Dawn light crept over the rooftops of Konoha, painting the village in shades of orange and gold.
Naruto Uzumaki tugged the mask over his face, checking his reflection in the cracked mirror one more time. Perfect. Nobody would recognize him now. He bounced on his toes, barely able to contain his excitement as he grabbed a piece of bread and gulped down his milk.
Today would be different. Today, he'd finally make a friend.
The door clicked shut behind him. His heart hammered as he walked toward the main street, fingers adjusting and readjusting the mask. A group of kids his age ran past, laughing and shoving each other. His chest tightened. That could be him soon. Really soon.
Yesterday, a boy from the Academy had smiled at him. Actually smiled! But then the boy's mother had grabbed his hand and yanked him across the street, whispering something that made the boy's face go pale.
Naruto's fingers curled into his palms. That wouldn't happen today. Not with the mask.
He stepped onto the main street, chin held high.
The shopkeeper arranging vegetables froze mid-motion. A woman clutching her groceries took three steps back. Children stopped mid-chase, their laughter dying in their throats. Every face turned toward him.
The vegetable seller's mouth twisted. "That's the demon brat."
A man spat on the ground. "Thinks a mask will fool us? I'd know that yellow hair anywhere."
"Why's he skulking around in a mask?" A woman pulled her daughter close. "What's he planning?"
"Same thing he always does." The shopkeeper's knuckles went white around a radish. "Cause trouble. Just like he did to Lord Fourth."
The words hit like kunai, each one finding its mark. Naruto's breath caught in his throat. His vision blurred at the edges.
The mask. They saw right through it. His brilliant plan, the one he'd stayed up all night perfecting, meant nothing.
His hands flew to his face, covering the mask as if that would somehow help. His feet moved before his mind caught up, carrying him away from the stares, away from the whispers that followed him like shadows.
I didn't... I never... why won't anyone listen?
Trees blurred past. His lungs burned. Rocks and roots threatened to trip him, but he kept running, away from the village, away from the hatred, until his legs finally gave out.
He crashed to his knees in the dirt, chest heaving. The forest surrounded him now, tall trees blocking out the morning sun. His hands trembled as he ripped the useless mask from his face and hurled it into the bushes.
Tears dripped onto his clenched fists.
A voice bloomed in his mind, warm and gentle, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
[Young one, why do you weep?]
Naruto's head snapped up. He scrambled to his feet, spinning in a circle, eyes darting between the trees. Nothing. No one. Just leaves rustling in the breeze.
"Who's there?" His voice cracked, still thick with tears.
[Here. In your thoughts.]
"In my..." Naruto pressed his palms against his temples. "Are you in my head? How are you in my head?"
[I am the Ultimate Taijutsu System.]
The voice carried a hint of pride, almost preening.
[And you need not speak aloud. Simply think your words, and I shall hear them.]
Naruto's mouth opened, then closed. He thought very hard: Can you really hear this?
[Indeed. Now then, what is your greatest wish, young Naruto?]
The answer burst from him, both in his mind and from his lips. "Friends! I want friends! Lots of them!"
Silence stretched for three heartbeats.
[That is... all?]
What do you mean 'all'? Naruto's hands balled into fists. It's the only thing I want! Can you help or not?
[Oh, I can help. But first, let me show you something.]
Blue light flickered into existence before his eyes. Naruto stumbled back, nearly tripping over a root. The light solidified into a translucent screen hanging in midair.
A figure appeared on the screen. A young man, maybe a teenager, wearing a crown that gleamed purple-gold in nonexistent sunlight. Golden light rippled across his skin like water. When he moved, the air itself seemed to bend around him.
The young man raised his fist.
And punched.
The impact rippled outward in waves. In the distance behind him, stars winked out of existence, snuffed like candles.
Naruto's jaw went slack. His breath stopped in his chest. Not even the Hokage...
The scene shifted. The same young man stood in an empty void, holding nothing but a blade of grass between his fingers. He slashed it through the air.
Reality cracked.
The void split apart like shattered glass, pieces spinning away into nothingness, slicing through dimensions Naruto couldn't even name.
His legs felt weak. He sat down hard, eyes glued to the projection.
Another scene: the young man stood against dozens of opponents, warriors who moved like lightning and struck like thunder. Golden blood sprayed from a wound on his arm. Each droplet that hit the ground transformed, rising up as a perfect copy of the young man. They charged back into battle as one.
The sky went dark. The very fabric of space seemed to tear. Bodies fell in a rain of armor and shattered weapons.
When the dust cleared, only one figure remained, standing alone in the void. His face was turned away, shoulders hunched.
Naruto's chest ached. He recognized that posture. He'd stood like that this morning, outside his apartment, working up the courage to put on that stupid mask.
He's alone. Even after winning... he's alone.
The projection flickered, then shifted.
The young man was small now. A child, no older than Naruto himself. He walked down a crowded street with his head up, shoulders squared.
A rock sailed through the air and struck his shoulder. He didn't flinch.
"Monster!" someone screamed.
A rotten tomato splattered across his chest. Then another. Eggs followed, breaking against his arms, his face. Adults shouted curses. Children threw stones.
The boy kept walking. His head never lowered. His eyes met each hateful glare head-on, unflinching.
Naruto's throat tightened. His fingers dug into the dirt beneath him.
The projection blurred forward. The boy grew, trained, his movements becoming sharper, faster, more precise. Sweat poured down his face as he practiced the same punch a thousand times. Ten thousand times.
Then the scene changed again. The boy, now a young teenager, stood across from another youth. They bowed to each other. Smiled. Their fists met in a clash that sent shockwaves through the ground.
The fight was fierce but controlled. Respectful. When it ended, the opponent lay on his back in the dirt, chest heaving, grinning despite his loss. The young man extended his hand. Pulled him up.
They walked away together, talking and laughing.
Another sparring match. Another opponent lying in the dirt, defeated but smiling. Another handshake. Another friend.
More matches followed. Each one ended the same way: a defeated opponent who rose with a smile, a hand extended in friendship.
The circle of people around the young man grew larger. No longer alone, he stood surrounded by companions, all of them grinning and jostling each other.
Naruto leaned forward, eyes wide and bright.
The projection winked out, leaving only empty air.
[Do you understand now, young Naruto?]
Naruto jumped to his feet, fist pumping into the air. "Yes! I get it now!" He spun in a circle, energy coursing through his limbs. "You have to be strong! Only strong people can have friends!"
[Very good.]
The system's voice carried approval.
[And what will you do if someone refuses your friendship?]
Naruto froze mid-spin. His brow furrowed. He chewed on his lip, thinking hard. After a long moment, his face lit up. "Then I'll fight them! I'll beat them up until they agree to be my friend!"
[Choose your words more carefully.]
The system's tone sharpened.
[It is called a friendly sparring match.]
"Oh." Naruto's cheeks flushed. He ducked his head, then grinned sheepishly. "Right, right. Friendly sparring. Not beating them up. Sparring."
[Much better.]
A pause, then the voice turned solemn.
[So tell me, Naruto Uzumaki: are you willing to follow my guidance? To learn the methods of Ultimate Taijutsu and become truly strong?]
"Yes!" Naruto thrust both fists into the air. "Teach me everything!"
His mind raced ahead, already painting pictures of the future. The whole village, every single person, standing around him. Not with hatred in their eyes, but with smiles. With respect. With friendship.
The shopkeeper who threw him out would invite him in. The kids who ran away would ask him to play. The adults who whispered would smile and wave.
Everyone in Konoha would be his friend.
His grin stretched so wide his cheeks hurt.