Chapter 52

I regained consciousness not in the Void or in the clutches of one of those entities... but during a fall.

"What the hell?!" the thought flashed through my mind.

Time seemed to slow as I felt the wind whistling around me, and the ground rushing up to meet me. My instincts took over, and I instantly focused all my strength on stopping the fall.

"I need to get this under control," I thought as I activated my abilities.

My descent suddenly slowed. Electromagnetic fields swirled around me, forming a protective cocoon that stabilized my position. The ground was still approaching quickly, but I now controlled my speed.

"Just a bit more..." I muttered, concentrating on telekinetic control.

I landed carefully, tucking in and cushioning the impact with telekinesis.

"Where am I?" I wondered as I looked around.

A strange, unfamiliar landscape stretched out before me.

"This isn't my world," I realized, standing up. "But it's not the Void either."

My senses sharpened, and I felt a strange presence. My thoughts flashed back to those entities, and I shuddered, but their sinister influence was absent here.

"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" I heard someone shout in Japanese, a language I had learned to better understand my Japanese colleagues.

A man in glasses and a strangely familiar headband was almost yelling at me while holding a kunai to my throat... In an instant, I effortlessly breached the mental barriers of Ebisu, a jonin from Konoha.

All of Ebisu's knowledge was now mine.

"Playing with blades isn't wise," a voice called out from behind, prompting me to turn around.

Ebisu collapsed unconscious to the ground.

"BE MY TEACHER!" came a shout from a very interesting kid.

In front of me stood a boy with bright blond hair and a familiar symbol on his headband.

At that moment, I noticed a telepathic message in my mind, written in my own handwriting... It explained that my friends and Sue were safe, but I would need to stay in this world for a while (at least three years) to safely return. The message also outlined how to travel between worlds, ensuring I could return to the correct time. More time games...

—= Naruto Uzumaki =—

Things were not going well for the future Greatest Hokage of Konoha. The final exam was approaching, and he had no sensei to help him get stronger and beat that arrogant jerk Neji. Kakashi-sensei had refused to train him, choosing to focus on Sasuke instead, and had assigned him to train under Ebisu.

Ebisu, who Naruto considered a very weak ninja... Though the blond had to admit, Ebisu had taught him a few things, like how to walk on water.

But even so, Naruto could feel that Kakashi was far stronger than Ebisu... Out of desperation, Naruto was almost resigned to training under Ebisu when something unexpected happened.

A strange man appeared and effortlessly handled Ebisu. Naruto's eyes sparkled.

"BE MY TEACHER!" Naruto shouted, running closer. His face was determined, and his eyes burned with confidence.

"What?" the man's speech matched his strange attire. "What are you talking about?"

Naruto looked into the man's eyes and didn't see the usual disdain he was accustomed to from the villagers of Konoha.

"You knocked out the guy who was supposed to train me! How am I supposed to prepare for the finals now?!"

Naruto saw the man's eye twitch, but he continued,

"So you have to take responsibility for this!"

—= Reed Richards =—

Naruto Uzumaki, son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails, reincarnation of Asura, savior of the Shinobi World, and future Hokage of Konoha.

I knew him well, having grown up watching the anime "Naruto." I still vividly remembered the days when my father brought home DVDs with episodes from the first season. It was the first anime I watched from start to finish.

My telepathy worked in passive mode. I could clearly sense that Jiraiya was watching us, though even he was not immune to my telepathic abilities. I knew he was ready to act if necessary. It was because of Jiraiya that Naruto was without ANBU surveillance at that moment, something rare for a Jinchuriki.

Hmm... The Chunin Exams, huh?

A smirk formed on my face. This was going to be an interesting experience.

"You talk a good game, but are you ready for the consequences of such training?"

Naruto nodded eagerly.

"Of course! I'm going to be Hokage, dattebayo!"

"Then meet me at Training Ground 3 tomorrow."

"Why not today?!"

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all...

"I need to rest and recover. Agreed?"

Naruto thought for a few seconds and then nodded.

"Okay, tomorrow then! Don't you dare forget, dattebayo!"

With that, he ran off toward his home. I was left alone near the hot springs, which were now empty.

"Maybe you should come out of hiding, Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya stepped out from around the corner, his face serious, though curiosity flickered in his eyes.

"It's not every day you meet someone who can take down a jonin so easily," he said, approaching. "Who are you, and what do you want with Naruto?"

"My name is Reed Richards. As for Naruto, he asked me to be his teacher," I replied calmly. "I couldn't refuse. He has incredible potential."

Jiraiya squinted, assessing me.

"Where are you from?"

"Far away."

Jiraiya smirked at that. He was formulating a plan based on my answers.

"You're not very talkative, are you?"

"It depends on the circumstances."

Judging by his thoughts, I had made a good first impression. Despite his outwardly carefree demeanor, Jiraiya was very perceptive and skilled at reading people. His caution remained, with his summoned toads nearby, ready to assist the Sannin if necessary.

"You wouldn't mind me being present at Naruto's training?"

A smile naturally spread across my face. That wasn't a question I could answer negatively.

"Alright, let's see how this goes," he finally said, nodding. "Tomorrow at Training Ground 3."

Jiraiya turned and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.

He had decided to figure me out on his own, so for now, he wouldn't report to the Hokage. At least not for the first three days, after which Jiraiya himself would relay the thoughts I needed.

"I guess I should start by finding a place to sleep," I muttered, using the memories of Konoha's residents to locate an apartment.

Konohagakure was more of a city than a village, given its significance as a major hub for traders and a cornerstone of this world's geopolitical landscape. It was a center around which critical events and decisions revolved.

The first thing that caught my attention after leaving the hot springs was the mountain with the Hokage faces carved into it. Seeing them in person was even more impressive than in the anime—if not more so.

