On night at 7 PM, inside the Uchiha compound, Sasuke's family sat together for dinner. His mother Mikoto. His father Fugaku. His brother Itachi. And one more at the table—Shisui, Itachi's longtime senpai, quietly eating as if nothing unusual had happened that afternoon.
Fugaku set down his chopsticks and looked at his youngest son. "Sasuke. How was your study today? Anything interesting happen at the Academy?"
Sasuke didn't answer immediately. His jaw tightened. His eyes stayed on his plate. He clearly didn't want to speak.
Across the table, Itachi and Shisui didn't move. They exchanged a single glance—silent, stiff, the look of two men who absolutely did not want to discuss getting beaten into the dirt by a literal Academy student. Then they quietly returned to eating, pretending nothing existed outside their rice bowls.
Mikoto folded her arms, eyes sliding toward them. "I understand Sasuke doesn't want to talk right now—he's still young. But you two." She pointed her chopsticks at Itachi and Shisui. "It seems something embarrassing happened this afternoon. And it seems connected to you three troublemakers."
Sasuke kept eating for a second, then looked up. "Mother… is magic real?"
Fugaku and Mikoto blinked.
Mikoto immediately pressed her palm against Sasuke's forehead. "Sasuke, did the Academy force-feed you illegal pills? There are disturbing rumors today."
Fugaku added with a sigh. "There's a bad rumor Mizuki is spreading. That Naruto somehow wielded a three-meter-long katana and cast ninjutsu without hand seals. And Mizuki has been pushing that rumor to every clan—claiming the demon child will rule us."
He shook his head, annoyed. "Of course, the Konoha Military Police Force checked. He might have ingested illegal pills—his brainwave readings aren't at a normal pace."
Sasuke kept his eyes down, jaw tight. Mother… those rumors are true. Naruto just fooled the entire village.
Shisui set down his chopsticks. "Fugaku-san, I need a favor. Can I use this place to invite someone?"
Fugaku didn't look up from his meal. "Depends. Who is this someone? The Sandaime?"
Itachi answered instead. "Let's just say it's a kid. But not an ordinary kid."
Mikoto blinked once. "Is it Sasuke's friend? Then I should prepare something." She stood up immediately. "Fried rice. Kids like fried rice." She hurried into the kitchen with the urgency of someone preparing for royalty.
The moment she was gone, Fugaku's expression sharpened. "Itachi. That kid… is it the one Mizuki's been spreading rumors about? The Naruto boy. The same brat who used to smear paint everywhere with an orange jacket and those ridiculous goggles?"
Itachi folded his hands calmly. "Father. You should keep your mind a bit open. Naruto is… three steps ahead of us. At minimum." His eyes narrowed slightly. "And this invitation wasn't my idea. Shisui proposed it. The reason is still unclear to me, but if Naruto steps foot in Uchiha territory—just once—it will be valuable."
Shisui nodded silently beside him.
A calm knock echoed at the door. A figure waited outside, cane in hand. Mikoto moved to open it,
but Itachi stepped ahead in a blur. "Mother. Let me handle this. Please continue in the kitchen."
Mikoto paused, then nodded and slipped away. Itachi slid the door open.
Naruto stood there—cloak draped over him, cane in hand, eyepatch in place. The cloak wasn't black this time. It was yellow, trimmed cleanly, catching the lamplight with a soft sheen.
Itachi raised a brow. "You came early. I thought you might not show at all. And where's the black cloak you always wear?"
Naruto tapped the cane once against the floor. "Mutual benefit calls us today." His eye shifted toward the fabric on his shoulder. "And the black cloak? I can paint a cloak whatever color I want."
He stepped past the threshold, gaze sweeping over the Uchiha clan head house.
Naruto said "Not too shabby, Traditional. But not futuristic enough."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed as he studied Naruto's clothing and presence. Mizuki might not be lying… this boy carries himself like a Hokage.
Naruto bowed with practiced elegance before setting his tophat and cane neatly on the tatami.
"Pleasure to meet you, Fugaku Uchiha. My name is Naruto—but you can call me Naruto Uzumaki, if that suits you. That's the name enforced upon me."
Fugaku responded with a dry edge. "Uzumaki is the name of your clan. Even if you're an orphan, at least show some respect, kiddo."
Naruto met his gaze evenly. "Yeah, well… Uzumaki clan territory—Uzushiogakure—was flattened to the ground, right? And the Uzumaki were hunted down because they lived too long." He shrugged lightly. "Better to keep a low profile. And not spread it further. That's my principle."
A kunai flashed. Naruto didn't even look. The metal twisted inside-out midair with a soft CLANK before dropping uselessly to the tatami.
He sighed. "What a rude greeting to your only friend, Sasuke."
Sasuke scowled. "Just making sure you're not another bunshin you made."
Fugaku's brow twitched as he shot Shisui a glance. This interaction is… unhealthy.
Shisui lifted a hand sheepishly. "You'll get used to it, Fugaku-san. After all, Naruto's the one who let Sasuke awaken the Sharingan with a non-lethal method."
Sasuke shot upright. "Non-lethal? I almost had a heart attack eating that McFlurry—I thought it was poisoned!"
Fugaku ignored the outburst and focused on what mattered. "Sasuke. Show me your Sharingan."
Sasuke activated it, the tomoe spinning once before settling.
