NARUTO: PRINCE OF OLYMPUS

Lightning cascaded through blackened clouds as Zeus paced the marble floors of his palace, each footfall echoing like distant thunder. The king of gods rarely showed fear, but tonight anxiety radiated from him in palpable waves. His fingers twitched, electricity dancing between them as his mind raced faster than Hermes on his swiftest day.

"It cannot be hidden forever," Athena's voice cut through his thoughts, her gray eyes reflecting the storm beyond the windows. "The child is already showing signs. The seal weakens with each passing moon."

Zeus whirled to face his daughter, the air around him crackling with power. "Then strengthen it! Your wisdom surpasses all others—surely you can devise a solution."

"Father," Athena stepped forward, unflinching despite the dangerous energy surrounding Zeus, "this is beyond even my abilities. The power within him… it's unlike anything we've encountered. It resonates with something ancient, something that predates even us."

The king's shoulders slumped, an uncharacteristic display of defeat. "Then what would you have me do? Allow the prophecy to unfold? Watch as everything we've built crumbles?"

A new voice joined their conversation—soft yet commanding. "We send him away."

Both deities turned to find Hera standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable. Zeus's eyes narrowed. "To where? No realm is beyond our reach—or our enemies'."

Hera glided into the room, her movements fluid as water. "Not to another realm of gods," she said, "but to a world where chakra flows instead of ichor. Where ninjas walk in shadows and spirits take the form of tailed beasts."

"The Elemental Nations?" Athena's eyes widened in rare surprise. "That dimension was sealed eons ago. The barrier—"

"Can be breached, for something as small as an infant," Hera interrupted. "I've consulted with Hecate. It is possible."

Zeus stared at his wife, suspicion etched in the lines of his immortal face. "Why would you suggest this? The boy is not yours—"

"No," Hera agreed, her voice suddenly hard as diamond. "He is not. But he is of Olympus, regardless of his mother. And the prophecy speaks not only of his destruction but of ours." Her expression softened marginally. "I protect what is mine, husband. Olympus is mine."

Silence fell between them, broken only by the rumble of thunder outside. Finally, Zeus nodded, decision made.

"So be it. The Prince of Olympus will be hidden among mortals in the shinobi world." His eyes flashed with divine light. "But who shall we entrust with such a precious charge?"

Athena stepped forward. "I know of a couple in Konoha. They are expecting their own child soon, but tragedy awaits them. The woman—Kushina—she hosts a powerful entity within her, not unlike our situation."

"The Nine-Tailed Fox," Hera murmured. "Yes, I see the symmetry there. It could work to our advantage."

"And the man?" Zeus demanded.

"Minato Namikaze," Athena replied. "They call him the Yellow Flash. His speed rivals Hermes, his strategic mind approaches my own followers. He will be the Fourth Hokage—their leader."

"Strong enough to protect our son, then," Zeus concluded.

"And to seal away what lurks within him," Athena added, "though they will believe it to be only the Nine-Tails they are containing."

Lightning flashed brilliantly, illuminating the three divine figures caught in their fateful planning. None noticed the raven perched just outside the window, its unusually intelligent eyes observing everything before it took flight into the stormy night.

In another part of Olympus, hidden away in chambers few knew existed, a woman with hair as red as fresh blood cradled a newborn with whisker marks on his cheeks. Three on each side, perfectly symmetrical. The infant's eyes flickered between cerulean blue and a startling crimson, never settling.

"My little maelstrom," she whispered, her voice carrying the sound of rushing rivers. "They're coming to take you away. But remember, no matter what world they hide you in, the currents always return to the sea." She pressed a kiss to his forehead. "And I will find you again, my son. This, I promise."

The door to her chambers burst open, and the woman—a goddess in her own right—straightened her spine and faced the intruders with the dignity of royalty and the ferocity of a mother threatened.

"It's time," Zeus stated, not a request but a command.

The red-haired goddess's eyes flashed dangerously. "You'll regret this, brother. Taking a child from his mother never ends well for you Olympians. Or have you forgotten your lessons?"

"The boy threatens everything," Zeus countered. "You knew the risks when you brought him into existence."

"I knew no such thing," she hissed back. "Your precious prophecy came after. But mark my words—if any harm comes to him, there will be no realm, no barren moon, no crevice where you can hide from me."

Hera stepped forward, hands extended. "Give me the child."

For a moment, it seemed the red-haired goddess would refuse, perhaps even fight—a battle that would have leveled mountains. But then the baby in her arms stirred, making a small sound of distress, sensing the tension.

Her expression softened as she looked down at him, then hardened again as she met Hera's gaze. With aching slowness, she transferred her son into the Queen of Olympus's waiting arms.

"His name," she said, voice trembling with emotion barely contained, "is Naruto."

"A mortal name?" Zeus scoffed.

"A name that means 'maelstrom,'" the goddess replied. "Fitting for what he will become." She stepped back, tears like liquid crystal sliding down her perfect face. "Go now, before I change my mind and drown this entire mountain."

Hera nodded once, solemn, and turned with the child. Zeus and Athena followed, leaving the divine mother alone with her grief and rage—elements that, left to ferment, would one day shake the foundations of Olympus itself.

As they reached the ritual chamber where Hecate waited with her brew of potions and spells, Athena spoke quietly.

"Are we certain this is wise? The boy's mother is not one to forgive or forget. And her domains give her power even you must respect, Father."

Zeus's expression was grim. "We have no choice. Better one goddess's wrath than the destruction of all we know."

"And what of the boy?" Athena pressed. "What life will he have, caught between worlds, with such power locked inside him?"

"He will have what all heroes have," Hera answered unexpectedly. "A chance to forge his own path. To rise above his fate."

The goddess of wisdom studied her stepmother with newfound respect. "You surprise me, Lady Hera."

"I've had millennia to perfect that skill," Hera replied with the ghost of a smile, looking down at the infant in her arms. Little Naruto gazed back at her with eyes now completely blue, curious rather than afraid.

In the corner, Hecate finished her preparations, a swirling portal opening before them—a window into another world where a desperate battle was about to unfold, where a giant fox with nine tails would attack a village hidden in leaves, where a golden-haired Hokage and his red-haired wife would make the ultimate sacrifice.

"It is time," Hecate announced. "The convergence of our worlds will last but moments. We must act now."

Zeus stepped forward and placed a hand on his son's forehead. A small mark appeared—three interlocking spirals that faded almost instantly, becoming invisible to all but the most discerning divine eyes.

"My blessing and my burden," he murmured. "May you find strength when you need it most, son of Olympus."

Hera then stepped toward the portal, cradling Naruto close one final time before extending him toward the shimmering gateway. The baby's eyes widened, reflecting the strange new world that awaited him.

"Farewell, Prince of Olympus," she whispered. "Until fate brings you home again."

And with that, she released him into the swirling energies of the portal, sending the child hurtling across dimensions toward his destiny—and toward parents who would love him as their own for the brief time they had left.

Behind them, unnoticed in the shadows, a beautiful woman with dark hair and eyes that shifted colors like a kaleidoscope watched the proceedings with interest.

"Such efforts to avoid prophecy," Eris, goddess of discord, mused to herself. "When will they learn that fighting fate only entangles one more deeply in its web?"

She smiled, a expression that promised nothing good, and vanished into darkness.

The threads of destiny had been woven, cut, and retied. The game was set in motion.

And in distant Konoha, as a massive fox roared its rage at the heavens, Minato Namikaze felt a strange shift in the air—like reality itself hiccupped—moments before he discovered a mysterious second infant lying beside his newborn son.

CHAPTER 1: THE BOY WITH TWO BURDENS

Twelve years passed in the blink of an immortal eye.

Naruto Uzumaki raced through the streets of Konoha, his orange jumpsuit a neon blur against the village's more subdued colors. Behind him, three chunin pursued with expressions that wavered between anger and exasperation.

"Get back here, you little menace!" one shouted.

Naruto's laughter echoed off building walls as he zigzagged around startled villagers. "You'll have to catch me first! And that'll never happen—believe it!"

Fresh paint dripped from the Hokage Monument where the stone faces of village leaders now sported colorful additions—the First had roses blooming from his nostrils, the Second wore exaggerated makeup, the Third had a nosebleed worthy of a pervert, and the Fourth (who strangely resembled Naruto himself) had been given whiskers to match the boy's own facial markings.

Ducking into an alley, Naruto formed a hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he called out, creating perfect duplicates of himself that scattered in different directions, confounding his pursuers.

The real Naruto slipped behind a wooden fence panel, activating a camouflage cloth that made him blend seamlessly with the background. He held his breath as footsteps thundered past his hiding spot.

"That was too easy," he snickered once they'd gone.

"Was it now?" a dry voice asked from directly behind him.

Naruto jumped, spinning around to find Iruka-sensei standing there with arms crossed and a vein pulsing visibly on his forehead.

"Ah! Iruka-sensei!" Naruto backpedaled. "How did you—"

"Know you'd hide here? Please." Iruka rolled his eyes. "You've used this spot three times this month alone." He grabbed Naruto by the collar. "Back to the Academy. NOW."

Minutes later, Naruto found himself tied up in front of his classmates, who alternated between snickering at his predicament and groaning at the group punishment Iruka was announcing.

"Thanks to Naruto, we'll be reviewing the Transformation Jutsu. Everyone line up!"

As his classmates begrudgingly formed a queue, Naruto felt the familiar mixture of defiance and hurt. He knew they resented him—most of the village did—but their coldness still stung. Something inside him, something deeper than the fox he knew he contained, burned at the injustice.

When his turn came, Naruto channeled that feeling, forming hand signs with deliberate slowness.

"Transform!" he called, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Where Naruto had stood moments before was now a curvaceous, naked blonde woman with strategic clouds of smoke barely preserving her modesty. The transformed Naruto blew a kiss at the stupefied Iruka, whose nose immediately erupted in a geyser of blood, sending him flying backward.

"I call this one my Sexy Jutsu!" Naruto declared, transforming back and doubling over with laughter.

"YOU IDIOT!" Iruka roared, tissues stuffed in his nostrils. "Don't invent such vulgar techniques!"

Later, as punishment, Naruto found himself scrubbing paint from the Hokage Monument while Iruka supervised from above.

"You're not going home until every drop is cleaned off," the instructor informed him.

Naruto scowled, scrubbing harder. "Not like anyone's waiting for me anyway."

Something in his tone must have reached Iruka, because the chunin's expression softened slightly. "Naruto... when you're finished, I'll take you for some ramen."

The boy's head snapped up, blue eyes suddenly alight with hope. "Really? Alright! I'll clean this so fast you won't believe it!"

As Naruto attacked his task with renewed vigor, he didn't notice the strange flickering in the air near him—like heat waves rippling over stone—or the faint smell of ozone that briefly surrounded him.

High above, perched invisibly on the very monument being cleaned, a figure observed with curious eyes.

"He doesn't know," Hermes mused, twirling his caduceus absently. "Twelve years, and he hasn't the slightest clue what truly sleeps within him."

Beside the messenger god, Apollo shrugged. "The seal holds. Father's work, reinforced by that mortal Hokage's technique—quite brilliant, actually."

"But for how much longer?" Hermes countered. "You've seen the signs. The way water responds to his emotions, how plants grow more vigorously in his presence, the strange electrical discharges when he's angry."

Apollo's expression grew serious. "The convergence approaches. Ancient powers stir." He glanced at his half-brother. "We should tell Father."

"Zeus already knows," Hermes replied. "Why do you think storms have been raging over Olympus for weeks? He senses it too—his connection to the boy strengthening."

Both gods watched as Naruto scrubbed violently at a particularly stubborn paint spot, unaware that he was simultaneously being monitored by ANBU agents hidden nearby and divine entities from another dimension entirely.

"The question isn't whether the seal will break," Apollo said quietly, "but what will happen when it does."

Hermes nodded grimly. "And whether Olympus—or this world—will survive the aftermath."

That night, after consuming five bowls of Ichiraku ramen (and watching Iruka's wallet grow progressively lighter), Naruto walked home alone. The stars above seemed unusually bright, pulsing with strange energy. He paused on a bridge, looking down at his reflection in the water below.

For a moment—just the briefest flash—his reflection changed. The whisker marks on his cheeks deepened, his eyes glowed red, and something like horns seemed to sprout from his forehead. But most disturbing was the second reflection that appeared beside his own—a woman with hair the color of blood and eyes like the deepest ocean, reaching for him from beneath the water's surface.

Naruto jerked back with a startled cry. When he cautiously peered over the edge again, only his normal reflection stared back.

"I must be more tired than I thought," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

Continuing home, he failed to notice that the water in the stream had formed a perfect trident shape before settling back into its natural flow.

In his small, cluttered apartment, Naruto collapsed on his bed without bothering to change clothes. Tomorrow was the graduation exam—his third attempt. Despite his bravado, anxiety gnawed at him. What if he failed again? What if he never became a ninja?

"I'll pass this time," he promised himself fiercely. "I have to."

As he drifted toward sleep, strange dreams began to form—dreams of a magnificent palace atop a mountain, of figures with power radiating from them like heat from the sun, of a woman calling his name from across a vast ocean.

And deep within him, sealed behind layers of metaphysical barriers, something ancient stirred.

It had been patient for twelve years. It could wait a little longer.

The stage was set. The players were moving into position.

And fate, as always, would not be denied.

Morning arrived with disorienting suddenness. Naruto's eyes snapped open—he'd been dreaming of giants hurling lightning bolts and a vast palace that seemed to shift like a mirage. The dreams dissolved like morning mist, leaving only a vague uneasiness and the taste of salt on his lips.

"Graduation day," he muttered, rolling out of bed and stumbling to his small kitchen.

