Hahaha! Great! That's awesome!"
"I'll train hard! I'll show everyone that the fox won't hurt anyone because of me!"
Even if it was all just happening in his head, Naruto couldn't help but jump for joy when he heard Toji say there was a solution. His excitement lit up his face like the morning sun.
But that joy only lasted a moment.
"…But…" Naruto froze, scratching his cheek with an embarrassed look. "How do I even start training?"
"Toji's voice echoed gently in his mind, calm and cool like always. "Relax your mind. I'm taking you somewhere."
Naruto stiffened. That line sent a chill up his spine.
"W-Wait, you're not taking me to see that fox again, are you?" His voice shook a little. "I—I don't wanna go. Grandpa Hokage said never to get near that thing…"
He hadn't forgotten what Hiruzen said during that meeting. Everyone treated the Nine-Tails like some unstoppable monster. Even the grown-ups were scared to talk about it.
That kind of fear rubbed off on Naruto.
But then Toji's voice came again, steady as ever.
"Do you trust me?"
That one question settled it. Naruto blinked, then gave a determined nod.
"Yeah."
Didn't matter what anyone else said. If Toji said it was okay, then it was okay. He was Naruto's one and only family in this world—the only one who never left him alone.
Naruto closed his eyes and let go.
Inside the Mindscape
A moment later, in the strange dreamlike world of Naruto's consciousness, Toji appeared. Calm as ever.
He walked straight into Naruto's inner room like he owned the place—because in a way, he kinda did.
Little Naruto lay on the floor, dead asleep, completely unaware.
Toji approached, knelt beside him, and gave his cheek a poke.
No reaction.
He poked again. Still nothing.
With a sigh, he reached down and yanked one of Naruto's little whisker-like hairs.
"AAAHHHH!!!" Naruto sprang up like a rocket. "Who the heck did that?! That hurt!"
He rubbed his face furiously, glaring around.
His eyes finally locked onto Toji—tall, cool, long hair and dark pupils looking like he'd stepped straight out of an action movie.
"You! You pulled my face, didn't you?!"
Toji didn't say anything. He just crouched down and smiled, soft and calm.
"…Don't recognize me?"
Naruto blinked, his anger vanishing as realization struck. He gasped, pointing. "W-Wait… Is it really you?!"
He knew that voice. He'd heard it since he could remember. It had comforted him when he cried. It had scolded him when he messed up. He knew that voice.
But to see a real person standing here—he couldn't believe it.
He didn't want to believe it, just in case it disappeared like a dream.
Toji gently ruffled his hair and nodded.
That was all Naruto needed.
Tears welled up in his eyes. He lunged forward and threw his arms around Toji, clinging tight like he never wanted to let go.
Toji blinked, surprised by the sudden hug. But after a moment, his eyes watered a little but that was all.
He hadn't expected it to feel this… real.
All these years, stuck in this world, working from the shadows to protect this knucklehead. He never thought this moment would make him feel anything. But here it was. he felt bad for naruto a little
And Naruto—Naruto was crying into his shirt. this little shit
"…You're really here," Naruto mumbled. "I thought I was all alone…"
Toji said nothing, just patted Naruto's back.
After a while, he gently pried Naruto off of him. "Alright, alright. No need to get all dramatic."
Naruto wiped his face with his sleeve, sniffling.
"…So you're really real?" he asked again, voice trembling.
Toji wiped his cheeks with a thumb. "You think I'm just some ghost? I've been with you the whole time, idiot."
"Hey! Don't call me an idiot!" Naruto pouted.
"Then stop acting like one."
Naruto huffed, but a smile snuck onto his face. "Fine… But… what's your name? What do I call you?"
Toji paused, then shrugged. "Call me 'Big Brother.'"
Naruto's eyes lit up like fireworks. "R-Really?! I can call you 'Big Brother'?!"
"Sure."
With that, Naruto broke into full celebration. He spun in place, jumped around, cheered so loud it echoed through the mindscape.
"Yes! Yes! I have a brother!"
"I'm not alone anymore!"
"I have a brother!!!"
Laughing and shouting, he grabbed Toji's hands and bounced with joy. Then, just like before, he hugged Toji tight and didn't let go.
"Don't leave me, okay… Big Brother?"
Toji didn't say anything.
He didn't need to.
He just rested a hand on Naruto's back and held him close.
And Naruto understood.