Chapter 15
After saying goodbye to Kushina, Asakawa Naoki walked home alone, his mind restless.
He found himself thinking—more than he expected.
First and foremost was the matter between Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato.
Having watched Naruto in his past life, Naoki had always liked that pairing. Minato, the prodigy. Kushina, the fiery redhead with a heart of gold. They fit, in fiction.
But fiction is fiction. Reality, especially this one, was different.
In this world, Kushina was a real person—not some character destined to fall into someone's arms. If he genuinely grew to like her… could he just let that go?
As for Minato? Well, even if he did feel something, they'd only just met. Classmates, at best. There was no bond yet, no deep connection. Nothing had been decided.
So would it really be so wrong?
Naoki chuckled under his breath, then shook his head.
Not that it mattered. His feelings for Kushina weren't that deep yet—closer to friendship, really. He wasn't the type to fall easily. Still, the thought lingered, annoying in how persistent it was.
"Forget it. I'm too weak right now to be thinking about love."
He brushed the thought aside.
In his past life, he'd naturally ignored things like love and relationships. Now, the reason had changed—but the outcome was the same.
Back then, he was poor. Now? He was simply too weak.
By the time he reached the commercial street, the sun had dipped lower in the sky. As usual, he stopped by the ramen shop and devoured five bowls to refuel before his evening training in basic Qi Refining and Samadhi True Fire. The shop owner gave him a familiar look as he left—equal parts amused and impressed.
"Boss, is that kid from the Akimichi clan or something? He eats like one," a nearby customer asked.
"Doesn't look it. He's too thin," the boss replied with a grin. "Good-looking too. Probably a taijutsu practitioner."
"Maybe. But hey, as long as he pays and doesn't waste food, he's welcome in my shop."
Naoki didn't pay attention to their chatter. His mind had already slipped into meditative focus, guiding his Qi Refining Technique even as he walked.
What he failed to notice was the silence around him.
The further he walked, the fewer people there were. Normally, this path home wasn't crowded—but today, it was nearly empty.
Too empty.
No children playing. No neighbors. Not even the occasional patrol.
Anyone with sharp senses—or a high level of mental perception—might have noticed the subtle disturbance in the air. An illusion blanketed the area. It wasn't flashy or overwhelming, but it was there, woven into the path like a quiet repellent.
People instinctively avoided the street, detouring without even realizing it.
And Asakawa Naoki, despite not having fully awakened spiritual consciousness, had stronger mental resistance than most genin. The illusion didn't affect him the way it was supposed to.
Ironically, that resistance worked against him.
Had he been an average villager, he would've been diverted—safe, unaware. But now he was walking straight into danger, unbothered by the illusion's misdirection.
A sudden chill crawled down his spine.
He blinked, coming out of his focused state, and looked around.
No one.
"What the hell…"
His eyes narrowed. An instinctive warning rang in his head.
It was still Year 35 of Konoha's calendar. The Second Ninja War hadn't started yet. The village should be relatively peaceful. That was why he allowed himself to practice while walking.
But he had miscalculated.
Still, he was certain of one thing—this illusion wasn't aimed at him.
It didn't make sense. Why go through the trouble of setting a genjutsu trap for a no-name academy student?
Which meant… someone else was the target.
"If I just stay quiet and keep walking… I should be fine."
He kept moving, eyes forward, posture relaxed. But his senses were on high alert, subtly checking for any change in the atmosphere.
A presence brushed past him.
He felt it—a faint gaze, subtle and distant, watching him.
The observer seemed to hesitate. But when they saw no reaction from him, they backed off.
Naoki didn't react, though his heartbeat momentarily quickened. He focused, steadied himself, and walked with even steps.
Still calm. Still unnoticed.
He saw the edge of the village up ahead.
Home.
Even though his house was located in a quiet corner of Konoha, it was still within the village boundaries. He doubted anyone would make a move there—at least not openly.
All he had to do was reach it.
And for the first time in either of his lives, Asakawa Naoki truly longed for home. Not out of comfort. But out of safety.
That was when she appeared.
A black-haired girl stepped quietly onto the road, dressed in black, with soft features and a refined air.
Naoki stopped.
Her presence was distinct—noble, almost. She didn't carry herself like a civilian.
He didn't know her, but he could tell.
She wasn't ordinary.
And in that instant, everything made sense.
She's the target.
He had just been collateral. An unintended bystander.
Much like Kushina, the girl carried the presence of someone raised by a powerful clan. That invisible aura—cultured, restrained, but undeniable—was something a civilian could never imitate.
The moment she appeared, the enemy moved.
From the treeline, a chain shot forward like a snake, glinting with deadly precision. It darted toward the girl without warning.
She hesitated for only a second, then jumped back with graceful, practiced footwork.
But the chain was faster than expected. It curved mid-air and adjusted its path—aiming straight for her again.
She was about to be caught.
A sharp crack cut through the air.
A stone flew from the other side of the road, hitting the chain mid-motion. The energy running through it fizzled. The chain hit the ground with a dull thud.
The ninja hiding nearby immediately looked toward the source.
Naoki.
He had already turned and was sprinting in the opposite direction, away from the girl.
"Tch. Damn brat! Should've taken care of him first!"
The enemy ninja—likely a jonin—gritted his teeth. His attack had been foiled by a mere student.
He wanted to chase Naoki. But his mission came first.
The girl was still escaping.
He clicked his tongue in frustration and turned back toward her.
As for Naoki?
He didn't stop.
He kept running.
And somewhere inside, he was smiling—not out of pride, but out of relief.
He wasn't a hero. He wasn't trying to save anyone.
But in that moment, he'd made a choice.
And now… he just needed to make it out alive.
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