Divine Destruction: The Jinchūriki of Beerus

The night Naruto Uzumaki was born, the heavens themselves seemed to rage against Konoha.

Thunder cracked across the sky in violent streaks of light, each flash illuminating the faces of the village's shinobi as they rushed to their posts. But this was no ordinary storm. The air itself felt wrong—charged with an energy that made skin crawl and chakra networks flutter erratically.

High above the Hidden Leaf Village, beyond the clouds, beyond what even the most keen-eyed Hyūga could perceive, something impossible happened: a tear in reality itself.

In another universe, at that exact moment, Lord Beerus, God of Destruction, battled a rival deity with such force that it sent ripples through the multiverse. A fragment of that battle—a single, microscopic cluster of divine cells—slipped through the tear and hurtled toward the earth below, trailing purple lightning in its wake.

No one noticed this cosmic anomaly. They were far too concerned with the Nine-Tailed Fox currently tearing the village apart.

"Hold the line until the Fourth Hokage arrives!" The jōnin commander's voice cracked as he gave the order, knowing full well he was sending more shinobi to their deaths.

The Fox's massive tails swept across the landscape, each movement crushing buildings and lives with equal indifference. Its chakra alone was suffocating—a miasma of hate so thick it felt like drowning.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the retired Third Hokage, led a contingent from the west side, his face grim with determination. "We need to push it back from the civilian sectors!"

The earth trembled beneath their feet as the Fox let out a roar that shattered windows for miles. The beast reared back, its mouth filling with chakra for a Tailed Beast Bomb that would obliterate half the village in a single blast.

And then—a flash of yellow.

Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, appeared atop the Fox's head, his hands already forming seals faster than the eye could track. The beast's attack faltered as Minato's chakra disrupted its concentration.

"Now!" Minato shouted, and suddenly both he and the Nine-Tails vanished, teleported miles away from the village center.

The shinobi let out a collective breath, but Hiruzen knew better. This battle was far from over.

High in the sky, unseen by all, the streak of purple lightning grew closer.

On the outskirts of the village, inside a hastily prepared barrier, Kushina Uzumaki lay panting on a stone altar, her red hair splayed out like blood across the rock. The seal on her abdomen—the one that had contained the Nine-Tails for years—was now broken, her body weakened from both childbirth and the Fox's extraction.

Beside her, wrapped in a blanket and wailing with surprising vigor for a newborn, lay their son. Naruto.

Minato appeared in a flash, the Nine-Tails right alongside him, temporarily immobilized by the teleportation technique's aftereffects. The barrier around them shimmered, designed to contain the Fox's power, but it was already starting to crack under the pressure.

"Kushina," Minato knelt beside his wife, his eyes frantic. "I have to seal it again. We don't have time."

She nodded weakly, her face pale but determined. "Not in me. I won't survive another sealing."

"I know." Minato's eyes shifted to their newborn son, and Kushina's hand shot out, gripping his arm with surprising strength.

"No! You can't—"

"There's no other choice," Minato's voice cracked. "He's an Uzumaki. He's our son. He can bear this burden."

The Nine-Tails was beginning to recover, its massive body thrashing against the barrier. Cracks spider-webbed across the energy field.

"I'll use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal," Minato said, already forming the hand signs. "I'll split the Fox's chakra. The Yang half will go into Naruto. The Yin half... I'll take with me."

Kushina's eyes filled with tears. "You can't! He needs his father!"

The barrier shattered.

The Fox lunged, its massive claw aimed directly at the newborn. Minato and Kushina moved as one, throwing themselves between the monster and their child. The claw impaled them both, stopping inches from the crying infant.

At that exact moment, the streak of purple lightning struck.

It hit the ground beside the altar with a sound like no thunder ever heard on earth—a high, almost musical note that seemed to vibrate the very molecules of the air. Purple energy washed over the scene, invisible to normal sight but causing the chakra around them to ripple and distort.

The microscopic cluster of divine cells, born from Lord Beerus's body during his battle across universes, scattered into the air around the dying couple and their newborn son.

Minato, with the last of his strength, completed the sealing jutsu. The Death God appeared, a spectral figure visible only to those involved in the ritual. It reached its ethereal hand through Minato's body, grabbed the Fox's Yang chakra, and began to pull.

The Nine-Tails howled as its power was torn in half.

What no one could see was that, as the Fox's chakra was channeled into Naruto's tiny body, the divine cells of destruction were drawn in with it, merging with the infant's DNA at the most fundamental level.

The sealing completed with a flash of light. Minato and Kushina collapsed, their last moments spent whispering promises and hopes to a child who would not remember them.

Naruto's wails suddenly stopped. His newborn body, overwhelmed by the influx of the Nine-Tails' chakra and the foreign divine cells, went still. Then, for just a moment, the whisker marks on his cheeks glowed purple instead of the expected red.

No one was alive to witness it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived minutes too late. The barrier had fallen, revealing the bodies of Minato and Kushina curled protectively around their son. The Nine-Tailed Fox was gone.

The Third Hokage lifted the infant carefully, noting with relief that the boy was alive, apparently unharmed save for the whisker-like marks on his cheeks—a sign of the Fox's influence during pregnancy.

"Naruto," he murmured, remembering the name Minato and Kushina had chosen. "Your parents gave everything for you. For this village."

In the child's belly, the seal containing the Nine-Tails was clearly visible, still fresh and raw on the newborn skin. Hiruzen's experienced eyes could see that Minato had done exemplary work, even in his final moments.

What he couldn't see was what lay beneath, where fox chakra and divine cells were already beginning an interaction that no one in any universe could have predicted.

The council meeting the next morning was tense, filled with grief and fear.

"The Fourth's son now contains the Nine-Tails," Hiruzen explained to the assembled elders and clan heads. "The seal is strong, but—"

"The demon fox killed hundreds of our people," interrupted Danzo Shimura, his single visible eye narrowed. "Including its previous container. How can we trust this seal will hold?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

"Minato gave his life for this seal," Hiruzen said firmly. "I have examined it myself. It will hold."

"And what of the boy?" asked Koharu Utatane, her aged face pinched with concern. "Who will raise the jinchūriki?"

The word hung in the air like a curse. Jinchūriki. Human sacrifice. Power of human sacrifice.

"I will ensure he is cared for," Hiruzen said, deliberately vague. He had already decided the boy would be placed in the village orphanage—a decision he would later question many times.

"His heritage must be kept secret," Homura Mitokado added. "Minato had too many enemies outside the village. If they learned his son lived..."

Hiruzen nodded. "The boy will take his mother's clan name, Uzumaki. Few will make the connection. As for his status as jinchūriki..." He paused, thinking carefully.

"The village must know," Danzo said firmly. "They must understand the threat he potentially poses."

"The village must know he is their savior," Hiruzen countered, but he could already see he was losing this battle. The fear in the room was palpable.

He had no way of knowing that the threat—or perhaps the salvation—within young Naruto was far greater than just the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Six years passed.

The village rebuilt, wounds healed, and life continued. But some scars ran too deep.

Naruto Uzumaki grew up alone, shuttled from the orphanage to a small apartment when his presence became too disruptive. The village's hatred followed him everywhere—whispered words, cold stares, parents pulling their children away when he approached.

He didn't understand why. Couldn't understand why.

What he did understand was hunger. It gnawed at him constantly, beyond what should be normal even for a growing boy. The meager stipend provided by the Hokage for food was never enough.

He also understood energy. It bubbled inside him, making it impossible to sit still, impossible to focus in the Academy classes he had recently started attending. The teachers called him hyperactive. Troublemaker. Prankster.

They didn't know about the dreams.

Dreams of floating in space, watching planets crumble at the flick of a finger. Dreams of food beyond imagination, flavors so intense they would make a grown man weep. Dreams of destruction so complete it felt like art.

Today, Naruto wasn't thinking about dreams. He was running for his life.

"Get back here, you little monster!" The shopkeeper's voice echoed down the alley as Naruto clutched the stolen apple to his chest, his small legs pumping as fast as they could.

He hadn't meant to steal. He'd tried to buy the apple properly, but the shopkeeper had taken one look at him and refused to sell him anything. Called him demon-child. Threatened to call ANBU if he didn't leave immediately.

The hunger had been too much.

Naruto ducked around a corner, his heart pounding. The shopkeeper was gaining. For a civilian, the man was surprisingly fast.

"I'll teach you to steal from me!" The man rounded the corner, face red with exertion and rage. "No one wants you here, demon! No one!"

Something inside Naruto cracked. It wasn't the first time he'd heard those words, but today, with hunger making his vision blur at the edges, they hit differently.

Heat surged through his body, pooling in his fingertips. The whisker marks on his cheeks darkened, but instead of turning red as they sometimes did when he was emotional, they flickered with a strange purple light.

"Leave me alone!" Naruto shouted, instinctively raising his hand as if to ward off a blow.

What happened next would change everything.

A pulse of energy—not chakra, something older, something alien—shot from Naruto's extended finger. It wasn't visible to normal sight, just a slight distortion in the air, like heat rising from pavement.

It struck the wall beside the shopkeeper.

The solid stone didn't break or crumble. It simply... ceased to exist. A perfect sphere the size of a small melon simply vanished, its edges smooth as glass, revealing the room beyond.

Both Naruto and the shopkeeper froze, staring at the hole in disbelief.

"Demon," the man whispered, but this time the word held genuine fear. He backed away slowly, then turned and ran.

Naruto looked down at his hand in shock. The strange heat was fading, along with the purple tint to his whisker marks. He felt suddenly exhausted, as if he'd trained for hours.

The apple lay forgotten on the ground.

"Interesting," said a voice from above.

Naruto looked up to see the Third Hokage standing on a nearby rooftop, his pipe held forgotten in one hand as he stared at the hole in the wall with undisguised surprise.

In his office, Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the small boy sitting across from him. Naruto looked too thin, his orange t-shirt hanging loosely on his frame, his eyes too large in his face. But those eyes still held a defiance that reminded Hiruzen painfully of Kushina.

"Am I in trouble?" Naruto asked, swinging his legs nervously. The chair was too tall for him.

"No, Naruto, you're not in trouble," Hiruzen said gently. "But I need you to tell me exactly what happened."

Naruto described the incident, his eyes occasionally drifting to the bowl of fruit Hiruzen had placed within his reach. When he finished, he looked down at his hands.

"I didn't mean to break the wall."

"You didn't break it," Hiruzen corrected, his voice carefully controlled. "That's what concerns me."

He had examined the hole himself before bringing Naruto to the office. The material hadn't been broken or burned or cut. Matter had simply been erased, down to the molecular level. It was unlike any jutsu he had ever encountered.

"Naruto," he said carefully, "has anything like this happened before?"

The boy hesitated, then nodded. "Sometimes... things break when I get really mad or scared. But not like that. Not a big hole."

Hiruzen frowned. This wasn't the Nine-Tails' chakra at work. He would have recognized that. This was something else entirely.

