"Lord Kenta, all the villagers are gathered here!"
A rogue ninja from Takigakure bowed toward his leader.
"Hand over everything valuable you have. Otherwise… you know what happens."
Kenta glared at the villagers trembling on the ground, killing intent overflowing from his eyes.
"Ninja-sama, our village is poor. Everything of value has already been offered. We beg you—please spare our village."
The elderly village chief, hair white and body frail, spoke with utmost humility.
Kenta glanced at his subordinate. Seeing him nod slightly, it seemed to be true.
"In that case… hand over all the young women in your village. Then we'll leave and spare your lives."
A glint of excitement flashed in Kenta's eyes as he spoke.
"L-Lord, please… please spare us!"
The village chief continued pleading, but Kenta simply flicked his gaze at his men, ordering them to proceed.
The rogue ninja began selecting the young girls—
and soon enough, they reached Rina.
"Stop!"
Seeing Rina grabbed by a rogue ninja, Yue panicked. Even though he'd been shaking beside her moments before, he mustered all his courage and shouted.
The rogue ninja didn't even look at him. He casually kicked Yue, sending him flying several meters.
"Ninja-sama! Please spare the child. I… I'll go with you instead!"
Rina's heart twisted painfully as she saw Yue kicked aside. She could only beg for his life.
Yue felt a crushing pain in his chest, spat out blood, then struggled to crawl toward Rina.
Internally screaming: Bro, what the hell—your kick nearly killed me!
But he still forced himself forward, shouting:
"I told you to stop! Let her go!"
To Yue, this girl who had cared for him for half a year already felt like family.
He had no cheat, no system—if he was going to die, then so be it. He would at least protect the only person who had treated him well in this world.
Just as he was about to reach Rina, the rogue ninja holding her calmly pulled out a handful of shuriken and flung them at Yue.
Rina realized something was wrong. Using every ounce of strength, she broke free and rushed in front of Yue. The shuriken buried themselves deep into her back.
"Yue… you must live… live well…"
Her clothes turned scarlet. She collapsed, no longer breathing.
"Rina!!!"
Yue screamed, but no reply came.
Seeing the girl who protected him fall, his mind went blank. Rage swallowed his chest like a blazing inferno.
"I want all of you dead!!!"
Losing all reason, Yue felt a warm current explode from his dantian, surging through every meridian. White steam seeped from his body.
The rogue ninja glanced at him with disinterest and casually threw another kunai.
CLANG!
Yue lifted his right hand. A wooden spike shot out from his arm, blocking the kunai. More wooden pillars burst forth, impaling the rogue ninja instantly. He died with his eyes wide open in disbelief.
"Wood Release?!"
Kenta's face paled. Throughout the entire shinobi world, only the God of Shinobi himself had ever wielded Wood Release. No one else could use it.
He immediately signaled his subordinates to attack and kill the boy first.
Rogue ninja from all sides charged toward Yue. Yue raised both hands—
countless wooden spikes erupted and skewered them all.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Finding his subordinates annihilated in an instant, Kenta panicked and quickly formed seals. A massive water dragon lunged at Yue like it meant to swallow him whole.
BOOM!
The water dragon crashed into a wall of thick wooden pillars Yue created with a single gesture. He remained unscathed.
With a stomp, Yue vanished. In a blink, he appeared before Kenta and thrust forward.
Behind Kenta, a colossal tree burst out of the ground. Its trunk split into flexible limbs, grabbing and dragging him inside.
Kenta didn't even get a chance to scream before being swallowed.
Once all the rogue ninja of the Waterfall were eliminated, Yue's rage faded. His vision blurred, and he collapsed.
"Yue! Yue, you're awake!"
Rina's anxious voice reached his ears. He slowly opened his eyes.
As the blurry world cleared and he recognized Rina, he jolted upright and hugged her tightly.
"Rina! You're okay… thank goodness…"
Rina flicked him on the forehead.
"How many times must I tell you—call me Rina-nee! I'm fine. Just wounded."
Yue had called her "big sister" once, but it felt too awkward given his mental age. After spending time together, he simply used her name.
"Right, Yue—there's a ninja from Konoha outside. He's passing through and came to investigate what happened. Our village is under Konoha's protection, after all. When he heard about your situation, he insisted on meeting you. I'll let him in now."
Rina spoke excitedly. She knew Yue dreamed of becoming a ninja. And now, a real Konoha shinobi had come. After hearing how Yue saved the entire village, she believed he had the potential to become someone great.
"No need. I'm already here."
A voice came from outside. The Konoha ninja stepped into the room.
When Yue saw who it was, waves crashed violently in his heart.
Jiraiya.
One of his favorite characters.
If he could hold onto this thigh, he'd be set for life!
Who didn't know Jiraiya was the number one mentor in the entire ninja world?
Jiraiya approached Yue, glancing briefly at Rina.
"Yue, talk with the Konoha ninja properly. I won't disturb you. You just woke up—I'll get you something to eat."
Jiraiya had already investigated. What he learned shocked even him.
Wood Release.
The only explanation was that this child was likely a descendant of the Senju Clan. Only their kekkei genkai could produce Wood Release. And although Jiraiya knew Konoha had been experimenting with the First Hokage's cells, he wasn't aware of any success yet.
His years of traveling had led him to the rinnegan wielder Nagato…
and now, to a child who could use Wood Release.
Perhaps this child… could also be the Child of Prophecy.
The Great Toad Sage had entrusted him with finding and guiding that child—and Wood Release was too important for the village to ignore.
"So, your name is Yue?" Jiraiya asked with a warm smile.
Yue's heart raced. He had a thousand thoughts, all jumbled. He wanted so badly to grab onto Jiraiya's thigh, but all he could do was nod stiffly.
"No need to be afraid. I won't hurt you. After hearing about what happened, I became very interested in your potential. Your background—I've also heard from your sister."
"I heard your dream is to become a ninja, and that you admire Konoha. So, I want to ask—would you like to train under me? I will bring you and your sister to Konoha to join us."
Jiraiya spoke calmly.
For him, taking Yue as a student served two purposes—
to evaluate his talent,
and to repay the Senju Clan for the many kindnesses he had received from them.
"…Holy shit?"
For the first time since transmigrating, Yue felt the true radiance of plot armor shining on him. One second he was worrying about how to cozy up to Jiraiya—
the next second Jiraiya offered to take him to Konoha and train him.
He could even live safely in Konoha!
Way better than this tiny village where rogue ninja might drop out of the sky any day.
Thinking back to his Wood Release outburst, Yue realized it made sense he'd be valued.
But he still cursed internally—
Damn it, I'm not an Uchiha. Why does my kekkei genkai require emotional trauma to activate?!
"It's okay. Take your time to think. No need to rush."
Jiraiya thought Yue was simply overwhelmed.
"No!! I don't need to think! Of course I want to train with you! And join Konoha!"
Yue shouted excitedly.
Think my ass—this kind of opportunity, you grab with both hands!
After half a year in this world, Yue finally felt the main character's aura surround him. Tears almost filled his eyes.
He looked at Jiraiya.
This is destiny. The perfect start—tiny village, tragic sacrifice… and Jiraiya delivered right to his door.