While Naruto lounged under the shade of a tree, trying to ignore the incessant whispering of the crowd, the Hokage and Iruka quietly calculated the final scores. A few girls had gathered nearby, their voices a little too loud for his liking. At the center of the gossip storm—unsurprisingly—was Ino.
Naruto scoffed to himself. Ino Yamanaka, the self-proclaimed Gossip Queen, always had her nose where it didn't belong. She was as subtle as a paper bomb in a fireworks store.
"What was that?" a brunette girl whispered, glancing around nervously.
Naruto groaned. All he wanted was a peaceful moment to nap, but clearly that wasn't happening anytime soon. He opened one eye, sighed, and pulled out the same book he'd been reading for days.
The girls were staring at him again. Ino leaned in and replied to the brunette, "What are you even talking about?"
"I'm talking about that intense pressure earlier. It felt like someone had a kunai at my throat."
Ino smirked like she'd just been complimented by the Emo King himself. "Oh, that's killer intent. My dad says only hardened shinobi or cold-blooded killers can use it. It's all about the intent to kill—scary stuff."
Naruto rolled his eyes behind the book. Leave it to Ino to stoke the flames. Drama followed her like a shadow on a sunny day. She wasn't entirely wrong, though. Anyone could technically use killer intent, but only those with high chakra reserves, precise control, or a ton of battle experience—or deep, unprocessed trauma—could wield it effectively. Real killer intent came from something raw. Something broken.
He felt the shift in energy around him as the group of girls slowly backed away, clearly trying to put as much distance between them and him as possible. He didn't react, but his ears caught the brunette's next question.
"So... you think he's already killed someone?"
Naruto stilled, the question sinking its hooks into his mind.
His thoughts dragged him back to that night—the night his parents officially erased him from their lives. They'd stood in front of everyone, basking in the cheers, as they named his younger siblings the heirs to their respective clans. Minato had smiled. Kushina had stood proudly. The applause had been deafening.
Naruto had slipped away before the celebration ended, unnoticed by anyone. Not like they would've cared. The pain was too fresh, too sharp. He didn't want comfort. He wanted to feel something—anything—other than the emptiness that gnawed at his chest. Not even Vision could talk him down that night.
He wandered the outskirts of the village, the quiet hum of the forest offering a distraction. That's when he stumbled across them. A small bandit camp.
The smell hit him first—smoke, sweat, and blood.
He didn't get far before danger found him. An arrow whistled past his head, missing him by inches. He pivoted instinctively, only to see a massive axe coming down toward him. He barely dodged in time.
The blade slammed into the grass with a sickening squelch. The burly man behind it grunted, then slammed a heavy boot into Naruto's chest, launching him backward. He crashed into a rotting log, splinters biting into his back as the air was knocked out of him.
"Look what we got here," the leader sneered, his yellowed teeth crooked. "A little rat sneakin' into our camp. What do you say, boys? Let's squash it before it squeals."
Naruto had frozen at first—more from disbelief than fear. But something snapped inside him at that moment. The pain. The betrayal. The rage. It all came rushing to the surface like a dam breaking.
Naruto staggered to his feet, clutching his ribs as five men strutted toward him, weapons drawn and cruel grins stretched across their faces. Their shadows stretched across the forest floor like hungry hands, reaching for him, daring him to move. He narrowed his eyes, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
If they thought he was some lost kid or easy prey—they were about to learn just how wrong they were.
One of the bandits cracked his knuckles while another spun a dagger lazily between his fingers. The leader, a hulking brute with an axe slung over his shoulder, sneered as Naruto's hands blurred into motion.
A flurry of hand signs. The men laughed.
"Would you look at that?" the leader jeered, nodding at Naruto's trembling form. "The brat thinks he can cast a jutsu! That's adorable."
They didn't take him seriously. Most people didn't.
Naruto drew in a deep breath, the air hissing through his teeth as he forced chakra into his lungs. It burned—raw and untamed—but he didn't care. He felt every inch of pain, every sharp reminder that he was alone, unwanted, and forgotten.
The bandits faltered as the air around Naruto grew hot. The smirks died on their faces as he formed the last seal—Tiger—and held it firm in front of his mouth.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" he roared in his head.
