Before I start. I want to thank you all for the support and words I have received after publishing the first chapter. I hope I live up to your expectations.
I also want to respond to a comment that talked about Naruto. Naruto is more intelligent and less childish, technically mentally he is older than the rest of his classmates. But he is playful, not playful in a childish way but in a way that borders on arrogance and carefree. On Sakura, she if it is going to begin to equal, because I want that its relation with Naruto is not an Enemy to Lovers, but if something similar without they are enemies, only they do not take themselves well. But they will learn, being teams to support each other and then to admire certain qualities of the other.
About Naruto's couple. Most likely it will be harem, because Naruto is looking for the reestablishment of his clan. I don't think there will be many women either, around five or less.
Feel free to support me at: " www. Pa treon .com(slash)ApheliosFanfic (no spaces) (slash) = /.
Everything is free! All Fanfics will be published and finished here. But supporting me, you can read the drafts and the next chapters before they come out. Currently you have Chapter 3 of Naruto: Team Seven!
Chapter 2: A New Sword, A New Rival
The day after the incident with Mizuki, Naruto woke up late. The events with Mizuki had lasted all night, and by the time Iruka had invited him for ramen to celebrate his graduation, the sun was already rising.
He would have preferred to sleep all day, but the Third Hokage had summoned him for that night. He wanted to discuss a few things. Naruto knew what he wanted to know, and thus, he instinctively turned his head towards a corner of his room, where three clones of Naruto were sitting with their eyes closed in a meditative expression, holding a blue crystal in their hands.
It was time to test it. Naruto dispelled the clones. He waited a moment, and a few seconds later, all the information, all the training his clones had done while he slept, flooded his mind. He could instinctively feel an improvement in his chakra control.
Naruto couldn't help but let a smile of satisfaction grow on his face. That's why he wanted the Kage Bunshin No Jutsu. No matter how hard he tried, Naruto couldn't enter all three crystals at once; he could only enter one at a time. Unless he could create solid clones capable of interacting with their surroundings, as was the case with the Kage Bunshin.
He no longer had to take turns to enter one crystal at a time. Now he could leave clones inside the mental world of the crystals, learning from the entities sealed within them.
"Still, I think I need a sword," murmured the Uzumaki, massaging his chin.
Inside one of the crystals was a spirit, as Naruto called it, although it was actually the mind and essence of a person sealed within the crystal, who taught Naruto how to use a sword. It had been three years since the Old Man had given him those crystals, so Naruto had been training in swordsmanship for three years, but had never bought one. Perhaps it was time.
Rising from his bed, Naruto left his room and headed to the bathroom. He washed his sleepy face and brushed his teeth. He then went to the kitchen, where he grabbed some cereal and milk for breakfast. Afterward, he returned to his room to decide what to wear.
He looked at the worn-out orange tracksuit he used to wear. Naruto smiled nostalgically. He had chosen that orange tracksuit to be flashy, to draw attention from others. Another way to make sure he existed for the rest. But he had left those thoughts behind a long time ago.
The only reason he had kept that tracksuit for so long was that he needed everyone in class to keep thinking he was the same stupid and poor student as always. But that was over; he had achieved what he wanted, and now he was a Genin. He no longer had to pretend to be weak; it was time to show his true self to his peers. Thus, it was time for new clothes.
Noticing all the new things Naruto needed, he looked for his wallet to see how much money he had. Naruto's face turned into a frown. He had money; he had saved a lot over these three years. But a sword and a new set of clothes could be expensive, especially if the stupid shop owners raised their prices when they saw him.
A smile illuminated the Uzumaki's face when an idea occurred to him. Naruto dressed in his orange tracksuit and put his wallet in his back pocket. Finally, before leaving his apartment, he created three clones to put them to train inside the crystals. He then looked at the head protector placed on the bedside table, his ninja head protector. Naruto's expression became serious, and his gaze filled with determination.
That was just the first step. First Genin, then Chūnin, after that Jōnin, and then Hokage. His ninja path was just beginning.
Hiruzen slowly observed the newly created shinobi profile of Naruto. His profile said: "I don't have any particular hobbies and my favorite food I suppose is ramen." The Third Hokage sighed.
"Why haven't you dispelled the Henge No Jutsu?" Hiruzen questioned with a curious look.
Naruto looked at him; for a moment there was surprise in his gaze, but then he laughed slightly.
"Well, as expected from the strongest ninja in our village, a simple Henge No Jutsu can't fool you," Naruto commented, amused. "As for why I haven't dispelled it?" Naruto showed a thoughtful expression. "I think I want to surprise my classmates when we return to class." He made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "But I think you want to talk about other things, don't you?" Naruto finished with a slight smile.
