At that moment Yujiro felt less like a child and more like a blade-wielding specter awakened beneath the night sky.
The atmosphere around him changed completely.
Uzuki Yugao froze.
In her eyes, the boy standing before her no longer looked human but more like a demon carrying death itself.
…Though annoyingly handsome.
Yujiro paid no attention to her expression.
His breathing slowed.
His mind emptied.
He truly became serious.
After all, Konoha-style kenjutsu was famous throughout the village.
The Hatake style.
The Konoha style.
He had already studied the fundamentals of Hatake kenjutsu.
Now he wanted to experience the Konoha style directly.
Whoosh— Yujiro stepped forward.
In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Yugao.
His blade moved.
Then suddenly— Yujiro’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The sword that should have cut toward Yugao instantly shifted sideways.
Slash!!
The nearby tree exploded apart into countless pieces.
Wood fragments scattered everywhere.
Yugao’s body trembled violently.
Clang.
The sword slipped from her hand and fell onto the grass.
Then— “…Uwaah…” She burst into tears.
Yujiro: “…” For a moment, his brain completely stopped.
What?
What just happened?
Why was she crying?
He slowly lowered the black blade.
The terrifying pressure around him disappeared instantly.
Yugao collapsed onto the ground, tears gathering in her eyes as she sat there stiffly.
“…How was I supposed to know you were that scary…” she sniffed.
“I couldn’t even move…” Yujiro looked genuinely speechless.
He had not expected this outcome at all.
After a few seconds, he sighed quietly.
“…Fine.” “Where’s your house?
I’ll take you back.” “M-My legs are numb…” Yugao muttered embarrassedly as she wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve.
Yujiro clicked his tongue softly.
Then he crouched down in front of her.
“Get on.” Yugao blinked.
“…Huh?” “I’ll carry you.” Her cheeks instantly turned red.
“A-Ah…” “If you don’t hurry up, I’m leaving.” Yujiro raised an eyebrow slightly.
Honestly, if he had not scared her into tears himself, he would have already walked away.
“D-Don’t leave!” Yugao hurriedly jumped onto his back before he could move.
Yujiro steadied her reflexively before standing back up.
Then he started walking through the quiet streets beneath the moonlight.
For the first few seconds, Yugao stayed quiet.
Then— “Hey…” “Why’s your swordsmanship so ridiculous?” “You seriously scared me to death…” “Hmph… you weren’t actually trying to kill me, right?” “…Right?” “Oi, answer me properly.” “My name’s Uzuki Yugao.
What’s yours?” “…You really don’t talk much, huh?” Along the way, Yugao chattered endlessly.
Yujiro felt a headache coming on.
So this girl was secretly a chatterbox.
Several times, he seriously considered throwing her off his back.
Eventually, they arrived outside Yugao’s house.
“You’re here,” Yujiro said immediately.
“I’m leaving.” The moment Yugao climbed down, Yujiro turned around and started walking away at full speed.
“Hey!” Yugao cupped her hands around her mouth.
“You still haven’t told me your name!” Yujiro’s voice drifted back from the darkness ahead.
“…Yujiro.” Yugao puffed her cheeks slightly.
“Yujiro…” “Hmph.
Don’t think carrying me home means this is over.” After muttering softly to herself, she turned and went inside.
… Meanwhile— Yujiro walked alone through Konoha’s quiet streets.
The moonlight stretched long shadows across the ground.
He slowly raised his head and looked toward the moon above.
Then— A shadow flashed past his vision.
Yujiro’s eyes narrowed instantly.
Someone was standing directly in front of him now.
Long black hair.
Konoha jōnin uniform.
Pale skin under the moonlight.
Purple markings extending beneath golden snake-like eyes.
…Orochimaru.
Yujiro stared at him calmly.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru slowly licked the corner of his lips with an unnaturally long tongue.
“My, my… what luck.” His golden eyes locked onto Yujiro completely.
Yujiro immediately understood.
This bastard was probably out searching for “materials” again.
Experiment subjects.
Children.
Missing civilians.
Things Orochimaru was already secretly involved with.
Yet Yujiro showed no fear whatsoever.
Only indifference.
“Orochimaru,” Yujiro said calmly, “you’re awfully bold.” “Aren’t you worried someone might notice?” “…Oh?” Orochimaru’s eyes flickered with surprise.
Being recognized wasn’t strange.
But the tone of the boy in front of him was.
Too calm.
Too composed.
Most children froze the moment they saw him.
Some adults did too.
Yet this boy looked at him as if he were just another opponent.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Tonight, Orochimaru had originally come out searching for suitable test subjects.
After all, his Living Corpse Reincarnation research was already progressing further and further.
Human experiments were necessary.
Then he happened to spot Yujiro walking alone through Konoha at night.
And Orochimaru had always preferred lonely children.
Yujiro slowly rested his hand against the black blade at his waist.
A trace of excitement rose in his chest.
Orochimaru was strong.
Very strong.
And unlike Kakashi or Itachi— This was a real monster.
Yujiro was already close to breaking through into the Second Stage of the Limiter.
But ordinary training was becoming too slow.
At minimum, it would still take another month.
Too slow.
The closer one stood to death— The more violently the body’s hidden potential awakened.
The faster the Limiter evolved.
And the moment Yujiro saw Orochimaru— He understood something clearly.
Among children his age, he was already unmatched.
But against a shinobi like Orochimaru… He was still lacking.
Which meant only one thing.
He needed to become stronger.
Orochimaru quietly observed the fighting spirit pouring from Yujiro.
The more he looked, the more interested he became.
Ordinary people feared him.
This child wanted to fight him.
“…You’re not afraid of me?” Orochimaru asked softly.
“Why would I be?” Yujiro gently brushed his fingers across the black blade.
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
“…Interesting.” Yujiro grinned.
“You wanna fight?” The desire for battle was already boiling through his body.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly.
For the first time in a while…
He genuinely felt curious about someone.
“…Very well.”
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