Konoha, winter.
Snowflakes blanketed the Hidden Leaf Village, descending like feathery catkins and coating the ground in a soft, pristine quilt. Beneath the swirling snowfall, a young boy donned a hood and carried an umbrella, stepping out into the cold. Uzumaki Naruto walked alone down the icy streets, his gaze darting around, observing the passing villagers while keeping a safe distance.
If he were noticed, he would face those cold, indifferent stares and the piercing eyes that saw him not as a child, but as a monster.
Naruto had grown accustomed to those gazes over the years. Though he pretended not to care, the weight of such disdain still pressed uncomfortably against his young heart.
Arriving at a small shop, he shook the snow from his umbrella and stepped inside. "Boss, I need some rice, bread, and milk," he called out, his voice steady.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man bundled in layers to ward off the chill, glanced up from his place near a stove. His gloved hands paused mid-movement as his eyes fell on the diminutive figure before him.
"Out shopping alone, kid? Where are your parents?" the shopkeeper asked with a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"They're busy. They told me to pick up food for a family of three to last the week," Naruto replied, placing a crumpled wad of bills on the counter and scanning the shelves with interest.
The shopkeeper counted the money and nodded, preparing to gather the requested items. But as Naruto adjusted his hood, it slipped off slightly, revealing his bright blonde hair, ocean-blue eyes, and the whisker-like marks etched on his cheeks.
The shopkeeper froze. Recognition flickered in his eyes, followed swiftly by unease. The demon fox…
Naruto noticed the man's reaction and returned his gaze without a word, silently daring him to say something. The shopkeeper hesitated but then turned to retrieve the goods, his expression frosty.
As Naruto waited, his hands tucked into his pockets, other villagers entered the store. They immediately noticed him and began whispering in hushed but venomous tones.
"That's the demon fox brat," one muttered. "He killed the Fourth Hokage, remember? And destroyed so much of the village…"
"Can a mere kid do that?" someone else questioned, though the reply was swift and sharp.
"You don't understand. That monster holds the power of the Nine-Tails. He could lose control at any moment and destroy us all."
"How can the village tolerate his existence?" another sneered. "If it were me, I'd have ended it already."
Naruto heard every word but kept his expression neutral, his eyes cold and defiant. His piercing gaze silenced some of the bolder critics, who quickly averted their eyes and moved away.
When the shopkeeper returned with a packed cardboard box, Naruto glanced at it skeptically. "There aren't any expired items in here, are there?" he asked pointedly.
The shopkeeper stiffened but managed a strained smile. "Of course not. This store doesn't sell expired goods."
"It better not," Naruto said flatly. "If I find anything, I'll report it to the Hokage."
Grabbing the box, which was almost as tall as he was, Naruto exited the shop without looking back. Outside, the villagers stepped aside as though he carried a contagious plague.
Their murmurs followed him. "Why even sell to that monster?" one villager spat. "He doesn't deserve to eat."
The shopkeeper shrugged off the accusations with a weak defense. "It's just food. Even strays are fed in Konoha."
Naruto ignored the hateful voices and made his way home, placing the box on the floor with a loud thud. Without bothering to inspect the contents—he already knew the shopkeeper had given him the lowest-quality goods—he grabbed his fishing gear and left for the river.
At the riverbank, the water rushed unfrozen, a rare sign of life amidst the frost-covered land. Casting his line into the water, Naruto huddled against the biting wind, hoping for a better catch than previous nights.
His thoughts drifted as he waited. Why had the original Naruto been so cheerful despite enduring such relentless malice? Could Asura's chakra really explain it? He struggled to muster the same resilience, even with the soul of an adult in his body.
A sudden tug on the line snapped him from his reverie. Pulling hard, Naruto reeled in a fish the size of his forearm. A rare smile graced his face. "Fish soup tonight," he murmured.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Naruto decided to head home. He didn't fear the dark; rather, he avoided it for practical reasons. Stunted growth wasn't an option.
On his way back, he stopped abruptly. A young girl stood at the intersection, her lavender hair catching the faint glow of streetlights. Her pale, pupil-less eyes brimmed with tears, her small frame trembling.
Naruto immediately recognized her as a member of the Hyuga clan, likely the heiress, Hinata.
She looked lost and helpless. "C-Can you help me? I can't find my way home," she said softly.
Naruto hesitated. It felt like a scene out of a script. Still, he extended his hand with a grin. "Sure."
Hinata hesitated before placing her tiny hand in his. Naruto led her through the village, chatting to fill the silence. By the time they reached the Hyuga compound, guards surrounded them, their expressions a mixture of relief and suspicion.
Naruto released Hinata's hand quickly, offering her a faint smile. "Looks like you're home now. I'll be on my way."
Hinata opened her mouth to speak, but Naruto turned and walked away before she could.
As he disappeared into the night, the distant sound of celebration from the Hyuga compound reached his ears. For a moment, Naruto stood still, staring at the brightly lit estate.
Liveliness belongs to them, but loneliness is all I have.
Naruto sighed and continued down the dark, empty streets. The cold gnawed at him, but he paid it no mind.