After a breakfast of instant ramen (not ideal, but he'd spent most of his monthly allowance at Ichiraku the night before), Naruto stood before his mirror, adjusting his goggles and psyching himself up.

"Today's the day I become a ninja. Believe it!" He pumped his fist, ignoring the flutter of nerves in his stomach. This was his third attempt at passing the Academy's final exam, and failure wasn't an option.

As he turned to leave, his gaze caught on something odd—a small plant on his windowsill that had been withering for weeks was suddenly vibrant and green, its stem thicker than before, with new leaves unfurling toward the sunlight.

"Weird," Naruto frowned, touching one of the leaves. "I didn't even water you."

The leaf curled around his finger in response, as if greeting him.

Naruto yanked his hand back, heart hammering. "Okay, that was definitely weird."

With no time to investigate botanical mysteries, he rushed out the door, racing toward the Academy. The streets were already bustling with villagers setting up shop for the day, most of whom either ignored Naruto or watched him pass with wary eyes.

A baker who had previously shooed him away now stared as Naruto ran past, because the water in the barrels outside his shop rippled in perfect synchronization with the boy's footsteps—even though nothing else was disturbing the water's surface.

At the Academy, students gathered in anxious clusters, reviewing jutsu and quizzing each other on ninja theory. Naruto strode in with exaggerated confidence, hands behind his head in a carefully practiced nonchalant pose.

"Look who decided to show up," Kiba Inuzuka snorted. "Ready to fail again, dead-last?"

"Shut it, dog-breath," Naruto shot back. "I'm gonna ace this exam and become the greatest Hokage ever!"

"Tch. Troublesome," Shikamaru Nara muttered from where he slouched against a wall.

Nearby, Sasuke Uchiha didn't even acknowledge the exchange, his dark eyes focused on something distant, his thoughts impenetrable as always.

Iruka entered the classroom, flanked by Mizuki, the assistant instructor. Both carried clipboards and wore serious expressions.

"Alright, settle down," Iruka called. "The final exam will test your ability to perform the Clone Jutsu. When your name is called, proceed to the examination room."

Naruto's stomach dropped. Clone Jutsu—his worst technique. No matter how much he practiced, his clones always emerged looking sickly and malformed, barely able to stand.

One by one, students disappeared into the testing room, emerging minutes later with Konoha headbands and triumphant smiles. Even Shikamaru, who found everything "troublesome," passed with minimal effort.

Finally, Iruka called Naruto's name. As he walked toward the testing room, he passed Hinata Hyuga, who blushed furiously and pressed her fingers together.

"G-good luck, Naruto-kun," she whispered.

Naruto flashed her a grin. "Thanks, Hinata! Just watch, I'll come out wearing that headband for sure!"

Inside the examination room, Iruka and Mizuki sat behind a table covered with neatly arranged forehead protectors. Naruto's eyes locked onto them—symbols of everything he'd worked for.

"Alright, Naruto," Iruka said, his expression neutral but eyes encouraging. "Create three effective clones to pass."

Naruto closed his eyes, forming the hand signs with deliberate precision. He could feel his chakra responding, but as always, it felt... wrong somehow. Too much, too wild, flowing through him like a river trying to pass through a garden hose.

"Clone Jutsu!" he shouted, pouring everything into the technique.

Smoke filled the room. When it cleared, Naruto stood beside a single clone—pale, malformed, lying face-down on the floor with its tongue lolling out.

Iruka's face fell. "Fail."

"Iruka-sensei," Mizuki interjected, "this is his third try, and he did create a clone. Couldn't we give him a pass?"

Hope flared in Naruto's chest, but Iruka shook his head firmly.

"Every other student created three clones. Naruto produced only one, and it's practically useless. I can't pass him."

The words hit like physical blows. Naruto's vision blurred, his chest tightening painfully. Without waiting to be dismissed, he turned and fled the room, ignoring Iruka's call.

Later, Naruto sat alone on his favorite swing outside the Academy, watching as families congratulated their children. Parents hugged their newly-minted genin, voices carrying phrases like "that's my boy" and "we're so proud of you" across the yard to where Naruto sat in solitary silence.

"Look, it's that boy," he heard a woman whisper to her friend.

"I hear he's the only one who failed."

"Good. Can you imagine if they let him become a shinobi? I mean, since he's the—"

"Shh! We're not allowed to talk about that!"

Naruto hunched his shoulders, trying to make himself smaller. He'd heard these whispers his whole life—cryptic references to some secret everyone seemed to know but him.

A shadow fell across him, and he looked up to find Mizuki standing there, sympathy etched on his features.

"Don't take it too hard, Naruto," the chunin said. "Iruka is tough, but he wants what's best for you."

"Then why am I the only one who failed?" Naruto asked bitterly.

Mizuki hesitated, then glanced around conspiratorially. "Can you keep a secret? There's another way to pass..."

Hours later, under the cover of darkness, Naruto slipped through the Hokage Tower with surprising stealth. Using tricks he'd developed during years of pranking, he avoided the guards and made his way to the scroll repository.

"The Scroll of Sealing," he muttered, spotting the large scroll Mizuki had described. "Learn one jutsu from this, and Iruka-sensei will have to pass me!"

Securing the massive scroll to his back, Naruto escaped as quietly as he'd entered, unaware that his theft had not gone entirely unnoticed. As he leapt from the tower, a pair of cold, calculating eyes watched from shadows.

"So predictable," the observer whispered, forming hand signs. A small scrap of darkness detached itself and slithered away, carrying a message for its master.

Meanwhile, Naruto reached the forest clearing Mizuki had designated as their meeting point. Unfurling the scroll eagerly, he began to read.

"First technique: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu." He groaned. "Not clones again! That's my worst skill!"

Still, he had no choice. Setting his jaw with determination, Naruto began practicing the hand signs described in the scroll, unaware of the chaos erupting in the village as the Hokage mobilized ninja to search for him and the stolen artifact.

Hours passed. Sweat poured down Naruto's face as he repeated the jutsu over and over. Unlike the standard Clone Jutsu, this technique required vastly more chakra—and for once, Naruto's excessive reserves were an advantage rather than a hindrance.

Strange things happened as he practiced. The ground beneath him sprouted fresh grass wherever his sweat fell. Tiny sparks of electricity occasionally danced across his skin. Most disturbing, a small puddle nearby kept forming shapes—a mountain, a palace, a three-pronged spear—before collapsing back into formlessness.

Naruto noticed none of this, focused entirely on mastering the forbidden technique.

When Iruka finally found him, Naruto was exhausted but exhilarated.

"I found you!" the chunin shouted.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Heh, you got me already? I only had time to learn one technique."

Iruka blinked, taking in Naruto's disheveled appearance, the open scroll, and the clear signs of intensive training. "You've been practicing? All this time?"

"Yeah!" Naruto bounced with renewed energy. "Listen, Iruka-sensei, I'm going to show you this amazing jutsu, and then you'll have to let me graduate! That's how it works, right? If I can perform a jutsu from this scroll?"

"Who told you that?" Iruka asked slowly, suspicion dawning.

Before Naruto could answer, instinct made Iruka shove the boy aside as shuriken sliced through the air where they'd been standing. Mizuki appeared on a branch above, two massive shuriken strapped to his back and a cruel smile twisting his features.

"Naruto! Give me the scroll!" he commanded.

"What's going on?" Naruto looked between the two chunin in confusion.

"Naruto, don't let Mizuki get the scroll!" Iruka shouted, pulling a kunai from his holster. "It contains forbidden jutsu that could endanger the village! Mizuki used you to get it for himself!"

Betrayal flashed across Naruto's face as he realized he'd been manipulated.

"Naruto," Mizuki called down, his voice deceptively gentle, "Iruka is afraid of you having that scroll."

"Don't listen to him, Naruto!" Iruka warned.

Mizuki's smile widened. "I'll tell you the truth, Naruto. A truth they've hidden from you your entire life."

"No, Mizuki! It's forbidden!" Iruka's face had gone pale.

"Twelve years ago, you know about the demon fox that attacked our village, right?" Mizuki continued, ignoring Iruka's protests. "After attacking the village, it was sealed. Since that day, a special decree was created."

"A decree?" Naruto repeated, his voice small.

"Everyone knows except you," Mizuki laughed. "The decree forbids anyone from telling you that YOU are the Nine-Tailed Fox!"

The words hit Naruto like physical blows. He staggered back, mind reeling. "Wh-what?"

"That's why everyone hates you," Mizuki pressed, twisting the knife. "Even your beloved Iruka despises you because the fox killed his parents!"

"STOP IT!" Iruka screamed.

Naruto's world collapsed around him. The whispers, the cold stares, the isolation—suddenly it all made terrible sense. He clutched his stomach, where he now realized the Nine-Tails must be sealed.

"No..." he whispered.

"You will never be accepted in this village!" Mizuki declared, drawing one of his massive shuriken. "Even now, I can see the fox's influence in your eyes!"

With a vicious laugh, Mizuki hurled the shuriken directly at Naruto. The boy stood frozen, too shocked to move.

"NARUTO, GET DOWN!" Iruka shouted, diving forward.

In that moment, several things happened simultaneously:

Iruka threw himself in front of his student, ready to take the deadly weapon in his back.

Naruto's eyes flashed a startling sea-green.

The small puddle nearby suddenly erupted, water shooting up in a column that intercepted the shuriken, freezing solid around it mid-air.

Both chunin stared in shock at the impossible ice formation hovering between them and Naruto.

"What... what did you do?" Mizuki whispered, suddenly uncertain.

Naruto looked as stunned as they were. "I... I didn't..."

The ice shattered, sending fragments in all directions as the shuriken resumed its deadly path. This time Iruka successfully intercepted it, crying out as the weapon embedded itself in his back.

"Why?" Naruto asked, staring up at his wounded teacher who now shielded him with his body.

"Because we're the same," Iruka said through gritted teeth. "After my parents died, I was alone too. I acted like the class clown to get attention, just like you do with your pranks." Tears streamed down the instructor's face. "It must have been so painful for you, Naruto. I'm sorry I couldn't do more. You're not the fox. You're Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf!"

Something broke inside Naruto then—not in despair, but in liberation. A dam bursting, releasing emotions he'd suppressed for years.

And with those emotions came power.

The ground beneath them trembled. The air grew heavy with the scent of ozone. In the distance, thunder rumbled under a previously clear sky.

"You'll pay for hurting Iruka-sensei," Naruto growled, his voice somehow deeper, more resonant.

Mizuki laughed nervously. "Big talk for a failure! I can kill someone like you in one shot!"

Naruto formed a cross-shaped hand sign, his chakra swirling around him visibly—blue mixed with threads of green and flashes of gold.

"Try it," he challenged. "I'll return the pain a thousand times over!"

"Then show me what you can do, Nine-Tailed Fox!" Mizuki roared, drawing his second shuriken.

"MULTI SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"

The clearing exploded with smoke. When it cleared, Mizuki found himself surrounded by a thousand perfect copies of Naruto—not sickly illusions, but solid duplicates, each radiating dangerous intent.

"Wh-what is this?!" Mizuki spun in panic.

"You hurt my teacher," a thousand voices spoke in unison. "Now I hurt you."

What followed was a brutal beatdown as the clone army descended upon the traitorous chunin. But something strange happened during the attack—each clone that struck Mizuki delivered not just a physical blow, but seemed to carry elemental energy with it. Some hits left frost spreading across Mizuki's skin. Others delivered shocks that made his hair stand on end. A few caused brief flashes of golden light.

By the time the assault ended, Mizuki lay unconscious in a crater, his body marked with bruises, electrical burns, and patches of frost.

The clones dispelled, leaving Naruto standing alone, panting but otherwise unharmed. He turned to Iruka, who was staring at him with a mixture of awe and something deeper—a dawning suspicion.

"I think I went a little overboard," Naruto admitted sheepishly.

Iruka shook his head, smiling despite his pain. "Naruto, come here. I have something for you."

When the Third Hokage and his ANBU arrived minutes later, they found Mizuki defeated, the scroll secured, and Naruto proudly wearing Iruka's forehead protector.

"He's ready," Iruka told the Hokage simply.

The old man nodded, but his eyes lingered on certain details others might have missed—the inexplicable patches of ice melting in the summer heat, the scorch marks on Mizuki's skin that resembled lightning strikes rather than fire damage, and most telling, the faint golden aura that still clung to Naruto, visible only to those with the most sensitive chakra perception.

"Indeed he is," the Hokage agreed. "Though perhaps not in the way anyone expected."

High above, unseen by mortal eyes, three figures observed the scene with varying expressions.

"The seal is weakening faster than anticipated," Athena noted, her gray eyes calculating.

"The fox's chakra is interfering with Father's work," Apollo added. "Two sealed entities in one vessel—unprecedented."

Hermes twirled his caduceus thoughtfully. "The Elemental Nations have their own gods, you know. Nature spirits, mostly. They won't appreciate Olympian interference."

"They'll like the alternative even less," Athena countered. "We must inform Father immediately."

The three gods vanished in flashes of divine light, leaving behind only the faint scent of ambrosia.

Below, as Naruto celebrated his unexpected graduation, he remained unaware that he had taken the first step on a path that would lead him not just to becoming a ninja, but to a destiny that transcended worlds.

And in the depths of his being, sealed away by mortal and divine power alike, something ancient continued to stir, growing stronger with each passing day.

The countdown to revelation had begun.

The Academy classroom buzzed with excitement as newly graduated genin awaited team assignments. Naruto, proudly wearing his forehead protector, strutted in with his chest puffed out.

"What are you doing here?" Shikamaru drawled, eyeing him lazily. "This meeting's only for those who passed."

