At first light, the silence at Konoha's eastern edge was broken by several crisp birdcalls. Kyohaku Uchiha woke from his cold bedding, the aching soreness in his right foot arriving like an unwelcome guest that showed up punctually every day, reminding him of his body's limitations. He did not waste time dwelling on it. He quickly got up and splashed his face with cold water, driving away the last traces of sleepiness.
Today's goal was clear: purchase supplies and prepare for long-term living and training.
Leaning on his crutch, he headed for Konoha's shopping district for the first time as a "resident" rather than a "visitor." The streets were already awake in the early morning, shops opening one after another as the crowds gradually thickened. His appearance as a child on crutches still drew attention, but he did his best to ignore it and focused on his shopping list.
His first stop was a moderately sized clothing store. Seeing a child, the clerk had intended to call for an adult, but Kyohaku clearly stated his needs first. "Please get me two sets of everyday clothes, dark-colored and durable. And two sets of ninja training clothes, also sturdy ones. Also... one set of pajamas." His tone was calm and organized. He did not sound like a five-year-old child, but like an experienced buyer. Though surprised, the clerk brought out the clothes as requested. Kyohaku carefully checked the fabric and stitching, chose the two most practical sets, paid, and had them packed away with crisp, efficient movements.
His next stop was the bustling market. The air was filled with the earthy scent of vegetables, the fishy smell of seafood, and the sounds of haggling. He moved between the stalls, comparing prices and freshness with sharp eyes. In the end, he bought some root vegetables that could be stored for a long time, a small amount of poultry, and eggs. His nutrition had to keep up, especially protein. It was crucial for his recovery and future training. He carefully placed the purchases into the cloth bag he had brought and hung it from the other end of his crutch, balancing the weight.
After returning to the small courtyard and sorting away the food, he rested briefly and took a sip of water before heading out again, this time to a general store. Pots, bowls, ladles, cleaning supplies, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar... he purchased every daily necessity one by one. Finally, he stopped in front of a dairy shop. After hesitating for a moment, he still subscribed to daily fresh milk deliveries. "I need to grow," he told himself. This was the most basic investment.
That afternoon, he went to the last and most important destination of the trip—a ninja tool and training supply shop. Various weapons and protective gear were displayed inside, gleaming with cold light, their prices equally "dazzling." He ignored the expensive metal ninja tools and pointed directly at the training equipment in the corner. "Please give me that soft target, and that set of wooden shuriken and kunai."
The owner was a scar-faced middle-aged ninja. He glanced at Kyohaku, especially at his awkward leg, but said nothing as he took down the goods. "Kid, just starting out? Wooden ones are enough. Be careful."
"Thank you. I will." Kyohaku paid, hoisted the soft target onto his shoulder—it was somewhat difficult for him—and carried the bag of wooden ninja tools in his other hand as he slowly made his way home step by step.
The little courtyard finally began to resemble a training ground. He secured the soft target to the trunk of the old tree in the corner, then neatly placed the wooden shuriken and kunai beneath the eaves, somewhere dry. By the time he finished, he was drenched in sweat, while his right foot sent waves of stabbing pain in protest.
But he did not rest. He turned and entered the kitchen, lighting the stove. Drawing on his experience of living independently in his previous life and what he had observed of the old woman's cooking over the past few days, he clumsily but intensely focused on preparing the ingredients. He made himself a simple lunch—rice, miso soup, and a small portion of pan-fried meat. It did not taste particularly good, but the warm food in his stomach brought a real sense of satisfaction at having control over his own life.
On the morning of the third day, after drinking the delivered milk, Kyohaku went out again. This time, his destination was the Konoha Library.
The library was grander and more solemn than he had imagined. His small figure moved among the towering bookshelves as he looked upward in search of his goal. He did not rush to look into any ninjutsu materials. Instead, he first found the geography and history sections.
He pulled out the thick Geography of the Land of Fire, A Survey of the Shinobi Continent, and Chronicles of Konohagakure Village: From Its Founding to the Present, then found a quiet corner and laboriously climbed onto a chair that was too tall for him. Then he immersed himself in the books.
He needed to truly understand this world, rather than relying only on vague memories of manga from his previous life. The distribution of mountains and rivers, the relationships between nations and villages, key historical events, especially Konoha's development after its founding and the origins of its major clans... this knowledge was the foundation for his future survival and decisions. He turned page after page, his gaze focused. His powerful memory and comprehension came into play as he continuously absorbed, organized, and stored the complex information. It was not until evening, when the light inside the library had dimmed, that he rubbed his sore eyes, returned the books to their places, and left on crutches.
The moment he returned to the entrance of his courtyard, he saw a familiar figure waiting there.
Maiyi Uchiha wore a Genin vest and had clearly just finished a mission. There was a trace of fatigue on her face, but even more surprise and confusion. She looked at the remote, shabby little house, then at Kyohaku returning from outside on crutches, her brows tightly furrowed.
"Kyohaku!" Her tone carried reproach. "Why did you move here? I only found out after asking the clan's administrators! How could you... how could you make a decision like this without telling Uncle or me?"
Kyohaku raised his head, a perfectly timed expression of sorrow and stubbornness appearing on his face. "Sister Maiyi... I'm sorry. At the old house, I kept thinking about Father and Mother... I couldn't sleep. It's... quieter here." His voice grew softer and softer. He lowered his head to look at the tips of his shoes. "I can take care of myself."
Seeing him like this, then looking at the surroundings, Maiyi found her reproach caught in her throat. In the end, it turned into a sigh. She followed Kyohaku into the small house and saw the room, though simple, had been tidied in perfect order. She saw the newly purchased training equipment piled in the corner and the basic cookware in the kitchen. The surprise in her eyes deepened.
"You... did all of this yourself?" She found it hard to imagine how a five-year-old child, especially one on crutches, had accomplished all this.
"Mm." Kyohaku nodded and poured her a glass of water. "Grandma... the Uchiha grandmother next door, helped me too."
Maiyi took the cup and fell silent for a moment. She could understand how memories of familiar places could make a child grieve, but she still felt he was being far too reckless and impulsive. Yet everything before her showed an independence far beyond his age. In the end, she could only warn him, "If anything happens in the future, you must come to me or Uncle first, understand? Living here alone is too dangerous. Do you still have enough money?"
"I have enough. Thank you, Sister Maiyi," Kyohaku answered obediently.
Maiyi sat for a while longer, asked about his recovery, and repeatedly reminded him that he had to speak up if he encountered any difficulties. Only then did she leave, carrying a heart full of complicated emotions.
After seeing his cousin off, Kyohaku closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a soft breath. This hurdle had been passed, for the time being.
His new life had officially begun, stumbling forward through its rough patches.
Before you continue