Naruto Uzumaki stared at his once-prized scarf, now utterly ruined, a wave of helpless anger and sorrow washing over him.
Chinya had said this scarf was precious, but back then Naruto hadn't taken it seriously.
But... now Naruto felt as though he'd failed to protect something truly important.
"Um... are you alright?"
Hinata Hyuga asked hesitantly, because Naruto's expression looked quite furious right now.
Wiping blood from his nose on his sleeve, Naruto gently took the scarf from Hinata's hands, shook off the snow and dirt, and carefully wrapped it around his neck again.
Naruto's voice was quiet but heavy. "Someone once told me that everyone in the village is like family. But… do you really think those three were part of that?"
Hearing Naruto's question, Hinata froze for a moment.
"Do you think they're family?" Naruto asked again.
Hinata gave a shy little nod. "No."
"Do you know about the Will of Fire?"
"I've heard my father mention it," Hinata replied softly.
"Then have you been practicing it?"
"Mm."
Hinata lowered her head slightly, her face warming with embarrassment. Even though she'd already been training, she still lacked the courage just now.
Expecting Naruto to scold her, she was surprised when instead he asked, "Before you started practicing, did the person teaching you force you to accept the Will of Fire?"
Thinking for a moment, Hinata shook her head again. "Nobody forced me."
Though no one had forced Hinata to accept the Will of Fire, Hiashi Hyuga constantly reminded his daughter—next in line to lead the prestigious Hyuga Main Family—that she had to work harder than anyone else.
Naruto's expression remained solemn as he exhaled deeply, the cold air forming visible white mist.
On the snowy ground below, water droplets had pitted small holes into the surface.
These drops came from Naruto's tears.
Seeing Naruto cry, Hinata's heart skipped a beat. "I'm so sorry, if I said anything wrong please forgive me. Please stop crying."
Wiping at his tears, Naruto only cried harder.
"It's not fair. They say I didn't do anything wrong, yet they all ganged up on me. It's all lies—just excuses to trick me!"
Helpless and unsure what to do, Hinata could only stare at Naruto.
Just then, two Hyuga ninja appeared behind Hinata. "Miss Hinata, it's time to return to the clan grounds."
Spotting the weeping Naruto, the two ninja frowned, their eyes filled with disdain.
Though they knew Naruto wasn't the Nine-Tails itself, they knew full well he was its Jinchuriki.
It was during the Nine-Tails' Rampage that many Hyuga ninja had lost their lives beneath the beast's claws, and that hatred toward the Nine-Tails had now transferred onto Naruto himself.
Feeling the familiar scorn in their eyes, Naruto clenched his jaw, choked back his tears, and sprinted away without a second glance.
Hinata Hyuga looked at Naruto Uzumaki with a hint of sadness, feeling somewhat guilty.
She thought maybe she had said something wrong that made Naruto cry.
...
Back home, Naruto buried himself under the covers.
Right now, Naruto believed Hiruzen Sarutobi was nothing but a liar.
Chinya had once told him that no one would help him for absolutely no reason.
Therefore, Naruto suspected that Hiruzen must have some hidden agenda to get close to him.
Naruto suddenly popped out from under the covers, murmuring, "Uncle Chinya must know the truth! Right! Uncle Chinya!"
Naruto immediately left his home, running toward the Forestland.
Though Naruto didn't know where Chinya lived, at this time of day, he should be at their usual training ground.
As expected, when Naruto reached the Forestland, Chinya was there instructing Neji Hyuga and Uzumaki Sōnagi.
Chinya assumed Naruto had come again to secretly observe the training, so he asked the two to switch to basic exercises.
But unexpectedly, this time Naruto ran straight up to him.
"Uncle Chinya..."
Panting heavily, Naruto struggled to form a complete sentence.
Chinya asked, "What's wrong, Naruto?"
Taking a deep breath, Naruto asked, "Uncle Chinya, why does Grandpa Hokage always talk about the Will of Fire whenever he visits me? And why do people in the village hate me? He says I haven't done anything wrong, so there must be a reason, right? Something behind it all?"
Chinya's eyes sharpened. At that moment, he sensed someone watching them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi must already be observing using the Telescope Technique.
However, the Telescope Technique only allowed observation of visuals, not sound.
Otherwise, Chinya would have rendered Naruto unconscious by now.
He fixed Naruto with a piercing gaze.
Clearly, this Naruto was already veering off the path of the original.
This Naruto had started questioning things.
Originally, Chinya thought even if Naruto questioned Hiruzen or the Will of Fire, it wouldn't happen until he grew older and more mature.
Yet here he was, only three years old, already filled with doubt. This surprised Chinya more than he expected.
Then turning to Neji and Uzumaki Sōnagi, Chinya said, "It's about time you two head home. I'll walk Naruto back."
Neji and Uzumaki Sōnagi both knew how much Chinya and Kushina Uzumaki cared for Naruto.
Besides, since both Naruto, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uzumaki Sōnagi shared the Uzumaki surname, they strongly suspected they were related—most likely members of the same bloodline clan.
Turning to Uzumaki Sōnagi beside him, Neji said, "Shall we go, Sōnagi? I'll walk you home. Sensei, we're heading off now."
Taking Uzumaki Sōnagi's small hand, Neji led the way as they headed home.
After Neji Hyuga and Uzumaki Sōnagi left, Chinya turned to Naruto Uzumaki and said, "Naruto, I'll walk you home."
Chinya turned and started walking off. Naruto Uzumaki hurried after him, eager to ask more questions.
But Chinya spoke first, "Naruto, someone is watching us from the shadows. Don't talk, just listen to me from now on."
Naruto immediately closed his mouth and carefully looked around.
Chinya sighed slightly. "Don't be so obvious about it. You won't spot anyone. Just act naturally and follow me like nothing's happening."
Naruto finally relaxed and quietly kept walking behind Chinya.
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