The child remained silent, only staring at Gekko Chizan the whole time.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"Kid, what's your name?"
Gekko Chizan turned around and looked at the delicate-looking boy. Yes, a boy—his name was Haku, and his Bloodline Limit was Ice Release.
A boy even more beautiful than a girl!
"Haku..."
"Heh, just like your name. You really are quite pale."
Haku said nothing, only continued to look at Gekko Chizan.
"Stop staring. I'm not as pretty as you, alright?"
"I think I've figured out your situation. A Bloodline Limit, right?"
At the words "Bloodline Limit," Haku finally reacted. His body trembled again. It was obvious the blow had been devastating to him.
Seeing his reaction, Gekko Chizan understood. The kid had just gone through the pain of losing his mother, and with the added shock of killing, his mind was in a haze.
Still, he felt fortunate he had arrived when he did. To run into him like this—otherwise, he would have missed out on a fine seedling.
"Don't be afraid. A Bloodline Limit is a gift from the heavens. We should accept it, not fear it."
"We?"
Hearing Gekko Chizan's words, Haku slowly raised his head. A trace of confusion flickered in his eyes as he looked at him.
Gekko Chizan smiled faintly.
"Yes. We both possess Bloodline Limits. Ours just happen to be different."
"Look... this is mine."
With a casual wave of his hand, crystal condensed. Transparent crystal formed under the glow of the firelight, exquisite and radiant, leaving Haku staring in a daze.
"This..."
"Is it ice...?"
Gekko Chizan froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
To be fair, his crystal did look a bit like ice. After all, it was transparent.
"No. This isn't ice—it's crystal, a hard substance. It may look similar, but its essence is different."
"I just want you to understand—this power isn't something bad. On the contrary, it's a blessing. It grants us these special abilities."
"Haku, do you understand?"
Haku continued staring at the condensed crystal, curiosity filling his eyes—only to be quickly swallowed by pain.
"If I could... I wouldn't want this ability."
"It's because of this power... Mother... she..."
Gekko Chizan sighed softly, cursing Kumogakure in his heart.
No—this traced back to the Third Mizukage he had killed. Stirring up trouble for no reason—what was the point of creating the so-called Bloody Mist?
Even hunting down shinobi with Bloodline Limits, forcing these gifted children of heaven to hide their names and conceal their brilliance.
The boy before him, Haku, was the clearest example.
In the village where Haku was born, the villagers feared and hated the power of Bloodline Limits. Haku's mother possessed one and kept it a secret—until Haku was discovered to have one as well. After his father found out, he led the villagers to kill Haku's mother. When they were about to kill Haku too, terrified, Haku accidentally activated his Bloodline Limit and killed them all.
That damned Bloody Mist had even brainwashed ordinary civilians.
...
"Sigh, poor kid. Don't think about it anymore."
"Follow me from now on."
Gekko Chizan handed the roasted meat to Haku, wearing what he believed to be his kindest smile.
Of course, that was only what he believed. In Haku's eyes... well, it was indeed a bit too kind.
"Who are you?"
"Me? A shinobi. A powerful one."
The aroma of roasted meat finally stirred something in Haku. After staying in the freezing wilderness for so long, he had long since been starving.
But having just gone through such intense trauma, he remained stiff. He didn't take the meat, instead continuing to question Gekko Chizan's identity.
"Kirigakure isn't a place suitable for a child like you to grow up."
"I'll take you away."
"I'll let you experience the beauty of this world. Don't worry—I'm not like those bastard villagers. I won't see your talent as something demonic. I'll see it as a miracle."
Gekko Chizan ate his roasted meat casually. He wasn't afraid Haku wouldn't follow him. A child who had lost everything losing direction was only natural.
After all, he was just a kid of a few years. How could he not handle him?
"Eat. Don't hold back. No matter what, you shouldn't make things hard on your own body."
"If you're hungry, eat. If it's not enough, there's more."
Unable to endure the hunger and the fragrance any longer, Haku finally began eating.
Seeing him take a bite, Gekko Chizan smiled slightly. He picked up a flask from the side and handed it over with a mischievous grin.
"Slow down. Want something to drink?"
"Mmm..."
Haku's throat was indeed dry from eating. Without thinking, he took the flask and gulped it down.
Gekko Chizan struggled to suppress his laughter. But the next second, he couldn't hold it in.
"Pff!"
"What is this?! It's so spicy!"
The liquid had barely gone down his throat when Haku realized something was wrong. Spicy—so spicy!
This definitely wasn't water!
"Hahahahaha! Kid, since when is water something you drink like that?"
"I can't—this is killing me. Don't tell me you don't even know what alcohol is?"
"When you eat roasted meat, of course you drink alcohol! Otherwise how does it hit the spot?"
Gekko Chizan was thoroughly rotten. Even though Haku was just a kid, he still had to tease him a little.
Over the years, he had come to one conclusion: nothing dispelled negative emotions better than a joke.
Look—Haku, who had just been like a lifeless corpse, was now glaring at him.
"What? Kid, it's just a little alcohol. You'll be fine."
"In this freezing weather, a bit of alcohol warms the stomach. Of course, don't gulp it down like that."
"Here, I'll get you a small cup. Take little sips." Chakra surged within Gekko Chizan. In the blink of an eye, a small crystal cup appeared before Haku.
Watching the cup materialize out of thin air, Haku wasn't even angry anymore. That display alone was enough to shock him.
"So this is a Bloodline Limit..."
"Can I do that too?"
Gekko Chizan snickered inwardly. See? Hooked already.
Handling a kid was way too easy.
"Of course. I'll teach you how to use the power inside your body."
"From now on, I'm your sensei."
"But for now—come on, have a sip first!"
"And then eat your meat in big bites!"
Without hesitation, Gekko Chizan filled Haku's cup. He was rather eager to see what this unbelievably beautiful kid would look like drunk.
Staring at the cup filled with alcohol, a trace of hesitation appeared on Haku's face. If he could, he truly didn't want to drink it.