[From now on, I will not mention Xuan Tian in many places. Right now, Naruto is Xuan Tian. If I maintain both words, it will be rather confusing, so you need to understand that Naruto is no more. Only the one who is presented right now is the demonic cultivator. ]
.....
Three days had passed since Naruto was admitted to the hospital. Everything in the village continued as normal. The academy classes were running as usual. Sasuke, Ino, Shikamaru, Sakura, Kiba, and many classmates of Naruto attended like as usual.
Naruto was not someone with that many close friends. The only one who was somewhat close was Shikamaru. But even he was too lazy to bother about what happened to Naruto.
As for others… Naruto was never someone they were attached to.
Compared to Sasuke, he was almost invisible in their daily thoughts. Sakura and Ino always thought of Naruto as a piece of shit who always creeps them out when they try to flirt with Sasuke.
No one truly felt his absence. They did not know what actually happened to him either. No one missed him. Well, they missed one thing....that is Naruto's foolish acts.
.......
Naruto slowly opened his eyes in the hospital after three days. The light of the room hit his face. His fingers moved slightly. He was awake.
A medic ninja quickly noticed it and informed the Hokage about the situation. Naruto needed to be reintegrated, so the Hokage had already given the order to inform when Naruto woke up.
Hokage immediately sent a message through Anbu to summon Inoichi. Soon after, Inoichi arrived at the Hokage's office.
He bowed slightly and asked, "Why did you summon me, Lord Hokage?"
Hokage replied in a calm and low voice, "You need to examine Naruto's memories… regarding his leakage of Nine-Tails chakra."
Inoichi agreed to what the Hokage said. Both of them went to the hospital.
Naruto was now conscious, sitting on the bed. Seeing that, both the Hokage and Inoichi stepped forward to meet Naruto.
"Naruto, how do you feel?"
Naruto looked at Hokage… then at Inoichi.
He raised his hand and touched his head slightly, as if trying to recall something broken inside him.
"Oldman Hokage !"
"I don't remember anything."
His voice was low. Naruto's face looked like a confused person's face.
"I remember something… but most of it is gone."
Naruto paused. "It feels… fuzzy. I think I've lost many memories."
Hokage and Inoichi exchanged a quick look.
Hokage spoke with a concerned look. "Naruto… for your safety and the safety of the village, we need to check your memories. About what happened there in the forest and when you first met with Mizuki."
"It will only take a moment."
Naruto nodded.
"Do what you need to, Hokage."
Hokage then glanced at Inoichi to proceed. Inoichi placed his hand on Naruto's head. His chakra slowly entered Naruto's mind.
.......
Inside Naruto's memories…
Everything was unclear.
The moment of the fight with Mizuki appeared… but it was broken.
Even the important parts were blurry. Naruto's school days and some of his life memories had been blacked out.
Inoichi frowned slightly. He searched deeper into Naruto's childhood memories, which appeared next. Most of them were intact, but some were blacked out.
After a long moment, Inoichi pulled his hand back.
Inoichi looked at the Hokage. "Lord Hokage… he is telling the truth. His memories are fragmented. He has lost a large portion of them."
"I cannot say if it is temporary or permanent. But he has definitely forgotten many things."
Hokage nodded slowly. Then he asked Inoichi. "And the Nine-Tails?"
Inoichi took a small breath. "It is still sealed inside him. The boy is still Naruto."
Inoichi looked at the cold-eyed Naruto. "But his demeanor seems slightly different than before."
Hokage looked at Naruto carefully. There was something different. That's the old man's (experienced person's) instinct. The usual Naruto, even as a kid, was loud, restless, childish.
But this Naruto… was calm.
Suspicion formed for a moment in the Hokage's eyes. But Inoichi's confirmation eased it.
"Very well".
Hokage said softly. "Naruto, take a few days of rest. Once you recover, you will return to the Academy."
Naruto nodded.
After a few hours, Naruto was discharged from the hospital. He walked through the village alone. He observed the streets of Konaha, there people watched him with fear and disgust
Strangely… this kind of attention was not new to him. In Murim… he had lived under similar gazes. Only difference was...There, he had power and influence Here… he was a nobody.
Naruto wanted to gather info about this world. Whenever he tried speaking to shopkeepers…
"Naruto, get out."
"Don't stand here. Monster"
"Leave. You are a trouble"
Naruto did not react strongly to their provocation of calling names and their open disgust. Naruto is ok with fear looked eyes, but this disgusted look from people...he is not able to digest it.
To be frank, Xuan Tian had lived in a similar atmosphere before, but he had a prestigious position, women, servants, subordinates, but now not a prestigious position, is a commoner, nobody, and has neither women, nor subordinates. This is his reality right now in the Naruto world.
Soon the night came. The streets were covered with warm streetlights. The village looked calmer at night. Naruto kept walking in the Konoha streets. Finally, he reached a small stand.
Ichiraku Ramen.
A simple place, but popular in the village. Many strong ninjas came here often.
Naruto's stomach growled. He had not eaten properly for days as he is in hospital. Behind the counter, Teuchi looked at him. Unlike others… his eyes were calm...like seeing any other customer.
"Naruto, how have you been for three days? Do you want ramen? You look like you are hungry."
Naruto checked his pockets. But his pockets were empty.
Teuchi noticed it immediately. "You can eat now. You can pay me later when you have money."
Naruto sat down. "Thank you, Old Man"
Teuchi started preparing ramen. From inside, Ayame came out and looked at Naruto.
"Hey Naruto. You are back."
She paused slightly. "It's good to see you again. How have you been?"
Naruto looked at her. "A lot of things have happened, in the past few days....I think the whole village know what happened."
Ayame chuckled lightly. "Haha.....You are talking about that theft...You're really brave to steal a forbidden technique in that tight security."
Teuchi cleared his throat, signalling her daughter to stop conversing about theft.
Finally Teuchi placed 3 bowls of ramen to Naruto.
Naruto finished three bowls of ramen. Then he stood up. Looking at Teuchi,
"Thank you for the ramen. I will pay this when I got the money."
After saying that, he walked out of the stand.
Seeing Naruto leave, Ayame looking at her father says, "Father, doesn't Naruto looking strange"
Teuchi replies, "Yes, I too observed it....His demeanor is completely changed"
As he walked home, Naruto thought, atleast Iruka and these are looking at him like a person.
..........
(...to be continued.)