Iruka checked the ninja timer at his waist and suddenly smacked his forehead.
"Damn it! I left the mock exam answer sheets in the Hokage Tower printing room. Wait here for two minutes. Don't run off!"
He hurried away toward the tower, glancing back twice to make sure Naruto was actually staying put.
Naruto leaned against a camphor tree by the roadside, eyes drifting toward the Hyūga sisters not far away.
Hanabi, only seven, had her hair tied in two little buns. She tilted her head curiously at him and tugged Hinata's sleeve.
"Big sis, who's that blond brother? Why is your face so red? Do you know him?"
Hinata nearly combusted on the spot. Her head lowered so far it almost touched her chest, fingers whitening around the forehead protector. She dared only a tiny glance at Naruto, pale lavender eyes damp like a startled rabbit's.
Naruto walked over first.
He pulled out the half-eaten cucumber Kato Granny had given him and handed it to Hanabi with a grin, sharp canines flashing.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, your sister's classmate. Some older kids were bullying her earlier—I happened to help out."
He crouched slightly to Hanabi's height. "You're Hanabi, right? This cucumber's sweet."
"Wow! Thank you, Naruto-nii-chan!"
Hanabi bit into it happily, eyes sparkling. "You're amazing! Can you beat up the kid who stole my candy last time too?"
"H-Hanabi!" Hinata tugged her sister's sleeve, face blazing red. She bowed slightly toward Naruto. "Th-thank you for the red bean bun… and for helping me."
"No need to thank me. I said I've got your back." Naruto scratched his cheek, then gestured down the road. "You're heading back toward the Academy? I'm going too. Let's walk together."
"Yay!" Hanabi cheered, skipping ahead and winking exaggeratedly at Hinata. "Big sis, hurry up! Naruto-nii-chan's waiting!"
Hinata wished the ground would swallow her whole.
She walked beside Naruto, steps light and careful, barely daring to breathe. The breeze carried a faint mix of sunshine and Ichiraku ramen broth from him.
Her heartbeat was so loud she thought he might hear it.
—
They reached the fork near the Hyūga estate when a cold voice cut through the air like frost.
"Hinata Hyūga. You've really outdone yourself—walking around with someone like that. Don't disgrace the Hyūga name."
Naruto looked up.
A boy stood beneath a ginkgo tree, dressed in dark blue Hyūga training clothes. His long hair framed a face carved in ice. The white forehead protector tied around his head couldn't quite hide the faint cursed seal beneath.
Hyūga Neji.
Still trapped in resentment between main and branch families. Still bristling with sharp edges.
Naruto's gaze lingered on the faint mark on Neji's forehead.
A memory stabbed through him—war-torn skies, splintered wood, Neji's body collapsing in front of him and Hinata. The words: "Naruto… Hinata… I leave her to you."
The Caged Bird seal fading as life left his eyes.
Naruto had carried that weight for decades.
Now Neji stood alive before him.
Hinata stiffened instantly. She instinctively stepped half behind Naruto, fingers clutching the hem of his jacket.
"N-Neji-nii-san…"
Hanabi hid too, peeking out timidly.
Neji's eyes fell on Hinata's hand gripping Naruto's clothes. His expression darkened.
"I don't care who you are," he said coldly to Naruto. "Stay away from the Hyūga. Not every stray dog is fit to walk beside the main house's heiress."
His gaze sharpened.
"And you—an unwanted monster—don't stain the Hyūga gates."
Whispers erupted from nearby Academy students.
"That's Neji! The genius!"
"Naruto's dead."
"He can't even make a proper Shadow Clone…"
Hinata's eyes welled with tears. "N-Neji-nii-san, that's not true… Naruto-kun helped me—"
"Silence."
Neji cut her off without looking at her.
"A useless main house failure defending an outsider? If not for your birth, the Hyūga wouldn't be this embarrassed."
Naruto moved.
Not in anger. Not with fists.
He simply stepped forward, placing himself fully in front of Hinata and Hanabi.
His face still held a smile—but his eyes turned cool.
"I thought geniuses would be busier," Naruto said lightly. "Didn't know you had time to police who Hinata walks with. Who she talks to is her choice. Since when do you decide that?"
Neji's brow twitched. He clearly hadn't expected defiance.
"You want to die?"
Naruto shrugged slightly.
"People with real strength challenge the chains that bind them. Picking on your own cousin? That's not talent."
His gaze drifted deliberately to Neji's forehead.
"Blaming everything on the main house and branch house… If you're so capable, why not break that little cage on your own head first? Then come lecture others about shame."
Silence.
Neji's face was drained of color.
The Caged Bird seal was his deepest wound. Few dared even mention it.
How did this outsider know?
His chakra surged. He stepped forward, fist raised.
"You know nothing!"
Students gasped.
Naruto didn't move.
He knew Neji. Beneath the anger lay rigid discipline. He would not strike recklessly before so many witnesses and risk dishonoring the clan.
As expected, Neji's fist froze inches from Naruto's face.
After a long, taut second, he lowered it.
"Fine," Neji said coldly. "During the Chūnin Exams, I'll show you the difference between you and me. I'll crush you in front of everyone."
Naruto grinned.
"I'll be waiting. Don't cry when you lose."
Neji's jaw tightened. He shot one last glance at Hinata before turning sharply and walking away.
The onlookers were stunned.
Naruto Uzumaki… challenging Hyūga Neji?
Has the sun risen in the west?
Naruto turned back to Hinata.
She was still clutching his jacket, eyes bright with tears—but smiling.
"Y-you were amazing just now, Naruto-kun…"
He scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Of course. I'm going to be Hokage."
Inside the seal, Kurama snorted. "Protecting your future wife and provoking your future brother-in-law in one move. Bold."
Naruto smiled inwardly. He'll be one of my most trusted comrades. I'll free him from that cage this time.
"Naruto! Didn't I tell you to wait there?!"
Iruka jogged over, exam sheets in hand.
Naruto waved at Hinata. "My teacher's here. Good luck this afternoon!"
Hinata nodded firmly, clutching her forehead protector.
Hanabi tilted her head mischievously.
"Big sis, Naruto-nii-chan's fun. You should marry him!"
"H-Hanabi!"
Hinata tried to cover her sister's mouth, face blazing.
Naruto, already walking away with Iruka, pretended not to hear.
But in his heart, he made a quiet vow.
Neji. The Caged Bird. The regret you carried…
This time, I'll change it.