Seaside — Land of Water
The wooden ship rocked gently with the tide, anchored near the shore. The salty breeze drifted lazily across the deck, carrying the faint cries of seabirds overhead.
Several crew members sat in small groups, idly passing the time. Some played cards, their laughter rising and falling with the wind, while others leaned against crates, chatting without urgency.
The cargo hold had already been filled.
Everything was ready for departure.
Originally, the ship was scheduled to set sail earlier. However, two passengers had arrived unexpectedly, requesting passage and asking the captain to wait for a day.
Since there was no immediate pressure to leave—and the extra payment was generous—the captain had agreed without much thought.
Easy money was always welcome.
At the bow of the ship, Kenta and Yui stood quietly, leaning against the railing. Their gazes occasionally drifted toward the distant shoreline, their expressions carrying a trace of unease.
"I wonder how Kakashi-sensei and Yoru are doing…" Yui murmured softly, her fingers tightening slightly on the railing. "I hope nothing has happened to them."
Kenta crossed his arms, trying to appear calm.
"They'll be fine," he said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. "After all… their strength is—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
In the distance—
A figure appeared.
Rushing toward them at astonishing speed.
Aoki Yoru.
His body moved like a blur across the shoreline, kicking up dust and sand with every step. On his back, Kakashi hung motionless.
Within moments—
He reached the ship.
With a powerful leap, he landed directly on deck.
"Quickly!" he said urgently, his voice sharp and commanding. "Set sail immediately. We can't stay here."
Kenta didn't hesitate for even a second.
He turned and rushed off to find the captain.
Within minutes, the crew scrambled into action. The anchor was raised, sails unfurled, and the ship began to move, cutting through the waves as it left the shore behind.
Inside the cabin—
Aoki Yoru carefully laid Kakashi Hatake onto a bed.
Kakashi's face was pale.
His breathing was uneven.
Yui stepped forward immediately, her hands glowing faintly with medical chakra as she began examining him.
"There are no severe external injuries," she said after a moment. "Just minor wounds from the explosion."
She activated the Mystical Palm Technique, her chakra gently flowing over Kakashi's body.
The visible injuries healed quickly.
But—
Yui's expression darkened.
"I can't do anything about this…" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "The damage isn't physical. It's… mental. I don't even know where to begin."
Her eyes reddened slightly as frustration and helplessness filled her chest.
She had always admired Tsunade, striving to become a great medical ninja like her.
But now—
When her teammate needed her most—
She couldn't help.
Aoki Yoru gently shook his head.
"It's not your fault," he said calmly.
"Techniques capable of healing mental trauma are extremely rare. Even among the strongest medical ninjas, very few can handle it."
He paused briefly.
In his memory, after Kakashi had been struck by Tsukuyomi, even Konoha's hospital had been helpless.
Only Tsunade had been able to restore him.
At that moment, Kenta returned.
"The ship has already set sail," he reported.
Then his gaze fell on Kakashi, and his expression darkened.
"What kind of enemy did you encounter…?" he asked quietly. "For Kakashi-sensei to end up like this…"
Aoki Yoru exhaled slowly.
Then he began explaining everything.
From the overwhelming chakra of the Three-Tails…
To the reckless actions of the Anbu…
And finally—
To Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki.
By the time he finished—
The room had fallen into silence.
Kenta and Yui were completely stunned.
They hadn't expected that so much had happened in such a short time.
Yui spoke first.
"I know about Itachi…" she said slowly. "He was a genius of the Uchiha Clan, on par with Shisui Uchiha. I used to see him occasionally at the dango shop."
Her expression turned complicated.
"Later… I heard that he killed his entire clan, sparing only his younger brother."
She lowered her gaze.
"At the time, it didn't feel real. But now… after hearing this… it makes sense."
Kenta clenched his fists unconsciously.
"So the Ninja World… is really this dangerous."
Aoki Yoru nodded.
"There are countless hidden experts out there," he said seriously. "You never know who you might run into."
He looked at both of them.
"If possible… keep a low profile. Avoid unnecessary attention."
His tone was calm, but firm.
He genuinely valued these teammates.
He didn't want to see them replaced by reckless, hot-headed individuals.
Unlike the protagonists of legends—
He had no plot armor.
Two days later—
The ship arrived at a new destination.
