Rise of the Gamer - 2

Naruto sat alone in his small, rundown apartment, staring at the wall as the sound of distant celebrations reached his ears. He hugged his knees close to his chest, trying to drown out the noise, but it was impossible. Today was his seventh birthday, a day that should have been filled with laughter, presents, and people who cared about him. But Naruto had no one—no family, no friends, not a single person to celebrate with. Instead, the whole village was busy with preparations for the Festival of the Nine Tails.

The irony wasn’t lost on him. The entire village was celebrating the death of the Nine-Tailed Fox, the creature that had nearly destroyed Konoha seven years ago, on the very day he had been born. It was supposed to be a day of joy, a reminder of how the Fourth Hokage had heroically defeated the demon that had terrorized the village.

But for Naruto, it was anything but a celebration.

He had always found it strange—almost too much of a coincidence—that he had been born on the same day the Nine Tails had attacked. And over the years, he began to wonder if that was why people looked at him the way they did. Maybe it wasn’t something he had done. Maybe it wasn’t even something his parents had done. Maybe it was just because he was born on that day.

The villagers certainly seemed to think so.

Every time Naruto walked through the streets, he could feel their eyes on him. They never said anything to his face, but he could see the fear and hatred in their expressions. They called him a monster—sometimes whispering it behind his back, sometimes saying it just loud enough for him to hear.

It wasn’t just their words, though. The way they treated him, the way they looked at him, all of it made Naruto feel like he was something less than human. Like he was a walking reminder of the Nine Tails, of the destruction and death it had caused.

And on his birthday—the day the Nine Tails had attacked—their hatred became something much more dangerous.

Naruto had learned, over the years, to avoid the streets during the festival. The villagers, usually content to ignore him or give him dirty looks, became far more aggressive on this day. If he got too close to them, they would try to chase him off. Some of the drunker ones even tried to corner him, screaming obscenities and calling him a monster to his face.

The first time it happened, Naruto didn’t understand. He had just been a small boy, wandering the streets, hoping someone might notice that it was his birthday and offer him a kind word or a gift. Instead, a group of villagers had shoved him into a corner, their breath heavy with alcohol, their eyes wild with anger.

"Why are you still here?" one of them had slurred, glaring down at him with unbridled hatred. "You should’ve died along with that damn fox!"

Naruto hadn’t known what to do. He had tried to run, but they had blocked his way, kicking and punching him until a passing ninja had intervened. That day had changed everything for him. He had learned that there were certain days—certain times—when the villagers’ hatred wasn’t just a distant, quiet thing. On those days, it became violent.

And his birthday, the day of the Nine Tails Festival, was the worst day of all.

So, on his seventh birthday, Naruto did what he always did—he hid. He knew better than to try to wander around the village when people were celebrating. He knew that the festival, with its bright decorations and cheerful music, was a mask hiding the villagers' true feelings. Beneath the surface, they were still the same people who hated him. And if they were drunk enough, they might act on that hatred.

Today was one of those days when it was safer to stay far away from everyone else.

Naruto slipped out of his apartment, careful to avoid the main streets where the festival was in full swing. He could already hear the cheers and laughter, the loud shouts of joy as people celebrated the defeat of the Nine Tails. It should have been a happy occasion for him too, but instead, it was a day of fear and loneliness.

His favorite place in the whole village was on top of the Fourth Hokage’s head, part of the Mountain of Faces that loomed over Konoha. It was quiet up there, far away from the noise of the village, and it gave him a perfect view of everything. From that height, Naruto could watch the people celebrating without having to be a part of it. He could observe them from a distance, safe from their glares and threats.

Naruto climbed up the side of the mountain, his small hands gripping the stone as he made his way to the top. It was a climb he had done countless times before, and the effort was familiar, comforting even. When he finally reached the top, he sat down on the Fourth Hokage’s head and looked out over the village.

