The next morning, Naruto woke up with a slight groan as he sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. For a moment, he just laid there, staring at the stained ceiling of his rundown apartment. The musty smell of moldy wood and old ramen hung in the air. With a yawn, he got up, stretched his arms above his head, and scratched his stomach as he made his way to the bathroom.
Once there, he lifted the toilet lid and did his business, sighing quietly in relief.
"Ahh…"
A few seconds later, he flushed the toilet, washed his hands, and walked out of the bathroom—then he froze. Naruto blinked a few times, trying to process what he was seeing.
The wall across from him had a massive dent, almost like a crater with smears of blood, and chunks of the drywall were on the floor. Dried noodles stuck to the wall and his small table was flipped over, one leg was snapped clean off and broken glass was on the floor next to the table.
It looked like some kind of bizarre battle had taken place.
"What the hell happened yesterday?" Naruto said as he stepped closer to the mess.
Then he stopped, suddenly it clicked. His memories were jumbled up, but they slowly came back and he began to piece together what had happened.
"Wait… was that a dream?" Naruto asked, no one in particular but more like he was trying to convince himself.
"Not a dream, brat."
Naruto froze hearing a voice, he looked around trying to figure out where it came from.
"Look down."
Naruto heard it again, he followed the sound of the voice and its instruction to look down, but he still didn't see anything. Then he caught sight of something moving in his peripheral vision slowly, Naruto looked down at his cheek and his heart skipped a beat.
He saw that an eye and a mouth had appeared on his cheek. "AHH!" Naruto screamed, smacking himself across the face like a madman.
"Really? That's your first move?" the voice asked, unimpressed.
Naruto didn't answer, he screamed again and slapped his cheek harder like a mosquito had landed on him. But the mouth disapeared only to reappear on his other cheek
"Seriously? Are you done?" Sukuna asked.
Naruto's response was another slap, but the mouth moved to the back to the other side so he slapped himself again. Only for it to move again. This happened for a good 10 minutes and the sound echoed through his apartment, before he finally stopped
Naruto winced, rubbing his now throbbing cheeks. "Agh, what the hell!?"
Sukuna sighed and shifted down to Naruto's hand. He appeared on the back of it. "Alright, brat. Are you gonna listen now, or are you just gonna slap yourself like an idiot into next week?"
Naruto froze, then slowly looked down and saw the face now on his hand "…AHHHHHHHH!" He screamed again, acting on his first instinct which was to punch the wall, only to regret it immediately. The shock of pain shot up his arm.
Sukuna laughed at him hard.
"Hahaha. You done brat?"
Naruto groaned in pain holding his throbbing hand. "Ouch! Wait….You—You're actually real?!"
Sukuna chuckled. "Finally catching on huh? What gave it away? The fact that I'm literally on your damn hand?"
Naruto groaned again. "This is way too much for the morning."
Sukuna ignored Naruto's complaint entirely."Well rise and shine. We've got a lot to cover today."
Naruto held up his hand and glared at the grinning face on it. "Seriously? You couldn't have warned you could do this last night?"
Sukuna laughed again, clearly enjoying this. "And why would I do that? There's no fun in that, is there?I mean.. Compared to scaring you and watching you slap yourself like an idiot."
Naruto's face turned red as he shouted, trying to mask his embarrassment. "That wasn't my fault! You scared me on purpose!"
"And you're the one who let yourself get scared so easily," Sukuna retorted.
"You little…" Naruto stopped himself and signed, realizing anything he said would just give Sukuna more material to fire back at him. But before he could think of anything else, his stomach growled loudly.
"Right… food." Naruto muttered, turning to the kitchen. He glanced at the microwave, then at the stove. A moment later, realization hit, and his shoulders slumped.
"The gas is still cut off… and the microwave is still busted," he groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Damn it! No ramen, no food! I can't eat it cold, and I can't even afford to eat at Ichiraku today… damn you landlord!"
Sukuna yawned watching his host complain."You're whining too much."
Naruto held up his hand and shot him an annoyed look. "Of course I'm complaining! What the hell else am I supposed to do?!"
"You could just go back to that ramen stand and beg them for food. Or go steal something like you used to."
Naruto frowned at the suggestion. "Yeah, no."
Now that the King of Curses brought it up, he thought about Ichiraku for a moment. Teuchi and Ayame had already done enough for him—giving him free meals when he had nothing, looking out for him when no one else did. The last thing he wanted was to start taking advantage of their kindness. And stealing? He wasn't about to go through that again. He could already imagine the old man yelling at him about it, going on about how "a shinobi must have honor" or some crap like that. No way was he dealing with that today.
Sukuna let out a sigh. "Are you stupid? Just go hunting."
"…Hunting?"
"Yes, brat. You did it when you were younger, didn't you?"
Naruto then had a flashback of him younger, catching fish in the river, setting up small traps, and foraging for whatever scraps he could find. He frowned. "I mean… yeah, but I haven't done that in a while."
"Then get back to it. Or do you want to starve like an idiot?"
Naruto crossed his arms thinking. He really didn't have much choice, either he went out and caught his own food, or he'd be stuck drinking water to pretend he wasn't hungry.
"Fine. Guess I'm going hunting." Naruto grumbled.
He got dressed, grabbed his weapons pouch and headed out the door.
After locking the door, Naruto stepped outside and glanced up at the sky. It was early, way earlier than he usually got up. The horizon was still painted in soft shades of orange and pink, with faint traces of the night lingering in the corners of the sky.
He took a deep breath, taking in the cool morning air. Then Naruto began moving across the rooftops, his sandals made the faintest sounds against the tiles as he hopped from roof to roof with the cool breeze rushing against his face.
The village below was quiet, very few were up this early and Naruto had no interest in dealing with a cranky villager or shinobi. It was already bad enough when they weren't cranky, so the last thing he wanted was for them to try to pick a fight
Later on, The Forest:
Naruto made his way deep into the woods, further than most people usually ventured. He scanned his surroundings in the dim morning light. The forest was quiet, still waking up from the night. Tall trees stood like sentinels, their thick canopies filtering the golden rays of the rising sun, casting long shadows across the moss-covered ground. The scent of damp earth, fresh leaves, and distant water drifted through the crisp air. A soft breeze rustled the branches, causing dappled light to shift along the forest floor.
Naruto walked quietly through the forest, keeping his footsteps light and careful not to startle any nearby animals or give away his presence. The slightest rustle could alert prey or worse something hunting him. He focused his hearing, listening for the faintest movements—rustling leaves, snapping twigs, the distant calls of birds.
Then there was his nose.
Unbeknownst to Naruto, his sense of smell was sharper than most because of the Nine-Tails. Naruto never questioned why, he just knew he could pick up scents most other people couldn't. It wasn't as sharp as Kiba's, but it was still better than most. He could tell when food had gone bad before even tasting it—-as long as he was paying attention. Sometimes, he even recognized people by the faint traces of their sweat, soap, or whatever they had eaten last.
And now, his nose picked up scents in the air: damp soil, fresh wood, and the faint musk of nearby wildlife.
No one had taught Naruto how to hunt, but he had picked up survival tricks through trial and error—learning through painful mistakes. He watched how stray animals stalk their prey, observed how villagers handled food or livestock, and figured out what worked by necessity.
The first time he went hunting was out of desperation, and back then, he had barely managed to catch some fish.
Today he could have just gone straight to his usual fishing spot. But he wasn't sure if there would be any fish there, they often flowed in from a nearby stream that connected to a larger river carried in by the shifting currents. If the water was too low or too still, he'd have to search elsewhere. And he'd rather not pass up any opportunities that he might miss by going there, so he continued walking through the forest.
30 minutes later.
It took a while but eventually Naruto spotted something
A rabbit.
He crouched, slowly adjusting his stance, as he reached into his weapons pouch grabbing a kunai. Knowing how fast rabbits were, Naruto tried to get as close as possible, he didn't want to mess this up by throwing the kunai. But then, as he got closer…a twig he didn't see snapped beneath his foot.
Crap.
The rabbit instantly looked up, saw Naruto and took off running. Naruto didn't even bother chasing, he knew it was pointless.
