Admission to the Ninja Academy
What is it like to be feared and isolated by the villagers?
Naruto Uzumaki knew the answer all too well.
With the admission notice in hand, he walked through the gates of the Konoha Ninja Academy, the place where he hoped to prove himself. Yet, even here, he couldn't escape the whispers and the stares.
At the registration office, the chūnin instructor on duty handled his paperwork with unusual efficiency—not out of kindness, but because no one wanted to be near him longer than necessary. Other children and their parents avoided standing in line ahead of him, stepping aside as if he carried a plague.
> "Isn't that the demon fox of the village? How could the Third Hokage allow him to enter the Academy?"
"It's bad enough seeing him wandering the streets, but letting him train as a ninja? What if he loses control?"
"Even with instructors around, can they really stop him if something happens?"
The murmurs weren't lost on Naruto, nor were the glares from parents who viewed him as a ticking time bomb.
The chūnin staff, knowing the truth, kept their mouths shut. Naruto wasn't the Nine-Tails—he was its jinchūriki, the human vessel containing the beast. But the truth was a village secret, and rules were rules: shinobi weren't permitted to discuss classified matters.
In the end, it was the Third Hokage himself who intervened, addressing the parents with a mixture of diplomacy and authority. With a stern warning, he ensured that Naruto's admission proceeded without further trouble. Yet, the parents made one thing clear:
> "Stay away from that boy."
Naruto, standing at a distance, watched their performance with an indifferent expression. He had grown used to this treatment.
As the villagers' glares burned into his back, deep within him, in the darkness of the sealed space, the Nine-Tails cracked open an eye.
> "Heh… you're enjoying this, aren't you, brat?" the fox rumbled.
"You know they despise you, yet you deliberately make yourself seen."
Naruto smirked.
> "This is a ninja school, isn't it? We're trained to become mercenaries who live by the sword. And yet, they act as if they're sending their kids to a temple."
The Nine-Tails huffed.
> "You've changed since that day you talked about leaving Konoha."
Naruto's gaze hardened.
> "Maybe. Or maybe I've just found my purpose. With a clear goal, even their hatred becomes fuel."
The fox said nothing more, closing its eyes and retreating into slumber.
The Will of Fire
After registration, the Third Hokage gave his traditional speech about the Will of Fire—the ideology that preached unity, sacrifice, and protection of the next generation.
Naruto, sitting among his new classmates, barely paid attention.
To him, it was just sentimental talk. The Hokage's words were meant to inspire, but Naruto saw through them.
> "The old man is selling the dream, but reality is different. The strong thrive, the weak suffer—that's the real world."
Deep inside, the fox stirred again.
> "Aren't you going to put on a show for the Hokage? Shouldn't you act a little more inspired?"
Naruto smirked.
> "The best disguise is no disguise at all. If I act too eager, I'll stand out."
He leaned back, letting the words wash over him.
> "Still, some of what he says isn't wrong. Mutual understanding, helping one another, fighting for the next generation…"
The Nine-Tails scoffed.
> "Even the Third Hokage doesn't fully believe that drivel. He clings to it to justify his actions."
Naruto remained silent. Somewhere deep down, he wondered—was there even a sliver of truth in the Will of Fire?
For now, it didn't matter. He had bigger things to focus on.
A New Beginning
After what felt like an eternity, the speech ended, and the students were dismissed to their classrooms.
As Naruto stretched and prepared to leave, a strange sensation passed through him.
> "The Nine-Tails' favorability towards you has reached the level of trust. Your compatibility with its chakra has increased."
Naruto blinked in surprise. He wasn't shocked that the fox had grown accustomed to him—they were bound together, after all. But the fact that he could now control its chakra freely… that was a game changer.
> "Does this mean I'm technically a perfect jinchūriki?"
He smirked. That was an unexpected bonus.
Without disturbing the Nine-Tails' sleep, he left the mental space and headed for class.
First Day at the Academy
When Naruto stepped into the classroom, all eyes turned to him.
Some gazes were wary, others filled with curiosity.
> What? Do I look weird or something?
He glanced down at himself. His outfit— a red and gold-trimmed robe over his usual attire—was hardly extravagant, but it suited him well. His physique had improved with constant training, giving him a lean, athletic frame.
Even so, he knew why they were staring.
It wasn't the clothes. It wasn't his looks.
It was him.
Naruto Uzumaki. The boy whispered about in hushed tones. The "demon fox" of Konoha.
He ignored the stares, found his seat, and pulled out a textbook. There was no point in pointless conversations. Better to focus on what actually mattered.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed another classmate sitting alone—Uchiha Sasuke, the only survivor of the Uchiha Clan Massacre. Unlike Naruto, Sasuke wasn't feared. He was admired. Pitied. But they were similar in one way: they were both alone.
Naruto smirked slightly and turned the page.
His journey had just begun.
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