Amegakure – Training Chamber
The rain still fell, as it always did in Ame, but within the hidden training chambers of the tower, the air was warm, heavy with the scent of sweat and chakra.
Naruto's arms trembled as he pushed against the cold floor.
"999… 1000."
He let himself collapse for a moment, breath heavy, muscles burning. His hair, longer now, clung to his forehead with sweat, his frame leaner and stronger. The bright orange of childhood was long gone, replaced by a dark, rain-cloak trimmed in red.
A year had passed.
A year of careful plans and hidden moves.
A year of Nagato quietly aiding him, watching silently from behind the Deva Path's cold mask, even as the rest of Akatsuki remained unaware of Naruto's true intentions. They worked together in the shadows, slowly identifying which rogue nuke-nin could be turned into allies — those disillusioned with the world, who would follow a new Uzumaki willing to break the cycle.
All under the blind eye of Obito and Zetsu, who believed Nagato remained their pawn.
Naruto made sure it stayed that way. He cannot allow any mistakes.
His daily training had become routine, Sealing arts, mastering the Lion Cage Seal, learning to adjust its flow to capture high-level targets without killing them.
The Ember Binding Chains developing its burning chakra chains into a reliable mid-range capture tool.
Wind manipulation sharpening it enough to merge with Rasengan variations, prepping for bigger fights.
Shadow Clones, hundreds per day, farming skills, gathering information.
And through it all, the System had guided him.
Quests, micro-objectives, hidden techniques, efficient chakra control exercises — all structured like an unending, personalized shinobi curriculum. It was exhausting, brutal, and effective.
Although, Naruto is getting suspicious of this so call system. At first, He didn't mind the cheat code system, Other times he wonders if this world is even real? Was he struck in a genjutsu? Is it possible that he got caught and Fourth ninja war is still going on?
This system gives him information about ninjustu, Uzumaki sealing arts and much more. He feels like this system is training him.
Naruto flipped onto his back, sweat dripping onto the training floor, as the System's familiar chime echoed softly in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Quest Complete: "365 Days of Discipline"]
Rewards: +5000 XP, +5 Stat Points, +50 Gacha Points, New Function Unlocked.
Naruto's breath caught when he read the next part.
[New System Function Unlocked: "Pathway Choice – Branching Future"]
You may now choose one of three specialization paths:
– Path of the Seals (Master advanced Uzumaki Fuinjutsu)
– Path of the Tactician (Gain battlefield control and leadership boosts)
– Path of the Sage (Learn nature energy manipulation and pre-Sage Mode control)
Choose now, or defer.
Naruto stared up at the cracked ceiling, rain tapping faintly above, the ghost of a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth.
The old Naruto would have chosen power blindly. The Naruto of now…
He sat up, breathing slowly, mind clear.
"Not yet," he whispered, pressing defer.
He needed to think carefully. What would best serve his goal of building a new world? Of saving Nagato, Konan, and even Sasuke and the others when the time came?
"Soon." He stood, wiping sweat from his face, feeling the satisfying ache of hard-earned strength. One year down, and the world still has no idea what's coming.
It's also a shame, That Kurama cannot remember anything of future or Naruto which means he has to start over with their friendship. Naruto is stubborn, He's gonna get his old Kurama back.
And Kurama wouldn't be able to push the blond brat.
------
Konoha.
It wasn't that they forgot about Naruto.
It was that the world moved on, as it always did.
The Academy had graduated its students six months after Naruto's disappearance, and whispers followed them like dust in the wind.
"The demon brat finally ran away."
"Good riddance."
"I heard ANBU couldn't even find him."
Team 7 had formed, Sasuke Uchiha, silent and cold as ever, his eyes sharp always glancing at shadows, as if expecting someone to challenge him.
Sakura Haruno, trying to act grown, but her gaze often flickered toward the empty places Naruto would have stood, cheering her, challenging Sasuke.
Sai, pale-faced, fake smiles, and awkward silences, replacing Naruto's noise with something emptier. He's a replacement.
And Kakashi Hatake walked behind them, hands in pockets, pretending to read his book but never flipping the page. He wanted to refused to even lead a team, He agreed only to become Sensei was because of Naruto, However, he left. His teacher's son out in the world no one knows where he is and what's he's doing. At one point, Kakashi thinks Naruto have a better life out there than in here.
Still, It sour his mood he has to lead a team, A Uchiha, cilivizan girl and a Root agent. Yes, Kakashi knows. He knows alright. Danzo wants to take hold of Sasuke by all any means necessary now that Naruto wasn't in the village and that leaves Sasuke the last surviving kid of Uchiha clan. Danzo wouldn't allow the last kid who awakes Sharingan running away now, would he?
This team was a disaster to be honest. Sasuke doesn't work along with anyone unless it helps his goal. Sakura was hopeless, If she truly focus on her career she can be medic ninja, From what Kakashi has observed, she has great control over her chakra. Only if she listens instead of chasing after the broody brat.
And now, Sai. Kakashi has mix feeling about this kid. Not only he's here to spy on Sasuke but he's also a replacement of Naruto plus on top of cherry top, This kid has problems with expressing his emotions and feelings.
Yes, Kakashi has three problems. These were three problems.
It's worse they didn't even pass the Bell test properly. If council wasn't breathing on his back, Kakashi would had disbanded the Team 7 right on the spot.
Flashback, They had passed, barely.
