Konohagakure, Land of Fire.
Twelve-year-old Naruto, on the cusp of graduating, walked down the street, navigating the gazes filled with hatred.
"Look, it's that kid." A faint voice suddenly spoke.
"It's him again. Why isn't that guy locked up?"
"Shh, be quiet, don't let him hear you."
The adults in the distance whispered amongst themselves. Though their voices were soft, they were like poisonous needles, chilling to the bone.
Naruto walked on in silence, stepping forward through the rejecting stares, until he arrived at the entrance of a fruit shop.
"Boss, can I get some Oranges?" Naruto asked with a smile.
"None left."
The shopkeeper's cold reply came as Naruto looked up at the man's disgusted expression, then at the pile of Oranges inside the shop.
He didn't say anything else, turning and walking away.
As he turned, his peripheral vision caught two figures on the rooftop, ANBU ninja tasked with watching him.
"Heh, not even trying to hide anymore?"
Naruto lowered his head slightly, a hint of self-deprecation in his expression, hidden from view.
As a transmigrator, it should have been good news to be reborn, but only after being reborn did he realize he had become Naruto, the lonely, abandoned Naruto.
Having no family, no relatives, enduring cold stares, loneliness, indifference, rejection, and surveillance – even the simple act of eating and surviving was a struggle.
Naruto's childhood was, in a word, bleak; a lightless abyss.
As a transmigrator, he yearned to change his situation. He wanted, at the very least, to eat regularly and afford the scrolls needed to refine Chakra and train.
Therefore, he used skills from his previous life to draw some manga, hoping to earn some money in this world and improve his life.
But…
When he took his manga out to sell it, he was met with interference from the ANBU or Root.
The manga he had worked so hard to create was torn to shreds before his eyes, and even his desire to earn money led to even stricter surveillance.
At that moment…
He had completely come to terms with reality and began to conceal everything about himself, living a low-profile life according to his original life trajectory.
He didn't ask where the Fourth Hokage's legacy was, why he hadn't inherited it, or why he hadn't been given any ninjutsu.
Nor did he ask why he was allowed to learn how to refine Chakra so much later than others.
And he certainly didn't ask why the ANBU were constantly monitoring him.
Because asking those questions could very likely lead to him being imprisoned, for example.
After all…
He was no longer the original Naruto. From the moment he was born, he was a new Naruto, and if he wanted to get stronger, he could only do it in secret.
"Let's go to the next fruit shop and see if they have Oranges. I really want to eat Oranges."
Naruto looked up at the sun in the sky. Watching the warm sunlight, the cold smile on his lips gradually turned into a false one. He continued to hide himself, under the cold eyes of those who watched him.
Ta-ta-ta!
The rhythmic sound of footsteps followed Naruto's pace. Soon, he walked to another shop to buy Oranges, but the result was still a cold rejection.
"It's a pity. I just wanted to eat a few Oranges. Why refuse?"
Disappointment was evident in Naruto's voice. He hadn't eaten Oranges in a long time, and he really wanted one, but fate seemed to have other plans.
"Forget it. Let's go to the river. It's almost lunchtime anyway. There should be a surprise today."
Naruto didn't go to any other shops. Instead, he turned to leave, but a small figure not far away caught his attention.
It was a little girl with the Hyuga Clan Crest on her clothes, with short black hair and a petite figure.
A trace of blush colored her cute little face, and her round eyes were white, beautiful like white jade. It could be said that this figure was particularly attractive to Naruto.
Naruto's smile became genuine at the sight of the small figure.
Because that figure was the only person in this world who he felt was worthy of his smile, and the biggest change he could make since he'd crossed over to this world.
This person was none other than the well-behaved and adorable Hinata Hyuga, and also his only friend at the moment.
After getting to know Hinata when they were very young, Naruto often interacted with her, chatting together, and the two had become good friends.
It's just that Hinata was too easily shy. Even though they were friends, every time Hinata saw him, she would be in a bashful state.
Like right now.
Hinata's soft, slender hands were moving, her two index fingers pressed together, a timid posture.
Watching the shy Hinata, Naruto walked over with a smile, but a blue air sphere floating around her caught his attention.
"Hinata, what a coincidence."
Naruto greeted, carefully examining the blue orb. He noticed the words "Experience Orb" written on it.
"H-how coincidental."
A clear, pleasant voice interrupted Naruto's thoughts. He looked at Hinata, finding her shyly looking down, unable to meet his gaze.
Seeing the adorable Hinata warmed Naruto's heart, but the Experience Orb floating around her puzzled him.
[Experience Points +1]
A line of black text suddenly appeared, and the blue Experience Orb quivered.
"Hmm?"
Naruto observed the scene, subtly glancing around. Seeing that no one else had noticed, he began to form some suspicions.
To figure out the specifics, Naruto started chatting with Hinata.
Although most of the time, Naruto was doing the talking, while Hinata listened with her head bowed, he quickly grasped the general idea of the Experience Orb.
He realized that…
Only he could see the Experience Orb; others couldn't. He couldn't touch it either. However, after interacting with Hinata for a while, it displayed "Experience +1," clearly indicating it was his cheat, or 'golden finger'.
This unexpected delight thrilled Naruto. To understand the origin of this golden finger, Naruto interacted with Hinata again.
[Experience +1]
Another line of black text floated up from Hinata, and the blue Experience Orb trembled slightly, subtly shrinking, making it obvious that Naruto had gained the experience points.
This change further solidified Naruto's conviction.
He chatted casually with Hinata, his peripheral vision occasionally sweeping over a rooftop, the location where the ANBU had been standing earlier.
[Experience +1]
The black text reappeared. Naruto's eyes flickered, but he didn't want to linger here too long, lest he arouse unwanted suspicion. Therefore, he smiled and said, "Hinata, have you had lunch? Want to eat with me?"
"Ah? I... well..."
Hinata was clearly flustered, unsure how to respond. The close proximity of the conversation, in particular, made her want to faint from shyness. She hesitated to present the item she had prepared.
[Experience +1]
Seeing the Experience Points reappear on Hinata, Naruto's eyes lit up with joy.
He invited her again, "Hinata, come with me to the stream, I'll treat you to a meal."
"Y-yes, okay..."
Hinata replied blankly, following Naruto in a daze, completely losing her own agency.
During this time, Naruto was constantly observing the Experience Orb. He noticed that as he chatted with Hinata, the blue orb was shrinking bit by bit, like a balloon slowly deflating.
Apparently, he could gain Experience Points just by talking to or interacting with Hinata. As for the function of these Experience Points...
[Experience Points +1]
Ps: Naruto is 12 years old when he first appears in the anime, and he hasn't graduated from the Ninja Academy yet. The Naruto in this book is around the same age.
(End of Chapter)