Crystal.

Footsteps echoed through the forest as they traversed the dense foliage, spanning over vast expanses of land.

Arashi had departed the following day after receiving the letter from the Chinoike clan. He was en route to the Valley of Hell.

This clan had been falsely accused, exiled, and erased from memory. Arashi was determined to make the world, including the Uchiha, remember that there was once a clan with a Dojutsu rivaling the Sharingan.

Although it wasn't entirely accurate, given the Sharingan's multiple evolutionary stages, Arashi wasn't certain if the Ketsuryugan had such stages, given its limited screen time.

His theory was that some unknown Otsutsuki might be the origin of this eye, the Blood Dragon Eye.

He also had a keen interest in seeing the Stone of Gelel, a legendary artifact that bestowed its user with nearly limitless vitality and extraordinary, unique abilities.

At first, he had considered it mere filler, but now, with the existence of Hoshigakure in this reality, he couldn't be so sure. His village's very existence seemed to challenge the established narrative of how Madara and Hashirama created the Shinobi village system.

That's why he had many thoughts swirling in his mind, such as the possibility of the Zero-Tails being completed within the next ten years. If that happens, could it be sealed inside a human to create a jinchuuriki?

He also pondered the existence of the Hidden Sky Village, known for its advanced technology and the ability to cloak the flying island that hovers in the sky.

The Gelel Stone, combined with star chakra manipulation, would indeed be a formidable force. No ordinary Shinobi could evade an invisible shockwave that moves at the speed of sound.

Turning his head slightly to the right as he sensed a presence, he had yet to awaken the Mind's Eye of Kagura. However, he suspected that it would awaken when he found himself in a dire situation.

Raising his palm, he signaled his subordinates to stop, and they jumped onto two opposite trees to maintain a watchful distance as he approached the presence he had sensed.

There, he found a young girl sitting against a tree, and he estimated her age to be close to his own. She had disheveled light blue hair, fair skin, and patches of mud on her skin and clothes.

she wore a teal short kimono with a grey turtle neck and short sleeves with a jade-green rope belt around her waist, and red shorts, light purple wrist bands and navy blue sandals.

The girl, upon hearing approaching footsteps, raised her hands in panic. A small, pink, sharp object went flying from her right hand, aimed at Arashi. He swiftly moved his head and raised his hand, signaling his subordinates not to interfere.

'Crystal? Is she that girl from the filler?' He thought to himself as he approached her. By now, she had calmed down, realizing he had no intention of harming her. She also felt relief that her crystal had missed its target.

Still wary of him, she observed as he sat down next to her, leaning against the same tree.

She couldn't help but notice his outfit, consisting of a black jacket with a fluffy white wool collar, left unbuttoned to reveal a flak jacket underneath. He wore black ninja pants and sandals that left his toes exposed, along with a utility bag tied around his thighs.

He had red spiky hair with two golden bangs that fell to his chin, and she couldn't deny that he had a powerful presence. She could also sense his enormous life force, making it clear that he was not an ordinary individual.

"Who are you?" she asked with her small yet smooth voice, prompting him to respond, "Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking for a name?"

"Guren," her small voice replied, but her expression quickly shifted to a questioning one, making it clear that she was eager to learn his name.

"Uzumaki Arashi," he replied, introducing himself. "The fourth Hoshikage of Hoshigakure." After learning her name, he decided to reveal his name and title, considering that if she were to join him, her addition could significantly bolster the strength of his village.

Her surprise quickly turned to shock as she exclaimed, "Kage? You? You're just a kid playing a prank on me, aren't you?" She couldn't believe his seemingly absurd claims.

"Then, I will prove it to you if you come to my village, considering that I don't think you have anyone looking out for you," he stated with a serious tone. As she contemplated his proposal, he waited for her decision.

It was true that she didn't have anyone who cared for her. Her mother had died while giving birth to her, and her father had passed away before she was born.

She had gained a reputation as her mother's killer and had been shunned for that alone for a long time. When the villagers discovered her ability to create crystals, they shunned her once again, this time for her unique abilities.

"This is cute," he remarked, holding the crystal that she had thrown at him.

'I thought he dodged it?' she wondered, as she had clearly seen him dodge it. When she saw the crystal in his hand, she was surprised. Her surprise deepened when he called it cute, and her face reflected that astonishment.

No one had ever described her crystals as cute before; most people considered them dangerous and were fearful of them.

Indeed, for her entire twelve years of life, she had been labeled an abomination. But now, a child not much older than herself was using the word "cute" to describe the crystals created by the very same abomination.

Her astonishment was entirely justified. Before he could react, he felt delicate arms wrapping around his own. Her light blue hair blended with his red hair as she hugged him tightly, her face next to his. With a determined tone, she spoke, "I'll go with you."