One week had passed since Naruto's blunder with his clones.
It had been a rough start, but in that time, his clone had made an impact.
Naruto had learned a lot about Mary and formed genuine bonds with his neighbors.
Even in these dark times, with so many limitations holding him back, Naruto lived freely, following his heart and connecting with people in ways they never expected.
He helped out wherever he could—
Moving heavy itemsfor the elderly.Letting people borrow thingswhen they needed them.Being a conversation partnerfor the lonely.Offering advice and encouragementto those struggling.
Slowly, but surely, he had transformed the neighborhood.
Neighbors who had never spoken before started talking.
People who had isolated themselves began stepping out of their shells.
The depression that had taken hold of so many was replaced—bit by bit—by a little warmth, a little hope.
His positivity was contagious, and the community followed his example.
After long workdays, they now gathered with him to share stories, laughter, and even their burdens.
The pain they carried inside lightened, if only for a little while.
But…
Naruto was not without struggles.
His powerful body demanded far more nutrition than he could afford with his limited finances.
Some nights, he had to sleep on an empty stomach just to get by.
Yet, even then—he shared what little he had.
There were people worse off than him—
Parents struggling to feed their kids.
And no matter how limited his own resources were, he couldn't ignore them.
He knew what it was like to be hungry.
He knew what it was like to be alone.
So when he heard the cry of a small child in hunger, he rushed over with what little food he had.
The single father had expected complaints about the noise—
Instead, Naruto handed him a meal and a smile.
Convincing the man to accept his kindness was difficult, but Naruto wouldn't take no for an answer.
"I have enough, so don't worry about it."
And that wasn't a lie.
If his body was normal, he would have had plenty—his new friends wouldn't let him go hungry.
But he never ate more than his fair share when they gathered.
Because he knew the pain of hunger.
And more than 42 million people in this country suffered from it every single day.
Nearly 1 in 7 Americans went to bed hungry.
That was a reality Naruto couldn't ignore.
Because he had been there.
And kindness had saved him once.
If it hadn't been for Teuchi and Ayame back in Konoha, he might have never survived.
Sometimes, just a little bit of kindness could change a life.
But not everyone believed in kindness.
And not everyone appreciated Naruto's presence.
Despite all his efforts, he was fired from his job.
One of the other cleaners had left the premises without permission and missed cleaning a room.
An officer, looking for someone to blame, chose Naruto.
Why?
Because Naruto was too likable.
He stood out.
He got along too well with the employees, making some jealous.
They saw him as arrogant—as someone who didn't know his place.
So they got rid of him.
The real culprit?
A worker who had families to support.
Naruto knew the truth.
But he didn't speak up.
Because he understood.
The man needed the job.
So Naruto took the fall.
Before leaving, he tried one last time—
"Everyone makes mistakes."
"In my short time here, I believe my work has been stellar."
"Could you not find even a little kindness in your heart to give me another chance?"
His words only infuriated the officer further.
Naruto was thrown out.
But he left with dignity.
He said farewell to the workers.
He reassured the guilty employee that he held no grudges.
Because he was not breaking ties with people—
He was just leaving the job.
Naruto's positivity and kindness left an unforgettable mark.
Even if the world kicked him down, he would always get back up.
Because that was who he was.
That was Naruto Uzumaki.
Losing his job didn't slow Naruto down—it only pushed him forward.
Instead of dwelling on it, he talked to his friends and used the opportunity to help someone else.
One of his neighbors had been struggling to find work, so Naruto got them recommended for the morning shift at his old workplace.
Even when life pushed him down, he still found ways to lift others up.
Naruto had never intended to stay in one place for long.
Even before losing his job, he had been searching for better opportunities—and he finally found one.
A Japanese restaurant needed a kitchen worker who could speak Japanese.
Naruto wasn't a professional chef, but—
He had been cooking for years.His skills were above average.He knew many traditional dishes.
The best part?
They didn't require certification—otherwise, he would have had to find another option.
Everything seemed perfect.
But plans don't always go the way you expect.
Naruto didn't get the restaurant job.
Instead, he ended up as a door-to-door salesman—all because of his talking skills.
One of the restaurant's cooks had been impressed by the way Naruto spoke and recommended him for the position.
Naruto, always open to new experiences, agreed to try it out.
