"Speaking of which… hey, kid, didn't you already learn your father's Flying Thunder God Technique? Even if you can't perform long-distance teleportation fluently yet, with the conditions from your previous sparring match and a flurry of short-range Flying Thunder God attacks, that Uchiha brat wouldn't have been able to dodge that Rasengan, right? Wouldn't that have saved you all this trouble afterward? Or did you just forget you could use that move?"
"Hah? The Flying Thunder God Technique is literally my number one ninjutsu training focus right now. There's no way I'd forget it, Kurama."
Standing at a fork in the road on his way home, Naruto looked down at his disheveled appearance.
Figuring it was the weekend and there probably weren't many students around, he decided to avoid the usual bustling commercial street—full of nosy villagers—and take the long route home through the small wooded path near the Ninja Academy.
With his hands behind his head, he clicked his tongue lazily and muttered a half-hearted response to Kurama's suspicion.
"You already said it yourself, didn't you? It was just a sparring match between ninja, not some life-or-death duel. I had no reason to go all out… Besides, you know the power of the Rasengan. If I had actually used the Flying Thunder God to land a direct hit on Uchiha Itachi, sure, I could've won by seriously injuring him. But that would've pissed off the Uchiha Clan and risked the bond I've been working so hard to build with bro-con Sasuke. So tell me, aside from a pointless victory that serves no real purpose, what would I actually gain? Way more risk than reward. Unless I suddenly get kicked in the head by a donkey, I'm not doing something that dumb."
"I knew it!" Kurama huffed. "You sly brat. You're not the type to take a beating without a reason. I knew something was fishy—it was you going easy on him all along! No way my Jinchūriki would lose to that Uchiha brat!"
Kurama wasn't entirely wrong. The mobility of the Flying Thunder God Technique, paired with the fact that Naruto had fully earned Kurama's trust and could freely draw on the Tailed Beast Chakra to enhance all of his physical stats—meant that Naruto's true strength was far beyond what his age or appearance suggested.
A perfect example? Itachi had underestimated him at the start of their match, letting Naruto easily take the initiative. And as Naruto continued to press the advantage without letting up, Itachi nearly took a serious hit.
But Naruto knew exactly how much he had been holding back. Even now, with the match over, his instincts kept warning him—Itachi's true power was nowhere near what he had shown during that spar.
Putting aside Itachi's godlike achievements in the original story, the fact that he had awakened a two-tomoe Sharingan at the age of nine and yet hadn't used a single Genjutsu during the match—he had only used the Sharingan to calculate the trajectory of Naruto's Rasengan, as if it were just a backup support function. No other abilities, no tricks—it was practically for show!
Compared to the early-stage explosive combat power of Uchiha Obito or Uchiha Sasuke when they first unlocked their Sharingan, it was clear as day.
If someone told Naruto Itachi hadn't held back? He'd never believe it.
Of course, seeing how Kurama's mood improved after working things out on his own, Naruto didn't bother explaining any further.
After all, letting his partner draw his own conclusions was way better than getting yelled at.
"Seriously? It's snowing again? What kinda bad luck is this? There hasn't been this much snow in the past two years combined! If this keeps up, we might break the record for lowest temperature ever."
His thoughts were interrupted by the drifting flakes of snow. Naruto looked up and muttered as he scanned the area, eventually catching sight of three small figures up ahead—kids yelling and making a ruckus.
"Hah… carefree childhoods, huh? Kinda jealous. Still out here playing and yelling in this freezing weather? Aren't they afraid of getting sick?... Whatever, not my business. I should just get home and change out of these burned-up clothes—"
"If you're from the Hyuga Clan, then show us the Byakugan!"
A snowy winter… a Hyuga child… Why does this scene feel so familiar?
The unexpected shout made Naruto stop in his tracks. Something told him that walking away now might mean missing something important.
He couldn't remember exactly what—but he had a strong hunch.
"…Whatever. I've got time anyway since Itachi's training Sasuke today. Might as well go see what those brats are up to."
Decision made, Naruto silently changed course. He suppressed his footsteps and moved closer. As he got nearer, the bratty voices laced with insults became clearer.
"Hmph, what's wrong? Too scared to use it? Or maybe you don't even know how! Then stop looking over here, you idiot!"
"Yeesh, that glare is seriously creepy."
"Of course it is! She's a freak!"
"Yeah, you're just a creepy little Byakugan freak! Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"…Ugh…"
A freak, huh? The over-the-line insults, the helpless sobbing—Naruto, who had long grown numb to the villagers' cruelty, suddenly felt a surge of genuine anger. For the first time since coming to the world of Naruto, something deep inside him snapped, blood boiling with rage.
"Hey. That's enough, don't you think?"
Taking a deep breath to steady his rising fury, Naruto's usual cheerful tone was gone. He spoke each word cold and clear.
"If you don't want to get hurt, stop. Now."
