Become Her Light

"Hey, you lot. Is picking on a girl really that fun?" Naruto said loudly.

Interrupted from their daily routine of bullying, the brats looked thoroughly displeased.

They turned to glance at Naruto and immediately burst into raucous laughter.

"Isn't this the Nine-Tails Fox Demon? When did you get so tough all of a sudden?"

"Since when do demons play at being heroes saving beauties?"

"What, you haven't been beaten lately, so your skin's itching for it?"

These brats were probably the people most familiar with Naruto.

Back in the day, they'd gift him a big beating every three days and a small one every two.

Ever since Naruto changed, they'd rarely seen him around.

Now, seeing Naruto—who outclassed them in both bearing and appearance—a feeling called jealousy brewed in their hearts, and they itched to give him a thorough thrashing.

Watching the brats practically bouncing on their heels, Naruto sneered coldly in his heart.

These brats counted as one of his childhood shadows.

Back then, getting cornered and beaten was a daily routine.

The Anbu ninja assigned to protect him never intervened; they just watched coldly from the sidelines.

They only showed up when things were about to turn lethal, tossing out a flippant line: "Stop fighting."

That behavior naturally fueled the brats' arrogance.

Until one day, he fought back with everything he had and knocked out two of the ringleader's teeth.

For that, he paid the price of ending up with a face like a pig's head.

But at least after that day, the brats stopped coming to pick fights as often.

Just as Aizen said, kindness only makes others push harder; sometimes, violence is necessary in the right circumstances.

Now the brats weren't bullying Naruto anymore, but they'd turned to bullying others instead.

Seeing this, Naruto's heart churned with undisguised disgust.

"Trash belongs in the trash heap. Standing here breathing air is a loss to Konoha." He dropped his gentle smile, his gaze sharp.

He raised his fist and threw several punches in quick succession.

Fists infused with Reiatsu packed a terrifying punch.

One punch per person, evenly distributed.

The brats sat on the ground, faces covered in blood, wailing loudly. The ringleader among them was missing three teeth.

Well, now he'd be talking with a whistle.

Naruto quietly watched the brats cry for five minutes without attacking further, because he knew the Anbu wouldn't allow it.

Their so-called protection was just ensuring he didn't die.

Once the brats had cried enough, Naruto put on a warm smile, pulled them to their feet, and spoke in a big-brotherly tone: "It's very rude to bully someone over their looks. We're all reasonable residents of Konoha, right? We don't settle things with fists like savages, do we?"

In the brats' eyes, Naruto's refined, gentle smile sent chills down their spines, and they nodded frantically in fear.

"So what should you do now?"

"Then I, I'll leave?" the ringleader brat said with a sniffle.

Naruto's grip on the brat's shoulder suddenly tightened.

"Ap, ap, apologize." The brat winced in pain and quickly corrected himself.

"Admitting your mistake and fixing it makes you a good kid." Naruto let go and shot him a look.

"S-sorry." They walked up to the girl and mumbled.

"Louder. An apology needs sincerity." Naruto helpfully reminded them from behind.

The brats felt a chill run down their backs and hurriedly bowed deeply, shouting, "We're sorry!"

"Remember, be good kids." Naruto watched the brats stumble away, then turned to Hinata, showing a harmless, gentle smile. "Are you okay?"

For Hinata Hyuga, this was an unforgettable day.

She had left the clan compound alone, thinking to buy some snacks on the street, but was stopped halfway by a group of brats.

Hinata recognized these kids.

They were a little gang in Konoha who loved picking on other children.

They shoved her around and cursed her with venomous words.

As she was being bullied, she saw a gentle, handsome boy appear like a hero, defeat the villains, and save her.

That boy was so gentle, his smile so sunny.

"I'm sorry." When she heard those brats apologize to her, tears glistened in Hinata's eyes. Blinking through her tears, she looked at Naruto Uzumaki.

His figure, not particularly tall, was nonetheless reassuring.

"Thank you. What's your name?"

Hinata Hyuga asked Naruto in a soft, timid voice.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto gently ruffled Hinata's small head.

That gesture made Hinata's face flush bright red, as if steam were rising from it.

"Remember, kindness is a good quality. But sometimes, the more agreeable you are, the more you get bullied. The harder you are to deal with, the less people pick on you." Naruto's gentle voice echoed in Hinata's ears. "I hope the next time I see you, you won't be a pushover anymore."

"I'm off. See you."

Hinata hurriedly lifted her head, but Naruto's figure had already vanished at the street corner.

She stood there in a daze, Naruto's words replaying in her mind.

No longer a pushover?

"Young lady, are you alright?" At that moment, a Hyuga Guard landed in front of Hinata, his face full of concern.

As the young lady of the Hyuga Clan's Main House, Hinata would normally have guards following her when she went out.

But today, Hinata had slipped out of the clan on her own. After discovering this, the clan head had quickly dispatched guards to search for her.

The result was that the guard had spotted a few crying brats near the street corner, running and complaining: "Damn Nine-Tails Fox Demon, damn Byakugan freak."

Byakugan freak?!

That had to be about the young lady.

The guard, anxious to protect his charge, didn't bother punishing those brats and rushed over immediately.

Hinata paid no attention to the guard. Her gaze remained fixed on the street where Naruto had disappeared.

In her heart, she whispered, Thank you, Naruto-kun.

After that day, Hinata's father, Hyuga Hiashi, was pleasantly surprised to find that his formerly timid daughter had suddenly become diligent, starting to practice the Gentle Fist.

She even said to him, "Father, I want to train. I want to become stronger, so no one can bully me anymore."

This change filled Hiashi with great relief, and he praised Hinata lavishly.

On the other side.

"A timid Hyuga girl, with a guard following her—her status must be considerable. She's worth befriending." Naruto mused silently as he walked.

Before leaving, his Reiatsu had sensed a ninja rapidly approaching.

To avoid trouble, he decisively bid Hinata farewell.

During his departure, he had even crossed paths with that Hyuga Guard.

A young ninja in his twenties, also possessing the Byakugan.

He was likely that girl's guard.

The Hyuga Clan was a prestigious family rivaling the Uchiha, and the Byakugan was as renowned as the Sharingan.

From this, it was clear that girl could become a very useful asset in the future.

Thinking this, a faint smile curled at the corner of Naruto's mouth.

He had already planted the seed of strength in the girl. He hoped that when they met again, she would live up to his expectations.

"Work hard to grow stronger. Only then will you be worthy of becoming my pawn."