very quickly. However, you've never been in trouble. Mostly because your godlike powers ensure that no one would dare pick a fight."

"So what should I do?" asked Naruto.

"...Wouldn't it make a bit of sense to stop being a god," said Sarutobi. "You could take on a human form in the Leaf, as a war orphan trying to enter the ninja academy? You could even arrange for yourself to be about to graduate at this point.

"Time is no object to you, after all."

Naruto thought about things. "Hang on, is this one of those things where you trick me out of my power? Because those tricks stopped working on me when I was three."

"No. You need only focus your power into a mortal form and try living an ordinary life," said Sarutobi.

"Well, what's the point of that?" asked Naruto.

"Well, ordinary people are treated differently than gods," said the Old Man. "You might learn a valuable lesson from experience. And it would give you something to do besides playing tricks on the populace."

"Well, forget it!" said Naruto. "No way am I going to go down and let people treat me like some kind of human being! I'm a god and-"

At this moment, the door slid open, and a boy whose name Naruto did not remember entering. He wore a helmet and had his hair tied up, with a long blue scarf. In one hand was a shuriken. "Alright, Old Man! Today is the day I become Hokage-"

Naruto mentally willed that he trips on his own feet, and the kid hit the ground hard.

"My Grandson, Konohamaru," said the Old Man.

Naruto watched as another man wearing sunglasses and white came to a halt outside the room. "Honorable Grandson! What has happened to you?! How many times must I tell you not to act in such a shameful fashion!"

"Leave me alone, Ebisu!" said Konohamaru.

"Ebisu, you seem to be doing well at training regime," said the Hokage.

"I apologize, Hokage. It won't happen again. Konohamaru will learn to respect the office of Hokage," said Ebisu. "Konohamaru, you must realize that as your sensei, I am never wrong. Which means I'm always right."

"I don't care about that," said Konohamaru. "I'm gonna be Hokage soon!" He looked to Naruto and advanced on him. "Hey, you, you tripped me up! I'll bet you didn't even know who I was, huh?"

"What if I did?" asked Naruto. He'd tried to assassinate the Hokage. His only defense was being stupid enough to get what he was doing.

"Well, you'd better apologize! I'm the Honorable Grandson of the Third Hokage!" said Konohamaru.

"And I'm the Fox God of the Leaf, you sure you want to do this?" asked Naruto.

"You bet I do!" said Konohamaru.

"Okay," said Naruto, before whacking him upside the head.

"Ow!" said Konohamaru.

"Consider that a warning," said Naruto, walking past Ebisu. A scan of his memories and thoughts revealed that Ebisu was actually pretty good. "I'm outta here, Old Man!"

"This guy is different..." murmured Konohamaru as Naruto left.

Unfortunately, Konohamaru immediately rushed after Naruto. He then followed him while pretending to be stealthy. Though he had apparently convinced himself, he was being stealthy. How exactly did he expect to sneak up on an omnipotent deity?

The only thing Naruto couldn't know or do was what he'd put off-limits for himself. He'd never been able to figure out how to dismantle those limits, and he'd stopped trying a long time ago. The idea of him being able to kill people was...

Well, it would be like turning into an Uchiha.

So trying to sneak after him was... overconfident, to say the least. Finally, Naruto decided to just look back. "...Why are you following me?"

Konohamaru came out of the alley and took off his sunglasses. "Aha, so you saw through my disguise. Fine then, I want you to be my teacher."

"I'm sorry, what?" asked Naruto.

"Teach me!" said Konohamaru. "You're a god, right. The Fox God of the Leaf, so you've gotta have a whole lot of powerful Jutsu!"

"Eh, not really," said Naruto. "Mostly I will something to happen, and it does."

"...You mean you're so powerful that you don't even have to make hand signs?!" asked Konohamaru.

"Look, kid, being a teacher isn't my thing," said Naruto. "When I teach people, I catch basically good people doing something bad. Then I manipulate their fatal to embarrass them and teach them a valuable life lesson.

"While also trying to get them to love me."

"But I really need to become Hokage fast! I have to know your secrets!" said Konohamaru.

Naruto supposed that he pulled tricks to teach life lessons. And he had pulled one on Konohamaru, so he sort of owed him one. "...Alright, I'll try to teach you something.

"But you won't be able to do it the same way. See, my power is based around my will, but ninja has the same effect differently. So, I'm going to teach you to use the Sexy Jutsu!"

