Uzumaki Naruto

Leaf.

Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows were tightly furrowed. He had been feeling restless these past few days, as if something major was about to happen.

His relationship with his old friend Danzo Shimura had also grown increasingly strained, but what brought him comfort was the emergence of three geniuses within the Uchiha clan.

Furthermore, all three of these geniuses were incredibly loyal to Leaf.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't stop smiling.

"These are at least three Elite Jonin, Danzo Shimura. What do you have to compete with me now?"

With these three Elite Jonin from the Uchiha clan, his position would be unshakably secure.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen soon frowned again.

"But who on earth caused such massive destruction in the Forest of Death?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the photographs laid out before him, lost in deep thought.

The intensity of this destruction was certainly not the work of an ordinary ninja.

Even he would require a certain amount of time to inflict that level of damage upon the Forest of Death.

Moreover, he was old and frail now.

He no longer possessed such immense chakra.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a headache coming on.

A ninja this powerful was running rampant within Leaf, and not only was he unaware of it, he didn't even know where to begin an investigation.

"Third Hokage, it's bad!"

Murakami Ichiro rushed into the Hokage Office in a panic, not even bothering to knock.

As a ninja who followed the rules, this was the first time he had ever been so disheveled and frantic!

His face was pale beyond measure.

Uchiha Gray was too terrifying; he was definitely not an ordinary Genin.

And he certainly wasn't as loyal to the Hokage as the outside world perceived him to be, otherwise, how could he have forced his way into Uzumaki Naruto's residence?

Perhaps Uchiha Gray had been putting on an act from the very beginning.

All just to gain the Third Hokage's trust!

This was too frightening—just how old was Uchiha Gray?

"What happened to make you so flustered?"

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen did not reprimand him, a flicker of displeasure crossed his expression.

He hated ninjas who didn't follow the rules!

His expression remained grim.

No matter how big the issue was, what could possibly happen?

With him, the Third Hokage, present, what kind of trouble could arise?

"Third Hokage, it's bad." Murakami Ichiro still failed to notice the irritation in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.

He said, full of panic: "Uchiha Gray ignored our attempts to stop him and broke into Uzumaki Naruto's home!"

After saying this, cold sweat streamed down Murakami Ichiro's forehead as he looked nervously at the Third Hokage.

He had failed in his duties, and he feared being reprimanded by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"And he has actually already awakened..." Before Murakami Ichiro could finish, he was interrupted by a sharp shout from Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"You fool, why didn't you say so sooner!"

Why would Uchiha Gray defy his orders?

This was impossible. Could it be that Uchiha Gray had been deceiving him from the very start?

Uzumaki Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Uchiha Gray, as a member of the Uchiha clan, was attempting to get close to the Nine-Tails.

Could it be that the Uchiha clan had designs on the Nine-Tails?

In an instant, countless thoughts flooded Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.

His figure vanished in a flash.

Murakami Ichiro's eyes were filled with astonishment.

"The Third Hokage actually has moments of such panic, and I hadn't even finished—Uchiha Gray has already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan..."

But by now, Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer hear him.

Uzumaki Naruto looked at the scenery outside the window with a sense of loss.

His azure-blue eyes were filled with confusion.

"Why does no one like me? I haven't done anything wrong."

"I just want to play with the other kids, so why do they hit me?"

"Why won't those shopkeepers even sell me food when I try to buy it?"

Uzumaki Naruto's eyes grew increasingly despondent.

Tears streamed from his eyes.

He couldn't understand it; he hadn't done anything wrong.

Why was he being bullied by everyone?

Could it be... that I'm just not doing enough?

"No, you haven't done anything wrong. You've done very well."

Within Uzumaki Naruto's line of sight, a handsome older brother with a full head of black hair appeared before him.

This older brother's eyes were filled with gentleness.

For the first time, little Naruto felt such kindness, and he stammered, "Big Brother, who are you? Why are you in my house?"

"My name is Uchiha Gray, and I am the person who is going to change your life."

Uchiha Gray said with a smile.

In truth, for every fan of the Hokage series, Uzumaki Naruto was a presence that represented their youth.

Therefore, when facing this young boy, Uchiha Gray couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness.

But compared to the image of him suffering grievances in the original story, he preferred the version of Naruto who had turned dark.

To be bullied by the world like this, yet still end up as a beacon of light and goodness, struck Uchiha Gray as ridiculous.

"This isn't the place to talk; let's go somewhere else," Uchiha Gray smiled.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan manifested in an instant!

It flickered with an eerie and bewitching light.

The scenery shifted the next moment.

The two of them arrived inside a dark, damp underground sewer!

A vast and terrifying aura filled the entire space; it felt as if an incredibly horrific creature lived within, making Uzumaki Naruto's body tremble uncontrollably.

"Where is this?" little Naruto asked, his eyes filled with confusion.

There was an aura here that made him feel very close to it, yet it also filled him with fear.

"This is your Mental Space. Naruto, don't you want to know about your origins?"

Uchiha Gray looked at Naruto's aggrieved and sorrowful expression with pity.

This was the son of the Leaf's hero.

He should have been cherished by everyone as the hero of the Leaf.

Yet now, he was treated as the son of the Demon Fox!

"My origins?" Naruto's pupils widened abruptly, and he stared intently at Uchiha Gray.

"Big Brother, do you know? Could it be that you are my family?"

Uzumaki Naruto's face was full of hope.

If he had family, he wouldn't be bullied anymore, right?

The older brother in front of him possessed an incredibly familiar aura—sunny, warm, like the sun itself.

He couldn't help but feel as if he were a relative.

Why hadn't his family appeared for all these years?

Was it because he hadn't been obedient, and they had lost him?

"Don't be sad or upset."

Uchiha Gray slowly walked up to Uzumaki Naruto and gently tapped his forehead with two fingers.

"Your parents were both very powerful and outstanding ninjas, but for various reasons, they were unable to protect you."

"Your father's name was Namikaze Minato, and your mother's name was Uzumaki Kushina."

Uzumaki Naruto's eyes were dazed; he was only four years old and didn't yet know what the name Namikaze Minato signified.

"Namikaze Minato! Uzumaki Kushina, Mom and Dad!"

But the next moment, Uzumaki Naruto's eyes lit up instantly. He might not have known what the name Namikaze Minato meant, but he now knew the names of his parents!

"What kind of people were they, Brother Gray?" Uzumaki Naruto's eyes were filled with hope.

In his eyes, his parents must have loved him very much.

It must have been for some special reason that they had to leave him.

"Your father, Namikaze Minato, was the Fourth Hokage!" Uchiha Gray looked at Uzumaki Naruto's hopeful face.

His expression was calm as he slowly uttered these words.