Following the Merchant Caravan into Konoha

Along the winding forest path, a large merchant caravan was traveling on foot.

Behind the caravan, a large group of ragged children followed in the merchants' footsteps.

They ranged in age, with the oldest around fifteen or sixteen and the youngest only three or four. They struggled forward, laboriously keeping up with the caravan.

Though they were sallow and thin, not a single child fell behind. They supported one another, the older ones protecting the younger, moving forward with determination and resilience.

They were orphans from the Land of Hot Water, children who had lost their parents.

Ever since the God of Shinobi, Konoha's First Hokage Hashirama Senju, had passed away, the entire Shinobi World seemed to have fallen into an eerie calm.

Though the Five Great Villages maintained peace on the surface, countless schemes were constantly brewing in the shadows.

And the fuse that lit it all was Amegakure's recent intelligence leak.

After losing critical intelligence, Hanzo of the Salamander not only dispatched a young spy unit that included Rinto, but, lacking any sense of security, also deployed large numbers of shinobi along the Land of Rain's borders. This directly prompted the three great nations bordering the Land of Rain—the Land of Fire, Land of Wind, and Land of Earth—to make significant moves of their own.

Although a tiny village like Amegakure in the Land of Rain was not taken seriously by the Five Great Nations, the restless Second Tsuchikage Mu seized this opportunity to provoke Kirigakure in the Land of Water.

Second Tsuchikage Mu believed that Amegakure was under Kirigakure's control and was preparing to secretly attack the Land of Earth.

The Land of Earth and the Land of Water had long held grudges against each other. Their earliest conflicts could be traced back to before the Warring States Period; even if one side farted, the other could accuse them of releasing a poisonous gas bomb.

When Kirigakure saw the Land of Earth throwing mud at them, they could not even be bothered to explain. Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki declared, "I don't feel like wasting words on you. Come on, let's fight!"

The two nations tacitly dispatched large numbers of shinobi, gathering in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fields between them.

When great nations fought, small nations suffered.

When Second Raikage A saw the two nations fighting with such enthusiasm, he immediately slammed the table in dissatisfaction.

You, the seemingly honest and dependable Second Tsuchikage, actually started a fight without inviting your big brother Kumogakure? What a lack of loyalty.

So he decisively launched a surprise attack and declared war on Konoha.

And so, four of the Five Great Nations fought to the death in the narrow, tiny stretch of land that was the Land of Hot Water.

Fortunately, the shinobi of the four great nations were generally of better character. Unlike Amegakure, they had not lost all humanity and attacked civilians.

But ninjutsu was something else entirely. Anyone who used it knew that its destructive power far exceeded what this era could bear.

Over here, a stray Fire Release burned down houses;

Over there, a stray Water Release flooded a village.

And so, in the back-and-forth chaos, countless War Orphans were freshly made.

Since Yugakure of the Land of Hot Water had always been tolerant and generous, valuing peace above all else, it simply sealed off the shinobi village. Outsiders were forbidden from entering, while those inside were forbidden from leaving.

The orphans were dumbfounded as well.

The Land of Water had plenty of water, but without boats, they could only swim across with their bare hands.

The Land of Lightning had towering mountains, dangerous roads, and high altitudes. They would be gasping for breath after only a few steps.

Thus, the forest-filled Land of Fire became the first choice for large numbers of fleeing orphans.

This merchant caravan was a reflection of countless children fleeing disaster.

Fortunately, the caravan's guard shinobi belonged to Konoha, and Konoha's shinobi were decent enough.

Though they did not deliberately take care of the orphans, they tacitly allowed them to follow along.

Occasionally, a pretty female shinobi would take pity on them and give the children a little food.

At the very front of the caravan, Rinto carried a basket as tall as a person on his back while chatting with a boy dressed like a merchant.

"Nihongi, didn't you say we'd reach Konoha this afternoon? It's already noon. Why haven't we even seen a trace of Konoha yet?"

"What are you in such a hurry for, Rinto?"

"I'm not bragging, but I, the great Nihongi, have traveled this road from the Land of Hot Water to Konoha countless times. If I say we'll arrive in the afternoon, we definitely won't arrive at night."

The great Nihongi? You're twelve years old and calling yourself some great lord? Has your hair even grown in yet?

Rinto speechlessly glanced at the confidently talking Nihongi and rolled his eyes.

"I wonder who was boasting last time, saying there were giant statues of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha in the Valley of the End. I rushed over there excitedly, only to find two bald heads staring at each other."

"Cough, cough." Nihongi stumbled and nearly fell flat on his face.

"Damn it, Rinto! Th-that was only delayed by the war! Otherwise, it would have been finished long ago!"

