Naruto uzumaki : The Will To Rise

The playfight ended quickly. Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji leaned against a large tree to rest. Although their future achievements might surpass most ninjas, for now, they were just kids who could be easily defeated by even the weakest ninja.

While munching on some snacks, Choji said, "Naruto, you're really strong. You're almost at the level of the senior ninja school students. Shikamaru and I are no match for you."

Shikamaru, seated nearby, looked at Naruto with visible surprise. Even their combined efforts had been unable to overpower him.

Naruto smiled knowingly. He was aware of his own capabilities. He had surpassed most of his peers, though he still fell short when compared to full-fledged ninjas.

Of course, this was without tapping into the power of the Nine-Tails. If he let the Kyuubi take control, even Jonin-level opponents would struggle to stop him in his berserk state. At that level, it would take multiple elite Jonin—or someone at animation-level power—to take him down.

As a gesture of appreciation for their sparring, Naruto pulled some rice balls and fried chicken from his backpack.

The moment Choji spotted the fried chicken, his eyes lit up. He grabbed a piece and devoured it enthusiastically. Shikamaru, on the other hand, reluctantly took a rice ball, wearing an expression that practically screamed, Why am I here?

After finishing a drumstick, Choji eagerly reached for another. "Naruto, this is delicious! If you bring food like this every day, I'll spar with you anytime!"

Naruto chuckled, handing the rest of the fried chicken to Choji. He grabbed a rice ball for himself and sat beside Shikamaru, gazing at the forest and the gently flowing stream.

"Another peaceful day…" Shikamaru sighed, lying back on the grass. He glanced at Naruto and asked, "Why are you sitting here? Did Choji eat all your food already?"

Naruto grinned. "Not at all. I just came to sit with you. After all, you and Choji are only my third and fourth friends."

Shikamaru smirked lazily. "I figured Choji and I would've been your first and second. But I guess we were a bit late to the party. Your first friend must be that girl from the Hyuga clan."

Naruto raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Shikamaru, how do you know about Hinata and me?"

Shikamaru stretched out on the grass, his tone casual. "I saw you when you saved her that day. Choji and I were on the opposite side of the street. He wanted to help, but I stopped him."

"Why?"

"Didn't want to ruin your chance to play the hero."

Naruto laughed. "Then I guess I owe you a thank-you for that."

He plucked a blade of grass, chewing on it thoughtfully as he asked the Nine-Tails inside him, "Hey, old fox, is the Third Hokage spying on me right now?"

The Kyuubi's gruff voice echoed in his mind. "No, and stop asking me to check on that old geezer. I'm not your babysitter. Handle your own problems, brat."

Relieved, Naruto turned back to Shikamaru. "By the way, you and Choji showing up out of nowhere was pretty convenient. Did someone put you up to this?"

Shikamaru hesitated but eventually replied, "My dad suggested it. Honestly, I don't know if he got orders from someone else."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "I wasn't thrilled about it at first. But after hearing about your past, I decided I wanted to be your friend for real."

Naruto's gaze turned sharp, his tone tinged with mockery. "Guess my demon fox 'charm' is working, huh? I can't help but wonder who my parents were to warrant so much attention from the village's higher-ups."

Shikamaru's expression flickered briefly but quickly returned to normal. "I don't know. But you should trust the village. If they're doing this, there must be a good reason."

Naruto chuckled bitterly. "So I should just accept being called a demon fox and tolerate the villagers' bullying?"

His tone was calm, but Shikamaru felt an unsettling intensity. Before he could respond, Naruto's demeanor softened again.

"But it doesn't matter now. The villagers don't dare bully me anymore, and I've made friends like you and Choji. Those bad memories will fade with time."

"That's the spirit of the Will of Fire, right?" Naruto added with a wry smile.

Shikamaru studied Naruto quietly. Beneath his cheerful exterior, Naruto carried a dismissive attitude toward his painful past, one that Shikamaru found both fascinating and troubling.

Before Shikamaru could dwell further, Naruto got up. "I'm going to the river to fish. If we're going to hang out, I might as well show off my skills."

A few hours later, the three boys sat around a small campfire by the river, grilling the fish they had caught. Naruto watched his companions with a genuine smile, savoring the peaceful moment.

The Kyuubi grumbled inside him, "Don't be so quick to trust those two. They're obviously here as spies for the Third Hokage."

Naruto chuckled inwardly. Maybe so, but right now, this feels real. That's all that matters.

Suddenly, Naruto thought of something mischievous. "Hey, Nine-Tails, you're missing out on this grilled fish. Want some? I could bring it to you."

"Don't mock me, brat," the fox snapped. "I have no interest in your human food."

Laughing, Naruto used chakra to imprint the taste and essence of the grilled fish and transported it into the sealed space. He approached the iron gate and left the fox several skewers.

"Here, it's for you. Don't say I never share."

The Kyuubi snorted but didn't reject the offering outright.

As Naruto returned to the real world, a system notification echoed in his mind:

"Kyuubi's favorability toward you has increased. You've unlocked 'Malicious Perception Lv1.'"