The fox that roams freely

The blow landed hard on Naruto's face, a sharp crack echoing through the alley. His vision blurred, stars dancing in his eyes as pain radiated from his cheek. The villagers had been at him for hours now, their fists and insults relentless.Naruto had made a grave mistake leaving his apartment after dark for a grocery run. He knew the risks—nighttime was when the village's hostility burned brightest—but his growling stomach had won out. Ramen noodles and spoiled milk weren't enough to sustain a growing boy, and hunger had gnawed at him until he couldn't ignore it any longer.Using the cover of darkness, he'd slipped through the shadows, aiming for the market to grab some vegetables and meat—anything to put real nutrition in his body. To blend in, he'd smeared mud and dirt over his face and through his blonde hair, hoping to dull the unmistakable glow of his whisker-marked cheeks and bright blue eyes. But even with his hood up and his best efforts to stay unnoticed, he stood out like a beacon.A group of off-duty shinobi had spotted him skulking through the streets. Suspicious, they cornered him, demanding to know who he was. Naruto's heart pounded. Giving his name would be a death sentence—he knew what happened when the villagers recognized him. Panic surged, and in a moment of reckless desperation, he acted.As one of the shinobi turned his head, distracted by a shout from the others, Naruto swung. His fist connected with the man's jaw, a fleeting thrill of defiance coursing through him. But the satisfaction was short-lived. The shinobi's eyes blazed with fury, and before Naruto could react, a retaliatory punch sent him reeling.Now, hours later, he was paying the price for his impulsive act, trapped in a cycle of pain and punishment with no end in sight.