"I'm going to bring someone to examine you," he said. "A medical ninja who specializes in unusual chakra. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Naruto's face fell. "There's something wrong with me, isn't there? That's why everyone hates me."

The pain in the boy's voice made Hiruzen wince internally. The village's treatment of Naruto was a constant source of disappointment to him, one of his greatest failures as Hokage.

"There is nothing wrong with you, Naruto," he said firmly. "You're special. And one day, the village will see that too."

What he didn't say was that "special" often meant "dangerous" in the world of shinobi.

The medical examination revealed nothing unusual—or rather, nothing more unusual than what was expected for a jinchūriki. Naruto's chakra coils were extraordinarily developed for his age, likely influenced by the Nine-Tails sealed within him. His stamina and healing abilities were similarly enhanced.

But there was no explanation for what had happened in the alley.

Hiruzen ordered discreet ANBU surveillance on the boy, then returned to his office to think. He pulled out the records from the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, searching for anything unusual, anything he might have missed.

One report caught his attention—a brief mention of strange lightning observed during the sealing. Purple lightning, according to the ANBU who had arrived just after Hiruzen himself. The note had been dismissed as unimportant at the time, possibly a side effect of the sealing jutsu.

Now, Hiruzen wasn't so sure.

He summoned his most trusted ANBU operative.

"I need you to search the restricted archives," he instructed. "Find anything related to unusual chakra manifestations. Particularly anything that might cause matter to... disappear."

The ANBU nodded and vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Hiruzen turned to the window, gazing out at the village. Somewhere out there, a six-year-old boy with whisker marks was carrying not only the burden of the Nine-Tailed Fox, but possibly something else. Something unknown.

"Minato," he murmured, "what exactly did you seal into your son?"

A week passed without incident. Naruto returned to the Academy, continuing his struggle to focus, to fit in, to be acknowledged as anything other than a nuisance or a monster. The hole in the wall had been repaired, the incident officially attributed to a training accident by a passing chūnin.

But rumors spread nonetheless. Whispers that the demon-child was manifesting strange powers.

Naruto tried to ignore them, focusing instead on mastering the basic techniques taught at the Academy. He failed miserably at most of them. His chakra control was abysmal, his concentration worse.

"Uzumaki!" Iruka-sensei's sharp voice cut through his daydream. "Pay attention!"

Naruto snapped upright, blinking rapidly. The class tittered with laughter.

"Sorry, Iruka-sensei," he mumbled.

Iruka sighed, continuing his lecture on basic chakra theory. Naruto tried to listen, but the words seemed to slide right past his comprehension. His stomach growled loudly, earning more snickers from his classmates.

The hunger was getting worse. No matter how much he ate—when he could get food—it never seemed enough. Sometimes he dreamed of consuming entire feasts, exotic dishes he'd never even heard of, yet somehow knew the taste of.

When the lunch bell rang, Naruto was the first out the door. He had no lunch—he'd run out of food at his apartment two days ago, and his next stipend wouldn't arrive until tomorrow—but at least he could escape the classroom for a while.

He found a solitary swing at the edge of the Academy grounds and sat, watching enviously as other children opened their bento boxes, trading snacks and laughing together.

"Well, if it isn't the dead-last," a voice sneered.

Naruto looked up to see three older boys approaching, Academy students a few years ahead of him. The leader, a stocky boy with a mean smile, was the son of a jōnin who had died during the Nine-Tails' attack.

"Leave me alone, Takeo," Naruto said, his hands tightening on the swing's ropes.

"Or what?" Takeo stepped closer, flanked by his friends. "You'll set the demon on us? That's what my dad says—that you've got a monster inside you. That's why no one wants you around."

Naruto's heart raced. No one was supposed to talk about that. The Third had made a law.

"That's not true," he said, but uncertainty crept into his voice. It would explain so much—the hatred, the isolation, the strange power that sometimes surged through him.

"It is true," Takeo insisted, stepping closer. "Everyone knows it. You're not even human. You're just a container for the thing that killed my father."

The other boys nodded in agreement, emboldened by their leader's words.

"I am human!" Naruto stood up suddenly, his fists clenched at his sides. "And I'm going to be Hokage someday! Then everyone will have to acknowledge me!"

The boys laughed, the sound cutting through Naruto like kunai.

"You? Hokage?" Takeo's face twisted with disgust. "You can't even perform a basic transformation jutsu."

He shoved Naruto hard, sending him stumbling back against the tree. The hunger, the anger, the hurt—it all swirled inside Naruto, building pressure like a volcano about to erupt.

"Don't touch me," Naruto warned, his voice suddenly different—deeper, with a strange echoing quality.

The whisker marks on his cheeks darkened and took on a purple hue. His canine teeth seemed to lengthen slightly, his fingernails sharpening into claws.

Takeo faltered, taking a step back, but pride wouldn't let him retreat completely.

"See?" he said to his friends, his voice less certain. "I told you he was a monster."

Something snapped inside Naruto. Not the familiar surge of the Nine-Tails' chakra that occasionally bubbled up when he was in danger or extremely emotional—this was different. Colder. More precise.

Purple energy crackled across his skin, visible for just a moment. His eyes, normally bright blue, flickered with an alien light.

Naruto didn't consciously decide to flick his finger. It just happened—a small, dismissive gesture.

The ground between him and the bullies erupted. Not in an explosion of dirt and rock, but in a perfect hemisphere of nothingness. One moment there was solid earth, the next a crater five feet across, its edges impossibly smooth.

The bullies screamed, scrambling backward. Takeo tripped and fell, his eyes wide with terror.

"Monster!" he shrieked, his earlier bravado entirely gone. "He tried to kill us!"

Naruto stood frozen, the purple energy already fading, exhaustion crashing over him like a wave. He hadn't meant to do that. Hadn't even known he could.

Around the Academy grounds, children and teachers alike were staring, drawn by the commotion and the inexplicable crater. Whispers rippled through the crowd, the word "demon" repeated over and over.

Iruka pushed through the gathering, his face pale as he took in the scene.

"Naruto," he said, his voice carefully controlled, "come with me. Now."

Behind them, an ANBU operative watched from the shadows of a nearby rooftop, then vanished to report to the Hokage.

This time, Hiruzen didn't bring Naruto to his office. Instead, he met the boy in a specialized room deep beneath the Hokage Tower—a chamber designed to contain and analyze unusual chakra manifestations. Its walls were inscribed with sealing formulas developed by the Uzumaki clan decades ago.

Naruto sat on a simple chair in the center of the room, looking small and frightened despite his earlier display of power. Hiruzen's heart ached for the boy, but concern for the village had to take precedence.

"I didn't mean to," Naruto said before Hiruzen could speak. "It just happened."

"I believe you," Hiruzen said gently, taking a seat across from him. "But we need to understand what's happening, Naruto. For your safety as well as others'."

He nodded to the medical ninja standing nearby—Inoichi Yamanaka, head of the Yamanaka clan and an expert in mind techniques. Inoichi stepped forward, his face kind but serious.

"Naruto, I'm going to look inside your mind," he explained. "It won't hurt, but you might feel a strange sensation. Like someone's touching your thoughts. Do you understand?"

Naruto nodded hesitantly, his eyes wide. "Will you... will you see everything?"

Inoichi understood the boy's fear. "I'll focus only on your chakra network and the recent incidents. Your private thoughts remain your own."

With Naruto's reluctant agreement, Inoichi placed his hand on the boy's head and formed a single seal with his other hand. His consciousness slipped inside Naruto's mind.

What he found there made him gasp out loud.

Naruto's mindscape was unlike anything Inoichi had ever encountered. Most minds manifested as buildings or landscapes—familiar environments that reflected the person's psyche. Naruto's mind should have shown the influence of the Nine-Tails, perhaps a cage or sewer representing the seal.

Instead, Inoichi found himself floating in what appeared to be outer space. Stars glittered in the endless black, galaxies swirled in the distance. Beneath him stretched a vast plain that seemed to be the surface of some alien world—purple soil, strange crystalline formations jutting toward the starry sky.

And in the center of it all, two massive presences circled each other warily.

One was familiar—the Nine-Tailed Fox, its orange fur glowing like fire, its nine tails sweeping behind it. The Fox was contained within what appeared to be a spherical barrier, the seal manifesting in this mindscape as a transparent dome.

The other presence...

Inoichi couldn't fully comprehend what he was seeing. It appeared at first glance to be a massive purple cat walking on two legs, its body lean and powerful, its ears long and pointed. But every time he tried to focus on it directly, the image seemed to shift, as if his mind couldn't properly interpret what it was perceiving.

What was clear was that this second presence was not contained by any seal. It moved freely through Naruto's mindscape, occasionally brushing against the Nine-Tails' barrier with what seemed like idle curiosity.

When it noticed Inoichi, it turned—and the full weight of its attention felt like standing at the edge of a black hole, reality itself bending around a power too vast to comprehend.

Inoichi retreated from Naruto's mind with a cry, stumbling backward until he hit the wall of the chamber. His face was deathly pale, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Inoichi!" Hiruzen was at his side instantly. "What happened? What did you see?"

The Yamanaka clan head took several deep breaths before he could speak.

"There's something else in there," he finally managed. "Something sharing space with the Nine-Tails. But not contained by the seal. It's... I've never felt anything like it. It's not chakra, not as we understand it. It's... older. More fundamental."

Hiruzen's blood ran cold. "Is it controlling the boy?"

Inoichi shook his head. "No, it's not controlling him. It's becoming him. It's in his cells, his DNA. Integrating. Evolving." He looked at Naruto with a mixture of fear and wonder. "I don't think it's fully awakened yet. What we're seeing are just... reflexive manifestations. If it ever fully emerges..."

He didn't finish the thought. He didn't need to.

Naruto looked between them, confusion and fear evident on his young face. "What's wrong with me?" he asked in a small voice. "Am I really a monster?"

Hiruzen moved to the boy, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No, Naruto. You're not a monster. You're just... uniquely gifted. And we're going to help you control these gifts."

It wasn't exactly a lie. But as Hiruzen looked into Inoichi's troubled eyes, he knew they were dealing with something far beyond their understanding. Something that might indeed make the Nine-Tails seem tame by comparison.

That night, Naruto dreamed more vividly than ever before.

He stood on a strange world with purple skies and crystalline trees that chimed like bells in the gentle breeze. Before him, a massive being lounged on what appeared to be a floating platform, its body thin but muscular, covered in short purple fur. It had the general appearance of a hairless cat walking upright, with long ears and a tail that twitched occasionally with what seemed like perpetual irritation.

"So," the being said, its voice surprisingly high-pitched for its imposing presence, "a fragment of me has found its way to your quaint little dimension."

Naruto stared in awe and confusion. "Who... what are you?"

The being sighed dramatically. "I am Lord Beerus, God of Destruction for Universe 7. Well, one version of me, at any rate. The multiverse is so tediously complex." He waved a clawed hand dismissively. "The me in your universe is likely unaware of your existence. This is merely an echo, a memory carried by the cells that now merge with your own."