"Wow, really," said Konohamaru.

"Now, observe!" said Naruto.

Quickly, he shifted forms into his female form. Konohamaru stared in awe as he then split that form into several triplets. "I can also replicate the technique, like this.

"It's all about the curves. You've got to exaggerate the woman you're creating, so she's sexier than is possible. But you've got to do it in a way that she sort of seems to fit in reality.

"Now you try it on..." Naruto looked down the street and saw a very pretty woman some ways off. He also saw a lot of people staring, transfixed. "Um...

"Her."

Konohamaru tried to do it, making motions. "Sexy Jutsu!"

The result was a very... large copy of the woman. She stared in outrage and moved forward. "That looks like me?!

"Why you..." She halted as she realized who Naruto was. "Um... why are you trying to corrupt the honorable grandson?"

Naruto scanned her thoughts, personality, and traits. He then transformed into an adult form with fox ears and nine tails. Drawing near her, he caught her by the hands and stared deeply into her eyes. "I could spend some time corrupting you, if you want, Airi?"

"Well, I... how did you know my name I..." she murmured, a blush creeping across her face.

"I know everything," said Naruto. "I'll see you tonight."

He then arranged for her to faint into the arms of a nearby passerby before resuming his normal form. She'd leave her window open tonight, and a future version of him would visit her for the first of many times. They'd play bingo.

"Wow!" said Konohamaru. "That was amazing."

"Yeah, don't try that until you're eighteen," said Naruto. "Now, come on, we've got to do some research."

And Naruto led Konohamaru to a nearby store. As he did, he mentally contacted Anko. Finding her eating dumplings, he put forth a call. Instantly, the beautiful shinobi finished and headed out. In the process, she cut off a conversation with Kurenai.

Then they got to the store.

Naruto could have teleported everybody right here. But the journey was as important as the destination. Konohamaru. "Hang on a sec; I thought you couldn't enter any place you weren't invited."

"Well, yes," said Naruto. "But I'm sure that the shopkeep could let me in if you ask him nicely." Best to give the guy a chance, even if he wasn't actually going to say yes.

Konohamaru walked in, talked to him, and was driven out.

"...No dice?" asked Naruto.

"No dice," said Konohamaru.

"...Fine, I guess I've got a way around that in emergencies. Hang on a sec," said Naruto.

At that moment, Anko landed with a flash of smoke in front of them. She was clad in her usual long coat over netting armor. Her violet hair was tied up above her, and she smirked. "Alright, I'm here, Naruto. What was it you wanted?"

"I kind of need a door opened for me, Anko," said Naruto, feeling really down. "I wouldn't bother you about it, but Konohamaru asked me for help. And I'm giving it.

"The shopkeeper won't invite me inside.

"Please convince him to change his mind."

Anko was, technically, part of him. But she was also an independent entity without the same limits Naruto had. And she looked really annoyed. "You called upon my immortal soul so you could look at dirty magazines? You could literally conjure the girls on the cover into existence.

"Hell, why not just call on me for-"

"It's for the sake of teaching," said Naruto, though he knew there was a better reason for that.

"But you don't know the first thing about-" Anko paused. "You know, fine. Do whatever you want."

And she headed into the store.

"So... couldn't you just teleport in a harem or something?" asked Konohamaru.

"Eh, I could create a harem for myself in an instant, but there wouldn't be any independent will to it," said Naruto. "No fun if they don't have a mind to playback. Also, I never do anything without consent.

"Ever.

"That's not a hardcoded rule, mind you. Just something I stick to."

"Why not?" asked Konohamaru. "I mean, um... why do you have the rule?"

Naruto thought about that time when he'd been growing up.

They were the black days just beneath the surface. And he wasn't sure he wanted Konohamaru to know about them just yet. He sometimes thought of them when he didn't want to. "...You ever hear about Orochimaru, Konohamaru?"

"Um, grandpa's old student?" asked Konohamaru. "He um... he took his betrayal personally."

"Yes," said Naruto. "Well, when I was a few years old and already smarter than most, Orochimaru fled the village. He'd done... some really bad stuff to a lot of children, most of them died. The Old Man wasn't able to bring himself to kill him, and he escaped.

"But one of his students went with Orochimaru. She was loyal to him and...

"That was Anko."

