The Land of Fire, the shinobi village of Konohagakure.
"From today onward, this is your home."
The Sarutobi clan shinobi cast a glance of disdain at him.
"This is your living allowance for the month. You are not to return."
With that, the shinobi tossed an envelope onto the floor.
With a flicker, the ninja vanished using the Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique), leaving behind only silence in the dimly lit room.
The small figure of Naruto trembled.
His wide blue eyes drifted toward the envelope on the ground, confusion swirling in their depths.
After a long moment, he picked it up and quietly shut the door behind him.
With slightly shaking hands, he peeled open the envelope and counted the ryo inside.
"One thousand ryo... how generous."
"I suppose you're planning to leave my parents' inheritance to your grandson, huh?"
A bitter smirk crept onto Naruto's face.
Lying on the old futon, he stared at the cracked ceiling, the musty scent of the room filling his nose.
"I… transmigrated. And I became Uzumaki Naruto."
His last memory was watching anime all night.
And now, when he opened his eyes, he found himself in this world.
Judging from what that Sarutobi shinobi said, it was clear—he had entered the body of the protagonist of this dark tale.
"Of all the people to transmigrate into… why him? This is a headache."
"Though I guess, in the end, it's not so bad. The Hokage's son still becomes Hokage. Unlike that poor genius, the scapegoat's son, who remains a scapegoat."
Naruto clenched the envelope, his eye twitching.
"One thousand ryo… Based on purchasing power, that's barely enough to survive for a month."
"Divided by thirty, that's about thirty-three ryo per day. Can you even eat three meals with that?"
Naruto looked at his small, delicate hands and sighed.
"Any academy student could knock me out with a single punch. My legs are too short to even run away."
"I just hope it's not like those theories… where he survived by eating discarded food."
Just as Naruto was wallowing in despair, he turned over—and his eyes widened in shock.
On the bed, a strange fruit had appeared.
"This is… Masaka?! (No way…!)"
In his past life, he had read three of the most famous mangas.
One glance was all it took to recognize the fruit in front of him.
That distinctive swirling pattern…
A Devil Fruit!
Inside the Hokage's Office
"Hokage-sama, Uzumaki Naruto has been sent back."
"He has also been warned not to return to the clan."
The one reporting was the same Sarutobi clan shinobi who had just left Naruto's house.
At this moment, inside the Hokage's small office, Konoha's Elders had gathered.
The leader of the village, Sandaime Hokage – Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The shadow in the darkness, Shimura Danzo.
The two elder advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
"Hmph!"
"Hiruzen, do you realize how much of a security risk this poses to Konoha?"
"After being cast out of the Sarutobi clan, he didn't behave like an ignorant brat at all."
"I have no doubt he's already begun to resent us."
"If you ask me, unstable elements like him should be handed over to Root."
"The villagers don't need an emotional scapegoat. They need a safe and stable village!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke from his pipe, his sharp eyes locking onto Danzo.
"Is that why you stationed ANBU to monitor him?"
His calm voice immediately silenced the room.
"I told you—I will handle this."
Danzo's expression darkened.
"Just a few ANBU?"
"The Jinchūriki is no longer under your direct care. It's only natural for Root to step in and keep an eye on him."
"The Jinchūriki belongs to the village, not just you!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not argue.
"Withdraw your men, Danzo."
"I am the Hokage."
Danzo clenched his fists, as if he had just swallowed a bug.
"Hmph! Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
But what could he do?
He knew this shameless old man too well. Whenever he said that line, there was no room for discussion.
"Enough. This is not the time for debate."
"You may leave."
The Sarutobi clan shinobi awkwardly hesitated.
Mitokado Homura gave him an excuse to retreat.
Taking the hint, he flickered away.
"The Uchiha clan is making moves again."
"Hiruzen, what's our next step?"
Back in Naruto's Room
"Mmph..."
Naruto lay on the futon, his tongue sticking out as he drooled.
"This is the worst thing I have ever tasted."
After what felt like an eternity, he wiped his mouth, tears brimming in his eyes.
He had hesitated for a long time, but in the end, he decided to eat it immediately.
The taste… the taste was absolutely horrific.
"No use regretting it now."
"Let's test the fruit's power tonight."
"If I stay inside too long, it'll seem suspicious."
"Heh, there aren't many people in Konoha who get monitored 24/7, after all."
Even though he was dying to know what ability he had gained, he wasn't foolish enough to test it in broad daylight.
If he vanished from view for too long, the ninja watching him might get suspicious.
After washing his face, he stared at his reflection in the mirror.
His young, delicate features and whisker marks stood out.
Naruto sighed.
"Short hair doesn't suit this face. I'll grow it out."
Without the whiskers, he'd be a carbon copy of Minato.
Gathering up his trash, Naruto stepped outside.
On the Streets of Konoha
It didn't take long for them to notice him.
"Look! That brat's outside!"
"Those damn whisker marks… it's him!"
"Be careful! Stay away from him, he's dangerous!"
"Damn monster! Give me back my father's life!"
"Onii-chan, I'll avenge you today!"
The moment one or two people spoke, the crowd's attention snapped to Naruto.
A wave of hostility surged toward him.
Curses filled the air.
No one dared to attack outright, but from their twisted expressions, they were close to losing control.
Naruto wasn't surprised. He had mentally prepared for this.
He wanted to run.
But the villagers had already surrounded him.
His tiny legs weren't fast enough to escape.
If it weren't for the need to dispose of the Devil Fruit's remains, he wouldn't have stepped outside at all.
Seeing the situation escalating, the two villagers who first spotted him exchanged glances.
One stepped forward.
"I'll beat you to death, you damn fox!"
Whoosh!
A rotten egg flew through the air.
Splatter!
It cracked against Naruto's head, releasing a foul stench.
Whoosh!
This time, a rock followed.
Thud!
Pain erupted as it struck him.
Naruto's body tensed.
His pupils contracted.
A surge of unfamiliar malice filled his heart.
His vision flashed red.
But before the emotion could take root, a strange, warm chakra inside him suppressed it.
"Smash him to death!"
More stones flew.
Naruto curled up on the ground, shielding his head.
Crack!
Something shifted.
He could feel it.
"Elemental… wood?"
But he couldn't afford to expose it now.
So he forced the power back down.
…
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