Outside the Hidden Leaf Village.
Crooked trees lined both sides of the winding dirt path, their jade-green leaves swaying in the breeze, casting scale-like patterns of light and shadow on the ground.
Thwack!
Naruto, fresh from the Third Training Ground, slung his jacket over his shoulder and kicked a roadside pebble far into the distance, clearly frustrated.
He was still hung up on being "excluded" by Sasuke and Hikari.
Having been bullied, teased, and ostracized by kids his age since childhood, Naruto was hypersensitive to this kind of thing. He knew Hikari and Sasuke weren't like that, but he couldn't shake the heavy feeling in his chest.
Everyone had their secrets and privacy—he got that.
After all, he kept the Nine-Tails Fox sealed inside him and his little crush on Hikari locked away in his heart, never telling a soul. But what he couldn't accept was why Hikari had a secret she could share with Sasuke but not with him.
"Sasuke, you'll regret this!"
The six whisker-like marks on Naruto's face twitched. He'd overheard Sasuke calling out to Hikari first, spouting a bunch of cryptic nonsense that led to her shooing him away.
It was all Sasuke's fault!
That naturally evil Uchiha!
Fuming, Naruto mentally pummeled Sasuke a hundred times over as he trudged along the steep, straight dirt path. Soon, he entered the town, instantly feeling the temperature rise by a couple of degrees.
Wooden houses rose around him, blocking the encroaching forest and the cool spring breeze. The midday sun blazed fiercely, its glare nearly blinding, with windows along the road reflecting piercing white light.
Squinting to avoid the glare, Naruto's black skintight outfit absorbed the heat like a furnace. He draped his jacket over his head for shade, instantly feeling cooler, and headed toward the Leaf's bustling main street.
The crowd grew thicker, and the faint hum of voices mixed with the market's clamor filled his ears.
"Hey, it's that kid."
"Stay away from him."
"How's someone like him a Leaf ninja—"
The murmurs were low and muffled, but Naruto heard them clearly. He'd grown used to the cold stares over the years.
It'd be over soon!
This kind of life was about to end!
Jacket over his head, Naruto's mood wasn't heavy. Instead, a spark of anticipation flickered in his heart.
The upcoming Chunin Exam was a grueling trial for others, but for him, it was the perfect stage to break free from his situation.
All he had to do was prove himself, and he'd turn "monster" into "genius"!
His calloused hands rubbed together roughly as he pressed on toward the bustling commercial street, ignoring the indifferent gazes.
Passing a bathhouse with a "Hot Springs" sign, he spotted a sleazy silver-haired man sneaking around on the rooftop, craning his neck to peek inside.
"Someone's peeping!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Naruto's booming voice delivered justice.
"Aaaaah!"
A shrill scream erupted from inside the bathhouse. The silver-haired creep jolted, trembling, and turned to see a blond kid with a jacket over his head making faces at him.
"Damn it!"
Furious, the man slammed the roof. Seeing people inside the bathhouse getting dressed and rushing out, he shot a glance at the Uzumaki crest on Naruto's jacket, quickly formed hand signs, and vanished in a puff of smoke.
What a slick Body Flicker!
That guy was a skilled ninja!
Naruto, ready to watch the drama unfold, pursed his lips in disdain. A talented ninja stooping to peep at a women's bathhouse?
Disgusting!
"Where'd he go?"
The bathhouse victims emerged, wrapped in jackets with towels around their heads, wielding mops and other makeshift weapons. They stormed out with fierce momentum, nothing like their usual gentle demeanor.
A curly-haired middle-aged woman led the charge, scanning the area. Her eyes landed on a blond teen with a jacket over his head, looking carefree.
"It's him!"
The moment she saw Naruto's face, she pointed without hesitation, identifying him as the culprit with the speed of a cop spotting a suspect.
Naruto's eyes widened, pointing at himself in disbelief.
"Grab him!"
"So young and already up to no good. We've gotta teach him a lesson!" More women charged at him, brandishing their tools.
