Inside their small "base," bursts of laughter echoed—it was Yahiko again.
"Ever since you joined us, Yoru, we haven't gone hungry even once," Yahiko said, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.
Beside him, Konan gazed at Yoru with her clear, gentle eyes.
Yoru instinctively straightened his back a little, enjoying the admiration—though the reason behind it felt a bit strange.
As he ate what was, to him, a pitifully small portion of food, he watched Konan's happy expression.
For a war orphan like her, simply being able to eat her fill every day… was already the greatest happiness.
Hm?
Yoru's Observation Haki picked up movement outside the cave.
"Captain, there's a cave ahead. Looks like there's a fire inside," one Rain ninja reported.
The captain frowned slightly.
"Stay alert. Check if there are any Konoha ninja inside."
Three of them.
Yoru quickly assessed the situation.
Step. Step.
The three Rain ninja entered cautiously, kunai in hand.
"Captain! Just three wandering brats," one of them said.
The captain relaxed slightly, then sneered.
"Kill them. We can't afford any variables in this mission."
Yahiko and Konan froze in fear.
Ninja.
To them, that word meant only one thing—
Death.
Their parents had been slaughtered by crazed Rain ninja returning from the battlefield.
Those headbands…
To them, they were nothing but symbols of cold, merciless killing.
One Rain ninja stepped forward, his face twisted with cruelty.
"Brats… blame your bad luck."
His kunai plunged downward.
Puff!
Konan shut her eyes tightly, tears forming at the corners—
But the expected pain never came.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Standing before her—
Was Yoru.
His right hand had transformed into a strange molten form, piercing straight through the Rain ninja's abdomen.
Sizzle—
Under the horrified gazes of the remaining two ninja, Yoru calmly withdrew his hand.
Flames burst from the gaping hole in the man's stomach—
And within seconds, his screams were swallowed by fire as he turned to ash.
"You… you are—!"
The captain's eyes widened in terror.
"Demon Yoru!"
After Hanzo issued the kill order, every Rain ninja had seen Yoru's image.
And his terrifying magma ability…
Had already spread throughout the ninja world.
"Run!" the captain screamed desperately.
Even elite Jonin had been killed by this monster—how could they possibly survive?!
But the moment they turned—
Whoosh!
Countless dark crimson magma projectiles shot toward them.
"Magma—Death Flame Bullets!"
Puff! Puff!
Their bodies were instantly riddled with holes.
Flames erupted from every wound, engulfing them completely—
Until nothing remained.
Yoru's hand returned to normal.
He turned back to look at Konan and Yahiko—
Both completely stunned.
"Um…" Yoru began.
"THAT WAS AMAZING!"
Yahiko suddenly shouted, cutting him off.
"Yoru! So you're a ninja?!"
His face flushed red with excitement.
"No wonder you're so strong!"
Konan, however, simply stared at Yoru—
Then suddenly threw herself into his arms, quietly sobbing.
That moment between life and death had terrified her to the core.
Yoru smiled gently, stroking her soft hair and whispering comforting words.
After a while, she finally calmed down.
"You're… not afraid of me?" Yoru asked, scratching his head.
After all, weren't war orphans supposed to hate and fear ninja?
Yahiko shrugged.
"Why would we be afraid? You're our companion!"
Then his eyes lit up again.
"Yoru! Can you teach me? I want to become a ninja!"
Konan looked at him too—her eyes now filled only with trust and dependence.
Yoru paused for a moment… then smiled.
Maybe he had overthought things.
Even in the original story, Yahiko and Konan were different from other war orphans.
They were bright.
They still believed in the future.
They longed for a world without war.
And for that dream—
They would one day give everything.
"Of course," Yoru said.
"If you want, I'll teach you."
"YES!"
Yahiko jumped around excitedly.
Konan smiled softly, her gaze lingering on Yoru.
These past days—
He had protected her while stealing food.
He always made sure she ate first.
For the first time since losing her parents…
She felt safe.
And just now—
That moment when he stood in front of her, shielding her—
That unwavering back—
Had deeply imprinted itself in her heart.
For a girl living in war…
Security—
Was something she longed for more than anything.
And Yoru…
Had given her that feeling.
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