Haruto had become quite busy ever since he had to complete the daily tasks of the system. He would either help the grandmother in the east of the village take care of children or assist the old man in the west of the village with his farming. Coupled with his own daily practice time, Haruto found that there was almost no free time left. But, precisely because of all this, he earned the nickname "Little Sun."
You could often see scenes like this: when Haruto was walking through the village, aunts and uncles on the street would give him some food, play with him, pat his head, or even pick him up for a quick hug.
Haruto would often complain about how troublesome it was, but over time, he couldn't help but take these tasks more seriously. Even on days when there was no task assigned, he would find ways to help others.
At one point, Haruto suddenly realized that this sense of purpose wasn't so bad. No matter where he was, people needed him. The strong feeling of being needed was something he had never experienced in his past life.
In the past, Haruto always thought that giving to others without receiving anything in return made him feel like he was at a disadvantage. But in reality, every act of kindness brought its own rewards. Slowly, Haruto started feeling at home in Konoha, no longer viewing the village from the perspective of an outsider.
It was then that Haruto finally understood why so many people, like Itachi, would sacrifice everything for this village. It wasn't just about loyalty or duty—it was something deeper, a kind of inheritance or atmosphere that Konoha had. What exactly it was, Haruto couldn't quite explain, but he knew it was something special.
This morning, Haruto went out early as usual to do his system tasks. However, before he could leave, he noticed a little pink-haired girl walking into his house.
When the little girl saw Haruto coming out, she shyly stepped aside to give him space.
Haruto raised an eyebrow and, with a hint of curiosity, asked, "Who are you, and why are you in my house?"
The little girl lowered her head shyly. "My name is Sakura Haruno, and I'm here to play with Ino."
Although Haruto guessed the girl in front of him might be Sakura, he hadn't expected her to be so shy. Then again, he remembered that Sakura had always felt self-conscious about her wide forehead when she was a child.
Thinking of the spirit of being helpful and maintaining a good relationship with the future heroine, Haruto placed his hand on Sakura's forehead.
When Sakura saw Haruto put his hand on her forehead, she froze in place, clearly nervous and unsure of what to do. She stared at him blankly.
"Your forehead—" Haruto deliberately paused.
Here we go again, Sakura thought, closing her eyes. He's definitely going to make fun of my forehead again.
"Isn't it cute?" Haruto said, observing Sakura's funny expression. It was amusing to tease children occasionally.
Sakura blinked in surprise. "W-what?"
"That slob Ino is still sleeping, right in that room. I'm leaving first." Haruto pointed in the direction of the room, then turned and walked away.
Sakura stood there in a daze, unable to fully process what had just happened.
After completing his daily tasks, Haruto was about to find a place to practice for a while. Recently, he had discovered that the ability to increase attributes through exercise wasn't too slow. Of course, it didn't compare to directly consuming experience books, but it was a bit stronger, and it also helped his body get used to the sudden increase in strength.
On the way back, Haruto greeted everyone naturally.
"Hello, Uncle Oda Nobunaga."
"Isn't this our little sun? Come on, have some cake made by uncle!"
"Hello, Uncle Tokugawa Ieyasu!"
"Hey, isn't this Haruto? Come, have some fruit from uncle!"
Suddenly, Haruto felt a strange, cold gaze piercing him from behind. This ominous feeling made a chill run down his spine.
Looking back, Haruto saw who it was—Naruto!
Although Naruto's eyes were clear, there was no malice in them, only envy, yet Haruto couldn't ignore the cold feeling emanating from him. It was unmistakable—it was the presence of the Kyuubi.
Even though Naruto didn't harbor ill intentions, part of the negative chakra of the Nine-Tails leaked out, making people uneasy. This was likely because Naruto hadn't yet learned to control his chakra and, as a result, couldn't suppress the tailed beast's presence.
Not only was Naruto the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, but this was also the reason the villagers held such a deep-seated hatred toward him.
