"Has Naruto not gone out for half a month?"
"It seems so…"
Upon hearing the ANBU's report, the face of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, grew solemn.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki shutting himself away—if this continued, it could spell disaster for the village.
Without delay, Hiruzen made his way to Naruto's small home.
"Naruto, what have you been doing these days?"
"Ah, Grandpa Third!" Naruto's face lit up. "I decided to start working out seriously. I'm following a training program!"
Seeing Naruto's sunny expression, Hiruzen felt relieved. At least the boy wasn't sinking into despair as he had feared.
"Oh? Let me see this training plan of yours."
"One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, one hundred squats every day… and a ten-kilometer run!"
Naruto proudly showed him the paper, covered in crooked handwriting. Hiruzen blinked. To him, it looked like the scribbles of a child, yet Naruto's enthusiasm was undeniable.
The Hokage could feel it—Naruto's spirit wasn't broken by the villagers' cruelty. Instead, the boy was lifting himself up with determination. That alone warmed the old man's heart.
"This plan is incredible, Grandpa Third! I just know it's the ultimate, unbeatable training method!"
"Yes, yes, Naruto. That's amazing," Hiruzen said kindly, humoring him. For a three-year-old, the regimen was indeed tough, but to a ninja, it was nothing extraordinary. Still, he wouldn't dampen Naruto's excitement.
Before Hiruzen left, Naruto looked up at him, eyes shining with hope.
"Grandpa Third… can you teach me the Transformation Jutsu? If I learn it, maybe when I buy things outside, people won't throw me out anymore."
Hiruzen fell silent, studying Naruto's earnest eyes. They were so clear, so full of longing, shimmering with innocence and resolve.
"…Very well," Hiruzen finally said with a smile. "I'll have someone send you scrolls on Chakra Extraction and the Three Basic Techniques."
He left in good spirits, comforted that the boy's will was unshaken.
Naruto, too, was in high spirits. He touched the sapphire statue hanging from his chest, remembering what had happened.
That day, when the villagers had shown him such hatred—hatred so deep it had nearly turned murderous—Naruto hadn't understood why. He had gone to bed with confusion burning in his heart.
But then he had dreamed. In the dream, someone studied endlessly, learning skill after skill, memory after memory, until the images blurred. Naruto felt as if he, too, was experiencing that same learning.
It was like his very soul had been reshaped.
Though he forgot most of it upon waking, Naruto's heart felt clearer. The pain of yesterday no longer crushed him. He could face it.
More importantly—he discovered the statue's secret.
It could grant wishes.
As long as the wish wasn't too impossible, if Naruto wished before bed, there was a high chance it would come true by morning.
When he had wished for his forehead wound to heal faster, it had been 70% closed the next day. The speed was unbelievable.
From that moment, the sapphire statue became his most treasured possession. He tied it to a rope and wore it around his neck, never taking it off—not even to bathe.
And then, half a month ago, he made his boldest wish yet:
"I wish for a training plan that will make me stronger and stronger—so strong that no one will ever insult me again. So strong that everyone will have to look up to me with respect. I will become their only light."
He knew he couldn't change others. Not even the Hokage's orders could erase their hatred. But himself—that, he could change.
"As Heaven moves with strength, the noble man strives for self-improvement."
Naruto muttered the words, fire blazing in his eyes, clutching the paper that held his "invincible" training plan.
It was called the Saitama Training Method. A reward granted by his wish.
"Uzumaki Naruto—it's time to work hard!"
"You will succeed. You'll become stronger and stronger, the strongest in the ninja world. You'll become Hokage of Konoha, the one everyone must look up to. And then you'll stand before the villagers and say—You were all wrong.I, Uzumaki Naruto, am not a fox!"
His blood boiled with passion, the shadows of his past swept away.
"Ninety-seven… ninety-eight… ninety-nine… one hundred!"
With a groan, Naruto collapsed to the floor, his small body soaked with sweat. It was only the third day of training.
But after ten seconds of rest, he dragged himself up and stumbled outside.
He ran through the streets of Konoha, staggering, sweat dripping, but his steps remained steady.
One hundred crunches.One hundred push-ups.One hundred squats.A ten-kilometer run.
Every day, without fail.
As long as I don't die… I'll train to the brink of death.
"Is that kid insane?" whispered the ANBU observing from the shadows. Watching Naruto push himself to the very edge, the hardened shinobi couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect.
By night, Naruto collapsed onto his bed, every muscle screaming in pain.
He was still only three years old. His body was fragile, his limits constantly pushed. He was breaking himself apart.
But even as he lay there, exhausted, he whispered, "I wish… tomorrow… give me something to heal my body…"
Before he could even finish, sleep took him.
The next morning, Naruto's eyes opened to find a crystal-clear ruby-red bottle glowing on his bedside. The liquid inside shone like liquid fire.
A potion.A gift from the Wishing System.A miracle of recovery.
His training had truly begun.
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