Decide the path for your future—clearly, firmly, in your heart.
Naruto's stomach growled loudly.
He had woken up early and spent the whole morning thinking things through… but hadn't eaten a single thing yet.
He headed over to the refrigerator, hoping to find something to quiet his hunger.
But, just like in the original Naruto's life, there was barely anything inside. Just a lone carton of milk sat there.
Naruto grabbed it and was about to gulp it down when something made him pause. He checked the date.
"…Ugh."
Expired.
Naruto sighed in frustration.
Thankfully, he remembered something from the original Naruto's memories: he often ate expired food—out of necessity more than choice. That little habit had made him cautious.
If not for that moment of clarity, he might've downed the milk and ended up turning into a walking biohazard.
There was nothing edible in the entire house.
He rummaged around a bit more and eventually found Naruto's toad-shaped wallet. With that in hand, he decided to head into town to buy something to eat.
He pulled on Naruto's iconic orange outfit, grabbed the wallet, and stepped outside.
The streets of Konoha lay before him, bustling with early-morning life. As the Hidden Leaf Village, the strongest of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, it lived up to its reputation.
Shops lined both sides of the street—dumpling stalls, yakiniku restaurants, general stores, ninja tool shops—you name it.
The villagers walked about with proud expressions, basking in the everyday peace and prosperity of the village.
But.
That peace only lasted…
…until Naruto appeared.
The moment he stepped into view, everything changed.
The warm smiles on the villagers' faces vanished like a dream upon waking.
Dark, hostile expressions replaced them.
It was like watching someone switch masks—one moment kind and bright, the next cold and cruel.
If Naruto hadn't seen this shift happen before his eyes, he would've found it hard to believe.
"The demon fox is out again!"
"Stay away from that thing!"
"He killed my parents… why won't he just die!?"
"Monster! Murderer!"
Ptui!"Disgusting."
"I don't get why Lord Hokage lets that thing stay here!"
"Little Yang, don't play with that demon fox, okay? He eats people!"
"Okay, Mommy! I'll remember!"
Their words pierced the air like poisoned kunai.
Walking down the street, Naruto felt every glare, every whispered insult. He had felt it before, through memories… but living it firsthand was something else entirely.
His fists clenched.
How could anyone endure this?
Uzumaki Naruto's parents—Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki—gave their lives to save this very village.
Their son, the one they left behind…
…was treated like garbage by the people they saved.
And the most infuriating part?
The village leaders, especially the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—knew exactly what was going on.
They were fully aware of the truth behind the Nine-Tails' attack.
But they did nothing.
Oh wait… that's not entirely true.
After Naruto was stoned by some villagers yesterday, the Third Hokage kindly (note the sarcasm) issued a decree that "no one is allowed to harm Naruto."
That was it.
That was the extent of their "compassion."
Naruto couldn't even begin to fathom it.
That someone who grew up in this environment—abused, hated, shunned—could still wish to protect the very people who treated him this way.
All he could do was shake his head.
Maybe that's just what it means to be the protagonist.
…Or.
Maybe, just maybe, Naruto had been under the effects of Kotoamatsukami since childhood.
Or perhaps—
It was simply long-term, systemic brainwashing.
Something deep and insidious.
Something that turned a child hated by all…
…into the Naruto of the original story.
Fortunately, Naruto is no longer the same as before.
Those villagers who bullied him, who treated him like a monster... He no longer cared about what they thought.
Naruto agreed with a line he once saw online before crossing into this world:
"I love the way you hate me but can't do a thing about it."
Right now, his fists are small, and his legs aren't fast.
He's still weak.
He can't change anything—yet.
But one day, he'll write it all down:
Everything he's going through now...
Everything the original Naruto suffered through...
He'll record it.
And when that time comes...
He'll make them pay.
He doesn't have the heart of a saint.
He doesn't believe in turning the other cheek.
He doesn't want to forgive evil.
He wants revenge.
Plain and simple.
Naruto walked with his head down, lost in thought, until he reached a small supermarket he remembered from Naruto's memories.
Before entering, he checked his wallet.
This month's allowance?
Only 80 ryō left.
If that doesn't sound like much—
In the original series, one bowl of Ichiraku Ramen costs 60 ryō.
That means Naruto could barely afford one meal. One bowl of ramen. That's it.
But Naruto wasn't about to waste his entire allowance on a single bowl of noodles.
Ichiraku's ramen wasn't overpriced.
His wallet was just that empty.
If he used the money to buy instant noodles instead—
At 20 ryō a pack,
He could buy three packs for 60 ryō.
Enough for three meals.
For the original Naruto, that was the most practical way to survive each month.
But the moment he stepped into the store, the shopkeeper immediately stopped him.
"Hey, fox brat."
"I don't have any expired instant noodles for you today."
"There's nothing here for you. Get lost."
He shoved Naruto out of the store with an annoyed grunt.
Naruto stumbled, almost falling.
He stood frozen for a moment.
Expired instant noodles...?
Then he remembered.
The Naruto before him did eat instant noodles every day.
But they were always expired.
The shopkeeper sold them to him at regular price, pretending they were still good.
Naruto was a kid with no parents, no one to stand up for him.
Back then, he hadn't understood.
He just thought: "As long as it fills my stomach, it's fine."
He was healthy, so eating expired food didn't matter, right?
But now…
Now Naruto understood.
Even if expired instant noodles wouldn't kill you—maybe just a little stomachache—
That man was knowingly selling expired food at full price.
Even worse?
The shop had plenty of fresh food. He just didn't want to sell it to Naruto.
This wasn't about money. It was pure bullying.
Naruto had no parents. No backing. No power.
But he still wouldn't stand for it.
He looked the shopkeeper dead in the eye and said two words, calmly:
"You coward."
He turned and left.
He'd never give money to someone who looked down on him.
He'd burn that money before he gave it to scum like that.
What, I'll starve if I don't eat your trash noodles? Please.
The shopkeeper stared after Naruto, stunned.
He didn't even understand what those two words meant.
But judging by Naruto's expression, it definitely wasn't a compliment.
Realizing a moment too late, the man cursed out loud.
That damned fox demon tricked me!
He was furious.
But Naruto was already far down the street, hands in his pockets, head low.
The villagers still gave him a wide berth—at least two or three meters.
As if he were some dangerous animal.
And maybe he was.
To them, Naruto looked like a lonely pup, wandering through the crowd.
But inside?
He was a beast.
A beast locked in a cage called Konoha.