Everyone knew everyone in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. This of course excludes some high level Jonin, (anbu and certain classified Ninjas not disclosed to the public) for obvious reasons.
Many were more popular and famous than the others, such as Sarurobi Asuma, son of the third and current Hokage. The 30 Million bounty may have had a hand in that popularity. (yes, million)
You could say that people only know of him from the popularity of his father, yet people know nothing of the parents of his esteemed newphew and grandson of the Hokage, Konohamaru.
But everyone in the village knows Naruto. It's impossible not to, seeing as he was a clear celebrity at birth. Carrying the strongest and most malicious being known to the Ninja world, the 9 tailed fox.
This made people wary of the kid.
And it made it 100 times more suspicious when he would talk about taking over the entire world.
But people weren't as alarmed as they thought they'd be. In fact they'd expected much worse from a literal demon child. It's how he says it that makes them slightly confused.
For instance, when people would find themselves in a conversation with him, his answer was so baffling they'd forget what they were originally talking about.
"Cmon man! It's just a pineapple, why charge so much!"
"I told you Naruto, nothing less than 40 and that's final! Things are a bit tight with less fish coming in from Suna, so it costs three arms for my family to get our favorite puffer fish."
The blonde was in the middle of a bustling market, people crowded behind him, yet no one in line for the fruit stand he frequently visited.
"Bleh! Puffer fish? I swear when I take over the world I'll kill all puffer fish and make pineapples cheaper just to spite you old man!"
Now Naruto was an odd yet polite kid at 11 years of age, but that didn't make anyone less wary of the fox demon residing inside of him. So everything he said could be put into action if the beast was controlling him.
Had the beast planted seeds in the boys mind? What would possibly drive him to want to take over the world!
Multiple thoughts raced through the Fruit Keepers head, but by the time he came back to reality from shaking in his books, to literally having a dumbfounded look on his face, he realized 20 yen sat on the counter in front of him and he was missing two apples.
"Hey wait a minute! Apples are 16 a piece! Narutooooo."
Even when the boy had first joined the Academy he made these claims.
"Naruto! You aced your test on the Daimyo's of the nations. Congratulations!"
Iruka sensei looked at the kid with a bit of surprise. He expected him to be his worst student yet. But he rarely was in class longer than he needed to and when he was he was awfully polite. Not to mention his grades were decent in Academic testing.
"Of course I did. I have to know everything about the Nations if I'm going to take over the world."
As usual all of the kids shrugged it off. But the third Hokage would find concerning messages from both adults in the room. Sensei's Iruka and Mizuki.
Each asking if there were a slight chance that the demon could have contact or taken control of the boy.
The Hokage was quite the busy man. But anything relating to Naruto he immediately looked in to. Being Hokage at his age was horrible for his health, yet he still wanted to make sure Naruto was at least taken care of.
He did a horrible job of this, considering the last he sent someone to check on him was his 8th birthday. The man ended up forgetting he sent someone and was surprised to get a reply 3 days later when they had found little Naruto in a food coma from the amount of ramen Teuchi had given him for free seeing as it was his special day.
"So Iruka speak first. What makes you think that Uzumaki has been taken over by the nine tails?"
Stern. But this was no joking matter. The release or influence of the nine tails at threat here, Hiruzen had to put all emotions aside. The village safety came first, regardless of the promise he had made to his successor.
"Well, Lord Hokage. When talking in class today he mentioned something of...taking over the world."
The weight in the room dropped. Mizuki who still stood next to Iruka collapsed. Iruka fell to his knees, yet still keeping an eye on the Hokage.
"You know this is a serious matter, correct boy? This threatens the very safety of our village being destroyed in one day. I assume this is being handled with the most care, correct?"
Iruka stumbled over his words. "Um, yes sir. I know he says many odd things as do most kids his age. There's literally a kid who takes baths and pees wherever his dog is. It's not unusual to have quirks in the village." Iruka felt himself going off topic. "B-but sir! I asked many villagers and they have all brought up something about him mentioning taking over the world and world domination."
Hiruzen thought. This could be a quirk of his. All kids were, quite weird in their village, see: Rock Lee. Yet this is no light matter. He didn't want to hurt the boy, but...he had to keep them safe. If the Fox did have control why in the world would he openly talk about it? This did not need to be taken out of proportion yet in order to keep the village safe he would have to.
"If I may, Lord Hiruzen? I propose an idea." Mizuki was barely back on his feet, the pressure slowly leaving the room. He used Iruka as a crutch.
"I propose a test. Of loyalty. To prove if he is indeed the Fox-" Mizuki collapsed again, sweating profusely. While Iruka desperately tried to apologize for his friend, all the Hokage could do was look into the distance.
'A test...perhaps.'
"Firestyle! Fireball Jutsu!"
'Five. That's my limit.' Sasuke Uchiha was tunnel visioned his entire life. One straight, bulldozing machine of skill and strength. Stay consistent was his unspoken philosophy.
Since that day, he always stayed consistent and tunnel visioned. Every move he made, contributing to defeating that man.
Eat right. Train your skills. Train your body.
Then you'll be strong enough.
Then he'll pay. Suddenly he had another burst of energy. He began the hand signs once more.
"Fir-"
"Take a break why don't ya? Don't you ever get tired?"
Sasuke heard a voice that was familiar. But he couldn't pin point where. But he could definitely tell who it was.
"Show yourself now. Or I'll kick you out your tree myself." A Kunai was in Sasuke's hand.
"What the hell dude? I try to be nice and this is how you treat me?"
Then Sasuke saw it. A tangle of ninja wire surrounding him. Naruto must have found out because they instantly began to close on his body. Then a burst of white smoke.
Once the white smoke cleared a log was now in his place. "Damnit. I was sure that was going to work!" Naruto cursed from on top of a tree.
A quick flash and metal touched metal. Naruto now had a Kunai in hand, but a shuriken now caught in the hole inside of it by the blade of the Kunai.
'Me and my big mouth.' Naruto started running. Sasuke now knew his location which was faster than Naruto thought he'd catch on. He began hopping from tree to tree. Then two hands caught up to him and tackled him off of the tree, which was no small distance. Naruto grabbed at the air, desperately trying to find something to hold on to. Yet he kept speeding to the floor, 20 feet below him.
He landed painfully on his side. "Shit!" Still grimacing in pain, Sasuke now pointing a Kunai at his throw.
"Give up you idiot."
Naruto's face of pain was replaced with a foxy grin. Sasuke knew he was planning something, but didn't have time to react when Naruto was suddenly a log pinned beneath him.
Sasuke's eyes widened when he felt cold and sharp metal on his neck.
"Dude I have no idea how you found me. You should have knocked me out and you might've won."
"What do you want idiot?" Sasuke knocked the Kunai from out of Naruto's hand and stormed away, on his path back to his Hokage issued apartment.
"Wellll-" Naruto smiled as he ran to catch up next to him.
"I came to offer you an alliance."
'Aliance?'
"And what makes you think I'd trust anything you'd offer to me?"
"Because I know what you want."
"You know nothing about me."
"I know how to help you beat Itachi."
Sasuke stopped in his tracks.