"You!!! You're!!!" Naruto Uzumaki's eyes widened in terror. He subconsciously touched his chest, the phantom pain still lingering.
"Do you want the power to control your own destiny?" Naruto asked, looking at him gently.
"Power?"
"That's right. The same power I used earlier," Naruto nodded. "If you want to learn, I can teach you."
"Why would you teach me?" Naruto Uzumaki asked, confused.
"Because you're too weak. I can't stand the thought of my other-world self being as weak as an ant."
"I've already taken away the power that was influencing your thoughts. From this day forward, your mind will no longer be affected. You will have a new life."
His eyes grew even more bewildered. The old Naruto Uzumaki would have probably flown into a rage and refused. But for some reason, he didn't react that way. He fell silent, his eyes flickering as he thought.
After a long moment, he finally looked up and asked, "Can you tell me about the Konoha you're from?"
"I want to understand how the me who wasn't interfered with became so strong, step by step."
"As you wish." Naruto smiled faintly and extended his right index finger, gently tapping Naruto Uzumaki's forehead.
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes immediately went blank, his mind pulled into Naruto's memories.
Hiss, this gesture feels a bit similar to a certain brother-obsessed Uchiha, Naruto thought, tilting his head with a soft chuckle.
In Naruto's memories, Naruto Uzumaki saw the same past. But this Naruto was not as naive as him. He began to think, to analyze. In this version of his memories, Naruto hid the information about Aizen. So, in Naruto Uzumaki's eyes, it seemed as if Naruto had mastered Reiatsu on his own and broken free from the control of Ashura's chakra.
The Third Hokage's appearance had made Naruto truly start to think. Combined with the speeches about the Will of Fire, Naruto sensed that something was wrong. The villagers' coldness, the inexplicable attention from the famous Hokage… if this old man was truly just concerned about him, he could have shown it in public. That way, the villagers' attitude towards him would have definitely improved. Instead, he had visited in the dead of night. Everything was so deliberate, all for the sake of controlling his mind and keeping the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in his grasp.
To survive, Naruto began to study the Will of Fire, to learn and understand it. By carefully hiding his true thoughts, he managed to live in peace for a while. During that time, he met Rock Lee, Sasuke, and various other friends. He also gradually began to show his true potential. Considering the existence of Konoha's higher-ups, he modified the abilities of his Zanpakuto, laying the groundwork for his future plans.
The Naruto in the memories was cautious and careful, taking each step with deliberation. He was always calculating, and at the same time, constantly growing stronger.
Seeing this, Naruto Uzumaki felt a sense of shame. He had actually been happy, thinking he could possess the same strength as the other Naruto in just a year. But looking at it now, there were no free lunches. The effort Naruto had put in was no less than that of the training maniac, Rock Lee. He had defeated Might Guy not through luck, but through sheer hard work, realized talent, and a brilliant mind.
Can I do it too? Naruto Uzumaki couldn't help but ask himself.
The memories continued.
Under the influence of the butterfly effect, the development of Naruto's Konoha was different from this one. The Third Hokage had stepped down, and Tsunade had taken his place. After a political struggle among the higher-ups, Naruto had joined Root and become Danzo's student.
From the memories, Naruto Uzumaki truly felt the darkness of Root. For Naruto to become Danzo's student was like making a deal with a tiger. But fortunately, he had managed to hide his true self perfectly. And in the various missions that followed, he had developed his own faction. The day of his defection from Konoha was drawing closer.
When he was released from Naruto's memories, Naruto Uzumaki was panting, his eyes still filled with shock. The immersive experience was like being there himself, personally becoming a part of Konoha's darkness, constantly toying with people's hearts. This made his own heart grow even more bitter. No wonder his other self possessed such immense power. The burden he carried was far beyond his own imagination.
Compared to him, he was like a failure!
"So…" Naruto looked at Naruto Uzumaki with a playful smirk. "Now, do you still want to become Hokage?"
Hearing this, Naruto Uzumaki's mind flashed with the painful memories of his childhood, followed by the warmth brought by his friends and teachers. Jiraiya-sensei was good to him, but in the end, was it just out of guilt? As for the Third Hokage… he deserved to die!
But… Iruka-sensei had treated him with genuine kindness. His friends from the academy also truly saw him as a friend. A Konoha like that… he had already formed bonds with it.
Naruto Uzumaki shook his head in confusion. "I don't know."
His answer did not surprise Naruto.
"Then get stronger. Only when you have the power to control your own destiny should you consider that question."
The next morning.
Naruto Uzumaki woke with a start, subconsciously looking at his own hands. The words Naruto had spoken to him yesterday echoed in his mind.
"I won't be influenced anymore?" He smiled, but it was a bitter smile. A sense of sadness welled up in his heart. He didn't know why he felt this way, but at that moment, he was more lost than ever before.
