Changing Fate As Naruto

"Sorry to break it to you, but in this world, you're not the only one who can use the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu~"

Without a shred of hesitation, one of the Orochimarus at the front of the encirclement took a step forward, arms folded, slitted eyes narrowing into a mischievous smirk. He flicked out his long tongue and licked the corner of his mouth before teasing the utterly deflated Naruto, who looked like a balloon that had just lost all its air.

"What's wrong, little one...? Cat got your tongue? Weren't you all smug just a minute ago?"

"You… you… I… tsk… this isn't fair!"

Just a few seconds of glory, only to be immediately and mercilessly humiliated by Orochimaru using the very technique Naruto prided himself on. Outnumbered, outmatched, and defeated at his own game—it was such a cold, crushing moment that Naruto could barely breathe, let alone come up with a retort.

Without any well-planned strategy, without Kurama by his side providing a constant stream of chakra, and without using trump cards like the Flying Thunder God Technique for a surprise attack—this was just him, on his own. Against a Kage-level enemy, standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world, Naruto stood no chance. The reality was undeniable: he was utterly overwhelmed.

'So this is what they call dying with unfulfilled ambition, huh?'

'In anime or novels, protagonists who transmigrate to another world either steamroll everyone in their path or safely farm EXP by wiping out mobs sent by the bosses. Why the hell do I have to face a boss fight before I've even maxed out my level?! What happened to plot armor?! Is this one of those scammy browser game ads where you hit level 999 with one slash and loot explodes everywhere? What a ripoff!'

Though his inner monologue was pure indignation, Naruto couldn't deny the logic hammering inside his head. He knew it. He felt it. As the person experiencing it firsthand, he understood all too clearly: even in the jutsu he specialized in, the opponent's sheer numerical superiority left him utterly outclassed. Taking the initiative would be suicide.

And yet—rather than let this eerie, unexpected "kindness" from Orochimaru lull him into complacency while hoping for backup to arrive, Naruto chose to fight. He would rather take a desperate gamble than let the pressure from a Kage-level foe erode his will to fight. Even if he knew he was destined to lose, this would be a rare and priceless experience—facing a top-tier ninja head-on in real combat.

'Tch… at this point, I've got no choice but to charge in headfirst!'

With that thought, Naruto—positioned at the heart of his clone army—slowly raised his tiny, chubby hands. Gritting his teeth, he seized the moment while Orochimaru still seemed to be underestimating him.

"Naruto Corps, charge!!"

"Ohhhh——!!!"

With a thunderous chorus, all of Naruto's Shadow Clones surged forward—except for those left behind to guard Sasuke. Faces determined and even a little thrilled, they showed no trace of fear as they launched a full frontal assault.

'Still not giving up even now, huh…? Huh. That's… unexpectedly gutsy, kid.'

Orochimaru had long grown used to Naruto breaking expectations, but seeing the boy actually initiate such a reckless attack still caught him off guard. He sighed, rubbing his forehead with a look of reluctant amusement.

'Well, whatever. I'll just entertain him for a bit… Worst case, I break a few of his limbs to keep him from moving when I take him back to base. I can fix them later.'

Unlike Naruto, Orochimaru didn't shout anything like "Orochimaru Corps, charge!"—he merely waved his hand. In an instant, all of his clones moved to intercept. As they tightened the encirclement to prevent Naruto's real body from slipping away, they readied themselves for the impact.

Boom! Boom boom! Boom boom boom...

From above, one could see a golden wave of Narutos crashing against a towering wall of black-cloaked Orochimaru clones. Within seconds, the two sides were locked in a chaotic brawl. Clones were dispelled one after another, releasing clouds of white mist, creating a rather spectacular sight.

Unlike the frustrated Naruto, Orochimaru was… oddly pleased.

Not because he enjoyed bullying kids—he found such behavior beneath him—but because, for some reason, seeing Naruto so deflated reminded him of a white-haired boy who had once repeatedly, stubbornly challenged him, only to fail each time. That memory sparked a twisted, almost inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

He'd originally come to the Hidden Leaf Village to check why that "old fossil" hadn't been in contact—was it betrayal, or had Hiruzen finally eliminated him, as the rumors said? He also planned to clean out the leftover Root remnants. Yet to his surprise, he stumbled across such an interesting little brat.

Hiding among his clones, Orochimaru keenly observed Naruto's real body. His eyes narrowed with interest as he muttered:

'Still… something doesn't add up. If this kid really is just a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, then even with their famed vitality and chakra reserves—not to mention their unique sealing techniques—he shouldn't be able to produce this many clones at such a young age. And where the hell did he even learn the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu…?'

