"Brat, now that you're in here, I assume you're ready to die?"
Naruto looked up and answered sincerely, "I'm not planning on dying yet. I came in because I want to be friends with you."
Sincerity was the best way to make friends, and Naruto was being very sincere. Even the Nine-Tails could feel it.
He was risking his life just to be friends with him. How could that not be sincere?
The Nine-Tails fell silent for a moment, then said, "You humans are all the same. I don't want to be your friend."
Naruto said seriously, "Everyone is unique, so we're sure to become friends."
The Nine-Tails sneered. "Hmph. Are you saying you're different?"
"Time will prove everything," Naruto replied.
The Nine-Tails was noncommittal. "Then let time prove it."
With that, the Nine-Tails retracted his claws and ignored Naruto.
As expected, he was a tsundere fox...
With a smile on his face, Naruto decided to strike while the iron was hot. He walked over to the Nine-Tails' tail.
"Since we're friends, it's only natural for you to let me sleep on you, right?"
A soft, fluffy tail. It'd be so cozy to sleep on.
Before the Nine-Tails could agree, Naruto started climbing onto his tail.
"Get lost, brat! Don't get too cocky!"
I just give you a little leeway, and now you're trying to take over the whole shop. I can't even imagine what you'll try next... The Nine-Tails couldn't stand for it. He raised his tail high, nearly sending Naruto tumbling face-first to the ground.
"Little Nine, you're so shy... But since it's your first time, I'll forgive you."
Do I need your forgiveness? You little brat!
The Nine-Tails bared his teeth at Naruto. He looked less like a fox and more like a little dog pretending to be fierce.
I really want to pat his head... Naruto reined in the urge to court disaster, said, "Good night," then turned sideways, passed through the gate, and disappeared.
"...Good night, brat."
His low voice echoed through the space, but no one heard it.
Time passed, and half a year went by. Naruto and the Nine-Tails gradually grew more comfortable with each other.
Whether they counted as friends was another matter, but at least they could talk normally now. It was no longer just Naruto talking to himself.
As time went on, the day when the boy and the fox became friends would surely come.
The only real disappointment was that the Nine-Tails still wouldn't let him sleep on his tail.
So stingy!
One day at noon, Naruto was grilling fish on a grassy riverbank in the forest when the Third Hokage suddenly showed up to chat and mooch a meal.
After finishing the fish, the Third Hokage lit his pipe and exhaled a puff of white smoke. "Naruto, you're six this year. It's time for you to start school."
The Third Hokage took out an enrollment notice. Naruto accepted it and saw that school would start in a week.
"Okay, got it. Goodbye, old man."
"...There's no rush. I'd still like to talk with you a little longer."
Fine, then let's talk.
They chatted fitfully for half an hour, after which the Third Hokage prepared to leave and attend to his duties.
But before he left, there was something he couldn't help asking.
"Do you hate me, Naruto?"
Whenever they talked, the Third Hokage could feel how much Naruto seemed to dislike him.
How could you even ask that? Do you have no idea?
Naruto scoffed inwardly, then looked surprised. "I don't hate you. What makes you say that, old man?"
The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe and said glumly, "You don't seem very willing to talk to me."
"You're imagining things. I don't like talking to anyone. You're just one of them; it doesn't mean I hate you."
Remembering that he still needed the Third Hokage's protection, Naruto knew better than to offend him. He reassured him, "Besides, if you think about it, no one in the village talks to me. The person who talks to me the most is actually you, old man. I like you too much to hate you, don't I?"
The Third Hokage fell silent, looking at Naruto with guilt. I'm sorry. It's because of my own selfishness...
Naruto asked curiously, "Grandpa, why are you looking at me like that?"
The Third Hokage came back to himself and let out a deep breath.
He didn't regret what he'd done. It had all been for Konoha. But Naruto had suffered for it. He owed Minato and Kushina an apology.
Putting aside his complicated feelings, the Third Hokage patted Naruto on the head and said kindly, "You'll make friends at school. There are lots of good kids there..."
Going to school? Well, if he was starting school, then he'd have to stop earning money by sitting outside shops.
Luckily, Naruto had saved up quite a bit of money—enough to last until he became a Genin. He didn't feel particularly reluctant to stop.
After all, unless he had no other choice, he didn't really want to sit outside someone else's shop.
It made him look like a beggar, and he also had to put up with the strange looks from troublesome customers.
He was only doing it because he needed the money.
On the day the Ninja Academy opened, Naruto went to his assigned classroom.
As expected, he saw plenty of familiar faces.
Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji, Haruno Sakura, Sasuke Uchiha...
They were all little kids, which made Naruto feel like he was back in elementary school.
Elementary school—middle school—high school—college—elementary school.
Sigh, why was he going backward?
Naruto sighed inwardly and took a seat in an empty spot at the back.
It wasn't long before a man wearing a green flak jacket and sporting a fierce expression walked into the classroom.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Ninja Academy. I'm your teacher, Umino Iruka..."
After a brief introduction, Iruka took out a notebook.
"Now, I'm going to call roll. When you hear your name, come up and introduce yourself. Tell us your name, your interests, and your dream."
"First, Sasuke Uchiha."
Adoring squeals immediately rang out. They were only a bunch of five- or six-year-old girls, so how did they already know so much?
The kids in the Ninja World really did grow up too fast.
Thinking of that, Naruto looked at Hinata. She was sneaking glances at him. When she noticed him looking her way, her face instantly turned bright red. She hurriedly looked away and buried her head in her arms like an ostrich.
She was another precocious one. Just like in the original story, she had fallen for Naruto.
But the feeling of being liked by a little girl...
Naruto's expression turned strange. Things were getting more and more criminal by the day.
At the front of the classroom, Sasuke said coolly, "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I like training, and my dream is to surpass my older brother."
The girls squealed again. "Ah! It's Sasuke! He's so cool!"
Iruka stopped them. "All right, quiet down... Next, Akimichi Choji."
The chubby boy said, "My name is Akimichi Choji. I like eating barbecue, and my dream is to have an endless supply of it."
"Next, Inuzuka Kiba."
The boy with red markings on his cheeks said, "My name is Inuzuka Kiba. I like raising dogs, and my dream is to become Hokage."
"Next, Nara Shikamaru."
Shikamaru looked utterly listless. "My name is Nara Shikamaru. I like playing Shogi, and my dream is to live a peaceful life."
"Next, Haruno Sakura."
The pink-haired girl stood up and said, "Hello, everyone. My name is Haruno Sakura. My best friend is Ino, and my dream is to become a great kunoichi like Lady Tsunade~!"
"Next..."
Before long, it was Naruto's turn.
"Next, Uzumaki Naruto." Anger filled Iruka's eyes. His own parents...
Before you continue