Early morning.
The first light of dawn crept over the village.
Konoha, having slept through the night, gradually returned to its usual bustle.
Shops opened one after another, villagers hoisted farming tools and set off to work, and a certain green-spandex-clad, bowl-cut man energetically dashed out of his home, ready to begin his morning training.
"Ah, what a brilliant sunrise! Before breakfast, I'll do 100 laps around the village—on my hands! If I can't manage that, I'll do 1,000 push-ups instead!"
On his 15th lap—
Might Guy spotted someone.
A girl.
She looked young, probably around twelve or thirteen. Her delicate features and fair skin were framed by shoulder-length black hair that stuck out slightly, like a little hedgehog. She wore a deep blue Warring States-style dress. While not particularly strange, her attire and presence felt distinctly out of place in modern Konoha.
When Guy noticed her—
The girl also stopped, turning to look at him. A flicker of something passed through her eyes, almost as if...
(Someone she recognized?)
The thought crossed Guy's mind instinctively, but he quickly shook his head—he'd never been good with names. Aside from childhood friends like Hatake Kakashi, he rarely remembered anyone else's, so there was no point dwelling on it.
Then the girl suddenly spoke:
"Excuse me, is the residential area of Konoha this way?"
"Indeed it is! So, little girl, care to join me in burning the fires of youth?!"
Balancing on his hands, Guy flashed a thumbs-up and a blindingly bright grin.
"..."
The girl's lips twitched slightly before she asked another question:
"Do you have any money on you?"
"?"
Even someone as dense as Guy was momentarily thrown off by the abruptness of the question. He shook his head. "Nope!"
"...Alright then."
She scrutinized his green spandex suit, her gaze lingering briefly around his waistband—as if to confirm he truly didn't have a wallet—before sighing in disappointment and walking away.
Guy scratched his head in confusion, then promptly dismissed the odd encounter and resumed his fiery youth training.
---
Half an hour later.
Konoha's central residential district.
Uchiha Hikari stopped by a flower bed, sitting down to massage her calves and ankles as she surveyed her surroundings. Within a hundred-meter radius, wide streets stretched out, lined with bustling shops. Among them, a small eatery with a sign reading Ichiraku Ramen stood out clearly at a nearby intersection.
"Finally made it."
Since midnight, Uchiha Hikari had been walking intermittently for six hours, most of it along uneven dirt paths through the forest.
Though she wore the sports sneakers Bulma had given her, her feet were still sore from the long trek, and her stomach growled loudly in protest.
But...
She had no money.
As a "relic" from the Warring States era, Uchiha Hikari was essentially a ghost in this time period—her pockets were emptier than her stomach. When she'd run into Might Guy earlier, she'd briefly considered knocking him out and taking his wallet, but ultimately decided against it.
For one, there was no guarantee Guy even had money. And subduing him would require more than just taijutsu—she'd likely have to tap into her Sharingan's power. For something as trivial as meal money... it wasn't worth it.
"Whatever. I'll eat first."
"Old man Teuchi seems like a reasonable guy. Worst case, I'll ask to owe him..."
Uchiha Hikari rubbed her face and stood up, striding straight into Ichiraku Ramen.
---
In the chat group:
[Bulma @ Nameless]: Well? Well? Did you find that Konoha village yet, Hikari-chan?
[Bulma]: You haven't replied in a while—did something happen?
[The Eternal Hokage]: She should be fine. Konoha is quite welcoming to outsiders. Even ninja from other villages can enter as long as they don't force their way in... Though Hikari-san isn't from this era, so she might see things she doesn't understand. Feel free to ask me if needed.
[Bulma]: Hope so.
[Bulma]: By the way, @Hardheaded Kid, are you still chopping that rock? Is that even something a human can do?
[Hardheaded Kid]: Um, my name is Tanjiro...
[Hardheaded Kid]: I admit the rock seems a bit too big, but if Urokodaki-sensei says it's possible, then it must be! Besides, both the Eternal Hokage and Hikari-san said it could be done, right?
[Bulma]: Sometimes I wonder if you people are even human. Maybe you're aliens disguised as humans...
[Nameless]: Ever considered... that your world has the most aliens of all?
---
Back kitchen of Ichiraku Ramen.
Uchiha Hikari stacked the freshly washed bowls and chopsticks, wiped her hands, and checked the group messages.
Well... since she had no money, she'd struck a deal with Teuchi—washing dishes for an hour in exchange for a bowl of tonkotsu ramen.
Now, with her stomach full, she prepared to leave the ramen shop and fulfill her promise to Minato.
"Wait, young lady!"
Just as she was about to step out, Teuchi called from behind. Under her slightly puzzled gaze, he handed her a small bag.
"Take this."
Teuchi smiled warmly. "These are our take-out cup noodles. The taste isn't quite as good as eating here, but they keep for a while—handy for dinner later. If you've got nowhere else to go, you're welcome to help out here for a few days. The pay won't be much, but at least you won't go hungry."
Uchiha Hikari froze for a second before accepting the bag, offering a small smile in return. "Thanks. I'll come back if I need to."
With a wave, she left the ramen shop and contacted Minato.
[Nameless @ The Eternal Hokage]: Fourth Hokage, I'm outside Ichiraku Ramen now. Can you give me directions to your place?
[The Eternal Hokage]: Sure. First, orient yourself, then head east... There should be a shop called 'Yakiniku Q'—it opened during the Third Shinobi War, so it should still be there. Once you see it, go south, then turn left at the crossroads...
[Nameless]: ...Never mind the directions, Fourth.
[Nameless]: I think I've already spotted your son.
At the crossroads near Yakiniku Q—
Uchiha Hikari stopped in her tracks, her gaze settling on the scene across the street.
There, in front of a toy store, a tall shopkeeper was brandishing a broom to shoo away a blond-haired child. Nearby, a few passersby pointed and muttered with unfriendly expressions.