Chapter 3: Rooftop Confessions and Other Surreal Stuff
(From the Journal of Danny Phantom, Who May or May Not Be Acting Super Weird Today)
Okay, so… how do I even begin to explain what happened on the rooftop without sounding like I've completely lost my mind?
One second I was just a regular teenager, awkward around my crush, dodging high school homework. The next? I was James Bond meets anime heartthrob—with way too much confidence and way too little filter.
To be fair, it wasn't really me. I mean, it was my body, but not… me-me. Long story short: Naruto Uzumaki (yes, that Naruto—the orange jumpsuit-wearing ninja from the anime) somehow ended up in my body. How? Beats me. Interdimensional ghost chakra collision? A full moon combined with bad cafeteria chili? I don't know, okay?! But there he was, walking around in my body like it belonged on the cover of Teen Hero Monthly.
And I have never seen Sam look at me like that before.
We'd snuck onto the school rooftop—which sounds way cooler than it actually is. Normally, it's just pigeons and abandoned soda cans, but today? It felt… cinematic. Like the opening shot of a rom-com where the guy finally gets his act together.
Naruto let go of her hand (yes, he had been holding her hand, and yes, I'm freaking out about that), and Sam gave him this look. You know the one. The what alien species abducted the real Danny Fenton and gave him dating advice look.
"When did you pick up such criminal skills?" she asked, kind of impressed. I mean, she tried to hide it, but I know Sam. That was flirty curiosity if I've ever heard it.
Naruto just shrugged like he hadn't just picked a lock like a pro. "Every skill has its use. I've been gathering them for my future goals."
Which—okay—what does that even mean? Is Naruto secretly building a ninja empire inside my brain? Should I be worried?
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Hopefully that doesn't mean becoming a thief."
"Could be fun," he said, grinning. "Stealing priceless artifacts, dodging laser grids… sounds like a date."
I swear to the Ghost Zone, she blushed. Sam blushed. Sam, the girl who once punched a ghost in the face because it insulted tofu. I couldn't believe it.
But then things got real.
Naruto (still using my voice, my body, and my face, thank you very much) stepped close, brushed her cheek, and dropped a line so smooth I wanted to write it down for future emergencies.
"I like it best when you smile. Don't go meek on me."
I would've facepalmed, if I had control over my limbs. But Sam? She practically melted. Gave a fake huff, sure, but I could see the way her knees wobbled. The girl was toast.
Then he kissed her.
No warning. No hesitation. Just… boom. Kissed her.
And not a "quick, awkward, we're teenagers" kiss. No, this was some movie-level stuff. Her hands were around his—my—neck, and they were locked together like the world around them had just vanished. Which, honestly, it kind of had. I felt it. The power, the connection, the sheer wow of the moment.
Also, side note: Naruto is way too good at this. Is there a ninja technique for kissing? Because I want it. I need it.
Eventually, they broke apart. Sam was breathless, flushed, and clearly trying to make sense of her reality.
"You… got me," she whispered. And Naruto? That smug grin of his could've powered Amity Park for a week.
"I wanted to hear it from you. Say it, Sam."
"I… I like you. Very, very much. Let's journey together toward a bright future, Danny."
Now, I've dreamed of Sam saying that—well, not those exact words, because what high schooler says "journey toward a bright future" unless they're in a fantasy novel—but the feeling behind it? Yeah. That's been bouncing around in my brain since sixth grade.
They kissed again. Hugged. Sat next to each other like they were already that weird couple who shares earbuds and finishes each other's sentences.
Then Sam asked the Big Question.
"What are we now?"
Naruto, cool as ever, held her hand and said, "We're partners now, Sam. A team."
A team.
I mean… I'm not even mad.
Okay, I'm a little mad.
But mostly? I'm confused. Impressed. Maybe even a tiny bit hopeful.
Because if Naruto can make Sam feel like that—while pretending to be me—then maybe the real me has a chance too.
Once I figure out how to get my body back, that is.
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Okay, so picture this: me — just a regular human guy, no half-ghost powers, no flying or ecto-energy—just plain old Danny — standing on a rooftop with Sam. The wind's doing that dramatic thing where it messes up your hair and makes everything feel like the final scene of a movie.
Except this time? The air wasn't just cold or windy. It was electric. Like the whole world was holding its breath. And honestly? So was I.
Naruto — yeah, that Naruto, not me, but definitely in my body — leaned in so close to Sam that I swear I could see her eyelashes flutter. His voice dropped, low and serious, the kind of whisper that makes your skin tingle.
"You are mine, and I am yours. Soon, we will make it complete."
And then—wait for it—he brushed his lips against her ear, lightly bit it, and held her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Cue Sam's face turning the perfect shade of 'I'm about to combust' red. Her heart was pounding so loud I thought it might echo across the city.
I couldn't blame her. His words weren't some cheesy pick-up line or teen drama nonsense. They hit like a tidal wave — serious, raw, and filled with that weird kind of passion you don't just say, you mean.
