Village Chief
> "Why did Konoha send three kids? Can you handle this?"
At the entrance of Sheyu Village stood an elderly man, leaning heavily on a cane.
> "Why… um—"
Sensing that Yuyan was about to respond inappropriately, Bai Ye quickly covered her mouth with his hand. His eyes signaled Yue to handle the conversation instead.
> "Sir, please don't judge us by our age. We may be young, but we're among the top Genin in Konoha. You can count on us."
Yue offered a slight bow, her voice polite and composed. Her respectful tone and calm demeanor helped put others at ease.
> "It's not that I don't trust you," the old man replied, concern tightening his brow. "I'm just afraid something might happen to you too. The children who've gone missing from our village were all around your age."
Clearly, his comment hadn't come from a place of doubt, but worry.
> "You must be the village chief, right? Can I call you Grandpa Chief?"
Bai Ye stepped forward with a disarming grin. It was always easier to win people over with a touch of friendliness, especially from someone who seemed more dependable.
> "Heh... Sure. Call me whatever you like."
The old man chuckled. Despite his age, there was a warm light in his eyes. He seemed to genuinely care for children.
> "Don't worry, Grandpa Chief. Even if there's something dangerous lurking around, I can handle it."
To demonstrate his capability, Bai Ye channeled white lightning around his fingers. He didn't release the chakra, but allowed the energy to crackle and illuminate the area. The display was visually striking—almost like a miniature Chidori, though clearly different in nature.
This technique was the product of weeks of disciplined training. Where his chakra control had once been raw and unstable, Bai Ye could now gather and suppress lightning without discharging it. In the past, the technique would trigger involuntarily upon activation.
The old man visibly relaxed.
> "Come, I'll take you into the village. Most of the young men are still out in the fields. Only us old-timers remain here during the day."
Now reassured, the chief turned and began to lead the way. The truth of the world was harsh—power spoke loudest.
> "Tch. Showoff. That trick of yours isn't even that impressive."
Yuyan stuck out her tongue the moment the old man's back was turned, still annoyed from earlier.
> "It's still better than blurting out something rude right off the bat."
Bai Ye gave her forehead a light flick.
> "It's not my fault. I just get irritated too easily..."
Yuyan pouted and rubbed the red spot. She grumbled to Yue in a whisper.
Yue only smiled, gently pulling her along. After a month of traveling with Bai Ye, Yuyan's temper had noticeably softened.
> "Grandpa Chief, I haven't seen a single child since entering the village. Where are they all?"
While it was understandable that adults were working, Bai Ye had been observant. The streets were filled only with elderly villagers playing shogi or chatting. No children at all.
The old man sighed.
> "Since the disappearances began, parents haven't let their children out of their sight. They take them everywhere, scared they might vanish next. That's why we reached out to Konoha for help—we pooled our savings to fund a mission."
> "Don't worry. Now that we're here, we'll get to the bottom of it."
Bai Ye thumped his chest in assurance.
Suddenly—
Swoosh.
A sharp whistle tore through the air. Bai Ye's instincts kicked in. He unsheathed his Zanpakutō from his hip and intercepted the incoming object.
A stone—small but fast. It carried enough force to injure or even break bones if it hit an average person. Bai Ye held it up and frowned.
> "You little brat—!"
The village chief had just reached for the gate when he saw what happened. His eyes flared with fury as he stormed inside. A small figure darted past a second-story window.
> "Bai Ye! Are you okay?"
Yue rushed to his side, a trace of concern slipping into her normally composed tone.
> "I'm fine. But whoever threw this wasn't weak. Stay alert. Something's not right in this village."
Bai Ye's tone grew serious. It was too early to draw conclusions, but something felt off.
> "Besides the chief, only one other person was inside—a child. I activated my Byakugan and scanned the entire house. No other chakra signatures."
Yuyan's voice was calm and efficient. She'd already done her job.
> "Just a child?"
Bai Ye frowned. That child's throw wasn't normal. If he had that much strength, he should've been enrolled at the Academy. There was no logical reason for someone like that to still be here.
> "You're overthinking it. His chakra is barely above normal. Even if something's strange, he's not a threat."
Yuyan gave Bai Ye a shove on the back, ushering him forward.
> "No point standing in the sun getting roasted. Let's go."
They entered the chief's home, a simple two-story building. The ground floor was sparsely furnished: a low table, mismatched chairs, a couple of storage cabinets, and two doors that likely led to the kitchen and washroom.
Before long, the village chief returned, guiding a young boy down the stairs.
> "This is my grandson, Sheyu Gu Bin. He's usually obedient. I don't know what's gotten into him today. I apologize on his behalf."
> "Why should I apologize to these outsiders?"
Gu Bin's voice was loud and angry. He shoved his grandfather aside and stormed out of the house.
> "Gu Bin! Gu Bin! I'm so sorry about that. We've been under a lot of stress lately. Our home's a little run-down, so please bear with us."
The old man gave a tight smile as he hurried to bring out tea and snacks from the cabinet, placing them on the table for the guests.
> "Please excuse me for a moment. I'll be right back."
With a final bow, the chief rushed out after his grandson.
The three Genin exchanged glances in silence. No words were needed to capture the unease settling over them.