Konoha Year 55, Winter.
It has been over a year since Uzumaki Naruto came to the Ninja Academy to study.
The body in this world was also slowly developing.
Although, for the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Uzumaki Naruto seemed to have undergone a heaven-and-earth change at that time—not only becoming neater but also much more mature and steady, and even starting to study on his own, becoming much less of a worry.
But this was a situation that warranted even more vigilance.
Therefore, the surveillance on Uzumaki Naruto became even tighter.
Because this transformation was simply too sudden.
Uzumaki Naruto himself, however, was completely unaware of this.
Over this past year, Uzumaki Naruto had ignored the malice and alienation from his classmates and had been indulging in various knowledge regarding Chakra.
He had also learned a great deal of knowledge about this world, which was completely different from the continent in the Magic World, and many varieties had evolved based on this energy body called Chakra.
Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Sealing Jutsu, Cursed Seals, Barrier, and so on.
“Finally, I have a rough understanding of all this knowledge.”
Uzumaki Naruto let out a long breath at his desk at home and closed the book in his hand.
These books were borrowed from the Konoha archives.
As for the knowledge at the Ninja Academy, it was already quite easy for Uzumaki Naruto, so he had learned it long ago.
He had also practiced the basic Transformation Technique until he was very proficient.
Because Uzumaki Naruto also discovered that his actions seemed to be monitored every moment, he did not directly practice attack magic.
Instead, when he had free time, he would sit silently on the spot and practice the technique of limiting magic release.
This was a technique that Grandma Frieren had taught Sister Fern in the past.
At the time, Uzumaki Naruto had wanted to learn it, but gave up because it was too difficult.
But now, because that existence that limited his control of magic had disappeared, Uzumaki Naruto could practice without restraint.
Looking at the snow outside the window and the sparse villagers on the street, Uzumaki Naruto missed Heiter, Sister Fern, and Grandma Frieren once again…
So he decided to take a walk outside.
It was snowing heavily outside.
A thick layer of snow had accumulated on the ground, making a soft sound when stepped on.
There were very few villagers coming and going on the street.
Occasionally, someone would pass by and, upon seeing Uzumaki Naruto, would still walk around him.
Uzumaki Naruto didn’t mind this; he just raised his head, looked at the snowflakes drifting across the sky, and thought of the winter in the Holy Capital.
Heiter would tell stories of the Hero Himmel’s party by the fireplace.
Sister Fern would sit quietly by the side, busy while listening.
Grandma Frieren would also be reading a magic book or looking at a magic tool.
These images kept appearing in his mind, then slowly faded away.
Uzumaki Naruto lowered his head and continued walking forward.
Without any purpose, just walking.
Unknowingly, he walked near a small woods.
The snow on the trees bent the branches; when the wind blew, it fell with a rustling sound.
Uzumaki Naruto was about to continue walking forward when he suddenly stopped.
There was a sound coming from the woods.
Someone was talking, more than one person.
There were other sounds too.
It sounded like crying.
Uzumaki Naruto frowned, turned around, and walked into the woods.
The trees were dense, and there were a few sets of footprints in the snow.
After walking a distance along the footprints, a clear sound came from the clearing ahead.
“Your eyes are so weird!”
“Why are they white?”
“Byakugan monster!
Byakugan monster!”
Uzumaki Naruto rounded the last tree and saw three boys.
They were about his age, forming a circle.
Inside the circle, a little girl was crouching.
She was covering her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking.
Low sobs came from inside.
Uzumaki Naruto looked at the three boys, then looked at the girl.
The girl’s eyes were white.
Hyuga Clan.
Uzumaki Naruto remembered seeing it in his Konoha history textbook.
The Hyuga Clan was one of the most powerful families in Konoha.
With such a powerful family, how could they let their own child be bullied?
Although he found it strange, Uzumaki Naruto didn’t think too much about it.
He stepped forward and stood behind the three boys.
“Stop.”
The voice wasn’t loud, but it was very clear.
The three boys turned around at the same time.
Seeing Uzumaki Naruto, they were stunned for a moment, then looked at each other.
One of the boys recognized him, and his expression changed.
“It’s that monster!”
The other two heard this and also showed expressions of disgust.
“Monster, get lost!” Get faster updates on g.com.
“We are teaching this Byakugan monster a lesson; it has nothing to do with you!”
Uzumaki Naruto looked at them, not angry, just saying calmly: “Three people bullying one person, don’t you feel ashamed?”
“What does it have to do with you!” The leader boy pushed Uzumaki Naruto.
“If you don’t leave, we’ll beat you up too!”
Uzumaki Naruto was pushed, his body swayed, but he didn’t retreat.
Hero Himmel would never pretend not to see ‘bullying’, and would definitely stand up for someone.
Uzumaki Naruto didn’t speak again, just took a step forward.
Seeing that he wasn’t leaving, the three boys exchanged a look and rushed up together.
Uzumaki Naruto dodged the first person’s punch sideways and took the opportunity to extend his foot; that person fell into the snow.
The second boy was stunned and hadn’t reacted yet when Uzumaki Naruto had already flashed in front of him.
He punched him in the stomach.
The boy bent over and retreated, his face turning pale.
The third boy hesitated and stood still, not daring to move.
Uzumaki Naruto didn’t stop and quickly formed hand signs with both hands.
“Transformation Technique.”
With a poof, he turned into the appearance of the leader boy.
“You…” The boy who had just crawled out of the snow saw another himself and took a step back in fear.
Although they knew this was a Ninjutsu, they were still a long way from mastering it, let alone learning it, so they naturally felt some fear of Uzumaki Naruto.
“Mon…
Monster!”
