Naruto: I, Naruto, started with the Rinnegan

Although the Rinnegan grants innate mastery of seven elemental attributes, this mastery is at the Jonin level. To become stronger... requires guidance from a renowned teacher and one's own hard work, which Naruto cannot yet achieve.

There's also chakra shape transformation—practicing the Rasengan is practicing chakra shape transformation.

.........

One morning, Naruto stepped out of his house, ready to go to school.

Nine-Tailed Fox suddenly reminded him, "Kid, there are four more people watching you now."

Naruto remained expressionless, thinking to himself, "Yeah, I felt it too."

By continuously enhancing his soul using the Rinnegan eye technique, Ukamitama, Naruto's perception becomes increasingly powerful.

Those watching him had long since been exposed, and Naruto had also noticed the Third Hokage's telescope technique.

It was only because he noticed the Third Hokage's surveillance that Naruto realized how much the Third Hokage "cared" for him.

Sometimes it's once a day, sometimes it's four or five times a day.

But no matter how many or how few, it happens at least once a day, rain or shine, without interruption.

It's fair to say that three generations haven't shown this much concern for their own grandson.

Fortunately, the Third Hokage had some sense of propriety; he would consciously avoid being seen when Naruto was taking a shower or using the toilet.

Otherwise, Naruto would have been unable to endure it any longer and would have abandoned the village and defected.

.........

"What kind of look is that?"

Ninja Academy, break time.

Sasuke turned to look at Naruto, his face full of anger.

Are you sick in the head? Why do you keep looking at me with that pitying and sympathetic look?

And you've got the roles backwards! I'm the one with a happy family, and you're the orphan!

"...I'm sorry, I wasn't looking at you, and I didn't mean to offend you. I just suddenly remembered something else."

Naruto was stunned for a moment, but quickly came to his senses and apologized to Sasuke.

"snort!"

Sasuke snorted coldly, not interested in asking Naruto what he remembered, and turned his head to the side, displaying a cool and aloof demeanor.

"Sasuke is so cool!"

The girls in the class had hearts in their eyes and were making infatuated noises.

"Women are such a hassle..."

Shikamaru lay sprawled on the table, glanced at Ino who had joined the ranks of infatuated girls, and sighed listlessly.

"That guy's such a good actor..."

A hint of jealousy appeared on Kiba's face; he also wanted to be as popular as Sasuke.

"He's just showing off on purpose to attract girls' attention... Don't you agree, Choji?"

Ya turned to his friend Choji for support.

Click~ Click~

Choji was eating potato chips when he heard this and paused, continuing to eat while saying, "Uh... what did you say... uh..."

Tooth's face darkened: "It's nothing, you can keep eating."

"oh."

Click~ Click~

Beside him, Shino adjusted his sunglasses and said in a deep voice, "I don't think that was an act. If you ask why..."

Kiba completely ignored Shino's advice and instead sought support from Naruto.

"Naruto, do you think I'm right?"

"Uh...maybe, but I'm not really sure what the truth is, since I don't know him well."

Throughout the entire school year, Naruto barely spoke a few words to Sasuke.

After all, Sasuke is aloof, and Naruto doesn't take the initiative, so it's no wonder the two of them can't have a proper conversation.

……

Class time.

On the podium, Iruka gave a passionate lecture.

Naruto, unable to concentrate on the lesson, glanced at Sasuke, then looked away, his eyes deep in thought.

The Uchiha clan... will be wiped out in the next few days, right?

The sudden increase in surveillance personnel... is probably to prevent the Uchiha from going to extremes and taking him, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, hostage to start a rebellion.

The increasingly tense atmosphere in the village testifies to the approaching night of annihilation.

What can I do? What do I need to do?

After thinking for a while, Naruto gently shook his head.

No, I can't and don't need to get involved. What I need to do now is lie low and develop; I don't need to care about anything else.

So... let's just pretend we don't know anything.

.........

The night was cool and still. Naruto lay in bed, with Raiden General beside him on his pillow.

Within the sealed space, the consciousnesses of Naruto, the Kage, and the Shogun appeared.

The sealed space has changed drastically. The original dark and damp sewer environment has disappeared, replaced by beautiful grasslands and forests.

Of course, the grasslands and forests are not real; their origin, like that of mahjong, is a transformation created from the Nine-Tails' chakra combined with the Rinnegan's eye techniques and transformation techniques.

Upon seeing the three appear, Nine-Tails immediately urged, "Come on, let's play mahjong."

Naruto deliberately scolded, "You useless fox, all you do now is play mahjong, day and night. Tell me... what else can you do besides playing mahjong?"

Nine-Tails was stunned for a moment, then realized that this guy was just looking for trouble.

Being forcibly locked up inside, what else can one do besides play mahjong to pass the time?

Nine-Tailed Fox roared, "You brat, you've gone too far!"

Naruto modestly replied, "Ah, it's alright."

Nine-Tails got even angrier. "Damn it! I wasn't praising you!"

Naruto replied dismissively, "Yeah, yeah, no compliment."

Roar!

Amidst the noise and commotion, the three people and the fox sat down at the mahjong table and began to play mahjong.

Ying was on high alert, ready for battle.

She had lost before, but as a martial artist, she was determined to win back what she had lost.

The general remained expressionless; she had no interest in mahjong, nor in winning or losing.

If it weren't for Naruto's request, she would have preferred to be alone and quietly ponder how to practice the path of eternity in the ninja world.

Kurama, on the other hand, was playing mahjong while trash-talking Naruto.

"Weak, weak, weak, kid, you're so weak, even if I had nine tails I could beat you."

Nine-Tails won again and started mocking Naruto.

The best way to deal with ridicule is to ignore it.

Naruto ignored Kurama and instead encouraged the dejected Kage, saying, "Don't be discouraged, it's all Kurama's fault. I'll help you win next time."

Ying rallied her spirits and refused, saying, "No need. I'll win back what I lost myself."

Naruto gave a thumbs up: "This heroine has such great ambition."

Ten minutes later.

Ying lowered her head listlessly, her dark purple braid hanging to the ground, her aura gloomy and somber.

"As expected... I can't do anything."

Kurama and Naruto exchanged a glance and looked at each other blankly.

--------

As the sun sets in the west, its rays bleed like blood.

Outside the Uchiha clan's territory, Root ninjas silently set up a sealing barrier to ensure that nothing that happened inside the Uchiha clan's territory would be revealed.

Danzo, leaning on his cane, looked at Itachi and said calmly, "Let's begin. I'll take good care of your brother."

At this point, words were meaningless. Itachi simply said indifferently, "Please remember your promise."

With that, Itachi turned and stepped into the barrier.

"My lord, would he really turn against his own people... just for the sake of his brother?"

A Root member wearing a cat mask watched Itachi's departing figure, his voice tinged with incomprehension.