I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Lying on the hospital bed, biting into the apple Hinata had peeled and offered with a shy smile, Naruto savored the warmth of her gesture. This rare moment of genuine care felt like a fleeting treasure. In his previous life, isolated and unloved, such tenderness was unimaginable. Across both his lives, this was the first time he experienced a connection like this.

Using his heightened ability to sense malice, a skill refined from the hostility he endured, Naruto gently steered the conversation with Hinata, coaxing her to share the recent happenings in Konoha. Though hesitant and soft-spoken, she recounted the events. Her words, though simple, carried heavy implications that caused Naruto's cheerful demeanor to fade.

Despite his intervention, the Yunyin Mission incident had unfolded once more. However, this time, the Yunyin delegation's leader had kidnapped Hanabi, Hinata's younger sister, instead of Hinata. The chain of events played out eerily close to his memories: in his desperation to save Hanabi, Hiashi Hyūga killed the Yunyin leader, triggering diplomatic backlash. Konoha, under political pressure, forced the Hyūga clan to sacrifice Hizashi, Hiashi's twin brother, to maintain the peace treaty. Hizashi willingly accepted this fate, choosing death to protect his brother and the clan—a decision emblematic of the Hyūga's burden.

Naruto reflected on this tragedy with a mix of anger and frustration. While he wasn't part of the Hyūga clan and had no direct connection to their controversial Caged Bird Seal, the Third Hokage's decisions during the crisis left him disillusioned. Through Kyuubi's insight, Naruto learned that Yunyin's delegation had been scheming from the start, with one of their operatives embedded among the Anbu. Yet, the Third Hokage still opted for compromise, prioritizing fragile peace over Konoha's dignity. This left the once-proud "Strongest Hidden Village" reduced to humiliation. Naruto felt a sharp sense of betrayal, questioning the Hokage's leadership and the village's integrity.

Turning his focus back to Hinata, Naruto listened as she timidly explained her presence. She revealed that her father had granted her permission to visit, provided she returned before sunset. Her quiet determination, layered with her characteristic shyness, brought a soft smile to Naruto's face. Despite the heavy burdens on her family, Hinata radiated resilience and kindness. Naruto speculated that Hiashi's decision to allow her this freedom was not merely kindness but perhaps a calculated move. Hiashi likely suspected Naruto's heritage and allowed Hinata's interaction with him as an unspoken challenge to Konoha's leadership.

Their peaceful moment ended as evening approached. Hinata left under the watchful eyes of Hyūga guards, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Alone once more, Naruto turned to the scrolls left by the Third Hokage. They contained training methods for C-rank Wind Release techniques, emphasizing chakra control and precision. While undeniably useful, Naruto preferred straightforward, overwhelming techniques over intricate strategies. He placed the scrolls aside, determined to pursue power on his terms.

Later that day, the Third Hokage visited Naruto to confirm his recovery and arrange for his discharge. Handing him a key, the Hokage explained that Naruto's old apartment, damaged beyond repair, was being rebuilt. The new apartment was larger but felt cold and unwelcoming. The sparse furnishings and empty refrigerator only heightened Naruto's sense of unease.

Determined to fill his new space with essentials, Naruto walked through Konoha's familiar streets. Yet, something had changed. The villagers who once sneered at him with open disdain now avoided his gaze. Their expressions were no longer filled with hatred but with fear, as though he were an unpredictable storm.

At a shop he frequented, Naruto greeted the shopkeeper, expecting the usual overpricing. To his surprise, the man offered the goods for free, his voice trembling with deference. At first confused, Naruto soon realized the villagers' shift in behavior stemmed from fear. Rumors of his rampage during the Yunyin incident had likely spread, marking him as a dangerous force rather than a simple scapegoat.

Naruto pressed the shopkeeper for details, his voice calm yet commanding. Under pressure, the shopkeeper revealed the circulating rumors: Naruto's display of power had cemented his identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. The villagers now feared provoking his wrath. Naruto paid for his goods despite the shopkeeper's protests and left, his expression unreadable.

Within the sealed space of his mind, Kyuubi's dark laughter echoed. "This is the life of a Jinchuriki, boy. When you're weak, they despise you. When you're strong, they fear you. Don't you feel like destroying them?"

Naruto's response was steady and unwavering. "No, I don't. If anything, I pity them. But it makes me wonder—what would it take to leave Konoha? To find freedom from this cycle of hate and fear?"

Kyuubi's laughter grew louder. "Leave Konoha? With your current strength? Don't kid yourself. They'll never let their prized weapon walk away. And even if you could, the seal keeps me bound to this village along with you."

Naruto smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with quiet determination. "That's why I need to grow stronger—not just to control your power but to forge my own path. One day, I'll see the world beyond Konoha and carve my destiny."

For the first time, Kyuubi didn't retort. Instead, it watched Naruto with a flicker of respect in its ancient eyes, sensing the boy's resolve.