A gentle breeze swept across the ninja academy's playground, kicking up dust that settled on a blond kid's head.
In front of him, the kids who'd passed the exam were clinging to their parents, begging for praise and soaking up the love.
The sunset stretched long shadows over everything, splitting the world in two—one half bright and colorful, the other half just him, alone in the dark.
"That kid's…"
"Yeah, it's him. Heard he was the only one who failed today!"
"Pfft, serves him right! My kid says he's got a crush on that Sannin's disciple~"
"Ha! Talk about delusional!"
The grown-ups' whispers hit like poisoned needles, stabbing deep into the blond boy's heart.
He yanked his goggles down over his eyes. The lenses fogged up with something wet.
Tap.
Footsteps. Naruto looked up—his teacher, Mizuki, stood beside him.
Another gust of wind rattled the old swing set.
Then, just like that, Naruto and Mizuki were gone.
Watching from the edge of the crowd, hidden under the shadow of his Hokage hat, was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
---
That night.
The darkness swallowed Naruto's blond hair as he slipped out of the village.
He leaped from tree to tree outside the gates, a massive scroll strapped to his back.
The Scroll of Seals.
Mizuki-sensei had said it: master the jutsu inside, and everyone would finally accept him. He'd become Hokage!
And Sakura… I'll prove I'm good enough to stand next to you!
He unrolled the scroll in a clearing. The very first technique? The one he sucked at the most.
"Whyyy?!"
His wail echoed through the forest, drawing two ninja who'd been tracking him.
---
Meanwhile…
Sakura had just finished dinner with her parents and the Yamanaka family. She stepped into her bedroom, slipped out of her yukata, and changed into pajamas, ready to crawl under her favorite blanket.
Knock knock.
The glass balcony door rattled.
Four ANBU in animal masks stood in perfect formation outside her room.
"Senior Tenzo, has anyone ever told you you're a total vibe-killer?"
The lead ANBU didn't even blink. His voice was flat: "Hokage's orders. Show the power of the new generation to anyone eyeing the village. Dead or alive—doesn't matter."
"Yeah, yeah. Tell the old man I'm on it."
Grumbling, she threw on the ninja gear the ANBU had brought, stepped onto the balcony, and flung a kunai with everything she had.
BOOM!
A violent blast of wind exploded outward.
CRACK!
The kunai streaked across the night sky like a burning meteor, locked onto the spot her Observation Haki had pinpointed.
On the ground, Iruka threw himself over Naruto, shielding him from the giant shuriken Mizuki had hurled.
"Cough!"
Iruka spat blood. Tears mixed with it as they dripped onto Naruto's face.
"I'm sorry, Naruto… If I'd been a better teacher, you wouldn't have to go through this…"
Behind him, Mizuki saw the flicker of doubt in Naruto's eyes and twisted the knife.
"How pathetic. Iruka's always hated you—the demon fox!"
"You think the village turned on you by accident? Someone made you an outcast!"
"And that monster at the academy—Sakura Haruno? She's just a leash the higher-ups use to keep you in check!"
"Monster watching the demon fox. You two are perfect for each other!"
Naruto's face crumpled. He looked like a wounded puppy, even staring at Iruka with wary eyes.
Why?! Why?!
All he wanted was to be accepted. How was that wrong?
But why was he the demon fox? Why did he have to eat this crap every day?!
—If only they weren't here…
The dark thought scared him. He scrambled to his feet and bolted, ignoring Iruka's shouts.
"Gotcha!"
Mizuki chased after him, hurling another giant shuriken. The spinning blade screamed through the air.
Then—CLANG!
A kunai fell from the sky, shattering the shuriken into pieces.
Both men froze.
Whoosh!
A flash of movement. Stepping out of a ripple of light and shadow was Sakura, dressed in black ninja gear.
"Naruto!"
Moonlight, rainbows, and a smiling girl—it was a scene you'd never forget.
But Naruto stumbled back.
"S-Sakura…?"
Every cell in his body screamed: Run. She's bad news. The village sent her to control you.
He swallowed hard. "…Are you… a leash?"
[…]
For a split second, Sakura almost laughed.
She was pissed.
She'd dragged herself out of bed in the middle of the night to save this little blond idiot, and that's what he asks?
I'll turn you INTO a leash, you—!
Her fist (the patented Personality-Correction Punch) flew. Naruto took it square in the face and crumpled, pale as a ghost.
She turned to Mizuki, still perched in the tree.
"Yo, Mizuki-sensei. Picking on my friend? Bold move."
