Naruto: Welcome to Little Leaf Daycare

Chapter 1

Hikari Sato had always loved children. At twenty-seven years old, she was a kindergarten teacher in modern Japan. To most people, she was simply a cheerful young woman with a gentle smile and endless patience. 

But behind that smile was a childhood spent without a family of her own. Hikari had grown up in an orphanage.

She had no memories of her parents, only the kind staff and the other children who had shared her childhood. As she grew older, Hikari naturally began helping with the younger children. 

She would tie their shoelaces, wipe their tears, read them stories, and stay beside them whenever they were frightened. 

The little ones quickly became attached to her. She was their most favourite onee-chan.

Even after growing up and leaving the orphanage, Hikari couldn't bring herself to stay away from children. She realized that caring for them was what made her happiest, so she studied hard and eventually became a kindergarten teacher.

It wasn't a glamorous life but Hikari loved it. Every morning was filled with tiny voices, messy crafts, childish arguments, laughter, and countless little hands reaching for hers. To Hikari, it was perfect.

That evening, Hikari stood by the kindergarten gate, waving goodbye to the last child.

"Bye bye, Haruto! See you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Hikari-sensei!"

The little boy waved enthusiastically from his mother's arms before she carried him away. Hikari smiled and waved until they disappeared around the corner.

"Another day finished."

She stretched her arms above her head before returning inside to collect her things. After making sure everything was in order, she grabbed her bag and locked the kindergarten.

The evening air was cool as she began walking toward her rented apartment. She was thinking about what to make for dinner when she reached a busy intersection.

Then beeeeep !!

Hikari's head snapped toward the road. A small child had wandered into the street and coming straight toward him was a speeding truck.

Her heart stopped.

"Watch out!"

The child froze, staring at the enormous vehicle approaching him. Hikari didn't think. She dropped her bag and ran.

"RUN!"

With all the strength she had, Hikari reached the child and shoved him out of the truck's path.

The next moment—

CRASH!

Pain exploded through her body. She was thrown onto the road, her vision spinning violently.

"Someone call an ambulance!"

"There's blood!"

"Is she breathing?!"

The voices around her became distant and muffled. Hikari couldn't move. She could feel something warm spreading beneath her.

Ah...

Her fingers trembled. She thought about the child.

He's safe...

That was all that mattered. Her eyes slowly grew heavier. The sky above her blurred into a sea of indistinct lights.

"I'm... glad..."

Her lips barely moved then everything went black and Hikari Sato's ordinary life came to an end.