Planting a Seed in Konohamaru's Heart

Morning sunlight bathed all of Konoha.

But Naruto's mood was anything but sunny.

In the two days since he had arrived in this world, almost everything he had faced had been like walking a tightrope over a cliff. One wrong step, and he would fall to his death.

For the first time, Naruto wanted to grow stronger!

Only the strong had the right to decide their own fate! He refused to remain at everyone else's mercy!

Fortunately, the first wave of danger had passed. Things should be calm for a while, and he needed to seize the chance to train.

After quickly eating a freshly made breakfast, Naruto hurried to the photography studio beside the Hokage Mansion. He needed a photo for his Ninja records.

With the photo in hand, he rushed to the Hokage Mansion.

Last night, he had sneaked in. Now he could walk through the doors openly as an official Ninja.

Fate really was a strange son of a bitch.

The Fate Choice System even more so.

As Naruto walked, he recalled the original story. Next, he would meet another privileged brat, Konohamaru, who would make Naruto his boss after seeing his Sexy Jutsu.

Naruto had nothing against Konohamaru, though he did not think much of him either. He was just a spoiled little kid.

But when Naruto thought of how the Third Hokage had mistreated him, he decided to use Konohamaru to get under the old man's skin. A little payback.

That was why Naruto had deliberately taken an unusual ID photo: it would give him a reason to use Sexy Jutsu on the Third Hokage.

He looked down at the bizarre photo in his hand and could not help remembering the cringeworthy days of his youth in his previous life... Ha!

"Naruto, what on earth is this photo?"

Inside the meeting room, the Third Hokage frowned and tossed Naruto's photo onto the table.

Naruto immediately put on an offended look. "Hey, old man! I put a lot of thought into this style!"

In truth, he had used the Transformation Technique for the photo. He had not actually styled himself that way.

"Why is all your hair sticking up? And what's with the gold chain around your neck and all those gold rings?"

The Third Hokage rubbed his brow as he spoke. Naruto had always liked drawing attention with outlandish pranks. The Third Hokage found them tiresome, but he had never stopped him.

Naruto curled his lip. "It's called the Shamate style! You're so out of touch, old man!"

Suppressing his irritation, the Third Hokage said helplessly, "Take it away and get another one."

Naruto pretended to throw a sulky little fit, glaring at the Third Hokage as the old man glared back.

"Sexy Jutsu!" Sensing Konohamaru approaching, Naruto timed it perfectly and unleashed his trump card.

It was a unique Ninjutsu Naruto had perfected through years of careful observation at the women's bathhouse!

The Third Hokage, an old hand at peeping through a crystal ball, stared at the transformed Naruto for a moment. Blood promptly streamed from his nose, leaving him deeply embarrassed.

Konohamaru, who had been hiding outside the door, saw his chance and launched a "sneak attack" on the Third Hokage. Then he tripped over his own scarf and fell flat on his face.

Konohamaru's tutor, the bespectacled Ebisu, hurried up from behind and gave the Third Hokage an awkward smile. When he spotted Naruto in the meeting room, his face filled with contempt.

Naruto's senses were sharp. He instinctively frowned at Ebisu, and killing intent slipped into his gaze.

Then alarm shot through him. The Third Hokage was still nearby. Naruto immediately turned toward Konohamaru, but a glance from the corner of his eye caught the old man watching him with a dark expression.

Naruto's heart hammered. Had he given himself away? If the Third Hokage grew suspicious, the surveillance would only get worse.

Fortunately, Konohamaru came right up to him and pointed at his nose. "You pulled some trick on me to make me trip, didn't you?"

An idea struck Naruto. He grabbed Konohamaru by the collar and snapped, "Idiot! You tripped all by yourself!"

Ebisu shouted at Naruto, "Let go of him, now! He's the Third Hokage's grandson!"

Konohamaru lifted his chin even higher at that.

Naruto sneered and punched Konohamaru on the head without hesitation. "His grandson is exactly who I'm punching!"

With that, Naruto turned and jumped out the window. He did not dare look back at the Third Hokage's face.

Five minutes later, he strolled down the street, waiting for Konohamaru to catch up while working out how to grow stronger.

He could not wait to become powerful enough to escape the constant surveillance. He was sick of wearing a false mask and watching every expression on other people's faces.

For now, his greatest asset was the Fate Choice System. It only appeared when something important happened, but its rewards were generous. Thanks to it, he already had a solid foundation and tremendous potential.

The next time an Upgrade Scroll appeared, he could use it to strengthen his combat ability—perhaps by improving the Flying Thunder God Technique he had learned from the Scroll of Seals yesterday, which he had not yet reached Novice level in.

As for ordinary Ninjutsu, he wanted to learn the Rasengan right away, but he needed a plausible reason. Otherwise, he would have no way to explain it.

His Chakra nature was undoubtedly wind. Once the teams were assigned tomorrow, he could ask Kakashi for guidance. After all, the Copy Ninja must know plenty of Wind Release Ninjutsu.

He was not particularly good at Genjutsu, and the original story had shown no talent for it either. But he could ask Sakura to teach him how to recognize and break ordinary Genjutsu. She had a real knack for that.

Kakashi was good at Taijutsu too, but Naruto would rather learn from Might Guy. Even if he could not learn the Eight Gates Released Formation, he could still gain more experience with Taijutsu training.

While Naruto was thinking, Konohamaru caught up from behind.

The corner of Naruto's mouth rose for an instant before he smoothed his expression.

"Hey, I'll call you boss if you teach me that Sexy Jutsu you used to beat Grandpa Hokage. How about it?" Konohamaru asked, one hand on his hip and the other pointing at Naruto.

Naruto pretended to think it over, then gave him a wicked grin. "Want to learn? Sure, I'll teach you! But you have to do exactly what I say!"

"Okay, boss!" Konohamaru agreed without hesitation.

Naruto led Konohamaru to the largest women's bathhouse in the village and gave him one last lesson:

"Remember! Here are eight words to live by: censor what you see, not what you imagine!"

Naruto then transformed into a purple-haired beauty wearing clothes. Konohamaru copied him and turned into a plump little girl.

Naturally, their clothes transformed into women's clothes too. Otherwise, their disguise would fall apart.

Naruto proudly led Konohamaru straight into the women's bathhouse, thinking, Third Hokage, oh Third Hokage, I'm about to plant a very interesting seed in your own grandson's heart!