There it was, Hiruzen realized. It wasn't the stupid Naruto trying to get attention. No. It was a calmer one; he might still be playful and mischievous, but there was a cold intelligence and cunning in his eyes that wasn't normal for someone his age. There was a slight tense atmosphere in the room. Naruto wanted something from Hiruzen, and Hiruzen wanted something from Naruto. They both knew it and were planning a way to achieve their goals.
"The crystals... have they taught you anything?" Hiruzen began with curiosity.
"Yes," Naruto calmly accepted.
"What is inside the crystals?"
"It's hard to explain. They're not alive, if that's what you're wondering. They didn't seal their mind in the crystal. No. They died during the genocide of Uzushiogakure. They remember how they died and everything. What they did was seal a part of their mind, a fragment of their consciousness, with the knowledge they had. Once all the knowledge they have to impart is given, the crystals will be destroyed," Naruto explained, then made a sad grimace.
"What have they taught you?"
"Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, and chakra control. That's the knowledge in each of the crystals you gave me. Don't expect too much knowledge, either. These crystals don't contain great figures of Uzushiogakure like the Celestial Demon, the Invincible Warrior, or the Shadow Weaver."
"Who are they then?"
"Somewhat prominent Jōnin from Uzushiogakure. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Their names?" Hiruzen asked, raising an eyebrow; perhaps he might have heard of them.
Naruto remained silent, staring at him. Hiruzen saw the internal struggle in his eyes. After a few moments, he sighed, defeated.
"Uzumaki Kaida in Kenjutsu, Uzumaki Haruto in Taijutsu, and Uzumaki Kaito in chakra control."
Nothing. The names didn't ring a bell to Hiruzen, although he was sure they were somewhat important in Uzushiogakure.
"Do they have any relation to any prominent figure in Uzushiogakure?"
"None." Naruto responded quickly and confidently, his gaze fixed on Hiruzen's eyes, who nodded slightly.
"How do you access these crystals?"
"If what you're interested in knowing is if someone who isn't an Uzumaki can access them, the answer is a resounding no. The crystals are made to be sensitive to Uzumaki chakra. As you know, each clan has similar chakra since they're relatives. It's through chakra that the crystals can determine if the person holding them is worthy of entering to learn."
Hiruzen nodded. He already expected that answer. Minato had tried to access the crystals in various ways, but never succeeded. Kushina, on the other hand, never had the chance to try. And now Hiruzen regretted that decision.
"Uzumaki Kaito is the one teaching you about chakra control, right?" Hiruzen commented softly. "What has he taught you so far?"
"I can walk on trees and water with ease. Currently, he's teaching me intermediate level chakra control techniques that will help me."
"Can you specify?"
"No." Naruto crossed his arms with a firm expression. "I understand your curiosity, old man, but this village, although it's my home, hasn't given me any reason to share the secrets of Uzushiogakure with you. It's true that what I'm learning could greatly advance Konoha's knowledge of chakra, but here, with a few exceptions, no one has shown me respect; the only thing they've given me is contempt and hatred."
Hiruzen sighed. He knew that sooner or later the hatred adults showed Naruto would have consequences. Maybe in time, he could convince him to share that knowledge.
"Alright, last two questions. How strong are you? And how did you know about Kage no Bushin?" the Third Hokage asked seriously.
"Kage Bushin was a technique that the Second Hokage exchanged for some sealing techniques from Uzushiogakure. That's why I knew of its existence. Kaito, Kaida, and Haruto told me about it and its secrets, and how it could speed up my training. That's why I wanted it." Naruto looked up with a contemplative expression. "As for my strength... it's hard to say. I don't know how strong Sasuke really is, but let's say I'm probably stronger than him," he continued confidently.
Hiruzen nodded slightly.
"Alright, Naruto, now tell me what you want in return for all this."
"Oh, nothing really. Just money."
"Money?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"As I told you, I've been training in Kenjutsu for three years, but I don't have a sword to test my knowledge and use it," Naruto commented with an ambitious smile. "That's why I need money."
"Don't you have money?"
"The truth is, I've been saving all this time, but whenever I enter stores, if they even let me in, they grossly inflate the prices," the Uzumaki explained casually.
"Then I'll go with you; that way, no one will raise the prices," Hiruzen proposed. He couldn't let this happen. It was unfair to Naruto.
