It didn't take long for Ryan's stomach to start growling loudly.
He was starving. The boy's body had been emaciated to begin with, and then it had taken a brutal beating before being dumped like garbage. Without the Dimensional Seal's intervention to reinforce the body, Ryan wouldn't even be able to stand right now.
"I need to find food. Fast. But going back to the village is off the table…"
Ryan frowned, but didn't complain. He bent down and picked up the filthy sack that had once held his body. It might come in handy later.
According to the memories he inherited, while the area was called "Star Hidden Village," the actual village and the shinobi base were separate and located quite a distance apart. Hardly any civilians were ever shown—only ninjas appeared before Naruto's team. The villagers lived far from the shinobi base. Probably to protect that mysterious "star."
This desolate rocky plain was the back side of the village. And had it not been for how far the poisonous Valley of Hell was from here, Ryan suspected that man would've dumped him there instead. If that had happened… his body might've already been gnawed clean by wild beasts.
The sky had just begun to brighten, and Ryan could now see his surroundings clearly. Jagged rocks covered the land. No plants. No trees. In the distance, the chilling howl of wolves echoed faintly.
He inspected the sack—worn, but not entirely useless. Just a few small holes near the top. He folded it and tucked it inside his patched, ragged shirt.
If I remember correctly, Ryan thought carefully, sifting through the boy's memories, there's a stream not far from here. It flows from underground tunnels beneath the village, which pass through this ridge.
It wasn't just about staying hydrated. This was about life and death. Ryan needed food now—or he wouldn't last much longer.
That stream should be nearby. The current isn't fast. Even in this body, I should be able to manage. If I'm lucky, there might be river snails or something I can grab.
He didn't dare dream about catching fish—not with a body barely over a meter tall. That was suicide.
Stumbling forward, Ryan followed the terrain as best he could. Fortunately, thanks to the Dimensional Seal's earlier reinforcement, his current physique was comparable to that of a healthy ten-year-old child—at least by Earth's standards.
Swoosh, swoosh…
The soft sound of flowing water reached his ears. Ryan's eyes lit up. He broke into a light jog toward the sound.
The river was about two meters wide and a little over half a meter deep. The water was clear and calm, and the riverbed was covered with smooth, rounded stones instead of mud—which made wading much easier. And sure enough, small river snails dotted the riverbed.
If only I had fire… I could roast them at least. As for rubbing sticks together to start a flame? Please. I'd starve to death before the fire catches…
Sighing, Ryan stripped off his clothes and carefully stepped into the water.
Cold!
A shiver ran through him. His skinny, malnourished frame wasn't used to the chill. Thankfully, it was spring. In winter, this water might've killed him.
As he adapted to the temperature, he caught sight of his reflection in the water.
His features were actually… kind of handsome. Delicate and clean, with no blemishes. Just gaunt from hunger, his skin waxy and pale from malnutrition. Still—there were no scars, and more importantly, no signs that his growth had been stunted.
That gave Ryan a bit of comfort.
Splash!
He thrust his hand underwater, scooping up a handful of snails and pebbles. He filtered out the stones and placed the snails on a large flat rock nearby.
"There's a decent number here. This might just be my main food source for now."
He crouched, cupped his hands, and drank some water.
It was surprisingly sweet and cool. The intense hunger eased a little.
Splash!
He waded a little further, repeating the process—scooping up more river snails, separating them from the stones, and piling them on the rock.
For now, training, ninjutsu, chakra control—none of that mattered.
Right now, Ryan had one goal:
Survive.
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T/N:
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