Location: Forest near the farmlands of Konoha
The once-dead body of Naruto regained its life, awakening the soul of the sleeping child of prophecy.
"Where am I?" Naruto muttered, still groggy.
The sun was rising, meaning it had to be at least five in the morning. He sluggishly sat up and looked around, seeing a campfire flickering nearby and a cloaked figure sitting across from him on a chopped log.
"You've finally woken up," the man said, his voice low and calm.
Naruto felt a chill run down his spine. The man's aura was unnerving—full of maliciousness yet strangely empty.
"Uh..." Naruto muttered, unsure of how to respond.
"The name's Alucard," the man said, standing up. He took a pot hanging above the fire and poured some warm liquid into a bowl. "Some know me as the devil... Some also call me the God of carnage, but many know me as a vampire."
He walked over to Naruto, offering him the bowl. "Here, have some soup."
Naruto, despite sensing the dangerous vibe radiating from Alucard, took the bowl without hesitation. He sipped the soup quietly, eyeing the mysterious figure in front of him.
"So, kid," Alucard began, "Why were you chased by those people?" He pulled back his hood, revealing his face. It practically screamed evil—his eyes were hidden behind dark glasses, but the crimson glow behind them spoke of an immense, unfathomable power. "Did you steal something?"
"No!" Naruto quickly defended himself. "I don't steal!"
His eyes lowered to the soup, and a tear dripped from his eye, falling into the bowl. "I... I don't know. I've never done anything wrong except pulling pranks. I don't understand why they punished me so harshly... to the point of killing me."
Alucard's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Wait... So you really did die?" he asked, intrigued. "Tell me, how did death feel?"
Naruto blinked, feeling awkward. Some stranger was asking him how it felt to die, with such enthusiasm too. "Uh... It felt weird, to be honest. Especially that God," he mumbled the last part under his breath.
Alucard, however, being the vampire he was, heard it clearly. His curiosity was piqued, but he didn't press further. He'd deal with that mystery later.
"By the way, boy," Alucard continued, "What's your name? I've already told you mine."
Naruto grinned. "I'm the great Naruto! The soon-to-be strongest shinobi in the world!" He threw up a peace sign and punched the air dramatically.
...
Alucard burst into loud laughter. "HAHAHAHA!"
"Hey! Don't laugh at my dreams!" Naruto yelled, his face turning red.
"No, no," Alucard said, holding his sides, "I just find you... interesting."
"Yeah, right!" Naruto snorted. "One shouldn't laugh at someone else's dreams!" He sighed, deflating. "But, what am I supposed to do now?"
He looked down, thinking. He couldn't go back to Konoha. They'd probably try to kill him again. He was out of options.
...
"Hey kid," Alucard said suddenly, breaking Naruto from his thoughts. "Why don't you come with me?"
Naruto blinked, surprised. This guy barely knew him, yet he was offering to take him along. He hesitated, uncertain. All he knew about this man was his name. Sure, Naruto could tell from the aura around him that Alucard was strong—dangerously strong—but that was about it. Still, something in his gut told him that this was probably his best chance.
Alucard, sensing Naruto's hesitation, smirked. "I'll promise to teach you a thing or two on your road to becoming the strongest."
Naruto's eyes lit up, his doubts clearing. "Alright! Let's go! Where are we headed? Can you teach me some cool jutsus? Like the fire that turns into dragons?"
Naruto went on about jutsus until Alucard raised his hand, signaling for him to stop.
"First of all, I don't know any jutsus," Alucard said with a dry tone. "And second, I'm only teaching you what I can—physical enhancement and experience in fighting. Unless..." Alucard smirked. "You become a vampire."
...
"Nope…" Naruto said with a shake of his head.
Alucard blinked, genuinely taken aback. "Eh? You're... rejecting the offer? Becoming a vampire is a rare gift. Many would kill for that chance."
"Yeah, no offense, Alucard-san," Naruto said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I just don't want to burn the moment my skin sees the sun."
Alucard snorted, holding back a laugh. "Hmm... You read too many fantasies," he said with a grin. "Fine, then. You come with me, and I'll train you."
Naruto pumped his fist in the air. "Then what are we waiting for!? Let's do it now!"
"Under one condition," Alucard said, his expression turning serious. He stared at Naruto intently, his gaze almost feeling like it was probing his very soul.
"A single complaint, and I'll stop training you."
Silence fell between them, and the wind stirred, blowing their hair gently. Naruto sighed and scratched his head. "Not like there's anything I can do about it if I want to get stronger."
Alucard smirked. "Good. As expected from the soon-to-be strongest." He turned toward the fire, lifting it from its base.
"Come on. Let's get going."
TIME SKIP: 4 YEARS LATER
It was almost evening on November the third when a teenager holding a map stepped out of a portal. The teen was at least 5'5" tall, which made him seem like a giant compared to his peers. He had a lean build, but his muscles were well-defined, a testament to years of hard training.
