"…That's the situation, old man."
Saitama had finally finished his story, and Hiruzen frowned, processing everything the bald hero had told him.
Outside the Hokage Tower, dawn was already approaching. The stars were beginning to fade, the sky was noticeably brightening, and the birds were waking from their sleep, filling the village's surroundings with their bright calls.
"Your story is incredible, Saitama-kun," the Third Hokage began, "and while it's hard to believe something like this… it turns out you really did cross over into our world, without even realizing it."
The Third was struck by what he had heard. The young man before him was a hero from another world who had reached a level of strength never seen before. He had fought monsters, gods, and who knows what else. The details of the world Saitama had come from — its structure, its technology, its culture — all of it astonished the old shinobi.
Caped Baldy had already been scanned with the Byakugan multiple times, yet not the slightest hint of chakra or chakra pathways had been found. No concealing Fūin seals had been detected either. All of this pointed to the conclusion that Saitama's abilities had nothing to do with the shinobi world.
Hiruzen produced his pipe again and began filling it with tobacco.
"So what do I do?" Saitama asked, at a loss. Back home, King, Genos, and… his cactus were surely waiting for him. Yes. He hadn't watered it in a long time.
Sarutobi sank into deep thought. The Hokage himself didn't know what to do about the young man's problem. The Class B hero had told him many details that simply couldn't be made up on the spot. And why would they be? For an ordinary infiltration of the village, one could have offered a far simpler and more believable story.
To think — the Professor had witnessed an invasion of his world, unintentional as it was. One thing was certain: Konoha was fortunate that Caped Baldy had no militaristic goals. With his level of power, Saitama could have caused no end of trouble not only for the Hidden Leaf Village, but for the rest of the world as well, had he chosen to. Naturally, the head of ANBU Root had already been informed, and his people had begun digging up information on this young man in earnest. But the Hokage believed Saitama. He didn't know why himself, but he believed every word that had been said.
And at the same time, he was wary. His shinobi instincts told him that in the forest, this young man had shown less than half of what he was truly capable of. An open confrontation with him would therefore be, at the very least, foolish. Sarutobi wasn't sure who would come out the victor in a fight between them. And when he remembered that this young man's rank was merely "B," the Hokage silently gave thanks to the Shinigami and all the higher powers that an S-class hero — who by rights should be even stronger — hadn't ended up in their midst.
Nevertheless, Konoha had a chance to acquire a powerful "shinobi" on the level of a Kage. Temporarily, perhaps, but such a reinforcement could prove advantageous in the standoff between the Five Great Villages. After all, the current lull was usually only the calm before a storm.
"Saitama-kun, I'd like to invite you to stay with us," Hiruzen lit his pipe using Fire Release chakra and took a puff. "For the time being, while we search for a way to get you back home."
Saitama didn't have much of a choice, so his agreement was perfectly logical.
"Sure," the bald hero yawned and carelessly started picking at his ear.
Well. His manners are absolutely terrible, flashed through the Third's mind.
"There is one question, though," Saitama's face took on a serious expression and he folded his arms across his chest.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I'm not stupid, old man, and I can tell there's nothing remotely altruistic about your offer," the hero said smoothly. "So what exactly do you want from me?"
Sarutobi was initially taken aback, but then mentally applauded the young man. The blank expression on his face was clearly an act, a deflection.
"Hm," the Hokage blew a couple of smoke rings. "I'll admit, I didn't invite you for no reason. First, I'm curious to learn about your abilities…"
"Oh, old man," Saitama rolled his eyes, "I don't have any special abilities. I just trained really hard and got so strong that I can beat anyone in one punch."
Hiruzen shook his head skeptically, but continued:
"Alright, let's set that aside for now. Second, I want you to be on our side if the village faces danger — and to help repel enemies if necessary."
"Well, that's easy," Caped Baldy waved it off. "I've got nothing to do anyway."
"Good," the Hokage declared. "You may go now. Someone will escort you to your new… dwelling," he added with a slight smirk.
Several hours later — the Academy.
A class of budding shinobi larvae sat in one of the ninja academy's classrooms. The children listened with utmost attention to the chunin instructor, who was reading out the composition of the new teams.
"Team Seven!" Umino Iruka announced. "Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke!"
The little blond was glad that the girl he liked would be on his team. And while the presence of the pink-haired future kunoichi filled him with boundless joy, that joy was inevitably clouded by the presence in the trio of one brooding and simultaneously arrogant dark-haired boy. The little Jinchuriki had taken a disliking to the Uchiha at first sight. And that disliking was entirely mutual.
Naruto was about to protest the arrangement — why did he have to be on the same team as an Uchiha? — but then suddenly recalled last night's battle with the strange bald man named Saitama. That man had single-handedly held his own against ten of Konoha's shinobi and tossed them around like children. Even the Hokage hadn't stepped into a fight with him.
If only I could get Saitama-san to take me as his student… the boy mused. Naruto had a rather poor memory for names. He frequently invented nicknames for people and wasn't very comfortable with name suffixes. But if he truly respected someone, he addressed them with all the proper deference and even by their actual name.
