Ashwood Town lay at the edge of the vast Yourknew city, a quiet place slowly stirring to life under the first light of dawn. The air was cool, and a soft, pale glow spread across the land as the sun began its steady ascent. Shopkeepers were unlocking their doors, shaking off the remnants of yesterday’s business as they prepared for the day ahead. Beyond the town, farmers worked in their fields, some tending to crops, others guiding animals to graze along the grassy hills.

A boy dashed along the mud paths that bordered the fields, his legs pumping furiously as he ran toward the town. His breathing was steady, focused, as if the morning air fueled his every step. Behind him, a man in his fifties and weathered face, paused from herding cattle to watch the boy with a quiet smile. He glanced down at his calloused hands, now more lined than they used to be, and let out a soft sigh.

"Ah, youth. It slips away before you know it," he muttered to himself.

His companion, another man working nearby, cupped his hands around his mouth and called after the boy, "Slow down, lad! You’ll trip and hurt yourself at that pace!"

The boy, Cade, barely turned his head in acknowledgment, his energy too high to waste on slowing down. It was Sunday, meaning no school today. He was headed into town to pick up some supplies, running effortlessly in a state of Zetsu, his aura tightly controlled and almost imperceptible. He was still practicing this technique, not yet a master, but it had its advantages. The energy he felt coursing through his body was astonishing.

As he entered Ashwood, the town’s simple layout spread before him. The first houses he passed were shabby, walls worn and patched with mismatched materials. But as he moved closer to the town’s center, the homes became sturdier, their construction more refined. Soon, Cade found himself in the marketplace, where traders were setting up stalls, exchanging small talk, and preparing their goods.

The currency here, jenny, was straightforward enough for Cade to keep track of. It was similar in value to the Japanese yen, which made budgeting simple for him. He moved efficiently from stall to stall, gathering the essentials for the orphanage.

While Cade wandered through the bustling market, arms weighed down by heavy bags of household supplies a group of rowdy adults loitered outside a gambling den, eyeing passersby with unsettling interest. They stood in a way that marked them out as a gang, their presence casting a shadow over the lively scene.

One of them, a boy with pockmarked skin and teeth jutting forward like they didn’t quite fit his face, fixed his eyes on Cade. His gaze sharpened as he observed the contents of Cade's bulging bags. "Ezra, look at that mouse over there," he called out, his voice brimming with mischief. "Looks like he's got some good stuff on him today. Should I ask him to pay his tribute to the our Scorpions gang?"

The boy looked expectantly at another, who sat lazily on a chair, a newspaper spread in his hands. Ezra, lean and tall, wore a tank top and barely spared Cade a glance before resuming his reading. Without taking his eyes off the paper, he warned, "Shut up, Kaze. You know we don’t mess with orphans. Have you lost your mind?"

The other four boys standing nearby nodded in agreement, silently backing Ezra’s words.

“But Ezra,” Kaze persisted, not willing to let it go, “this little mouse is about to graduate high school soon. Once he’s out of the orphanage, he’ll be on his own. Shouldn't we atleast give him a warning so he knows his place when he moves out of that shitty cathedral? "

His eyes narrowed sizing cade up.

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Ezra let out a long sigh and finally pulled his gaze away from the paper, his expression hard but resigned. "Alright," he said, his voice low but clear. "You can follow him out of town. Just make sure to tell him this: when he graduates, we’ll offer him the same choice we give everyone. He either joins us, or he pays tribute every month." He paused, locking eyes with Kaze. "And remember—don’t rough up the kid."

Ezra’s tone was firm, a clear warning to Kaze.

While on the other hand Cade felt Kaze’s malicious gaze on him, a cold, prickling sensation on his back. He forced himself to remain calm, resisting the urge to turn around and confront them. Instead, he quietly made his way to a nearby fruit stall, acting as if nothing unusual was happening. After browsing for a moment, he approached the vendor, an elderly woman who had served him many a times before.

“Anything else you’d like to buy, dear?” she asked habitually after he bought some fruits from her.

Cade leaned in slightly and asked, his tone casual, “That group of boys behind me. Who are they?”

