Chapter 8 — The War effects
The summer morning sun was warm without being harsh, and the birds in the forest chirped and sang, weaving a melody unique to this woodland.
A disheveled young man, face streaked with dirt, scooped water from the lakeside and splashed it onto his sweat-drenched face.
A month had passed. He had been training in this forest every day, never once allowing himself to slack off.
The first three days had been especially grueling. With no hunting experience, he couldn't catch a single prey and had to survive on the few fruits he could find.
His days had been simple and harsh: drink dew from the mountain in the morning, eat wild fruit in the evening. Even catching a fish was nearly impossible. Every craft had its knowledge, and survival was no exception.
Fortunately, the heavens had mercy. On the fourth day, using an old method he had once read in a textbook, he managed to catch a bird, replenishing the protein and fat his body desperately needed.
After this month, he could say with confidence that, at least when it came to surviving on his own, he had no problems.
"The weather is gradually cooling… autumn must be approaching. Sleeping in the trees then won't do; catching a cold and running a fever would be troublesome."
He thought this as he took off his clothes, revealing his well-built body. He washed them in the lake, wrung them out, and slung them over his shoulder.
It was time to move on.
This month of training had raised his Strength and Agility from E to E+, and his Endurance from E- to E.
Not bad at all.
Early training was always faster; once his attributes rose further, the gains from this kind of training would diminish exponentially.
Walking through the forest, sunlight streamed through the leaves, dappled across his body like a masterpiece painting.
He had already surpassed ordinary humans by a large margin. Yet if he encountered a ninja, escape would still be necessary.
He had to figure out how to cultivate chakra.
After half a day's journey, he finally spotted a village. It was small, with houses scattered sparsely, giving it a quiet, deserted feel.
Entering the village, he saw elders chatting beneath a tree, children playing, and not a single adult of working age in sight—they were probably in the fields.
"What a nice place. Seems untouched by war," Raizen said with a smile. He enjoyed this peaceful atmosphere.
This idyllic scene reminded him of his own hometown in the real world.
The children stared curiously at the stranger, sizing him up from head to toe. The elders, meanwhile, looked on with pity and shook their heads in sorrow.
Raizen, puzzled, asked: "Elders, is there something wrong with me?"
An old man shook his head and sighed: "Young man, did you come from the border villages?"
Raizen didn't know how to answer, but in the old man's eyes, it was as if he had mentioned a sorrowful matter.
"Forgive me, young man. I may have spoken out of turn. This cursed war has already affected many villages. In the past six months, countless people have passed through here, looking as miserable as you do."
Raizen fell silent. The old man had taken him for a refugee. Yet the genuine kindness in his gaze was moving beyond words.
Simple, honest farmers…
Another elder spoke: "Ah! It won't be long before we too must flee! The ninja of the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind have been advancing fiercely, defeating Konoha's forces at every turn!"
"Yes! I hear there's activity on the other side, in the Land of Water. When will this war ever end?"
"In the end, it is we civilians who suffer the most."
The elders exchanged words, one after another.
Raizen's heart grew heavy. Indeed, in war, only the common people suffer. The ninja villages, driven by profit, would wage war and let rivers of blood flow.
It was truly hateful.
"Elders, how do you know the progress of the war?" Raizen bent slightly as he asked.
"Some time ago, a woman came to tell us. She must also have been a ninja. She warned us to flee immediately."
"Then why haven't you left yet? If enemy ninjas arrive, they will have no mercy. Then you…" Raizen didn't finish the sentence, but everyone understood the implication.
"Ha! Our ancestors have lived here for generations. Why leave now? We won't!" The elders smiled, carefree and resolute.
Raizen glanced at the children, feeling a pang of pity.
"What about these children?"
"Those children… they are refugees. Their parents are dead. When the able-bodied villagers left, they took their families with them and couldn't care for these kids. Truly, it's pitiful," one elder said, clenching his fists in helpless frustration.
His own son had refused to take the children, calling it a burden. So the few elders remained, taking care of the children, waiting for death.
Raizen closed his eyes. His heart trembled with a surge of indescribable anger. These children were only seven or eight years old, yet because of the ninja villages' war, they had become orphans.
He did not resent those who abandoned them; that was human nature, and unavoidable. If one cannot care for oneself, how can one care for a few refugee children?
What he hated were the ninja villages themselves, waging war for profit, shattering countless families.
Raizen looked at the elders respectfully and softly said: "Elders, if you trust me, why not leave these children in my care?"
Taking these children would indeed be a burden, but his nature would not allow him to stand by. Besides, the children, having endured this suffering, were naturally more mature than others their age. With proper training, they could become sharp blades.
Perhaps his thoughts were cruel, but for these children, losing relatives and following him would be far better than waiting here to die. Of course, he still had to ask the children's consent.
The elders looked at Raizen intently. "Won't they become a burden to you? Forgive me for asking… judging by your appearance, you seem to be in a difficult situation yourself."
Raizen nodded and looked up at them. "Indeed, I am struggling now, but that is temporary. Do you believe a person's present situation determines their entire life?"
The elders smiled and stood. "Eat something first before setting out."
Raizen nodded, understanding. The elders had agreed. After all, they could not bear to see the children die here alongside them. These children still had bright futures ahead.
Now that Raizen said he would take the children under his care, they were naturally pleased.
Still, they wanted to observe him further. Who would willingly take in several obviously burdensome orphans while themselves struggling?