[Author's Note: After careful consideration, Naruto's son previously named 'Uzumaki Busekinin' will now be called 'Uzumaki Hitomi']
Ten years had passed, but Naruto looked much the same as ever—except now, there was a sharper strength in his gaze, the kind that only comes from surviving two lifetimes. His experience had forged a confidence that was impossible to miss; he carried himself with the quiet assurance of someone who'd seen and done it all.
And yet, there was only one thing left that could truly shift his presence now: pure, overwhelming power.
Naruto's strength had reached unfathomable heights. By his own reckoning, he could easily take on three versions of himself from a decade ago—and win without breaking a sweat.
"Onii-chan!" Nayuta called from the dining table, her cheeks bulging as she munched on a fried centipede.
Naruto grinned and scooped her into his arms.
Nayuta immediately started her usual routine, tattling first: "Listen, listen, Onii-chan! Hitomi was just going blah blah blah, wouldn't stop—"
Naruto pulled up a chair and sat down, turning to Hitomi. "Didn't I tell you? Your aunt's still young. You've got to be patient with her."
Hitomi shot back, "She charges at me like a total idiot every time. If I keep letting her win, doesn't that just make me an even bigger idiot?"
Nayuta's face scrunched up in mock misery. "Waaah, stupid Hitomi! He's got horns, he never smiles, he's a monster boy, a top spy for the Space-Time Management Bureau—"
Naruto laughed and ruffled her hair. "Alright, alright. Next time, big brother will teach you how to handle Hitomi."
"Really? Yay! Onii-chan's the best—mwah mwah mwah!" Nayuta's tears vanished instantly, replaced by a barrage of kisses on Naruto's cheek.
Hitomi just shook his head, thinking, She's hopeless.
After dinner, Naruto played with Himawari and Nayuta for a while before heading out for an evening walk with Hitomi.
He was still busy, but without the endless paperwork and duties of his Hokage days, he made sure to spend time with his family. Unless he was away on a long mission, he took Hitomi out nearly every night, building their father-son bond one step at a time.
The ninja world had been mostly stable these past years, but peace was never absolute. Just last year, there'd been an incident that proved it.
In early spring, Amegakure organized a field trip for the village kids—Himawari, Hitomi, and a handful of their peers all went. But halfway through, they were ambushed by a gang of ruthless criminals.
The ninja escorting them was killed.
The kids were stranded, facing real danger. But at the crucial moment, Hitomi's Sharingan awakened. He took down the entire gang on his own.
The other children were traumatized, needing weeks of counseling to recover.
When the village investigated the attackers, they uncovered a tangled web reaching back years. Indra's 'Infinite Tsukuyomi'—though short-lived—had left its mark, inspiring a generation of power-obsessed fanatics. Over time, these extremists formed a group called the 'Violence Squad.' At its peak, it boasted nearly a million members, enough to make even the feudal lords uneasy.
After the attack, Naruto moved fast. He crushed the organization's leadership and main force. But the group was too vast to wipe out completely; its remnants scattered and kept stirring up trouble from the shadows. Cleaning up these small fry was just part of the routine now.
Naruto didn't waste energy worrying about them. What caught his attention was the potential Hitomi showed—echoes of Indra's talent.
Hitomi wasn't even old enough for the academy, but Naruto had already started training him.
If the Sage of Six Paths saw this, he'd probably panic.
But Naruto was different. He believed Indra had gone astray because of bad parenting. With the right guidance, Hitomi's gifts could be a force for good.
He put all his hopes into Hitomi, wishing for his son to find his own ninja way.
As they walked, father and son chatted about everyday things. Then Hitomi asked, "Dad, who are Konoha's top picks for this year's ninja tournament?"
Naruto smiled. "I'm betting on Uncle Konohamaru, Aunt Hanabi, and Rock Lee. They're all strong contenders. This time, they might finally break into the Earth-rank."
Hitomi's voice held a trace of longing. "Too bad I'm not a ninja yet. I'd love to compete in a tournament like that…"
Naruto stopped in his tracks.
Hitomi blinked. "Dad?"
Naruto's tone turned serious. "Do you really want to participate, Hitomi?"
Hitomi nodded. "Yeah… I really do."
Naruto stroked his chin, considering. "Is it hard to arrange?" Hitomi asked.
Naruto shook his head. "Not really. Each year, us combat advisors get a few reserved slots for the tournament. But the hard part isn't getting you in—it's something else…"
Ninja strength had skyrocketed lately. What used to be Kage-level was now just the starting line.
Hitomi was gifted, but at the end of the day, he was still just eight.
Naruto looked him straight in the eye. "Hitomi, be honest—why do you want to join? Just to soak up the atmosphere, or do you want to stand out and make a mark?"
Hitomi frowned. "Is there a difference?"
Naruto nodded. "If you just want to experience it, I can get you in through the back door—let you watch and learn. But if you want to compete, you need to be ready for the challenge."
Hitomi clenched his little fists, determination flashing in his eyes. "I want to show everyone what I can do!"
That's my boy.
Naruto's smile was proud, but his voice was firm. "In that case, no shortcuts. Come with me!"
Whoosh!
Naruto placed a hand on Hitomi's shoulder and, in a flash of Flying Thunder God, warped them to Amegakure's training grounds.
He remembered Boruto from his previous life—a fiercely competitive kid who'd pulled all kinds of stunts just to get his father's attention.
That was when Naruto's approach to parenting changed: always respect your child's wishes.
If Hitomi wanted to test himself, Naruto wouldn't hold him back. He'd support him with everything he had.
On the training field, father and son faced each other.
Naruto said, "Hitomi, the last time I taught you an A-rank jutsu was six months ago, right?"
Hitomi nodded. "Yeah. Chidori—Uncle Sasuke's signature move."
Naruto smiled. "Show me how far you've come with it."
Crackle!
Hitomi closed his eyes. His short hair stirred in a breeze that wasn't there. When he opened them, both eyes glowed with three tomoe.
Snap, crackle, pop…!
Without any hand seals, lightning exploded in his left hand.
Naruto's eyes widened a fraction. "You can skip the hand seals now? That's impressive progress."
He crouched, pressing his palm to the ground.
—Wood Release: Armed Humanoid Target!
Crack! A wooden mannequin, armored head-to-toe, rose from the earth.
Naruto stood and gestured. "This dummy is wearing the latest carbon fiber combat suit—lightweight, but tough as nails. It's not standard issue yet, but someday it might be. Try attacking it."
Swish—!
Hitomi's eyes locked onto the target. He shot forward, Chidori blazing in his grip!
Thunk!
But the lightning blade didn't pierce instantly.
"Ugh—ugh—ugh—ugh!" Hitomi grit his teeth, pouring more chakra in, the electricity growing even fiercer.
After several seconds, there was a sharp crack—his palm finally broke through!
Hitomi steadied himself, pulled his hand free, and whistled. "Didn't go as deep as I thought. This suit is seriously tough…"
Naruto nodded. "Chidori can break through, but the delay is dangerous. In a real fight, those precious seconds could get you countered. Which means—it's time for something stronger."
Crackle…!
Naruto clenched his fist. Purple lightning danced across his knuckles, painting the night with a violet glow.
Hitomi's eyes went wide. "That's…"
Naruto's voice was solemn. "There are ten days until the tournament. If you want to show the world what you can do, then master this—'Purple Lightning,' a super S-rank technique—before it begins!"
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