Splash.
Cold water drenches my face, dripping from my jet-black hair in glistening beads that trace their way down to my cheeks. I glance up, meeting the weary reflection of Akai Kagurazaka staring back at me from the mirror.
Something's different this time. My eyes—they're ringed with an unnatural red hue. Not the sclera, not the irises, but the skin around them, as though someone had etched permanent crimson eyeliner onto me. I try to scrub it away, but the stain clings stubbornly, indifferent to my efforts. There's also the caged bird seal that keeps glowing frequently before stopping.
Still, they're a minor inconvenience compared to everything else I'm dealing with.
The night was brutal. As I drifted off to sleep, my grip on the magicules slipped. The barrier blocking the defect weakened, forcing it to overwork and my lungs to follow. I woke up several times, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
When morning came, I regained control. I rebuilt the barrier, and within moments, the strain eased. My breathing steadied, and my heart settled into a calmer rhythm.
"Better," I muttered.
I didn't need to train as hard as last night, but experimenting with chakra was thrilling. It wasn't as powerful or versatile as magicules, but it had its own nostalgic charm, reminding me of my favorite manga.
Chakra felt similar to mana, yet distinct. While aspectual magic uses both internal mana and external magicules, ninjas here rely solely on their internal mana—chakra—seemingly unaware of the surrounding natural energy used in senjutsu.
Considering this, there are at least three individuals in this world who might be "Enlightened." There's the three legendary sages—and perhaps the Kage as well, though I'm not entirely sure.
As the sun climbed higher, I made my way back to the courtyard. I practiced forming seals, channeling chakra, and refining my control. Everything came effortlessly, almost instinctively. I didn't need to force myself to try hard, nor did I feel any urgency to prove anything. It was like stretching my legs after a long journey—natural and easy.
As I was about to call it a day, I felt a presence behind me. Turning, I saw Neji standing there, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
"You should run away," he said suddenly, his voice low but firm.
I blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness of his words. No greeting, no buildup—just straight to the point.
"Run away?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," he said firmly, his gaze steady. "This clan will never accept you. They don't expect much from you either. There's nothing here for you. You're better off finding a life elsewhere."
Thought Communication Translation: "If you stay here, they'll break you. Just like they've done to everyone else like us."
I tilted my head, observing him. His words were heavy, loaded with pity, though it was unnecessary. I understood his sentiment, but it didn't stir anything within me. If anything, it was faintly amusing.
"Ah, so he pities me after all. Why am I not surprised?" That was my only thought as I looked at him. Though, I wasn't quite sure how to respond.
"Well," I said, "Thanks for pitying me." My smile wasn't genuine, but it wasn't sarcastic either—just the polite expression you'd offer during a transactional conversation.
Neji's eyes widened slightly. "What?"
Thought Communication Translation: "Pity—?"
"Don't worry," I continued casually, "I'm sure the others from the branch families can relate and pity you too." My tone was calm, though his thoughts became even more entertaining.
Thought Communication Translation: "Are you joking with me? Here I am giving him advice and yet he—"
Resting my chin on my hand, I adopted a curious demeanor. "Well, if we're talking about you, I should probably pity you more."
Neji's brows furrowed. "...What's with that tone of yours?"
Thought Communication Translation: "Why do I feel like... he's looking down on me?"
"Hm?" I tilted my head. "Isn't that what you're looking for? Someone to relate to? Someone who understands what it's like to wear the caged bird seal? Intriguing, by the way. Maybe you should pluck out those eyes too if you want freedom from the clan." My smile remained steady, my expression unhurried, almost unnervingly relaxed.
"You..." His voice trailed off, his anger radiating so strongly that I could almost feel it.
Thought Communication Translation: "Who does he think he is—?!"
Neji's expression darkened further. "So, are you not going to run? Do you really think you can keep up?"
"Run? Why should I?" I replied evenly. "It's an option, sure, but I don't particularly desire to be a 'ninja.' Still, if it's just graduating the academy and climbing to Jounin, I'll figure it out."
