'Masaru... Tadao... Himejima Clan...'
In Yoichi's mind, Masaru seemed like a giant for a 6-year-old. But despite his height, he was pretty heartless and played a big role in the original owner's tragic fate. Just like the other kids in the Mining Area, the original owner was stubborn, which often got him into trouble and led to him taking quite a beating and dealing with bullying over food.
Masaru managed to stay out of trouble thanks to the support of the Himejima Clan and his loyal right-hand man, Tadao. Unlike many others, he had a natural strength that caught the attention of the nobility.
In short, he was like a loyal dog for the noble, flaunting his connections and power while the less fortunate struggled.
"What are you planning this time, Masaru?" Genji asked, his expression serious as he scrutinized the boy, wary of his motives.
"Oh, come on, Genji, don't be such a stick in the mud. We're just stating the facts here. While everyone else is working hard, Yoichi gets to sit back and relax? And we, the diligent ones, are the ones being punished for his mistakes? It's ridiculous!"
Looking at Genji's threatening stare, Masaru remained unfazed as his mouth curled up with disdain.
"What, Yoichi? Cat got your tongue?"
Tadao chimed in, trying to rile up the indignant stare of their victim.
However, Yoichi merely glanced at their absurd expression and started mining using his pick-axe, even with the pain all over his body.
'Heh, trying to gaslit all the people? The others can be deceived with their stupid rhetoric but not me!'
As a modern guy with sufficient experience on verbal ridicules, he wasn't guillible to denigrations of the internet residents. In fact, he was relishing on these hurls of insults.
Nonetheless, Yoichi didn't wanted to let his anger cloud his mind, heeding his current status as a fragile boy and implicate his friends on this foolish beef between Yoichi and Masaru.
'Even without a cheat, I still have the mental capacity of an adult and knew the Naruto timeline... One step at a time...'
"Genji, Sabito, help me clear all the rocks nearby. Hikari can also go with the clearing."
Ignoring the incredulous looks, Yoichi snapped them back into reality with his words, prompting them to do the work.
"Oh right... Sabito, let's go!"
"Y-yes, Yoichi-kun!"
"O-okay..."
Genji, Hikari, and Sabito went back into a strenuous task of mining once more while the others were still stunned in Yoichi's drastic change.
"Is there something wrong?" Feeling the curious stare, Genji turned his head sideways into Sabito.
"I just can't believe it... In the past, Yoichi was easily triggered by these idiots... But now... It's big shift!" Whispering his comment, Sabito glimpsed at Yoichi's earnest act of mining, looking back again to Genji.
"...It doesn't matter, Sabito. Overall, it's a good way of change in his part. Now, these bastard wouldn't dare to act or else, a lot of them will die!" After his small talk, Genji went into work without qualms, happy with the seemingly good occasion.
"What's the problem here... You again, Masaru?!" The harsh tone echoed in the damp mine, making the children, including Yoichi, flinch and glance toward where the voice came from.
Suddenly, a figure dressed in a gas mask and a purple vest, complete with a forehead protector, stepped in front of Masaru. He chastised him, exuding a dark intensity that sent shivers down the spines of the nearby kids.
'Wow... Is that a killing intent? It's both unbelievable and so suffocating!'
"What are you all looking at? Get back to work!"
The intimidating shout involuntarily made them lower their heads in absolute submission.
With insufficient manpower and resources, Amegakure decided to put their shinobi in the mines, making sufficient amount of cash after the war.
"But Isamu-sama, we— Kueekk..." Tadao began, trying to stand up for his leader, but the Ame Shinobi named Isamu cut him off, gripping his throat with one hand.
"Did I talk ask about your opinion, you fucking twerp?! I'm asking Masaru." Being stucked up in the mine for a long time, Isamu easily threw him to the ground and glanced at Masaru with irritation in his eyes.
"... There's someone who reported to me that Yoichi wasn't working so I called you here, Isamu-sama."
Under pressure, Masaru responded politely, but deep down, he remained stubborn, convinced he was right.
"Hey, do you think I'm blind? Just look at that!" Isamu gripped Masaru's head and pointed it towards Yoichi's group, where a clear scene was unfolding.
Yoichi, Genji, and Sabito were busy mining away, chipping chunks from the ore deposits, while Hikari was working to clear the surrounding rocks.
"If you are trying to frame someone, check your facts right! Now, back to work or else you all will be back to the confinement room!" After seeing that there were no faults, Isamu's voice rang out as Masaru and his crew went back to their designated spots.
'That's good, Yoichi... Make this situation much more interesting.'
Instead of feeling humiliated, Masaru's eyes shone as a flicker of malice and excitement rushed to his mind, ignoring the vengeful pleas of his lackeys.
____________________
"Phew, that was something..."
After a long and challenging day at work, Yoichi heard the bell ring, signaling everyone to assemble and line up for dinner, which wasn't exactly the most exciting meal.
As they fell into line, Sabito leaned over and quietly asked Genji, "What do you think is going to happen next?"
"They won't do anything bad in the few days... But be prepared for their sneak attacks."
Yoichi butted in and crossed his arms while the rest of the group went silent, darting at him with curious looks.
Thinking about the scene earlier, Yoichi felt like Masaru's temperament was not ordinary compared to other kids around him.
'Not easily taunted like a kid... Can endure humiliation and has an unusual height as a 6 years-old kid. Looks like I'm here for a ride.'
"Next!" A cold voice rang, interrupting Yoichi's thoughts.
After noticing the familiar shinobi, Yoichi stepped forward and complied to the inspection.
Yes, the security in the Mining Area was top-notch, even for toddlers like them. No sharp and blunt objects.