Naruto pointed to his headband with a triumphant grin. "See this? I'm a ninja now, believe it!"

Before Shikamaru could respond, commotion erupted near the door as Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka arrived simultaneously, squeezing through the entrance in a frantic competition to be first.

"I win again, Ino-pig!" Sakura declared, flipping her pink hair.

"As if, Billboard Brow! My toe was at least a centimeter ahead," Ino shot back.

Their rivalry forgotten, both girls snapped their attention to where Sasuke Uchiha sat brooding by the window. Like predators spotting prey, they rushed toward the last Uchiha, each hoping to claim the seat beside him.

Naruto scowled. What did they see in that stuck-up jerk? Hopping onto the desk in front of Sasuke, he crouched to glare directly into those cold black eyes, faces inches apart.

"What's so special about you anyway?" Naruto demanded.

Electricity seemed to crackle in the small space between them as their rivalry intensified. Behind Naruto, another student stretched, accidentally bumping him forward. Time slowed as Naruto lost balance, his face moving inexorably toward Sasuke's.

Their lips connected in an accidental kiss.

Both boys recoiled instantly, gagging and sputtering while the classroom erupted—girls wailing in horror, boys howling with laughter. Sakura's face transformed from shock to murderous rage.

"NARUTO!" she bellowed. "You're dead!"

What followed was a beating so thorough that even Naruto's unusual healing abilities were taxed. By the time Iruka arrived to begin team assignments, Naruto sat bruised and swollen at his desk, muttering about "scary girls" and "not my fault."

"As of today, you are all ninjas," Iruka began, his proud smile taking in the classroom of graduates. "But you are still genin—the lowest rank. The hard journey that lies ahead has just begun."

He explained how they would be grouped into three-person teams under a jōnin instructor who would guide their training. As he started announcing the assignments, Naruto crossed his fingers, silently chanting names.

"Not Sasuke, not Sasuke, please not Sasuke..."

"Team Seven," Iruka called. "Naruto Uzumaki..."

Naruto perked up.

"Sakura Haruno..."

"YES!" Naruto jumped up, pumping his fist while Sakura slumped in despair.

"...and Sasuke Uchiha."

The reactions reversed instantly—Naruto collapsed while Sakura leapt up with a victorious "CHA!"

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto protested. "Why does an outstanding ninja like me have to be on the same team as that prick?!"

Iruka sighed. "Sasuke graduated with the highest scores. You, Naruto, had the worst. To create balanced teams, we pair the best student with the worst."

Laughter rippled through the classroom as Naruto's face burned with embarrassment.

"Just don't get in my way, loser," Sasuke muttered.

Something snapped in Naruto then. The air around him grew suddenly heavy, charged with strange energy. The water in a nearby glass rippled without being touched. Outside, clouds darkened abruptly.

"What did you call me?" Naruto growled, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic edge that made several students inch away instinctively.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. For a brief moment, he felt something he rarely experienced—a flicker of uncertainty. There was something in Naruto's eyes, something beyond the usual bluster...

"Alright, settle down," Iruka interrupted, oblivious to the sudden tension. "After lunch, you'll meet your jōnin instructors. Until then, dismissed!"

The strange moment passed. Naruto blinked, the unusual aura dissipating as quickly as it had formed. Even he seemed confused by the intensity of his reaction.

Outside, the clouds that had mysteriously gathered began to disperse, leaving behind a perfect blue sky that matched Naruto's now-normal eyes.

From the Hokage Tower, the Third watched these meteorological anomalies with troubled eyes, drawing on his pipe thoughtfully.

"It's happening more frequently," he murmured to the empty room. "The Fourth's seal should have prevented this."

On his desk lay an ancient scroll, partially unrolled to reveal symbols unlike any used in standard ninja techniques—symbols that resembled Greek letters more than shinobi script. Beside it sat a small object wrapped in silk, its contents hidden but emanating subtle power.

The Hokage sighed heavily, rolling up the scroll and tucking the wrapped object into a hidden compartment in his desk.

"Not yet," he decided. "Let him have this time with his team first."

Back at the Academy, after lunch period ended, the newly formed teams gathered to meet their jōnin instructors. One by one, the rooms emptied as seasoned ninjas collected their assigned genin.

Until only Team Seven remained.

"He's late," Naruto grumbled, pacing the empty classroom. Two hours had passed since the appointed meeting time.

Sakura sat near Sasuke, attempting conversation that the Uchiha responded to with monosyllabic grunts or silence. Naruto, tired of being ignored, decided mischief was in order.

"That'll teach him to be late," he snickered, wedging an eraser between the door and frame as a simple but classic prank.

"Our teacher is a jōnin, an elite ninja," Sakura scoffed. "He's not going to fall for that."

Sasuke said nothing, but his expression conveyed clear agreement with Sakura's assessment.

The door slid open. The eraser fell. A puff of chalk dust exploded against silver hair.

Naruto burst into laughter as their jōnin instructor—a tall man with a mask covering the lower half of his face and his forehead protector slanted to hide his left eye—stood motionless in the doorway, eraser at his feet and white powder dusting his head.

"I'm sorry, sensei!" Sakura gushed, inner thoughts betraying her outward apology. CHA! THAT WAS AWESOME!

The jōnin studied them with his single visible eye, which curved into what might have been a smile beneath his mask.

"How can I put this?" he mused. "My first impression of you... I hate you all."

The three genin deflated simultaneously.

"Meet me on the roof," their new teacher instructed before vanishing in a swirl of leaves.

Minutes later, Team Seven sat before their instructor, who lounged casually against a railing.

"Let's begin with introductions," he suggested. "Names, likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams for the future—that sort of thing."

"Why don't you go first, sensei?" Sakura proposed. "Show us how it's done."

The jōnin pointed to himself. "Me? I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and things I hate... I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future... never really thought about it. As for my hobbies... I have lots of hobbies."

Three unimpressed stares met this non-answer.

"Your turn," Kakashi nodded to Naruto. "The one in orange."

Naruto adjusted his headband proudly. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I like instant ramen, but I like the ramen at Ichiraku that Iruka-sensei treats me to even more! I hate the three minutes you have to wait after pouring hot water into instant ramen. My hobby is comparing different types of ramen! And my dream..."

His voice grew stronger, filled with conviction.

"...is to become the greatest Hokage! Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and treat me like I'm somebody important!"

For a moment, Kakashi's lazy demeanor shifted slightly, something like recognition flickering in his visible eye.

"Interesting," the jōnin murmured. He gestured to Sakura. "Pink hair, you're next."

Sakura blushed. "I'm Sakura Haruno. What I like... I mean, the person I like is..." She glanced at Sasuke and giggled. "My hobby is..." Another glance, another giggle. "My dream for the future..." A third glance, followed by a squeal so high-pitched it likely disturbed wildlife in the surrounding forest.

Kakashi sighed. "And? What do you hate?"

"NARUTO!" she answered instantly.

Naruto looked as if he'd been stabbed. "But Sakura-chan..."

"Last one," Kakashi nodded to Sasuke.

The Uchiha's fingers interlaced before his face, his expression grave. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate many things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan and destroy a certain someone."

Silence followed this declaration, broken only by Sakura's starry-eyed "Sasuke-kun is so cool!" and Naruto's internal panic about whether this "certain someone" might eventually include him.

"Right," Kakashi straightened. "You each have unique personalities. That's good. We'll have our first mission tomorrow."

"What kind of mission?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"A survival exercise," Kakashi answered.

"But we already did survival exercises at the Academy," Sakura protested.

Kakashi's eye crinkled in apparent amusement. "This isn't like your previous training." He chuckled softly.

"What's so funny, sensei?" Sakura demanded.

"If I tell you, you're not going to like it," Kakashi warned, his tone suddenly serious. "Of the twenty-seven graduates, only nine will be accepted as genin. The rest will be sent back to the Academy. This exercise has a 66% failure rate."

All three genin stared in shock.

"WHAT?!" Naruto exploded. "Then what was that graduation exam for?!"

"That? Just to select candidates who might become genin." Kakashi shrugged. "I decide whether you pass or fail. Meet at Training Ground Three at 5 AM tomorrow, and bring your ninja gear." He turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and don't eat breakfast. You'll throw up."

With that ominous warning, he vanished, leaving three stunned pre-teens to contemplate their precarious futures.

As Team Seven dispersed, each lost in their own thoughts about the challenge ahead, none noticed the owl perched on a nearby water tower—an owl with eyes that gleamed with unnatural intelligence as it tracked Naruto's movements.

When the boy was alone, heading toward his apartment, the owl took flight, swooping low enough that its wingtip almost brushed Naruto's spiky hair.

"Hey!" Naruto swatted at the bird, which hooted in what almost sounded like laughter before soaring toward the Hokage Monument.

The owl didn't stop there, however. It flew higher and higher, until it seemed to vanish into the very sky itself. In reality, it passed through an invisible boundary between dimensions, emerging in a marble chamber where a woman with gray eyes and battle armor awaited.

The owl transformed, expanding and shifting until Athena herself stood where the bird had been.

"Well?" Zeus demanded from his throne across the chamber. "What news of my son?"

"He graduates to the next level of their warrior training tomorrow," Athena reported. "If he succeeds."

"And the seal?" Hera asked from beside Zeus's throne.

Athena's expression grew troubled. "Unstable. His emotions trigger manifestations of power—minor ones, but increasing in frequency and strength. The mortals notice, but they attribute it to the fox spirit."

Zeus rose, electricity crackling around his massive form. "The convergence approaches. If we wait much longer, both our realm and theirs could suffer."

"The boy is not ready," Hera argued. "To thrust divinity upon him now, when he's only beginning to find his place—"

"We may not have a choice," Athena interrupted. "Better a controlled revelation than a catastrophic emergence of power he cannot understand or control."

Zeus paced, each footfall sending rumbles through the chamber. "Three days," he decided finally. "We give him three days with his new team. Then we send an emissary."

"Who?" Hera asked, though her expression suggested she already knew the answer.

Zeus's electric blue eyes—so like Naruto's own—flashed with divine power. "His mother."

In that moment, across dimensions, Naruto Uzumaki woke with a gasp from an impromptu nap, his heart racing. He'd dreamed of vast oceans and a woman's voice calling his name—a voice that felt achingly familiar despite being certain he'd never heard it before.

"Just nerves about tomorrow," he told himself, shaking off the strange longing the dream had evoked.

But as he moved to his kitchen to prepare a cup of instant ramen, he failed to notice how the tap turned on by itself when he approached the sink, or how the water formed a perfect trident shape before flowing normally.

The countdown continued, forces beyond mortal comprehension moving into alignment.

In three days' time, Naruto Uzumaki would learn that the Nine-Tailed Fox was only the beginning of his exceptional heritage.

Dawn broke over Konoha, painting the sky in soft pinks and golds. At Training Ground Three, three groggy genin waited for their perpetually late sensei. Stomachs growled in protest against Kakashi's no-breakfast directive.

"He's late again," Sakura grumbled, dark circles under her eyes from anxiety-induced insomnia.

Sasuke stood apart, silent and stoic, though the occasional stomach growl betrayed his human needs.

Naruto had managed perhaps three hours of sleep, plagued by increasingly vivid dreams of ocean depths and stormy mountaintops. He sat cross-legged on the ground, uncharacteristically quiet, drawing abstract patterns in the dirt with a stick—patterns that, had anyone been paying attention, remarkably resembled ancient Greek symbols.

"Good morning, everyone," Kakashi's cheerful voice finally greeted them, three hours after the appointed time.

"YOU'RE LATE!" Naruto and Sakura accused in unison.

"Sorry," Kakashi eye-smiled. "A black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way."

Three sets of eyes glared in disbelief.

Clearing his throat, Kakashi produced two small bells attached to red strings. "Here are two bells. Your task is to take them from me before noon. Anyone who fails doesn't get lunch. Instead, you'll be tied to those posts while I eat in front of you."

Three stomachs growled in perfect harmony.

"So that's why he told us not to eat breakfast," Sakura whispered in horrified realization.

"Wait a minute," Naruto frowned. "There are two bells but three of us."

"Precisely," Kakashi confirmed. "At minimum, one of you will be tied to a post. And the person who doesn't get a bell fails and goes back to the Academy."

The three genin tensed, eyeing each other with new wariness.

"You'll need to come at me with killing intent to stand any chance of success," Kakashi continued casually, as if discussing the weather rather than mortal combat. "Use any weapons or jutsu at your disposal. Begin when I say—"

"AAAGH!" Naruto charged forward without waiting, kunai drawn.

In a blur of movement too fast for the genin to track, Kakashi disappeared from his position, reappearing behind Naruto with the boy's own arm twisted to point the kunai at the back of his neck.

"I didn't say 'start' yet," Kakashi admonished mildly. "But I like your enthusiasm." He released Naruto and stepped back. "Now... begin!"

Sasuke and Sakura vanished instantly, concealing themselves among the trees and bushes surrounding the clearing. Only Naruto remained, standing defiantly before the jōnin.

"You and me, right now, fair and square!" Naruto challenged, pointing dramatically at Kakashi. "Let's go!"

Kakashi stared at him with an expression suggesting he was witnessing something both fascinating and slightly pitiable. "You know, compared to the others, you're a bit... weird."

"The only weird thing here is your haircut!" Naruto retorted, charging forward.

What followed was a lesson in humility as Kakashi casually avoided every attack while reading an orange book titled "Icha Icha Paradise." Just when Naruto thought he had a chance, Kakashi formed a hand sign.

"Leaf Village Secret Finger Jutsu: One Thousand Years of Death!"

Rather than the devastating technique such an ominous name suggested, Kakashi merely poked Naruto in the backside with extended fingers, sending the boy flying into the nearby river with an indignant wail.

