Izumi hadn't expected the boy to still dare rush him, but though surprised, his hands didn't stop moving. Two kunai whistled through the air, forcing the attacker to dodge. Seizing the moment, Izumi leapt high into the air, landing right in front of him. His hands blurred through seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
After an entire afternoon of practice, the Great Fireball that had been less than a centimeter earlier was now about the size of a fist. At such close range, the flames instantly caught the boy's hair on fire.
Seeing their leader take a hit, the other two older boys charged in.
With enemies on both sides, Izumi thought to counter with his kunai, but the moment he reached for one, the two boys suddenly lunged and pinned him down. At only four years old, he was no match for children of seven or eight. In seconds, he was flat on the ground, taking a rough beating.
Seizing on a brief lapse in their guard, Izumi's hand found a kunai. Gripping it tightly, he forced his attackers to hesitate. But then, the leader's gaze slid toward the dazed Hyūga Hinata standing nearby. Izumi immediately realized his intent to take her hostage. He hurled two kunai in quick succession, forcing the boy back, then sprinted toward Hinata.
Planting himself in front of her, Izumi held his last kunai in a white-knuckled grip, eyes locked on his enemies.
"Don't even think about it! If you want to hurt her, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"
A strange, dangerous light flickered in his eyes, a faint trace of crimson appearing and disappearing like a mirage.
The three boys faltered. The Uchiha were not known for their patience—if word got out, they would be in trouble. After all, these three were just children from ordinary families. The only reason they bullied Hinata was her timid, submissive nature. In their minds, the Hyūga clan's young lady would never tell. But this sudden appearance of Uchiha Izumi—clearly not someone to trifle with—changed things.
Under Izumi's unblinking gaze, the three finally slunk away. He let out a quiet breath.
"Um… my name is Hyūga Hinata. Thank you." Her voice was barely louder than a mosquito's, her head bowed low.
Ding. System notification: You have met Hyūga Hinata.
Izumi chose to ignore the message.
"I'm Uchiha Izumi. No need to thank me—boys should protect girls. We're all part of the same village; it's only right to help each other." He gave what he thought was a bright, sunny smile—though with one cheek swollen, the effect was more comical than charming.
"Thank you…" Hinata could only repeat herself softly, at a loss for other words.
Gurgle.
Just as Izumi was about to speak again, a rather unflattering sound interrupted—his stomach protesting after having eaten little that morning and nothing since noon.
"If… if you'd like… I could treat you to a meal." Hinata mustered her courage to say it.
Izumi blinked in surprise. In the world of Naruto, Hinata's shy nature meant she blushed even talking to others, let alone inviting someone to eat with her. This was rare indeed.
"How could I let a girl pay? I'll treat you. I've heard Ichiraku Ramen is amazing—let's try it." Without waiting for her response, he took her hand and led her toward Konoha's bustling district.
Hinata hadn't expected Izumi to suddenly grab her hand. Her cheeks flushed a vivid red, though the cold snowy weather masked it well enough that others wouldn't notice.
Once in the busy streets, Izumi realized something awkward: he didn't know the way. Since arriving in this world, he had never left the Uchiha compound; this was his first time venturing so far.
"Uh… I don't actually know where Ichiraku is. Do you?" he admitted, feeling a wave of embarrassment at getting lost at a time like this.
"I-I know." Hinata kept her head down as she led the way. Neither noticed that their small hands remained clasped the entire time.
Under Hinata's guidance, they finally arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.
"Uncle Ichiraku, two bowls of miso ramen, please." Izumi slid onto a seat. Hinata sat quietly beside him, head still lowered.
"Sure thing," the shop owner replied. He wasn't surprised to see children at his stall, though he did raise a brow at an Uchiha and a Hyūga together.
Soon, two steaming bowls were placed before them. Izumi's stomach growled again.
"Hinata, mind if I call you that?"
"O-of course not…" she mumbled, fidgeting with her fingers in front of her chest.
"Then let's eat before it gets cold." He swallowed the other words he'd been about to say.
Izumi quickly finished his ramen. It was every bit as good as the rumors said—no wonder Naruto loved it so much. Glancing at Hinata's bowl, he saw it was already spotless, even cleaner than his own.
"Uncle Ichiraku, two more bowls!" he called. He remembered Hinata's future "big eater" reputation. Even at this young age, she could clearly eat more than average.
When the new bowls came, Izumi only ate half before stopping—he'd been full after the first, but ordered again so Hinata wouldn't feel awkward. She polished off her second bowl with quiet satisfaction.
"I-I'm full," she said quickly, perhaps worried he'd order more.
Paying the bill, Izumi once again took her hand naturally as they stepped outside. Snow was falling heavier now. Concerned she might catch a cold—she looked so fragile, like she could be blown over by a breeze—he said, "The weather's bad. Let me walk you home."
"Mm," came her soft reply.
This time, he had asked for directions beforehand, so he led the way confidently toward the Hyūga compound. The streets grew quieter, the two walking in silence, their joined hands never separating.
Near the gates, Izumi stopped. "We're here. I shouldn't go any further."
"Mm."
"I'm usually at Training Ground Seven. If anyone bullies you, come find me," he added without thinking.
"Mm."
He turned to leave, but a small voice called out behind him.
"Be careful on your way back."
Startled, he glanced over his shoulder, saw her standing at the Hyūga gate, and waved. "I'll be fine."
He left, and Hinata stepped inside.
---
Back in his room, Izumi let thoughts of Hinata drift away. Lying on his bed, he turned his focus back to the day's training. He had memorized the chakra flow for the Great Fireball Technique, but the size and power of his fireball still fell far short of the standard. The problem gnawed at him.