The sun was dipping lower in the sky as Naruto wandered aimlessly through the streets, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Today's training had been especially grueling—Kurama's new physical conditioning regimen pushed him to his limits. Every muscle in his body ached, but he wore the pain with pride. After all, he was getting stronger.
As he crossed a narrow street, the sound of raised voices broke through his thoughts.
"Why do you even bother showing up? You're so weak!" a boy sneered, his voice laced with cruel amusement.
"Yeah! What kind of ninja do you think you'll be, huh?" another chimed in, laughter erupting from the group.
Naruto's sharp eyes followed the commotion. In a small clearing, a group of kids stood huddled together, their backs to him. In the center of their circle was a small girl with dark hair and pale lavender eyes. Her head was bowed, and her hands clutched the hem of her jacket, her trembling figure a silent plea for the torment to stop.
Naruto's chest tightened. He didn't know the girl, but her helplessness struck a chord deep within him. He knew what it felt like to be ridiculed, to be made to feel small and insignificant. Without a second thought, he stepped forward, his exhaustion forgotten.
"Hey!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the taunts like a blade.
The bullies turned toward him, startled.
"Who's this?" one of them sneered, though there was a flicker of unease in his tone. "Another loser?"
Naruto grinned, but his eyes held a dangerous glint. "Maybe. But at least I'm not the kind of loser who picks on someone just because I think I'm stronger than them."
The group exchanged uncertain glances. Naruto stepped closer, his posture relaxed but his fists clenched at his sides. "Now, why don't you guys beat it before I make you regret it?"
The leader hesitated, clearly not expecting someone to stand up to them. After a tense moment, he huffed, "Whatever. She's not worth it." With muttered insults, the group dispersed, their footsteps retreating into the distance.
Naruto turned to the girl, who was staring at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, his tone soft and warm.
She nodded hesitantly, her voice barely audible. "Th-Thank you…"
Naruto scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "No problem. Those guys were jerks." He studied her for a moment before offering a hand. "I'm Naruto. What's your name?"
She hesitated, then shyly took his hand, her small fingers trembling slightly. "H-Hinata. Hinata Hyuga."
Naruto grinned, his exhaustion from earlier replaced by a sense of pride. "Nice to meet you, Hinata! Don't let those guys get to you, okay? You're stronger than you think."
Hinata's cheeks flushed a light pink, and she nodded. "I-I'll try."
"Good!" Naruto said, giving her a thumbs-up. "If they ever bother you again, just come find me. I'll show them what's what!"
As he walked away, Hinata watched him go, her heart fluttering. For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel so alone.
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Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and the day Naruto had been waiting for—and slightly dreading—was finally here. Tomorrow, he would officially start at the Ninja Academy.
Sitting atop the Hokage Monument, his favorite spot in the village, Naruto gazed out over the bustling streets below. Villagers went about their day, chatting and laughing as if the world hadn't just shifted for him.
"You're sure about this, brat?" Kurama's deep voice rumbled in his mind, a mix of curiosity and mild skepticism.
Naruto nodded, his legs dangling over the edge of the monument. "Yeah. If I start showing off everything I've learned, I'll just attract more attention. The kind I don't want." His voice was calm but resolute. Over the past two months, Kurama had pushed him hard—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Naruto was still the loud, determined kid at heart, but now he understood the value of patience and subtlety.
"Besides," Naruto continued, a small smirk forming on his lips, "if everyone thinks I'm just a loser, they'll let their guard down. It'll be easier to surprise them when it really matters."
Kurama chuckled, the sound reverberating in Naruto's chest. Smart. Playing the long game, huh? Never thought I'd see the day you'd think things through.
"Hey! I'm not that dumb, you know!" Naruto shot back, crossing his arms. But his grin quickly returned. "Anyway, it's not like I'm gonna act totally helpless. Just enough to stay out of trouble."
Fine, brat. But don't get too comfortable. You'll have to show your real strength eventually, or someone's bound to push you into a corner.
Naruto's expression turned serious as he watched the sun climb higher into the sky. "I know," he said softly. "But until then, I'll just be regular ol' Naruto Uzumaki. The class clown, the dead last. No one will see me coming."
The plan was simple: stay under the radar, learn everything he could, and reveal his true strength only when the time was right. Tomorrow would be the start of a new chapter, and Naruto was ready—though he wouldn't let anyone else know that.
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Author's Note.
Please leave power stones and support me..