The morning sun rose over the Hidden Leaf Village, its golden light washing over tiled roofs and narrow streets. The air smelled of dew and fresh bread from the morning stalls. The village had slowly rebuilt after the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, but scars still remained — both on the ground and in people's hearts.
Among the sounds of merchants opening their shops and children running to the academy, one small boy walked alone. His blond hair caught the sunlight like fire, but his eyes were dull with sadness. His name was Naruto Uzumaki — though few people ever called him by name.
The people whispered instead.
"There goes that boy again," one woman murmured while sweeping her porch.
"Keep your distance," said another. "He's bad luck."
"Did you hear? He smiles when he sees blood. Just like the demon fox."
Naruto kept his eyes down. He didn't understand why everyone stared at him that way. He hadn't done anything wrong. He only wanted someone to say hello, to smile, to treat him like a real person. But the looks he got were always the same — fear, anger, or disgust.
When he walked into the small corner store to buy milk, the shopkeeper frowned.
"You again?" the man said coldly. "I told you not to come here so early."
"But… I only need milk," Naruto said softly.
The man dropped the carton on the counter. "Then pay and leave."
Naruto put his few coins down and grabbed the milk quickly. As he turned to go, he heard the man mutter, "Monster kid."
Outside, Naruto blinked hard. He didn't want to cry. He had promised himself he wouldn't. "Monsters don't cry," he whispered, trying to make himself believe it.
His small apartment stood at the edge of the village, near an old abandoned training field. The building was cracked and smelled of smoke, but it was all he had. The landlord, a loud woman who drank too much, always shouted at him for no reason. He stayed quiet and avoided her when he could.
That morning, he placed the milk on his small table beside a half-empty pack of instant noodles. The apartment was silent except for the ticking of a cheap clock and the hum of wind through the window. Naruto looked around. He had a bed, a blanket, one pan, and a wooden spoon with a broken handle. No toys. No family pictures. Nothing that said someone cared for him.
Still, he smiled faintly to himself. "Breakfast time," he said in a bright tone that didn't match his tired face. He poured the milk into a cracked bowl, added some cereal crumbs he had saved, and ate slowly. It wasn't tasty, but it was food.
When he finished, he looked at a small calendar on the wall. Today was his first week back at the Ninja Academy.
Naruto dressed in a faded orange shirt and blue shorts. His shoes were worn out, and his forehead protector was still a dream for the future — he wasn't even close to graduating yet. He locked his door and ran toward the academy, hoping maybe today would be different.
At the Academy
The academy was full of noise and laughter. Children talked, played, and compared their new training tools. Naruto stood near the door, unsure whether to join them. He saw Sasuke Uchiha, sitting near the window, quiet and serious. The girls surrounded him, whispering and giggling. Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka were already arguing over who Sasuke liked more.
Naruto smiled nervously. He wanted to talk, but before he could take a step, two boys noticed him.
"Hey, look who showed up," said Kiba Inuzuka, smirking with his small puppy Akamaru on his head. "The ghost boy."
"Don't call me that!" Naruto shouted, his voice cracking.
Kiba laughed. "Then what should I call you? Demon boy? Or maybe 'loser of the Leaf'?"
Naruto clenched his fists. He wanted to hit Kiba, but he remembered the last time he fought back — the teachers had scolded him, not the others. He had spent a week cleaning chalkboards after class.
Iruka-sensei entered the room then. His calm voice immediately changed the air. "Alright, everyone, take your seats! Class is starting!"
Naruto sighed in relief. He liked Iruka Umino. Iruka was the only teacher who treated him kindly. He was strict, yes, but his kindness showed in small ways — an extra rice ball at lunch, or a gentle pat on the head when no one was looking.
"Today," Iruka began, "we'll review basic transformation jutsu. Remember, chakra control is key. You can't just force it."
He demonstrated by forming a hand seal and instantly turning into the Third Hokage. The class clapped. "Now, who wants to try first?"
Sakura's hand shot up immediately. She performed the jutsu perfectly, transforming into Iruka for a second before returning to normal. The class clapped again.
"Very good, Sakura," Iruka said with a proud smile.
Then, Naruto raised his hand. "Can I try, sensei?"
The room fell silent. Some students snickered. Iruka nodded. "Of course, Naruto. Come forward."
Naruto walked to the front nervously. He formed the seals carefully, whispering, "Transform!"
A puff of smoke appeared. When it cleared, Naruto was supposed to look like Iruka — but instead, he looked like a short, chubby version with huge teeth and messy hair. The class burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha! Look at that!" Kiba shouted, falling off his chair. Even Sakura laughed, covering her mouth.
Naruto's face turned red. "Hey, stop laughing! It's not that bad!"
Iruka smiled gently, trying not to laugh himself. "Not bad, Naruto. Your chakra balance is strong, but your control needs practice. We'll work on it after class, alright?"
Naruto's embarrassment faded into a small spark of happiness. Iruka believed in him. That was enough to keep trying.