From their hiding places, Sasuke and Sakura watched with a mixture of embarrassment for their teammate and growing concern about their own chances against the jōnin.

Underwater, Naruto's initial panic gave way to a strange sense of comfort. The river water embraced him like an old friend, and for a moment, he felt no urgency to surface. His lungs should have burned with the need for oxygen, but instead, he felt... powerful. Rejuvenated.

I could stay down here forever, he thought, then blinked in surprise at the realization. Wait, that's not normal!

Kicking upward, Naruto burst from the river with eight shadow clones surrounding him, all launching toward Kakashi in perfect formation.

The jōnin's visible eye widened slightly at the display of a forbidden jutsu by a fresh genin, but he dispatched the clones efficiently—until the real Naruto managed to grab him from behind while a clone prepared to strike.

"A ninja shouldn't let the enemy get behind him, right, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto grinned triumphantly.

Kakashi actually looked impressed—until he substituted himself with one of Naruto's own clones at the last second, causing the boy to punch himself in the face.

The morning continued with similar results for each genin. Sakura fell victim to a simple genjutsu that showed her beloved Sasuke dying, causing her to faint. Sasuke managed to touch a bell with his fingertips after an impressive display of fire jutsu, but ultimately ended up buried to his neck in the ground.

As noon approached, the three exhausted genin found themselves no closer to obtaining the bells, their stomachs empty and their pride wounded.

In a moment of clarity born from hunger and desperation, Naruto spotted the boxed lunches Kakashi had left unattended. With a mischievous grin, he slipped toward them, only to be caught literally red-handed by the jōnin.

"Nice try," Kakashi said, tying Naruto to one of the training posts while Sasuke and Sakura sat nearby, equally dejected but at least not restrained.

"I've decided," Kakashi announced, crossing his arms. "You all fail."

"What?!" Sakura protested. "But we still have time!"

"It's not about time," Kakashi replied, his tone uncharacteristically stern. "It's about the fundamental flaw in how you approached this exercise. You fail as individuals, but more importantly, you fail as a team."

Understanding slowly dawned on their faces.

"The purpose of this test was teamwork," Kakashi explained. "In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that's true. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

Three sets of eyes widened as the lesson sank in.

"I'll give you one more chance after lunch," Kakashi decided. "But Naruto gets nothing. If either of you feed him, you fail immediately." With that warning, he vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Sasuke and Sakura opened their lunch boxes, the aroma torturing Naruto whose stomach growled loud enough to scare birds from nearby trees.

"This is nothing," Naruto insisted unconvincingly. "I could go without food for days! Weeks, even!"

His stomach immediately betrayed him with another ferocious growl.

Sasuke stared at his food, then abruptly thrust his lunch toward Naruto. "Here."

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura gasped. "You heard what Kakashi-sensei said!"

"He's gone now," Sasuke replied coolly. "We need Naruto at full strength if we're going to get those bells as a team. If he's hungry, he'll be weak and ineffective, and that hurts all of us."

Naruto stared at Sasuke in shock, emotions warring on his expressive face.

Sakura hesitated, then offered her lunch as well. "Sasuke-kun is right. Here, Naruto."

"But... you guys..." Naruto's eyes welled with tears. No one had ever shared food with him before, let alone broken rules for his benefit.

As Sakura lifted her chopsticks to feed the tied-up Naruto, the sky suddenly darkened. Thunder boomed as Kakashi appeared before them in a dramatic swirl of wind and leaves, his expression furious.

"YOU THREE!" he bellowed.

The genin flinched, preparing for punishment.

"...pass!" Kakashi finished, his demeanor instantly shifting to cheerful.

"Huh?" three voices chorused in confusion.

"You're the first team that's ever succeeded," Kakashi explained. "Every other team did exactly what I told them, never realizing that in the ninja world, teamwork matters more than following orders blindly."

As he cut Naruto free from the post, Kakashi continued. "Individual talents are important, but what makes Konoha strong is our bonds with each other. From tomorrow, Team Seven officially begins its duties!"

Despite their earlier friction, the three genin shared genuine smiles of accomplishment. Even Sasuke managed a satisfied smirk.

"Let's celebrate with ramen!" Naruto suggested enthusiastically. "Kakashi-sensei's treat!"

Before Kakashi could protest this presumptuous budget allocation, a sudden gust of wind swept through the training ground, carrying the inexplicable scent of salt water and ozone. The ground trembled slightly, and in the distance, dark clouds gathered over the forest surrounding Konoha—clouds that moved against the prevailing wind in what meteorologists would call an impossible pattern.

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed as he scanned their surroundings. "Strange weather we're having."

"Hey, guys?" Naruto frowned, looking up at the unnatural sky. "Does anyone else smell the ocean?"

The others looked at him strangely.

"We're hundreds of miles from the sea, Naruto," Sakura pointed out.

"I know, but..." Naruto inhaled deeply. "I definitely smell salt water. And something else... like the air before a lightning storm."

Kakashi studied Naruto with sudden intensity. "We should report to the Hokage. Team Seven's first mission can wait until tomorrow."

As they walked back toward the village, the strange weather phenomena followed them—or more precisely, followed Naruto. Water in puddles rippled as he passed. Small sparks occasionally discharged when he touched metal objects. Most disturbing, faint whispers seemed to emerge from nearby streams, too indistinct to understand but clearly responding to Naruto's proximity.

Only Kakashi appeared to notice these anomalies, his uncovered eye tracking each occurrence with growing concern.

In the Hokage Tower, the Third received Kakashi's report on Team Seven's success with a satisfied nod. "I had faith in your teaching methods, unconventional as they are."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Kakashi replied formally. "However, there's another matter." His eye flicked meaningfully toward Naruto, who stood with his teammates, oblivious to the silent communication. "Something we should discuss privately."

Understanding dawned on the Hokage's weathered face. "Indeed. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura—congratulations on passing Kakashi's test. Report here tomorrow morning for your first official mission. Dismissed."

As the genin filed out, the Hokage activated privacy seals around his office with a subtle hand sign.

"It's happening, isn't it?" he asked Kakashi once they were alone.

The jōnin nodded grimly. "The signs are unmistakable. Element manipulation without hand signs or conscious intent. His chakra... it doesn't feel purely like chakra anymore. There's something else mixed in."

"We always knew this day might come," the Hokage sighed, pulling out the silk-wrapped object from his desk drawer. "I had hoped it would be later, when he was more prepared."

"What exactly is happening to him?" Kakashi asked. "I was told he contained the Nine-Tails, but these manifestations don't match what we know about jinchūriki."

The Hokage unwrapped the silk, revealing a small golden medallion engraved with a trident on one side and a lightning bolt on the other. "What I'm about to tell you is an S-class secret, known only to me and the late Fourth Hokage."

Kakashi's visible eye widened as the Hokage explained the truth about Naruto Uzumaki—a truth that went far beyond the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within him.

Meanwhile, Naruto headed home alone after saying goodbye to his teammates. The strange weather had passed, leaving behind a perfect summer evening. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching him.

Pausing on the bridge that crossed Konoha's main river, Naruto looked down at his reflection in the water. For an instant, his image wavered and changed—his whisker marks deepened, his eyes shifting from blue to sea-green, and behind him stood the ghostly figure of a woman with hair like blood and eyes that matched the transformed color of his own.

Naruto spun around, finding only empty air behind him. When he looked back at the water, his reflection was normal again.

"I'm losing it," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

As he turned to continue home, he nearly collided with a tall man leaning casually against the bridge railing—a man who definitely hadn't been there seconds before. The stranger wore simple traveler's clothes, but something about him radiated authority. On his ankles were what appeared to be winged sandals, though Naruto blinked and they seemed normal again.

"Naruto Uzumaki," the man said, his voice carrying an accent Naruto couldn't place. "You're a hard kid to catch alone."

Naruto stepped back, immediately wary. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

The man smiled. "Names have power, so I'll keep mine to myself for now. As for how I know you..." He reached into a pouch at his belt and withdrew a golden coin that caught the light strangely. "Let's just say we have mutual family."

"Family?" Naruto repeated, something hungry and desperate flashing across his face before suspicion returned. "I don't have any family. Everyone knows that."

"That's what everyone thinks they know," the stranger corrected, flipping the coin expertly through his fingers. "But tomorrow at sunset, you'll learn differently. Come to the top of the Hokage Monument, alone, and you'll meet someone who's been waiting a very long time to see you."

"Why should I trust you?" Naruto demanded, though curiosity burned within him.

The stranger's expression softened with surprising compassion. "Because you've spent your whole life feeling like something was missing. Because water responds to your emotions. Because storms follow your anger. Because sometimes, when you look in mirrors or still water, you see someone else looking back." He flipped the coin to Naruto, who caught it reflexively. "And because when you hold that coin, it feels like coming home."

Naruto stared at the golden drachma in his palm. Strange symbols decorated one side, and on the other was the profile of a bearded man whose stern expression somehow felt familiar. The metal was warm against his skin, and holding it produced a sensation of rightness he couldn't explain.

When he looked up again, the stranger was gone. No footsteps, no swirl of leaves—simply there one moment and gone the next.

Naruto glanced down at the river, half-expecting to see the reflection of the red-haired woman again. Instead, he saw only himself, but the water rippled in a perfect circle around his reflection, responding to the turmoil of his emotions.

"Tomorrow at sunset," he whispered, closing his fingers around the coin.

Across the village, in the forest of death, dimension-spanning energies coalesced into a shimmering portal. From within emerged a woman of breathtaking beauty and terrible power, her crimson hair flowing like living flame, her sea-green eyes scanning the unfamiliar landscape.

"My son," she murmured, her voice causing nearby streams to change course and flow toward her in defiance of gravity and nature. "I have come for you at last."

The countdown had reached zero. The time for revelation had arrived.

And nothing in the ninja world would ever be the same again.

The following day passed in a blur for Naruto. Team Seven's first official mission proved disappointingly mundane—capturing a runaway cat named Tora that belonged to the daimyō's wife. Despite the scratches covering his face and arms, Naruto's mind remained fixated on the mysterious stranger's words and the golden coin now hidden in his pocket.

Family. Someone waiting for me.

The thought both thrilled and terrified him. All his life, he'd dreamed of having relatives—someone who would welcome him home, who would acknowledge his existence, who would love him unconditionally. But years of disappointment had taught him that hope was dangerous.

"Earth to Naruto!" Sakura's annoyed voice broke through his thoughts. "We're being dismissed. Pay attention!"

They stood in the Hokage's office, mission complete. Tora had been returned to the smothering embrace of his corpulent owner, the cat's bulging eyes silently pleading for rescue as the woman crushed it against her jewel-laden bosom.

"Good work, Team Seven," the Third Hokage nodded, though his eyes lingered on Naruto with an emotion the boy couldn't quite identify. "Report tomorrow for your next assignment."

As they left the tower, Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "A word, Naruto."

Sasuke and Sakura continued without them, Sakura chattering at her stoic crush who responded with his customary "Hn."

When they were alone, Kakashi's normally lazy demeanor shifted to something more serious. "Is everything alright? You seemed distracted today."

"I'm fine," Naruto replied automatically, the coin feeling suddenly heavy in his pocket. "Just disappointed about the lame mission."

Kakashi studied him with his single visible eye. "You know, if something unusual happens—or if you start noticing changes about yourself—you can talk to me."

The pointed nature of the comment made Naruto tense. Did Kakashi somehow know about the stranger? About the weird reflections and the way water responded to him?

"I don't know what you're talking about," Naruto deflected, his usual poor lying skills on full display.

"Just remember," Kakashi continued, "appearances can be deceiving. Even about ourselves." He eye-smiled suddenly, his serious tone vanishing. "See you tomorrow, Naruto. Try to stay out of trouble."

As Kakashi vanished in a swirl of leaves, Naruto checked the position of the sun. Late afternoon already—only an hour or so until sunset. His heart began racing.

Should I go? What if it's a trap?

But the coin in his pocket seemed to pulse with warmth, as if encouraging him. And the hunger to know—to finally understand why he'd always felt different, even beyond the Nine-Tails—was too powerful to resist.

Decision made, Naruto headed toward the Hokage Monument, taking a roundabout path to avoid being spotted by anyone who might question his destination.

Unknown to Naruto, multiple sets of eyes tracked his progress through the village.

In the shadows between buildings, an ANBU operative with a cat mask touched their radio. "Subject is moving toward the monument. Orders?"

"Maintain distance," came the Hokage's voice. "Intervene only if his life is endangered."

From the sky, an eagle circled—an eagle with eyes that gleamed with divine intelligence. "The boy approaches," Athena reported to the waiting Olympians. "And his mother is already there."

On the monument itself, atop the Fourth Hokage's stone head, a woman stood gazing out over the village. Her appearance would have stunned any mortal observer—her crimson hair moved like underwater currents despite the absence of wind, her sea-green eyes contained depths like the ocean itself, and her mere presence caused the air to smell of salt spray and storms.

She was both beautiful and terrifying—a goddess in every sense of the word.

"It's been too long," she whispered, and even the stone beneath her feet seemed to respond, minute cracks appearing and filling with moisture that shouldn't have been possible hundreds of feet above ground level.

As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, Naruto climbed the final steps to the top of the monument. His ninja training allowed him to sense the presence waiting for him before he saw her—a presence that radiated power unlike anything he'd encountered before.

Stepping onto the plateau, he froze as his eyes fell upon the red-haired woman.

Time seemed to stop.

Recognition slammed into him with physical force, though he'd never met her before—at least not in this life. Yet something deeper than memory, more primal than thought, told him who stood before him.

"Mother," he whispered, the word escaping unbidden.

