The mask shop owner, already irritated, grew even more furious upon hearing someone defend the "fox demon."
"Such bad luck first thing in the morning..." he grumbled, before noticing the fan emblem on Sako's clothing.
"She's a Uchiha..." the crowd murmured.
The Uchiha clan, one of Konoha's founding families, was renowned for its powerful Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan. Two members of the Uchiha Military Police were already casting icy glares in his direction.
Under the pressure, the merchant retreated, grumbling as he returned to his shop.
Naruto picked up the mask and scanned the crowd. His gaze suddenly locked onto Hinata and her Hyūga maid.
"That maid is kinda cute..." he thought, admiring her outfit and scornful expression.
"Sako Uchiha," the proud voice of the girl chimed in, pulling his attention back.
Hinata, dragged away by Aoi, walked off with a heavy heart, glancing back at Naruto and Sako, who already seemed to be getting along.
---
"How did you manage to get hated this much?" Sako asked as they strolled past the market stalls.
With each step Naruto took, villagers and even stray dogs moved out of the way.
"Maybe because I'm too honest. Crowds always reject the sincere," Naruto replied with unexpected wisdom.
Those words echoed strangely within the young Uchiha. Her clan, often feared and respected from afar, knew that feeling all too well.
"Hmm... You've passed my preliminary test, Naruto," she declared proudly, piling packages onto him.
Kyūbi, the sarcastic observer, snickered, "Child's play..."
---
At dusk, sitting on a rooftop, Naruto stared at the mask shop, a box of matches "borrowed" from Sako clutched in his hand.
In his mind, Kyūbi's prison darkened, the bars rusting. The fox demon could sense the sinister intentions rising within his host...
"Kid..." he began, worried.
----
At the same time, in the Uchiha clan district.
Sako's family had just finished dinner.
Itachi noticed that his little sister seemed unusually excited, a clear smile on her lips.
Did something interesting happen?
He stood up and called her aside for a chat.
Of course, this strange behavior hadn't escaped their parents' attention.
"Did Sako meet someone?" Mikoto asked, watching the two siblings walk away.
Under the soft light of the living room, Fugaku Uchiha, sitting cross-legged with his arms folded, muttered, "That child..."
He had already been informed by his subordinates of the day's events.
In the shopping street, Sako had defended a boy with a sensitive status—a scene witnessed by many villagers and shinobi.
"It was Naruto Uzumaki..."
When this name left her husband's mouth, Mikoto flinched slightly.
She had suspected before that the blond-haired boy Sako mentioned might be that child.
Now it seemed it was indeed him.
"Kushina's son..."
To Mikoto, Naruto was the child left behind by a close friend, a confidante.
But to Fugaku—and to the Uchiha clan as a whole—Naruto was the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, a highly sensitive identity.
The Uchiha clan had found itself in a difficult position after the Nine-Tails Disaster.
The order issued that night by Konoha's high command — "The Uchiha clan must remain in place. Do not approach the Nine-Tails." — had become a thorn in their hearts.
Mistrust, once hidden in the shadows, had been laid bare that night.
Adding to that, rumors claiming "the Uchiha brought the Nine-Tails" had made the clan's relationship with the village... particularly tense.
That was why Fugaku had repeatedly reminded his clan not to go near Naruto Uzumaki.
Most clan members complied, treating Naruto as if he were invisible.
But today, his daughter had been the first to make contact with the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki...
This situation...
"Fugaku, would you like me to speak to Sako...?" Mikoto offered gently.
Even though Naruto was the child of her friend, considering the clan's political state, it might be better for Sako to stay away from him.
"No."
Fugaku raised a hand to signal her not to intervene.
His gaze turned toward the garden.
Outside, the sky was now completely black.
"You mean..." Mikoto instantly understood.
Lately, tensions between the Uchiha and Konoha's higher-ups — even the village as a whole — had intensified.
Discontent within the clan was growing.
The radical faction was gaining ground.
In the future... it was likely that the Uchiha would rebel.
If Sako were to establish early contact with the jinchūriki, it might become an opportunity.