Sasuke's scowl was deeper than ever after being tied to the stump, the humiliating growl under his breath when Kakashi ate in front of him. Sakura had nearly cried. Sai had only tilted his head, studying them like an art piece.
"You guys failed" Kakashi spoke after he was finished eating the bento. "Do you know what you did wrong, Sasuke?"
Sasuke merely glares at him, Of course, What was Kakashi expecting from unstable brat.
"Sakura, do you mind? Do you know what you guys did wrong?" He hopes the girl has some common sense.
Sakura knew what they did wrong. They were fighting against Jonin, While they were just genin freshly out of the academy, Only way they would had won this test, If they had work together.
The purpose of this test, Teamwork.
How did Sakura knew? First it was odd how Kakashi Sensei said they have to get these two bells. One of them will be send back to academy, Instantly, It was panic. Well, For her.
Sasuke was strong, He wouldn't have difficulty in taking the bell or so she thought, The other kid was a mystery, She has no knowledge about him or what skills he has until she saw it with her own eyes fighting against Kakashi.
All Sakura did during this test was hide herself and watch them battle. She didn't think she had a chance against Jonin like him. Even if Sasuke and Sai did their best but it wasn't enough.
But Sakura did battle Kakashi in combat style however she lost because of Genjutsu.
Kakashi stare at her. "What's the answer, Sakura?"
Sakura swallow, she almost forgot about her surroundings. "T-Teamwork..."
"What bullshit!" Sasuke yell.
"Well, That is the true, Uchiha sama" Kakashi mock him. "How elite mighty last surviving Uchiha clan's head leader son has fallen"
"YOU-"
Kakashi release KI intent at them making them freeze, Well, Sai look tense and narrowed his eyes. "Don't you get it? In this world, It's Kill or be Kill. You guys think being Shinobi is so easy? Just learn basic and be done? You have no idea about outside world! Working as a team, Is how you can survive. Sasuke, Your ego needs to tone down. Sakura, you need to build your stamina and strength, Being pretty and always waiting for Sasuke to come to your rescue isn't gonna work at all. He doesn't even care if you did died in mission, To him, You are a drag" Then Kakashi look at Sai. "You have issue...with speaking your mind. We need to work on that, And don't think I didn't saw you trying to work with Sasuke while leave Sakura out of it. She is your teammate"
"Oh my apologies" Sai spoke with indifferent tone. "I was being nice as she is cilivizan... And she would have get in the way"
The words slap Sakura more than anything else, Is that what they think of her? She looks down trying to hold back her tears. No, he's right. She would had drag them.
Kakashi sighs. He's done. He can't even fail them. If he were to, The council will chew him out. Third Hokage would understand why he wanted to disband but like heck he let Kakashi fail Uchiha brat. Sasuke is flight risk, they can't let him leave. "Well, Team 7 pass" He gets up ignoring them. "Meet me tomorrow here" With that said, He left ignoring Sasuke demand for explanation.
Geez, That brat needs to chill.
Next day, They began D-Rank missions, walking dogs, pulling weeds, catching stray cats.
Flashback ended, It was during one of these missions, walking along the market street, that Sakura sighed loudly.
"This is so boring," she complained, kicking a pebble. "At least when that idiot was around, there was noise."
Sai looked at her curiously. "The blond one, correct? Was he your friend?" Because who else Sakura would talk about? She did spoke about Uzumaki Naruto before. And that's only one person she speaks of rudely.
Sakura's shoulders stiffened. "Friend? No way! Naruto was annoying," she snapped, folding her arms. "He was loud, always pulling dumb pranks, trying to get attention…"
Her voice trailed off, eyes flickering to the ground.
"He… he wasn't a bad kid, just… annoying."
There was silence for a moment.
Sasuke snorted softly, looking away. "Hn. He was an idiot… but he wasn't weak." He did in one way did notice the idiot. Now, He doesn't know where that loud mouth gone off to. Naruto sound way better than Haruno at this point. He wouldn't have drag them down. Maybe complain about the missions but still he was better.
Sai tilted his head again, lips curling in a too-perfect smile. "He sounds like an interesting subject."
Sakura rolled her eyes, but something in her chest felt tight, like she had said the wrong thing.
Behind them, Kakashi kept walking, his single visible eye shadowed under the curve of his headband.
The air smelled of warm earth and fresh leaves, but for him, it was bitter.
Boring, huh, Sakura?
An idiot, huh, Sasuke?
Kakashi's hands tightened in his pockets.
They had no idea.
That loud, messy, reckless boy was the only reason this village would survive the storms to come. That boy had the heart to hold everyone together, even when they didn't deserve it.
And now he was gone.
What is worse, Kakashi knows deep down Naruto never will step in this village. He was glad that Jiraiya and Third Hokage stop the council from putting Naruto into Bingo book or anything worse. What these idiots don't realize, If Naruto dies then Nine tails will be released.
What a bunch of fools. If minato Sensei and Kushina were here, He knew the whole village wouldn't survived their anger.
Kakashi looked up, his eye narrowing.
"Alright, Team 7," he said lightly, though his voice held a dangerous edge, "since you're all so bored, we'll increase your training schedule."
Sakura groaned, Sai blinked, and even Sasuke shot him a dark look.
But Kakashi only closed his book.
If you can't appreciate what you've lost… then you'll learn to be strong enough so you don't lose anyone else.