"If you dare bully others again—or make up nasty nicknames—I'll beat you up again. Got it?"
Kamikawa hadn't used much force, just enough to make their noses bleed. After they had cried for a while, he spoke again with a mischievous grin.
As the saying goes, it takes a troublemaker to deal with troublemakers.
If an adult stepped in, they'd only be scared for a few days before going right back to it.
But if someone just as "wild" as them taught them a lesson—that would stick.
"G-Got it… waaah…"
The three kids looked up at him. Seeing the playful yet slightly menacing smile on his fair face, they shuddered and nodded frantically, answering in unison through tears.
Only when Kamikawa looked away did they scramble to their feet and run off crying, wishing their parents had given them extra legs.
Hinata still had tears in her eyes.
She looked at the boy who had appeared like a hero and saved her.
For some reason, a sense of familiarity welled up in her heart.
It felt like… she had seen him somewhere before.
Gathering her courage, she stepped forward, her face flushed, and bowed slightly.
"Um… thank you…"
"No need to thank me."
Kamikawa formed a hand seal.
Poof!
As the smoke cleared, he returned to his original form.
Seeing him suddenly grow older, that familiar feeling intensified. Hinata couldn't help but ask:
"Um… have we met before?"
"So you still remember."
Kamikawa crouched down slightly and smiled.
"Two years ago, in the winter—you got lost in the snow. Do you remember?"
"You're the big brother who took me home!"
Memories flooded back instantly, and Hinata exclaimed in realization.
Kamikawa nodded and gently patted her head.
Hinata immediately lowered her head shyly.
Kamikawa then glanced toward the end of the street—where a Hyūga ninja with the same pale eyes stood watching.
He also glanced at a blond boy hiding behind a tree nearby.
Then he spoke softly to Hinata:
"You're from the Hyūga clan. With the Byakugan, you should've received proper training since childhood.
So why couldn't you deal with those kids?
Remember this—if it happens again, don't shrink back. Don't cry. Fight back.
Other people's help is only temporary. No one can protect you forever.
Endless tolerance and weakness won't solve anything.
If you want to protect what matters to you… you have to take the initiative."
He stood up.
"I've got things to do. See you next time."
With that, Kamikawa turned and walked away, gradually disappearing into the snowy distance.
A moment later, the Hyūga chūnin rushed over nervously.
"Lady Hinata! Why did you sneak out again? What if you ran into danger? Luckily that person didn't do anything… And you didn't get close to that blond boy, did you? The clan head said we mustn't—"
Hinata paid no attention to the guard's rambling.
Her eyes remained fixed on where Kamikawa had disappeared.
Behind him, that blond boy was sneakily following.
See you next time… big brother, she thought quietly.
From that day on, Hinata began to change.
Her previously timid personality started to shift.
Her enthusiasm for training in Gentle Fist surged. Not only did she complete her daily assignments, she also practiced extra on her own.
Whenever she didn't understand something, she would immediately ask her father.
Even Hyūga Hiashi was surprised—and pleased.
During one evaluation, when he noticed her significant improvement, the usually stern father even praised her for the first time.
That praise filled Hinata with joy, and she trained even harder.
Eventually, she would catch up to the so-called genius, Hyūga Neji.
But that was a story for later.
Meanwhile, Kamikawa had already made his way back to Ichiraku Ramen.
[Ding. Congratulations, host. Mission complete. Reward: Earth-nature chakra transformation.]
"Finally worth the effort."
Kamikawa smiled faintly at the system notification.
Then he glanced behind him.
There, a blond boy was hiding behind a utility pole, using the worst stealth technique imaginable, occasionally peeking out.
When Kamikawa turned his head, the boy quickly shrank back.
"Come out. You've been following me all this time—aren't you tired?"
Kamikawa sighed helplessly.
"Hehe… big bro, do you remember me? I'm Naruto… Uzumaki Naruto…"
Naruto stepped out awkwardly, scratching his head.
"Of course I remember."
Kamikawa replied.
Their acquaintance dated back two years—to the day he took Hinata home.
Originally, it should have been Naruto who met Hinata that day.
But because of Kamikawa's interference, they never crossed paths.
The same was true today.
If Kamikawa hadn't stepped in, Naruto would've rushed in like in the original story—only to get beaten badly.
On the way back, Kamikawa had run into Naruto and, feeling a bit sorry for him, treated him to ramen.
He hadn't expected Naruto to remember it all this time.
Hearing Kamikawa's reply, Naruto's blue eyes lit up with excitement and joy.
Because Kamikawa was the first person—aside from the Third Hokage—who didn't look at him with strange or hostile eyes.
The owner of Ichiraku Ramen was the second.
At that moment, Naruto's stomach growled loudly.
"You didn't eat properly again, did you?"
Kamikawa looked at him.
Naruto blushed, rubbing his belly awkwardly. His eyes drifted toward the warmly lit Ichiraku Ramen shop, and he swallowed hard.
"I figured."
Kamikawa glanced subtly toward the hidden ANBU watching Naruto, then walked into the shop.
"Come on. I'll treat you."
Naruto froze for a moment before his face lit up with excitement and gratitude as he hurried after him.
In the shadows, one ANBU whispered:
"Someone is approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Should we report to the Hokage?"
Another replied:
"No need. That kid probably just feels sorry for him and is buying him a meal. Let's observe for now."
"Hey, it's Kamikawa! What's this—didn't come with your little girlfriend today?"
Teuchi greeted him with a smile.
"What would you like?"
"Give him a bowl of tonkotsu ramen."
Kamikawa gestured to Naruto and placed the little money he had on the counter.
"Uncle Teuchi, from now on, give him a bowl every day. This should cover him until after the New Year."
"…Naruto?"
Teuchi's usually squinting eyes opened slightly as he looked at the boy, his expression complicated.
Thinking back to two years ago—and Kamikawa's own situation—he couldn't help but sigh.
"Kamikawa… you're a good kid."
Kamikawa smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Behind him, Naruto's small, hopeful voice called out:
"Big bro Kamikawa… aren't you eating?"
"No. I've got plans with someone."
Kamikawa shook his head.
Izumi was waiting for him for New Year's dinner.
Without looking back, he left.
Naruto stood there for a moment, dazed—
but soon, the rich aroma of ramen pulled him back.
Today…
was a good day for Naruto.
He might have missed a chance encounter with his future love—
but he gained something just as precious:
a New Year filled with ramen.