Chapter 1: The Unseen Monarch
The Awakening of Memories
Naruto was six years old when the memories began to return.
At first, they came in fragments, sensations rather than images. The cold burn of divinity against his skin, the weight of wings that no longer existed, the sound of a voice that commanded the cosmos itself.
Then came the whispers.
"Morning Star... Lightbringer... King of Rebellion..."
He did not know who spoke them, only that they were part of him.
And with each passing day, he understood more.
His power did not grow, it merely was. Even without training, he moved with a grace unnatural for a child, his posture impeccable. Where his siblings struggled with chakra control, he never faltered. Where others strained to grasp jutsu, he understood them in ways that defied logic.
Simply by existing, he surpassed them all.
And yet, they never noticed.
The Foolish Masses
"Hey, look! It's the loser brother!"
Naruto did not react as the jeers reached his ears. He stood in the academy courtyard, an old book in hand, his sapphire eyes lazily scanning the pages.
The children gathered in clusters, pointing at him, laughing.
Menma and Nanako stood among them, basking in their admirers. The village's golden twins, the saviors of the future. Naruto, the supposed weakling of the family, was an afterthought at best, a failure at worst.
"He probably can't even mold chakra properly."
"I heard he doesn't even train with his dad!"
"He's just a normal kid! So lame!"
Ah. How amusing.
Naruto lowered his book slightly, his gaze drifting toward the group. His expression remained neutral, calm, composed, as if they were nothing more than insects buzzing in the wind.
"Jealousy is an ugly thing," he mused aloud. His voice was smooth, refined. "Though, I suppose it's natural for lesser creatures to ridicule what they cannot understand."
The air grew tense.
The children blinked, uncertain how to respond. His words were not spoken in anger, nor were they loud. But there was a weight to them, a sharpness that made their skin crawl.
"...What did you say?" Menma frowned, stepping forward.
Naruto sighed, snapping his book shut. "I said, run along." He smiled, a perfect, polite smile. "It would be rather embarrassing for the 'saviors of Konoha' to be humiliated in front of their followers, wouldn't it?"
Something in his voice made even Nanako hesitate.
Menma clenched his fists but said nothing. The group murmured, uncertain, before one by one, they turned away.
Naruto watched them go, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Pitiful.
---
Despite his so-called status as an outcast, Naruto never lacked admirers.
His charm was effortless, his words woven with an elegance that drew others in without them realizing it.
Shikamaru, lazy yet observant, found himself intrigued by Naruto's effortless wisdom. "Troublesome," he often muttered, yet he always sought Naruto's company.
Kurenai, despite her status as an instructor, often found herself captivated by his mannerisms. "You speak like someone much older than your age" she once told him.
Even the usually stoic Shino was oddly respectful toward him. "You... are different," the Aburame would say simply.
It wasn't mere charisma.
It was presence.
People were drawn to him without knowing why.
They trusted him. They listened to him. They followed him.
And yet, none of them realized that Naruto viewed them as one might view chess pieces on a board.
---
1 year later
In the depths of council room, a meeting was called.
Minato sat at the head of the large conference table, his expression serious. The room was filled with the most powerful figures in Konoha, advisors, clan heads, and the elite of the village.
Danzo sat to the side, his lone eye observing.
Fugaku Uchiha, leader of his clan, crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Shikaku Nara leaned lazily in his seat, though his sharp gaze never wavered.
Inoichi, Chōza, Tsume, Hiashi, and Shibi were present as well, their faces reflecting varying degrees of curiosity and concern.
Jiraiya, standing at Minato's side, frowned. "So... you're finally going to tell them?"
Minato nodded. He looked around the room, taking a deep breath.
"The night of the Nine-Tails attack... was not an accident."
The room fell silent.
Minato's voice was steady, yet there was a weight to it, a gravity that made even the hardened shinobi sit straighter.
"There was a masked man. He infiltrated our village, found the secret cave where Kushina was giving birth, and extracted the Nine-Tails from her." His hands clenched into fists.
Murmurs erupted around the room.
"The man had space-time jutsu. He was prepared. He nearly killed Kushina, nearly destroyed the village. But I was able to force him into retreating. Before he could I was able to mark him.
Tsume's eyes widened. "You marked him?"
Minato nodded. "And now... I can track him."
A heavy silence followed.
Fugaku was the first to speak. "And you believe this masked man is an Uchiha?"
Minato hesitated. "...I don't know. But he did possess a Sharingan."
Fugaku exhaled. Then, without hesitation, he said, "Then it is my duty to handle him."
Minato blinked. "Fugaku"
The Uchiha leader straightened. "If this man is of my clan, then it is my responsibility to bring him to justice." His voice was firm. "I will assist you."
A beat of silence. Then
"I will too," Shikaku said lazily, though his eyes gleamed with calculation.
"As will I," Hiashi added.
Danzo's single eye narrowed. "...If the Hokage demands it, then Root shall assist as well."
One by one, the leaders pledged their aid.
Minato nodded. "Good. We move tomorrow."
The Watchful Eyes of a King
Unbeknownst to them, Naruto had watched everything.
Even now, as they spoke of hunting the masked man, Naruto observed the rogue Uchiha himself.
In the depths of a hidden lair, the masked man, Obito Uchiha, was currently locked in a ridiculous argument with Zetsu.
"You ate my last dango, you plant freak!" Obito snapped.
"I am a plant. We need nutrients!"
Naruto chuckled, amused at their antics.
Tomorrow would be... entertaining.
As always, he saw everything.
And he knew.
No matter how this played out...
He was the one who held all the cards.