---
"Who can save me..."
"Are those... Byakugan?"
The sudden voice ignited a flicker of hope in the desperate Hyūga Hikaru.
When she looked up, she saw a ragged boy standing not far from her, draped in a tattered black cloak. In his hand, he clutched the bloody carcass of a small animal, its fresh crimson staining the alley floor.
In the pitch-black night, the vivid scarlet pooled beneath him, eerily striking against the darkness.
Hikaru's sobs ceased. Her trembling stopped—not because she had calmed down, but because fear had paralyzed her.
"Ye Dou, those are Byakugan—pure Byakugan," a voice hissed.
A mongoose perched on the boy's shoulder, its sharp eyes gleaming. "Kill her. Take her eyes. You'll get the weapon you need. Maybe even one of the legendary swords..."
The boy, Ye Dou, remained still, his gaze fixed on the girl. Her lack of a Caged Bird Seal confirmed what he suspected—she was no branch family member. She reminded him of the Hyūga clan's princess, though her features were slightly different from what he recalled.
Still, her unmarked forehead spoke volumes about her status.
Attacking her would be suicide.
At that moment, a pack of stray dogs emerged from the shadows, their eyes reflecting the dim moonlight. But after a few whimpers, they instinctively backed away, then bolted, tails tucked between their legs.
Ye Dou paid them no mind. Nor did he acknowledge the Hyūga girl. He simply turned and walked away.
"Wait..."
A soft voice stopped him.
"Can you take me home?"
Ye Dou hesitated for a moment, glancing back at her before continuing forward. However, his direction shifted subtly.
Noticing this, Hikaru quickly got to her feet and trailed behind him, maintaining a cautious distance.
She wasn't sure how long they had walked, but soon, the streets began to look familiar. A spark of recognition flickered in her eyes.
Before long, she could see her home in the distance. Her heart lifted.
When they finally reached the Hyūga compound gates, Hikaru felt a surge of relief, as if she had barely escaped a nightmare.
Turning back, she saw the boy already walking away.
"Wait!" she called out.
Ye Dou didn't stop.
"At least tell me your name!"
He ignored her and kept moving.
Seeing this, Hikaru took a few steps toward him and raised her voice.
"My name is Hyūga Hikaru! I want to be friends with you... is that okay?"
Ye Dou halted.
Hyūga... Hikaru?
His eyes narrowed as he studied her again. She did resemble someone from his fragmented memories. But that was impossible.
"I don't need friends," he finally muttered before disappearing into the night.
Hikaru stood frozen, watching his figure dissolve into the darkness—like a lone wolf fading into the shadows.
---
Ye Dou's Home
By the time Ye Dou returned home, the night had deepened.
His "home" was a small, rundown house with an overgrown yard, barely spanning a hundred square meters. Wild weeds had claimed the garden, and vines crept over the neglected walls. Cockroaches and crickets thrived in the unkempt corners, making the place seem even more abandoned.
But soon, this place would have a new purpose.
Ye Dou had rented the house to a merchant in the village—it would serve as a storage warehouse.
His "parents" would never know their once-cherished home had become nothing more than a stockpile for goods.
Not that he cared.
What mattered to him was money. He didn't need much, just enough to survive.
As a shinobi forging his path outside the traditional system, he relied on his body's strength above all else. Training alone wasn't enough—his body needed fuel. Nutrition. Chakra-enhancing supplements.
The meager orphan stipend from Konoha wouldn't cover that.
Despite the village's wealth, its resources were hoarded by clans and high-ranking officials. The Hokage ensured no orphan starved, but no one cared if they thrived. Training? That was a privilege, not a right.
Ye Dou knew better than to expect help.
Instead, he found his own ways—hunting in the forest, renting out his parents' old home.
For now, a single deer was enough to sustain him for a few days. But as he grew, as his body demanded more, a single meal would become insufficient.
Hunting took time, and time was precious.
With the seasons changing, food would become scarce in the colder months. He couldn't afford to waste valuable training hours tracking prey in the dead of winter.
It was better to plan ahead.
Better to rent the house and secure funds for the future.
That way, he wouldn't have to rely on anyone.
That way, he wouldn't have to endure the glares, the whispers—villagers treating him like a plague.
He preferred solitude.
A small shelter near his training ground would suffice.
---
Nightfall
The fire crackled as the pot boiled over a simple meal.
Ye Dou sat cross-legged, focusing on his breathing, refining his chakra with unwavering discipline.
Every second mattered. Every moment was a step toward strength.
And in this world, strength was everything.