I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

After returning home, Naruto sat on the worn-out sofa, boiling water for some instant ramen while chatting with the Nine-Tails to kill time.

"Hey, Big Fox," Naruto said with a grin. "How was the grilled fish? Not bad, huh? If you like it, I can share these tasty chakra meals with you every day."

Kurama, prideful as ever, didn't respond immediately. Yet Naruto already knew the truth from the earlier system prompt—it had revealed Kurama's hidden satisfaction.

Finally, Kurama snorted. "Hmph, it was mediocre at best. The old man has tasted far better things in the past. Don't think you can win me over with this cheap offering."

Naruto smirked. "You've been sealed for decades… where exactly did you have better food?" He didn't voice this thought aloud, deciding instead to focus on how he could change his current circumstances.

The "Malicious Perception" ability he had unlocked earlier was already proving useful, allowing him to sense the chakra signatures of nearby shinobi. This gave him a tool to detect surveillance—though rudimentary, it was a step toward countering the ever-present eyes of the Anbu and the Third Hokage.

Still, Naruto knew that his power was far from sufficient. To truly break free of this constant scrutiny, he needed to become stronger—strong enough that even the Third Hokage and the Anbu couldn't overlook him. But his current arsenal of ninjutsu was laughable. Aside from the basic Three Basic Techniques—Transformation, Substitution, and the woefully unreliable Clone Technique—his skill set was bare.

To truly grow, he'd need access to advanced ninjutsu. Yet aside from self-inventing techniques, his best hope was to wait until he entered the Ninja Academy.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Standing outside was the familiar figure of the Third Hokage, the old man whose reputation Naruto had unintentionally bruised during their last interaction.

"Grandpa Hokage," Naruto greeted casually, "if you're here for food, I've already eaten."

The Third Hokage paused, visibly taken aback by Naruto's bluntness. Did Naruto truly think of him as an old man who came by just for free meals? Suppressing his exasperation, the Hokage smiled kindly.

"I've already eaten too," the Hokage replied. "This time, I came to check on your progress and see how you're preparing to become an excellent ninja."

Naruto, shrugging, replied, "I've learned Substitution and Transformation, but the Clone Technique just doesn't work for me. It's like something's interfering."

"Interfering?" The Hokage's brows furrowed in concern. He briefly considered whether the Nine-Tails' chakra was disrupting Naruto's training. But no trace of the fox's chakra leaked from Naruto at the moment, so the seal seemed stable. Perhaps it was simply a case of poor compatibility, much like Minato's initial struggles with certain techniques.

Smiling gently, the Hokage reassured him, "Naruto, you're already doing very well. Don't worry about the Clone Technique—it'll come with practice. There's still plenty of time for you to improve."

Naruto tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, Grandpa Hokage, who was stronger when they were young? Me or you?"

The Third Hokage chuckled, recalling his own training days. "I was stronger," he lied through his teeth, "but I have no doubt that you'll surpass me someday if you work hard."

Naruto grinned. "Then I'll make sure to become an excellent ninja!"

The Third Hokage nodded but probed further, curious about Naruto's goals. "And after becoming an excellent ninja, do you have other dreams? Like becoming Hokage and earning everyone's recognition?"

Naruto shook his head firmly. "I don't need everyone's approval. I just want to protect the people I care about—Hinata, Shikamaru, Choji, and you, Grandpa Hokage. That's enough for me. I don't need to be Hokage."

The Hokage hid his disappointment. Though Naruto understood a fragment of the Will of Fire, his words revealed a lingering detachment from the village. Still, it was a start.

Smiling, the Hokage changed the subject. "Naruto, since you're eager to improve, let's test your chakra nature. It'll help guide your training."

He handed Naruto a small chakra paper. Naruto infused it with his energy, and the paper immediately split cleanly in half.

"Grandpa Hokage, what does that mean?"

The Third Hokage stroked his beard. "It means your chakra nature is wind. It's a rare and versatile element. You're very lucky."

Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Does that mean I'll be super strong?"

The Hokage smiled faintly. "Wind is indeed powerful, but there aren't many wind-style techniques in the village. I'll look for something suitable for you to practice."

Naruto's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "If I only have wind chakra, does that mean I can't learn other ninjutsu?"

"You can," the Hokage explained. "But for now, focus on wind techniques. Once you join the Academy, you'll learn more about combining and expanding your skills."

Reaching into his robes, the Hokage pulled out an official Ninja Academy admission notice and handed it to Naruto.

"This is for you, Naruto. The Academy is the best place for young shinobi to grow. There, you'll gain not only skills but also bonds and a deeper understanding of the Will of Fire."

After the Hokage left, Naruto stared at the gold-stamped admission notice on the table, his thoughts swirling. Glancing at the Shadow Clone Technique scroll the Hokage had left as well, he made up his mind.

"I'll master this before school starts," he declared to Kurama.

The fox stirred lazily. "School, huh? Congratulations on becoming a primary school student, kid."

Naruto ignored the jab, examining the admission letter. The signed principal's stamp and official start date made it all feel real. With only a few months until classes began, Naruto resolved to use that time wisely. While others might struggle to prepare, he knew he could make it work.