Chapter 3: The Boy Who Didn't Swing

It was a peaceful day. The wind was slightly cold.

Otis was cleaning out a section of the canal.

(Otis pic)

But today… he heard them.

"Weird eyes. I bet she's cursed or something."

"Don't touch her, she's probably got some clan disease."

"Say something, freak!"

Otis stopped.

Behind a line of low shrubs, he saw them.

Three boys. Older. Grinning the kind of grin that only appears when no one stronger is watching them.

They surrounded a girl in a pale coat — small, quiet, staring down at her feet.

Hinata.

Otis thought Naruto would help her.

And just then, he spotted him — Naruto, running toward the bullies.

Otis remembered this scene. The moment Naruto would stand up for Hinata, the moment she'd begin to see him as her hero... and her long-term stalking target.

Still — kids have no filter.

Otis smirked, thinking back to his own school days.

*

It was just past noon.

The clouds had scattered, and sunlight painted long shadows across the stone path leading from the Hyuga compound.

Hinata walked quietly.

Her hands clutched the front of her little coat. Head down. Walking very slowly.

She wasn't lost. Just… unsure.

Unsure of where to go, replaying her father's cold voice in her head — the disappointment in his eyes when she lost yet another spar against her sister.

That's when the boys appeared.

Three of them. Older — maybe seven or eight.

Shinobi kids. Civilians.

One held a stick. Another wore sandals far too big, slapping loudly as he walked.

They circled her lazily, like they'd been waiting.

"Weird eyes. I bet she's cursed or something."

"Don't touch her, she's probably got some clan disease."

"Say something, freak!"

"Her eyes are weird. Like a ghost!"

"She looks sooo ugly!"

They laughed.

Hinata took a step back.

She didn't say anything.

Didn't cry.

She just looked away.

Which, somehow, made them bolder.

One boy stepped forward and knocked the ribbon from her hair.

"Oops," he said with a crooked grin.

Hinata bent down to pick it up—

"HEY!!"

A voice cracked through the street like glass.

Naruto.

Little, scrappy, snot-nosed Naruto. No headband.

He ran toward them, both fists clenched, yelling:

"Leave her alone, jerks!"

The bullies turned, laughing.

"Oh no, it's the demon kid!"

"Go back to yelling at frogs!"

They shoved Naruto.

He stumbled — fell on his butt.

"You bastard," he growled.

The tallest bully raised a fist—

And then… the air changed.

Like something heavy had entered the scene.

Step.

Step.

Step.

A shadow fell over them.

They turned.

Their mouths slowly opened.

He was huge.

Like a bouncer.

Six feet tall. Broad-shouldered. Shirt stretched tight across his frame.

Brown eyes beneath shaggy black hair.

Hands the size of dinner plates.

Otis.

He didn't say anything.

He just walked.

Naruto blinked. "Whoa."

Hinata looked up with wide eyes.

The bullies stepped back automatically.

Otis walked up to the lead bully.

Looked down at him.

Then — very gently — placed a massive hand on the boy's head.

The kid froze.

Otis's arm twitched slightly.

Veins flexed.

The boy squeaked.

Otis leaned in slowly.

His voice was calm.

"You okay?"

The bully nodded rapidly. Sweating.

"You wanna go home?"

More nodding.

"Good idea."

Otis let go.

The boy crumpled backward like his legs stopped working.

The others didn't wait.

"I don't see you brats running."

They grabbed their friend and bolted.

One kid left his sandals behind.

Otis turned to Naruto.

"You alright?"

Naruto blinked up at him.

"That. Was. AWESOME."

Otis shrugged.

Then turned to Hinata.

She was still staring at him, ribbon in hand, unsure if this was real.

"You okay?" Otis asked.

She gave the tiniest nod.

"…Thank you," she whispered.

Otis offered a simple smile.

He turned to leave.

Naruto ran after him, eyes shining.

"Hey! Wait! What's your name, man?! You're huge!! Are you, like, a bear?!"

Otis scratched his neck.

"…Otis."

"Otis!" Naruto yelled again as the bullies vanished. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen! You didn't even punch him! Just — whoomp — hand on the head like a rice cooker lid!"

Otis gave a small shrug.

Naruto buzzed around him like a mosquito on caffeine.

"Dude, seriously! That was the coolest thing ever! You didn't even hit the guy! Just — BOOM — hand! Twitch! The dude peed his soul out!"

"You've gotta teach me that! Or maybe let me ride on your shoulders! Or—HEY—can you throw me like a weapon? Like fooom—straight through a tree!"

"..."

"Are you, like, some kind of secret taijutsu master? Or a summon? Or maybe a stone golem came to life? You're HUGE! Can I throw a rock at you to check?"

"..."

"Just a small one?"

"Can I touch your arms?"

"Are you listening?"

"Bigfoot."

"Bouncer."

"Giant bear."

A tick mark appeared on Otis' forehead.

He reached out — and gently, but a bit forcefully — with all the calm authority of a stone Buddha, gripped Naruto by the top of his head.

Lifted.

Straight up.

(Pic)

Naruto's legs dangled. Arms flopped like noodles.

"AAAH! Put me down!"

"You talk too much," Otis said.

"I do not! And hey — this is not how you treat your future number one Hokage!"

"You tried to throw a rock at me."

"F-for research purposes!"

"You're loud."

"It's my ninja way!"

Otis sighed.

He held Naruto there for a moment like an annoyed dad lifting a toddler from a sandbox.

Then… started rotating him slowly.

Naruto flailed.

"I HAVE RIGHTS!!"

Otis finally placed him down — facing the opposite direction of the road.

"Go."

Naruto stood there, confused, arms out like a lost duck.

"…Where am I going?"

Otis pointed.

"That way."

"Oh."

A pause.

Then Naruto turned back around with a grin so big it practically split his face.

"I'm still following you, y'know."

Otis muttered,

"I regret this."

Meanwhile, from behind a nearby tree…

Hinata watched.

Her ribbon still sat in her hand.

…

(A/N)

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