Chapter 4: A Shinobi’s Appearance & The Voices Within

Naruto stretched his arms, letting out a satisfied sigh after finishing his meal. The moment of peace between him and Ino was rare, and for once, he didn't feel like he had to force a conversation.

But then—

"By the way," Ino suddenly spoke up, looking him up and down with a critical eye, "you seriously need to do something about your clothes."

Naruto blinked. "Huh? What's wrong with my clothes?"

Ino crossed her arms. "Everything."

Naruto looked down at himself—his worn-out orange jacket, the baggy pants, and the scuffed sandals he had worn for ages.

"What do you mean?" he asked, genuinely confused.

Ino scoffed. "I mean, you're a ninja! Or at least, you're supposed to be training to be one. That outfit? It's like you're walking around with a giant 'hit me' sign on your back. The color is way too bright, the material is cheap, and you look like you haven't changed your clothes in days."

Naruto frowned. "Hey, I take baths, y'know!"

Ino rolled her eyes. "That's not the point. You need to start dressing like a shinobi. Darker colors, better fabric, something that actually helps you blend in instead of making you stand out like some lost civilian."

Naruto scratched his cheek. "But... this is just what I wear. Besides, I like orange."

Ino sighed dramatically. "Liking a color doesn't mean you should wear it head to toe, Naruto! Do you ever see any actual ninja running around in bright orange? Even Lee tones it down with some green!"

Naruto pouted. "Tch. Fine, fine, I get it…"

He didn't get it.

Ino sighed again. "Honestly, I don't even know how you survived this long dressed like that."

And then—

"She's absolutely right, you know."

Naruto stiffened.

That voice—

It wasn't Ino's.

Another voice chuckled beside him. "Indeed. A shinobi must be unseen, undetected. Your fashion sense is a disgrace to your training."

Naruto turned his head sharply—

And saw them.

The two figures standing right beside him.

One had a confident smirk, with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked eerily similar to Naruto, but with sharper eyes and a more composed aura.

The other had a calm expression, his presence more refined—almost noble. Unlike the first, his stance was relaxed, yet there was a weight in his gaze that made him seem far wiser than his youthful appearance suggested.

Naruto's breath hitched.

They were real.

For the first time, they weren't just whispers in his mind.

Naruto's body stiffened as he locked eyes with the two figures beside him. His mind raced—why could he see them so clearly now? Were they always this vivid?

"Still as slow as ever," the smirking one said, shaking his head. "You finally push your body a little, and now you think you're untouchable? Pathetic."

The other figure sighed, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "At least he is making progress. But that girl is right—your appearance is an insult to the path of a shinobi."

Naruto scowled. "Shut up! Who even asked you guys?" he muttered under his breath.

Ino raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Did you say something?"

Naruto flinched. Shit.

He quickly shook his head. "N-No! I was just, uh, thinking about what you said!" He forced a laugh. "Maybe you have a point about the clothes."

Ino gave him a suspicious look but let it slide. "Well, obviously. You should listen to me more."

The smirking figure chuckled. "You're lucky she can't hear us, brat. Otherwise, you'd look even more insane than usual."

Naruto ignored them and focused on Ino instead. "So, uh... if my clothes are so bad, what am I supposed to wear?"

Ino huffed, placing a hand on her hip. "For starters, something darker. Blue, black, maybe even dark gray. You need something practical, something that actually makes you look like a shinobi, not some festival mascot."

Naruto scratched his cheek. "Tch. That sounds boring, though."

Ino rolled her eyes. "It's called 'being efficient.' Besides, you don't exactly have the best reputation. People already look down on you, so you might as well dress like you actually belong."

Naruto went silent for a moment.

It wasn't like she was wrong.

"She sees what you refuse to," the golden-eyed figure murmured. "You are not just any shinobi. The way you present yourself determines how others treat you."

Naruto gritted his teeth. He knew that already. He had known it his whole life.

And yet, hearing it from both Ino and these two strangers made it sting a little more.

"Fine," he mumbled. "I'll think about it."

Ino smirked. "Good. Now come on, let's go find something that doesn't make my eyes bleed."

As she turned and walked ahead, Naruto glanced to the side again—

But the two figures were gone.

