Naruto's eyelids fluttered open. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, then pulled back the curtain beside his bed.
The world outside had transformed overnight. Thick snow blanketed the roofs, trees, and streets, while feathery flakes drifted down in a steady, endless fall. Even the faces carved into the Hokage Monument wore white caps of frost, their stern visages softened by the winter's touch.
The wind howled, carrying sharp shards of ice that rattled against the windowpane with a constant susu-susu hiss.
"It's snowing, huh," Naruto murmured.
He dressed quickly, pulling on his worn clothes and wrapping an old red scarf around his neck. Though frayed at the ends, the scarf carried a quiet warmth, like a small comfort against the cold. With his breath fogging in the frigid air, he stepped outside and made his way toward the training grounds.
But fate had other plans.
On a narrow, secluded path, he stumbled upon a troubling scene.
Three boys were circling a small figure who crouched low, arms wrapped around her head. Their jeers filled the air, each insult cutting deeper than the cold wind.
"Hey! Knock it off!" Naruto barked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he strode forward.
The three bullies froze, their eyes snapping toward him.
"Tch. Who are you supposed to be? Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong," one of them sneered.
Naruto tilted his head, a mischievous grin curling across his lips. "Good question. I'm your dad!"
The boy blinked, confused, then frowned. "Impossible. My dad's at home."
Naruto reached down and helped the trembling girl to her feet, gently placing her behind him. His grin widened into a taunting smirk. "Of course I'm not your dad. A turtle-brained brat like you? You wouldn't even qualify to be my kid!"
The insult landed like a slap. The smaller boy to the side gasped and whispered, "Boss, he's insulting you…"
"Shut it, I know!" the leader snapped before pointing a finger at Naruto. "Boys, let's teach him a lesson!"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Before they could even react, Naruto shifted his weight, delivering a swift kick to each one. His hands never left his pockets. With his current training and strength, dispatching three untrained kids his age was child's play.
"Scram," he barked, his voice low and commanding. "Next time I see you picking on someone, I'll beat you so bad your own mothers won't recognize you."
The three bullies scrambled away, supporting one another as they limped off. Yet even as they fled, the leader's eyes watered with frustrated tears. "Damn it… I'll get my big brother to deal with him!"
"That's right," the chubby one huffed, trying to sound brave. "Your brother's already a genin. He'll definitely get payback for us."
Naruto ignored their threats, his attention returning to the small girl at his side. Her cheeks were flushed red from the cold, her breath visible in little white puffs. Most striking were her pale lavender eyes, wide and shimmering as they blinked up at him nervously.
She was… unbearably cute.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Naruto asked, softening his voice.
"I… I'm fine," she whispered, her gaze lowering shyly. Her voice was as delicate as falling snow.
"Why were they bullying you?" he pressed gently.
The girl hesitated, her small hands clenching the fabric of her coat. "…Because of my eyes. They said I'm a monster."
Naruto froze. Those words hit him harder than any punch. That was his curse too, the word that had shadowed his own childhood. Monster. He knew better than anyone the sting of that brand.
For a moment, his chest ached with an old, familiar pain. But then he smiled bright, warm, and unshakable.
"Don't listen to them. I think your eyes are amazing. You're not a monster at all."
The girl's head jerked up in surprise, her lavender eyes blinking rapidly. Her cheeks flushed an even deeper red, as if his words had lit a fire inside her.
"Are you lost?" Naruto scratched his head. "Want me to walk you home?"
"I… I…" she stammered, but before she could finish, a woman's voice echoed from down the path.
"Lady Hinata!"
A young maid in Hyuga clan attire rushed toward them, her breath puffing in the cold air.
"That your family?" Naruto asked, glancing toward the approaching figure.
Hinata nodded faintly.
"Alright then. Get home safe. It's freezing out here," Naruto said. On impulse, he reached out and ruffled her dark hair. His hand was warm and firm, comforting in a way she had never felt before. For a fleeting moment, Naruto thought of what it might be like to have a younger sibling someone to look after, to protect. But life hadn't given him that gift.
