The Boring Will of Fire
Early the next morning, after a quick wash, Naruto was about to head out to buy groceries when he remembered that he had been banned by the Third Hokage the day before. With a disappointed expression, he returned to his room, gazing at the snow outside, and began doing morning exercises to pass the time.
At his age, Naruto's exercises were limited to basic stretches—nothing intense. He was still too young, and lacked effective physical training methods. Random exercises would only hinder his physical development in the long run.
Time passed, though Naruto didn't keep track. Suddenly, he heard the sound of stones hitting his door. When he opened it, he saw several more boxes in the corridor. Remembering what the Third Hokage had said yesterday, he realized these were likely the "reading books" and survival materials the Hokage had arranged for him during his confinement.
After hauling the boxes into his room, Naruto eagerly opened one filled with books. Inside were about ten volumes, including titles like Geography of the Ninja World, History of Konoha, The Will of Fire, and others.
Naruto skipped over The Will of Fire and History of Konoha, and instead grabbed Geography of the Ninja World. While he knew the plot of Naruto quite well, his knowledge of the world's geography, customs, and cultures was lacking. These books would help fill that gap.
The book was concise, with very few words. It took him only an hour to finish, and by the end, he had a decent grasp of the geography of the Ninja World. He found it to be quite strange—completely different from the geography he had learned in his previous life. For example, the Land of Rain, which is perpetually rainy, and the dry Land of Wind, located on the same latitude, had vastly different climates. Naruto speculated that chakra might influence these anomalies, as this was a world filled with extraordinary power.
Afterward, Naruto picked up History of Konoha with a grin on his face. He was confident that he knew more about the village's history than the Third Hokage. But as he read, he was surprised. The book was heavily biased. The account of the Senju clan was fairly balanced, but it exaggerated the roles of Sarutobi, Shimura, and the Ino–Shika–Chou clans during Konoha's founding, while downplaying the contributions of the Uchiha clan.
Frustrated, Naruto put History of Konoha aside and turned his attention to The Will of Fire. Though he wasn't particularly familiar with the concept, he figured he should read it, given how much effort the Third Hokage had put into sending him books.
---
Hokage's Office
After dealing with village matters, the Third Hokage took out a crystal ball and switched the view to Naruto's room. He smiled as he saw Naruto pick up The Will of Fire. The Hokage took a slow puff from his pipe, watching as Naruto read.
Taking care of the Jinchuriki and preventing them from making mistakes was one of his daily duties as Hokage. He didn't know who had spread the rumor that Naruto was the demon fox, but he knew it had negatively impacted Naruto, damaging his reputation and making the jinchuriki's stability even more fragile.
However, as long as the Will of Fire remained alive, Naruto would be able to stay on the right path and become a useful ninja for the village.
Suddenly, a shadow passed by, and an ANBU agent knelt in front of the Third Hokage.
The Hokage turned off the crystal ball and addressed the agent: "Have you found out who is spreading the rumors about Naruto?"
The ANBU hesitated before responding, "Third Hokage… we've found that, aside from external spies, there are people inside the village spreading rumors about the demon fox. Even some high-ranking officials are involved…"
The Hokage's eyes narrowed as he silently gestured for the ANBU to continue. He could guess who was behind it. Who else but his old friend Danzo, the head of the Root organization, would use such tactics?
Danzo had long been granted considerable power, but now he was reaching into Naruto's life and attempting to influence him. This crossed the line. It was time to take action.
The ANBU, sensing the Hokage's mood, asked cautiously, "Sandaime-sama, do you think it's time to clear up the rumors?"
The Third Hokage took a moment, deep in thought, before shaking his head. "For now, let things be. If we clarify the rumors now, we will only confirm Naruto's status as the Jinchuriki. Let's wait."
"Yes, Third Hokage."
After sending the ANBU away, the Hokage resumed watching Naruto through the crystal ball. Though he knew he should immediately take steps to clear Naruto's name, he hesitated. Sometimes, maintaining the status quo was the best option for Naruto's future.
Enduring the hardship and isolation would only make Naruto's image of him as Hokage even more profound. But the Hokage knew it wasn't good for Naruto to be alone for long. Perhaps it was time to find some friends for him.
The Third Hokage turned to the ANBU again. "Send for the leader of the Nara clan. I need to discuss something with him."
---
In Naruto's Room
It took Naruto most of the day to finish The Will of Fire. He didn't hate the book, but he wasn't particularly fond of it either.
The book's core message was clear: wherever the flames and leaves danced, the fire would grow, illuminating the village and inspiring new generations to sprout like leaves. The idea was that the younger generation was the future, and the older generation should trust and protect them. The sacrifices of the old were meant to inspire the youth to carry on the torch.
To Naruto, this felt more like a slogan than a practical philosophy. The first and second Hokage's actions represented the true Will of Fire, while the third Hokage was simply using the slogan to rally people and prevent the village from falling apart.
Naruto didn't know how many people in the village genuinely believed in or practiced the Will of Fire. But he was sure there were more people using it as a means to gain personal power than those who truly embraced its spirit.
Naruto wasn't about to become a supporter of the Will of Fire, but he wasn't foolish enough to openly oppose it either. After all, the slogan itself wasn't wrong—it was the people who misused it that were at fault.
Feeling a bit disillusioned, Naruto tossed the book aside and sprawled out on the sofa for a nap. It was only the first day of his confinement, and he didn't know how many more days it would last. But that didn't matter much to him—he had food, clothing, and plenty of books to keep him occupied.
Just as he was drifting off, a trace of fiery red chakra escaped from the four elephant seals on his belly.
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