After the initial surprise wore off, Orochimaru began reassessing the boy he had originally dismissed as ordinary. Reflecting carefully, he spotted some clear inconsistencies.

With his experience as a former Hokage candidate, Orochimaru knew all of Konoha's secrets. He remembered distinctly: the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu had been classified as an A-rank forbidden technique since the time of the Second Hokage. It was stored in the Scroll of Seals and considered off-limits to almost everyone.

And since the war had ended, the village had been shifting away from the old era's brutal practices. In this more peaceful age, even knowing about forbidden techniques like the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu—let alone learning them—was rare. Even most Chūnin and Special Jōnin had no access. Only full-fledged Jōnin earned the right to study such jutsu through merit and contribution.

So how…?

Under the leadership of his old teacher, the gentle, peace-favoring Third Hokage, how could the Hidden Leaf Village possibly allow a child to learn such a technique? Even with the Uzumaki bloodline's advantage, for someone as young and immature as Naruto to casually create this many clones—his mastery of the technique clearly surpassed even seasoned Jōnin.

'So you're telling me there's no secret hidden behind that kid?'

'If that's true, then I guess we're heading back toward the kind of world we had during the First Great Ninja War, where Kage-level powerhouses roamed the streets and Jōnin were as common as dogs...'

Ironically, what Orochimaru didn't know was that this seemingly absurd prediction would come true in the Fourth Great Ninja War just a few years later…

'To teach that kid a forbidden technique, disregarding all risk and regulation... Could it be that Danzo is secretly grooming him as the next leader of Root?'

'No… That can't be. With Danzo's brutal methods, a child trained by him would never show such concern for his comrades.'

To Orochimaru, Naruto's command over the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu proved someone with access to the Scroll of Seals was backing him. But with the major clans busy focusing their resources on training their own bloodlines, it seemed unlikely they'd take in an outsider. So he briefly suspected Danzo—only to quickly dismiss the idea.

'Uzumaki Naruto… Uzumaki? Strange. Other than Lady Mito, the First Hokage's wife, and that little redhead Kushina who married Minato, I've never heard of a third Uzumaki in the village. And the Uzumaki Clan was wiped out shortly after Kushina arrived here…'

'Hmm? Wait a second… His hair is blond, not the clan's trademark red. And he looks what, three or four years old? Could he be a mixed-blood? If that hair isn't dyed, and he really does carry Uzumaki blood but has golden hair, then his parents could only be… But how? Their child was supposed to have died during the Nine-Tails' rampage, right?'

While Orochimaru was deep in thought, Naruto's reckless charge had ended in complete failure. The Orochimaru clones, still numerous, closed in around the last few Narutos defending Sasuke. But then—

Orochimaru's gaze snapped to Naruto's golden hair. Eyes widening in disbelief, he muttered again, before—for the first time—ordering his clones to tighten the formation and slowly approach the real Naruto.

'If that's really the case… then the village's situation is far more interesting than any outdated intel I've received.'

'To uncover all the secrets hidden in this kid… I'll need to make him crack. I'll need to break his mind.'

'Playtime's over, brat. Shame, really—but if you insist on going against me… don't blame me for what happens next.'

As his thoughts reached a chilling conclusion, Orochimaru's expression returned to that cold, sinister mask. Killing intent surged from him like a tidal wave, suffocating Naruto and Sasuke in its grip. His gaze shifted past Naruto… toward the boy hiding behind him.

He paused for a moment—then deliberately raised his voice, using one of his clones to speak and draw Naruto's attention.

"It seems that little coward behind you is holding you back…"

"So, allow me to remove that burden for you."

Just as the horrifying words left his mouth, Orochimaru's murderous aura exploded. Naruto and his clones froze. The real Orochimaru, hidden among his doppelgangers, slithered to the ground like a venomous snake, body twisting grotesquely as he darted forward.

Before Naruto could react, Orochimaru shot between his legs like a black blur, bypassed the last line of defense, and opened his jaw into an inhumanly wide, monstrous maw.

He bit down—hard—on Sasuke's fragile, trembling neck.

"No! He's serious—Sasuke, dodge—SASUKE!!!"

"Mmm~ Young blood… It's as delicious as I remember…"

Eyes half-closed in grotesque satisfaction, Orochimaru gave a flick of his head and flung Sasuke's body like a broken kite, trailing a line of crimson across the air.

Turning back, he licked the blood from his lips and locked eyes with Naruto—who was now visibly trembling. Spotting the real one at last, Orochimaru raised a thumb to his neck and made a throat-slashing motion.

"Sorry, kid. I think my ears were acting up earlier—I didn't quite hear you clearly…"

"Didn't you say… that as long as you're here, nothing would happen to him?"

"So then… do you still dare to say it again?"