After hugging each other for a long while, Naruto finally stopped crying.
He pulled back slightly, keeping just enough distance to get a good look at Toji.
Naruto scanned him carefully, like he was afraid this moment might vanish, like he'd wake up and forget what his brother looked like.
Before Toji could say a word, Naruto pouted and grumbled, "You couldn't show up earlier? Why now, of all times?"
Naruto had always thought it was normal to hear a voice in his head. Even now, looking straight at Toji, it never crossed his mind to question how real he was or whether he truly existed in the physical world.
He just didn't get it—why would someone like Toji, who clearly had power, wait until now to show himself?
Toji gave a short sigh. "There's a reason I stayed away, Naruto."
Naruto didn't interrupt. He crossed his arms and waited, his eyes still filled with that hurt look, waiting for an explanation.
"This connection we have—it's not normal. Most people can't do what we're doing."
"You were still too young," Toji continued, his voice steady. "If I appeared to you too early, what if you slipped up? Mentioned me? Got curious in front of the wrong people?"
"That kind of mistake would've been dangerous. For both of us."
Naruto blinked, confused. "Dangerous? Why? You're my brother. I finally have family."
Toji's gaze sharpened. "You forgot already huh?"
"The villagers aren't kind, Naruto."
"You've got the Nine-Tails sealed inside you. That makes you a threat in their eyes."
"They don't care who your father was. They won't remember him as a hero. All they see is a weapon, something unstable. If they find out something's off about you—like me—they won't hesitate."
Naruto's fists clenched. "That's not true! After they found out who I was, everyone apologized. You said it yourself—if I train hard and prove myself, they'll accept me!"
Toji raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's how it is?"
Naruto opened his mouth, then froze.
He remembered the villagers who acted nice but kept their distance. The ones who turned a blind eye when others picked on him.
The way their smiles vanished the moment he walked past.
Even after knowing the truth, they hadn't come closer. They hadn't changed—not really.
He wanted so badly to believe otherwise, but Toji's words hit something inside him that he couldn't ignore.
He lowered his head. "So... now that you're here... what if they find out about you? Won't you be in danger?"
Even now, Naruto's first thought was for his brother, not himself.
Toji chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Naruto, you said you wanted friends, right? As your brother, how could I not help you out?"
He gave Naruto a small smirk. "Besides, you're not a baby anymore. You can handle yourself."
It sounded simple, but there was something loaded behind Toji's words—something Naruto didn't catch.
But naruto took it as a compliment, puffing up proudly. "Mhm!"
Then Toji waved it off and changed the topic. "Alright, enough of that. Today I'm going to teach you how to really get stronger. And don't you dare slack off. This won't be easy."
"Got it!"
With that, Toji started teaching Naruto how to properly refine chakra.
To be honest, because Toji had helped Naruto learn to read and write early on, Naruto picked things up way faster than in the original timeline.
He wasn't a complete idiot
It didn't take long before he grasped what Toji was showing him.
After making Naruto promise he'd see him again soon, Toji slowly let their mental link fade. Naruto was reluctant, but he understood.
—
Back in the real world.
Everything was the same.
The sky hadn't changed.
Only a second had passed.
Naruto blinked, then shook himself out of it. He was quick to let go of all the negativity.
The way the villagers treated him, how the other kids ignored him—he pushed it all aside.
He ran back home, excitement building in his chest.
Train. Train. Train. Grind. Grind. Grind
That was all he could think about now.
When he got back, he barely shut the door before sitting down cross-legged and starting to meditate, just like Toji taught him.
Not long after, his voice echoed inside his mind: "Brother! Brother! I did it! I can feel the chakra in my gut!"
Toji wasn't surprised. Honestly, this was exactly what he'd expected.
This kind of speed didn't come out of nowhere.
Toji had planned for this from the beginning.
Everything had been carefully staged—getting Naruto to meet Minato, confronting the Nine-Tails, nudging Naruto down this path.
Each move had been calculated. Everything tied together.
And the truth was, Toji wasn't doing this just out of brotherly love.
He was playing the long game—and he was damn good at it.
The real reason he was so sure Naruto would become a genius is because once the Nine-Tails was under control he can actually use his chakra.
He knew how the world worked. And he'd seen the original story unfold.
Naruto's raw talent was always there. It was the Nine-Tails' interference that kept him from reaching Sasuke's level early on.
Now, with that influence sealed tight, the chains were off.
Three years of setup.
Now came the payoff—and it was just getting started.
Toji didn't celebrate. Not yet.
He knew better.
When Naruto started acting proud, Toji was quick to cut him down. "Already satisfied with that little progress? You think this is enough to win people over?"
Naruto snapped back to focus, eyes narrowing.
He went right back into training.
And over the next few days, while Toji kept pushing Naruto to refine his chakra, something interesting caught his eye.
Watching through the crystal ball inside his mental space... he noticed new pieces being moved on the board.
an interesting scene is being held.
And Toji, was already thinking three steps ahead.