"Oh, come on!" Naruto shouted frustrated
Sukuna appeared on his left cheek, "Congratulations, brat. You just let your breakfast escape. Maybe next time, try hunting something slower—like a rock."
Naruto only got more frustrated hearing Sukuna's voice. "It's harder than it looks!"
"Not really, brat. Your problem is that you don't commit, you hesitate. Overthink. Your body moves, but your mind isn't keeping up."
Naruto frowned but stayed quiet listening to Sukuna's critique.
Sukuna continued "Your instincts aren't bad, but they're nowhere near refined. You're quiet when you need to be, but your awareness is sloppy. You pick up scents well, but you don't process them fast enough. And your footwork? Don't even get me started. A trained hunter would've already caught something by now."
Naruto's scowl deepened. "Oh yeah? I don't see you doing anything."
Sukuna snorted. "Because I already know how to hunt. You, on the other hand, need serious work."
Naruto huffed and crossed his arms. "Well, if you're such an expert, then teach me. Aren't you supposed to make me stronger?"
"Fine, brat. I'll teach you. Just don't embarrass yourself," Sukuna said.
Naruto was caught off guard. "Wait, really?" he was expecting an insult or something, not for Sukuna to agree.
"Yes. Now shut up and listen. I'm only doing this because I have to, no one taught you at all." Sukuna's tone was as dry as ever. "First, control your breathing. You're too loud. If you can hear it, so can the prey."
Naruto muttered something about 'bossy people ' but began adjusting, focusing on the rise and fall of his chest, slowing his breaths until they were quiet and even.
"Good. Now pay attention to your surroundings. Look for tracks—hoofprints, broken branches, disturbed grass. Use your eyes."
Naruto scanned the forest floor as he moved cautiously, and he eventually spotted faint crescent-shaped marks pressed into the soil.
"Those are hoofprints from a deer, probably not far from here. Follow them."
Naruto hesitated. "Wait—hold on. A deer? You want me to hunt a deer?"
Sukuna rolled an eye. "Yes, a deer. What, did you think I'd make you chase another rabbit? A deer is worth the effort. Consider it real practice."
Naruto grumbled but followed the tracks, with his kunai ready in his hand.
Sukuna continued instructing him. "Watch for movement ahead. A flash of brown fur, and the rustling of leaves. Deer are cautious, they'll bolt at the slightest sound so move quietly. Stay low, and step where the ground is solid. Avoid dry leaves and twigs unless you want to scare it off."
Naruto crouched slightly, moving carefully as he focused on his steps. The forest grew quieter the further he went.
"Look at the trees. Deer often graze near low-hanging leaves or fallen branches. They leave marks like ripped leaves, bitten bark. Do you see anything?"
Naruto scanned the area and he spotted a branch with its edges torn and ragged, faint traces of saliva visible in the morning light.
"There. It's close. Keep moving, but stay sharp. Even one mistake and it's gone."
Naruto crept forward, his heart began to pound fine anticipation and excitement. Ahead, he caught a glimpse of movement, brown fur against green foliage.
The deer stood grazing in a small clearing, its ears twitched every so often, every part of its body was alert for danger.
"Now's your chance. But don't rush it. Watch its movements. Wait until it lowers its head to graze—then you strike."
Naruto gripped his kunai tightly, crouching lower as he observed the deer. His breathing slowed further, and he felt his focus narrow to the single moment Sukuna described.
"Steady….and… now."
Naruto moved as fast as possible. The deer noticed him and started to run away, but it was too late. The blade sunk deep into its neck and Naruto used his momentum to push it onto the ground.
For a split second, nothing happened. Then the deer thrashed violently.
"Move brat!"
Naruto barely dodged as the deer bucked, its hooves kicking out wildly. If one of those landed, it would break something. He stumbled back, still holding his kunai as the animal thrashed in the dirt. Blood poured from its neck, staining the ground beneath it, but it wasn't dead yet the wound was too shallow.
The deer struggled, muscles twitching, gasping for air as blood poured from the deep wound. Its survival instincts refused to let go. Naruto moved in before it could regain control, ducking under another kick as he reached for its head. The animal shuddered violently, its hooves scraping at the dirt in a final, frantic attempt to escape.
"Finish it quickly or it'll run off!" Sukuna warned him.
Naruto didn't hesitate, grabbing hold of its head. He forced his kunai across its throat, dragging deep. More blood spilled, warm and slick against his fingers. The deer's movements turned frantic, jerking violently one last time then it collapsed: this time it stayed down
"OK, now stop. Don't touch it again, the heart is still pumping. If you touch it now, you're just making a mess."
Naruto waited as instructed, watching as the deer's chest rose and fell with dying breaths. Blood poured onto the ground in heavy spurts, each in sync with the animal's heartbeat.
"See that? That's the heart pushing the blood out. If you kill it too fast, the blood stays inside, and the meat spoils faster. You want it to drain while the heart's still working."
Naruto remained where he was, still gripping his kunai tightly. His heart pounded as the adrenaline was still surging through his veins, and his hands were soaked in blood. He watched as the kicks weakened, and spasms slowed. Then finally it stopped, life faded from its eyes.
"Not bad. For a first-timer anyways."
Naruto didn't reply. He stared at the deer. He had hunted rabbits, caught fish—but this was different. The size. The struggle. The way it fought until the last second. He felt a sense of accomplishment, his chest swelled with pride.
"Now gut it. Time to see if you can handle the rest."
Naruto crouched next to the body and gripped his kunai. The reality of the kill had settled in, but now came the next step. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
He pressed the blade to the deer's belly, ready to make the first cut—
"Stop."
Naruto stiffened. "What? I've cleaned fish before. I just gotta—"
"Fish are nothing like this, brat."
Naruto frowned but didn't argue.
"You slice this thing open the wrong way, and you'll ruin the meat. Do you want your first real hunt to go to waste?"
He pulled his hand back. "Fine. Then how do I do it?"
Sukuna chuckled. "Watch and learn."
Naruto adjusted his grip, listening as Sukuna walked him through every step.
"First, the hide is thicker than you think. Don't stab straight in like an idiot. Angle the blade, make a shallow cut along the belly. Just deep enough to get through the skin—not the muscles underneath."
Naruto followed his instructions, pressing the kunai carefully against the hide. The blade sliced through fur and skin, revealing the first layers of tissue beneath. The sharp scent of blood filled the air.
"Good. Now, don't just hack at it. Use your fingers. Pull the skin apart as you cut."
Naruto swallowed, then did as he was told, tugging the edges open while guiding the blade downward. His fingers were slick with warmth, the deer's body still holding onto the last traces of life.
Sukuna didn't say anything for a moment, watching as Naruto worked. "Next, the moment you see the stomach, slow the hell down. Puncture that, and the guts will spill everywhere. Your food will be covered in filth."
Naruto winced. That sounded disgusting. He eased up moving slower as the knife exposed the insides of the deer. The warmth of the animal's body was still there, so as he cut steam rose faintly in the cool morning air.
"Naruto hesitated. His fingers were already coated in blood, but this felt different. Grabbing the insides of a deer wasn't the same as cutting into one.
He reached in, it was slimy and warm. The organs shifted under his grip, and for a split second, he almost lost his nerve.
"Don't half-ass it. Grip them and pull." Sukuna saw his hesitation and called him out on it.
Naruto gritted his teeth and did as he was told. The intestines, stomach, and other organs slid free, spilling onto the ground with a wet noise. His stomach twisted slightly at the sight, but he shook it off.
"Not bad. Now clean the inside out. Get rid of the waste."
Naruto wiped the back of his bloody hand against his forehead. "Can't I just toss it somewhere?"
Sukuna clicked his tongue. "And have wolves or bears sniffing around? No. Burn it."
Naruto glanced at the pile of steaming organs and did as instructed. He grabbed a handful of dried twigs and leaves, setting them in a small pit near the remains. A few quick sparks from a flint, and flames roared to life.
One by one, he tossed the organs into the fire. The stomach hissed as trapped gases escaped, the liver sizzled, and the intestines curled as they blackened in the heat. Eventually, the last remnants of the deer's insides turned to ash. No trace, no scent left for scavengers.
"Alright. Now clean out the cavity. Scrape it out, make sure nothing's left to rot in there."
