People often underestimate children, labeling them as naïve or foolish. But the truth is far from that. Children aren't stupid—they're just adults without the context of the fascinating and cruel world around them. And Naruto Uzumaki, by sheer misfortune or perhaps the whims of heavens above, had more than his fair share of context.

Even at the tender age of five, Naruto understood things most kids didn't have to. He noticed how when the old man from Ichiraku Ramen gave him a free bowl of noodles, the usual customers stayed away. When Taji-nee bandaged his scraped knees, people would glare at her with the same disdainful eyes they reserved for him. And when the kind granny from Namiya General Store handed him a sweet treat, her shop would mysteriously empty soon after.

Naruto couldn't quite grasp why people treated him differently. What puzzled him more was why the few who helped him did so, knowing it brought them trouble. Was it guilt? A sense of duty? Or was it something else entirely? The questions burned in his mind, but every time he asked the caretakers of the streets, their evasive answers only left him more confused.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, had been Naruto's anchor since his earliest memories, a figure he looked up to with admiration and awe. Though the old man's visits had grown less frequent lately, Naruto still clung to the lessons Hiruzen had shared. One piece of advice stood out above the rest:

"To be a shinobi, you must train both your body and your mind."

Those words stuck with Naruto, planting the seed of determination in his young heart.

With that, Naruto began his training. His regimen wasn't exactly rigorous—running laps around the orphanage courtyard and lifting three-kilo ramen packets served as his "strength training." Though crude, it was effective enough to make him stronger than most kids his age, a fact he took pride in, even if no one else noticed.

But training his mind? That was harder. Naruto wasn't entirely sure what the old man had meant by that. It was during one of their rare meetings that Hiruzen had told him a tale of a shinobi who had averted an entire war by stealing a scroll from an enemy village. The shinobi's mastery of stealth and hiding had made it possible.

That story sparked an idea. If Naruto could learn stealth, maybe people wouldn't notice him as much. Maybe life would be a little easier.

Thus, a new routine was born. In the afternoons, after he'd tired himself out from physical training, Naruto began experimenting with stealth. Trial and error became his teachers as he mimicked the quiet movements of birds and cats, practicing how to walk without making noise. Slowly but surely, his efforts paid off.

By the time he turned six, Naruto had achieved something extraordinary—he'd taught himself how to move through the streets of Konoha without drawing glares or whispers. His personal stealth training had paid off, and the best part? Not even his Ji-chan knew about his success.

Naruto was bursting with pride. Not only had he mastered stealth by observing the world around him, but he'd also managed to keep it a secret—a true shinobi-level feat in his eyes. If shinobi kept secrets as part of their profession, then surely, this meant he was well on his way to becoming one.

It was his sixth birthday, and Naruto had already celebrated earlier in the day with the few people who cared for him. Old man Teuchi and his daughter Ayame, Taji-nee, and the kindly granny from Namiya had gathered to share in his special day. It wasn't a grand affair, but for Naruto, it was perfect.

As the sun began to set, Hiruzen arrived at Naruto's small, slightly worn apartment. The Hokage carried a small box wrapped in a vibrant cloth, his expression warm as he greeted the boy.

"Naruto, my boy, you're already six years old," Hiruzen said with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling.

"Of course!" Naruto beamed, puffing out his chest. "I'm the one who's gonna be Hokage after you, believe it!"

Hiruzen's laughter was deep and genuine. "That, I'm sure of. You'll make a fine Hokage one day."

After a small celebration, Hiruzen handed Naruto his present. Inside the box was a sturdy pair of kunai, their handles wrapped in leather, sized perfectly for his small hands. Naruto's eyes lit up as he held the weapons, his excitement palpable.

"Wow! These are so cool! Thanks, Ji-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, holding the kunai like they were the most precious treasures in the world.

Hiruzen smiled warmly. "You'll need those soon, Naruto. You see, I've enrolled you in the Academy. Your training as a shinobi begins in next week."

Naruto froze, his wide grin fading slightly. "The Academy?"

"Yes," Hiruzen confirmed. "You'll learn many skills there—how to fight, strategize, and grow stronger. It's the next step toward your dream of becoming Hokage."

Naruto hesitated, gripping the kunai tightly. "But… will they… will the other kids hate me, like the people in the village?"

Hiruzen's expression softened and he knelt to meet Naruto's eyes. "Naruto, you might face challenges. Some may misunderstand you, as they do now. But the Academy is also a place where you can show them who you really are—a bright, determined, and courageous boy who never gives up. Trust in yourself, and you'll find those who will stand by your side."

Naruto blushed a little at the praise before staring directly at the Hokage for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Okay, Ji-chan. I'll do my best. I'll make them see me, believe it!"

"That's the spirit," Hiruzen said, ruffling Naruto's hair. "I know you'll do great."

As Naruto sat back with his kunai, his heart swelled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He didn't know what the future held, but he was ready to face it head-on.

Over the course of the next week, Naruto trained till he dropped dead. He needed to get used to real kunais. He can't keep practicing with stones now. He needed to get ready for the academy. By day two, he was able to get still targets with perfect accuracy. Satisfied with his progress, Naruto moved to the final stage of his training. The ability to hit still targets is one thing but the capability to moving targets is another feat. As a shinobi, he won't be getting still targets but moving living humans. He needed to hit them.

For the next week he practiced on small animals like rats and rabbits as well as few contraption which were used by genins and chunnins to replicate moving targets. First a string was cut by throwing a kunai, then the network of elastic rope and rubber would launch kunai with astounding velocity.

Believing in his training and in himself, Naruto slept at the last day before academy starts.

"I will be the best shinobi so believe it!"