The obese shop owner collapsed to the ground in humiliation. Being grabbed by a little girl and forced to kneel filled him with anger and shame.
To be beaten by a child!
His fleshy face twisted grotesquely.
"Get lost right now! Apologize and compensate me!"
"Otherwise, I'll call the Uchiha from the Konoha Military Police Force to arrest all of you!"
"Don't come crying and begging for mercy later!"
The moment the word "Uchiha" was spoken, Yamanaka Ino's confident expression stiffened. The fist she had been waving froze mid-air.
It wasn't surprising.
The Konoha Military Police Force, controlled by the Uchiha clan, had a reputation throughout the village for being strict and uncompromising. Many civilians resented them.
And for Ino—heir to the Yamanaka clan—publicly assaulting a civilian could damage her family's reputation.
Seeing her hesitation, the shop owner's twisted face revealed a smug glint.
So invoking the Uchiha name was enough to scare them.
Before his thoughts could settle, a sudden chill crept up from his tailbone.
It shot up his spine like ice water.
All his anger vanished—replaced by pure terror.
Naruto stepped forward.
An invisible yet overwhelming killing intent surged outward.
It pressed down like a tidal wave.
The shop owner was instantly drenched in sweat.
"I-I'll call the Uchiha to deal with—"
Naruto looked at him coldly.
He didn't speak.
The oppressive aura intensified.
It was as if something ancient and malevolent was staring at him.
The owner's limbs trembled unnaturally. His throat felt strangled by an invisible hand.
"I—I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"
Naruto's voice was calm.
"Is an apology enough?"
The man hurriedly pulled out a thick stack of bills from his pouch and dropped into a full dogeza.
"I'm truly sorry! Please forgive my rudeness!"
Naruto accepted the money without expression.
Was this remorse?
No.
It was fear of power.
"This is how you apologize."
The ominous chakra leaking from the Nine-Tails was extremely effective against ordinary civilians. It would likely only intimidate genin—or at most chūnin-level shinobi.
Naruto turned and took Ino's small hand.
She stood frozen, having witnessed everything.
He led her out of the shop.
Outside, a chubby boy struggled against his friend's grip.
"Shikamaru! Let me go! That guy was bullying Ino!"
Akimichi Chōji glared angrily.
Beside him stood a lazy-looking boy with a pineapple-shaped ponytail.
Nara Shikamaru's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
That kid… he's the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, isn't he?
If we get involved carelessly, it could bring trouble to the Ino–Shika–Chō clans.
Best to avoid unnecessary complications.
He sighed.
"Look, Ino already handled it. No need for you to jump in too."
Chōji still looked dissatisfied but stuffed another handful of potato chips into his mouth.
Ino blinked in confusion.
The shop owner who had just been threatening them was now kneeling and offering compensation.
Naruto's small hand still held hers.
A flicker of annoyance crossed her mind.
This guy better not be taking advantage of me—
She started to speak.
"You—"
Then she looked up at his face.
Her words stopped.
Her green eyes widened slightly.
Her cheeks turned pink.
"Um… my name is Yamanaka Ino. What's yours?"
"Uzumaki Naruto."
"Thank you for helping me, Yamanaka-san," Naruto said sincerely.
Since transmigrating to Konoha, he had rarely experienced kindness.
Aside from occasional goodwill from the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, there had only been cold stares and whispers.
This was the first time someone had openly stood beside him.
Ino tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, her earlobes faintly red.
"N-No need to thank me."
"Let's be friends from now on. You can call me Ino."
She paused.
"...Naruto-kun."
Naruto noticed the subtle change in tone.
As expected of Ino—she had always been drawn to good looks.
And unlike the loud, prank-pulling Naruto of the original timeline, this version appeared calmer, quieter.
Years of isolation had left his skin pale, his features refined.
He resembled a young Kushina Uzumaki—bright and striking.
"Where do you live?" Ino asked. "Do you want me and my teammates to walk you home? It might keep the annoying people away."
She pointed toward Shikamaru and Chōji.
Chōji waved enthusiastically, potato chips still in hand.
Shikamaru hesitated, then gave Naruto a small nod.
Naruto noticed the hesitation.
The Nara clan truly lived up to its reputation.
Even at this age, Shikamaru understood the political implications of associating too closely with the Jinchūriki.
Naruto shook his head.
"It's fine. Maybe next time."
Ino's bright expression dimmed instantly.
As Naruto walked away, she stared at her hand.
Her cheeks flushed again.
"I didn't make Naruto-kun think I'm violent… did I?"
She covered her face and stomped her foot in embarrassment.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat before his crystal ball.
Through it, he observed everything.
Watching Naruto endure hatred and isolation filled him with complicated emotions.
Pain.
Regret.
Concern.
But concern did not mean action.
He would not publicly declare Naruto the son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
He would not silence the rumors calling the boy the Nine-Tails.
Instead, he hoped Naruto would inherit Minato's spirit.
Become a radiant sun.
Bright. Forgiving. Loyal to the Will of Fire.
Hiruzen leaned back slowly.
He remembered the day his teacher, Senju Tobirama, had entrusted him with the title of Hokage in the midst of crisis.
Since then, he had governed cautiously.
Konoha had emerged victorious in both the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars.
His name had once shaken the Five Great Nations.
At that time—
Konoha had truly seemed prosperous.