Naruto found himself standing in an eerie, dark space, the atmosphere heavy and suffocating. The sound of distant dripping water echoed around him, and a dim, pale light illuminated the massive iron bars in front of him. He stared at the colossal gate, unfamiliar yet unsettling, his gut telling him that whatever lay behind it was dangerous.

Suddenly, a pair of enormous glowing red eyes appeared behind the gate, locking onto him with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine. A deep, rumbling growl reverberated through the darkness.

"Well, well, the little brat finally shows up," a menacing voice boomed from the shadows, shaking the ground beneath him.

Naruto tensed as the realization hit him. He was face-to-face with the Nine-Tailed Fox. His heart pounded in his chest as the monstrous figure of the Kyuubi slowly materialized behind the gate, its long claws and sharp fangs glinting in the dim light.

"You…" Naruto stammered, trying to muster his courage. "You're the Nine-Tailed Fox that attacked the village!"

The Kyuubi let out a dark chuckle, its fangs gleaming as it spoke. "Yes, boy, I am the Kyuubi. And you are the vessel that holds me."

Naruto took a step back, his fists clenched, but he held his ground. "What do you want?"

The Kyuubi's grin widened, its eyes narrowing with amusement. "It's not about what I want, brat. It's about what's happening to you. That curse mark—Orochimaru's pathetic attempt to control you—has given me the chance to show you the truth."

Naruto blinked, his anger fading into confusion. "What are you talking about?"

The Kyuubi growled, its massive form shifting behind the gate. "The curse mark. Orochimaru intended it to corrupt you, to make you his puppet. But he underestimated me. I crushed his influence before it could take root. And in doing so, I've triggered something within you—something far more interesting."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You… stopped Orochimaru?"

The Kyuubi chuckled again, the sound reverberating through the space. "I didn't do it for you, brat. Orochimaru sought to control you, and no one controls you but me. I merely removed his influence because I refuse to be overshadowed by such a worm."

Naruto's fists relaxed, though his heart still raced. The Kyuubi was a terrifying entity, but the idea that it had protected him—albeit for selfish reasons—was unexpected.

"What does this have to do with me?" Naruto asked, his voice quieter now, trying to make sense of the situation.

The Kyuubi's eyes glowed brighter. "By overpowering the curse mark, I've enhanced your connection to me. The strange abilities you've been seeing—the HUD, the inventory, the way you can track your progress—all of that is a result of my chakra flowing through you more freely. The curse opened the door, but I'm the one that gave you the tools."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait… the HUD… you gave me that?"

The Kyuubi's grin grew wider, more sinister. "Yes. It's a tool, a way for you to understand your own power. But remember this, boy—every time you use it, you're drawing on my chakra. And every time you draw on my chakra, I come closer to the surface."

Naruto's hands tightened into fists once more. The HUD—the strange game-like interface he'd been seeing—was a gift from the Kyuubi. It had allowed him to grow stronger, to track his progress, but it came with a price. The Kyuubi's influence would only grow with each use.

"And what happens if I use it too much?" Naruto asked, his voice laced with both curiosity and dread.

The Kyuubi's red eyes bore into him. "You'll find out soon enough. But for now, use it wisely, boy. You'll need every bit of help you can get if you're to survive."

Before Naruto could respond, the world around him began to dissolve, the Kyuubi's sinister laughter fading into the void as everything turned white.


Naruto jolted awake, gasping for breath as the familiar sight of the hospital room came into focus. He blinked, his heart still pounding from the encounter with the Kyuubi. The sensation of the fox's chakra still lingered, along with the unsettling realization that the Kyuubi had saved him from Orochimaru's curse.

He reached up, touching the side of his neck where the cursed seal had been placed. The burning sensation was gone, but the strange pulsing energy remained. He could feel it—both the curse mark and the Kyuubi's chakra intertwined within him.

Before he could dwell on it further, the door to his room creaked open. Naruto glanced over to see an older man, someone he recognized immediately—Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage. Behind him stood two unfamiliar figures: a masked man with silver hair and a fierce-looking woman with wild purple hair and a trench coat.

"Naruto," Hiruzen greeted him with a warm but serious expression. "How are you feeling?"

Naruto blinked, his mind still spinning from the encounter with the Kyuubi. "Old man! What happened? That guy, Orochimaru—he did something to me!"