Without bothering to explain, Naruto bolted, his speed so fast that his jacket fluttered behind him like a hero's cape!
The wind whistled past his ears as he swiftly escaped the mob, darting into the crowded central commercial street.
"New release: 'Genius Brand Chakra Test Strips'! Comes with Miss Hikari's portrait and autograph—limited to 100 sets!"
A loud megaphone blared outside Ninja Tools Full Point Hall. Naruto, mid-sprint, froze at the mention of Hikari, along with a crowd of headband-wearing ninjas and young ninja academy students.
"Miss Hikari's autograph? For real?"
"It's a limited-edition collab! Oh man, her portrait's so cute! I need it!"
"You already tested your chakra nature, didn't you?"
"Mind your own business!"
A young female ninja with a headband, eyes gleaming, dragged her friend into the shop. Moments later, a mob gathered outside Full Point Hall.
Hikari's popularity was insane!
Wiping sweat from his brow, Naruto dodged the crowd that nearly knocked him over.
Full Point Hall was now packed to the brim with eager customers. Some younger girls, unable to snag the limited edition, were on the verge of tears.
Three years ago.
The chubby owner of Full Point Hall had approached Hikari for a collaboration, offering a share of the shop's profits in exchange for endorsing their chakra test strips, complete with her portrait on the packaging.
According to Hikari, the owner must've consulted a marketing genius.
Back then, Naruto didn't get it. He was just jealous that Hikari could earn a fortune just by posing for a few pictures. The chubby owner seemed like a fool with too much money—until he bought out the Uchiha clan's old ninja tool shop and kept expanding. That's when Naruto realized he was the fool.
Later, he overheard the owner and Hikari discussing terms he couldn't wrap his head around—genius marketing, fan economy, storytelling, trinkets, cards, merchandise. Since then, though Hikari hadn't done anything earth-shattering, her genius reputation grew louder in the Leaf. Her story of slaying a Cloud Jonin was known by every woman and child.
With her stunning looks and talent, her fanbase exploded. Every new piece of merchandise—small toys, trinkets—sold out instantly. For a while, village girls started a trend of imitating her: covering their eyes with sheer black cloth, dyeing their hair silver, or drawing mysterious patterns on their foreheads. All sorts of bizarre fads popped up.
During class, Naruto often heard Shikamaru muttering about how the future Hokage was already decided, just waiting for the right moment.
Naruto didn't fully grasp what he meant. All he knew was that Hikari was living out her words: the line between a hated monster and a celebrated genius was paper-thin!
Avoiding the swelling crowd, he stepped into the food street.
The mixed aromas of meatballs and fried foods filled the air, with the distinct scent of grilled meat standing out.
After hours of training, Naruto was starving. The smell of barbecue made his mouth water, but after patting his frog-shaped wallet, he headed for Ichiraku Ramen.
The Wave Country mission had paid well, but the Akimichi clan's barbecue joint was ridiculously expensive!
For a big eater like him, a single meal there could wipe out half a month's living expenses.
With the Chunin Exam looming, he couldn't take missions for the next month. He needed funds for new ninja tools and training gear. Now wasn't the time to splurge…
"Young man, can you treat me to a bowl of ramen?"
As he approached Ichiraku, a weak male voice caught him off guard.
That voice… so familiar.
Naruto turned instinctively and saw a ragged, filthy man sitting on the ground, his empty sleeves dangling where his arms should've been.
"Teacher Kazama!"
Staring at the man's grimy face and piercing green eyes, Naruto could hardly believe it.
The strict head instructor and admissions teacher at the Ninja Academy, who'd lost both arms in the Cloud ambush and retired, was now a street beggar!
Naruto crouched down, helping the filthy Kazama Yue to his feet.
"Thank you, Naruto!"
Kazama Yue managed a few words, his cheeks sunken from hunger, his body caked in dirt, his chin covered in scruffy stubble. The once-proud Leaf Jonin seemed reduced to a beggar.
"How did this happen to you?"
Looking at the gaunt Kazama Yue, Naruto felt a mix of sadness and anger.
