A few days later, during lunch break—
Shikamaru walked over to Naruto, carrying a shogi board, and invited him to play a game.
Naruto glanced at the unfamiliar board and replied jokingly, "Shikamaru, why are you asking me to play shogi? I don't even know the rules. Why not go find Choji?"
"Choji doesn't like thinking—he's already lost to me many times. You're more willing to use your brain."
Shikamaru squinted slightly and smiled. "Besides, not knowing the rules just means you have to learn them. People grow through learning."
Naruto wasn't sure who had put Shikamaru up to this, but he was genuinely curious about the game.
—Half an hour later—
After Naruto's pieces had been completely wiped off the board, Shikamaru broke into a rare grin. "Naruto, you lost again—that's five in a row!"
Scratching his head, Naruto stared at the board in frustration. "I guess I'm just not cut out for shogi."
Shikamaru chuckled, "You're doing fine for a beginner. I got thrashed plenty of times before I even understood the rules. The part you're still missing is calculation—it's the most interesting aspect of the game."
"Being a ninja is a lot like being a shogi player. Victory comes from fully understanding your own and your enemy's positions."
Looking at Shikamaru's confident expression, Naruto resisted the urge to laugh. Sure, intelligence matters in ninja battles—but Gundam fights are a different story. Compared to being a chess piece or a player, he'd much rather be an outsider to the board altogether.
Besides, Naruto really wasn't good at shogi. If it were Chinese chess, the outcome would be totally different.
After a few wins, Shikamaru got sleepy and returned to class with the board.
Naruto stayed in the shade, a medical textbook in hand, occasionally glancing at Shikamaru's retreating figure.
Dealing with someone as smart as Shikamaru is exhausting, Naruto thought. Instead of saying things directly, he always finds roundabout ways to remind me to follow the rules. If I were some hot-blooded idiot, his efforts would just go over my head.
Just then, a group of third- and fourth-year students gathered under a tree nearby, loudly discussing something that drifted over to Naruto's ears.
"Did you guys hear? The Konoha Police Force got into another fight."
"That's not surprising. The Police are always using excessive force. What could've been ignored with a blind eye, they always drag people in for detention and fines. Who can stand that temper of theirs?"
"Exactly! They're harsh to civilians but go easy on their own. The double standards are too much."
"No, this time it was a clash between the Police Force and other ninja clans. It even got so bad the Hokage had to personally step in."
"From what I've heard, this kind of thing's been happening multiple times lately."
"The three plagues of Konoha: the Nine-Tails, the caged bird, and the Police Force. Can't the Police just behave like the other two?"
Hearing these idle remarks, Naruto didn't take them to heart. Just a bunch of kids parroting rumors.
Konoha's three plagues? I thought it was just the Legendary Sannin and their chaos.
But even children knew about the tension between the Uchiha-led Police and the village. The Uchiha's reputation had completely tanked.
Unlike Naruto's calm indifference, Sasuke, who happened to be passing by, couldn't accept the slander against the Uchiha. His expression turned dangerous.
Feeling his gaze, the older students went dead silent. Individually, none of them dared to challenge Sasuke. The Uchiha name alone was enough to scare them off, and they scattered quickly.
Sasuke didn't chase them. Instead, he walked over and sat next to Naruto, sounding frustrated:
"Why don't you ever go beat those guys up when they call you a demon fox behind your back?"
"They're not wrong. I am the demon fox's vessel. That's something the Third Hokage confirmed himself. Maybe their parents were killed because of me—that's probably why they talk about me behind my back."
Sasuke paused, surprised. "So… it's true? You really are the Nine-Tails? You actually killed a lot of people?"
Naruto turned a page and smiled at Sasuke.
"You're pretty gullible. I am connected to the Nine-Tails—he lives inside me. But I don't bother with those guys because it's a waste of time. No point dealing with idiots."
Then he looked at Sasuke and added, "Anyway, did you come over just to get destroyed again?"
Sasuke's expression changed slightly. "Of course not. I just figured you might be lonely reading by yourself. I was being generous, coming to keep you company so you wouldn't feel isolated."
Naruto gave him a sly look. "But I'm not isolated. If anything, the ones who wear colored lenses are. I've got plenty of friends—Hinata, Shikamaru, Choji…"
Sasuke instantly deflated and looked awkward.