Naruto sighed and went back to work, wiping away the last bits of tissue from the inside of the ribcage. The hollowed-out body no longer looked like an animal. Now, it looked like food.
15 minutes later:
With the carcass cleaned out, Naruto skinned the meat, slicing through the thick hide while Sukuna pointed out the best cuts to use immediately. "Take the tender parts. The rest, bury it."
Naruto frowned. "Bury it?"
"You don't have a way to dry or smoke the meat right now," Sukuna explained. "If you leave it out, animals will take it. But if you wrap it and bury it deep enough, the ground keeps it cool. You can come back for it later."
Naruto nodded and worked quickly, slicing off the best sections for now and wrapping the rest in large leaves. He dug a deep pit nearby, placed the extra meat inside, then covered it with dirt and stones.
With that handled, he set up a fire, skewering the fresh strips on sharpened sticks to roast.
The rich, smoky scent of cooking meat filled the air. And his stomach tightened with hunger, an ache so deep it nearly hurt. The fire crackled, juices sizzling off the skewered meat.
The moment the first piece looked done, Naruto grabbed it, in the process burning his fingers slightly from the heat. But he didn't care, he tore into the meat, biting down hard. Juices burst onto his tongue, hot and rich, smoky flavor coating his mouth. It was nothing like the food he would scrounge up in the village, nothing like instant ramen. This was real.
For the first time in weeks, maybe ever he was eating something that actually felt like food.
Naruto devoured the first piece, barely chewing before reaching for another. He ate like a starved animal, his fingers were slick with grease. The meat was hot, rich, and the best damn thing he'd ever tasted.
Sukuna chuckled, watching him. "Look at you, brat. You finally worked hard enough to enjoy something. Tastes better when you work for it, doesn't it?"
Naruto didn't answer. He was too busy eating.
Each bite filled a void he never realized was there. For the first time in what felt like forever, he was actually full. For so long, food had just been fuel—something he swallowed quickly, something he ate alone. But this? This was his. A warm, satisfying victory. He leaned back, sighing happily.
Sukuna interrupted. "Do you get it now?"
Naruto froze.
The words hit deep, harder than any insult Sukuna had thrown at him.
He sat there, full for the first time in weeks, yet somehow… emptier. Or maybe just aware of what had always been missing.
The orphanage: the nights they "forgot" to feed him, muttering about how "the demon should learn what suffering means." The shopkeepers who turned him away, raising prices, and some even throwing food out right in front of him. At Night he was forced to drink water just to pretend his stomach wasn't empty, curling up against the ache, knowing no one cared if he woke up the next morning.
He had always thought it was bad luck. Maybe if he tried harder, smiled wider, they'd let him belong.
But that was the trick.
It was never about food. It was about control.
Sukuna continued, as the realization sank in. "They didn't just starve your stomach, brat. They starved you. Your strength. Your will. Kept you weak. Because a starving dog doesn't bite—it begs."
Naruto had spent his whole life begging. For food, warmth, and acknowledgment. But never again.
He took another bite of his food. His hunt. His kill. His work. And for the first time in his life, Naruto Uzumaki had fed himself.
"Feels good, doesn't it?"
Naruto didn't answer right away. He swallowed, then reached for another skewer.
Yeah. It did.
It felt like freedom, and he wouldn't let anyone or anything take it away from him.
As he reached for another skewer of roasted meat, his hand suddenly moved on its own.
His fingers lifted the skewer away from his mouth, stopping just short of his face. Then, before he could react, Sukuna's face appeared on his palm—and took a bite.
"You're eating all the damn food, brat," Sukuna said, his voice muffled slightly as he took a bite out of the meat.
Naruto sat there stunned for a moment, then he snapped. "HEY! THAT'S MINE!"
Sukuna ignored him, and kept chewing. "Tch. I had to sit through your pathetic attempt at hunting, listen to you whine about gutting a deer, and endure your slow-ass butchering. I've earned this."
Naruto's eye twitched. "YOU didn't do anything!"
Sukuna took another bite. "I gave instructions. That counts."
Naruto sighed, glancing at the remaining skewers. He had plenty, and if he fought Sukuna on this he'd probably just take more anyway. Naruto just got himself another piece to eat.
As he ate he looked down at his hand, then shook his head watching as Sukuna ate at his own pace. It was weird—sharing a meal with someone who wasn't really there.
Still… It wasn't so bad…at least he wasn't alone.
Naruto sat back with a satisfied sigh. His stomach was full, the lingering taste of roasted meat still on his tongue. It was a rare moment of peace after everything earlier, and he was content to just sit and relax for a while.
That didn't last long.
Sukuna appeared on his right cheek. "Now that you've eaten, it's time to train."
Naruto sat up, confused. "Huh? But—"
"No buts." Sukuna cut in. "Your body is weak. That changes now."
Naruto groaned, flopping back down. "Man, can we wait a little? I just finished eating. can't I at least digest first?"
Sukuna wasn't having it. "No. That's the whole point. Eating gives you energy to burn through."
"Yeah, but I feel lazy now," Naruto grumbled. He sat up slowly, rubbing his stomach. "Should've done this before I ate…"
"That's exactly why we're doing this now."
Naruto frowned but listened.
"Your body needs to learn how to function under stress, even after a meal. Get used to it."
His scowl deepened. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"
"You think resting after eating is normal?" Sukuna said. "Those Academy teachers who told you otherwise are dumb as hell. Energy isn't for sitting around. The moment you start moving, your body uses it. You'll feel sluggish at first, but once you begin, you'll burn through all of that."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Wait… then why do I feel like lying down?"
Sukuna continued explaining "Because your body's lazy. And so is your brain. Instinct tells you to stay still after eating because your body thinks you're safe. But if you start moving now, your body adapts—fast. You'll feel awake, stronger, more capable."
Naruto sighed, and pushed himself to his feet. His stomach still felt heavy, and a wave of sluggishness hit him like a ton of bricks. "Ugh, this is gonna suck. Fine, what are we doing?"
Sukuna had a devious grin. "Push-ups, squats, sprints, core exercises. Everything your weak-ass body needs. Now, drop down and give me one hundred push-ups."
And so, Naruto's first brutal workout under Sukuna began.
The first few push-ups weren't bad. His arms moved easily, his breathing stayed steady, and for a moment, he thought, This isn't so bad.
Then he hit twenty.
The weight of his meal started working against him. His stomach felt heavier, pressing down uncomfortably with every push. His arms, which had started strong, began to drag. The motion that had felt effortless at first now required more effort just to keep pace. By twenty-five, sweat was beading on his forehead. His movements slowed, each push a little shakier than the last.
"Man I feel horrible, this was a mistake." Naruto's arms trembled under him as he struggled to continue.
"A mistake? No, this is just the beginning. You're going to push past your limits, whether you like it or not."
Naruto barely finished his fiftieth push-up before collapsing onto his stomach. "Done," he wheezed.
"Get up. Squats next. One hundred fifty."
Naruto's eye twitched. "Are you trying to kill me?"
"If this is enough to kill you, then you were never strong to begin with," Sukuna said. "Now move."
Gritting his teeth, Naruto forced himself up. His legs already felt stiff from sitting too long, and squatting after a full meal was torture. But he did it anyway. Each rep made him feel heavier, and by the time he hit fifty, sweat dripped down his face.
Sukuna however, wasn't satisfied. "Lower. Your form is sloppy."
Naruto cursed but fixed his stance, feeling the burn intensify. By the time he reached a hundred, his legs were shaking. He flopped onto his butt, panting. "You—you sadistic bastard."
"That's Lord Sadistic Bastard to you," Sukuna said with amusement. "Now, sprints. Fifty meters, back and forth. sixty times."
Naruto nearly choked. "Are you serious?!"
"Dead serious. You want power? Then move."
With a growl, Naruto forced himself up and stumbled forward. His stomach sloshed uncomfortably with every step, and he could already tell this was going to be the worst part. The first few sprints were manageable, but halfway through, his body started protesting.
By the seventh sprint, Naruto's legs felt like lead. His lungs burned, his stomach twisted, and every step felt slower than the last."This—this is the worst idea—ever," he gasped, doubling over after his seventh sprint.
