"Mhm! We're friends! We'll kill that damn Sarutobi Hiruzen together!"
Yakumo nodded hard.
She tightly gripped Naruto's hand. Though there was pain and anger in her eyes, there was also happiness—because she had finally made a friend.
"I train here every day, away from Sarutobi's eyes. Yakumo, you mustn't tell anyone."
Naruto smiled gently.
Yakumo nodded earnestly, promising with determination that she'd never tell a soul.
Naruto chuckled and, right before her eyes, opened an air door, pulling out a slab of rich, smoke-cured Sea King meat.
"Naruto-kun, what's that!?"
Yakumo's eyes lit up, and she swallowed reflexively. The savory aroma was like nothing she'd ever experienced.
"Sea King meat. Super nutritious."
Naruto pulled out a kunai, sliced the meat, and lit a campfire to begin grilling.
Soon, the meat sizzled as golden fat dripped and danced over the flames.
"Here, Yakumo—try some."
Naruto handed her a piece of freshly grilled meat.
Yakumo gratefully accepted it. One bite later, her expression melted into bliss.
"So good… I've never eaten anything this delicious…"
Naruto wasn't surprised. The Sea King beasts of the pirate world were high in nutrients due to the rich environment of their world.
For someone in the shinobi world, eating Sea King meat was the equivalent of taking an elite-grade chakra supplement.
"Even though the Fire World doesn't have a high-oxygen atmosphere, feeding her Sea King meat regularly should slowly strengthen her body…"
A glint flashed in Naruto's eyes.
With Kurama Yakumo's talent and bloodline, if her physical weakness could be resolved, she'd easily become one of the greatest genjutsu specialists in the village.
…
One month passed.
It was now the start of the new term at the Ninja Academy—and this year, Naruto was among the incoming students.
Early morning.
Crowds gathered at the school gates. Parents gave their children last-minute instructions and emotional goodbyes.
But the moment Naruto arrived, all eyes turned sour.
"It's that monster…"
"He's a freak. He's only six, but he's so tall…"
"Yeah, already around 130 cm!"
Eyes full of disgust turned toward him. Parents hurriedly warned their children to stay away from him.
Naruto was used to it. He stood at the gate, silently observing.
He easily picked out many familiar faces: Nara Shikamaru, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōji, Akimichi Chōza…
But Naruto glanced over them without interest.
His eyes stopped at the Uchiha.
Standing beside Sasuke were two elite Uchiha shinobi: Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui.
One, a prodigy.
The other, the clan's strongest.
"Hm?"
Uchiha Shisui noticed Naruto staring and looked over curiously. "Something wrong, kid?"
"Nothing," Naruto replied flatly, not bothering with the man.
This guy died for the sake of the village without ever questioning it. Worthless.
His gaze then drifted to Itachi—only to shake his head again.
He's even worse… totally brainwashed.
Helping the Hokage slaughter his own clan? Naruto couldn't understand that mindset no matter how he tried.
Uchiha Sasuke noticed Naruto's gaze and frowned. He glared up at the taller boy and snapped:
"You looking for trouble!?"
Naruto shot him a glance but didn't reply. He wasn't in the mood for bratty antics.
Sasuke's face turned red with anger. He stormed up to Naruto.
"I'm talking to you! Are you deaf!?"
Still no response.
Sasuke grew angrier.
"You think you're cool just because you're tall? I'm from the Uchiha Clan, got it? Want me to teach you a lesson!?"
Naruto smirked slightly but continued ignoring him.
"You—!"
Sasuke was about to lash out when Itachi stepped in to stop him.
"Sasuke, play nice. Don't bully your classmates."
"But he's asking for it!"
"He's just ignoring you. Let it go."
Naruto stood calmly, awaiting the school's opening.
But sometimes, peace isn't a choice.
Just as Naruto was silently waiting, he sensed something flying at him—and casually raised his hand to catch it.
A rock.
If it had landed, it would've split his head open.
Sasuke's face twisted in smug delight.
Naruto didn't even look at him. He simply turned toward the source.
On the other end, a group of Konoha villagers stood smirking with arms folded.
They acted innocent, pretending they had no idea where the rock had come from.
Their kids, meanwhile, were laughing gleefully.
Naruto chuckled as well. Then, without a word, he turned to one particularly smug adult—and hurled the rock back with precision.
Whoosh!
CRACK!
The rock slammed into the man's chest.
"AGHHH!!"
He collapsed, coughing up blood and clutching his ribs, his eyes wide with pain and disbelief.
He tried to speak, raising a trembling hand toward Naruto.
But all that came out was more blood.
"You… Uzumaki Naruto! You actually hit someone!!"
The surrounding villagers stared in shock.
They never expected Naruto to fight back.
Naruto just smiled.
"What's the problem? I only returned his rock. He missed the catch."
The villagers' rage boiled over as they stormed toward him.
Meanwhile, the shinobi watching nearby were stunned.
Nara Shikaku murmured, "That strength… How can a six-year-old throw that hard?"
A child his age had just dropped an adult in one blow—spitting blood.
Most grown men couldn't match that strength.
As the mob closed in, Naruto smiled coldly.
He clenched his fists—and then roared:
"Rokushiki: Tekkai!! (Iron Body)"
His muscles tensed and hardened like steel. Yet he still moved, charging forward.
His iron-like fists smashed into the villagers.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
(End of Chapter)
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