The woman smiled, and it was like the sun emerging from storm clouds. "My son," she replied, her voice carrying the sound of waves against shore. "At last."

Naruto took a step forward, then hesitated, doubt and suspicion warring with the inexplicable certainty he felt. "That's impossible. My parents died when the Nine-Tails attacked. The Third told me—"

"The Nine-Tails attack was real," she interrupted gently. "And the parents who died protecting you loved you deeply. But they were not your birth parents, Naruto."

"I don't understand," Naruto's voice trembled, his entire worldview threatening to collapse. "Who are you? Who am I?"

The woman approached slowly, as if afraid he might flee. When she was an arm's length away, she knelt to meet his eyes directly. The resemblance between them was suddenly startling—though his hair was blonde, his eyes held the same unusual depth as hers, shifting between blue and sea-green in the fading light.

"My name is Amphitrite," she said, the syllables carrying power that made the air vibrate. "Queen of the Seas, wife of Poseidon, Lady of Depths." She reached out, her fingers stopping just short of touching his whiskered cheek. "And you, Naruto Uzumaki, are my son—born of divine blood, hidden in this world to protect you from a prophecy that threatened not just your life, but the existence of Olympus itself."

Naruto's mind reeled, unable to process her words. "Divine? Olympus? What are you talking about? I'm just... I'm the kid with the fox demon. That's why everyone hates me."

Compassion flooded Amphitrite's expression. "The fox is only part of your story, child. You are more—so much more." Her eyes grew distant. "Zeus, brother of my husband and king of the gods, feared what your birth might mean. The child of a god and goddess had not been born in millennia. Your power, even as an infant, was extraordinary."

She gestured to the darkening sky, where stars were beginning to appear. "There are many worlds, Naruto, many dimensions. This one—the Elemental Nations—was chosen as your haven because chakra could help disguise your divine energy. The couple you believed were your parents agreed to take you in, to raise you alongside their own child."

"Wait," Naruto interrupted, a terrible understanding dawning. "The Fourth Hokage and his wife... they were going to be my adoptive parents?"

Amphitrite nodded sadly. "Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. When the Nine-Tails attacked, it wasn't coincidence. The barriers between worlds had weakened, allowing forces from Olympus to detect your presence. Zeus sent his agents to strengthen your seal, but they arrived too late to prevent the tragedy."

"Seal? What seal?" Naruto's hand instinctively went to his stomach, where the Nine-Tails was contained.

"You bear two seals, my son," Amphitrite explained. "One placed by Minato Namikaze to contain the Nine-Tailed Fox, and another, more ancient one, placed by Zeus himself to suppress your divine nature until you were ready." She reached toward his forehead, her fingers lightly touching his skin. "It's here, hidden to mortal eyes."

At her touch, Naruto gasped as energy surged through him. His vision blurred, then sharpened to preternatural clarity. Sounds he'd never noticed before became audible—the heartbeats of birds a hundred yards away, the whisper of water flowing through pipes beneath the village. The scent of everything around him intensified—earth, stone, the salt of his own sweat.

"What's happening to me?" he asked, his voice sounding strange to his newly sensitive ears.

"The seal weakens," Amphitrite replied. "It has been since your twelfth birthday. That's why I've come now—to help you through the transition before your power manifests in ways that might endanger you or this village you call home."

Naruto staggered back, overwhelmed. "This is crazy. I'm just Naruto Uzumaki! I'm going to be Hokage someday! I'm not... I can't be..."

"A demigod?" Amphitrite finished gently. "But you are. Half-god, half-mortal was the intention—a fiction created to protect you. But the truth is more complex. You are my son by birth, but your father..."

Her words were interrupted by a tremendous crack of thunder that split the cloudless sky. Lightning flashed directly above them, and the air filled with the scent of ozone so powerfully that Naruto's eyes watered.

Where the lightning struck, a man now stood—tall and muscular, with a neatly trimmed beard and eyes so intensely blue they seemed to glow with inner electricity. He wore armor that shimmered like polished bronze over a tunic of the purest white, and in his hand he held what appeared to be a lightning bolt condensed into solid form.

Amphitrite rose to her feet, her posture tense. "Brother," she acknowledged coolly. "I didn't expect you to make an appearance yourself."

The man—clearly no ordinary human—fixed his electric gaze on Naruto, who felt an instinctive urge to kneel, to prostrate himself before this being who radiated raw power like heat from a furnace.

"So," the man's voice rumbled like distant thunder, "my son finally learns the truth."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Your... son?"

"Zeus," Amphitrite informed Naruto, her tone carefully neutral. "King of Olympus, Lord of the Sky, God of Thunder. And yes, your father."

"But you said—" Naruto looked between them in confusion.

"Complications arose," Zeus stated, dismissing millennia of divine politics and personal history with those two words. "The union between myself and Amphitrite was... unexpected. Your birth, even more so."

"A diplomatic way of phrasing it," Amphitrite remarked with a hint of bitterness. "What my brother-in-law means is that he seduced me during a period when Poseidon and I were... estranged. When you were born bearing both our divine signatures, the Oracle delivered a prophecy that terrified even the king of gods."

Zeus scowled at her frankness. "The boy doesn't need to know everything at once. It will overwhelm him."

"I'm already overwhelmed!" Naruto exclaimed, finding his voice at last. "You're telling me I'm some kind of... god-child? And that you're my parents? And there's a prophecy about me? What about the Nine-Tails? What about everything I've ever been told about who I am?"

His emotions surged, and with them, his power. The ground beneath them trembled. Lightning flickered in the now-gathering clouds above. Most dramatically, water from every fountain in Konoha below suddenly shot upward in perfect columns, defying gravity.

"Control yourself," Zeus commanded, raising his lightning bolt.

"He doesn't know how yet," Amphitrite countered, stepping protectively in front of Naruto. "That's why I came—to teach him."

"The seal was supposed to hold until he was ready," Zeus growled. "But the fox's chakra has been interfering with my work since the beginning."

As the divine parents argued, something strange happened within Naruto. The world seemed to slow around him as he was pulled into a mindscape unlike anything he'd experienced before. He found himself standing in a vast chamber, half of which appeared to be a flooded temple with columns of marble rising from clear blue water, while the other half resembled a throne room cut from a mountain peak, lightning dancing between stone pillars.

Between these contrasting domains stood two massive gates—one containing the familiar form of the Nine-Tailed Fox, who observed the proceedings with malevolent interest, and the other holding something Naruto couldn't quite comprehend, a swirling vortex of golden light that seemed to take different shapes from moment to moment.

"So the little godling finally learns his heritage," the Fox growled, its voice echoing through the mindscape. "I always knew there was something beyond mortal about you, brat."

"What is this place?" Naruto asked, turning in a slow circle to take in the impossible architecture.

"Your mind," the Fox replied, seeming almost amused. "Or rather, the place where all that you are converges. I've been sealed in one corner, but that—" the Fox nodded toward the swirling golden energy behind the second gate, "—has been locked away as well. Your divine essence, suppressed since infancy."

Naruto approached the golden gate cautiously. "If that's... part of me, why was it sealed away?"

"Ask your father," the Fox snorted derisively. "Gods fear what they cannot control, and you, little godling, represent something unprecedented even to them."

The swirling energy pulsed, as if responding to Naruto's proximity. He reached out toward it instinctively, his fingers stopping just short of the bars.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the Fox warned, though its tone suggested it was hoping for exactly the opposite. "Not unless you're ready for everything to change."

Before Naruto could respond, he felt himself being pulled back to reality. The mindscape dissolved around him, and he returned to find Zeus and Amphitrite still arguing, though it seemed only seconds had passed.

"—can't simply leave him here now that he knows!" Amphitrite was saying. "He belongs on Olympus, learning to control his powers, understanding his heritage."

"The prophecy was clear," Zeus countered. "If he takes his place among us before he's ready, destruction follows."

"Um, excuse me," Naruto interrupted, his voice stronger than he expected. "Don't I get a say in any of this?"

Both deities turned to him in surprise, unused to being interrupted by mortals—or even half-mortals.

"What exactly am I?" Naruto pressed. "Not who my parents are, but what am I supposed to be? And what's this prophecy everyone keeps mentioning?"

Zeus and Amphitrite exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them.

Finally, Zeus sighed, a sound like wind through mountain peaks. "You, Naruto Uzumaki, are something that should not exist—a child born of two full deities, with power from both our domains flowing through your veins. The union of sky and sea has always been volatile, but in you, it created... potential beyond reckoning."

"When the Oracle spoke after your birth," Amphitrite continued more gently, "she foresaw that a child of twin divine bloodlines would either save Olympus from its greatest threat or bring about its destruction. The exact words were lost—intentionally obscured—but the essence was clear enough to frighten even the bravest gods."

"So you... got rid of me?" Naruto asked, old pain surfacing.

"We protected you," Amphitrite corrected fiercely. "By sending you to a world where your power could be disguised and gradually developed. Where you could grow without the politics and dangers of Olympus shaping you into a weapon or a threat."

"I wanted you destroyed," Zeus admitted bluntly, ignoring Amphitrite's glare. "But your mother and others argued for your life. The compromise was this—exile until you were ready to control what lies within you."

"And now?" Naruto asked. "What happens now that I know?"

"Now you have a choice," Amphitrite said before Zeus could answer. "You can remain here, in the world you've known, struggling to contain powers that will only grow more difficult to hide. Or you can come with me to Olympus, learn your heritage, master your abilities, and decide your own fate."

"There is a third option," Zeus interjected. "I can strengthen the seal, suppress your divine nature more completely. You could live out your life as a mortal ninja, never troubled by Olympian matters again."

The offer was tempting—to return to the simplicity of yesterday, when his biggest worry was impressing Sakura and competing with Sasuke. But Naruto knew, with bone-deep certainty, that he could never choose ignorance now that truth had been offered.

"If I go with you," he asked Amphitrite, "can I come back? I have people here—precious people. I can't just abandon them."

"The barriers between worlds are not easily crossed," Zeus warned. "But it would be possible, yes, with suitable training and precautions."

Naruto closed his eyes, thinking of Iruka, of the Third Hokage, of his new team. Of his dream to become Hokage himself someday. Could he really leave it all behind?

A new voice joined their conversation—calm, measured, wise.

"Perhaps there is another solution."

All three turned to find the Third Hokage standing a short distance away, his weathered face solemn.

"Lord Third!" Naruto exclaimed. "How long have you—"

"Long enough," the Hokage replied, inclining his head respectfully toward the two deities. "Lady Amphitrite, Lord Zeus. The Hidden Leaf Village has honored its covenant for twelve years, protecting and nurturing your son. I ask that you consider a compromise before taking him from the only home he has known."

Zeus's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You presume much, mortal."

"With respect," the Hokage continued unperturbed, "I have watched over Naruto since infancy. I know his heart, his determination, his dreams. To sever him completely from this world would be cruel—to him and to those who care for him here."

"What do you propose?" Amphitrite asked, curiosity in her sea-green eyes.

The Hokage drew from his robes the small medallion Kakashi had seen earlier—the one with the trident on one side and lightning bolt on the other. "This artifact, left in my care by the Fourth Hokage, was meant to stabilize the connection between Naruto's dual nature and facilitate travel between realms. Perhaps it can serve now as a bridge rather than a barrier."

Zeus extended his hand, and the medallion flew from the Hokage's grasp to hover before the king of gods. "Clever Minato," he murmured. "He modified our work."

"The Fourth Hokage theorized that Naruto would need both worlds eventually," the Hokage explained. "Both to master his powers and to fulfill his potential. He designed this to allow passage between dimensions without weakening the barriers permanently."

Amphitrite studied the artifact with newfound respect. "These mortals continue to surprise me," she admitted. "Their understanding of dimensional mechanics rivals Hecate's in some ways."

Zeus closed his fist around the medallion, divine energy coursing through it. When he opened his hand again, the object had transformed into a pendant on a leather cord. "It will need the blood of both pantheons to activate," he declared. "Divine and chakra energies combined."

"So what does this mean for me?" Naruto asked, struggling to follow the conversation.

The Hokage smiled kindly. "It means, Naruto, that you might be able to live in both worlds—training on Olympus to understand your divine heritage while returning to Konoha to continue your path as a ninja."

Hope bloomed in Naruto's chest. "Really? I could do both?"

"With limitations," Zeus cautioned. "Time flows differently between dimensions. What might be days in one realm could be hours or weeks in another. And the strain of transition would require recovery periods."

"But it could work," Amphitrite insisted, her expression softening as she saw the hope in her son's eyes. "You could be Prince of Olympus and still pursue your dream of becoming Hokage." She glanced at the stone faces carved into the monument they stood upon. "Though I must say, having your face carved into a mountain seems a modest ambition for one of your lineage."

Naruto laughed despite himself—his first moment of genuine joy since this overwhelming revelation began. "One step at a time... Mom."

The word felt strange on his tongue, but Amphitrite's radiant smile in response made any awkwardness worthwhile.

Zeus extended the pendant toward Naruto. "If this is your choice, then take this. When you are ready to begin your training on Olympus, press it between your palms, focus your chakra, and think of the sea and sky together. It will guide you to us."

Naruto accepted the pendant, feeling its power pulse against his palm. "And I can come back?"

"The same method will return you here," Zeus confirmed. "But be warned—each transition weakens the barriers temporarily. Too many crossings in succession could draw unwanted attention from beings in both worlds."

"I understand," Naruto nodded, slipping the cord around his neck. The pendant settled against his chest, warm and somehow comforting.

"There's much more you need to know," Amphitrite said, reluctance clear in her voice at the prospect of leaving him again so soon. "About your powers, about Olympus, about the beings who might sense your awakening and come searching."

