No longer paying attention to the runaway child—who would most likely go crying to his mother again—Naruto sighed inwardly. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
But he wasn't the same Naruto anymore.
Now blessed with the divine gift of Heaven Rewards Diligence, how could he let himself be bullied by a group of ordinary brats?
Naruto turned his gaze to Hinata—the girl who, in her past life, had been known as the Byakugan Princess.
Her face was delicate like a porcelain doll, her pale lavender eyes lacking distinct pupils.
That innocent expression, paired with her naturally adorable features, struck a soft chord in Naruto's heart. It wasn't that he had feelings for Hinata—rather, it was her purity, both in face and spirit, that resonated with him.
Back when she was little, she'd been like a blank sheet of paper—untainted and serene.
Thinking of the girl who had once loved him with unwavering devotion, Naruto suddenly found it strange that the original Naruto had fallen for Sakura—a girl who had despised him from the beginning.
Even though Sakura's opinion of him changed over time, it was more out of necessity than affection. She needed his strength to bring Sasuke back. Most of the time, the only word she said to him was his name—and usually when she was in trouble.
Naruto shook his head, brushing away those thoughts. He looked back at the girl in front of him and offered a gentle smile.
"Hi, my name's Uzumaki Naruto. What's yours?"
Even though he already knew her name, they hadn't officially met. If he acted like he already knew her, it might raise suspicion—especially from the Third Hokage.
Hinata glanced at him, then lowered her watery eyes, nervously fiddling with her fingers. It was a habit of hers—she would rub her fingers together whenever she felt anxious.
"M-my name is H-Hinata… Hinata Hyuga…"
She stammered, her cheeks instantly flushing red.
Pfft!
Naruto couldn't help but laugh. This girl was truly shy to the core.
He gently reached out and took her hand. "Where's your home? I'll walk you back."
Hinata raised a trembling hand and pointed in a direction. Naruto began to walk, but then felt a sudden tug. He looked back to find Hinata frozen in place, her face redder than ever, as though she were about to faint.
Startled, Naruto quickly let go. "Ah—sorry! I didn't mean to!"
Then it struck him—this was exactly how Hinata had acted in the original timeline. Back then, she'd even gotten the nickname Steam Princess because of the visible "steam" from her flustered reactions.
This was the real world, though—there was no literal steam—but her expression was just as exaggerated as ever.
"No… it's okay…"
Seeing how timid she was, Naruto softened his expression and smiled. "Let's go."
This time, he didn't take her hand. He was afraid she really might pass out.
The two of them walked in silence along the snow-covered streets. Hinata kept stealing glances at Naruto from the corner of her eye.
Konoha was far larger and more developed than he had imagined—more than just a small town like in his past life. After taking a few turns based on Hinata's directions, they finally arrived.
The place was expansive and clearly distinguished from the surrounding homes. It exuded prestige.
This was the Hyuga Clan estate.
Naruto removed his scarf and draped it gently over Hinata's shoulders. She didn't resist, but her face flushed red again.
While he helped her adjust the scarf, she nervously scratched her fingers and traced invisible circles on the ground with her foot, not daring to meet his eyes.
"All right, it's getting late. Head inside."
Naruto watched as Hinata walked toward the gate and knocked gently. A moment later, a servant opened the door, clearly shocked to see her outside.
"Lady Hinata! What are you doing out here?"
Then the maid spotted Naruto. A flash of disdain crossed her face.
"Lady Hinata, that boy is the Nine-Tails' vessel. You shouldn't associate with him."
Naruto turned to leave, but the maid's words pierced through the night air and made him freeze.
And then—he heard something that made his heart flutter.
"Naruto-kun is not a monster!"
The maid was stunned. She turned to see Hinata looking up, her pale eyes filled with quiet determination. She was actually standing up for him.
Despite her reputation for being timid and unfit for the role of heir, her words carried weight. The maid felt a jolt of fear. If anyone else from the clan overheard this—especially the elder or the branch house stewards—there could be consequences.
"I—I'm sorry, Lady Hinata…"
The maid quickly bowed and apologized.
Naruto picked up his pace and left the Hyuga estate behind, his steps noticeably lighter. He was in an excellent mood.
Not only had he just met his future wife—at least in his eyes—but, more importantly, Hinata hadn't shown him the same malice others did. In fact, her reaction was quite the opposite.
Even more satisfying was the progress he'd made in his training.
By Naruto's own estimation, he had already reached the level of a Genin. With the help of his unique ability—Heaven Rewards Diligence—he had evolved a basic Fire Release technique into something far greater: a rapid-fire sequence of explosive Fireball Jutsu.
They weren't any weaker than the Uchiha Clan's famed Great Fireball Technique!
At his current level, Naruto believed he was already stronger than Kakashi was at the same age. And Kakashi hadn't relied on any cheats or bloodline advantages—just raw talent. If not for falling into despair later in life, Kakashi would've been a true monster.
There was still a long road ahead—but Naruto was determined to walk it.
The next day, the report on the previous day's events landed on the desk of the Third Hokage.
"You may go."
"Yes."
The ANBU agent in a painted mask knelt, then disappeared in a blur of motion.
Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly read through the scroll.
According to the report, Naruto continued to train every day. He'd been obsessively working on a self-made fireball technique. It wasn't particularly powerful—about the size of a human head—but it showed clear signs of talent. His chakra control and ninjutsu development were advancing steadily.
Another line caught the old Hokage's eye.
Hinata?
He leaned back, stroking his beard.
"Perhaps… forming a bond wouldn't be such a bad thing for Naruto."
Hiruzen murmured to himself. While Naruto always put on a cheerful face in front of him, he remained guarded around most others.
Well, of course he did. Being called the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki all his life—any child would become withdrawn under such pressure.
Yet, the boy still looked up to him, relied on him. That thought gave the old Hokage a sense of fulfillment.
"Danzo… this is why I'm Hokage."
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
Today was the day for enrollment at the Ninja Academy, and the Third Hokage himself accompanied Naruto.
"Now, Naruto," Hiruzen said kindly, "when you enter the Academy, make sure to study hard. Strive to become a great and honorable shinobi."
"I will, Grandpa Third!" Naruto beamed, nodding enthusiastically.
Looking at Hiruzen's wrinkled yet gentle face, Naruto couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
The Third Hokage had grown old. He was no longer the powerful shinobi of his prime. His decisions had become soft, muddled by age and politics.
The fallout from the Hyuga Hiashi incident just a year ago was a glaring example of Konoha's weakness under the current leadership.
The village was in decline—dragged down by the so-called "Konoha Elders," the F4.
The White Fang had been driven to suicide, the Legendary Sannin had either fled or gone rogue, and the Uchiha were on the verge of open rebellion.
This village was sitting on a powder keg—and the hand holding the match was trembling.
...
TN:
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