"Don't come any closer!"
Kushina's eyes welled up with tears. It seemed what her elders back in the clan had told her was true—children in the Hidden Leaf really were rough and domineering.
Compared to this bunch, her new deskmate from today suddenly seemed much nicer in hindsight.
The girl named Hana had a twisted look in her eyes, filled with a destructive urge toward anything beautiful. Just as her scissors were about to cut into Kushina's long red hair—
A strong hand suddenly gripped her wrist, stopping her cold.
The hand wasn't much bigger than hers, but it was calloused and scarred—clearly belonging to someone who'd trained hard.
Hana's heart flared with anger as she looked up—only to meet Leo's cold, sharp gaze. A chill ran through her.
"W–who are you?" she stammered.
"What you're doing is wrong," Leo said flatly.
"Who do you think you are?"
Two boys who'd been watching nearby immediately stepped forward, their faces darkening. They'd wanted to impress Hana, but seeing her grabbed by this stranger made them furious.
"That's him!" Kushina's eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn't expected that the cold, aloof boy from class would be the one to step in and save her.
Hana recovered from her initial shock and tore her arm free, glaring proudly. "What's it to you? Mind your own business! Boys, get him!"
The two boys sneered and cracked their knuckles, thinking that with numbers on their side, they could easily teach this kid a lesson.
Leo just shook his head slightly. His figure blurred—and with two crisp thuds, both boys were sent flying.
"Ding! +10 EXP!"
"Ding! +10 EXP!"
If it can be solved with fists, why bother with words?
"Ugh!" The two boys groaned on the ground, clutching their stomachs in pain.
Leo blinked in surprise. Beating people gives experience points?
A strange idea formed in his mind. He raised his foot and gave each of them another solid kick.
"Ding! +5 EXP!"
"Ding! +5 EXP!"
"It really works!" His eyes lit up. He promptly delivered a few more kicks.
"Ding! +3 EXP!"
"Ding! +2 EXP!"
…
For a brief moment, the two boys turned into human EXP bags as Leo stomped on them mercilessly.
Fortunately, no one else was around—otherwise this would have been a rather awkward scene.
However, the EXP gain eventually stopped. After he'd earned roughly 50 points, the system went silent no matter how much more he kicked.
Kushina's bright eyes sparkled with awe. He was a bit ruthless—but it felt so satisfying! Those bullies totally deserved it!
The two boys, now bruised and battered, looked up at him in disbelief. We surrendered ages ago! Why are you still hitting us?!
"You're a ninja?" Hana stammered, her bravado gone. "My cousin is Uchiha Tsuki! If you mess with me, he'll make you pay!"
Leo's expression didn't change. "Get lost."
"Y–you!"
Her face flushed with humiliation. That single word hurt worse than a beating. Still, she turned and fled, dragging the two groaning boys with her.
But in her heart, she burned with resentment. She'd remember this name—Leo. Her cousin, the Uchiha genius also studying at the academy, would avenge her.
Poof!
Once they'd left, a puff of white smoke appeared—and a bronze treasure chest materialized on the ground.
Of course, only Leo could see it.
"Treasure chest detected. Receive it?"
"Yes," Leo replied mentally.
The chest vanished into his inventory, but he didn't open it yet—not with Kushina still standing there.
"Thank you," Kushina said softly, clutching her hands to her chest. Gratitude shone in her eyes.
"Mm." Leo gave a curt nod, glanced at her once, and turned to leave.
Kushina blinked, a little stunned by how blunt he was. She bit her lip, then quickly called out, "W–wait! Um… can I walk with you?"
Leo paused mid-step, looked back, and asked, "You're scared?"
Kushina nodded hard. "Yeah."
"Where do you live?"
"In the big compound on the east side of the village," she said timidly.
"I'll walk you home," Leo replied simply.
Her eyes lit up. "Thank you!"
"Let's go."
The two small figures walked side by side through the quiet evening streets, their shadows stretching long under the sunset glow.
After about half an hour, they arrived before an ancient compound adorned with familiar insignia—the crest of the Senju Clan.
So, this was where she lived. Leo wasn't surprised.
After all, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had married Uzumaki Mito, princess of the Uzumaki Clan.
Though Hashirama had died young, his wife still lived. The Uzumaki were known for their vitality and longevity.
Since Kushina was now living in Konoha, it made sense she'd be staying with Lady Mito herself.
"We're here. Thank you," Kushina said with a small bow.
"Yeah. I'll be going then," Leo said, turning to leave without hesitation.
"Oh—wait! I never asked your name!" she called out suddenly.
"Leo. 'Ye' as in night, 'Chen' as in star," he answered without looking back.
"Leo… I'll remember that!" Kushina's face bloomed into a radiant smile as she skipped happily toward the compound.
Moments after they disappeared inside, a shadow flickered in the darkness nearby.
A ninja wearing a white mask and a tight black outfit appeared silently—then vanished just as quickly into the night, as if he'd never been there at all.
Leo didn't return home right away. The sky was still dimly lit, so he used the remaining twilight to continue running laps around the village.
A strong body was crucial for any ninja.
As he ran, he reflected on what had just happened.
During his walk with Kushina, he'd felt something—an unseen presence following them.
That was the power of Observation Haki at work. Even at level one, it had already sharpened his sixth sense.
But whoever was tailing them didn't feel hostile.
"ANBU?" Leo mused.
Of course, they weren't following him—they were guarding Uzumaki Kushina, the future Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
Even if he hadn't intervened, those children would have been stopped by that hidden protector.
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