aiya'

I saw death looming before me. I clo

ing the blade, I he

ierced the att

Neji standing over me,

struggling to my feet. "Yo

"You shouldn't expec

w deadly those

e saved me cou

.

mp and heavy. "Come give me a hand," Neji said,

ether we lifted the boy, crad

whispered urgently, scanning our

through the dense underbrush. His head loll

🌷Ne

ji and I removed our cloth masks

dy frame wielding an axe to chop wood. H

o's that on your back?" Father's deep

y. "We encountered him on patrol, Fat

face before snapping back to us. "Monsters, you

e them?" Father's voice was laced with disappointment an

, his eyes cast downwar

punished for disobeying my orders." He dropped t

dult on the ground. Father b

turning to me, "go

from its designated shelf. As I returned, Fa

, his hands already moving to clean the wo

watching as he expertly tende

n," Father said, his face set in concentration as he f

ved the ground ginseng roots, spri

egan to heal before my eyes, the

onished, my mind reelin

s equally stunned, his

with an intensity that

his voice low and urgent. "And

on. "We don't know, Father. We just saw

racing. "Flesh eaters, you say?

arely above a whisper. "Co

to her, his expression

rmly. "We need to understan

nger, and what se

✨Theo

n cleared, I realized I was in a small, confined space.

e window. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I tried

: the forest monsters

f the cannibals, I tho

out of my thoughts. A young girl en

as if I were a gh

" she whispered, takin

arching for something. I te

sked, trying to ke

nto mine, filled with a

her ways passing throu

ng a well-groomed beard, except for his distinctive mustache. Th

an air of authority, his

up in the forest?" he asked, his

to respond. His words hung i

cal. "Are you a wizard or possessed by a demon

on etched on my face. Hi

I asked, trying to piece tog

with Neji, who stood besi

were brought here injured, with arrow wounds. But by

ries of the forest mo

tammered. "Those creatur

urther questioning. Her father nodded, "Al

ited the room, l

and my brother, Jiraiya, and I went hunting when we saw you h

ith curiosity. "So,

unsure how mu

replied, my voice b

tint in one of her irises, a striking contrast to the white.

r and sat beside me, her

an show you around," Neji

spark of electricity

said, gesturing to a s

dded, nodding toward a lush plot fill

the secluded location, s

d for me to enter. "This is ou

pride. "We grow and h

me?" I asked, curiosity

a moment before she repl

miliar, but I could

significan

away, her voice ba

' But to some, it's a name t

crets and mysteries be

amily have to do

sharp blades lining the walls. What wo

rie. "All this you see her

y attention shifted to black leather attire hang

arted to ask, my voice

Yes. My father was the former general of the Shinobi

. Shinobi? Ninjas? I thou

" I asked, my c

ra, sought power and control. He betrayed my fathe

e than just a family's history; it was a tale o

settled between us, he

mother was killed by assassins sent by his brother,

ome tough times," I empathized. "I kno

ne, understanding and shar

asked gently, her question piercing

tened further. "I'm s

lf senses alerting me to the presence of som

ard the door, and she c

ce responded, "N

"Yes, brothe

uthful figure entered, his ey

rutinizing me. "You'r

odd

iya, this is Theodore.

see. Welcome, Theodore. I wasn't

assured me. "Theodore, don't min

ifting to Neji. "Father wants to speak

cussing with them, Jiraiya turne

unting with me? It'll be a gr

eager to p

it," I sai

with concern. "Be careful, Jira

ringly. "Don't worry,

d to leave, N

uld come back

inned. "We

off into the forest, our sens

asked, "Theodore, what

nt. "I rely on my in

provingly. "That'

our banter eas

froze, his eyes lo

it?" I

a sly grin spreadi

white arrow from

another arrow, his move

urt," he whispered, re

pard's leg, causi

grew fiercer, its e

ya warned, his voi

rged, its claws

ozen, my h

cont