"God of... Destruction?" Naruto repeated, the concept too vast for his six-year-old mind to fully grasp.

"Indeed." Beerus yawned, revealing fangs that could tear through planets. "I maintain the cosmic balance by destroying what needs to be destroyed. Creation and destruction, the eternal cycle. Without me, your universe would become stagnant, overcrowded, corrupt."

He fixed Naruto with a penetrating gaze, his pupils slitted like a cat's. "And now, a portion of that power flows in your veins, mixing with the paltry energy of the fox demon you carry."

"The Nine-Tails," Naruto whispered. "So it's true. I do have a monster inside me."

Beerus laughed, the sound shaking the crystalline trees. "The Fox? A monster? Hardly. It's a significant entity in your limited world, I suppose, but on the cosmic scale?" He flicked his finger, and a distant mountain shattered into dust. "Barely a footnote."

He leaned forward, studying Naruto with new interest. "You, however, might become something noteworthy. My cells, the Fox's chakra, and your human adaptability... an intriguing combination. I wonder what you'll become, little destroyer."

The dream began to fade, the purple landscape dissolving into mist.

"Wait!" Naruto called out. "How do I control this power? I don't want to hurt anyone!"

Beerus's voice echoed as he disappeared: "Control? Why would you want that? Destruction is freedom, child. Embrace it. Revel in it. Become worthy of the divine cells you now carry..."

Naruto woke with a start, his sheets soaked with sweat. The dream felt more real than any he'd had before, its details crystal clear in his mind.

He looked down at his hands in the dim light filtering through his apartment window. Normal hands, small and human. But for a moment, just a moment, he thought he saw purple energy dancing across his fingertips.

The next morning, Hiruzen called an emergency meeting of his most trusted advisors. Present were Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, the jōnin commander and head of the Nara clan, and Tsume Inuzuka, whose clan's connection to their ninken partners gave them unique insights into non-human chakra.

Notably absent were the village elders—Danzo, Homura, and Koharu. This matter was too sensitive, the potential for overreaction too great.

"Based on Inoichi's report and my own observations," Hiruzen began, "we are dealing with an unprecedented situation. Some form of energy or entity has merged with Naruto Uzumaki at the cellular level, separate from but interacting with the Nine-Tails sealed within him."

He described the incidents—the disappearing wall, the crater at the Academy—and Inoichi's experience in Naruto's mindscape.

"This power appears to manifest when the boy is threatened or emotionally distressed," he concluded. "It doesn't seem to be chakra as we understand it, but something more... fundamental."

Shikaku Nara, his face serious beneath his scarred features, was the first to speak. "Could it be a bloodline limit? Something from the Uzumaki clan we weren't aware of?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "The Uzumaki were known for their sealing techniques and extraordinary life force, not... matter erasure."

"Could it be related to the Nine-Tails' extraction and sealing?" Tsume suggested, her feral features pinched with concern. "Some unforeseen interaction with the Fourth's technique?"

"Possibly," Hiruzen admitted. "But Inoichi reports that this... presence... seems unconcerned with the Fox. They share space but don't appear to be directly connected."

"What about the purple lightning?" Inoichi asked suddenly. "The report from that night mentioned unusual lightning during the sealing. Could this energy have entered Naruto then?"

A heavy silence fell over the room as they considered the implications.

"If something external entered the boy during the sealing," Shikaku said slowly, "something powerful enough to casually erase matter... we could be dealing with an entity on par with the Tailed Beasts. Or worse."

"What are our options?" Tsume asked bluntly. "If the boy can't control this power..."

"He will learn control," Hiruzen said firmly. "We will teach him. I've already arranged for specialized training in chakra control and meditation."

"And if that's not enough?" Shikaku pressed. "The logical conclusion is containment. Perhaps even—"

"We will not discuss that option," Hiruzen cut him off, his voice sharp with authority. "Naruto Uzumaki is a child of this village, not a weapon to be sealed away or destroyed. He is Minato and Kushina's son. We owe them better than that."

The three advisors exchanged glances but didn't argue. The Hokage's word was final.

"There is another matter to consider," Inoichi said carefully. "The village already fears the boy because of the Nine-Tails. If word of this new power spreads..."

"It won't," Hiruzen said flatly. "The Academy incident will be attributed to a training accident. The witnesses have been spoken to. This information is now classified as an S-rank secret, known only to those in this room and the ANBU directly involved in surveillance."

He stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Naruto Uzumaki will be given every opportunity to master this power, whatever it is. In the meantime, we watch, we learn, and we protect—both the boy and the village."

As the advisors filed out, Hiruzen returned to the window, gazing toward the Hokage Monument where Minato's face was carved in stone.

"Your son grows more interesting by the day, Minato," he murmured. "I only hope we're prepared for what he might become."

Naruto returned to the Academy the following week. The crater had been filled in, the incident officially forgotten, though whispers still followed him through the hallways.

He was more isolated than ever. The other children kept their distance, warned by parents suddenly more adamant about avoiding the "troublemaker." Even the teachers seemed warier, watching him with careful eyes when they thought he wasn't looking.

All except Iruka-sensei. If anything, the young chūnin instructor paid more attention to Naruto than before, offering extra help after classes, occasionally treating him to ramen at Ichiraku's.

Today was one such day. As the other students filed out, eager to return home, Iruka approached Naruto's desk where the boy sat doodling in his notebook—crude sketches of himself wearing the Hokage's hat.

"Naruto," Iruka said gently, "would you stay for a few minutes? I'd like to go over the chakra control exercise from today."

Naruto looked up, suspicion and hope warring in his expression. He'd grown used to adults' hidden agendas, their false kindness masking fear or disgust. But Iruka seemed different, his concern appearing genuine.

"Is this because of what happened last week?" Naruto asked bluntly. "With the... hole?"

Iruka hesitated, then nodded. "Partly. The Hokage asked me to help you with your chakra control. He thinks it might help prevent accidents."

"It wasn't exactly chakra," Naruto muttered, then caught himself. He wasn't supposed to talk about it.

Iruka's eyebrows rose slightly, but he didn't press. "Whatever it was, learning better control can only help. Shall we begin?"

For the next hour, Iruka guided Naruto through basic meditation and chakra focusing exercises. They were Academy standard, but Iruka took more time, explaining the principles behind each technique, demonstrating with his own chakra.

Naruto tried, he really did, but focusing had never been his strong suit. His mind kept wandering to the dream of the cat-god, to the hunger that gnawed constantly at his belly, to the strange energy he could feel humming beneath his skin.

"I can't do it," he finally said, frustration evident in his voice. "It's too hard to concentrate."

Iruka studied him thoughtfully. "You know, Naruto, everyone's chakra feels different. For some, it's like a calm lake. For others, a rushing river. What does yours feel like?"

Naruto closed his eyes, trying to sense the energy within him. There was the familiar warm buzz that he'd always associated with his own chakra. Beneath that, something hot and angry that he now recognized as the Nine-Tails. And deeper still...

"It's like... space," he said slowly, surprised by his own answer. "Empty but not empty. Cold but also... burning somehow? And it's purple." He opened his eyes, embarrassed by the strange description. "That probably sounds stupid."

But Iruka wasn't laughing. His expression was serious, almost concerned. "No, that's... very descriptive, actually. And helpful. If that's how your energy feels, maybe traditional chakra exercises aren't the right approach."

He thought for a moment, then suggested, "Instead of trying to gather and direct your chakra, try just... being aware of it. Feel its boundaries. Where does your energy end and the world begin?"

Naruto closed his eyes again, focusing on the strange void-like energy deep within him. To his surprise, it responded to his attention, rising closer to the surface of his awareness.

For just a moment, he could sense everything in the classroom—the wood of the desks, the paper on the walls, the chalk dust in the air—as if they were all made of the same fundamental particles, all potentially subject to his will.

The sensation was intoxicating. Frightening.

He pulled back instinctively, opening his eyes with a gasp.

"What happened?" Iruka asked, alarmed by Naruto's reaction.

"Nothing," Naruto lied, forcing a smile. "Just got dizzy for a second."

Iruka looked unconvinced but didn't push. "That's enough for today. Same time tomorrow?"

Naruto nodded, gathering his things. As he was about to leave, Iruka called after him.

"Naruto... if you ever want to talk about... anything. I'm here."

The boy paused in the doorway, looking back with a vulnerability he rarely showed. "Thanks, Iruka-sensei," he said quietly, then hurried away.

Iruka watched him go, concern etched in his features. Then he moved to the window, making a subtle hand sign. An ANBU operative appeared silently on the rooftop across the street, acknowledging the signal before vanishing again.

The Hokage would want to know about today's developments.

That night, Naruto dreamed again of the purple world and its divine inhabitant.

Lord Beerus lounged on his floating platform, looking bored as he consumed what appeared to be an exotic fruit that changed colors with each bite.

"Back again, are we?" he said without looking at Naruto. "Your subconscious seems quite determined to understand what's happening to you."

"Why me?" Naruto asked, the question that had been burning in his mind. "Why did your... cells or whatever... come to me?"

Beerus sighed dramatically. "Pure cosmic coincidence, child. Wrong place, wrong time—or right place, right time, depending on your perspective. My battle with Champa tore a hole between universes, and a fragment of my divine energy happened to fall through just as your quaint little village was dealing with its fox problem."

He took another bite of the fruit, its flesh now glowing blue. "The sealing ritual your father performed created a unique energetic vortex. My cells were drawn in along with the Nine-Tails' chakra. Simple universal mechanics."

"My father?" Naruto's voice caught. "You know who my father was?"

Beerus waved dismissively. "Of course. The memories of my cells contain the moment of their integration with your body. The yellow-haired man who sacrificed himself. The Fourth Hokage, I believe your people called him."

The world seemed to tilt beneath Naruto's feet. "The Fourth... was my father?"

"Is that significant?" Beerus asked, genuinely uninterested. "Mortal lineages mean nothing on the cosmic scale."

But Naruto wasn't listening anymore. His mind was reeling with the revelation. The Fourth Hokage—the hero of the village, whose stone face watched over them all—was his father. The man who had sealed the Nine-Tails into him. Who had made him a jinchūriki. Who had condemned him to a life of isolation and hatred.

Who had died protecting him.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" he whispered, tears welling in his eyes.

Beerus observed his emotional display with mild curiosity. "Your mortal attachments are fascinating. So much importance placed on such temporary connections." He stretched lazily. "But we digress. You're here to learn about the power you now carry, are you not?"

Naruto wiped his eyes, forcing his attention back to the deity. The revelation about his father would have to wait. "Yes. I need to control it. I almost hurt someone at the Academy."

"Almost?" Beerus looked disappointed. "How restrained of you."

"I don't want to hurt people!" Naruto insisted. "I want them to acknowledge me, to respect me. Not fear me."

The God of Destruction studied him with renewed interest. "Curious. Most mortals who receive even a fraction of divine power immediately seek to dominate others with it. Yet you seek... acceptance?" He seemed genuinely puzzled by the concept.

