"Hyuga Hiro, leave me alone already!" Chen's voice trembled slightly, betraying the frustration he was trying to hide. His small fists clenched at his sides, barely holding back the urge to push the other boy away.
Hiro, puffed up with pride like a peacock, didn't even notice the irritation in Chen's voice. "You must be so jealous!" he boasted, pointing to the seal on his forehead with a chubby finger. "You'll never have anything like this!"
Chen took a deep breath, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. With a smile so fake it hurt his cheeks, he replied, "Wow, Hiro, you're right! That's an impressive mark. You must feel really special."
The flattery, though feigned, fell like honey on Hiro's ego. The boy stood taller, puffing out his chest as if he might burst with pride. "Of course I am," he declared smugly. "My grandfather says I'm a genius, destined for greatness."
Chen nodded with exaggerated enthusiasm, hiding his disdain behind a mask of childish admiration. "Wow, that's incredible! You must be super strong."
Thrilled to have an audience, Hiro began listing his supposed training achievements. Chen listened with a fixed smile, inwardly counting to ten to keep from bursting into laughter.
"And when I grow up, I'll be the leader of the Hyuga clan!" Hiro proclaimed, raising his arms as if he were already a champion.
Chen stifled a snort. "I'm sure you will," he said, with a sarcasm that went completely unnoticed by Hiro. "You're clearly a prodigy."
Satisfied with his display of "superiority," Hiro waved arrogantly and strutted away like a little dictator.
Chen watched Hiro's figure shrink into the distance before entering his house with a sigh of relief. "What a waste of time," he muttered, shaking his head. "That kid can't help being such an idiot."
As he headed to his room, Chen reflected on the cursed seal Hiro wore with such pride.
An ironic smile played on his lips. 'At least I'm not marked like cattle,' he thought. 'I guess being born without the Byakugan has its advantages after all.'
Chen recalled how, born without the coveted Byakugan, the clan elders had immediately labeled him a failure, a stain on their precious bloodline. "What irony," he murmured, gently touching his eyes. Eyes that hid a power those old fools couldn't even imagine.
Despite the constant taunts from kids like Hiro, Chen knew he was destined to stand above them all. The power of a Pure Otsutsuki flowed through his veins, so why should he care about the opinions of simpletons?
That night, after ensuring everyone was asleep, Chen packed a small backpack with essentials. With stealth, he slipped out of the Hyuga residence and ventured into the shadowed streets of Konoha.
His destination: a hidden clearing in the forest behind the Hokage Rock. The perfect place to train undetected.
As he walked through the dark streets, Chen noticed a figure approaching. It was a young woman, maybe in her twenties, with a striking appearance even in the dim light.
Her hair, cut in an asymmetrical bob, was a deep reddish hue with violet streaks that gleamed. She wore a customized kunoichi uniform: a tight mesh top under a cropped black leather jacket, form-fitting pants of the same material, and high boots. A tattoo of a metallic-winged butterfly peeked from her neck, disappearing under her jacket's collar.
Her bright green eyes lit up upon seeing Chen. She had a thin scar crossing her left eyebrow, giving her a mysterious and dangerous air. Her lips, painted a dark red, curved into a smile of surprise and curiosity.
"Well, well," the woman said, her voice soft yet with a hint of roughness, like someone used to giving orders. "What do we have here? A little angel lost in the night."
She crouched in front of Chen, and he caught a whiff of a mix of leather and a sweet but intense perfume. "What's your name, sweetheart?" she asked, her jade eyes studying every detail of Chen's face.
Chen regarded the woman with a mix of caution, sensing that she was no ordinary kunoichi.
"My name is Chen," he replied, maintaining a polite tone.
The woman smiled, revealing perfectly white teeth that contrasted with her dark red lips. "Chen," she repeated, savoring the name. "An interesting name for such a... peculiar child."
Her eyes roamed over Chen's silver hair, lingering on his lavender eyes. For a moment, Chen thought he saw a flash of recognition in her gaze, but it vanished so quickly he wasn't sure he'd seen it.
"I'm Akira," the woman said, extending a gloved hand to Chen. "What's a little one like you doing out here at this hour?"
Chen hesitated for a moment before answering. "Just... taking a walk," he lied.
Akira raised an eyebrow, her smile turning slightly mocking. "A walk? Well, well. You're either very brave or very foolish."
She stood up, stretching her back with a feline motion. Chen noticed that despite her striking appearance, she moved with the grace of a predator.
"You know, it's not safe for a child to be out alone," Akira continued, her tone casual but her gaze intense. "There are many dangers in Konoha, especially for someone as... special as you."
Chen felt a shiver run down his spine. Who is this woman?
"I can take care of myself," Chen replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
Akira let out a soft, almost musical laugh. "I'm sure you can, little Chen. But even the strongest need allies." She leaned in again, bringing her face close to Chen's. "If you ever need help, or just someone to talk to, you can find me in the artisan district. Just ask for the Steel Butterfly."
With a swift motion, Akira pulled something from her ample chest and slipped it into Chen's pocket. When the boy looked, he saw it was a small brooch shaped like a butterfly, identical to the tattoo on the woman's neck.
"Until we meet again, Chen," Akira said, straightening up. "I have a feeling we'll see each other very soon."
With a wink and a fluid movement, Akira disappeared into the shadows, leaving Chen alone with his thoughts and a bunch of new questions.
With his mind buzzing, Chen resumed his path to the forest clearing. His training was the most important thing; he could figure out who this woman was later.
Finally, he reached the clearing in the forest. The full moon bathed the place in its silver light, creating an almost magical atmosphere. Chen dropped his backpack and stood in the center of the clearing, breathing deeply the pure night air.
It was time to train. Despite his young age, his body had the physical strength of a Jonin.
___
Time: If you're craving more (and I know you are!), I have just what you need. On my Patreon, you'll find exclusive chapters. Join our community and be the first to discover what happens next!
👉 [patreon.com/Athome790]
Your support fuels me. Thank you for the support! 💖