His composure snapped. "You'll figure it out?!" he repeated, his voice rising. "You're nothing but a—" He stopped abruptly, his fists clenching.
'Defect' The word almost spoken itself by his lips, and I caught the flicker of sadness in his thoughts. He almost said it, surprising even himself.
I looked through Akai's memories more yesterday. It seems like these two shared some kinship due to the caged bird seal, though it wasn't much beyond that. That's why he felt a bit of guilt now. Though that doesn't really bother me.
"You're a defect," he finally spat, the word cutting through the silence.
Thought Communication Translation: "Why am I even wasting my time? He doesn't care, and yet I—"
Regret flickered in his eyes before he masked it, though he didn't apologize. Instead, he turned and walked away, his back rigid, his emotions barely concealed.
"Where is that confidence coming from?" he snapped over his shoulder. "You should just run away if you're nothing but a defect."
With that, he left, though his telepathic thoughts echoed faintly as he walked off.
I stood there for a moment, watching his retreating figure. His anger wasn't my concern. I knew my own path and where I stood. Let him wrestle with his own emotions.
That being said, I found a few more things that I became interested in.
Sealing arts.
The intricacies of sealing arts were unlike anything I had encountered in my previous life. Back there, seals were simple barriers or containment tools. But here? They were written on papers. Sure, there were a few talismans in the cardinal world, but none had such specific and diverse effects like the ones here.
For example, the Flying Thunder God sealing technique. How does "Shinobi's Sword Love" (Nin ai no ken) even translate to "You can teleport to anyplace this stupid kunai was thrown"? That would mean the sealing technique doesn't rely solely on the words written on it, so even if I use English on it, it won't probably work. I still couldn't make sense of it, but it fascinated me.
Still, there was no way I could waltz up to the Hokage and say, "Hey, let me borrow your Flying Thunder God scroll." That would be suicide—figuratively and possibly literally. Brushing off my thoughts, I stood, stretched, and decided to pursue a more modest goal.
Finding Elder Takahiro, I approached him with my usual grin. "Elder, can I borrow some explosive tags?"
The elder froze, his hand mid-air as if the question had short-circuited his brain. Slowly, he turned toward me, his expression a mix of disbelief and mounting anger.
Thought Communication Translation: "Is this boy insane? Does he even understand what he's asking for?"
"You... want explosive tags?" His voice was low, dangerous.
"Yes." My tone remained casual, as though I'd just asked for a cup of tea.
His forehead creased, the lines on his face deepening. "Are you sane, Akai? Do you even know what those are for?" His voice rose, and for a moment, I thought he might actually explode himself.
Thought Communication Translation: "This brat is out of his mind! Was yesterday just an act? Is he trying to get himself killed or something?"
I tilted my head, feigning ignorance. "Of course, Elder. I just thought they might be... fun to study."
"Fun?!" His shout echoed through the room. "Do you think explosive tags are toys? You're not getting any, you fool! Now get out of my sight before I really lose my temper!"
I bowed slightly, still smiling. "Thank you for your time, Elder."
As I turned to leave, his scowl deepened, and his gruff voice stopped me mid-step. "Wait. Where do you think you're going?"
"Out," I said nonchalantly, not even turning back to look at him.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Out where, exactly? You've barely left the compound in years."
"Just out to see the village," I replied. "You know, stretch my legs a bit. Nothing important."
Thought Communication Translation: "He's up to something. But still... it's about time he went out. Maybe it'll do him some good."
The elder huffed, crossing his arms. "Fine, but if you're going out, take this." He shoved a small pouch into my hands. "A Hyuga should at least have some allowance. Don't tarnish our name."
Thought Communication Translation: "This kid barely leaves the compound. If he's going out, I suppose I'll humor him."
I grinned, thanked him, and stepped outside, eager to see more of Konoha.
Walking through the village, I heard murmurs from other Hyuga servants. Their thoughts and words came in a steady stream, many unfiltered through my thought communication.
"Why doesn't he cover that foul cursed seal on his forehead?"
