CHAPTER 25: THE PRELIMINARIES (PART 5)
(Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto. I do own my OC's, however)
"Talking/Jutsu"
'Thinking'
'Flashback'
"Flashback talk"
"Demonic voice"
Letter
From the very first time Shujinko laid his eyes upon Gaara, he knew that the boy had severe issues. His emotionless voice, his death threats to his siblings, his lack of basic human feelings, the disturbing look in his eyes… those were all dead giveaways of how mentally unstable Gaara was. It was impossible to come close to him without feeling like your life could end in a matter of seconds.
But after seeing the look on Gaara's shattered face when he came out of that pile of sand, Shujinko realized something.
Gaara didn't just have issues… He was a psychopath. Nothing less, and nothing more.
The one thing that frightened Shujinko the most was the fact that he and Gaara had the same age. The boy from Sunagakure was like a demon, a twelve year-old demon with an unexplainable thirst for blood. True, Zabuza might have been a demon and a terrible human being as well, but at least he attempted to redeem himself during his last moments and even managed to die next to Haku, the person he cared for the most.
Without wasting any time, Gaara performed the Tiger hand seal and the sand around him started to vibrate before charging against Lee, who could only use his arms to cover his face. Lee was thrown back several times until Gaara commanded the sand to return, his twisted smile never leaving its place.
Just when he thought Gaara had stopped, Lee found himself in front of a giant wave of sand that crashed against him. The spandex-wearing Genin was swallowed by Gaara's attack, and moments before he started to suffocate, he was spat out of the wave and his back met the concrete wall, nearly breaking his spinal column.
"What on Earth is Lee doing?" Sakura asked as she watched Lee getting mauled to death by the boy from Sunagakure. "Why isn't he dodging Gaara's attacks? Just a few seconds ago, he was fast enough to get through his defenses!"
"For a very simple reason: He cannot dodge the sand in his current state." Gai replied, sounding less than pleased by Lee's situation.
"The Omote Renge is labeled as a forbidden technique, and rightfully so." Kakashi explained. "Unlike what you're used to see, this isn't Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. It's Taijutsu, meaning that Lee's body is the one that has to suffer the consequences of using such a dangerous jutsu. The Omote Renge is what's known as a double-edged sword, because both the victim and the user receive critical damage. Right now, Lee is experiencing so much pain that he can barely move at all. Isn't that right, Gai?"
Despite having all of his attention on the fight, Shujinko was able to pick up a gentle hint of disdain in his sensei's words, and it made him wonder what was going on between those two. After all, Kakashi wasn't really the type of person to openly show feelings like resentment or disapproval.
Kakashi's explanation was on point. Lee was breathing heavily and struggling to get up, as if he has done running a marathon. Although he was far from being an expert on the matter, Shujinko was pretty sure Lee was one of the best Taijutsu users in all of Konoha, maybe second to Neji. His stamina and overall body strength was unlike anything he had ever seen. It made him wonder just how exhausting it was to use the Omote Renge.
"Man, no Ninjutsu or Genjutsu? There's no way that guy can win." Choji said, feeling bad for Lee and at the same time thanking Kami he didn't have to fight Gaara.
Even Shikamaru was paying attention, which was definitely not a common occurrence considering he pretty much spent all of his time in the Academy sleeping and skipping class. "Win? That guy will be lucky to survive."
Shujinko was starting to think among the same line as Shikamaru. Gaara kept torturing Lee and there was nothing the poor boy could do other than run away from the sand. But what truly unnerved Shujinko was how the Ichibi Jinchuriki seemed to enjoy tormenting Lee, smiling as he sent waves of sand at him. How could someone be so thrilled by the idea of causing pain? How could Gaara's mind be so twisted and distorted?
"Lee should give up while he still can." Kankuro said out loud. "Gaara is just going to toy with him until he begs for mercy."
"In that case, Gaara is in for a long match because that will never happen. Lee has no idea how to give up." Gai said immediately, not taking his eyes from Lee.
The fight went on, and Shujinko had to fight the urge to close his eyes and cover his ears. The gap between those two was simply too big, making it a less than fair match. In fact, it never was a fair match to begin with. But what truly touched Shujinko was Lee's refusal to give up. Lee was just like Naruto in that way. Despite being at a complete disadvantage, the spandex-wearing Genin refused to give up and kept forging on even when he had no way to win. It was the kind of strength that he admired… and even envied at some point.
During a brief moment, Lee looked at his sensei, and Shujinko could've sworn there was small tear running down from his eye. Gai merely smiled and replied with a slight nod.
"He can't go on!" Sakura shouted as she leaned over the handrail. "Proctor, please stop the fight before he gets killed!"
Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Lee was still standing and he had yet to express any wishes of giving up, and Hayate was forbidden from putting an end to a fight that still wasn't finished. As for Gaara, he raised his hand and shot several sand blasts with the intention to take out Lee for good… but they never made contact. In an unexpected turn of events, Lee disappeared out of the way of the sand blasts, moving like he used to after removing his weights.
