Crystal snowflakes gently floated down from the sky, resembling feathers of geese.
Uchiha Sogetsu extended his hand and observed as a snowflake landed in his palm, melting at the warmth of his skin. His eyes flickered, murmuring to himself, "It's snowing."
This was the first heavy snowfall of the winter, unexpected in the Land of Water.
The forest below was transformed into a pristine white landscape, a sight of silver-clad beauty.
The serene scenery and the absence of any sound filled those within the forest with a deep tranquility and purity. The rustling of snow-covered branches created faint whispers.
Lost in the quiet enjoyment of the snowscape, Uchiha Sogetsu furrowed his brows slightly, sensing a disturbance. He listened attentively.
About 150 meters northwest, a feeble and hoarse voice drifted through the dense snowy woods on the cold wind. "Help. Help."
Someone was calling for help?
Uchiha Sogetsu raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, and then swiftly headed towards the source of the voice.
Normally, he would rarely bother with such situations, but today's snow scene seemed to uplift his spirits, prompting him to investigate.
Crunch!
The thick snow covering the branches cracked under his footfalls. After a few moments, Uchiha Sogetsu traced the gradually fading voice and finally located the person in distress.
In the thick snow, only half of a young child's body was visible, the rest buried beneath.
Despite the biting cold, the child wore a thin, worn-out summer garment patched with visible repairs. Scattered around were branches, likely gathered for warmth amidst the wind and snow.
Unaware of the traps set by hunters along the way, the child had accidentally stepped into one.
The sharp iron jaws closed tightly around the child's calf, clamping down fiercely. How long he struggled was unclear, but the surrounding snow was stained red with his blood.
"Save me... ninja... please," he pleaded weakly.
Excessive blood loss and the biting cold blurred the child's vision. With instinct alone, he stretched out a thin, dirty hand towards the figure standing on the tree branch.
Uchiha Sogetsu peered down from the branch, observing the child teetering on the brink of life and death. Her eyes mirrored the struggle for survival, yet strangely, his heart remained unmoved.
His demeanor was like stagnant water—silent, cold, and indifferent. It was as if his thoughts and soul had been stripped away, viewing the world below from a god-like perspective.
Gradually, an aura of indifference enveloped him, human emotions slowly fading away. Dragon scales emerged on his skin, emitting a dim gray glow. Mysterious symbols and patterns adorned his body, intertwining with flesh and blood, seeming otherworldly.
"Please... save me..." The child's voice faded, his trembling arms falling weakly. "I don't want to die. Grandma is waiting for me at home..."
At that moment, a voice echoed in Sogetsu's ears.
It struck like thunder breaking through the darkness, exploding deep within Uchiha Sogetsu's heart, sending powerful ripples through him.
"No. This isn't right!"
Suddenly, Uchiha Sogetsu's eyes widened.
The immense mental shock forcefully snapped him out of the god-like third-person perspective he had just been in.
Lost emotions, humanity, everything returned to him.
The dragon scales gradually receded and vanished, as if the mysterious symbols and strange patterns had never been there.
Uchiha Sogetsu pressed his hand to his forehead, his fingers digging into his hair roots, and he let out a long breath.
"If not for meeting this child unexpectedly today, I might not have realized my mind had strayed from the right path."
"Though those of the Visionary pathway may find it hard to lose control as they can always monitor their minds." Uchiha Sogetsu took a deep breath, his face now solemn and filled with fear. "But on the flip side, once there's an issue with one's mental state, detecting it becomes exceedingly difficult."
However, it was this child who made a difference.
By a stroke of luck, he noticed the turmoil in his mind just in time.
"Is it because of being a time traveler?" he pondered aloud.
Reflecting deeply, he sighed softly, his eyes betraying a mix of emotions.
His identity as a time traveler afforded him a clear sense of self-awareness. It allowed him to detach from his personal perspective and view the ninja world from an outsider's vantage point.
The advantage lay in his familiarity with the storyline, naturally placing him in the role of a discerning "Spectator."
Yet, the drawback was akin to being an aloof "spectator," detached from the world around him, observing life with an indifferent, god-like gaze. This gradually eroded his humanity.
For an audience, losing touch with humanity equated to losing control.
Today's events served as a poignant lesson for him.
Uchiha Sogetsu took a deep breath, calming his thoughts. He cast his gaze upon the child, unconscious and buried under the snowy tree, a rare tenderness softening his expression.
"In a way, you've rescued me," he admitted quietly.
Leaping down from the tree, he approached the child, squatting beside him to dismantle the rusty trap.
The child's slender calf was mired in blood and ice, the wound deep enough to expose bone—a testament to the trap's lethal potential.
With a soft hum, a gentle green light emanated from Uchiha's palm.
Ninja technique: Mystical Palm Technique!
As a Psychiatrist, he possessed knowledge of basic medical treatments. His palm hovered over the wound, emitting a vibrant green light that visibly healed the grievous injury.
"Ninja-sama."
The child stirred, her green eyes timidly meeting Uchiha's.
"Thank you for saving me," he murmured gratefully.
"Where is your home?"
Uchiha Sogetsu gently touched the child's hair and asked, "It's so cold. I'll take you home."
The child shivered from the cold, biting her lips. Her dirty face showed fear, "No, no, Ninja-sama, I can go back by myself."
"It's alright."
Without waiting for a refusal, Uchiha Sogetsu leaned over and lifted the child onto his back, "You've helped me a lot. Don't be afraid. It's freezing. Wouldn't you rather get home quickly?"
Moved by the ninja's sincerity, the child hummed softly, burying her head in Sogetsu's broad shoulders and pointing in a direction, "Over there."
Crunch, crunch.
With the child on his back, Uchiha Sogetsu leaped from branch to branch covered in snow.
"I forgot to ask, what's your name?"
Only now did he realize he didn't know the child's name. He couldn't keep calling him by someone else's name.
"My name is Mei Terumi."
The child on his back spoke softly, gripping Sogetsu's shoulders tightly with little hands, and curiously asked, "And you? Ninja brother, what's your name?"
Huh?
Uchiha Sogetsu halted and raised an eyebrow, "Wait, did you say your name is Mei Terumi?"
"Yeah~ It's the name my grandma gave me!"
The little girl nodded enthusiastically, "I really like it, Mei Terumi!"
Well, I've picked up a future Mizukage?!
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