Chapter 3: Lies and Propaganda: The Tapestry of Brainwashing
Naruto Uzumaki:The Super Soldier
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these rights.
bibidibabidiboom: I disagree entirely because, in the anime, Naruto is not stupid; rather, he is simple-minded and more street-smart than book-smart. First and foremost, Naruto's simplicity is a reflection of his lowly beginnings and the struggles he has endured. Second, a major factor in Naruto's success as a ninja is his street smarts. Throughout the series, he demonstrates his ability to think on his feet and adapt to various situations. His quick thinking and resourcefulness often allow him to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
Krieger Techpreist: Amen!
Whatif-inator: I appreciate all of your suggestions; however, if I were to give Naruto the tesseract, that would ultimately make him way too overpowered if you factor in his chakra pool, Kurama, and the super soldier serum and with the tesseract at that point, he'll be above God-Hood.
Okay, so regarding Naruto thinking he's a monster for killing a lot of people, he won't dwell on it too much; however, Naruto will feel slightly guilty, but he'll get over it.
With that out of the way, let's ignite the story's flame.
As he awoke in the oppressive confines of a dimly lit, prison-like room, a heavy fog of disorientation enveloped Naruto's mind. Pain pulsed through his head, and echoes of his own name seemed elusive, slipping through his consciousness like sand through grasping fingers.
His thoughts were racing to try and piece together the pieces of his identity, but the memories remained elusive, dancing just out of reach. A wave of panic rose inside of him as he struggled to make sense of the emptiness that had taken the place of his previous identity.
A metallic echo of knocking interrupted his self-discovery.
A Hydra soldier walked in, his stern expression providing no solace. Naruto felt his spine tingle at the soldier's detached tone of voice. "It is time for your session, Z3H9R5K."
"Is that my name?" He thought, but he knew in his heart that it was not because there was still a void left by the familiar name gone, replaced by an enigmatic string of characters that brought him no comfort or sense of familiarity with his past.
A thick silence fell over the facility as Naruto and the Hydra guard moved through the frigid hallways. The loss of knowing who he really was tore at him, leaving an unbridgeable hole. His gaze shifted to his metallic right arm in an effort to escape the suffocating thoughts.
He studied the vibranium arm as if it were an alien relic, with a mix of curiosity and disinterest. The cool touch of the metal provided a temporary distraction from the unsettling emptiness of his forgotten past.
The guard, in keeping with the stoic manner expected of a Hydra agent, saw Naruto's fascination with the metallic limb but said nothing.
Naruto found himself shackled to a metal chair in a dimly lit room, surrounded by wires and monitors. He felt a sharp pain in his head as electrodes were attached to his temples. A man wearing a white coat and a mask stood in front of him, holding a clipboard and a remote control.
"Subject Z3H9R5K, are you ready for your session?" the man asked in a detached voice.
A screen flickered to life behind the man. Whispers and white noise combine with personal photos of Naruto's village and friends that they confiscated from his person prior to the procedure, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
"Look at them, Subject Z3H9R5K," the man commanded, manipulating the remote and intensifying electric shocks. Despite the agony, Naruto couldn't tear his gaze away from the screen, where images of Sakura, Sasuke, Kakashi, Iruka, and other familiar faces flashed in front of him.
Naruto's mind was poisoned by the man's voice, which weaved a tapestry of lies and propaganda. "They betrayed you; they are evil, enemies of Hydra. You must eradicate them from your memories," he declared, twisting the knob further, amplifying the disorienting shocks.
As the pain intensified, Naruto's thoughts grew hazy, and his memories began to blur. Amidst the confusion, he vaguely recalled moments spent with his people—their laughter, tears, and adventures together. But the man's words kept echoing in his mind, seeding doubts and conflicts within him. A torrent of opposing feelings fought inside him: guilt, happiness, nostalgia, hatred, and resentment.
False narratives were inserted into Naruto's vulnerable state as the man continued his psychological assault. Naruto's hold on reality grew weaker with every moment that went by, and the lies began to seep into his consciousness. He started seeing his people as traitors, his village corrupt, and Hydra as the only force capable of restoring order to the world.
Naruto's true identity was erased as the man described his role as Hydra's submissive soldier, instilling in him a false sense of purpose.
The man's voice droned on, repeating the same phrases, imprinting them deep into Naruto's subconscious. He used a trigger phrase to activate and deactivate Naruto's programming, alternating between normal and Super Soldier mode.
"Cut off one head; two more shall take its place," the man said, and Naruto's eyes glazed over, his expression becoming emotionless and obedient.
When the man asked who he was, Naruto replied in a flat, monotone voice, "I am a weapon."