"We'll have time," Naruto assured her with confidence that surprised even him. "I'm not going anywhere... well, except between dimensions, I guess."

The Hokage cleared his throat. "I believe we should conclude this meeting before the entire ANBU corps decides to investigate why two powerful unknown entities are on our monument."

Zeus looked vaguely insulted at being referred to as an "entity," but nodded in agreement. "We've lingered too long already. The longer we remain, the more attention we draw to this realm."

Amphitrite stepped forward and, after a moment's hesitation, wrapped Naruto in an embrace that smelled of sea spray and felt like coming home. "Soon, my son," she whispered. "Call when you're ready, and I will be the first to welcome you to Olympus."

Zeus looked distinctly uncomfortable with this display of affection but placed a hand briefly on Naruto's shoulder. "Remember who you are now, Naruto Uzumaki," he said, his voice like distant thunder. "Prince of Olympus, Heir to the Sea and Sky, Child of Prophecy. Your choices will shape the fate of worlds."

With those portentous words, Zeus raised his lightning bolt. Thunder cracked, blinding light flashed, and when Naruto could see again, both deities had vanished, leaving only the scent of ozone and salt water on the evening breeze.

Naruto stood silent for a long moment, his hand clutching the pendant through his jacket, his mind reeling from revelations that had transformed his understanding of himself completely.

"Well," the Hokage said finally, placing a gentle hand on Naruto's shoulder, "it appears your life has become considerably more complicated, Naruto."

Naruto gave a slightly hysterical laugh. "You think? One minute I'm catching lost cats, the next I'm finding out I'm some divine prince with a prophecy hanging over my head." He looked at the old man suspiciously. "You knew, didn't you? This whole time."

The Hokage nodded solemnly. "Not everything, but enough. The Fourth entrusted me with protecting both you and the secret of your origins. It was... a challenging balance to maintain."

"Is that why you let the village treat me like garbage?" Naruto asked, old hurt surfacing despite the overwhelming nature of newer revelations. "Because you knew I wasn't really one of them anyway?"

Sadness filled the Hokage's weathered face. "No, Naruto. The village's treatment of you has been my greatest failure—one I will always regret. I thought distancing myself from you publicly would protect you from those who might connect you to the Fourth. I was wrong, and you suffered for my mistake."

The simple admission took the wind from Naruto's sails. He'd never heard the Hokage acknowledge fault so directly.

"So what happens now?" Naruto asked, his voice small. "Do I tell my team? Do I just pretend everything's normal while I'm secretly, what, a demigod? God-god? Whatever I am?"

"For now, I suggest discretion," the Hokage advised. "Focus on stabilizing your emotions, which seem directly connected to these emerging powers. When you feel ready to visit Olympus, we can arrange a suitable cover for your absence." He peered at Naruto closely. "How do you feel?"

Naruto considered the question seriously. "Honestly? Like I might throw up, laugh hysterically, and cry all at the same time." He looked down at his hands, which appeared unchanged despite everything he'd learned. "But also... like something that never made sense finally does. Like I've been trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing, and suddenly I can see the whole picture."

The Hokage nodded. "A wise perspective. For tonight, rest. Tomorrow will bring challenges enough."

As they descended from the monument, walking side by side in companionable silence, Naruto felt the pendant warm against his skin. With his newly heightened senses, he noticed details he'd overlooked before—how water droplets in the air seemed to pause momentarily as he passed, how plants tilted subtly toward him as if greeting royalty, how the evening breeze carried whispers just beyond comprehension.

The world had changed—or perhaps it was Naruto himself who had changed, awakening to a reality that had always existed beyond his perception.

Either way, as he looked up at the stars twinkling overhead, he couldn't help wondering if Olympus really existed somewhere beyond them, and what awaited him in the realm of gods who were, apparently, his family.

One thing was certain: his path to becoming Hokage had just become considerably more complicated.

And strangely, as the pendant pulsed with gentle warmth against his chest, Naruto found himself excited to discover where that path might lead.

News travels quickly in a ninja village, even when that news is supposed to remain secret. By morning, whispers circulated through Konoha about strange visitors on the Hokage Monument, about unseasonable weather patterns, about fountains that had briefly defied gravity.

None of these rumors mentioned Naruto specifically, but as he made his way to the training ground where Team Seven was scheduled to meet, he felt unusually conspicuous. Had his whiskered cheeks always drawn so many stares? Or was he simply more aware of attention now that he knew the truth?

The pendant hung concealed beneath his orange jumpsuit, but its presence felt obvious to him—a warm weight against his chest, pulsing occasionally like a second heartbeat. Twice during his walk, he passed streams that seemed to leap in their channels as he approached, water responding to his proximity in ways that would have been impossible to explain before yesterday's revelations.

"Focus," he muttered to himself. "Just act normal."

But what was normal for the newly-discovered Prince of Olympus?

When he arrived at the training ground, Sasuke and Sakura were already waiting. Kakashi, predictably, was nowhere to be seen.

"You're late," Sakura admonished, though without her usual vehemence. Something in her expression suggested confusion—as if she were noticing something different about Naruto but couldn't quite identify what had changed.

"Sorry," Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I, uh, overslept."

Sasuke, leaning against a tree with his typical aloof posture, narrowed his eyes slightly. "You look different," he stated bluntly.

Naruto tensed. "Different how?"

"Taller," Sasuke frowned. "And your eyes..."

"My eyes?" Naruto fought the urge to touch his face. Had the divine revelation physically altered him?

"They're changing color," Sakura observed, stepping closer with scientific curiosity. "They've always been blue, but now they're kind of... greenish-blue? And there's something about your face—your whisker marks look deeper."

"Maybe it's just the lighting," Naruto suggested weakly.

Before his teammates could press further, a swirl of leaves announced Kakashi's arrival—only half an hour late, which for him constituted exceptional punctuality.

"Good morning, my cute little genin," he greeted cheerfully, though his visible eye lingered on Naruto with knowing intensity. "I have exciting news. The Hokage has assigned us a C-rank mission!"

"Really?" Sakura's eyes widened. "Already? But we've only done one D-rank mission!"

"Consider it an opportunity to prove yourselves," Kakashi replied. "We leave tomorrow morning to escort a bridge builder back to the Land of Waves."

While Sakura peppered Kakashi with questions about the mission parameters and Sasuke affected disinterest (though his posture had straightened slightly at the prospect of a real mission), Naruto remained uncharacteristically quiet.

Tomorrow. Their first mission outside the village would begin tomorrow. But what about Olympus? What about learning to control his emerging powers? What about the thousand questions burning in his mind about who—and what—he truly was?

Kakashi seemed to read his thoughts. "Naruto, a word before we begin training?"

As Sasuke and Sakura moved toward the practice targets, Kakashi led Naruto to the edge of the training ground.

"The Hokage briefed me about yesterday's... reunion," the jōnin said quietly. "How are you handling it?"

Naruto exhaled, relieved to speak openly with someone who knew. "Honestly? I'm completely freaked out. I mean, yesterday I was just Naruto Uzumaki, the kid with the Nine-Tails. Today I'm... what, exactly? Some kind of divine prince with two godly parents and powers I don't understand?"

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled with sympathy. "Identity crises are part of growing up, though yours is admittedly more dramatic than most."

"You knew, didn't you?" Naruto asked. "That's why you've been watching me so closely."

"I knew something," Kakashi admitted. "Not everything. The Fourth Hokage—Minato-sensei—told me only that you were special beyond the Nine-Tails. That you had a heritage that would eventually emerge." His expression grew serious. "He also warned that when it did, you would need guidance not just in controlling your chakra, but in balancing two very different aspects of yourself."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Naruto asked, genuine desperation in his voice. "I don't even know what I'm capable of now."

"The same way anyone masters anything," Kakashi answered simply. "Practice. Patience. Persistence." He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "And you won't face it alone. The Hokage has authorized me to help you train aspects of your... unique abilities, in private sessions away from the village."

"But what about the mission tomorrow? What if I lose control? What if—"

"One step at a time," Kakashi interrupted calmly. "For now, focus on the basics. Your chakra control has always been erratic—I suspect we now know why—but the principles remain the same. Center yourself. Find balance. The rest will follow."

Naruto wasn't entirely convinced, but Kakashi's matter-of-fact approach was strangely reassuring. At least someone seemed to believe he could handle this impossible situation.

"Now," Kakashi continued, "let's join the others before they get suspicious. Today we're practicing water-walking."

Naruto groaned. "Seriously? Water?"

Kakashi's eye twinkled with what might have been mischief. "Consider it a test of your newfound heritage. If you truly are the son of the sea goddess, this should be instinctive for you."

As it turned out, Kakashi was right—much to Naruto's surprise and his teammates' consternation. While Sasuke and Sakura struggled to maintain chakra control on the surface of the small pond, Naruto found himself standing on water as naturally as on solid ground. It didn't even require conscious focus—the water seemed to support him willingly, even eagerly, small ripples spreading from his feet in perfect concentric circles.

"How are you doing that?" Sakura demanded after falling into the pond for the third time. "You're the worst at chakra control!"

Naruto shrugged, genuinely bewildered by his own success. "I don't know. It just feels... right."

Sasuke, drenched but determined, narrowed his eyes as he observed Naruto's technique. "You're not even focusing chakra to your feet. That's impossible."

Before Naruto could formulate a response, the water beneath him suddenly surged upward, forming a perfect column that lifted him three feet into the air. Startled, he windmilled his arms for balance, and the water responded by creating a small platform beneath his feet.

Three pairs of eyes stared at him in shock—even Kakashi hadn't expected such a dramatic manifestation.

"Uh... tadaa?" Naruto offered weakly, as if this had been an intentional demonstration.

"What kind of jutsu is that?" Sakura asked, amazement temporarily overriding her annoyance at being outdone.

"A family technique," Kakashi interjected smoothly. "It seems Naruto has been practicing in secret. Very impressive, but perhaps save the advanced applications for another time?"

Taking the hint, Naruto focused on making the water return to normal, which it did with surprising obedience. He stepped back onto the regular surface of the pond, where he remained standing without difficulty while his teammates continued their struggles.

The rest of the training session proceeded without further incident, though Naruto caught Sasuke watching him with increased interest throughout the day—the kind of assessing gaze the Uchiha usually reserved for potential threats or unexpected techniques.

By evening, as Team Seven prepared to disband with instructions to pack for tomorrow's journey, Naruto felt exhausted not from physical exertion but from the constant effort of pretending everything was normal.

"Remember, meet at the village gate at seven," Kakashi reminded them. "And pack for at least two weeks."

As Naruto turned to leave, Sasuke fell into step beside him—an unprecedented event that immediately put Naruto on edge.

"That wasn't regular chakra control," Sasuke stated flatly once they were out of earshot of the others. "The water moved differently for you. It responded."

Naruto tensed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't insult my intelligence," Sasuke's tone remained neutral, but his dark eyes were intent. "Something's changed about you since yesterday. Your chakra feels different. You look different. And suddenly you can perform water manipulation that shouldn't be possible for a genin."

"Maybe I'm just that awesome," Naruto tried deflecting with his usual bravado.

Sasuke was unimpressed. "Or maybe there's more to you than anyone knows." A pause. "Including me."

The implication hung between them—Sasuke Uchiha, last of his clan and top rookie, admitting there might be something special about the dead-last Naruto that he didn't understand. It was as close to respect as Sasuke had ever come.

"Look," Naruto sighed, "I'm still figuring some stuff out, okay? But it doesn't change anything—I'm still your teammate, still the same Naruto."

"Are you?" Sasuke challenged, but without his usual derision. "Because the Naruto I knew yesterday couldn't stand on water without concentrating and definitely couldn't make it form pillars with a thought."

Before Naruto could respond, a distant rumble of thunder drew both boys' attention skyward. Storm clouds were gathering over Konoha despite the weather forecast predicting clear skies.

"See you tomorrow," Sasuke said abruptly, turning down a side street that led toward the Uchiha compound. "Try not to bring a hurricane to our mission."

As the Uchiha disappeared from view, Naruto was left with the unsettling realization that his powers were becoming too noticeable to hide—not just from his teammates, but from anyone with eyes to see and the intelligence to connect unusual phenomena to his presence.

The pendant against his chest pulsed warmly, as if responding to his troubled thoughts. Naruto clutched it through his jacket, wondering if he should use it now—escape to Olympus before the mission, learn at least the basics of controlling these emerging abilities.

But no. He had made a commitment to Team Seven, to being a ninja of the Hidden Leaf. Running away before their first real mission would be cowardice, regardless of the reason.

"I can handle this," he told himself firmly. "One mission. Then I'll figure out the god stuff."

The sky rumbled again, as if expressing doubt.

Naruto looked up at the gathering clouds. "Cut it out," he muttered, feeling slightly ridiculous talking to the weather. "You're going to make people suspicious."

To his astonishment, the clouds began to disperse, the unnatural storm dissipating as quickly as it had formed.

"No way," he whispered, looking down at his hands. Had he done that? Had his will actually affected the weather?

The implications were both thrilling and terrifying. If his emotions could influence storms, what might happen during the stress of combat? During a nightmare? During a moment of overwhelming anger or fear?

Lost in these troubling thoughts, Naruto didn't notice the figure watching him from the shadows of a nearby alley—a figure with pale eyes that could see chakra pathways and the strange new energy now flowing alongside them in Naruto's system.

Hinata Hyūga pressed herself against the wall, heart racing with more than her usual nervousness around her secret crush. Her Byakugan had activated instinctively when she spotted Naruto, a habit born from years of admiring him from afar. But what she saw today was unlike anything her clan's kekkei genkai had revealed before.

