The first thing I noticed about my new home, aside from how empty it felt, was the noise.
Loud, chaotic, and unmistakably coming from the apartment next to mine.
I sighed, rubbing my temples as I heard the sound of crashing furniture, followed by an overly enthusiastic voice shouting, "Dattebayo!"
So that's my neighbor.
I already knew who it was before even confirming it. Naruto Uzumaki—the future Hero of the Hidden Leaf, the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, and the kid who would one day become Hokage.
Back in my old world, he was the protagonist of a story. Here, he was just an orphan boy living alone, causing a ruckus because he had no one to keep him in check.
I had planned to lay low, to focus on my training, but avoiding Naruto entirely would be impossible. And truthfully? Befriending him early might not be the worst idea.
So, I made my decision.
I stepped out of my apartment and knocked on his door.
A few seconds later, the door swung open, revealing a boy with messy blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a face full of mischief. He was short, scrawny, and wore an oversized orange t-shirt that looked like it had seen better days.
He blinked up at me in confusion. "Huh? Who are you?"
I gave him a small smile. "Oliver. Oliver Queen. I just moved in next door."
Naruto tilted his head. "Eh? You're new?"
"Yeah," I confirmed. "Thought I'd introduce myself."
For a second, Naruto just stared at me, as if trying to figure something out. Then, to my surprise, his face lit up in a wide grin.
"Whoa! You actually want to talk to me? That's awesome! Most people just ignore me."
I filed that bit of information away. Even now, the village treated him as an outcast. That wasn't surprising, but it did confirm that Naruto still hadn't found real friends yet.
"Well, I'm your neighbor," I said casually. "Might as well get along, right?"
Naruto's grin widened. "Heck yeah! You're already way cooler than those grumpy old villagers."
I chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
He stepped aside. "Hey, wanna come in? My place is kinda messy, but I got instant ramen!"
I glanced inside his apartment. It was a mess—clothes scattered around, empty ramen cups stacked in the sink, and a general sense of chaos.
I could've said no. I could've kept my distance and focused on my own plans.
But something told me that building this connection now would be worth it.
So, I stepped inside.
A New Friend
Hanging out with Naruto was… an experience.
He talked. A lot.
About how he was going to be Hokage. About how strong he was (which was debatable). About how unfair the villagers were.
But between all the exaggeration and bravado, I could see the loneliness. The need for someone to just listen.
And that's what I did.
I listened. I asked questions. I let him ramble.
And by the time I left his apartment an hour later, I knew one thing for sure—Naruto considered me a friend now.
That was not part of my original plan, but I wasn't complaining. Having the future Hokage as an ally was never a bad thing.
Training Begins
The next morning, I wasted no time.
If I wanted to survive in this world, I needed to get stronger. And fast.
Step one: Basic physical training.
Push-ups, sit-ups, running—anything to build up my endurance. This body was still weak, but that would change.
Step two: Chakra control.
I didn't have a teacher, but I knew the basics. The Tree Climbing exercise would be my first goal. It was the foundation of efficient chakra use, and once I mastered it, everything else would come easier.
Step three: Observation training.
Patrick Jane's skills weren't just about intelligence—they were about perception. I needed to sharpen my ability to read people, to notice details others missed.
So, I spent my time watching.
I observed how the villagers interacted. How the shinobi moved. How the shopkeepers reacted to different customers.
And of course, I observed Naruto.
Despite his loud personality, there were moments when his smile faltered, when the loneliness crept in. The villagers still ignored him, but I noticed how he pretended not to care.
I understood that feeling all too well.
A New Path
Days passed, and my routine became clear—train, observe, interact with Naruto, and gather information.
One day, as I sat outside my apartment stretching after a long run, Naruto plopped down beside me.
"Oi, Oliver! You ever thought about joining the Academy?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Naruto grinned. "'Cause I'm gonna be Hokage, dattebayo! And every Hokage has to start as a ninja, right? So if you wanna be awesome like me, you should join too!"
I considered his words carefully.
The Academy would be the easiest way to integrate into the ninja world. I'd get access to proper training, teachers, and information.
And more importantly? It would give me a chance to meet key people—Shikamaru, Hinata, Sasuke, and others.
I didn't plan to be a conventional shinobi, but the Academy could be useful.
So, I made my decision.
"Alright," I said, smirking. "I'll think about it."
Naruto cheered. "Yes! Just don't be mad when I beat you in every test!"
I chuckled. "We'll see about that."
As Naruto continued to ramble about his grand plans, I leaned back against the wall, letting my mind drift.
I had a friend. A goal. A path forward.
This world was still dangerous. The future was uncertain.
But for the first time since waking up here, I felt something I hadn't in a long time.
Hope.