"Old man, using political or physical force to make people do what one wants will only create more discontent," Naruto pointed out seriously. "That's how people are. When they're forced to do something, they don't want to do, they'll obey, obviously, but inside, their anger will build up, and when you're not around, they'll end up taking it out on me. Either by treating me with more resentment or perhaps even refusing to let me into their stores."
"I see," Hiruzen smiled softly with a hint of sadness on his face. "You're very mature, Naruto."
"Where's that coming from?" Naruto let out a small embarrassed laugh. "People who are hated and despised, people who don't have parental figures to depend on, we have to grow up faster than others. It's not a matter of choice. We have to do it because we must adapt to the cruelty this world shows us," Naruto continued. His gaze shifted to the window, and his eyes got lost in the vastness of the blue sky.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. If only I had been a better Hokage... you wouldn't have gone through..."
"Everything I've experienced has led me to who I am, so don't apologize," Naruto requested with a kind expression. "It's true it might have been difficult at first, but I was able to move forward because I had your guidance in the toughest moments. So don't apologize. Could you have done things better? Probably, but we can't change the past. Focus on the present to improve our future. That's all I can ask of you, old man," Naruto finished with a big smile.
Hiruzen sighed, and a smile of his own spread across his wrinkled face.
But the room's door opened, catching Naruto's attention. A boy, a few years younger than Naruto, entered. He had spiky brown hair and black eyes. He wore a yellow shirt with the Konoha symbol in the center, a blue scarf, and gray pants with patches on the knees, along with blue sandals.
"Old man! Fight me!" the boy exclaimed, holding shuriken in his hands.
Naruto tilted his head, somewhat surprised but also interested in this sudden intervention.
'Will it never end?' the Third Hokage mentally asked himself, adjusting his hat.
"Oh! Not again!" A voice echoed from the hallway, followed by quick footsteps.
The boy took a few steps until he tripped over something on the floor and fell face-first.
"Damn it!" the boy cursed, getting up and rubbing his injured forehead. "Who set a trap there?"
"Are you alright?!" a voice exclaimed from the room's door. A man with sunglasses, wearing his ninja head protector as a bandana, added, "And there's no trap there!" adjusting his sunglasses.
'Who is this brat?' Naruto mentally questioned, narrowing his eyes.
"Hey!" The boy looked at Naruto defiantly.
On the other hand, the man with sunglasses noticed Naruto's presence and gave him a look full of hatred.
"I know! You did something!" the boy accused Naruto.
"You tripped on your own! Idiot!" the Uzumaki replied, annoyed, grabbing the boy by the scarf.
"Hey, Naruto! Leave him alone, he's the Third Hokage's grandson!" the man with sunglasses intervened, pointing at Hiruzen.
Naruto stood still, looked at the old man, then at the man with sunglasses.
"Go ahead, hit me if you dare," the boy provoked with a smile. 'Now that he knows who I am, he won't dare. Pff... just like my master and grandfather,' the boy continued in his mind.
"Do you think I care about that?! You little brat!" Naruto didn't hesitate and gave the boy a good hit on the head.
The boy let out a cry of pain. The man with sunglasses was horrified by such an act, and Hiruzen was somewhat surprised. But neither of them did anything to punish Naruto as he left the room without saying another word.
Naruto walked down the street with a somewhat annoyed expression. The reason? The same boy he had hit was now following him in a not-so-discreet manner. He could hear the boy's footsteps as he changed his hiding spot from the edge of a house to behind a lamppost.
"Stop following me! What the hell do you want?!" Naruto exclaimed, turning and pointing at the boy, the Third Hokage's grandson, who camouflaged himself behind a cloak that mimicked the texture of the wooden wall, but instead of being horizontal like the wall's wood, the cloak's texture was vertical. "You're not fooling anyone with that, idiot!"
"Hehe... I'm surprised you were able to see through my camouflage... The rumors about you are true," the boy declared with a smile. "I'll let you be my boss!" he continued, pointing at Naruto with his finger.
"Huh?" Naruto frowned, confused.
"But in return... teach me the Sexy Jutsu you used to defeat my grandpa, please!" the boy begged. "Please, boss!"
'Boss?' Naruto thought, raising an eyebrow. 'Wait a minute... if he's the Third's grandson, that means many people must praise and respect him, and they'll do anything to adore him.' Naruto smiled slyly.
"So, you want my Sexy Jutsu, huh?" Naruto puffed out his chest with pride and leaned against the wall with an indifferent expression. "It's one of my most powerful jutsus," he added with a proud look. "It's capable of defeating the Third, as you know." Naruto tilted his head slightly with a lazy smile on his face. He could see the boy's hungry look for that technique. "I'll give it to you, but in return, I need you to do something for me."