"I'm going to be Hokage someday," Naruto declared with the absolute certainty only a child could muster. "I'll protect the village and everyone will finally see me for who I am."

"And who are you, exactly?" Beerus asked, his tone suddenly serious. "A human child? A jinchūriki? Or something new entirely—a mortal with the cells of a Destruction God flowing through his veins?"

Naruto didn't have an answer.

Beerus sighed. "Very well. If you insist on 'control,' I suppose I can offer some insight. The power you wield—Hakai, the energy of destruction—is not like your chakra. It doesn't flow, it simply... is. The fundamental force that allows universes to be renewed through controlled annihilation."

He gestured, and a small purple sphere appeared above his palm. "Your instinct to erase that wall, that section of ground—that was Hakai in its most basic form. Existence... and then non-existence."

The sphere expanded, engulfing a nearby crystalline tree. The tree didn't break or burn—it simply ceased to be, without sound or disturbance.

"To control it," Beerus continued, "you must first accept its nature. Destruction is not inherently evil, child. It is necessary. Essential. Without it, creation stagnates. Becomes corrupt."

He fixed Naruto with an intense gaze. "Hakai responds to intent more than technique. When you felt threatened, your intent was to remove the threat—and so the power responded, erasing matter that stood in your way. If you wish to control it, you must clarify your intent. Refine it. Direct it with precision rather than emotion."

"How do I do that?" Naruto asked, trying to understand concepts far beyond his years.

"Meditation helps, I suppose," Beerus said with another dramatic sigh. "Focus on the space between particles. The void that connects all things. That is where Hakai exists—in the nothing that allows something to be."

The dream began to fade, the purple landscape dissolving once more.

"Remember, child," Beerus's voice echoed as he disappeared, "you are no longer merely human. Embrace what you are becoming. Or it will consume you entirely."

Naruto woke before dawn, the dream still vivid in his mind. Two revelations warred for his attention—the nature of the strange power within him, and the identity of his father.

He sat up in bed, looking at his hands in the dim pre-morning light. According to the cat-god, destruction energy—Hakai—responded to intent. His uncontrolled outbursts had been fueled by fear and anger, resulting in dangerous, if limited, manifestations.

But what if he tried to control it? To direct it with purpose?

Naruto slipped out of bed and padded to his small kitchen. He found an apple—slightly bruised but still edible—and placed it on the counter. Then he focused, trying to recall the sensation from Iruka's classroom, the awareness of particles and the spaces between them.

To his surprise, it came more easily this time. He could sense the apple's structure, the arrangement of matter that made it what it was. He extended his finger toward it, focusing his intent not on destroying the whole apple, but just a small, precise section.

A tiny purple flicker appeared at his fingertip, barely visible.

"Hakai," he whispered, the word feeling right somehow.

A perfect spherical hole appeared in the apple, about the size of a pea. The edges were smooth, as if that portion of the fruit had never existed.

Naruto stared in wonder, then grinned. He hadn't destroyed the whole apple. Just the part he'd intended to. Progress!

His stomach growled, reminding him of the constant hunger that plagued him. He bit into the apple around the hole, savoring the sweetness. It helped, but only barely. Lately, it seemed like he could eat three times what a normal kid his age would and still feel starving.

Was that part of it too? This Destruction God energy? Did it make him need more food to fuel it?

As he finished the apple, his thoughts turned to the other revelation from his dream. The Fourth Hokage was his father. It explained so much—why the old man Hokage took a special interest in him, why he lived alone instead of in an orphanage, maybe even why the villagers hated him so much.

But why keep it a secret? Why let him grow up alone and unloved if he was the son of a hero?

Anger bubbled up inside him, and with it, a flicker of purple energy across his skin. Naruto took a deep breath, forcing the feeling down. Getting angry wouldn't help. Besides, he couldn't let anyone know he'd discovered this secret. Not yet.

First, he needed to master this strange power. To prove he could control it. Then, maybe, he could confront the old man about his parentage.

Naruto glanced at the clock. Still early, but he might as well head to the Academy. He had a lot to think about, and the quiet morning walk might help clear his head.

As he left his apartment, he didn't notice the ANBU operative watching from a nearby rooftop, nor the flicker of surprise in the masked ninja's posture as they observed the controlled demonstration of his power through the window.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not having a good morning.

First, there had been the report from the ANBU surveillance team—Naruto was beginning to consciously experiment with his mysterious power. Then, a message from Iruka about the boy's unusual description of his chakra during their training session. And now, a summons from the village elders, who had somehow caught wind that something unusual was happening with the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.

He sat in his office, facing Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura. The tension in the room was palpable.

"The reports are concerning, Hiruzen," Koharu began, her aged face set in stern lines. "Unexplained incidents, ANBU surveillance, specialized training... What aren't you telling us about the Uzumaki boy?"

Hiruzen took a long draw from his pipe before answering. "Naruto is experiencing some... unique chakra manifestations. I've implemented appropriate measures to help him gain control."

"Chakra manifestations?" Danzo's single visible eye narrowed skeptically. "The reports describe matter disappearing. That is not any form of chakra nature I'm familiar with."

"We're still investigating the exact nature of the phenomenon," Hiruzen replied carefully.

"Is it the Nine-Tails?" Homura asked, cutting to their primary concern. "Is the seal weakening?"

"No," Hiruzen said firmly. "The seal is intact and functioning as designed. This appears to be... something else entirely."

The three elders exchanged glances.

"Something else?" Danzo repeated, his voice dangerously soft. "Something that can erase matter from existence? And you didn't think this warranted informing the council?"

"I was gathering information before bringing it to your attention," Hiruzen replied, his tone making it clear he didn't appreciate being questioned. "The situation is under control."

"Is it?" Koharu challenged. "A six-year-old boy with an unknown power that can create perfect holes in solid stone? That doesn't sound 'under control' to me."

"What are you proposing, exactly?" Hiruzen asked, though he already knew the answer.

Danzo leaned forward. "The boy should be placed in more... secure circumstances. My Foundation could provide specialized training, away from the general population, where his abilities could be properly developed and harnessed for the village's benefit."

And where you could turn him into a weapon under your control, Hiruzen thought but didn't say. Aloud, he responded, "That won't be necessary. Naruto is making progress with his current training regimen. Isolating him further would only destabilize his emotional state, potentially triggering more incidents."

"You've always had a soft spot for the boy, Hiruzen," Homura observed. "But your personal feelings cannot take precedence over the safety of the village."

"My duty to the village is precisely why I'm handling this situation as I am," Hiruzen countered, his patience wearing thin. "Naruto Uzumaki is not only the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails but also the son of the Fourth Hokage. He is a valuable asset to Konoha, and I will not have him treated as a dangerous experiment to be locked away."

The elders fell silent at the mention of Minato. They had all respected the Fourth Hokage, even if they hadn't always agreed with his methods.

"Very well," Danzo finally said, though his tone made it clear this discussion was far from over. "But we will require regular reports on the boy's progress and any further... incidents. And if there is another public display of this power, we will revisit this conversation."

Hiruzen inclined his head in acknowledgment, knowing this was the best compromise he would get. As the elders filed out of his office, he turned to the window, watching the village come to life in the morning sun.

Somewhere out there, a small boy with whisker marks and the cells of a God of Destruction was heading to the Academy, carrying burdens no child should bear. But he was also carrying incredible potential—power that could either save the village or destroy it.

"Watch over him," Hiruzen murmured to the ANBU operative hidden in the shadows of his office. "And notify me immediately of any developments."

The operative vanished without a sound, leaving the Third Hokage alone with his thoughts and his growing concern for the future.

At the Academy, Naruto found it harder than ever to focus on lessons. His mind kept returning to the morning's experiment with the apple, to the dream of Lord Beerus, to the revelation about his father.

During their lunch break, while the other children played in the yard, Naruto slipped away to a secluded spot behind the Academy building. He needed to practice, to see if he could replicate the controlled manifestation of Hakai energy.

He found a small rock and placed it on the ground before him, then focused his intent as he had with the apple. This time, he visualized an even smaller hole—just a pinprick.

The purple energy flickered at his fingertip, responding to his concentration. When he directed it at the rock, a tiny hole appeared, no bigger than the tip of a needle. Perfect control.

Naruto grinned in triumph. Then he tried again, this time visualizing a specific shape—a spiral, like the one on the back of his t-shirt. It was harder, requiring more focus, but after several attempts, he managed to erase a tiny spiral pattern from the rock's surface.

"What are you doing?"

Naruto jumped at the voice, whirling around to find Sasuke Uchiha watching him with suspicious eyes. The last surviving member of the Uchiha clan stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"Nothing!" Naruto said quickly, moving to stand in front of the rock. "Just... practicing."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't any jutsu they taught us."

"It's... something I figured out on my own," Naruto said, which wasn't entirely a lie.

Sasuke stepped closer, his gaze moving to the rock visible between Naruto's feet. The spiral pattern was clearly visible, the stone around it untouched.

"How did you do that?" he demanded, genuine curiosity breaking through his usual aloof demeanor.

Naruto hesitated. He wasn't supposed to talk about his power. But Sasuke had seen it, and denying what was right in front of them would only make the other boy more suspicious.

"I'm not really sure," he admitted. "It just sort of... happens when I focus in a certain way."

Sasuke studied him with newfound interest. Despite his young age, the Uchiha prodigy had an intensity about him that made Naruto uncomfortable.

"Show me," Sasuke said. It wasn't a request.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Naruto replied, suddenly wary. "It's still hard to control."

Something flashed in Sasuke's eyes—frustration, envy, determination. "If you figured it out, I can too. Is it a bloodline limit? Something from your clan?"

The question hit closer to home than Sasuke could know. Was it a bloodline limit now? The cat-god had said the cells were integrating with Naruto's DNA, becoming part of him.

"I don't have a clan," Naruto said, the old pain surfacing. "I'm just... me."

Sasuke seemed about to press further when the Academy bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break. He gave Naruto one last measuring look before turning away.

"Whatever it is," he said over his shoulder, "I'll figure it out. I need to become stronger. Much stronger."

Naruto watched him go, a strange feeling settling in his gut. For the first time, someone his age had looked at him with something other than disgust or fear. It wasn't friendship or acceptance, but it was... something. Recognition, maybe.

As he headed back to class, Naruto wondered if this was the beginning of a change in how the village saw him—not as a monster or a demon-child, but as someone with unique abilities. Someone worthy of attention, if not yet respect.

The thought gave him hope. But as he took his seat, he caught Iruka-sensei watching him with concern, and remembered the ANBU shadows that followed him everywhere now. The power he carried wasn't just a gift—it was a responsibility. A danger.

And somewhere deep inside him, in the strange space where his chakra, the Nine-Tails' energy, and Lord Beerus's cells converged, something was changing. Evolving. Becoming something new that neither human nor fox nor god had ever anticipated.

Purple lightning had struck the night Naruto was born, and its thunder was only now beginning to rumble across the shinobi world.

Four years rocketed past in a blur of training, secrecy, and growing whispers.

