Konoha Life

How should one describe life in Konoha? Peaceful, tranquil, devoid of the flames of war and chaos.

Hui Youling woke from her slumber, and the moment she turned her head to see the scene outside the window, she froze.

Recalling how Naruto had happily given up his own bed for her yesterday, she felt quite comforted.

There was still a thin layer of mist on the windowpane; she glanced at the alarm clock and saw it wasn't even six o'clock yet. Her body's automatic recovery was excellent.

It was likely the same way Naruto slept—without a care in the world, never worrying about insomnia or nightmares, sleeping with a completely clear heart.

However, as Hui Youling pondered this, she felt she had overlooked something and hurriedly got up to leave the room.

Naruto had been banished to the sofa in the living room and was likely back to hugging his quilt and having a sweet dream. Although she didn't want to see him looking so undignified, there were some things that had to be clarified today.

Opening the door, she could clearly feel a vein throbbing in her temple. The idiot had rolled from the sofa to the edge of the table without even realizing it, still drooling inexplicably while muttering, "I want to eat more!"

Hui Youling was stunned for a moment, but her hand had already reacted, hurling a cushion at him.

"Ah!" Naruto was startled awake, only to miserably bump his head against the table leg. She couldn't help but chuckle.

"Idiot Naruto, are you still going to sleep?" Hui Youling asked, hands on her hips, looking at him helplessly.

Naruto sat up abruptly and grinned foolishly, "Morning, Hui!"

"Morning!" she replied.

"Right, let's go shopping today!"

"Ah! Why?" Naruto always harbored a fear of such things; he didn't want to see the way those people looked at him.

"Because your house has nothing in it. Do you plan on eating air from now on?" Hui Youling scolded with a pout.

"Oh... I understand." Seeing that Hui was angry, Naruto didn't dare say anything else.

"Naruto!" Hui Youling suddenly called out.

"Ah, what is it?" Naruto felt he hadn't said anything wrong.

"Do you know if I'm a boy or a girl?" Hui Youling walked up to him, looking at Naruto with a dangerous glint in her eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"A girl, of course! Third Hokage told me, even though you don't look like a girl at all!" Naruto looked at her in confusion, completely unaffected.

Ignoring the last sentence, Hui Youling coaxed, "Hey, this is a secret between you and me, okay?"

"A secret?"

"Yes, a secret. A secret that belongs only to you and me. Naruto, you can't tell anyone else, hmm?" Hui Youling straightened up and placed her small hand over her mouth, making a "shh" gesture.

"Oh, okay!" Naruto was thrilled to hear about a secret that belonged only to the two of them and agreed without a second thought.

Hui Youling laughed; the idiot Naruto was just so easy to trick. She lazily stretched her back and said, full of energy, "Yosh, go wash your face, and you hurry up and change your clothes too!"

After saying this, Hui Youling headed to the bathroom as if she owned the place. Naruto watched her and smiled softly; it felt really good to have a friend.

Hui Youling didn't want others to know she was a girl yet. In Konoha, unless one was as strong as Tsunade, they would always be looked down upon. Being a boy might lead to bullying, but it gave her the opportunity to get to know the various young talents of Konoha.

The constraints of being a girl were truly too great—so great that she felt it was a burden. She wanted to live freely, not be protected like a girl.

The two walked along the Konoha River, crushing the sunlight scattered across the ground. Naruto followed behind Hui Youling, and seeing that she was in a good mood, he couldn't help but ask, "Hui, why don't you let others know you're a girl?"

Hui Youling tilted her head to look at him. "Naruto, I will never be the weak one forever. I won't allow others to bully me, and I certainly won't allow you to be bullied!"

Naruto didn't know why, but his heart gave a sharp, painful tug. He stopped in his tracks and lowered his head.

Hui Youling seemed to sense it and stopped as well, looking at the Konoha River. "I can understand how you feel. It's not you who is wrong, is it?"

She turned around, her earnest gaze fixed on Naruto. "Naruto, you shouldn't have to be lonely forever, or even lose your own convictions. I will become your first ray of light, guiding you toward the brightness. I will take good care of you."

"Compared to being isolated and loathed by others, I don't want you to live in the darkness either. You aren't a Fire Fly that can find its own way, but I can..." Her eyes were fixed on Naruto, filled with sincerity and trust.

"Because I am also in the darkness, I understand the value of light. I can become your firefly to illuminate your path."

These words felt like a vow, carved into Naruto's mind and hidden in his heart, never to be forgotten.

He would not let this sincerity go to waste. Perhaps he had been resistant at first, but he just believed so strongly that she would keep her promise.

The shops were gradually opening. Hui Youling and Naruto walked down the street together. The people around them looked at the pair with suspicion, but mostly with hatred.

They looked at Hui Youling with dissatisfaction; to think someone would actually walk with a monster—that person deserved to be cast aside.

Hui Youling completely ignored their gazes, but before they even reached the storefront, they were barked at: "Get lost!"

