I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Powerless

Naruto's performance in the final examination was nothing short of astonishing. He effortlessly defeated all his opponents, securing first place in the rankings.

Neither his fellow classmates nor even some of the senior students could put up much resistance against him.

To the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, this was not surprising. He had long known that Naruto, as the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, possessed immense potential. His growth was reminiscent of prodigies like Kakashi Hatake and even Minato Namikaze in their youth. Even some seasoned jōnin who specialized in combat might struggle against him.

However, what concerned Hiruzen more than Naruto's raw strength was whether the boy had truly formed bonds with his peers—bonds that would keep him grounded and prevent him from going down a dangerous path.

So far, Naruto had succeeded in forging friendships, even with the last Uchiha of his generation, Sasuke. That bond carried risks, but as long as Naruto valued his connections, he would not lose control.

This was one of the reasons why Hiruzen had kept the truth of Naruto's parentage a secret. If Naruto knew of his lineage too soon, it might affect his development. By allowing him to grow among his peers, experiencing rejection from the villagers yet still forming meaningful friendships, he would truly learn the value of those bonds.

Watching Naruto dominate the final assessment, the Third Hokage sighed and closed his crystal ball.

For now, thoughts of what gift to bring during his next visit to Naruto's home, or what excuses he might need to avoid answering questions about his parents, could wait.

The more pressing issue was the Uchiha. Their preparations for a coup had become impossible to ignore. If they truly acted, the consequences would be devastating. The village would suffer massive losses, and his own position as Hokage would be in jeopardy.

Losing the title of Hokage was one thing. But if Danzō were to succeed him, it would bring far greater trouble.

At that moment, the door to the Hokage's office creaked open. Danzō Shimura entered, leaning on his cane, his one visible eye cold and calculating. The familiar scent of tobacco filled the air, causing him to frown.

He had always despised Hiruzen's smoking habit. Such carelessness was a weakness, especially for a shinobi.

But in his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi was no longer a leader worthy of his assistance. Were it not for the complications of his transplanted Sharingan and Wood Release, he might have already moved against the Hokage and seized control himself.

Hiruzen exhaled and stubbed out his pipe before speaking.

"Danzō… Is this about the Uchiha again?"

Danzō nodded, settling into a nearby chair. His tone was grim.

"Hiruzen, all the spies I placed within the Uchiha have been eliminated."

Hiruzen's expression darkened. "You planted spies in the Uchiha clan? Who gave you the authority to act on your own?"

Danzō ignored the question. His voice carried a sense of urgency.

"That's irrelevant. What matters is that those spies were embedded in their security force's logistics division. We've lost our inside information. The Uchiha could launch their coup at any time."

Silence hung between them. Hiruzen studied Danzō's face, weighing his words carefully.

Danzō pressed on.

"Hiruzen, it's time to act. The Uchiha have repeatedly undermined the authority of the Hokage. They openly speak of rebellion during clan meetings. Their recent stockpiling of supplies confirms their intent."

"Instead of waiting for them to strike, we should eliminate them preemptively."

A pause. Then, Danzō added:

"My forces in Root will ensure that none escape. We'll declare it an attempted coup, and the matter will be resolved."

Hiruzen sighed deeply.

"The risk is too great," he finally said. "I still believe in Uchiha Itachi. He may be able to dissuade Fugaku. We don't need war between the village and the Uchiha."

Danzō's plan was ruthless, but effective. A swift attack could crush the rebellion before it began.

But as Hokage, Hiruzen had to consider the larger picture. The political balance among the village's clans, the risk of the other hidden villages taking advantage of Konoha's instability—there were too many uncertainties.

And most importantly, the Uchiha Police Force was formidable. Even with ANBU and Root combined, eliminating them would come at a severe cost. If the Hokage's forces suffered heavy losses, the other clans would grow more ambitious.

Danzō, reading his hesitation, spoke again.

"I will attempt to convince Itachi to side with us," he said coldly. "When the time comes, he will make the right choice between his family and the village."

Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them.

"We will discuss this again later. Leave me for now."

Danzō stood, silently turning toward the exit. Before leaving, he cast one last look at the office, disappointment flashing in his eye.

Hiruzen… You've grown weak. The man I once followed wouldn't hesitate like this.

You refuse to step aside, yet you lack the resolve to lead.

No matter. With both Senju and Uchiha power in my grasp, I am destined to be the one to shape this village's future.

---

Inside the Academy

At the Ninja Academy, Naruto had become the center of attention. His overwhelming victory in the actual combat assessment had left his classmates in awe. Even older students whispered about his performance.

Some were impressed. Others were envious. And some, still clinging to old prejudices, seethed with resentment.

"That damn demon fox…" one student muttered under his breath. "How is it fair that a monster like him is allowed to participate?"

But regardless of the murmurs, Naruto's achievement remained undeniable. He had ranked first in his grade, and that fact wouldn't change.

In the faculty office, Iruka Umino sat at his desk, correcting test papers. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. His colleagues cast envious glances his way.

"Looks like you'll have to treat us to dinner, Iruka," one teacher teased.

Despite his happiness, Iruka also felt uneasy.

Naruto had changed significantly in the past six months. The lonely, troublemaking boy he once knew had become more cheerful, more confident. It was a welcome change, yet it unsettled him.

Had something happened to bring about such a shift?

Before he could dwell on it further, Mizuki approached with a smile.

"Iruka, why the long face? You should be celebrating. Training a problem student like Naruto and turning him into a top performer? That speaks volumes about your skills."

"Maybe the principal is already considering promoting you to senior instructor."

Iruka sighed.

"This wasn't my doing. Naruto applied for early graduation six months ago, but the Hokage's office rejected it."

Mizuki shook his head.

"You're too honest, Iruka. You should take some credit for this."

Then, as if changing the subject, he added:

"By the way, I'm heading on vacation soon. Got a well-paying mission lined up. Want to join?"

"What kind of mission?"

"Just an escort job—moving goods to the Land of Tea."

Iruka hesitated. Something about Mizuki's tone seemed off.

But for now, he let it go.

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