In the Hidden Leaf Village, within a park on the east side of the streets.
A boy with golden, tousled hair sat on a swing, gently swaying back and forth.
In front of him, a group of children around his age were happily kicking a ball, playing together.
Watching his peers enjoy themselves, a hint of envy flickered in the boy's eyes.
When the ball was accidentally kicked toward him, a spark of joy lit up his face.
He stood up from the swing and picked up the ball, holding it tightly.
But as he took two steps forward, the group of children instinctively backed away.
"Monster."
"Demon Fox."
Harsh words spilled from the mouth of one child after another.
The terms monster and demon fox were used to describe the blond boy before them, and a wave of sadness washed over his face.
On either side of his cheeks were whisker-like marks, unlike anything ordinary people had. Though his striking blue eyes and golden hair stood out, they paled in comparison to those distinctive whiskers.
This boy was the Hidden Leaf Village's most unique existence: the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, the orphaned son of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, Naruto Uzumaki.
He was the child of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, a hero celebrated for protecting the village.
Yet, after his parents' deaths, Naruto was left to live as someone branded a demon fox or monster.
No one his age was willing to play with him. A sense of loneliness clung to him at all times.
Naruto's grip on the ball loosened, letting it roll to the ground. With a heavy heart, he turned and walked out of the park.
As he left, he passed a few adults. Naruto glanced up at them.
In the eyes of these towering grown-ups, he saw deep disgust and hatred.
As if fleeing from their gazes, Naruto broke into a run.
"What bad luck, running into that demon fox again."
"Yeah, I need to tell my son to stop coming to this park."
"I don't know why the Hokage keeps someone like him in the village."
The adults' cutting words weren't softened by Naruto's quickening pace.
Though their voices were low, the words pierced clearly into Naruto's ears.
Tears began to well up uncontrollably in his eyes.
His feet moved faster and faster.
The glow of the setting sun bathed Naruto's figure, casting a profoundly lonely shadow.
"Why? Why does everyone else have a mom and dad, but I don't?"
"Why does everyone hate me like this?"
"Why am I called a demon fox? Why am I treated like a monster?"
Tears streamed down Naruto's face, and in his heart, he screamed.
He didn't dare vent his emotions in front of others. Showing his feelings only earned him more disdain and hatred.
He was afraid—afraid of the looks the villagers gave him.
He didn't know how long he ran, but eventually, Naruto reached the edge of the village, stopping beside a water tower.
Climbing the steps, he stood at the top, overlooking the Hidden Leaf Village. A wave of sorrow surged in his chest.
"It's these whiskers on my face!"
Naruto, his eyes red from crying, touched the whisker marks on his cheeks.
A look of grievance crossed his face. His hand tightened, ready to tear off the marks that made others despise him.
But the thought had barely formed before Naruto dismissed it.
He had tried cutting off those whiskers before, only for them to grow back overnight, no matter how many times he tried.
If he tore them off in anger now, the only one who'd feel the pain would be himself.
Sigh.
Naruto let out a heavy sigh and plopped down on the steps, looking up.
Before him stood the iconic landmark of the Hidden Leaf Village: the Hokage Rock.
Carved into the cliff were the faces of the past Hokages, from the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
A spark of longing glimmered in Naruto's eyes.
The Hokage was the most respected figure in the Hidden Leaf Village, the pinnacle of status and strength.
They were beloved by the villagers, someone no one would ever hate.
Yet the Hokage and Naruto seemed to exist at opposite extremes.
"The Hokage… I want to be like Grandpa Third."
"To be loved by everyone."
Naruto propped his chin on his hands, staring wistfully at the Hokage Rock.
He envied the Hokage, envied how they were adored and cherished by all.
But he, the one called a demon fox and monster, had no such right.
[If the Hokage can be loved by others, then become the Hokage.]
[Become the greatest Hokage and make everyone acknowledge me!]
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Naruto's heart.
A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a spark of determination.
"Yeah, if I become the Hokage, no one will hate me anymore."
"If I become the Hokage, everyone will like me."
"I'll be like Grandpa Third, loved by everyone."
A rare, joyful smile spread across Naruto's young face.
He clenched his fists tightly, gazing at the Hokage Rock with yearning.
For the first time, he felt a burning desire to earn everyone's recognition, to become the Hokage.
Grumble.
Just as he resolved to pursue this goal, his stomach let out an untimely growl.
Naruto clutched his belly, a troubled look crossing his face.
He was only five years old, with no parents and no source of income.
Each month, he relied on a small stipend from the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
But for a child ostracized at every turn in the village, that money was far from enough.
Naruto didn't know how to cook, and many restaurant owners refused to serve him.
Even for ready-made food, vendors often wouldn't sell to him. When they did, it was usually stale, unsellable goods.
And they charged him more than they would an ordinary customer.
As a result, his daily diet consisted of bread, instant noodles, and milk.
When money ran out, he'd sometimes try his luck fishing by the lake near the village.
If he caught something, he wouldn't have to worry about food for a couple of days.
In the original story, Naruto's stunted growth compared to his peers was partly due to malnutrition.
"Tomorrow, Grandpa Third will give me my stipend."
"For tonight, I'll just have to tough it out."
Naruto patted his stomach, forcing a smile as he reassured himself.
He hopped down from the steps and ran back toward his rundown little apartment.