"Your instructor will be Jonin Hatake Kakashi…" the chunin paused slightly. "Although, at the moment he is in the hospital following… hm, a mission. So, Team Seven, you're free to go for now."
Iruka had already been patched up after the night's ordeal. And despite his injury, he had managed to appear today for the genin team assignments. But fortune had been less kind to Hatake Kakashi. He had been found to have quite a serious concussion, a shattered jaw, broken ribs, a compound fracture of his arm, and multiple hematomas. All in all, he was lucky his spine had come out intact. So for the next week, the Copy Ninja would be in the care of the medical ninja.
Team Seven filed out of the academy grounds. Sakura was frowning with displeasure:
"What is this? Everyone else will be training with their instructors, and our sensei is in the hospital! Is he some kind of weakling? Or just unlucky?"
The pink-haired girl was practically bursting with eagerness. She wanted to show off what she had learned at the academy as soon as possible.
"Sakura-chan, don't worry. We could train together…" the blond began.
"Shut up, idiot!" Sakura cut him off. "You're literally the worst in our class. How did a weakling like you even get a headband?"
Naruto wanted to argue back, but the memories of last night involuntarily surfaced in his mind. In that moment when they had restrained him, he had felt completely helpless — despite the new technique he had just learned. Yeah, apparently he really was weak.
Naruto bit his lip and quietly murmured:
"You're right, Sakura-chan."
"…Huh?" the girl was left speechless by such a change in the blond. He had always been so hyperactive, loud, and sometimes excessively optimistic. Had he been replaced by someone else?
"I'm weak, and I admit it," Naruto continued, clenching his fists. "But I promise that's going to change. I will change, and I'll become the strongest shinobi in the world. And after that — I'll definitely become Hokage! That's my ninja way!"
A grim resolve was kindling in the child's eyes. A drive to push forward no matter what and never give up was taking hold of him. The children standing nearby froze in stunned silence.
Serious Naruto? This wasn't a joke?
"I have to go," the blond said, turning in the direction of his home. He had set himself a goal and intended to achieve it. And the first step toward achieving that great goal, as Naruto saw it, was finding an equally great teacher — someone he believed his new acquaintance to be.
Wait for me, Saitama-sensei! I'll do whatever it takes to become your student!
"Achoo!" the bald young man barely managed to cover his mouth. "What's that about? Acclimatization? I haven't been sick once since those training days."
Saitama was sprawled on the bed in his new one-room apartment, provided to him by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Though "apartment" was a generous word. One room served as the bedroom, kitchen, and entryway all at once. The toilet and bath were at least separate, behind a door covered in chipped white paint.
The apartment's furnishings were the embodiment of minimalism: a creaking bed with a wobbly stool nearby, a sink, a lopsided cabinet, a wooden table, a small electric hotplate, and a refrigerator. The last item turned out to be empty, but Saitama consoled himself with the thought that it wouldn't stay that way for long. The Hokage had promised to send a guide who would take the bald hero on a sort of tour of Konoha and help him purchase groceries along the way.
Overall, the young man was fine with his situation. So what if he had ended up in another world? So what if this world was strange — no planes, no cars, no computers, none of the usual technology. At least there was electricity, and he was grateful for that. It was a shame there was no television in the room, and such a luxury was something only the very wealthy could afford. But there was cinema. And many people actually went to watch it — though usually only in theaters. Saitama had figured all of this out that morning when they were showing him to his apartment.
Caped Baldy fell into thought. He hoped that Genos and his acquaintances back in that world were doing alright. And that the world itself would survive, given that in his experience, enemies and monsters had been getting increasingly dangerous for many heroes. But they had strong people in S-class, including the enigmatic Blast, who held the number one spot. So the guys should be able to manage… probably.
Ah, it's not my problem anymore. I can't help them from here, so there's no point in tormenting myself about it… Saitama thought.
Perhaps everything that had happened was for the best. Maybe here he would at least find worthy opponents who wouldn't crumble after a single punch. Or… perhaps right here, in this strange world, he would be able to find a new purpose? Not simply heroics for the fun of it or the desire to clash with someone strong, but a truly worthy goal. Who knew?
His thoughts were interrupted by a confident knock at the door.
Knock-knock-knock.
Saitama immediately jumped up to answer. He was already ready to go anywhere. Anything was better than sitting in four walls waiting for his escort. He opened the door and froze in confusion.
Before him stood a quite pretty girl with dark purple hair pulled into a short spiky ponytail. She wore an open coat with pockets and a short mini-skirt. Beneath the coat, a mesh semi-transparent bodysuit was visible — from neck to hip — revealing an incredibly appealing figure. Her shins were covered in gray bracers. Had it not been for the willpower Saitama had forged through harsh training, he probably would have fallen prey to his instincts and gotten a nosebleed. But this was Caped Baldy. And so his face retained that same detached expression, with only a barely perceptible hint of interest.
"Are you going to keep staring at me, baldy?"