Mizuki's eyes darted, scanning escape routes.
Once he realized Sakura was alone, he gathered chakra to bolt.
Then he saw it.
CRACK—BOOM!
Dark lightning exploded from nowhere. A storm roared in, wild and unstoppable.
Conqueror's Haki rolled across the forest like a king's decree: Move, and you die.
Sweat dripped down Mizuki's face. He knew he wasn't getting away. His expression twisted into a snarl.
"Quit acting noble! You're just another power-hungry bitch after the fox's strength!"
"Everyone wants power. Don't pretend you're above it!"
Naruto's face darkened. Bitterness clawed at his chest. His fingers dug into the dirt.
"Ambition that depends on others is lower than frog piss!"
"You can't even gather your own will, you trash. Don't lecture me."
Sakura scoffed, arms crossed. She glanced down.
"Naruto, you planning to nap on the ground all night?"
A bitter laugh. "Whatever… I'm just a tool you're all fighting over."
The cold dirt stung. His blue eyes trembled, drowned in despair.
Sakura grabbed his collar and hauled him up, forcing him to look at Mizuki.
"Yeah, ninja are tools."
"That's the truth. And right there's what happens when you chase being used—look at him."
"So tell me, Uzumaki Naruto—do you want to end up like that? Or be a tool at all?"
Conqueror's Haki turned solid. Dark lightning cracked the ground and splintered trees.
Naruto's mind buzzed. Her presence forced him to face it.
He stared at Mizuki—face twisted with greed, spewing venom. Ugly. Pathetic.
"No… Even if I die, I'll never become that!"
His voice was young, but clear. Pure instinct burned bright—he rejected the "ninja way" with everything he had.
"That's it! As long as your will sings free, a clean soul will never be a tool. So go, Naruto!"
Sakura's smile was radiant. She let go.
Like a tiger cub set loose, Naruto formed the seal—Tiger.
Tears glistened in his blue eyes.
Massive chakra erupted. Memories flashed—Iruka, Sakura, Kiba, Choji, Ino, Hinata, Shikamaru, Shino, that smug Sasuke…
The acceptance and bonds he'd fought for—they'd been there all along.
Why doubt them because of a creep like Mizuki? I'm such an idiot!
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
POOF! POOF! POOF!
The Uzumaki bloodline's insane chakra reserves went wild.
Hundreds of solid clones filled the forest—orange blurs everywhere.
"Here we go!"
The real Naruto grinned, cocky. Then the tide hit.
Fists. Kicks. Chaos.
Mizuki blocked a few at first, popping clones left and right.
But more came. And more.
By the end of the night, he was a bloody, broken mess in the middle of the clearing.
"Naruto!"
Iruka, leaning on a tree and coughing blood, called out.
"Iruka-sensei!"
Naruto ran over, helping him stand.
"Naruto…"
Iruka smiled, warm and proud. He'd seen everything.
He untied his forehead protector and tied it around Naruto's head.
"Congratulations. You graduated."
Dawn broke over the horizon, light cutting through the misty forest and washing over Naruto.
He threw his arms around Iruka, sobbing. His lonely soul finally found its home.
Sakura didn't interrupt. She just grabbed the half-dead Mizuki by the collar.
Fun family moment over. Time for pirate hours.
"Talk. Where's your contact?"
Against a village like Konoha, pulling a stunt like tricking Naruto into stealing the scroll meant Mizuki had an exit strategy.
And in the ninja world, only a few players could handle Konoha's wrath and want the Scroll of Seals.
"Wanna… know? Beg."
His swollen face leaked a mocking laugh.
Sakura shrugged. "Doesn't matter. They'll come close to the village anyway."
She hoisted Mizuki into the air—and yeeted him skyward.
Giant Clan teen strength + Boil Release: Unrivaled Strength = instant 600-meter launch.
"Big enough blast, everyone'll see. Dead or alive, right~?"
Her smile was sunshine and murder. A massive ice greatsword rested on her shoulder.
For intimidation? Gotta go with the classic.
"Elbaf Spear – Weald!!"
A blinding beam erupted from the forest depths, roaring past every hidden watcher.
Colors bled from the world.
Then—BOOM.
A sky-piercing spear of light and Haki linked heaven and earth. Shockwaves exploded outward from Sakura.
Mizuki? Vaporized. One with the Land of Fire's soil now.
Miles outside the village, a group of cloaked ninja using sensory jutsu stared in silence.
Finally, their leader—a woman—whispered:
"Mission failed. Retreat."