On the final day of recruitment for the Gen Ninja Village, more than thirty children were brought before Aoi, their faces etched with misery.
Almost every family had sent the children they cared about the least.
The majority of them were orphans left behind by the war…
Their expressions were grim; they believed they were being sent to a temple to live out their days in loneliness.
As for the so‑called "ninja village"?
They had never believed a word of it.
Their families had plenty of good opportunities and resources — but none of them ever went to children like these.
"Here they are, as you demanded!"
Sora Kou looked as if he had swallowed something foul, and shoved a gaunt, pale‑faced young boy forward toward Aoi.
Among all the families, the House of Sora was the most powerful — yet the child they brought was by far the worst off: his clothes barely covered his body, and he looked as if he had not had a proper meal in ages.
He was treated worse than even the lowest servants…
The larger and more influential the family, the thinner the bonds of kinship, and the harsher the rule of survival of the fittest.
From a ninja's perspective, a frail and undernourished child was not ideal.
But this was exactly one of the reasons Aoi had insisted on receiving children from these noble houses.
At the very least, they had been fed a more balanced diet than the common street orphans, making them far more suitable to be trained as shinobi.
Even so, it was the burning hatred in this boy's eyes that caught Aoi's attention most…
Every time he looked at Sora Kou, it was as if he wanted to tear the man apart and devour him.
There was deep resentment in his heart — and hatred, too, could be a powerful source of strength.
"What is your name?"
"Sora Ta."
"Sora Ta, is it?" Aoi nodded with a faint smile, his gaze fixed intently on the boy.
"Trust me — you will get exactly what you wish for."
"Ding…"
Follower: Sora Ta (Eternal Loyalty: 100/100)
This was the first time he had gained such a loyal follower so easily.
Aoi paused for a moment, then smiled even more broadly.
Only those who have spent a long time trapped in the darkest depths will grasp at even the faintest glimmer of hope without hesitation.
And such people are truly formidable.
For Sora Kou, this was likely the worst mistake he had ever made…
"Follow me."
Leading the group of children, Aoi traveled through the gorge and across the plains, arriving at what used to be the Hills of Birds — now renamed the Hills of No.
The thirty‑odd children trekked through rolling hills and slopes…
"At last — we have arrived."
The terrain here was unusual: it formed a natural basin, like a bowl made of layered ridges.
The slopes made up the sides, while the basin floor opened into a vast plain covering over a million square meters.
But as soon as they saw the empty landscape, the children groaned and complained.
"I thought we were being sent to be monks — now it looks like we're just going to be savages!"
"There isn't even a single temple here!"
"Of course our families just want to get rid of us and let us die out here!"
Anger and frustration began to spread.
Some of the children even stepped forward, ready to rush at Aoi — but Sora Ta immediately stepped between them, shielding him.
"Get out of the way, Sora Ta!"
"If you don't move, we'll hit you too!"
"No — I won't move," Sora Ta said firmly, shaking his head.
"This is the last chance I have…"
Seeing his determination, the other children fell silent and sighed.
They were all the unwanted outcasts of their families, and most knew one another well.
And Sora Ta was undeniably the worst‑treated among them…
"Sora Ta, don't let yourself be fooled!"
"This monk is nothing but a liar!"
"He talks about a ninja village, but there's not even a building in sight!"
"There is a ninja village here, and I never lie," Aoi said calmly, smiling with an air of quiet confidence and mystery.
If Sakura Haruno had heard those words, she would surely have cried out in frustration: "Naruto, that man is trying to trick me again!"
"Lies! Where is this village you speak of?!"
But these orphans were no Sakura — they were not so easily fooled.
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off