A Fated Encounter

Early the next morning, Naruto woke up and checked the wounds from yesterday's fight. A smile immediately spread across his face; the most severe wounds had already scabbed over, while the lighter ones had healed completely without leaving a single mark. His skin was fair and delicate, much like that of a newborn infant.

Because Naruto had been a loner in his past life who disliked excessive social interaction, the villagers' hostility toward him only intensified his desire to isolate himself from others.

This made Naruto appear very cold. While he hadn't become truly heartless, he would never take the initiative to strike up a conversation. He usually wore a large cloak, and by pulling the hood up, he made himself look as if he were completely cut off from the world.

Naruto stood before the mirror and looked at his reflection. A handsome face with a cold expression stared back at him: long, golden hair draped over his shoulders, and a fair, delicate complexion. There were three whisker-like black marks on each cheek, a red mark in the center of his forehead, and he was dressed in a white short-sleeved T-shirt and black trousers.

Naruto looked at himself in the mirror and muttered, "My hair is getting a bit long; I need to trim it. But the owner of that barbershop said two years ago that he didn't want to cut my hair anymore. Oh well, never mind, it doesn't really matter."

Naruto picked up the cloak lying to the side and put it on, grumbling to himself, "It's not like I meant to burn his hair off. I didn't want that to happen either. What a stingy guy." As he said this, he recalled two years ago, when he had just learned his first C-rank Wind Release jutsu, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, from the Third Hokage. He had been in a great mood and decided to head to the temple fair.

While walking near a bonfire, he saw a thief stealing money from the barber. The owner had always been decent to Naruto—at least he had never cheated him—so without thinking, Naruto cast the Wind Release: Great Breakthrough he had just learned. Who knew his aim would be off? Instead of hitting the thief, he blew the barber ten meters away into the bonfire, scorching his hair.

Who would have thought a small C-rank wind technique could blow someone into a bonfire from that far away? Besides, he had done it for the sake of the man's property.

After adjusting his cloak, Naruto reaffirmed, "Yeah, he's just too stingy."

Naruto looked at his skin, which was so tender it seemed like it could be pinched to draw water, and thought, "I need to spend more time in the sun. It's too pale; I look like a pretty boy. It lacks manliness."

"I remember when I watched the Naruto World, Naruto was clearly tan. How did I end up looking like a woman after becoming him? Hmph, it must be the production team's fault. Naruto's skin was clearly fair, but they changed it to tan."

Naruto left his room and walked down the street. Suddenly feeling the sun was a bit intense, he pulled up the hood of his cloak. He thought, "Yeah, that's better."

When he arrived at his usual spot for practicing ninjutsu and shuriken, he happened to see several young girls bullying a little girl with White Eyes. When he saw that little girl, Naruto's heart skipped a beat.

This was the first person he had encountered since coming to the Naruto World who possessed the White Eye. And to think this girl with the White Eye was being bullied by a few ordinary kids—this was hilariously absurd. Though he didn't know the full story, Naruto walked over anyway.

The young boys bullying her saw Naruto approaching and arrogantly shouted, "Isn't that the monster? What, you want a beating too?" Naruto looked speechlessly at these idiots, spoiled by their parents.

He ignored them entirely, walked over to the girl, helped her up, and asked, "Are you okay? My name is Naruto Uzumaki, what about you?" The girl blushed, and after politely bowing to thank him, she replied, "Hello, my name is Hinata Hyuga."

Naruto was stunned, his mind filled only with the six words: "My name is Hinata Hyuga." By the time he regained his senses and looked at Hinata, he found her blushing face to be incredibly cute. He shamelessly thought, "As expected of my wife, Naruto Uzumaki's wife. She's so charming even at five years old."

Just as Naruto was lost in his wild fantasies, he heard Hinata shyly ask, "I'm fine now, could you please let go of my hand?" Only then did Naruto realize he was still holding the girl's hand. He immediately let go, but Hinata's face remained flushed, and Naruto felt a bit embarrassed. The scene became suddenly awkward.

Just as Naruto was wondering what to say to Hinata, the group of brats they had forgotten shouted angrily, "How dare you ignore us! Beat this monster to death!" They charged forward, intending to pummel Naruto. Naruto's face turned cold, and he thought, Damn it, I'm already annoyed, and you brats are here causing trouble? Let's see how you like a beating.

