"Leave my sister alone!" The young boy with black hair wasted no time in stepping between the girl and the two individuals. The subjects smirked mockingly at the boy's brave stance.

"Dororo, come inside the house," the girl commanded firmly, guiding the little boy to stand behind her. She had the appearance of a young woman, her long brown hair cascading down her back in curls. Bright brown eyes contrasted against her fair skin. Despite her slim frame, she had noticeable curves. She wore a slightly torn red kimono adorned with white petals, stitched in places to keep it together.

"Yes, come inside, kid! We need to have a word with your lovely sister. To determine if she's going to be of service tonight..." With a wicked grin, one of the men reached out to grab the girl's arm tightly. She winced in pain, her forehead creasing.

"Ahhhh!" The man released her grip as Naruto's hand clamped onto his wrist, cutting off the circulation. The blond was seething with anger. "Let go..." he growled, eventually releasing his grip. He then confronted the two men, who began to wordlessly retreat toward the house's entrance.

"You'll pay for this, brat!" The pained man brandished a knife and attempted to stab the odd-haired boy, but Naruto swiftly caught the man's arm, causing the knife to miss its target. The blond followed up with a forceful punch to the man's elbow, causing it to bend in an unnatural direction with a gruesome sound.

"Ahhhhh! My arm!" The man screamed in agony, clutching his broken arm as he fell backward and rolled in pain.

"I said get out!" With a resounding yell, Naruto compelled the other man to help his injured partner and retreat. With a sigh, the blond entered the house, only to find the teenage girl shielding her younger brother protectively.

"We don't have anything... but if you leave, I'll give you some coins," the girl said, her voice tinged with desperation. She reached into the folds of her slightly tattered kimono and pulled out a small handful of coins. With a mixture of fear and hope in her eyes, she tossed the coins gently towards Naruto, the dull clinking sound as they hit the floor seemed to hang in the air.

"I..." Naruto's throat felt tight, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He turned slightly, his gaze avoiding the intensity of her eyes. "I'm sorry," he finally managed, his voice carrying the weight of the emotions he couldn't quite express. He began to walk away, his steps heavy with his own inner turmoil.

But then, a sudden cry pierced the air. Dororo's voice, filled with urgency and determination, reached Naruto's ears. He turned to see the young boy, the same one he had saved earlier, struggling to break free from his sister's grip. The boy's small hand reached out, grabbing onto Naruto's arm as if his life depended on it. "Wait, don't go! Sis, he saved me from those earthbenders, and he saved you too! He's a good person!" The boy's words were spoken with a mixture of excitement and sincerity, his innocent belief shining through.

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Naruto looked at him, his heart warming at the boy's unwavering trust. It was a stark contrast to the distrust he had encountered earlier. "Without him, my arms would've been crushed," the boy added, his voice a mixture of gratitude and awe.

"..." The girl's expression shifted from confusion to shock. She quickly brought her hand to cover her mouth, her eyes widening as she realized the truth of the situation. Time seemed to slow as she processed Dororo's words, the weight of her own assumptions crashing down on her.

After a few heartbeats, she leaned forward, her voice trembling with a mixture of apology and desperation. "I'm so sorry... I had the wrong idea. Please don't go." With a determined resolve, she reached out and gently took Naruto's other arm, leading him back into the small, modest house. The air inside was slightly cool, and a faint scent of incense lingered in the air. They all sat down on the worn tatami mat floor, a quiet tension hanging in the air.

"I'm Mio," the girl introduced herself, her voice soft but genuine. She brushed a strand of curly hair behind her ear, her eyes reflecting a mix of embarrassment and relief. She pulled her kimono tighter around herself, as if trying to shield herself from the vulnerability of the moment.

"I'm Naruto... you don't need to thank me, I just did what I thought was right," Naruto's voice held a touch of modesty as his faint smile lingered, the atmosphere around them a tad uncomfortable.

"Even so..." Mio's voice was gentle, her eyes fixed on her guest. She rose from her spot, her steps carrying her to a corner of the room where boxes were stacked. After a brief search, she returned with an object in her hands, her presence settling in front of Naruto. Holding out the item, she looked at him with a blend of hope and humility, her expression silently urging him to accept the offering.

Taking the thin orange coat with its long black sleeves, Naruto examined it with a mixture of gratitude and surprise. Meeting Mio's gaze, he conveyed his thanks with a simple, heartfelt "Thank you."

"I'll get some food ready now," Mio's words were matter-of-fact as she rose from her position and headed toward another room. The room was now shared only by Naruto and Dororo, the latter scooting closer with curiosity dancing in his eyes.

"Hey, brother, where'd you learn those moves?" Dororo's enthusiasm shone through, and Naruto's hand absently scratched his cheek as he spoke. "Just came up with them on the spot. Had to learn to fight from when I was young," he replied, his tone calm, though Dororo's curiosity only seemed to grow.

"Ever heard of the survival tournament?" Dororo's question had a spark of excitement, and Naruto shook his head in response. Dororo's grin widened, his words tumbling out eagerly. "It's this secret arena where you fight in four matches to stay alive. It's run by Mr. Wao. They say he used to be important like the Emperor of Ba Sing Se. And guess what? The winner gets ten thousand gold coins..."

Intrigued, Naruto's eyes focused on Dororo, silently urging him to continue. "And?"

Dororo's enthusiasm was contagious. "So, here's the deal. I take you there, you win, and we split the reward evenly. Win-win, right? What do you say?"

"Dororo! How many times have I told you about that dangerous tournament?" Mio's voice sliced through, her expression a mix of concern and sternness. She walked in with a tray holding two bowls, the aroma of rice filling the air. One bowl was placed in front of Dororo and the other before Naruto.

"But sis, you saw how he fought! He could..."

"End up like Hado... that boy tried and lost his life. I warned you not to bring up that tournament again." Mio's words hung heavily in the air, her gaze fixed on Dororo who looked away, chastised.

With a sigh, Mio offered another bowl of rice to Naruto, the contents appearing to be remnants from an earlier meal.