Chapter 5:
After the four options appeared, everyone paused for a moment.
Inuzuka Kiba: "Keep his word—that's Naruto's ninja way! Obviously B!"
Haruno Sakura: "Kiba, you're not wrong, but that idiot Naruto's brain is single-threaded. He can't think that far ahead. Of course it's C—ramen comes first!"
Rock Lee: "Sakura has a point! That's definitely Naruto's style!"
Uzumaki Naruto: "..."
Hyūga Neji: "But don't forget one thing. For our world's Naruto, C is definitely correct. But that other Naruto seems completely different."
Tenten: "Neji's analysis makes sense."
Uzumaki Naruto: "Hey, hey, hey—what have you all been saying since earlier? Is that really how you see me?!"
The chat fell into awkward silence. Clearly, they all agreed.
Namikaze Minato: "Ahem… Naruto, don't feel bad. Being straightforward isn't a flaw."
Uzumaki Kushina: "Exactly! Minato's pretty scatterbrained too, and look—he still became Hokage! The youngest one ever!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Minato was always my top choice. And the Will of Fire's legacy—I believe any version of Naruto would understand it deeply. I'm going with A."
Orochimaru: "Oh my, Sensei—you're so two-faced and hypocritical as always!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "I said shut up, Orochimaru!"
Hiruzen was genuinely annoyed. Did this damn chat room have no mute function?
Orochimaru: "Everyone from Konoha sees Naruto the same way. It's only natural for poor Naruto-kun to harbor some resentment. I choose D."
Uchiha Mikoto: "Naruto looks like a good kid, just like Sasuke. How could he possibly think like that?"
Uzumaki Kushina: "Right! Exactly!"
Uchiha Sasuke: "..."
[Ding! First round of answering has ended. Congratulations to Orochimaru for winning one forbidden ninjutsu scroll developed by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama!]
Senju Tobirama: "???"
Orochimaru: "Many thanks, Lord Second Hokage!"
Uchiha Madara: "Hashirama, just how many forbidden techniques did your little brother create?"
Senju Hashirama: "Hahahaha!"
Namikaze Minato: "Looks like the other-world Naruto really is different."
[After finishing his ramen, Naruto lay on his bed, replaying the years of treatment he'd endured.][The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Why did the whole village treat him like a monster?][And why wouldn't anyone sell him anything?][He didn't actually love instant ramen that much—it was just the most convenient option. Buy a few boxes at once, and it would last months.][Unconsciously, fueled by rage and the chakra extraction the Third had just taught him, Naruto sensed another, unfamiliar chakra stirring inside his body.][He instinctively locked onto the familiar yet alien sensation and followed it deeper.][His consciousness soon arrived in a dark, damp, sewer-like space—the seal containing the Nine-Tails.][Looking around the eerie, humid environment, even Naruto felt a twinge of curiosity.][But he wasn't afraid. He knew this was his own mindscape.]
Orochimaru: "This sewer-like place… it couldn't be the Nine-Tails' seal, could it?"
Senju Hashirama: "Incredible. Naruto's talent is astonishing—he just learned chakra extraction and already tracked the Nine-Tails' presence into his mental space on his own."
Uzumaki Kushina: "Of course! That's my son!"
Uzumaki Naruto: "But that guy isn't me!"
Nara Shikamaru: "True. Compared to that one, our Naruto does come across as kind of… slow."
Namikaze Minato: "Sometimes being simple isn't a bad thing. Naruto's doing fine just the way he is."
Naruto's brow furrowed slightly. His dad was trying to defend him, but somehow those words felt… off. Uncomfortable.
[Naruto walked all the way to the end and found a massive sealed gate.][A chilling wave of chakra emanated from within.][Gathering his courage, he stepped forward.][Inside the gate loomed a gigantic fox with nine tails!]"So you're the 'demon fox' everyone keeps talking about!"
[The Nine-Tails didn't even bother acknowledging him. It lay there, eyes barely open.]
"Are you supposed to be another version of me hidden inside my body? But wait—that doesn't make sense. How could I have something as ugly as you?"
[The Nine-Tails' ears twitched. It forcibly held back.]
"Or maybe you're one of those seductive fox spirits from the storybooks—the kind that seduces people?"
"Hmph…" The Nine-Tails let out a low growl, its massive breath stirring the air.
[Naruto didn't flinch. He had already realized this thing couldn't actually harm him.]
"Hey, Mr. (or Ms.?) Indecent Fox?"
"Shut your damn mouth! I am the mighty Nine-Tailed Fox—not some cheap illustration from your picture books!" The Nine-Tails finally snapped, rising with a roar.
"Oh right—you've got two lychees. You're a male fox!"
[The Nine-Tails had stood up in anger, making its two large… lychees… very obvious.]
Senju Hashirama: "Hahaha! Nine-Tails' lychees!!! This kid Naruto is hilarious—he's got guts even at that age!"
Uchiha Madara: "Hmph. Just a mere Nine-Tails. Nothing special. In front of me, it's no different from a husky."
First Raikage: "..."
First Mizukage: "..."
First Kazekage: "..."
First Tsuchikage: "..."
Uchiha Madara: "What? Does anyone here object?"
With Madara's domineering declaration, silence fell across the chat. They were all dead, sure—but if this system could truly revive the dead… If Madara went berserk, who could stop him from tearing down their hard-built villages? Not every village had a monster like Hashirama.
[The Nine-Tails, enraged at being spoken to like that, thrust a claw toward the bars.][But the cage's iron bars stopped it cold.]
[Naruto casually put his hands behind his head, flashing a bright white-toothed grin.]
[Seeing this, the Nine-Tails was stunned.]"You little brat… you're really not afraid of me?"
"Why should I be?"
"I am the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox! No one hears my name and stays calm!""I am the most terrifying existence in the world!"
"Oh? Then why are you trapped inside my body if you're so powerful?"
[Naruto pointed at the sealing tag on the gate.]"At the very least, whoever sealed you here is stronger than you."
Nine-Tails: "..."
[Seeing the flicker of unwillingness in the fox's eyes, Naruto quickly formed an idea.]
"Hey, Nine-Tails. Since you're stuck in my body and can't get out anyway… why not lend me some of your power?"
"Hahahaha! A little brat like you wants to use my power? Don't make me laugh!"
[Naruto's expression remained calm.]"If you make a deal with me—once I grow strong enough, I'll set you free. Otherwise, you'll be stuck here forever."
[The Nine-Tails hadn't expected this tiny human to have such audacity.][It stared suspiciously at Naruto for a long moment, then a wicked smile curled its lips.]
"Kid… you make a compelling point. But why should I trust you?"
[Hearing the shift in tone, Naruto grew even more confident.][He didn't know why the Nine-Tails was inside him, but if he could harness its power… maybe he could finally do what he wanted.]
"Because you have no choice. You can only trust me. Like you, I hate this village right now."