Sukuna wasn't having it. "Straighten up and keep going. If you stop now, you start over."
Naruto paled. "You're bluffing."
"Try me."
Cursing everything, Naruto pushed himself forward, forcing his burning legs to move. By the tenth sprint, he practically collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
Sukuna let him lay there—for about ten seconds. "Core exercises. Sit-ups. Now."
Naruto didn't even have the energy to complain anymore. He just groaned and started. One. Two. Three. Each rep felt like a knife stabbing into his abs. But he kept going.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Forty.
By the time he reached fifty, his vision blurred.
"Keep going," Sukuna ordered.
Naruto gritted his teeth and pushed past his limit.
Sixty.
Seventy.
Eighty.
His body screamed in protest, but he refused to quit. He could hear Sukuna's voice in his head, telling him to push harder, to stop being weak. And as much as he hated to admit it, the bastard had a point.
By the time he reached one hundred fifty, Naruto collapsed onto his back, chest heaving.
Sukuna finally relented. "Good. You're still pathetic, but at least you're not a complete waste."
Naruto let out a breathless laugh. "Gee, thanks."
"Don't thank me yet," Sukuna said with a sinister chuckle. "This was just the warm-up."
Naruto's heart nearly stopped. "…You've gotta be kidding me."
Sukuna's grin didn't fade. If anything, it grew sharper.
"Oh, you'll be begging for mercy soon enough, brat."
Naruto swallowed hard. "…Kami, help me."
After finishing the grueling workout, Naruto left the forest and headed to the Academy. His entire body ached. Every step sent a dull throb through his legs, and his arms felt like they were going to fall off. His movements were stiff and sluggish, like he'd been hit by a boulder.
"Man, I feel as stiff as a board," Naruto muttered, dragging his feet along the dirt path. "You're a real slave driver, you know that? Did you really have to push me that hard?"
Sukuna sighed. 'Brat, do you wanna get stronger or not? And stop complaining. I went easy on you—this is nothing compared to what you'll do in the future.'
"You call that going easy?!" Naruto threw his arms in the air, grimacing as the motion made his shoulders throb. "It felt like I was going to die."
'You really don't get it. You don't even know how building muscle works, do you?' Sukuna asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
"Of course I do…" Naruto puffed out his chest, wincing at the ache in his ribs. "You work out, do it a bunch, work real hard and then bam! You get muscle."
'No, idiot, that's not how it works.'
"It's not?" Naruto frowned, scratching the back of his head. "Well, no one ever really explained it to me."
Sukuna sighed again, heavier this time. 'Obviously. Alright, listen, brat. Building muscle is a process of breaking your body down so it can rebuild itself stronger.'
Naruto tilted his head slightly. "Breaking my body down?"
'Yes.' Sukuna continued his explanation. 'Every time you train, you're tearing your muscles apart at the microscopic level. That soreness you feel? That's the damage. Your body responds by repairing those fibers, making them thicker and stronger than before. That's how you build muscle.'
Naruto frowned, rubbing at his shoulder. "So… I have to break myself over and over just to get stronger?"
'That's right.' Sukuna didn't miss a beat. 'Pain is part of the process. You stress the muscle, it tears, it heals, and it grows back tougher. It's why you feel like shit right now. Training isn't just about working hard—it's about recovering properly too. Your body needs time to repair, and when it does, the muscles grow back stronger. That's how real strength is built.'
Naruto's steps slowed as he processed Sukuna's words. "Wait… so if I train non-stop, I won't get stronger?"
'Exactly. If you never let your body repair itself, you'll just keep breaking it down without ever getting stronger. Sukuna continued explaining 'You'll be weaker, slower, and eventually, you'll collapse from exhaustion.'
"Great, so I can't just train like crazy and expect results? That sucks." Naruto groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
'It's about balance, brat. Push yourself hard enough to grow, but not so much that you destroy yourself. The key is consistency; train, recover, and repeat. That's how you get real strength. And that's exactly why, despite pushing yourself so hard, your strength hasn't built up properly.'
Naruto frowned, adjusting the strap on his jumpsuit. "What's that supposed to mean?"
'It means, you're strong, sure. Stronger than most brats your age… physically. But not as strong as you could be. Not even close.'
"What? But I've always trained hard—"
'Yeah, and you did it wrong.' Sukuna cut him off, blunt as ever. "All that effort, all those years you spent exhausting yourself, and what did you get? Half-baked results.'
Naruto clenched his jaw. "Tch. You're really just gonna talk down on everything I've done?"
'It's not about talking down, it's about reality. You trained hard, but you didn't train smart. No one ever taught you how to build strength the right way, so you just pushed yourself blindly. That got you far—farther than most—but not as far as you could've gone.' Sukuna explained.
Naruto didn't answer right away. His mind ran through all the nights spent training alone. The thousands of punches. The endless laps. The exhaustion. The hunger. He did everything he could think of, but Sukuna was saying it wasn't enough.
Or rather, that it wasn't done right.
'This is the reality of having to teach yourself, brat.' Sukuna's tone wasn't mocking, just matter-of-fact. 'You worked your ass off with no real guidance, no structure, just raw effort. That's why your body never adapted the way it should have. You got stronger, but not at the rate you could have. That changes now.'
Naruto exhaled slowly. "So what you're saying is... with the right training, I'll get even stronger?"
'Yes brat. Now you're catching on. You'll be stronger, faster, more efficient. You won't just be tough, you'll be built for real combat. The difference will be night and day.'
"Alright then... I'm listening." Naruto said with a slow nod.
'Another thing, brat—you're seriously underestimating yourself.' Sukuna continued
Naruto frowned, kicking at a loose pebble as he walked. "Huh?"
'Your body is different. Special. Stronger than you realize.'
Naruto scratched at his cheek, confused. "I mean… I know I'm kinda tough, but—"
'Tough?' Sukuna scoffed. 'That's an understatement. Your stamina, your durability—most kids your age would've collapsed halfway through that workout, but you're still standing.'
"Barely." Naruto huffed, rubbing his sore arm.
'That's my point.' Sukuna went deeper. 'You're exhausted, sore as hell, but you're still moving. That's not normal, brat. You've spent your whole life thinking you're just some scrappy kid, but you've been selling yourself short. Your potential is way beyond that, you just never had anyone to push it out of you.'
Naruto scrunched his nose, kicking at another rock. "You really think so?"
'I know so.' Sukuna answered without hesitation. 'And I'll prove it. Once we train properly, you'll see exactly what your body is capable of. You've been running on instinct alone up until now. That's why you're strong, but not as strong as you could be.'
Naruto put his hands behind his head in thought. He always knew he could take a beating and keep going, but the way Sukuna was putting it… it wasn't just that. He was built for more.
"Wait… so is my body special because of the Nine-Tails?"
Sukuna clicked his tongue. 'No. The fox has nothing to do with that. Your stamina, endurance—that's all you.'
Naruto crossed his arms, not really believing it. "Seriously?"
'If anything, the fox plays a bit of a role in why you're so damn hyperactive. Like a kid hyped up on too much sugar or drugs. But your physical resilience? That's got nothing to do with it. That's all you, brat.'
Naruto scowled. "I am not hyperactive."
'Says the kid who can't shut up for more than five minutes.' Sukuna shot back
Naruto muttered something under his breath but didn't argue.
'But your healing?' Sukuna moved on. 'That's different. The fox does play a role in that.'
Naruto rubbed at his elbow, still thinking it over. "Really? I thought it was just, y'know… medicine and stuff. People patch me up, and I always end up fine, so I figured it was just that."
'Nope. Your body naturally heals fast, brat. That's just how you're built. But the fox speeds it up even more especially if you were to take real damage.'
"Wait… so you're saying I already heal faster than normal?" He asked cautiously
'That's exactly what I'm saying.' Sukuna sounded almost bored, like he was waiting for Naruto to catch up. 'Think about it. How many times have you been hurt, I mean badly hurt and still bounced back way faster than normal? Ever notice how you wake up fine after getting roughed up the night before?'
Naruto's steps slowed even more as he thought back. He'd been beaten up plenty—sometimes really badly if it was a bad day. But by the next morning, sometimes even hours later, he was always fine.