"I heard she came back and was thrown in a cell," said Konohamaru.

"Right," said Naruto. "The Old Man gave her a pardon, but... Orochimaru had done something to her. Infused her with his will, so it caused her constant agony. It was some kind of sick experiment and...

"Well, I was asked to get rid of it.

"So, I did get rid of it. I poured enough of my own innate power in to destroy the mark but... something went wrong. I devoured her."

"She looked pretty alive to me," said Konohamaru.

"No, when I devour someone, it's not the same as an animal devouring prey," said Naruto. He realized this was the entire reason he was here. "I'm subsuming their chakra with mine. They become an extension of myself. They are completely under my control, even as they maintain their own will.

"I didn't know what I was doing to Anko.

"Now... now she is completely under my control. I only think call and without a word spoken she comes. I don't call on her at all often, but... it's an option I can use when I need to get into a place fast. Usually only when lives are at stake. And then she disappears when I don't want her present."

"Can't you like, release her or something?" asked Konohamaru.

"How do you release your left arm, Konohamaru?" asked Naruto. "Even if she is capable of talking back to me, it's only because I let her.

"I don't even know if she would be better off if I did it. And I wouldn't know where to start.

"That's why... that's why I will never devour anyone who does not willingly allow me to do so."

"Well, maybe you should figure out what Orochimaru did in the first place. Then you could figure out how to reverse it," said Konohamaru.

What Naruto had not said was that he could have stopped it all.

Naruto could have willed life into all those people Orochimaru killed easily. He could have saved every single one of them. With a few proper words, he could have gotten Orochimaru killed by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Except...

He hadn't done any of those things, had he?

Naruto hadn't cared about any of it. Why would he? The people of the village had just been his playthings. Only fear of the Old Man had kept him from being far, far worse than he was already. The Old Man could keep him controlled. But the rules...

The rules that Naruto had put on himself were the only reason he'd been kept in check. The Old Man could have locked him out of Konoha itself if he'd really pushed it. And the idea of not being come back had hurt. So Naruto had kept himself in check, for the Old Man.

"Maybe," said Naruto. "Konohamaru, I'll level with you. I have no idea how to do ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu of any kind. Everything I want to happen happens when I want it.

"I can't teach you anything because...

"I don't really know anything."

"But you're a god," said Konohamaru.

"Yeah," said Naruto. "And I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Well then, why does everyone worship you?" asked Konohamaru.

"I dunno, you tell me," said Naruto, bitter. "You're an ordinary mortal, and people treat you better than me. Nobody sees either of us for who we really are."

"So you can't teach me?" asked Konohamaru.

Naruto smiled. "Well, there's an old saying about the blind leading the blind.

"You ought to listen to your sensei, Konohamaru. The Old Man wouldn't have given him to you without reason."

At that moment, Anko got back. She looked in a foul mood. "Okay, he's not letting you in. He's really digging his heels on this one."

Naruto sighed. "It's fine, Anko. Really. We uh... sorted things out... Do what you want...

"I'll take a position in the academy years before now and get back to you when I can. Keep working on the sexy jutsu."

"Okay, I will!" called Konohamaru.

Naruto got back to the Old Man, feeling bitter.

With all his power, Naruto had forgotten how limited he really was. Other people could go over to a friend's house and surprise them without being invited. Naruto, though, didn't have any friends to surprise. Only the Old Man's office was kept open to him at all times.

"Naruto, you're back," said Sarutobi, looking at some files.

"Yeah," said Naruto. "I'm back. I'm going to take you up on your offer, old man."

The Old Man smiled. "I already arranged for housing, of course. And if you find things unsatisfactory, you can simply return to the way you were."

Naruto laughed at that. "Well, boy, did you waste your time.

"I'm going to become an academy student years before we even had this discussion. It's not like I spent any time hanging out there."

"I know," said Sarutobi. "I'm looking at your file right now."

Sarutobi turned the files around, and Naruto saw his face on a card. He sighed. "...I could just as easily go into one of the other Hidden Villages academies. I'm omnipotent."

"But you won't," said the Old Man. "Because you didn't.

"Naruto Uzumaki."

The Old Man couldn't have controlled Naruto if Naruto had really tried to break that control. But, well, Naruto wasn't willing to do that just yet; he sort of like the two-way bond. "...Okay, your good."

He started his academic career years ago.