Haruto felt like he was going to die of boredom. He had looked forward to reliving his campus life, but once school actually started, he realized just how dull it really was.
Every day in class was the same: a bunch of little kids either bragging, messing around, eating snacks, sleeping, chatting—or worse—flirting. No, not flirting. Picking up handsome guys.
Haruto glanced around and spotted the group of little girls swarming around Sasuke—and even a few around him. He was speechless.How old are you all? Already obsessed with good looks? As expected, everyone in the Naruto world is precocious...
His eyes wandered over to a quiet corner of the room—there she was. Hinata. No matter how many times he looked, she was always cute. Definitely the wife I've reserved.
Right now, Hinata probably hadn't fallen for Naruto yet, and that made Haruto feel a bit more relaxed.
Then, with a small frown, he turned around and stared coldly at Naruto.
"Boss? Boss, why are you looking at me like that?" Naruto shivered under Haruto's sharp gaze, confused and a little scared.
Haruto leaned over and said in a low voice, "You see that girl over there?"
Naruto blinked. "Huh? No, what girl? Boss, what's going on?"
Haruto sighed with relief. "Good. I like that girl. You better not have any thoughts about her. Got it?"
Naruto looked confused for a second before puffing out his chest. "Boss, why would I like a girl like that? I like Sakura!" he declared, eyes practically twinkling with admiration as he glanced at the pink-haired girl.
"Perfect," Haruto nodded to himself. This time, I won't fumble the love story like you did.
Finally, school ended.
"Boss, let's go! I found a new secret base!" Naruto said excitedly, bouncing with energy as always.
"Pass. I've got something to do today."If chasing girls counts as something important…
Naruto instantly deflated. Without Haruto, he really had no one else to play with.
Haruto rolled his eyes. "Don't give me that 'abandoned puppy' look. I'll buy you ramen later."
"Long live the boss!" Naruto shouted with joy.
Haruto chuckled but felt a flicker of guilt.Sorry, Naruto…
As he left school, Haruto spotted Hinata, but to his disappointment, she was being escorted by Hyuga clan guards.
He had originally planned to casually walk home with her, slowly building their bond. But now? Not a chance.
Watching her enter the Hyuga compound, he sighed in frustration.Looks like I'll need another plan…
Nearly a week passed, and Haruto still hadn't found a good way to approach Hinata.
Though he liked her, Haruto didn't want to make it obvious to everyone—not yet. At least not until he had something real with her. Not when it could turn into gossip among their classmates.
Think about it… if one day Sasuke confessed that he liked a girl, that girl would be instantly surrounded and harassed by all the other girls.
Now, I'm just as popular as Sasuke—maybe even more.If people found out I liked Hinata, wouldn't that just bring her endless trouble?
If it were someone outgoing like Sakura or Ino, it wouldn't be a big deal. But Hinata?She's too shy and gentle. She'd definitely get bullied.If you really like someone, you've got to think about what's best for her.
The only problem is... she's always accompanied by someone outside of school. Getting close is seriously difficult.
Forget it. Don't dwell on it. Let's focus on today's task—teaching some so-called bully a lesson.
Haruto had never heard of real bullies in the village. Who would be dumb enough to cause trouble in Konoha of all places? Still, he decided to go see for himself.
When he arrived, he saw a group of kids, just a little taller than him, surrounding someone.
Haruto raised an eyebrow. These are the "bullies"?
Wait a minute… that scene looked too familiar.
The child being picked on… was Hinata?
Haruto's expression darkened.This can't be tolerated. You dare to bully my future wife? You're asking for it.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure in a bright orange outfit.
That yellow blur… of course it's Naruto.Is this fate's setup again? Naruto saving Hinata, getting close to her, and the two of them falling for each other?
No way. I won't let that happen.
But Naruto, in typical fashion, wasn't thinking that far ahead. He just saw Hinata in trouble and instantly got mad.
"Stop!" he yelled, charging forward.
But just as he started to run, something tripped him, and he landed face-first with a loud "thud!"
The bullies burst out laughing.
"Pfft—hahahaha!"
But before they could enjoy it too long, Haruto appeared behind them like a ghost.
"Bad kids are the worst," he said coldly. "But the ones who bully Hinata? Absolutely unforgivable."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In a blur, Haruto dropped the bullies one by one, then hung them from a tree like wind chimes.He turned back to Hinata with the warmest smile he could muster.
