"Benevolent Above, Filial Below"

Early morning, when the sky was only beginning to lighten, was the delicate moment when day and night traded places. It was as though the entire world were shrouded in a gauzy layer of stillness.

In Konoha's back mountains, a winding river ran like the most evocative brushstroke across an emerald painting, brimming with poetic charm. A thin mist draped over it, as though the river itself had donned a veil, lending the hazy scene an air of mystery.

As the first morning light broke, golden rays pierced the fog and scattered across the river's surface. The rippling water glittered like countless tiny diamonds. The river flowed slowly beneath the dawn, so clear that the pebbles and aquatic plants on the bottom could be seen swaying gently. Every now and then, several small fish leaped from the water before swiftly diving back down, sending delicate rings of ripples outward.

Lush trees shaded both banks, their leaves hung with crystal-clear droplets of dew. A breeze passed through, rustling the leaves as birds sang in the distance. Dew slid softly from leaf tips and fell into the river, stirring tiny ripples.

A small blond boy stood steadily atop the river's surface, bare-chested and barefoot, his pant legs tied up. No matter how the current flowed, he remained perfectly still.

His large eyes were narrowed into thin slits, revealing only hints of azure through the gaps.

He stood quietly on the river, as though he had been there for a long time. The splashing water had long since soaked his hair and black cloth trousers, droplets sliding down the faint contours of his upper-body muscles.

Splash!

Splash!

Splash!

At that moment, three small fish finally leaped from the water beside him. Naruto's narrowed eyes flew open, and the three fish seemed to freeze in midair.

The wooden stick in his hand immediately shot forward, whistling through the air as it pierced through all three fish.

"Breakfast is taken care of today."

Naruto smiled and leaped straight to the campfire not far from the riverbank. There was a tent beside it. He had been living here for several months now, far away from that annoying village. It was good for both body and mind.

Likewise, the main reason he had moved here was to train. As early as the second day after he had transmigrated, Sarutobi Hiruzen had come to test him. After all, an orphan who knew nothing suddenly learning to refine Chakra under his watch was not something he could possibly ignore.

Naruto had simply blamed it all on the Nine-Tails.

While sleeping, he had suddenly seen a big fox locked inside a cage. The fox said that as long as Naruto did what it said, he would earn the recognition of everyone in the village. So Naruto did as it told him and managed to refine Chakra.

The big fox had also said that if Naruto opened the cage, it could teach him several powerful ninjutsu, making it even easier for him to gain everyone's recognition.

That had scared Sarutobi Hiruzen so badly that he had nearly summoned Enma on the spot. He thought Naruto had already opened the Nine-Tails' seal. Only after carefully checking Naruto's seal and confirming that the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style had not loosened in the slightest did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Before leaving, he had solemnly assured Naruto that the Nine-Tails did not know any ninjutsu and could not possibly teach him. If Naruto truly wanted to learn ninjutsu, he could ask him instead.

From then on, Sarutobi Hiruzen began visiting Naruto more frequently each month.

After cleaning the fish, Naruto skewered them on branches and roasted them over the campfire. Just as they were nearly done, a somewhat shuffling set of footsteps sounded behind him.

Naruto did not need to think to know who it was. When he turned around, it was indeed the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Though his face carried a trace of exhaustion, he still wore a kindly smile as he cheerfully greeted Naruto.

"Naruto, long time no see. Roasted fish for breakfast again today?"

Why did this old fart come so early today?

Does no one cook for him at home? Why does he keep coming here to mooch meals off me?

Naruto grumbled inwardly, but he still wore a sunny smile as he said excitedly, "Grandpa Third, you're here. Would you like some fish?"

As he spoke, Naruto picked up a nearly roasted fish and happily handed it over.

"Then I'll gladly accept, Naruto."

The smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face deepened as he cheerfully accepted the roasted fish Naruto offered him.