One day, the Uchiha might need to use the Nine-Tails...
"..."
Loyal to her husband, Mikoto fell silent immediately.
Her obedience rivaled even Hinata's devotion to Naruto.
She knelt slowly and nodded.
But... would the higher-ups remain passive?
---
Backyard.
The two siblings were training in shuriken throwing.
The fwoosh of kunai was followed by dull thud thud thuds as Itachi struck every bullseye.
Sako, a little less accurate, pouted as she was once again reminded of the gap between her and her big brother.
"Did you make a friend?" Itachi asked naturally, watching his adorable little sister.
"He's not a friend! He just passed the first stage of my evaluation, but there are plenty more! He has to pass them all to earn the right to be my friend!"
Sako replied firmly, but despite her dismissive words, her smile betrayed her true feelings.
Seeing this, Itachi began to wonder about this "friend."
Who was it? A boy or a girl?
—Please let it be a girl, he thought, overprotective big brother instincts kicking in.
---
...
Time passed.
Soon, most shops were nearing closing time.
But Ichiraku Ramen, the most popular ramen stand in Konoha, stayed open late.
This was to allow shinobi returning from missions to enjoy a hot meal.
That evening, Teuchi welcomed a familiar customer.
"Naruto..."
Seeing the lonely boy in the cold wind, he couldn't help but smile.
One day, he had taken an interest in the boy who lingered outside his stand.
Naruto usually came very, very late for a bowl of ramen.
Because other customers didn't like having him around.
So he waited.
Even though Teuchi had insisted he come at normal hours, Naruto kept his habits.
A glance at the clock—it was already late.
Even the barking of dogs had faded from the streets.
Teuchi immediately invited Naruto inside and began preparing noodles.
"Naruto, aren't you cold?" asked Ayame, the waitress, seeing the boy in just a T-shirt despite the winter chill.
"..."
Naruto shook his head, eyes fixed on the counter, waiting for his steaming bowl of ramen.
Soon after, the ramen was served.
Teuchi and Ayame smiled as they watched him devour the large bowl.
Even the broth was slurped down to the last drop.
"Thanks for the meal, boss!"
Naruto paid and jumped off his stool.
"Be careful on your way home!" Teuchi called after him.
As Naruto disappeared into the darkness, only the lights of Ichiraku Ramen and a few scattered shops still lit the street.
"A dark and windy night..."
Naruto looked up at the clouds, suddenly carried away by the wind.
The wind is rising...
He wiped his mouth, his naïve expression giving way to a strange calm.
Eating gives you strength for what comes next, doesn't it?
Kurama: "Kid, what are you..."
The Nine-Tailed Fox didn't understand.
He only knew that the prison he was sealed in was growing darker and more corrupted...
---
...
"Woof! Woof!"
When the last barks faded, the sound of rolling metal shutters echoed.
Another day had ended.
The shopping street was engulfed in darkness, lit only by distant streetlamps.
The mask shop owner, a bachelor, had a habit of closing very late.
After all, closing early left him with nothing to do.
As he pulled the shutter down and reached to lock it, footsteps echoed behind him.
"Huh?"
He turned and saw a familiar silhouette.
"Hey, you!"
Already in a foul mood, the sight of the demon brat made it worse.
"I'm talking to you, runt! Stop right there!"
"..."
Naruto turned and met his gaze.
"Mister Mask Vendor, did you want to tell me something?"
He didn't know the man's name, so he used a polite phrase.
I'm really well-mannered, Naruto thought.
But the man clearly had no manners.
Especially seeing the mask from his shop on Naruto's head.
Under the yellowish light, the vendor turned crimson, eyes bulging.
"You little brat! Don't think the Uchiha will protect you! Those red-eyed freaks were just passing by and love meddling in others' business!"
"I have an Uchiha friend."
Naruto said this calmly.
"If that's all, I'll be going. It's late. Good night."
He turned and walked away, his steps filled with unsettling confidence.
"Hah... Hah..."
The vendor panted, blinded by rage.