"Who are your enemies?" the man queried.
"Anyone who opposes Hydra," Naruto replied mechanically.
"Who are your friends?"
"Hydra."
The man smiled wickedly, pleased with himself for successfully brainwashing Naruto. "Good. Very good. You are doing well, Subject Z3H9R5K," he praised, manipulating the strings of Naruto's altered reality.
With a final press of a button, the screen went dark, leaving Naruto alone in the dimly lit room. The harsh fluorescent lights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the cold, metallic surfaces.
The man's last words, "Long live Hydra," lingered in the room. Trapped in a fabricated existence, Naruto's fractured memories struggled to surface, but the lies and propaganda held sway. Naruto's happy memories had been twisted and replaced with a false narrative that went against his inner truth. The lights flickered, as if to mock him, a cruel reminder of the darkness that now ruled his thoughts.
They started molding him into the perfect killing machine after his 'treatment'. Two Hydra agents took Naruto from his cell and transported him to a large gymnasium. There, he saw several machines, equipment, and obstacles that looked like they were designed to train him. In addition, he noticed a tall, strong man wearing black uniforms, holding a stopwatch and a clipboard, and with a scarred face and shaved head.
"Subject Z3H9R5K, I'm Instructor Bolat Zhaksylykov. Address me as 'sir.' Over the next four weeks, I'll assess and enhance your strength; however, you are not allowed to enhance your strength with your chakra. Is that clear?" Bolat's words were flat and unvarying.
"Yes, sir," Naruto replied impassively. His response conveyed a frigid indifference.
"Good. Follow me. We'll commence with the weights. Lift until I instruct you to stop. Understand?" Bolat led Naruto to a rack of weights.
"Yes, sir," Naruto echoed emotionlessly, trailing behind.
Instructor Zhaksylykov locked eyes with Naruto, his gaze unyielding. "Subject Z3H9R5K, as a Hydra super soldier, your training demands extraordinary strength. Let's begin with the fundamentals."
Instructor Zhaksylykov leads him to a rack of weights and orders him to lift a light set of dumbbells. When Naruto lifted the 85-pound weight with ease, Zhaksylykov was unmoved and insisted that he lift ever-larger weights until Naruto was clearly straining; eventually, he managed to lift 115 pounds.
Throughout the hour-long training session, Zhaksylykov pushed Naruto to his limits, criticizing his form and technique and urging him to eliminate any trace of emotion from his performance. He gradually increases the difficulty and intensity of the exercises by making Naruto perform push-ups, lunges, and squats.
Despite the grueling pace, Naruto shows remarkable resilience and strength, completing every exercise with precision and focus. Zhaksylykov noted Naruto's already impressive performance for his age, but continues to push him harder, hoping to refine his raw strength into a finely tuned weapon.
After working out for hours, Naruto wiped his brow, tired but not defeated. "What's next, sir?"
The instructor's gaze remained unbothered. "A fifteen-mile run."
Naruto has trudged along the same path for several weeks on a desolate road, the landscape bare and unremarkable. His steps were echoing in a determined rhythm as he wore a 250-pound, heavy-weighted vest. In the distance, a Jeep follows, the instructor's voice echoing through a loudspeaker.
"You're not even breaking a sweat, Z3H9R5K. Pathetic. You need to push yourself harder if you want to survive in this world." The words annoyed Naruto, but he did not show it.
The Jeep falls back, allowing Naruto to continue his trek. The road shimmers like molten lava as a result of the sun's ruthless glare. Naruto's legs ache, his muscles screaming for relief, but he ignores the pain, his mind centered on the goal.
In the final stretch of the 15-mile run, the instructor's tone emerged. "Not bad, Z3H9R5K. You've managed to keep the same pace for fifteen miles. I might increase the distance for the rest of the week."
Naruto maintained a stoic expression and did not respond. He knows better than to display any signs of weakness, relief, or joy.
"You have completed three full weeks of training, Z3H9R5K. Your strength and endurance have improved, but there is still a long way to go." Naruto was given permission to board the jeep and return to the base by the instructor, who remained firm.
Naruto stumbled back to his small, one-bunk bedroom after taking a shower, the fatigue from his rigorous training still evident in every step.
Closing his eyes, Naruto succumbed to the weight of exhaustion, the monotony of his surroundings fading as sleep claimed him.
With inner Naruto
As Naruto walked through the surreal landscape of his mindscape, he found himself surrounded by a labyrinth of intertwining pipes, their metallic surfaces reflecting fragments of memories. A faint hum filled the air, echoing the energy coursing through the maze.