Naruto's chakra had always been unusual—larger reserves than anyone she'd observed, with a strange secondary system that her father had once forbidden her from discussing. But now there was something else—threads of golden energy intertwined with his blue chakra, pulsing with power unlike anything in Hyūga records.

And around his neck, visible even through his jacket to her enhanced vision, hung an object that blazed like a miniature sun.

"Naruto-kun," she whispered, fingers pressed to her lips. "What's happening to you?"

As if he'd heard her, Naruto suddenly turned toward her hiding place. Hinata froze, deactivating her Byakugan and shrinking further into the shadows. For a moment, it seemed he would investigate—then his stomach growled audibly, and with a shrug, he continued toward Ichiraku Ramen instead.

Hinata remained motionless until he was out of sight, her mind racing with questions she dared not ask aloud.

Something profound had changed about Naruto Uzumaki—something beyond ordinary ninja development. And whatever it was, Hinata's eyes told her it was only beginning to manifest.

Across the village, in the Hokage Tower, the Third faced a different kind of scrutiny.

"With all due respect, Lord Hokage," Danzō Shimura's voice carried its usual undercurrent of challenge beneath a veneer of deference, "strange energies were detected at the monument yesterday. ANBU reports described weather anomalies and unusual chakra signatures. Yet you claim there's nothing to investigate?"

The Third Hokage puffed calmly on his pipe, his weathered face betraying nothing. "The ANBU answered directly to me, Danzō. If there had been a security concern, appropriate measures would have been taken."

"And the boy?" Danzō pressed. "Witnesses placed Uzumaki at the scene. Given what he contains, any unusual behavior warrants scrutiny."

"Naruto is under close observation by his jōnin instructor," the Hokage replied evenly. "Kakashi reports nothing concerning."

Danzō's visible eye narrowed. "Nothing concerning? The jinchūriki suddenly manifests water manipulation without training, and that doesn't concern you?"

So Root had been watching as well. The Hokage had expected as much, but the confirmation was troubling.

"Naruto Uzumaki's development is proceeding exactly as anticipated," the Hokage stated with finality. "His unique chakra sometimes manifests in unexpected ways, but I assure you, everything is under control."

"For the village's sake, I hope you're right," Danzō responded, though his tone suggested otherwise. "The weapon must remain stable."

"Naruto is a child and a shinobi of the Leaf," the Hokage corrected sharply, "not a weapon."

Danzō's expression remained impassive. "All jinchūriki are weapons, Hiruzen. Pretending otherwise is dangerous sentimentality." He turned to leave, his cane tapping against the floor. "If you won't investigate properly, perhaps others should."

"That would be inadvisable," the Hokage warned, steel entering his normally gentle voice. "Extremely inadvisable."

A tense silence stretched between the old rivals before Danzō inclined his head marginally. "As you wish, Lord Hokage. For now."

After the door closed behind his unwelcome visitor, the Third released a weary sigh. Complications were mounting faster than anticipated. Perhaps sending Naruto on a mission outside the village was precisely what was needed—distance from prying eyes like Danzō's, time for the boy to adjust to his new reality without the constant scrutiny of a ninja village.

Or perhaps it was simply exchanging one set of risks for another.

Either way, the wheels were in motion. Team Seven would depart tomorrow, and with them, the newly-discovered Prince of Olympus would face his first test in a world that had just become infinitely more complex.

The Hokage could only hope that Naruto's legendary unpredictability would prove an asset rather than a liability in the days to come.

And that the gods who had reclaimed their son would grant him the space to find his own path.

Dawn broke over Konoha as Team Seven gathered at the village gate. Tazuna, the bridge builder they were assigned to escort, sized up his protection detail with visible skepticism.

"They're all just kids!" he complained, taking a swig from a flask that definitely didn't contain water. "Especially the shortest one with the stupid face. Are you really a ninja? You look like you just fell out of diapers."

"Who's the shortest with the stupid face?!" Naruto demanded, starting forward until Kakashi's hand on his shoulder restrained him.

"I assure you, Tazuna-san, despite appearances, these are capable shinobi," Kakashi said smoothly. "And I'm a jōnin, an elite ninja. You're in good hands."

Naruto fumed silently, but his anger faded as excitement took over. This was his first time leaving the village—his first real mission—and divine complications or not, he intended to make the most of it.

"Let's go!" he cheered, pumping his fist in the air. "Road to the Land of Waves, here we come!"

As they passed through the massive gates, Naruto felt a strange sensation—like crossing an invisible boundary. The pendant around his neck grew momentarily warm, then cool again. Reflexively, his hand went to his chest.

"Everything alright?" Kakashi asked quietly, falling into step beside him while Sakura pestered Tazuna with questions about his homeland and Sasuke walked stoically ahead.

"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "Just felt weird for a second. Like... I don't know, like I was moving between places."

"The village has protective barriers," Kakashi explained. "Given your... unique situation, you might be more sensitive to them than most."

It made sense. If he truly was part divine, perhaps regular ninja barriers felt different to him now.

The journey progressed peacefully through the morning. Sakura demonstrated her textbook knowledge by explaining to Tazuna the differences between the Five Great Nations and their hidden villages. Naruto half-listened, more interested in examining every tree, rock, and creature they passed with newfound awareness.

His senses had definitely sharpened since meeting his divine parents. Scents were richer, colors more vibrant, sounds clearer. He could hear a stream gurgling nearly half a mile away. He could smell the salt on the breeze long before they should be near enough to the ocean to detect it.

Most concerning, he could feel water everywhere—in the air, in plants, in the bodies of his companions. It called to him, like millions of tiny voices whispering just below the threshold of comprehension.

"Focus on the mission," he reminded himself. "Control."

But control became increasingly difficult as they approached a puddle in the middle of the road—a puddle that shouldn't exist on a clear day when it hadn't rained for weeks.

Naruto's steps slowed. The water was... wrong. It didn't call to him like natural water. Instead, it felt muted, masked somehow.

"Kakashi-sensei," he started to say, but a subtle headshake from the jōnin silenced him.

They passed the puddle. Naruto felt the water shift behind them, felt it rise and reshape into human form with such clarity that he didn't need to turn to know what was happening.

"Behind us!" he shouted, spinning around just as two ninja erupted from what had been the suspicious puddle moments before.

Metal chains whipped out, wrapping around Kakashi before the jōnin could seemingly react. With a vicious yank, the attackers appeared to tear their teacher to shreds.

"One down," one of the masked ninja growled.

"Four to go," the other finished, their chain rattling as they charged toward the genin and their client.

"Protect Tazuna!" Sasuke shouted, jumping into action with shuriken flying from his hands.

Sakura placed herself directly in front of the bridge builder, kunai drawn.

But Naruto stood rooted in place, something unexpected happening within him. Rage surged at the apparent death of his sensei, and with it came power—raw, elemental power that responded to his emotions rather than chakra manipulation.

The puddle the attackers had emerged from suddenly rose behind them, water twisting into tentacle-like forms that wrapped around their ankles.

"What the—?" one of the attackers exclaimed, trying to pull free from the inexplicable restraint.

Naruto hadn't consciously commanded the water to act—it had simply responded to his will, to his need to stop these threats to his teammates. But now that it had begun, he found he could direct it.

With a gesture that felt as natural as breathing, he forced the water to expand, climbing higher up the enemy ninjas' legs, immobilizing them further.

Sasuke, already in motion with his own attack, stared in momentary shock before his training reasserted itself. Taking advantage of the enemies' restricted movement, he delivered precise kicks that knocked their poisoned gauntlets aside.

"Behind you, Naruto!" Sakura shouted as one of the attackers managed to break an arm free, aiming a clawed gauntlet dripping with poison directly at Naruto's unprotected back.

Time seemed to slow. Naruto felt rather than saw the attack coming. The water responded again, this time forming a shield of ice that materialized between him and the poisoned claws.

The attacker's gauntlet shattered against the unexpected barrier, fragments of metal scattering across the road.

"Impossible," the ninja gasped. "That's a kekkei genkai—"

Before he could finish, a blur of movement ended the confrontation as Kakashi reappeared, subduing both attackers with effortless precision.

"Yo," the jōnin greeted casually, as if he hadn't been apparently dismembered minutes earlier. "Sorry for not helping immediately. I needed to see who their target was."

"You're alive!" Sakura exclaimed, relief evident in her voice.

"Substitution jutsu," Sasuke recognized, glancing at the logs that had been shredded in Kakashi's place.

Naruto remained motionless, staring at his hands and then at the water that had responded to his will—water that was now placidly returning to puddle form as if nothing unusual had occurred.

"Good work, all of you," Kakashi praised, though his eye lingered on Naruto with a mixture of concern and interest. "Especially you, Naruto. Quick thinking with that... water jutsu."

It wasn't a jutsu, and they both knew it. Naruto hadn't used hand signs, hadn't molded chakra in the traditional sense. The water had simply obeyed his will—and had even transformed into ice, a skill usually reserved for those with specific kekkei genkai.

"Thanks," Naruto managed, dropping his hands to his sides.

While Kakashi interrogated the captured ninjas—the Demon Brothers of Kirigakure, missing-nin working for someone targeting Tazuna—Sasuke approached Naruto.

"That wasn't any water jutsu I've ever seen," the Uchiha stated quietly. "No hand signs. No visible chakra use." His dark eyes narrowed. "And the ice formation... that's the Hyōton kekkei genkai, supposedly exclusive to the Yuki clan of Kirigakure."

Naruto swallowed nervously. "I've been... practicing some stuff on my own."

"Bullshit," Sasuke replied bluntly. "Something's changed about you. I want to know what."

Before Naruto could formulate a response, Kakashi rejoined the group, effectively ending the uncomfortable conversation.

"Tazuna-san," the jōnin addressed the bridge builder, who had the decency to look ashamed, "it seems you haven't been entirely forthcoming about the nature of this mission. These are chunin-level missing-nin, specifically targeting you. That makes this at least a B-rank mission, possibly higher."

The bridge builder launched into an explanation about Gatō, a shipping magnate who had taken over the Land of Waves, about poverty and oppression, about a bridge that represented hope for an entire nation. His sob story was effective—especially on Naruto, whose compassion had always outweighed his caution.

"I don't care if this is an A-rank mission!" Naruto declared. "We can't abandon these people! That's not my ninja way!"

Kakashi sighed, clearly having anticipated this reaction. "This is beyond the scope of what genin should face," he warned. "But... if you're all in agreement, we can continue."

To Naruto's surprise, Sasuke nodded immediately. "I'm not turning back now."

"Where Sasuke-kun goes, I go," Sakura added, though she looked considerably less confident about the decision.

"Very well," Kakashi conceded. "But from now on, we proceed with the understanding that we're facing jōnin-level threats. Stay alert, stay together, and follow my lead."

As they resumed their journey, Naruto felt the pendant against his chest pulse with warmth, almost like a heartbeat. The Nine-Tails stirred within him as well, its presence more noticeable than usual.

"Interesting display, godling," the Fox's voice echoed in his mind. "The water obeys you without training. Imagine what you might command with actual knowledge of your abilities."

Naruto nearly stumbled. The Nine-Tails had never initiated communication before.

"Oh, don't act so surprised," the Fox continued, amusement coloring its normally malevolent tone. "Your awakening has... shifted things between us. The seal your divine father placed interacts with the Fourth's work in ways even they didn't anticipate."

What do you want? Naruto responded internally, careful to maintain a neutral expression for his companions' benefit.

"For now? Entertainment," the Fox answered. "It's not every day one gets to witness the emergence of a divine prince. Especially one so woefully unprepared for what comes next."

And what comes next? Naruto couldn't help asking.

The Fox's chuckle reverberated through his mindscape. "Trial by fire... or in your case, trial by water. The true test of heritage always comes in moments of greatest danger." A pause, then more ominously, "And danger approaches swiftly, princeling. Can you feel it?"

Naruto could indeed feel something—a heaviness in the air, a tension in the natural world around them. Ahead, mist was gathering unnaturally thick over the path, obscuring the road beyond.

"Stay sharp," Kakashi instructed, sensing the change as well. "We're being watched."

As they entered the mist, visibility reduced to mere feet ahead. Naruto's enhanced senses detected movement—something large passing through undergrowth to their left, circling around.

The sound came suddenly—a whirring, spinning noise cutting through the air directly toward them.

"GET DOWN!" Kakashi shouted.

Everyone dropped instantly, Sasuke pulling Tazuna down with him, as a massive sword spun horizontally over their heads, embedding itself in a tree trunk with a thunderous impact.

Before they could recover, a figure appeared standing on the sword's handle—a tall, muscular man with bandages covering the lower half of his face and a slashed Kirigakure headband.

"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi identified, his voice tense. "Demon of the Hidden Mist."

"Kakashi of the Sharingan," the newcomer replied, his voice deadly calm. "Hand over the old man, and I might let you and the children live."

Kakashi reached up and adjusted his headband, revealing his left eye—an eye with a red iris and three tomoe marks circling the pupil. "Protect Tazuna," he ordered his team. "This one's on a different level."

As the two jōnin prepared to clash, Naruto felt something stir within him—power responding to threat, to the need to protect. The pendant against his chest grew hot enough to be uncomfortable.

"Here it comes," the Nine-Tails whispered in his mind, anticipation evident in its voice. "Your first real test as Prince of Olympus. Let's see if you're worthy of your heritage, Naruto Uzumaki."

The mist thickened further, but strangely, Naruto found he could see through it clearly—as if the water droplets suspended in air were extensions of his own senses. And what he saw chilled him more than Zabuza's killing intent.

This was no ordinary assassin. This was a master of water manipulation, a ninja whose very essence resonated with one of Naruto's inherited domains. And he was about to witness firsthand what mastery of that element truly meant.

The clash began, and with it, Naruto's true awakening.