"Wait… you're saying that's not normal?"
'Not even close, brat.'
Naruto looked at his hands like they suddenly didn't belong to him. It had always just been that way. He never questioned it.
"So then… why does the fox heal me?"
'It speeds things up, sure, but that's not the reason only you heal fast.' Sukuna didn't pause. 'Like I told you, this body is special. Some people are just built tougher and heal faster. You're one of them. The fox just boosts what's already there, though if you were hurt bad enough, it'd probably kick into overdrive. Could be built into the seal, or could be because the fox doesn't want you to die. Either way, you're damn hard to kill.'
Naruto kicked at the dirt, still trying to process it. "Huh… never really thought about it like that."
'Well, you better start thinking about more you understand your body, the better you can use it.'
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Naruto muttered, waving a hand dismissively.
A few villagers turned to look at him as he walked. Their reactions weren't anything new, most of them only muttered under their breath, but the way their eyes lingered made Naruto's skin crawl. He didn't need to hear their words to know what they were thinking. It was always the same—always whispers about the "demon child" and how "unstable" he seemed. This time, though, it wasn't just his presence that drew attention. It was the fact that he was very obviously talking to himself
'Talking to yourself now, brat?' Sukuna sounded way too amused.
"Shut up," Naruto grumbled, lowering his voice and keeping his head down. He shoved his hands into his pockets, hoping it would somehow make him invisible to the judging stares.
A woman passing by heard him talking. "Disgusting… talking to himself like a lunatic." She scoffed under her breath. Her voice was loud enough to reach him, and her words stung even though he tried to ignore them.
Feeling embarrassed, Naruto sped up his pace slightly, but he couldn't shake the heat rising to his face. It wasn't like he wasn't used to insults by now, but hearing someone call him a lunatic for something that wasn't even his fault? That was new.
"Oh great, now they think I'm crazy," Naruto mumbled, doing his best to ignore the growing whispers around him.
"Well, to be fair, you are arguing with a voice in your head."
Naruto's glare dropped to the dirt beneath his feet as he tried to focus on walking, but the words escaped before he could stop them. "Yeah, but it's your fault, you damn freeloader," Naruto shot back.
A man nearby stopped what he was doing to give Naruto a long, uneasy stare. He shifted on his feet, his body language screamed that he wanted to put as much distance between himself and the boy as possible. He didn't even bother hiding it when he crossed to the other side of the street.
The interaction only fueled Naruto's irritation, and he felt the urge to shout at the man, but he held himself back.
'Hah! Did you see that?' Sukuna's laughter filled his head. 'The idiot thought you were about to lose it completely.'
Naruto groaned audibly, dragging a hand down his face as if that would wipe away the embarrassment crawling over him. "This is the worst."
'You say that, but it's hilarious.'
Up ahead, a group of academy kids caught sight of him and froze for a moment before whispering among themselves. Naruto heard some of it.
"He's always been weird, but now he's talking to himself."
"I bet the demon finally broke his brain."
"Tch, figures."
Naruto clenched his jaw, forcing his focus forward as he kept walking. He told himself not to react, to just ignore them, but it was easier said than done. The insults were familiar, yet the way they stuck to him like tar never got any easier.
'See, brat? You don't even have to do anything, and they'll still find a reason to talk crap about you.'
"Yeah, no kidding." Naruto kicked another rock down the street, it bounced a few times before rolling into a gutter "Guess I gotta be more careful when I talk to you."
'Or' Sukuna began, dragging out the word like he was savoring it, 'you could just embrace it—start screaming at me in public. Let's really give them a show.'
"Oh yeah, great idea," Naruto deadpanned, his lips twitching in irritation. "Let's make them think I've completely lost it."
The breadmaker opening his store stopped his hand frozen on the key. He blinked once, clearly debating whether to step inside or leave. After a moment, he shook his head and went in, muttering something Naruto couldn't hear.
'Too late for that. Brat.'
Naruto sighed heavily, dragging his feet forward in defeat. "Shut up."
'You know, you should really work on not reacting so much,' Sukuna's voice drifted through Naruto's head, amused as ever. 'People already think you're a freak. Now they're gonna think you're actually cursed.'
"You're the one making me look like an idiot!" Naruto shot back, keeping his voice low this time.
'Brat, I've been talking inside your head this whole time. You're the one who decided to answer out loud.'
"…Wait. What?" Naruto stopped dead in his tracks, confusion forming on his face.
'Ohhh, now you get it?'
He paused, raising his hands to examine them and his face. Something felt… different. Sukuna usually when he spoke, his voice came from somewhere external—a mouth on his hand or his face, something Naruto could see. But this time? There was nothing.
Naruto had a bad feeling about this, and he hoped he was wrong. But Sukuna sounded way too smug about this. "Hold on—so this whole time, you were talking in my head?"
:Yes,' Sukuna confirmed. 'Took you long enough to catch on.'
"And I was answering out loud?!"
'Also yes.'
Naruto's stomach dropped as he looked around. Villagers were staring, some looked wary, others just confused. A mother who was with her baby shielded it as if Naruto's look alone would give it a disease. An older woman across the street was staring at him, clutching her purse like he might attack her. And an old man squinted like he was deciding if Naruto was possessed.
'Oh, this is priceless, you thought I was still talking through that stupid little mouth, didn't you? But nope—this one was all on you, brat.' Sukuna laughed at him.
Heat crept up Naruto's neck and spread across his cheeks. His face burned with humiliation as he realized just how stupid he must have looked. Then, of course, it got worse.
A group of shinobi across the street whispered among themselves, their voices low but still loud enough for him to hear.
"Look at that thing, now it's talking to itself."
"This is why Lord Third shouldn't let 'it' walk around. It'd have "it" locked up.
"Tch. Just like the demon he is."
Naruto kept walking, shoving his hands into his pockets and forcing his shoulders to stay loose. He didn't react, didn't look at them. He knew better than to give them what they wanted.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement.
A shinobi standing near a food stand stiffened, his hand drifting toward his kunai holster. His gaze locked onto Naruto, not with the usual look of annoyance or dismissive disgust that Naruto was used to., but with caution.
Like he was watching a wild animal that might attack at any second.
Naruto's stomach twisted. "Are you serious?" He forced himself to look away and keep moving, but his pulse pounded in his ears. He could feel the weight of their stares, and no matter what Naruto tried to think of he couldn't shake it.
That look.
It was the same look he'd seen people give stray dogs—not pets, not even nuisances, but dangerous, diseased creatures that might lash out at any second.
As Naruto continued walking, he was about to pass by a woman and her young son but the two stopped. The woman hurriedly pulled her child behind her, gripping the boy's shoulder tight. The kid wasn't even looking at Naruto, more focused on his own little world. But his mother's fingers dug into his skin, yanking him back protectively.
"Stay away from him," she said to the boy with her eyes never leaving Naruto.
The kid flinched, confused. "But, Mom, I—"
"I said stay away!" she snapped, her voice filled with something just shy of panic.
Naruto gritted his teeth, eyes fixed straight ahead as he forced himself to keep walking. "I hate you. This is the worst."
'Correction,' Sukuna said, unable to resist. 'You made it the worst. I've been talking in your head just fine. You were the one running your mouth in public.'
"Well, what else was I supposed to do, ignore you?" Naruto snapped in frustration.
'Yes, actually.' Sukuna's tone was maddeningly calm. 'All you had to do was think your thoughts. Just think what you want to say in your head, brat. That's all there is to it—don't speak it out loud. Simple, isn't it?'
Naruto paused mid-step, trying it 'Wait, so… like this?'
'Exactly. See? That wasn't so hard, was it?' His voice carried the same smug satisfaction that made Naruto's blood boil, and he knew it too.
Taking a deep breath, Naruto tried it as he continued walking, his lips pressing into a thin line as he tested the method again. 'Okay, so all I have to do is think what I want to say, and you'll hear it?'
'That's what I've been saying. Now maybe you'll stop embarrassing yourself in public.'
Naruto's eye twitched dangerously, as he clenched his fists in his pockets. 'And you didn't think to mention that before I made a total fool of myself?!'
