Chapter_2_Finding_a_Little_Lolita

Chapter 2: Finding a Little GirlThe sun had completely sunk beneath the horizon, and the village of Konoha had already lit its lanterns. The village, once covered in snow, now appeared like a sea of softened golden light, adding an even more enchanting touch to the night's snowy landscape. Baiyun Qingye had been waiting until it was completely dark before deciding to head home. During this time, both Baiyun Yeshan and his sister, who had been taking care of him, were out on mission for the village, so he could return at any time he wanted. Following the dimly lit paths and the old stairs, he made his way down from Hokage Rock.As he descended, passing by a snack street, Baiyun Qingye encountered two unexpected individuals. He saw a little boy perched on the neck of a larger boy, pointing excitedly at a shop selling wontons. "Brother, I want those wontons!" "Sure, I'll buy whatever Sasa wants," the older boy replied. Although Baiyun Qingye had never met them before, he instantly guessed their identities based on their ages and the deep bond they shared—as well as the prominent Uchiha clan emblem on their backs. It was Uchiha鼬 and Uchiha Sasa. However, at that moment, the lines on Uchiha鼬's face were not yet very noticeable.Sasa seemed to sense Baiyun Qingye's gaze and turned to look at him, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed by being observed in such a "cogetic" manner. He quickly climbed off his brother's neck. Uchiha鼬 also noticed something and followed the direction of Sasa's gaze, but all he saw was the bustling crowd. Baiyun Qingye found it intriguing to meet the characters from his favorite anime for the first time; they seemed somewhat different from how he had imagined them. He even thought about taking a photo of the moment. He wondered how Sasa would feel when he remembered this scene later, especially after the Uchiha clan was destroyed…"Ouch!" Just as Baiyun Qingye was lost in thought, someone bumped into him, causing him to fall to the ground. The person apologized repeatedly. It was a young child with clear, innocent voice. "I… I'm sorry," Baiyun Qingye said, but his words choked up upon seeing the child's appearance. They had encountered so many people they had never met before in such a short time.The child had short, golden hair and blue eyes, with six beard-like markings on his face. Unable to help but smile, Baiyun Qingye reached out and stopped the child from continuing to apologize. "It was my fault; I was distracted while walking." He then helped the child brush off the snow from his clothes. After finishing, the child looked at him in a dazed manner. "This is the first time…", the child muttered. But Baiyun Qingye didn't have time to listen to what the child wanted to say; the crowd was already gathering around them, their malicious looks obvious. He didn't want to be the target of their hatred. Regardless of whether the child was a "demonic fox" or not, he was just a child and didn't deserve such treatment. The villagers of Konoha really should be grateful for the powerful seals set in place by Hokage Minato; otherwise, no one would have dared to watch such a scene.Baiyun Qingye, despite his occasional flaws, was a kind and helpful person who disliked to see others get bullied. He whispered in the child's ear, "Ready to run?" The child, still stumbling, didn't understand. "Sometimes, it's okay to choose to escape." Before the crowd surrounded them, Baiyun pulled the child and dashed into the crowd. The people scrambled out of the way, and the two disappeared into the chaos."Thank you!" the child exclaimed with bright eyes. "It's not shameful to flee," Baiyun said. "You don't have to live just for others' approval." For some reason, he said this; perhaps because he didn't quite like the character of Naruto in the original story. "What do you mean?" the child asked. "Don't think too highly of yourself; their approval doesn't matter to you. What's important is being happy yourself. We'll see each other again," Baiyun replied before speeding away.Once they reached a deserted street, Baiyun let out a sigh, "So many strange things happened today." He hoped to avoid more misunderstandings. But just then, he heard a child's voice, "Hey! Look at that kid! Her eyes are white—so ugly!" Three boys were teasing a girl wearing a scarf. "Your eyes are so creepy; you must be a monster," they said, laughing. Shikage Naruto, terrified, trembled and froze in place. Her white eyes were misted with tears, and she clutched her scarf tightly. The boys grew even more aggressive. Without compassion, they continued to mock her. Baiyun couldn't stand by and picked up some stones from the snow. "You three are being too loud," he said calmly, which startled them. He threw the stones at the boys, striking them in the forehead with enough force to leave large bruises. The boys cried in pain and fled the scene.After helping Naruto, Baiyun asked if she knew how to get home. Following their conversation, Baiyun continued on his way, no longer worried about the child's reaction. He realized he might have somehow interfered with Naruto's fate… With a sigh, he realized he couldn't ignore such behavior. He had saved the girl from the bullies, and the consequences for the日向 family might be serious. He thought to himself that the villagers of Konoha really should be grateful for Minato's seals.As he walked, he noticed that Naruto was still shaking. "You know how to get home?" he asked. The child's stomach answered for her. With a puzzled expression, Baiyun helped her on her way home.