However, there were exception to the rules.
"Next!"
After a brief yet detailed inspection, Yoichi glanced at Masaru's silhouette and went to the cafeteria.
Each meal was only sufficient for all of them. Yet Masaru and his crews were greedily eating other's portion like a bottomless whale.
Not complying with their rule? Someone will be beaten to death.
Handing over your portion? Someone will be hungry for the rest of the night.
This law of the jungle made Yoichi frown yet he had no choice.
Given with 3 riceballs, 3 baked potato, and miso soup, Yoichi merely appreciated on the food and went to Genji's spot.
'Finally, after enduring such a difficult work with a beaten body like this, it's time to eat!'
"Hahaha, look at his foolish face! Oi, did you beat his head to become idiot like this?"
"I don't know what you are talking about, Tadao-san. Maybe he was enjoying his time eating before eating shit once more!"
"HAHAHA!"
On the side, Tadao and his group loudly mocked Yoichi, earning the laughter of the hall. In contrast, Masaru merely glanced at Yoichi, still enjoying his food.
'Heh, this insults are nothing much. Compared to eating food while watching 2 girls 1 cup, it's just plain! Still, what's wrong with this body? Why I still feel a sting of humiliation and anger in my heart?'
"I appreciate your anger against this ridicules, but... Don't get provoked by words. It's not worth trying to put effort stopping them."
Seeing Genji gritting his teeth, Yoichi advised him and the others as they gradually nodded their heads in approval, eating again like there was no problem.
On the other hand, Tadao and others felt enraged being ignored, wanting to bark like homeless dogs until...
"LINE UP!" A commanding tone soared in the hall.
In an instant, all of the children lined up like loyal soldiers including Yoichi.
To the contrary, Masaru completely strutted forward into the sleeping quarters like a boss while the others waited for their time to be scanned.
Now, it's time to go back to the sleeping quarters.
However, the sleeping room wasn't everyone was expecting when they were transported to the Mining Area in the first place.
It was simply a huge room with rattan beds and haybale pillows. At night, it was so cold with open windows and door for them.
Nonetheless, it wasn't the freest getaway for all of the kids.
Trying to escape? It's three ways to die!
One, die due to extreme cold from the all-around raining season in Land of Rain.
Two, die from the hunt of a night-shift Chūnin-class Shinobi, whose physique was much better than children.
Three, die from the salamanders and other beasts waiting for a midnight snack around the area.
All in all, death at all ways possible.
As for the comfort rooms, it was much worse.
It's a huge shed connected near to the sleeping quarters with a pretty big hole in the middle.
For the boys, it was the hole for execreting body waste, shitting together like pigs.
For the girls, there was an ancient toilet which was fairly better than the latter ones.
'Being soaked without heat or another clothes, extreme winds coming from windows and a huge door plus a smelly scent bombarding their noses. This is a hell hole, an absolute dogshit circumstance!'
"Aren't you sleeping, Yoichi? It will be so cold later on!"
"Yoichi-kun, let's sleep together..."
"Come on, Yoichi. We reserved a spot for you on the middle!"
Frustrated by a lot of shit, Yoichi lied down to the rattan bed as the grasping hands hugged him without any qualms.
"Oi, don't squeeze too hard! My injuries aren't fully healed yet!"
"Hehehe, sorry Yoichi. Don't be like a grumpy old man, bro!"
Genji was lying on his side to the west, away from the large door to the east. He had Sabito wrapped in his arms, who in turn was hugging Yoichi on the right, while Hikari was holding Yoichi on the left.
It felt just like a family of four hanging out together.
Feeling too frustrated to express himself, Yoichi was completely drained and ended up sleeping like a rock, thanks in part to the stress from work and his injuries.
_______________________
"Uwah! Uwah!"
'Where the hell am I now?!'
Hearing the wails of a newborn, Yoichi's eyesight felt blurry and warm as the tears in his face fell like raindrops.
'What the hell is happening?'
"I'm so sorry... But I need you to be gone in my life..."
A gentle voice resounded in his ears as the silhouette of a woman emerged, feeling complicated about her decision.
"Help! Yoichi!"
"Why won't you help us?"
"AAAGGGHHH, IM BURNING! HELP!"
Afterwards, the scene changed into a burning mansion as the kids were being abducted and adults massacred by the mysterious assailants.
'Is this... The original owner's past?'
Hearing his name, Yoichi began processing the bizarre scenario as the background changed once more in a white room like a blank canvass.
"Find... Her...."
"Find... Mother..."
"Seek... The... Truth..."
Subsequently, Yoichi saw another him or in other words, the original owner, grasping for Yoichi and patiently waiting for his answer.
"Hooohh... I will find her... For us..."
Taking a deep breath, Yoichi replied with such conviction yet his mind was still on disarray. The original owner merely smiled and walked slowly on the light.
__________
"What's wrong, Yoichi? Having some nightmares?" On his right side, Sabito was slightly woke up with a sudden jolt by someone.
"No, no... It's fine. Just sleep for now."
Prompting his body to sat down, Yoichi absorbed the memories slowly.
'So that's her mother and his past in full sequence... However, how can I even leave this place without any help?!'
Cupping his chin, Yoichi wanted sleep again until...
[Initializing...]
[Loading...]
[Congratulations on unlocking the Martial Arts Inheritance System!]
'Finally, my cheat has come!'
(A/N: I'm so sorry for being too much detailed in a lot of cases. I wanted to pretend like it's a paid subscription novel yet I am THAT shitty at writing hehe. Thank you for reading this chapter, thanks for the bookmarks and see ya! XDD!)