Naruto: Thrown Into the Leaf

"No. That's stupid."

His stomach growled.

"Training's over."

He rolled his shoulders and stepped into the water, his pants already tied up at the knees.

He waited — still and silent.

Then with a sudden lunge — splash! — his arm shot into the stream and pulled up a fat silver fish, wriggling wildly.

"You're lunch." Otis said, grinning at it before catching a few more.

**

Back at his small riverside hut — 

A cooking fire crackled beneath a carefully balanced clay pot. The hut was simple but clean. Shelves built from scavenged planks. Hooks for his tools. A folded mat for sleeping.

He cleaned the fish, dusted it with crushed herbs from a pouch, and placed it over the fire. 

A few wild vegetables simmered in a separate pot.

"Needs rice," he muttered.

He stirred the pot slowly, eyes on the fire.

No clans. No kekkei genkai. No flashy chakra beasts.

Just stone. Fire. and River.

***

The next day. Edge of the Konoha forest. By the river. Early morning. 

The water moved gently, morning light dancing across the surface. A breeze passed through the trees, rustling the leaves.

Otis stood shirtless in the clearing, breath calm, arm cocked.

He tossed a stone.

It whistled through the air before punching clean through a distant stump — cracking it… and going through it.

He wiped sweat from his brow and reached for another.

Then… paused.

That sound again. 

Hinata. Huh.

It had been a while since the alleyway incident.

The bullies had scattered like bugs. Otis hadn't said a word — just placed his large hand gently but firmly on the biggest one's head and let his muscles do the talking. 

No punches. No yelling. But the story had already spread around the Academy. Some said he crushed a kid's head like a pumpkin. 

Others said he caught a kunai with his teeth. None of it was true.

But Otis didn't correct them.

He preferred silence.

Otis had already seen Hinata many times since then.

She started training near his place.

Good for her — she was coming out of her shell. Otis thought to himself.

Unlike her canon version where she spent most of her time hiding behind trees.

He turned his head slightly.

Across the river, just barely hidden behind a cluster of bushes — a flicker of motion. Too hesitant to be confident.

He picked up another rock, casually tossed it in the air, and spoke — not loudly.

"You're not hiding very well."

A soft gasp.

And then… a girl stepped out, small hands clutching her head as the stone bonked her head.

Tears welled in her eyes, long indigo hair falling around her face.

Hinata.

Otis blinked. "You."

She bowed quickly. "S-sorry. I-I wasn't… spying, I just…"

She looked down.

Otis tilted his head. "You were training."

She nodded, almost embarrassed.

"I come here… sometimes. After I saw you here."

He squinted a little.

"You saw me?"

She nodded again.

"You… always train alone. And you're always calm. I just thought—"

She fumbled.

"I wanted to learn how to… be better too."

Otis studied her.

She was six, maybe seven. 

Fragile-looking. Gentle voice. But her fists — though shaky — were bruised slightly. She'd been working hard. Otis thought as he noticed her condition.

Otis raised a hand.

"Relax."

She quieted, cheeks red.

She smiled shyly, still nervous.

Otis tossed another rock lightly up and down.

"Come again tomorrow. Stay out of that area." He pointed toward where he threw his stones.

Hinata's head shot up.

"I can come back?"

"If you're quiet," he said. 

She smiled a little more — grateful, but still shy.

Then she bowed again, backing toward the trees.

"T-thank you…"

He turned back to the river.

***

A few days later. Morning.

Otis was back by the river, walking with a small cloth bag of fish. Simple morning.

Until he saw her.

Again.

It had been days since his last interaction with Hinata.

From what he'd seen, she was doing well — focused, steady, and improving.

Otis had no doubt she'd become powerful in her own right. Not like in that other version of her — the one who spent more time stalking certain someone.

Then she scrambled to her feet she saw otis 

"W-wait!"

He stopped, turning halfway.

She ran up, fumbling slightly.

"Um… t-thank you. For saving me… before. I know it's late to say this"

He just gave her a small nod.

"You alright?"

She nodded rapidly, too much.

"Yes! I-I mean, I didn't get hurt! Because you were… really strong. And tall. And strong again."

Otis raised an eyebrow.

"You said that twice."

Hinata went pink.

"S-sorry, I didn't know how to say… thank you… better."

She bowed again, flustered.

Then, from pure nerves and her seven-year-old brain short-circuiting:

"Thank you, really!" she said again

Otis blinked.

She turned beet red.

"Wanna help cook?" otis said

And just like that, they walked back toward the riverside — not close, but closer than before.

***

Riverbank – next day

Otis sat near the cooking fire, poking at the pot with a stick. The rice was done. The fish… mostly done. Burnt on one side. Probably fine.

He glanced to his left — Hinata was sitting there, trying her best not to fidget. She kept sneaking glances at him, then away, then back again.

She'd followed him again today. Said she just wanted to 'see how he cooks.' 

She even brought wild herbs in a little paper wrap.

"You gonna eat or just stare at the fish like it owes you money?" Otis asked, still looking at the pot.

Hinata squeaked. "N-no! I'm just—watching!"

"Yeah?"

She nodded furiously, then tried to act cool by brushing imaginary dust off her lap.

"You cook like… like a real grown-up."

Otis grunted. "Thanks, I guess. Only burnt one side today."

He handed her a grilled fish.

She smiled, hands in her lap, then mumbled almost too quietly:

"You're kinda like a…"

He looked over. "Hm?"

Hinata bit her lip. Her face turned red. The words slipped out.

"...like a daddy."

She froze.

He blinked.

She blinked.

And then she panicked.

"NO—!! I meant like a grown-up! Like a big—safe—person, like—NOT THAT I THINK YOU'RE MY DAD—!!!"

She covered her face with both hands and curled into a ball.

"Why did I say that?! WHY did I say that?!"

Otis blinked again.

Then let out a soft snort.

"You bit your tongue trying to say 'grown-up,' didn't you?"

"Yes!" her muffled voice cried from behind her knees.

"And it came out 'daddy'."

"STOP SAYING IT!"

He leaned back, hands behind his head, smirking at the sky.

"Well, that's a first."

"I'm eleven by the way"

Hinata peeked at him, face still red.

"You're not mad?"

"Nah," he said. "I've been called worse by grown men."

She relaxed just a little… then whined again, face in her palms.

"I can never show my face here again."

"You say that every time you trip."

"Ack!" Hinata squeaked, shrinking smaller with embarrassment.

He tossed her a small piece of grilled fish.

"Eat before I call you 'my kid' in front of everyone."

"NOOOOO!!"

(Pic)

...

(A/N)

Otis is developing his own unique throwing style—chakra-enhanced, fast, and deadly accurate.I'd love to hear your name ideas for his techniques! Drop them in the comments 👇

Don't forget to give me power stones and leave a review.