As Ino walked through the marketplace with Naruto, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. His bright orange jacket and baggy blue pants were an eyesore. The more she looked, the more irritated she felt.

"Seriously, how has no one told him how ridiculous he looks? Is it because no one cares?"

She pursed her lips, recalling the way her father had caught Naruto trying to buy things in disguise. She had expected him to react with anger or frustration, but instead… he had smiled. That big, dumb, honest smile, as if he had completely ignored how awful that moment must have been for him.

It made her feel strangely guilty.

Her father wasn't wrong to stop Naruto's deception, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was his only option. The way the shopkeeper had thrown him out, the harsh words muttered under his breath—Naruto had endured it all without complaint.

"I guess I should make it up to him somehow…"

Clearing her throat, she turned to Naruto with a haughty look. "Alright, listen up! Since your sense of fashion is a total disaster, I, the great Yamanaka Ino, will personally help you fix it!"

Naruto blinked at her. "Huh?"

She sighed. "Honestly, if you want to be taken seriously as a shinobi, you need to start dressing like one."

As she spoke, two figures manifested beside Naruto—though only he could see them.

The long-haired man smirked, folding his arms. "Well, she's not wrong. You do look like a clown, brat."

The golden-eyed figure nodded. "Presentation matters. A warrior should dress in a way that demands respect."

Naruto scowled but didn't respond. He wasn't sure if he was annoyed at them or at the fact that everyone seemed to agree with Ino.

Meanwhile, Ino, unaware of his inner thoughts, grabbed his wrist and started dragging him toward a clothing stall. "Come on! We're fixing this now!"

For a moment, Naruto hesitated.

But then, he let himself be pulled along.

After all, this was the first time someone had ever cared enough to bother.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over Konoha as Naruto stood in front of the mirror inside the clothing shop. His usual bright orange jumpsuit was gone, replaced by a black and blue jacket that fit snugly around his frame, paired with dark navy pants that had reinforced knee guards. The shinobi sandals on his feet felt more practical, and the added pockets on his outfit made him feel strangely… capable.

Naruto blinked at his own reflection, tilting his head slightly. Was this really me?

Behind him, Ino stood with her arms crossed, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. "See? This is how a real shinobi should dress."

She had insisted on picking out his outfit after watching him get thrown out of the store earlier. Her father's interference had already made her feel guilty, and somehow, seeing Naruto getting humiliated had left a bad taste in her mouth. She didn't understand why, but she felt the need to at least do something for him.

And now, watching him in a proper shinobi outfit, she had to admit—he actually looked good.

Not in the way that Sasuke looked good, of course. That was different. But still…

She shook her head, trying to dismiss the weird feeling creeping up on her.

Naruto, on the other hand, was still adjusting to the change. He tugged at the jacket collar, frowning slightly. "Feels kinda tight…"

A chuckle came from beside him.

"Not bad, brat," the long-haired figure from his dreams mused, standing just to his left. "You finally look the part."

The golden-eyed man nodded in approval. "Now, all that remains is to see if you can act the part."

Naruto twitched slightly but said nothing. Ino, of course, didn't seem to hear or see them, as she was too busy analyzing his new appearance.

She tapped a finger against her chin. "Hmm… maybe you should do something about your hair too. It's too spiky."

Naruto scowled. "Oi! My hair is fine!"

The long-haired man smirked. "She's not wrong, you know."

Ino gave a satisfied nod, not realizing that, for once, Naruto had two unseen voices agreeing with her.

Her arms dropped to her hips as she gave him one final once-over. "Well, at least you don't look like a walking traffic cone anymore."

Naruto rolled his eyes, but deep down, he couldn't deny that this felt… different. The clothes weren't just about appearance—they made him feel a little more like he belonged.

Ino noticed the small shift in his posture, the way he subconsciously stood a little taller.

She scoffed, crossing her arms again. "You better not go back to that ugly jumpsuit, got it?"

Naruto huffed. "Tch. No promises."

Ino sighed, but she let it slide. After all, she had already done enough for today.

As they stepped out of the shop, she glanced at him one last time.

For some reason, the image of his earlier smile—grateful, bright, and untainted by the bitterness she had expected—lingered in her mind longer than it should have.

And she wasn't sure why.