The festival was in full swing below him. He could see the brightly colored lanterns strung up along the streets, the stalls selling food and drinks, the crowds of people laughing and enjoying themselves. It all looked so festive, so happy. But Naruto knew better. He knew that, down there, among the crowds, were people who would gladly hurt him if they saw him.

He hugged his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them, watching the village from his safe spot high above.

He had thought about it many times before—why the villagers hated him so much, why they called him a monster. He had never done anything to them. He had never hurt anyone. So why? Why did they hate him? Why did they treat him like he was something less than human?

Maybe it was because of the day he was born. Maybe they blamed him for the Nine Tails attack, even though he hadn’t even been alive when it happened. Maybe, in their eyes, being born on the same day the Nine Tails attacked was enough to make him a monster.

The thought made his heart ache, but it was the only explanation he could think of. No one had ever told him why the villagers treated him the way they did. The Third Hokage had always been kind to him, but even he never explained the reason behind the villagers' hatred.

Naruto sighed and turned away from the village, trying to shake off the heavy feeling in his chest. He didn’t want to think about it anymore. It was his birthday, after all, even if no one else cared. He would celebrate it in his own way, here in his favorite spot, far away from everyone else.

But as he turned, he heard a sudden crunch—a dry leaf being stepped on.

Naruto’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t alone.

His body tensed, and his eyes darted around, trying to find the source of the sound. Was it one of the villagers? Had they followed him up here? His mind raced with possibilities. If they found him here, alone, there would be no one to stop them from doing whatever they wanted. He was too far from the village for anyone to hear him if he cried for help.

Naruto’s heart pounded in his chest as he slowly stood up, his hands clenching into fists. He didn’t know who or what was out there, but he was ready to defend himself if he had to. His eyes scanned the surrounding area, his ears straining for any other sounds.

And then, out of the shadows, someone stepped forward.

Naruto’s breath caught in his throat as the figure stepped out from the trees, moving gracefully toward him. His mind raced. Whoever—whatever—this person was, they certainly weren’t like anyone he’d seen before.

The stranger was tall, towering over Naruto, and though her appearance was feminine, there was something otherworldly about her. She wore a flowing white dress, strange markings etched along its edges, symbols Naruto didn’t recognize. Her long, black hair cascaded down to her feet, swaying with each step she took.

But what really unsettled Naruto were her eyes. They had no pupils, just rings—multiple, concentric rings—of deep red, swirling endlessly across the whites of her eyes. And then there were the horns. Two long, pointed horns jutted from her head, curving slightly upward.

Naruto’s heart pounded in his chest, a wave of fear washing over him. He had seen some strange people in the village, but this? This was something else entirely.

The stranger smiled at him, a soft, radiant smile that only made Naruto more uneasy. He backed away instinctively, his hands clenched into tight fists. He wanted to run, but his legs wouldn’t move. His mouth opened before he could stop himself, and he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Are you a monster?!”

He hadn’t meant to say it, but the words slipped out in his panic. For a moment, there was silence. Naruto braced himself, his mind already convinced he was about to be torn apart by whatever this creature was.

But to his surprise, the woman chuckled softly, her voice like a gentle melody carried on the wind.

“Why do you think I am a monster?” she asked, her tone curious rather than offended.

Naruto stared at her, unsure of what to say. He had been called a monster so many times himself, he didn’t really know what to answer. It seemed like the obvious thing to ask. His eyes darted to her horns, then to the strange red rings in her eyes. Because you look like one, he thought, but saying it out loud felt wrong.

Still, he tried. “Well... you have horns, and your eyes are... strange,” he said, his voice shaky.

The woman’s smile widened, but it didn’t seem threatening. Instead, it felt warm, almost comforting. “You don’t have horns,” she said gently. “And you don’t have strange eyes either. But I’ve heard people call you a monster. Why is that?”

Naruto froze. Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He hadn’t expected that. For a moment, all he could do was stare at her, trying to figure out how she knew about the things people said about him. His mind churned, processing what she had said.

It made him realize how wrong it felt to call someone a monster just because of how they looked. Wasn’t that exactly what people did to him?

