I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

The Third Hokage took a deep breath, set down the scroll, and said gravely, "Iruka, Naruto already knows he is the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and has come to terms with that identity."

Iruka froze. The statement clarified everything. Naruto's withdrawn and distant attitude now made sense. Accepting the truth of being a Jinchuriki—the vessel for the demon fox—would be an overwhelming burden for anyone, let alone a child. Iruka wondered how he would feel in Naruto's place and realized he'd probably fare worse.

After a pause, Iruka replied earnestly, "Hokage-sama, even if that's true, my view of Naruto doesn't change. His current behavior, isolating himself and bottling everything up, will only hurt him—and the village."

The Third Hokage lit his pipe, inhaling deeply. Smoking was his way of dealing with dilemmas, a fleeting respite from the weight of his responsibilities. "I'm aware, Iruka. Naruto's situation is a heavy burden, one I've struggled to manage myself. But my responsibilities to the village leave me with little time to focus on him. Can I entrust his well-being to you?"

Iruka hesitated, scratching his head. "As a teacher, it's my duty to look after my students. But education requires more than just me—it needs the involvement of parents or guardians. Hokage-sama, I can't do this alone. I need your support."

The Third Hokage exhaled a plume of smoke, his gaze softening. "I will assist where I can, Iruka. That said, it seems you've moved past your own pain."

Iruka nodded slowly. "At first, I struggled. The Nine-Tails killed my parents, and when I met Naruto, I couldn't help but harbor resentment. But as I got to know him, I realized he isn't the Nine-Tails. He's just a boy trying to find his place in a world that fears him. I believe the villagers will come to see that in time, just as I did."

The Hokage's expression grew solemn. "I hope you're right, but I doubt the villagers will easily let go of their fear. And Naruto… he may never fully understand why they feel that way."

As the Hokage fell into quiet reflection, Iruka resolved to do everything he could for Naruto, even if others wouldn't.

---

Meanwhile, on the academy playground, Sasuke escaped the gaggle of girls vying for his attention and found Naruto lounging in a corner. He approached and asked directly, "Naruto, how did you interrupt my jutsu earlier?"

Naruto glanced at him lazily. "Hand seals waste time. If you disrupt someone's chakra flow before they transform it into ninjutsu, the technique fails."

Naruto's tone turned teasing. "You're supposed to be a genius, right, Uchiha Sasuke? Shouldn't you know this already?"

Sasuke bristled but pressed on. "I'm not denying your skill, but you seem to know more than you let on. Have you already mastered more advanced techniques?"

Naruto didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised a hand, and a whirlwind stirred around him, lifting fallen leaves in a controlled spiral. Sasuke stared at the display, his fists tightening. The gap between their abilities reminded him uncomfortably of the gulf between himself and his older brother, Itachi.

Naruto snapped him out of his thoughts with a firm pat on the shoulder. "After school, I'll show you how to train more effectively. In exchange, you can teach me shuriken techniques. I can't seem to get perfect marks in throwing class, and it's dragging down my overall rank."

Sasuke smirked, his pride resurfacing. "The Uchiha throwing technique is unmatched. But aren't you worried I'll surpass you if I train as hard as you do?"

Naruto chuckled. "Not a chance. I'll always grow faster than you. But I'm helping you because you were the first to treat me like a peer and ask for help. I don't hold back on my friends."

Sasuke snorted and walked away, feigning disinterest. Nearby, Choji munched on potato chips, frowning at having been ignored, while Shikamaru opened an eye to watch the exchange. He couldn't pinpoint what had changed about Naruto lately, but he could sense it. Still, as a member of the Nara clan, Shikamaru wasn't inclined to involve himself in others' affairs unnecessarily.

---

After school, Naruto and Sasuke met in the forest—a familiar spot for their training sessions. This was their seventh time training together. As usual, Naruto outperformed Sasuke, often using the sparring sessions to test his own strength. Despite the bruises, Sasuke's combat skills improved with each session.

True to his word, Naruto explained how shadow clones could accelerate training. Sasuke managed to create three clones, but the strain left him exhausted. Unlike Naruto, whose enormous chakra reserves were bolstered by the Nine-Tails, Sasuke struggled to sustain the technique and nearly fainted when his clones dispelled.

As Sasuke lay on the ground, panting, Naruto laughed heartily. "You look like a dead dog! You're not used to pushing yourself this hard, are you?"

Sasuke glared at him but couldn't deny it. "Do you train like this every day?"

Naruto nodded. "Every single day. I have nothing else to do. Without parents or friends around, I fill the time with training. It's better than wandering the village and seeing all the glares."

Sasuke was silent for a moment before responding. "I may have parents, but I get it. The Uchiha clan is treated the same way—like we don't belong."

Naruto's gaze softened. "Then find people who understand you. It's not impossible. Look at us. We're not that different."

Sasuke smirked faintly. "It doesn't matter if no one understands. As long as I know who I am, that's enough."

Naruto smiled at the response but didn't press further. The two continued training, their bond growing stronger despite their differences.