Hiruzen sighed, walking over to Naruto's bedside. "Yes, Naruto. Orochimaru placed a cursed seal on you, a dangerous mark that can corrupt those who bear it. We've been monitoring you closely since the incident."

Naruto frowned, reaching up to touch the mark again. "But… something happened. The Kyuubi, it said it stopped Orochimaru from controlling me. And it gave me this weird ability, like a game or something. I can see my stats and skills now."

The two shinobi behind Hiruzen exchanged glances, clearly intrigued. Hiruzen, however, remained calm. "The Kyuubi has always had a strong influence over you, but this… this is something new. We'll need to investigate further. For now, know that we're here to help you."

Naruto looked past the Hokage at the other two figures, his curiosity piqued. "Who are they?"

Hiruzen smiled softly. "This is Kakashi Hatake and Anko Mitarashi. They'll be keeping an eye on you to make sure Orochimaru's curse doesn't have any lasting effects."

Naruto blinked, his gaze shifting between them. Kakashi gave a small wave, his one visible eye curving into a smile, while Anko simply crossed her arms, studying him with a sharp gaze.

"Right… Well, thanks, I guess," Naruto muttered, still processing everything.

Kakashi felt guilty. He had been ignoring his sensei's only child all of his life, content with observing him from the shadows. Not once did Kakashi step in to stop the villagers from abusing the boy. Seeing him now, lying broken and weak in that hospital bed, something inside of him snapped.

"Naruto, I owe you an apology... Your father was my sensei, and I have dishonored him by not playing a more active role in your life. That changes today. As soon as you're released from this hospital, I will be there. I will dedicate my life to seeing you become the finest Shinobi the world has ever seen."

Right… Well, thanks, I guess," Naruto muttered, still processing everything.


Over the next few days, Naruto remained in the hospital, recovering from his injuries and spending time exploring the HUD. The interface continued to fascinate him, allowing him to see his progress in real time. Every time he practiced a simple jutsu, the HUD would update, showing him how his skills were improving.

It felt like a game, and Naruto quickly became addicted to seeing his stats increase with each successful attempt. The more he trained, the more he saw his Ninjutsu rating rise. It was only a couple of points, but given the pathetically low ratings he began with, he was extremely proud of himself.

Despite the excitement, Naruto couldn't shake the Kyuubi's warning. Every time he used the HUD, he was relying on the fox's power. And with each use, the Kyuubi's influence grew.

But for now, it was helping him become stronger—and that was all Naruto could focus on. He had a long way to go before he could face Orochimaru again, and even further to reach his dream of becoming Hokage.

Naruto lay in bed, his mind still spinning from everything that had happened. Between the curse seal, the strange HUD ability, and the Kyuubi's ominous warning, he had little time to rest. He stared up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all, when there was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," he called, his voice groggy from the mental exhaustion.

The door creaked open, and Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. Standing in the doorway, clutching a small bouquet of flowers, was Hinata Hyuga. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her gaze was fixed on the floor, clearly nervous.

"N-Naruto-kun…" she stammered, stepping tentatively into the room. "I… I heard you were hurt, so I came to see how you were doing."

Naruto blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Hinata? What are you doing here?"

Hinata's fingers tightened around the flowers, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I just… I wanted to make sure you were okay. After everything that happened."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest. "Oh, yeah! I'm fine! Just a few scratches, nothing I can't handle." He grinned, though the truth of his internal struggle lingered beneath the surface.

Hinata glanced up briefly, her pale eyes soft with concern. "I was… really worried. You were so brave, fighting like that." Her words came out in a rush, and she quickly looked away again, her heart pounding.

Naruto, oblivious to Hinata's deeper feelings, gave her a bright smile. "Thanks, Hinata! But I was just doing what I had to do, ya know? I can't let people down, not when they're counting on me!"

Hinata's cheeks deepened in color, her heart fluttering at his words. She hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to his bedside, placing the flowers on the small table beside him. "These are for you, Naruto-kun… I thought they might cheer you up."

Naruto stared at the flowers, momentarily speechless. No one had ever brought him flowers before. His grin softened into something more genuine, and he looked at Hinata with appreciation. "Wow, Hinata… thanks. That's really nice of you."

Hinata smiled shyly, feeling her nerves ease just a little. "I… I'm just glad you're okay."

