The mask shop owner was already somewhat irritated. Seeing someone speak up for the "demon fox" only made him even angrier.
Running into something like this first thing in the morning—what bad luck.
Just as he was about to start cursing loudly, his eyes suddenly caught the fan-shaped crest on Sako's clothing.
The moment he recognized that emblem, the mask shop owner immediately backed down a little.
"…Uchiha."
A low murmur spread through the crowd.
The Uchiha Clan was one of Konoha's true noble families, often called the elite clan.
As one of the founders of the village, their reputation was thunderous.
Especially their powerful bloodline ability—the Sharingan—something even ordinary civilians had heard about.
And more importantly…
The mask shop owner suddenly felt two unfriendly gazes coming from within the crowd.
Two shinobi from the Uchiha Police Force were staring coldly in this direction.
Aside from arresting criminals, the Police Force regularly patrolled Konoha's streets. They dealt with merchants and shopkeepers frequently.
The authority they had built up over the years made the shop owner realize instantly—
He had run into people he absolutely could not afford to offend.
No matter the reason, those troublesome Uchiha had decided to interfere.
But in the end, they were still people he couldn't provoke.
So the shop owner quickly turned around, grumbling as he retreated back into his store.
It was a temporary show of submission.
"…."
Naruto Uzumaki picked up the mask from the ground and casually looked toward the crowd.
The civilians who met his gaze seemed to wake from a dream.
They quickly moved aside, dispersing in different directions as if nothing had happened.
Soon, Naruto Uzumaki noticed someone standing in the crowd.
Hinata Hyuga.
And the maid beside her.
Naruto Uzumaki's gaze slowly fixed on the maid.
Dark green short hair cut to the ears. A slender figure. The same pale eyes as Hinata Hyuga.
Her conservative dark home kimono, worn beneath the crisp white maid uniform, somehow gave off an unexpectedly alluring charm.
Combined with the disgust in her eyes, the image became even more vivid.
"This maid sister… is really quite pretty."
"Hey, Naruto Uzumaki."
Sako's voice suddenly sounded beside him, pulling Naruto Uzumaki's attention away.
"Lady Hinata, let's leave quickly…"
Hinata Natsu had no desire to remain here for even another second. She immediately pulled Hinata Hyuga away.
"Naruto-kun…"
Hinata Hyuga felt her heart sink.
As she was dragged away, she kept glancing back.
In her eyes was the image of the Uchiha girl talking and laughing with Naruto Uzumaki.
…
"Naruto Uzumaki, how did things end up like this for you?"
Sako didn't know the truth of what had happened to him.
After jumping down from the telephone pole, she landed lightly and gracefully. Even from that alone, it was clear how different a child of the Uchiha Clan was from ordinary kids.
"Here. This is for you."
Naruto Uzumaki didn't answer directly. Instead, he raised his right hand and handed her the mask.
"Hmph."
Sako proudly turned her head away, completely uninterested.
"I didn't help you just to get your thanks. I was simply repaying the favor from last time."
The Uchiha never owed anyone anything.
Even if Naruto Uzumaki had helped her previously of his own accord, she still intended to repay it properly.
"Oh. Friend."
Naruto Uzumaki narrowed his eyes into a thin line and slowly nodded.
"What friend…?"
Sako glanced at him sideways.
"If you want to be my friend, you'll have to pass many tests first! Not just anyone is qualified to become my companion!"
There was obvious anticipation in Sako's blinking eyes.
She remembered what Shisui had said earlier that morning.
If she could find a suitable friend, then practicing ninja training wouldn't be a problem anymore.
Thinking about Naruto Uzumaki's ridiculous physical strength, Sako felt this blond guy might barely qualify.
Soon enough, Sako began dragging Naruto Uzumaki around the marketplace.
Since she had helped him, the favor was technically repaid—meaning Naruto Uzumaki now owed her instead.
So there was no reason not to make use of him.
As she began buying vegetables and fruit, Sako quickly piled all the bags onto Naruto Uzumaki's arms.
Naruto Uzumaki obediently carried everything, but a small problem soon appeared during the shopping trip.
"How did you end up being hated by everyone?"
