Hiruzen walked down the long, sterile hallway toward Kakashi's hospital room, the strong scent of antiseptic chemicals thick in the air. He wrinkled his nose, suppressing a sneeze. Hospitals had never sat well with him. Too many shinobi under his command had taken their last breaths in this place. The medics did their best, but even the finest healers couldn't perform miracles.
He came to a stop in front of Room 201 and knocked twice. A familiar nonchalant voice called out from within, followed almost instantly by the booming enthusiasm of Might Guy. Hiruzen chuckled. He pitied Kakashi sometimes—having such an energetic and relentless rival must be exhausting.
Stepping inside, Hiruzen took in the scene before him and sighed.
There was Guy, as expected, doing push-ups—on his index and middle fingers, no less. The man never stopped. Hiruzen shook his head in exasperation before turning his attention to Kakashi, who was seated in bed, completely at ease. The silver-haired shinobi, true to form, had his nose buried in an orange-covered book.
Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly. Icha Icha Paradise 4.
For a brief moment, he considered his options. He hadn't had time to attend the new release event, and now here it was, right in front of him. His fingers itched to snatch the book from Kakashi's hands.
Kakashi, sensing the Hokage's intent, tightened his grip on the novel ever so slightly before looking up. His lone visible eye curved into an amused expression.
"Hokage-sama," he greeted smoothly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Hiruzen sighed, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the book. He would have to acquire his own copy later. Starting a war over Icha Icha was tempting, but even he had his limits.
"I came to check on your condition," Hiruzen said, stroking his beard. "The doctor informed me that aside from a minor burn on your chest, you appear to be in perfect health."
Kakashi nodded. "Yes. I'm in full-fighting condition, though it could have been worse. If I hadn't pushed a thick layer of chakra to my chest at the last second, Naruto's attack would have done far more damage."
Hiruzen hummed thoughtfully before continuing, his expression growing serious. "That's good to hear. However, the real reason I'm here is to inform you that I've classified the entire incident as an S-class secret."
Kakashi's uncovered eye widened slightly, but it was Guy who spoke first.
"Hokage-sama, isn't that a bit extreme?" Guy asked, springing up from his push-up stance and striding over to stand beside Kakashi's bed.
Hiruzen lifted a hand, silencing both shinobi before they could question him further. His voice was firm when he spoke.
"After Naruto retaliated and knocked you unconscious, Kakashi, we learned the full truth behind the severed arm incident." His gaze swept over both men, his tone heavy with meaning. "The reason for this secrecy is not only to protect Naruto but to protect the village as well. If the wrong people found out, if it became known that a child with no formal training managed to injure a Jonin, Naruto would become a target. Both inside and outside our borders."
A deep frown creased Kakashi's brow. "Danzo," he murmured, already understanding the threat.
Hiruzen nodded gravely. "Danzo would see Naruto as the perfect weapon, something to mold and manipulate for his own agenda. And I shudder to think what would happen if Orochimaru caught wind of this." His expression darkened. "No. I will not allow it."
A heavy silence settled over the room. Then, Kakashi hesitated before asking, "What about his family?"
Hiruzen's jaw tightened, his expression hardening in a way that made Kakashi flinch.
"Not even them," he said coldly. "Especially not them."
Guy and Kakashi exchanged looks.
"Naruto and his family are estranged," Hiruzen continued, his voice edged with quiet steel. "He no longer considers them as such, and I will not allow his clan to suddenly claim him now—not when they would only see him as a tool to be used."
His fingers curled into a fist, the weight of his decision pressing on him, but he would not waver.
Naruto deserved better than that.
And he would make sure the boy got it.
✨🟣🔵🟢🟡🔴🟠✨
Naruto sat cross-legged atop the Third Hokage's head on the monument, his sharp blue eyes glaring at the far end of the village. The afternoon sun beat down on his back, its warmth seeping through his clothes, but he didn't move an inch. A faint breeze whispered across his face, offering a brief respite from the summer heat.
He hated just sitting here, doing nothing. But his curiosity had gotten the better of him.
Tomorrow marked the start of the new school year, and like it or not, he would be joining the Shinobi Academy alongside his oh-so-beloved siblings. He wasn't looking forward to it, but what choice did he have?
The village below was bustling with life, as it always did when something important happened. Hundreds of villagers had gathered near the northern gate, their excited chatter filling the air as they awaited the return of their so-called heroes.
Naruto scoffed. Family.
Not exactly the word he'd use. The people walking through that gate weren't his family—not really. They were strangers. The only time they ever paid him any attention was when he messed up, and even then, it was just Kushina scolding him while Minato remained too busy to care.
His golden eyes shimmered as he focused on the scene below. Vision had explained that the fusion of his Sharingan and the creation of his Six Eyes would take a few more weeks. Until then, he had to rely on the Mind Stone to enhance his vision. He adjusted his sunglasses, shielding his sensitive eyes as a group of figures finally emerged through the village gates.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
"Here we go," Naruto muttered, watching Menma and Mito bask in the attention. "If they're not careful, their heads are going to explode."
Soft footsteps approached from behind. A moment later, a blond-haired man with green eyes, flecked with gold, settled beside him. He wore a standard ANBU uniform, his Hitai-ate resting on his forehead. A white mask lay across his legs, its design simple except for a golden diamond pattern at the center. The Hokage had given it to Naruto specifically for Vision to wear.
"They do seem to thrive off the adulations of their fellow citizens," Vision observed in his usual calm tone.
Naruto shook his head. "If they're not careful, they'll get too full of themselves. They'll end up believing they're invincible... and that's the quickest way to die." His gaze flickered toward another figure standing proudly in the crowd. "Just look at Sasuke. He's not even a Genin yet, but he already thinks his clan name alone makes him untouchable."
