Naruto: Road To Villain Life

"Look, it's that guy!"

"Is he still alive?"

"Wasn't he supposed to be dead?"

"Dammit, no wonder I slipped in the bathroom yesterday. It's all his fault!"

"That demon..."

"Shut up. Have you forgotten the Third Hokage's orders?"

"Why does the Third Hokage still protect him?"

"..."

Even after nearly a year of absence, Naruto's presence in Konoha still stirred up intense hatred from the villagers. Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's misguided orders, their malice only grew stronger.

Naruto walked through the streets without a second glance at the disdainful looks around him. Only shallow-minded fools would get upset by their curses. As for him, he would one day elevate Konoha to the level of a Kage, guiding everyone to become as powerful as the Sage of Six Paths.

That, to him, was the epitome of repaying evil with virtue.

"You! You bumped into us, do you know that?"

"Huh?" Naruto stopped as he heard a commotion. His gaze shifted, and he noticed a familiar figure. His expression softened slightly.

A group of taller boys had surrounded a small girl in a light pink yukata.

The girl quickly apologized with a frightened expression, her porcelain-like skin and pink face marred by fear. Her short hair and delicate features were unmistakable—it was Hyuga Hinata.

However, the group seemed oblivious to her status as the Hyuga clan's heir. One of the boys shoved Hinata forward. Caught off guard, she stumbled and fell into the dirt, her yukata staining with mud. Her white eyes, so different from others, were revealed, making the bullies stop for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Haha, look at her eyes."

"White eyes, huh? Just like that freak."

"Another monster."

"Let's get rid of her."

The boys picked up stones, aiming them at Hinata, laughing cruelly. The pure malice of children is often the most dangerous—harmless differences in appearance can lead to the deepest cruelty.

Naruto chuckled bitterly. The Hyuga clan was one of the most prestigious in Konoha. Could even their heir be treated this way by common villagers?

"I can't believe it's still like this after all this time," Naruto muttered under his breath.

His voice cut through the noise, startling the group of boys. Hinata, who had been curled up in fear, looked up in surprise.

Naruto and Hinata had known each other for quite some time. It was about a year and a half ago when Naruto had first arrived in this world and helped Hinata in a similar situation. Back then, he had been clumsy, still learning to control his chakra, and had accidentally sent the bullies to the hospital.

The memories made Naruto sigh.

"You... you're that monster!"

"Didn't the Third Hokage order you to be executed?"

"Are you really a monster?"

"Is he going to eat us?"

The boys were terrified, backing away from the now taller and more imposing Naruto. His physique had changed drastically over the past year, muscles built from intense training and an immense chakra pool that left a presence almost suffocating.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata exclaimed, her face lighting up in recognition. Ever since Naruto had helped her that one time, she had been looking for an opportunity to thank him, but their paths hadn't crossed again until now.

Ignoring the four boys, Naruto approached Hinata, disappointment evident in his gaze.

"Naruto-kun?"

Hinata's voice trembled with confusion. She saw the faint shadow of her father in his expression.

"Monsters eat monsters, right? Let's run!"

The boys quickly fled in all directions, terrified by Naruto's presence.

"It wouldn't be hard to deal with them, would it?" Naruto muttered, more to himself.

Hinata hesitated, her voice barely audible as she responded, "Father said... power shouldn't be used to hurt others. If you hurt them... it'll be wrong."

Naruto looked at her, frustration creeping into his voice. "You have the strength, but you won't use it. You'd rather take the hurt than stop them? I thought we could be friends."

Hinata's heart skipped a beat. She looked up, her white eyes filled with confusion and sadness. "Why... why not? Why don't you want to be friends with me, Naruto-kun?"

Her voice cracked, and two soft tears formed in her eyes.

Naruto's expression softened, but his disappointment remained. He didn't want to see Hinata trapped in weakness. He had hoped for her to grow stronger, to not fall prey to the same illusions that Konoha had fed him all these years.

"You saw the way they looked at you, didn't you?" Naruto's gaze shifted from Hinata to the gathering crowd. Their eyes were filled with malice, some more intense than others. It was as if the very air around them had thickened with hostility.

"Why do they hate you?" Hinata whispered, her voice barely audible as she glanced at the villagers.

Naruto stared back, his voice calm yet filled with an underlying bitterness. "Because you're weak. They can't even see you."

The villagers' whispers grew louder. The four boys who had harassed Hinata earlier stood near their parents, whispering to each other and laughing. It seemed as though the entire village was waiting for something to happen.

Hinata's heart sank. "But Naruto-kun... you've helped me. You've always been kind..."

"Because you're not strong enough to see the truth," Naruto replied, his voice colder than before. "And the truth is... you'll always be a target if you stay weak."

Hinata's head drooped, her body shaking with the weight of his words. She didn't understand. Why was Naruto-kun considered a monster when all he had done was help her?

The crowd's malice intensified as more stones and insults were hurled toward Naruto. But he stood unmoving, his expression impassive.

"No!" Hinata suddenly cried out, her voice filled with urgency. She stood between the villagers and Naruto, shaking but determined. "Naruto-kun is not a bad person. He saved me. He's a good person!"

The words rang out, but instead of easing the tension, they only made it worse.

"This girl must have been brainwashed by that demon fox."

"Yeah, he's probably threatened her."

"Someone should tell the Third Hokage to get rid of him."

"Get him out of the village!"

The crowd began to grow more hostile, but just as things seemed about to escalate, a new voice spoke.

"Hinata-sama, please step back."

A Hyuga ninja appeared, positioning himself between Hinata and the villagers. His arrival quelled some of the tension, but the villagers remained on edge.

The Hyuga ninja stood protectively before Hinata, his eyes narrowed in disdain as he looked at Naruto. "Stay away from the young lady, demon!"

Hinata tried to protest, but the ninja quickly grabbed her, pulling her away from Naruto and into the safety of the crowd.

The villagers' rage reignited as Hinata was whisked away, her cries echoing through the streets.

"Get out of our village!"

A stone flew through the air, striking Naruto's head. Blood dripped down his face, but his expression remained unchanged as he wiped it off.

He stood there, unmoved by the hate, knowing full well the truth of his situation. If he had the power to destroy this entire village with a single blow, he wouldn't have to endure this humiliation.

As the crowd continued to throw stones, Naruto's eyes hardened, the anger inside him simmering, yet he remained silent. He would endure, for now.