Sako sighed.
No matter where they went, villagers avoided Naruto Uzumaki like he carried some terrible disease.
Even the stray dogs on the street kept their distance from him.
He looks kind of dumb… Maybe people and animals think stupidity is contagious… That would be impressive.
Sako silently mocked him in her thoughts.
What she didn't know was that Naruto Uzumaki was rejected because of the demon fox legend.
As for the animals—cats and dogs could smell the faint trace of chakra surrounding him from far away, and instinctively kept their distance.
In other words, the harmless blond boy in Sako's eyes looked like a living demon to both Konoha's residents and its animals.
"Maybe it's because I'm too upright. Truly upright people are often excluded by the masses."
Naruto Uzumaki tilted his head slightly as he spoke.
His words made Sako freeze for a moment.
She hadn't expected Naruto Uzumaki to say something so philosophical.
"Too upright… the masses…"
Though still young, Sako was clever.
She knew the Uchiha Police Force was not exactly a popular position among the villagers.
And since the Uchiha Clan was considered an elite clan, the phrase "the masses" resonated strongly with her.
"Fine then, Naruto Uzumaki. You've passed my preliminary test."
Sako crossed her arms as she looked at Naruto Uzumaki, who was covered in shopping bags.
She had acknowledged him—barely.
But to truly become her friend, he would still need to pass many more tests.
"Heh."
Inside the sealed gate of the inner world, Kurama snorted with disdain.
"Children playing house…"
To him, things like making friends were nothing more than childish games.
"Naruto Uzumaki, I seriously doubt your motives."
Naruto Uzumaki replied innocently,
"Don't accuse me unfairly, stupid fox. I really just want a friend my own age."
But Kurama didn't believe even a single punctuation mark of that answer.
By the time they reached the entrance of the Uchiha Clan compound, Sako stopped.
"Alright. Hand everything over."
She removed the shopping bags from Naruto Uzumaki and began carrying them toward the clan grounds.
"Shopping was really easy today… So… when is this guy going to ask my name?"
As she walked, Sako assumed Naruto Uzumaki would ask for her name again.
Should I tell him… or not?
But even after she walked a considerable distance away, Naruto Uzumaki never called out to her.
"Hey!"
Sako suddenly stopped and turned around.
What she saw was Naruto Uzumaki's retreating figure.
He was walking away while scratching his head.
"That Naruto Uzumaki… really is an idiot!"
…
Evening arrived.
Sitting beneath the eaves of her house, Sako was the first to greet her returning brother.
"Brother, you're back!"
Sako jumped up to greet him, her eyes shining.
Seeing his adorable younger sister immediately wiped away the bad mood of the day. A smile appeared on Itachi Uchiha's face.
Not long after, Mikoto Uchiha returned home as well, signaling the beginning of dinner preparations.
"Mother, I'll help."
As Mikoto Uchiha entered the kitchen, she smiled gently when she saw her daughter following behind to assist.
Sako began washing and sorting vegetables.
Meanwhile, Mikoto Uchiha searched around.
"Sako… did you forget to buy matches today?"
"That's impossible!"
Sako immediately opened the shopping bag.
Inside were the kitchen supplies she had purchased earlier.
"Huh?"
She looked through everything carefully.
There were no matches.
"But I clearly bought them…"
…
Night had fully fallen.
Another lively evening began in Konoha.
The marketplace was just as bustling as during the day.
Cold winter wind swept through the streets, yet it did nothing to dampen people's enthusiasm for strolling and shopping.
Naruto Uzumaki sat on the slanted roof of a shop, his expression cold as he watched the streets below.
Crowds moved endlessly through the marketplace.
Soon, Naruto Uzumaki's gaze locked onto a familiar store.
The mask shop.
In his left hand, he tightly held a small object.
The matches he had "borrowed" from Sako earlier that day.
Inside the sealed space of his mind—
The dark sewer-like world seemed deeper than before.
Rust crept across the great iron gate, turning the once new seal into something ancient and decayed.
Sensing the change in Naruto Uzumaki's thoughts, Kurama roughly guessed what he intended to do.
"…Kid… you…"