Ero-Sennin… The soft breeze kindly waved his urchin-themed hair, under the setting sun on top of Hokage Mountain. The travel would have to start that very afternoon or the consequences would be disastrous. It is difficult, Ero-Sennin… All your teachings and thoughts about the peaceful world you always preached about. The world changed, Ero-Sennin. Much is different than when you were around…
The nations hate each other for petty reasons… Last week Iwa moved into Kusa just because they tried to make a commercial treaty with us. How exactly does that fit in your "Understanding of each other" fit in, Ero-Sennin? I force myself to try to look the way through your glasses, but everyday it gets more and more draining to do so. The flow clearly goes towards war and resistance is little.
I don't even have to think that far to see how the people are leaving in hard times. Even here in Konoha times are tenser than ever. Shady characters roam around at night, even with all of the ANBU patrolling the village; the villager's eyes are starting to zoom to and fro, something only seasoned ninjas were doing…
Clearly there's something going on with the world as a whole. Are we finally plunging into the darkness of what our world has as a foundation? Ninjas are tools of death and destruction. Is it finally eating us up from the inside and reflecting on our actions?
Only time will tell.
Laying down on his back, he stretched his arm towards a shape-less cloud hanging high above him. I can understand why Shikamaru says he wants to be a cloud, but inactivity won't get us nowhere… If I am to follow your teachings as you asked of me, I cannot procrastinate and leave everything as it is.
But centuries of Deadly traditions simply don't vanish overnight. I can't face the harsh world by myself, not specially when you were the one that had the knowledge of its works and you're gone.
Not for the first time I regret not hearing your teachings, as weird as they were. At least you were there for me as we travelled and tried to open up to me (Not counting that night you tried to make a foursome with those two girls). Not many people can say that.
Tsunade-baa-chan has been an emotional wreck also. Everyday she stares out of the window and the paperwork simply sits there. I've seen her break down a few times as well. Things must be hard for her too.
I guess this is the time were I say things couldn't get worse.
Only to be impeccably proved wrong. So I won't say it.
There's always worse. That seems more akin to what reality is pointing at now.
Looking down at the market, Naruto couldn't help but have his face fall even more. Look at them. They go on with their lives, adjusting to the times as they see fit and complain, never doing anything. Idiots, thieves, opportunists. That's all they are.
How, Ero-Sennin? How could you believe so firmly that people could one day understand each other? It is clear that these times do not allow for that.
Iwa may have ended your life, Ero-Sennin, and I will avenge you, but the rest of the world might as well have killed you if you looked at them now. Just as how Yondaime might do if they knew what they did to his "hero".
You knew the Yondaime and never spoke of him. What was he like? Did he follow your teachings, Ero-Sennin?
I do not think so. No man can become a hero in a war following your views of peace.
I do not speak heresy, just merely speaking my mind about the Yondaime. And yes, he was a real bastard for sealing the fox in me, but I'll reserve my full opinion of the man if I ever meet him in the afterlife.
What would he do now? Would he face the world with Konoha backing him? Or would he join the peace-seeking half of Konoha? There are already words of splitting the village in half through an impenetrable wall.
Can you believe that? What the Shodaime and Nidaime strived so hard to construct, falling apart because of complete idiocy.
Once again, what has the world come to?
I have to go now, Ero-Sennin. Baa-chan wanted to talk to me about going as an ambassador for Konoha in a short travel to Suna. Something about securing allies or something like that. I will return soon and enlighten you as to the happenings of the world so far.
I will follow your footsteps in my own way, Jiraiya of the Densetsu no Sannin.
I promise you that.
Believe it.
We welcome you to our story. Yes, We. This is a conjunct project composed of four different authors, each taking turns to write chapters following a pre-set timeline and storyline. There are links to our profiles in this account's profile page just in case you want to read our other works. For now, we would like to include small conversations before the chapters as a sort of "discussion" among us and to add to the feeling of various people working in a single project.
Soulcry: So, guys, what do you think the readers will say after reading the prologue?
Juubi: They will probably say "What the...?" Or "Damn Iwa!" or just be too confused to say anything really...
Soulcry: I'll go with the third choice. It's quite random, if I do say so myself...
T.J. : Or they could just fall down in awe of our incredible awesomeness... No, wait. That won't happen until they read my chapter.
Soulcry: Okay, now you're just plain boasting. We'll see... Gio? What are your thoughts on this matter? Will they hit the "back" button or keep reading?
T.J. : Boasting? Me? That hurts, Soul. I'm the most humble man in the word, I'd never do such a horrible thing.
Soulcry: Riiiiight. I'll leave the final word to Gio. Gio, if you please, give your thoughts and present the prologue and story. I'll go back to listening to Satriani.
Giovanni-Sama: What am I, the leader all of a sudden? I say all my fans who read this will kill me for not updating Vanish or Immanence in so long. I'm sending all you guys VIP tickets to my funeral. Make sure you say something nice ok?
Juubi: Yeah yeah. We'll put the pages of your stories on your casket. "Here lays Giovanni-Sama, a great writer of the unfinished Vanish and Immancence, DAMN YOU YOU BASTARD!"
Soulcry: Maybe not to that extent, but maybe flay you. Still, readers, enjoy the prologue for this conjunct story of ours.
So, what do you think? Like? Hate? Please make sure to leave your comments before you leave.
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