He found himself in a dark corridor. He narrowed his eyes. "Is this my mind?" he thought in disgust as he walked forward. He kept walking for a few minutes and stopped seeing some light at the end of the corridor. It seemed to pull him towards it.
"Time to find out what is at the end." With that thought, he walked again, stopping only until the end.
The room was enormous, with no way to locate the ceiling due to its sheer size. He surveyed his surroundings, seeing only black. The elephant in the room, however, was a large iron-barred door with a seal written on it.
He gazed at the piece of paper. His azure eyes peered past the cage, searching for what he knew was inside.
A low growl emanated from within, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.
Despite the cage separating him from the beast inside, Naruto steeled himself. Naruto stiffened as a massive red eye emerged from the darkness. They looked at him as if evaluating him. Even the great bijū was taken aback when Naruto asked a polite question, breaking the silence as the giant red eye studied him.
"Excuse me, who are you, and where am I, mister?" Naruto inquired, attempting to maintain politeness in the surreal encounter.
Kurama, the Nine-Tails, expressed surprise in his thoughts. "It seems like inner Naruto also lost his memories."
"You are currently within your own mindscape, Uzumaki Naruto. And as for myself, I am the Nine-Tails."
He explained, watching Naruto sit in front of the cage—Kurama took note of Naruto's unusual lack of fear.
"My mindscape? Why am I inside my mind, Ninetails?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head.
When inner Naruto mentioned Kurama's unique appearance, the beast acknowledged that this Naruto was different from the brat he was used to. The young ninja's unexpected lack of fear intrigued Kurama.
"Why are you not scared of me?" Kyūbi then questioned. Despite the expected hostility, curiosity took a different direction inside of him.
Naruto, frowning slightly, replied honestly, "I do not know. I feel like I should, but I just don't."
Kurama seemed intrigued and beckoned Naruto closer, saying, "Come closer to the cage, Naruto."
"Do not worry, I will not harm you," Kurama said calmly. Upon noticing Naruto's slight hesitation, he quickly added.
Hesitantly, Naruto complied, and as he drew near, Kurama extended a claw, gently tapping him on the forehead. Naruto experienced a floodgate of memories that came flooding back to him, one after the other, fitting together like a puzzle piece.
Naruto sat on the ground, reliving the fragments of his recent memories, and he turned to look at Kurama with confused and worried eyes. "What happened to me? All I remember is fighting Sasuke, colliding attacks, and feeling myself hitting hard snow." Grasping his head tightly, he attempted to assemble the shattered memories.
"When I woke up, I heard people speaking in a different language, and then one of them put a mask over my face, and then I saw darkness." As Naruto spoke, his hands trembled. "T-they gave me a new metal arm before putting me in that awful chair."
Kurama remained silent as he absorbed Naruto's words. "I am not sure what they did to you, but they were able to split you in two halves, and you, the inner half, is now deep within your psyche," the Nine-Tails explained, after which the young ninja fell silent for a moment.
Naruto's breathing quickened, his chest tightening with anxiety. "I can't be stuck in my own head while someone else is running around in my body! What if they hurt somebody or do something terrible?" He couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness that consumed him.
With a hint of sympathy and empathy in his voice, Kurama responded by blowing a hot breath into Naruto's face. His eyes softened slightly. "My powers are pretty limited due to this cursed seal, but if we are patient, we might find an opening for you to regain control of your body." He gave Naruto a ray of hope since he could relate to his host's fears because he had experienced similar feelings in the past.
In an attempt to control his feelings, Naruto nodded resolutely. "You're right, Ninetails. I've been through worse and come out on top. I refuse to let this destroy me." He got to his feet, confidently squaring his shoulders.
"Why are you helping me?" With a suspicious expression on his face, Naruto questioned. "I thought you despised all humans."
With a trace of anger, Kurama snarled. "Yes, I dislike you, but the thought of you becoming a pet, as I was for that bastard Uchiha, makes my blood boil." A glimpse of his buried resentment was shown by the Nine-Tails.
When Kurama admitted it, Naruto furrowed his brow, his face filled with surprise and understanding. "I never thought I would say this, but I appreciate your assistance, even if it is for your own selfish motives."
Kurama closed his eyes, indicating that he was going to nap. "I would ask you to leave, but since we are stuck here," he said, "go find somewhere to rest that is not right next to me."
After a brief pause, Naruto nodded. "Fine, I will find somewhere to rest. Though we may not like it, keep in mind that we are both stuck in here together." He emphasized the last part of his sentence, hoping Kurama would recognize the significance of their temporary alliance.
