Uzumaki Kushina: Well done! Beautiful hit!
Kushina: Naruto, anyone who bullies you—hit them like this! Smash their—
Beep—
Kushina is muted again.
Hiss—
At that moment, the entire shinobi world sucks in a sharp breath.
Even Naruto himself does.
He instinctively clamps his legs together.
In that regard, as a male… ahem—
even Guy-sensei would dodge that one.
Uchiha Sasuke: "Like I said—bullies who prey on the weak deserve it."
Kankurō: "Clearly, that mask shop owner's mindset is the same as most people's."
Kankurō: "He dared to bully Naruto because he thought the kid had no fighting power."
Gaara: "Kill them all!!!"
Gaara's murderous voice makes Konoha's villagers shrink back.
On the black-framed screen, a gentle-looking girl appears.
[Among the crowd, a young girl watches in confusion.]
["Why… why is everyone treating that child like this?"]
["Did he do something wrong?"]
["The owner clearly threw the mask in front of him and struck first."]
["So pitiful…"]
["Lady Hinata, we should leave."]
["But…"]
[A Hyūga branch ninja hurriedly pulls her away.]
["Lady Hinata, you must not associate with that child."]
"Huh? Hinata, you'd already met Naruto when you were that young?" Kurenai asks in surprise.
Hinata's face heats up instantly, turning red.
Kurenai smiles knowingly—she's used to this shy girl blushing.
She just hadn't expected Hinata to meet Naruto so early.
When was that seed planted, I wonder?
Aside from Naruto himself, most people had already noticed Hinata's feelings.
"Maybe Black-Frame Naruto's differences caused different encounters."
"Hinata, did you meet Naruto that day?"
Ino and Sakura walk over from the stands.
"Um… I think it was a few days later—not this day," Hinata answers softly, face red.
In the chatroom, Kiba suddenly speaks up.
"That mask shop owner—I remember him! Once Naruto was tricked into going to the cemetery to buy masks, pretending to be a ghost to look for corpses!"
Chōji: "Right! They lied to Naruto, saying there might be enemy remnants in the graveyard."
Iruka: "Yes… I remember that night."
A scream from the black-framed screen draws everyone's attention.
["Aaaahhh—!!!"]
[The mask shop owner screams.]
[Every man present instinctively clamps his legs and takes a step back.]
[Disgust deepens—but fear joins it.]
[They're pretty sure they heard something shatter.]
[The owner curls up, tears streaming, indescribable pain radiating upward like a writhing snake.]
["Y-you damn fox… I'll kill you!"]
[Naruto glances at him coldly and kicks him in the face.]
[The powerless man closes his eyes and takes it.]
[Because of yesterday's ban, no one dares intervene.]
[Whether it's entirely because of the ban—or simply cowardice—is unclear.]
["Kill me?"]
["Fine. I'm right here."]
[Naruto sneers.]
[He looks at the crowd.]
["Come on!"]
["Not coming? Then I'll keep going~"]
["Don't worry—you bastards will all get your turn eventually."]
[He kicks the man again—right where he's clutching.]
["Yamero—!!!"]
["Aaaahhh—!!!"]
[Another pig-like scream echoes.]
[Naruto snorts.]
[He glances at the fallen mask.]
[Crack—]
[He stomps it flat.]
[Then rushes into the mask shop.]
[He shoves the racks over, flinging masks at the owner.]
[The owner's heart bleeds—but he doesn't regret his actions.]
[Only regrets not killing the fox immediately.]
["Are you blind?!"]
["Can't you dodge?!"]
[Naruto roars, about to continue.]
[Whoosh—]
["That's enough."]
[The ANBU monitoring Naruto finally intervenes, bound by delayed orders.]
[Naruto glares at him coldly.]
["Where were you when he hit me?"]
[Behind the mask, the ANBU's eyes are icy.]
["I said—it ends here."]
[Naruto steps forward, raising his hand.]
[Whoosh—]
[The ANBU instantly flashes away.]
[Clearly—he's wary of that brutal strike.]
[Naruto snorts.]
[The opponent's speed is too fast—he can't see it clearly.]
[Seeing no chance to push further, Naruto turns and leaves.]
[Watching his lonely back, the ANBU exhales in relief.]
[He hadn't reacted at all—Naruto's move was too sudden.]
[By the time he realized, the owner was already on the ground.]
[With the ANBU present, the villagers begrudgingly make way.]
[After all—who would dare attack the fox in front of ANBU?]
[Especially when the fox's fists are aimed at critical weaknesses.]
[The owner still can't get up.]
[The villagers scatter.]
[Only then does the ANBU look at the sweat-soaked shop owner.]
["The Hokage's ban hasn't even been in effect for a day—and you dare violate it?"]
["Come with me to see the Hokage."]
[He glances at the crowd.]
[Then lifts the owner and leaves.]
[Among the 'civilians,' one turns away, puts on an animal mask, forms hand seals—and vanishes.]
[When he reappears, he's in ANBU gear, calmly following Naruto.]
[At the back mountain, Naruto finds a stick no boy could resist.]
[As he walks, he ties the fishing line to one end.]
[Following his memory, he searches carefully.]
[Soon, he finds the river behind Konoha.]
Anko Mitarashi: "Huh? Weren't the line and hooks picked up on the road?"
Kurenai: "Gold-Frame Naruto reached this point around the same time. Looks like the hooks and line were deliberately placed along his route."
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