"Hey, you lot! Is bullying a girl that much fun?" Naruto called out, his voice sharp.
Interrupted from their usual pastime of tormenting others, the brats looked thoroughly annoyed. They turned to glare at Naruto, then burst into derisive laughter.
"Well, if it isn't the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox! My, haven't you gotten bold all of a sudden?"
"Since when do monsters play hero to save the damsel in distress?"
"What's wrong? Itching for a beating since we haven't given you one lately?"
These particular bullies were likely among those most familiar with Naruto. In the past, they had a regular schedule for him: a major thrashing every three days, a minor one every two. Since Naruto's transformation, however, they had barely seen him. Now, faced with a Naruto who outclassed them in both aura and appearance, a bitter envy brewed within them, making them eager to pummel him.
Seeing their aggressive eagerness, Naruto sneered internally. These brats were practically a recurring nightmare from his childhood. Back then, being cornered and beaten by them was a daily occurrence. The ANBU ninja assigned to "protect" him never intervened, merely watching with cold indifference. They would only appear when things were about to turn deadly, offering a dismissive, "Stop fighting."
Naturally, this only emboldened the bullies.
It wasn't until one day, when he'd fought back with all his might and knocked out two of the ringleader's teeth—earning himself a face swollen like a pig's head in return—that they finally started to leave him alone more often.
Just as Aizen-sensei had said: kindness often only encourages others to escalate their bad behavior. Sometimes, violence was the necessary solution.
Now, these brats had stopped bullying him, only to turn their attention to someone else. A wave of undeniable disgust washed over Naruto as he witnessed the scene.
"Trash belongs in the trash heap. Your very presence here, breathing this air, is a loss for Konoha." His gentle smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, piercing gaze. He raised his fists and delivered a flurry of blows.
Empowered by Reiatsu, his punches packed astonishing force. One punch for each of them, ensuring everyone got an equal share.
Blood streamed down the children's faces as they sat on the ground, wailing. The ringleader was now missing three more teeth. He'd be lisping for a while.
Naruto watched them cry for a full five minutes without further attack; he knew the ANBU wouldn't allow him to go too far. Their so-called protection was merely to ensure he didn't die.
Once the brats had cried their fill, Naruto's gentle smile returned. He pulled them to their feet, speaking in the tone of a kind older brother, "Making fun of someone's appearance is very impolite. We are all reasonable Konoha residents. We don't resort to barbaric methods like fists, do we?"
To the bullies, Naruto's refined, gentle smile was utterly terrifying. They nodded frantically, thoroughly cowed.
"So, what should you do next?"
"W-we leave?" the ringleader stammered through his sobs.
Naruto's hand, gripping the boy's shoulder, tightened abruptly.
"A-ap-apologize!" The boy yelped in pain, hastily correcting himself.
"Admitting your mistakes makes you good children." Naruto released him, giving them a pointed look.
"S-sorry," they mumbled, shuffling over to the girl and bowing their heads.
"Louder. An apology needs sincerity," Naruto reminded them helpfully from behind.
A chill ran down the bullies' spines. They hurriedly bowed deeply, shouting, "WE'RE SORRY!"
"Remember this, and be good children from now on." Naruto watched them stumble away in a panicked retreat before turning to Hinata, his expression shifting back to a harmless, gentle smile. "Are you alright?"
For Hyuga Hinata, this was an unforgettable day. She had slipped out of the clan compound alone, intending to buy a snack on the street, only to be cornered by a group of bullies. Hinata recognized these children; they were a small clique in Konoha known for picking on others. They had pushed her around, cursing her with vicious words.
Just when she was being tormented, a kind and handsome boy had appeared like a hero, defeated the villains, and saved her. That boy was so gentle, his smile so radiant.
"I'm sorry." When Hinata heard the bullies apologize to her, tears welled up. She looked at Uzumaki Naruto through her tear-filled eyes. His figure, though not particularly tall, exuded a reassuring presence.
"Thank you… May I ask your name?" Hyuga Hinata asked Naruto in a soft, trembling voice.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto gently patted Hinata's small head. The gesture made her face flush bright red, as if steam were rising from it.
"Remember, kindness is a good quality," Naruto's gentle voice murmured in her ear. "But sometimes, the easier you are on people, the more you'll be bullied. The more difficult you make yourself, the less likely you are to be a target. I hope the next time I see you, you're no longer a pushover."
"I have to go. Goodbye."
Hinata quickly looked up, but Naruto's figure had already disappeared around the street corner. She stood there, stunned, his words echoing in her mind.
'No longer a pushover…?'
"Young Miss, are you alright?" Just then, a Hyuga guard landed swiftly in front of Hinata, his expression anxious. As the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family, Hinata was normally accompanied by guards whenever she left the compound. Today, however, she had snuck out on her own. Upon discovering her absence, the clan head had immediately dispatched guards to find her.
As it happened, the guard had spotted several bawling children near the street corner, complaining as they ran: "Damn Nine-Tailed Demon Fox! Damn Byakugan freak!"
Byakugan freak?! That definitely meant they were talking about the Young Miss. Anxious to protect his charge, the guard hadn't bothered to punish the brats and had rushed over immediately.
Hinata paid no attention to the guard. Her gaze remained fixed on the street where Naruto had vanished.
Thank you, Naruto-kun, she thought silently.
In the days that followed, Hinata's father, Hyuga Hiashi, was pleasantly surprised to find that his once timid daughter had suddenly become diligent, beginning to practice the Gentle Fist earnestly. She even told him, "Father, I want to train. I want to become stronger, so I won't be bullied by others anymore."
This change greatly pleased Hiashi, and he praised Hinata generously.
Meanwhile…
'A timid Hyuga girl, and she has guards following her. Her status must be quite high. She's worth cultivating a connection with,' Naruto mused as he walked. Before leaving, his Reiatsu had already sensed a ninja rapidly approaching. To avoid complications, he had decisively said goodbye to Hinata.
During his departure, he had even briefly crossed paths with that Hyuga guard – a young ninja in his twenties, also possessing the Byakugan. He was likely the girl's personal guard.
The Hyuga Clan was a prominent family, rivaling even the Uchiha. The Byakugan was as renowned as the Sharingan. Therefore, that girl could become a very useful asset in the future.
A faint smile touched Naruto's lips at the thought. He had planted the seed of wanting strength in her. He hoped that the next time they met, she wouldn't disappoint his expectations.
'Work hard and grow stronger. Only then will you be worthy of becoming my chess piece.'