Except for Haruto, who knew what kind of person Naruto was, and those like Kakashi, who understood why Naruto's chakra leaked, most others saw Naruto as a potential danger. From their perspective, the cold chakra they felt whenever Naruto was near suggested he deeply resented Konoha. They feared the day when the Nine-Tails might come again, wreaking havoc on the village.
Later, when Naruto stole the Sealed Book, it wasn't just his actions that frightened the villagers—it was the fear of Kyuubi's influence growing stronger, the chilling presence of the beast inside him that made them believe he might one day lose control. Many of the villagers had witnessed his cold chakra and, out of fear, wanted him gone, thinking that perhaps he would someday be the cause of another Nine-Tails invasion.
While Haruto was met with kindness and warmth as he walked through the village, the situation Naruto faced could only be described as hellish.
Nobody spoke to him, but they all looked at him with cold, judgmental eyes. Naruto didn't understand what he had done wrong. He walked to the same shops Haruto had passed earlier, hoping to buy some food, only to have someone throw the money back at him, mocking him. With tears welling up in his eyes, Naruto could only leave, his shoulders slumped.
He tried to approach a group of children, hoping to join in their games, but when they saw him, they immediately ran away, avoiding him as if he were a plague. Naruto attempted to move forward, but a stone was thrown at him, causing him to stop and retreat once more.
Even when he tried to pet a few small animals passing by the road, they were startled by the faint chakra of Kyuubi and scurried away in fear. Seeing this, Naruto lowered his head, tears brimming in his eyes, and walked away, step by step, silently carrying the weight of his loneliness.
Haruto could see the tears flowing from Naruto's lowered head, and he felt an overwhelming discomfort in that moment.
He stood still, momentarily stunned, before turning to leave. He told himself that now wasn't the right time to approach Naruto. Maybe he'd be targeted by some of the villagers, causing trouble. Maybe Naruto wouldn't grow if he didn't get the chance to exercise and build himself up. Maybe becoming friends with him would make others view him differently. There were a thousand reasons to stay away.
But then Haruto stopped in his tracks, the weight of something deep within him weighing him down. That was Naruto—wasn't it his mission to prevent tragedies when he came to Konoha? How could he just watch someone suffer alone like this, knowing the pain they were experiencing?
Haruto suddenly recalled a line from the Third Hokage: "When people hate a person and don't recognize their existence, the eyes that gaze upon that person are cold and frightening." He remembered the cold eyes of the villagers just now, and his resolve solidified. Without thinking further, he turned around and ran back.
When Haruto found Naruto, the boy was curled up in a corner, crying. The sight of him in such pain only deepened Haruto's discomfort.
"Hey, brat," Haruto called out, standing tall in front of Naruto. "Your crying's been bothering me, so here's your punishment—you're officially my little brother starting today."
Haruto's natural swagger made it impossible for him not to act over-the-top.
"Huh?" Naruto sniffled, looking up at Haruto with wide, confused eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Haruto flashed a crooked grin. "Simple. From now on, you're my little brother. End of story."
He reached down, grabbed Naruto's hand, and pulled him up. "And as a special treat for becoming my little brother, I'll take you out for dinner."
Naruto felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through him as Haruto held his hand. It was a warmth he had never known before, and it confused him.
Before Naruto could react, Haruto urged, "Hurry up! We still have to eat, and you're taking forever!"
"Ah, oh," Naruto stammered, rushing to keep up with Haruto.
Haruto gave him a playful look. "From now on, you call me 'boss.' If anyone bullies you, just say my name. No one will dare touch you."
Haruto puffed out his chest, trying to look like a big brother to Naruto.
"Yes, Boss!" Naruto finally grinned. His face was still streaked with tears, making the smile look oddly out of place—but genuine all the same.
Haruto ruffled Naruto's hair. "What are you smiling like that for? You look ridiculous. Don't go embarrassing me with that dumb laugh when we're out in public."
But even as he said it, Haruto was laughing too.
Elsewhere, the representative of the Third Hokage—watching the scene unfold through a crystal ball—broke into a wide smile. All the deep wrinkles on his old face seemed to stretch into something peaceful and satisfied.
Had Haruto seen it, he might've said: "That smile looks just like a blooming chrysanthemum."