For a brief moment, there was a comfortable silence between them. Naruto, for all his usual energy and loudness, found himself at peace in Hinata's quiet presence. Her soft-spoken nature was calming, something he didn't experience often.

"You know," Naruto began, breaking the silence, "I've always thought you were pretty strong too, Hinata. You're always out there training hard, even if you don't show it off like some of us do."

Hinata's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. Naruto noticed her? Her mind raced, but all she could manage was a shy smile. "T-Thank you, Naruto-kun…"

She didn't trust her voice to say more. The moment felt so fragile, like it could break if she tried to hold onto it too tightly. But for her, standing there with Naruto, even just exchanging a few kind words, was more than she could have hoped for.

After a few more soft exchanges, Hinata glanced at the door, sensing it was time to leave. "I-I should go now. I don't want to keep you from resting."

Naruto tilted his head. "Oh, no, you're fine! But yeah, I guess I should try to get some more rest. Thanks for coming by, Hinata. It means a lot."

Hinata gave a small bow, her heart still pounding in her chest. "I'm glad… you're okay, Naruto-kun. Take care."

With that, she turned and left the room, her pulse racing as she stepped into the hallway. Her hand pressed against her chest, trying to steady her breath. He noticed me… she thought to herself, her heart swelling with happiness.

Back in the room, Naruto lay back on the bed, staring at the flowers with a faint smile on his lips. He didn't quite understand why, but somehow, Hinata's visit had lifted a weight off his shoulders, even if just for a moment.

Another knock at the door came, more insistent,.

"Naruto," Kakashi said "Come with me."

Naruto blinked, looking up at him. "Huh? Where are we going?"

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, though there was a seriousness in his one visible eye. "You're leaving the hospital today, but I think it's time we got to work. There's something I need to teach you."

Naruto, curiosity piqued, hopped off the bed with his usual energy. "Training? You're going to train me, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi nodded. "That's right. It's long overdue."


They walked through the streets of Konoha in silence, Naruto bouncing slightly as they headed toward one of the village's practice grounds. The air was cool, and the village was lively with people going about their day, but Kakashi's focus remained on Naruto. This boy, this bright yet struggling genin, had more potential than anyone realized, and it was time to unlock it.

When they arrived at the secluded training ground, Kakashi gestured for Naruto to stand in front of him. "Before we start, I want to show you something that will help you understand your own abilities better."

Naruto tilted his head. "What's that?"

Kakashi sighed and crouched down slightly, placing his hands together in the familiar hand seal for the Shadow Clone Jutsu. "You know the Shadow Clone Jutsu, right?"

"Yeah, of course!" Naruto grinned, summoning several clones in an instant.

"That's good," Kakashi said with a nod. "But there's something special about this technique that most shinobi don't realize." He looked directly at Naruto, his tone serious. "The shadow clones don't just split your chakra—they also allow you to share knowledge."

Naruto blinked, confused. "Huh? Share knowledge?"

Kakashi continued, "Every clone you create experiences what you experience. And when they disperse, that knowledge comes back to you. So if you send a hundred clones to train, all the experience they gain will return to you when they disappear. It's a way to multiply your training."

Naruto's eyes widened. "No way! I can get stronger faster by using my clones?"

Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. You're the perfect candidate for this technique because of your massive chakra reserves. The more clones you use, the faster you can learn. But be careful—it drains your chakra quickly, and if you use too many clones, you could tire out."

Naruto's face lit up with excitement. "This is awesome! I'll make a thousand clones and be the strongest ninja in no time!"

Kakashi chuckled softly. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, there's something more basic we need to work on—chakra control."


Kakashi led Naruto to a nearby tree, where he pointed to the tall trunk. "One of the most fundamental skills for any ninja is controlling your chakra efficiently. You already have a lot of chakra, but if you can't control it, it'll just go to waste."

Naruto frowned, his enthusiasm slightly dampened. "Chakra control? Isn't that for people who don't have a lot of chakra like me?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No, Naruto. Chakra control is important for everyone. The better control you have, the more effectively you can use your techniques. That includes ninjutsu, taijutsu, and even genjutsu."

He demonstrated the technique by placing one foot on the tree trunk and walking vertically up its surface, defying gravity with ease. "This exercise will teach you how to maintain a constant flow of chakra to your feet. Too much, and you'll break the bark. Too little, and you'll fall."