'Where's the fun in that?: Sukuna's tone was light, but Naruto could practically feel the smug grin stretching across his face. It made him want to punch the bastard, even if it was just in his imagination.
He again exhaled heavily, forcing himself to calm down. Villagers were still staring, but at least now he wasn't talking out loud like some crazy person. Still, the weight of their glares and whispers pressed down on him like a suffocating blanket.
'Oh, come on, brat. Don't sulk.: Sukuna said, clearly enjoying himself. 'You should be thanking me. Now you won't look like a lunatic anymore. Well, unless you want to—your call. You should be grateful."
'Grateful?!' Naruto felt like he was going to explode
"Yeah. Now you know how to talk to me without looking like a lunatic."
Naruto scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets as he kicked a loose stone down the path. "Oh, wow. Lucky me," he muttered under his breath.
The Academy:
Naruto's grumbling carried him all the way to the Academy, his feet dragging slightly as he approached the building. The weight of the villagers' stares still clung to him, though he tried to shake it off.
By the time he reached the gates, his expression was back to its usual mix of mild irritation and determination—or so he hoped. The courtyard was already bustling with students, and Naruto slipped through the crowd, keeping his head down to avoid the usual crap. He didn't have the energy to deal with it today.
Naruto reached the classroom and slid open the door. The moment he did eyes fell on him, not all of them, most of the class couldn't care less. But a few heads turned, some whispering, others snickering under their breath. A few just outright glared at him.
He ignored it and made his way to his seat dropping his bag beside him as he pulled out a few things. A notebook, pencil, and the usual stuff. He leaned back in his chair, arms resting lazily over the desk as he waited for class to begin. Whatever. He'd just get through the day like he always did.
Across the room, Kiba was having a conversation with Shino, about something when he suddenly froze. His nose twitched and he sniffed the air.
"Kiba?" Shino adjusted his glasses slightly, noticing the shift in his posture. "What is it?"
Kiba didn't answer right away, he sniffed the air again trying to locate the source of smell. His gaze swept the room before landing on Naruto, who was leaning back in his chair.
Shikamru who was lazing at his desk, cracked an eye open and raised an eyebrow. He wasn't the type to care about much, but he noticed when something was off.
"What's wrong, Kiba?" Shikamaru asked, his tone as lazy as ever, but he noticed the way the Inuzuka stiffened slightly. "You look like something's off."
Kiba didn't look away from Naruto as he spoke. "Do you smell that? It's weird. Like… blood. Yeah, and it's coming from Naruto."
Huh? What do you mean?" Shikamaru asked, shifting in his seat slightly.
Kiba didn't respond. Instead, he stood and walked over to Naruto, stopping beside his desk. This drew the attention of some of the other students, who shifted their gazes toward them. Some looked wary, others just curious. But all of them were watching now.
"Hey, Naruto. Why do you smell like blood?"
The room got quieter. Even the ones who weren't paying attention before had turned their heads, whispers started up like wildfire.
Naruto blinked, caught off guard for a second, but quickly forced a casual grin. "What? Oh, I uh—" he scratched his cheek, playing it off like it was nothing. "Bumped into a butcher on the way here. That's probably what that is, dog-boy. What, are you gonna start sniffing me like Akamaru now?" He threw the joke out quickly, hoping to throw Kiba off.
Kiba didn't look convinced. He sniffed the air again, and his frown deepened. "No way. It's not just from getting a bit of blood on you or touching someone. It's old blood, like it's been there for hours—at least three. And a lot of it."
A ripple passed through the class. Some students shifted uncomfortably. Others frowned, their gazes darkening.
"Wait… why would Naruto have blood on him for hours?" someone muttered.
"He does heal freakishly fast, maybe it's his own?" another whispered, but their tone wasn't one of concern—it was suspicion.
"Tch. Just great," a boy near the back scoffed. "Like we needed another reason for the freak to stand out."
Even Sasuke who normally ignored everyone, looked toward Naruto with a stoic expression, before shifting to Kiba. "You sure about that, Inuzuka?" Sasuke asked.
Kiba crossed his arms, unimpressed. "I don't need to be sure. I can smell it."
Naruto's grin twitched at the edges, but he kept it in place. He wasn't about to let them see that this was getting under his skin. No way.
'Crap, I forgot about Kiba.'
He had rubbed his hands in the dirt. He had washed them in the stream. He had checked, and double-checked that there was no blood left on him before coming here. But it wasn't enough. Kiba's nose was too sharp. He hadn't counted on that.
Naruto forced a laugh, leaning back further in his chair like Kiba was being ridiculous. "C'mon, dog-boy. You're really sniffing me out like I committed a crime or something?"
Kiba still didn't look convinced. "I'm serious, Naruto. "It's not just a little bit of blood—it's strong. Old. Like it's been on you for hours."
'Interesting.' Sukuna spoke up suddenly. 'That one's got a sharp nose. Everyone else missed it. But not him. Too bad he's wasting it on something so small.'
Naruto kept his face neutral, but internally, he was panicking a bit. 'Think, think. Come on Uzumaki.' Unable to come up with anything, he resorted to one thing that usually….sometimes worked: bullshit your way out of trouble.
"Dude, you're overthinking this. I was near the butcher earlier—what, you think I killed a guy?" Naruto snorted, waving a hand dismissively. "I barely even got any blood on me. You're making a big deal out of nothing.C'mon, you're really sniffing me out like I committed a crime or something?"
That's when the whispers started.
"Wait… did he just say 'killed a guy'?" A girl near the front muttered.
"You don't think he actually—?" Another student began
"Tch, wouldn't surprise me."
"Yeah, I mean, he's the demon brat, right?"
"Maybe he finally snapped."
"Damn, Kiba, if he actually murdered someone, do you really wanna be standing that close?"Someone snickered.
"Bet he just dumped the body somewhere," one of the older students whispered, loud enough for a few people to hear. "That's why the smell's still on him." A random boy said.
"Ugh, creepy." one of the girls gagged
Naruto kept his grin in place, leaning back in his chair like Kiba's words didn't bother him, but inside, something gnawed at him.
It wasn't the first time the class whispered about him. Hell, he was used to it. Every day, there was some new insult, and he had learned to shrug it off, to act like it didn't matter.
But this was different.
'They used to just call me annoying.'
The whispers were always there, but before, they had been mocking, dismissive. Annoying, sure. But now? Now, the voices held something colder
'Now they're whispering about me being a killer.'
There was a shift in their eyes, in their tones. A hesitation. A suspicion. Not just hatred—but fear.
What changed?
He glanced around the room, his stomach twisting as he caught the wary glances from some of his classmates. The way a few of them edged away, just slightly. The way some of them looked at him like he was dangerous.
Like they were waiting for proof.
Like they wanted him to snap.
Kiba still had his gaze fixed on Naruto, except he hesitated now. Maybe the redhead was right….maybe he was overthinking it. The logic wasn't impossible… but something still didn't feel right.
"Tch, whatever," Kiba said, finally stepping back and crossing his arms. "If you say so."
Even as he backed off, his expression stayed thoughtful. That smell wasn't normal. Naruto wasn't normal. And maybe Kiba did let it go, but Shikamaru was still watching.
The Nara's gaze shifted between Naruto and Kiba like he was quietly filing this whole exchange away. He didn't say anything, but Shikamaru was sharp, maybe he had noticed something. And just because he wasn't pressing now didn't mean he'd forget.
Naruto shifted in his seat, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. The last thing he needed was people paying attention to him. He needed to be more careful next time.
A few of the other students lost interest, turning back to their own conversations. Even Sasuke, who had been watching quietly, finally looked away with a small 'tch' under his breath, clearly deciding this wasn't worth his time.
Naruto let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He'd gotten through this. Barely.
'That could've been worse,' he thought.
'Oh, it definitely could've,' Sukuna spoke up suddenly. 'Brat, you're awful at lying. Maybe I should start handling that for you.'
'Yeah, hard pass,' Naruto shot back internally.
Then the door slid open again, drawing his attention as Ino and Sakura strolled in talking about something. He almost stood up, ready to greet Sakura like he always did—out of habit, out of blind hope. But then he stopped.
Their words from the other day echoed in his mind.
