The fat shopkeeper collapsed to the ground in humiliation. The thought of being manhandled by a little girl only made his anger burn hotter.
To think he had been struck by a child! His flabby face twisted with rage.
"Get your hands off me right now, and apologize this instant!" he roared.
"Otherwise, I'll have the Uchiha Police Force drag you all away. When that happens, don't come crying to me for mercy!"
The moment the name "Uchiha" left his lips, the fearless look on Ino Yamanaka's face faltered. The fist she'd been ready to throw froze midair.
It was no wonder she flinched at the mention. The Uchiha Police were infamous for their ruthlessness, their punishments excessively harsh. Even within the village, they inspired resentment and fear.
And Ino, as the daughter of the Yamanaka clan, knew better than anyone the consequences of striking a civilian in public. Word would spread quickly, and her clan's reputation would inevitably suffer.
The shopkeeper, noticing her hesitation, allowed a sly grin to flicker across his face. His pain momentarily forgotten, his eyes gleamed with malice.
So, invoking the Uchiha name had worked. Good.
Those little brats would learn to grovel.
But before his vengeful thoughts could even take root, a cold wave swept up from his tailbone. Terror, suffocating and primal, seized his body.
Naruto stepped forward, silent, and with each step an invisible pressure rolled out of him, slamming into the man like a crashing tide.
The shopkeeper broke into a cold sweat, his voice hoarse as he stammered, "I'll… I'll call the Uchiha, they'll "
Naruto silenced him with a single icy glance.
The pressure intensified. Dark, oppressive, almost feral.
All the shopkeeper's senses crumbled beneath sheer fear. His face contorted, his limbs twisted unnaturally as though gripped by invisible claws. His throat tightened, his breath caught, and every hair on his body stood on end.
"I… I'm sorry. Please forgive me!"
"Do you think an apology alone is enough?" Naruto asked flatly.
Panicked, the man fumbled into his pouch and pulled out a thick stack of money. Dropping to his knees in a dogeza-like bow, he pressed his forehead to the floor.
"I beg you, please forgive my rudeness!"
Naruto accepted the money with a cold nod.
"Now that's the proper attitude for an apology."
The Nine-Tails' chakra had worked wonders here, instilling dread even in a grown man. Still, Naruto knew its effect would likely reach no further than ordinary civilians or perhaps a mid-level chunin.
Without another word, he took Ino's hand and led her out of the shop.
…
Outside, Choji Akimichi tugged at the sleeve of Shikamaru Nara, his brow furrowed in frustration.
"Shikamaru! Why'd you hold me back? Ino was in there alone! That shopkeeper was way out of line!"
Choji's round face flushed red with indignation.
Shikamaru, eyes half-lidded in his usual lazy stare, glanced toward Ino. He sighed, his thoughts racing despite his weary expression.
That blond boy… wasn't he closely tied to the Nine-Tails, the very beast that nearly destroyed Konoha years ago?
If they got too involved, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans could end up in a political mess.
Troublesome. Best to keep their distance.
But since Ino had already rushed in, there was no stopping her.
"It's fine," Shikamaru muttered at last. "Ino can handle it. You don't need to jump in too."
Choji frowned, clearly unsatisfied, but distracted himself with another handful of chips.
…
Ino blinked, startled, as the shopkeeper who moments before had been shouting threats was now on his knees, trembling, groveling, and offering money.
Her confusion lasted only a heartbeat before Naruto reached out and grabbed her hand.
Her cheeks heated instantly.
So he's just a shameless little pervert after all? She thought indignantly. Grabbing my hand like that see if I don't teach him a lesson…
"You—" she began, her tone sharp.
But when her gaze fell on his face, the words caught in her throat.
Naruto's calm eyes met hers, his small, earnest expression unexpectedly disarming.
Ino's lips parted, her bright green eyes fixed on him. Her cheeks flushed red, and she swallowed nervously.
"H-hi. I'm Ino Yamanaka. What's your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto inclined his head slightly. "Thank you for helping me, Yamanaka."
His tone was serious, sincere. In all the years he had lived in the village, only the Third Hokage had ever shown him even a shred of kindness.
He had never once experienced someone stepping forward to defend him.
Until today.
Flustered, Ino tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her pale cheeks blooming red.
"N-no need to thank me…"
She smiled shyly. "From now on, we're friends, okay? Just call me Ino, Naruto."
Of course she would say that. Ino was famously drawn to appearances. And Naruto, with his fair skin and striking features honed by years of isolation rather than mischief resembled his mother Kushina as a child, bright-eyed and naturally handsome.
"Where do you live, Naruto? Do you want me and my friends to walk you home? That way you won't have to deal with those nasty people."
She gestured toward Shikamaru and Choji, who were standing nearby.
Choji lit up, happily waving with a greasy chip-stained hand. Shikamaru hesitated, frowned slightly, then gave a reluctant nod.
Naruto noticed the doubt in Shikamaru's eyes. Even this young, the Nara heir already understood the delicate politics surrounding the jinchuriki.
Naruto smiled faintly and shook his head. "Maybe next time."
Ino's face fell, her earlier excitement fading instantly. She looked small, deflated.
Watching him walk away, she touched her hand, remembering the warmth still lingering there.
Her cheeks burned again.
"I hope he doesn't think I'm just some violent tomboy…"
The thought made her squeal inwardly, stomping her feet in embarrassment.
…
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair, gazing into the crystal ball before him.
He watched Naruto, scorned and shunned by the villagers, and his heart clenched with sorrow.
But sympathy did not mean intervention.
He could not reveal Naruto's true heritage, nor could he silence the poisonous rumors branding him a demon.
All he could do was hope the boy would inherit his father's nature. That one day, Naruto would shine like the sun, a light bright enough to warm the entire ninja world.
Hiruzen sighed, the weight of memory pressing down.
He had once taken up the mantle of Hokage from his own master, Tobirama Senju, in a time of crisis.
Since then, he had led Konoha through two great wars, emerging victorious each time.
Back then, the village had flourished.
It had been a time when the Leaf truly thrived.