Naruto Uzumaki's life had always been a harsh cycle of loneliness and rejection. An orphan in the Hidden Leaf Village, he grew up without knowing who his parents were, only that they had died in the Nine-Tails Fox attack. The villagers hated him for reasons he couldn't understand. The cold glares, the hushed whispers, and the relentless mistreatment gnawed at his heart. Even simple errands were fraught with difficulty—shopkeepers charged him unfair prices, forcing him to survive on minimal rations.
He lived in a cramped, run-down apartment, dependent on a paltry monthly allowance barely enough for sustenance. Though he tried to smile through it all, the loneliness weighed heavily on him. His recent discovery—through Mizuki's malicious revelation—that he was the Nine-Tails' jailer explained much of the villagers' hatred, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Still, Naruto clung to hope as he became a ninja, hoping missions and teamwork would give him a chance to prove himself.
The Belief in Gods
One day, as Naruto walked through the village, his ears caught snippets of a conversation between two villagers about how God, or Kami, granted wishes to those who prayed. Excitement bubbled inside him. If prayer worked for others, surely it would work for him, too. That night, Naruto began praying with fervor.
"Please, Kami-sama," he whispered, clasping his hands tightly. "Give me friends, give me a family, and make the villagers like me."
He prayed every morning, every night, and in between every meal. Weeks turned into months, but his wishes went unanswered. Slowly, despair crept in.
One night, tears streamed down his face as he screamed into the darkness. "Are you even listening, Kami? Why won't you help me?! Am I not worthy of love or happiness?! Fine! If you won't help, I'll pray to someone stronger—someone above you!"
His determination flared as a new idea struck him. "If Kami won't listen, maybe the writer of my life will!"
From that moment onward, Naruto began praying fervently to a higher, unknowable entity—the Writer.
The Writer's Voice
Years passed. Naruto graduated from the Ninja Academy, surprising both himself and the villagers. On the night of his graduation, he finally heard a voice.
"You're an interesting character, Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest. "W-Who's there?! Show yourself!"
The voice chuckled. "You were praying to me for years, and now you're scared? How funny. I am the one you sought—I am the Writer of your story."
Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "The Writer? So, you're above Kami?"
"Yes, Naruto. For you and your entire universe, I am above all gods. I created everything. You, the Nine-Tails, Konoha—all of it came from me."
Naruto was stunned. "Wait... if you wrote everything, then this conversation was planned by you, wasn't it? Even my prayers... you made me pray to you."
The Writer laughed again. "Smart observation. Yes, I wrote this moment, but I also gave you free will to think, speak, and act. You are more than just a puppet on strings."
"Why would you give me that freedom?" Naruto asked, narrowing his eyes. "Isn't it risky to let someone think beyond what you planned?"
The Writer replied, "I created countless versions of you in different timelines and stories. But I got bored, so I decided to add a twist. I gave you the ability to question and choose freely. This version of you is special, Naruto."
Naruto was overwhelmed but intrigued. "So... what's the catch? Did you just come to watch me struggle?"
"No catch, kid. In fact, as a reward for your persistence in praying to me, I'm granting you two wishes. Anything you want, no matter how big or small. Choose wisely."
A Wish for Family
Naruto scratched his head. The possibilities were endless, but his loneliness clouded his thoughts. "You said you could do anything, right?" he asked.
"Correct. Want to become the God of Shinobi? The Sage of the Six Paths? Even the ruler of the entire universe? It's all within my power."
As the Writer spoke, Naruto's mind absorbed knowledge of those grand titles. He was awed by their power but found himself shaking his head. That wasn't what he truly wanted.
"I've decided," Naruto said after a long pause. "My first wish is... you must become my family. And as a family you must give me as many wishes as I want"
The Writer fell silent for a moment, then erupted into booming laughter. "HAHAHAHA! You found the loophole, you clever brat! Very well, I'll be your family. I'll grant you infinite wishes—but as family, I reserve the right to refuse if I feel your request is unreasonable."
Naruto smiled genuinely for the first time in years. "That's good enough for me. At least now, I have someone who cares about me."
"Good. Now, what's your second wish?" the Writer asked.
Naruto hesitated, then blurted out, "Make me smart! Everyone calls me an idiot, but I want to be a genius—the smartest person alive!"
The Writer smirked. "So, you want intelligence, huh? Very well, wish granted."
The Awakening of Genius
The moment the Writer granted his wish, Naruto's mind was flooded with a torrent of knowledge. Concepts and ideas he previously struggled to grasp suddenly became clear. Memories of his Academy lessons replayed in vivid detail, and he now understood every technique, strategy, and historical nuance with perfect clarity.
Naruto gasped as the transformation settled. "I... I feel different. I can think faster... sharper." He looked up at the Writer in awe. "Thank you!"
The Writer waved dismissively. "Don't thank me yet, kid. Intelligence isn't just a gift—it's a responsibility. How you use it will shape the person you become."
Testing His New Mind
Eager to test his newfound intellect, Naruto decided to revisit the Academy scrolls he once struggled with. Each word seemed to leap off the page, forming connections in his mind faster than ever before.
Within days, he mastered advanced jutsu concepts, revised his taijutsu form, and formulated strategies for future missions. When Iruka-sensei saw his progress, he was astonished.
"Is this really Naruto Uzumaki?" Iruka muttered to himself as he watched Naruto execute a perfect replication jutsu, something he had consistently failed before.
A New Perspective on Life
Naruto's sharp intellect didn't just improve his ninja skills—it changed how he viewed the world. He began analyzing the villagers' behavior, understanding their fear and hatred as misguided reactions to the Nine-Tails' attack. Rather than resenting them, he resolved to prove himself through actions.
Though his days of unfair treatment weren't over, Naruto's genius allowed him to outwit those who tried to cheat him. He negotiated better deals with shopkeepers and found loopholes to avoid their tricks. Slowly, people started to notice his growing confidence and abilities.
The Writer's Continued Role
Though Naruto's intelligence grew, he often turned to the Writer with new wishes or questions about his life. The two developed a bond that transcended any traditional familial relationship. Naruto no longer felt alone—his newfound "family member" supported him in ways no one else could.
But the Writer reminded him constantly, "I won't do everything for you. Your story is yours to write. My role is to guide and support, not control."
Naruto accepted this, using his intelligence and determination to carve his path as a ninja, one mission at a time.
The Beginning of Greatness
As Naruto's legend began to grow, he realized the true meaning of what the Writer had granted him: the freedom to overcome challenges and shape his destiny. He was no longer the foolish, lonely orphan—he was Naruto Uzumaki, the genius with an unbreakable spirit and a story worth telling.
With the Writer by his side, Naruto knew he could face any challenge and achieve greatness on his terms. His life, once filled with hardship, became a tale of perseverance, transformation, and endless possibilities.
And this was only the beginning.