"Bastard!"
Kiba Inuzuka roared as Akamaru, limp and unconscious, was hurled into the air. With a powerful leap, he caught his partner in his arms, then dropped to a crouch, frantically checking him over.
A few painful whimpers escaped. At last Akamaru stirred awake, trembling violently, curling into the smallest ball he could, pressing himself into Kiba's chest with pitiful cries.
"Uzumaki Naruto! I'll tear you ap- huh? Where did that bastard go!"
Kiba sprang to his feet, seething, but Naruto was already gone. Only Shikamaru Nara and Shino Aburame remained.
Shino adjusted his dark glasses and said coolly, "While you were catching Akamaru, Naruto left. He is probably heading home now. If you want to settle things with him, you can…"
"Enough!" Kiba's eyes burned crimson with fury.
"Hey, Shikamaru! You know where that damn bastard lives, don't you?"
Shikamaru's gaze sharpened. "Kiba, why did you sic Akamaru on Naruto?"
He remembered Naruto's warning clearly. Naruto was dangerous. Not someone you provoked lightly.
"Tch!" Kiba glanced down at Akamaru and growled, "Because that guy keeps acting cool when he's useless. And he almost choked Akamaru to death. Unforgivable!"
Shino raised a hand to his glasses again, his tone still calm. "If blame must be assigned, it lies with you. Without your provocation, Naruto would not have…"
"Shut it! I just wanted to scare him, that's all!"
To pick a fight for such a petty reason. Shikamaru could only shake his head. He turned away and started home. He had no right, nor obligation, to tell others how to treat Naruto. But his father had reminded him: ANBU were always watching Naruto. Always.
At that moment, Naruto was leading a pack of ANBU through looping alleys around the academy. Unexpectedly, he spotted Hinata Hyuga. She stood to the side, head bowed. Her eyes were swollen, her cheeks faintly red. She had been crying.
Naruto stopped before her. "Heading home?"
Hinata nodded faintly.
"Someone bullied you?"
"No… nobody bullied me…"
The lack of conviction in her tone told Naruto the truth. He knew this story. Konoha brats often bullied her.
"Didn't an older man usually come to fetch you? Where is he today?"
He remembered the name. Hyuga Ko.
Hinata shook her head. Her expression dimmed even more.
"Come on. I'll walk you home."
Naruto smiled lightly and took her hand. Together they walked toward the Hyuga compound.
The moment their silhouettes vanished, two ANBU appeared in the alley.
"Captain, should we continue surveillance?"
"Not now. He's escorting Hinata back to the Hyuga compound. With their bloodline ability, it is unwise to intrude. We'll position one squad along his return path. The rest, follow me to his house."
"Heh. Just as I thought, they won't follow."
Naruto sensed the ANBU withdrawing in different directions and smiled faintly.
"Konoha's leaders are preparing to clash with the Uchiha, yet they hide it from the other clans. A cover-up. They fear what the other clans might do if given an opening."
"Yo! Look who it is. The white-eyed freak!"
The jeering voice snapped him from his thoughts. Hinata's grip tightened. She shrank behind him.
"And the dead-last loser's here too."
"Quiet, Firebee. That guy's supposed to be the Nine-Tails brat…"
Three delinquents stood blocking the street. Naruto didn't know them. But Hinata's trembling confirmed it, these were her tormentors.
"Don't be afraid," Naruto said softly. "We'll just keep walking. We're almost there."
He led her forward as if the three didn't even exist.
"A dead last dares to act cocky!"
The one called Firebee twitched, half-ready to strike. For an instant, hesitation froze him. But when he saw the looks in his friends' eyes, shame drove him to anger.
Even the Hyuga heiress didn't scare him. Why should Naruto?
He bent, snatched up a stone, and hurled it at Naruto's head.
The rock missed. Naruto didn't even glance back.
"How… how did I miss at this range?"
Snarling, Firebee gestured. The three of them pelted stones in a flurry.
Naruto turned sharply, shielding Hinata with one hand. His other hand flickered.
Clack! Crack!
One stone after another met the pebble he launched, shattered midair. The final rebound struck the stones still clutched in their hands, knocking them out of their grip.
The three froze, stunned, powerless to act further.
Naruto calmly took Hinata's hand and walked on.
"Naruto-kun… am I pathetic?"
They had walked several streets when Hinata whispered the words, eyes glistening.
"No. You are kind."
Naruto stopped, smiling gently. "And I know you are strong, aren't you?"
Hinata's face flushed crimson. Her gaze dropped again.
"You have a younger sister, don't you?"
"Yes…"
"Do you want her to be bullied?"
Hinata's head snapped up, eyes burning with sudden resolve. "No! I want to protect her!"
Naruto's gaze shone like firelight. "Then you must become strong enough. If you let yourself be hurt, you cannot protect her."
Hinata's voice trembled. "But… I don't want to hurt others."
"Don't be tense." Naruto chuckled, leading her onward. "You don't need to hurt anyone. You only need to ensure you and your sister are never harmed. That's all. Do you think you can do that?"
Hinata's heart stirred. She remembered the clan's Gentle Fist techniques, especially a defensive art requiring the Byakugan. Perhaps she could master it.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun! I understand now!"
"Good. Remember, Hinata. Kindness is not weakness. Kindness must have a bottom line. We do not harm others, but we will never allow others to harm us. Look, your home is here."
Naruto parted ways with her and soon walked alone. Minato's voice suddenly echoed within the seal.
"Naruto, what is your goal? Do you truly like that girl, or are you after her Byakugan?"
Naruto's eyes gleamed as his awareness sank into the seal space. "Father, what do you think?"
Minato hesitated. Then, heavily, "I feel you harbor a strange affection for her… yet I sense you are more interested in the Byakugan. She has not awakened it yet, but you guided her step by step tonight, pushing her to train harder. Was that your intent? To hasten her awakening?"
Naruto chuckled in surprise. "In Father's eyes, am I so calculating? Can't I, like you, find a girl I like at school?"
Minato's face grew stiff. "I… I didn't mean"
"Relax. I bear Hinata no ill will. But yes, I am curious. I want to see if, under my guidance, she can awaken her Byakugan earlier."
He paused. "Tell me, Father. Do the other clans know the Uchiha plan a coup?"
Minato's expression hardened. "They must have guessed."
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