He parted his lips and unleashed the blaze.
A roaring inferno burst forth, a swirling sphere of searing flames that lit up the entire clearing. The fireball surged toward the bandits like a comet, devouring everything in its path. Their laughter turned into shrieks of terror—short-lived and pitiful—before silence fell again.
The forest, once still and dark, was now bathed in a reddish glow. Smoke curled into the air. Ash drifted like snowflakes. And in the center of the scorched earth lay five charred bodies, blackened and broken. The stench of burned flesh clung to the air, thick and suffocating.
Naruto stood there, shoulders heaving, chest tight. He didn't feel triumph. He didn't feel guilt.
He just felt... numb.
That night was the first time he took a live. And the last time he ever apologized for surviving in a world who had forgotten him.
Naruto shook the memory out of his head and shot a glare at the group of girls. He didn't owe them an explanation—not about his past, not about anything. If they had a problem, they could shove off. It was his life, not theirs, and he sure as hell wasn't going to apologize for surviving it. They'd learn the hard truths of the world soon enough—if they even graduated.
A sudden shadow fell over him, startling Naruto from his thoughts. He looked up and blinked in surprise.
Hinata Hyuga stood there, fidgeting with her fingers. Her cheeks were dusted a deep red, and her soft lilac eyes refused to meet his.
"Um... hello, Naruto," she whispered, her voice barely louder than the breeze. "H-How are you doing today?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the question but didn't mind Hinata's usual awkwardness. Honestly, he was used to it by now—even if he never fully understood it. She was one of the few people in the class who didn't look down on him. Sometimes she even sat with him during lunch—when Shikamaru was off snoring under a tree and Choji was buried in chip bags like they were treasure chests.
Back when they first met, Hinata used to faint if he so much as looked in her direction. Even one of his shadow clones could send her crashing to the ground. But over time, after becoming actual friends, she crawled out of that timid shell of hers.
Just like him, her family had cast her aside in favor of a younger sibling. The Hyuga Clan, proud and uptight as they were, saw her quiet kindness as a weakness. They didn't realize there was a tiger slumbering behind that soft-spoken smile—a side of Hinata few ever saw.
"Doing alright, I guess," Naruto replied with a sigh as Hinata sat beside him beneath the tree. "Even if most of these idiots are driving me up the wall. I just wanna get this graduation test over with already."
Hinata tucked a strand of dark blue hair behind her ear, her lavender eyes flickering toward the chattering crowd. "Y-You did brilliantly, Naruto! I-I'm sure you'll pass without any problems."
Naruto couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. Weirdly enough, his stomach did a little flutter. Like a kunai just twisted in his gut—but not in a bad way. More like... unexpected.
"You too, Hinata," he said, genuinely. His compliment turned her entire face the color of a ripe tomato.
Huh? Is she getting sick or something?
Vision appeared beside him, arms folded, golden cape swaying gently in the breeze. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes sparkled with amusement.
"She's not sick, Naruto," Vision said, shaking his head with a smirk. "I swear, I taught you the fundamentals of quantum physics, and you mastered them in less than a week. But when it comes to emotions—specifically romantic ones—you're as dense as a boulder."
"Hey! I'm not dumb... just confused," Naruto grumbled, side-eyeing Hinata like he was studying a particularly difficult scroll. He tilted his head. "Why does her face look like it's on fire?"
Vision chuckled again, utterly amused at his host's obliviousness.
Naruto scowled. One day, he thought, I'm gonna figure out how to kick this AI's smug red ass back to whatever dimension he came from.
But for now... he let Hinata sit close. He didn't get it, but her company was kinda nice.
Five minutes later, their little peaceful bubble burst when Iruka called them together. Naruto rose to his feet and extended a hand toward Hinata. Her lavender eyes widened, fixating on his hand for a second, but then she slowly raised her own and accepted his. Naruto couldn't help but notice how soft her hands were—like silk—but her grip held surprising strength.
He hoisted her up easily and walked beside her toward the crowd, a faint blush hidden beneath his cheeks. They found a spot together among the gathered students, waiting for their names to be called.