Hui Youling was startled by the store owner's look of disgust and let out a cold laugh.

So hateful, it really exceeded her expectations. That was going to be troublesome.

Naruto pulled on her, feeling uneasy. "Sorry, let's go first. Don't buy anything. These people never sell anything to me." There was an unspeakable pain in Naruto's voice.

Hui Youling turned to look at him. What could a three-year-old child actually do?

She always thought this way—that he couldn't do anything and had to rely on others to survive.

She had also wondered about geniuses like Itachi; what was his life like when he was three?

Did he already have the mental maturity of a six-year-old?

Many children are probably still acting spoiled with their parents at three years old.

What could she herself have done at three?

She didn't remember; she just knew that she didn't know how to act spoiled now, and more importantly, she had to take care of Naruto.

This idiot, an idiot who knew how to read the room at only three years old...

"I understand." Hui Youling said with a light chuckle, preparing to lead Naruto away from the street, while those piercing gazes followed them the entire time.

In truth, Hui Youling wasn't exactly hated, and although people would give her cold looks, they had never displayed their resentment like this before.

"Naruto, come with me to a place, okay?" Hui Youling asked softly.

Naruto glanced at her and gave a light, "Okay!"

She took hold of Naruto and vanished amidst the angry stares of the crowd; today, she would let them know that Naruto was not alone. Besides, they already hated her, so she didn't care about being hated even more!

For a fleeting moment, Naruto felt the protection of a loved one. Hui Youling had pulled him away without a second thought, and even though his mind wasn't fully mature, he understood what Hui Youling had done from the eyes of those adults.

It was in that very instant.

He could no longer hear the mockery, nor could he see the faces of the others.

She was like a Fire Fly, leading him out of that darkness. The corners of his mouth curled upward; he felt truly at ease, so very at ease.

Hui Youling arrived beside the Hokage Building and let go of Naruto's hand.

She looked left and right. Well, it seemed meeting the Hokage was impossible; with her small stature, she would be wiped out.

Hui Youling sighed helplessly. Was today destined to be fruitless?

"Hui, someone is coming!" Naruto whispered a warning, hurriedly grabbing Hui to leave.

Hui Youling turned toward the person in confusion, watching the two of them with a stiff and cold expression. Realizing that the Third Hokage was monitoring them again, she felt a first-time gratitude for his surveillance and spoke up, "Let's go!"

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and was about to turn away, only to see Hui Youling walking in the opposite direction.

"Ah~ Hui!"

He followed her, feeling depressed. Hui Youling said something to the person, and together they entered the Hokage Building.

"Keep up, you idiot Naruto!" she called out over her shoulder.

Hui Youling kept her eyes fixed on the crystal ball in the Hokage's hands. Seeing her inexplicable interest, the Third Hokage asked, "Does Hui know what this is?"

She didn't answer the Third Hokage's question, instead turning to look at Naruto with a frown.

Why was he so timid, completely lacking the fearless, devil-may-care attitude he would have later?

In short.

She really didn't like it. Could it be that she had changed something?

"Grandpa Third, Naruto has something to tell you."

Hui Youling changed the subject. Naruto visibly shuddered, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

Hui Youling narrowed her eyes and turned to the other side. Naruto had wanted to retort, but suddenly found he couldn't speak.

He braced himself and said, "Grandpa Third, we want to buy things, but those people won't sell to us..."

The Third Hokage watched the two of them quietly. How could he not see that some things had changed? Hui Youling had indeed changed; he could no longer treat her like a mere child.

"I understand. I will send someone to take care of you," the Third Hokage said gently.

"No need, Grandpa Third. The house is small, and those people look down on us anyway," Hui Youling replied, her tone flat yet inexplicably laced with sarcasm.

The Third Hokage saw the coldness in Hui Youling's gaze and let out a long sigh in his heart. "Very well, I will have someone help you buy what you need. Write down what you want for me!"

The Third Hokage stopped insisting and took a step back.

Having achieved her desired result, Hui Youling smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Grandpa Third!"

"Mm, you may leave if there is nothing else," the Third Hokage instructed.

"Yes!" she replied, and obediently led Naruto away.

Not long after, a figure appeared in the Third Hokage's office. He knelt respectfully, wearing a fox mask and a sharp, professional ninja outfit.

"Dusu, I must trouble you to help them buy some things," the Third Hokage said, sounding troubled.

The person below remained silent, offering no reply.

The Third Hokage looked at him and urged, "Dusu, I know you resent the Nine-Tails, but that is only a three-year-old child."

"Lord Third, may I ask you a question?" Dusu finally spoke.

"Go ahead..." The Third Hokage knew he had to resolve his inner conflict first.

He said coldly, "Is that Hui Youling really just a three-year-old child?"

"She is, though she nearly died, which made her realize something," the Third Hokage sighed.

"...I understand." Dusu remained silent for a moment, but eventually agreed.