Lin Yu looked at the bright half-moon in the sky with a look of utter despair. The face of a young boy, innocent and full of youth, was etched with a weariness that belonged to someone much older.
Alas, at just ten years old, I've shouldered a mission far beyond my years! Why! Why must my system torment me like this!
System bro, those two are men! Both of them are boys! Did you mistake the red-haired one for a girl?
Even though his hair is long, and though he's quiet, appearing a bit shy and reserved, and though his skin is fair... and though he has so many characteristics that resemble a girl!
But Nagato is a true man!
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
...
Time flowed by as Lin Yu cruelly whipped Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, three "child laborers," into building houses.
More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and a small "villa" stood in the clearing by the stream. It had no particular features, just two rooms, one for boys and one for girls. In front, the open space was furnished with a wooden table and benches, somewhat resembling an outdoor picnic area.
Yahiko and Nagato's dirt-streaked faces were filled with excitement. They finally had a home!
Creak.
Yahiko pushed open the door and stepped inside cautiously, as if afraid the house might collapse, his expression a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
He bit his lip tightly, hugged Nagato behind him, and said with tears streaming down his face, "From now on, this will be our home!"
"Mm!" Nagato gently patted Yahiko's back and nodded emphatically.
One could not comprehend their current feelings without having experienced the hardship of being homeless, enduring hunger, and wandering aimlessly.
Lin Yu pulled out a pile of daily necessities from a sealed scroll and dumped them all on the ground with a clatter. He smiled at them and said, "I'll leave the rest to you. I'll go call Konan."
Yahiko and Nagato's faces were filled with envy as they watched Lin Yu conjure so many things as if by magic. But their hands were not slow to move!
"Nagato! I like that red basin!"
"But... I think the yellow one suits you better."
"You're arguing with me again! I don't care, I want the red one!"
"Alright..." After Lin Yu left, Yahiko and Nagato instantly transformed into mole rats, burrowing through the pile of daily necessities.
Beside the stream, the water was clear to the bottom. A delicate girl, her trouser legs rolled up to reveal her fair, small feet, stood in the stream. With both small hands, she held a large stone, her gaze fixed intently on the water's surface.
Splash!
Water sprayed as a stunned grass carp, its eyes spinning in circles, surfaced. Konan licked her lips with her tender pink tongue, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons. She exclaimed happily, "Great! We finally have grilled fish today!"
"Konan, don't forget my share."
"Lin Yu-brother!" Konan's narrowed eyes curved even more. She splashed through the water, carrying the fish to Lin Yu, hesitating slightly, but her gaze quickly firmed. "Lin Yu-brother, take it! Konan will catch another one!"
Looking at Konan, who had only caught one fish after fishing all morning, Lin Yu felt like a villain. And seeing Konan's face, smudged like a little calico cat, filled with seriousness, he felt even more like a bad uncle.
"Alright, I know you love grilled fish. How could I possibly take it from you?"
"Hehe!" Konan's slightly pouting lips instantly bloomed into a smile, her aloof and pure demeanor from the original story vanishing without a trace...
"Oh right, Yahiko and Nagato are decorating the rooms, Konan, you..." Before Lin Yu could finish, Konan lifted her little foot and ran towards the wooden house, shouting, "Ah, no way! Those two unrefined fellows won't understand decoration. They'll definitely mess up my room!"
"Nagato and Yahiko are unrefined? Uh, Nagato's aesthetic does seem a bit questionable. Besides that red cloud, black robe uniform, his nail polish is truly indescribable."
...
In the past half-month, Lin Yu had exhausted all his tricks to create various "coincidences," but the romantic atmosphere had been ruined. He felt his approach was wrong. What was the point of creating a romantic atmosphere between boys and boys? He needed to change his strategy.
"Ahem, come, everyone listen to me. Today, we won't be exercising. I'm going to give you a lesson on ideology. What are your dreams? We'll have individual counseling, one-on-one. Yahiko, you first! Everyone else, think carefully where you are."
Yahiko, who had been singled out by Lin Yu, was startled. Then his expression became a little troubled. Why was he the first? After a brief hesitation, he followed Lin Yu with his short legs.
The shadows of trees rushed by. As Yahiko was carried by Lin Yu, watching the surrounding scenery change rapidly, he was inwardly surprised: Is this what ninjas are like? Running on trees as if on flat ground.
As the small wooden house grew smaller and smaller, Yahiko couldn't help but ask, "Shou... Teacher Lin Yu, where are we going?"
"Soon."
A towering pine tree that pierced the clouds gradually enlarged in Lin Yu's eyes. He stomped his foot, and after a few agile movements, they were standing on the treetop.
As Yahiko, who had just recovered and was patting his chest, looked at the scenery ahead, his eyes lit up. "Wow, what a beautiful view! That small house over there is our home, isn't it? It's so small!"
Lin Yu glanced casually. It was ordinary. Compared to Konoha, the environment here was vastly inferior. Only someone like Yahiko, who had grown up in hardship, would find it beautiful.
Lin Yu looked down at Yahiko, who was carefully gripping a tree branch, and said softly, "Yahiko, what is your dream?"
"Mine? My dream is for war to disappear and for world peace, so that people no longer have to suffer the pain of losing loved ones!" Yahiko tilted his small face, his expression full of hope.
"Then how do you plan to achieve it?"
"Ah, that..." Yahiko lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then said seriously, "I hope people will understand each other, let go of their hatred, and I will use love to soften their hatred. That way, the ninja world will no longer have wars, and people can live happily."
"Oh? So, if someone were to hurt you, you would also choose to forgive them?" Lin Yu's expression remained unchanged, perhaps he had already expected this answer.
"Yes, if someone truly hurt me, I would choose to forgive them and try to become friends with them, to have them join us." Yahiko's eyes shone brighter as he spoke, as if he could already imagine the grand feat of them forming a massive team to convert the ninja world with him!
"What if someone hurt Nagato, or Konan?" Lin Yu's tone remained unchanged.
Hearing this question, Yahiko's expression shifted. Then his eyes showed painful struggle. He bit his lip, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "I would choose to forgive them and find a way to resolve their conflict."
"Oh? Is that truly what you think?" Lin Yu suddenly lifted Yahiko, raising his head. A pair of blood-red, bewitching eyes enlarged and spun in Yahiko's pupils. Then his consciousness blurred, his hands drooped, and his face gradually became dazed.