Naruto Uzumaki stood at the threshold of the Academy's front entrance, his orange jacket a defiant splash of color against the subdued blues and greens of the other students. At ten years old, he remained shorter than most of his peers, but his posture had changed—no longer hunched in defensive anticipation of rejection, but straight-backed, alert, like a predator trying to remember how to appear harmless.

"Graduation exam's tomorrow," Shikamaru Nara muttered as he shuffled past, hands jammed in his pockets. "What a drag."

"I'm totally gonna pass this time!" Naruto declared, flashing a grin that revealed slightly sharper-than-normal canines. "Believe it!"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "It's your third try, right? Good luck with that."

The Nara genius sauntered away, leaving Naruto's smile to falter at the edges. The reminder stung, but he shook it off. This time would be different. This time, he had a secret weapon.

Inside his mindscape, something stirred in response to his determination—something that wasn't the Nine-Tails.

Later that afternoon, Naruto sat cross-legged in a clearing deep within the forests surrounding Konoha. This secluded training ground had become his sanctuary over the past four years—a place where ANBU surveillance was deliberately minimal, where he could experiment with the power he now knew as Hakai without the constant weight of watchful eyes.

Well, almost.

"Your stance is still sloppy," criticized a voice from the tree line.

Naruto didn't bother opening his eyes. "I'm meditating, not fighting, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi Hatake, elite jōnin and former ANBU captain, emerged from the shadows, his visible eye curved in what might have been a smile beneath his mask. "Maa, is that any way to greet your special instructor?"

The silver-haired ninja had been assigned as Naruto's "special instructor" three years ago, after the boy's power had progressed beyond what Academy teachers could safely handle. The official story was that Kakashi was teaching Naruto remedial chakra control. The truth was far more complex.

"Sorry I'm late," Kakashi continued, his tone suggesting he wasn't sorry at all. "I was helping an elderly woman cross a river of lava."

"Liar," Naruto muttered, but there was no heat in it. He'd grown accustomed to Kakashi's eccentricities—and more importantly, to the jōnin's lack of fear. Unlike most adults in the village, Kakashi treated Naruto's unusual abilities with casual interest rather than trepidation.

"How's the control coming along?" Kakashi asked, leaning against a nearby tree and pulling out his ever-present orange book.

Naruto stood, dusting off his pants. "Watch this!"

He extended his hand toward a boulder at the edge of the clearing, focusing his intent with practiced precision. Purple energy flickered around his fingertips—no longer the uncontrolled bursts of his childhood, but a steady, contained glow.

"Hakai," he whispered.

The front face of the boulder simply vanished, leaving a perfectly smooth surface as if it had been sliced by an impossibly sharp blade. Not a pebble was disturbed; the erasure was absolute and precise.

"Impressive," Kakashi admitted, his single visible eye assessing the damage. "Much better control than last month. How's the recovery time?"

Naruto grinned and immediately targeted another rock. Another flash of purple, another perfect erasure. Then a third. A fourth. By the fifth, sweat beaded on his forehead, and the sixth left him panting slightly.

"Six in rapid succession," Kakashi noted. "Double what you could manage before."

"And I'm not even using the Fox's chakra," Naruto added proudly. Over the years, he'd discovered that drawing on the Nine-Tails' energy could amplify his Hakai abilities, but at the cost of diminished precision and increased risk of losing control.

Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly. "We've discussed this, Naruto. Don't refer to it so casually. Names have power."

"Sorry," Naruto mumbled, though he wasn't, really. After four years of dreams and inner conversations with the echo of Lord Beerus, he'd developed a peculiar comfort with the extraordinary beings that shared his body. The Nine-Tails remained hostile, but even its hatred felt familiar now—almost comforting in its consistency.

"The graduation exam is tomorrow," Kakashi said, changing the subject. "Basic Clone Jutsu will be required."

Naruto's shoulders slumped. "That's still my worst technique. My chakra control is too weird."

"Perhaps," Kakashi agreed, closing his book with a snap. "But you've been working on that modified version we developed, haven't you?"

"The Shadow Clone? Yeah, but that's not the standard Academy technique. They won't accept it."

"Won't they?" Kakashi's eye curved upward again. "The Third has spoken with Iruka. Given your... unique chakra situation, certain accommodations might be possible."

Hope flared in Naruto's chest. "For real? I might actually pass?"

"If you can demonstrate sufficient mastery," Kakashi cautioned. "Now, let's see this Shadow Clone of yours."

Naruto formed the cross-shaped hand seal he'd been practicing for months, his face scrunched in concentration. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke erupted beside him, clearing to reveal an exact duplicate of Naruto, from the spiky blond hair to the orange jacket to the determined blue eyes.

Kakashi circled the clone, examining it with professional scrutiny. "Solid manifestation, good chakra distribution... can it use your special abilities?"

The clone grinned wickedly and pointed at a small stone. Purple energy gathered at its fingertip, and the stone's top half vanished into nothingness.

"That answers that question," Kakashi muttered, his casual demeanor slipping for just a moment to reveal genuine concern. "Fascinating and terrifying. A clone that can use Hakai."

The clone dispelled itself with a salute and another puff of smoke.

"The shadow clone transfers memories back to you when dispelled," Kakashi reminded Naruto. "Have you been using that for training?"

Naruto's face split into a fox-like grin. "Yeah! I can make three clones train at once now. It's like getting three times the practice!"

"Just be careful," Kakashi warned. "Mental fatigue is still fatigue. Push too hard, and you'll burn out."

As if on cue, Naruto's stomach growled with seismic intensity.

"Hungry again?" Kakashi asked, though it wasn't really a question. Naruto's appetite had become legendary over the past few years—another side effect of hosting both the Nine-Tails and the cells of a Destruction God.

"Starving," Naruto admitted. "I had six bowls of ramen for lunch and I'm already empty."

Kakashi sighed and reached into his pouch, pulling out a food pill. "This should help tide you over until dinner. Training's done for today. Rest up for tomorrow."

Naruto popped the pill into his mouth with a grimace at the bitter taste. It would help with the gnawing hunger, but only temporarily. Nothing seemed to fully satisfy the void inside him these days.

As Naruto gathered his things, Kakashi's voice stopped him. "One more thing, Naruto. No Hakai during the exam. Not even a hint of it. Understood?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know the rules," Naruto grumbled. "Keep the freaky purple stuff hidden unless it's life or death. The old man's been drilling that into me for years."

"The Hokage has good reasons for those restrictions," Kakashi said mildly. "The fewer people who know about your... unique abilities, the safer you'll be."

"Safer for me, or safer for them?" Naruto challenged, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice.

Kakashi's eye softened almost imperceptibly. "Both, Naruto. Always both."

That night, Naruto's dreams plunged him once more into the strange purple landscape that had become as familiar as his own apartment.

Lord Beerus lounged on his floating platform, idly batting at a small planet that orbited around him like a toy. His thin, purple-furred body appeared relaxed, but his slitted eyes tracked Naruto with predatory attention.

"The container returns," he drawled, his high-pitched voice echoing across the crystalline plains. "Still struggling with your Academy techniques? How... pedestrian."

"I'm going to pass this time," Naruto insisted, crossing his arms defiantly. Over the years, his dream-self had aged alongside his waking body, growing from a small child to a young adolescent on the cusp of becoming a genin.

"Perhaps," Beerus yawned, revealing fangs that could shred mountains. "Though I fail to see why you bother with such trivial achievements. The power you harbor could reduce your entire village to atoms with a thought."

"That's exactly why I need to master the basic stuff," Naruto argued. "I can't just rely on Hakai for everything. Besides, becoming a ninja is the first step to becoming Hokage."

Beerus sighed dramatically. "Yes, yes, your quaint little ambition. Become the leader of your anthill so the other ants will finally acknowledge you." He stretched, his spine arching like a contented cat's. "You're thinking too small, container."

"Stop calling me that," Naruto snapped. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki."

"For now," Beerus replied with a cryptic smile. "But what will you be when the integration is complete, I wonder? Neither fully human nor fully divine, but something... new."

A chill ran down Naruto's spine. "What do you mean, 'when the integration is complete'? What's happening to me?"

The destruction deity examined his claws with affected boredom. "Exactly what I said four years ago. My cells are merging with your DNA, changing you at the most fundamental level. Surely you've noticed the... physical alterations?"

Naruto had noticed. His canines were sharper now, his pupils occasionally slitting like a cat's when he was emotional or using Hakai. His senses had sharpened dramatically—he could hear conversations from across the Academy yard, smell emotions in people's sweat, see with perfect clarity in near-darkness.

And then there was the hunger. The constant, gnawing, insatiable hunger.

"What am I becoming?" he asked, hating the tremor in his voice.

"Something magnificent," Beerus purred. "Or terrible. Possibly both." He waved a clawed hand dismissively. "The specifics are beyond even my ability to predict. Never before has a mortal body hosted both the chakra of a Tailed Beast and the cells of a Destruction God. You are a cosmic experiment, container. A glorious aberration."

Before Naruto could demand more answers, the dreamscape shifted. The crystalline plains melted away, replaced by an endless void filled with stars and distant galaxies. In the center of this cosmic tableau floated a massive fox with nine sweeping tails.

"Fox," Beerus acknowledged, his tone mildly annoyed. "You're interrupting our conversation."

The Nine-Tails' eyes burned with ancient hatred as it regarded both Naruto and the echo of Beerus. "The boy needed a respite from your half-truths, cat-god," it rumbled, its voice a bass so deep it vibrated through Naruto's dream-body. "Your cells may be changing him, but he is MY jinchūriki."

"Such possessiveness," Beerus taunted. "One might almost think you care for the container."

The Fox snarled, its tails lashing through the void. "I care for my survival. Unlike you, I am truly trapped within this mortal shell. If these changes kill him, my fate becomes... uncertain."

"He won't die," Beerus said with absolute certainty. "The very changes you fear are making him more capable of containing your chakra, fox. His body grows stronger by the day, more resilient. More... godlike."

The Nine-Tails bared its massive fangs. "And less human. You think his precious village will accept him when his eyes turn purple permanently? When his chakra becomes destruction incarnate? They already fear him for housing me. What will they do when they realize he harbors something far worse?"

"Worse?" Beerus's eyes narrowed dangerously, a flicker of genuine divine wrath leaking through the echo. "Choose your next words carefully, fox. Echo I may be, but I am still an aspect of Lord Beerus, God of Destruction."

Naruto stepped between them, his dream-self pulsing with a mixture of golden fox chakra and purple hakai energy. "Stop it, both of you! This is my body, my mind! I decide what I become, not either of you!"

Surprisingly, both entities fell silent, regarding the boy with newfound interest.

"Fascinating," Beerus murmured. "The container asserts himself."

"Bold words from a kit who can't even create a simple clone," the Nine-Tails rumbled, but there was something almost like respect in its massive red eyes.

"I'm more than just your container," Naruto insisted, looking between the two cosmic beings. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, son of the Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki. Future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. And I will master both your powers, believe it!"

