Strong winds swept across the desert, lifting swirls of dust into the air.
At a glance, this land seemed barren—hostile, even, to life.
Yet two figures in white cloaks trudged steadily forward across the ochre sands.
One was tall. The other, shorter. They were Uchiha Hikaru and Uchiha Saya.
Ever since the day they fled the Uchiha Clan with Saya in tow, they had been heading toward this desert wasteland.
Saya didn't know why Hikaru had brought them to such a desolate place, but she never questioned it. She followed without complaint.
Her eyes flitted around constantly, absorbing the unfamiliar scenery. Even though the scorching heat made her skin tingle and her breath feel heavier, she couldn't help but be delighted by the sights. It was all new.
Hikaru glanced sideways at her, then lightly rapped her on the head with a knuckle.
"Saya, stop staring at the sand like that."
"Your eyes won't survive it."
Saya blinked, then obediently pulled the white cloth around her neck back up, wrapping it tightly around her face and head, leaving only a slit for her eyes.
"Got it, Master Hikaru~" she replied, her tone cheerful.
Though his words had sounded scolding, she could hear the concern beneath them. That alone made her heart feel lighter. (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
They kept walking.
For ordinary people, traveling the desert would have been slow and miserable—every step sinking into loose sand, each breath labored under the heat.
But for trained shinobi, it was different. They channeled chakra to the soles of their feet, walking atop the sand like it was solid earth.
Hikaru and Saya had been traveling through the desert for several days now.
This was still the Warring States Period. Although Hikaru remembered the general location of Rōran from the future, it likely hadn't been built yet. The two oases they had passed showed no signs of human habitation—only vague traces left behind.
So Hikaru continued forward, relying only on memory.
Finally, after nearly a week, they saw it: a massive oasis breaking the monotony of the desert, lush and glimmering beneath the sun.
And as they approached, Hikaru could feel it—an intense chakra source beneath the earth.
The Dragon Vein.
At the oasis' edge were rows of tents. People moved between them, their eyes sharp with caution as they noticed the approaching strangers.
Several individuals, scarves wrapped tightly around their heads, stepped forward and blocked Hikaru and Saya's path.
"Who are you?" one of them demanded.
"Are you joining Rōran or just passing through? Outsiders aren't welcome."
The voice was young—probably just a boy, no older than twelve or thirteen.
Hikaru placed a protective hand on Saya's shoulder and slowly removed the cloth mask from his face.
"We're travelers," he said calmly. "We only seek shelter for a short while."
The boy looked up at him, then raised his right hand and curled his fingers—a gesture demanding something.
Hikaru understood instantly.
Without a word, he reached into his pouch and pulled out two kunai, handing them over.
The boy's eyes widened as the weight of the weapons settled in his palms. The cold steel and the faint clink as the blades touched made his pulse quicken. He stuffed them quickly into a cloth bag behind him.
"Ahem!"
"The people of Rōran are very hospitable!" he declared proudly. "My noble shinobi friends, my name is Taiyo. Please, be my guests at my home!"
He pulled off the cloth from his face, revealing a boyish face with sun-worn, yellow-toned skin that looked dry from the heat.
He waved back at the others.
"Alright, alright, nothing to see here. Go on, back to your tents."
The others looked at Taiyo with a mix of envy and fear—especially after glancing again at Hikaru—before turning to leave.
Taiyo led them toward the large lake in the center of the oasis. Surrounding it were permanent structures—wooden houses built sturdily, unlike the temporary canvas tents outside.
He brought them to one such house and turned back toward them with a beaming smile.
"You two must be from the West, right? What brings you here?"
"If there's anything I can help with, just ask."
Hikaru eyed the boy, noting the eager glint in his eyes. Then he pulled out a sealed scroll from his pouch and waved it lightly.
"This is what you're after, isn't it?" he said. "You want to learn how to mold chakra. You want to become a shinobi."
Taiyo froze, then scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
"Ahaha… you caught me."
"Yeah… that's exactly it."
Two years ago, Tailie had discovered he could manipulate iron sand—just barely. But it had been enough to awaken something in him.
He realized he was different. Special.
Ever since then, he'd been hanging around the oasis outskirts, hoping to one day run into a real ninja.
The people of the oasis were all ordinary folk, unable to use chakra. If anyone ever showed signs of chakra ability, they either lost their minds or mysteriously vanished.
But he believed—no, hoped—that if he became a ninja, he could escape. Leave this dead-end world.
Maybe even find him.
Maybe even go east, to the lush lands described in stories—where rivers flowed, where forests stretched to the horizon, and where the ground wasn't sand, but soil. Real, rich soil.
At that moment, a raspy female voice called from outside.
"Taiyo, I'm back! Guess what, I hunted something good today—we're eating meat tonight!"
A woman stepped inside, her skin tanned by the desert sun.
Her golden hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her lean, muscular frame showed hints of defined abs beneath her dusty shirt.
"Sister , look what I got!" he said proudly. "These two gave me kunai and just want a place to rest."
He fished the kunai out of his bag and handed them to her with shining eyes.
"Now you'll be able to hunt easier! We'll be eating meat all the time!"
She looked at the weapons, then at the smug grin on her brother's face. She smiled—awkwardly—but with affection. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him outside.
"Haha! You two, take a rest first," she said over her shoulder. "Thanks for the kunai."
"I'll make this rascal cook something decent for you."
He turned back before leaving, placed a finger to his lips, and gave Hikaru a mischievous wink.
(¬‿¬) "Shhh~ keep our little deal secret, alright?"
Uchiha Saya stood silently beside Hikaru the whole time, eyes watching the siblings with quiet curiosity. She didn't speak, but a faint smile tugged at the corners of her eyes behind the cloth mask.
The desert may have been harsh, but even here… warmth could still be found.
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