"No, i was discovered."
The boy's voice startled the ninja, causing him to hasten his movements.
"Ah." The boy sneered, icy blue light flashing in his eyes. At the same moment, a slender, sharp icicle materialized in front of the ninja and pierced his heart mercilessly.
"Ugh!" The ninja's body trembled violently before he collapsed to the ground.
"Wow, that was impressive..." Konan subconsciously raised a hand to cover her mouth. It was her first time witnessing someone kill an enemy without even moving.
"Haven't you ever seen a ninja fight?" the boy asked, surprised by her reaction. It had been a simple attack, suitable for dealing with low-level enemies. Any competent ninja could easily dodge it. Given that Konan lived in the Land of Rain, a place rife with chaos, it was unlikely she hadn't seen ninjutsu before.
"I—I have seen ninjas, yes," she replied hesitantly. "But I think they aren't as skilled as you."
Realizing her slip, embarrassment washed over her.
"Alright." The boy decided not to dwell on it. "Where do you live? I'll take you back."
"I don't have a home anymore." Hearing the word "home" made Konan's expression turn somber. It evoked the most painful memories she had.
"Your parents… are they dead?" The boy asked gently, sensing the truth.
"Um."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up."
"It's okay; I know." Konan shook her head, forcing a smile. "You saved my life, and I haven't thanked you yet."
"It was just a little effort, no need for thanks."
"But why didn't you hide? Why risk your life?"
"Because the food I had stored is gone. I had to come out and look for more."
The boy fell silent. This was the world of Naruto during the Ninja War era—a cruel and harsh reality. The lives of civilians were often regarded as worthless. Even a piece of bread to stave off hunger held less value in the eyes of some.
"From now on, you'll stay by my side," he declared. Konan was one of his favorite characters, and now that he was in the world of Naruto, he was determined to change her tragic fate.
"Really?" Her eyes sparkled with hope at his words. A person willing to save her from danger and return her home must be good. If possible, she wanted to follow him, even as a servant, just to ensure she had protection and enough to eat.
"Of course, if you want to." The boy thought silently. For Konan, who was only about ten years old, the psychological impact of being saved by a hero would be significant. After all, losing her parents in war would make it hard for anyone to trust others easily.
"I would like to follow you," Konan replied without hesitation.
"Okay, what's your name?" Although he already knew her name, he felt it better to ask. If he called out her name directly, it might raise her suspicions, and he wanted to ensure she was still willing to follow him.
"I'm Konan. What about you, big brother?"
The young man instinctively started to reveal his name from his previous life, but he stopped after just one word. "My name is Saigoji Youmu." He borrowed the surname of a favorite character from his past and created a new identity for himself. He intended to start over in the world of Naruto.
"Then I'll call you Brother Youmu from now on, okay?" After a moment of thought, Konan suggested.
"That's fine." Saigoji Youmu didn't mind the minor details.
"Brother Youmu, where are we going now?" Konan asked, glancing around as darkness began to settle in.
"Let's head to your place to rest for the night, and we'll leave here tomorrow." He looked up at the darkening sky.
"Okay."
In the heavy rain, the two figures moved away, soon disappearing down the deserted street.