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Chapter 1: The Demon Fox

"And Naruto, you've failed."

The words hit him like a blow to the chest, heavy and unforgiving. Naruto stood there, rooted to the spot as the weight of the announcement settled over him. Iruka-sensei's voice still echoed in the classroom, but it felt distant—muffled, even. Around him, he could feel the eyes of his classmates piercing into him, the judgment in their gazes almost unbearable.

He quickly exited the classroom, his feet carrying him almost automatically to the swing outside the academy. There, he sat, gripping the rope tightly with his small hands, trying to anchor himself. He watched the children in the yard, laughing and playing with their friends. Their joy felt foreign to him, as though he was observing them through a fog, detached from their world.

Not far off, their parents stood, talking amongst themselves, their voices warm and cheerful. Naruto's gaze flickered toward them, catching the eyes of a few mothers. As soon as they saw him, their smiles faltered. One of the women muttered something under her breath, and though Naruto couldn't hear the words, he knew what they were saying.

"Demon Fox…"

They always said the same thing.

Naruto's grip on the rope tightened as he stared down at the ground. He tried to ignore the heat in his chest, the familiar sting of loneliness that gnawed at his insides. The way they looked at him—like he was something to be feared, to be avoided—it was the same as it had always been. But no matter how many times it happened, it still hurt.

His eyes drifted back to the children. They were carefree, running around without a care in the world. Some of them glanced his way, but they quickly turned away when their mothers called them back, shielding them from his presence like he carried some kind of disease.

Why am I always the one left out? Naruto wondered, his heart heavy. The other kids—kids like Sasuke, Sakura, and even the quiet ones like Hinata—had people who cared about them, people who made sure they never felt alone.

But Naruto… Naruto only had himself.

The sound of laughter from the other children seemed to grow louder, mocking him as he sat there. The pain in his chest twisted, sharp and unforgiving. He bit his lip, forcing himself to look away. He couldn't stand to watch them any longer.

With a heavy sigh, he stood up from the swing. He had no home to look forward to, only the dingy apartment he returned to every day—a place that felt more like a cage than a home. His steps felt heavy, each one a reminder of the isolation that followed him like a shadow.

As he walked, his stomach growled, and the familiar smell of ramen hit his nose. He looked up to see Ichiraku's Ramen shop, the small stand that had always been a place of comfort for him. Teuchi, the owner, stood behind the counter, stirring a pot of broth. When Teuchi saw Naruto, he raised a hand, motioning him over.

Naruto hesitated. Was Teuchi actually calling him over, or was he just waving him off? For a brief moment, hope sparked in his chest. Maybe… maybe someone wanted him around. But just as quickly, doubt crept in. No, Naruto thought bitterly. He's just telling me to stay away… like everyone else.

Without a second thought, Naruto turned and ran, his heart pounding in his chest. He ran as fast as he could, his feet slapping against the ground in rhythm with the painful beat of his heart. He didn't stop until he reached his apartment, slamming the door behind him.

The room was dark and cold, just like it always was. Naruto leaned against the door, his body trembling with the effort to keep the tears at bay. He hated this—hated how weak he felt. Hated how alone he always was. No matter how hard he tried, no one ever seemed to care. No one ever saw him for who he really was.

He slid down to the floor, hugging his knees to his chest. Tears stung at his eyes, and despite his best efforts to hold them back, they spilled over, running down his cheeks. He bit his lip to stop himself from sobbing, but the quiet sound of his own misery echoed in the empty room.

But after a while, the tears stopped. Naruto wiped his face with the back of his sleeve, sniffling as he forced himself to stand up. He couldn't keep crying. Crying wouldn't solve anything.

Tomorrow would be another day. Another chance to prove them all wrong.

The next day, Naruto returned to the academy. The building loomed before him like a fortress, and Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as he walked inside. Today was another test—another opportunity to fail. But he couldn't let that happen again.

As he entered the classroom, he glanced around at his classmates. Sasuke sat near the window, staring outside with that same detached expression on his face. Sakura sat close by, her eyes flickering toward Sasuke every now and then, cheeks flushed with a mixture of nervousness and admiration. Hinata sat at the back of the room, her head bowed as she fiddled with her fingers, her eyes darting toward Naruto every now and then.

Naruto took his seat, feeling the weight of the upcoming test settle over him like a heavy blanket. His hands trembled slightly as he picked up his pencil. He had studied for this—he had tried so hard—but the questions on the page seemed to blur together, the words swimming before his eyes.

