Naruto Uzumaki hesitated and tried hard to come up with a reason. He couldn't exactly say that he had known her in his previous life, could he? Even using flirting as an excuse would have been ridiculously weak.
His gaze drifted slightly, and when he suddenly noticed Hinata's Byakugan, inspiration struck. "Ah, it was my father. He mentioned you sometimes, saying that the Hyuga clan's eldest daughter was a pretty and adorable girl named Hyuga Hinata. That's why I recognized you at a glance just now."
"Ah..." Hinata was clearly stunned. She hadn't expected that answer, and two patches of blush involuntarily rose on her cheeks, quickly spreading.
Overall, Hinata at this age was the textbook soft and delicate girl—timid, weak-willed, and afraid of trouble. Yet that was precisely why certain lolicon souls would be screaming "Kawaii!" in their hearts.
Of course... Naruto wasn't a lolicon... at least, he hadn't been in his previous life.
The blush on Hinata's face took a long time to fade. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Naruto again. After quite a while, she finally asked in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "May I ask... who is your father?"
"There!" Naruto pointed, and Hinata looked in that direction. At the edge of Konoha stood Kage Rock, where four faces had been carved, and Naruto was pointing at the last one.
"The Fourth Hokage?" Hinata cried out in surprise. "You're the Fourth Hokage's son? No wonder you're so strong."
"Of course I am. Let me tell you, this isn't even close to my full strength. From now on, if anyone in Konoha dares bully you, just come find me. I'll teach them a lesson for you."
Naruto thumped his chest as he made that promise. Deep down, everyone liked to