So hungry…
His stomach growled violently, a burning sensation twisting inside. The discomfort jolted the boy awake.
He shot upright from the ground.
The surroundings were dim and unfamiliar. For a moment, he didn't know where he was.
He didn't scream.
Didn't look around wildly.
Instead, he hugged his knees and curled into himself.
Fragments of memory replayed in his mind—
His mother, who had said she was going to find food… and never returned.
His obedient little brother, always following at his side.
And that demon-like ninja, smiling as he asked—
"Was it tasty?"
The boy wasn't very old.
But he understood.
His mother. His brother.
He would probably never see them again.
He lowered his head, burying his face between his legs, shoulders trembling as he tried to stifle the sound of his sobbing.
"I was wondering who was crying… So you're awake."
A lazy voice drifted in.
He looked up.
The demon-masked ninja who had saved him stepped inside.
He hurriedly wiped his tears, trying not to look too pathetic.
"What's your name?"
The ninja's voice was unexpectedly pleasant. He hadn't noticed before.
"…Lord Ninja, my name is Yukio."
He hesitated.
"You can… you can also call me Hikohiko. That's what my mother used to call me and my brother."
Ayane nodded.
She had lived ten years in the Land of Rain—she understood.
Names like Hiko and Shun were cultured, auspicious names. Extremely common among civilians, filled with parents' simple blessings.
Translated to her previous life—
Probably equivalent to trendy names like Zixuan or Yichen.
"Yukio. There are some biscuits here. Eat them slowly with water."
"Earlier, I only fed you a Military Rations Pills so we could move. Your stomach probably doesn't feel great."
Ayane wasn't one for long speeches.
She set down food and water, then added:
"After you've rested, follow the river northwest. Once you leave the forest, you'll see a small town."
Bringing him this far was already more than enough.
She wasn't going to become a nanny.
Yukio listened quietly.
Only at the end did he ask, timidly:
"Lord Ninja…"
"Mm?"
"That man… is he dead?"
"If he isn't, I want to kill him myself!"
His fists clenched, voice hoarse and venomous.
"No—bite him to death. I'll tear off every piece of his flesh with my teeth!"
Ayane sighed inwardly.
Her tone softened.
She drew Arankiri cleanly from its sheath.
"He's dead. Died on this blade. I pierced straight through his chest. There was blood everywhere. It wasn't pretty."
The boy stiffened.
"…Dead? That's good. That's good…"
The tears he'd barely held back spilled again.
Ayane's heart softened.
She crouched, gently ruffling his hair like soothing a small animal.
From her pocket, she took out several crumpled banknotes.
"Here. Do your best, okay?"
Like a dam breaking—
Yukio's tears poured uncontrollably.
Through blurred vision, even the demon mask before him seemed softened.
Its fierce expression now looked almost like a god's smile.
"Please tell me your name."
He dropped to his knees.
"I'll repay you one day. My life—no matter what—"
"…We'll see."
"But I remember your name, Yukio."
She sheathed her blade with a clean clang.
"Oh, and the biscuits are compressed. Don't eat too much at once."
Then she left without a sound.
When he was sure she was gone, Yukio wiped his tears frantically.
But Ayane was already far away.
Only the quiet tree hollow remained.
He stared at the money on the ground.
Then, as if waking from a dream, he carefully tucked the notes close to his chest—
Just like he carved that demon mask into his memory.
———
Saving Yukio was only a small interlude for Ayane.
Yes, leaving him in a random town looked suspiciously like abandoning him to fate.
But she had done everything she reasonably could.
Whether he survived—
That would depend on his own destiny.
Woodpecker's injuries slowed them down.
Still, they were now extremely close to the front lines.
After crossing several hills, they finally reached their destination—
The Amegakure–Konoha battlefield.
The border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire was marked by a massive river—the Anyue River—flowing endlessly year-round.
Ayane and Woodpecker stood atop a hill, overlooking the war zone below.
At the foot of the mountain, Amegakure tents stretched across the plains like a winding dragon.