Naruto quickly formed a few hand seals and swiped his palm forward. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" The intense wind pressure sent the brats flying ten meters into the bushes. They landed in a miserable heap, crying and screaming, "Monster! It's a monster! Run, run!" Seeing them flee, Naruto simply muttered "Trash" and ignored them.

He turned back to Hinata and said, "Hinata, where do you live? I'll walk you home." Hinata found it strange that those people called him a monster; he was clearly very gentle. And the way he had effortlessly chased off those bullies showed he was very strong, unlike her, who was so weak.

Just as Hinata was about to answer, a figure suddenly appeared by her side and shielded her. He then said to Naruto, "Stay away from Lady Hinata, do you hear me?" Naruto saw the white-eyed man who had suddenly appeared and realized he was Hinata's guard, so he didn't take offense. He smiled at Hinata and said, "Looks like I don't need to walk you home after all. See you next time, Hinata."

Hinata paused for a moment before replying, "Yes, Naruto-kun, see you next time."

Naruto leaped away and vanished from Hinata's sight. Her guard crouched down and said, "Lady Hinata, you must stay away from that brat."

Hinata didn't understand why she had to stay away from Naruto and asked, "Why?" The guard replied, "Lady Hinata, you don't need to know. You only need to know that he is a monster."

Hinata didn't ask further, but she decided she would secretly find out why Naruto was also called a monster. After all, in the eyes of the ordinary children, she was considered a monster too.

After Naruto arrived at his training spot and practiced shuriken and taijutsu for a while, he found he couldn't settle his mind. He kept thinking about Hinata.

He thought with trepidation, Damn, am I a lolicon? Hinata is only five years old! I'm an old guy who's nearly a hundred across three lifetimes, and I'm thinking about a five-year-old girl? What is this? Yeah, it must be because I'm hungry. Forget it, I'll go have a bowl of ramen.

Naruto walked into the ramen shop and ordered a large bowl. After he finished, he went to pay, only to discover his wallet was missing. He couldn't remember where he had dropped it. Teuchi saw Naruto fumbling through his pockets in a daze and asked, "What's wrong, Naruto? Did you forget your money?" Naruto replied, "I'm sorry, I don't know where I dropped my wallet."

Teuchi laughed, "It's alright, it's alright. It's on the house. But could you help me deliver an order? My daughter hasn't returned from her delivery, and I can't leave the shop."

Naruto replied, "Sure, I've got nothing else to do anyway." Teuchi said happily, "Thanks, Naruto. Please take this to the home of the Uchiha clan leader. Fugaku Uchiha said this morning to have it delivered by noon. Please hurry." Naruto agreed, picked up the delivery box, and headed out.

Walking down the road, Naruto thought, It's really strange. I met Hinata Hyuga this morning, and this afternoon I'm going to meet Sasuke Uchiha. Is this really fate? In a single day, I've encountered two of the most important people in Naruto Uzumaki's life. Naruto's lips curled slightly as he muttered, "The Uchiha, huh? I hope they don't disappoint me. It seems I can move things up."

Naruto arrived at the Uchiha clan compound. Looking at the prosperity before him, it was hard to believe that in two years, this would be a ruin. When he reached the home of Fugaku Uchiha, he happened to see a young boy practicing shuriken.

He was a very handsome little boy; though still young, his eyes were sharp and resolute. He also exuded an air of arrogance. His skin was fair, rivaling Naruto's own. Naruto knew this was Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke noticed someone approaching and turned around to find a strange person standing not far behind him. It was a hot day, yet the guy was wearing a black cloak with the hood up—wasn't he hot?

He didn't even greet anyone when entering their home; how rude. And he was just standing there like a fool after being spotted. Stupid. Sasuke gave him his second label: "An idiot."

If Naruto knew what he was thinking, he would have beaten him to a pulp regardless of the consequences. (Though Sasuke couldn't beat Naruto right now, so it would have been fine.)

The two stared at each other coldly for nearly a minute. Finally, Sasuke asked coolly, "Who are you, and what are you here for?" Sasuke deliberately ignored the delivery box in Naruto's hand. Naruto lifted the box and said indifferently, "Delivery."