Naruto's competitive spirit ignited as he watched Kakashi effortlessly walk up the tree. "I can do that!" he declared, forming the hand sign to focus his chakra before running at the tree.

He leapt toward the trunk, placing his feet on it—and immediately fell backward, landing on the ground with a thud.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Not as easy as it looks, right?"

Naruto groaned, rubbing his head. "I just need to try again!"

"Take your time," Kakashi advised. "Feel your chakra, and release just enough to stick to the surface."

Naruto, determined, got up and tried again. This time, he managed to take a few steps up the tree before slipping off. Each attempt showed slight improvement, and with each fall, Naruto's HUD displayed the progress he was making in Chakra Control.


After hours of practice, Naruto had managed to scale halfway up the tree. Exhausted but exhilarated, he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.

Kakashi stood over him, offering a hand to help him up. "Good work. You're improving."

Naruto grinned, despite his fatigue. "I'll get to the top next time!"

Kakashi nodded approvingly. "Now, there's one more thing we need to test. I need to know your chakra affinity."

Naruto blinked, confused. "What's that?"

"Every ninja has a natural affinity for a certain type of chakra—fire, water, wind, earth, or lightning. Knowing your affinity will help you master elemental jutsu." Kakashi reached into his pouch and pulled out a small slip of paper. "This is chakra paper. When you channel chakra into it, it reacts based on your affinity."

He handed the paper to Naruto. "Go ahead. Focus your chakra into it."

Naruto took the paper, concentrating as Kakashi instructed. The paper immediately split cleanly in two.

Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly. "Wind release, huh? That's a rare affinity."

Naruto looked at the paper, his eyes lighting up. "Wind? That sounds cool!"

Kakashi chuckled. "It is. Wind jutsu are all about precision and cutting power. I can teach you the basics, but it's going to take a lot of practice."

Naruto stood up, despite his fatigue. "I'm ready! Teach me, Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi nodded, crouching down and performing a simple hand seal. "This is one of the most basic wind jutsu. It's called Wind Release: Gale Palm. Focus your chakra into your hands and release it as a burst of wind. It's not very powerful on its own, but it's useful for pushing back opponents or boosting the power of thrown weapons."

He demonstrated the technique, a burst of wind pushing the leaves on the ground away from him.

Naruto's eyes gleamed. "Alright, I'll give it a try!"

He formed the hand seal, focusing on his chakra. His first few attempts were clumsy, but after several tries, Naruto managed to create a small gust of wind, much to his delight.

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, watching Naruto's determination. "Good. Keep practicing that, and we'll move on to more advanced techniques once you've got the basics down."

Naruto nodded eagerly, already planning to summon a few shadow clones to speed up his training.


As the day wound down and the sun began to set, Naruto stood beside Kakashi, exhausted but excited about the progress he had made. For the first time, he felt like he was truly on the path to becoming a stronger shinobi.

"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, his grin wide despite his fatigue. "This was awesome."

Kakashi looked down at Naruto, feeling a sense of pride mixed with the lingering guilt of not having taken Naruto under his wing sooner. But now, he was determined to guide him the way Minato would have wanted.

"You're welcome, Naruto. Hey... how would you like to live with me?"

Naruto's Initial Stats

Name: Naruto Uzumaki

Core Attributes

Health (HP): 850/1,000

Chakra (CP): 4,000/5,000
(Naruto has a large chakra reserve due to being the Kyuubi's host, but his control over it is still poor.)

Stamina: 300/500

Physical Stats

Strength: 15/500

Dexterity: 20/500
(Reflects Naruto's physical speed and coordination, still growing due to training.)

Endurance: 35/500
(High due to his ability to withstand injuries and keep fighting.)

Skill Stats

Ninjutsu: 40/500(4)
(Naruto's proficiency in ninjutsu, focusing mostly on the Shadow Clone Jutsu at this point.)

Taijutsu: 30/500
(Basic hand-to-hand combat skills, moderately skilled but still raw.)

Genjutsu: 0/500

Chakra Control: 1/500(1)

Special Abilities

Kyuubi Chakra: 1/5
(Level 1 – Naruto has limited access to the Kyuubi's chakra, but more power can be unlocked as he grows.)

Notable Effects

Curse Seal (Suppressed): The curse seal placed by Orochimaru has been overpowered by the Kyuubi. It currently has no direct effect on Naruto but could be reactivated under certain conditions.