Flaming June.
Waves rolled in with the sea breeze, carrying the salty scent of seawater mixed with the refreshing fragrance of coconuts. Fish leapt from the surface, tracing glittering arcs through the air. Their silvery scales reflected the sunlight, dazzling the eye.
They rose and submerged again and again, like a hidden circus beneath the sea—tireless acrobats performing for an unseen audience.
Seagulls cried overhead.
On the beach, a young girl stood barefoot in the surf, her shoes held in her hands. Wonder filled her face as the waves washed over her feet.
Just as she had never seen the sea before, the people around her had never seen a human with such mysterious white eyes.
"To the Land of Waves."
The voice pulled the old boatman's gaze away from the girl. He looked toward the boy who had appeared beside her, his eyes wrapped in several layers of black cloth.
Is he blind?The thought crossed his mind, but when he noticed the long sword strapped to the boy's back, he swallowed the question.
"Thirty ryo per person," the old boatman said.
Half the price of a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.
The boy nodded and handed over sixty ryo.
"We'll set sail in ten minutes," the old boatman said casually, tucking the money away beneath his straw hat.
The journey from the Land of Fire's border to the Land of Waves was long. He needed to wait for the scheduled time—or until the boat was full—to make each trip worthwhile.
The boy hesitated, then said quietly, "Let's leave now. I can pay extra."
The old boatman scratched his head. He had never met someone unwilling to wait even ten minutes.
"It's not about the money…"
Shipping was the only lifeline between the Land of Waves and the outside world. There were only a few ferries each day, all scheduled. The passengers were locals—if he skipped a trip, someone might miss the next boat and be forced to travel farther at greater cost.
The boy nodded and did not insist. That restraint earned him a bit of goodwill.
Ten minutes passed quickly.
Sun-darkened villagers arrived at the dock carrying jars and containers.
"Hey, Keisa, good business today? Sold out early again?"
"Haha! Not many fish today—of course I sold out fast."
"Why'd you buy a plush toy?"
"It's for my son, Inari. It's his birthday."
As they boarded, they chatted about their harvest. Soon, the hold filled with rice, oil, salt—everything reeking faintly of fish.
The girl and the boy boarded in silence.
The villagers quietly shifted their cargo to make space, exchanging subtle glances—curiosity mixed with friendliness.
The pair stood out.
Wealth existed in the Land of Waves, but the rich owned boats. They didn't squeeze in with ordinary villagers.
The old boatman pushed off, smiling.
They hadn't gone far when a large ship cut across their path.
The heavy vessel slammed into the smaller boat, nearly capsizing it.
"Turn back!" a cold voice ordered.
Reluctantly, the old boatman steered back.
The villagers cursed angrily. Goods were scattered. Keisa even leapt into the water to retrieve his son's plush toy.
When they docked, the villagers surged forward.
"What do you think you're doing? Someone could've died!" Keisa roared.
"And what do you think you're doing?" sneered a muscle-bound man, leading a group of ruffians off the larger ship.
He shoved a metal bat into Keisa's face.
"This is Kado Company's exclusive shipping area. Who gave you permission to run this illegal boat?"
Turning to the old boatman, he spat, "Our boss warned you long ago. Third time. Don't blame me."
"Smash it."
Outnumbered, Keisa and the old boatman raised their fish spears.
"You bandits! Thieves!"
Bang!
A crushing force struck Keisa's chest, sending him flying.
The old boatman collapsed to his knees, sobbing as his boat was destroyed.
The other villagers trembled in silence.
What Keisa didn't see—but they did—was the strike came from a ninja, a missing-nin headband hidden among the ruffians.
One blow was enough.
That was the difference between ninjas and ordinary people.
"See?" the muscle-bound man laughed. "This is what happens when you run illegal boats."
He turned smugly to the villagers.
"We're not stopping travel. Use Kado Company's ships."
"We have authorization from the Daimyo of the Land of Waves. Does this old man? No!"
"And these boats fall apart in the wind. What if someone dies?"
Shameless words.
The villagers burned with fear and fury. They had known Kado sought to monopolize transport—but not like this.
"Let's go."
As the ruffians turned to leave, a voice spoke.
"Hey."
The muscle-bound man froze.
He turned toward the boy, now standing among the villagers.
The boy's eyes were still covered in black cloth.
A ninja.
Keisa, supported by others, felt his heart sink.
Now is not the time…
"What do you want?" the man asked, his tone suddenly cautious.
"I need to go to the Land of Waves," the boy said calmly.
The man laughed loudly.
"Three hundred ryo per person. But for you—free!"
The boy nodded.
To the villagers' shock, he stepped onto the large ship.
The ship departed, leaving the villagers behind.
It was spacious—but the air was thick with malice and curiosity.
A youth wearing a Kirigakure missing-nin headband approached and sat beside the boy.
"My name is Yoshino Ito. You're from Konoha, right?"
The boy ignored him.
Yoshino—who had struck Keisa—glanced at the girl, trying not to stare.
"On a mission?"
"No," the girl replied, smiling as she enjoyed the sea breeze.
Her pale eyes turned toward him.
A chill ran down Yoshino's spine.
"I see. Then we can coexist peacefully."
What mattered wasn't why they were here.
What mattered was her forehead bore no Caged Bird Seal.
A true Hyuga.
And so young.
Did Konoha really dare let her leave?
As a Kirigakure rogue ninja, Yoshino knew how strictly the Hyuga Clan guarded their Byakugan.
The only Byakugan outside Konoha belonged to Ao, a Kirigakure jōnin—making him a constant target of Konoha.
Every Mist ninja coveted those eyes.
They rendered the Hidden Mist Jutsu meaningless.
Ao's Byakugan had secured his status.
Yoshino narrowed his eyes.
This might be my only chance.
"Yes," the girl said sweetly."We can coexist peacefully."
PS :
Land of WavesA poor island nation dependent on sea transport; later central to Kado's monopoly.
Kado CompanyA criminal shipping monopoly using violence and hired ninja to control trade routes.
Keisa : A fisherman and villager; represents civilian resistance.
Inari : Keisa's young son; emotional anchor showing civilian suffering.
Missing-nin : Ninja who abandoned their village; often work as mercenaries.
Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village): Known for brutal training and rogue ninja culture.
Yoshino Ito : Kirigakure missing-nin; opportunistic and covetous of the Byakugan.
Ao : Kirigakure jōnin possessing a stolen Byakugan; proof of its strategic value
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