Uchiha Renji hadn't expected his opponent to press forward again. The move surprised him, but his hands didn't falter for even a heartbeat. With a flick of his wrists, two kunai sliced through the air, forcing his adversary to dodge. Taking advantage of the opening, Renji leapt high, landing directly in front of his opponent, and his hands began weaving seals in rapid succession.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
After an entire afternoon of practice, the fireball Renji could barely manifest at the size of a fingertip had grown to the size of his fist. And with his opponent standing so close, the sudden burst of flame caught his target's hair alight instantly.
Seeing their leader in trouble, the other two boys rushed him at once.
Pinned between attackers from both sides, Renji instinctively reached for more kunai, but in that instant both boys leapt at him, slamming him down and holding him by force. He was only four years old—how could he possibly match the strength of boys seven or eight years old? Powerless, Uchiha Renji found himself beaten mercilessly under their combined weight.
But as they struck him, Renji's fingers found the cold steel of a kunai in the dirt. He seized it, gripping tightly, and with a weapon in hand the other boys hesitated, unwilling to push their luck. At that moment, their leader's eyes drifted toward the shy girl standing nearby—Hyūga Hinata, lost in thought and too timid to act.
Renji instantly understood. They meant to take her hostage.
With a snap of his arm, he hurled two kunai, cutting off their advance before they could move. Then he darted toward Hinata, placing himself firmly in front of her, shielding her with his small frame. His last kunai gleamed in his hand as his crimson-tinged eyes locked onto the boys.
"Don't even think about it. If you want to hurt her, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"
His eyes flashed with something feral, a strange red glint flickering faintly in their depths. The aura he gave off was wild, almost predatory.
The three boys faltered. Their courage wavered. After all, the Uchiha were not known for gentle tempers. If word spread that they had attacked an Uchiha, their families—ordinary villagers with no clan power—would be in serious trouble. The only reason they'd ever dared to bully Hinata was her meek, submissive personality. In their eyes, the Hyūga clan's quiet young heiress would never complain. But facing Renji, they realized too late that he was not someone they could afford to cross.
Under his sharp gaze, the three finally backed down and slunk away. Renji let out a long breath of relief.
"T-thank you… I'm Hyūga Hinata," she whispered, her voice so soft it was like the buzz of a mosquito.
"Ding! System prompt: You have befriended Hyūga Hinata."
The mechanical voice echoed in Renji's mind, but he ignored it completely.
"I'm Uchiha Renji. No need to thank me. Boys are supposed to protect girls. And besides, we're from the same village—helping each other is only natural." He forced what he thought was a bright, sunny smile, though it looked more ridiculous than charming with half his face swollen and bruised.
"Thank you," Hinata said again, because she couldn't think of anything else.
"Grrrlll…"
Before Renji could say another word, his stomach growled loudly. He hadn't eaten since a light breakfast that morning, and after fighting all afternoon, his body's protest was impossible to ignore.
"Um… if it's okay, I'd like to treat you to something," Hinata said suddenly, mustering her courage.
Renji froze. In this world, Hinata was famously shy—even when talking to anyone besides Naruto, her face turned red. For her to actually invite him to eat? That was beyond rare.
"How could I let a girl pay? I'll treat you instead. I heard Ichiraku Ramen is amazing. Let's go try it!" Before Hinata could react, Renji grabbed her hand and tugged her along toward Konoha's bustling main street.
Hinata hadn't expected him to suddenly take her hand. Her cheeks flushed crimson instantly, though the winter cold and falling snow provided a convenient excuse for anyone who might notice.
But as they ran into the busier streets, Renji realized a huge problem—he had no idea where he was going. Since his arrival in this world, he had never left the Uchiha compound. This was his first time navigating Konoha proper. Unsurprisingly, he was hopelessly lost.
"Uh… I think I don't know the way. Do you know where Ichiraku is?" he asked helplessly, feeling mortified. To get lost now of all times—how humiliating.
"I… I know," Hinata mumbled, lowering her head. She turned and quietly led the way. Neither of them noticed that their small hands were still tightly clasped together, not once letting go.
Guided by Hinata, Renji finally arrived at Ichiraku.
"Two bowls of miso ramen, please," he said as they sat down. Hinata remained silent, her head bowed, lost in her own thoughts.
"Coming right up!" Teuchi, the kindly shop owner, called back. He wasn't surprised to see children eating alone, though he did raise an eyebrow seeing a Uchiha and a Hyūga together.
Soon, two steaming bowls arrived. The sight alone made Renji's stomach rumble in protest again.
"Hinata, may I call you that?" he asked as he picked up his chopsticks.
"O-of course," she whispered, fingers fidgeting nervously at her chest.
"Then let's eat before it gets cold." Renji had intended to say something else, but the words shifted at the last moment.
In no time, he devoured his ramen completely. Ichiraku really was as good as he'd heard—no wonder Naruto loved it so much. When he glanced sideways, though, he froze. Hinata's bowl was already spotless, emptied even faster than his.
"Uncle Teuchi, two more bowls, please," Renji ordered quickly. He remembered now—Hinata had quite the appetite, even as a child.
The second round came. This time, Renji barely finished half his bowl before feeling stuffed. In truth, that first bowl had been enough. He'd only ordered again to spare Hinata from feeling awkward. Sure enough, she polished off her second bowl without hesitation.
Before Renji could offer more, Hinata suddenly shook her head. "I-I'm full already."
Renji paid the bill and, without thinking, took her hand once more as they stepped out into the snow. The flakes had grown heavier, blanketing the streets in silence. Concern pricked at him as he looked at her small figure—she looked so fragile, as if a single gust of wind might topple her.
"The weather's bad. Let me walk you home," he said.
"Mm." Her soft reply was almost lost in the snow.
Hand in hand, they walked toward the Hyūga compound. The noise of the marketplace faded, leaving only the quiet crunch of snow beneath their feet. Neither spoke, but Hinata never once tried to pull her hand away.
When they finally reached the edge of the Hyūga estate, Renji stopped. He knew it wasn't his place to be seen at their gates.
"Hinata, this is your home. I'll head back now."
"Mm."
"I'm usually at Training Ground Seven. If anyone bullies you again, come find me," he said suddenly, the words tumbling out without thought.
"Mm."
Renji turned to leave, but just as he took his first step away, a faint voice called out behind him.
"Please… be careful on your way back."
He froze, then turned to see Hinata standing at the gate. He raised a hand and smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
With that, he left, and Hinata quietly slipped into her home.
Back in his own room, Renji deliberately pushed thoughts of Hinata aside. Lying on his bed, he replayed the day's events in his mind. He could feel the flow of chakra when forming the Great Fireball Jutsu now, but the technique's power still wasn't reaching the proper level.
It was frustrating—so frustrating it made his head ache.