Sure enough, little Naruto was still such a well-behaved child. Though he had moved away from the village, his purpose had been to avoid causing trouble for the villagers. The Will of Fire in his heart was no less than anyone else's.

They were all new leaves of the village.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a little sentimental, while Naruto was gritting his teeth inside. This old fart actually took it after he merely offered. He had never expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to show up at this hour. Three fish were only just enough for him alone.

"I say, brat, if you don't want to give that fish to this old man, why not just tell him?"

Inside the Sealing Space, the Nine-Tails was speechless at Naruto's two-faced behavior and could not help voicing its complaint.

"What do you know? If I dare refuse him this fish today, tomorrow he'll dare take me to the Anbu on the grounds that my Will of Fire isn't strong enough, then force-feed me that Will of Fire crap every day."

"These old farts love using the Will of Fire to brainwash people, then make others sacrifice themselves while they reap the benefits. This roasted fish may be small, but it contains my profound Will of Fire."

Naruto replied to the Nine-Tails with some irritation.

"I really don't understand you humans. Only those lacking strength need so many twists and turns." The Nine-Tails scoffed.

"That's why you're sealed inside me."

The Nine-Tails instantly broke down.

"Grandpa Third, be careful of the fish bones." Naruto reminded him with a worried expression.

The Third's old face was practically blooming like a chrysanthemum.

"Grandpa knows."

One old man and one young boy sat silently on stone stumps by the river, enjoying breakfast.

Gray hair and childish locks, enjoying the warmth of family.

"Little Naruto, are you training later?"

After finishing the roasted fish, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.

"Mm." Naruto nodded heavily and said with anticipation, "I want to grow stronger as quickly as possible. That way, I'll have the strength to protect everyone in the village and make them accept me sooner."

In the end, the cheat was still too weak. Other than giving him Chakra control on the first day, the system had never triggered again.

During those first few days, he had wandered all over the village. Aside from receiving countless cold stares and curses, along with provocations from a few bratty kids, he had not triggered a single option.

Under those circumstances, Naruto decisively chose to set the system aside for now and rely on his other cheat—Nine of the Meteor.

As long as it did not kill him, he would train himself to death.

As for the danger of being alone in the wilderness, the Nine-Tails' Malice Perception had told him that two squads of Anbu were always nearby.

"What a good child you are, Naruto. One day, everyone will recognize you, because you are Konoha's true hero."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was secretly astonished by Naruto's training. Even Guy from the Ninja Academy back then would have been left several streets behind by this training volume.

He could not help glancing once more at the mountain-sized boulder in the distance. It was covered in densely packed fist marks, palm prints, and footprints.

The Nine-Tails' Chakra combined with the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline was truly terrifying. Even if Naruto could not control the Nine-Tails in the future, he would still have the strength of an Elite Jonin.

"I'll definitely do it." Naruto immediately straightened up, patted his chest, and spoke with confidence. Yet his confident expression quickly turned hesitant.

Seeing Naruto like this, Sarutobi Hiruzen guessed what was on his mind. He hesitated, wanting to pretend he had not noticed, but when he thought of Naruto's longing to be accepted, he finally asked, "What is it, little Naruto? Is there something you don't understand again?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment, then seemed to finally gather his courage. "Grandpa Third, I've completely mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and the Rasengan. Can you teach me another new ninjutsu?"

Although he had been observing Naruto's training progress every day through the Telescope Technique, hearing it directly still left Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly stunned.

Minato, you truly had a fine son.

This was Konoha's hope.

"Little Naruto's talent is even greater than I imagined." Sarutobi Hiruzen showed an astonished yet gratified expression. "Even the Fourth Hokage could not match your talent back then."

Naruto immediately put on a bashful expression, scratching his head as he said, "I want to become a hero who protects the village, just like the Fourth Hokage."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard. His vision seemed to blur as Naruto under the sunlight split into overlapping images, as though he were seeing the Fourth Hokage of old.

"In that case, I'll teach you about Chakra's nature transformation and shape transformation today."