Naruto: I Am Uzumaki Naruto!?

The world of shinobi.

A realm of powerful and mysterious ninjutsu, where strength dictates survival and the shadows conceal as much as the light reveals.

The Land of Fire.

Konoha—the most prosperous village in the entire ninja world. A bustling, lively place filled with endless possibilities.

But where there is light, darkness follows.

And so, our story begins.

Konoha Village.

Atop the Fourth Hokage's monument, bathed in the golden afternoon sun, a boy reclined lazily with his hands behind his head.

Golden-blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and three whisker-like marks on each cheek—traits that made him unmistakable.

Uzumaki Naruto.

But not the bright-eyed, naive dreamer the world once knew. No, this Naruto carried sixteen years of memories from another life.

A reincarnator.

And the owner of an extraordinary system.

"Hey, Kurama," Naruto murmured, his gaze drifting across the village below. "You've been around for a long time, right? Seen countless powerful bloodlines?"

A deep, rumbling sigh echoed in his mind.

"You're bothering me again, brat."

Naruto smirked. "Come on, don't be like that. You must know which bloodline is the best. I like Shikotsumyaku and Crystal Release, but using them in Konoha would make me stand out too much. Any suggestions?"

Kurama snorted. "If you want something deadly, go with Scorch Release. That bloodline evaporates a person's blood on contact. I heard your old man, Namikaze Minato, used to struggle against it during the war."

Naruto's eyes gleamed with interest. "Oh? I knew it was powerful, but hearing you say it makes me want it even more."

Kurama growled but remained silent. He already knew that once Naruto set his mind on something, there was no changing it.

Naruto wasn't just any reincarnator—he had the Money System.

As the name suggested, it allowed him to buy any ability in the shinobi world.

Sharingan? A hefty price tag.

Wood Release? Even more expensive.

Shikotsumyaku? Nearly bankrupting.

But there was a catch—Naruto could only use actual money from the ninja world. No freebies.

And that was a problem.

His monthly orphan stipend was 12,000 ryō. At first glance, it seemed decent. But after breaking it down?

A single bowl of plain ramen cost 62 ryō. Three meals a day added up to 5,400 ryō per month.

That left 4,600 ryō—barely enough for milk, vegetables, and the occasional bit of meat. If he saved every last coin, he'd scrape together 500 ryō per month.

After six years of starvation-level budgeting, he had just enough for a discounted kekkei genkai.

"…Being a Jinchūriki in Konoha is really a raw deal," Naruto muttered, shaking his head.

A wry smile tugged at his lips.

"Kurama, if my life was a book, what do you think the title would be?"

"Surviving in the Leaf Wilderness."

"How to Stretch Every Ryō and Still Grow Taller."

"The Art of Starvation: A Guide to Thriving on Ramen and Hope."

Kurama grumbled in irritation. "You're overthinking things. If money's the problem, just take some. I've already given you my chakra—why not use it to rob someone blind?"

Naruto chuckled. "Nah, not yet."

"Not yet?" Kurama growled. "Tch. Fine. Suit yourself."

Before Naruto could respond, a soft, hesitant voice called out from below.

"Na-Naruto-kun… are you up there?"

Naruto grinned.

Right on time.

He got up, walked to the edge of the Hokage Rock, and peered down.

Sure enough, a petite girl with lavender hair and pale white eyes stood below, clutching a small bento box.

Hinata Hyūga.

"Little Hinata! Here again?"

Hinata's face flushed deep red. "U-Um… I-I made lunch again today…"

Naruto leapt off the cliff without hesitation, free-falling toward her at breakneck speed.

Hinata gasped, covering her mouth in shock—only for Naruto to land effortlessly in front of her, as if gravity was merely a suggestion.

"Geez, Naruto-kun… don't scare me like that," she mumbled, her fingers fidgeting.

Naruto ruffled her hair with a grin. "You're the best, Hinata. I swear, I'd starve without you."

Hinata's face practically exploded into color. Her body swayed, her balance faltered, and—

Plop.

She collapsed straight into his arms.

Naruto barely held back a laugh. Still as shy as ever.

Once she recovered, she hurriedly opened the bento.

Inside was an absolute feast.

Ten rice balls.

Two glasses of milk.

Three plates of premium sashimi.

Six pieces of fried tempura.

A dozen different fruits.

Naruto stared at it, then at Hinata.

"…This is for both of us, right?"

Hinata shook her head shyly. "I… I already ate at home. This is just for you."

Naruto: "…"

He swallowed. "Hinata… do you eat like this every day?"

Her blush deepened. "Um… just with two extra rice balls… I-I'll make more tomorrow!"

Naruto: "…"

Holy crap. No wonder she becomes the Hyūga clan's Akimichi equivalent in the future…

With a silent prayer for his stomach, he picked up his chopsticks.

"…Alright then. Itadakimasu!"