It was winter in Konoha. Snow began to fall softly over the Hidden Leaf Village, blanketing the ground in white. The delicate snowflakes danced like catkins in the wind.
Under the heavy snowfall, Naruto put on a hood and grabbed an umbrella before stepping out of his house. He walked alone down the street, glancing around occasionally at the passersby.
If they noticed him, their expressions would immediately turn cold, their eyes filled with disdain and fear.
Though Naruto didn't care much about how others looked at him, the piercing stares always left a faint sting.
After reaching a small shop on the street, he folded up his umbrella, shook off the snow, and called out:
"Boss, I need some rice, bread, and milk."
The shop owner, a middle-aged man seated by the stove to keep warm, glanced over. His smile seemed polite at first as he asked, "Why are you out here buying groceries alone, kid? Where's your family?"
"They're busy," Naruto replied casually. "They told me to grab enough for a family of three to last the week."
He placed a handful of coins on the counter and scanned the shelves, deciding what else he might want.
The shop owner picked up the crumpled bills and, just as he turned to gather the items, Naruto's hood slipped back, revealing his bright blonde hair, vivid blue eyes, and the whisker-like marks on his cheeks.
The fox in the village?
The shop owner immediately recognized him. His cheerful expression faltered, replaced by a frown.
Naruto met his gaze unflinchingly before pulling his hood back up, his expression saying: What are you waiting for?
After a pause, the shop owner turned to gather the groceries, but his movements had slowed.
Naruto stood at the door with his hands in his pockets, looking at the shelves, trying to decide what he'd eat for dinner.
Other villagers entered the shop, their whispers cutting through the air like sharp knives.
"That kid… isn't he the demon fox? The one responsible for the Fourth Hokage's death?"
"But he's just a child. There's no way he could've caused the Nine-Tails attack, right?"
"You don't get it. That's the danger of the demon fox. Even in a child's body, he carries the power to destroy the village. Who knows when he might snap?"
"Honestly, why does this village even let him stay? If I were him, I'd have ended it already."
Naruto ignored their words, though their hatred echoed loud and clear.
Three years had passed since the Nine-Tails rampaged through Konoha, leaving destruction in its wake. Though the villagers had long since rebuilt, their anger and grief had found a target in Naruto.
Naruto didn't respond to their venom. Instead, he stared coldly at the crowd. His sharp, fox-like gaze was enough to make a few back away nervously.
"Boring," Naruto muttered under his breath.
Turning back to the counter, he eyed the cardboard box the shopkeeper had packed and said flatly, "This doesn't have expired food in it, does it?"
The shopkeeper looked startled and quickly shook his head. "Of course not. This shop never sells expired goods."
"It better not," Naruto replied. "If I find anything expired, I'll report you to Hokage and the security forces."
Without another word, Naruto hefted the cardboard box and walked out of the store.
Villagers stepped aside to avoid him, muttering curses under their breath as he passed.
Back at home, Naruto opened the box with a thud. As expected, most of the items were cheap leftovers that were barely fresh enough to eat.
"Profiteer," Naruto grumbled, shaking his head. But he didn't dwell on it. After setting the food aside, he grabbed his homemade fishing gear and headed toward the river.
Fishing was always a gamble in the freezing weather. The icy wind stung his face as he sat by the river, casting his line into the water.
"Let's hope I can catch something today," Naruto murmured, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
Suddenly, he felt a tug on the line. With a sharp pull, a fresh fish flew out of the water and landed in the snow.
"Yes!" Naruto cheered quietly. "Fish soup tonight."
Naruto had grown used to fending for himself. What the villagers didn't know was that inside this body was the soul of someone from another world—a time traveler.
In his past life, he had grown up in an orphanage and loved watching Naruto. He had spent countless nights binge-watching episodes, celebrating Naruto's victories, and grieving his losses.
But fate played a strange hand. One day, after watching the final episode, he had unexpectedly woken up in this world.
It wasn't easy.
As the reincarnated Naruto, he had endured years of cruelty: inflated prices at stores, glares from strangers, and even physical bullying.
"How did the original Naruto stay so cheerful?" he wondered, staring at the river. "Was it Ashura's chakra that gave him that strength?"
On his way back home, Naruto heard a soft voice call out:
"Can you help me? I… I can't find my way home."
He turned to see a small girl with lavender hair and pale white eyes—Hinata. She looked scared and lost, her hands trembling slightly.
Naruto hesitated. This felt like something out of a scripted drama. But after a moment, he smiled and stretched out his hand.
"Sure. I'll help."
Hinata's face lit up with relief as she placed her hand in his. Together, they walked to the Hyuga clan's compound, where the guards quickly surrounded her.
Naruto let go of her hand and gave her a reassuring grin. "Looks like you're home. Take care."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.
As he left, Naruto caught sight of the brightly lit Hyuga compound. For a moment, he stared at the festivities, the warmth of the glowing lights contrasting sharply with the cold loneliness he felt.
"That kind of happiness isn't for someone like me," he thought, trudging back to his empty home.
But as he walked, a soft notification echoed in his mind:
Hinata Hyuga's affection for you has reached recognition. You have gained: Winter Cold Gloves.
Naruto stopped and looked at his hands, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Thanks, Hinata," he whispered.