As Naruto walked away, a sense of determination welled up within him. Whatever it took, he would overcome the obstacles in his way and take back control of his body. Though their relationship was tense, he and Kurama had one thing in common: they wanted to be freed from the mental prison they were in.
Five months later, Naruto stood in the middle of a grassy field, wearing a heavy vest that made movement difficult. He had been doing burpees for what seemed like hours, but he knew it was only thirty minutes. As he began another burpee round, Naruto felt the weight of the vest pulling him down. He was so tired that his legs trembled and his arms felt like lead pipes. However, he remained resolute.
Naruto took a deep breath and concentrated on his technique as he started his set. He made a herculean effort to push through the pain and exhaustion to complete each rep, using all of his remaining energy. The weighted vest made things difficult, but it also made him stronger, forcing him to dig deeper and find the strength he needed to persevere. Naruto could feel his adrenaline pumping as his set was coming to an end. He was drenched in sweat, and his heart was racing. But he persisted. Naruto could feel his muscles scream in protest as his set was coming to an end, pleading for a break. But he didn't let up. Instead, he summoned all of his remaining strength and finished strong, collapsing into a heap on the ground, completely exhausted.
Naruto chose to carry on with his training by going on to another exercise after catching his breath. He made his way to a nearby set of pull-up bars and positioned himself underneath them. Reaching up, his fingers wrapped around the bar with a firm grip, his muscles from the previous workout still burning.
After inhaling deeply, Naruto started to raise himself, tensing his back and arms. Each pull-up felt like a monumental struggle, with the weighted vest adding another layer of difficulty to the exercise. But Naruto refused to be defeated. As he powered through each repetition using the rhythm of his breathing, his muscles responded to the demands he was placing on them during each pull-up.
After an hour of the same exercise, Naruto could feel his body beginning to burn from the familiar exertion. He could feel his muscles growing stronger and more adept at handling the challenges he was putting them through with each passing second. He did not give in to fatigue and forced himself to complete the set in perfect form.
When Naruto eventually completed the final pull-up, his body gave way from fatigue, and he collapsed to the ground.
Naruto discovered himself in a thick forest a few months later, encircled by tall trees and the sounds of the natural world. This time, his goal was to increase his speed and agility—two essential qualities of a super soldier. Wearing light training gear, he moved purposefully through the undergrowth, his senses acutely aware of what was around him.
Naruto moved gracefully and precisely, his body responding to the obstacles in his path with every step. He maneuvered effortlessly through the dense foliage, dodging low-lying branches and vaulting over fallen logs. His body was a well-oiled machine that reacted with lightning-fast reflexes to every command.
As Naruto dashed through the forest, his focus was fixed on the path in front of him, scanning the trees with his eyes. He used his chakra to increase his speed, pumping his legs furiously as he dodged and weaved through the vegetation. Sunlight filtered through the canopy overhead, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor. As he sent chakra shooting through his legs, Naruto forced himself to move more quickly, testing the limits of his reflexes and speed until his movements blurred.
In a tiny clearing, Naruto eventually stopped after a string of furious sprints and evasive moves. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead.
He then dashed towards the nearest tree and leaped, using his chakra to stick to the trunk. He shot up, his feet barely making contact with the bark as the wind tore past him. As he rose, Naruto's movements grew more fluid, his limbs gripping the rough bark with the ease of a clouded leopard. With the dexterity of a seasoned acrobat, he swung through the branches, showcasing his amazing athleticism. Naruto seemed to defy gravity with each tree he defeated due to his speed and agility. He leapt from one branch to the next, his movements becoming more erratic as he pushed himself to climb higher and faster with each leap.
As Naruto continued his training, the forest became quieter, with the animals hiding in fear as they detected the presence of a predator.
The end Please read the author's notes carefully, and I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter.
A: Alright, let us get this out of the way early. When Naruto returns to the elemental world, do you want him to kill Sasuke after realizing he will not change, or do you want him to keep trying to save Sasuke from his hatred? (This must be a majority vote regardless of whether Naruto kills Sasuke or not; it will not change my story plan much.)
B: Like the summary says, Naruto will be pivotal in shaping history and altering the fate of nations, and so do you guys have any suggestions for any disasters/tragedies that Naruto could have had a hand in? It can't be after the 60s. I already have plans for Naruto to participate in the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, Cuba, and Laos. Obviously, there are a few more, but I would love to hear your suggestions! It will make sense in the following chapters, but I would prefer that your suggestions occur in the eastern hemisphere. (Disaster-tragedies include assassinations, kidnappings, bombings, and anything else related to CIA, KGB, or other intelligence communities.)
C: Should Naruto still get Sage Mode, yes or no?