Chapter 10: Hinata Hyuga

Naruto wandered over unsteadily.

When he arrived, he saw a considerable crowd gathered.

Many were gritting their teeth in anger, so consumed by their hatred that they barely noticed Naruto’s presence.

It seemed their animosity toward the external enemy took precedence over their hatred of him, the Nine-Tails.

Peering inside, Naruto saw the crowd was densely packed. Outside the inn, there was even Anbu protection—likely to prevent anyone from attacking the Hidden Cloud’s representative team.

With so many people, even eating something unpleasant wouldn’t be done quickly.

Better to go home.

In truth, Naruto was somewhat interested in this other country, but there were simply too many people.

He had thought the war with the Hidden Cloud had ended, but two days later, things seemed to shift again.

Yet, as an outsider, none of this concerned him; he didn’t even know the details.

He tried to ask around, but no one would pay him any attention.

The only thing Naruto could do was to strengthen himself—constantly and relentlessly—because only by doing so could he secure a steadfast anchor in this turbulent and dangerous world.

Another two days passed.

That evening, after finishing a bowl of tonkotsu chashu ramen, Naruto took a stroll to aid digestion. When he reached the usual swing, he sat down and swung for half an hour.

Childhood was truly interesting.

Perhaps four-year-old Naruto hadn’t realized it, but twenty-four-year-old Naruto certainly did: yes, indeed.

There was so much free time, every day spent wandering and exploring the world.

After swinging for half an hour, Naruto prepared to head home.

It had snowed heavily that morning, leaving a thick blanket on the ground.

The weather was cold, yet he wore light clothing.

His fire-natured chakra continuously warmed his body, while his wind-natured chakra countered the chill breeze. With chakra control at an impressive level of 132 points, Naruto’s mastery over these elements was near perfect.

When away from home, without revealing his superhuman abilities, this was how he trained himself.

There were few pedestrians along the way; he walked a long stretch without encountering anyone.

Until—

A little girl dressed in black sprinted from afar. After a few steps, she fell and began to cry.

“What’s wrong?” Naruto approached.

She was about his age.

There were no adults following her, which strangely pleased Naruto.

Finally, someone to talk to.

“Say something. Just crying won’t tell me what happened.”

“I—I…”

“Where’s your home?” Naruto moved closer and noticed the girl had pale eyes.

Those eyes looked familiar.

It seemed only one family possessed such eyes.

“Come on, I’ll take you home.” Saying that, Naruto took her hand.

Along the way, Naruto kept talking, but the girl remained silent, like a mute confidant.

People are social creatures after all. Deep inside, Naruto longed to make a friend.

There was once a question: if one had ample food, Wi-Fi, and devices, how long could they stay home alone?

Some said half a year, others a lifetime, some claimed they’d go mad within months.

But aren’t phones and computers forms of social interaction?

They constantly deliver fresh news and enable online communication.

What about Naruto?

He had nothing.

No one spoke to him, no one kept him company, and those who hated him wouldn’t spare him a glance.

More people avoided him as if he carried some contagious disease.

Naruto felt endless loneliness; without a strong heart, he might have shattered.

In a past life, he was so lively—how had he fallen to such depths in this one?

At this moment, Naruto deeply understood Tom Hanks’ plight in Cast Away.

He wasn’t stranded on an island, yet it felt just as isolating. Surrounded by people, yet utterly without someone to talk to.

This little girl was his Wilson.

After a long conversation, they arrived at the gate of the Hyuga estate.

“Your home is pretty big.”

With such a mansion, parents, and countless companions, why would she be so sad as to run out crying?

It seemed a little pretentious.

Though he thought this, Naruto still asked gently, “With such a big family, why do you cry?”

“Look at me. I have no family, but I never shed tears easily.” Naruto smiled brightly—a smile of resolve.

“Thank you~~~”

After sending her home, Naruto waved goodbye with a smile.

He thought that was the end of it.

Unexpectedly, two years later—

On another snowy winter day, Naruto sat on the swing again.

Childhood days were so dull and repetitive.

Besides fishing, playing pranks, swinging, lying on Hokage Rock to feel the breeze, adventuring in the forest, or sitting high to observe the village, there was little else to do alone.

As Naruto checked his stats panel, planning his next strength upgrade, a commotion arose behind him.

“Are you a Hyuga girl? Show us the Byakugan!”

“If you don’t want to, don’t look. Those eyes are creepy.”

“You’re basically a monster.”

“Byakugan monster!”

“Hahaha!”

Byakugan monster?

Ha!

Naruto hated those who discriminated against him for physical traits. He was despised by the entire village because of the Nine-Tails.

“This kind of thing, I, Naruto Uzumaki, the bane of evil, cannot shirk!”

“Hey! Let go of that girl!” Naruto shouted, rushing forward.

“Who are you?” one boy asked.

“My name is—” Naruto was cut off.

“I know you! You’re the one who scribbles everywhere.”

“Yes, that’s me.”

Naruto nodded; all those acts were to complete the prankster side quests.

“A prankster?”

“People like you are idiots, right?”

“Hahaha, moron.”

The three took turns mocking him; without hesitation, Naruto stepped forward.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Three sharp slaps landed.

The three boys’ right cheeks instantly flushed bright red, swollen high.

They stood dumbfounded, stunned until the pain hit them.

Suddenly, one after another screamed in pain.

Seeing this, Naruto raised his hand again, ready to strike.

“Run!” shouted the ringleader as they fled, leaving two crying and running behind.

“Hahaha.”

For some reason, bullying kids was quite fun.

Oh, he was a kid too.

That made it okay.

“Um…”

“What’s up?” Naruto turned to the girl.

Deep blue hair, pale eyes, about his age.

She looked familiar somehow.

“Thank you very, very much,” Hinata bowed gratefully.

“No big deal, thank you~~”

Naruto waved goodbye.

It was time to eat; he had to hurry to grab a seat.

Halfway there, Naruto suddenly remembered.

Wasn’t this the same little girl he had escorted home two years ago?

He never expected that after two years, she would still be so timid... umm... well...

Forget it, time to eat.

Meanwhile, Hinata watched Naruto’s departing figure, just watching, watching...