Fugaku's expression shifted immediately. Pride. Relief. Ambition. He placed a hand on Sasuke's head with the confidence of a clan head who'd just confirmed his future.
"That's great, Sasuke. You'll be the heir of the Uchiha clan sooner than people think."
Naruto watched it with the neutral expression of someone observing a predictable outcome. Sasuke kept his gaze low, of course he'd say that, even as a small ember of satisfaction stirred in his chest.
Shisui leaned back slightly, amused. "Told you, Fugaku-san. Naruto's method was… unconventional. But effective."
Fugaku bowed slightly toward Naruto, voice carrying genuine weight. "As Sasuke's father, I'm grateful. Truly. I thought I'd have to take him to an intense battlefield one day."
Naruto cut him off with a flick of his hand. "And the Sharingan conditions—intense emotion, trauma, grief. Yeah, yeah. You're welcome. Don't make it dramatic."
Fugaku paused, studying him. Normally a child would be proud of that. But this kid… he treats everything like it's nothing.
He exhaled once. "Sorry. It's just difficult for some people to awaken a Sharingan during peaceful times."
Naruto remained silent, eye unreadable.
Suddenly Mikoto rushed in with a warm smile, setting down a large tray. "Here it is—my fried rice. Made with love for our guest."
Fugaku blinked once. "…The guest already arrived, actually."
Mikoto turned—then froze at the sight of Naruto sitting politely on the tatami in his yellow noble cloak and eyepatch. "Ah—uhm—do I know you? You look familiar."
Sasuke sighed. "That's Naruto, Mother. The kid everyone thought was spreading paint on the streets. At least… that's what people believed. Now you're seeing the real one."
Mikoto nodded slowly. "I see… it's just your clothes. You look like you're from outside the village."
Naruto shifted topics without a ripple. He flicked his fingers.
A golden portal bloomed behind him—Gate of Babylon—firing Mikoto and Fugaku into stunned silence. From inside, a golden pitcher engraved with royal script drifted out, accompanied by several shimmering golden cups that floated neatly onto the table.
Naruto offered a casual nod. "Consider this goodwill. I'm being a good guest."
Fugaku and Mikoto froze completely. Both had the same thought. This kid… where in the world did he get all this wealth?
Itachi studied the golden portal with calm calculation. "Is this a magic set you created? I memorized some of your spells. Fira for fire. Blizzara for ice. Scintilla… the one that caught me off guard, and I still don't like it."
Shisui folded his arms, thinking aloud. "And that golden thing, summon cups without a word. Meaning the chants are just boosters. Conditions that amplify your magic."
Naruto rested his elbow on the table, tone flat. "Good. At least someone's keeping track. But you made one mistake, you two. Even without words, my magic still hits at maximum firepower."
Fugaku hummed under his breath. "No wonder Sasuke asked about magic. He's been asking about you."
Sasuke rolled his eyes, an irritated smirk on his face. "Probably poison. Like that McFlurry he gave me."
Naruto clicked his tongue. "I told you a hundred times already. It was a bluff, dumbass."
Fugaku immediately took the golden cup and tasted the wine without hesitation.
Sasuke stiffened. "Father, what if Naruto pulled some dangerous prank on you?"
Fugaku waved him off. "If I get sick, all of you can beat his butt for me, right?"
He drank fully. His eyes widened. A slow exhale left him, almost reverent. "Wooo… this is incredible. What is this? It feels like sake—but older . Refined not like anything brewed in this village ."
Naruto rested his hand on the cane, tone casual. "My treasury houses the finest weapons and wines. You'll never find anything like that in this world."
Mikoto hesitated only a second before sipping her own cup.
Her breath caught. "Magnificent… I've had many sakes, but nothing tastes like this."
Shisui tasted the wine next, then Itachi followed.
Itachi set his cup down with a small sigh. "Is there anything left that won't surprise us? A kid wielding a three-meter blade was already unbelievable."
Mikoto blinked, genuinely startled. "So that rumor was true? What Mizuki said about Naruto wielding a very long katana… but I don't see anything like that here."
Shisui pointed at Naruto's cane. "Mikoto-san, that cane is magic too. And I got hit by that sword until I broke a bone." He managed a wry smile. "Though… why didn't you dismember any of my limbs, Naruto? You always threatened I'd get crippled."
Naruto leaned back slightly, expression flat. "I'm not a stupid beast, Shisui. I'm still civilized. Even if I don't like the majority of the village."
They drank for a while. The room warmed. The wine hit everyone differently—Fugaku quietly impressed, Mikoto pleasantly surprised, Shisui and Itachi both trying to pretend they weren't amazed. Eventually Naruto slumped forward and fell asleep on the table, cloak draped over the tatami like this was normal for him.
Mikoto watched him for a moment. "Does he usually fall asleep like that?"
Sasuke didn't blink. "Naruto sleeps anywhere. Because look at him—he thinks he's untouchable."
Fugaku set down his empty cup. "Alright, Naruto. Since you brought these gifts, you must have some purpose for coming here, right?"
Naruto's eye opened instantly. He pushed himself upright with a lazy grin. "About time. I thought I'd have to pry you all off the tatami one by one."
Shisui frowned lightly. "Naruto, you didn't even taste your own wine. Even though it's amazing."
Naruto waved him off. "I don't drink when I'm about to talk business. And besides… I've had that wine so many times I'm bored of it."