Where am I… my head hurts.
In a dark, damp cave where rats scurried, Yahiko’s small body struggled to rise from a stone bed covered in weeds, staring blankly at his hands.
“What’s going on? Wasn’t I talking with Teacher Lin Yu? How did I suddenly get back here?” Yahiko looked at the familiar yet strange surroundings, a sense of panic rising within him.
Is all of this a dream? No! I don't believe it!
“Teacher Lin Yu, where are you? Nagato, Konan, come out, stop hiding from me. Toad Guardian, sniffle, I won't call you Toad Guardian anymore, please come out!” Yahiko's helpless voice echoed through the cave.
Only after having something do you understand the pain of losing it. He didn’t want to return to this dark, damp cave, he didn’t want to live a life of constantly hiding, he wanted a home!
“Yahiko, you’re finally awake. You’ve been unconscious for two days. That’s wonderful.” Konan heard Yahiko’s cries and, wearing a tattered little floral dress, ran in from outside the cave.
“That’s great, Konan. Where are Teacher Lin Yu and Nagato? Did they go out for something?” Yahiko’s expression was one of immense relief seeing Konan, but then he noticed her somewhat torn dress and felt a surge of fear.
Didn’t Konan wear the blue and white pleated skirt Teacher Lin Yu bought for her? She loved that skirt the most, she wouldn't not wear it, she must have washed it! It had to be that.
Just as Yahiko clung to a sliver of hope, Konan’s next words plunged him into despair.
“What Teacher Lin Yu? I don’t know anyone you’re talking about. Yahiko, were you having a nightmare? As for Nagato, he went to town to find food and water for you.” Konan bit her dry lips, her head a little fuzzy, wondering if Yahiko had gotten confused from sleeping.
“Is all of this a dream? So it was all a dream. I knew it, how could such good things happen, it was all a dream!” Yahiko looked somewhat lost, finding it hard to believe. It had felt so real, yet it was a dream, damn it!
“Hehehe, so there are two little brats hiding in here.”
A middle-aged man wearing a forehead protector from the Hidden Rain Village walked into the cave, carrying Nagato in his hand, a sinister grin on his face.
He casually tossed the near-death Nagato aside and said mockingly, “Hand over anything valuable, otherwise I won’t be polite to your companion.”
“Who are you! What did you do to Nagato!”
Yahiko pushed aside his lingering confusion, stepped forward to shield Konan, and looked at the middle-aged man with a grim expression.
The middle-aged man kicked Nagato, causing him to whimper in pain, and said with a sinister laugh, “This brat stole my wallet, I caught him and beat him up, but he refused to tell me where his companions were. I ‘accidentally’ let him escape, and then I actually found your hiding place.”
“You’re lying! Nagato wouldn’t steal your wallet. How about this, take whatever you like from here.” Yahiko’s expression was angry but he dared not shout, worried for Nagato’s safety, he just wanted the middle-aged man to leave quickly.
The middle-aged man scanned the surroundings and curled his lip, “This place of yours is so poor even the rats wouldn't want to visit, what’s worth taking?”
“Since there’s nothing you want, please leave quickly. I need to help my companion.” Yahiko took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
“Tch, why would I leave empty-handed after coming all this way? Since there’s nothing of value, let’s play a game, it’s a lot of fun!” The middle-aged man’s tone suddenly became excited.
“I don’t want to play any games with you, please leave quickly!” Yahiko had no intention of playing games with the middle-aged man, he just wanted him to leave.
“That’s not up to you.” Before Yahiko could react, the middle-aged man stepped forward and slapped him away. He then grabbed Konan, who was behind Yahiko, with a cruel smile.
Yahiko struggled to get up, ignoring his swollen face, and roared at the middle-aged man, “Let go of Konan! If you have a problem, come at me!”
Konan said nothing, biting her lip, tears silently streaming from her eyes, her small face filled with stubbornness.
“Oh? A good expression, worthy of praise.” The middle-aged man said, then violently threw Konan to the ground. With a thud, Konan fainted.
“Konan! You bastard!”
“What beautiful eyes. I treated your companion like this, little brat, you must hate me, right?” the middle-aged man asked Yahiko.
Yahiko’s expression was conflicted, his mind battling with his reason, his eyes bloodshot. He said, word by word, “I will forgive you! After all, we have no deep-seated hatred.”
“Oh? What about this then?” The middle-aged man placed a foot on Nagato’s head and slowly ground it down. Nagato, his face buried in the dirt and rocks, let out a silent, excruciating roar.
“What exactly do you want!” Yahiko yelled at the middle-aged man.
“Didn’t I say? We’re playing a game, you just don’t seem to be cooperating.” The middle-aged man paused his footwork and looked at Yahiko mockingly, his eyes filled with derision.
“Fine, how do you want to play?” Yahiko forced himself to calm down. Only he could save Nagato and Konan now.
*Jingle!*
“Pick up that kunai and choose one of these two brats to stab. Then you and the other can live. What do you think? Isn’t it fun? Ahahaha!” The middle-aged man threw a kunai at Yahiko, laughing maniacally.
“Do we really have such deep hatred? Why are you torturing us like this?” Yahiko looked at the kunai thrown at his feet, his voice hoarse.
“Why? Just for fun. Didn’t you say you would forgive me? Well, it’s a choice between two, have you decided?”
Yahiko’s pupils constricted. His small body trembled uncontrollably. He felt a sense of despair. On one side was his dream, on the other were his companions. He couldn’t make a choice!
The middle-aged man calmly watched Yahiko’s silent struggle, then suddenly roared, “Since you won’t choose, I’ll choose for you!” With that, he brought his large foot down towards Nagato’s neck!
“No!”
Yahiko picked up the kunai from the ground. An unimaginable power erupted from his small body. In an instant, he was in front of the middle-aged man, his face contorted in ferocity, and he shouted madly, “You deserve to die! I will kill you!”
*Swish!*
The kunai sliced through the middle-aged man's body, and also severed this illusion. The expected blood did not appear. The familiar scenery gradually came into view. Not far away, a rather familiar figure was looking at him with admiration and a hint of guilt.
“Teacher Lin Yu…” Suddenly, his spirit was overwhelmed by fatigue. Before Yahiko could finish speaking, his body slowly collapsed.
*Thump!*
Lin Yu caught Yahiko and gently patted his back, “Sleep. Everything will be fine when you wake up.”