Naruto curled inward out of instinct, shielding his vital spots as kicks and punches rained down on him.He was used to this.The blows, the jeers, the way adults passed by pretending not to see—or worse, approving with a glance.
Children reflect the world they're raised in, and Konoha's adults had never taught these older students that bullying Naruto was wrong.If anything, their silence encouraged it.
So Naruto endured.He always endured.Another beating, another morning, another bruise.He'd still be late for class today, but he already expected that.
Just as one of the boys lifted his foot for another kick—
"HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
The shout boomed across the clearing.
Naruto's head snapped toward the voice.Inuzuka Kiba—nose bruised, breath steaming like an angry dog—charged toward them. Behind him were more figures.
Naruto's eyes brightened for a split second… then dimmed again.
Tōma… isn't here?
The realization hollowed something inside him. Maybe Tōma didn't know? But Shikamaru knew. Ino knew. Even Kiba knew.
Tōma wouldn't know? Really?
He tried to convince himself, but an ache pressed into his chest.
"Mind your own business, brat," the lead upperclassman snarled at Kiba.
"What business?! He's our classmate!" Kiba snapped back, fangs bared.
Shikamaru dragged him a step behind."Senpai, class is starting soon. Why not end it here?"His tone was polite, but his eyes were sharp as glass.
Still—no Tōma.Shikamaru noticed that too. Weird. He left first. Where did he go?
"Class? Whatever. We're already late," the upperclassman laughed. "And beating a monster is more important than any lesson."
The word hung in the air like poison.
Kiba's face darkened instantly."You bastard—!"
Shikamaru gritted his teeth. The upperclassmen were bigger, stronger, and more numerous. If this became a real fight…
Then footsteps approached—Uchiha Sasuke, Aburame Shino, and, hesitantly, Hyūga Hinata.All stepping behind Naruto's group.Standing with them.
Shikamaru's lips curled slightly."…Guess our class isn't so hopeless."
Even with reinforcements, they were still outmatched. He tried one last time.
"Senpai, even if you win, people will say you bullied first-years. This isn't worth the trouble."
But those words only sparked an idea in the upperclassman's mind.
"They've been brainwashed by the monster!" he shouted. "We're just helping them!"
And before Shikamaru could respond, the boy lunged forward.
"Tch. Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered.
"See?! Talking to these idiots never works!" Kiba roared, breaking free and charging in.
Chōji followed with surprising speed.Shino silently intercepted another attacker, and Sasuke stepped forward, cold-eyed.
"Fighting someone weaker doesn't make you strong," Sasuke said. "Try me instead."
Naruto's throat tightened.They all… came for me.
Hinata appeared at his side, trembling but determined.Naruto panicked—She'll get hurt!—and moved to shield her.
Hinata blinked, cheeks red.He's protecting me… Naruto-kun…
But admiration wouldn't win this fight.
Within minutes, reality asserted itself.First-year students—even clan heirs—fell apart under the raw physicality of older, larger kids.It didn't matter how clever they were or how strong they'd become someday.
At this age, size alone was a weapon.
Only two held their ground:
Sasuke, whose technique and speed let him clash evenly despite the difference in strength.
And Shino—whose insects terrified the older boys enough to stall several at once.
But it wasn't enough.Kiba collapsed.Chōji fell back.Shikamaru took a punch while distracted and nearly dropped.Naruto and Hinata were cornered.
"Damn it… where is Tōma?!" Shikamaru growled, tasting blood. "If he were here, we might've held out until a teacher arrived…"
Naruto, beaten and breathless, clenched his fists harder.He couldn't let Hinata get hurt. He couldn't let everyone fight for him alone.
He took a shaky step forward—
And then he felt it.
A familiar presence.A familiar tension in the air.
He turned.
Bright blue eyes widened.
"I'll take it from here!"
Fujimoto Tōma burst into the clearing like a blade unsheathed.
His expression froze when he saw the bruises on his classmates—on Naruto—and the temperature of the air seemed to drop.
"…Oh, this isn't good for you," he murmured.
"Tōma, you idiot, where were you?!" Kiba shouted through a swollen lip.
But there was no time to answer.The upperclassmen hesitated—only for a heartbeat.
Then Tōma moved.
He struck like a storm.A step. A pivot. A punch. A kick. Each movement clean and ruthless.Older bodies toppled like training dummies—not because they were weak, but because Tōma's strength had already surpassed theirs.
He was a first-year in name only.
Sasuke stared, stunned.Shino adjusted his glasses, mildly impressed.Naruto watched with a twitching eye.
…Why does this look exactly like when he beat me up?
Within moments, nearly all the older students were on the ground.
Only one remained standing—trembling.
"M-m-monster!" the boy shrieked.
Tōma paused.
So he was being called that too, now.But unlike Naruto… this version wasn't meant to isolate him.
He smiled brightly.
"Thanks for the compliment."
The boy broke and ran.
Tōma sighed, stretched, and sprinted after him.A short chase, a few strikes, and the upperclassman joined the others in a neat unconscious pile.
"Can't have the team photo missing anyone," Tōma said cheerfully.
He turned just in time to see Iruka-sensei storming toward the clearing, panic written all over his face.
Tōma bowed politely.
"Sorry, Iruka-sensei. I think we caused a bit of a scene."