"Anything!" the boy quickly assured.
Naruto smiled and turned around.
"Follow me then."
Together, they walked through the village of Konoha. Naruto was surprised by how the boy's presence changed the way the villagers looked at him.
The looks of hatred and disdain were hidden behind complacent smiles and affectionate words towards the boy. The adults mostly ignored him and focused on greeting the Third's grandson. It was better than being seen with a hateful expression and a cold look.
They reached the ninja shop area of Konoha and entered the most famous one. They first entered a weapons shop, the most famous of all, Dragon Steel. Naruto had seen several Jōnin regularly enter that shop; he even heard the excited conversations of his classmates when their parents bought them something from that shop or how they dreamed of buying something from it.
Dragon Steel was known for its quality but also for its high prices. Naruto had saved a lot of money over the past three years, and probably many of his savings would go into this shop. Swords could cost thousands, if not millions, of Ryō.
But Naruto needed a quality sword capable of absorbing his chakra to perform his sword technique. He could buy a sword that was quality/price, but what good would it be if it broke in a few months? Naruto's chakra was immense and dense, so a normal sword would break very easily, especially if he didn't control his chakra properly.
Upon entering, the shop assistant, a pretty woman in her thirties with brown hair and green eyes, greeted them with a charming smile.
"Welcome to Dragon Steel," she greeted cordially. "What can I offer you?" She opened her eyes, and as soon as she saw Naruto, her gaze filled with disdain, which was quickly hidden when she saw the boy accompanying him. "Oh, honorable grandson! What brings you here?" she asked the boy, ignoring Naruto's existence.
"I'm with my boss!" The Third's grandson crossed his arms with a frown. He didn't like how the woman was ignoring Naruto.
"Boss?" The woman gave Naruto a disgusted look that she barely managed to hide. "What do you want?" she asked disdainfully.
"I want a quality sword," Naruto replied with a smile, ignoring the disdain in the woman's tone.
"Are you sure that a...?" She compressed her lips into a thin line. "An orphan like you can afford a sword from this place?" The woman frowned with a disgusted expression.
"It depends on the sword, that's why I came to see," Naruto replied with a shrug.
"If you dare to steal something!" The woman threatened with overflowing annoyance in her voice.
"Hey! What's wrong with you?!" the boy exclaimed with an angry look. "My boss would never steal anything!"
"Honorable grandson, I just...!" The woman tried to excuse herself with a scared look.
"Brat, it's okay." Naruto held the boy, who was about to jump on the woman. "She didn't mean that... right?" he continued, then gave the woman a firm and cold look.
"Correct, it wasn't my intention to assume that our dear customer could steal something," the woman commented, then let out a nervous laugh. "Please, go ahead! The swords are in aisle number seven."
"Thank you," Naruto smiled indifferently and headed to aisle number seven, where the boy continued grumbling, annoyed.
"Why did you let her treat you that way?" the boy asked, annoyed.
"They always treat me that way," Naruto replied with a casual shrug. His gaze wandered among the different swords in the aisle.
"Always?" the boy repeated with a surprised expression.
Naruto nodded.
"When I was your age, I was kicked out of the orphanage I lived in because, supposedly, no family wanted to adopt me, and I was a waste of resources. The truth is, I didn't miss much because the owners treated me badly, and the kids either treated me with indifference or beat me up when the caretakers didn't see. It was the weekend, so I didn't have to go to the Academy. I went to the Hokage's Mansion to talk to your grandpa about what happened, but his secretary always kicked me out, claiming your grandpa was busy. I wandered homeless all weekend. I was lucky that old man Ichiraku Ramen let me eat for free because otherwise, I would have had to eat from the trash. On the last day, a group of villagers beat me up, and your grandpa found me lying in an alley. He took me to the hospital, and when I recovered, I told him everything that happened. He sent the villagers who beat me and those who kicked me out of the orphanage to jail. And to make sure it didn't happen again; he gave me the apartment where I now live along with an allowance." Naruto saw how the wound on his finger had already disappeared at an astonishing speed, as always.
"That's...," the boy lowered his gaze and clenched his fists.
"Unfair?" Naruto smiled slightly and ruffled the boy's hair. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm used to it. Don't be sad and help me find a good sword, kid."
The boy sighed, defeated, and nodded to start searching the aisle for a sword for Naruto. The Uzumaki's gaze softened, seeing the boy diligently looking for a good sword for him. It was nice to know someone who not only opposed the way he was treated but also tried to help him.
Naruto left the katana he had in hand. Although it had a good edge, the sword's balance left much to be desired. He walked down the aisle with a critical eye, looking for the perfect sword for his fighting style.