The old woman’s face darkened instantly. “Those bastards didn’t ask you for money, did they?” Her voice rose, surprising Cade with her sudden anger.

“No, no, they didn’t,” Cade said quickly, raising a hand to calm her. “I was just curious.”

The woman exhaled slowly, still bristling with frustration. “Good. Stay away from them. That’s the Scorpions gang, led by that boy Ezra.” She paused, shaking her head. “They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but in Ezra’s case, it fell into rotten hands. His father was a good man, a teacher, but after he passed away, Ezra went off the rails. Now, he and his gang go around demanding ‘protection money’ from honest working class people like us. The only protection we need is from them!”

She huffed, clearly winded from her rant. Cade offered her a polite nod and a quick thanks, absorbing the information. Without lingering any longer, he slipped back into the flow of the market blending with the crowd.

As Cade left the market, he sensed a presence following him. Kaze trailed behind, his footsteps unhidden, as they ventured into the open fields beyond the town's limits. The silence between them grew heavier with each step, until Cade suddenly heard kaze's voice.

“Stop right there,” his voice carried clearly over the still air.

A pause followed, then Kaze's low voice broke the quiet. “Yes?”

Cade turned slightly, his eyes scanning the figure behind him.

“What’s your name, kid?”

The question hung in the air for a moment before Cade answered

“I’m Cade. And you are.....?”

Kaze's lips curled into a sneer, his posture exuding arrogance. “You don’t know me? I’m Kaze, one of the Scorpion Gang’s leaders.”

Cade's response was almost casual. “Oh, okay. What can I do for you.”

Kaze's eyes narrowed, the sneer deepening. “You’re awfully calm for someone in the presence of a Scorpion. Think you’re tough, or just stupid?”

Cade shrugged, maintaining an expression of calm disinterest.

Kaze puffed out his chest “Listen carefully, kid. Once you’re out of that orphanage, if you want to work in Ashwood Town, you’ll pay us a monthly toll. Or you’ll join our gang. Understand?”

Cade met his gaze without flinching, his expression unchanged. “Yes, thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it.”

The polite response grated on Kaze, and frustration rippled across his face. But orders were orders. Ezra had made it clear: keep things civil for now.

'Still, there are other ways to make someone understand who's in charge.'

A wicked grin twisted across Kaze’s face. “Since you’re so grateful, why don’t you show me how thankful you are? Hand over that purse of yours.I can tell there's still quite a few jenny in there. I’ll show you exactly how we collect tolls.”

Cade raised an eyebrow, the faintest hint of amusement playing on his lips. “Make me.”

Kaze’s eyes widened, his expression dumbfounded. “What?”

Cade's smirk widened, his tone steady.

" You're name is Kaze , isn't it? Who’s acting dumb now? I said, make. me.”

Cade placed two heavy shopping bages on the ground. And started wounding his arms like a gear.

' i was dying to try out my new found strength. And what do you know, this moron came right to me. '

Veins popped on kazes head. He gritted his horse teeth ans said

" I was wondering what's wrong with you. Now i realized that you were just begging for a beating huh! "

He yelled as he ran toward him kaze swinging in wide reckless arc. Cade simply sidestepped.

Kaze's momentum carried him a few steps. Without giving up he turned and around lunged again at cade, this time cade caught his arm in a swift , precise motion and twisted it behind his back. Kaze's eyes widened.

" Let me go you bastard!! "Ka cried out in pain when cade put pressure on his arm. " Do you know who our gang leader is, Ezra's trained in martial arts. Let me go or he'll kick your ass. "

Cade ignored him thinking to himself.

' hmmm my reaction speed has definitely increased. Unfortunately, i can't power my attacks with nen yet otherwise this fool won't even survive'.

When cade came back to his senses. Kaze was crying snot dripping from his nose. His earlier voice that was full of vigour was now meek barely sounded.

" I'm sorry, please let me go. I won't tell anyone. Not even my mom. Please let me go".

Cade released his arm and kicked him in the butt. Kaze fell face first into the soft mud of the fields. " Pathetic, no standards at all and you call yourselves scorpion gang. And who's this Ezra I've been hearing about today.Bring him in the

fields here in the afternoon. "

He ordered as he picked up his bags and headed towards the orphanage.