"Hokage-sama, why did you let him leave like that?" one of the ANBU asked.
Hiruzen answered calmly, "Starting today, the ANBU will begin watching Naruto again. Go and inform the others. You will rotate shifts like before."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
With a body flicker, the ANBU disappeared.
The villagers were still frightened. After Naruto left, they immediately began complaining to Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama, you must avenge us!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama! Kick that brat out of our village!"
"That's right!"
Hiruzen sighed.
"I apologize for what happened today. This afternoon you may come to my office. I will pay for the damages."
He paused before continuing.
"As for Naruto… he is still just a child. I hope you will not resent him."
The Hokage gave them a gentle smile.
"Hokage-sama is so kind."
"Yes, Hokage-sama is amazing. I want to become a ninja like him someday."
"Alright then," Hiruzen said. "I will leave now. I hope in the future you will not make things difficult for that child. I do not want something like today to happen again."
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Please forgive us."
At that moment, the villager Naruto had beaten slowly woke up. His face turned pale with fear.
"W-where is the demon? I need to run!"
Hiruzen looked at the others and spoke calmly.
"I will leave him to you. Send him to the hospital."
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Don't worry."
With a body flicker, Hiruzen disappeared.
As he walked back toward his residence, his thoughts were heavy. The jinchūriki's changes are too strange. When I asked him what happened, he avoided answering. Instead he laughed like he usually does and said it was all a joke. I need to know what really happened. A worried thought appeared in his mind. If that child has started to hate the village… I truly do not know how I should deal with it. Minato… I am sorry. I could not raise your son properly. Hiruzen sighed softly. A few days ago, I gave the order for the ANBU to stop watching him, i regret now. If he met someone from outside the village… and these changes are because of that… He shook his head. After a moment he made a decision. I will place him on Kakashi's team. Kakashi will watch him carefully. And he will guide him properly… with the Will of Fire.
...
Naruto entered the clothing shop.
Before the shopkeeper could even try to chase him out, Naruto casually threw a kunai. The kunai flew past and scratched the man's cheek before embedding itself in the wall behind him. The shopkeeper collapsed to the ground, his face pale with fear.
"You filthy mortal," Naruto said coldly. "If you speak one unnecessary word, I will kill you. If you understand, nod."
The man nodded frantically.
"Hm. Good."
Naruto began looking through the clothes. As he examined the strange and inelegant outfits of this world, he slowly shook his head. So crude…
After a while, he finally found a black yukata.
"Hm… this will do."
He turned his head slightly toward the terrified shopkeeper.
"Oi, shopkeeper. How much for this?"
"N-nothing! Nothing, my lord!" the man stuttered quickly. "It is a gift for you! I'm sure you will look very cool in that yukata. You are very handsome."
Naruto looked at him for a moment, then nodded with satisfaction.
"Hm. Good. The weak should behave like the weak."
After saying that, Naruto walked into the changing room. The shopkeeper clenched his fist but remained silent. His intuition warned him that a single word would cost him his life.
A moment later Naruto came out wearing the yukata and stood in front of a mirror.
He looked at his reflection.
Long blond hair fell down his back. His red eyes looked cold and calm. The black yukata created a sharp contrast against his pale skin.
Naruto studied himself quietly for a moment.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Hm… acceptable."
....
It was nine o'clock when Naruto finally arrived at the Academy. He entered the building calmly. As he walked down the corridor, he could feel many eyes on his back. From their gazes he sensed curiosity… and contempt. Just a few ants. They are not worth my attention. Naruto soon arrived in front of his classroom door. He knocked lightly.
"Come in!" Iruka's voice came from inside.
Naruto opened the door and stepped in gracefully.
"I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei. Something happened, that's why I'm late."
Iruka and the entire class stared at him in shock.
"Is that Naruto…?" some students whispered to each other.
Naruto could hear their murmurs clearly.
Cough.
Naruto coughed lightly, snapping Iruka out of his daze.
Iruka quickly reacted and cleared his throat.
"Haha… sorry, Naruto. I was just a little surprised. You look very… different today."
Naruto gave a polite smile.
"I only changed my appearance a little, Iruka-sensei."
"Haha, is that so? Go take your seat. I will forgive you for being late since today is graduation day."
"Thank you very much, Iruka-sensei."
Naruto gave a graceful bow, which shocked Iruka even more.
Across the classroom, the girls were staring.
Ino and Sakura could hardly believe what they were seeing.
Is this really Naruto?
Even Sasuke glanced at him from the corner of his eye, silently observing.
Shikamaru looked half-bored as he muttered quietly,
"His eyes color changed… his hair is longer… what's with this change in just one day?"
Choji leaned toward him and whispered,
"Don't you think Naruto looks cool, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru glanced at Choji and sighed.
"This is going to be troublesome."
His eyes remained on Naruto. He kept watching him carefully.
Ever since Naruto entered the classroom, Hinata's face had turned completely red.
"N-Naruto looks so good today…" she whispered to herself while nervously twisting the edge of her sleeve with her fingers.
Naruto calmly walked to his seat at the back of the classroom, next to the window. He sat down quietly and elegantly, completely different from the noisy Naruto everyone knew.
The classroom felt strangely silent around him.
Sakura felt a little uncomfortable. She was used to Naruto smiling at her the moment he entered the classroom, waving and trying to get her attention.
But today… he hadn't even looked at her.
Not once.
That made her feel strangely uneasy.
Why did Naruto change so much in just one day?
Meanwhile, Naruto sat by the window with a calm expression, his red eyes quietly observing the classroom.