It was a night of heavy snowfall. The village was quiet, and Shiro lived there peacefully with his parents.
But because of the wars, everyone feared and dreaded kekkei genkai.
His mother possessed one such kekkei genkai. Then one day, Shiro awakened his own, and his father found out.
A tragedy began. His father led the villagers in killing his mother, then finally turned on him.
Scenes of that tragedy flashed through his mind. Shiro's lips trembled, and tears poured down his face. "C-can I really?"
The warmth these strangers had offered him in his hour of need filled Shiro with gratitude and sorrow. Even his own father had never said anything like that to him.
Like family? His father's coldness and cruelty left him with nothing but fear and haunting memories.
But the two people before him were different.
They were looking at him with curiosity and tenderness. The blond man in particular wore a gentle expression, and the warmth in his eyes seemed enough to melt him.
Did he know what Shiro had been through?
"Of course you can, Shiro!"
River smiled softly and reached out to ruffle Shiro's messy hair.
"Eat slowly. Be careful not to choke."
Shiro nodded emphatically. In that moment, he had already made up his mind. Whatever these two wanted, they had given him a warmth he had never known before.
He would follow them forever.
"Teacher, are you really going to take him with us?"
Shisui asked quietly, puzzled.
"Don't underestimate Shiro, Shisui."
River smiled.
"He's a descendant of the Yuki Clan, with a kekkei genkai called Ice Release."
Those words startled Shisui slightly. Shiro froze for a moment too, then realized that River already knew who he was.
"Don't be nervous, Shiro. Among ninja, possessing a kekkei genkai is an exceptional