Cid Kagenou, the younger child of Kagenou baron family, the one who managed to play the cards right to overthrow the worldwide secret organization (actually he just killed the leaders from the shadows), the one who built another worldwide secret organization (more like his seven subordinates did it while he was mobbing around), was in thoughts.

He has managed to take everything this world had to offer. No, really everything. His organization practically controlled the world, being the economic and political powerhouse. Under his command were seven hundreds elite warriors. The Queen of an ally country was at his beck and call, ready to offer the prowess of her military. Two princesses of his own country were listening to him, too, even though they didn't know who he actually was.

And that's not even to mention that he, himself, was the one who managed to reach the peak of the world, kill the Goddess who apparently controlled it and redirect the prayers towards himself. Just one of his spells was able to cast the impending doom. The only thing that continued to be somewhat of relief was roleplaying, where he would consciously limit his powers and have fun… That, and magic research.

Ah, yes, magic. The thing he, in his previous life, did so much for… And that same thing became his to command the moment he reincarnated there.

To his shame, though, this world had… no advanced magic. Or advanced martial arts. Really, everything was basically in infancy stages. Good thing that he, driven by his long-time dream of becoming a true power behind the curtains, maniacally studied everything; from maths and economics, to chemistry and biology, to martial arts. This provided a great foundation for his own training and experimentation, resulting in discovery of Magic Overload: a phenomenon whenever your body cannot handle your own magic and starts breaking down, suffering from mutations. However, should you be able to overcome it, and not only all the nasty effects recede, your magical aptitude greatly increases! Of course, no one was insane enough to willingly bear the pain and suffering of losing control first of your magic, then your body functions, and then losing your own mind. No one, except for him.

He diligently re-inflicted Magic Overload on himself and successfully cured it over and over again. At some point, he realized; it no longer worked. Or rather, his body has grown to the point where it could handle large amounts of magic easily; that's when he decided to just let it go twenty four seven.

And that's how, in just few years, Cid Kagenou managed to rise from practically unassuming child of minor nobles to the world's strongest being… Being, because he himself doubted that what he has become can be called 'human'.

And all of that was possible thanks to Seven Shades.

He only learned how to fix Magic Overload because of one girl that he once found in later stages of said predicament. After a month or so of excessive experimentation he managed to return her from grotesque fleshy blob form to her glorious blonde elf true self. Filled with gratitude towards her saviour, she swore undying loyalty for him, and over time, what was previously just a small group has grown into a powerhouse, with the girl now named Alpha as his right hand and…

A small blush crept on his face.

Yes, after some point Alpha has grown tired of him being too immersed in being a power behind the curtains and called him out on not seeing the feelings of those around him. She even managed to somewhat outplay him… though he was actually happy on that, since that cleared up some misunderstanding they had between each other.

Now, don't get him wrong, he would be more than happy to spend time with them, but…

But the world has gone stale. He learned everything there is to learn (lies; still has to master all elements), laid out a foundation for new Runes system (true), and has no idea what new role he can play without revealing either of his true personas.

Plus he has already explained the situation to his subordinates in advance, just in case what he planned doesn't work out (even though one intelligent Hamster said it's impossible).

So that's why he was here. Near the Black Rose, a natural dimensional rift that connects multiple worlds and induces time dilation between them.

Cid calibrated the hub. It was still far from finished, but at least the base was laid out; he could use the portals to places where he has already been and placed the altars in. Hams, his trusty Inner Beast that turned out to be a Hamster (that's why Hams), threatened to make an even better version with intuitive controls and design, but for now this will do, too.

The Beasts in question stood nearby and helped him in calibrating everything. If something goes wrong, his remains will be left floating in Interworld, the vacuum (if it can be said so) between worlds… if they will at all.

Meh, no biggie. He has done dangerous experiments on himself since childhood, so it's not like anything is different now… Except for the scale, yeah. Moreover, he made sure to be prepared as much as possible.

What he wanted to do now was to use Black Rose as a temporary hub and get a Call, something that can be 'heard' whenever someone uses summoning rituals, from there. By Hams' calculations, if they combine Black Rose and the summon time dilations, they will be able to leave the world for a long time without anything major happening… Like Shades, his seven most trusted subordinates, suddenly turning old when he returns back. Would be… a nasty surprise.

Ahem, in short, he was getting ready for a summon. Now, what would happen there?…

A familiar feeling of being tugged to the side, accepting it…

A-a-and they really could get a better place for a summon. No, he's serious! Where the hell is he, even?

Glance here, glance there… Yeah, it's some kind of forest. The trees are unlike anything he has ever seen, though… They also seem to emit some kind of… energy, he guesses? Kinda like mix of magic and… uh, lifeforce? Kinda, but not quite… Damn, he just appeared there and it's already a box of marvels!

"Yes! I did it! Now sensei won't tell me I can't do techniques, dattebayo!" oh, right, his summoner.

Cid turned his gaze in curiosity… Where? The voice was here, right?… Oh, a child… Wait, a child?

"You're the one who summoned me," yes, he has donned his Shadow persona. The one who control the world behind the curtains. Old but… he has golden linings, so gold!

"You bet I am! He-he, now they for sure will accept me as Hokage!… After old man steps down, of course…" kid added quieter.

"Interesting…" was all Cid could say.

The child was interesting. He had strange channels in his body that transferred a mix of life and magic (but his magic was wrong, without any world energy; only… spiritual?) energy, similar to those in trees. Yet even that paled in comparison to… Strange part on his stomach. There was something there, but Cid was not sure what…

"Hello, you listening?"

"You are interesting," Cid repeated, startling the kid a little.

"Yeah?! How so?!"