Dressed in a borrowed suit from his neighbor, Naruto found himself knocking on doors, selling house appliances for a new company.
Before jumping in blindly, he took his own approach—
He studiedall the product details and took notes.He spoke confidentlywith the interviewer and proved his worth.He recognizedthat company information wasn't always 100% accurate.
So instead of wasting time knocking on random doors, he dressed casually and spent the first day observing.
He spoke with people in wealthier areas, understanding their needs and identifying potential customers.
Instead of forcing sales, he built relationships, making people genuinely interested in what he had to offer.
Impressing the Right People
By the end of the first day, Naruto hadn't made a single sale.
But that didn't matter.
What did matter was the fact that his approach had impressed the company.
They hadn't expected him to sell anything on the first day—he was still a beginner.
But his ability to engage people, his charisma, and his strategic thinking had already set him apart.
Naruto wasn't just a salesman—
He was a natural leader.
And this was just the beginning.
After a long day of work, Naruto returned home to a welcome sight—
His neighbors had decided to join him for drinks, unwind, and just have fun together.
It wasn't just about drinking; it was about bonding.
Over the past week, Naruto had built strong friendships with several people.
Among them, the ones closest to him were:
Mary– Always part of their gatherings, bringing her warmth and charm.Clark, Ralph, and Terry– A trio of fun-loving guys who had become his drinking buddies.
Though Naruto had connected with many others, this core group had formed naturally.
They even started sharing costs to make life easier for each other.
Naruto, being Naruto, even proposed an idea:
"How about I turn my room into a fun room where everyone can gather whenever they want? I can crash with one of you guys instead."
The idea was well received—except for one small issue:
Maryhad no objections.The guys? Not so much.
They were all smitten with Mary, and the thought of Naruto getting too close to her made them grumble.
Even with their playful jealousy, they were good people—a little rowdy, sure, but fun to be around.
With alcohol flowing and spirits high, the night took a hilarious turn—
Terry, a huge fan of Yu-Gi-Oh!, managed to convince the group to act out a skit from the old anime.
Of course, it only took a few shots before everyone agreed.
Terry (dramatically): "Since I seem to have fully recovered from my life-threatening coma, I'm gonna challenge Clarko to a card game!"
Naruto (playing along): "Wasn't playing a card game what put you in a coma in the first place?"
Terry: "Yeah, but like my dad said right before he died of alcohol poisoning: What doesn't kill ya only makes ya stronger! Hey, Clarko!"
Clark (taking a sip): "My name is not 'Clarko'…"
Terry (ignoring him): "Since we both lost in the semi-finals, we should duel to see which of us deserves to win the bronze medal!"
Naruto (laughing): "Win the bronze medal? Ohoho, that's cute. I like it. Hilarious. You're a funny guy, Terry."
Mary (grinning): "Terry's right. There are no real losers in Duel Monsters."
She had been enjoying these moments more than ever.
Naruto had a knack for bringing out hidden sides of people—
He made them do silly things, embrace their inner child, and, most importantly, never feel ashamed about it.
Then came the unexpected moment—
Naruto: "Ha!"
Clark: "Ha!"
Ralph: "Ha!"
Suddenly—
Naruto (blinking): "Ralph, why are you laughing?"
Ralph (grinning): "Your hair looks like a box."
Clark (shaking his head): "Look, all I wanna know is whether I got what it takes to beat you after all this time."
Naruto: "Pfft, I'd be surprised if you have what it takes to beat Jerry."
Clark, in response, lifted up a can of beer, shaking it slightly.
Then, in a high-pitched, squeaky voice, the can spoke:
Jerry (the beer can): "I would kick your ass, white boy!"
Terry (mock-serious): "Play nice, Jerry."
The night raged on, laughter and alcohol fueling the madness.
With their improvised Yu-Gi-Oh! skit in full swing, the gang was deep into character, throwing lines back and forth like real duelists on the battlefield.
As Terry and Clark squared off in their "duel," Naruto and the others settled in as the audience.
Naruto (grinning): "Poooooor Terry. Clark is going to slaughter him. I'd be surprised if he even broke a sweat."
Mary (curious): "How would playing a card game make you sweat?"
There was a moment of silence, followed by a knowing smirk from Naruto—
Naruto (smugly): "Clearly you have never played the Dark Magician Girl."
