Naruto:Senju With Nano Machine.

The sun shone brightly over the village, casting a warm glow over the small park nestled between rows of modest houses. Hitoshi Akihito, now three years old, clung to his mother's hand as they walked along the dirt path. His small legs moved with a mixture of excitement and nervous energy.

"Don't be shy, Hitoshi," Mayumi said gently, her smile warm. "It's good to play with children your age."

"I know," he replied, glancing around the park. A part of him, the part still faintly connected to the man he once was, found it amusing to think about playing as a child again. Yet, he couldn't deny the excitement bubbling within him. This was a chance to connect with others, to truly begin his life in this new world.

As they entered the park, Hitoshi's sharp eyes scanned the area. A group of children was gathered near the sandbox, their laughter ringing through the air. Among them, two girls caught his attention. One had bright pink hair, tied neatly with a red ribbon. The other had long, blonde hair and an air of confidence that seemed unusual for someone so young.

"Go on," Mayumi encouraged, giving him a gentle nudge toward the sandbox. "I'll be right here."

Hitoshi hesitated for only a moment before making his way over to the girls. As he approached, they paused their play and turned to look at him.

"Hi," he said with a small smile. "I'm Hitoshi. Can I play with you?"

The pink-haired girl blinked at him, then smiled shyly. "I'm Sakura. Sure, you can join us."

The blonde girl, who had been shaping a small tower in the sand, tilted her head as she studied him. "I'm Ino. You're new here, aren't you?"

Hitoshi nodded, settling into the sand beside them. "Yeah. My mom brought me here to meet new friends."

As they started playing together, Hitoshi couldn't help but notice the way both girls seemed to focus on him. He was no Uchiha, but he knew he had a charm that set him apart. His dark eyes sparkled with intelligence beyond his years, and his features had a boyish cuteness that rivaled even the famed Sasuke Uchiha—not that he would say that out loud.

The three of them quickly fell into an easy rhythm, building small sand structures and laughing as their creations inevitably collapsed. Sakura was shy but sweet, while Ino's outgoing personality made her the natural leader of the group. Hitoshi enjoyed their company, feeling an odd sense of comfort he hadn't expected.

After a while, the game shifted. Ino clapped her hands together. "Let's play tag! I bet I'm faster than both of you!"

"You wish!" Sakura shot back, her cheeks puffing in mock indignation.

Hitoshi grinned. "Alright, but don't cry when I catch you both."

The three of them took off, laughter trailing behind them as they darted around the playground. Hitoshi's enhanced reflexes made him surprisingly quick, though he held back enough to keep the game fun and fair.

As he chased after Ino, weaving through the playground equipment, something caught his eye. Near the edge of the park, standing by himself, was a boy in an orange shirt. His blond hair stood out like sunshine, and three whisker-like marks adorned each cheek. The boy watched them play, his expression a mixture of curiosity and longing.

Hitoshi slowed down, his gaze meeting the boy's for a brief moment. He recognized him instantly. Uzumaki Naruto. Even at this young age, the boy carried an air of loneliness that tugged at Hitoshi's heart.

"Who's that?" he asked, stopping next to Sakura as she caught her breath.

She followed his gaze and frowned. "Oh, him. That's Naruto. He's kind of weird. My mom says I shouldn't talk to him."

Ino ran over, her hands on her hips. "Yeah, I heard the same thing. He's always by himself. I don't know why, though."

Hitoshi frowned. He knew exactly why. Naruto was the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, a burden that made him an outcast in the very village he protected. The knowledge made his chest tighten. Naruto didn't deserve this. He was just a child, no different from any of them.

Without hesitation, Hitoshi broke away from the girls and made his way toward Naruto. The boy's blue eyes widened as Hitoshi approached, his body tensing as if preparing for rejection or ridicule.

"Hi," Hitoshi said, his voice light and friendly. "I'm Hitoshi. Do you want to play with us?"

Naruto blinked, his mouth opening and closing as if he wasn't sure how to respond. "You... you want me to play?"

"Of course," Hitoshi said with a smile. "The more, the merrier."

Naruto hesitated, his eyes darting toward Sakura and Ino. The girls exchanged a glance, but neither of them said anything, their earlier remarks forgotten in the face of Hitoshi's confidence.

Finally, Naruto nodded, a small, tentative smile breaking across his face. "Okay."

Hitoshi led him back to the group, his heart swelling with satisfaction. For the first time in this new life, he felt like he was truly making a difference. As they resumed their game of tag, Naruto's laughter joined the chorus, bright and full of life..

End of the Chapter.

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