"Your energy structure seems quite different…"

"Ener-gie…? Uh, what?" yeah, by estimations that kid was just a bit short of being 6 years old.

"Nevermind. You have summoned me. What is it you wish for?" Cid came to the point.

"Oh. Oh!" kid beamed, "I wanna become the strongest shinobi ever and become the Hokage and-!"

"Enough. You wish to become strong, don't you?"

"Well, yeah!"

Hmm, he already did the enigmatic sensei… And another enigmatic sensei… What, third now? That would be repeating what he already did… How to proceed with that…

"Hmm…" profound humming, "Allow me first to see this world… I have some suspicions about what is going on there…" more mysteriousness!

"Oh, alright!" kid nodded… with sadness.

"Follow me, then," and cool swing of his coat!

And, well… True to his thoughts, other people didn't have the strange parts in their stomach. Hell, most of them didn't even have active energy channels that the kid had! The channels were only active in some of them, and these guys usually hanged by rooftops! Especially these masked ones. They were suspicious.

Though he had to admit, the kid's channels were way bigger and better than most of the adults had… Ones that even had them active, that is. Only masked ones were always better than him, other people (they also had a strange headband, by the way; it had a strange symbol) on average barely reached his level. Very strange.

There was also one peculiar moment… All the people around him have been sending hateful stares towards the kid. Like, what can a small kid do to get the hate of every existing person? Make a factory that harvests their family members? Man.

One of them even tried to raise a hand at the kid, and Cid had to intervene. He needs the kid both for continued summon before he can place the altar and because the kid himself was interesting.

What was even more bizarre is that some of these headband guys decided to intervene when Cid tried to protect the kid, not when the adult tried to attack him.

"Excuse me, I would advice you to leave this place," headband guy even placed his hand on his… um, belt kit?

"Why is that?" oh, the guy faltered. Is his voice really that scary? The kid only became even more eager when he heard Cid, though…

"This little thing is a demon," wait, what?

"That's right, that's right!…" and then the people around him erupted in barely recognizable noises.

If he had to make it short, this little kid was a reincarnation, or a seal, or even the demon himself from years ago that almost destroyed this place, and so everyone and their dogs… No, wait, dogs actually didn't dare to come closer… In short, the kid was bullied to no end.

Yeah, now he can get some picture… Especially about that strange thing in kid's stomach.

"I see," he turned around to the kid, "Let's go, I have all information I need."

Did he even bother about other people hearing him? Heck no. Even if something happens, he will just come back and mark it as failure, then go and chill with Shades.

Kid beamed at his words and sprinted after him. The guys with headbands tried to stop him, but were stuck once he used Shadow Beasts to hold them in place. Some muttered something about 'Nara', but he honestly didn't care at this point.

"Guide me to your place," he said to the kid. He already has an idea of what he wants to do, he-he…

And, well, almost like he expected, the place was a mess. 'Almost', because it was rea-a-ally horrible: broken windows, barely working refrigerator, spoiled milk, ramen cups… Is that a fucking mouse that hang itself by its own tail?!

Nah, he won't tolerate this shit. Where was his food stored… Ah, there it is.

He took out a large steak (still warm; thanks, Hams!), some fruits and vegetables, drinks…

"Eat. I have interesting news for you," he said once he saw the hesitating gaze of the kid.

And, true to Cid's thoughts, kid jumped on the food like no tomorrow. The amount of food Cid took out was enough to feed a family of four for a day, yet this kid apparently had Delta's appetite…

Once he was finished, Cid placed his chin (still hidden by darkness, by the way!) on his hands.

"Now that you've had your fill…" he started, looking at the kid patting his stomach, "I have three questions for you. They are simple, and I am already most certain of what I am about to tell you, but they are more for you than for me."

"Uh, sure?" kid blinked at him. Come to think of it, his eyes were blue like Alpha's… And he was blonde like Alpha… Though his ears were human's, but he had 'painted' whiskers on his cheeks?

"What is your name?"

"Uzumaki Naruto, the future Hokage, dattebayo!" again with Hokage part.

"Do you know why people treat you like that?" he leaned in.

"Uh, they think I am some kind of a demon… But I am not, I am telling you! Like, if I was one, I would have red skin and stuff, right?!" kid… Naruto waved his hands around erratically.

"Do you know who you are?" he pressed on the 'who' part.

"Uh, no?… Do you know?!" kid jumped up.

"Muh-ha-ha!…" alright, now that laugh was done better! The training did pay off!

Kid backed off a bit, surprised by Cid's outburst. It's alright, the best part is coming soon!

"Hey, what-?"

"Ha-ha-ha! All these years, and yet it was a mere coincidence that has allowed me to finally…!" 'mad' eyes. Yes, 'mad' eyes. He even allowed his smile to flash red as if he was losing control of his energy… Come to think of it, he also allowed a bit of his energy to leak out, making a purple aura.

"Hey, hey, explain!"

"Have you never thought about why, exactly, do you have these powers?" he was betting hugely right now, but if it works out, he's so golden!

"Powers?… Well, I heal pretty fast, and I can run long… But it doesn't help that much?…" profit!

"That's because they didn't allow you to grow!" and waving hands!

"'They'? Who 'they'?!"

"It doesn't matter… Yet! But soon! Soon! Muh-ha-ha!…" even more villain laugh!

Kid waited until Cid 'calmed down'. What a good child; he likes the idea in his head more and more!

"Now, you want to know, right? Know why, exactly, are you called demon?!"

"Yes! Tell me!"

"The truth is simple!" Cid leaned in, revealing his red eyes, "Uzumaki Naruto!"

A perfectly timed pause!

"I am your father!" he heard someone falling down from a tree.