Yiko, Xiaohui, and their family had truly been scared out of their wits. Having lived through encounters with bandits, the children were more mature than other ordinary children their age and had not caused their parents any trouble. At first, they had not even dared to look.
Only when Uchiha Mu spoke, met their eyes, and reassured them did the two girls grow bolder. In that moment, they saw light. Uchiha Mu had become their hope.
Afterward, they listened carefully to everything Uchiha Mu said before following their parents toward their new home, walking behind the shinobi escort.
Yiko could not help asking, "Big brother, can we become shinobi?"
Their parents were just about to stop her and apologize when the shinobi leading them replied, "Of course. Even if you don't become shinobi, you can still go to school."
"What's school?" Yiko asked, puzzled. Schooling did not exist for commoners in the shinobi world. Nobles hired private tutors and monopolized knowledge, making it difficult for ordinary people even to learn about such things.
"It can help your children live better lives. If they attend the Ninja Academy, they can earn more money." The shinobi escort tried to explain in the simplest terms possible.
The parents' eyes lit up, but then they grew nervous again. "How much does that cost?"
"It's free for those with talent as shinobi. Those without it can take out loans and repay them once they're able to earn money."
The parents nodded. Soon, they arrived at their assigned home. It was still some distance from the Hundred-Clan Shinobi Village, but a road led straight there. The house was a two-story wooden building.
They pushed open the door to find it fully furnished, with every piece of furniture made of wood. A fresh, natural fragrance filled the