The next morning — Hell Valley's edge.
The Third Hoshikage stood alongside Natsuhoshi, Akahoshi, and a few others. They had come early to send Ryan off on his first journey outside the village.
As everyone expressed their well-wishes and reluctant goodbyes, Ryan adjusted the gas mask over his face and secured the ninja backpack Natsuhoshi had packed for him. With a sweep of his arms, he activated his signature Peacock Method.
From his back emerged a pair of resplendent purple wings, their radiance shocking even the Third and Natsuhoshi anew. The wings fluttered once—and with a whoosh, Ryan soared across the Hell Valley in a single motion, vanishing swiftly into the horizon.
"Don't worry, Natsuhoshi," the Third said gently, seeing the worry in her eyes. "A fledgling must learn to fly… Only then can it touch the sky."
Yuba City, the second most prosperous city in the Land of Bears, located near the border of the Land of Birds.
Because of the constant trade between the two nations, the city flourished with commerce. Aside from the Bear Country's capital, no other place matched its bustle.
Ryan, aware that traveling outside the village would inevitably bring trouble, had already taken precautions—he left his Star Village forehead protector behind, hidden in the secluded mountain valley where he trained. He'd retrieve it when he returned.
With a modest backpack slung over his shoulders, Ryan's lean frame stood tall at 165 cm, making him appear older than his age. His clean-cut, handsome face turned heads wherever he went—especially among passing girls and young women who couldn't help but sneak second glances.
Luckily, no unwanted incidents occurred.
The streets were filled with vendors shouting their wares, and the air carried the mouthwatering aromas of street food. Though not packed shoulder to shoulder, the avenue teemed with a steady flow of people.
After wandering a bit, Ryan's half-day trek had worked up an appetite. He soon found a decent-sized barbecue restaurant and stepped inside.
Seeing a young teen walk in alone, a few patrons gave him curious looks, but they didn't linger. The backpack marked him as a ninja-in-training—most assumed he was traveling with family.
Ryan glanced around. There were only a few others inside, and a quick sweep with his chakra sense confirmed none of them were shinobi. Relaxing, he picked an empty table and called out, "Boss, a pound of grilled meat, please!"
"Coming right up!" the plump restaurant owner hollered, then barked a few orders at a young waiter.
Ryan wasn't sure how much food cost around here, but he doubted it'd be too expensive. Natsuhoshi had stocked his pack with plenty of money—enough to last him for quite a while.
Before long, a waiter brought over a plate of half-cooked meat and a small table grill.
As Ryan placed a piece of meat on the grill with his chopsticks, he casually asked, "Hey, mind if I ask you something?"
"Huh? Sure, what is it, sir?" the young waiter blinked, then nodded.
"Do you know where I can find an Underground World around here?"
The question made the waiter's face go pale.
The Underground World—a term synonymous with black markets, where bounties on rogue ninja and high-profile individuals were sold—was not something anyone mentioned lightly.
"You want to go… to the Underground World?" the waiter blurted, stunned. His voice rose in pitch, drawing the attention of the other diners nearby.
"He's going to the Underground World? Has he lost his mind?"
A young man sitting nearby stared at Ryan in disbelief, whispering urgently to his companion.
"We're just normal folks. Stay out of ninja business," the companion muttered, tugging him back with a shake of his head.
Ryan ignored the murmurs. Still grilling his food, he calmly repeated, "You haven't answered me."
The waiter hesitated, then leaned closer and lowered his voice. "It's… on East Street, second alley. Look for a place called Black Bar. That's the place. But, uh… it's dangerous there. If you're going alone, be careful."
Judging by the fear on the waiter's face, Ryan figured things could get messy.
He gave a small nod and tossed a few silver coins the waiter's way, eyes deep in thought.
If he wanted to fight strong opponents and earn some coin while doing it, the Underground World was the best place to start. What Ryan lacked most right now was real combat experience—fighting strong enemies to the death.
After finishing his meal, Ryan followed the directions and soon found himself in the second alley of East Street.
The alley looked ordinary—quiet, with fewer people—but crude laughter and shouting echoed from nearby.
As he stepped into the raucous bar, Ryan instantly drew eyes from every corner.
The bar wasn't large—maybe a hundred square meters—with square tables arranged neatly across the room. At first glance, it didn't seem much different from a normal tavern.
But behind the counter… was a partially ajar door.
Etched on its surface was a skull emblem, just large enough to be the size of a human head—its presence sending a faint chill through the room.
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