After Ashura's chakra was taken, the change he felt was profound. The hot-blooded boy he once was seemed to have been cooled down, becoming calm. He had started to think.
He walked out of his house to see Kakashi and his two teammates already waiting for him. They were worried about him, so they had come early.
"How did you sleep?" Kakashi asked with a smile, but it was extremely forced.
"Alright," Naruto Uzumaki managed a smile, completely lacking the sunny disposition of the boy he used to be.
"Let's go." The group headed towards the Konoha Cemetery. There, everyone was mourning the dead from the Chunin Exams.
"Kurenai, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." As soon as they entered, they could see Asuma kneeling in front of a grave, crying his heart out. His voice was hoarse; he had clearly been crying for a long time. He didn't look like a ninja at all.
"My condolences," Kakashi and the others said as they approached the grave. On it were written the three large characters for Kurenai Yuhi, along with a photograph.
No one had expected that a simple Chunin Exam would take so many unexpected turns. Even a Jonin like Kurenai had died.
That other Naruto was only a year older than him, but their strength was worlds apart. In his hands, he was completely helpless. Was it really as he had said? Had Konoha suppressed his growth?
Konoha…
Naruto Uzumaki watched this scene quietly, his eyes flickering. He only came back to his senses when Kakashi prompted him.
After paying their respects to Kurenai, they came to Might Guy's grave.
Rock Lee was kneeling in front of the grave, crying his eyes out. Tenten and Neji also shed silent tears. Although Might Guy always seemed unreliable, he was truly dedicated to his students. Under his guidance, their strength had improved greatly.
In the eyes of others, he was a goofy guy with a bowl cut. He couldn't use ninjutsu and had only become an elite Jonin through great perseverance and daily training. Although his efforts were moving, his upper limit was that of an elite Jonin. No one believed that he, who couldn't use ninjutsu, could ever reach the Kage level.
It wasn't that there were no Kage-level shinobi who excelled at taijutsu. The Third Raikage's taijutsu was extremely strong, but he also needed the support of ninjutsu. Without ninjutsu, with only taijutsu… how could one possibly surpass the Jonin level?
But Guy had done it.
He had used the Eight Gates Formation, a technique that was called forbidden but that almost no one practiced, and had punched his way to the top! The Naruto who could easily defeat the Third Hokage… was at a disadvantage against a Guy with all eight gates open.
Just as Naruto had said.
Guy had brought the Eight Gates to its true potential. He had elevated this technique to a legendary status.
Konoha's burning Crimson Beast… that scene would remain in everyone's hearts, never to be forgotten.
Bow.
Naruto Uzumaki's face was filled with respect. No matter the outcome, Guy had been trying to protect him.
Naruto Uzumaki then paid his respects to a few other ninja before leaving the cemetery. Under the worried gazes of his friends, he said his goodbyes, wanting to walk alone for a while.
He walked down the street, his mind a whirl of thoughts.
"Disgusting monster! He's here again."
"Oh my god, so scary. Was he the one who killed all those Jonin?"
"Even the Third Hokage was defeated by him!"
Suddenly, he heard various curses. Naruto Uzumaki turned his head, and the villagers immediately looked away in fear, falling silent.
"This Naruto Uzumaki isn't that person!" Of course, some who knew the truth spoke up, but they were immediately refuted.
"They're both Naruto Uzumaki. This monster will become like that one day."
"Yeah, it's too scary. I heard he's already a ninja."
"That's truly terrifying."
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes fell, and a trace of coldness appeared in their depths. But then, he looked up and flashed a goofy, carefree smile, pretending not to care as he walked away.
But to a ninja, it was such a clumsy disguise. That fleeting coldness in his eyes made the ANBU watching him shudder, and the image of the other Naruto subconsciously appeared in their minds. They were instantly terrified.
Naruto Uzumaki… seemed to have changed!
Naruto Uzumaki was not the other Naruto, after all. He lacked the city and the mental fortitude. So he couldn't even hide his true feelings well.
Naruto Uzumaki didn't realize that his killing intent had been noticed. He dragged his tired body back to his house and covered his head with a blanket.
As expected. No matter what he did, to the villagers, he was a monster.
Back on the street from before.
After Naruto Uzumaki had left, the villagers became lively again.
"Naruto Uzumaki is the Fourth Hokage's son," a villager said.
"The Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto Uzumaki with his life, and yet we treated him like that. He's a hero," another said guiltily.
"Konoha may have wronged him, but don't forget how terrifying that Naruto from the future was."
"He killed so many people! Do you think this Naruto Uzumaki won't become like that?"
"That was the Naruto from another world. It's not necessarily the future," someone retorted.
"Does that matter?"
"Let's set aside the facts for a moment. Naruto Uzumaki has the same potential, and he knows the truth now. Do you think he won't resent Konoha? Our village has already suffered a great blow. If Naruto Uzumaki becomes like that, the consequences will be unimaginable."