"Heh-heh."

Rinto gave a contemptuous smile.

"If you keep fooling me, I'll tell Miss Yuriko that you peeked at her bathing yesterday."

"Don't!" Nihongi hurriedly covered Rinto's mouth, his childish face instantly flushing bright red.

Twelve- or thirteen-year-old boys were at the age when feelings first began to stir—both shy and bold. What they feared most was having their thoughts exposed.

Just as Nihongi was about to beg for mercy, a mature, deep voice sounded from behind them.

"Nihongi, are you bullying Rinto-kun again?"

"I'm not!" Nihongi instinctively shouted, turning around indignantly. "Dad! It's obviously Rinto who's bullying me!"

"I didn't see that. I only saw you bullying Rinto-kun."

At that moment, Rinto turned around as well, a shy smile on his face.

He said to the caravan leader, an elderly man with snow-white hair but a still-strong body, "Uncle Kato, it's fine. Nihongi and I were just playing around."

At that, Nihongi rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.

"Damn it, Rinto. All he knows is how to play dumb and fool the old man."

Seeing that his youngest son was still unconvinced, Mr. Kato tiredly rubbed the space between his brows and stopped paying attention to him.

He looked up at the sunlight filtering through the trees, then turned to call out to the caravan behind him.

"Stop here. We'll rest and have lunch.

Come on, everyone. We'll reach Konoha this afternoon! When we get there, I'll treat everyone to grilled meat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the workers immediately cheered. They set down their heavy packs, sat by the roadside, and took out their dried rations.

At the rear of the caravan, the children who had been trudging along also stopped. Their longing gazes all turned toward a little girl in the center of the group.

The girl was around four or five years old. She wore black cropped pants and a sky-blue pullover. Though her clothes were a little too large, compared to the worn burlap clothing of the children around her, she looked remarkably clean and neat.

Moreover, her chubby cheeks and pudgy little hands stood in stark contrast to the other children.

"Big Sister Rie, do you still have anything to eat?"

A dirty-faced girl in the crowd timidly asked.

The other children nodded as well, all staring hopefully at the tiny backpack on Rie's back.

Hearing that, Rie tilted her head slightly and looked behind her, her adorable little face scrunching up in distress.

"I-I need to count." Her crisp childish voice tugged at every child's heartstrings.

As she spoke, Rie walked to the roadside, clumsily and adorably took off her backpack, undid the clasp, and pulled out a small white pouch.

Her mouth kept muttering nonstop.

"There are twenty-one of us. Yesterday morning, there were thirty-one Ration Pills in the bag, and we ate twenty-one yesterday."

"Uh..." As she calculated, the little girl began counting on her fingers.

"One, two... um... There are ten... eleven left!"

After saying that, she opened the pouch and counted them one by one.

"Huh? Why is one missing? There are only ten left!"

"N-not enough!" Rie abruptly stood up, her little lips pouting hard.

The children's eyes gradually dimmed.

For so many days, they had relied on the little girl before them. Though they were ashamed, hunger had left them helpless.

"I don't want any! Going hungry for a day is no big deal! Big Sister Rie, give the rest to Meiko and the others!" a boy shouted.

"That's right, give them to the girls!"

The other older boys also said that they did not need any. They would reach Konoha that afternoon anyway.

However, they had no idea whether they would be able to eat their fill after reaching Konoha.

If Konoha did not provide them with food, then yesterday's single Ration Pill would be their last meal for the next several days!

"Big Sister Rie, I know it's unreasonable for me to say this, but please give the rest to the younger children!" The girl named Meiko stepped forward as well.

It was obvious that she desperately wanted the small pills in Rie's hands, but she still resolutely chose to give the chance to the younger children.

Watching everyone swallow their saliva while yielding to one another, Rie's adorable little face wrinkled up.

"I'll go ask brother!" Her clear voice interrupted the children's refusals.

"Don't go!" Meiko hurriedly said.

"Big Sister Rie, have you forgotten how badly he scolded you last time?" As she spoke, Meiko fearfully glanced toward the front of the caravan.

The other children quickly chimed in as well.

"Big Sister, don't go. We'll be fine if we go hungry for a day, but if you get scolded, we'll be too ashamed to face ourselves."

Seeing everyone looking at her with concern, Rie suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Her little face reddened, and she rubbed the tip of her shoe against the ground as she shyly said:

"Brother... Brother criticized me last time because I got the math wrong. It wasn't... it wasn't because I asked for Ration Pills."

Beside her, Meiko did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"But you got it wrong just now too!"

Obviously, she knew that 31 - 21 = 10, not 11.

