Stories like this were everywhere—tired, predictable, yet always real in the shinobi world.
And today, Hoshino Kaede had stumbled right into one.
He had just been about to buy some snacks to bring home to his mother when a scornful voice rang out nearby:
"Hah, letting filthy commoners live here is already a blessing, and you actually have the audacity to ask for money? Pushing luck, huh?!."
"I honestly don't understand what the higher-ups are thinking—taking in such outsider!"
Mockery and insults spilled into the street. Passersby frowned, their anger visible even if they didn't speak up.
Kaede's face remained expressionless as he walked closer.
He had a rough idea of what was going on—but he wanted to see the truth for himself.
"You're going too far! We already agreed on the price before I came, and I've given you the sword! And you still have the nerve to demand more?!"
A middle-aged man, red-faced with fury, stood his ground as best he could. But despite his righteous words, Kaede could tell the man was struggling to hold himself together—like a paper tiger roaring against a storm.
What exactly had happened here?
Kaede listened quietly as a small crowd gathered, whispering among themselves. Though they spoke softly, his sharp hearing caught every word.
"Hah… those guys again. That's the fifth incident this month."
"Yeah, abusing their ninja status to bully civilians—it's disgusting."
"That man's the new clan head who just moved to Konoha. He's new to the village, so of course he can't fight them."
Clan head?
Now that was interesting.
Kaede rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
So the man was the leader of a small family. That explained a lot. If they were a major clan, no one would shake them down like this.
Still, being extorted by a few mid-level shinobi was pitiful. Probably, as a newcomer to the village, he didn't want to cause trouble or draw unwanted attention.
Konoha was still growing—naturally, that meant opportunists and parasites would appear, staining its reputation before it even had time to solidify.
But from Kaede's past life experience, he knew one truth well: the more you back down, the harder others will step on you.
As expected, the "clan head" could only clench his fists in silent anger. He didn't fight back. The group of bullies took this as permission to escalate, laughing even louder.
"Hahaha! Now that's more like it peasant."
"Forget it. I'm in a good mood today. I'll let you go."
"I thought you'd have some spine, but you're just dull. What a shame."
The leader clicked his tongue and turned away, his companions smirking behind him.
The clan head's face was dark, the rage in his eyes barely restrained. Anyone else might have already struck them down—but he didn't.
As the bullies started to leave, Kaede's lips curved faintly. His sapphire-blue eyes glimmered under the sunlight.
In the next instant, faint ripples spread from his pupils—waves invisible to everyone but him.
And then—
The world slowed.
[Eye of Time — Deceleration]
Everything around Kaede—people, wind, even the drifting dust—moved as if submerged in honey. The entire street seemed frozen in a dreamlike stillness.
It was as if time itself had been stretched thin.
In Kaede's vision, movements became slow and deliberate, like a film in slow motion. Every tiny gesture, every breath, every heartbeat became visible—palpable.
Even the smallest dust motes shimmered clearly in the golden sunlight, suspended midair.
The world had stopped.
Only Kaede's consciousness flowed freely, untouched by the stillness.
For the first time, he grasped the true weight of what it meant to control time.
In this suspended world, he felt like a god—life and death, motion and stillness, all bound by his will.
A thrill ran through his veins, raw and intoxicating.
But reason quickly pulled him back. Kaede slapped his cheeks sharply, forcing his mind to cool down.
"Don't get carried away. Pride leads to downfall," he muttered.
"Hoshino Kaede, you can't lose yourself over this. Power without control is just a leash."
He repeated it several times until the excitement faded and his focus returned.
Then he exhaled slowly and got back to business.
Kaede walked up to the ringleader, whose arrogant grin was now frozen in midair. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and patted the man's clothes.
Moments later, he pulled out a thick bundle of money, grinning with satisfaction.
"Compensation for moral damages," he whispered smugly.
He turned to the others, tempted to loot them too—but his chakra reserves were nearly depleted. The technique's upkeep drained him faster than he'd expected.
With a resigned sigh, he gave up and stepped back.
When he released the jutsu, the flow of time snapped back to normal.
"Boring. Let's get out of here," the ringleader yawned, having no idea his wallet was missing.
The bullies swaggered away, laughing to themselves.
The onlookers dispersed soon after, leaving only the defeated clan head, his face clouded with helplessness.
He sighed and turned toward his home, steps heavy and spirit dimmed.
But then, he felt a tug at his sleeve.
Looking down, he found a smiling boy staring up at him.
"Little one, is something wrong?" the man asked tiredly.
"Uncle," Kaede said, tilting his head, "you're new to Konoha, right?"
"Hm? Oh… yes." The man nodded after a moment's hesitation. It wasn't a secret, after all. Anyone could find out with a few questions.
"And what do you think of Konoha so far?" Kaede asked again, his tone casual but eyes sharp.
The man blinked in surprise. That was an odd question for a child to ask—but he answered honestly.
"It's a wonderful place. Peaceful, stable. Much better than wandering from land to land."
A faint smile returned to his face.
Despite his earlier humiliation, his tone carried genuine warmth when he spoke of the village. Whatever ugliness he had encountered, it hadn't shaken his belief that Konoha was a place worth living in.
Perhaps encouraged by Kaede's listening silence, he continued.
"I used to be a samurai. When Konoha was founded, I thought it would be a good place to settle down. So I brought my wife and family here."
"Thankfully, our clan—the Hatake clan—was granted land by Lord Hokage himself. We're not wealthy, but we can live peacefully, and that's all I ever wanted."
As the man spoke, the gloom on his face lifted completely, replaced by a quiet, hopeful smile.
He didn't notice the strange expression on Kaede's face.
Hatake… clan?
Kaede's eyes widened slightly, and then his lips twitched.
No way. The Hatake clan? I just casually went out for a stroll and ran into Kakashi's ancestors?
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
Well, what do you know? Luck really is on my side today.