The two of them sat by the fire, smiling and talking—but beneath those smiles, neither trusted the other.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was secretly congratulating himself. He believed his plan to emotionally control Naruto had worked perfectly.
Heh… Binding the boy's heart with kindness is far better than Danzo's crude brainwashing. I truly am the one fit to be Hokage.
Meanwhile, Naruto, still putting on his cheerful act, was thinking of something entirely different. He didn't mind that the ANBU were watching. He didn't even mind the Hokage's scrying crystal.
But the way Hiruzen always appeared out of nowhere—right when Naruto least expected it—was starting to bother him. If he wanted to break free of surveillance one day, he needed the ability to sense them first—to detect those hidden eyes and unseen gazes.
Still, that was a problem for later. Right now, he had to keep acting.
"Grandpa, you want some more? " Naruto asked sweetly. "Oh no, no, this is plenty, " Hiruzen said, patting his belly with a satisfied smile.
Then his tone softened. "By the way, Naruto, there's something I wanted to give you. "
He reached into his robe and pulled out a small scroll. "Here. This is for you. "
Naruto blinked and took it curiously, unrolling it on the spot—and his eyes widened.
Chakra Refining Technique His pulse quickened slightly. The old geezer was finally giving him something useful.
In the original story, this was around the time Naruto had been longing to learn ninjutsu—to prove himself to the village. And the Third Hokage, ever the manipulator, had used that desire to tighten the emotional leash around him.
Naruto forced a delighted expression, even as his inner voice sneered. "Wow, Grandpa! Really? Thank you! "
Hiruzen smiled, pleased by the boy's enthusiasm. "Of course. You're almost old enough to enter the Ninja Academy. It's time you started learning how to control chakra. Come—Grandpa will personally guide you today. "
Naruto jumped to his feet, acting every bit the excited child. "Yay! "
Inside, though, he couldn't help but marvel at his own acting skills. Oscar-worthy performance, right here.
He sat cross-legged on the grass, unrolled the scroll again, and studied the instructions carefully.
The refining method described how to merge spiritual and physical energy—the fundamental process for creating chakra. Every person's body contained 361 chakra nodes, linked through meridians that carried the flow of energy throughout the body. By combining spiritual focus with physical strength, those nodes could generate chakra and release it for use.
Naruto memorized every line. Then, as he focused and followed the technique's steps, a familiar voice rang in his mind:
"You are studying the Chakra Refining Technique! " "You have comprehended the Perfect Chakra Refining Technique! "
Perfect Chakra Refining Technique: You can refine chakra anytime, anywhere—during battle, rest, or even sleep. Your refining efficiency increases drastically. Chakra loss is minimized.
At once, Naruto felt an overwhelming clarity. His breathing slowed, his pulse steadied. It was as though he had spent a hundred years doing nothing but refining chakra.
Every movement, every rhythm of energy flow, was engraved in his very soul. Even if he were unconscious, his body could continue refining on its own.
He understood instantly how powerful this was. Normal shinobi could only generate chakra in bursts—using up stamina with every cycle, and losing efficiency under pressure. But his "Perfect Refining" meant infinite endurance and zero waste. It was flawless.
He closed his eyes, hands forming the seal of concentration, and began refining in earnest.
A faint blue aura started to shimmer around his body. Then—
BOOM! A gust of energy burst from his skin, like a sudden windstorm sweeping across the clearing. The flames of the campfire were snuffed out instantly. The air vibrated with power.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes went wide. He had expected the boy to need days—weeks, even—before producing his first chakra. But this?
Naruto's chakra flared like a tidal wave, thick and vast, almost tangible. It wasn't just there—it was alive.
"Na-Naruto…" Hiruzen stammered, momentarily speechless. He had seen geniuses before—Minato, Kakashi, even Itachi—but none of them had ever refined chakra successfully on the first attempt, and with this much density.
Usually, even ninja from strong clans needed days to feel their first stir of energy. And here was this boy—a child still in primary school—radiating chakra like a fully trained chunin.
Hiruzen stared at him in astonishment. His talent surpasses even his father's… at least in chakra control. A genius like this—combined with the Nine-Tails sealed inside him—was both a dream and a potential disaster.
He smiled faintly, hiding his unease. So long as his heart remains tied to me, everything will be fine.
At the same time, deep within Naruto's mindscape—in the sealed chamber that held the Nine-Tailed Fox—two enormous crimson eyes snapped open. The monstrous chakra beast had felt the disturbance. Its vessel—the brat—had suddenly refined a flood of chakra so vast that it had sealed every crack and opening in the seal that the fox had been trying to exploit for weeks.
Kurama growled softly, baring its teeth in the darkness. "Tch… annoying little brat. " Still, the fox didn't take it too seriously. It had time. So much time.
Back in the real world, Naruto opened his eyes slowly. A soft blue glow still lingered around his body, and he could feel chakra pulsing through every inch of him.
So this is chakra… incredible. Even his small body felt stronger—lighter. He clenched his fists experimentally. At his current strength, he could probably punch through a wall.
If he had Tsunade's monstrous strength technique right now, he could literally flatten a cow.
Playing his role, he turned to Hiruzen with innocent excitement. "Grandpa, I did it! I can feel it! I really have chakra now! "
The Hokage smiled warmly. "Excellent, Naruto. I knew you could do it. Keep training hard, and someday everyone in the village will recognize you. Maybe one day, you'll become Hokage too. "
Naruto nodded eagerly. "I will! I'll become Hokage for sure! "
His voice was bright and full of childish determination. But deep inside—his thoughts were cold and sharp.
Hokage? Sure. But not your kind of Hokage, old man. I'll become Hokage to tear down everything you built.
Before leaving, Hiruzen handed Naruto an envelope—his monthly allowance. "One thousand ryō for your living expenses, " he said gently. "Spend it wisely, alright? "
Naruto accepted it with both hands, smiling as if he were truly grateful. "Thank you, Grandpa! "
When the Hokage left, his smile faded instantly. One thousand ryō. Barely enough to eat for a month.
He knew exactly what this meant. His father, the Fourth Hokage, had completed countless S-rank missions—he should've left behind a fortune. And yet, none of it had gone to his son. All of it had been quietly absorbed by the village leadership. By this old man and his circle.
Naruto's jaw tightened. He would never forgive them. Not the Hokage. Not Danzo. Not the villagers who believed their lies.
But vengeance required power—and power required patience. For now, he would bide his time, grow stronger, and someday… make them all pay.