Ishiki woke with a start.
Sunlight cut across his face, warm and blinding. His body instinctively tensed, expecting the familiar sting of wounds, the bruises, the cuts, the throbbing ache.
Instead…
He blinked.
He looked down at his arms.
Perfect skin.
Smooth, unblemished, not even a scar beneath the pristine white bandages.
A shiver ran through him.
"…This… healed in one night?"
No. Not even a night. The amount of damage he had taken should have required a week or more to fully mend. Yet here he was, reborn in a single morning.
The Doctor's Kit was far beyond miraculous.It was a cheat on the level of legendary medical ninjutsu.
And as he processed the impossible recovery, an instinctive thought arose.
He opened his system.
STATUS
Name: Ishik
iAge: 12
Chakra: 66 / 66
Strength: 33
Ninjutsu:
• Shadow Clone — Intermediate
• Transformation — Beginner
• Body Replacement — Intermediate
Taijutsu: Intermediate
Genjutsu: None
Elemental Affinity: None
Gadgets:Reverse Cloak, Concentrated Food, Genius Helmet, Denkomaru, Doctor's Kit, Infinity Lasso
A smile tugged at his lips.
His chakra had nearly doubled.His strength had shot up.His skills had sharpened.
That near-death battle with the Sarutobi had pushed him to evolve far faster than any normal ninja.
He closed the menu and pulled out his newest toy,
Infinity Lasso.
It gleamed deep red in the morning sun, impossibly light in his hand. He poured chakra into it, watching its length expand like a living thread.
It hummed with potential.
He tested its movement, controlling it like an extra limb, able to bend, twist, and redirect at will.
Perfect control… incredible reach…
His mind sparked.
He grabbed Denkomaru, the toy-like weapon that automatically parried attacks.A grin spread across his face as he tied Denkomaru securely to the lasso's end.
Behind his home sat a massive boulder.
He swung the weapon experimentally.
The Denkomaru shot forward in a golden arc, the Infinity Lasso guiding it with flawless precision. It curved mid-air, cutting through the wind like a controlled missile.
He tossed stones into the air one after another,
ZING— SLASH!ZING— SLASH!ZING— SLASH!
Each stone was shredded mid-descent, diced into fragments before touching the ground.
Ishiki's eyes widened in delight.
Automatic defence.Long-range attack.High manoeuvrability.No weaknesses.
He had just created his first true weapon system.
He opened his system again and noticed something new,
Reverse Cloak and Concentrated Food were gray, showing a recall button.
Both were still with their rightful owners, Madara and Hashirama.
He could retrieve them instantly…but didn't.
The new combo was more than enough for now.The Doctor's Kit kept him battle-ready.And… Madara and Hashirama needed those items more than he did.
A faint warmth spread through his chest.
Let them keep them. It's safer that way.
Before he could reflect further,
Grrrrrr
His stomach roared.
Right.
Food.
He stepped out into the morning sun.
Immediately,villagers called out to him.
"Good morning, Ishiki!""Have some bread, child!""You saved us, please, take this!"
Mothers offered baskets.Elders pressed vegetables into his hands.Children ran to hug his legs.
He refused at first, but their eyes were too sincere, too grateful.Eventually, he accepted a little, humbled by their kindness.
Then the village chief approached him.
The elderly man bowed deeply.
"Please, come with me. I insist."
Ishiki tried to refuse, but the Chief's gentle smile made it impossible.He followed him into the chief's home.
A simple but beautifully arranged meal waited for him.
"I've already been given enough," Ishiki began.
"No," the Chief interrupted softly."This is not repayment. This is gratitude. They see you as their protector now."
Ishiki looked down, warmth welling in his chest.
Protecting someone…being looked at with trust…it felt good.
The Chief watched him for a long moment before his expression shifted, becoming solemn.
"You are still a child, Ishiki," he said quietly."I pray you don't feel burdened by these expectations."
Ishiki lifted his head, eyes clear and firm.
"This village has given me kindness," he said simply."It is my duty to give back. This is not a burden."
The Chief froze… then laughed softly.
"You speak like someone far older than twelve."
He leaned forward, smiling warmly.
"Then from today onward, you will eat at my home every day. Understand?"
"Chief, I can't,"
"You are like my own grandson," the old man interrupted."Don't refuse this old man's wishes."
Ishiki sighed, defeated by kindness.
"…Alright."
The Chief's expression hardened slightly.
"But tell me, Ishiki,What do you think our village should do next?What is our future?"
Ishiki met his gaze without hesitation.
"My two friends will not forget their promise," he said."There is no need to fear the Sarutobi for now."
The Chief let out a visible breath of relief.
But Ishiki wasn't finished.
"We must grow stronger," he said."We cannot survive as just a small settlement. Chief… I want to build a true village here."
The Chief's eyes widened.
"A… village?"
"A place where ninja and civilians live together," Ishiki explained."A place where all clans can come.A place without war.A village of peace."
The Chief stared at him, speechless.
What Ishiki described…was unheard of.Impossible.A dream fit for gods, not men.
Yet he saw the fire in the boy's eyes.
Not arrogance.Not ignorance.
A vision.
A dream for the future.
A dream the world desperately needed.