"Huh? Who do you think you are?" The three kids turned around. The tall, skinny one in the middle seemed relieved to see Naruto's scorched, ragged clothes. Hands on his hips and head tilted arrogantly, he sneered, "Get hurt? What a joke! You think you're some kind of hero, looking like a burnt-up beggar? Don't make me laugh! Hahaha!"
"Hey, look at his clothes! They're all burned up—must've been thrown out! Probably some orphan with no parents. And he wants to save people?"
"Hahaha! Yeah right! Go back to whatever garbage heap you crawled out of, freak. If you're lucky, maybe you'll find an old coat to wear—"
"Oh? Is that how it is... I get it now." Naruto's smile returned, but this time it was different.
"You guys were just talking about monsters, right? But have you ever seen a real one?"
Step by step, Naruto approached. The negative emotions infused in Kurama's chakra—anger, hatred, envy—silently radiated outward, forming an oppressive aura that froze the three kids in place. Naruto's grin only grew brighter.
"Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Naruto Uzumaki... and my other identity… is a real, living demon fox."
"Ah! D-demon fox… I-I remember now! My dad warned me never to go near that kid… It's him!"
"Y-you're joking, right? This can't be happening… I heard this thing eats kids!"
"M-maybe we should just apologize and go home? I don't wanna get eaten!"
"Me neither! I don't wanna die…"
The rumors Danzo had spread had made the villagers hate and fear Naruto, but unintentionally, they'd also transferred Kurama's terrifying presence onto him. Even full-grown adults avoided him. What chance did these brainwashed brats have?
"D-don't let him scare you!" The tall kid forced himself to speak, trying to act like the leader. "H-he's just a dirty little beggar. No way he's the real demon fox!"
"R-right? But…"
"Shut up! Don't forget—we're three against one! No way we lose to just one guy!"
"Y-yeah, that makes sense…"
"Yeah! Let's do it!"
"Now that's more like it. Damn beggar—trying to scare us with some fake demon story? We'll beat you till you beg for mercy!"
"Yeah!"
"Oh? So you've all decided?"
Naruto yawned, eyeing the kids with mock interest. Hands behind his back, he tilted his head slightly and smiled.
"Regained your confidence? Not bad leadership… too bad you're using it for the wrong cause. Come on, all of you—attack. Don't worry, I won't use any ninjutsu. Heck, I'll even give you a handicap: one of my hands."
"You mocking us, bastard?!"
Maybe it was fear finally boiling over into anger, or maybe it was Naruto's blatant provocation—but the chubby kid on the left snapped first, roaring as he lunged with a punch aimed right at Naruto's face.
"You're dead meat, freak!"
"You'll regret this—you'll be crying and begging on your knees when I'm done with you!"
People tend to follow the crowd. With someone leading the charge, the other two didn't hesitate. One aimed for Naruto's waist, the other went for a dirty kick to the knees. Together, they launched a fierce attack.
"Ah! W-watch out…!"
"Hm? That voice… sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?"
Even while absentmindedly dodging all their attacks, Naruto was trying to place the voice.
"Hey, are you guys joking? That's your best effort?"
"Come on! Are you guys hungry or something? Use some strength! Put your backs into it!"
"Sheesh, can you move any slower? I'm gonna fall asleep over here!"
Their wild, uncoordinated attacks couldn't even graze Naruto's clothes. He hadn't taken a single step—no advance, no retreat. His bored expression made it clear he wasn't even trying.
"Sh-shut up! You coward, all you do is dodge!"
"Y-yeah! If you've got guts, fight back!"
Naruto's constant taunting pushed their anger past their fear of the demon fox. They sped up their attacks, shouting insults.
"Hah! In the end, you're just a useless coward who talks big! Hit us if you dare!"
"Yeah yeah… you're right. I'm getting bored. Time to end this farce."
Having finally recalled the owner of that timid voice, Naruto's lazy look disappeared. In its place was a smile so bright it could outshine the sun.
"Innocence is a beautiful thing… You guys really don't understand what real power is."
He crouched, tensed his legs, and leapt into the air. As the last wave of attacks passed under him, he twisted in midair. His leg whipped out like a storm, knocking all three of them flat in a blur.
So fast—the last thing they saw before passing out was a flickering shadow.
"Requesting to get beaten up? Man, that's a first… Are all three of these brats secretly masochists or what? Nope nope, can't let myself get infected."
Muttering as if it had been nothing, Naruto wiped the sole of his foot clean in the snow.
"Are… are you okay…?"
"Cough cough Of course I'm okay. They couldn't hurt me if they tried."
Hearing the soft voice behind him reminded Naruto why he started this in the first place. He paused, a little embarrassed at his current messy appearance, then scratched his nose awkwardly and turned around—hands behind his head, back to his usual carefree smile.
"Looks like we meet again, little one… Or maybe I should call you…"
"Lady Hinata Hyuga?"