After finishing his meal, Naruto returned to his rental apartment and went to sleep.
In the Murim world, he had gone days without food or rest. Cultivators often endured far worse.
This body could not.
For now.
Naruto closed his eyes and rested.
As he lay on the bed, fragments of Naruto's memories surfaced in his mind.
The more he learned, the more familiar this world became.
Different rules.
Same nature.
Strength was respected.
Power decided status.
Those without either could survive, but they would never stand among the people who truly mattered.
Peace was no different.
Villagers believed their lives would remain the same forever.
They never did.
Wars between nations.
Conflicts between villages.
Disputes between clans.
Violence always returned eventually, wearing a different face.
Morning arrived.
Naruto opened his eyes and rose from bed.
The first thing he searched for was food.
Nothing.
He checked the cupboards.
Empty.
He opened the refrigerator.
Only a container of spoiled milk remained inside.
Naruto closed the door and drank water instead.
After that, he stood in the middle of the room and examined his body.
He stretched his arms and tested his muscles.
Then his legs.
Then his balance.
The conclusion was immediate.
"Pathetic."
His voice echoed softly through the room.
This body was far weaker than he had expected.
If he wished to rule this world one day, he would need strength.
Real strength.
Enough to stand above everyone.
Naruto rubbed his chin.
"But how?"
A moment later, he shook his head.
"Information first. Strength later."
Without understanding the world, rushing forward would be foolish.
He walked toward the wardrobe and pulled out the familiar orange outfit.
After looking at it for a few seconds, he frowned.
"This outfit is as pathetic as his life."
The color irritated him.
Too bright.
Too noticeable.
A black outfit would suit him better.
He thinks inside, perhaps later.
After getting dressed, Naruto left the apartment and headed toward the academy.
The streets were quiet due to the early hour.
A few villagers glanced at him.
Some looked away.
Others stared openly.
Naruto ignored all of them.
Their opinions carried no value.
His goal today was simple.
Information.
He wanted knowledge about the world.
Knowledge about ninja techniques.
Knowledge about his body.
Knowledge about everything.
When he arrived at the academy, he stopped outside his classroom and pushed the door open slightly.
Wanting to see how this body owner's fellow classmates are doing...
Noise greeted him immediately.
Some students were talking.
Some were running around.
A few were already sleeping.
Naruto remained near the doorway and looked around.
Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno were sitting in front of Sasuke Uchiha.
Both were trying their hardest to gain his attention.
Ino leaned closer with a smile.
Sakura did the same from the opposite side.
Sasuke ignored them both.
Choji was busy eating chips.
As usual.
Several empty packets were already scattered nearby.
Beside him, Shikamaru rested his head on the desk and looked moments away from falling asleep.
Kiba played with Akamaru.
Shino sat quietly in his seat.
Near the window sat Hinata Hyuga.
Unlike everyone else, she noticed Naruto almost immediately.
Her gaze lingered on him for a few seconds.
Then she lowered her head and nervously poked her fingers together.
Naruto noticed.
Ignored.
After observing the room, he pushed the door completely and stepped inside.
His steps were steady and unhurried.
Not the walk of someone seeking attention.
The walk of someone who already expected it.
At that moment, Ino leaned closer to Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun, did you see my new hairpin? It's beautiful. Just like you."
Sasuke glanced at it once.
Nothing more.
Sakura immediately crossed her arms.
"He isn't interested in your hairpin. He only has eyes for me."
The first person to notice Naruto was Kiba.
The boy grinned.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up."
"The loser's here!"
Naruto stopped.
He looked at Kiba for a moment.
Then continued standing there.
No anger.
No argument.
Nothing.
Kiba blinked.
The reaction he expected never came.
Ino and Sakura turned toward Naruto.
Then more students followed.
Something felt wrong.
The Naruto they knew would have shouted back immediately.
This one did not.
"Hey, Naruto!" Ino called out.
"Why are you standing there? You look weird."
Sakura nodded.
"Yeah. Just sit down already."
"You're acting strange."
Naruto looked at them.
To him, they seemed like children arguing over meaningless things.
Without replying, he walked past them and took a seat at the last bench.
The room grew noticeably quieter.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"Huh."
"Naruto's usually louder than this."
Choji looked back while chewing.
"Maybe he's sick."
Sakura stood up from her seat.
Frustration was written all over her face.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Why are you acting like this?"
"You can't pretend to be Sasuke."
"You're not him."
"He's the cool one."
"And I only like Sasuke!"
Naruto looked at her.
His expression remained unchanged.
"I'm not here to entertain you."
Silence.
For a moment, the classroom froze.
Sakura stared at him.
"What did you say?"
Naruto turned toward the window.
Dismissed.
"Hey!"
"Don't ignore me!"
"I said..."
Her dialogue is cut short, with the classroom door opening.
Iruka walked inside.
"Alright everyone, take your seats."
"Class is about to start."
Sakura reluctantly returned to her desk.
Before sitting down, she raised her hand.
"Iruka-sensei!"
"What's going on with Naruto?"
"He's acting like a completely different person!"
Iruka glanced toward the back of the classroom.
His eyes settled on Naruto.
Then he sighed.
"Naruto recently suffered an accident."
The classroom immediately quieted.
"He lost many of his memories."
"That's why he's behaving differently."
Several students exchanged confused looks.
"But he's still Naruto."
"So don't treat him differently."
Whispers spread through the classroom.
Most of them had known Naruto for years.
Seeing him like this felt strange.
Very strange.
Shikamaru glanced toward the back row.
"What a drag."
"Never thought the loudest guy in class would become this quiet."
"Enough," Iruka said.
"Let's begin today's lesson."
As class started, Naruto leaned back in his chair.
His attention was elsewhere.
He thought inside....
My body was weak.
My knowledge about this world is limited.
Both problems need to be solved.
After class, I should visit the library.
I needed information about villages.
Techniques.
Medicine.
Everything.
Only after understanding the world could I begin climbing above it.
And Naruto had no intention of remaining weak forever.
(To Be Continued...)