"Naruto… Naruto?"
"You! Bastard!"
"How dare you hit me! And so hard!"
"I'll never forgive you!"
Naruto was also stunned: "Sa, Sakura-chan, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to…"
"I just didn't expect you to suddenly rush between Sasuke and me.
I wasn't paying attention and couldn't stop my hand, that's why…"
In his muddled little head, he didn't know what had just happened to him.
But to hit Sakura, whom he had always liked the most, like this… no matter what, it was a big mistake he made.
Facing Sakura Haruno, who had barely stood up, was fuming with rage, and overcome with anger, Naruto could only force a laugh and retreat, waving his hands constantly in explanation.
"Sakura-chan, I… I really didn't mean it…"
Sakura Haruno, however, was already enraged.
Her fists were clenched together, grinding audibly, and her facial features were twisted and ferocious, like a mad beast, as she advanced step by step towards Naruto.
"Naruto, you bastard!"
"I'll kill you!"
Panicked, Naruto stumbled backward, falling onto the grass, and pleaded frantically.
"No, don't, Sakura-chan!"
The furious Sakura Haruno's eyes had already turned red.
She was about to deliver a powerful kick to Naruto, who had fallen to the ground!
It looked like the kick was about to land hard on Naruto's stomach.
Suddenly… smack.
A soft sound.
A figure abruptly appeared between Naruto and Sakura, gently slapping and blocking Sakura's kick with a hand, then slightly exerted force, actually pushing Sakura back!
What surprised everyone was… the figure protecting Naruto and stopping Sakura was… Hyuga Hinata.
She, who was always introverted, shy, low-key, and timid, would suddenly make a move in public!
This was completely out of character for her!
Moreover, she had saved Naruto and stood against Sakura… Naruto's eyes widened: "Hina, Hinata?"
Sakura also looked at her in disbelief.
"Hinata?"
"What… what are you doing?!"
Hinata's small body trembled slightly, showing her inner panic and hesitation.
However, her body had moved involuntarily.
She took a stance, guarding Naruto, and faced Sakura without showing any weakness.
"Naruto… Naruto-kun, he…"
"He didn't hit you on purpose; it's just that you suddenly rushed out, and he didn't have time to stop his hand…"
"And… and he already apologized.
You shouldn't be so aggressive towards him…"
Not just Sakura Haruno, everyone was stunned.
Was the person speaking really that Hinata?
When did she gain such courage?
Could it be, for Naruto… Naruto was even more deeply shocked.
This was the first time someone was willing to stand up for him, and what's more, it was the shy, introverted little Hinata who never dared to speak up!
"Hina, Hinata, you…"
Naruto felt a deep shock.
For a moment, past times and scenes, turned into countless fragments, constantly swirling in his mind… her shyness every time she greeted him.
Her trembling after he accidentally held her hands.
Her kindness in offering to help him with his studies.
The warmth of eating ramen together.
And… now, that small figure who had broken through herself and bravely stood in front of him… Naruto, though still somewhat naive, finally realized Hinata's kindness towards him.
Uchiha Sasuke snorted.
"Boring."
But he didn't leave; instead, he continued to watch the scene with a cold detachment.
Sakura Haruno was both surprised and angry.
Although Hinata's actions were hard for her to understand, the anger in her heart did not subside.
"Hinata, move aside!"
"No matter what you say, Naruto just hit me.
Isn't it only natural for me to hit him back?!"
Hinata shook her head, timid yet firm.
"No… it's not…"
Sakura Haruno's face turned crimson: "You, what did you say?!"
Hinata clenched her small fists.
"If… if what Sakura says is true…"
"You've hit Naruto-kun countless times without reason before…"
"Shouldn't… shouldn't Naruto-kun hit you back then?"
Sakura Haruno was instantly dumbfounded and speechless.
The surrounding crowd, though still mostly disliked Naruto, heard Hinata's words and, recalling Sakura Haruno's usual attitude towards Naruto, all nodded silently… Naruto's heart stirred.
"Hinata…"
"Have you always…?"
Chapter 28: This is the legendary Shura Field! Please give me monthly votes!!!
Hinata's words made everyone secretly agree, leaving them speechless.
Although these children, influenced by adults, had silently chosen to distance themselves from Naruto and treat him coldly, indeed no one would frequently punch and kick Naruto like Sakura Haruno.
Even though everyone could see that Naruto liked Sakura and chose to silently endure it, that didn't mean he deserved to be treated that way… Thinking of this, Naruto's recent punch seemed quite reasonable.
It was unintentional, Sakura herself rushed forward, and Naruto had already apologized.
This was much better than how she usually treated Naruto.
Sakura Haruno was even more stunned, standing there in a daze, at a loss.
She could sense everyone's gazes, and from them, she clearly felt their approval of Hinata and Naruto, and their indignation at her own usual behavior.
At this moment, Sakura Haruno tasted the feeling of being isolated for the first time.
But she still had one ally, at least.
Her best friend, her confidante, her closest companion.
Ino Yamanaka.
Sakura Haruno looked in Ino's direction, and facing her equally stunned friend, asked.
"Ino, do you think so too?"
Ino Yamanaka's expression changed; she didn't know how to answer.
"I…"
In Sakura Haruno's heart, something seemed to shatter.
"Ino, even you…?"
"Sakura, I… I don't know…"
"But what Hinata said is also true; you do often punch and kick Naruto normally.
Naruto's occasional unintentional injury, when it comes down to it, really… doesn't amount to much…"
Sakura Haruno's face instantly turned pale, and she stumbled back two steps, two lines of clear tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Ino, even you're not on my side…"
"Sakura, I… I'm just telling the truth…"
"Shut up!"
Sakura Haruno roared, her heart full of unvented grievances, and ran off crying.
"Get out of the way!"
She yelled at the onlookers, and the crowd silently parted, making a path.
Soon, she disappeared into the distance.
"Sakura…"
Ino paused for a moment, then couldn't help but chase after her.
"Wait for me, listen, listen to my explanation…"
… Hinata watched Sakura leave and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Standing up to protect Naruto had already used all her courage and strength.
If she really had to fight Sakura, she would have found it incredibly difficult.
"Naruto-kun, are you… are you alright?"
Hinata lowered her stance, turned around, and asked with concern.
Naruto's emotions were a jumbled mess.
One moment he wondered how he would face Sakura in the future, the next he was puzzled why Hinata was so kind to him… various emotions flooded him, making it difficult for this cheerful, straightforward, and utterly dense man to fully process them.
He scratched his head and gave two dry laughs.
"No, I'm fine, hahahaha…"
Only then did Hinata relax, and the extremely tense and flustered feeling emerged belatedly.
Her small face immediately turned crimson with shyness, and she lowered her head, nodding gently.
"Then… that's good…"
She turned and fled as if escaping.