Naruto The Red Spiral Rebirth

"Tom, how long have you been in the Anbu?" asked the Third Hokage, his gaze fixed on the village landscape beyond the window.

"Two years, Lord Hokage," Tom replied respectfully.

The Third Hokage turned to face him, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Tom, you are the first person since Lord Hashirama to awaken the Wood Release. You represent the hope and spirit of Konoha. The village needs you to step out of the shadows and stand proudly in the sun. Let the world know that the legacy of the First Hokage lives on through you."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "Wood Release is the most effective chakra nature against the power of the Tailed Beasts. You're also close to Naruto. I hope you'll continue to protect him in secret—guard his life until the day he can stand on his own."

Tom bowed slightly. "Understood, Lord Hokage."

The Third Hokage offered a rare, faint smile. "From this day forward, I will retrieve your Anbu mask and officially announce your retirement from the Anbu. Publicly, it will be said that you left due to the awakening of your Wood Release bloodline. Privately, you'll remain a special Anbu operative, reporting only to me. Your existence will become a ghost in the wind."

He handed Tom a scroll. "This contains the highest-level concealment technique in the Anbu. Do not reveal your identity to Naruto unless absolutely necessary. He is still a child."

Tom accepted the scroll with both hands, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. One question: May I at least tell Naruto the truth one day?"

The Third Hokage remained silent for a moment. Then he spoke quietly, "Only when the time is right."

Later that evening, Tom lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, the scroll resting on the desk nearby. A slow smile crept onto his face.

"A hidden job, huh… I never thought I'd be the one assigned to protect Naruto like this," he murmured. "But what about Kakashi-sensei? With his intellect, he'll definitely realize what's going on."

His eyes drifted to the scroll again. "Hopefully, this concealment technique will fool even him—for a while, at least."

With that, he sat up and opened the scroll.

"This… this isn't the same concealment technique Moonlight Hayate uses," he muttered. Having worked alongside Hayate in Anbu, Tom was familiar with his abilities in stealth, assassination, and swordsmanship.

But this—this was on a different level entirely.

"This can completely suppress chakra and eliminate presence… even to a trained sensory-type, I'd be invisible," he whispered in awe. "Konoha really is a powerful village. This kind of technique is more practical than most forbidden jutsu."

One Month Later – Inside Konoha's Ninja Academy

"Alright, we're beginning the graduation exam now. Those whose names are called, please proceed to the next room," Iruka announced as he stood before the classroom.

"This year's test is the Clone Technique," he added, glancing around the room of hopeful students.

Hidden in a tree outside the window, Tom chuckled softly. "So it's just like in the original timeline. Mizuki, you snake… looks like you're about to start your performance."

He watched as Naruto stepped forward, determination on his face. But when Naruto performed the clone jutsu, it was a mess—just one poorly formed copy, barely able to stand.

"Failed," Iruka said with a pained expression.

Tom frowned slightly. He understood Iruka's pain. Iruka wasn't just Naruto's teacher—he was like a father figure. To see Naruto fail must have hurt him deeply.

Mizuki stepped forward, his voice full of deceptive warmth. "Iruka-sensei, Naruto's physical strength and athletic ability are impressive, and technically, he did form a clone. Shouldn't we let him pass?"

Tom narrowed his eyes. Mizuki wore the mask of a kind mentor perfectly. In another life, Mizuki could've been an actor, even winning awards. But Tom wasn't fooled.

Iruka shook his head firmly. "Every student is required to create at least three functional clones. Naruto's single clone is weak and unstable. I'm sorry, but I can't let him pass."

He spoke with conviction, not out of cruelty, but out of a desire to protect his students. He knew that if a ninja graduated without mastering even the basics, their survival rate on missions would plummet.

Naruto stood silently nearby, glaring at the ground, clearly frustrated and angry. He wanted to scream that Iruka had robbed him of his dream—but deep down, part of him also felt the sting of truth.

Iruka sighed. His heart ached. If only he had given Naruto more attention, more training…

Tom watched silently as the students who passed celebrated outside with their families.

"Good job! You're a ninja now!"

"Congrats on your graduation! Ahahaha!"

"Son, let's go get some barbecue tonight!"

"Barbecue? But Dad, didn't you promise me hotpot?!"

Their joy lit up the schoolyard, their laughter echoing through the corridors.

And then there was Naruto, sitting alone on the swing under the tree—his usual spot, wrapped in shadows.

Tom, perched above, watched with a mix of emotion. "Naruto, your journey begins here. Once Mizuki makes his move, I'll step in. After that… I'll treat you to that hotpot."

He turned his attention back to the academy just as Mizuki approached Naruto with his signature false smile.

"Hey Naruto, come with me for a bit."

"Okay…"

Mizuki led Naruto to a quiet, open terrace where the setting sun painted the sky orange. It was a picturesque scene—peaceful, calming. But beneath the tranquility lurked deception.

"Teacher Iruka wasn't trying to make things difficult for you," Mizuki said gently.

"Then why was I the only one who failed?" Naruto asked, frustration leaking into his voice.

"Maybe… maybe Iruka wants to see you grow stronger. He's like you, Naruto—an orphan. He knows how hard it is."

Naruto looked down, lips trembling. "But… I really want to be a ninja…"

A faint smirk flickered across Mizuki's face—so faint that only someone like Tom, watching carefully, would've caught it.

"There is one way," Mizuki whispered. "A secret method to graduate… something the teachers won't tell you."