"Alright, everyone," Iruka announced, holding his clipboard. "I'll call your names, and you'll face Mizuki for two minutes. Even if you lose, it doesn't mean you fail. You'll be graded on how long you can last and how well you fight. Naturally, Mizuki won't go all out, so don't panic."
"First up, Shino Aburame."
And so began another round of low-key torture—watching the civilian kids try their best while the clan kids strutted around like peacocks, cocky and overconfident. Naruto groaned under his breath when Sakura's name was called.
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Sakura pumped her fist in the air, deafening everyone nearby. Then she turned to Sasuke with a dramatic flourish. "Watch me, Sasuke-kun! I'll pummel Mizuki-sensei into the ground for you!"
Naruto snorted from behind his book when he caught the flicker of pain flash across Sasuke's permanent scowl. In return, he got a withering glare from the Uchiha.
Let's just say the fight was... something.
Sure, Sakura had top-tier chakra control—she subconsciously reinforced her punches—but she was slow, and her academy-style taijutsu left much to be desired. Thirty seconds in, she overextended a wild punch. Mizuki dodged and delivered a swift neck chop that knocked her out cold. Two healers carried her off the stage and into the medical tent, her shrieking mother right behind them.
Then Iruka called Hinata's name. She squeaked, visibly startled, and jogged up to the ring. She took her stance opposite Mizuki, but something felt off. Her footing was unbalanced, and her strikes came with hesitation. Naruto narrowed his eyes.
He didn't miss how Hiashi Hyuga watched with a face full of disdain, arms folded, his expression radiating disappointment. As usual, it made Naruto's blood boil. That man couldn't see past his pride to notice his own daughter's heart. All he saw was weakness.
Naruto's fists clenched. Then Mizuki landed a solid hit to Hinata's abdomen, knocking her back. That was it.
"HINATA!" Naruto's voice thundered over the crowd. Her eyes locked onto his. "Don't let Mizuki-sensei win. I know you can do better. I believe in you!"
Sasuke scoffed loudly enough to draw attention. "Of course, a loser like you would believe in another loser like her. Weaklings like you should stick together—it's the only way you'll survive."
A few students laughed. Most didn't—still shaken from Naruto's earlier killer intent.
Naruto rubbed his face, more annoyed than angry. "Oh, shut it, Sasuke. Go suck a dick if you've got nothing better to do."
A few students choked, and the fangirls erupted in shrill protests, swearing up and down that Sasuke wasn't gay.
Back in the ring, something shifted. Hinata's stance realigned—firmer, more precise. Her eyes sharpened. She started deflecting Mizuki's attacks with rapid palms, her Gentle Fist strikes forcing Mizuki to stay light on his feet. Just as she was about to land a hit on his abdomen, the bell rang.
Hinata's shoulders slumped. She glanced at her father and shrank at the sight of his ever-present disapproval. Head lowered, she walked back to Naruto.
"You did great, Hinata," Naruto said gently. His cerulean eyes sparkled with quiet pride.
Hinata blinked. "But... I didn't even land a hit."
Naruto smiled. "Doesn't matter. You're not even a genin yet. No one expects you to beat a chūnin instructor."
Hinata's eyes lit up as she smiled—blushing like a tomato. Naruto gave her a sideways grin before turning his attention to the next kid, who was knocked out in under fifteen seconds.
Then came Kiba, who swaggered into the ring with Akamaru perched on his head. The little white puppy barked once, excited, while Kiba winked at a few girls and blew a kiss at Mito.
Mito swatted it away and shouted something about fleas.
Kiba's clan was known for its brutal taijutsu, and it showed. He gave Mizuki a solid challenge, lasting the entire round with only a few bruises and a cocky smirk.
Next was Conan—Naruto's quiet cousin. He strode into the ring with calm confidence.
Naruto had to admit the kid had talent. There was no doubt Uncle Hando had trained him thoroughly, using his status as clan elder to give Conan every advantage. The boy fought with precision and speed, his movements calculated. When the bell rang, Conan was still standing—sweaty but upright. The crowd actually clapped for him as he walked off the stage.