In a blink, nearly a year slipped by.
Konoha Year 54, three months until the Festival of Cycles.
Even in the gentlest climate on the continent, winter laid a light lace of snow across Konoha. Naruto jogged through it in a puffy coat. Passersby still stepped aside when he came near, but it no longer stung the way it once had.
He had a father now. He was no longer alone.
Still, those looks were annoying. He quickened his pace and made for the out of the way training ground.
Under Mo Ke's orders he had begun physical training. Even so, he was barely three. The scampering run left him breathless by the time he reached the bars near the trees.
Winter made the village less frantic. The low simmer with Cloud had cooled as the weather turned, and a few shinobi trickled back from the border. It was early, not planting season, so parents were already in the grounds, letting children play.
When Naruto arrived, several mothers called their kids back from their wild chase. He ignored them and walked to the loneliest pull up bar by the trees. Only then did the whispering begin.
"So unlucky, the demon fox again."
"If this wasn't the cleanest air, closest to the woods, I wouldn't bring my child here at all. What is that monster thinking, coming to train every day."
"Actually… he hasn't hurt anyone. Maybe we're going too far."
"Too far. Did you forget he is the demon fox. That harmless look might be bait. We can't slip."
"Right. He is misfortune walking. Keep your children away or the bad luck will stick."
Their voices were not as quiet as they thought. Months of spiritual rinsing had sharpened Naruto's senses. He tightened both fists.
Why. Why do they hate me when I have never hurt anyone.
He reached the familiar bar. It had become his little kingdom. Regulars knew the demon fox brat had trained here for more than half a year. Even when he was absent, no one stepped into this patch.
He folded his scarf and coat with care and set them aside. Mo Ke had chosen the style. The color was red because Naruto insisted. He treasured them. To him, they were his first gifts.
He spat into his hands, jumped, and caught the bar. The routine began.
Time slipped. Half a morning was gone.
[998… 999… 1000… whew, finally done.]
He drew a long breath and was about to drop when Mo Ke cut in.
[Hold it. You have held at a thousand for half a month. From today, eleven hundred.]
The body of the Uzumaki was a marvel. A child had a natural edge at pull ups, but even Might Guy at three would struggle to hit a thousand, Mo Ke guessed.
He did not have a formal training method. He watched Naruto's body closely each session and kept him safe. Pushing to collapse and healing with the Nine Tails' chakra would be efficient for a taijutsu path, but Mo Ke did not plan to make Naruto a pure martial artist.
Guy was a genius of fists and will, yet even his light blazed in a single burst. Taijutsu was too limited. A solid base would do.
[Ah! Come on, Dad, that is too much. We always add once a month, dattebayo.]
[Then this month starts today. Complain again and make it eleven fifty. Move. Strike while the iron is hot.]
Naruto puffed and kept pulling, grumbling in his head.
[1001… 1002… Dad, does this even work. Most ninja barely do physical training. Making a three year old do a thousand pull ups is over the top, dattebayo.]
[The body is the base of everything. Why copy the weak. They juggle shuriken and hand signs, then die to a stray kunai on the field. Konoha even has a rare beast who could run five thousand laps at five or six years old. A thousand pull ups at three is nothing. If you want to be strong, taijutsu still matters.]
[Huff… 1005… 1007… 1008. You are lying. No kid can run five or six thousand laps. And Grandpa Third looks frail. He must be bad at taijutsu. People say he is the strongest in the village.]
[I am not arguing. Just train. And the Third's taijutsu is strong. He once smacked my true body several kilometers with a single staff blow. He looks like a skinny monkey because he is old. Also, you skipped 1006. Start again from 1000.]
Three months ago Naruto's "Grandpa Third" had slipped into "old man." Rude, sure. Mo Ke was secretly pleased.
"1000! 1001! 1002! Let's go. Eleven hundred today."
Naruto suddenly shouted with wild energy. Mo Ke's gaze slid sideways.
Of course. A streak of pink came into view.
Ever since the day Naruto saw Sakura, he could not help liking the wide foreheaded girl. The kinder, less self loathing Naruto of this life was somehow more timid about speaking to her at all.
Mo Ke was not fond of Sakura. Her black marks were many. During Pain's Almighty Push, she called for Naruto like she wanted him to throw himself on the pyre to save the village. Very Will of Fire. When the village lay in ruins, what else could she have meant. And to curry favor with Sasuke she mocked Naruto for being an orphan, which was brave in the worst way.
Sai had once been a nobody, then one handsome moment refusing to save her and his popularity soared. Life is strange.
Still, Mo Ke would not meddle. The likes of childhood were simple. Simple things rarely last.
Sakura had been teased about her forehead by her playmates. Inner Sakura screamed for a punch in response, yet she walked away alone to the quiet end of the grounds.
Naruto's sudden battle cry startled her. She saw a tiny demon-muscle-man and bolted.
But the thought stuck. She knew Naruto. She often saw him training here alone. Adults told her not to go near him. Why could someone so rejected still wake up full of sunshine every day. Curiosity took root.
Watching Sakura flee, Naruto sagged visibly.
[Hahahahahaha.]
"Pfft—hahaha."
