Konohagakure no sato :
Uzumaki Apartment :
Putting things down in a corner , Naruto goes to the kitchen and drinks a glass of water first and then sighs at Ino's response today
( Indeed a kid putting on brave front )
After drinking another glass of water , Naruto gets out and heads to the butcher area distractedly
Bo's Slaughterhouse :
Heading inside the familiar way , Naruto knocks on the Boss's office and meets the familiar Old Butcher Boss Busa
" Boss Bu "
" Yo Naruto , I see Teuchi talked to you "
" Uncle said about some dream job of getting paid when working less "
" Haha nothing like that , you may work less hours but you need to do the same amount of work in that time "
".....Oh ....so what is it "
" Butchering Of course , you just butcher Meat "
" is it that easy "
" Of course not , meat cutting, boning, trimming, and grinding , Knife work and the to know Animals inside out , It's all quality work Kiddo "
" Sounds tough "
" But you got Chakra Kid , and you wanna be Shinobi , It's a dream job for you , your main job will be to cut tough bones and other things first , Of course first you will learn some basics , So what do you say "
" So how many hours should I Work "
" Morning 6 to 8 for now , unless you don't wanna be shinobi and the pay will be according the work done by hour .... just so you know "
" I am good , but i wanna start after tomorrow "
" good , once you have got hand on things, then we can see further ....come 10 minutes before 6 am "
Getting things done Naruto heads back to his apartment while thinking
( Academy starts at 9 Am to 2 PM and sometimes some practical classes later in the day , And getting used to cutting meat is good too )
Going on his way Naruto heads to the familiar park and throws some bird feed to the birds to distract himself and rememberes his Avian Link Skill.
( Should I get a pet bird )
======================
Yamanaka Household =
Getting back from work Yamanaka Inoichi greets his wife only for her to signal him towards the backgarden.
Taking the hint , Inoichi goes back to see His precious daughter running around the garden , looking closely to her daughter's face , Inoichi's face hardens and he heads back to ask his Wife.
" What happened "
" A Date "
" hhhhaaaaaaaa...WITH WHO ..!! "
" 'Shhhh'... Naruto "
Understanding downed on him , remembering his daughter's latest Training during middays with all the kids .
( Naruto is not the same kid to prank around or even hurt her )
With perplex face Inoichi asks his wife with his eyes only to get a reply
" It's been like that since she came , when she gets tired she lies down and looks at sky and murmurs something and then she beats her feet and calf ... Find out what's going on "
seriousness downs on Inoichi's face when he hears his wife's voice.
but the later half of sentence and the wife's voice made him realizes the cold sweat flowing on his back.
( It's summer , ofcourse there will be sweat )
Putting the things down , Inoichi heads to Hokage office and not the Int. Div . and finally find the section responsible for The Jinchuriki's observation .
" Latest Report "
The Jinchuriki's daily activity report gets submitted whenever a ANBU rotates , every ANBU have to write a different report including all the activities Naruto did and their own thoughts.
Since the changes in Naruto started , there have been more ANBU around and they all rotate at different time but mostly have a min. 3 hour shift to maximum 6 Hours shift .
At this time at 6.30 PM , there is already a report submitted , getting it Inoichi didn't stop and heads back home without reading.
Getting inside Inoichi eyes his wife and then they both head to the living room couch and read the report together.
Slowly their face change at the mention of Ino's name on the report and also the further events that happened during the day .
Understanding downed on them . Putting the report down Inoichi's wife addresses him.
" Go "
" What ????"
" She needs her Father now , she's confused "
"sighhhhhhhhhh but it's troublesome , why don't I go catch Uzumaki Naruto "
" Stop there ...!! , Naruto is a good kid and why don't you catch those villagers "
" ...You know it's not my fault "
" And handing your daughter to another man is , what if Ino calls Naruto daddy "
" ....ok stop , I am going "
Seeing the dangerous tone and a his wife heading towards the pan , Inoichi flickers to the backyard
( Ugh Head of Int. Div... but what do I say to her if she asks about Naruto's situation and also villager's reaction )
collecting his thoughts Inoichi decided in his mind to stay away from that kind of TALK.
