Iruka watched the empty space where Naruto had stood. "I… wish he and I could share Ichiraku ramen again ."
Mizuki clapped his hands loudly. " now that the troublemaker's gone—students, it's time to learn Bunshin no Jutsu."
Itachi turned his head at the teachers . " What happened here stays here. Don't provoke unnecessary reactions toward Naruto."
Iruka nodded, uneasy. "I'll try to convince the students not to spread what they saw. If their parents hear it, they'll think I fed the kids illegal pills. But, Itachi… what will you do? Even I could tell Naruto was holding back—too much. The boy we knew changed into something drastic."
Shisui stepped forward, already shifting his weight to depart. "I'll handle that part. In the meantime, you teachers should focus on teaching your students."
The two ANBU blurred. Gone to their missions, leaving the shaken Academy behind.
By late afternoon—around four—the students had gathered again, buzzing with the kind of confusion that felt like trying to explain a nightmare to someone who slept peacefully.
Kiba hunched forward, ears twitching. "My parents didn't believe a single thing I said about Naruto. They told me to go get checked by a medical-nin."
Ino threw her hands up. "Same! I told them Naruto pulled out a three-meter-long katana and my mom told me I've been eating too many cup ramen hallucinating noodles."
Sakura crossed her arms with a smug tilt. "It's called ramen brain poisoning."
Ino glared. "Why you, Sakura?"
Sakura leaned in. "No—why YOU, Ino."
Both girls immediately devolved into kicking and slapping like two wild academy gremlins.
Shikamaru watched them with a tired stare. "Troublesome. Anyway… I underestimated Naruto."
Chōji frowned. "Underestimate what? We literally saw him beat two ANBU."
Shikamaru shook his head slowly. "Not that. I mean how smart he is. Think about it—Naruto probably used some advanced Bunshin trick. Fed everyone false information. Made them think he's weak and stupid. Meanwhile the real Naruto strutted in front of us tossing magic like it's pocket change."
Chōji blinked. "You think he planned all that?"
Neji crossed his arms. "The proof is already there. Half the neighbors complained about an orange-jacket brat wearing goggles, splashing paint everywhere. That was Naruto before all this. That attention-seeking idiot… not this cold, manipulative son of a bitch we saw today."
Shino adjusted his glasses. "What do you think, Sasuke? Naruto's focus was directed at you more than anyone. His hostility felt… personal. As if he's held that grudge a long time."
Sasuke didn't look away from the empty training field. His voice stayed flat. "Do you think I can learn magic like Naruto did?"
Ino and Sakura froze mid-kick. Both snapped their heads toward him.
"What?" they said in unison.
Sasuke exhaled slowly, irritation threading through the sound. "I'm just saying… I'm not letting someone like him get that far ahead of me. Especially someone who doesn't bother hiding his disdain for everyone—" He clicked his tongue. "—including my brother."
Neji tilted his head slightly. "You're asking? You usually handle things yourself."
Sasuke didn't flinch. "I'm out of options. I can't detect him with my Sharingan. I'm sure your Byakugan can't detect him either. The only difference for me is that I can sense he isn't part of this world. While most of you—even my brother—can't detect any chakra signature from him." He looked around. "Any suggestions?"
Shikamaru rested his chin in his hand. "My theory? Better spy on him… if you can even find him."
Tenten crossed her arms. "And he disappears like cards. We can't find that Naruto. He's nowhere."
Shikamaru tapped his chin. "But there is a way. One shot for you, Sasuke… if Naruto shows up."
Sasuke scoffed, tone flat with sarcasm. "On the Uchiha compound? My home? You're telling me I need to grovel and kneel to him?"
Shikamaru shook his head. "Not like that. And you wouldn't do it anyway. You're an Uchiha. You've got pride."
He pointed lazily at Sasuke. "Also, stop relying on your Sharingan. It's useless. Same for Neji's Byakugan. They won't see him. Instead, when he comes, watch his breathing. His temperament. If you can read that, I guarantee you'll at least follow his movement."
Sakura frowned. "Hey, you lazy Nara—Naruto didn't use hand seals. His magic is faster. He said one word and whoosh—winter froze the whole training ground."
Sasuke clicked his tongue. "That doesn't help me learn his magic."
Shikamaru shrugged. "It won't. But it lets you guess his next move. Maybe you're slow. Maybe we're all slow. But no matter how strong a technique is, there's always a way. A weakness. Right?"
A vibration hit the air. golden portal bloomed open on the center of the training field—its frame shaped like the Gate of Babylon, humming with impossible radiance.
Shikamaru stared. "Huh?"
A wounded golem , was thrown out of the portal like discarded scrap. It slammed into the ground, cracking the earth.
Then another figure stepped out.
Naruto. He cracked his neck once. Multiple Gate of Babylon portals snapped open behind him. Golden spears, golden swords, golden axes—all fired at once and impaled the golem from every angle.
Naruto exhaled sharply. "Classic. The Crucible is the best fighting arena to vent my frustrations."
Tenten leaned toward Shikamaru, whispering hard. "Explain me now . His crazy temperament, his bloodlust, and now he can summon gold spears and axes?"
Shikamaru's eye twitched. Don't make my life more troublesome, Naruto.
Naruto smirked toward the group. "Oh? You kids are still here. I thought you'd be in a mental hospital by now."
Sakura snapped, face red. "Naruto baka! You think you're strong? Even Sasuke-kun can beat you!"
Naruto tilted his head. "And you're as much of a banshee as ever."
