In the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, pondering the situation laid out before him. His old, weathered hands rested on the desk as he calmly looked at the Anbu kneeling in front of him.
"So, you're telling me he disappeared for a long time and then just... came back?" Hiruzen asked, his voice even but tinged with curiosity.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the masked Anbu answered, keeping his gaze on the floor. "Naruto Uzumaki has also shown signs of rapid growth in strength. He's becoming increasingly difficult to track. Our surveillance is failing. He vanishes, even from close proximity."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow and hummed in thought. "You mean to tell me that you, a trained Jonin and an Anbu, can't keep an eye on a three-year-old child? A child with an immense chakra presence, no less. Surely, someone from the Inuzuka Clan should have little trouble detecting him, yes?"
The tension in the air was palpable. It was almost laughable—a three-year-old outwitting a Jonin from a clan known for their heightened senses. The Inuzuka's exceptional noses were renowned for their tracking abilities. Hiruzen's tone, though stern, reflected his disbelief more than anger.
The Anbu shifted uncomfortably, trying to come up with a response, but the Hokage's words made it clear any excuse would be fruitless. "But—" the Jonin began, before being abruptly cut off.
"You are dismissed," Hiruzen's voice came out flat and commanding, leaving no room for further discussion.
The Anbu immediately stood up, bowing low. "Yes, Hokage-sama," he said before turning on his heel and swiftly leaving the office.
The office was quiet again as Hiruzen leaned back in his chair. He pulled out his pipe, lit it, and began to puff out smoke, deep in thought. "Naruto... he really is as talented as his parents," he muttered to himself, reflecting on the boy's incredible lineage. Minato's brilliance as the Fourth Hokage, Kushina's untamed spirit—he could see traces of both in Naruto.
However, Naruto's growing power and independence posed a problem. Hiruzen exhaled a long stream of smoke, his mind now racing with solutions. 'He's the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. If left unchecked, his future could bring either great prosperity or great destruction to the village. I have to make sure that he remains loyal to Konoha—more than loyal.'
Ideas began to form. 'Should I have him fall for someone within the village? Someone tied to the Inuzuka Clan or another clan with ties to the Anbu? Maybe even one of Danzo's operatives from Root... but he's too young now. The idea could still be viable later, though.'
Another possibility crossed his mind—handing Naruto over to Danzo to be trained under Root. Danzo would certainly turn him into a weapon for the village, but Hiruzen frowned at the thought. 'He would become more of a doll than a human. And I want Naruto to have the Will of Fire—just as Sensei Hashirama envisioned. The will to protect the village out of love, not fear or manipulation.'
The weight of the promise he made to Minato and Kushina returned to him. He had sworn to look after their child, not simply as a tool, but as someone who could carry their legacy. "This is... complicated," he muttered.
---
[Hyuga Compound]
At the Hyuga compound, Naruto sat across from Hiashi Hyuga, quietly enjoying the meal that had been served to him by the house servants. The young blond boy ate without any hint of formality, as if he had become used to dining with the head of one of Konoha's most prestigious clans.
"So, Naruto, tell me," Hiashi began, his usually stern eyes softening slightly as he addressed the boy. "How was your day?"
Naruto looked up, his mouth full, and swallowed before answering. "It was good, but I'm a little sore from training. Nothing serious."
"Training, huh?" Hiashi hummed, not exactly surprised. The word held weight in the Hyuga Clan, and it was well-known that Naruto had taken to training on his own—a practice not common among children, especially not those without formal clan support. It would explain Naruto's remarkable improvement, even at such a young age.
Hiashi allowed a brief moment of contemplation. It wasn't unheard of for the prodigies of clans to train early, guided by their elders to maximize their potential, but Naruto was different. He trained alone and yet managed to improve at a pace that defied expectations.
After a bit more casual conversation, Naruto finished his meal, thanked Hiashi for the dinner, and excused himself, heading back to his apartment without any further fuss.