Naruto lowered his head, feeling a strange mixture of shame and understanding. “I... I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I didn’t mean it. I just... I don’t know why people call me a monster either.”

The woman’s smile softened, and she reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “It’s alright, young one. I’ve been observing you for quite some time now. I know you’re not a monster. In fact, you’re a very special person, Naruto.”

Naruto blinked up at her, surprised. “Special?” he repeated. “But... I’m not. I’m just... no one. I’ll never be a strong shinobi because no one teaches me anything.”

The woman crouched down to meet him at eye level, her long black hair pooling around her feet. “Oh, but you will be,” she said with a knowing smile. “You will be the strongest shinobi to ever exist.”

Naruto’s eyes widened. He had heard that before in his dreams, in the part of him that hoped against hope for a different future. But hearing it from this strange woman, from someone who seemed so wise and powerful—it made his heart flutter with a kind of hope he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Who... who are you?” he asked, curiosity now outweighing his fear.

The woman straightened up, her smile never fading. “I am Gaia Otsutsuki,” she said. “I belong to the Otsutsuki Clan, a celestial clan that has traveled across the stars for millennia.”

Naruto blinked, confusion filling his face. “A celestial clan? Across the stars?”

Gaia nodded, her expression serene. “We are immortal beings, traveling between worlds to learn, study, and, in some cases, conquer. I have been here on this planet for fifty years, gathering knowledge, observing the people of this land.”

Naruto’s mind struggled to keep up with her words. Celestial beings? Immortal? It all sounded like something out of the fairy tales that Iruka-sensei sometimes told. And yet, looking at her, he couldn’t help but believe every word she said. There was something so... otherworldly about her.

Gaia sat down beside him, her presence calm and unthreatening. “But now,” she continued, “it is time for me to leave. I’ve learned all I can from this world, and I have other stars to explore. But before I go, I wanted to give you something.”

Naruto’s eyes lit up at the mention of a gift. “A gift?” he asked eagerly, his earlier fear all but forgotten.

Gaia smiled, reaching into the folds of her white dress and pulling out a small, silver bracelet. It was thin and simple, but there was something about it that seemed... magical.

“This,” she said, holding it out to him, “is a training device from the Otsutsuki Clan. We give them to our young ones to help them grow stronger. I’ve modified it to suit your needs, Naruto. With this, you’ll be able to train in ways you’ve never imagined.”

Naruto’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he took the bracelet from her. “Really? This will help me train?”

Gaia nodded. “Yes, but it’s more than just a bracelet. Once you put it on, it will disappear, but don’t worry. It will always be with you. You’ll understand more tomorrow when you begin training.”

Naruto slid the bracelet onto his wrist, and just as she said, it vanished the moment it touched his skin. He stared at his hand, wide-eyed, unable to feel anything different.

“Uh... where did it go?” he asked, confused.

Gaia chuckled softly. “It’s still there. You’ll see. It’s designed to help you train in dungeons—special places that exist within the bracelet. Every time you enter one, you’ll be training, but you’ll never be in danger. Think of it as a personal training ground.”

“Dungeons?” Naruto repeated, completely lost.

Gaia smiled mysteriously. “You’ll know soon enough. But for now, I must go.”

Naruto’s excitement faded as she stood, a shimmering portal forming behind her. “You’re leaving?” he asked, a hint of sadness in his voice. He had just met someone who didn’t treat him like a monster, someone who seemed to understand him. He didn’t want her to go.

Gaia nodded, her smile soft. “I have other worlds to explore, Naruto. But remember what I told you. You are special, and you will be the strongest shinobi to ever exist. Train hard, and don’t lose hope.”

She took a step toward the portal, and with a final wave, disappeared into it, leaving Naruto standing alone on the Fourth Hokage’s head, staring at the spot where she had vanished.

For a long moment, Naruto stood there, trying to process everything that had just happened. Part of him wondered if it had all been a dream. But then he looked down at his wrist, remembering the bracelet that had disappeared.

Maybe... just maybe... things were going to change.