Indispensable

"Although life is much better now, I still feel... like something is missing. Something very important!" Yahiko scratched his hair, his expression troubled. He clearly felt something, but he couldn't put it into words, and it was a truly unpleasant feeling.

"Something very important? What could that be?" Konan murmured. Generally speaking, she was still just a simple, innocent girl. Faced with their recently improved circumstances, she was quite satisfied at heart and didn't overthink things like Yahiko.

As for the conversation between the two, Nagato remained silent as always, though he pondered Yahiko's words in his heart. Unless someone asked for his opinion, Nagato rarely spoke up on his own. He bit his lower lip gently. Yes, something does feel missing from our lives now. What exactly is that important thing?

Yuehua Ai did not offer his own opinion on Yahiko's question; he simply followed in Konan's footsteps. In his heart, he was somewhat dissatisfied with their current life—not because of his companions, but because of the monotonous, day-to-day existence. It was a life devoid of passion or drive. Living in this magnificent world of Naruto, without the life-threatening illness he faced in his previous life, if he couldn't do what he loved, it would be a life no better than a salted fish.

Although the situation in the town was currently calm, Yuehua Ai felt that this stability wouldn't last long. With the increasing number of refugees and orphans appearing in the village, he knew the expanding war would soon reach them. In times of war, there was no such thing as an absolutely safe place. How could there be a secure sanctuary in this tiny Land of Rivers or Amegakure?

Yahiko was another person who was sensitive to the situation. He was, after all, the future founder and leader of the Akatsuki organization. Despite his usual optimistic, carefree, and overly energetic demeanor, his talent for analyzing situations and making leadership decisions was quite outstanding. Now that the war situation had just begun to shift, he had immediately sensed the changing tides of war through the subtle, unusual changes in the town.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Yahiko decided to find a backup plan for their future relocation and survival before the war reached their town. This led to the four of them leaving to scout a new route, and it was during this journey that Yahiko had posed his question.

After traveling for a while, the group stepped onto a vast, rocky terrain. Stone pillars stood everywhere, countless strange rocks rising like trees. Eroded by years of rain, these rocks had lost their sharp edges, resembling mushroom stalks with slick, exceptionally smooth surfaces. The terrain was also unusual, with uneven ground where hills and gullies met, creating a stark difference in elevation. Visibility was poor in many areas; walking here, unless one encountered specific terrain, one's view was blocked by rock formations on all sides.

"Is everyone doing alright?" Yahiko, walking in the lead, turned to ask the others.

"Yes!" Konan replied, and Nagato gave a gentle nod. Although they had been walking for quite some time and felt the fatigue in their muscles, they felt they could keep going.

Yuehua Ai walked at the back. He couldn't be bothered to answer Yahiko's question. Despite his young age, he felt he was doing fine, as the warm current within his body supported him, preventing him from feeling overly exhausted. Yuehua Ai believed this warm current was likely the chakra unique to the Naruto world.

For someone like Yuehua Ai, who had no ninja to teach him, the traditional methods of refining chakra were unknown. But as a transmigrator with a mature soul, he knew that if something existed in this world, it would leave behind some clues.

Just like the group of people who first refined and utilized chakra after it appeared—as long as it existed, exploration and experimentation would eventually yield results.

When Yuehua Ai was still an infant, he had tried to perceive spiritual energy by clearing his mind. In fact, he had succeeded in creating the warm current in his body back then. However, the aftereffects were severe; for several days, he felt physically drained and mentally sluggish, and the old man had nearly thought he wouldn't make it. Fortunately, he had pulled through.

Having learned his lesson, Yuehua Ai understood that refining this warm current was essentially overdrawing his body's energy. During those difficult times, it was hard enough to survive without sufficient food; there was no excess energy for him to refine.

He had only tried to refine the warm current again after meeting Yahiko and the others and seeing their lives improve. The effect was truly remarkable; as a child of only four and a half, with the support of that current, his stamina was not a bit inferior to Yahiko and the others.

Yahiko and his friends were unaware of Yuehua Ai's condition. In their minds, if they felt tired, then Yuehua Ai must be even worse off.

Seeing Yuehua Ai silent on the road, they assumed he was too exhausted to speak. A wave of guilt washed over them; if they hadn't been so focused on their own fatigue, they might have remembered that Yuehua Ai was still just a small child.

The three stopped simultaneously, catching Yuehua Ai—who had been lost in memories of the Naruto plot—off guard. He bumped into Konan and slipped, falling backward. Fortunately, Konan was quick to react, catching him and pulling him into her arms.

"Ai, are you alright?" Not just Konan, but Nagato and Yahiko also spoke with concern. After half a year together, Yuehua Ai had become an indispensable member of their group.

"I'm fine." Yuehua Ai looked up and flashed a smile at Konan.

"Phew." Konan let out a breath. Seeing sweat and rain mixing on his small face, she tenderly wiped it away with her fingers.

"You must be exhausted!" Konan's tone was filled with self-reproach.

Yuehua Ai pressed his face against her hand, intentionally rubbing against it. "I'm not!"

Seeing him nuzzle Konan's hand, Yahiko was speechless. He let out a huff. "Let's find a place to shelter from the rain up ahead. Until then, I'll carry Ai."

Before Yahiko's words had even faded, Nagato, who rarely spoke, chimed in, "Let me carry Ai!"

Although Nagato wasn't good at expressing his emotions, he felt a special protectiveness toward Yuehua Ai—a feeling he had never experienced before, like the affection one would have for a younger brother.

Yuehua Ai rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at Yahiko and Nagato. "I'm not that fragile!" With that, he walked to the front of the group.

The moment his back was turned, his expression turned strange. He groaned inwardly. Ugh, my body is young, and my mind is becoming childish too. I'm acting cute without even realizing it. This is... this is just shameful!

Judging by his spirit and tone, he didn't look exhausted at all, but Yahiko insisted, "Don't try to be tough, kid. Let me carry you!" He reached out to grab Yuehua Ai's arm.

Yuehua Ai swatted Yahiko's hand away and looked at him with disdain. "I'm not letting a rough guy like you carry me!"

"You brat!" Yahiko roared. Behind him, Nagato couldn't help but laugh, and Konan covered her mouth, her smile blooming like a flower.

A rough guy, huh? What an interesting term!

Yahiko glared at Nagato. "He insulted me too, you know! You're laughing way too hard, you idiot."

Konan understood Yuehua Ai's temperament and knew he preferred being with girls, so she offered, "Ai, let me carry you."

Yuehua Ai continued walking in front, waving his hand without looking back. "No way! I'm still waiting to carry you, Konan!"

His words made Konan chuckle, though she didn't think much of it. In the end, they stopped insisting. Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan exchanged helpless glances. Yahiko shrugged, and Nagato said nothing, simply quickening his pace to catch up with Yuehua Ai.

Before long, the group found a suitable place to rest. It was a massive, umbrella-shaped rock with a hollow space underneath—a rare natural shelter from the rain.

They rested for a while, taking out the dry rations and dried fish they had prepared for lunch. After a satisfying meal, their energy returned, and even the Little One, who had been following at Nagato's heels, regained its spirit.

The Little One barked twice and ran into the rain, and the group put on their rain gear and continued along their planned route.

"Snap!"

As they walked and chatted, Yahiko suddenly clapped his hands. "I've got it!"

"Got what?" the others asked, confused.

"I mentioned on the road that I felt something important was missing from our lives. Well, I've remembered it. I know what we're missing."

"And what is that?"

Seeing their curious and bewildered gazes fixed on him, Yahiko smiled triumphantly, his spirit soaring.

"It's a dream!"