Flashback:
"Can you believe that match? Sasuke wasn't even trying, and Naruto still embarrassed himself. It was pathetic."
"He never shuts up about being Hokage. Like, please—no one's ever going to take him seriously."
"Bright orange? That stupid hair? He looks like a circus act trying to be a ninja."
"Honestly, even his parents would've hated it. If they were even around."
"What does he even have to offer? No clan, no parents—just a loudmouth orphan begging to be noticed."
"Those whisker marks? Freakish. Just another reason no one wants him around."
"He'll always just be Naruto. An annoying, desperate orphan pretending he can be something when he's really nothing."
Flashback End:
They hadn't just mocked his loss to Sasuke. No, that wasn't enough for them. They laughed about him. Called him a loser. Said he was pathetic for even trying. Made fun of his clothes, his hair, his whiskers. They said he looked like a freak, that he was just desperate for attention.
But the worst part?
They dragged his parents into it.
They said even his own parents would have hated how he looked. That he had nothing to offer because he was an orphan with no family, no legacy, no future.
It wasn't just insults. It was rejection.
Like he wasn't even human.
And now?
Now those girls just walked in like nothing happened. Like they never said any of it. And in their minds, they hadn't. Because they didn't know he heard them, and to them he was just an afterthought.
Naruto looked away, refusing to look at them. His knuckles turned white from gripping the desk so hard. He was still hurt by what they said, and due to all that happened recently he nearly forgot about it. But now? Now his heart throbbed in anger and pain, it would have been one thing if ino was talking bad about him, but so had sakura and that's what made it hurt.
Sukuna watched his vessel's reaction, but chose not to comment on it.
Naruto watched as the two girls walked over to Sasuke, they greeted him talking loudly as they usually did.
'Sasuke…it's always Sasuke' Naruto thought glaring at the back of the uchiha head. 'That stuck up bastard had everything, yet I have nothing. No one cared about me, no one respects me, no one cared if I starved or not.'
Why?
'Because the fourth hokage sealed the Nine Tails inside of me.'
Ever since learning that, despite his interactions with Sukuna, the hunting, the workout and funny moments. Unknown to Naruto, there was something else that had taken root inside him. A deep-seated anger that burned low in his gut, slow and unyielding.
The whole village hated him for something he had no control over, something he was never even given a choice in. They despised him for it, but none of them ever stopped to ask if he even wanted this in the first place. They never gave him a choice. His fate was decided before he was even old enough to understand it.
Naruto didn't know the circumstances behind his birth, but it must have happened the night he was born. It had to be. Because no one ever spoke of parents, no one ever hinted at who they were. All he knew was that before he could even understand what life was, a decision had been made for him.
And worse?
When he really thought about it, when he put all the pieces together. It became so damn obvious that it made his blood boil.
The only reason the Nine-Tails wasn't running loose right now, the only reason the village still stood was because of him.
It wasn't the Hokage keeping the seal in place. Not the village's shinobi or some powerful barrier protecting them. It was him. His body. His existence. He was the cage keeping the Nine-Tails locked away.
Because without him?
Konoha would be gone. Burned to the ground. Crushed under the weight of the Nine-Tails' rage. Without him, there would be no Hokage Monument, no villagers walking around carefree, no children playing in the streets.
And yet, they still hated him.
They still looked at him like he was a mistake. A problem. A nuisance. As if he wasn't the only thing standing between them and total annihilation. They still whispered behind his back, shot him dirty looks in the streets, treated him like filth. Like he was some ticking time bomb, ready to go off. They saw him as a monster, but never stopped to consider that the only reason they weren't dead was because of that very same monster being locked away. Because of him.
Didn't they realize? Didn't they understand?
They should have been thanking him. He should be a hero. Instead, he was treated like trash, scorned for an existence he never asked for.
The hypocrisy of it all made something twist inside him. It wasn't just unfair. It was wrong.
And yet… they would never see it that way. They never questioned why he was still here, why the village still stood, why they were still breathing. They just continued hating. Always hating. Always looking at him like he was beneath them. Like he didn't belong. Like he wasn't even human.
The thought made something tighten in his chest, an ache he couldn't put words to. He wasn't just angry. It wasn't just frustration. It was something deeper, something that ran through his blood like poison. He didn't even realize how much of it was there, how much of it was building inside him, brick by brick, layer by layer.
And again Sasuke…
Sure, Sasuke had lost his family, but at least he had one to begin with.
At least he had people who loved him. A mother, a father, a clan, a place where he belonged. He had memories of warmth, of home, of a family that cared about him. He could remember his mother's voice, his father's approval, the way his clan looked at him with pride. He had their love, even if it was ripped away from him. Even now, after everything, the village still respected him. The teachers still looked at him with admiration. The girls still fawned over him, and the guys still saw him as a rival worth acknowledging.
But Naruto? What did he have?
Nothing. No parents. No clan. No home waiting for him at the end of the day. Just an empty apartment, an empty stomach, and an entire village that wished he didn't exist.
People looked at Sasuke with sympathy. They whispered about the tragedy of the Uchiha Clan, about how sad it was that a boy so young had to suffer so much loss. They called him a prodigy, a genius, the last of a powerful bloodline. He had status, respect, admiration. People mourned for what he had lost.
Naruto had lost everything before he even had a chance to have it.
But no one mourned for him
Sasuke could sit there in silence, acting all cool and untouchable, and people would still admire him for it. They'd still whisper about how talented he was, how much potential he had, how he was carrying on the Uchiha legacy.
But Naruto? If he dared to sit in silence, they called him creepy. If he spoke too much, they called him annoying. If he trained hard, they called him desperate. If he dreamed big, they called him delusional.
He couldn't win. He never could. He was a ghost in his own village, no worse than that. A pariah. An outcast. A stain. A shadow of something they wanted to forget but never could.
He didn't even know why it hit him so hard now. Maybe because it had always been there, just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to bubble over. Maybe because he had spent years pushing it down, forcing himself to smile, to act like it didn't matter. Maybe because now, for the first time, he was really letting himself feel it.
Sasuke had lost everything, but at least he'd had something to lose. Naruto never had anything to begin with. Just an empty apartment. Just an empty name. Just empty hands reaching out for something that was never there..
Sasuke was allowed to be angry. Sasuke was allowed to grieve. Sasuke was allowed to hate.
But Naruto?
Naruto was just supposed to take it. To laugh it off. To keep pushing forward, no matter how much it hurts.
His fingers dug deeper into the wood of his desk and his heartbeat was loud in his ears, but he barely noticed it.
"Naruto!"
The voice barely registered at first. He was too lost in his own head, too deep in thoughts that twisted and turned like tangled wires, fraying at the ends. His fingers had gone stiff against the desk, his shoulders locked in place.
"Naruto!"
Someone was calling him. Loudly.
"Naruto!"
His head jerked up just as a hand smacked down on his desk.
"Earth to Naruto!"
He blinked, the world around him snapped back into focus. Iruka stood beside his desk with arms crossed, and a frown on his face. Behind him, Mizuki was watching with an amused expression and a clipboard in his hand.
"Finally," Iruka said, shaking his head. "I've called your name ten times, Naruto. Where were you just now?"
There were a few quiet snickers from students around the room, but Naruto barely noticed them. His brain was still catching up, still peeling itself away from the thoughts that had been swallowing him whole just moments ago.
"Huh?" he mumbled before quickly covering it up with a laugh. "Oh, uh—sorry, Iruka-sensei. Just deep in thought, y'know?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Iruka sighed before marking something on his clipboard. "Just try to stay with us this time."
Naruto nodded absently, but as he settled back in his seat he felt a gaze watching him. He didn't need to look to know who it was. He could already picture the face in his mind. Sakura.
Sakura felt like something was off. Normally, the moment she walked in, Naruto would've been right there, trying to talk to her, get her attention, make her notice him. And she would've brushed him off like always. Acted annoyed and complained about how he was bothering her.
But she never told him to stop completely, did she? Maybe she never thought about it. Maybe it was subconscious. But some part of her had gotten used to it. To him always being there. Always looking her way. Always trying.
And now?
Now he didn't look at her at all.
He kept his gaze forward, didn't even spare her a glance. The usual routine—the one she barely acknowledged but had still come to expect—was gone. And Sakura, whether she realized it or not, had noticed.
