Konoha buzzed with Tsunade's arrival, villagers whispering about the new Hokage. Naruto stood in the crowd, his grin wide as he cheered, "Tsunade's gonna make this place awesome!" But his heart was cold. Konoha wasn't his home—it was a liar's den, hiding why the Fourth sealed the Nine-Tails in him, why the village branded him a demon. He didn't care about its future; he cared about power, enough to roam the world, to chase answers beyond its walls. Tsunade was a means to that end, her strength a lesson, her knowledge a tool.Team 7 greeted her, and Naruto played the fool, joking about becoming Hokage himself. "Watch out, Grandma Tsunade, I'm coming for your job!" he laughed, dodging Sakura's swat. But his eyes were on Tsunade, searching for signs she knew his secret. Her sharp gaze met his, and he felt it—she knew, or suspected, just like Jiraiya, like Orochimaru. His distrust hardened. They were all part of the same system, and he'd trust none of them.At his apartment, Naruto unrolled the Scroll of Sealing, studying its notes on Tailed Beast seals. The Fourth's work was there, intricate and unreadable, but it was a clue. He'd master the Nine-Tails, the Rasengan, anything it took to break free. His clones trained in the forest, thousands now, a force no one could ignore. The Nine-Tails' chakra surged, red and wild, but he held it longer, shaping it into his attacks. "You're mine," he whispered, his grin gone in the dark.The world was waiting—villages, rogue ninja, secrets Konoha couldn't hide. Haku's sacrifice, Gaara's pain, Orochimaru's taunts—they showed him power was freedom, not bonds. Team 7 was useful, but temporary. Naruto would grow stronger, leave Konoha behind, and roam until he found the truth—why he was chosen, what he was meant to be. His grin returned as he stepped into the streets, shouting, "Future world's greatest ninja, right here!" But his eyes were hard, his path clear. Power was his key, and he'd unlock the world with it.
