Neji found himself disoriented as the vibrant forest landscape around him blurred and twisted into a vortex of light. When the world steadied again, he was no longer in the Heart of the Forest. Instead, he stood in the middle of a quiet, dilapidated village surrounded by barren fields. The air was heavy with despair, and the distant sound of children crying reached his ears.
Neji scanned his surroundings cautiously, his senses on high alert. Among the crumbling wooden houses, a faint rustling caught his attention. Turning, he saw a small girl with striking red hair peeking out from behind a broken fence. Her vivid locks stood out starkly against the dull gray of the village.
The girl flinched as Neji took a step closer. She was thin, her cheeks hollow, and her eyes carried a mixture of fear and determination. Despite her obvious hardship, there was a spark of resilience in her gaze
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling but firm.
"I'm Neji," he said calmly, lowering his hands to show he meant no harm. "I don't mean to frighten you. I'm just… lost."
The girl hesitated before stepping out from behind the fence. "I'm Erza. This is Rosemary Village."
Neji nodded, his mind racing. Rosemary Village? I've heard of this place in stories… This must be before the tragedy that shaped her.
"Are you alone?" Neji asked gently.
Erza's expression darkened, and she looked away. "No… but life here isn't easy. The adults do their best, but there's never enough food or supplies. And the… bandits…" Her voice trailed off, but Neji didn't press her further.
Before he could respond, a group of ragged children emerged from one of the houses, their eyes wide as they stared at the stranger. Erza quickly positioned herself between them and Neji, her protective instincts kicking in.
"It's okay," Neji assured her. "I won't hurt anyone. In fact, maybe I can help."
Erza eyed him warily, but there was a glimmer of hope in her expression. "Help how?"
Neji knelt and placed a hand on the ground, channeling the Verdant Arcana. Green energy spread outward, revitalizing the barren soil. Before long, tiny sprouts began to push through the earth, growing into lush patches of vegetables and grains. The children gasped in amazement, and even Erza's stoic demeanor cracked as her eyes widened.
"How… how did you do that?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.
"It's a kind of magic I learned," Neji explained. "It allows me to connect with nature and use its energy to create life."
Erza stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Thank you. This will help us a lot."
Over the next few days, Neji stayed in Rosemary Village, using his magic to improve their living conditions. He repaired broken homes with reinforced wooden vines, purified the village's water supply, and created barriers of dense foliage to protect them from bandits.
As he worked, he noticed Erza's unwavering determination to help the other children, despite her young age. She took on responsibilities far beyond her years, organizing the little ones and ensuring everyone was cared for.
One evening, as the village sat around a newly built fire pit, enjoying their first proper meal in weeks, Neji sat beside Erza.
"You're strong," he said, breaking the comfortable silence.
Erza glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "I have to be. If I don't protect them, who will?"
Neji smiled faintly. "That's a lot of weight for someone so young."
Erza's gaze hardened. "It doesn't matter. I'll carry it. One day, I'll become strong enough that no one can hurt the people I care about."
Neji saw the fire in her eyes, and it reminded him of his own resolve when he was younger. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You'll get there. I can see it in you."
However, the peaceful days were short-lived. One night, Neji woke to the sound of screams. Rushing outside, he saw the village under attack by a group of dark mages. They were rounding up the adults and children, binding them with chains that glowed with malevolent energy.
"Erza!" Neji called, spotting her struggling against a group of attackers.
She turned to him, her eyes wide with fear but still defiant. "Neji, run! They'll take you too!"
But Neji had no intention of running. Channeling the Verdant Arcana, he summoned a barrier of roots to shield Erza and the children. However, the dark mages were strong, and their magic began to corrode his defenses.
A mage clad in black, clearly the leader, stepped forward. "Impressive magic," he sneered. "But you're out of your league, boy."
Neji gritted his teeth, his chakra reserves dwindling. He managed to fend off several mages but was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. As he collapsed to one knee, he saw Erza being dragged away, her screams echoing in his ears.
"Neji!" She cried, tears streaming down her face.
With his last ounce of strength, Neji unleashed a surge of Verdant Arcana, creating a barrier that allowed a few of the children to escape. But it wasn't enough to save everyone. Darkness closed in, and Neji lost consciousness.