Memoir of an Old Shinobi

by Gomdzsabbar

{This was my first try at writing. While it will be always close to my heart, looking back almost a year it is sadly nowhere near up to the standard I expect from other authors so I can't continue it as it is. I will leave it up but it is not connected to my other story, that is meant as a stand alone one-shot}

1. Prologue

Memoir of an Old Shinobi: Prologue

The old man once again watched the sunrise above Konoha from his home on the Hokage Mountain. Just as the last few thousand times, he still found joy in looking over the village, his village. Despite his obvious age, each morning when he looked over Konoha once more, he felt like he was a young man, rather than the 124 year old bag of bones he was.

When the clock hit seven, out of habit he glanced at the prepared pen and papers on his desk. At the top of the paper there was a single line:

Arakumo Takeshi: Memoir of an Old Shinobi

However unlike before, he didn't drag himself downstairs where his housekeeper waited for him with his morning tea, instead he paused and smiled, letting his few remaining teeth see the world.

"Hehh. I guess I really don't have anything else to do," he thought aloud as he slowly sat down before the desk. "Akira-chan I won't be down before lunch so feel free to take the morning off," he yelled downstairs.

"Thank you, Takeshi-sama," came the upbeat response from her.

"Well let's do this" he murmured and with a well-practiced flourish he started writing:

I have not written anything similar to a diary or a memoir in my life. I never felt the need to. Everything I had to know about myself was in my head as I was blessed with an almost impeccable memory. Yet now that I near my death, for I feel it in my bones that my end is coming, I decided to write one. I probably have a year or two left in me at best, but before welcoming my death with a smile I still wish to do this one thing, write down my life as I remember it, not the twisted, glorified version the history books tell.

I have lived a long life. A life filled with many victories as the Fifth Hokage of our village. This story, unlike the others will include my struggles, my failures and the darkness that came with the life of a shinobi, not just shining triumphs that you have all heard about on so many occasions.

But where should I start to keep you interested in this old man's rambling? The Continental War that happened 47 years ago? The Attack of the Fallen? The Breaking? The Fourth Shinobi World War? The Third Shinobi World War? The Second Shinobi World War? I have lived through so much during my life, yet perhaps the best (and most logical) would be if I started at the very beginning, at my birth.

So listen up kids, let me tell you a tale how a fun loving, optimistic child has grown up to be the Shinigami no Konoha, how he was forged in fire and blood to become the Fifth Hokage, how he lived and fought for these beautiful sunrises above Konoha. So listen up for this story will be one you shall never forget…

Author note:
Hi guys (and girls)!
Gomdzsabbar here with my first story. This is merely a prologue, I will upload the first chapter soon. After a few years of lurking around the site this is my fist try at writing a story. I welcome every review and feel free to go as hard on me as you want with the critics (even if my 1. language is not English that is NOT an excuse for mistakes). Hopefully this "chapter" at least caught your interest even if it is a bit on the short side.