Four years had passed in the blink of an eye for Naruto. At least, that's what others would say. Naruto, however, would scoff at the idea. Those years had felt like an eternity, a never-ending cycle of frustration and restraint. Living in his siblings' shadows had been a pain in the neck, and more times than he could count, he'd fought the urge to blast them into a grimy paste.
Menma and Mito were insufferable—spoiled, arrogant, and coddled by everyone around them. And they weren't the only ones. Most other clan kids were just as bad, basking in the glory of their prestigious bloodlines and acting as if they were superior just for existing. Only Shikamaru and Choji had seen past the act. They didn't care about family status, and to Naruto's relief, they became friends.
But nothing boiled his blood more than Sasuke Uchiha. Sasuke, who sneered at him in class. Sasuke, who mocked him at every opportunity. Sasuke, who believed Naruto was beneath him, an untalented fool barely worth his attention. The worst part? Naruto could have kicked him through a wall without breaking a sweat.
But he held back. Because he had to.
As promised to the old man, Naruto played his role flawlessly. He became the joke of the Shinobi Academy and the bane of the Uzukaze clan. Not that he cared about them. His family continued to ignore him, which wasn't much of a surprise. If anything, he'd long since given up on expecting anything from them.
At least he had Namori, Vision, and the old man.
Namori, who still nagged him about eating his vegetables and kept him grounded. Vision, who trained him tirelessly, making sure he didn't waste his potential. And the Hokage, who, despite his flaws, kept unwanted eyes away from him.
For most of his time at the Academy, Naruto hardly even attended. Instead, he sent his wood clone to take his place, only bothering to show up for tests and taijutsu training. Why waste his time on a mockery of a shinobi school that hadn't even taught students how to walk on walls yet?
The only good things about the Academy were his friends and his sensei, Iruka. Iruka, who didn't treat Naruto any differently from his siblings, took him out for ramen at Ichiraku's, and it was Iruka who saw him—not as a failure, not as a nuisance, but as a student.
And for that alone, Naruto supposed the Academy wasn't a total waste.
✨🟣🔵🟢🟡🔴🟠✨
Naruto yawned and stretched out, the satisfying pops of his shoulders and arms echoing in the tidy room. Yes, tidy. After suffering one too many whacks to the head from Namori, cleaning had become second nature. But today, his room felt emptier than usual.
His books? Gone. His collectibles? Packed away. And if someone peeked into his closet, they'd find it completely bare.
This was it. Today was the day.
Dragging himself out of bed, Naruto shuffled into the bathroom, took care of his business, washed his hands, and brushed his teeth. He glanced up at his reflection, a slow grin forming.
Graduation Day. No more pretending. No more acting like a goofball. And—most importantly—no more being part of a toxic clan. That's right. He was moving out. And if anyone wondered how he could afford it? Easy.
During his Academy years, Naruto had wanted to practice calligraphy for his fuinjutsu studies, but he'd barely had enough funds. His pathetic pocket money from his parents had been laughable at best. So, he had done what any desperate kid would do—begged the Third Hokage. With his signature "Super-Puppy-Dog-Eyes Jutsu," the old man had caved.
Naruto had gotten special permission to use his shadow clones for extra D-rank missions, raking in a steady stream of cash. Safe to say, it had paid off. Not only had he earned enough to fund his fuinjutsu training, but he'd also saved up to buy himself a ratty little apartment in the Red-Light District.
Not exactly the best place for a teenager, but with the power of the Reality Stone and a few well-placed seals, he had transformed the rundown apartment into something truly livable. There was plenty of space for him—and for Namori.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Naruto walked over to a crimson-red trunk sitting against the wall. He knelt before it, lifting the lid with deliberate slowness. Inside lay his new outfit. A sharp grin spread across his face as he clapped his hands together, barely resisting the urge to cackle like a madman.
It had taken years to create this masterpiece. Something completely unique. Something no one else had ever seen.
With Vision's vast knowledge and Naruto's ingenuity, they had crafted a revolutionary material—nano-fabric that responded to his will. It could morph, reshape, and even shift colors to a certain extent. The sleek black and silvery fabric felt as soft as silk, yet it was harder than steel.
It had taken countless hours of brainstorming, combining fuinjutsu seals and the Reality Stone's power, but they had done it. Naruto's grin widened as he ran his fingers over the fabric.
Today wasn't just about graduation. It was about freedom. And he was finally ready to step into the world on his own terms.
Years of intense training had finally paid off for Naruto.
He was no longer the short, scrawny kid trailing behind his so-called peers—if he could even call them that. At 5'7", he was taller than most of them now, with a lean yet muscular build. His six-pack was well-defined, his arms toned, and—to his horror—both Vision and Namori had far too much fun teasing him about his bubble butt. Apparently, it jiggled.
He did not need to know that.
His eyes remained the same striking cerulean blue, but his hair had undergone a drastic transformation. It had turned snow-white, with vivid orange streaks running through the fringes. Sue him—he still loved orange. But that didn't mean he wanted to run around looking like a walking traffic cone in that hideous jumpsuit. Not that anyone outside of Namori, Vision, and the Hokage had ever seen what he really looked like.