Sakura lunged to punch him. A burst of frost exploded from the ground—vanilla-colored ice cream erupting upward, slamming her back and freezing her in a cold shell. Her arm trembled as she pointed at him, shivering.
"You—did not show respect—for a lady!"
Naruto tapped his cane against the earth. "I believe gender equality is preferable. And besides, I kept your limbs intact. As far as I know, no one in this era can regenerate organs with just a mere jutsu."
He shifted his gaze to Shikamaru, smiling faintly before looking away.
Shikamaru blinked. "What's with that look? If you already spied on us, I'm not surprised. You fooled the entire village with your bunshin, after all."
Naruto turned toward Shino. "Ask him."
Shino adjusted his collar, voice steady. "Unfortunately, Shikamaru, if Naruto used mediums I could detect—like kikaichu—I would've known and disposed of them first."
Naruto nodded once. "Even someone with intelligence ninety percent lower than mine could figure it out at a glance. Reading my temperament and gestures?"
He clicked his tongue lightly. "That tactic's a bit old-fashioned. you can read my emotions, predict my next move."
He rested the cane on his shoulder, eye sharpening with cold precision.
"But all of that becomes useless… when the enemy wields absolute power."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Naruto… did you take our Uchiha clan invitation lightly?"
Naruto blinked. A literal warping question mark popped above his head like a cartoon glitch in reality. "I don't follow. It's like going to someone's home, right? Let's go, rumble, and party… right?"
Neji exhaled sharply. "Being invited into the Uchiha compound is rare. They only extend that honor to other powerful clans. But you—you treat it like nothing.. Just like those delusion-magic tricks you throw around. You toss them out like candy."
Naruto sensed the shift instantly—the slight disdain, the quiet judgment, the thought you're ungrateful.
Naruto raised a brow, voice dripping with playful sarcasm. "Ahhh, I see. That's what you meant. Because the Uchiha clan offered their sincerest gesture to a nobody orphan like me, I should… what? Share my magic? Hand over every trick I have? Maybe kneel a little too?"
Sasuke stepped closer and glared at him.
"It's unfair," Sasuke said. "You leap ahead without effort. That's what we can't stand. I spent my whole childhood trying to impress my parents—trying to meet expectations. And you show up one day with enough power to humiliate ANBU in front of everyone."
"You talk like the world owes you nothing, but you owe nothing to anyone. Even geniuses train. Even prodigies learn. But you? You act like a king walking among children."
Naruto's smile died. A pulse of Weirdmageddon leaked from his body, warping the air, reality flexing like hot metal.
"You think your pain is special?" Naruto's voice dropped into a low, shaking edge. "I have no parents because my parents are fucking killed, And I've been fed lies in this world my whole life."
"Fuck Sandaime. And even my dead father, fuck him too. Because of him I'm fated to carry the world on my shoulders that has never done a good thing for me."
The students froze as the distortion thickened. Wind twisted backwards, dust curling in reverse. Neji's breath hitched as he watched the environment bend. It's like space itself is moving wrong…
Naruto's gaze sharpened. "Sandaime held back information from all of you. Information about my true background that would make this entire village kneel." His tone thinned into ice. "But I don't blame him for hiding my heritage. I was a kid. And he wanted 'stability' for Konoha, right?"
His jaw tightened. "But I will fucking blame him for every stone thrown at me. Every rotten meal. knife. All of it." His fingers twitched once, a ripple of nightmare energy crawling up his arm. "I didn't understand back then. But now I do."
Naruto exhaled, slow and sharp. "Being kept in the dark… being fooled… is horrifying. Exactly like my step sister told me."
Sakura opened her mouth. "Your background is just you being an orphan—"
Ino elbowed her hard, a silent warning to shut up.
Naruto's eye shifted to Sasuke, and every student felt the air twist. The ground bent inward. Wind curled in reverse. Wrong. Unnatural. Reality itself recoiled around him.
Sasuke trembled but refused to step back.
Naruto's eye flared, blue sclera swallowing the white, iris burning a sharp, predatory red. Golden portals cracked open behind him—dozens, then hundreds, then thousands. Spears. Axes. Swords. All suspended in midair like a celestial armory waiting for a single command.
Naruto pointed at Sasuke. "This is my line for you, Sasuke. And for your clan. At least for now." His voice cut clean. "Do you have enough tribute to even invite someone with my caliber?"
More portals opened. The sky split as a massive golden ship—Vimana—descended with a low hum, sunlight bending around its form.
Naruto leapt toward the Vimana without looking back.
"For someone who only just learned to stand on a cramped piece of land—land the Uchiha were forced to accept by the village elders, pressed and suffocated under their politics…" His gaze sharpened, voice cutting cold.
"You dare compare yourself to someone who commands the sky?"
Vimana roared upward, acceleration tearing the clouds apart in its wake, leaving the field shaking and the students frozen in pure fear.
Kiba stared at the sky, jaw dropped. "That was… the coolest exit I've ever seen."
The entire group turned and glared at him.
Kiba blinked. "What? I'm just saying—ships aren't supposed to fly. And that one just—" He gestured at the sky. "—took off."
Ino grabbed her head, panicked. "Do you even understand what Naruto is now? What that declaration meant? If he wanted to, he could rain down those spears and swords on the village !"
Shino adjusted his glasses. "Not to mention his magic. Element manipulation with only a single word. And he showed no signs of fatigue."
Ino rounded on him. "Stop making it worse, bug man!"
Sasuke didn't speak. He just stared at the sky Naruto vanished into, hand clenched so tightly the knuckles went white.
His thoughts burned hotter than fire. Arrogant … son of a bitch.