Next Match: Naruto vs. Kiba
Naruto heard his name and Kiba's called together. A grin spread across his face as he confidently stepped onto the sparring platform. Slowly, Kiba followed.
In the crowd, Izaroi looked a bit disappointed upon realizing he wouldn't be fighting Naruto. He shook his head slightly, hiding his feelings.
Meanwhile, Hinata's eyes, which had been fixed only on Izaroi, noticed his disappointment. He wanted to fight Naruto... That must mean Naruto is strong... she thought. If Izaroi-kun wants to fight him, then I have to become stronger too... so that one day I can support him. Her cheeks flushed pink at the thought.
"I'm going to defeat you today, Naruto!" Kiba shouted as he crouched into a beast-like stance, his eyes burning with determination. Without hesitation, he rushed forward.
Boom! Boom!
Seconds later, Kiba lay on the ground, unconscious.
"Winner: Naruto!" Iruka announced.
Naruto and Kiba got up, formed the sealing gesture with their hands as a show of respect, and walked off the platform. Their match didn't attract much attention—after all, some of the more popular boys were still yet to fight.
"Next match: Sasuke Uchiha vs. Haruto."
Both stepped up onto the platform.
"Sasuke-kun, beat him!"
"Yeah, beat him up!"
"Haruto-kun, don't lose!"
Supporters of both sides were screaming from the crowd. As expected, Sakura was cheering for Sasuke.
She hasn't changed at all. Still fawning over him like in the original timeline, Naruto thought with a sigh.
Whatever. Not my problem.
Without drawing attention, Naruto quietly slipped away from the group and headed towards the washroom. Iruka noticed him leaving, but since he was headed to the restroom, he didn't say anything.
Inside, Naruto shut the door behind him. Making sure no one was nearby using his Kagura Mind's Eye, he confirmed the coast was clear. Satisfied, he formed a hand sign, and a perfect shadow clone appeared beside him.
"You know what to do," Naruto said.
"I know, I know. Did you forget we're the same?" the clone replied with a smirk, silencing the original.
Naruto nodded. After a short wait, he left the washroom and rejoined the group at the training ground.
At that moment, the match between Izaroi and Kaito Uchiha was taking place. It ended in a draw, with both boys clenching their jaws in frustration as they walked off the platform.
"Don't worry, Izaroi-kun. You'll definitely beat him next time," Hinata said softly, only loud enough for Izaroi—and Naruto—to hear.
Naruto heard, but didn't care.
This isn't the time to focus on a little loli's crush, he thought, dismissing the idea and keeping his mind on his real goal.
Soon, the final bell rang and the students began heading home.
As always, at the school gate, the "cool" boys—Izaroi, Sasuke, and Kaito—were surrounded by groups of young girls, all asking to walk home with them.
Meanwhile, Naruto, Haruto, and a few other boys walked alone.
"Damn it! One day I'll beat all of them!" Kiba shouted, furious at the attention the trio received.
Later that Day…
Naruto returned to his apartment and went to sleep, curious to see whether his plan would work.
Meanwhile, at the Ninja Academy…
Naruto's shadow clone, now transformed into a random upperclassman, waited until their dismissal time—about thirty minutes after the lower grades. Using the Transformation Jutsu again, the clone perfectly disguised itself as Iruka-sensei using refined chakra control.
He pulled a box from his storage scroll and began making his way toward Haruto's house, which was located in a quieter, civilian area. For an orphan of war, Haruto's living conditions were modest but decent.
Upon reaching the house, the clone knocked.
Tak-tak...
"Iruka-sensei?" Haruto's voice came from inside.
Inside the house, Haruto had just been chatting in his strange "group chat."
[Group Leader]: You guys wait a sec, my home tutor is at the door.
[Madara Uchiha]: It's not like we can go anywhere.
[Hashirama Senju]: Yeah, same.
[Tobirama Senju]: Same.
[Izuna Uchiha]: Whatever.
Haruto sighed at the usual nonsense and closed the group window.
Opening the door, he smiled. "Oh! Iruka-sensei."
"Haruto-kun," the clone said warmly, handing him the box. "This material is provided by the academy—only for the top students. Use it to further your training."
Haruto's eyes lit up. "Really? That's awesome!" He accepted the box without a second thought.
"Goodbye, Haruto-kun. I have other students to visit," the clone added. "Take care, study hard, and don't waste your time with kids like Naruto. Remember, where the wind blows, the leaves fall, and the fire burns—the Will of Fire is what every true shinobi must carry in their heart!"
He then proceeded to give a full 15-minute speech about the Will of Fire before finally taking his leave.
Once Haruto shut the door, his expression darkened.
"Bullshit... You think I'm Naruto? I won't get brainwashed by this garbage," he muttered under his breath.
He looked at the box curiously. "Let's see what the great ninja academy has sent me…"
Opening it, the first thing he saw was a pamphlet titled:
"The Will of Fire"
He immediately tossed it aside.
Underneath was a folded, handwritten letter. As he read the opening line:
"Hello, fellow traveler..."
His body froze. His instincts screamed.
Before he could react—
BOOM!
The first explosion came from the scroll inside his ninja pouch—crippling him instantly.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A chain reaction followed—hundreds of explosive tags hidden inside the box detonated, ripping through the house and shaking the surrounding district.
Flames roared through the area. Nearby ninja rushed toward the blast site. The Uchiha Police Force, ANBU, and even the Hokage's Office were alerted within minutes. The entire village went into high alert.
But no one even considered Naruto.
He was still fast asleep in his apartment.
Until...