---
[Next Night]
Late in the night, Naruto found himself in the middle of another sparring session with Sasuke Uchiha. The clash of their training was intense, but it wasn't long before Naruto came out on top, defeating Sasuke in just a few minutes.
Sasuke, ever determined, stood up, brushing the dirt off her clothes. "We'll go again tomorrow," she said, her voice plain, though her eyes shone with a quiet determination to surpass him.
But before she could leave for her clan compound, Naruto stopped her. "Hey, wait a second," he said. "Can you teach me the Substitution Jutsu, the Transformation Jutsu, and the Shadow Clone Jutsu? Before you head back?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the request. "Ok, but in exchange, you'll have to teach me something too. Seems only fair, right?" she said, her face expressionless save for the ever-present intensity in her gaze.
Naruto grinned at the challenge. "Deal."
Sasuke proceeded to demonstrate the full sequence of hand signs for each jutsu, her hands moving with precision as Naruto watched closely, his eyes following every movement. He repeated them after her, slowly at first, then faster as he started to grasp the rhythm.
Naruto surged his chakra as he performed the hand signs for the Shadow Clone Jutsu. A puff of smoke filled the area, and when it cleared, a perfect clone of Naruto stood beside him. His eyes lit up with pride as he looked at Sasuke. He continued with the other jutsu, and within minutes, had mastered them all.
Sasuke, who had been observing him the entire time, stared in disbelief. A slight smile tugged at her lips as she watched Naruto, his focus absolute. She admired his determination and skill—qualities not often seen in someone their age. However, as Naruto continued to perfect each technique, her admiration turned into sheer shock.
Her mouth gaped as she watched him breeze through the jutsu that had taken her months to master. Finally, when he turned to her, she was still standing there with her mouth wide open.
Naruto chuckled and reached out, gently pushing her jaw shut with his finger. "What's wrong?"
Sasuke snapped out of her stupor, narrowing her eyes at him. "Why are you asking me? You should be asking yourself, Prodigy," she shot back sarcastically, though her shock still lingered in her voice.
Naruto didn't reply, only grinned. As part of their deal, he then began teaching Sasuke a Lightning-style jutsu he had picked up from a stolen scroll—the Lightning Style: Static Pulse Jutsu. It wasn't too flashy, but it generated an electrical wave that could paralyze or disorient opponents. A perfect mix of taijutsu and ninjutsu, but it was chakra-intensive, closer to a B-rank technique.
Sasuke attempted the technique but only managed to produce small sparks. Still, she smiled, content with her progress for the night. She made a mental note to use it on Naruto one day—perhaps when he least expected it.
Satisfied, the two parted ways, each returning to their respective homes.
---
Back at his apartment, Naruto had an additional reason to smile. He whispered under his breath, "Status."
---
[Status]
Name: Alex (Naruto Uzumaki)
Age: 3 years old
Race: Human
Inventory:
2 million Ryo, 20x Wooden Kunai, 30x Shurikens, 11x Wild Deer (Dead), 20x Fishes (Dead), Clothes, 80 Kg weights 4x, 10 Kg weights 4x, 20 Kg weights 4x, 40 Kg weights 4x, 60 Kg weights 4x, 70 Kg weights 4x.
Titles:
Thief
Passive Skills:
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Lvl 38), Cooking (Lvl 21), Accuracy (Lvl 39), Instincts (Lvl 21), Butchering (Lvl 12), Fishing (Lvl 10)
Active Skills:
Sprint (Lvl 47), Chakra Control (Lvl 50), Chakra Enhancement (Lvl 30), Chakra Strings (Lvl 24), Chakra Detection (Lvl 44), Lightning Style: Static Pulse Jutsu (Lvl 5), Fuinjutsu(Lvl 20), Shadow Clone Jutsu (Lvl 2), Transformation Jutsu (Lvl 1), Substitution Jutsu (Lvl 1).
---
Naruto smiled, more content with his progress than anything else.