The sky above was scattered with countless stars—some twinkling gently, some dim and quiet, and a few shining especially bright.
As he gazed at the shimmering, ever-changing constellations, Ryan's eyes grew firm and resolute.
"In my last life, I spent over twenty years muddling through mediocrity. But in this life—even if I die—I'll burn with my own light. The star I represent will shine across the entire shinobi world!"
"Two hundred and one… two hundred and two… two hundred and three…"
With his resolve solidified, Ryan clenched his teeth and pushed his body to its limits, continuing his training without pause.
More than a month had passed since Ryan first arrived in this world. Though the training had been grueling, he never once slacked off—gritting his teeth and pushing through it all.
By now, the morning sun had blanketed the desolate mountain ridge in golden light, casting a warm, shimmering veil over the otherwise barren land.
Beside a shallow river roughly two meters wide, clear water flowed gently along the banks. Nearby, a six-year-old boy stood shirtless, wearing only a pair of ragged trousers. In front of him hung a makeshift sandbag made from a burlap sack tied up with branches.
The boy threw punch after punch at the sandbag with fierce determination. His strength might've seemed weak to an adult's eyes, but every blow was focused and deliberate—his punches landing rhythmically with full effort.
Behind the child stood a massive boulder, just large enough to shield him from the morning sun. That child was, of course, Ryan.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of fists pounding against the sandbag echoed across the quiet mountain, blending with the gentle murmur of the stream.
"One… two… three…"
Punch after punch, Ryan maintained his rhythm. He couldn't guarantee that each strike was perfectly identical, but he made sure every single one was thrown with total focus. He carefully monitored the strength, speed, and form of each blow—constantly refining his movements for maximum efficiency.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sandbag shook under the steady assault.
"…Nine hundred ninety-eight, nine hundred ninety-nine, one thousand!"
With the final punch, Ryan collapsed onto the ground, breathless, sweat pouring from his forehead. His small chest rose and fell as he gasped for air.
"Good… today's punches were more stable than before. I'll rest a bit, then start on my kicks…"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Now it was the sandbag's turn to tremble under Ryan's kicks. Thankfully, his legs weren't strong enough yet to break the makeshift structure—otherwise, it wouldn't have survived the barrage.
"One… two… three…"
Ryan began his leg training, unaware that a figure had been watching him from behind a nearby boulder.
Clad in the purple-and-black flak jacket typical of Hoshigakure (Hidden Star Village) shinobi, the figure's white arms were exposed, and they wore knee-length shorts that revealed pale, slender legs. Judging from the skin tone and physique, it seemed to be a kunoichi… though in the shinobi world, there were certainly men with similar features.
A gas mask obscured the ninja's face, making it impossible to determine their gender.
"This kid's got incredible willpower… I wonder whose child he is?" the figure muttered to herself in a low voice. "With proper training, he might become a powerful asset to Hoshigakure in ten years."
The voice was distinctly female—soft and steady—and clearly belonged to someone under twenty-five.
"I've been watching him for two days. Not once did he complain, or show bitterness. His heart's wide… not narrow or petty. With a strong will and good temperament, he'd make an excellent shinobi. If he can refine chakra, I should definitely recommend him to Lord Hoshikage. It'd be a shame to waste such talent…"
She spoke quietly to herself, unaware that if Ryan had heard any of this, he would've been utterly shocked.
He'd been under surveillance for two days… and hadn't noticed a thing.
"If only my son, Smiley—some call him Ang—could be as strong as him, I'd feel so much more at ease…"
Had Ryan heard that line, he would've immediately realized who the mysterious kunoichi was: Summer Star, the legendary mother who, even after death, used her chakra to protect her child and moved countless hearts.
But… what was Summer Star doing here? Shouldn't she have been in the massive forest across the Devil's Valley, in Bear Country?
It turns out, after being entrusted by the Third Hoshikage with a secret mission to protect Hoshigakure from the shadows, Summer Star and her husband Firefly Star had been guarding the village quietly from across the Devil's Valley, eliminating threats before they could strike.
However, just a month ago, Firefly Star had succumbed to the corrosive effects of overusing the Peacock Secret Technique. His body had been overwhelmed by the volatile energy of the Star Chakra, and he died in agony.
Heartbroken, Summer Star nearly followed him in death. But remembering her son, Smiley, and the promise she made to the Third Hoshikage, she chose to endure her pain and live on.
Lately, she'd been sneaking back into the village from time to time—never approaching her son, but watching him from afar. That alone gave her the strength to keep living.
One such journey brought her to this area, where she had accidentally discovered Ryan training diligently by the river. Her curiosity piqued, she had quietly observed him for two days.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of kicks gradually subsided.
"Nine hundred ninety-eight… nine hundred ninety-nine… one thousand!!"
Finally done, Ryan dropped to the ground, panting heavily. Sweat streamed into his eyes, but he was too exhausted to wipe it away.
"Hey, kid. Whose child are you? You're training so hard…"
A soft voice called out.
Startled, Ryan jerked upright and turned toward the source. A beautiful woman stepped out from behind the boulder, removing her gas mask to reveal her striking face. The Hoshigakure forehead protector gleamed on her brow.
"Who—?!"
Ryan instinctively grew alert. He tried to stand, but his limbs were like jelly. He could only glare warily at the woman approaching him.
But when he spotted the headband, he instantly realized—she was a shinobi from Hoshigakure.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not your enemy," Summer Star said gently. "I'm a ninja from the Hidden Star Village."
Though she'd technically been exiled, Summer Star still considered herself a true Hoshigakure kunoichi. No one was around to say otherwise, so she spoke without hesitation.
"Big sis, I recognize your forehead protector. You're from the Star Village, right? May I ask why you're here?" Ryan asked respectfully, tilting his head in confusion, though a flicker of hope lit in his heart.
After all, he knew he hadn't offended any big-name shinobi. This woman must've stumbled upon his training and taken interest. And for him, that could be a golden opportunity.
"I just happened to see you working so hard at your training," Summer Star replied. "But… it's clear you've never learned how to refine chakra. Normally, the Star Village's ninja outpost selects children over six years old each year to begin training. Why weren't you chosen? You don't seem like someone who's unsuited for it."
Curious, she extended her right hand. Purple chakra bloomed in her palm as she placed it on Ryan's left wrist.
Ryan didn't resist. He knew—if she meant harm, he wouldn't be able to stop her anyway.
Soon, he felt a warm sensation flowing through his arm, as if it were gently coursing through his entire body—tracing along his chakra pathways.
"Your chakra network is wide and open. You're very well-suited for training. So why didn't the Star Ninja outpost bring you in?" she asked, both pleased and puzzled.
She was pleased because Ryan's chakra pathways were unusually broad for his age—far more than most children his age. With proper instruction, he'd have excellent potential. But she was confused—how had such a talent gone unnoticed?
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