Konoha Year 53 – Autumn
Grandpa Third told me that tomorrow, I'll start school at the Ninja Academy. He said there will be lots and lots of other kids there, and that I'll make real friends. I'm really looking forward to it.
Grandpa Third was right. I did make a friend at the academy! Although most of the kids don't like me or want to play with me, there's one girl who doesn't hate me. Her name is Hyuga Hinata. She's really cute and gentle. Grandpa was right after all.
It makes me so happy to have a friend. Today was a great day!
Konoha Year 54 – October 10
Grandpa Third hasn't come to see me for a whole week. Did I do something wrong?
Today is my birthday. Grandpa gave me a big cake. It's the first time I've ever tasted cake. I've only ever heard other kids talk about it before. It's so sweet! But I shouldn't eat it all at once. I'll save it and eat a little every day.
...The cake went bad. Grandpa said cakes don't last long unless you put them in a refrigerator, but I can't afford one. That's a shame. But Grandpa said he'll bring another one next year. I can't wait.
Konoha Year 55 – Summer
...Grandpa Third...
---
The diary continued with day-to-day notes. Sometimes only a sentence. Sometimes just a thought. At a glance, it seemed like the random scribbles of a lonely child—recording moments of joy, sorrow, confusion.
But the most frequently appearing name?
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
Over 60% of the diary mentioned him. More than 50% referenced how Naruto wanted to "listen to Grandpa's advice." Over 30% talked about how much he missed him.
If you only read the diary, you'd think this was a story of a lonely orphan who looked up to the one man that showed him kindness.
That's exactly what the Third Hokage wanted to see.
He smiled as he softly closed the little diary and gently placed it back in the drawer by Naruto's bedside.
His eyes softened as he looked at the sleeping boy.
Then he used Shunshin no Jutsu—the Body Flicker Technique—and vanished.
All that was left was Naruto sleeping peacefully, a little drool escaping the corner of his mouth.
Quiet.
But only a few moments later, the Hokage returned, once again checking on Naruto.
Satisfied with what he saw, he disappeared again.
The instant the door clicked shut…
Naruto opened his eyes.
He sat up in bed, his gaze still locked on the direction the Hokage had left in.
From the very start, Naruto had known.
Whether it was ANBU surveillance, spying through the Crystal Ball Jutsu, or personally sneaking in—Hiruzen Sarutobi had never once left Naruto's senses.
Having lived his whole life under surveillance, Naruto had developed incredibly sharp counter-surveillance instincts.
Through malice detection and ki sensing, no one could hide from Naruto.
Not even the Third Hokage.
Naruto's eyes shifted to the small wooden drawer holding the diary.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—mocking, bitter, amused.
> "Who writes a real diary, anyway?"
Naruto had predicted Hiruzen would come.
He had written ten different versions of that diary.
Each one strategically placed in different spots, for different days, just in case the Hokage came snooping.
All the "content" was written on purpose.
Painfully exaggerated and dripping with childish innocence.
Lines like "I love Grandpa Third the most in the world!" were practically stamped across the pages in bold.
If anyone else had written something like this, Hiruzen might have been suspicious.
But this was Naruto.
An 8-year-old orphan hated by the village, abandoned by everyone. It would've been strange not to see him cling to the only person who showed him "kindness."
> "He's just a child… What bad thoughts could an 8-year-old possibly have?"
Answer: Just the thought of burning Konoha to the ground.
On the mind game scale? Hiruzen was playing checkers on the first floor. Naruto was already playing 4D chess on the fifth.
> "Is it okay to go this far just to mess with an old man?"
"Absolutely. You wanted to play. You started this game. So now… let's see it through to the end."
And deep within Naruto's seal, a certain Fourth Hokage had witnessed everything—
His expression darkened.
---
Meanwhile, the next day…
"Thank you again for walking me home, Naruto-kun."
In front of the Hyuga Clan estate, Hinata fidgeted, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
Her face flushed, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her coat.
At the academy, Naruto never caused trouble. He always arrived and left on time—especially to walk Hinata home. Teachers had long since given up noticing him, and most students had learned to just… avoid the topic.
Naruto didn't seek trouble, but he also wasn't afraid of it.
And with his cold, heavy gaze—amplified by the presence of ki and Nine-Tails' chakra—most people couldn't even look him in the eye.
Even teachers would get uneasy around him.
Eventually, the name "Naruto Uzumaki" became a quiet taboo.
His presence was barely more noticeable than the insect-like mystery of Shino Aburame.
"I just want to spend a little more time with you, Hinata." Naruto smiled softly, ruffling her hair with a gentle hand. "Do you mind?"
💘 BZZT!
That line hit Hinata straight in the heart. Her mind was filled with static.
> "N-Naruto-kun… wants to spend more time… with me?!"
She turned beet red, steam practically rising from her head like a boiling kettle.
"I… I…"
Just as she finally mustered up the courage to respond—
"Hinata-sama. Why are you standing by the gate?"
A cold voice cut in.
It was a boy with the same pale Byakugan eyes and long black hair.
Clean-cut features, and a tone dripping with sarcasm.
"The clan leader is looking for you."
Hinata deflated instantly. "Yes… Neji-nii-san…"
Naruto turned to leave, only to be stopped.
"Wait," the boy said.
Naruto paused, turning back.
"You're Uzumaki Naruto, aren't you?" Neji said, his tone cool. "I've heard of you."
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