A large group of young children stood lined up in organized rows. Not a single one of them exceeded the age of six—exactly seventy children in total, both boys and girls. Small faces, wide eyes, and slender frames filled the space.
Dan spoke in a calm but clear voice that reached every one of them: "Welcome to your new home." He paused for a moment, looking at their small faces. "From this day forward, you will live here. This is your house."
The children looked at him with glances that were slightly fearful and tense. His features were cold and very serious—no smile, no obvious warmth, only a sharp and stern gaze. At the same time, standing directly before him just a few meters away made them feel an invisible but clearly perceptible pressure. A heaviness in the air made one want to lower their head automatically. Even the young children, though they did not understand what was happening, felt their instincts warning them.
This was entirely intentional on Dan's part. He wanted to leave a powerful and deep impression on their young minds from the very start—an impression of authority, strength, and mandatory respect. Shaping begins in childhood; that is how true loyalties are built.
He continued in the same calm, firm tone: "From now on, you will train according to a specific and strictly organized program. Sufficient and good food will be provided for you. Warm and clean clothes. All your basic needs will be met by the family—the Ryukoga family."
He paused, looking into their wide eyes. "In return, all that is required of you is something simple: serious training and total focus on what you are taught. Listening. Obedience. Effort."
Then he grew quiet for a moment, his gaze becoming even sharper. He continued in a more rigorous and clear manner: "In exchange, what I want from you is very simple." He paused, letting the words sink in. "To become mine."
It was a clear word. Direct. There was no ambiguity in it. His property. The family's property. Then he raised his voice slightly, asking in a commanding tone: "Do you understand?"
A short silence followed from the confused children. He repeated the question louder, more firmly: "Do you understand?!"
All the children answered quickly—some out of fear, some with enthusiasm, and some merely imitating the others: "Yes, Master!"
Many small voices, yet they were clear. He gave a small smile to try and calm them, for he wanted to leave a stern impression without overdoing it; they were just children, after all.
He said in a slightly less rigorous tone: "Good. Then, welcome."
He turned toward Sam, his eldest son, who stood silently beside him, observing. He said to him in a low voice: "Very well. You can divide them now for training according to the plan I explained to you."
Sam nodded seriously. "Yes, Father."
In the program prepared for them, Dan had specifically and intentionally ensured that the seventy children were divided into two completely separate groups: the boys' camp, consisting of thirty-five young boys, and the girls' camp, consisting of thirty-five young girls. His elder sons—Sam, Leon, Felix, and the rest of the brothers—would train the boys' camp. His elder daughters—Sofia, Amy, Hoshi, and the rest of the sisters—would train the girls' camp. Total separation. No mixing. No unnecessary interaction.
Why this strict separation? Because he never wanted them to mix freely and interact. He wanted to avoid any ridiculous or annoying scenarios of early love, childhood feelings, or unplanned emotional attachments. These children were not here to play or form romantic friendships. Instead, he wanted them to focus entirely and without any distraction on the rigorous training and intensive education designed precisely for them. Combat. Chakra. Techniques. Loyalty. Principles. There was no time for naive, childish emotions.
When they grew up—at the age of sixteen or seventeen—and once they became strong, well-trained, and properly molded, only then would they be permitted to marry or seek romantic relationships.
Most of these seventy children were abandoned, homeless orphans—without families, street children without shelter, infants left at temple doors. Lord Ayato had gathered them carefully from the cities and villages in his territory and sent them exactly as ordered. Every child was examined carefully: good health, no serious diseases, and apparent intelligence as much as possible. Good quality. Suitable for training.
In truth, although Dan would have them serve his family completely with absolute loyalty and total obedience—perhaps even with their lives if necessary—he was simultaneously providing them with a real and significant service.
A service? How? Simply put: in this harsh and primitive era, there was no such thing as an orphanage, child care institutions, or any social support system. Therefore, most homeless and orphaned children ended up dead—either from hunger, the winter cold, disease, or accidents. Death in the streets. Alone. With no one. If they survived somehow, they usually became petty criminals, thieves, beggars, or worse. No future. No hope.
Thus, from his own perspective, he was providing them with a real and valuable service: he would provide sufficient food—three meals a day, of good quality, not the scraps they usually ate. He would provide warm and safe shelter—clean rooms, comfortable beds, protection from the cold and rain. He would provide good clothing—not rags like the ones they wore, but clean, warm clothes. And he would provide excellent training—teaching combat, Chakra, and techniques that most people only dreamed of.
All of this was free, without financial cost at this stage of their lives at least. After they became ready, service to the family was expected of them. Loyalty. Obedience. Hard work. It was not a bad deal at all by the standards of this cruel era. In fact, it was an excellent deal—rescue from almost certain death in exchange for service to a powerful family that provided everything.
Furthermore, he would choose the best, most talented, and most loyal among them to officially and fully enter the Walt family as wives for his sons. He would also nominate some as potential husbands for his daughters, should they agree. They would become a true part of the family, not just servants.
So, the matter was good for them—or at least, that is how Dan saw it from his own perspective and cold logic. Saving children from certain death. Providing them with a much better life. Training them to become strong. And giving some the chance to join a powerful family. All of this in exchange for loyalty and service. A fair deal. Logical. Mutually beneficial.
That was how he looked at the matter, with his cold logic and precise calculations. No emotion. No excess pity. Only mutual benefit.
He looked at the seventy children one last time. Small faces. Fearful. But also... filled with a hidden hope. They would be molded. Built. Transformed. From desperate street children into powerful warriors. Useful members. Perhaps even part of the family. A plan that takes time, but an effective one.
He turned and walked away slowly. Sam began shouting orders, dividing the children into groups and organizing the rows. The program had begun. A new future was being built before them.
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