Between the trees of the forest, a gentle breeze stirred the leaves—but hidden within the unseen corners, danger always lurked.
Uchiha Matsuzaki had lived here for a year. He knew all too well that without constant vigilance, death could strike from anywhere at any time.
As the wind picked up, a faint glint of white light shot toward him.
Already a master of all manner of throwing weapons, Matsuzaki noticed it instantly. He flipped backward twice and narrowly dodged a kunai.
Mid-flip, he had already drawn two kunai into his hands.
"Didn't expect this... The Third Great Ninja War just ended, and someone's already trying to exploit the chaos?"
Matsuzaki glanced toward the woods ahead, narrowing his eyes.
To him, that sneak attack had been a test—a probe.
After all, unfamiliar enemies always tested their targets first.
"Konoha Village really is a place full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers," he muttered. "At first glance, I thought it was just a normal kid. Shows you can't judge by appearance... Really hiding their true strength, huh?"
From the shadows of the forest, two figures slowly emerged—both women, lacking any visible village symbols.
"Now you've really caught my interest, little boy," one of them said with a smirk.
"I want to kill you quickly… so I can thoroughly study your body."
She laughed maniacally.
"Number Seven, now's not the time for your sick fantasies," the other woman snapped coldly. "This brat has seen us. And he's no weakling. If we don't eliminate him now, he'll become a future threat."
"We need to finish this quickly. We still have a mission."
Her eyes gleamed with cold light—like a merciless killing machine.
After hearing their conversation, Matsuzaki calmly sheathed his weapon.
"So that's how it is, huh..." He gave a wry smile. "Ladies, I don't know you, and you don't know me. Let's just pretend this never happened. You let me go, I promise I won't say a word."
"I'm just a kid—no one would believe me anyway."
"Oh, little one... you want big sis to let you go? That's not happening," the red-haired woman replied. "I haven't even gotten a chance to study your body yet!"
She lunged forward, weapon in hand, aiming straight for Matsuzaki.
Their eyes were icy cold—every movement screamed danger.
"Guess talking's off the table!"
Matsuzaki leapt into the air, easily dodging the incoming attack.
He twisted midair, throwing the kunai behind him toward the enemy's back, landing smoothly on his feet.
"A kid's still a kid. But that reaction speed... not bad," one of the women sneered, spinning around to deflect the incoming kunai.
Seeing his attack fail, Matsuzaki didn't hesitate. He sprang toward the second enemy, using the moment of distraction.
In just a few seconds, he had maneuvered them into close proximity.
With swift precision, he threw a flurry of kunai toward both of them.
His throwing speed was incredible—and the power behind each kunai was fierce.
"Child's play," one enemy scoffed, easily dodging.
The two women smirked as they evaded the attack, mocking him with their expressions.
"It's getting late. I don't have time to play with you anymore," Matsuzaki said calmly.
Suddenly, their smiles vanished.
They looked around—dozens of nearly invisible wires surrounded them.
Steel wires.
If they moved, even slightly—they'd be dead.
From the very beginning, Matsuzaki had attached wires to the kunai he threw.
With a sudden pull, the wires tightened.
Blood splattered.
Deep gashes tore across their bodies—neck arteries severed in a blink.
As the two corpses hit the forest floor, Matsuzaki shook his head.
"Didn't your parents ever tell you not to mess with dangerous kids?"
"It's a shame… I still don't know what their goal was, or where they came from."
And just like that—Uchiha Matsuzaki had taken his first lives in this new world.