Disclaimer: This story is 100% AI-generated fanfiction based on the Naruto universe. Characters, settings, and lore belong to Masashi Kishimoto. No copyright infringement intended.
Naruto's Apartment – Dawn
Naruto stared at the orange paint can, its garish color mocking him. Normal. That's all he wanted. To prank the Hokage Monument, laugh at Iruka's scolding, and forget the golden eyes haunting his dreams.
"This'll show 'em," he muttered, slinging a rope over his shoulder. "Just like old times."
The scar on his cheek pulsed faintly, but he ignored it. Today, he'd be the village idiot again—not the bridge, not the bomb. Just Naruto.
Hokage Monument – Midmorning
Konohamaru bounced on his heels, clutching a brush dripping with neon green paint. "This is gonna be epic, boss! They'll see it from Suna!"
"Heh, bet old man Third's monocle'll pop off!" Naruto grinned, securing the rope around Minato's stone ear. The spiral symbol on the monument's forehead glinted in the sunlight, but he refused to look at it.
As he lowered himself down, the wind tugged at his jacket. Below, villagers milled about, oblivious. For the first time in weeks, Naruto's chest felt light.
"Ready?" he called to Konohamaru.
"Born ready!"
Naruto dipped his brush into the paint can—and froze.
The spiral symbol moved.
"Boss?" Konohamaru frowned. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just… dizzy." Naruto shook his head. Not real. Not today.
He slapped paint onto the monument, transforming Minato's stern brow into a cartoonish unibrow. Konohamaru cackled, adding a mustache.
"Lookin' good, Fourth!" Naruto crowed, leaning back to admire their work.
The rope snapped.
The Fall
Air rushed past Naruto's ears as he plummeted, the ground surging up to meet him. Konohamaru's scream echoed faintly: "BOSS!"
Not like this.
The scar erupted, golden light searing his vision. Time slowed. The spiral symbol on the monument blazed, its grooves mirroring the scar's glow.
"No… NO!" Naruto thrashed, desperate to stop the power he couldn't control.
But instinct took over.
CRACK.
He vanished mid-air.
The Summit
Naruto materialized atop Minato's head, knees buckling. The paint can clattered beside him, orange dripping onto the spiral symbol.
"I… I did it?" He touched his scar, stunned. "I chose it?"
Laughter bubbled out of him—wild, relieved, tinged with hysteria. Below, villagers pointed and shouted, but for once, he didn't care.
"SEE THAT?!" he yelled, spreading his arms. "FUTURE HOKAGE, COMING THROUGH!"
The spiral symbol pulsed in time with his heartbeat, threads of gold weaving through the monument's stone.
Hokage Tower – Observation
The Third Hokage lowered his telescope, hands trembling. "It's active," he whispered.
Through the window, Naruto's jubilant figure glowed faintly atop the monument, the spiral symbol now a beacon.
"Forgive me, Minato," the Third murmured, sealing a scroll with shaking hands. "The bridge must burn."
The Aftermath – Training Ground 3
"You're insane," Sakura said, bandaging Naruto's rope-burned palms. "You could've died!"
"But I didn't!" Naruto grinned, flexing his fingers. The scar's glow had faded, leaving only a warm hum. "I controlled it, Sakura! Like a real jutsu!"
Sasuke leaned against a tree, arms crossed. "Real jutsu don't make villagers scream 'demon.'"
"They're just jealous!" Naruto stuck out his tongue. "Wait'll I master this! I'll teleport to the moon!"
"You'll teleport into a coma," Sasuke muttered, but his Sharingan lingered on Naruto's scar.
Midnight – The Monument's Whisper
Naruto returned alone, drawn by the spiral symbol's faint glow. Up close, the stone felt alive, humming with energy that mirrored his own.
"What are you?" he whispered, pressing his palm to the carving.
"A key."
The voice wasn't his. Naruto jerked back as the symbol flared, projecting a hologram of Minato—younger, wearier, surrounded by scrolls labeled Project: Yūkai.
"If you're seeing this," the hologram said, "the Ōtsutsuki have found our world. I'm sorry, Naruto. The power I sealed in you… it's the only weapon we have."
The image shifted: a younger Kakashi, bound to a hospital bed, screaming as golden chakra consumed his arm.
"The bridge must hold," Minato pleaded. "Protect them. Protect yourself."
The hologram dissolved, leaving Naruto shaking.
"Protect myself… from what?"
SOMEWHERE
A golden feather drifted onto the monument, igniting mid-air. The flames coalesced into words:
"Dawn comes for the bridge."
Naruto turned—and found the Ōtsutsuki creature perched behind him, smiling with Minato's face.
"Hello, little key," it purred. "Let's open a door."