Chapter 6

"Hey, you guys! Is it fun to bully a girl?" Naruto's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

The group of brats, interrupted from their usual pastime of tormenting others, turned to glare at Naruto. Their expressions quickly shifted from annoyance to mockery as they recognized him.

"Isn't this the Nine-Tails demon fox? What, you think you're tough now?" one of them sneered.

"Since when do monsters play heroes?" another jeered.

"Didn't we beat you up enough before? You itching for more?"

These kids were among the few who knew Naruto all too well. In the past, they had made it a habit to corner and beat him regularly. Since Naruto had changed, they hadn't seen him much. Now, seeing him stand up to them with such confidence, a wave of jealousy and anger surged through them. They were eager to put him back in his place.

Naruto smirked, unbothered by their taunts.

These brats were the shadows of his childhood. Back then, being cornered and beaten had been a daily routine. The Anbu ninjas assigned to "protect" him never intervened unless things got life-threatening. They'd step in with a half-hearted "Stop it," but only after Naruto had already taken a beating.

It wasn't until one day, when Naruto fought back with everything he had and knocked out two of the ringleader's teeth, that the bullying slowed down. Sure, he'd paid the price with a swollen face, but it was worth it. From that day on, the brats had avoided him.

As Aizen had once told him, "Kindness only invites more cruelty. Sometimes, violence is necessary."

Now, these same brats had turned their attention to bullying others. Naruto couldn't hide his disgust.

"Trash belongs in the trash bin. It's a waste of Konoha's air to let you breathe it," Naruto said coldly, his usual gentle smile replaced by a sharp glare.

He raised his fists, each one crackling faintly with Reiatsu.

One punch per kid. No favorites.

The brats crumpled to the ground, blood streaming from their noses and mouths. The ringleader was missing three teeth, his speech now permanently altered.

Naruto watched them cry for five minutes, not bothering to attack further. He knew the Anbu wouldn't allow it. Their so-called "protection" only ensured he didn't die—nothing more.

Once the brats had cried themselves out, Naruto's expression softened. He helped them up, his smile gentle but unnerving.

"Bullying others for their appearance is rude. We're all residents of Konoha, aren't we? Let's be civilized and not resort to savagery, okay?"

The brats nodded frantically, their faces pale with fear.

"Now, what should you do next?" Naruto prompted, his tone sweet but firm.

"W-we'll leave?" the ringleader stammered, tears still streaming down his face.

Naruto's grip on the boy's shoulder tightened.

"A-apologize! We'll apologize!" the boy yelped, wincing in pain.

"That's better," Naruto said, releasing him. "Good boys know how to apologize."

The brats shuffled over to the girl, their voices trembling as they muttered, "S-sorry."

"Louder. And mean it," Naruto called out from behind them.

The brats flinched, then bowed deeply and shouted, "We're sorry!"

"Remember, be good kids from now on," Naruto said, watching them stumble away.

He turned to the girl, his smile warm and genuine. "Are you okay?"

For Hinata Hyuga, it was a day she would never forget.

She had sneaked out of the Hyuga compound, hoping to buy some snacks, only to be cornered by a group of bullies. She recognized them—they were notorious for tormenting other kids.

They had pushed her, called her names, and made her feel small. But just as she thought things couldn't get worse, a boy appeared—gentle, handsome, and brave. He stood up to the bullies and saved her.

His smile was like sunlight, warm and reassuring.

When the bullies apologized, tears welled up in Hinata's eyes. She looked at Naruto, her heart swelling with gratitude.

"Thank you," she whispered. "What's your name?"

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto," he said, gently ruffling her hair.

Hinata's face turned bright red, steam practically rising from her cheeks.

"Kindness is a good quality," Naruto said softly. "But sometimes, the softer you are, the more people will push you around. Stand up for yourself, okay? I hope the next time I see you, you won't be a doormat."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Hinata stared after him, his words echoing in her mind.

"Don't be a doormat."

"Miss Hinata, are you alright?" a voice called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Her guards had finally caught up to her. As the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, Hinata was rarely allowed to leave the compound without an escort. Today, she had slipped out unnoticed, and her father had sent guards to find her.

The guards had seen the crying brats running away, muttering curses about the "Nine-Tails fox" and the "white-eyed monster." They hurried to Hinata's side, ready to protect her.

But Hinata barely acknowledged them. Her eyes remained fixed on the spot where Naruto had disappeared.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," she thought.

From that day on, Hinata's father noticed a change in his daughter. The once timid and submissive girl began training harder, practicing the Gentle Fist with newfound determination.

"Father, I want to become stronger," she told him one day. "I don't want to be bullied anymore."

Her father, Hyuga Hiashi, was pleasantly surprised. He praised her efforts, unaware of the encounter that had sparked this change.

Meanwhile, Naruto walked down the street, a faint smile on his lips.

"That girl… Hinata, was it? She's from the Hyuga clan, one of Konoha's most prominent families. Her guards arrived quickly, so she must be important. She's worth keeping an eye on."

Before leaving, Naruto had sensed the approaching chakra of the Hyuga guards. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he'd made a quick exit.

"I've planted the seed of strength in her. Let's see if she grows into someone useful."

Naruto's smile widened.

"Work hard to become stronger, Hinata. Only then will you be worthy of being my pawn."