Konoha was a bustling place. Perhaps much of this liveliness at the moment was due to the influx of people who had come to witness the Chunin Exams.

Thanks to my telepathy, I quickly found a place to stay. A small hotel room proved to be cozy and comfortable enough for my needs.

"Since I'm in this world, I might as well try the ramen," I thought as I stepped out onto the street.

My steps led me to the well-known establishment called "Ichiraku Ramen." I remembered it was Naruto's favorite place and decided it was worth trying what he loved so much.

"Hello."

"Hello!" replied the father and daughter with genuine smiles on their faces.

At that moment, the place was empty except for the owner and his daughter. I sat on the first available stool.

"Naruto recommended this place, but he couldn't decide what I should try."

Ayame and Teuchi chuckled.

"In that case, I suggest the miso ramen!" Ayame offered.

"I'll take your word for it," I replied with a smile.

"I assure you, you won't be disappointed!" Teuchi added.

The father and daughter set to work. The restaurant, already filled with mouth-watering aromas, now became even more fragrant. The sounds of boiling water, the rustle of chopped vegetables, and the scent of fresh broth created an atmosphere of homely comfort and warmth.

The miso ramen, prepared with care and attention, was simply delightful. The rich, flavorful broth, the perfectly textured noodles, and the fresh ingredients combined to create an unforgettable taste experience. This dish truly lived up to its reputation, and I understood why Naruto loved this place so much.

"You were right; it's fantastic," I said as I finished my bowl.

"We're always happy to have new customers, especially if Naruto brought them here," Teuchi replied, his face glowing with pride for their establishment.

"I'm glad I got to try your signature dish. I'll definitely be back," I said as I got up and headed for the door.

Stepping outside, the night air was cool and refreshing. The streets of Konoha were still lively, and for the first time since the Chitauri invasion, I was able to relax.

—= Some Time Later =—

"What exactly do you plan to teach Naruto?" asked the white-haired Sannin.

The blond hadn't arrived yet—in fact, he was likely rushing to get ready at that very moment.

"A lot," I replied with a smirk.

Jiraiya's left eyebrow twitched with irritation.

"And you want to teach him summoning and train his body to handle the Nine-Tails' chakra, right?" I asked, knowing full well what reaction that question would provoke.

A burst of energy emanated from the Sannin's body, leaving cracks in the ground.

"That won't work on me," I said calmly. "If I wanted to use that information against Naruto or Konoha, I would've done it already."

—= Jiraiya =—

"That won't work on me," the man with the strange name, Reed Richards, said calmly. "And to set the record straight, I should probably demonstrate something, shouldn't I?"

The Toad Sage then felt an overwhelming pressure, akin to the presence of a bijuu. But instead of chakra, it was something entirely different... Alien... Capable of killing him with ease.

"Is this sufficient proof of my intentions toward Naruto?"

The pressure disappeared as suddenly as it had come. Jiraiya smirked; he wasn't new to encountering such power. What surprised him was that such power belonged to someone so young.

Richards' eyes—different from those of Danzo, Orochimaru, or their ilk—led Jiraiya to say,

"Quite the display."

At that moment, Jiraiya sensed the presence of a very loud genin.

"Hope I'm not late, dattebayo!"

—= Reed Richards =—

"You're right on time."

Naruto let out a sigh of relief. I didn't even need telepathy to know what thought had just crossed his mind.

"Great! So, can we start the training?" Naruto's eyes were filled with enthusiasm.

"Yes, but first, there's something we need to take care of," I said, then looked at Jiraiya. "Could you help remove the Five Elements Seal?"

Jiraiya's expression turned to surprise.

"Where did he get the Five Elements Seal?"

Naruto looked at us with confused eyes.

"Naruto, do you remember your encounter with that snake bastard?"

Naruto nodded. Jiraiya frowned, clearly understanding who the snake bastard was.

"Do you remember how he knocked you out?"

"A snake and a strong hit to the gut," Naruto said awkwardly.

I raised an eyebrow at Jiraiya with an unspoken question, "Is that enough?"

"Naruto, could you lift your shirt?"

Naruto glanced at the Toad Sage warily.

"Are you a pervert?"

Jiraiya was about to start his usual antics, but I stopped him with my power.

"No, Naruto," Jiraiya said. "I just need to remove the seal so you can properly control your chakra."

Naruto hesitated but then lifted his shirt, exposing his stomach.

Jiraiya formed a few hand signs and concentrated. Chakra glowed around his hand as he slowly moved it toward Naruto's stomach.

"Five Elements Seal," he said, touching Naruto's skin. "Release!"

Jiraiya's chakra penetrated the seal, and Naruto felt something inside him begin to change. Soon, the seal was removed, and Naruto felt a surge of energy.

"Whoa!" Naruto exclaimed, feeling the difference. "I feel so much better!"

"Great," I said with a smile. "Now we can start your training."

Naruto's eyes burned with enthusiasm.

At this point, I hadn't yet studied the shinobi's physiology in depth, but I had enough meta-knowledge to proceed. However, I would need samples for further training.

"Create twenty shadow clones."

Naruto immediately formed the familiar hand sign.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he shouted, and twenty copies of himself appeared around him.

Twenty blond Narutos stared at me in confusion.

"Send nineteen of them to practice water walking, and keep one to practice taijutsu."

"Reed-sensei, why do this with clones?" the original Naruto asked.

"They'll speed up your training," I explained calmly, though I could see he still didn't fully understand.

Despite this, Naruto began following my instructions.

"Hmm, interesting idea," Jiraiya commented.

"This method is suited only for him," I replied. "His massive chakra reserves and incredible stamina allow him to bypass many difficulties of this method."

I didn't mention that I would also help with knowledge retention using my telepathy.

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