"Th-that's the demon fox! ?" "Th-the demon fox is here! !"
The three boys screamed in terror, their faces draining of color. Just moments ago they had been strutting around like little tyrants—but the instant they saw him, their arrogance evaporated.
"D-demon fox! !" "Run! !"
The leader barely managed to shout before all three turned tail, scrambling away like frightened rabbits. One of them tripped over his own feet and faceplanted in the dirt, but he didn't even stop to get up properly—just scrambled away on all fours.
Naruto blinked, then snorted out a laugh. Seriously? That easy? He'd only shouted once and they scattered like pigeons.
"Kids these days…" he muttered, shaking his head. Still, it was oddly satisfying. He hadn't done a thing—just shown up—and their own prejudice had scared them more than any jutsu could.
Once the three bullies disappeared around the corner, Naruto turned his gaze toward the small figure they had been tormenting. The girl was sitting on the ground, tiny hands clutching her knees, eyes wide and teary.
Naruto stepped closer, and when he saw her face clearly, he froze. That shy little face… those pale lavender eyes…
Wait—this is… Hyūga Hinata!
Even as a child, she was instantly recognizable—delicate features, soft hair framing her cheeks, a kind of fragile cuteness that made people want to protect her.
Naruto couldn't help but smile. "So even little Hinata looks this adorable, huh? No wonder she's the village's sweetheart later. "
He crouched down and extended a hand. "Hey, you okay? "
Hinata blinked up at him, startled. Her big eyes shimmered like pearls about to fall. She hesitated for a second, then timidly took his hand.
Naruto gently helped her up, then dusted off the dirt clinging to her clothes. Her white jacket had been smeared with mud, and without thinking, he patted the dust away—including the dirt on her back… and, well, lower back too.
Hinata froze. Her face went bright red in an instant, steam practically rising from her head. Her eyes darted around helplessly, and she made a soft, squeaky noise— "Ah… ahhh…"
Naruto blinked, then quickly pulled his hand back. "Ah! S-sorry, I didn't mean—"
He stopped mid-sentence, realizing something. Wait a second… does this mean little Hinata already blushes this easily? He smiled faintly. "She really is the same as ever. "
To ease the awkward silence, he smiled and asked, "What's your name? "
Hinata fidgeted, twisting her fingers together. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I… I'm Hyūga Hinata. "
Her cheeks were still pink as she spoke. The way she said her name—soft, hesitant, but polite—was pure, concentrated adorableness.
Naruto grinned. "Hyūga Hinata, huh? Then I'll call you Little Hinata! "
Hinata's eyes widened slightly, and she lowered her head again, hiding her red face behind her hair. She didn't object, though.
Naruto chuckled. "Come on, Little Hinata. Let me walk you home. Where do you live? "
Before she could even reply, he gently took her hand again. Her fingers were so small—so soft. White and delicate, almost translucent under the sun. Man, he thought, what does she even use? Baby lotion?
Hinata's heart was pounding so loudly she could hear it. She glanced up at Naruto's back as he led her forward, and her face flushed an even deeper shade of crimson. But still—she didn't pull away.
The two of them walked hand in hand down the street, Naruto with a stick of fish and rabbits slung over his shoulder, Hinata trailing shyly beside him.
Up in the shadows above, two ANBU operatives who had been tailing Naruto watched the scene unfold. "…Are you seeing this? " one of them muttered. "Yeah. Did we just… get force-fed dog food by two six-year-olds? " The other sighed. "I think so. "
They stared at Naruto's hand holding Hinata's tiny one, then exchanged looks of pure envy and frustration. "Damn it, even the demon fox has better luck than us! " They both clenched their teeth. "Life is so unfair. "
Following Hinata's directions, Naruto soon arrived at the Hyūga clan compound. It was his first time seeing the place up close.
The clan's estate sprawled across several entire streets—elegant wooden houses, training grounds, and courtyards stretching as far as the eye could see. Even the gate looked more impressive than most people's homes.
Naruto whistled softly. "So this is the Hyūga clan, huh? Must be nice being born rich. "
He wasn't jealous, just a little amused. Money and status meant nothing to him anymore. True strength was the only thing that mattered.
He stopped in front of the gate and turned to Hinata. "Well, Little Hinata, here we are. "
She looked down shyly, still holding his hand loosely. Naruto smiled and gently let go. "You're safe now. Try not to get bullied again, okay? "
Hinata nodded faintly. "…Okay. "
Naruto chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair. Her hair was silky smooth to the touch.
"Next time someone picks on you, " he said, "don't be afraid. Just be brave and fight back—you can beat them if you try. "
Hinata blinked up at him, startled by his confidence. Brave…? Could she be brave?
Her father had always been disappointed in her timid nature. Even though she was the clan heir, no one in the family really believed she could carry that burden.
But Naruto's tone—the way he said it with absolute belief—made something inside her stir.
Then he smiled, his blue eyes bright with sincerity. "I believe in you, Hinata. You can do anything if you truly decide to. "
The words hit her like an arrow straight through the chest. For a long moment, she could only stare at him in silence. Her face flushed, her breath caught.
No one—not her father, not her teachers—had ever told her they believed in her. But this boy, the one everyone called a monster… did.
As Naruto waved and turned to leave, Hinata found herself whispering softly, almost unconsciously— "…Thank you. "
He didn't hear her. But the smile on his face lingered all the way home.
That day, in the quiet heart of the Hyūga compound, a seed was planted—small, but unshakably bright. And in the eyes of one shy little girl, the outcast demon fox became something else entirely. Her hero.