Chapter 6
Chapter 6: The Incident, Part 2
Naruto stared at her reflection, her red hair cascading over her shoulders. The violet eyes gazing back felt foreign. I look like a stranger, she thought, her heart aching as a tear slipped down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away with an unsteady hand. ´´Maybe I can pretend to be an orphan now... and join the Academy again without anyone realizing it’s me. I will be less in the way and annoying.´´
It was as if she had unlocked some hidden sensory abilities. The world around her sharpened; she could sense the ants crawling outside and hear the laughter of drunken shinobi echoing deep within the village, even though it was a kilometer away.
Letting out a shaky breath, she knew that when Ellen sent her the next message, she’d need to weave a story—something believable. I’ll tell her something happened to me... that my Uzumaki blood finally awakened, turning my hair red. But unsettling questions nagged at her. ´´How did my hair go from blonde to red? And what about my green eyes... turning purple?´´
Clutching the small, rudimentary device Ellen had left her—a simplified version of the intelligent devices standardized for weaker mages—Naruto ran her thumb along its smooth surface, feeling a familiar pang of longing. She had never revealed her true identity to Ellen; she was the daughter of the Fourth Hokage, but most villagers hardly remembered that fact. Born two years after her twin siblings, Menma and Natsuki, the seven-year-old had always felt invisible, overshadowed by their incredible talents that consumed their parents' attention. The year Ellen had spent recovering in secret had been the happiest time of Naruto’s life. Ellen had cared for her, trained her, and shared laughter in a way that felt genuine and free. More than just a teacher or mentor, Ellen had become like a mother to her. As Naruto gazed at the round device, she whispered, “I know you have basic functions. Barrier!”
Her iridescent magical energy made the orb glow, and it floated upward, forming a shimmering barrier around her. It felt comforting, like a protective cocoon.
Ellen had taught her everything—from cooking and cleaning to survival skills that no one else had ever bothered to impart. ´´It seems I was never destined to be part of the Namikaze family, ´´she mused, absentmindedly rubbing her red hair. With determination igniting within her, she ran toward the booth, her heart racing with the weight of her decision. When it was time to sign up, she wrote her new name: Morgan LeFay Uzumaki. After answering a series of questions, she underwent evaluations, and when it was confirmed that she was fit for her old class, the transition became official. Embracing her new identity, the remnants of Naruto faded further into the background, making way for the girl she hoped would finally belong.
Most of her time was spent in her newly fixed-up space, transforming it into a small magical retreat. She even crafted her own key, a symbol of her newfound freedom. Ruffling her red hair, she smiled proudly. It was different from Kushina's or Natsuki's vibrant red hair; it was an ash-red, a deep blood-red—still vibrant but distinctly special.
For the first time in her life, Naruto—now Morgan—felt a sense of hope blooming within her. She was no longer just the forgotten child of the Fourth Hokage; she was someone new, someone who could finally carve her path. Morgan found herself having friendly conversations with Hanabi Hyuga, Hinata’s younger sister, who was in her class. Most days, she spent her breaks reading and honing her basic shinobi skills. After class, she practiced all the magic she could, determined not to get rusty.
Eventually, Ellen contacted her, almost petrified but relieved to hear that Morgan was unharmed. She accepted Morgan’s name change with warmth, grateful for the girl’s newfound strength. Morgan left out the gory details of her transformation, focusing instead on the hope that shimmered within her.
One day, while shopping for groceries, she spotted Kushina chatting with Mikoto Uchiha. Luckily, Kushina only gave her a fleeting glance, her eyes seeming not to recognize her. But Morgan could feel Kushina's gaze linger on her because of her red hair. Uzumakis are rare, after all. Just then, she was pulled away by Mikoto, her best friend, and they entered the convenience store together.
Grabbing some basic supplies (she had a garden, after all), she settled down somewhere to eat a small savory treat—a fried sweet potato with cheese. Her eyes flicked over the joyful children being carted around by their parents, a pang of jealousy tightening her chest.