"Are you okay, Hinata?"
Hinata's face turned beet red.
"N-no, I mean, y-yes… I'm okay," she stammered.
Just then, Naruto pushed himself off the ground, groaning, "Oww… my leg. Something hit me. I swear it wasn't me being clumsy this time."
Haruto deadpanned, "Really now? You've fallen while running so many times, I've lost count. Just be honest—I won't blame you."
Naruto pouted. "But there was something! It wasn't my fault…"
Honestly, Naruto did enough dumb things on a daily basis that no one ever believed him anymore.
Looking at Hinata beside him, Haruto felt a strange nervousness. It wasn't often the two of them could be alone like this.
Not wanting to lose the moment, he quickly pulled out two Ichiraku Ramen coupons from his pocket and handed them to Naruto.
"Go eat ramen by yourself. Don't get in the way."
Naruto's eyes lit up immediately. "Oh~ Boss~" he said with a cheeky, suggestive grin.
"Scram."
Satisfied, Haruto watched Naruto jog off toward the ramen shop.
Meanwhile, hidden in the bushes nearby, one of the Hyuga clan's guards had been about to step out when he saw Naruto appear. But now that Naruto was gone and it was only Haruto left, the ninja quietly sank back into the grass.
After all, the eldest lady didn't have many friends. And Haruto—polite, well-liked, and a member of the Yamanaka Clan—seemed harmless enough.
Haruto turned back to look at Hinata. She stood there quietly, looking even more delicate than usual.
She really was too cute.
Then he noticed a bit of dirt on her clothes. Without thinking, he leaned in gently and brushed it off, even reaching out to straighten her messy hair.
Hinata froze. Her cheeks flushed a bright red. She looked like she might pass out on the spot.
Haruto smiled softly. Even though I already knew she was shy… seeing it up close like this really makes your heart melt.
If Naruto could make her strong in the original timeline… then surely he could too.
"Why didn't you fight back?" Haruto asked, still smiling warmly.
He knew Hinata's skills. Even at this age, she was no pushover. As a child of the Hyuga clan, she had been training in Gentle Fist since she could walk. Those kids earlier were no match for her.
"I… I…" Hinata's lips trembled. Her voice was barely a whisper, and her eyes welled up slightly.
So soft-hearted, Haruto thought. He gently patted her head again.
"Hinata-chan is just too kind."
"Huh…?" she blinked up at him, stunned.
"Sometimes… you need to learn to be brave." Haruto looked up at the clouds. "People get stronger when they have something to fight for—whether it's their dreams, or someone important they want to protect."
He turned back toward her.
"What about you, Hinata? Do you have a dream? Someone you want to protect?"
Hinata hesitated, her fingers fidgeting at the hem of her sleeve. Then, in a voice as light as the wind, she answered:
"I… I want to be a strong ninja… like my father. But I also want to be gentle, like my mother. And I… I want to protect them. My father, my mother… and my little sister."
Haruto smiled and stepped a little closer.
"Then say it out loud."
"H-huh?"
"Shout it," he encouraged. "Say your dream—and who you want to protect. Say it to the sky."
Hinata looked around, checking that no one else was nearby. She hesitated for a long moment.
Then, blushing furiously, she took a deep breath and raised her voice—louder than usual, though still softer than most.
"I… I want to become an excellent ninja! I want to be as strong as my father… and as gentle as my mother! I want to protect my father, my mother, and… my little sister!"
As soon as she finished, steam practically rose from her head. Her knees wobbled like jelly. She looked seconds away from fainting.
Haruto grinned. That's it. That's the first step.
"If you remember how you feel right now," Haruto said softly, "I think you'll definitely become stronger, Hinata."
Hinata blinked at him, wide-eyed.
Haruto gave her a warm smile. "Come on, let's go eat some red bean paste."
Hinata tilted her head slightly, surprised. "Huh? Does Haruto-kun like red bean paste?"
Haruto chuckled. "Not really. I just know you love it."
Hinata's face turned bright red on the spot. Her knees wobbled slightly, and her mind blanked out completely. She looked like she might topple over at any moment.
Haruto, watching her reaction, couldn't help the grin tugging at his lips.
She's really just… unbearably cute.
Then he touched the corner of his mouth, puzzled.
Lately, I catch myself smiling without even noticing… What's happening to me?