Chapter 1: 1. Waking Up
**Author's Note:**
This is my first time writing. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please leave comments to let me know what you think and share advice on how to continue the plot.
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A otaku sat alone in his dimly lit room, the faint glow of his laptop illuminating his face as the latest episode of *Boruto* played.
**Otaku's POV:**
"This is disappointing. I know Boruto is the MC, but it just feels wrong seeing Naruto and Sasuke being treated like dirt by Isshiki."
He sighed deeply, his frustration evident.
"And the way the anime portrays Naruto as useless without Kurama... I get that he started relying on Kurama a lot during the Fourth Great Ninja War, but I still feel Naruto could have done so much better."
He glanced at the clock—it was 2 a.m. Too late for complaints, yet too early to sleep without overthinking. As he shuffled toward his bed, a thought lingered.
"Naruto never really reached his full potential. With his *cheats,* he could've been far stronger, but Kishimoto-sensei just had to focus on the *Talk no Jutsu* too much."
He exhaled heavily, lying down and letting the exhaustion take over.
"What's the point of wondering? What's done is done," he muttered before drifting off into slumber.
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**Kakashi's POV:**
"Naruto, I'll be training Sasuke for the Chunin Exams," Kakashi said, his tone calm but firm. He waited for Naruto to absorb the information before continuing, "Sasuke is going to fight Gaara, which is very dangerous. He'll need my full attention. Don't worry, though—I've arranged for another tutor for you. He's a Jonin, just like me, and can help you work on what you're lacking."
Kakashi failed to notice the complicated emotions flitting across Naruto's face, mistaking it for shock or disbelief.
"Don't worry, Naruto. He's a qualified ninja and an experienced teacher. If you train diligently under his guidance, I'm sure you'll win against Neji."
With that, Kakashi concluded his explanation, only to see Naruto turn and dash out of the hospital without a word. Kakashi sighed.
"I think it's best to give him time to process this. He'll get over it soon."
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**Naruto's POV:**
"What the… Wait. How is this even possible? No way. I just… fall asleep? Is this a dream?"
The guy, now Naruto, slapped his cheeks hard, earning puzzled stares from onlookers. Realizing the truth, his eyes lit up with a fiery determination.
"Let's see... Kakashi just ditched me to train Sasuke. That means I'm in the one-month time gap before the Chunin Exams. I don't have Naruto's memories, but I do have the memories from his shadow clones. I can treat that as my *cheat* ability, right? I know Jiraiya is going to find me to train, also as much as I like Kakashi, he was never a good sensei for Naruto. Sure, his and Sasuke's fighting styles matched, but that didn't gave him the right to ditch Naruto. The only thing Kakashi ever taught him was *tree walking.* Everything else came from Jiraiya."
He clenched his fists, resolute.
"I may be an idiot for doing this, but I've decided. I'm an otaku who knows the future developments of this world and has the memories from countless other series. Jiraiya is a great teacher, but I'll take charge of my own training. I know this body's true potential, and I'll make sure I reaches it."
Strolling through the village, he admired the simple yet effective architecture. However, the glares and whispers of the villagers quickly soured his mood.
"These people still hate Naruto for what happened 12 years ago. I mean, I don't blame them. They're just low-IQ extras believing the rumors Danzo probably spread."
Deciding not to waste time on the "extras," Naruto thought,
"This place is much larger than it seemed in the anime. It's even bigger than any city back on Earth. I'll need days to familiarize myself with everything important at this pace."
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
"Why not use shadow clones?"
Clumsily performing the hand signs, he created 100 clones.
"You guys, gather intel on the important locations in the village. Find all the places highlighted in the series. Also, check if there's a library for ninja arts."
With that, the clones dispersed to fulfill their tasks.
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As night fell, Naruto felt his stomach grumble.
"I should grab a bite at Ichiraku Ramen. I've been dying to taste the food of the legendary 'Sage Of Six Bowls.'"
Unbeknownst to him, a certain white-haired, perverted Sannin was watching from the shadows.
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**Jiraiya's POV:**
"He's… different from what I was told. His demeanor doesn't match the reports. Is this because Kakashi rejected him as a student? I did notice his clones scouting the academy and library. Could he be planning to train on his own? Hmph. Interesting. I'll let him be for now. Let's see how far he can go without my interference."
With a smirk, Jiraiya vanished.
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**Naruto's POV:**
As Naruto returned to his apartment, he reflected on his dinner.
"The ramen tasted just like any other ramen back on Earth. It wasn't the food Naruto cherished—it was the emotions attached to it. Ichiraku was one of the first people to treat him like a human, even risking his business to feed the 'village demon.'"
With a heavy heart and an equally heavy body, Naruto collapsed onto his lumpy bed, too mentally exhausted to comment on the apartment's poor condition. Within moments, he was fast asleep.
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Weekly Power Status
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