The night was thick with silence, a velvet curtain draped over the village and the sprawling forests beyond.

The moon hung high, pale and watchful, casting silver light on the path ahead.

The cool air brushed against your skin, a faint chill that seeped into your bones. Sleep had evaded you—restless thoughts twisting like serpents in your mind—and so you found yourself wandering alone under the stars.

The world was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by a soft breeze.

Your footsteps were cautious, careful to avoid drawing attention in this quiet hour. The shadows shifted and stretched, the trees looming tall like ancient sentinels guarding secrets lost to time.

Suddenly, beneath your foot, a twig snapped sharply—a crisp, unmistakable sound breaking the silence.

Your breath hitched. You froze, heart pounding like a war drum in your chest.

Then, a voice—calm, cold, and laced with an undercurrent of power—cut through the night.

“You shouldn’t wander alone at this hour.” The words were low, deliberate, carrying the weight of centuries and battles fought long ago.

You turned slowly, eyes adjusting to the dim moonlight, and there he stood. Indra Otsutsuki.

His presence was immediate, overwhelming—the air around him charged with an almost palpable intensity.

His dark hair fell in waves, framing a face both youthful and infinitely ancient, eyes sharp and piercing like obsidian mirrors reflecting a thousand lifetimes. His gaze held a mix of curiosity and quiet challenge.

For a moment, the night seemed to hold its breath, the world narrowing down to just the two of you—two solitary figures caught between the shadows and the moonlight.

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken questions.

Why were you here? What restless thoughts had driven you from the comfort of sleep into this nocturnal solitude?

Indra’s voice softened, just slightly, the edge of his authority giving way to something more thoughtful.

“Troubled thoughts?” There was no need to answer. The night carried your secrets, and perhaps, in this unexpected encounter, a chance for understanding—if only you dared to reach for it.

The twig’s snap had shattered more than silence. It had opened a door.