With Rie in high spirits after a delicious barbecue meal, Rinto walked out of the restaurant, leading the little girl with a full belly. Their exit was met with astonished stares from the other customers.
Throwing away a toothpick, Rinto rolled his eyes and muttered, "What's the big deal? It was just a hundred plates. It's not like we didn't pay."
Beside him, Rie raised her fist with a grin. "Exactly! What's the fuss?"
Rinto chuckled, glancing at the bustling street. "Where do you want to go now, Rie?"
"Hmm..." Rie pouted, scratching her head. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Konoha Orphanage! I want to see Meiko!"
A knowing smile crossed Rinto's face. "Still can't forget your little brother, huh? Alright, let's go."
"Brother, carry me!"
"Ugh... fine."
With that, the siblings disappeared into the busy streets of Konoha.
---
Konoha Orphanage was founded by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Initially created to shelter homeless children in the village, it later expanded to house war orphans from nearby regions.
Unlike the Konoha Ninja Academy, the orphanage was located far from the village center, on the outskirts of Konoha. The village itself was roughly divided into four sections. Above Hokage Rock were the village's research institutions. Below the rock was the inner residential area, centered around the Hokage Building, where the homes of successive Hokages were situated. Surrounding that area were the estates of Konoha's major clans. Further out were various residential neighborhoods, where the Shinobi Academy was located. Beyond that lay the mid-tier commercial district, which housed businesses like Uncle Ippongi's ninja tool shop. The outermost layer consisted of assorted structures and neighborhoods, with the Minamiganogawa River flowing through the southernmost edge. Once, the Uchiha Clan's district had stood near this river.
Rinto and Rie made their way toward the orphanage, following the path from his memory. The building was old and surrounded by a grassy open field. There were no walls or gates—just a humble, weathered structure with children playing and working outside.
A group of kids, about Rie's age, were weeding the grass. Nearby, older children were pounding rice cakes, their wooden mallets rhythmically striking the mortar. A hunched, white-haired old woman stood at the entrance, stirring a large pot with a long spoon.
Rinto observed the scene, noting that while the children seemed healthy, they were merely scraping by.
On the grass, a child suddenly spotted them. His eyes widened in excitement. "Big... Big Sister!!!"
His shout startled many children, and soon, several more abandoned their tasks to rush toward them.
"Big Sister Rie!"
"Leader Rie!"
Rinto's face darkened.
What the hell? A chubby little girl, barely five years old, had gathered a whole gang of orphans and even given herself the title of leader?!
The older kids soon joined in, approaching with eager faces.
"Big Sister! You're finally here!"
"Someone, get the sesame balls I hid for Big Sister!"
"No, no, bring my tea leaves! I stole them from the park last week!"
"Get my dango coupon! It's under my pillow—I want to give it to the boss!"
Rinto's eye twitched as the noise escalated. He shot Rie a sharp look, causing her to flinch.
Oh no, the guys are too enthusiastic! What should I do?
COUGH.
The big kids froze. That cough was way too familiar.
Rinto waved a hand, and the children instantly shrank back like scolded puppies.
"Um… where's the bathroom?" Rinto asked nonchalantly.
The kids looked at each other, then burst into relieved grins.
"President! Over there!"
"Don't call me President." Rinto sighed, making his way toward the building. Behind him, laughter erupted once more, Rie's voice rising above the rest.
She's going to pay for this later.
Inside, Rinto took in the orphanage's layout, committing it to memory. The place was old but functional, though it was clear resources were scarce. Once done, he stepped back outside and found an empty spot to sit, watching the children.
Not far away, the white-haired woman continued stirring, and the rich scent of Anko and glutinous rice filled the air. The children eagerly lined up with their bowls as the old woman served them steaming rice cake soup.
Rie, holding a small bowl, carefully approached Rinto. "Here! Brother, it smells so good!"
Rinto smirked, taking a sip before handing the bowl back. "Alright, spill it. What do you want?"
Rie blinked innocently. "Nothing! Just showing my respect!"
Yeah, right. Rinto rolled his eyes. "If you're planning something, forget it."
"No, really, Brother!" she said hurriedly. Then, hesitating, she added, "Can I teach Meiko and the others how to extract Chakra?"
Rinto's eyebrows shot up. He had avoided interacting with these orphans for a reason—he didn't want Konoha's leaders to suspect he was building a faction.
If he started training them, that suspicion would only grow.
He was about to refuse when he noticed the children nearby, their hopeful eyes brimming with silent pleas.
They had no future beyond this orphanage. The Ninja Academy was not an option for outsiders like them. Maybe in a generation or two, their children could enroll—but for now, they had no path forward.
"No!" Rinto declared loudly, ensuring the children heard him. Their faces fell.
But then, he added casually, "But, since I'm going to be very busy, maybe Aunt Kyoko can watch over you instead. And remember, don't cause trouble for her. Stay in quiet places, like this orphanage."
Rie's eyes gleamed with understanding. "Brother, you're so sneaky!"
"Huh?" Rinto narrowed his eyes.
She stuck out her tongue and scampered back to her friends, where laughter soon erupted again.
---
On the grass, a child named Bu Fei whispered, "Why are you all so scared of that guy? He's just a kid."
The big guy beside him chuckled awkwardly. "I may be big, but I can't beat Rinto-kun."
"Really?" Bu Fei was surprised.
A scar-faced child added, "We respect Rie, but she's always getting scolded by Rinto for slacking off. Over time, we all started fearing him, too."
"Yeah," the big guy nodded. "I joined them late, and when I tried stealing food from Rie, Rinto beat me up. But instead of kicking me out, he let me stay. That's just the kind of guy he is."
Bu Fei blinked, finally understanding.
Rinto wasn't someone to be feared—he was someone to be respected.
-----------------------
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