Heading over to Ino , Inoichi steps in the way of her running
" What are you doing Ino "
" ..... Training *huff*huff* "
Inoichi seeing her dishevelled state speaks again
" Your mother is worried , let's go back inside "
" I *huff* still *huff* have to train , just a little more "
Inoichi sighs inwardly
( Ughh what do i do )
catching a hint , Inoichi asks
" What are you training for "
at this Ino goes silent and looks other way , Only to hear her Father getting close and getting on one knee to her eye level
" How about I help , I am a Jonin you know "
"... you won't understand "
" Then tell me why do you train , And I will see what to help with "
Ino looks back and sees the concern on her Father's face and replies
" I ..... I .....I wanna catch up "
" Catch up??.... to who "
" Noooo , just tell me how to catch up "
Looking at her daughter , Inoichi sighs
( And that's why i don't want Naruto near my daughter , If I hadn't read report beforehand , I would have thought she want to surpass Naruto but now.....sigh)
sighing to himself , Inoichi tries to discourage Ino in his own way first
" It's gonna be tough , You don't need to , I am here "
" ...huff Noo "
" Alright , but let's go inside first "
" Ok "
Seeing Ino going inside , Inoichi gets up and follows her back while massaging his head .
==============================
Konohagakure no sato :
Uzumaki Naruto POV-
Going back from the slaughterhouse after his Talk with Boss Busa . Naruto was thoughtfull
( Things were going too easy for me during these days that I forgot some things )
When I was running in the morning , it was not the crowded time , so there were not many villagers .
When I was working at Ichiraku , it was also from back kitchen , hidden from customer's eyes .
later when My whole day was spent at Training ground so of course I didn't feel much discomfort around the Village.
And later when I did the grocery shopping in evening if things got too tough , I will just use Transformation jutsu to get work done .
( over the weeks it felt like new refreshing wind blowing with my efforts )
Even when few days ago when I heard the rumors of fox-demon's attempt to destroy Hokage office I just scoffed and thought that It will pass the same .
Today when I woke up , I was feeling giddy and excited , not just because of meeting with Original story's character but also to see someone extending their hand themself to connect with me .
I let my inner-childishness take over , dressing up and acting cool, I met with Ino only to face reality and sees things differently again . As for Ino's reaction
( Original character or not she is still a 9 year old kid )
Maybe others will have same reaction like Ino , when they met me in the same situation around the village.
( Maybe I should keep distance .... not too much but .....appropriate distance with others in the village )
My inner childishness and longing for bonds comes to a decision . this also lets me know that the he today is not just 22 year youth or a 9 year old stubborn and optimistic kid but Fusion of both.
==============================
Third Person P.O.V.
Konoha Streets :
Collecting his thoughts , Naruto heads back towards the apartment and let the ratinality takes over his mind and started thinking.
( Ino didn't recognize me at first , even when she is in the same class as me for 3 years )
This thought doesn't affect Him .Naruto lets The Rational part of his mind keeps on working .
( Later Gian & others were the same , In Academy everyone knows , fears and laughs at me , The Demon Fox , their parents taught that , But Gian and others didn't recognize me )
Obeserving his own changes , Naruto stopped wearing mask and then there was less and less of need of Transformation jutsu while wandering around the village and shopping.
Unless someone really focuses , they will hardly recognize Naruto and it's not like there is wanted poster of his face around the village . After Realizing this Naruto loved the feeling of just another face in the crowd.
And maybe let his guard down , only to met with today's outcome with Ino.
