Naruto had once thought that, at most, he was simply being isolated and alienated, and that life was just a little harder than most. After all, wasn't he the son of the Fourth Hokage? Even if certain political reasons meant his identity couldn't be publicized, many high-ranking officials in Konoha must have known who he really was. Countless shinobi had been saved or mentored by the Fourth Hokage during the Third Great Ninja War—surely they wouldn't let the son of their former leader live in misery? Especially when that son was also the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails—a living, breathing nuclear weapon by comparison to the modern world. Surely, even for strategic reasons, his life should be... better?
Wasn't this supposed to be far from miserable?
But Naruto was sorely disappointed. The past five years had been far worse than anything he'd ever expected.
In Konoha—a village known for its warmth and unity, where even orphaned outsiders could find foster families if they weren't suspected of being enemy spies—Naruto was subjected to inhuman treatment. He was hated, isolated, and barely sustained by any stable food supply. Often, Naruto had to forage in the eastern forests near Konoha, picking wild vegetables and catching fish or shrimp in mountain streams just to fill his stomach. One could only imagine how bitterly difficult life had been for him.
Sometimes, Naruto couldn't help but wonder if the higher-ups of Konoha were playing some twisted joke.
Never mind that he was the orphan of the Fourth Hokage.
Even if you focused solely on the fact that he was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, wouldn't Konoha worry he might one day harbor resentment—and use his immense power against the village?
Seriously—how could they ignore that risk?
Putting all that aside for a moment...
When Naruto reflected on how the original Naruto—the canon version in the manga—grew up under these same conditions and still managed to hold onto his dreams of inheriting the Will of Fire, becoming Hokage, protecting everyone in Konoha, and being acknowledged by all... it seemed like a cosmic joke.
Wouldn't a normal person break?
At that moment, Naruto couldn't help but wonder whether the original version of himself had some screws loose.
Was he just... naïve?
Calling him sweet and idealistic would be putting it kindly.
But Naruto, in this life, didn't care whether the original character was a saint, a naive optimist, someone influenced by the Asura Chakra inheritance—or if the ever-scheming Shimura Danzō had used Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami to brainwash him into loyalty after the Uchiha Massacre.
What Naruto knew now was this: he would never foolishly claim he wanted recognition, or to become Hokage, or to protect Konoha.
That idea was a joke to him.
Survive.
And get revenge.
That was Naruto's true goal.
Not just against those outside the village—but also against some within.
Still, Naruto understood clearly: until he gained true power, these goals had to remain hidden. Not even a hint could slip out.
Because if the wrong person noticed—he'd be dead.
He didn't even need to worry about Danzō, that scheming snake. No, even the seemingly kind and gentle Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would kill him without hesitation for the sake of the so-called greater good and the village's peace. Even as the orphan of the Fourth Hokage, Naruto's life would be forfeit if he became a perceived threat. Konoha's safety came first in Hiruzen's eyes, above any individual—above any child.
That's why Naruto had to become a master of pretense. Maybe he could accelerate certain plans, but when it came to personality, dreams, and goals, he had to remain closely aligned with the Naruto from the original story.
Even the Third Hokage still "visited" and "checked in" from time to time, after all.
And Naruto was fully aware of the ANBU operatives shadowing him now.
He had to keep up the act at all times.
How could he tell they were there?
A bit of a blessing from his transmigration—since childhood, Naruto's perception had been unusually keen, especially when it came to sensing malicious intent. After he began refining chakra, that awareness became even sharper. Sure, his strength was still weak, and his range and accuracy weren't great yet—but because he was just a five-year-old in the eyes of the ANBU, they didn't bother hiding themselves too well. That made it easier for him to detect them.
Still, even with that knowledge, Naruto had to pretend he noticed nothing.
No strange behavior. No strange reactions.
The Third Hokage was the only one who could truly shield him until he grew stronger. Naruto understood that better than anyone.
In the original manga, Hiruzen only ordered the ANBU to stop watching Naruto once he became a Genin—around the time Kakashi became his sensei. By then, Hiruzen must have believed that twelve years of surveillance had proven Naruto wasn't a threat.
So until then—until Naruto could fight and defend himself—he had to remain invisible. Quiet. Passive.
But he did have a plan for the future.
He just needed to wait for the right moment to execute it.
For now, it was all about building a solid foundation.
"It's all about laying the groundwork, one step at a time," Naruto thought, eating his lunch while mentally reviewing his upcoming plans. For the first two to three years—while still a child and before he had full autonomy—his top priority was physical conditioning. Then, figuring out how to eat better and maintain proper nutrition. Thanks to Konoha's cruel ostracization, Naruto had been underfed and malnourished for years—both in quantity and quality. That had forced him to rely on his own resourcefulness. Fishing, foraging, scavenging—he'd done it all just to keep going.
Why was canon Naruto so short?
Simple. Malnutrition during his formative years.
A ninja's body is the foundation of his strength.
And Naruto understood that better than anyone.
Now, at five years old, he finally felt he was getting proper nutrients.
His next goal: real ninja training.
Not long ago, Naruto had finally succeeded in extracting chakra.
That meant he'd taken his first concrete step toward becoming a shinobi.
"Next, I begin training."
After cleaning up from lunch, Naruto stepped out and began walking along the familiar path toward the eastern forest. For the past few years, this had been his foraging ground—where he picked wild greens, hunted small animals, and caught fish and shrimp. The forest was full of wild beasts and dangerous creatures, which kept most villagers away.
Though he hadn't refined chakra before, Naruto hadn't been afraid.
After all, he knew the ANBU were watching.
And they wouldn't let him die.