Rumors moved like ripples among the young shinobi.
"I heard the team we're sending for reinforcement this time includes that Mokuton-ninja!"
"Ah, I've heard about her!"
"She's supposed to be a medical-nin too, right?"
"Yeah, and I heard her iryō-ninjutsu is incredible!"
"Hey, Aoba, didn't she treat you once?"
In an instant, every pair of curious eyes turned toward Yamaoka Aoba, who had been quietly leaning against the wall.
Aoba's body stiffened for a moment, but under their eager gazes, he gave a small, reluctant nod.
"Then you must've gotten really close to her, right?"
"I heard she's super beautiful—is that true?"
"I also heard she has an amazingly gentle personality!"
"She speaks really softly too…"
"Wow…"
"Aoba, come on, tell us! Is it all true?"
Voices overlapped chaotically, excitement swirling like a whirlpool.
Yet all their questions pushed back to Aoba again.
Beautiful…
Gentle…
Those descriptions were accurate—yet still painfully insufficient.
Aoba's ears flushed bright red. Behind his tinted sunglasses, his eyes glimmered as though recalling a dreamlike memory.
But before he could muster a reply, the chatter died at once.
A sudden, absolute silence.
Aoba blinked, already knowing what this meant. He whipped his head toward the direction of the village.
Bathed in the molten gold of the setting sun, a graceful silhouette emerged—each step slow and quiet, yet arresting the breath of every watcher.
The standard-issue green flak jacket should have been plain, indistinguishable from any other.
But worn by Amamiya Rei, it carried a startling elegance—almost as if the fabric itself became more refined simply by touching her form.
Her long, black wavy hair was tied behind her with a red cord, while loose strands drifted down the sides of her cheeks, lending a gentle, feminine softness to her features.
Her face, with its delicate curves, pale radiance, and almost otherworldly symmetry, possessed an allure so vivid and exquisite that looking directly felt like touching sacred flame.
Not merely beautiful—she was ethereal, like moonlight woven into human form.
Every shinobi there stared helplessly, as though compelled by an invisible jutsu, unable to tear their gaze away.
"Amamiya Rei," Yamanaka Kaiichi announced, speaking the girl's name with solemn clarity.
"Yes."
Rei halted before him, her posture perfectly poised, her expression earnest.
Yamanaka Kaiichi's gaze sharpened.
"I am the captain of this reinforcement unit. Until we reach the front lines, you will follow my orders."
He remembered clearly what the Hokage had said when giving him this assignment.
The Hokage held the girl before him in very high regard.
Haiichi trusted the Hokage's judgment… yet he would observe her himself.
He wanted to see with his own eyes whether this girl was truly worthy of the sacrifices others were willing to make for her.
"Yes."
Rei's voice was quiet but resolute, a steel-like will hidden beneath gentle tones.
Haiichi gave a brief nod, then turned to confirm the roster.
"Sarutobi Asuma!"
"Here!"
A cheerful boy raised his hand, grinning broadly.
Rei's gaze drifted toward Asuma—just as Asuma turned toward her.
He gave her an easy nod, his smile brightening even further.
Rei arched a brow slightly, surprised to see Asuma among the reinforcement unit.
"Yamashiro Aoba!"
"Here!"
The name triggered a faint sense of familiarity within Rei, though he could not place where he had heard it before. He looked at the boy with the sunglasses but found no recollection. Even so, Rei could clearly sense Yamashiro Aoba's gaze on him—from the moment he appeared, Aoba had not looked away once.
"Yūhi Kurenai!"
"Here!"
"…"
"Uzuki Yugao!"
"Here!"
"…"
"Gekkō Hayate!"
"Here!"
Rei realized there were far more familiar names in this squad than expected—a gathering of people who, in the future, would all be renowned figures of Konoha.
Once Haiichi confirmed everyone was present, he gave a crisp command.
"Depart!"
Rei walked behind him; beside Kaiichi was a Hyūga clan shinobi assigned for reconnaissance.
As they traveled, Rei kept observing the Hyūga shinobi's usage of the Byakugan out of the corner of his eye.
Free lessons stood right beside him—there was no reason not to take advantage.
"Hey, I heard you can use Mokuton—really?"
A voice spoke right beside his ear.
Sarutobi Asuma had somehow drifted beside him, staring with unrestrained curiosity.
Rei glanced at the boy who looked every bit the rebellious troublemaker and nodded calmly.
"Yes. But I'm not especially skilled yet."
Asuma's eyes sparkled with open admiration.
"No way! Just having Mokuton is already insanely amazing!"
"He's not wrong," came a gentle voice from his other side.
Yūhi Kurenai had approached as well.
"In the entire shinobi world, only the First Hokage possessed Mokuton. Now there's you too. Just inheriting it is already something extraordinary."
Compared to Asuma's loud enthusiasm, Kurenai's presence felt far more pleasant. Rei offered her a gentle, friendly smile.
"I heard you've only recently begun formal shinobi training," Kurenai added, her tone brimming with protective warmth. "If we run into danger, stay behind me. I'll protect you."
Looking at the girl beside her—so unreal in beauty she seemed like an illusion—Kurenai's protective instinct flared almost comically strong.
Rei's eyes curved faintly in amusement.
He didn't need Kurenai's protection.
He only wanted… to take a small bite of her.
He flexed his fingers.
The next instant...
A small miracle unfolded.
From within Kurenai's hair, a slender vine sprouted, weaving delicately between the strands. It looped around her forehead and tied itself into a small knot. Tender leaves unfurled, and tiny buds swelled and blossomed.
Within a minute, a stunning flower crown rested atop her head.
"Wow!"
Kurenai touched the crown in delight, her eyes shimmering with excitement as she looked at Rei.
"It's beautiful," Rei said softly, sincerity flowing through every syllable.
Kurenai's cheeks tinged a faint pink.
Sarutobi Asuma: "…"
He was the one who came first.
So why didn't he get anything?
Asuma glanced between Rei and Kurenai, then at her blushing expression, and tilted his head in bewilderment.
This… doesn't seem right, does it?
Yamanaka Kaiichi, fully aware of the scene unfolding behind him, simply faced forward, Hokage-sama's words echoing once more in his mind, his expression grave.
The sun finally sank below the horizon.
The last traces of gold were swallowed by darkness.
The moon climbed quietly into the night sky, stars scattering across the heavens like shards of ice.
Haiichi raised a hand.
"Stop! We camp here tonight!"
"Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, Gekkō Hayate—you three take first watch."
"Yes, sir!"
Campfires soon crackled to life.
Rei sat beside the flames, the night wind brushing his hair as he surveyed the surroundings.
After hours of traveling, they had left the safe perimeter of Konohagakure.
Now, step by step, they drew nearer to the front lines.
***
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