The Nine-Tails laughed, a sound like mountains crumbling. "We shall see, kit. We shall see."

The dreamscape began to dissolve, reality tugging Naruto back toward wakefulness.

"One last thing, container," Beerus called as the void faded. "Watch for the one with the eyes that spin. He hungers for power as you hunger for acknowledgment. A dangerous combination."

Naruto bolted upright in his bed, drenched in sweat, the echo of Beerus's warning still ringing in his ears.

Morning sunlight slashed through Naruto's apartment window, painting golden stripes across his rumpled sheets. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as last night's dream-conversation lingered in his thoughts.

"Watch for the one with the eyes that spin," he muttered to himself. "The Uchiha? But there's only Sasuke left..."

A glance at his clock sent him scrambling out of bed with a yelp of alarm. The graduation exam started in thirty minutes!

Naruto broke all personal records getting ready, shoveling cold instant ramen into his mouth while simultaneously pulling on his orange pants, brushing his teeth while searching for his goggles. Ten minutes later, he was racing across the rooftops of Konoha, a streak of orange against the village's earthy tones.

He skidded into the Academy classroom with seconds to spare, earning an exasperated look from Iruka-sensei and snickers from several classmates.

"Nice of you to join us, Naruto," Iruka said, checking his name off the attendance sheet. "Please take your seat. We're about to begin the written portion of the exam."

Naruto slouched into an empty seat, coincidentally right behind Sasuke Uchiha. The last Uchiha didn't acknowledge him, staring straight ahead with the same intense focus he always exhibited.

The one with the eyes that spin, Naruto thought, studying the back of Sasuke's head with newfound wariness. Over the past four years, he and Sasuke had developed a strange, unspoken rivalry. Not quite enemies, definitely not friends, but always aware of each other, always measuring themselves against the other's progress.

Sasuke had never mentioned the incident behind the Academy four years ago, when he'd caught Naruto practicing with Hakai. But sometimes, Naruto would catch the Uchiha watching him with calculating eyes, as if trying to solve a puzzle.

"Begin!" Iruka announced, and the classroom filled with the sound of pencils scratching on paper.

Naruto stared down at his test, forcing himself to focus. The written portion had always been his weakest area, but he'd studied harder this time, determined to pass. The questions swam before his eyes, chakra theory and shinobi history and tactical scenarios all demanding his attention.

Halfway through the test, a strange sensation prickled at the base of his skull. He glanced up to find Sasuke looking back at him, dark eyes narrowed in concentration. For a brief, disorienting moment, Naruto could have sworn those eyes flickered red.

The moment passed, and Sasuke returned to his test. Naruto shook his head, chalking it up to nerves and lack of sleep.

When the written exam concluded, they moved on to the practical portion—demonstrations of basic ninja techniques including transformation, substitution, and the dreaded clone jutsu.

Students were called alphabetically. Naruto fidgeted in his seat as he watched his classmates perform, most passing with varying degrees of success. Sakura Haruno executed flawless techniques with perfect chakra control. Kiba Inuzuka passed with his ninken partner Akamaru at his side. Shikamaru Nara performed the minimum required effort, looking bored throughout.

And then there was Sasuke.

The Uchiha prodigy stepped forward when his name was called, his movements precise and confident. His transformation into Iruka was perfect down to the last detail. His substitution was so fast the eye could barely track it. And his clones—three perfect duplicates that moved independently before dispelling.

Whispers of admiration rippled through the classroom. Naruto gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists beneath the desk.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka finally called.

Naruto stood, his heart hammering against his ribs. This was it. His third and possibly final chance to graduate.

He walked to the front of the class, aware of the many eyes tracking his movement. Some curious, some dismissive, some—like Sasuke's—calculating.

"Whenever you're ready, Naruto," Iruka said encouragingly. Beside him, Mizuki-sensei smiled, but the expression didn't reach his eyes.

Naruto took a deep breath and formed the hand seals for transformation. With a puff of smoke, he transformed into a reasonable facsimile of the Third Hokage, complete with pipe and hat.

"Good," Iruka noted, marking something on his clipboard as Naruto released the transformation. "Now substitution."

Naruto performed the hand seals, focusing his chakra. When Iruka tossed a blunted practice kunai at him, he successfully substituted with a chair across the room, earning another nod of approval.

"Finally, the clone jutsu," Iruka said. "Please create at least three functional clones."

This was the moment of truth. Naruto formed the hand seal Kakashi had taught him—not the standard Academy clone hand sign, but the cross-shaped seal for the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he called, channeling his chakra.

Three puffs of smoke erupted around him, clearing to reveal three perfect duplicates—solid, detailed, and fully functional. The clones moved independently, each flashing a victory sign with identical grins.

Murmurs of surprise rippled through the classroom. Iruka's eyebrows shot up, while Mizuki's smile faltered slightly.

"Naruto," Iruka said carefully, "that's not the standard clone technique."

"It's a more advanced version," Naruto explained, repeating what Kakashi had coached him to say. "Regular clones are too hard with my chakra reserves. The old man—I mean, the Hokage said it would be an acceptable substitute."

Iruka and Mizuki exchanged glances. Iruka nodded slowly. "The Hokage did indeed inform us of this... accommodation. And since the Shadow Clone is actually a more difficult technique, it certainly demonstrates sufficient skill."

He made another mark on his clipboard, then smiled warmly. "Congratulations, Naruto. You pass."

The words hit Naruto like a physical blow. He passed. After three attempts, after years of struggle and secret training, he had finally passed. He was going to be a ninja.

"YEAH!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air. His shadow clones mimicked the gesture, creating a small chorus of celebration that made several classmates roll their eyes.

But one pair of eyes wasn't rolling. From his seat, Sasuke Uchiha watched with that same calculating intensity, his gaze fixed on Naruto's clones with naked interest.

"Shadow clones," he muttered, just loud enough for his enhanced hearing to pick up. "Solid duplicates. Where did the dead-last learn a jōnin-level technique?"

Naruto dispelled his clones and accepted a forehead protector from Iruka, tying it proudly across his brow. As he returned to his seat, he locked eyes with Sasuke, a silent challenge passing between them.

I'm not the dead-last anymore, his gaze said.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed fractionally, acknowledgment and renewed rivalry in one subtle expression.

Neither boy noticed Mizuki-sensei watching them both, a calculating smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

That evening, the newly-minted genin celebrated with their families. Parents embraced their children, siblings teased and congratulated, extended family members promised gifts and special dinners.

Naruto walked home alone, his new forehead protector gleaming in the setting sun. The solitude stung as it always did on days like this, but the weight of the metal plate against his forehead dampened the usual pain. He had done it. Despite everything—the Nine-Tails, the Hakai energy, the village's distrust—he had taken his first step toward becoming Hokage.

"Naruto!" a voice called from behind.

He turned to see Mizuki-sensei approaching, that same smile fixed on his face.

"Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto greeted, confused by the unexpected attention. Mizuki had never shown much interest in him before.

"I wanted to congratulate you personally," Mizuki said, falling into step beside him. "That Shadow Clone Technique was quite impressive. Most genin couldn't handle it."

Pride swelled in Naruto's chest. "Thanks! I've been practicing really hard."

"I can tell," Mizuki nodded appreciatively. "In fact, that's why I wanted to talk to you. There's a special opportunity for exceptional graduates—a bonus test of sorts."

"A bonus test?" Naruto repeated, excitement bubbling up. "What kind of test?"

Mizuki leaned closer, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "It's a test of stealth and acquisition. Only offered to students who show unusual potential. If you complete it successfully, you could be fast-tracked for special training, maybe even ANBU recruitment eventually."

Naruto's eyes widened. Special training? ANBU? That would certainly accelerate his path to becoming Hokage.

"What do I have to do?" he asked eagerly.

"It's simple," Mizuki explained. "In the Hokage's tower, there's a scroll—the Scroll of Sealing. Your task is to retrieve it without being detected, take it to the abandoned cabin in the east forest, and learn one technique from it before midnight. If you can do that, you pass the bonus test."

A small voice in the back of Naruto's mind whispered that this sounded suspicious. Why would a test involve taking something from the old man's tower? But the prospect of learning a new powerful technique and receiving special recognition was too tempting to ignore.

"I'll do it!" he declared. "Believe it!"

Mizuki's smile widened. "Excellent. Remember, this is a secret test. Don't tell anyone, not even Iruka-sensei. That's part of the challenge."

As Mizuki walked away, Naruto was already planning his infiltration. With his Shadow Clones and the stealth training Kakashi had given him, sneaking into the Hokage Tower should be possible. Difficult, but possible.

What Naruto didn't notice was the calculating gleam in Mizuki's eyes, or the way the chūnin's hand lingered near his weapons pouch as he departed.

Two hours later, Naruto crouched on a rooftop opposite the Hokage Tower, surveying the building's security. ANBU guards patrolled the perimeter, and sensor-type ninja would be stationed inside, alert for any unusual chakra signatures.

Fortunately, Naruto had a unique advantage when it came to stealth operations.

The Nine-Tails' chakra was distinctive and easily detected—but the Hakai energy wasn't chakra at all. It existed outside the normal energy spectrum that ninja sensors were trained to detect. Naruto had discovered this property during training with Kakashi, when the jōnin had admitted he couldn't sense Naruto's presence when the boy was using only Hakai energy.

I just need a tiny amount, Naruto thought, focusing inward to that cold void where the destruction energy resided. Just enough to mask my chakra signature.

Purple energy whispered across his skin, invisible to normal sight but causing the air around him to ripple slightly. He took a deep breath, then moved.

Naruto slipped between patrol patterns with practiced ease, using the shadow clone technique to create diversions when necessary. Within minutes, he had infiltrated the tower and located the scroll—a massive thing nearly as tall as he was—in a secured room.

Too easy, he thought with a grin as he strapped the scroll to his back and made his exit through a window. I should've been a spy instead of a regular ninja!

Unknown to Naruto, his infiltration hadn't gone entirely undetected. In his private chambers, the Third Hokage observed the boy's theft through his crystal ball, his aged face creased with concern.

"So that's Mizuki's game," he murmured, watching as Naruto disappeared into the night with the forbidden scroll. "Interesting that he chose Naruto as his pawn."

He signaled to his hidden ANBU guard. "Alert Iruka, but tell him to observe only. I want to see how this plays out."

Deep in the forest, Naruto unrolled the massive scroll and began studying its contents. The first technique listed was familiar—the Shadow Clone Jutsu he already knew. He skipped past it, searching for something new and impressive to learn.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu," he read aloud, eyes widening at the description. "Creates hundreds of solid clones at once? Awesome!"

He set to work mastering the technique, creating clone after clone until the small clearing was filled with orange-clad duplicates. Each attempted the hand seals, each channeled chakra, each reported their findings back to the original when dispelled.

The accelerated learning method was exhausting but effective. By the time two hours had passed, Naruto could create fifty shadow clones simultaneously, each capable of independent action and—most terrifyingly—each able to use Hakai if necessary.