Laughter came in two places at once. Mo Ke, inside. And three children, outside.
A ponytailed boy, a round boy with a bag of chips, and a cute girl with blonde hair pinned to one side.
Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Yamanaka Ino.
Even by Mo Ke's eye, among all the girls of the original tale, little Ino was the prettiest. Gold hair tucked to show a perfect face. Not like her older self, hair falling over half her features in a strange sheet.
The tiny beauty bent double laughing, pointed at Naruto, and called to Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru, do you think this dummy Naruto likes Sakura. Hahaha. He just flopped like a salted fish."
"Who knows. Women are a drag."
Shikamaru yawned and glared at Naruto. "Why did you call us here. Snow is perfect sleeping weather. I wanted to sleep until noon. Choji ripped my blanket right off."
"Crunch… Shikamaru, you promised Naruto yesterday. Crunch… then you ignored me when I called. So mean. Naruto, want some chips."
Fate had woven a second meeting. Yuta never appeared in this Konoha, Naruto did not act out for attention, and a few kids never learned to hate him.
One day Shikamaru and Choji found a tiny stray tabby stuck in a tree. Nothing they tried could get it down. Naruto happened by, nimble from early training, and shinnied up to rescue it. Friendship followed naturally. A genius who could not care less about gossip, and a gentle soul who refused to see through tinted glass. Naruto, starved for friends, saw their clear eyes and made them pillars in his world.
The kitten's leg had been hurt, likely chased up by a dog. Naruto took a couple of scratches on his cheek and the whisker marks looked even sharper.
Blood beaded. The kitten mewed in pain. Not knowing what else to do, the boys brought Naruto to the only girl they knew, Ino. Whenever Shikamaru's dad came home with claw marks from his mom, she treated them, so clearly girls were good at this.
Naruto was reluctant. The scratches would heal fast. He also feared Ino might hate him and sour his new friendships. But the kitten made pitiful sounds. He gave in.
Shikamaru already sensed how strange the adults were about Naruto, so he pulled Ino into a side alley and begged her help. Ino saw Naruto's face and the kitten's leg and ran home for plasters, bandages, and a bit of styptic powder.
"Um… Ino, these lines on my face are birthmarks. You don't need to put plasters there, dattebayo."
"Hahaha. I did not notice. Also your way of talking is adorable. Dattebayo, hahaha."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, shy and laughing with them.
…
Snapped from memory, Naruto saw his three friends and his mood flipped bright. He asked Mo Ke for permission to raise the reps tomorrow instead. Dad agreed. Naruto dropped from the bar in a cheerful hop.
"Ino, don't be ridiculous. Who… who likes Sakura. Even if I liked someone, it would not be her. I was just hyping myself up, dattebayo."
"Id… idiot, who wants you to like me. No, wait. Naruto. What do you mean even if. Are you saying I am worse than Sakura. What did you mean."
Different priorities, always. Ino went red, thought it over, and immediately chased Naruto with flailing fists.
Shikamaru watched the squall and sighed. Women really are a pain.
He cut in with a lazy wave. "Why the mystery meetup. It is freezing. I am not playing weird games with you."
Naruto pointed grandly, ignoring Ino bonking his head. "Shikamaru, Choji, I am taking you to eat. I found the best ramen ever. The owner is super nice. He did not scold me and he gave me extra pork."
Shikamaru blinked. Ino peeked out from behind Naruto's back, eyes bright.
"There is a shop owner like that. I remember you always get scolded when you buy things. Ah, sorry, I did not mean it."
"It is fine. It is true. But I do not care what they think. I have you guys."
And Dad, he added in his heart.
Under Mo Ke's watch, eating better, hair a little longer and tidy, Naruto had turned into a bona fide handsome little boy. Ino felt his smile sparkle right in her eyes.
At the promise of extra meat, Choji could not hold back. He jammed the chips into Naruto's arms and shepherded them along. "Move. I have to see this ramen."
"Oh, Naruto, why the treat. Do you have enough pocket money. I can pay."
"It is okay, dattebayo. I have been saving. Today is my birthday."
"What. You should have said. Ugh. I have to run home for a bouquet."
"Birthdays are a drag. Ino, what flowers do you give for birthdays. Pick one for me."
"Yellow carnations. Friendship. Also the color matches Naruto's hair."
"I will skip flowers. Naruto, my dad brought a bag of snacks back from the Land of Hot Water. I have been saving it. I will give it to you."
"Thank you. Thank you, everyone."
Four tiny figures chattered away across the bright snow, ignoring the pointing fingers that followed.
Mo Ke watched and smiled for the boy. His arrival had bent Naruto's childhood toward the light. He tossed the smutty book, Icha Icha Paradise, onto a growing heap by the sofa. He had goaded Naruto into reading at the shop, then used soul power to recreate the text in here. They were boring. He had read spicier things in middle school. How Kakashi read them dozens of times remained a mystery.
He stretched on his S curve sofa, a vanity project of high effort, sleek lines and oversized cushions that cradled the head perfectly. Enough of leisure. Naruto would be fine for now. It was time to think about training again.
The story's fuse was getting short. Peak Kage strength could handle today's Konoha, but it was not safe enough.
Target, A rank super Kage. Move.
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