Around him, his classmates whispered and passed notes, copying answers when Iruka-sensei wasn't looking. Naruto clenched his jaw, feeling a surge of frustration. He could hear the scribbling of pencils, the quiet murmurs of his classmates helping each other out. But no one ever helped him. No one even bothered to glance his way.

Except Hinata. She sat there, quietly working on her own test, her brow furrowed in concentration. She didn't cheat. She never did. But Naruto could tell she was struggling, just like him.

Hours passed, and eventually, the test was over. Naruto handed in his paper, feeling a sense of dread settle in his stomach. He already knew what the outcome would be.

A few hours later, Iruka announced the results. Naruto's heart sank as his name was called—he had failed. Again.

The whispers started immediately. His classmates snickered, casting him sideways glances as they muttered under their breath. Naruto could feel their eyes on him, judging him, mocking him. The word failure echoed in his mind, over and over again.

He didn't stick around to hear the rest of the results. He grabbed his things and left the academy, the laughter of his classmates ringing in his ears.

As Naruto made his way home, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions—frustration, anger, sadness. He couldn't understand why everything seemed so stacked against him. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how much effort he put in, it was never enough.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a sound coming from a nearby alley. He stopped, his ears perking up. It was the sound of something struggling—something small and weak. Curious, Naruto walked over to investigate.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

A group of his classmates were gathered around a small dog, tying it up with ropes. The dog whimpered, its eyes wide with fear as it tried to break free. The boys laughed and jeered, kicking at the dog as it struggled.

"Hey! Stop that!" Naruto shouted, running toward them. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to free the dog, but the boys just laughed at him.

"Look, it's the Demon Fox," one of the boys sneered. "Come to save his little friend?"

Naruto ignored the insult, focusing on the ropes that bound the dog. His hands fumbled as he tried to untie the knots, but the boys quickly surrounded him, shoving him away. One of them kicked the dog hard, and Naruto could hear the sickening crack of bones breaking.

"Stop it!" Naruto screamed, but they didn't listen.

They pushed him down, cursing at him, calling him names, blaming him for everything that had happened in the village. They cursed his parents—parents he had never known. The anger in Naruto's chest grew, swelling until it felt like it would burst.

Then, something inside him snapped.

For a brief moment, the world seemed to shift. Naruto's vision blurred, and a dark, suffocating feeling rose within him. He could feel it—a deep, overwhelming rage that consumed him entirely. The boys around him froze, their laughter dying in their throats as they felt the weight of his killing intent.

Naruto blinked, shaking his head as the moment passed. The boys had already run off, leaving him alone with the dog. He knelt down, hands shaking as he pulled out his kunai to cut the ropes. But when he looked down, his heart sank.

The dog wasn't moving.

Its body lay still, lifeless.

Naruto stared at the bloodstained ground beneath him, his mind racing. The boys had kicked it too hard. It was already dead.

Before he could process what had happened, adults appeared at the end of the alley, alerted by the children's screams. Their steps faltered as they spotted him—Naruto, kneeling beside the dead dog, a kunai clutched in his trembling hand.

"Stop right there!" one of the men barked, his voice sharp with alarm.

Naruto's eyes widened in panic. "Wait! I-I didn't—" he stammered, dropping the kunai, his hands raised in surrender. His heart pounded in his chest, and his words tumbled out in a rush. "It wasn't me! They—they hurt the dog! I was just trying to—"

"Enough!" another adult cut him off, eyes narrowed in suspicion as they approached. "What have you done?"

Naruto shook his head frantically. "No, you don't understand! I-I was helping! I didn't kill it! Please, listen—"

Finally, one of the adults sneered, "So you're finally showing your true colors, huh?"

Another voice chimed in, filled with disgust, "I knew it! He was always a demon!"

"No! I didn't—" Naruto's voice cracked as they grabbed him roughly by the arm, dragging him to his feet. He struggled, trying to twist free, but their grip was like iron.

"You're coming with us," the man holding him said, his tone final.

Naruto's pleas went unheard. All around him, the whispers began to rise, growing louder with each step they took through the streets.

They dragged him through the streets, the whispers starting up again, louder this time.

"Demon Fox."

Naruto closed his eyes, the words echoing in his mind. He was alone.

Always alone.

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