( But How did the villagers .....of all days ... today remember my face and why did they pick the precise time when I was out with Ino )
The Timing , the location it was , realization downs on him , using his memories of The Shippuden , Naruto's mind starts clicking
( And most importantly their jabs and WHISPERS were heard quite clearly over the street much less to the 9 year old aspiring Shinobi )
Naruto changes his direction and heads back to his Apartment , the hands in his pockets starts clenching , but no anger or any other emotion comes to Naruto's face .
only gloomy Non-chalance
( According to my guess for the culprit , There is one who will do this from shadows and hone him to be 'Tool without emotions' and will keep things like this , till he meets me )
Despite knowing this , Naruto's body shakes but his small feet keeps him going , seeing the last corner of the street just before reaching his apartment , Naruto suppresses his inner optimism and childishness with same stubborness and thinks again
( And the other one , will approach me in this difficult times to encourage and infuse 'TheWill of fire' to never give up on making bonds and strengthning his OWN BOND with the Jinchuriki , The strongest weapon of the village )
taking the last steps , Naruto takes the turn and after recognizing the person , Naruto slowly jogs to him with a 'smile' on his face . Just like a drowning person looks at his saviour .
" Grandpa "
===========================
Hoakge Office :
Sarutobi Hiruzen POV :
Sitting on his chair with an expressionless face 'The GOD of shinobi' the strongest person of the village looks at the crystal ball on his desk .
The Hokage watches Naruto moving ahead of the Yamanaka kid .
Seeing Naruto moving ahead , understanding downs on Hokage's face in an instant and not seeing The other kid catching up , Hokage's expression calms down while smoking
( As expected , just some kids )
Looking at Naruto stopping and looking back and Yamanka kid staying and not moving , the Hokage praises the excellence of his ANBU's discreet manipulation .
Seeing Naruto going away , The Hokage lets out a sigh of relief and mentally motivates himself
( Everything for the village )
The Hokage tracks naruto with his crystal Ball and seeing Naruto distracting himself by shopping , The Hokage just smokes in silence .
Seeing the Yamanaka kid running back to him , The Hokage brows gets furrowed but relaxes again
( Inoichi taught his daughter well....but once the trust brokens and cracks form , they will not mend easily , not from her and not from the changed naruto either )
Seeing Naruto with gloomy face and a fake act of non-chalence while wondering the streets , The Hokage takes a deep drag from his Tobacco Pipe while thinking
( Forgive me Naruto , may be you will understand me once you have become Hokage yourself but I really can't let Jinchuriki be influenced by any other factors )
The Battle hardened Hokage lets out the smoke and decided to stand up and wear his Hokage Robes , putting the crystal ball down , The Hokage heads for the Jinchuriki's apartment as a Grandpa and Hokage .
while giving himself a right excuse
( Everything for the Greater Good )
==============================
Uzumaki Apatment :
Bidding farewell to the Hokage , watching the Hokage's back with 'warm' eyes . Naruto lets out a 'smile' on his face which is full of greatfullness and dependence .
while The rationality takes over Naruto's mind , the ever optimistic heart was cold , Naruto felt like someone put a stone or heavy weight over his heart .
Going back to his apartment , Naruto organizes his things for tomorrow's academy .
( The Jinchuriki ehhh.....)
Reality downs on Naruto , the meaning of this status and also the thoughts of his GRANDPA
( you can connect with people I approve of , but not bond with them except for the Hokage )
Letting out a sigh , Naruto goes to bathroom and takes a cold shower
( I will not be like shisui )
Naruto remembers Shisui , when a villager and an elder of the village harms him and gouges his eyes , and you take a decision to kill yourself for village.
feeling the cold water , Naruto thinks further
( Neither like Itachi )
To kill all your kin and even parents for the village and thinking himself as some Hero for following' The will of fire '.
getting out of shower Naruto dries himself
( neither like those who died as no-name and in silence )
standing in front of the mirror and looking at himself , Naruto decides
( Despairing and giving up is not my style )
Naruto clears the mirror with his hand and sees his reflection and promises himself .
( I am no one's tool .... because I ... am .....Uzumaki Naruto )