Hinata's heart pounded. She tilted her head slightly into his touch, savoring its warmth.
As Naruto turned to leave, she found her voice at last. "B-big brother… what's your name?"
Without looking back, Naruto raised his voice proudly. "Naruto! Uzumaki Naruto!"
Hinata repeated the name under her breath, as if engraving it into her memory. "Naruto… Uzumaki Naruto…"
The maid arrived at her side, worry etched across her face. "Lady Hinata, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Hinata whispered, still staring at the golden-haired boy's fading silhouette.
The maid followed her gaze, eyes narrowing slightly, but she said nothing. Instead, she gently took Hinata's hand. "Then let's go home."
Hinata turned her head one last time, silently vowing never to forget that warm, stubborn figure in the snow.
By the time Naruto reached the training ground, Guy was already waiting.
"Sorry I'm late, Master Guy. I got held up on the way," Naruto explained.
Guy waved off the apology. He didn't pry. If Naruto had made it here, it meant he'd handled whatever happened. That was enough.
"From today on, you'll train with weighted gear," Guy announced, pointing to a neatly folded set of clothes on the ground.
Naruto's eyes lit with determination. "Got it."
He slipped into the outfit swiftly. The heavy vest and bands pressed down on his body, but he moved without hesitation, as if the weight only stoked his resolve.
"This set weighs twenty pounds," Guy explained. "From now on, you'll wear it all day, every day. The only time you may remove it is when bathing or sleeping."
"Understood," Naruto said, his expression hardening into resolve.
"Excellent! Today's training will be frog jumps up the mountain. Feel the fire of youth!" Guy roared, springing forward.
Naruto followed, his small body bouncing awkwardly in the snow, but his grin never wavered.
That night, after hours of grueling drills, Guy took Naruto to a private bathhouse. Ever since training together, Guy always reserved a bathhouse for the two of them, knowing the villagers would never welcome Naruto into public spaces.
As steam curled around them, Guy studied his student with a rare softness. "Naruto, you've endured my extreme training for a year now. How do you feel?"
Naruto leaned back, closing his eyes. "How do I feel? Well… it's tough during training. Really tough. But every day I feel stronger. Every day, I'm better than the day before."
Guy laughed heartily, clapping him on the shoulder. "That's because you've shattered your own limits three times a day on average! Of course you feel the growth!" He eyed Naruto's sturdy frame, pride swelling in his chest. This child was the result of his dedication, his careful forging.
Most people would have perished under such training. But Naruto wasn't most people.
"Tomorrow, I'll be leaving on a mission," Guy continued. His tone shifted slightly, more solemn. "I'll be gone for about half a month. Can you train on your own without me?"
Naruto puffed out his chest. "Of course I can! I'm not the type to slack off. You can count on me, Master Guy. You're leaving the village tomorrow?"
Guy nodded. "Yes. An escort mission for a noble. It will take time."
Naruto's lips pressed into a thin line. Guilt pricked at him. For an entire year, Guy had taken no missions, dedicating himself solely to Naruto's growth. He had provided food, baths, even medicinal herbs and oils to ease his body after training. Every expense had piled up, and Guy had borne it all without complaint.
Naruto was only five years old, but he understood gratitude better than most. Guy wasn't just his teacher he was one of the very few who truly cared for him.
Biting back the heat in his chest, Naruto ducked his head beneath the water, hiding the redness in his eyes. Don't worry, Master Guy. One day, I'll repay everything you've given me.
When he surfaced again, his grin was back, bright and boyish. "I wonder what the world outside the village is like."
Guy threw back his head with a booming laugh. "Naruto, if you want to know, then one day you'll have to see it with your own eyes after you graduate from the Academy and become a shinobi!"
Naruto's fists clenched under the water. He would. He definitely would.
This was only the start.