Vision glanced at him. "And what do you plan to do about it?"
"Nothing," Naruto said, rising to his feet and brushing the dirt off his pants. "A true shinobi doesn't reveal their strength unless necessary. Tomorrow, I'll act like a goofball—a weakling. If I try to outshine them, they'll hound me until I do something reckless. No... it's better to stay in the shadows."
He smirked.
"I'll send a shadow clone to school most of the time while I focus on my training."
Vision stood as well. "Is that wise? What if they accidentally destroy your shadow clone?"
Naruto's smirk widened. "I'll be careful. And besides..." He turned, stepping onto the narrow mountain pathway. "We have another raid to plan."
Vision arched a brow. "And what exactly do you mean by 'raid'?"
"I need to figure out how to control my Mokuton ability," Naruto explained as he walked. "If I remember correctly, the First Hokage's wood clones could take hits without dispelling. That means his knowledge is my best bet. So... I need to infiltrate the Senju Clan's library."
Vision sighed, following at his side. "Is it wise to infiltrate another clan?"
"I don't have a choice. And I'll be careful this time."
Vision gave a small nod before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Naruto exhaled. The old man had insisted that Vision take control of one of his clones and disguise himself as an ANBU operative. It was their cover. If anyone questioned why an ANBU was watching over him, it wouldn't seem unusual—after all, even unwanted clan heirs needed guarding.
And for now, that was enough to keep them off his trail.
✨🟣🔵🟢🟡🔴🟠✨
Night had finally fallen, and the only person who had come to his room was Namori.
Naruto shook his head as he pulled a black mask over his head. Why wasn't he surprised? He had half-expected Kushina to storm in, yelling at him for "disrespecting" his uncle Hando. But the old weasel seemed too wrapped up in his own world to even care.
That only proved, once and for all, that his family didn't give a damn about him.
And that was fine.
Naruto flipped the light switch, plunging his room into darkness. Channeling the power of the Space Stone, he felt the fabric of space twist and wrap around him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
At the edge of the Senju compound, perched on the rooftop of a nearby house, Naruto slipped out of thin air. The space around him rippled like the surface of a disturbed pond before settling.
Without wasting time, he sprinted toward the edge of the roof, moving like a shadow. With a silent leap, he soared through the night air, clearing the street that separated the compound from the surrounding neighborhood.
He landed with a soft thud, his boots sinking slightly into the grass. Crouching low, he moved swiftly toward the main building.
Guards patrolled the rooftops above, their eyes scanning the area, but Naruto wasn't worried. His enhanced vision allowed him to predict their movements with ease, slipping past them before they even had a chance to sense his presence. And even if there were chakra sensors, they wouldn't detect him.
Vision had shown him a neat trick—coating his body with the Space Stone's energy. It was an imitation of Limitless, just like his favorite anime character, Gojo. Though weaker, it still served its purpose. His chakra was completely contained within the barrier, making him practically invisible to any sensory ninja.
This is almost too easy.
What made it even better was that the Senju clan's library wasn't nearly as fortified with fuinjutsu as the Uzumaki clan's. The only thing he had to worry about was not getting caught, or else the old man would scold him again for sneaking around.
Once he reached the library, Naruto phased through the outer wall just as another guard made his rounds. The fading crunch of footsteps on the graveled path told him he had at least fifteen minutes.
More than enough time.
The scent of old parchment filled the air as Naruto moved between the towering bookshelves, each one crammed with scrolls detailing various jutsu and clan techniques. But he wasn't here for just any jutsu.
No.
At the very back of the library stood a grand, gold-leafed cabinet.
Chiseled into its doors were two names: Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.
Naruto's eyes gleamed beneath his mask. Jackpot.
"Careful, Naruto," Vision's voice broke the silence.
Naruto nearly jumped. He'd expected Vision to chime in at some point, but that didn't make it any less annoying when the AI spoke without warning.
"The cabinet is most likely blood-warded," Vision continued. "You'll have to be wary."
Naruto's eyes narrowed as the Mind Stone flared to life. Instantly, the invisible fuinjutsu on the cabinet shimmered into existence, glowing a deep crimson.
Sure enough, the seals were no joke. One wrong move, and he'd end up in the hospital for months.
But he wasn't worried.
"Don't sweat it. I got this," Naruto murmured, stepping forward.
Without hesitation, he plunged his hands through the cabinet doors as if they weren't even there. His fingers brushed against two scrolls inside.
Drawing on the power of the Reality Stone, Naruto focused. The energy pulsed through his body as he absorbed the knowledge within the scrolls.
Sweat beaded along his forehead, soaking into the fabric of his mask. Keeping three Infinity Stones active at once was a serious drain on his chakra. His limbs trembled slightly, his breathing growing heavier.
A few minutes later, his hands slipped free of the cabinet. He staggered backward, dropping to one knee as he gasped for air.
Damn... that took way more out of me than I expected.
Nearly three-quarters of his chakra had been burned through. He didn't have the luxury of lingering.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Naruto's stomach clenched. Someone was coming.
"Naruto! Act quickly—slip into the Mirror Dimension," Vision urged. "It'll be easier than relying on the stones again. You're already at your limit."
Naruto scowled beneath his mask. Damn it.
The jingle of keys reached his ears, and he knew he was out of time.
He flicked his index and middle fingers through the air in a vertical slash. Instantly, the space before him cracked, fracturing like a mirror.
Without hesitation, Naruto stepped through the rift.
The moment the portal sealed shut behind him, the library doors swung open, and the lights flickered on.