After Class
When the bell rang, everyone packed their things and ran off in groups. Naruto stayed behind, cleaning the chalkboard like Iruka had asked. It was quiet except for the sound of his sponge scraping the board.
Iruka stood beside him. "You did well today, Naruto."
Naruto looked surprised. "But everyone laughed…"
"Let them laugh," Iruka said, crossing his arms. "They'll learn someday that being different doesn't mean being weak. You've got heart — that matters more than anything."
Naruto's eyes brightened a little. "You really think I can become Hokage one day?"
Iruka chuckled. "If anyone can surprise this village, it's you."
For the first time that day, Naruto smiled honestly. "Thanks, Iruka-sensei."
As they walked out together, Naruto saw parents waiting for their children. Sakura's mother hugged her tightly. Kiba's mom patted him on the head and gave him a rice ball. Even quiet Hinata was met by a kind Hyuga guard who escorted her home.
Naruto stopped walking. "Sensei," he said softly, "why doesn't anyone wait for me?"
Iruka hesitated. "Because… people don't always understand things they fear."
"But why do they fear me?" Naruto asked. "Did I do something wrong?"
Iruka's throat felt tight. He wanted to tell Naruto the truth — about the Nine-Tails, about that terrible night — but he wasn't allowed to. "No, Naruto," he said finally. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Naruto nodded, though he didn't really understand. "Then I'll make them see. I'll make them like me one day."
"I know you will," Iruka said with a warm smile. "Now go home, eat something, and rest. I'll visit tomorrow."
Naruto nodded happily and ran down the street, his orange shirt glowing in the setting sun.
The Empty Home
When Naruto reached his apartment, he felt the usual emptiness waiting for him. He heated a cup of instant ramen, humming to himself. The sound of the boiling water echoed in the small kitchen. He sat by the window, looking at the village lights far away.
He could see families laughing through open windows. The smell of grilled fish drifted from a nearby home. Somewhere, a father was reading to his child. Naruto's heart tightened. He wanted that — not fame, not power — just someone to talk to before sleeping.
He finished his ramen and washed the cup carefully, as Iruka had taught him. Then he looked at the small cracked mirror in the bathroom. His blue eyes stared back, full of quiet determination.
"I'll show them," he whispered. "I'll become the strongest ninja ever. Then they'll have to notice me."
He smiled at his reflection, though his eyes shimmered with sadness.
Before bed, he opened the window and looked at the stars. "Mom… Dad…" he said softly, "I don't know who you are, but… I'll make you proud."
The wind blew gently, as if answering him.
Naruto closed his eyes and slept — unaware that deep inside him, something strange was already awakening. A faint red light flickered in his right eye for a moment, unseen in the dark.
A Small Kindness
The next morning, Naruto woke early to a knock on his door. He rubbed his eyes and opened it to see Iruka holding a small bag of food.
"Morning, Naruto," Iruka said with a smile. "You forgot your lunch yesterday."
Naruto blinked. "You… brought me food?"
Iruka scratched his head. "Well, it's just leftovers, but I figured you might like it."
Naruto took the bag with both hands like it was treasure. "Thank you, sensei!"
"Eat it before class, alright? We have physical training today."
"Yes, sir!" Naruto said, grinning. Iruka couldn't help but laugh at his sudden energy.
Inside the bag was rice, a boiled egg, and a small piece of grilled fish. Naruto ate slowly, savoring each bite. It was the best meal he'd had in weeks.
At school, he tried harder than ever. He fell during sparring, missed every target in shuriken practice, and tripped over his own feet during the obstacle course — but he kept getting up. Iruka watched him quietly, impressed by his stubborn spirit.
During lunch, Naruto sat alone under a tree. Most kids avoided him, but one shy girl, Hinata Hyuga, glanced his way. She wanted to thank him for standing up to Kiba earlier that morning, but she was too nervous to speak. Still, she smiled a little when Naruto looked her way.
For a brief moment, Naruto didn't feel completely alone.
Nightfall
That evening, Naruto walked home under the orange sky. His legs were sore, his clothes dirty, but his heart felt lighter. Iruka had told him he was improving, and that meant everything.
As he passed by the old Senju compound, he slowed down. The building was dark, covered in vines and shadows. Rumors said it was haunted by ghosts of old warriors. Naruto shivered but felt drawn to it somehow. He could almost hear a whisper — soft, distant, calling his name.
"...Naruto…"
He turned quickly, but no one was there. Only the wind.
He shook his head. "I'm hearing things," he muttered and hurried home.
But that night, as he lay in bed, the whisper came again — not from outside, but from inside his head.
"Soon…"
Naruto's eyes snapped open. His heart pounded. "Who's there?" he whispered, looking around his empty room.
No answer. Only silence.
He stayed awake for hours, staring at the ceiling, until sleep finally took him.
Outside, the moon rose high above the Hidden Leaf Village, glowing pale and cold. The wind carried faint whispers through the streets — the first signs of a destiny beginning to stir.
Naruto Uzumaki was still just a lonely boy.
But fate had already chosen him.