First Meeting with Hanabi Hyuga

"Could you have a little more dignity? I haven't even shown you how red flowers can get."

Naruto said with a half-smile.

In an instant, the three brats felt as if they were witnessing the Devil's arrival.

They cried even louder.

"Waaah... Help, help! He's going to kill us!"

"I don't want to die yet... Please don't kill me."

"We were wrong! We'll never do it again!"

There was nothing more annoying than a brat throwing a tantrum.

Naruto impatiently waved his hand.

"Get lost, now! I don't want to see you around her again."

"Otherwise, every time I see you, I'll beat you up!"

The three of them felt as if they'd been granted a new lease on life.

They gritted their teeth against the pain in their bodies.

They climbed to their feet and scurried away.

Hinata's little face was flushed.

She'd thought she was bound to get bullied today.

No one would come to save her.

But Naruto had appeared.

Just like that time when they were little!

Perhaps he'd already forgotten about it.

But Hinata remembered it vividly.

As if it had happened just yesterday.

"Are you hurt, Hinata?"

Naruto grinned.

Poof—

A cloud of white steam rose above Hinata's head.

She turned as red as a cooked crayfish.

No way?

Naruto actually remembered my name.

"N-no... I'm fine. Thank you for saving me again."

Hinata's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

If Naruto hadn't had half of the Nine-Tails' chakra backing him, he wouldn't have been able to make out what Hinata was saying.

Seeing how unbearably shy Little Hinata was, Naruto felt like teasing her a little.

"Hinata, you're speaking so softly. I didn't catch that. Could you say it again?"

To show that he really "couldn't hear," Naruto leaned closer to Hinata.

Although they weren't touching, they were already very close.

He could clearly smell the unique, delicate fragrance coming from Hinata.

With someone she liked drawing close, Hinata didn't dislike the feeling.

In fact, she even liked it a little.

But right now, her little face was bright red.

Her beautiful eyes looked like burning coils of incense.

Her little head felt dizzy.

"Y-you're... too close..."

"Huh? Too what?"

Naruto pretended not to understand.

He leaned closer to Hinata.

He considered himself a perfectly respectable guy.

It was just that Little Hinata was too shy and cute.

Ahem...

"Naruto-kun, you're standing too close..."

After fumbling for a while, Little Hinata finally managed to say it, her breath as sweet as orchids.

Oh man! She smells so good!

"Oh, sorry, sorry. I didn't notice."

Naruto shuffled back.

The two of them put some distance between themselves.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Hinata's eyes, then vanished in an instant.

The little girl hid it well.

But Naruto caught that tiny detail.

"Hinata, where do you live? If you don't mind, I'll walk you home. Mainly to make sure those three brats don't come back to bother you."

Naruto said it with a serious air.

You beat them so badly they nearly wet themselves.

Would they really dare come back and risk their lives?

Hinata couldn't help but giggle.

Her smile was sweet.

She'd definitely grow up to be a great beauty!

Naruto's show of concern warmed her heart.

It made her feel so cared for!

"Y-yes, please. Sorry for the trouble."

After a brief bout of inner hesitation, Little Hinata finally agreed.

"No trouble. Lead the way," Naruto said with a grin.

Several watchful eyes were fixed on them from a tree behind.

The moment Naruto gained half of the Nine-Tails' power, he'd sensed them!

But he still pretended not to notice a thing.

To the village, a Tailed Beast was as important as weapons of war had been in his previous life.

Naturally, it was essential to ensure the Jinchūriki's safety.

"What was that just now? I actually sensed that guy's terrifying presence. Could the seal be weakening?"

An Anbu member broke out in a cold sweat.

He remembered the terror of being controlled by the Nine-Tails all those years ago.

His legs couldn't stop trembling.

The others weren't doing much better.

They were badly shaken too.

"I thought I was the only one who sensed it. We have to report this to Lord Third at once!"

"Leave two people here to keep watching the Jinchūriki. If anything happens, send someone back immediately to report it. The rest of you, come with me. We're going to explain the situation to the Third Hokage."

"Yes!!!"

The young lady of a wealthy family really was different.

She came from a powerful family with substantial assets.

Unlike in later generations, when the clan fell into decline.

Speaking of Hinata, with her current wealth, she was practically a rich heiress.

Being a kept man wouldn't be so bad, either.

But although this era seemed peaceful on the surface, undercurrents churned beneath.

His life could be snuffed out at any moment.

He needed to make himself stronger.

A hard fist was the only real strength!!!

"Would you like to come in for a glass of water?"

Hinata invited him with a blush.

She'd finally worked up the courage to make the decision!

After all, although she was the Hyuga Clan's Young Lady, she wasn't the one who called the shots in her family.

Her title meant little in practice.

Her family members didn't like Naruto at all.

They'd told her to keep her distance from him.

If she brought him home, she'd probably be punished!

Even so, she wasn't afraid in the slightest!!!

Well... this was the first time she'd made up her mind to become stronger.

Naruto knew the difficulties Hinata faced.

Besides, he was penniless at the moment and wasn't the Hokage yet.

What could he possibly say to his future father-in-law?

"No, I'll just walk you this far..."

"Big Sister Hinata, you're back!!!"

An adorable little girl came running over in a hurry.

With a thump, she jumped up and burrowed into Hinata's arms.

There was still plenty of time before the Chūnin Exams.

The sisters' relationship hadn't become strained yet.

"Second Young Lady, slow down! If you fall, the Patriarch will blame us."

A servant behind them called out anxiously.

"Hmm? Big Sister Hinata, who's he?"

Hanabi tilted her little head and asked cutely.

Holy crap! She was my little sister-in-law!!!

She'd been a little beauty even as a child.

"His name is Naruto Uzumaki."

Hinata shyly introduced him, unable to meet Naruto's eyes.

"Oh?" Hanabi tilted her little head and curiously studied Naruto.

The whisker marks on Naruto's face had disappeared when he crossed over.

Naruto was very handsome now.

Blond hair and blue-green eyes.

He looked like a handsome boy next door!

Minato Namikaze and Kushina had both been good-looking to begin with.

Naruto had inherited all of his parents' best features.

'What a handsome older brother.'

Hanabi's little face flushed slightly as she gazed at him.

"Ah! Young Lady, Second Young Lady, get away from that boy!"

The servant shouted.

She activated her Byakugan.

She wasn't trying to hurt Naruto.

She just wanted to protect her young mistresses' lives.

"See you next time, Hinata. You're a cute little girl too. See you next time."

He waved.

Then he walked away with a carefree air.

Even with half of the Nine-Tails' chakra, Naruto still felt it wasn't enough.

Besides, he hadn't come here to cause trouble.

After all, these people would all be his family someday.