Naruto bent down silently, picking up the small stone that had just been thrown inside, and flicked it out the window with a snap of his wrist.
Using the same throwing technique as a shuriken, paired with his all-encompassing Transparent World vision,he sent stone after stone flying straight toward the villagers of Konoha gathered outside in the street.
Even after pelting his house with trash and stones, the villagers still weren't satisfied.
Dozens of bloodshot eyes, burning with hatred, glared at Naruto's home like needles stabbing into him, unwilling to leave.
The next second, stones whistled through the air and shot back at them.
These were ordinary civilians. They had no way to react.
The street was packed with more than a hundred people, and every single one of them was struck in the head.
In an instant, heads split open, blood flowed, and people collapsed unconscious on the ground. At the very least, most of them had concussions.
Not far away, Kakashi and the two other shinobi assigned to watch over Naruto grew grim as they witnessed the scene.
One ANBU vanished to report to the Hokage's office.Another rushed to the Konoha Hospital.
Kakashi estimated the villagers' injuries—none were life-threatening, but they would definitely suffer for it. He allowed himself a small sigh of relief.
Still, seeing Naruto pelted with trash had stirred something heavy in Kakashi's chest. It reminded him too much of his father's fate.
Among the crowd, he even spotted a few familiar faces—people who, back in the day, used to whisper and mock his father behind his back.
Compared to then, those faces were now more worn, but the meanness in their brows had only deepened.
Truthfully, Kakashi could have intercepted part of those stones just now. But in that fleeting moment of hesitation, the chance was lost.
'The Third gave me the mission only to monitor and protect Naruto. As for those villagers… a few stones won't kill them.'
Inside the house, Sakura peeked out the window, eyes going wide, both hands covering her mouth.
"Naruto, you just threw stones! You actually hit those civilians!"
"They only had some resentment and no place to vent, so they threw garbage at your house. Yes, they were wrong—but how could you do that?! There are plenty of old people among them!"
Of everyone in the room, Sakura was the only one born a civilian. So, at least in her own mind, she sympathized with them most.
Naruto didn't refute her. He didn't even look at her.
Reasoning with someone like her was a complete waste of time.
"I'm just that kind of person. If you don't like it, leave. Nobody's asking you to stay," Naruto said coldly.
The bluntness of those words turned Sakura's face beet red.
She stomped her foot in anger, then instantly forced on a smile and turned toward Sasuke.
"Sasuke, let's go. Staying in a place like this even one second longer is bad luck."
But Sasuke only stared at her coldly.
"If you want to leave, then go. I don't think Naruto did anything wrong."
Sakura turned toward the others, hoping someone would back her up.
But all she got in return were blank stares, as if she were the idiot.
The strange silence nearly made her choke with frustration.
'This is obviously wrong! Why are you all looking at me like that?!'
Her heart fumed.
"Um… why don't we help Naruto-kun clean up the place?" Hinata, glancing at the trashed room, broke the silence softly.
The others agreed and began tidying up.
Sakura stood to the side, sulking, until she begrudgingly started gathering some of the least dirty vegetable leaves.
By evening, the house was finally clean.
Exhausted, everyone collapsed on the floor, faces showing fatigue.
"Naruto, after what happened today, you probably don't feel like celebrating anymore. It's getting late—let's head out," Shikamaru said, rubbing his sore neck. The day's events had drained him.
Naruto nodded. "Thanks for helping me clean the place."
The others took their leave one by one.
Last was Hinata.
Before she left, she pulled out a finely wrapped gift box, holding it with both hands, head lowered.
"Happy birthday, Naruto-kun…"
When she was gone, Naruto opened it.
Inside the sleek black box lay a finely crafted folding wallet—clearly expensive.
He turned it over in his hands. It reminded him of the original's frog wallet. Ugly but precious, something earned with difficulty.
…
At Konoha Hospital, the treatment ward was overflowing.
Dozens of bandaged villagers, their heads wrapped like mummies, all looked like they were cosplaying Danzo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in the corridor, watching the patients with furrowed brows.
Naruto's stunt today… it meant that certain bandaged old men would definitely come knocking again.
Just thinking about it gave the Third Hokage a headache. He rubbed his temples.
…
That night, Naruto was cooking dinner.
Fish sizzled in the pan, crackling loudly.
Strength meant indulgence—even frying fish.
He activated Transparent World to check the inside of the fish, ensuring it came out perfectly crisp on the outside, tender on the inside.
With that ability, becoming a master chef was only a matter of time.
Using his powers in daily life also honed his proficiency.
When the fish was done just right, a knock sounded at the door.
Naruto set the fish on a plate and turned to the door.
With his Transparent World still active, the silhouette outside was plain to see.
"That old man again," Naruto muttered with resignation.