To the world, he was still the blond-haired shrimp in the obnoxious orange getup, sprinting through the village, pulling pranks, and acting the fool. All thanks to a simple henge.
Naruto let out a sigh, his fingers gliding over the smooth fabric in his trunk. The Mind Stone embedded in his forehead flashed briefly, and the material came alive. Like serpents, the fabric coiled around his arms, winding up over his shoulders, down his torso, and wrapping his legs in a tight embrace. He stood still as the material shifted and unraveled, weaving itself together with precision.
The transformation began.
The shiny black material covering his lower body split and reshaped, morphing into sleek cargo pants. Two circular orange seals adorned the outer thighs—his personal touch. The fabric around his torso tightened, hugging his well-toned abs before forming a sleeveless black shirt that fit like a second skin. More bands of nano-fabric wove together, layering over his shirt to create a hooded, sleeveless haori that cascaded down to his thighs. Black as midnight, it was adorned with intricate orange patterns of leaves and branches, reminiscent of the forests surrounding Konoha.
The final touch? At the back of the haori, glowing softly in vibrant orange, was a single kanji— Infinity. Thin bands of nano-fabric slithered around his forearms, hardening into sleek, reinforced bracers capable of deflecting a blade strike. And to tie it all together, an orange belt of woven nano-fabric coiled snugly around his waist, forming two cris-crossing buckles at the front.
Naruto flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders as his outfit settled perfectly against his body. This was it. His true self is finally ready to step into the world.
✨🟣🔵🟢🟡🔴🟠✨
Naruto quietly shut his bedroom door behind him, the faint click barely audible in the stillness of the early morning. Outside, the sun had yet to fully rise, its golden-orange hues only beginning to creep across the dark sky. The estate was silent, the air crisp with the lingering chill of night.
He padded down the long corridor, his footsteps light against the polished wooden floors, until he came to a stop in front of Namori's door. His surrogate mother had caught a mild case of the flu, and while he knew she valued her independence, he also knew her well enough to expect that she would drag herself out of bed just to make sure he was fed. He couldn't allow that.
Raising his hand, he knocked softly.
"Come in, Watashi no Bōya," came Namori's familiar, slightly hoarse voice from within.
A smile tugged at Naruto's lips. No matter how many times she called him that, it never failed to warm his heart. She wasn't his birth mother, but for all intents and purposes, she was his real mother—the one who cared for him, scolded him, and loved him unconditionally. That's why he had told her his secret.
At first, Namori had been furious—furious at his recklessness, at the danger he had unknowingly placed himself in. But after the initial shock wore off, she recognized that this was something far greater than just an accident. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was some twisted blessing from the heavens, but regardless, it was now a part of him. Only after the old man—the Hokage—and Vision reassured her that they would watch over him did she finally accept the reality of his situation.
Pushing open the door, Naruto stepped inside and quietly approached her bedside. The dim morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. He sat down next to her, reaching out to take her hand.
Her palm was warm, calloused from years of training, yet still gentle. He traced his thumb absentmindedly over the faint scars on her knuckles, a habit he had developed over the years.
Namori's complexion was paler than usual, her nose tinged red, but despite her obvious discomfort, she still managed to smile at him.
"How are you feeling today, Kaasan?" Naruto asked, his voice softer than usual as he rubbed the back of her hand.
Namori's lips curled into a teasing grin. "A little better... So, you came here just to check if I was well enough to make you breakfast?"
Naruto scoffed, rolling his eyes. "No way. I'm old enough to take care of myself. I just wanted to see if you needed anything from the apothecary."
Namori chuckled and leaned forward, ruffling his already messy hair. "No need. I have enough flu medicine to last me. Don't you fret, I'll be fine." Her expression turned fond as she continued, "You just focus on your graduation test today."
Naruto perked up at the mention of the test, squeezing her hand lightly. "Don't worry, Kaasan, I'm gonna mop the floor with them and ace the test!"
Before he could react, Namori flicked him on the forehead, eliciting a sharp yelp. He scowled at her, but there was no real annoyance behind it.
"Don't get cocky," she chided, though her eyes twinkled with amusement. "Listen to your instructors, do your best, and—more importantly—don't reveal your true strength. Keep playing the fool, as we planned."
Naruto sighed but nodded, rubbing his forehead where she had flicked him. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll keep my head down."
Satisfied, Namori reached up and gently cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing against the whisker-like marks on his skin. "Good boy," she murmured before letting her hand drop back onto the blanket.
Naruto hesitated for a second before leaning forward and pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. "Take care and don't overexert yourself, Kaasan. I'll see you later."
He stood up and made his way to the door, glancing back one last time before stepping out and closing it behind him.
With that done, he turned and walked back to his own room. He still needed to grab a few extra pieces of equipment before heading out.
Today was going to be an important day.