SWNOVELXO Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Naruto sighed as he walked through the halls of Casper High in Danny's body, his movements slow and deliberate. The lack of physical conditioning was painfully evident—this body lacked the reflexes, strength, and endurance Naruto was accustomed to. Even basic movements felt sluggish and awkward compared to what he could do in his prime. He couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.
"This kid hasn't even tried to take care of himself. No wonder Dash walks all over him," he muttered under his breath. Still, Naruto knew better than to judge Danny harshly. The boy hadn't been given the tools or the environment to thrive. That was about to change.
Despite his disappointment, Naruto had spent the day gathering information, both from Danny's memories and his observations. The boy's life wasn't just ordinary—it was frustratingly mundane yet filled with potential that had been squandered due to fear and ridicule. Naruto had quickly pieced together a list of Danny's unspoken desires:
Get good grades– The boy wanted to excel but lacked the confidence and discipline.Beat up Dash– A simple yet heartfelt goal that spoke volumes about Danny's suppressed anger.Look cool for the crowd– Naruto smirked at this one. It was a classic teenage wish.Become strong and buff with great martial skills– A dream that resonated deeply with Naruto's own upbringing.Learn magic– This caught Naruto's attention the most. Danny had a fascination with the supernatural, ironic given his denial of ghosts.Get some girls– Typical for a boy his age, though Naruto knew Danny's self-esteem made this an impossible dream.Win Pauline's affection– Ah, the unattainable queen of the school. Naruto chuckled to himself. "This one's going to be fun."
Naruto had also noticed something bizarre about this world. Ghosts were not only real but treated as an everyday occurrence. In his own world, ghosts and spirits didn't dare haunt the living. Chakra itself was a natural deterrent, and the abundance of skilled shinobi ensured the spiritual realm stayed in its lane. Here, the situation was vastly different, and Naruto understood why Danny's parents were so obsessed with the paranormal.
But Naruto wasn't here to grant Danny's dreams on a silver platter. That wasn't how growth worked. Instead, he would create opportunities—goals for Danny to strive toward—and guide him without handing over any shortcuts. Naruto's existence in this world was precarious. His soul was fragmented, and every action he took drained his limited presence. Giving Danny chakra or power directly would cause him to fade completely.
This limitation didn't frustrate Naruto. If anything, it solidified his approach. Danny needed to grow stronger through his own effort and determination. Naruto would provide guidance, push him in the right direction, and instill the discipline and courage the boy desperately needed.
The first step? Rebuilding Danny's reputation and confidence.
Naruto smirked, his sharp blue eyes gleaming with mischief. "Time to show these kids a different kind of Danny."
Naruto, inhabiting Danny's body, strolled toward Pauline with an air of confidence that turned heads. His steps were deliberate, his posture erect, and his piercing gaze locked onto hers with a magnetic intensity. The small crowd of students lounging outside the cafeteria began to notice, whispering to each other as the infamous Danny Fenton approached the most popular girl in school.
Pauline, seated among her entourage, looked up, expecting the usual awkward, stammering Danny. Instead, she was met with a version of him she didn't recognize. His walk, his smile, and even the tone of his voice as he spoke radiated something alien—powerful.
"Hey, Pauline, could I have a moment?" Naruto asked, his voice firm yet smooth, his eyes meeting hers without a hint of hesitation.
Pauline blinked, taken aback. She was used to attention, but not like this. This wasn't the fumbling admiration she received from most boys. This was sharp, direct, and unyielding. She hesitated, her carefully crafted aloof demeanor cracking for a moment.
"Uh... yes?" she replied, her voice unsure as her friends exchanged confused glances.
Danny, trapped inside his own mind, was in full panic mode. He watched in horror, unable to stop the scene unfolding before him. Pauline was his crush, someone he had dreamed of impressing, but this wasn't what he had in mind.
Naruto, however, remained unfazed. He stood before her, leaning slightly closer as he spoke, his hand gently lifting her chin. The boldness of the action silenced everyone nearby, all eyes on them.
"I find you beautiful on the outside," Naruto began, his words smooth yet cutting, "but you're ugly on the inside. So shallow it makes me want to puke."
A ripple of gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd. Pauline's expression froze, her confident smirk replaced by a mix of shock and indignation.
"Your future is limited," Naruto continued, his voice unrelenting. "Your shallow way of living will only carry you so far. Your beauty? It's temporary. In the end, the best you'll manage is landing some rich old man willing to put up with you. Otherwise? You'll lose in life."
Pauline's mouth opened, but no words came out. She was rarely caught off guard, let alone publicly. Naruto's words were a sharp blade cutting through her carefully cultivated ego.
"Still," he said, his tone softening slightly, his smirk playful, "I find you hot. So I'll give you an offer." His hand lingered on her chin for a moment before pulling away, letting his words hang in the air. "Become mine, and I'll show you a new world."
The silence was deafening. Pauline's friends were wide-eyed, mouths agape. The onlookers nearby were frozen, their disbelief palpable. Pauline herself was stunned, her mind scrambling to process what had just happened. For the first time in years, she didn't know how to respond.
Inside, Danny was on the verge of mental collapse. "What the hell are you doing?!" he screamed internally, his horror at the situation reaching its peak.
Naruto smiled, as calm and collected as ever, as if this confrontation were a mere game. Turning slightly to glance at the crowd, he gave a small nod to himself. "Step one: establish dominance. Let's see how far this will push her boundaries."
Pauline, still in shock, could only manage a faint, "What...?" as Naruto walked away, leaving her and everyone else in stunned silence.
