Naruto stood in the Academy classroom, his new genin headband tied proudly on his forehead, grinning as if he'd just won the world. "Check it out, Sasuke! I'm a ninja now!" he boasted, leaning over to nudge his rival. Sasuke scoffed, and Sakura sighed, but Naruto's cheer was a mask, hiding the weight of the Scroll of Sealing's secrets. He'd hidden it in his apartment, studying it in stolen moments, learning the multi-shadow clone jutsu and glimpses of Tailed Beast chakra control. Each word fueled his hunger for power—and his distrust of everyone around him.The Hokage had let him keep the headband, calling his theft a "misunderstanding" orchestrated by Mizuki, who was now in custody. But Naruto wasn't fooled. The Hokage knew about the Nine-Tails, had always known, and his silence was proof of the village's betrayal. Even Iruka, who'd risked his life, was part of it, tied to the system that hid the truth. Naruto's grin stayed bright, but his heart was a fortress, trusting no one.Today, teams were being assigned, and Naruto's stomach twisted as Iruka read the list. "Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno. Sensei: Kakashi Hatake."Naruto whooped, playing the excited kid, but inside, he was wary. Sasuke was a prodigy, Sakura a fangirl, and Kakashi a jounin with a reputation for being untouchable. They'd watch him, judge him, maybe even report back to the Hokage. But they were also a chance—teammates meant missions, and missions meant opportunities to grow stronger, to test the Nine-Tails' power in real fights.Kakashi was late, of course, showing up hours later with a lazy wave and a masked smile. "Yo. I'm your sensei. Let's meet at the training grounds tomorrow." His single visible eye scanned them, lingering on Naruto a moment too long. Naruto grinned back, but his instincts screamed caution. Kakashi was strong, maybe too strong, and Naruto needed to be stronger.That night, he trained in secret, summoning fifty shadow clones to practice the multi-shadow clone jutsu from the scroll. They moved like an army, fast and coordinated, a testament to his growing power. He tried reaching for the Nine-Tails' chakra again, feeling that burning surge, but it was still wild, slipping away before he could hold it. "I'll get it," he muttered, his grin gone in the dark. Team 7 was a new challenge, but also a chance to prove himself, to gain the strength to demand answers. He'd play the loudmouth genin, but every step was toward the truth.