Uzumaki Naruto dispelled the transformation and looked at them.
The three boys looked at each other and turned to run.
They were still cursing as they ran far away.
“Just you wait!”
“A monster is still a monster!”
The voices grew fainter and finally disappeared into the snow.
The woods quieted down.
Uzumaki Naruto turned around and walked to the little girl.
She was still crouching, her hands covering her face, her shoulders twitching.
Uzumaki Naruto squatted down and said softly: “It’s okay now, they’ve left.”
The girl slowly raised her head.
Her eyes were indeed white.
Her face was covered in tear stains, and her eyes were still red.
Uzumaki Naruto reached out his hand.
The girl hesitated for a moment, then handed her hand over.
Uzumaki Naruto pulled her up.
After the girl stood up, she lowered her head and whispered something.
The voice was too soft to hear clearly.
“What?” Uzumaki Naruto asked.
“Thank you…” The girl’s voice was still very light, as if she was afraid of being heard.
Uzumaki Naruto looked at her and asked: “What is your name?”
“Hyuga…
Hinata.”
As expected, a member of the Hyuga Clan.
Uzumaki Naruto asked again: “Your eyes…
you should be able to practice Gentle Fist, right?
Why didn’t you fight back?”
Hinata lowered her head and pinched the corner of her clothes with both hands.
“Because…
if I used Gentle Fist, I would hurt them…”
Uzumaki Naruto was stunned for a moment.
This reason…
He didn’t say anything.
Everyone has their own thoughts.
Although he felt it was too weak, he had no right to judge.
Uzumaki Naruto changed the subject and looked at Hinata’s face carefully.
He felt like he had seen her somewhere before.
But Uzumaki Naruto’s memory of Konoha was too blurry.
He had transmigrated to the Magic World at the age of three and stayed for nine years before returning.
The days in Konoha before that had long been forgotten.
There were only some very vague impressions.
Right…
Before transmigrating, it seemed he had helped a lost girl go home.
That girl’s eyes were very similar to the person in front of him.
“Have we met before?” Uzumaki Naruto asked.
Hinata raised her head, looked at Uzumaki Naruto, and then nodded gently.
There were still tear stains on her face, but there was a little something else in her eyes.
Uzumaki Naruto rubbed his chin and said silently: “That explains it, no wonder I felt you looked familiar.”
“Looks like I have to walk you home again.”
Hinata didn’t speak, just stood there.
Uzumaki Naruto noticed that her mood was still low.
The matter of being bullied just now must still be in her heart.
Uzumaki Naruto thought for a moment and asked: “Do you like flowers?”
Hinata raised her head, somewhat confused, but still nodded: “I like them…
my hobby is pressed flowers.”
“That’s great then.” Uzumaki Naruto smiled.
“I have a magic that one of my ‘teachers’ likes the most.”
He stepped back and stretched out his hands.
A small spell like Flower Field Magic had been practiced to proficiency when he was in the Magic World.
It didn’t need much control.
He just needed to release the magic power and let the flowers bloom where he wanted them to.
Uzumaki Naruto closed his eyes and sensed the magic power in his body.
The magic power flowed very smoothly.
There was no feeling of obstruction.
Then he opened his eyes and gently raised his hand.
White light scattered from his palm and fell onto the snow on the ground.
In an instant.
The snow was covered in flowers.
Red, yellow, purple, white.
One by one, they sprouted from under the snow and crowded together.
It was as if spring had arrived early.
Hinata opened her eyes wide, looking at the field of flowers that had suddenly appeared in front of her.
Her mouth opened slightly, unable to speak.
She squatted down and reached out to touch the nearest flower gently.
It was real.
Not a hallucination.
“So beautiful…” Hinata’s voice was very light, with a little trembling.
This time it wasn’t because of crying.
Uzumaki Naruto stood by, watching the expression on her face change from sadness to surprise, and then from surprise to happiness.
He remembered what Heiter had said.
“Magic doesn’t have to be used for fighting; magic that can make people happy is also very valuable magic.”
Now it seemed, Heiter was right.
The two stood by the flower field for a while.
It was still snowing, but when it landed on the flowers, it melted quickly.
Footsteps came from afar.
An adult man walked over quickly.
He was wearing a white kimono of the Hyuga Clan, and his eyes were white like Hinata’s.
He glanced at the flowers all over the ground, and a trace of surprise flashed across his face.
But he didn’t ask much.
He just walked to Hinata’s side and said softly: “Lady Hinata, it’s time to leave.”
Hinata’s body stiffened for a moment, then she slowly stood up and looked at Uzumaki Naruto.
She wanted to say something, but didn’t say it out loud.
Then she turned around, held the man’s hand, and walked out of the woods.
After walking a few steps, she looked back again.
She looked at Uzumaki Naruto.
Then looked at the flowers.
When she looked back again, her steps were a little slower than before.
Uzumaki Naruto stood on the spot, watching the small figure walk further and further away.
The snow was still falling.
The flowers were still blooming.
When the wind blew, the petals swayed gently.
Uzumaki Naruto looked down at his hands.
When he cast the magic just now, the magic power was very stable.
It was much better than when he practiced by the cliff before.
Was it because the thing that blocked him was gone?
Or was it because the training at the Ninja Academy helped?
Uzumaki Naruto wasn’t quite sure.
But at least…
He could already control a spell of the level of Flower Field Magic very well.
Then Uzumaki Naruto turned around and walked out of the woods.
A trail of footprints was left in the snow.
The flower field behind him was gradually covered by snow.
A thin layer of white accumulated on the petals.
But the colors were still there.
On the snowy ground, they were blooming quietly.