Chapter 1: The Beaten Uzumaki Naruto
Land of Fire. Konoha Hidden Village — Ninja Academy Entrance.
A small figure with bright golden hair sat alone on the swing, his swaying shadow filled with loneliness.
Today was the first day of the Ninja Academy.
After school, all the other students were picked up by their parents and went home. Only he had no family. Going home meant returning to an empty, silent house.
"Look, I told you the demon fox was hiding here…" "Don't go near him. I heard the fox eats people at night!" "You're such a coward. Last time I hit his head with a rock! If you don't dare to hit him, then you have to call me boss from now on!" "Who said I don't dare? Just watch…"
Voices drifted over from a distance. They belonged to two boys from the same grade who had just started school today. After going home, they had come back out with their friends to cause trouble for Naruto.
For some unknown reason, a cruel "game" had started among the children: anyone who didn't dare to bully Uzumaki Naruto was labeled a coward.
"As expected… it's the same again…"
Uzumaki Naruto, who had been staring at the ground, suddenly jumped off the swing and dodged the stone flying toward his back.
Every single day was like this. As long as he wasn't hiding inside his house, he would always face harassment and harm.
"Poor little Naruto… Are you finally ready to accept my offer now?"
A voice echoed inside his mind once again, causing Naruto's widened eyes to slowly close.
Should he accept?
But why did this strange entity appear in his head? Why did it always show up whenever he was being bullied?
"It's very simple~ Once you accept me, Naruto-kun, you won't just gain power. You'll also get family, friendship, and love. Anything you can imagine, I can give you…"
The seductive voice continued. Naruto stood there with a dazed expression.
Accept? Or refuse?
While he was hesitating, a sharp pain suddenly exploded at the back of his head. The two boys had thrown another stone.
Perhaps… he no longer needed to hesitate.
"…Accept!"
Naruto closed his eyes. His small body swayed and collapsed forward.
Thud!
The golden-haired boy fell to the ground. The hidden Anbu who had been watching from the shadows didn't move at first. But the moment they saw blood staining his golden hair, they quickly rushed over, picked him up, and rushed him to the hospital for treatment.
In a place invisible to the outside world, a bizarre seed extended dense roots that wrapped tightly around Naruto's soul.
The roots began draining his soul as nutrients, attempting to devour him completely.
"Brat, stop resisting. Since you've already agreed, you now belong to me!"
A heartbeat-like throb came from inside the seed. The voice was filled with madness and triumph.
He had transmigrated to this world six years ago. Ever since the Nine-Tails was sealed inside Naruto, he had been planting psychological suggestions and temptations. He never expected it would take until Naruto started school before he finally got the chance to devour him.
"So everything you said about me getting whatever I want… was a lie?"
Naruto's soul consciousness was gradually fading. He had thought this voice that had accompanied him since childhood was different, but now it seemed he was wrong.
Bad people… They were all bad people!
"Hahahaha… You're overthinking it. My goal from the very beginning was to devour you. Once I become you, I'll definitely do a much better job than you ever could. I won't be a fool like you…"
The voice inside the seed continued, growing more arrogant now that victory seemed certain. It began revealing things it had never said before:
His identity. His parents. Why the villagers hated him. Even the fact that the future Naruto would return to protect the village — everything was laid bare.