"Eight points," Zabuza's voice drifted through the mist, seeming to come from everywhere at once. "Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Which vital spot should I strike first?"

Killing intent radiated from the hidden assassin with such intensity that Sasuke—the usually unflappable Uchiha—began to tremble, kunai raised toward his own throat as paralyzing fear overwhelmed his senses.

"Sasuke," Kakashi called without turning, his voice steady despite the tension. "Don't worry. I'll protect you all with my life." The jōnin's visible eye crinkled in what might have been a reassuring smile. "I won't allow my comrades to die."

The words broke through Sasuke's terror-induced trance, but only partially relieved the oppressive atmosphere.

"We'll see about that," Zabuza responded, suddenly appearing directly in the center of their defensive formation, between the genin and Tazuna. His massive sword was already in motion, slicing toward the bridge builder.

"Too late," the assassin grinned beneath his bandages.

Kakashi moved with incredible speed, intercepting the blow and driving a kunai into Zabuza's midsection—only for the attacker to dissolve into water.

"A water clone!" Sakura gasped.

"Behind you, sensei!" Naruto shouted as the real Zabuza materialized, sword already swinging in a deadly arc that bisected Kakashi cleanly—

—and Kakashi also dissolved into water.

"He copied my Water Clone Jutsu," Zabuza realized, genuine surprise evident in his voice. "Even through this mist..."

Cold steel pressed against Zabuza's throat as Kakashi appeared behind him. "It's over," the Leaf jōnin stated.

But Zabuza only chuckled. "You don't understand, Kakashi. You can't defeat me with mere mimicry." He dissolved again, revealing another water clone, as the real Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi. "I am a master of the Silent Killing technique. And water..."

His hands flashed through seals too fast for the genin to track.

"...is my domain."

The nearby lake erupted, water rising in a massive column that engulfed Kakashi before he could escape. The liquid sphere solidified, trapping the jōnin in a floating prison.

"Water Prison Jutsu," Zabuza announced with grim satisfaction. "Inescapable once captured. Now I'll finish you off later, after I've eliminated these children playing at being ninja."

With his free hand—the other maintaining contact with the water prison—Zabuza formed a single seal. "Water Clone Jutsu."

Another Zabuza formed from the lake water, advancing menacingly toward the genin and their client.

"Run!" Kakashi ordered from within his liquid prison. "His water clone can't go far from his real body. Take Tazuna and escape!"

The clone Zabuza laughed. "Trying to play the hero, Kakashi? It won't save them." He directed his attention to the three genin. "Wearing those headbands and calling yourselves ninja... a real ninja is someone who has faced death numerous times and survived. Only when you're listed in my bingo book can you earn the title 'ninja.'"

The mist thickened further as the clone vanished from sight, only to reappear directly in front of Naruto, delivering a brutal kick that sent the boy flying backward, his headband torn from his forehead in the process.

"Just brats," Zabuza's clone scoffed, stepping on the fallen headband.

Naruto lay where he had landed, wind knocked from his lungs, ears ringing from the impact. But deeper than the physical pain was the humiliation. Once again, he was helpless. Once again, someone precious to him was in danger. Once again, he wasn't strong enough.

"Are you just going to lie there, princeling?" the Nine-Tails' voice echoed in his mind. "The son of Zeus and Amphitrite, defeated by a mortal who merely borrows the power of water?"

The taunt stung, but it also ignited something in Naruto—a spark of defiance that rapidly grew into a flame of determination.

I am NOT helpless, he thought fiercely. Not anymore.

The pendant against his chest burned hot enough to sear skin, though Naruto felt no pain from it—only power, raw and eager, responding to his need.

As Zabuza's clone turned toward Sasuke, clearly intending to eliminate the genin one by one, Naruto rose to his feet. Water from a nearby puddle began to swirl around him, responding to his emotions.

"Hey, you eyebrowless freak," Naruto called, his voice carrying unexpected depth and resonance. "I've got a new entry for your bingo book. The name's Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage and—" he hesitated only a fraction of a second, "—Prince of the Seas."

Both Zabuza's clone and the real Zabuza turned toward him, identical expressions of surprise visible in their eyes.

"Prince of what?" the clone scoffed, but there was uncertainty beneath the derision—because something was happening to Naruto, something visible even through the mist.

The puddle water surrounding him had risen to form a swirling ring at his feet. His whisker marks had deepened, his canines sharpened. Most dramatically, his eyes had shifted fully from blue to sea-green, glowing with internal light that cut through the mist like searchlights.

"Interesting," the real Zabuza remarked from where he maintained the water prison. "The brat has a kekkei genkai? No matter. Kill him first," he ordered his clone.

The water clone charged, massive sword raised for a killing blow—

—only for Naruto to raise his hand, palm outward in a halting gesture.

The clone froze mid-stride, sword still raised, confusion evident in its eyes as it found itself unable to advance.

"Water is your domain?" Naruto asked, his voice still carrying that strange resonance. "Let's test that theory."

With a gesture that felt as natural as breathing, Naruto closed his fist.

The water clone's eyes widened in shock moments before its entire form destabilized, water molecules separating and recombining into a perfect sphere that hovered before Naruto like an obedient pet.

Everyone stared in stunned silence—Sasuke and Sakura with disbelief, Kakashi with concern mixed with pride, the real Zabuza with growing alarm.

"Impossible," the assassin growled. "Only I can control my water clones!"

In answer, Naruto made another gesture, and the hovering sphere of water shot forward with the speed and force of a cannonball, striking Zabuza directly in the chest. The impact broke his concentration and connection to the water prison, freeing Kakashi.

"Naruto," Kakashi gasped as he leapt clear of the collapsing prison, "stand down. I'll handle this."

But Naruto wasn't listening. Something had awakened fully within him—something beyond the Nine-Tails, beyond chakra itself. He could feel every water molecule within a hundred-meter radius, could sense their movements, their connections, their potential. The lake behind Zabuza called to him like a living entity awaiting command.

Zabuza recovered quickly from the surprise attack, hands already forming seals. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

A massive dragon formed from the lake, roaring as it lunged toward Naruto and his teammates. Kakashi immediately began the same sequence of seals, intent on countering with an identical technique.

Neither completed their jutsu.

Naruto stepped forward, both hands extended now. His eyes blazed like green stars as he spoke a single word—not a technique name, but a command in a language none present recognized but all instinctively understood:

"HALT."

The water dragon froze in mid-air, its roaring maw inches from Naruto's outstretched hands.

"RETURN," Naruto continued in that same ancient tongue.

The dragon's form rippled, then reversed direction, speeding back toward its creator with redoubled force. Zabuza barely managed to dodge, disbelief written across what was visible of his face.

"What are you?" he demanded.

Thunder rumbled overhead, though the sky had been clear minutes before. The pendant at Naruto's chest now glowed visibly through his jacket, golden light emanating from beneath the fabric.

"I told you," Naruto replied, his voice still carrying that otherworldly resonance. "I'm the Prince of the Seas." His eyes narrowed. "And you're trespassing in my territory."

With a sweeping gesture, the entire lake surface responded—rising in a massive wave that towered thirty feet high before crashing down toward Zabuza. The missing-nin's hands blurred through seals, attempting to counter or redirect the deluge, but his chakra-based manipulations proved futile against Naruto's divine command.

The wave struck with devastating force, sweeping Zabuza into the forest beyond. Trees splintered under the impact, terrain reshaped by the sheer volume of water obeying Naruto's will.

As suddenly as it had manifested, the power subsided. Naruto's eyes faded back to their normal blue, his posture sagging as exhaustion hit him like a physical blow. The pendant's glow dimmed beneath his jacket.

"Naruto!" Sakura rushed to his side as he staggered, catching him before he could collapse entirely. "What was that? How did you—"

"Not now," Kakashi interrupted, moving swiftly toward where Zabuza had been deposited by the unnatural wave. "Stay with Tazuna. This might not be over."

Indeed, as Kakashi approached the prone form of Zabuza, senbon needles suddenly pierced the assassin's neck with surgical precision. A masked figure appeared on a nearby branch—a hunter-nin from Kirigakure, based on the mask design.

"Thank you for your assistance," the masked ninja stated in a soft voice. "I've been tracking Zabuza for weeks."

While Kakashi verified Zabuza's apparent death and discussed protocol with the hunter-nin, Naruto's teammates stared at him with expressions ranging from awe to suspicion.

"What the hell was that, dobe?" Sasuke demanded in a harsh whisper. "That wasn't chakra. That wasn't any jutsu I've ever seen. You commanded water like—" he struggled for a comparison, "—like it was alive and listening to you."

"Naruto," Sakura's voice was gentler but no less insistent, "your eyes changed color. And something was glowing under your jacket."

Naruto looked helplessly toward Kakashi, who had rejoined them after the hunter-nin departed with Zabuza's body. The jōnin's expression was unreadable.

"We need to get Tazuna-san home," Kakashi stated, effectively postponing the interrogation. "And I believe some explanations are in order, but they can wait until we're safe."

Relief washed over Naruto, though he knew it was temporary. The questions would come, and soon he would have to share at least some version of the truth with his teammates.

As they resumed their journey toward Tazuna's house, Naruto walked slightly apart from the others, lost in thought. The demonstration of power had been exhilarating, but also frightening in its intensity. He hadn't consciously commanded the water—it had responded to his emotions, his intent, bypassing the mental processes normally required for jutsu.

"Impressive display, princeling," the Nine-Tails commented, its voice unusually thoughtful. "Though still crude and unrefined. Mere instinct rather than true mastery."

I didn't ask for your review, Naruto responded mentally.

"No, but you'll need my cooperation more than ever now," the Fox replied. "Your divine powers emerge, but they strain this mortal vessel. I've been healing the damage, containing the overflow. Without me, you might have burned out completely with that little tantrum."

Naruto nearly stumbled. Damage? What damage?

The Fox's chuckle held little humor. "Divine energy coursing through human chakra pathways is like lightning through a garden hose. Something has to give." A pause. "The seal your father placed was meant to regulate this process, allow your body to adapt gradually. But you've accelerated things considerably today."

I didn't exactly have a choice, Naruto defended. Zabuza would have killed everyone.

"True enough," the Fox conceded. "But now the genie is out of the bottle, as these mortals say. Your little display will attract attention—not just from your teammates, but from beings far more dangerous. Beings who can sense divine power across dimensions."

A chill ran down Naruto's spine despite the warm coastal air. What beings?

"You'll find out soon enough," the Nine-Tails predicted ominously. "Hopefully not before you've learned to control what you've awakened."

The conversation ended as they reached Tazuna's modest home at the edge of a small village. The bridge builder's daughter, Tsunami, welcomed them with relieved tears and grateful hospitality, setting up rooms for the ninja who had protected her father.

Kakashi, who had been growing progressively more exhausted since the battle, collapsed shortly after arrival—a consequence, he explained weakly, of overusing his Sharingan. He would need at least a week to recover fully.

That evening, after Tsunami had prepared a simple but hearty meal, Sasuke cornered Naruto on the small balcony overlooking the village.

"Time for answers," the Uchiha stated flatly. "What happened back there?"

Naruto considered deflection, considered lying, but the intensity in Sasuke's gaze told him neither would be accepted.

"It's complicated," he began.

"Simplify it," Sasuke countered.

Naruto sighed, looking out over the water visible in the distance. "What do you know about gods, Sasuke?"

The Uchiha's eyes narrowed. "Gods? What does mythology have to do with you controlling water without hand signs?"

"Everything," Naruto replied simply. "Because apparently, I'm not just Naruto Uzumaki, container of the Nine-Tailed Fox. I'm also the son of some pretty powerful deities from another dimension."

He expected disbelief, mockery, or dismissal. Instead, Sasuke studied him with calculating intensity.

"The chakra I sensed from you wasn't chakra at all, was it?" the Uchiha finally asked. "It was something else entirely."

Naruto nodded slowly. "Divine energy, I guess you could call it. I only found out a couple days ago myself, when my birth parents showed up on the Hokage Monument."

"Your birth parents," Sasuke repeated. "Gods from another dimension."

"Zeus and Amphitrite," Naruto confirmed, the names still feeling strange on his tongue. "King of Olympus and Queen of the Seas, according to them. They sent me here as a baby because of some prophecy that freaked them out."

To Naruto's surprise, Sasuke didn't immediately reject this fantastical explanation. Instead, the Uchiha leaned against the balcony railing, thoughtful.

"The Sharingan can see chakra," he said after a moment. "Different types have different colors, different... textures. What came from you during that fight wasn't like anything I've ever heard described in Uchiha records." His dark eyes fixed on Naruto. "It was golden, and it moved like it was alive."

"You believe me?" Naruto asked, genuinely shocked.

Sasuke's expression remained impassive. "I believe something impossible happened today. Your explanation is no more impossible than what I witnessed with my own eyes." He paused. "Does Kakashi know?"

"Yeah. And the Third Hokage. They've apparently known since I was a baby." Naruto's voice held a trace of bitterness at having been kept in the dark for so long.

"And the Fox? How does that fit with... this?"

Naruto touched his stomach reflexively. "Separate issue, apparently. When I was brought to this world as a baby, the Fourth Hokage and his wife were supposed to adopt me. Then the Nine-Tails attack happened, and they sealed it inside me alongside the seal that was already hiding my 'divine nature' or whatever."

"Two seals," Sasuke murmured. "No wonder your chakra control has always been terrible."

"Hey!" Naruto protested automatically.

The corner of Sasuke's mouth twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile before his expression grew serious again. "This changes things, you know. If what you're saying is true, you have power most shinobi can only dream about."

Something in his tone made Naruto uneasy—a hunger, an intensity that went beyond mere curiosity.