Naruto stumbled backward, his back slamming against the cold, damp wall of the alley. The taste of blood lingered in his mouth, metallic and sharp, as he struggled to catch his breath. The shinobi loomed over him, their silhouettes jagged against the faint glow of a distant streetlamp. The one he'd punched—tall, with a scar slicing across his cheek—rubbed his jaw, his eyes glinting with malice."Stupid brat," the scarred shinobi spat, cracking his knuckles. "You think you can hit me and walk away? You're gonna regret that."Naruto's legs trembled, but he forced himself to stand straighter, wiping the blood from his split lip with the back of his hand. His heart raced, not just from fear but from the stubborn spark of defiance that refused to die out. He wasn't sorry for the punch. If anything, he wished he'd hit harder."I didn't start this," Naruto muttered, his voice hoarse but steady. "You grabbed me first."The shinobi laughed, a harsh, barking sound that echoed off the alley walls. "Listen to this kid! Thinks he's tough now." He stepped closer, his shadow swallowing Naruto's smaller frame. "You're nothing but trouble, sneaking around like a rat. What's a runt like you doing out here anyway?"Naruto clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms. He wanted to shout that he was just trying to eat, to survive, but he bit his tongue. Words wouldn't help him now. The villagers already hated him—had always hated him—for reasons he didn't fully understand. The whispers, the glares, the occasional thrown stone—they'd been part of his life for as long as he could remember. But tonight, hunger had pushed him past caution, and now he was paying for it.The second shinobi, shorter but broader, with a crooked nose, grabbed Naruto's collar and yanked him forward. "You're that kid, aren't you?" he growled, his breath hot and sour. "The one they all talk about. The demon brat."Naruto's stomach twisted at the word. Demon. It wasn't the first time he'd heard it, but it still stung, sharp and heavy, like a blade sinking into his chest. He didn't know why they called him that, but the venom in their voices made it clear they believed it."I'm just me," Naruto said through gritted teeth, glaring into the man's eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."The scarred shinobi snorted, grabbing a fistful of Naruto's dirt-smeared jacket. "Don't play dumb. You're not fooling anyone." He shoved Naruto hard, sending him sprawling onto the cobblestones. The impact jarred his bones, and the bag of vegetables he'd managed to buy before the ambush spilled out, carrots and greens scattering across the filthy ground.Naruto scrambled to his knees, his hands instinctively reaching for the food. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. Before he could grab the bag, the broad shinobi stomped on it, crushing the contents under his boot. "Oops," he said with a sneer. "Guess you're not eating tonight."Something snapped in Naruto. Hunger, pain, and years of bottled-up anger surged through him like a wildfire. Without thinking, he lunged, tackling the broad shinobi's legs with all the strength his scrawny body could muster. The man stumbled, cursing, but before Naruto could do more, a sharp kick to his ribs sent him sprawling again."Enough!" a new voice barked, cutting through the chaos. The shinobi froze, their heads snapping toward the end of the alley. A figure stepped into the dim light—a woman, her dark hair pulled into a tight bun, her eyes sharp and unyielding. She wore a jounin vest, and her presence seemed to suck the air out of the narrow space."What's going on here?" she demanded, her gaze flicking from the shinobi to Naruto, who lay panting on the ground.The scarred shinobi straightened, his tone shifting to something falsely respectful. "Just dealing with a troublemaker, Anko-sensei. This kid attacked us."Naruto's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to protest, but the woman—Anko—raised a hand, silencing him. She stepped closer, her boots clicking against the cobblestones, and crouched to meet Naruto's gaze. Her eyes were piercing, like they could see right through him, but there was something else in them—curiosity, maybe, or something softer."Is that true, kid?" she asked, her voice low but firm. "You attack them first?"Naruto hesitated. Lying might get him out of this, but the truth was all he had left. "They grabbed me," he said quietly, his voice shaking but resolute. "I was just trying to get food. I didn't want trouble."Anko's eyes narrowed, flicking to the crushed groceries and then back to the shinobi. "Off-duty and picking fights with kids. Real classy," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. She stood, crossing her arms. "Get out of here. Now. Or I'll report this to the Hokage."The shinobi exchanged uneasy glances but didn't argue. With a final glare at Naruto, they slunk off into the shadows, their muttered curses fading into the night.Anko turned back to Naruto, who was still on his knees, clutching the ruined bag. "You're a mess, kid," she said, but her voice wasn't unkind. She offered him a hand. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up. And maybe find you something to eat that isn't covered in dirt."Naruto stared at her hand, wary. No one in the village had ever helped him before—not without a catch. But his stomach growled, and his body ached, and something in Anko's eyes made him want to trust her, just this once. Slowly, he took her hand and let her pull him to his feet.