The Land of Waves.
The captain approached them with a casual smile.
"We've reached our final stop," he said. "If you want to continue to the Land of Fire, you'll need to find another ship at the docks."
"There are plenty heading that way."
Aoki Yoru nodded.
"Thank you."
Stepping onto land—
Aoki Yoru stretched slightly.
"Let's find something to eat," he said. "Kakashi-sensei can't survive on soldier pills in his condition."
Kenta carried Kakashi on his back, while Yui followed closely behind.
As they walked deeper into the Land of Waves—
Aoki Yoru's expression gradually grew more serious.
The poverty here was striking.
There were no inns.
No proper shops.
Only scattered, worn-down houses made of mud and wood.
The villagers they passed were thin, their faces hollow. Their eyes were dull, devoid of hope or emotion.
It was a place weighed down by despair.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a slightly better-looking house made of brick and tile.
Aoki Yoru stepped forward and knocked.
Creak—
The door opened slowly.
A dark-skinned man stood there, looking at them with curiosity.
"Yes? Who are you looking for?"
Aoki Yoru bowed slightly.
"We are traveling merchants," he said politely. "Our companion is injured. We were hoping to request temporary lodging… and purchase some food."
The man studied them carefully.
Three young travelers.
One unconscious adult.
After a moment, he nodded.
"…Alright. It's not easy traveling far from home. Come in."
Inside—
They settled Kakashi down carefully.
Through conversation, they learned the man's name—
Kaiza.
He lived here with his family: his father, his wife, and his son.
The others were currently away visiting relatives.
That evening—
A knock sounded.
Kaiza invited them to dinner.
As Aoki Yoru stepped into the room—
He paused.
Recognition flashed across his eyes.
Sitting inside were familiar faces.
Tazuna.
And a young boy—
Inari.
Aoki Yoru was momentarily stunned.
So this was that family.
Then—
Kaiza laughed warmly.
"This is my father, Tazuna, and my son, Inari."
"Inari's mother, Tsunami, is in the kitchen."
He gently patted Inari's head.
During dinner, Kaiza spoke bitterly.
"The Land of Waves wasn't always like this," he said. "But that man… Gato… he bribed the daimyo and monopolized all trade."
"He controls everything now."
His fists clenched.
Tsunami stepped in, worry evident in her eyes.
"I heard you've been organizing people to oppose him again," she said softly. "He's dangerous…"
Kaiza laughed loudly.
"Dangerous? I'm the hero of this village!"
"I won't be afraid of someone like him!"
"Daddy is a hero!!" Inari shouted excitedly, raising his spoon.
That night—
For the first time in a long while—
Aoki Yoru slept deeply.
The next morning—
Shouting woke them up.
Aoki Yoru's eyes snapped open.
"Stay here," he told Yui. "Take care of Kakashi."
He and Kenta rushed outside.
The village—
Was surrounded.
Armed gangsters stood everywhere, controlling the crowd.
In the center—
Kaiza was forced to his knees.
A man stepped forward.
"Kaiza has committed crimes against the state," he announced coldly. "He colluded with enemies and disrupted order."
"By order of the daimyo—he will be executed."
The villagers trembled.
Anger burned in their eyes.
But no one dared move.
Inari struggled, tears streaming down his face, his mouth covered by Tazuna.
The executioner raised his blade.
"Now—"
Aoki Yoru moved.
He vanished.
A streak of light flashed across the field.
Blood sprayed.
The leader's body collapsed, his expression frozen in shock.
Before anyone could react—
More figures fell.
One after another.
Silently.
Effortlessly.
Within seconds—
It was over.
Aoki Yoru stood in the center, flicking blood from his blade.
He walked forward and untied Kaiza.
Silence filled the air.
Inari broke free and ran forward.
"Daddy!!"
Kaiza held him tightly.
"I'm here… I'm okay…"
He then turned and bowed deeply.
"Thank you… I will never forget this."
Aoki Yoru shook his head.
"You helped us first."
As he looked at the fallen bodies—
A faint, calculating expression appeared in his eyes.
He needed resources.
Money.
Power.
Research materials.
And now—
A certain man had just become his target.
A wealthy monopolist.
In a weak country.
Aoki Yoru smiled faintly.
"Gato…"
"A gift like this… shouldn't be wasted."