In a dark, narrow alley, a sturdy man carrying a basket filled with medicinal herbs hurried toward home, his expression resolute.
"Little Dai is home alone… I hope nothing bad has happened…"
Just then—
Bang!
A strange noise suddenly came from a trash can in the corner of the alley.
The man froze for a moment and subconsciously took two steps forward. But very quickly…
He frowned and slowly stepped back.
At last—someone had come!
In his hazy consciousness, Hatake Sora seemed to hear steady footsteps approaching. A pair of warm, powerful hands gently lifted him up…
"This child… he looks a lot like my own boy."
The man's hands were warm, and his voice was like a stove burning in winter, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.
"Escape the Trash Can mission complete. Please claim your reward."
The system's voice remained utterly indifferent, as if it didn't care in the slightest whether Hatake Sora lived or died.
But he had survived.
Hatake Sora curled his lips into a weak smile and closed his eyes in relief…
Seeing that faint smile, the man holding him couldn't help but laugh. Pulling Hatake Sora closer into his arms, he said:
"Don't worry. I, Might Guy, swear in the name of youth—I will definitely keep you alive!"
With that, the watermelon-haired man named Might Guy burst into laughter and walked away, the Konoha forehead protector on his brow gleaming brightly.
Wherever leaves dance, the Will of Fire will never cease to burn.
A giant spider hung from the stained, mottled ceiling, leaping back and forth as it arrogantly wove its web…
"Have I… been rescued?"
Hatake Sora slowly opened his eyes, struggling to turn his head and survey his surroundings.
Beneath the dilapidated ceiling was an empty Japanese-style room. Aside from a simple wooden bed, there was no furniture at all. This was truly a destitute home…
After taking in the sparse furnishings, Hatake Sora noticed another infant lying beside him—about the same age as himself. A goofy watermelon haircut, a round, sturdy build, adorably ugly in a strange sort of way…
Besides the baby, there was also a robust middle-aged man in the room. He was dressed like a farmer, but that comical watermelon hairstyle made him seem far more lively. Cradled in his arms was a basket of what looked like medicinal herbs, which he was carefully sorting through.
At first glance, this watermelon-haired man gave Hatake Sora a strong sense of familiarity.
Yet within that familiarity was something oddly foreign.
In short, it felt as though Hatake Sora knew him—yet he was absolutely certain he had never seen him before.
"What a strange feeling…"
Hatake Sora shook his head and remained silent. Before understanding the situation, he didn't want to display any behavior that went beyond what an infant should show.
He gently closed his eyes once more…
"Beginner Quest: Escape the Trash Can (Completed)!""Kunai Throwing (Beginner): Available."
"Claim!"
After confirming the claim, a skill bar abruptly appeared in Hatake Sora's mind.
Kunai Throwing (Beginner)
At the same time, a sudden warm current surged out from Hatake Sora's hands. It flowed slowly from his fingertips through his entire body. He could clearly feel that this warm current was strengthening his physique—but as it traveled, it gradually thinned.
By the time it reached his feet, it was barely perceptible.
Clearly, the enhancement focused primarily on his hands.
When the warmth completely dissipated, Hatake Sora slowly opened his eyes and instinctively reached out to grip the wooden bedpost beside him.
Creak… crack…
Wood chips splintered beneath his grasp, producing an unpleasant grinding sound.
Releasing his hand, Hatake Sora looked at the clearly visible small handprint left behind on the solid wooden bedpost and broke into a grin.
"Looks like… even in this Naruto world, my strength already far surpasses that of an ordinary two-year-old child…"