Naruto stuck to his training plan.
One day.
Two days.
Three days.
…
The Anbu ninja watching him thought many times that Naruto couldn't possibly last. But every morning, Naruto was up again, full of energy, starting his routine all over. The sight left the Anbu astonished—it seemed impossible.
For an ordinary ninja, this plan wasn't much. But for a three-year-old child, it was extreme.
"Not too much!" Naruto told himself.
"Steel is only forged in fire. How else do you grow stronger?"
"A real man never says 'I can't.'"
Gritting his teeth, drenched in sweat, Naruto pressed on.
He could feel his body growing stronger. Yet strangely, the training never seemed to get easier. Push-ups, squats, sit-ups, long-distance runs—every single day they still pushed him to his limits.
"This must be the special effect of the wish," Naruto reasoned. "Keeping me under constant pressure."
"Fine. That's how it should be!"
Sweating heavily, he sprinted down the quieter streets of Konoha. He was exhausted, but his stubborn spirit drove him forward.
At the end of his ten-kilometer run, Naruto stopped, legs trembling and drenched in sweat.
"Huh?"
A warm pulse spread from his chest.
Naruto touched the sapphire statue hanging there—it was heating up.
Pretending to wander aimlessly, he realized the warmth grew stronger the more he headed in one direction. Following the pull, he soon spotted a little girl with short purple hair stumbling along.
The moment he saw her, the statue cooled down.
"Hey!" Naruto ran ahead and stopped her.
The girl had short, straight purple hair with two longer strands framing her pale, white eyes. Her timid, startled expression made her look incredibly cute.
Naruto froze. For a split second, strange images flashed in his mind—like he had seen her before, as if she was tied to his destiny.
He forgot the statue, forgot everything, and simply stared.
His lake-blue eyes locked onto hers, deep and unwavering.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto," he said confidently. "Uzumaki means whirlpool, and Naruto means maelstrom."
"What about you? What's your name?"
He spoke suddenly, directly, with the confidence of someone far older.
"M-me… my name is Hyuga Hinata," she whispered, her voice barely above a mosquito's buzz.
She felt overwhelmed by him. Despite his sweaty, tired appearance, Naruto radiated a dazzling energy she had never seen before—something she couldn't help but admire.
"Hyuga Hinata? That's a beautiful name!" Naruto grinned.
"Now that we know each other, we'll be good friends from now on!"
"Nice to meet you, Hinata!"
He grabbed her small hand with a bright smile.
"Ah… ahhh…"
Hinata's face turned crimson, steam practically rising from her head. She felt dizzy—he was way too close.
"Where's your house? I'll walk you back. It's getting dark. Why'd you come out alone? There are bad people outside, and it's dangerous."
Naruto held her hand firmly as they walked. His heart, so often lonely, felt suddenly full.
Fate? Destiny? Who cared?
All he knew was that this white-eyed girl mattered to him.
Other than the Third Hokage, she was the only person who hadn't treated him with hatred. Blushing, timid, yet gentle—Hinata was different.
Pointing the way, Hinata let him guide her all the way to the grand Hyūga estate.
"Looks like we're here," Naruto said, gazing at the massive house with a hint of envy.
He released her hand. A pang of loss hit him immediately.
"Hinata, why did you sneak out again? You had us worried."
"Uncle Hizashi… I-I got lost."
"That so? Be careful next time. It's good you had someone with you."
The door opened, revealing a tall man with pale eyes. His expression was gentle and kind.
Naruto looked at him curiously.
Suddenly, a strange thought surfaced in Naruto's mind:
Dark clouds gather overhead… the shadow of death looms near.
He shook it off. That was Hinata's uncle. It wasn't right to think such things.
This man was Hyuga Hizashi—the younger brother of the Hyūga clan head, Hyuga Hiashi. A branch house member, and Hinata's uncle.
"Well, Hinata's home safe. Time for me to go. Bye!" Naruto flashed his brightest smile, waved, and walked off confidently.
He was happy—he had made a new friend. An important one.
Still, something about Hinata's uncle felt… off. Was death really close to him? Or was it just Naruto's imagination?
"Did he say… Nine Tails Jinchuriki?"
"Uncle, what did you say?" Hinata asked.
Hizashi glanced at Naruto's retreating back and muttered to himself. Then, forcing a smile, he brushed off her question and changed the subject.
As Hinata walked into her home, she glanced back over and over until Naruto's figure was gone.
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