Naruto clenched his fists as he watched Inoichi's reaction. "No one here would sell anything if I looked like… myself, No one in this village sees as a human but as a demon, how can they possibly sell sothing?"
He said in a low voice. "I know Sasuke gets respect, people even offer him discounts, so I thought… maybe if I looked like him, they'd treat differently."
Just then, a nearby stall owner spotted Naruto and yelled, "Hey, you! You're not welco here! Get lost!"
The shout drew the attention of other villagers and custors in the vicinity, who turned to glare at him with the sa disdain. A few others began muttering and openly expressing their displeasure.
"Go ho, demon!" one stall owner barked.
"You're not wanted here," another spat.
Naruto stood in silence, unmoved by their hatred. He had faced this animosity his entire life, so the hostility no longer surprised him. But Ino and Inoichi weren't as accustod to it, and their expressions reflected shock.
Inoichi knows that villagers don't welco Naruto for their stores and has resentnt towards Naruto, but he didn't know that it has reached to this extent.
Ino, unsettled, turned to Naruto, trying to make sense of the scene. "What did you do to make everyone hate you so much?"
Naruto looked at her, his voice distant. "I didn't do anything. They've always been like this to for a different reason which I got to know recently."
Ino furrowed her brow, her curiosity intensifying. "Then what's the reason? Why would they treat you like that?"
Naruto's eyes t hers, a faint bitterness flickering within them. "It's been this way since I was born. They don't see as human… They see as I am a demon."
Ino's eyes widened, taken aback by the harshness of his words. She opened her mouth to ask more, but Naruto was already looking toward Inoichi.
"Do you really want to know the truth, Ino?" Naruto asked, his gaze turning to Ino again.
Ino nodded head without hesitation saying "yes", but Inoichi intervened. "That's enough, Naruto. This is not the place, nor the ti." He cast a careful look around, his voice cautious and strong. "It's a village secret. It's not sothing that can be discussed in public."
Ino's frustration grew as she turned to her father. "A village secret? Dad, what kind of secret involves Naruto in this way? Why would the whole village sees Naruto with hatred?"
Naruto scoffed softly, turning to Inoichi. "If the entire village knows, then how much of a secret is it, really?"
Ino's gaze flicked between her father and Naruto, her curiosity piqued even further. "Dad… I want to know. Why does everyone acts this way with Naruto?"
Inoichi hesitated, he wanted to control the situation and not to leak the secret even further. Actually, The truth was supposed to remain hidden, yet sohow, soone leaked it, over ti, whispers had spread.
He realized how deeply the village's resentnt had perated Naruto's life. Exhaling slowly, Inoichi looked back at Naruto.
Sensing his internal struggle, Naruto spoke calmly. "Don't worry, Mr. Yamanaka. I won't press the matter here, in public" he said, gesturing at the people staring in their direction. "But I'll ask one favor: help get a black outfit for tomorrow's photo session. That's all I need from you."
Inoichi nodded, relieved. "Fine, Naruto. I'll make sure it's delivered to your apartnt early tomorrow."
Turning to Ino, Inoichi added, "I have so work to attend to. Stay with Naruto for now."
With that, he quickly left, his thoughts already turning to the Third Hokage, who needed to know about this interaction and the resentnt of Konaha people towards Naruto.
Now left alone with Naruto, Ino was silent for a mont, observing him with a mix of curiosity and sympathy. As they walked together and left the shop. The bustling market had returned to its usual chatter, the hostile gazes now focused elsewhere.
Naruto glanced at her. "Still curious?"
Ino bit her lip, nodding. "I don't get why everyone hates you. You don't seem like the kind of person they say you are…"
Naruto managed a faint smile. "Appearances aren't always the truth. But I'm used to it their treatnt."
Naruto calmly glanced with a faint smile again at Ino, who is frustrated and wanted to know the secret. "If you are that desprate to know about my secret, how about you buy a dinner ?".
(...to be continued)
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