The rain kept hammering on the tin roof above, like thousands of needles falling without pause. The sound filled the small room—each drop clashing with the creak of wooden floors, the splashes from the leaky roof, and the sighs of wind sneaking through the window cracks. I sat in the corner, hugging a worn towel Konan had handed me, trying to calm my still-shaking body. My clothes were soaked, sticking to my skin, and the wound on my arm stung whenever I rubbed it with the towel.
Yahiko busied himself stirring a small pot of soup, the aroma of warm broth filling the damp air. Konan sat across from me, wringing water from her wet hair, occasionally glancing at me, silently assessing. Nagato stared out the window, his eyes tracking the rain as if seeing something far beyond it—something I couldn't comprehend.
I watched them quietly. The Ame Trio. Alive. Whole. Not yet fractured by war or the intrigues I knew were coming. And me… a stranger who should not even be here.
I felt like a nightmare made real. A world I had only imagined as a story had suddenly become reality. People whose names I had only read in books or seen on screens now stood before me, watching me. They were real. They were alive. And I… was not. I was just an intruder, a stranger who appeared out of nowhere among their still-pure lives.
Nagato suddenly turned to me. "Why were you alone in the forest?" His voice was calm, but each word felt heavy, like weighing the truth of every answer.
I tried to regulate my breathing, trying to sound normal. "I… got lost."
"From which village?" Konan asked, her tone gentle but firm.
I lowered my head, pretending to hesitate. "I… don't remember much."
Yahiko looked at me, his eyes soft and full of sympathy. "You went through something bad, didn't you?"
I nodded slowly. Half true. The other half was something I couldn't tell anyone. Couldn't speak. Couldn't explain. Couldn't even hint at. Return by Death. I was from another world. Two truths that, if revealed to the wrong person, could destroy everything—me, them, and maybe even the course of this world's history.
Konan sat cross-legged in front of me, her eyes sharp but not frightening. "Your face doesn't look like someone who simply lost their way. More like someone… without a place to call home."
I grimaced slightly. "Maybe."
Yahiko focused on the soup he was stirring, then placed a steaming bowl in front of me. The steam stung my nose, but the warmth slowly seeped into my cold hands and skin. "Then consider this a temporary home."
I nearly choked. Home? For someone who didn't even belong to this world? I held back a bitter smile. "Thank you…"
"What's your name?" Yahiko asked, looking at me seriously but gently.
I paused. My old-world name? Or a new one?
Finally, I chose, "Julian." A name common enough… yet unfamiliar.
Yahiko nodded. "Julian. From now on, you're safe with us."
Something pricked my chest. From now on? No. The truth was—
At some point… Yahiko would die. That was the only piece of the future I knew, and the certainty lodged in my mind like a thorn that couldn't be removed.
But it wasn't just Yahiko. Fleeting shadows of the future—blurred, painful, and wounded—pierced my thoughts. Konan… Nagato… even this place, Ame… they would all face darkness, destruction, and betrayal. I didn't know when, how, or to what extent. All I knew was one thing: their future was grim.
I didn't know if I would even be there, or if I could change anything. All I knew was the end result—and that was enough to make my chest tighten every time I remembered.
I gripped the bowl tightly, holding my breath. I couldn't show anything. I couldn't let anyone read my fear. I couldn't reveal a thing.
Nagato suddenly spoke. "If you want to survive in this country… you need to get stronger."
I swallowed hard. Strength? I didn't even know who my enemies were here. They could be anyone—bandits, ninjas, even people who seemed as good as the Ame Trio.
And as if mocking me, Yahiko added casually, "You can train with us if you want."
I froze. Train with the Ame Trio…
"Why?" I asked softly. "Why would you help a stranger?"
Yahiko smiled, his orange eyes glowing gently under the firelight. "Because we don't like seeing the weak left helpless. That's it."
Simple. Straightforward. Honest.
I was silent for a moment—not because of some strange premonition… but because I had never met anyone who spoke so plainly about kindness. In my world—or the world I woke up in earlier—people rarely spoke with such honesty.
I scratched my neck, slightly awkward. "…you're really kind."
Yahiko laughed lightly. Konan just smiled faintly, and Nagato nodded subtly, as if it were completely normal for them. No weight. No hidden meaning. Just three Ame kids trying to help a lost stranger.
And for me, that was more than enough.
Konan stood. "Rest. Tomorrow, we start basic training."
Nagato added calmly but with a warning, "If you run… the rain will help us find you."
Joke or not, I didn't know.
Yahiko pointed to a thin mattress in the corner. "Sleep there. It's safe. Ame rain is heavy, but it won't hurt you."
I nodded and lay down. My body was exhausted, wet, and cold. Before closing my eyes, I watched them sit together, talking softly—like a small family looking out for one another, protecting each other.
I took a deep breath, staring at the dark ceiling. "…I have to get strong. As strong as I can."
Not because of premonitions. Not because of nightmares of the future. Just because of one simple fact: I didn't know what awaited me in this world.
---
The next morning, the rain had slowed to a light drizzle. I woke up sore—my back, wrists, and legs aching. My body felt tired more from sleeping on the thin mattress than from strained muscles. The smell of wet earth and damp wood filled the room.
Konan had prepared a simple breakfast—dry bread and warm soup. Yahiko sat at the table, eyes lighting up as he saw me get out of bed. Nagato remained silent, staring out the window, but I could feel his gaze assessing my every move.
"Hungry?" Konan asked, placing a bowl in front of me.
I nodded. "Yeah."
While eating, I stayed quiet, thinking about strategy. I didn't know what today would bring. I only knew one thing: I had to get stronger, stronger than I am now.
"Basic training first," Yahiko said after breakfast. "We'll start with simple things: balance, speed, and chakra control."
I frowned. "Chakra?"
Nagato stared at me sharply. "The energy inside everyone. Without it, you can't survive. Not in this world."
I swallowed hard. So I really was in a ninja world. A world full of danger, secrets, and power beyond normal human logic.
Training began. Yahiko showed how to sprint through obstacles, leap from tree to tree, and maintain balance on slippery surfaces. Konan taught the basics of using chakra to enhance jumps and movements. Nagato monitored every move, correcting my posture or focus when I made mistakes.
My body trembled, muscles screamed, but I kept going. Every drop of sweat, every heavy breath, felt like a reminder: I had to survive. There was no other choice.
When training ended, we returned to the base. I was panting but felt a small sense of confidence. Yahiko smiled. "Good, Julian. From now on, you'll learn faster if you keep training."
Konan gave a small smile. "Don't worry. We'll help you."
Nagato stayed silent, but his gaze softened. I knew that in this world, even with kindness, strength was the only way to survive.
I took a deep breath, looking at the three of them, and realized one thing: though I was a stranger here, at least for now… I was not alone.
And with that, I closed my eyes, carrying a secret too heavy for someone like me—a secret that could destroy everything if revealed—while preparing for the next round of training.