He was so absorbed in his training that he didn't notice the approach of his Academy instructor until the man was practically on top of him.

"NARUTO!" Iruka's voice thundered through the clearing, dispersing several clones from sheer surprise.

Naruto jumped, nearly dropping the scroll. "Iruka-sensei! I found you!" he exclaimed, quickly shifting to an excited grin. "Or you found me, I guess. That was fast! I've only had time to learn one technique!"

Iruka's expression shifted from anger to confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"The special bonus test," Naruto explained, gesturing to the scroll. "Mizuki-sensei told me about it. If I can learn a technique from this scroll, I'll get fast-tracked for special training!"

Understanding dawned on Iruka's face, followed immediately by alarm. "Naruto, there is no bonus test. That scroll contains forbidden jutsu. You've been tricked!"

The words hit Naruto like a physical blow. "Tricked? But why would Mizuki-sensei—"

A whistling sound cut through the air. Iruka shoved Naruto aside as a barrage of kunai thudded into the tree where they had been standing.

"Very good, Iruka," Mizuki's voice called from the branches above. The chūnin instructor stood on a high limb, two massive shuriken strapped to his back, his face twisted in a malicious smile. "As expected of Konoha's most dedicated teacher. But you're too late."

"Mizuki," Iruka growled, positioning himself protectively in front of Naruto. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Getting what I deserve," Mizuki replied, his gaze fixed on the scroll strapped to Naruto's back. "That scroll is my ticket to power—and my bargaining chip with Lord Orochimaru."

"Orochimaru?" Naruto repeated, confusion evident in his voice. "Who's that?"

"Someone who recognizes talent," Mizuki snapped. "Unlike this pathetic village." His eyes narrowed as he focused on Naruto. "Give me the scroll, demon brat, and I might let you live."

"Don't listen to him, Naruto," Iruka warned. "Take the scroll and run back to the village. I'll handle Mizuki."

But Naruto stood frozen, a single word echoing in his mind. Demon. There it was again—that hatred, that recognition of something inside him that the villagers feared.

"Why did you call me that?" he demanded, his voice dropping to a dangerous register that made both chūnin glance at him sharply.

Mizuki laughed, the sound brittle and cruel. "You still don't know? Even after all these years? Iruka, you've been so cruel, keeping the truth from him."

"Mizuki, don't!" Iruka shouted. "It's forbidden!"

"The truth about what?" Naruto pressed, his heart hammering against his ribs. "What don't I know?"

Mizuki's grin widened, feral and triumphant. "The truth about what you really are, Naruto Uzumaki. You are the Nine-Tailed Fox that attacked our village ten years ago! The monster that killed Iruka's parents and countless others! You are the demon reborn in human form!"

The words hung in the night air, heavy as lead.

Naruto stood very still, processing this revelation. Four years ago, such news might have devastated him, confirmed his worst fears about why the village hated him. But now, after years of dreams and conversations with both the Fox and the echo of Beerus, the revelation felt... incomplete.

"That's not quite right," he said softly, his head tilting slightly as if listening to a distant voice. "I'm not the Nine-Tails. I'm its jinchūriki—its container. There's a difference."

Mizuki blinked, clearly thrown by this unexpected response. "What?"

"The Fourth Hokage sealed the Fox inside me when I was born," Naruto continued, his voice steady as he repeated information he'd pieced together over years of dreams and conversations with the Third. "I'm not the demon. I'm its prison."

"Don't try to split hairs, monster!" Mizuki snarled, reaching for one of the massive shuriken on his back. "Container or not, you're a dangerous abomination that should have been destroyed at birth!"

He hurled the shuriken with deadly force. Iruka moved to intercept it, but Naruto was faster.

Much faster.

His hand shot out, purple energy flickering almost imperceptibly around his fingertips. The shuriken didn't bounce off or deflect—the center section simply ceased to exist, causing the weapon to fall apart in midair, its remaining pieces clattering harmlessly to the forest floor.

Both Iruka and Mizuki froze, staring at the destroyed weapon.

"What... what was that?" Mizuki stammered, his confident demeanor cracking. "What did you just do?"

Naruto stared at his hand, then back at his former instructor. "You're right about one thing, Mizuki-sensei," he said quietly. "I am dangerous. But not because I contain the Nine-Tails."

He took a step forward, and Mizuki instinctively retreated, something primal in the man's brain recognizing a predator greater than himself.

"Naruto," Iruka cautioned, his voice tight with concern. "Remember the rules."

The reminder penetrated Naruto's rising anger. The rules. No Hakai unless it was life or death. No revealing his true abilities unnecessarily. The old man had been very clear about the consequences of breaking those rules.

"Right," Naruto nodded, his hands forming a familiar cross-shaped seal instead. "I don't need that power anyway. Not for trash like him. Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The clearing erupted with smoke, clearing to reveal hundreds of Naruto clones surrounding Mizuki on all sides, filling the trees, covering the ground, each wearing the same determined expression.

"Impossible," Mizuki gasped, his head swiveling as he tried to count the clones. "No genin has that much chakra!"

"I'm not just any genin," every Naruto replied in unison, the effect chilling in its coordination. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village—and the guy who's about to kick your ass!"

The clones surged forward in a tidal wave of orange and blue, fists and feet connecting with Mizuki from every direction. The traitor managed to take down several clones before being overwhelmed by sheer numbers, his cries of pain swallowed by the sounds of hundreds of impacts.

When it was over, Mizuki lay unconscious in a small crater, his body covered in bruises, his face barely recognizable beneath the swelling.

The clones dispelled in puffs of smoke, leaving only the original Naruto standing before Iruka, chest heaving slightly from exertion but otherwise unfazed.

"I might have overdone it," Naruto said with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head.

Iruka stared at his student in amazement. The Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu was a forbidden technique precisely because it required enormous chakra reserves—reserves no genin should possess. Yet Naruto had not only performed it successfully but had maintained hundreds of clones through a sustained battle.

And then there was that other technique—the purple energy that had destroyed Mizuki's shuriken. Iruka had heard whispers about Naruto's "special training," but he'd never witnessed anything like that before.

"Naruto," he said carefully, "that technique you used on the shuriken..."

Naruto's expression immediately closed off, wariness replacing his earlier triumph. "I'm not supposed to talk about that. Old man's orders."

Iruka nodded slowly. If the Hokage had classified Naruto's abilities, it wasn't his place to pry. "Well, I think this situation calls for a reward. How about we return this scroll and then head to Ichiraku's? My treat."

Naruto's face lit up, his earlier caution forgotten. "Really? Awesome! I'm starving!"

As they gathered the scroll and secured the unconscious Mizuki for transport back to the village, neither noticed the single Sharingan eye watching from the darkness of the forest, recording every detail of Naruto's unusual abilities before its owner slipped silently away.

Across the village, in the depths of his underground lair, Danzo Shimura received the report from his Root operative with growing interest.

"Purple energy that erases matter?" he repeated, his single visible eye narrowing thoughtfully. "And you're certain it wasn't a chakra nature or bloodline limit technique?"

"Positive, Lord Danzo," the masked operative confirmed. "There was no chakra signature detectable. The shuriken simply... ceased to exist where the energy touched it."

Danzo steepled his fingers, considering the implications. For four years, he had been trying to uncover the truth about Naruto Uzumaki's mysterious abilities. Hiruzen had been frustratingly tight-lipped, keeping the boy's training and development shrouded in secrecy, with only his most trusted ANBU and jōnin permitted access.

"Continue surveillance," Danzo ordered. "I want detailed reports on any further manifestations of this power. And find out who's been training the boy. Kakashi Hatake is the obvious choice, but there may be others."

The operative bowed and departed, leaving Danzo to his thoughts. The jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails was already a potential asset of immense value to the village. But if the boy possessed another power entirely—something beyond even the Tailed Beasts—then his value increased exponentially.

As did the danger he potentially posed.

"What are you hiding, Hiruzen?" Danzo murmured to the empty room. "And more importantly, what is Naruto Uzumaki becoming?"

The next morning, Naruto arrived at the Academy for team assignments, his new forehead protector gleaming in the sunlight. The events of the previous night had been officially classified—Mizuki's betrayal attributed to a failed attempt to steal the Scroll of Sealing, with no mention of Naruto's involvement or unusual abilities in the public report.

As he entered the classroom, conversations hushed momentarily before resuming in excited whispers. His classmates—now fellow genin—were speculating about team assignments, discussing which jōnin sensei they might get, wondering who would end up with the renowned Sasuke Uchiha on their team.

Naruto slid into an empty seat, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in his stomach. Despite having consumed twelve bowls of ramen the night before (to Iruka's financial dismay), he was already starving again. The hunger was getting worse with each passing month, as if his body's energy requirements were steadily increasing.

"Hey, dead-last," a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "You actually passed. Surprising."

Naruto looked up to find Sasuke standing beside his desk, dark eyes assessing him with that now-familiar calculating gaze.

"Believe it," Naruto replied with forced cheer. "And stop calling me dead-last. I'm a genin now, same as you."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, which might have been acknowledgment or dismissal. He hesitated, then asked in a lower voice, "That clone technique you used yesterday. It's not the Academy clone jutsu, is it?"

Naruto tensed slightly. "It's a variation. Shadow Clone Jutsu. Creates solid duplicates instead of illusions."

"A jōnin-level technique," Sasuke noted, his eyes narrowing fractionally. "Where did you learn it?"

Before Naruto could formulate a response that wouldn't reveal his special training, a commotion at the classroom door interrupted them. Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka burst in simultaneously, arguing about who had arrived first and thus earned the right to sit next to Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun!" they chorused upon spotting their object of affection, immediately changing course to converge on him like heat-seeking missiles.

Sasuke's face shifted from intense curiosity to resigned annoyance as he quickly moved away from Naruto's desk, effectively ending their conversation. Naruto breathed a sigh of relief at the timely interruption, even as he rolled his eyes at the girls' antics.

Minutes later, Iruka entered the classroom, a bandage across his nose the only visible evidence of last night's confrontation with Mizuki. He called for quiet, then began announcing team assignments.

"Team Seven," Iruka read from his clipboard, "Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno..."

Naruto perked up. Sakura was one of the smartest students in their class, and while she mostly ignored him in favor of fawning over Sasuke, being on her team wasn't a bad start.

"...and Sasuke Uchiha."

A mixture of emotions flooded through Naruto—disappointment at having to share Sakura's attention with Sasuke, excitement at the chance to prove himself against the class prodigy, and a creeping wariness as he recalled Beerus's warning: Watch for the one with the eyes that spin.

"Your jōnin sensei will be Kakashi Hatake."

That, at least, was good news. Kakashi already knew about Naruto's unique abilities and had been training him for years. There would be no need for awkward explanations or concealment with him.

As the remaining teams were announced, Naruto's mind drifted to the implications of being placed with Sasuke. Was it coincidence? Or had the old man deliberately put him on a team with the last Uchiha for some reason?

