Years passed in the ninja world—years as insignificant as grains of sand to the one who possessed the Infinite Energy.
Within his dimension, Naruto progressed at a pace that even the gods would have feared.
Every hour in Konoha equaled more than a hundred hours of training, study, and total mastery over his realm.
He raised entire civilizations within his dimension:
The Celestial Faeries built the Gardens of Pure Radiance.
The Primordial Dragons forged the Arenas of Dark Flame.
The Elemental Spirits trained him to merge their forms with his own.
His control over the Shinkugan became absolute:
He could activate and deactivate it at will—even split his perception across multiple planes at once.
He could mentally traverse his dimension while remaining fully aware in the real world.
Yet never—never—did he reveal his power to Konoha.
He lived as a quiet child, hidden in plain sight, guarding his secret like a living sanctuary.
Not even the teachers, not even Hiruzen, not even the ANBU…
None noticed a thing.
His concealment seal—woven by the Faerie Queen herself and engraved into the Infinite Energy—left no trace.
Only Hagoromo, at times, watched in silence from the celestial limbo.
> "He is no longer a Jinchuriki. He is no longer human. He is... the Infinite."
And so, six years passed in the outside world.
But within his dimension? Millennia.
---
The sun rose slowly over Konoha.
It was the day of entry into the Ninja Academy.
Naruto Uzumaki, eight years old, stood before the gates.
Dressed in a simple tunic, hands in his pockets, eyes calm.
He was still considered the outsider, the orphan to avoid.
But none could explain why their instincts told them to stay away...
> "Now I begin to play... the role the world expects of me."
Yet beneath his feet, an entire unseen world vibrated.
The faeries watched.
The dragons growled softly.
The elements awaited his call.
Naruto smiled.
> "Let them believe I'm still weak... a little longer."
Naruto sat at his desk in the classroom, in the back, by the window.
He could see the village—the familiar rooftops, the wandering villagers, the bustling markets.
Nothing had changed on the surface.
But for him, everything was different.
His gaze drifted toward the sky.
And he began to think.
Deeply. For a long time.
---
> "It's been six years now. Six years living between two worlds. Six years hiding what I've become. Six years building an empire beyond human comprehension. I am both a child of Konoha and the architect of a star-born dimension.
The children here struggle to learn how to climb trees.
I've scaled celestial mountains of knowledge, battled shadow dragons, merged with primordial spirits."
> "But I still can't show them. Not here. Not yet. This world fears what it doesn't understand. If they found out what I am… they would try to destroy me. Or worse—try to own me.
Even the old Hokage couldn't stop me now… and that's exactly why I must protect him too."
> "Iruka-sensei seems kind. Genuine. He doesn't look at me like the others.
Maybe, someday, he'll see beyond the smiles.
Maybe he could become a human anchor in my sea of infinity."
Naruto took a deep breath.
Iruka's chalk scratched softly against the board.
> "For now, I'll play the part. I'll be the model student—top of every class. They'll believe it's because I'm diligent.
They'll never know my answers are shaped by centuries of condensed study.
I can solve chakra equations the Sannin never dreamed of.
I can manipulate a body's life flow without touching it.
And I wield the three basic jutsu like an artist holding a brush."
---
Iruka turned to face the class.
"Alright! Today we're reviewing the three fundamental jutsu: Henge, Bunshin, and Kawarimi. I'll call each of you one by one."
Some students groaned. Others tensed.
Naruto, calm, rose to his feet as soon as his name was called.
"Naruto Uzumaki. You're up."
He stepped onto the training mat.
Iruka watched with mild curiosity—Naruto had always been quiet. Never bad, but never exceptional either…
Or so he thought.
"Henge!" Naruto called.
A puff of smoke.
When it cleared—Iruka stared at a perfect replica of himself, from the voice to the tone to the subtle awkward posture.
The room went silent.
The transformation was so flawless, it felt alive.
"Bunshin no Jutsu."
Two clones appeared instantly—mirrored in movement, eyes sparkling with awareness. No flicker, no lag.
"Kawarimi."
Naruto vanished.
In an instant, a kunai aimed by surprise struck a log.
Iruka blinked—he hadn't even seen the switch happen.
Naruto was already seated back at his desk.
"P-Perfect... Naruto. That was… remarkable."
The rest of the class went on.
Some students stumbled. Some failed.
Sasuke succeeded, of course—but even he shot Naruto a sideways glance.
He didn't understand.
No one did.
The afternoon continued.
In calligraphy, Naruto finished the practice scrolls first.
In ninja theory, he corrected three textbook errors—forcing Iruka to make a note to the curriculum committee.
In taijutsu, he defended himself with elegance—never hurting, never dominating—deliberately.
At day's end, Iruka pulled him aside.
"Naruto, you're… not what I expected. Do you train in secret?"
Naruto shrugged, a soft smile on his face.
"Maybe I found something I love."
Iruka looked at him for a long moment.
Then smiled back.
"Keep going."
Naruto walked out of the classroom, the breeze lifting his silver-tinted hair slightly.
Behind him, the looks were already starting to shift.
But he didn't care.
> "Everything is in motion. The veil remains. The light grows.
The world isn't ready…
But I am."