A Naive World

It was winter, and snow was falling. Icy cold seeped in through every gap in their clothes, slipping down their collars, into their sleeves, and into every corner not tightly covered by fabric. It reddened their fingertips, and every breath they exhaled condensed into a cloud of white mist.

The cold was unpleasant, but compared to the fresh malice that could be heard everywhere on this land, it was not entirely unbearable.

"What is that?! White eyes? That's so gross!"

"They're really ugly. They look just like a monster."

"Monster! Monster! The Hyūga Clan's little monster! Hahaha."

Three children surrounded a delicate, adorable-looking boy in the middle. His completely white pupils brimmed with tears that looked ready to spill at any moment.

"Hey! Don't bully him!"

Suddenly, a young, clear voice came from the entrance of the alley. A little girl came running over, wearing a red scarf, her golden hair tied into two short, perky ponytails. Her features were as exquisite and adorable as a porcelain doll's.

She had merely been passing through this alley when she heard those malicious laughs in the freezing wind, and she had turned in without hesitation.

Her cheeks were red from the cold, and clouds of white breath poured from her mouth one after another. Yet as she stood at the entrance to the alley, clenched her fists, and shouted as loudly as she could.

"My name is Naruko Uzumaki! I'm going to be the future Hokage, dattebayo!"

The three boys turned around and teasingly looked over the little girl who had suddenly appeared, a whole head shorter than them. Then—

"The future Hokage? Pfft, hahahaha! Is this girl an idiot?!"

"That's hilarious! An idiot and a monster, hahaha!"

"I'll teach you guys a lesson!" Little Naruko's cheeks puffed up in anger, her