"Tch… That boy again."
"Freaking monster…"
"Why is he still around?"
"Shut up. It's Hokage-sama's orders—we're not allowed to touch him."
They whispered as he passed, thinking he couldn't hear. But Naruto Uzumaki heard every word. He always did.
People loved to say that everyone was born equal. Even Iruka-sensei said it often, preaching that hard work and effort could bridge any gap. But to Naruto, those were just pretty lies. Words people said to feel better about a world that didn't care. A world that had always turned its back on him.
Despite everything he tried—every prank, every smile, every scream for attention—he was still treated like he didn't exist. Or worse, like he shouldn't exist. And yet… even at his lowest, Naruto refused to give in.
He believed—no, he knew—that things could change. Not easily. Not magically. But with effort. With pain. With his own two hands. Because deep down, no matter how much he laughed or goofed around, Naruto was just a boy who didn't want to be alone anymore.
The village of Konoha, the Hidden Leaf, was supposed to be his home. He was born here. He walked these streets every day. And despite the hate, he still clung to that hope.
He loved the village—not because it loved him, but because he wanted to love it. Because of Ichiraku Ramen. Because of the Hokage Monument. Because of the dream he held onto so tightly.
If he turned his back on all of it now, if he gave in to the same hatred that surrounded him, wouldn't he just become another bitter, broken person? That scared him more than anything.
So, Naruto kept walking, pretending not to hear the insults or see the glares. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and kept his head low—not in shame, but in thought. He didn't want to lose himself. Not before he proved them all wrong.
Not before he found someone—anyone—who would accept him.
That hope, stubborn and unshakable, was his greatest strength.
As he approached the Ninja Academy, his pace slowed.
Today's the Genin exam, he reminded himself, wincing a little from the dull ache in his lower back. Last night, he'd pushed himself too hard again, staying up until midnight trying to get the Clone Jutsu right. It hadn't worked. Not a single proper clone.
Everyone else could do it like it was nothing. But no matter how hard Naruto tried, all he got were half-dead, pale imitations that collapsed the second they appeared.
He gritted his teeth but didn't stop walking.
No matter what… I'll pass. I have to.
Because if he didn't, he'd fall even further behind. He was already the worst student in the class, the laughingstock of the entire village. But deep inside, Naruto didn't want to stay weak forever.
He just needed one chance. One moment to prove that he could be more.
That he was more.
Naruto had no idea that, years ago, his father had deliberately left a tiny gap in the seal holding the Nine-Tails' chakra. Minato's intention wasn't recklessness—it was hope. He believed that, someday, Naruto could tame that power on his own.
But at this point in time, it was more curse than blessing.
The volatile blend of his chakra and the Kyuubi's made even simple exercises—like the Leaf Balancing Technique—nearly impossible. While other students could calmly place a leaf on their forehead and control their chakra flow with ease, Naruto's chakra surged wildly, ripping the leaf apart every time.
Even among elite shinobi, this kind of chakra overflow would be considered dangerous. But Naruto wasn't aware of any of that. He just thought he was failing again.
As he stepped through the gates of the Academy—on time, for once—he walked slowly, feeling a strange churn in his gut. It wasn't fear or nerves. It was something else. Something he couldn't quite name.
Something's going to change today... I can feel it.
Maybe it was just his hope talking. Maybe this time, he would finally create a proper clone. Maybe he'd finally pass the Genin exam and leave this cramped little school behind. Then he could show everyone his true skills—skills he'd trained hard for, even if no one believed it.
A smirk curled on his lips at the thought. "Just watch me… Dattebayo."
He whispered it under his breath as he pushed open the classroom door.
As always, his entrance got a few looks—just a flicker of attention before people turned back to their own conversations. A couple of murmurs. One laugh. And then the world returned to ignoring him.
Sasuke, as usual, didn't even blink. He sat in his corner like a brooding statue, eyes half-lidded, arms crossed. Cool. Confident. Distant.
Naruto rolled his eyes. That guy always got on his nerves—even if he wouldn't admit it out loud. But instead of making a fuss, Naruto kept his cool. He walked past and dropped into a seat just in front of Shikamaru, who gave a sleepy grunt of acknowledgment.
What Naruto didn't notice was the small figure sitting quietly a few seats away.
Hinata Hyuga.
She peeked at him with wide, nervous eyes, cheeks tinged pink. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve as she snuck glances toward him, heart fluttering every time he moved. She wanted to speak. Say anything. But Naruto was too distracted. Too focused on someone else.
His eyes flicked toward Sakura, sitting with Ino not far away. As always, she looked focused, strong, and determined. Naruto's feelings for her weren't just some schoolboy crush. What drew him in was her fire. Her refusal to back down. The memory of her standing up for someone once—for him, when no one else did—had burned itself into his heart.
Even if she didn't look at him now, that moment stayed with him.