´´I shouldn’t want these things. My thoughts are selfish.´´
But she needed to clear her mind. The girl chewed thoughtfully on her treat, wondering what to do next. Maybe she could buy a cookbook; the vegetables in her garden were growing well. Besides her ninja skills, her magical abilities had improved. Visualizing and summoning energy felt effortless, and she could fly or create a barrier with ease. Thanks to her Uzumaki blood, casting binding spells came naturally. Shooting spells like Ellen was still a challenge, but she had learned a weaker one called Manna Bullet, where she controlled a small ball of magical energy in the air with her mind, glowing in the color of her aura. It looked beautiful as she formed the iridescent ball. The next step was summoning multiple ones and controlling them all at once.
Despite memorizing the Uzumaki sword techniques, she only had a practice wooden sword. Ellen was a shooting specialist, and Morgan realized she needed someone to practice with. Aside from her basic healing knowledge, she knew her taijutsu skills were lacking, and her illusion techniques needed improvement. Luckily, Ellen excelled in illusions as well, but Naruto craved more skills and hands-on experience.
Looking around, she noticed a pamphlet on the wall advertising training for a medic-nin. ´´Maybe!´´ Taking it off, she read that as a trainee, she could get paid. As an orphan training to be a shinobi, she received an allowance, but it was meager. Even though she could use magic to make money, she wished for a stable income and practical skills.
´´Well, I guess I’ll become a healer. I’ll be useful for my future team.´´
The next day, which was a weekend, she stood bright and early. With a sheepish smile, she felt the examiner's gaze bore into her as he adjusted his glasses. His black eyes seemed to scrutinize her deeply and menacingly. “Are you sure? As a medic, you will see bloody scenes and go through tough things. Heck, Tsunade-Ohime-sama and Orochimaru-Oji-sama can't waste their precious time—oh!” He got smacked by a stack of papers, his glasses nearly falling off.
“Stop scaring our recruit. Ignore Kabuto; he’s just an edgy dude. Most recruits only want to see the two Sannin learn the Mystical Palm technique and leave. But my feelings are telling me you’re more engaged,” Shizune said, coming to her rescue. After some paperwork, Naruto was given a dead fish and instructed to revive it. “You see, for healing, we rely on Yin and Yang chakra. Rub your hands together, and let the chakra run to your fingertips. Breathe steadily and imagine you want to heal. Then—”
Following Shizune's instructions, her eyes closed, and she heard a shocked gasp from Shizune. Opening her eyes, they were engulfed in healing chakra. "Uh, now place your hand on the fish," Shizune gasped, sharing secret glances with Kabuto. Did I do something bad? she wondered, anxiety swirling in her stomach. Looking up, Shizune asked, "Is this your first time?"
"No, I already know the Mystical Palm technique, but I want to be an effective medic-nin for my future team."
"I wish kids your age were this thoughtful about their shinobi careers," Kabuto smiled, ruffling his ash-white hair. "Fine, I'll take over her training; you go check on how our dear teachers are doing."
"Don’t bully her!"
"I won’t."
While the two adults bantered, Morgan focused on the fish, pouring her heart into reviving it. Maybe being a medic isn’t so bad after all.
Meanwhile, in the Uzumaki Namikaze House:
Meanwhile, back at the Namikaze house, Kushina mentioned seeing a girl with red hair in the village.
“Only Uzumaki here is you, Kushina,” Minato said absently, glancing up from his paperwork.
“She was cute,” Kushina mused, a small smile on her face. “Maybe she’s an orphan? We should meet her.”
“Yeah! We could be friends!” Natsuki’s voice was full of excitement.
The rest of their conversation faded into laughter, blissfully unaware of the truth hidden in plain sight.
That night, Morgan stood in the empty district, gripping her wooden sword under the moonlight. The silence pressed around her, cold but comforting. Her hands moved in rhythm as she practiced the katas, her focus intense. This is my path now. She let her movements guide her, her breath steady and measured. It was here, in the solitude of the night, that she could finally feel herself becoming the person she was meant to be.