The young man's eye twitched, but he managed to rein in the killing intent and indignation trying to break free. He had probably been looking at the girl for too long.
Strange. I don't remember ordering anything delivered, and the timing is off anyway…
"And who are you?" Saitama asked, not very politely. "I'm waiting for someone from the old man. Sorry, but I don't need that kind of service. And I don't have any money either."
…
The muscles in the girl's jaw tightened, color flooded her cheeks, and her eyes narrowed dangerously. Clenching her hands, she walked in without an invitation and closed the door. Taking a couple of steps past the young man, she suddenly spun around and delivered a spinning kick directly to his bald head.
Shortly before.
Mitarashi Anko had finally returned from a two-week mission in the Land of Tea. She had decided to cover the last stretch of the road back to Konoha at night, to arrive at the village as quickly as possible and submit her mission report. After that, her plan had been to stock up on dango, grab some sake, and celebrate the successful mission — then collapse into bed with a clear conscience.
It was around eight in the morning. Not a cloud in the sky. The sun wasn't scorching yet, but its warmth on her back through the coat was already noticeable. She slowed her pace and walked through the village's main gate at a leisurely stride. She hadn't even taken ten steps into the village before an ANBU shinobi appeared in front of her.
"Mitarashi Anko, you are to report to the Hokage immediately," came a muffled voice from beneath the mask.
"But I'm already on my way to him," the girl said in irritation. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing serious. The Hokage has a new assignment for you. Follow me," the shinobi leaped onto the nearest building and began moving quickly across the rooftops.
Anko cursed elaborately, but soon followed the ANBU operative. The Special Jonin hadn't slept at all, was hungry, and accordingly was in a very foul mood. But an order was an order, so after a short while, arriving at her destination, she swallowed her displeasure and walked at a measured pace into the Tower and then into the Hokage's office.
The conversation with Sarutobi didn't take long. She submitted her mission report and immediately received a new assignment.
Her current task was to escort a certain bald young man who had recently appeared in the village. She was to show him around and bring him up to speed on the general situation, and also hand over a sum of money to him. She hadn't been given many details about the assignment. What kind of person warranted the Hokage using a full Special Jonin as a tour guide was beyond her. She thought the Third had lost his mind. Nearly every man in the village was afraid of her. And now she was supposed to spend the day talking to, guiding around, and feeding — by the Sage of Six Paths! — some unknown stranger.
"Damn it, do I look like a tour guide to you? Or a babysitter?" Anko hissed through her teeth, making her way toward her new charge's apartment.
After her meeting with Sarutobi Hiruzen, she had at least managed to shower, have a quick bite, and freshen herself up. So her overall temperature of aggravation was a few degrees lower now. Still far from any kind of Buddhist "zen," though.
Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, she knocked on the battered door.
It opened immediately. A bald young man in black shorts and a white T-shirt stood before her. His expression was frankly idiotic and at the same time completely indifferent — it made her want to hit it with a brick.
She asked why he was staring at her.
For a brief moment something ominous flared from the young man. That feeling reminded Anko of her teacher, Orochimaru. But a second later, seeing that same dim expression on his face, she decided she must have imagined it.
"And who are you?" the young man asked. "I'm waiting for someone from the old man. Sorry, but I don't need that kind of service. And I don't have any money either."
The girl nearly lost it at that statement. Nobody had ever spoken to her like that. This suicidal idiot had taken her for some kind of prostitute?
Somehow managing to pull herself together, she stepped inside and closed the door so no one would see her beating a civilian. She wouldn't use chakra in her strikes. The regular kind would be more than enough for this idiot. He clearly had a screw loose, but that was no excuse. She wasn't going to hold back physically. If she killed him — then that was what he deserved.
In that moment she was so furious that she had completely forgotten one small detail: she had a mission from the Third himself to escort this strange young man.
Thwack.
"AAAAAAA… OUCH! Damn it all!"
Saitama stared in surprise at the kunoichi hopping on one foot, hands clutching her heel.
"You idiot, are you made of iron or something?" the girl hissed.
"That's…" the hero scratched his bald head in bewilderment. "You hit me yourself. And what are you doing in my apartment?"
"Grrr…" the girl gave an uncharacteristic growl, but managed to remember her assignment.
Releasing her foot, she continued:
"I'm Mitarashi Anko. The Hokage sent me."
"Ohh. And I'm Saitama. You said 'Hokage'? Who's that? Some kind of shadow? I don't understand. Speak plainly."
The kunoichi's palm involuntarily met her own face. Although she badly wanted to plant it on someone's stupid mug. But she explained anyway:
"I'm your escort. From… the old man."
"Well, you should have just said that from the start," the young man said.
The girl used sheer force of will to stop her eye from twitching. She still hadn't decided: was this guy genuinely dense, or was he just messing with her?
Saitama walked briskly toward the exit. Out in the hallway, he stopped and turned around.
"What are you standing there for? Let's go already. I'm starving."
Anko rolled her eyes and quietly muttered:
"Oh Kami, give me the strength to finish this C-rank mission…"