Inside a dim cave, Yahiko was gesturing wildly as he talked nonstop to Yoru.
"Yoru, why is your physique so strong?!" Yahiko asked with envy—then, without even waiting for an answer, continued excitedly, "But one day, I, Yahiko, will surpass you!"
Yoru stared at him with a face full of black lines.
In the original story, he had thought this orange-haired boy was someone with a deep longing for peace and extraordinary courage.
But now that he'd met him in person—
This guy is a chatterbox!
Perhaps because he and Konan had been living together for so long, Yahiko rarely had anyone to talk to. Konan was a girl, after all—some things just weren't easy to say.
Now that he'd met Yoru, it was like something inside him had been completely unleashed.
Beside them, Konan covered her mouth, giggling softly as she watched Yoru's helpless expression.
Yes—
After hearing that Yoru was also an orphan, Yahiko had immediately invited him to join them.
In Yahiko's mind, someone with Yoru's physique would be incredibly useful when it came to stealing food.
Yoru ignored Yahiko's endless rambling and turned to look at Konan instead, his gaze gentle.
Truthfully—
Although Yoru had already prepared himself to walk the path toward the peak of the ninja world…
Although he had already experienced killing before coming to the battlefield…
The war—the bloodshed—had still begun to change him.
He was becoming more violent.
More restless.
In reality, many soldiers develop trauma after war.
Too much death… too much killing… it numbs people. It twists them.
But the moment he saw Konan—
That beautiful girl.
Those pure, untainted eyes, untouched even by war—
Yoru felt his heart calm completely.
She must be an angel sent by heaven…
He had only just begun to feel the changes within himself—and suddenly, this angelic girl appeared before him.
There was no way it was coincidence.
Konan was a gift meant for him.
In the cave, lit only by a small campfire—
An orange-haired boy talked endlessly, occasionally bursting into laughter.
A handsome boy watched a blue-purple-haired girl with gentle eyes.
And the girl… blushed faintly.
"Thieves! Catch those three!"
The fat man chased after them, cursing furiously.
Damn it! Can't you three pick a different place to steal from?!
Yoru grabbed Konan's small hand and ran, while Yahiko followed behind, panting heavily.
Yes.
For the past half month—
Konoha's number one genius…
The rising star of the ninja world…
Yoru—
Had become a proud thief.
This was already the fifth time the trio had "visited" that fat man.
No helping it—he was rich, fat… and most importantly, a cruel person.
"Huff… huff…"
Yahiko gasped for breath.
"Yoru, inviting you to join us was the best decision ever! You alone carry more food than both of us combined!"
Konan looked at Yoru with admiration.
Yoru scratched his head awkwardly.
Wait… stealing food gets you admiration now?! Don't mess with me…
Yahiko laughed loudly.
"Party tonight! We're eating big!"
"Yeah!"
Konan raised her small fist excitedly.
Yoru, dragged into it, responded weakly.
If I really start eating… I could probably cook Yahiko along with the food…
Still—
During these days, Yoru didn't want to break this rare sense of peace.
He had been surviving on soldier pills to suppress his hunger—
But he was reaching his limit.
After all, soldier pills could fill the stomach, but they couldn't provide the massive nutrition his body required.
Over the past half month—
Yoru felt like he had undergone a complete transformation.
His previously tense nerves had finally relaxed.
And more importantly—
Observation Haki had awakened naturally.
Perhaps it was because his mind had been too tense before, preventing him from grasping it.
But after this period of calm—
It came effortlessly.
That day—
Yoru, Konan, and Yahiko returned to their "base" as usual.
Yahiko was still talking endlessly.
Yoru was still watching Konan gently, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.
Then suddenly—
His mind wavered.
Yahiko's voice seemed to echo directly inside his head.
Konan's pure eyes—
Even with his eyes closed, he could see them clearly.
And beyond that—
The outside of the cave…
Everything…
Began to appear within his mind.
In that instant—
Yoru understood.
Observation Haki… had awakened.
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