Her gaze lingered for just a second too long before she looked away. If she felt anything about it, she didn't show it. And sakura wasn't the only one who noticed, either. Ino, sitting beside her, glanced between them, an unreadable look in her eyes before she smirked slightly to herself.
Naruto didn't react, he kept his head turned towards the window.
It wasn't just a stupid crush he had on Sakura. Not anymore. Not after what they said. Not after the things he heard.
Later on….
Class went on as usual, with Naruto drowning out most of what Iruka was saying. Something about chakra control, a bit of chakra theory—both of which he sucked at. He put his head onto his folded arms, a sigh slipping out as he stared blankly at the desk.
'Man, this is so boring. Can we move on already?"
'Pay attention, brat.' Sukuna interrupted his thoughts. 'This is part of our deal, remember? I can only learn through your senses right now. Otherwise it'd cause issues.'
Naruto groaned, he nearly forgot about Sukuna.
'Yeah, yeah, I know,' Naruto said. 'But this sucks. I don't understand half of it.'
'Of course you don't,' Sukuna scoffed. 'Because you're an idiot. And your teacher isn't explaining it properly.'
'Wait… you actually agree with me?'
'Look to your left brat.'
Naruto turned his head. And sure enough, several students were either dozing off, staring at the window, or absently doodling on their notes. One kid was straight-up asleep, his head tilted back, mouth slightly open.
'See my point?! Why do I even need to learn this?' Naruto complained.
'Because knowledge is power, brat. And more importantly. We made a deal. Even if you don't understand, that doesn't mean I don't.'
Naruto sighed, shifting in his seat. Fine. He'd pay attention. A deal was a deal.
"Chakra is the foundation of all shinobi techniques," Iruka continued, gesturing to the board. "It's created when the body's physical energy and spiritual energy are combined. Mastering this balance is the key to effective chakra control."
Naruto tried to focus but chakra theory had always been a headache for him. It never came easy, no matter how much he tried. His chakra never listened to him the way it did for other kids. Right now it felt like he was getting beat in the head.
'You're absorbing this, right?' Naruto asked
'Obviously. Unlike you, I actually know how to pay attention.'
'You don't have to be a dick about it.' Naruto scowled.
"Brat, you see? This isn't just about you being dumb. That's only half the problem.'
'Hah?! What's that supposed to mean?'
'You were never taught properly. So the fact that you are struggling with this isn't a surprise, it's not just about intelligence, it's the fact that you've been set up to fail.'
'Huh? What are you saying?'
'No one ever taught you the way they should have. You've been figuring things out alone while everyone else had guidance and structure. You had to teach yourself practically everything, and now you're playing catch-up. Even this pathetic excuse for a lesson won't make up for years of being left in the dark.'
Naruto didn't say anything, he didn't like thinking about that part. It wasn't like he had a choice. He either figured things out alone, or he got left behind. That was just how it was. No one ever sat him down and explained anything. He had to watch, copy, and guess his way through things.
'Your foundation is weak' Sukuna continued. 'because no one gave a damn whether you succeeded or not. They expect you to keep up, but they never gave you the chance to. You were set up to fail, They let you stumble then act surprised when you don't get it.'
All these years Naruto thought he was just bad at this. That something was wrong with him. That no matter how hard he tried, he'd never catch up because he was just too dumb.
But now…?
Naruto was already still upset from earlier, so now he was livid.
He had believed it, because what else could he do? It was easier than thinking about the truth. Because this wasn't about him being stupid. It never was. They didn't help him because they never wanted him to wasn't just abandoned—he was left behind on purpose.
The more he thought about it, the more it made his blood boil. Nobody ever taught him properly. Nobody ever gave a damn if he got left behind. And now he was supposed to just accept that like it wasn't the most unfair thing in the damn world?
'So what—you're saying this was never on me? You're telling me I was just thrown in with no help and expected to keep up?!'
'Exactly. And that leaf-on-the-forehead nonsense? It's designed for the weak. For the ones with barely any chakra to begin with. For those who need to squeeze out every last drop just to function. But you? You're not weak. Your chakra isn't like theirs. You have too much of it. It's not just your natural reserves—you're carrying that fox's energy too. And combined? You have more chakra than that old man you call Hokage.'
'Wait, you're saying…?'
'I'm saying you could single-handedly wipe this village off the map, and you wouldn't even break a sweat.'
'Are you serious?'
'Dead serious. You met the fox yourself, so you know I'm not joking.'
He had always struggled with chakra control.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never get it down like the others. His clones always came out messed up, his jutsu were inefficient, and teachers never even bothered to help him correct it. They never questioned why it didn't work for him, or try to give him a different method. They just treated him like a lost cause.
'That's why you struggle, brat. You've been trying to force your chakra into their mold when you were never meant to fit in it. It's like trying to pour a raging river into a tiny cup and wondering why it overflows. Or trying to cram a raging wildfire into a tiny lantern—no matter how much you try to contain it, it'll either burn everything down or suffocate before it can shine properly.'
The more Sukuna spoke, the more everything started to fall into place. Every failure, every moment of struggle, every time he'd been told he wasn't good enough—it was never about him lacking the ability. It was because the system itself was never built for someone like him. They weren't trying to teach him; they were trying to confine him, to keep him small, to make him believe he was the problem instead of admitting their way didn't work.
Naruto took a deep breath, and let it out before he did something stupid. His entire body felt like it was burning from the sheer frustration bubbling inside of him.
He wanted to stand up. He wanted to yell at Iruka, at the entire academy, at the whole damn village. He wanted to tell them everything Sukuna had just said. He wanted to demand why—why was he left behind? Why was he thrown into this world with no guidance, expected to just "figure it out" while everyone else got proper training?
'They wanted me to fail.'
It all made sense now. Why the instructors barely paid him any attention. Why they never really corrected him. Why they brushed off his struggles with dismissive words and never actually tried to help him improve. They didn't expect him to succeed.
No, they didn't want him to.
A sickening realization settled in his gut like a weight. What if he had never met Sukuna? If he had just kept going like this, would he have ever realized the truth? Would he have just kept thinking he was a failure? A lost cause? Would he have spent his whole life struggling for approval from people who didn't even want him to exist?
'Brat.'
Naruto barely noticed Sukuna's voice in his mind. His thoughts were spinning too fast.
'Brat.'
Naruto inhaled sharply through his nose.
'What?' he snapped back mentally.
Sukuna's voice was level, but there was an underlying command to it. 'Calm yourself. Now.'
Naruto frowned. 'Why the hell should I? I'm pissed! And I have every damn right to be! They—'
'And you're proving them right by losing your temper like an idiot.'
Naruto stopped.
Sukuna continued. 'You're mad. Good. You should be. But anger without control is just wasted energy. If you storm out of here now, if you start yelling, what do you think will happen?'
Naruto opened his mouth, then closed it.
The answer was obvious. The class would laugh. The teachers would scold him. The villagers would sneer and call him an unstable freak, confirming what they already believed about him.
It wouldn't change anything.
'So what am I supposed to do then? Just sit here and take it?!'
'No, brat. You use it. You let that anger fuel you. You sharpen it into something useful. You don't lash out. You get stronger. You make them regret it in a way they'll never forget.' Sukuna replied.
Naruto's breathing rage was still there, simmering under his skin like an untamed flame. But Sukuna was right. If he just exploded now, it would be pointless. No. He wouldn't let them win that easily.
'Fine, then what do I do?' Naruto said, having calmed down some.
'Simple. You do exactly what they don't expect. You learn. You train. You grow. And when the time comes, you make sure they have no choice but to acknowledge you. Not because you begged for it, but because they have no other option.'
Naruto exhaled slowly, his shoulders lowering just slightly.
Yeah. That was a much better idea.
He looked back up, just in time to see Iruka finishing his lecture. The class was mostly ignoring him. Kiba was picking at his nails. Shikamaru was already asleep. Sasuke, as usual, was staring out the window like none of this concerned him.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. 'Alright then, Sukuna. Teach me. Teach me everything they never did.'
Sukuna's grin was practically audible. 'Now you're speaking my language. After school we're heading to the library'