After a few moments of intense searching, he found another katana in a barrel. It was an elegant design, with a black hilt with golden details like the guard, while the sword itself was all black. Beautiful, undoubtedly, almost worthy of being called a masterpiece.
Naruto hurried to test the weapon's balance, pleasantly surprised to find it perfect. It was time for the most crucial test: how well the sword's material absorbed chakra. The Uzumaki closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He focused and let his chakra flow like a river into his hands, soaking the sword's edge. There were complications at first; the metal seemed to reject the chakra, but after a few moments of persistence, it allowed Naruto's chakra to flood in.
It was perfect, Naruto realized as he lifted it with a smile on his face. It was time to check its price, and the Uzumaki almost had a mini heart attack. 500,000 Ryō, almost all of his savings. If he bought this sword, he might be left without funds to buy clothes. Maybe he could convince the Third to... Naruto shook his head and left the sword where it was. It simply wasn't meant for him.
He would probably, to his dismay, have to look for a shop a bit cheaper.
"Boss!" the boy shouted and approached with a sheathed katana. "Look at this!" he added excitedly.
"A katana?" Naruto tilted his head slightly.
Naruto took the sheath and frowned. The sheath seemed to be made of some kind of hard wood, weighing much more than a simple stick. The sheath had a matte black coating that didn't reflect light, while everything was smooth to the touch with a blue sageo with golden dot accents.
The boy's eyes shone with pride, as if he had found something incredible.
Naruto sighed and decided to swing it to make the Third's grandson a little happy. It was a sword meant more for an adult due to its length.
"Oh..." Naruto couldn't help but whistle in admiration.
The swing was surprisingly smooth and balanced, more than the katana he had left earlier. The weight distribution was perfect.
Naruto opened his eyes in surprise. Immediately, the Uzumaki tried to draw the katana from its sheath, but it didn't budge. Naruto frowned and inspected the sheath's material; it didn't take long to realize it was made to absorb chakra.
Naruto reinforced his entire body with chakra and then let it flow into the sheath. He immediately tried to open it. The sword slowly drew from the sheath without any resistance, with a clink that echoed down the aisle.
Naruto's eyes widened. He couldn't help but marvel at the sword. A masterpiece too perfect that made the previous katana look ridiculous.
It was an uchigatana, possibly similar in length to an ōkatana; not long enough to be considered a nodachi, but much longer than the average uchigatana.
The hilt had a pattern closer to a real katana, giving it the traditional diamond shape in the negative space. The menuki, in the style of the golden dragon, was inserted under the hilt to allow the fingers to grip it.
The handguard was golden and deep navy blue, octagonal with two trapezoidal halves, each with patches of golden dot pattern and a grove motif with gold rings, within which were several circles in groups of three arranged in triangular patterns, and the gold habaki/fuller also had a similar relief pattern. The hamon (wave crest) pattern presented was a kawazuko chōji or tadpole-headed clove flower style hamon. The blade had also been given prominent temper lines.
Naruto tried to touch the katana to test its resilience, but as soon as he touched it, he cut his hand and blood flowed onto the sword. Impressively, the sword absorbed the blood and shortened in length until it fit perfectly in Naruto's hand.
Naruto's eyes widened in astonishment. Had he bonded with the sword? Naruto had heard stories from Kaida about swords that had a certain level of consciousness to choose their user and bond with them, making them more lethal because they perfectly adapted to their wielder and their sword techniques.
Instinctively, Naruto poured all his unfiltered chakra into the sword. With the previous katana, doing so could have destroyed it. But not this sword; it drank his chakra as naturally as a human breathes. It absorbed his chakra like a sponge absorbs water.
Naruto turned his head towards the boy.
"Where did you find it?" Naruto asked curiously.
"It was in a barrel, it seemed a bit old because it had accumulated dust," replied the Third Hokage's grandson. "What do you think?"
"It's perfect," Naruto answered, still surprised. "Didn't it have a price tag?"
"No." The boy shook his head.
"Well..." Naruto tilted his head with a somewhat nervous expression. "Keep looking... you have a good eye, kid."
The boy nodded and went to look for another sword.
As soon as he left, Naruto sheathed the sword and planted it on the ground. A sword of that caliber could be worth millions of Ryō. Naruto didn't have that amount, so he considered stealing it, hiding it in his shadow, and taking it away.
He was about to do it, but doing so would prove the shop assistant right in thinking he was a thief. And he didn't want to disappoint the kid. Naruto sighed.
"Kid!" He called out to the Third Hokage's grandson, who quickly approached.
