A thought flashed through Naruto's mind, and he decided to step in to help Hinata.
Whether or not this was someone's deliberate setup, the benefits outweighed the risks. Who could resist a soft, devoted, and adorable young Hinata, perfect for nurturing? Besides, the future Hinata would be… well, quite impressive, to say the least.
Those naturally wicked civilian brats! Time to act…
With his mind made up, Naruto dashed forward in a single bound. Thanks to the Perfected Uzumaki Sage Physique, his speed rivaled that of many genin. Hinata only saw a blur of gold flash before her eyes, followed by three pained screams.
The three boys, who seemed like demons to her, were now face-down on the ground, groaning in agony. When they saw Naruto's face, their expressions twisted with anger and fear.
"Jerk!"
"It's… it's the demon fox!"
"The demon fox is gonna kill us! Run!"
Scrambling to their feet, they clutched their stomachs, shrieking as they fled in panic.
Hinata slowly raised her head, her Byakugan catching sight of a blond figure standing protectively in front of her. With proper nutrition, Naruto was half a head taller than his peer, Hinata, exuding a strong sense of security in her eyes.
His blond hair gleamed under the sunlight, almost as if filtered through a lens, dazzling her.
"You okay?" Naruto turned, offering a gentle smile.
Hinata froze, as if time had stopped, staring at him intently. After a moment, realizing her rudeness, her pale cheeks flushed bright red.
"S-sorry… and, um, thank you!"
"No problem. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. You are?"
"Um… I'm Hinata Hyuga…"
Just as they exchanged names, a figure strode over and grabbed Hinata's small hand. The man had long hair and a stern, rigid face, with the same white Byakugan eyes. Naruto recognized him instantly—Hiashi Hyuga, Hinata's father.
His timely appearance only deepened Naruto's suspicions of a setup.
"Home," Hiashi said in a tone that brooked no argument. His Byakugan, fixed on his daughter, betrayed a flicker of disappointment. Clearly, he'd seen her timid reaction to the bullying.
Hinata, sensitive to her father's disapproval, felt a wave of inferiority and lowered her head further.
As the father and daughter turned to leave, Naruto's clear voice rang out behind them.
"Hinata, don't worry too much about what others think. Your eyes are unique and beautiful."
[Minato complimented Kushina's red hair, so praising Hinata's Byakugan should work, right?] Naruto thought.
Both father and daughter froze. Two pairs of Byakugan turned to him simultaneously. Hinata's face grew even redder, steam practically rising from her head. Overwhelmed by the first compliment she'd ever received, the little girl was flustered and dazed.
Hiashi stared at Naruto's blond hair, his mind flashing to Minato Namikaze, his emotions a complex mix.
It seemed Minato's charm tactics were super effective!
…
Konoha had dozens of training grounds, varying in size and terrain. The largest, Training Ground Three, spanned over ten kilometers in diameter. Naruto roamed from one training ground to another, searching for the vibrant "blue beast in green spandex"—Might Guy.
Despite hours of searching, he couldn't find him. After lunch, undeterred, Naruto continued his quest.
In the afternoon, on a wooded path in Training Ground Three, he spotted a figure moving upside-down, hands propped on the ground. It was Might Guy, in his signature green jumpsuit. Though inverted, his pace was faster than a normal person's brisk walk.
As he passed Naruto, Guy muttered to himself, "Keep circling the training ground 20 times upside-down! If I fail, 20,000 squats!"
This unique self-punishment system was a nightmare for the lazy. Perhaps only someone with such relentless determination could unlock the fiery eighth gate of the Eight Gates.
Even Kakashi had only scratched the surface of the Eight Gates, and if Danzo, with his scheming ways, had mastered it, he'd have churned out an army of Eight Gates suicide soldiers by now.
Sighing inwardly, Naruto stepped forward, mimicking Guy's movements and following behind at the same pace, upside-down.
Guy quickly noticed the blond figure trailing him. He assumed Naruto, a mere kid, was just playing around and would soon tire out. But as time passed, he realized he'd underestimated him.
One lap, two laps, three laps…
Naruto stayed in sync, just a short distance behind. Guy's sidelong glance caught Naruto's calm expression and steady, resolute blue eyes.
"What a great look! I can feel the burning spirit of youth!" Guy exclaimed. "In response, I'll get even more serious!"
Spurred by Naruto's determination, Guy quickened his pace, a pure, earnest grin on his face.
Naruto, exasperated, could only speed up to keep pace. The ground of Training Ground Three was uneven, full of ruts and bumps. By the fifth lap, Naruto's palms began to bleed from scrapes. But as he continued, the wounds didn't worsen—they began to heal.
As they reached the final lap, Naruto marveled internally. [Twenty laps around a ten-kilometer training ground, and I'm only slightly tired? This endurance and healing—worthy of the Perfected Uzumaki Sage Physique!]
Seeing Naruto keep up effortlessly, even growing more at ease, Guy was floored. [This kid… can he really keep up like this? Is this the fiery youth of a genius? So dazzling!]
After completing the twentieth lap, Guy stopped beside a large rock. He raised one hand flamboyantly, forming a circle with his thumb and forefinger, pressing it to his right eye like a makeshift mask, and looked at Naruto with shining eyes.
"What an exhilarating workout! I'm Might Guy. What's your name, young man?"
Seeing such an eccentric introduction in real life, Naruto's eyelid twitched. In his past life, watching Naruto as a kid, he never imagined the comedic Might Guy could unleash such terrifying power.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he replied honestly.
Uzumaki Naruto? Guy repeated the name, his scatterbrained memory struggling. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it. Scratching his head, he suddenly glanced at the Hokage Rock in the distance, his eyes landing on the youngest face—the Fourth Hokage.
Then he whipped his head back to Naruto's blond hair.
[No wonder… such talent makes sense.]