Chapter 8 (Patreon)

Morning sunlight spread across Konoha, but Naruto’s mood was anything but bright.

The past two days had felt like walking a tightrope over a sheer drop. One wrong step, and he would have been dead.

For the first time since coming to this world, he truly wanted to become stronger.

If he had enough strength, he could decide how to live his own life. Until then, other people could do whatever they pleased with him.

Fortunately, he had made it through the first crisis. Things should settle down for a while now, and he needed to use that time to train.

After quickly finishing a breakfast made with fresh food, Naruto headed to the photo studio beside the Hokage Building. He needed a photograph for his ninja registration.

Once it was taken, he hurried to the Hokage Building with the picture in hand.

Only last night, he had sneaked into this same building. Now he was walking through the entrance as an officially recognized shinobi.

‘Fate really does have a twisted sense of humor.’

And the [Fate Selection System] was even worse.

As he walked, Naruto recalled what happened next in the original story. He would meet Konohamaru, the Third Hokage’s grandson, who would start calling him his boss after seeing his Sexy Jutsu.

Naruto had no particular liking or dislike for Konohamaru. As far as he was concerned, the boy was simply a spoiled kid.

But after everything the Third Hokage had put him through, Naruto wouldn’t mind using that spoiled kid to give the old man a headache. It would be a small bit of payback.

That was why he had deliberately taken such an unusual registration photo. It would give him the perfect excuse to use the Sexy Jutsu on the Third Hokage.

Looking down at the picture, Naruto couldn’t help remembering an embarrassing phase from his previous life.

‘Ugh. I really thought that looked good back then...’

He let out a quiet laugh.

“Naruto! What kind of photograph is this?”

Inside the meeting room, the Third Hokage frowned and tossed the picture onto the table.

Naruto immediately put on an indignant expression.

“Hey, old man! I put a lot of work into that look!”

In reality, he had simply used the Transformation Jutsu for the photograph. He hadn’t changed his actual appearance at all.

“Why is your hair sticking straight up? And what’s with the gold chain around your neck? Those rings, too...”

The Third Hokage rubbed his brow.

Naruto had been pulling outlandish pranks to attract attention since he was little. Hiruzen found them tiresome, but he had generally let the boy have his way.

Naruto pursed his lips.

“It’s my new look! You just don’t get it, old man!”

Suppressing his irritation, Hiruzen sighed.

“Take it back and have a proper photograph taken.”

Naruto puffed out his cheeks and stared stubbornly at him, acting as though the order had offended him deeply.

Then he sensed Konohamaru approaching.

The timing was perfect.

“Sexy Jutsu!”

A cloud of smoke burst around him as he brought out his secret weapon.

This was one of the original Naruto’s specialties, perfected through years of sneaking into the women’s bathhouse and studying the Transformation Jutsu in his own peculiar way. He had thoroughly mastered it.

Hiruzen, who had plenty of experience using his crystal ball to peek where he shouldn’t, stared at the transformed Naruto for a moment.

Then blood spurted from his nose, leaving him thoroughly embarrassed.

Konohamaru, who had been lurking outside the door, chose that moment to launch his surprise attack on the Third Hokage.

He charged into the room, caught his foot in the long scarf hanging from his neck, and fell flat on his face.

His private tutor, Ebisu, hurried in after him. The bespectacled shinobi offered the Third Hokage an awkward smile, but the moment he noticed Naruto, contempt filled his expression.

Naruto caught it immediately.

His brow tightened, and before he could stop himself, a flash of killing intent slipped into his eyes.

He caught himself a heartbeat later.

‘The Third Hokage is right here!’

Naruto quickly turned toward Konohamaru, stealing a glance at Hiruzen from the corner of his eye.

The old man’s gaze was already on him, dark and watchful.

Naruto’s heart lurched.

Had he given himself away? If Hiruzen started asking questions, the surveillance around him would only become tighter.

Fortunately, Konohamaru got up and marched over before the silence could stretch any further.

Pointing at Naruto’s face, he demanded, “You did something to make me trip, didn’t you?”

Naruto seized the opening. He grabbed Konohamaru by the collar and put on an angry scowl.

“Idiot! You tripped all by yourself!”

“Let him go at once!” Ebisu shouted. “That is the Third Hokage’s grandson!”

At those words, Konohamaru looked even more smug.

Naruto sneered and brought his fist down on the boy’s head without hesitation.

“Like I care whose grandson he is!”

Then he turned and jumped straight out of the window, without daring to look at the Third Hokage’s face again.

Five minutes later, Naruto was strolling down the street, waiting for Konohamaru to catch up while he considered how to become stronger.

He couldn’t stand the thought of living under constant surveillance much longer. Every day, he had to put on an act and watch people’s expressions, wondering what he could safely say or do.

Right now, his greatest advantage was the [Fate Selection System]. It only appeared when something important happened, but its rewards were generous. They had already given him a solid foundation and the potential to grow much stronger.

The next time he received a [Skill Upgrade Scroll], he could use it to improve his ability to fight. One possibility was the Flying Thunder God Jutsu he had learned from the Scroll of Seals the previous night. Its current proficiency was still [Untrained].

As for other ninjutsu, he wanted to learn the Rasengan as soon as possible. But he needed a believable way to learn it. Otherwise, how would he explain knowing that technique?

His chakra nature was wind. Once the teams were assigned tomorrow and he met Kakashi, he could ask him about Wind Style jutsu.

Kakashi was known as the Copy Ninja, after all. Surely he had a few wind techniques he could teach him.

Genjutsu was another matter. Naruto wasn’t particularly good at it, and the original Naruto hadn’t shown much talent for it either. Still, he could ask Sakura how to recognize and break out of common illusions. She had an aptitude for that sort of thing.

For taijutsu, Kakashi was certainly capable, but Naruto would rather learn from Might Guy. Even if he couldn’t learn the Eight Inner Gates, he could still pick up valuable advice on training his body.

While he was thinking, Konohamaru finally caught up behind him.

A smile tugged at Naruto’s lips, then vanished before he turned around.

Konohamaru planted one hand on his hip and pointed at Naruto with the other.

“Hey! I’ll call you Boss if you teach me that Sexy Jutsu! I want to beat Grandpa Hokage with it!”

Naruto pretended to consider the offer, then gave him a mischievous grin.

“You want to learn? Alright, I’ll teach you. But you’ve got to do exactly what I say!”

“You got it, Boss!”

Konohamaru agreed without the slightest hesitation.

“Good! The first step is to sneak behind enemy lines and study the situation carefully!”

With that, Naruto led Konohamaru to the largest women’s bathhouse in the village.

Before they went in, he gave the boy one last piece of advice.

“Remember this: look carefully, and picture it clearly in your mind!”

Naruto used the Transformation Jutsu, taking the appearance of a pretty girl with purple hair. Konohamaru transformed into a plump little girl.

Their clothes changed with the transformations as well, completing their disguises so their outfits wouldn’t give them away.

Looking pleased with himself, Naruto took Konohamaru by the hand and led him into the women’s bathhouse.

‘Oh, Third Hokage... Let’s see what you think of the things your grandson learns from me.’