Naruto, still in Danny's body, stood firm amidst the rising tension. The venom in his words was matched only by the eerie calm with which he delivered them, a stark contrast to the image of the timid, submissive Danny Fenton everyone knew.
"Well," Naruto began, his voice dripping with feigned sympathy, "you're probably going to say, 'That's not going to happen because I'm rich.'" He paused, allowing the crowd to hang on his every word. "No, your father is rich. You're just a leech."
The crowd erupted in gasps, and Pauline's face turned a furious red as Naruto continued, undeterred. "And the same goes for everyone here. You'll end up as nothing more than an expensive vase decorating some rich businessman's side—or worse, a crack whore—because let's be honest, you don't have what it takes to inherit the family business."
Pauline's composure cracked entirely. Her eyes widened in shock, her lips trembling as Naruto struck at the very insecurities she had buried deep inside. The crowd shifted uneasily, sensing the social explosion brewing.
"Your father's probably grooming your sibling for that role already," Naruto said, the smile on his face as sharp as a blade. "Why? Because time is money, and he's not wasting any more of it on you."
For a moment, the world seemed to stop. No one could believe the words spilling from Danny Fenton's mouth. The shy, awkward kid had just delivered one of the most brutal verbal takedowns the school had ever witnessed—and with a smile, no less.
Pauline, visibly shaking with anger, clenched her fists. "Boys, break his arms."
Her lackeys—the school's jocks—immediately moved in, circling Naruto like predators. But Naruto didn't flinch. Instead, he sighed dramatically, shaking his head.
"Aww, the princess was hurt, so her puppets have to defend her," he said, his voice carrying an air of mock pity. "Your actions only prove your immature mindset and lack of intellect."
Naruto turned slightly, addressing Pauline directly once more. "I won't hold this decision against you, though. You're just a child, after all. Maybe one day, you'll mature—or maybe I'll just lose interest in watching your predictable tantrums."
The jocks, now furious, moved closer, but Naruto turned on his heel, dismissing them entirely. "Ah, yes," he said, addressing them now with a wry smile, "you lot. The puppets of a little girl. Tell me, don't you feel any shame in being led around like dogs on a leash? Where's your dignity? Oh, wait—what am I saying? Your futures are already gutter trash."
Naruto's words were like a match tossed into a pool of gasoline. The crowd buzzed with nervous energy, half-expecting a fight to break out. One of the jocks lunged forward, but Naruto didn't miss a beat.
In a blur of motion, Naruto stepped aside, using the larger boy's momentum against him. The jock stumbled and fell, sprawling across the pavement in a heap. The move was so seamless, so fluid, that the crowd barely registered what had happened until the boy was on the ground, groaning in confusion.
Naruto didn't even break stride. His body moved with a grace and confidence that was entirely foreign to Danny's usual awkward gait. He walked through the crowd as if it parted for him naturally, slipping through the throng with an air of untouchable superiority.
The students stared, their jaws slack and their minds racing to process what they had just witnessed. Pauline's face was a mixture of fury and humiliation, and her friends whispered furiously among themselves.
Naruto didn't look back. Instead, he smirked to himself, his eyes glinting with amusement. Step two: make them question everything they know about Danny Fenton.
He disappeared into the academic block, leaving behind a stunned silence that was louder than any words could ever be.
Naruto, still in Danny's body, walked confidently toward the academic block, only for a voice to break his stride.
"That was so awesome!" Sam exclaimed, catching up to him, her dark eyes alight with excitement. There was a mix of admiration and confusion in her tone, though a flicker of irritation danced beneath her words. Even if you had to choose that slut, she thought bitterly but kept her expression neutral.
"Yeah, dude," Tucker added, practically bouncing beside them. "What did you eat today? And where the heck did you learn Jujitsu?" His voice was filled with genuine amazement, his excitement evident in the way he kept gesturing wildly.
Naruto chuckled lightly, letting their praise wash over him without breaking his stride. "My pleasure," he said smoothly, the edge of a grin tugging at his lips. "But this is just the beginning. Trust me, the best is yet to come."
Tucker blinked, his excitement turning to curiosity as Naruto turned to him with a serious expression. "Tucker, come to my house later. I have something important to discuss with you."
Tucker froze for a moment, startled by the weight in his friend's tone. Danny was rarely, if ever, this serious. It was enough to make his stomach churn with a mixture of curiosity and unease. "Uh, yeah, sure," he stammered. "I'll be there."
Naruto's lips twitched into a knowing smile, but before Tucker could ask any follow-up questions, Sam interjected, crossing her arms. "And what about me? Are you forgetting I exist?"
Naruto turned to her with an amused gleam in his eyes. "How could I forget you?" he replied, his voice dropping into a playful, teasing tone. Without missing a beat, he slid an arm around her waist, his hand capturing hers effortlessly. The motion was fluid and natural, as though it was something they did all the time.
Sam stiffened, her cheeks flushing red. "W-What are you doing?" she stammered, her usual sharp demeanor faltering as Naruto began to lead her away.
"Right, Tucker," Naruto called over his shoulder, ignoring her protest. "We'll see you later."
Tucker stood frozen, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes. His jaw worked soundlessly for a moment before he snapped it shut, a wave of jealousy washing over him. It wasn't just the arm around Sam's waist—it was the entire dynamic. Danny, usually awkward and uncertain, was now radiating confidence and charm. It was as though he'd been replaced by someone entirely different.
Tucker huffed, turning on his heel with a dramatic "hmph." He muttered under his breath, trying to convince himself otherwise. "I am not jealous. Nope. Not even a little bit."
But as he walked away, he couldn't shake the pang in his chest. What is going on with him?