Konoha was still shrouded in mist, the sky just beginning to pale before the dawn. In the quiet streets, most of the villagers were still asleep. Dressed in white trimmed with red, Naruto stood out against the gray haze. The new gi, a purchase from Nekobaa, was cut in a style that echoed the robes of the Hokage, specifically, the one the Fourth Hokage used to wear.
Naruto woke this early almost every day, beginning his training before dawn and continuing until people started to rise. In a place devoid of games, nightlife, or entertainment, where almost everyone harbored ill will towards him, training became Naruto's sole focus, his only constant. That was how he endured the most difficult period of his life. He devoted himself entirely to it, consumed by the process, constantly pushing his limits, practically interweaving practice into his daily life.
Training could be addictive, and Naruto was utterly engrossed in it, much like his teacher, Goku. By the time Naruto truly became aware of his own strength, he was already formidable. It could be said that Konoha's villagers were partly responsible for his current power, though he wouldn't thank them for it. Atleast not in conventional sense, he would give them a gift in future though.
As the first light appeared on the horizon, it painted the edges of the clouds in a faint, bloody red. A clean fragrance filled the air, the night rain had washed away the dust and grime, and with it, carried the damp scent of the village into every breathing pore. Naruto walked at a leisurely pace through what would soon be Konoha's busiest streets, passing the first of the early morning commuters.
Not long after he passed, an uncle setting up his stall rubbed his eyes. "Am I seeing things?" he muttered. "Was that... Fourth Hokage-sama?"
He wasn't the only one. As Naruto grew, his resemblance to the Fourth Hokage had become undeniable. Paired with the white robes, it was easy to mistake him for a miniature version of the village's lost hero.
"No, that's not the Fourth," another villager shook his head in denial, saying grimly, "It's that thing."
'That thing'. The name Konoha had given him, a public secret that was never spoken aloud but understood by all.
"Is he trying to imitate the Fourth Hokage?" someone else whispered.
Did he believe that his resemblance and similar attire would make Konoha villagers change their minds, simply by reminding them of the Fourth? No, that was impossible. Instead, the villagers disliked Naruto even more. The reason? His uncanny resemblance to the Fourth.
It wasn't that no villagers suspected a connection between Naruto and the Fourth. But such suspicions were quickly dismissed, vanishing without a trace. 'The demon fox couldn't possibly belong to the Fourth. It just couldn't.' If that were true, it would prove them wrong.
So Konoha villagers preferred to believe another rumor: that the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox possessed an evil ability to transform into the person it killed. Once pity was shown, you'd be the next to be devoured. Such a story, baseless, absurd, bizarre, and illogical as it was, became mainstream among Konoha's villagers and even spread among ordinary shinobi. The great clans, knowing the truth, remained silent.
Thus, the more Naruto resembled the Fourth, the more Konoha's villagers detested him.
Naruto, however, paid no mind to any of this, continuing on his way. Feeling the malice radiating from the surrounding villagers, he felt no injustice, in fact, he found it laughable.
'Hate me all you want,' he thought. 'You'll just have to live with it. Anyone who physically bothers me can spend sometime in Root. I'm not the same kid you all used to bully.'
He stopped in front of an old, rustic gate and waited silently for it to open.
'3... 2... 1...' He knew the timing by now. In a few moments, the wooden door creaked open, and the Hyuga girl with the bobbed hair stepped out, her movements timid.
"Good morning, Hinata-chan," Naruto greeted her with a smile so bright it seemed to dazzle her.
Hinata stared for a moment before her senses returned. A deep blush crept up her neck, and she lowered her head, nervously fiddling with her fingers. "G-good morning, Naruto-kun."
"Come on, let's get to the Academy," he said, and without another word, he took her small hand and started running.
'Naruto-kun held my hand!' Hinata's face was completely flushed, her entire world shrinking to the feeling of his fingers intertwined with hers. Her blood rushed to her head, and a wave of dizziness made her almost forget to breathe.
The moment his hand closed around hers, Naruto's expression shifted subtly. He cast a discreet glance at her face and saw it, an extremely faint scar near her eye.
'Hyuga training,' he realized. She must have been defeated by Hanabi, her sister who was five years younger, because she couldn't bring herself to hurt her. And for that, they had stripped her of her right as the clan heir. 'So she's not the heiress anymore? That's fine by me.'
He looked back at her. "Hinata-chan," he said gently, "you don't have to watch me train from the shadows anymore. From now on, let's train together. I'll help you."
Hinata looked up, slightly stunned. Staring at his captivating smile, she momentarily forgot her shyness and nodded vigorously. "Mm."
A second later, under Naruto's surprised gaze, she fainted.
'Naruto-kun... he wants to train with me...'
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In the classroom, a group of girls were chattering away as usual, their conversation revolving almost exclusively around how handsome and cool Sasuke was. Naruto's name only ever came up in a negative light.
After gently placing the fainted Hinata in her seat, Naruto turned to Sasuke, who was sitting behind him, and said, "Sasuke, you're really popular, aren't you?"
"Tch, what a pain," Sasuke grumbled, looking annoyed. "This is time I could be using for training. I still haven't mastered that Fire Release jutsu you showed me." He gave Naruto a surprised look. "It's rare to see you show up in person. Usually it's just a clone."
Sasuke had long known that Naruto used Shadow Clones to slack off. Sasuke's own Shadow Clone Jutsu wasn't as good as Naruto's, and frequent use would get him caught by the teachers. So Sasuke only used it every few days.
"Enjoy this last year at the Academy while you can," Naruto said, his voice lowering. "A year from now, I have a feeling things will be very different for you."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, catching the hidden meaning. Naruto leaned in closer, his voice just a whisper. "Right, Pretty Boy?"
Naruto, Karin, Sasuke, Neji, and Rock Lee all had codenames for their private training sessions. Naruto was 'Uzumaki,' Karin was 'Tomie,' and Sasuke... Sasuke was 'Pretty Boy.'
"I told you not to call me that!" Sasuke hissed, his face flushing crimson as Naruto grinned.
--**--**
Narrator:
Is "that thing" really the best nickname Konoha could come up with after a decade of collective hatred? Such lack of creativity!
How many faintings before Konoha opens a public Hinata Recovery Unit?
What if Naruto just printed "NOT THE NINE-TAILS" on his gi and called it a day? Will it push the villagers past their breaking point?
Does calling him 'Pretty Boy' count as psychological warfare or just accurate branding?
Will Hinata survive her first crush-induced stroke before graduation?
Is Root now Naruto's personal punishment division or just his customer service department?
--**--**
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"Finally, a product that helps me pass out in style!"- Hinata, probably.
Ask your clan head before use. Side effects may include giggling, spontaneous training montages, and accidental declarations of love.
--**--**
"Introducing: HOKAGE COSPLAY PRO™ - by Nekobaa Industries!"
Now you too can alienate your entire village while honoring your dead dad! Complete with anti-wrinkle flame trim and 100% chakra-absorbent fabric for when your trauma sweats just won't quit.
Side effects include: mistaken identity, emotional flashbacks, and unsolicited public hatred.
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Warning: Nekobaa is not responsible for fainting girls, triggered villagers, or intergenerational war crimes.
--**--**
Find out more next time on:
"Fainting Heart! Hinata's 0.3 Seconds of Conscious Romance"
===============
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