"M-Maybe brother didn't hear it~" Rie pouted, looking like someone who had done something wrong but still refused to admit it.

"I don't care, I'm going to ask!"

With a loud cry, Rie put on her little backpack and skipped toward the front of the caravan.

The people in the caravan all gave gentle smiles to the kind and adorable girl, who was like an angel.

If not for her and her brother, the children at the back could never have followed the caravan in one piece, much less have had the strength to keep going until now.

Though they could not do the same, that did not stop them from showing kindness in return.

By the roadside, a pure-looking short-haired girl in shinobi attire waved at the approaching Rie.

"Rie, are you going to see Rinto-kun again?"

Rie nodded and gave the girl a sweet smile.

"Yes, I'm going to see brother. Big Sister Yuriko, you look even prettier today!"

"Really? Maybe it's because I soaked in the hot springs yesterday." Yuriko smiled. "By the way, why didn't you come yesterday, Rie?"

At that, panic immediately flashed over Rie's face.

"Um, well... Oh, right! Brother tested me on math yesterday! So I-I didn't come!"

In truth, the night before, Rinto had taken Rie with him to keep watch for Nihongi, while Nihongi took the opportunity to peek at Yuriko bathing.

Thinking of that, Rie secretly sized up Yuriko before her, a flicker of smugness flashing through her eyes.

Hmph! Mom is much prettier than you, and I, Big Sister Rie, will become as pretty as Mom in the future too. I'll make brother completely obsessed with me, hehe~

Having thought that, Rie stopped paying attention to this defeated older sister. After politely apologizing, she jogged toward Rinto.

She had not forgotten that her little followers were still starving!

After trotting over, Rie arrived before Rinto. At that moment, Rinto was leaning against a large tree with his eyes closed, resting.

Rie stretched out her small hand, shook Rinto's knee, and leaned close to his ear.

"Brother, brother, stop pretending. You don't even need to sleep!"

Hearing that, Rinto slowly opened his eyes, rolled his eyes without the slightest attempt to hide it, and heavily flicked the little girl's forehead.

"Where's your brain? Where is it? Think before you speak!" Rinto lectured her, frustrated that she was not meeting his expectations.

"I know!" Rie covered her forehead with both hands, her little mouth pouting.

"Um... Brother, the little pills you gave me were so delicious that I... I ate them all! Give me some more!"

"Sure." Rinto nodded expressionlessly and reached into the person-tall backpack, taking out a handful of Ration Pills.

"By the way, Rie, I have a question for you."

At that moment, Rie was staring longingly at the Ration Pills in Rinto's hand. When she heard that he had a question, she instinctively nodded.

"What is thirty-one minus twenty-one?"

"Uh..." Rie froze. It seemed that brother already knew she had gotten it wrong.

Seeing Rinto smiling at her, Rie instinctively took a step back. Her big blinking eyes fluttered as she tried to muddle through.

Rinto firmly shook his head at that, his smile becoming even brighter.

"Fine, I'll calculate it, I'll calculate it."

Seeing that acting cute did not work, Rie sighed like a tiny old woman and awkwardly began counting on her fingers.

"One, two... three."

"I know! It's nine! Yes, it's nine!"

Watching the little girl look around with a smug expression, Rinto nearly spat out a mouthful of blood ten meters away.

"Damn it!" Rinto shot to his feet.

"You're the child of a blacksmith, yet thirty-one minus twenty-one equals nine?! Where did the rest go?! Are you trying to anger me to death?!"

The little girl craned her neck and stared back at Rinto without backing down. "Then it equals eight!"

"You're killing me! That's even farther off!"

"It equals eleven!"

"Damn it, I'm furious! Today, I'm going to give you a proper beating on behalf of your mother! Don't run!"

For a moment, chaos erupted.

After quite a while, Rie's little face was flushed as she panted, clutching a handful of Ration Pills while charging into the group of children.

Rinto covered his eyes and sat back under the tree in despair.

"This... this was such a good child. She's usually so obedient, so why does she become like this the moment she studies math?!

Could it really be as they say: before homework, parent and child are loving; once homework starts, everything turns into chaos?"

However, as he watched Rie seriously distribute the Ration Pills among the children, the gloom in Rinto's heart immediately dispersed by more than half.

Back then, the little girl could not sleep night after night, hiding in her sleeping bag and crying.

Now, at least the gloom no longer hung over her little face. Sometimes, she could even smile happily, and she had made a large group of friends her own age.

Thinking of that, Rinto looked up toward the sky. There, Rie's mother seemed to be smiling at him. He sighed and gave a bitter smile.

"You really know how to cause me trouble!"