The entire room chuckled, Mary rolling her eyes while Terry snorted into his drink.
Terry, ever the underdog, was determined to put up a fight—even if his brain cells had taken a hit.
Terry (dramatic pose): "Don't go easy on me, Clark. Just 'cause I was in a coma and probably suffered extensive brain damage, that doesn't mean I'm not gonna give it my all."
Clark, never one to pass up a perfect moment, smirked and fired back:
Clark (grinning): "Trust me, Wheeler. Even if you did have brain damage, I'm sure none of us would treat you any differently."
Terry (confused): "Good. Wait, what?"
The group burst into laughter, with Terry mock-pouting before slamming down his imaginary card.
Terry and Clark stood up, their imaginary cards ready for battle.
Terry (loudly): "I summon Gearfried in Attack Mode, ya sonofabitch!"
Clark (just as loud): "I activate Enemy Controller, you assclown!"
Terry (pointing): "Rich boy!"
Clark (smirking): "Hecker-wuss!"
Terry: "Money-bags!"
Clark: "Idiot with blond hair!"
Terry: "I hate you!"
Clark: "I hate you a slightly larger amount!"
The insults escalated as they kept throwing down imaginary cards, the game making less and less sense but becoming more and more entertaining.
Even Mary had to wipe away tears from laughing too hard.
Naruto? He was just enjoying every second of it—
A simple night, surrounded by good people, and living in the moment.
And so, the Duel of Fools raged on…
The night had settled over the city, casting a soft glow across the streets below. After their hilarious drunken antics and an hour-long movie session, the gang had finally succumbed to exhaustion. Terry was sprawled out on the couch, Clark had claimed the recliner, and Ralph lay flat on the floor, snoring like a chainsaw.
But Naruto and Mary remained awake, standing on the small balcony attached to Naruto's apartment.
The city below them stretched endlessly, glowing with the flickering lights of street lamps and neon signs. The usual hum of nightlife was quieter than usual, a subtle tension hanging in the air.
Mary leaned against the metal railing, her gaze drifting over the streets.
"Your friend died."
Her words were simple. No sugarcoating, no hesitation.
Naruto didn't flinch. He had already known.
"I know."
His voice was calm, but Mary could sense the weight beneath it.
She turned her head slightly, watching his expression.
"I thought you'd be down after knowing about it."
Naruto exhaled through his nose, his eyes fixed on the cityscape.
"Wallowing in tears isn't going to bring him back," he replied, his tone steady. "And I can just add him to the list of people I will bring back."
Mary's lips parted slightly at his matter-of-fact tone. The weight of those words was not lost on her.
"I am more worried about the dark atmosphere in the area. The news about vampires is spreading somehow, and you can notice the fear in the people."
His gaze sharpened, scanning the emptying streets.
There was an unnatural stillness—like the city was holding its breath. The usual reckless energy of the nightlife crowd was replaced with something else. Paranoia. Uncertainty. Fear.
Mary smirked, tilting her head as she folded her arms.
"What do you plan to do? Are you going to watch while the original does his job?"
Naruto turned his head slightly, narrowing his eyes.
"What are you implying?"
Mary's smirk widened.
"What do you think?"
Naruto held her gaze for a moment before chuckling.
"You want me to act as a hero and join me as my partner."
"Bingo."
There was no hesitation in her answer.
"You got too much time on your hands," Naruto muttered.
Mary rolled her eyes, her tone playful but with a hint of challenge.
"Are you telling me your heart isn't asking for it? I thought your heart beat for justice and hope."
Naruto's jaw clenched slightly at her words.
"I am already fighting for my goal in the regular way. I promised not to break laws in this form."
Mary let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Che, so boring. Enjoy your boring dreams then, Goldilocks."
She playfully slapped his back before walking inside, leaving Naruto alone on the balcony.
Naruto watched her disappear into the apartment, the faint sounds of the others shifting in their sleep filling the silence.
His eyes returned to the sky.
The stars twinkled faintly, but the night felt heavier than usual.
He wasn't aware of the massive deaths happening behind the scenes, nor did he know about the rising death toll among heroes.
His mindset remained focused—his path, his mission, his goal.
He let out a slow breath before turning away, closing the balcony door behind him.
Tomorrow was another day, another fight.
And Naruto had work to do.
He couldn't afford to wake up sore.