As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki was under constant surveillance and protection—at least two squads of elite ANBU watched him around the clock.
Everything Naruto did, every part of his daily routine, was reported regularly to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And over the past year, Naruto's behavior could be summed up in two words: simple, yet consistent.
He woke up at six every morning. After washing up, he'd make himself breakfast. Once he was done eating, he would move around the room a bit to help digestion, then sit down at his desk and stare blankly out the window.
This staring would go on until about noon. Then Naruto would get up, cook lunch, stretch his legs again afterward, and return to his usual spot at the window.
In the afternoon, the staring would last even longer—sometimes all the way until 7 p.m.
After that, he'd cook and eat dinner. At around 8, once the streets of Konoha were quiet and most people had gone home, Naruto would head out for a run.
His route was random, never fixed.
But he always made sure to avoid the busy, nightlife-heavy areas.
At 9:30, he'd finish his run, swing by the shopping district to pick up the supplies he needed, and then head home to shower and sleep.
And that was a day.
Simple. Repetitive. Unchanging.
For an adult, there'd be nothing unusual about a lifestyle like this. Not everyone likes socializing—some people just prefer being alone.
But for a kid who had just turned four… this was too isolated. To any outsider, it looked like classic signs of a child with severe withdrawal issues.
Seeing Naruto like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a twinge of guilt. He knew exactly why Naruto lived this way—but he couldn't change it.
Or rather, he didn't want to.
Even though Hiruzen wasn't the one who revealed Naruto's identity as a jinchūriki, the current situation actually benefited him as Hokage.
A child shunned by the entire village had only one person who showed him warmth: Hiruzen Sarutobi. Naturally, Naruto would grow up loyal to the man who treated him kindly. And that loyalty served Hiruzen's hold over the village.
A jinchūriki was a power that needed to stay firmly under the Hokage's control.
"Naruto."
At last, Hiruzen spoke, his tone warm and gentle, snapping Naruto out of his daze.
Naruto had been reading Five Thousand Years of Chinese History. The voice pulled him back to the present, and as he looked up, his face instantly brightened.
"Grandpa Third!"
Naruto jumped off his chair and ran over to him, clearly delighted.
Hiruzen smiled kindly, resting a hand on Naruto's head—he barely came up to his waist. "What were you thinking about, Naruto? You were so lost in thought you didn't even notice me come in."
Naruto answered without hesitation, "I was thinking about what I want to do in the future."
He'd been reading story after story about legendary figures and epic events from long ago, and it got him thinking: What would he become one day?
But he was still too young, knew too little. He hadn't figured out the answer yet.
Hiruzen's interest was piqued. Still smiling, he asked, "So? Have you thought of anything?"
"Not yet. I'm still too little to come up with anything. I really wish I could grow up faster. Then I'd be able to see more of the world and learn more things. Once I know more, I'll figure out what I really want to do!"
Naruto grinned as he spoke.
"Well then, when you've got free time, read more books. I'll have someone send some over. And don't stay home all the time. Go out more. That's how you make friends," Hiruzen said with a laugh.
"But I do go out every day," Naruto replied.
Hearing that, Hiruzen's smile faltered for a moment.
He remembered Naruto's schedule. The boy only left the house when the village was completely quiet, when there was no one around.
Still, Hiruzen pretended nothing happened.
He gently took Naruto's hand and began telling him stories about Hashirama and Tobirama Senju—the First and Second Hokage—how they brought an end to the Warring States era, founded the village, and led the world into an age of peace.
He also explained the concept of the Will of Fire.
Unlike his usual short visits just to drop off Naruto's allowance, today Hiruzen stayed for nearly two hours. He even let Naruto cook him dinner—spicy shredded pork noodles.
And they were pretty damn good.
He couldn't help but wonder—how had Naruto learned to cook something like that? He'd never even tasted it before.
Must've come up with it himself, right?
That was Hiruzen's best guess. After all, Naruto had always lived under his watchful eye. He knew everything the kid did each day.
So that had to be it.
As Hiruzen left, the memory of the delicious meal lingered on his tongue. But more than that, his conversation with Naruto left a lasting impression.
He'd learned something valuable today.
Naruto wasn't a withdrawn child. Far from it. He was already thinking about his future. His thirst for knowledge and creative mind were clear signs of early maturity.
As long as he was guided well, Naruto was bound to grow into someone valuable to Konoha.
"Looks like I'd better start sending him more books," Hiruzen thought as he strode away. He'd spent more time here than expected—and had a mountain of paperwork still waiting.
Back inside, Naruto stood by the window, watching him leave, feeling a pang of loneliness.
In all of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi was the only person who didn't look at him like he was a freak. But he was the village leader—always swamped with duties and responsibilities. He couldn't visit often.
Not long after Hiruzen left, an ANBU agent appeared, silently handed over a stack of books, then disappeared just as quickly.
Naruto set the books on the table and started flipping through them one by one:
The Will of Fire, Modern Ninja World History, Konoha History, Ninja World Geography, Chakra Refinement Explained, The Three Basic Jutsu, Taijutsu: Fundamental Training Methods, and Ninja Tools: From Beginner to Mastery.
He picked up The Will of Fire, the one closest to him, and skimmed through it.
It was basically just a repeat of what the Third Hokage had already told him.
Naruto tossed it aside, not particularly interested.
If he was being honest—he kind of thought the whole thing was a load of crap.