"You will meet your jōnin senseis after lunch," Iruka concluded. "Good luck, all of you. I'm proud of each and every one of you."

His gaze lingered on Naruto for a moment, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Despite everything—the Nine-Tails, the mysterious purple energy, the years of struggle—Naruto had made it. He was officially a ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Now came the hard part: learning to be part of a team while keeping his most dangerous secrets.

Three hours later, Team Seven still sat waiting in their assigned classroom, their jōnin sensei nowhere to be found.

"He's late!" Naruto complained, pacing back and forth by the door. "Everyone else left with their senseis ages ago!"

"Sit down, Naruto," Sakura sighed, though her inner thoughts mirrored his frustration. "I'm sure he has a good reason."

Sasuke said nothing, but his fingers drummed an impatient rhythm on the desk.

Naruto's enhanced hearing picked up footsteps in the hallway. "Finally!" he exclaimed, rushing to the door. But his excitement quickly morphed into mischievous calculation. "He's super late. He deserves a little payback."

Before Sakura could protest, Naruto had wedged an eraser between the door and the frame, creating a simple but effective prank for the tardy jōnin.

"So childish," Sasuke muttered, though he made no move to stop it.

"Naruto!" Sakura hissed. "He's an elite jōnin! He's not going to fall for such a stupid trap!"

The door slid open, and the eraser dropped perfectly onto a shock of silver hair. Kakashi Hatake, elite jōnin of the Hidden Leaf, stared at his new team with a single bored eye, chalk dust settling on his shoulders.

"My first impression of you all," he drawled, "is that you're idiots."

Naruto burst out laughing while Sakura apologized profusely and Sasuke looked unimpressed.

"Meet me on the roof in five minutes," Kakashi instructed, disappearing in a swirl of leaves without further comment.

As they made their way to the roof, Sasuke fell into step beside Naruto. "You know him, don't you?" he asked quietly, his tone making it more accusation than question.

Naruto tensed. "What makes you say that?"

"The way you set up that prank," Sasuke replied. "You knew exactly how tall he was, exactly where to place the eraser. And you weren't surprised by his appearance at all."

Naruto silently cursed Sasuke's perceptiveness. The Uchiha missed nothing. "Lucky guess," he shrugged, quickening his pace to catch up with Sakura, leaving Sasuke staring after him with narrowed eyes.

On the roof, Kakashi had them introduce themselves—their likes, dislikes, hobbies, and dreams for the future. Sakura mostly gushed about Sasuke while glaring at Naruto. Sasuke spoke of his ambition to kill "a certain man" and restore his clan. When it was Naruto's turn, he declared his dream of becoming Hokage with his usual enthusiasm, deliberately keeping the rest vague.

Through it all, Kakashi maintained his bored demeanor, though Naruto caught the subtle nod of approval when he omitted any mention of his special abilities or training.

"Tomorrow we'll begin our duties as Team Seven," Kakashi announced. "But first, we'll have a little test."

"A test?" Sakura echoed. "But we already passed the graduation exam."

"That was just to select candidates who might become genin," Kakashi explained, his visible eye crinkling with what might have been amusement. "This test determines if you actually deserve the title. The failure rate is over sixty-six percent."

Shock rippled through the team. Naruto, however, wasn't entirely surprised. Kakashi had hinted at this additional test during their private training sessions.

"Meet at Training Ground Three at 5 AM," Kakashi instructed. "Oh, and don't eat breakfast. You'll throw up."

With that ominous warning, he vanished in another swirl of leaves, leaving the newly-formed Team Seven to digest this unwelcome news.

"Another test?" Sakura groaned. "What could it possibly be?"

"Doesn't matter," Sasuke stated, rising to his feet. "I'll pass it, whatever it is."

"Yeah, well, so will I!" Naruto declared, not to be outdone. "Believe it!"

As they descended from the roof and parted ways, Sasuke paused, fixing Naruto with that same calculating stare. "Tomorrow," he said, "no holding back."

The words sent a chill down Naruto's spine. Had Sasuke somehow witnessed his confrontation with Mizuki? Did he know about the Hakai energy?

"I never hold back," Naruto lied, forcing a grin that didn't reach his eyes.

Sasuke's response was a skeptical "Hn" before he walked away, hands in his pockets, leaving Naruto with the unsettling feeling that his darkest secrets might not remain hidden for long.

That night, Naruto's dreams took him not to the purple crystalline landscape of Beerus's domain, but to a vast, flooded chamber with enormous pipes running along the ceiling and walls. Water lapped at his ankles as he navigated the maze-like corridors, drawn inexorably toward a pulsing source of malevolent energy.

He emerged into a cavernous room dominated by massive bars—a cage large enough to contain a mountain. On the center bar was a paper seal, the kanji for "seal" clearly visible even in the dim light.

Behind the bars, two enormous red eyes opened, focusing on Naruto with ancient hatred.

"So the jailer finally deigns to visit his prisoner," the Nine-Tails rumbled, its massive form shifting in the darkness behind the bars. "How... thoughtful."

"I didn't exactly choose to come here," Naruto replied, his dream-self unfazed by the Fox's intimidating presence after years of glimpsing it in his shared dreamscape with Beerus. "This is different from the usual dreams."

"Because I summoned you here," the Fox explained, its massive teeth gleaming as it spoke. "The cat-god has had your ear for years. It's time you heard from me directly."

Naruto crossed his arms, suspicious but curious. "What do you want?"

The Nine-Tails growled, the sound reverberating through the chamber like distant thunder. "Want? I want freedom. I want to raze your pathetic village to the ground. I want to taste the blood of those who imprisoned me." Its tails lashed against the bars, creating waves that splashed around Naruto's legs. "But I cannot have what I want. So I will settle for warning you instead."

"Warning me? About what?"

The Fox's enormous face pressed against the bars, its breath hot and sulfurous as it regarded Naruto with malevolent intensity. "About what you are becoming, kit. The cat-god's cells change you daily, hourly, moment by moment. You are less human with each passing day."

"Beerus mentioned something similar," Naruto admitted, trying to hide his unease. "He called it integration."

"Integration," the Nine-Tails snorted, a gout of flame escaping its nostrils. "A pretty word for a horrifying process. Your DNA is being rewritten, your chakra pathways altered to accommodate energies no mortal was meant to channel."

"Is that why I'm always hungry?" Naruto asked, the question escaping before he could stop it. "Why I can hear conversations from across the village? Why my teeth are getting sharper?"

"Yes," the Fox confirmed. "Your body requires enormous energy to fuel these changes. Your senses sharpen as you become more... predatory. More like him."

A chill ran down Naruto's spine. "More like Beerus? I'm turning into a Destruction God?"

"Not quite," the Nine-Tails corrected. "Something new. Something that has never existed before. My chakra, his cells, your human adaptability—a fusion unprecedented in any world or universe."

"And that's... bad?" Naruto ventured, confused by the Fox's apparent concern.

The Nine-Tails laughed, a bitter, rumbling sound. "For your village? Catastrophic. For you? Perhaps not—if you survive the transformation. But there is another risk you haven't considered, kit."

"What's that?"

"Your dreams of the cat-god—they are no mere dreams. Each night, as you converse with the echo of Beerus embedded in your cells, you broadcast a signal across the multiverse. A beacon that announces your existence to beings far more terrifying than I."

Naruto's blood ran cold. "What kind of beings?"

"Gods," the Nine-Tails hissed. "Real gods, not the pale shadows your world calls divine. Destroyers and Creators who balance the multiverse, who erase entire timelines when they become inconvenient. And you, kit, are becoming a very significant... inconvenience."

The implications hit Naruto like a physical blow. "Are you saying actual Gods of Destruction might come here? To our world?"

"Eventually," the Fox confirmed, its tails lashing with agitation. "When the signal grows strong enough. When your transformation progresses further. They will come to investigate the anomaly—the mortal child wielding powers reserved for the divine."

"And then what?"

The Nine-Tails' eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "Best case? They erase you from existence. Worst case? They erase your entire timeline to prevent contamination."

Naruto stumbled backward, his mind reeling from the revelation. "There has to be something I can do! Some way to stop it!"

"Perhaps," the Fox conceded. "But it would require something you've shown no aptitude for: restraint. The more you use the Hakai energy, the faster the integration progresses, the stronger the beacon becomes."

"So I just... stop using it?"

"Can you?" the Nine-Tails challenged. "When it surges within you like hunger? When it responds to your emotions whether you will it or not? When your enemies press you to your limits, can you resist the temptation of godlike power?"

Naruto had no answer, and the Fox knew it.

"I thought not," it rumbled. "And so we both face annihilation at the hands of beings even I fear. Ironic, is it not? That I, who once brought your village to its knees, must now hope for your success in controlling powers that dwarf my own."

The dreamscape began to fade, the flooded chamber dissolving around them.

"Wait!" Naruto called out. "Why are you telling me this? Why do you care what happens to me?"

The Nine-Tails' final words echoed as the dream collapsed: "Because your fate is now tied to mine, kit. And unlike gods, demons have a very strong survival instinct..."

Naruto woke with a gasp, his body drenched in sweat, the Fox's warning still ringing in his ears. The darkness of his apartment pressed around him, suddenly threatening where it had once been familiar.

Gods. Real gods coming to investigate him. Possibly to destroy him—or worse, his entire world.

He sat up, hugging his knees to his chest as he tried to process this new information. Was the Nine-Tails telling the truth? Or was it trying to manipulate him for its own purposes? The Fox was known for its cunning as well as its power.

But the warning felt genuine. The fear in the Nine-Tails' voice—fear from a being that had terrorized the ninja world for centuries—that couldn't be faked.

Naruto glanced at his clock: 3:30 AM. No point trying to go back to sleep now, not with his mind racing and Kakashi's test looming in less than two hours. Besides, his stomach was growling painfully again, the now-familiar hunger gnawing at him like a physical presence.

He shuffled to his kitchen, opening the refrigerator to assess his options. The light illuminated his face, highlighting changes he'd been trying to ignore for months. His canine teeth were definitely longer and sharper now, clearly visible when he smiled or spoke. His whisker marks were deeper, more pronounced. And sometimes, when he was angry or using Hakai, his pupils would slit vertically like a cat's—or a fox's.

Less human with each passing day, the Nine-Tails had said.

Naruto grabbed a carton of milk and several cups of instant ramen. Kakashi had said not to eat breakfast, but given his metabolism, skipping a meal was dangerous—not for him, but for anyone who might provoke his hunger-fueled temper.

As he waited for the water to boil, Naruto stared at his reflection in the window, trying to see past the surface changes to what was happening beneath his skin. Was his DNA really being rewritten? Was he becoming something that had never existed before—not human, not demon, not god, but something else entirely?

And if so, what did that mean for his dream of becoming Hokage? Of being acknowledged by the village?

The water boiled. Naruto prepared his ramen mechanically, his mind elsewhere. By the time he left for the training ground, the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, the stars fading as dawn approached.

A new day. A new test. And perhaps, the beginning of his journey to control not just the Fox within him, but the god he was becoming.