The sun rose steadily in the sky, promising not only a new day, but perhaps, the faint illusion of a different beginning. Birds chirped joyfully, some flitting about to gather straws for their nests. Slowly, the city unveiled itself, bathed in the golden rays of the sun, like a once-hidden mural being revealed with each lifted curtain of darkness.
The streets, once still and quiet under the veil of night, now brimmed with activity. People walked briskly—some on their way to work, others to school. If not, then children, bored beyond measure, wandered aimlessly, their curious eyes scanning the world for excitement. And of course, there were adults who simply strolled with no purpose at all, passing time with idle steps—fragile reminders of lives waiting to be fulfilled.
Those who wasted their time in life were doomed to sink into mediocrity. Such was the unspoken, merciless law of the modern world.
In one small apartment, the scene was a different one altogether. A young boy, no more than five years old, sat on the floor, sweat dripping from his brow as though he had just awoken from a nightmare—or perhaps endured one in his mind. His room was sparse, furnished only with a small table, two modest beds, a battered drawer, and a precarious stack of well-worn books. Nothing beyond the essentials occupied this space.
On one of the beds, a young girl lay asleep, snoring away in a rather unbecoming fashion. Beside her, another boy mirrored her deep slumber, their breathing heavy, their dreams untold. Both had blonde hair and an uncanny resemblance that would make anyone suspect they were twins.
To add to the absurdity of the scene, the two wore matching pajamas—dark blue, with scattered stars dotting the fabric in what could only be described as a starry theme. The boy on the floor, despite himself, deadpanned at the sight for the umpteenth time. Perhaps his younger self wouldn't have questioned such an atrocious fashion choice, but today, it was a recurring source of disbelief.
His grey eyes were hollow, distant, staring into a void few could perceive. An abyss not born of mere emptiness, but of depth that swallowed thought. His gaze flicked momentarily to their cheeks, noting the thin, dark whisker marks that branded their faces. The sight prodded questions—many of which, he was still unwilling to voice.
Running a hand through his silver hair, he rose to his feet and trudged to the door situated in the corner of the room. He twisted the knob of the tap, letting hot water fill the bath slowly while he brushed his teeth with mechanical precision.
'Once I'm done with this... I'll need to figure out how to make some money. A job won't cut it, not for long.'
...
..
.
By the time he returned to the room, a different spectacle awaited him. The two siblings had awoken—and were now locked in a heated verbal duel. Insults flew like stray bullets, loud enough to rattle the walls, yet amusing enough that he couldn't even be bothered to intervene immediately. He marvelled at how petty and creative children could be when squabbling.
"What do you and your pea-sized brain know about gratitude!" the girl snapped, her blue eyes sparking with righteous fury as she stared down her brother's brighter, more animated gaze.
"Yeah?! At least I'm not the one trailing idiots like a lost puppy!" the boy shot back, blissfully unaware that the very 'idiot' they debated was standing mere steps away.
Kaien Tsukihara, tired and visibly unimpressed, stood with an unreadable expression. They were so engrossed that they hadn't noticed him return. Silently, he raised both hands, as though surrendering to their chaos, before his hands swiftly descended—delivering sharp, disciplinary chops to their heads.
"YOU'RE MAKING A RACKUS!" he roared.
...
A few moments later, peace had returned.
Kaien now sat cross-legged, observing the two as they rubbed their heads in agony—eyes glossy, cheeks puffed in muted protest. They looked like two pitiful kittens caught in a rainstorm. Clearing his throat with deliberate patience, Kaien addressed the most pressing matter of the morning.
"I'm Kaien Tsukihara. Pleasure to meet you both."
"It's nice meeting you too!" the blonde-haired boy replied, his grin goofy and lacking any ill intent, as though the earlier scolding had been a distant memory.
"My name's Naruko Uzumaki. Thank you for having us," the girl added, her smile genuine and soft, a small gesture of gratitude that Kaien acknowledged with a simple nod.