She usually carries the weight of the world on her shoulders — climate change, human stupidity, you name it — but right then? For a second, none of that mattered. The scary stuff, the stuff that usually haunts her mind, just faded.
Naruto's voice snapped her back, calm but full of purpose.
"I've changed because I aim to become a hero. I want to make this world better, to save it from devastation."
He told her about a nightmare — a vision of a broken world, falling apart, swallowed by darkness and despair.
"The things happening at this school," he said, "they're small compared to what's coming."
He cupped her face gently, searching her eyes like he needed her to understand that every word was true.
Sam's mind was racing — the new Danny, the weight of his words, that fire burning in his gaze — it was a lot. But through it all, one thing shone bright: she trusted him.
"What do I do?" she asked, steady, even though inside she was a tornado of emotions.
Naruto's eyes softened. "Are you willing to give up your peaceful life and walk into danger? This isn't easy, Sam. Death and despair will always be close. But if you choose this path, we can make a difference — together."
Sam's green eyes locked with his. Determination burned in her voice. "I never back down from a challenge."
Naruto's smile was the proud kind — the kind that made me wonder if this was the first time he'd said that to her.
He kissed her again. Not just a 'good job' kiss or a 'we made it' kiss. No, this was a promise. His hands traced her waist, slid down her back, making her breath hitch like she couldn't believe this was real.
She clung to him — no questions, no doubts — just trust and fire and everything that made her Sam.
"That's my girl," Naruto murmured.
And just like that, Sam found something she'd been missing for a long time: purpose.
No one knew what was coming next. No one knew if it was going to be easy. But there was one thing she knew for sure — she wouldn't face it alone.
And honestly? Neither would I.
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So here I am—Danny, human (for now), standing in my room like a total mess. Except it's not just me in here. There's Naruto too. And no, not the ninja you might be imagining—the one who's somehow taken over my brain like a rogue app on a phone that just won't quit.
Naruto's chilling in my head like he owns the place, cool as a king on a throne while I'm pacing back and forth, hands clawing through my hair like I'm trying to scramble my own thoughts.
"What have you done?! My life is over!" I scream in my head, and yeah, it probably sounds like a dying dog if you could hear me.
Naruto just smirks. Typical.
"Stop screaming like a dying dog. Didn't you enjoy the scene? The confidence, the awe, the admiration? I thought you'd thank me."
Enjoy it? Are you kidding? I'm about to become the school's walking headline and you want me to say thanks?
"Sam? Why her? She's just my friend — like a guy friend. How does any of this help me? Are you just planning to hijack my body whenever you want?" I glare so hard at him he'd probably wince if he had eyes.
He chuckles, this low, creepy laugh that makes me want to lock my brain doors tighter.
"Relax. I did this to paint a clear picture of what you can become. This is your potential, Danny. But I won't take over like this all the time. You'll need to step up and handle things on your own."
I cross my arms, all suspicion and zero trust. "And what's the deal with Sam? You were all over her! Now she's gonna think I'm some kind of player or worse!"
For the first time, Naruto's expression shifts — that smirk softens, eyes serious.
"Sam is your future wife. Whether you see it now or not, she's someone who'll stand by you through thick and thin. I was just laying the foundation for a relationship that will strengthen both of you. But don't worry — I've done my part. It's up to you now to nurture it, and no more interventions from me in that department."
Wait, future wife? Did my brain just glitch or did he actually say that?
"Are you serious?"
Naruto leans in closer, voice dropping like a warning.
"Absolutely. And not just her — your family and Tucker have untapped potential too. They're vital to your growth, Danny. You'll need them when the time comes. But enough chit-chat — focus on today's work."
I throw my hands in the air like I'm surrendering to a tornado.
"Work? How am I supposed to focus? You just painted a giant target on my back! Jocks, Pauline, everyone's coming for me now. I'm dead, Naruto. Dead!"
He waves me off like I'm a fly buzzing around his head.
"They won't kill you. A few punches won't hurt — think of it as free training. Tonight, we start your real training, and trust me, you'll thank me later. For now, go back to school and act like the confident guy they saw earlier. Show fear, and I'll make sure you understand pain."
Cue shiver down the spine.
I collapse onto my bed, face buried in my hands. "What sin did I commit in a past life to deserve this?"
Naruto's chuckle fades as he retreats deeper into my mind.
"Stop whining. Embrace the chaos, Danny-boy. It's the only way to survive."
Left alone, my thoughts circle back to Sam. Naruto's bold move had forced me to see her differently — not just the girl with the edgy clothes, but someone fierce and caring. Someone I… might actually care about.
Future wife? The words swirl around in my head, stirring a weird mix of dread and curiosity.
I groan and flop back on the bed.
"Great. Not only am I going to get trashed tomorrow, but now I've got romantic drama to deal with. What do I even do? Should I tell Mom? No, she'd freak. Think, Danny, think!"
And just like that, the weight of everything — the chaos, the danger, the unexpected feels — settles heavy on me.
One thing's for sure: my life will never be the same again.