It was Kazama who'd risked his life to hold off Yozuki Yu during the Cloud ambush, buying them precious time. How could a hero ninja end up like this? Was the Leaf not paying his pension properly?
Sorrow practically spilled from Kazama Yue's eyes, his face twisted with pain. He gazed at the distant sky and said softly, "I was tricked by Risa!"
"Risa?"
Naruto helped Kazama Yue into Ichiraku Ramen. As usual, the crowd quickly paid and left, leaving empty seats for them.
"She was my girlfriend," Kazama Yue said, shaking his head, his eyes downcast as if reluctant to show weakness in front of a student. "She swindled all my savings and the Leaf's pension under the pretense of treating my arms."
"That's awful!"
Naruto gritted his teeth, furious at Kazama Yue's tragic story.
"Hey, Naruto's here! What do you want to eat?"
Ayame, tucking away the coins left by departing customers, lit up at the sight of Naruto, her pretty face beaming with surprise.
"Two extra-large tonkotsu ramen."
"Coming right up!"
Naruto held up two fingers, ordering with ease. Watching Ayame head to the kitchen with a smile, he turned to the gaunt Kazama Yue. "Teacher Kazama, I can treat you to ramen."
"Thank you, Naruto."
"But!"
Kazama Yue managed an awkward smile, but before he could continue, Naruto cut him off.
Sighing at Kazama's haggard, dirty face, Naruto's blue eyes filled with exasperation. "I've graduated from the Academy and become a Genin. I'm taking the Chunin Exam next month. Can you stop treating me like an idiot and trying to scam me?"
"I…"
Licking his cracked lips, Kazama Yue stared at Naruto's earnest face, his prepared lies catching in his throat.
He'd spent three days planning this test, and it unraveled before it even began!
Taking the jacket off his head and setting it on the seat beside him, Naruto smoothed his flattened hair, revealing his clear forehead. "If I remember right, Hikari learned her Wind Release from you, didn't she? If you were really swindled penniless, you could've gone to Hikari for help. No way you'd end up on the streets."
"I…"
Kazama Yue hadn't expected Naruto to know about his connection with Hikari. His lips moved, trying to explain.
"Don't tell me you couldn't find her," Naruto said, pointing to the mob outside buying Hikari's merchandise. "Ask anyone on the street, and they'd probably know her home address."
Unable to keep up the lie, Kazama Yue dropped his frail act, his green eyes regaining their old sharpness. "Alright, I didn't expect Hikari to tell you about that."
His lie was seen through in seconds, and his test of character didn't even get off the ground. He felt a bit dejected.
"Teacher Kazama, why'd you try to trick me?" Naruto was baffled. Was he squatting by the road just to scam a bowl of ramen?
"Forget it, I'm done beating around the bush. Kid, want to learn a super powerful ninjutsu?" After days of planning a test that fell flat, Kazama Yue lost his enthusiasm and cut to the chase.
Super powerful ninjutsu!
Naruto's eyes lit up at those words.
He was stressing about how to prepare for the Chunin Exam!
Kakashi was too lazy to train them properly, and Gai's methods were all about grueling physical work, which wouldn't yield a breakthrough in a month. If Teacher Kazama could train him, he'd have a better shot at the exam!
"What ninjutsu?"
"My original S-rank Wind Release forbidden technique—Wind Release: Thunder-Shattering Shuttle!"
Kazama Yue's eyes gleamed with pride as he spoke of his creation.
He'd originally wanted to pass the Thunder-Shattering Shuttle to Hikari, but she'd politely declined. Since then, he'd been working to perfect this unfinished secret technique.
For five years, he'd refined it endlessly, but without arms, he couldn't test it. All his work was theoretical.
Three days ago, he'd finally completed the theory for the Thunder-Shattering Shuttle. He went to the Third Hokage to find a suitable successor, only to learn shocking news.
The Five Nations Joint Chunin Exam was coming to the Leaf, and all Genin were training hard for it.
Among the genius Genin competing, the Third recommended the only other Wind Release ninja besides Hikari—Naruto Uzumaki!