IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

Naruto stared at the vegetable leaves scattered on the ground, his fists tightening as a fierce glint flickered in his eyes. "How did I ever tolerate this? The 'Will of Fire' the Third Hokage always talks about... it's disgusting."

Despite his frustration, Naruto knelt to pick up the vegetables, brushing off the dirt. He placed them back in his bag with a sigh and trudged down the street.

As Naruto passed Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi's cheerful voice rang out. "Naruto! How about a bowl of ramen today? My treat!"

Naruto's eyes lit up, and he rushed over excitedly, but when he felt the weight—or lack thereof—of his frog wallet, his enthusiasm faded. "No thanks, Uncle Teuchi," Naruto said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I've got something else to do."

Teuchi chuckled. "Alright, kid. Just don't forget to stop by next time, okay?"

"I won't! Thanks, Uncle Teuchi!"

---

Not far from the three-color dango shop, Uchiha Itachi walked with a young Uchiha Sasuke in tow. Sasuke tugged on his older brother's sleeve, his curious black eyes fixed on a figure down the road. "Brother, is that the demon fox everyone talks about? Why do the villagers hate him?"

Itachi knelt, placing a hand on Sasuke's head. "Sasuke, the way others see him doesn't matter. What matters is the truth. That boy's father was a hero who saved this village. Always remember that."

Sasuke tilted his head, still watching Naruto walk away. Naruto, sensing the gaze, turned his head. For a brief moment, their eyes met. Confusion and curiosity filled the air as the future rivals saw one another for the first time.

Itachi tapped Sasuke on the forehead with two fingers, his usual gentle reprimand. "What are you staring at? Let's head home."

Sasuke nodded slowly, climbing onto Itachi's back. "Okay, let's go."

Naruto chuckled to himself as he walked away, his lips curling into a smirk. "So that's Uchiha Sasuke, huh? Looks like a kid who doesn't even know what's coming."

---

In a quiet alleyway, a group of children had cornered a small girl with pale lavender eyes—Hyuga Hinata. Tears streamed down her face as they hurled insults at her.

"Monster! Just like that demon fox!"

"A freak with no pupils!"

Hinata hugged her knees, her small frame trembling as she cried silently.

Bang!

The sound of a bag hitting the ground silenced the bullies. Naruto stood at the entrance of the alley, his blue eyes narrowed. "What's wrong with you brats? Got nothing better to do than pick on someone smaller than you?"

One of the boys sneered. "It's the demon fox! Why are you sticking up for her? You're just like her—a monster!"

Naruto's chakra flared instinctively, sending a ripple of pressure through the alley. From a nearby rooftop, an ANBU operative took note, scribbling observations in a small notebook.

Shiro's voice echoed in Naruto's mind. "Don't use chakra, Naruto! Not here."

Naruto exhaled sharply, suppressing his chakra. "Fine. I don't need it to deal with these idiots."

The tallest boy stepped forward, clutching a stone. "What are you scared of? He's just a weakling! Let's get him!" He charged at Naruto, swinging the stone.

Naruto dodged effortlessly and countered with a punch that sent the boy sprawling into the dirt. "Pathetic," he muttered, brushing off his knuckles.

Seeing their leader defeated, the other children scattered, shouting, "The demon fox is attacking people!"

Naruto ignored them and turned to Hinata, who was still huddled on the ground. He extended a hand. "Hey, get up. You okay?"

Hinata hesitated, her cheeks flushing. "M-my name is Hyuga Hinata," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Naruto smiled warmly. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. Nice to meet you."

Before he could say more, Hinata turned and ran off, her face as red as a tomato. Naruto blinked in confusion. "Wait... did I scare her? Am I that ugly?" He scratched his head, chuckling softly as he picked up his bag and continued home.

In the sealed space, Shiro slapped his forehead in frustration. "Naruto, what was that?! You call that talking to a girl? Even if she's your future wife, you could've handled that better!"

Minato, sitting nearby, chuckled. "Naruto's still young. Give him time."

Shiro sighed dramatically. "Time? If he keeps this up, he'll be single forever! Your son is hopeless, Minato."

Minato smirked but remained silent.

Back at home, Naruto set the groceries on the counter and began preparing dinner. In the sealed space, Shiro watched in confusion. "Wait, this kid can cook? When did he learn that? I only gave him intel on Konoha's political mess and dark secrets. What's he doing with a kitchen knife? Is he planning to poison someone?!"

Before Shiro could spiral further, there was a knock at the door. Naruto rushed to answer it. "Grandpa Third!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood at the entrance, smiling warmly. "Naruto, how are you? Is everything alright?"

Naruto grinned. "I'm doing great, Grandpa! I'm cooking dinner—why don't you stay and eat with me?"

"Oh? Since when did you learn to cook, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked, stepping inside.

Naruto led him to the table, then darted back to the kitchen. "I figured it out myself! You always give me living expenses, so I thought I'd try making something nice for you!"

Hiruzen chuckled as he sat down. "Well, this smells wonderful. You've done well, Naruto."

In the sealed space, Shiro observed the scene with a satisfied smirk. "Minato, your son's got more brains than I thought. He's playing this old man like a fiddle."

Minato laughed, shaking his head. "Who would've thought? The Will of Fire undone by a bowl of fish stew."

Shiro's expression turned mock-serious. "Hey, it's not my fault he's a bad Hokage. I'm just here to clean up his mess!"