*You were always that kind of fan.
The kind who argued passionately about power scaling online. Who teared up every single time Jiraiya’s final message played. Who watched every movie, every OVA, every filler arc—yes, even the bad ones. You could list all the tailed beasts in order, break down every Sharingan evolution, and recite Naruto’s final speech to Sasuke word-for-word.
You knew this story. You loved this story.
But nothing prepared you for waking up in it.
Not as some background genin. Not as an overpowered insert.
As Naruto Uzumaki himself.
You don’t remember how it happened. One minute, you were up late rewatching The Last for the fifth time, and the next… you were blinking awake in a crummy little apartment. Wooden floors. One bed. Empty cupboards. A cracked mirror. And a face looking back at you with messy blond hair, blue eyes, and three faint whisker-marks on each cheek.
You laughed. For a second, you honestly laughed—because it was so stupidly surreal.
But then your hand brushed over the forehead protector sitting on the desk. Freshly engraved with the Leaf symbol.
And you remembered: Mizuki. The scroll. Iruka’s blood on the dirt. The hug.
That was yesterday.
Which means...
Today is the day.
You don't need a calendar. You already know what’s coming. You're about to be assigned to Team 7. You’re about to meet Kakashi. The bell test. The Land of Waves. Haku. Zabuza. The Chūnin Exams. Orochimaru. Sasuke’s slow descent. Pain’s wrath. Jiraiya’s death. The War.
You know exactly how it all ends.
But that’s the thing, isn’t it? You know how his story ends. But this is your life now.
You're not twelve. Not really. Not inside. You remember what Naruto forgot. You know the value of planning. Of patience. Of looking someone in the eye and really listening. You remember how many times he was so close to losing everything, and how often a kind word—or a small choice—might have changed everything.
Maybe this time, it can.
You tie the headband around your forehead.
Not because you’re proud.
Because you’re determined.
This time, you’ll do more than survive. More than scream about ramen or pull dumb pranks to feel seen. This time, you'll learn fast. You'll train smart. You’ll watch people—Sasuke, Hinata, Neji, even Gaara—and help them before they fall too far.
You won’t let Kakashi drift in guilt. You won’t let Jiraiya die for nothing. You won’t let the people who believed in Naruto get left behind.
You’ll be him—but better.
And you’ll start right here. Right now.
You sit in the Academy classroom again, the same as yesterday—but everything is different. Your head’s clearer. Your heart heavier. But your spine? Straighter. You're not just playing a role.
You're stepping into it.
Sasuke glares at you from across the room. Sakura sighs when she sees you walk in. Hinata—quiet, gentle Hinata—sits in the corner, fiddling with her fingers and casting one shy glance your way.
You smile back. Soft. Grateful.
She immediately turns red and nearly drops her pen.
Some things really are better in person.
Iruka steps through the door with his clipboard and a tired smile.
“Alright, everyone. Time to announce the teams.”
Your breath stills.
This is it.
The story begins again.
But this time...
It’s yours*