However, Kaien's eyes remained fixed on the boy—unblinking, hawk-like, eyes just sharp enough to make anyone uncomfortable. Naruto stiffened under the gaze, visibly unsure of what crime he had committed to earn such scrutiny. Naruko stepped in, standing protectively before her brother, though her gaze darted curiously between Kaien and Naruto.
"Is something wrong?" the boy asked, voice tinged with innocent confusion.
Kaien closed his eyes, sighing lightly. "Let me put it simply: What is your name?"
The boy blinked, scratching his head before answering plainly, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki."
Kaien nodded slowly, though his thoughts churned beneath the surface. To them, it looked like a simple acknowledgment, but his mind whispered otherwise.
'I'll take this one for clod. Maybe his sister is sharper.'
"I really appreciate you letting us stay the night," Naruko interjected, standing up. "We'll get going now. Come on, Naruto."
"Right!" her brother echoed, scrambling up to follow her lead.
As they made their way to the door, Kaien exhaled through his nose, conflicted. There was a risk in both letting them stay and in letting them go. Still, he asked the question that had been lingering since their arrival.
"Where will you go?"
The inquiry stopped them cold. Kaien caught the brief hesitation in their steps, the way their bodies seemed to freeze with a slight, almost imperceptible delay.
Naruko glanced back with a strained smile. "I don't know. But Naruto and I always figure something out."
He watched her carefully, noting the arc of her lips—how the curve lacked the colour of confidence. Then his eyes slid to Naruto, whose attention was wholly on his sister, concern flickering in his eyes despite his attempts to hide it. That subtle reluctance told Kaien everything he needed to know.
'They have no plan...'
"I'm an orphan too," he said simply.
Their eyes widened, the statement catching them completely off guard. They'd assumed he had parents, guardians, someone who kept the roof over his head. The revelation added a weight to the situation neither of them expected.
"I've got a few days before I get sent to the orphanage. What's keeping you two from staying a bit longer?"
Naruto's face brightened with visible relief, though skepticism remained, a product of the rejections they'd faced from strangers. "Are you sure it's okay for us to stay?"
Kaien smiled faintly, his eyes as elusive and unreadable as ever. "I don't mind the company."
Truthfully, company was a luxury Kaien had started to appreciate more, even if it came in the form of these hyperactive siblings. They brought noise, mess, and unpredictability—but also colour to his otherwise grey days.
'Still... I wonder why they exist here. Konoha wasn't this modern, and I'd recognize it anywhere...'
Kaien recalled how he found them: two soaked, shivering kids huddled together under the rain, their frail bodies trembling. Naruto's white shirt clung to his skin, filthy and damp. Naruko's oversized shirt was no better, weighed down by the downpour.
It was a pitiful sight, one that gnawed at his conscience. He acted—not because he thought himself a hero, but because he knew no one else would. People stood by, pretending not to notice, always waiting for someone else to step in. Always assuming the next person would act.
That's just how the world was—no lifeguard for life's oceans. No beach. No safety net. Only endless waiting.
He called this societal cowardice The Inferior Cycle—an endless loop where everyone awaited a "chosen one" who never came. And by the time they realized that hero wasn't coming, it was always too late.
Their whisker marks had made him pause, though. Any otaku would recognize the younger Naruto... but here, there were two of them. And something was undeniably off.
Up close, he noticed more: though both had messy hair, the other twin's features were more delicate. Larger eyes, thinner lips, subtler cheekbones. Feminine. Still, part of him hesitated.
'It's obvious the other twin's a girl... or just weirdly feminine. That question haunts me even now...'
"Come on, Naruko-nee," Naruto chimed, eyes hopeful. "Wouldn't it be better to stick with someone this kind and thoughtful?"
Kaien chuckled internally. 'If nothing else, this guy's most reliable skill is that legendary Talk no Jutsu. The dumbest yet most effective jutsu... I wonder if it'll work here.'