"Is something wrong?" the boy asked, confused.
"Nothing, let's take this sword to see how much it costs and if I can buy it," Naruto replied, to which the boy nodded, and they both headed to the shop assistant's counter.
They waited in line for a bit until they reached the counter, where the shop assistant's smile disappeared, and her gaze turned cold upon seeing Naruto.
"You've already realized you can't afford anything here?" the woman asked mockingly.
" Actually, I want to know how much it costs," Naruto replied calmly.
"Didn't it have a price tag?" the woman questioned with suspicion.
"No," Naruto answered with a calm smile. "And he found it, so be careful about calling someone a thief," he continued, pointing to the Third Hokage's grandson.
The woman blushed and said nothing. She simply inspected the staff for a price tag. Not finding it, she frowned.
"Wait here. I'll go get the owner," the shop assistant declared before leaving and going upstairs to the second floor of the shop.
After a few minutes of waiting, the woman returned with a venerable and slight old man, with bushy eyebrows, narrowed eyes, and a long-braided beard with a purple cord that reached his waist.
"Mr. Tatsunami, this is the katana that doesn't have a price tag," the shop assistant said, showing the staff to the old man. "Could it be a mistake?" the woman asked.
"It's not a mistake," the old man replied in a firm and serious voice. "It has no price," he added, taking the staff with a frown. "Who is the person wanting to buy it?"
"Me," Naruto spoke, catching the old man's attention, who directed his penetrating gaze towards him.
"Before I give it a price, I want you to do something," the old man said, throwing the staff to Naruto. "Try to open it."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. Could this old man know the truth behind the katana? What should he do? If Naruto opened it and revealed the sword, he was sure they would charge him a price higher than a million ryō, something Naruto couldn't afford. So, he decided he would simply pretend to try to open it and make it pass as a normal staff.
Naruto slowly tried to open the katana, but at the moment of pretending, he looked down and opened the katana to reveal the beautiful sword it concealed.
"You know the price of that sword, don't you?" the old man spoke softly.
"Yes, probably over a million ryō," Naruto said, looking down.
"Do you have the money to pay for such a sword?" the woman asked, and Naruto didn't need to see her to know the smile on her face.
Naruto sighed, defeated and dejected.
"I'll return it."
"There's no need." The old man intervened, raising a hand. "You can keep the sword for free."
"What?!" Naruto looked up in surprise, meeting the old man's eyes. They weren't cold like those of all the villagers; they were warm and friendly.
"Mr. Tatsunami?!" the woman exclaimed, shocked. "It's a million-ryō sword. It's too valuable for a kid like him to take."
"She's right," Naruto commented with a grimace. "It's too valuable a sword to be given for free."
"Perhaps... But when I asked you to unsheathe it, you decided, even knowing you couldn't afford it, to show the sword when you could have tried to deceive me," the old man revealed with a smile. "That sword has been in this shop since I opened it. I found it near the ruins of what once was Uzushiogakure, and no one except a few ninjas has noticed it, but none has been able to open it, except you. Do you know who those ninjas were who tried to acquire that sword?"
Naruto shook his head.
"The White Fang of Konoha, one of the Three Sannin, and even the Fourth Hokage. All of them realized it was a sword, and all of them tried to open it and failed. Do you know why?"
The Uzumaki shook his head again.
"Because the sword didn't consider them worthy. The sword saw something in you that it didn't see in any of those ninjas who are considered legends by our village," the old man declared with a smile. "That's why I believe you should keep it. It would be rude to take it away when the sword has bonded with you."
"You're amazing, boss!" declared the Hokage's grandson with a smile, his eyes looking at Naruto as if he were some kinds of hero.
"Thank you very much!" Naruto bowed to the old man. "I'll never forget the kindness you've shown me!"
"There's no need to thank me," the old man commented, amused. "At least I know that when I die, that sword will be in the hands of the one who deserves it," he continued, then tilted his head. "You're an Uzumaki, right?"
"Does the hair give it away?" Naruto let out a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head.
"A bit, though it was your eyes that made me realize."
"My eyes? I thought all Uzumaki had violet or similar eyes," Naruto tilted his head, somewhat confused. All the Uzumaki he knew, thanks to the stones, had eyes in various shades of purple; none had sapphire blue eyes like Naruto.
"You know very little about your family..." the old man spoke with amusement. "Wait here, I'll go get something to give you," he continued, and a few minutes later, he returned with a box full of personalized kunai.
Unlike normal kunai, these had three blades instead of one, and the handle was thicker than usual.
