"Th-this guy… who is he?!"
The sudden appearance of Namikaze Naruto left the group of children momentarily stunned. One of the younger boys shrank back, glancing toward the direction Naruto had come from, half-expecting to see an adult following behind him.
They were all still just kids, but not entirely clueless. Deep down, they knew what they were doing wasn't right. If any adults saw them, they'd surely get scolded or worse. That guilt made them just a little uneasy.
But after a quick look around, they realized no adults were paying attention. Passersby only thought it was a bunch of kids roughhousing and didn't bother to interfere.
Once they were sure no one was watching, the kids relaxed again. Their eyes turned sharp as they glared at the boy who had interrupted them.
"This has nothing to do with you! Move it!"
"Don't get in our way!"
The pudgy boy in the cotton coat—apparently the leader of the group—lifted his chin arrogantly, acting every bit the local neighborhood boss.
"She's my friend! I won't let anyone bully her!"
Little Naruto's upbringing had been exceptional—Minato and Kushina had raised him to be kind, loyal, and protective of others from an early age.
Even though the other children were older and outnumbered him, Naruto showed not a hint of fear.
"The friend of that white-eyed freak?"
The children exchanged glances, and their disdain for the Hyuga Clan instantly shifted toward Naruto. As the boy stood there, brimming with righteous fury, the chubby kid let out a shout and swung a fist straight at him.
"They're together! Get him!"
Conflicts between kids could erupt in an instant—no warning, no hesitation, just fists flying. Far more "honest" than how adults handled things.
As the Fourth Hokage's son, Naruto had been sheltered all his life. Hardly anyone ever dared to even raise their voice at him. He'd never been in a real fight before, much less faced off against a self-proclaimed "neighborhood boss."
Unprepared, he took the first punch right to the eye.
"Ah—!"
"You jerk!"
Naruto cried out from the pain, then his anger flared. Adrenaline surged, and he swung his tiny fists in retaliation—
—but…
He was younger by several years and hadn't begun any ninja training yet. The other boy was stocky and strong, and with his little "gang" backing him up, Naruto's punches quickly lost their strength under their barrage.
After a few solid hits, Naruto could barely fight back. He curled up on the snowy ground, taking the blows in silence.
The little "hero of justice" had suffered his first crushing defeat…
The kids' punches came down hard and fast, but Naruto was stubborn—he gritted his teeth and didn't cry out once.
Hinata, who had been frozen in shock, finally came to her senses. Tears filled her eyes as she pushed through the group.
"Stop it! Please, stop!"
"Stop hitting him!"
She shoved her way in, taking a few accidental punches herself. The bullies hesitated. They all knew who Hinata was—the Hyuga Clan's daughter. Teasing her was one thing, but actually hitting her was another matter entirely.
"Stupid brat and that white-eyed freak! Get lost!"
"If we see you again, we'll beat you again!"
Seeing Hinata clutching the bruised Naruto protectively, the bullies traded a few more curses and finally lost interest, scattering off down the street.
The commotion eventually drew a few glances from nearby shopkeepers. When they saw Hinata helping Naruto to his feet and realized no one was seriously hurt, they turned back to their business.
Kids fighting wasn't worth adults' concern—unless, of course, they were the parents.
When the adrenaline faded, pain set in. Naruto's face was a mess of bruises, and his little nose and eyes were swollen purple.
"Naruto…"
Hinata's eyes welled up again. It wasn't because she had been bullied—it was because Naruto got hurt trying to protect her. Guilt and sorrow filled her heart.
Kindness… that was the defining trait of both these children.
"Don't cry, Hinata."
"I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll protect you."
Even after being beaten black and blue, Naruto smiled at her—brightly, warmly, like sunlight breaking through clouds.
To Hinata, no one else in her world ever smiled like that. Her father's face was always stern, her older brother was constantly busy, but Naruto… he was always there for her.
This moment—Naruto stepping forward to shield her—would be forever engraved in her heart.
People often say that no one remembers anything from before they turn five, but… there are exceptions.
Meanwhile, the maid who had been tasked with watching over Hinata panicked when she realized the young lady was missing. Activating her Byakugan, she quickly located both Hinata and Naruto.
When she approached and saw the Hokage's son covered in bruises, her expression changed instantly.
Those street kids might not have recognized Naruto—but as a Hyuga retainer, she certainly did.
After getting the full story, she led both children back to the Hyuga residence.
When Hanako saw the poor boy's swollen face, she froze for a second, then immediately fetched medicine herself. While tending to his wounds, she sent someone to inform her close friend, Uzumaki Kushina.
In her eyes, there was no way Naruto could've come out alone at his age.
And indeed, Kushina was still out shopping, blissfully unaware that her son had gone missing.
When a Hyuga messenger found her and told her Naruto was at their estate, Kushina slapped her forehead in realization and sprinted off in a panic.
Hanako had expected the fiery redhead to explode with rage upon seeing her battered son. But instead, Kushina burst into laughter.
"Naruto, what's this? Trying to be a panda?"
"Why didn't you color the other eye too?"
"Ahahaha! So, are you still going to run off by yourself next time?"
The moment she saw Naruto, all her worry melted away. More than the fact that he'd been beaten, what mattered to her was that he had wandered off alone without telling her.
The Hyuga had already told her what happened. To Kushina, this was nothing but a kids' scuffle. When she was young, she'd practically been the undefeated champion of every fight at the ninja academy!
And besides—Naruto had stepped up to protect Hinata. That bravery made her proud.
As she spoke, Kushina crouched beside him and carefully examined his face—then mischievously poked at the swollen corner of his eye.
"Hisss—!"
"That hurts, Mom!"
Naruto had stayed silent and stoic while Hanako applied medicine earlier, but now, after a single poke from his mother, he yelped and whimpered like a child again.
Watching the pair, Hanako couldn't help but smile. She lifted Naruto gently onto her lap and praised him softly:
"Thank you for protecting Hinata, our brave and gallant Naruto-kun."
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