"He's also a servant so why is he even act like he's better than us?"
"Why does Elder Takahiro waste time on him?"
"The defect is living a better life than us."
Their disdain was palpable. Despite their harshness, I maintained a warm smile, nodding at them as I passed. To my surprise, the murmurs fell silent, one by one, replaced by an uneasy tension. Some even activated their Byakugan, only to find nothing unusual. The fear that swept through them was almost amusing, though I wasn't sure why it had happened.
With the path clear, I continued toward the heart of the village, enjoying the quiet. I wandered aimlessly, taking in the sights of Konoha. Eventually, I found myself in front of a shop with a sign depicting various ninja tools. The scent of metal and oil wafted through the open door.
Stepping inside, I saw a middle-aged man hammering away at a kunai. His build was solid, with broad shoulders and arms corded with muscle. His dark hair was tied back, and a bandana covered his forehead. He looked up as I entered, his sharp eyes scrutinizing me.
"Welcome," he said gruffly, wiping his hands on a rag. "Looking for something specific?"
"I'm just browsing," I replied. "Are you the owner?"
"Yeah. Kenta," he answered, his tone firm but not unkind. "I make and repair weapons here." His eyes flickered with sharp focus, the type born from years of precision and practice. Despite the gruffness in his demeanor, there was a calm, steady presence about him.
Before I could reply, the sound of light footsteps drew my attention. A girl around my age appeared, her hair styled in two buns and carrying a tray of polished shuriken. Her lively energy filled the room, and a proud smile graced her lips.
"Dad, I finished cleaning these!" she announced brightly, placing the tray on the counter.
Kenta nodded approvingly. "Good. Now help this young man if he needs anything."
The girl turned to me with eager curiosity. "Hi! I'm Tenten. Need help finding anything?"
Her enthusiasm was disarming, and I returned her smile. "Explosive tags."
Tenten blinked, her bright expression faltering. "E-explosive tags?"
"Yes," I confirmed calmly.
Her brow furrowed as she shifted the tray in her hands. "Uh... we do have them, but it's not something I can handle yet. You'll need to talk to my dad."
Kenta, who had been listening quietly, set his hammer down with a solid thud. His arms crossed as he scrutinized me, his piercing gaze sharpening. "What would a kid like you need explosive tags for?"
I shrugged, letting my tone carry a hint of youthful exasperation. "Study. I'm learning about seals and need examples of practical applications. Explosive tags seemed like a good place to start."
Kenta's expression remained stern. "Learning about seals, huh? Dangerous work for someone your age. You'd best stick to the basics."
I let out a small sigh. "Oh man, even though Grandpa gave me so much money..." I muttered just loud enough for him to hear, letting the thought trail off wistfully.
Kenta's brow lifted in surprise. "Grandpa? Who's your grandfather?"
I glanced at him, feigning a moment of hesitation before replying. "Elder Takahiro from the Hyuga clan."
The name clearly caught him off guard. His eyes widened briefly before narrowing again in thought. "Elder Takahiro?"
I nodded, watching the wheels turn in his mind. Kenta seemed to weigh the information carefully, his arms uncrossing as he finally said, "If Takahiro's supporting your studies, I suppose it's fine."
Turning to Tenten, he gestured toward the back. "Get two tags. Just two."
Tenten hesitated for a moment but then nodded, quickly disappearing into the storeroom. When she returned, she handed me the tags, her expression a mix of curiosity and caution.
"Here you go," she said quietly.
I accepted them with a small, grateful bow. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."
As I turned to leave, I paused at the door and glanced back at Tenten. "By the way," I said, my tone curious, "are you in the ninja academy?"
Her eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I just started!"
I smiled faintly, a flicker of something familiar stirring within me. "Good luck. You've got the right spirit."
I stepped out of the shop, the explosive tags safely tucked away.
In the quiet of my mind, a voice suddenly resonated.
«Confirm: Extra Skill, 『Thought Guidance』 has been acquired.»
I suppose my habit was still there.
.
.
.
To be continued.