"I'm suited for training?" Ryan asked, his eyes full of surprise. "I… didn't know. When I got tested before, the ninja said my chakra pathways were blocked. That even if I could refine chakra, I wouldn't be able to use any jutsu…"
He scratched his head in confusion, though he deliberately showed a bit of joy.
While the Star Village usually only admitted children over six, they often screened younger kids for potential—so the original child must've been brought by his father for early testing.
"I see… They must've made a mistake," Summer Star said with a nod. "You've got great talent. Tell me, would you like to join the Star Ninja training outpost? If you're willing, I can recommend you."
"I'm willing! Of course I'm willing! I've wanted to become a Star Ninja for so long!"
Ryan's face lit up with genuine joy as he nodded eagerly.
"That's great to hear. Now, what about your parents? We'll need to inform them," Summer Star asked softly.
"My mother passed away from illness a few years ago. I only have a father… but ever since he found out I couldn't become a ninja, he's constantly beaten me. He forces me to do all sorts of work meant for adults—fetching water, chopping wood, cooking... I barely get two steamed buns a day. Not long ago…"
Ryan pulled from the original child's story, relaying it with a hint of "grievance" in his tone. There was no need to lie—if Summer Star decided to look into it, anyone in the village could confirm what happened to that boy. Of course, he did tweak a few details to suit the situation.
"What?! There's actually a father like that? Come on, I'll teach him a lesson!"
Summer Star was immediately enraged. As a mother who loved her own son dearly, she couldn't comprehend how someone could treat their child with such cruelty—just because they couldn't become a shinobi.
"Big sis, you don't need to. I… I don't ever want to see him again. Since he's already considered me dead, it's better this way. From now on, I have nothing to do with him…"
Ryan lowered his head, clenching his small fists. Deep down, he did want to kill that short, fat man with his own hands. But he knew even if Summer Star went to deal with him, it would amount to little more than a scolding. Far better to wait until he had real power—then he'd ensure the man paid in the most painful way imaginable.
"You poor child… Alright, from now on, you'll stay at the Star Ninja Outpost. I'll make sure someone looks after you."
Summer Star wanted to take Ryan in herself, but she wasn't sure how long she had left. After a moment of hesitation, she decided it would be safer to entrust him to the Third Hoshikage's care.
"Thank you, big sister… Can I know your name?"
Ryan looked up at her masked face with curiosity. He wasn't someone who lived by the "repay every kindness a hundredfold" principle, but if the opportunity ever arose, he wanted to return this favor.
"Hehe, I can't tell you my name, little one. It's classified because of my mission."
She smiled beneath her mask, then pulled a messenger pigeon from her ninja pouch. After writing a few short words and infusing the scroll with her chakra, she released the pigeon toward Hoshigakure.
"There. Now we just have to wait. Someone will be here to take you shortly."
She turned, crouching down to Ryan's eye level with a gentle smile.
"Thank you so much, big sister!" Ryan said sincerely.
"By the way… I still don't know your name," she asked kindly.
"I gave myself a name—Ryan. I don't remember my old one…"
And it wasn't a lie. The original child likely didn't even have a name. The fat man had always just called him "trash," from the moment he could remember.
"Ryan, huh? A lovely name—just like a guiding star," Summer Star said with a smile.
As they continued their brief conversation, a small purple dot appeared in the distant sky, rapidly growing larger. It was clearly a person flying toward them.
"That was quick. Ryan, my comrade is here to pick you up," Summer Star said with a soft chuckle. Ryan could feel her smile, even if he couldn't see her face.
"That… is the Peacock Secret Technique, isn't it?"
Ryan stared at the man surrounded by transparent, purple chakra wings, awed.
To fly—it was one of humanity's greatest dreams. And it was one Ryan shared deeply. He was already thinking about how to use his Dimensional Seal for that very purpose.
"Summer—" the man landed a few meters away and respectfully addressed her, but Summer Star waved a hand to stop him mid-sentence.
"Summer…?"
Ryan's heart skipped. He immediately pieced it together.
So she really is Summer Star… no wonder she didn't want to tell me her name.
Unaware that Ryan had deduced her identity, Summer Star turned to the man and said calmly, "Akahoshi, long time no see. I asked you here because I want you to recommend this child to Lord Hoshikage. He has great potential and is a child of Hoshigakure. He's suffered a lot in his past—I hope you'll take good care of him."
"Oh? I see. If his talent is real and his background checks out, the Star Ninja Outpost would be more than happy to welcome him," Akahoshi replied with a smile.
Purple chakra wings still hovered at his back—he hadn't dismissed them, a sign that he wasn't planning to linger.
At this point in time, Akahoshi was simply an ambitious young man—not yet the heartless villain he would become a decade later.
"His background can be verified," Summer Star added, "but if he refuses to return to his family, don't force him. A father like that isn't worth anything."
"Understood. If there's nothing else, I'll take him now."
Despite his polite tone, Akahoshi harbored resentment toward Summer Star and her late husband. He believed that the Third Hoshikage's decision to ban the use of the Star for training had been due to their influence.
"Go ahead."
Summer Star patted Ryan gently on the head, motioning for him to go over.
"Goodbye, big sister!" Ryan gave her a respectful nod and walked to Akahoshi's side.
"Goodbye, Ryan. Work hard, okay?" Summer Star waved at him gently.
"I will. I promise!" Ryan replied with a determined smile.
"Then we'll be off, ma'am."
Understanding that Summer Star didn't want Ryan to know her identity, Akahoshi picked the boy up, nodded politely, and unfurled his chakra wings once again. With a burst of wind, they soared into the sky, flying toward the Star Ninja Outpost.
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T/N:
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