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Ye Dou didn't know how long he had been meditating. When he finally pulled himself out of his trance, the sky was completely dark. It was time to return and rest.
As he stood up, he caught sight of movement in a nearby tree. A snake, coiled around a branch, was silently approaching a bird's nest.
The mother bird, busy feeding her hungry chicks with the food she had recently hunted, remained oblivious to the approaching danger. The chicks, too, were unaware, eagerly fighting over the scraps in their mother's beak.
The snake slithered closer, its forked tongue flickering in and out. It was moments away from striking, its cold eyes locked onto its prey—the mother bird.
It knew that once the adult was dead, the defenseless chicks would be easy pickings, guaranteeing it a full meal.
Ye Dou observed the scene quietly. Then, bending down, he picked up a dry branch and lightly swung it in the direction of the tree.
"Gravity Cut."
A soft murmur escaped his lips as a ripple of purple energy shot toward the tree at lightning speed.
The snake and the mother bird sensed the danger at the last moment. The snake's tongue flickered in alarm, and the bird's feathers ruffled—but before they could react, their bodies were violently pulled downward.
Not just them.
Even the tree branch they clung to couldn't withstand the force of gravity. With a loud crack, it snapped away from the trunk and crashed to the ground.
"Tweet!"
"Hisss!"
Neither the bird nor the snake died from the fall, but both let out warning cries as they realized the source of the attack.
Yet under the immense gravitational force, they couldn't move—pinned as though a massive boulder was pressing down on them.
Ye Dou paid no mind to their frantic warnings. He tossed aside the crushed branch, stepped forward, and grabbed the struggling bird. With a swift, practiced twist of his wrist, he ended its life. Then, in the same cold manner, he dispatched the snake.
The chicks in the nest, now orphaned and helpless, shared the same fate. Ye Dou snapped their necks one by one.
Tonight, this would be his meal.
—
"I should wash up before heading home."
With the fresh kills in hand, Ye Dou stood up and made his way toward the mountain peak.
Above the dense forest lay a secluded hot spring. It wasn't particularly large—just enough for two or three people at most—but Ye Dou had never seen another soul here.
The solitude suited him.
Hot springs were beneficial. They promoted blood circulation, sped up muscle recovery, and eased fatigue from training. Ever since he discovered this place, he made it a habit to bathe here every night after practice.
As a result, no one could ever accuse him of neglecting hygiene.
—
After bathing, Ye Dou left the forest and walked into the streets of Konohagakure.
Unlike the bustling daytime scene, many shops had already closed for the night. However, taverns and bars remained open, their warm lights spilling onto the streets as patrons came and went.
Even at this hour, Konoha was far from silent.
To avoid unwanted attention, Ye Dou turned into a side alley.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Gone were the bright lanterns and lively chatter of the main street. The alley was dim, littered with garbage, and infested with cockroaches and rats. Stray dogs and cats occasionally rummaged through the trash, their fights sending rodents scurrying for safety.
Ye Dou paid no mind to the filth. Even in darkness, he moved effortlessly, navigating the alley with ease.
Then—
"Woof! Woof!"
A chorus of aggressive barking broke the silence.
Ye Dou narrowed his eyes and spotted a small figure huddled in a corner.
A young girl, trembling, her tear-streaked face barely visible in the dim light.
Surrounding her were three stray dogs, their fur matted, their ribs visible beneath their skin. They snarled and coughed, their hollow eyes locked onto their target.
Ye Dou's gaze flickered past them and landed on the girl's face.
Her eyes—pure white, luminescent even in the dark.
"Byakugan?"
—
Hyūga Hotaru was terrified. Truly terrified.
She had been out with her father and twin sister earlier that evening.
As a member of the Hyūga clan's main branch, she bore the responsibility of upholding their legacy from a young age. While other children played, she spent her days training in the Gentle Fist style under her father's strict guidance.
Her twin sister, deemed unworthy of the clan's expectations, had been cast aside early on.
So when their father surprisingly allowed them an evening to relax, Hotaru was overjoyed.
Like a bird breaking free from its cage, she was eager to explore the village.
But in the midst of her excitement, she got separated from her family.
By the time she realized it, she had wandered deep into the alleys—and now, she was trapped.
The stray dogs moved closer, their hungry eyes gleaming.
She wanted to fight back, but her body refused to move.
Paralyzed with fear, all she could do was cry.
The wild dogs lunged forward.
Hotaru squeezed her eyes shut, hoping—praying—that someone would save her.
And then—
A shadow moved.