"Are you going to give me these?" Naruto frowned, puzzled by the old man's gifts.
"The person who asked me to make them died twelve years ago, and since then, they've been gathering dust. I think it would be beneficial for someone to take them," the old man declared with a shrug.
"I... I don't know if I can accept this," Naruto said doubtfully.
"Nonsense, boy. Believe me, on a battlefield, you'll regret not having them. I'm giving them to you because I don't want the owner of that sword," he pointed to the katana with one of the kunai, "to die on the battlefield. I want to ensure your survival."
"I'll take them, but I'll pay for them," Naruto declared.
"Boy, I'm not going to go bankru..." Mr. Tatsunami stopped and sighed, seeing Naruto's firm look. "These will be free, but you'll have to buy the next ones, okay?"
Naruto nodded in agreement.
"Alright, now take all this before I change my mind," the old man continued with a smile.
"Mr. Tatsunami, we can't!" the woman began to complain as Naruto took the box with the kunai and the sword.
"Mrs. Haruno, this is my shop, and I decide who I give things to and who I don't!" the old man spoke harshly to his assistant. "So don't bother me about this!"
Naruto and the Third's grandson left the shop before the woman could say anything to them. Naruto couldn't help but smile happily at everything he had obtained.
"So, what's next, boss?" the Hokage's grandson asked curiously.
"Now it's time to teach you the Sexy Jutsu," Naruto replied with a big smile.
Naruto and the Third Hokage's grandson headed to a nearby forest to train in peace.
"Alright! The basics are to focus on the curves! Go ahead!" Naruto explained to the boy, who nodded.
"Yes, boss! Henge!" The boy performed the Transformation Jutsu and transformed into an ugly, fat woman.
"No!" Naruto said, shaking his head. "Wrong! Slimmer, more attractive."
"Yes, boss!" The boy nodded fervently and continued practicing.
After a few hours of intense training, where they perfected the boy's Sexy Jutsu, Naruto and the Hokage's grandson stopped to rest.
"By the way..." Naruto began, taking a soda and observing the boy with a curious look. "Why do you go against your grandpa so often like that?"
The Hokage's grandson remained silent, looking down seriously. After a few moments, he started.
"My grandpa gave me the name Konohamaru. He based it on the village's name," the boy revealed in a serious tone. "But, even though it's an easy name to remember... no one calls me by it," he continued, making Naruto raise an eyebrow. "When people see me... they only see the Hokage's grandson." Konohamaru frowned. "No one sees me for who I really am. I'm tired of it," he declared with an annoyed look. "That's why I want the title of Hokage right now."
Naruto sighed almost in annoyance.
"Idiot. Who would recognize a brat like you?" the Uzumaki replied in a disdainful tone.
"Huh?" Konohamaru turned to look at Naruto.
"The title of Hokage isn't something a kid like you can easily get," Naruto pointed out calmly.
"What?!" Konohamaru clenched his fists and gave Naruto an annoyed look.
"It's not that easy. You keep saying 'Hokage, Hokage...' If you really want to get the title of Hokage..."
"Then what?!" Konohamaru interrupted with a voice full of anger.
"You'll have to defeat me first!" Naruto replied with a fierce smile etched on his determined face.
Konohamaru was left speechless, unable to say anything.
The Third Hokage climbed to the top of his mansion to look at the stone faces of the Hokage Monument. His gaze was fixed specifically on the Fourth Hokage, his successor, who died twelve years ago and forced the Third to take up the mantle of Hokage once again.
"Third, I've been looking for you," a voice echoed from behind the Hokage.
"Iruka?" the Hokage asked, still staring at the stone face of the Fourth.
"Did Naruto properly submit his ninja registration form?" Iruka questioned, approaching.
"Yes."
"The other day, I gave him a good lecture at the ramen stand," Iruka commented with a smile. "He's very determined to become a great shinobi and gain recognition from everyone in the village."
The Hokage remained silent as the sigh of the wind made his cloak flutter. The Third's gaze stayed fixed on a leaf that drifted freely in the breeze.
"It may be very difficult for Naruto to achieve his dream," the Third revealed calmly.
"Hm?" Iruka looked attentively at the Hokage.
"As you know... the only ones who know that the demon fox is sealed inside Naruto are the adults who fought against that beast twelve years ago," the Hokage declared seriously. "I decreed that no one should speak about it... and I have severely punished those who didn't follow the rule. Thanks to that, today's children don't know the truth. That is Naruto's only hope." The Third narrowed his eyes with sadness, observing the stone face of the Fourth Hokage. "The Fourth Hokage wanted Naruto to be seen as a hero. That was his last wish before dying while sealing the beast."