Suddenly, time seemed to freeze.
A soft ding echoed in his head, and then—a glowing blue screen appeared before his eyes.
Naruto blinked, stunned, ready to shout—but something stopped him.
Instead of panic, a strange calm washed over him. Something deep in his mind recognized it. Like it belonged there all along.
Words appeared on the glowing panel, floating in the air like writing on a scroll:
[The Chat Group has been activated! You have been designated as the leader.]
[You can communicate with the group member anytime and from anywhere.]
[If given authority, the group member can see the whole in the host pheriheral view and it will be decided by you, the host.]
[Everyone in this group are strong shinobi of their time with great experience in their respective field.]
[With the member's consent, the group leader, i.e., Naruto Uzumaki, can inherit their skill, bloodline, Ninjutsu, Chakra, Technique, and much more.]
Naruto was stunned as he looked at the weird text, as he clearly could not tell what this chat group thing was all about, when a clear flood of information appeared within his brain, making him realize what the chat group was about, and that only made it more amazing.
And then, like a river bursting through a dam, a surge of information rushed into his brain. Memories that weren't his. Knowledge of names he hadn't heard before. Images of battles, scrolls, seals, chakra control, and jutsu training… flashing through his mind at light speed.
"Wait, that means I can become strong on my own..." Due to strong emotion, he ended up speaking out loud, almost stunning the whole class, while Iruka in the front had his lips twitching as he looked at Naruto with an angry look.
"Naruto!!!"
"Sit quietly..."
Naruto sat quietly in his seat, unusually still, his eyes fixed on the floating screen only he could see.
The strange chat group hovered before him, faintly glowing with soft blue light. His pupils reflected the flicker of data moving across it, and for once, Naruto wasn't daydreaming or bouncing in his chair. He was focused.
This—this—could be everything.
Becoming Hokage had always been his dream. Not just because of the title, but because of what it meant: respect, acknowledgment, and strength. The kind of strength that could protect the people he cared about—and make the whole village finally see him for who he really was.
But so far, all he had was failure. No matter how hard he worked, he couldn't even master a single Clone Jutsu. It gnawed at him.
And then came this… weird, glowing, otherworldly thing. A chat group that could change everything.
If this is real... then maybe I can finally surpass that stupid Sasuke too.
His lips twitched into a small grin.
He whispered, just loud enough for himself to hear, "Open Chat Group…"
The screen shimmered at his words, then expanded with a soft hum. As he focused, he realized he could control the interface with nothing more than his thoughts. No hand signs. No speaking. Just will.
Whoa… so cool!
Rows of messages started flooding the screen, each accompanied by a distinctive ding.
But what really caught Naruto's attention were the usernames.
['God of Shinobi' has joined the chat group! Ding.]
['Brother of God' has joined the chat group! Ding.]
['Legend of Uchiha' has joined the chat group! Ding.]
['Princess of Uzumaki' has joined the chat group! Ding.]
['Yellow Flash of Konoha, 4th' has joined the chat group! Ding.]
['Angry Princess of Uzumaki' has joined the chat group! Ding.]
['Fugaku the Evil Eye' has joined the chat group! Ding.]
...
Naruto's jaw slowly dropped.
"Wha—these names… they're all insane!"
He scanned each one, feeling his heart race. They sounded like something out of a history book—or one of Pervy Sage's old tales. Legendary figures. Powerful shinobi whose names carried weight even among the elite.
His fingers twitched in excitement.
God of Shinobi? Isn't that the First Hokage?
Brother of God—Tobirama, right?
Legend of Uchiha… Could that be Madara?!
Princess of Uzumaki… wait… there's more than one?
Yellow Flash…! That has to be him! The Fourth!
Naruto nearly fell out of his chair, suppressing a yell. These are real people! These are the strongest shinobi in history! And they were all in his group—his group.
He finally noticed his own name at the top of the list, labeled simply:
[Group Leader: Naruto Uzumaki]
His face fell slightly. "Why is my name the only lame one?" he muttered, pouting. "Everyone else sounds so badass…"
But even with that petty annoyance, Naruto felt something deeper stir in his chest. A fire. A spark. This wasn't just some flashy trick. This was a chance to grow. To learn. To become strong—not through shortcuts, but through legacy.
He also noticed a locked section at the bottom of the interface. Faint, grayed-out text read:
Naruto blinked. "Wait... I can actually bring them back? Like, revive them?"
The idea sent shivers down his spine. Talking to them was already crazy—but to think he could one day meet them, train with them, anda fight beside them?
He grinned, eyes burning with determination.
One day... I'll meet the Fourth. I'll meet all of them. And I'll earn my place right among them. Not just as the kid who was ignored… but as the shinobi they'll be proud of.
He clenched his fists tightly beneath the desk, hiding the grin that stretched across his face.
For the first time, Naruto Uzumaki had more than just a dream.
He had a path.