Across the river—
Dense forests layered endlessly.
Beyond that, faintly visible—
Dark soil and open plains.
Her gaze lingered there.
She could see something rare in the Land of Rain—
A sunset.
A red sun hung low, bathing the distant world in golden light.
Mountains and rivers became one color.
Heaven and earth merged into brilliance.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Woodpecker's voice brought her back.
"The first time I saw it, I was stunned too."
He grinned at the horizon.
"Living under sunlight every day… I wonder how happy Konoha's ninja must be."
Ayane smirked.
"If that's the case, why not envy the Sand Village instead?"
If anyone specialized in bathing in sunlight, it was Sunagakure.
Woodpecker shook his head.
"I never said I envied Konoha."
She raised a brow.
"Oh?"
He answered seriously.
"Because that's not my home."
Then he glanced at her.
"My home is behind me. And beneath my feet."
Ayane fell silent.
There seemed to be deeper meaning there.
"Come. I'll introduce you to the new squad leader."
His tone sharpened again.
"Codename: Night Crow. You can call him Captain Crow."
The Owl Squad had suffered heavy losses in the Sand battlefield.
Even the former captain, Owl, had died in the desert.
During reorganization, higher command had not promoted from within—
Instead, they parachuted in a new captain.
The son of the financial advisor.
Because the roster wasn't fully rebuilt yet, they still went by the old squad name.
Ayane's lips curled behind her mask.
Night Crow.
Captain Crow.
Duck Captain, more like.
Perfect for a nepotism hire.
Sadly, no one would get the joke.
They followed the river upstream.
After about ten li, Woodpecker fired a signal flare.
Soon, an ANBU in an eagle mask emerged.
"Password?"
Woodpecker responded boldly:
"Offer your heart to Lord Hanzō!"
"Password confirmed!"
Ayane: "…"
She'd only graduated days ago.
How had the slogan spread this fast?
She didn't know carrier pigeons had already delivered it days earlier.
The forest tension eased.
The Eagle-masked ninja looked at Ayane.
"So you're the newcomer?"
Her voice was clear, slightly youthful.
Likely another young kunoichi.
"Black Swan," Woodpecker introduced.
"And this is Eagle. Joined half a month before you."
Soon, all seven members gathered.
After exchanging codenames, Woodpecker reported the Ma Dam Village incident.
Night Crow sneered.
"I know Masho. Loyal to Chiyo and her son. Lucky to survive. Didn't dare take revenge on Konoha—so he vented on us instead."
He continued:
"As for that rogue ninja? Likely a black-market guide hired by Sand."
Ayane thought: As expected.
Night Crow folded his arms.
"At least he knew his limits. Didn't pursue you further."
Ayane felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Massacring hundreds of civilians—
And that counted as 'knowing his limits.'
Woodpecker cautiously asked:
"What about the Sand battlefield?"
Night Crow replied calmly.
"Sand suffered a crushing defeat. Their puppet corps was annihilated."
Shock rippled through the squad.
"Impossible!" Eagle blurted.
Night Crow's eyes turned cold—but he restrained himself.
He passed around the report.
The text was brief.
But devastating.
Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law—
Killed by one man.
Konoha's elite jonin.
Hatake Sakumo.
"White Fang…"
Woodpecker explained quietly.
"Extremely strong. Specializes in kenjutsu and taijutsu. Very fast. If you see him—run."
The eagle gasped.
"You fought him?"
"Years ago," Woodpecker said.
That silence afterward said enough.
Night Crow interjected confidently.
"White Fang's ninjutsu is weak. Prefers a chakra blade."
"He countered puppet users. And it was an ambush on home ground."
"If it were a frontal battle?"
He crossed his arms.
"The outcome would be uncertain."
The squad exchanged looks.
Woodpecker smoothly supported him.
"If he's so strong, why isn't he here?"
Night Crow concluded:
"In the end, he's avoiding Amegakure's edge."
Ayane lowered her head slightly.
"Captain speaks wisely."