Chapter 9: White Frame – The Prankster's Lonely Path
As the black screen faded, it switched back to the white-bordered screen— this world's Naruto.
[With the Third Hokage's enrollment form, Uzumaki Naruto easily entered the Ninja Academy.]
[Unfortunately, he showed no talent for ninjutsu at all.]
[But when it came to pranks and mischief—he was a natural genius!]
[Graffiti on the Hokage Rock, messing with teachers, peeing into the wind…]
[There was nothing people could imagine that this Naruto couldn't pull off!]
[So this world's Naruto always had a crowd of 'fans' chasing him!]
[The kind who wanted to break his legs!]
[Over the years, Naruto had memorized every street and corner of Konoha.]
[He really loved life in the village—everyone there was so talented, and they spoke so nicely…]
Haruno Sakura: "Exactly! I knew it—this is the Naruto I know!"
Yamanaka Ino: "Got you, Naruto! So it was you scribbling graffiti in front of my family's flower shop all those times! Finally caught!"
Uzumaki Kushina: "Our Naruto only did those things to get everyone's attention! He's still just a kid!"
Namikaze Minato: "Ahem… Kushina, Naruto was definitely in the wrong."
Minato said this, but deep down, he understood Naruto completely. No parents, no support— not even a single friend growing up. Finally entering school, thinking he'd make companions— only for everyone to avoid him, treating him like a monster! Yet this Naruto never turned dark. He only pulled pranks and graffiti. Wasn't the real goal just to make the village notice him— to acknowledge his existence? Thinking this, Minato's heart ached. He hadn't been much of a father. That night the Nine-Tails was released by the masked man— he could have survived. But to stay with Kushina, and to make Naruto a hero in the village's eyes, Minato chose the Reaper Death Seal and sacrificed himself. He calculated everything—except this outcome. As Hokage, he served the village well. But as a father? He fell short. Minato blamed himself deeply. But now that Kushina could revive— he had to strive for revival too. Then he'd pass on all his ninjutsu to Naruto! And even now, he wanted to uncover the truth about one thing: Who was the masked man? Only a few knew the Nine-Tails was sealed in Naruto— yet somehow it became "Naruto is the Nine-Tails"! Was this the Third Hokage's doing? Or the masked man's deliberate plan? And what was the purpose? Even mild-tempered Minato couldn't tolerate it. The title "Yellow Flash" was forged in seas of blood!
The screen continued.
[As Naruto grew older, he gradually met more people.]
[Kids from prestigious clans like Nara Shikamaru didn't deliberately avoid him.]
[Naruto finally had people he could exchange a few words with—though it wasn't quite friendship yet.]
[As they aged, classes shifted from basic knowledge to ninjutsu and chakra.]
[Everyone discovered Naruto wasn't just slow in the head—his ninjutsu was a complete mess too!]
[Forget basic techniques—even chakra refining often failed!]
[Naruto became the undisputed dead last.]
[In contrast, a boy named Uchiha Sasuke gradually entered Naruto's sights.]
[Besides Sakura, Sasuke was the second person Naruto cared about.]
[Handsome, great family background, outstanding ninjutsu talent—the ultimate top student. Basically the shinobi world's rich, tall, handsome!]
[Naruto was naturally jealous, secretly vowing to surpass Sasuke.]
[Even in sparring, he always picked Sasuke as his opponent.]
[Amid everyone's disbelieving stares, Naruto charged fists raised at the pocket-handed Sasuke.]
[The result was predictable—one punch, and Naruto was down!]
[Iruka-sensei announced the end, and the two reluctantly formed the Seal of Reconciliation.]
[Naruto was reluctant because—how could he lose? No way!]
[Sasuke was reluctant because—winning against the dead last? Boring!]
"That smug look of yours is really annoying!"
[Unable to win physically, Naruto resorted to trash talk, pointing at Sasuke's nose.]
[But Sasuke didn't care—cold smirk, hands in pockets, he walked away amid the girls' sighs.]
"Wow, Sasuke's so cool!"
"I want to date Sasuke!"
**[Naruto could only drool in envy, grumbling,]
"Hmph, just a bunch of fangirls!"
[But among those fangirls was his crush, Sakura.]
[Why did Naruto like Sakura? Even he couldn't explain.]
[Maybe because she was cute and a top student!]
[Of course, Sasuke was a top student too—but he was a guy!]
[That was the common reason Naruto disliked and liked things.]
[Catch up to Sakura, beat Sasuke—Naruto's short-term dreams.]
[Until one day…]
"Did you hear? The Uchiha clan was wiped out!"
"Overnight—everyone dead except Sasuke!"
"Really? No way—how was there no noise?"
"The news was suppressed. Absolute secret—I only told you, don't spread it!"
"Oh, okay—I'm famous for keeping secrets!"
"Good!"
"Hey, Lee—did you hear? The Uchiha clan…"
[Soon this "top secret" spread like the "Naruto is the demon fox" rumor—everyone knew!]
[Naruto glanced at Sasuke's empty desk. The genius top student had skipped class for the first time ever!]
[Could what they said be true?]
[Naruto slumped on his desk, listless.]
[Iruka didn't scold him—Naruto staying in class was already a miracle!]
[Naruto turned his face to the window. Late summer—cicadas singing their final song.]
[Mind blank, he wondered: If summer really ends, can any cicada survive to winter?]
[Pondering without answer, he dozed off in the warm breeze.]
[Waking up—class over, classroom empty except him!]
"Tch, not even one person to wake me up!"
[Hands behind head, Naruto strolled out slowly.]
[No one waiting at home anyway—no rush.]
"Might as well eat ramen tonight. Ichiraku's the only good guy in the village—never turns me away."
"Gotta go late though, don't wanna hurt his business."
[Thinking this, Naruto reached a riverside bridge.]
[Uchiha Sasuke sat there alone.]
[Catching sight of Sasuke's back, Naruto froze—he saw himself.]
[Swinging alone, fishing alone, eating ramen alone, going home alone…]
[Suddenly, an impulse hit—he wanted to approach and say something to Sasuke.]
[Though he had no idea what.]
[But after one step, he stopped.]
**[Remembering Sasuke's smug disdain after beating him, Naruto huffed,]
"Hmph—I wouldn't be friends with you anyway!"
[Just then, Sasuke noticed Naruto—and his upturned lips.]
[Sasuke snorted coldly too, as if saying: I don't want a guy like you either!]
"Whatever—ramen it is!"