He would never admit the real reason he came over was because… he didn't have many friends at school either.
Aside from a bunch of lovestruck girls, Naruto was really the only person he could call a friend—maybe even more isolated than Naruto himself.
Seeing Sasuke fall silent, the other fox inside Naruto suddenly chimed in, snarky as ever:
"Naruto, that brat likes you. If he were a girl, it'd be a perfect match. But he's just a kid. There's no hope between two brats."
Naruto silently mouthed "Get lost" at the Nine-Tails. "I'm not into guys, you pervy old fox."
The Nine-Tails laughed smugly.
"You go around calling me a demon fox all the time, and now you're upset because I joke around a little? Brat, you're still just a brat."
Naruto rolled his eyes and cut off the link. The Nine-Tails has been acting weirder lately…
Just then, Sasuke finally said what he'd been struggling to bring up:
"Also, Naruto… my parents accept you as my friend. They want you to come over more often. Do you have time?"
Naruto gave Sasuke a deep look, then replied after a moment's thought:
"Sorry. Grandpa Hokage doesn't want me going into the Uchiha compound for now. But if I get the chance, I'll visit."
Naruto already knew what this invitation really meant.
Fugaku was clearly trying to use the visit as a way to influence him—and eventually leverage Naruto against the Hokage and other leaders.
But unfortunately for Fugaku, neither Naruto nor the Third Hokage would give him a second chance.
Despite Fugaku's strength and character, he had one fatal flaw—indecisiveness.
He didn't want to accept how the Uchiha were being treated, but also didn't have the courage to risk everything for change.
In the end, he would lose it all, trapped in hesitation. A poor leader.
Sasuke was disappointed by Naruto's refusal but didn't show it. He just crossed his arms and said coldly, "Fine. Let's train after school. I've learned some new jutsu."
Then the Nine-Tails spoke again:
"Naruto, your hostility just spiked a little."
Naruto glanced at the beast. Having a tailed beast that can detect hostility is kind of annoying.
"You're one to talk. You're full of hatred yourself."
The Nine-Tails scoffed,
"I am a tailed beast. Of course I'm filled with hatred. You humans have polluted me with it for a thousand years."
Naruto looked at him with disgust. "Then you must be filthy." He scooted away.
The fox snorted.
"You're just as bad. But honestly, I'm starting to look forward to the day we leave Konoha. Maybe we can find somewhere with actual decent people."
At the Hokage's Office
The Third Hokage was having a rare moment of leisure—no paperwork, no surveillance on Naruto. Just a pipe in his mouth, staring at the portraits of past Hokage as nicotine numbed his nerves.
Ever since Naruto left the Uchiha compound that day, the Police Force had grown bolder.
They were stockpiling weapons and explosive tags, and their law enforcement had grown increasingly aggressive—even toward fellow shinobi and villagers.
In theory, the Uchiha antagonizing the public worked in the Hokage's favor—by contrast, the higher-ups looked better.
But if someone ignited this powder keg, the whole village would suffer.
Just then, a knock on the door. A visibly exhausted Shisui Uchiha entered.
Shisui… what's he doing here?
The Third took a puff of his pipe and spoke calmly, "You're here about the Police Force's recent clashes with the villagers, I assume?"
Shisui nodded solemnly and then said something more shocking:
"Not just that. I've come to take responsibility—for the Police Force. I suspect my clan is planning a coup against the Hokage."
"...A coup?"
The Third Hokage's expression darkened, though he quickly composed himself.
"If you're telling me this, it means you don't want a coup to happen either. So—what do you need from me to help stop it?"
Shisui bowed his head and said quietly,
"You don't need to do anything. I can stop it myself. I only ask that you show mercy to my clan."
The Third frowned deeply and gave Shisui a long look.
"Stop a coup… by yourself? Even with my help and the entire ANBU, we might not be able to prevent a full-scale uprising."
Shisui remained calm and answered softly:
"Lord Hokage, I don't need to defeat everyone. I just need to control Captain Fugaku. He's the ringleader of the coup. If I change his mind, he'll stop the plan himself."
"And I happen to possess a special eye technique that allows me to rewrite a person's will—Kotoamatsukami."
(End of Chapter)
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