Chapter 18: Monster
The three boys kept at it for what felt like forever.
They fought until the break ended and the next combat class was about to begin.
They fought until even Uchiha Sasuke, who'd been waiting in vain for Hikari to intervene, grew bored and left the classroom.
They fought until every other student had trickled out.
And they didn't stop until all three were exhausted—only relenting after snatching the notebook Naruto had shielded against his chest, tearing it to pieces, and scattering the scraps across the floor.
"Worthless."
A icy sneer, one last glance at Hikari (still unmoving), and the trio dashed out of the room, laughing.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, painting the classroom gold.
Loose pages fluttered in the air.
Dust motes danced in the beams of light.
The only ones left were Hikari and Naruto—curled on the floor, his arm thrown over his eyes, his clothes filthy, his body trembling with quiet sobs.
"Does it hurt?"
Hikari's voice, cool and clear, made Naruto's crying hitch. His shoulders shook harder.
She walked over and knelt beside him.
His orange jumpsuit was smeared with dirt and shoe prints. His usually spiky blond hair lay limp. The skin on his arms, still pressed over his face, was mottled with bruises.
"Hikari, I—I ruined your notebook…"
"That doesn't matter."
Water spiraled from Hikari's sleeve, coiling around Naruto's swollen injuries. The chill soothed the burning pain, and as her chakra flowed into him, warmth followed.
Gently, she pulled his arm away, revealing his tear-streaked, battered face. The water she guided over his skin mixed with his tears until the two were indistinguishable.
Naruto froze.
His wide, sky-blue eyes—damp and desperate—stared up at the girl above him.
No one had ever treated him this kindly.
"I'll… buy you a new one tomorrow!"
"I told you, it's not important."
Hikari looked down at him. "Do you know why they bully you?"
Naruto flinched, his gaze darting away. "Because… they say I'm a monster."
"No."
She shook her head. "The opposite. You're not a monster."
"But everyone—"
"I was called a monster once too."
Hikari cut him off, her voice distant, as if recalling a memory.
"After I killed them all, no one dared call me that again."
"Now, they call me a genius."
She tilted her head. "Having the name of a monster without the power of one—that's why they hurt you."
Naruto's breath caught.
Ignoring the whole murder part, her words struck him as undeniably true.
If he were as strong as Hikari, would anyone dare lay a hand on him?
"But… the whole village says I'm a monster."
Watching Naruto's dazed expression—like a door to a new world had just cracked open—Hikari finally smiled.
"Grow stronger. Stronger than all of them."
"I… I can't."
Naruto hung his head.
This Naruto, still young and unformed, lacked the unshakable confidence of his future self.
Then a pale hand appeared in front of him.
He looked up—and the sight burned itself into his memory forever.
The girl crouched before him, her hand outstretched.
Her lips curved faintly. The black cloth over her eyes did nothing to dull her quiet warmth. Behind her, the sun gilded her silver-gray hair with gold, radiant and pure.
"I'll help you."
Three simple words he'd never heard before shattered the dam.
Tears flooded his vision.
The world blurred—except for her, glowing like sunlight, waiting patiently for him to take her hand.
For the first time in his shadowed life, a light broke through.
"Hikari… why didn't you help me earlier?"
"Boys your age care about pride. 'The coward who hides behind a girl'—you wouldn't want that nickname, would you?"
She stood, brushing off her clothes. "Come on. We're late."
Naruto watched as Hikari used a water jutsu to clean his wounds, his face burning.
Maybe pride wasn't so important after all… if it meant she would protect him.
---
"First match: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Hyūga Hinata!"
On the training grounds, Iruka announced the next spar.
He already knew about Naruto and Hikari's situation.
The Academy wasn't for coddling. Battles were routine here. As long as things didn't go too far, students settled their own disputes.
Frankly, Hikari didn't even need to attend combat drills.
If the entire elite class—himself included—fought her at once, they'd still lose.
As for Naruto? Well, consider today's beating an early practical lesson.
"Form the seal of confrontation!"
The two complied, eyes locked.
Sasuke, hands in pockets, oozed confidence.
Hinata, in a Gentle Fist stance, pretended to.
"Please go easy on me!" they chorused.
BAM!
Sasuke lunged, fist aimed straight for Hinata's face.
She flinched but dodged, countering with a palm strike to his ribs—only for him to block with a raised knee.
The fight erupted into a flurry of blows, the sharp crack of flesh meeting flesh echoing across the field.
---
"Hikari, how do I get stronger?"
As Iruka scored the match, Hikari and Naruto emerged from the school building, heading toward the training grounds.
Every head turned.
Hikari walked calmly, unbothered.
Naruto trailed behind, chatting animatedly. His orange jumpsuit, once stamped with shoe prints, was now clean. Aside from a faint bruise around his eye, his injuries had nearly vanished.
"Uh—"
Hinata, distracted, took a brutal punch to the stomach from Sasuke and crumpled, her face scrunched in pain.
"Hinata! How many times must I say it? Focus during a fight!"
"Sasuke wins! Ten points!"
Iruka scribbled in his notebook.
"Sasuke's so cool!"
Sakura and Ino swooned, hearts practically shooting from their eyes.
Hinata staggered to her feet, avoiding Hikari's gaze entirely.
---
"Iruka-sensei."
Hikari stopped before the instructor.
The three bullies tensed, bracing for a complaint.
"Naruto fell and hurt himself. I took him to the infirmary, so we're late."
…Fell.
Onto his fist-shaped eye bruise.
And was escorted by the blind new girl.
To the nonexistent Academy infirmary.
The sheer audacity of the lie made Iruka's eye twitch. His early praise for Hikari evaporated.
"Fine. You're up after this. Wait over there."
"Wait!"
Sasuke's voice cut through.
His dark eyes burned with challenge as he stared at the silver-haired girl.
Ever since hearing she'd defeated Jōnin Kazama Gōtsu, he'd ached to fight her.
Last night, his father had even praised her strength—urging Sasuke to surpass her.
If I beat her, Father will finally acknowledge me.
"Iruka-sensei. I want to spar with Hikari."
Ignoring Hinata's stunned look, Sasuke squared his shoulders.
---
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