His outfit was unconventional—tattered, mismatched clothes that didn't belong to this era. He wore a long-sleeved black polo, a black buttoned vest over it, black pants, and worn-out boots and gloves. Everything was in a state of disarray, as though he'd been through hell and back.
This was Naruto, and for the past four years, he had endured the most brutal training under Alucard's tutelage. Surviving in the wilds, being beaten and tortured mentally and physically, pushed to the brink of death over and over again—Alucard's training had reshaped him. Nothing he had faced before, not even the harshest mobs, could compare to the relentless suffering inflicted by the vampire.
Naruto glanced at the map he had clutched in his hand and then looked up at the sky. The stars indicated that he was near the Hidden Mist village, Kirigakure no Sato. He was in the wilds between the Lightning Country and the island near Kiri, a place that was both isolated and perilous.
"Hmmm…" Naruto muttered, studying the stars and adjusting his course. "According to my map, I should be near Kiri now."
Just as he was about to move forward, his stomach let out a loud, rumbling roar.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Naruto winced and looked around for any signs of animals. His eyes scanned the area but found nothing. His stomach growled again, reminding him of the hunger he hadn't been able to satisfy for days.
He closed his eyes and expanded his senses. He could feel life forces around him, the closest one about a kilometer away.
"Great..." he muttered to himself. It was a small town.
With a burst of speed, Naruto dashed toward the town, reaching it in mere seconds. This was one of the results of Alucard's intense training—his strength, speed, and resilience had reached levels far beyond normal human limits.
When Naruto entered the town, he quickly made his way to a nearby tavern, hoping for some food and shelter.
The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, greeted him warmly. Despite Naruto's haggard appearance, she didn't seem fazed.
"What can I get you, dear?" she asked.
Naruto gave her a tired smile and asked, "What's on the menu?"
"We have Yaki Udon, Teriyaki Salmon, Omurice, and chicken tonight," the woman replied with a friendly smile.
Naruto's stomach growled again, and without thinking, he ordered the Omurice and chicken. He didn't have any money, but that wasn't going to stop him from getting a meal.
He found a table in the corner and sat down, resting his elbows on the wood as he waited. A few minutes later, his food arrived. The moment it was placed in front of him, he muttered, "Itadakimasu," and began eating with fervor.
As he ate, he overheard a conversation from a table behind him.
"Did you hear?"
"Huh?"
"Kiri's rebels are planning to attack soon," one person said, lowering his voice.
"Really? Well, it's only making it easier for the Mizukage to crush them. They'll be dealt with soon enough."
Naruto perked up at the mention of Kiri. Rebels, huh? He thought to himself. Looks like things are heating up over there.
But before he could finish his meal, the tavern door was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang.
Bandits? Naruto thought, recognizing the typical chaotic energy from the thugs that walked through the door.
The bandit leader, a large, bald man, stormed into the tavern, followed by several of his subordinates. His presence immediately instilled fear in the room. The innkeeper, Yashimi, froze, her face paling as the leader approached her.
"Lady Yashimi," the bald man grinned, "It's been two months already. Time to pay up your tax, or this tavern is going down."
Yashimi's face twisted in panic as tears filled her eyes. "Please... I just need a little more time!" she begged. "I will definitely pay you soon!"
The bandit leader's grin widened maliciously. "That won't do. We need an example to show everyone we mean business." He motioned for his men to start setting fire to the place.
The patrons, in a panic, rushed toward the back exit, fleeing from the violence. But Naruto stayed right where he was, calmly sipping his water.
"Oi, what are you doing, kid?" One of the underlings asked when they noticed Naruto hadn't run away.
Another thug approached, ready to grab Naruto by the collar, but before he could lay a hand on him, blood gushed from the man's arm as if cut by a sharp blade. The bandit staggered back in shock, but Naruto was nowhere to be seen.
The bald leader's eyes widened. "Gari! You—"
Thud.
Before he could finish his sentence, his men started dropping to the ground, unconscious or dead. All in a matter of seconds.
"Bandits think they're strong and bully a town? Stupid," Naruto's voice echoed from the shadows. He appeared just inches in front of the bald leader, making him drop to the ground in fear.
"P-please… I'll give you money! Treasures!" the leader begged, his voice trembling.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, interested despite himself. "Oh? Where are these treasures located?"
The leader, thinking he had a chance to survive, quickly replied, "In a cave just south of this town—"
He never finished his sentence. Naruto had already separated his head from his body with a quick swipe of his hand.
"Thanks for the info…" Naruto muttered to the dead bandit. He then looked toward the window facing south. "But I don't like bandits."
Turning back to the innkeeper, Naruto noticed her horrified expression. "Are you okay, ma'am?" he asked.
"M-m-monster!" the innkeeper shrieked. "K-killer!"
Sighing, Naruto rubbed his temples. He couldn't really blame her. He had just killed several men in front of her. But it wasn't like he could let them terrorize the town either.
"Well… to the cave then," he muttered to himself.
Without a moment's hesitation, Naruto sprinted toward the southern forest. He navigated through the thick trees, his speed incredible. It didn't take long for him to find the cave the bandit leader had mentioned.