"A hero?" Iruka raised his eyebrows, surprised.
"The Fourth Hokage sealed the Kyūbi inside a newborn baby, whose umbilical cord had just been cut. Naruto became the container of the Kyūbi for the sake of the village. But the adults don't see it that way." The Hokage shook his head slightly, filled with great regret and frustration. "Moreover, the adults' attitude of contempt towards Naruto... is being passed on to the children who know nothing. Iruka, do you know?"
"What?" Iruka asked curiously.
"When a person hates and doesn't acknowledge another's existence, their eyes, when they look at that person... become terrifyingly cold," the Hokage responded with a tone tinged with sadness.
"I found you!" a voice exclaimed from above. Naruto and Konohamaru turned to see a man with sunglasses.
"Ugh." The man showed a look of disgust when his gaze fell on Naruto. His eyes were filled with a terrifying coldness.
'Uh... Those eyes again...' Naruto thought with a bored look. 'Why does everyone...?' he continued in his thoughts, narrowing his eyes.
"Now, young master, let's go home," the man declared, descending from the top of the tree and landing gracefully.
"No! I'm going to defeat grandpa and get the title of Hokage right now! Don't get in my way!" the boy shouted firmly.
"Still going on about that," Naruto murmured in a tired voice, frowning.
"A Hokage must be a master in all aspects of being a ninja," the man with sunglasses explained, advancing with a confident step. "You must learn around a thousand jutsus and then..."
"Henge!" Konohamaru interrupted him and transformed into a beautiful naked girl with brown hair and slender curves. "Take this! Sexy no Jutsu!" he declared with a charming smile. "Eh! It didn't work!" he continued, returning to his original form.
"W-What!" The man with sunglasses stood still with blushing cheeks. "What a vulgar technique!" he exclaimed, scandalized. "I am a gentleman; a technique like that... will never work on me." He approached and pulled Konohamaru by his blue scarf. "Young master, if you associate with people like that... you'll only become stupid."
"No!" Konohamaru resisted, running in the opposite direction he was being pulled.
"Do as I say. I am the only shortcut to becoming Hokage," the man with sunglasses declared arrogantly.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" Naruto created several shadow clones.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Konohamaru was amazed by the clones.
"Heh," the man with sunglasses sneered disdainfully. "How inconvenient, I am an elite tutor," he commented with a confident smile. "I am not Mizuki," he added as he prepared to fight.
"Henge!" All of Naruto's clones performed the same Jutsu, leaving the Elite Tutor confused.
All the clones transformed into beautiful naked women with scarlet red hair. Everyone was surprised, even the supposed Elite Tutor, who wouldn't fall for such a Jutsu, was defeated when blood gushed from his nose like a faucet, and he fell to the ground unconscious.
"I call this Harem no Jutsu," Naruto declared with a smile, returning to his original form.
"Damn it! I couldn't even defeat my tutor!" Konohamaru commented, frustrated. "I want a name that people will know me by!"
"It's not that easy, fool," Naruto said, giving the boy a knock on the head. "The name of Hokage isn't just for the strongest ninja in the village. You're going to have to suffer and face your fears and insecurities to find someone who... accepts you," Naruto continued, remembering those lonely days when he saw children with their parents, how he trained hard these three years, how Iruka had recognized him. "Even that can cost you a lot. You better be prepared," he continued, turning to give his back to Konohamaru.
"Be prepared for what?" Konohamaru tilted his head.
"If you want an incredible name like Hokage," the Uzumaki said, walking away. "One that everyone will recognize you by..." Naruto stopped and remained silent. The only audible sound was the whisper of the trees as the wind sighed through them. "There are... no shortcuts," Naruto declared with a somewhat lonely smile.
Konohamaru was stunned and couldn't help but admire Naruto for a second. After a few moments, he recovered.
"Bah, stop lecturing me as if you were someone important," Konohamaru replied. "I won't let you be my boss anymore," he added, then looked Naruto directly in the eyes. "From now on, we are rivals..."
Konohamaru laughed excitedly, and Naruto gave him a smile.
"Sorry, but I start my ninja path tomorrow. But someday you'll challenge me, and we'll fight. I'll be waiting, Konohamaru," Naruto said, then turned and made a farewell gesture to his new rival.
Good. That was it for the chapter. If anyone is wondering. Naruto's sword looks like the Yamato from Devil May Cry. It's a good sword, I can say it's almost on par with the Seven Swords of the Mist. It won't be his only sword, but for him to get the other one is a long way off. Just to reach Pain's saga, hahaha.
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