"What just happened? How can Lee still move that fast?" Shujinko asked.
Gai's smile widened. "Let's just say Lee has decided to play his final card. After all, the lotus of the leaf blooms twice."
Shujinko had no idea what lotus was Gai talking about and what it had to do with Lee miraculously recovering his speed. Sakura, however, recalled hearing that phrase. "I've heard that before… Yeah, Lee told me the same thing during the second exam!"
"No, Gai. Please, tell me you didn't…" Kakashi started to say.
"Oh, but I did it, Kakashi."
"Are you telling me that boy, that Genin is able to unlock the Eight Inner Gates and unleash the Ura Renge?"
"Indeed."
The Ozuma got slightly scared when he saw the look on his sensei's face. Kakashi was glaring intensely at Gai with his only visible eye, his laziness all but forgotten. "That's the most… I have no words to… (Sigh) Very well, how many doors can he open?"
"Lee can open up to five gates." Gai replied.
"Hang on a second! What are you talking about? What are these so called gates? And the Ura Renge?" Sakura demanded to know.
Kakashi placed his hand on his headband and uncovered his Sharingan. "As you already know, there are several tenketsu located inside the chakra pathway system. However, certain tenketsu stand out from the rest, and they are known as 'gates'. Kaimon, Kyumon, Seimon, Shomon, Tomon, Keimon, Kyomon and Shimon. These are known as the Hachimon, the Eight Inner Gates. Their job is to limit the overall flow of chakra within a person's body. However, certain techniques force these gates to open, which results in a massive chakra outburst that allow the user to surpass its physical limitations."
"But what about the Ura Renge?" Shujinko asked. "What does it has to do with these so called gates?"
This time, Gai answered his question. "The Omote Renge in unleashed when the Kaimon, the Gate of Opening, is opened. This causes the brain to remove the restrains of the human body, allowing the user to use its muscles to their fullest. You already saw the results. Lee just opened the Kyumon, the Gate of Rest. This gate re-energizes the body and allows the user to go back to its previous peak condition, which explains Lee's sudden recovery. And then, we have the Seimon, the Gate of Life. This is where the Ura Renge takes place."
"Wait a minute, you just said the Omote Renge was a double-edged sword because of how much damage was done to both the target and the user. What's going to happen if Lee keeps pushing himself like that?"
"Exactly. Whoever opens all eight gates will obtain power far beyond that of the Hokage's. But ultimate power comes with an ultimate price to pay, and the price to pay… is the user's imminent death." Ignoring the awestruck look on his students' faces, he confronted Gai. "I have no idea what that boy means to you, but at this point you should know very well we must never allow ourselves to become emotionally attached to our students. You've gone way too far, Gai."
But the spandex-wearing Jounin replied even harder. "You have no right to talk! You don't know anything about Lee, nothing at all!" Although he didn't show it, Kakashi was taken by surprise. Gai almost never used that kind of tone on people. "In this world, he who is born without abilities is branded a failure. Lee has a goal to achieve, and he will achieve it even if he has to risk his life. I encourage him to follow his dream not for his own good, but because his dreams are worthy of something."
For the first time in many years, Kakashi was lost for words. He knew exactly what Gai felt for the boy, for he himself witnessed the struggle and the difficulties Gai had to endure during his youth. Maybe Kakashi refused to become emotionally attached with his students or anyone for that matter, but he was still a human being with feelings and emotions. In the end, he sighed and decided to put the rest of his attention to the match.
In that moment, Lee crossed his arms in front of his face. At first, it seemed like he was doing nothing, but then a column of energy appeared out of Lee, and his skin tone began to turn red. "Gai-sensei, the conditions have been met! I must protect and maintain my ninja way! Hachimon Tonkou: Daisan Seimon! Kai!"
A layer of green substance covered Lee's body as he started to release an enormous amount of raw power. His eyes became white and irrational as veins erupted around his temples. To finish his transformation, his skin color acquired the tone of a beetroot. A deafening scream came out of Lee, who kept releasing more and more energy.
"He's opened the third gate. Now he'll attack." Kakashi said.
Gai shook his head. "No, not yet."
"Daiyon Shomon! Kai!"
Releasing the fourth gate caused a small earthquake, and Lee was the epicenter. Peebles and small rocks were being pushed away as Lee crouched and got ready to begin his attack. 'Unbelievable. No Genin can achieve this level through sheer effort. That boy is a true genius.' Kakashi said to himself.
BOOM
Before Gaara could realize what was going on, Lee ran at full speed and connected a kick to the jaw, sending the Ichibi Jinchuriki flying straight into the air and destroying the marble floor while he was at it. The impact was so strong that it actually created a powerful airwave, forcing the spectators to cover their eyes.
But Lee didn't stop there. He appeared behind his opponent and proceeded to deliver the most brutal and painful beating Gaara had ever received. The sand left on the ground was useless as it couldn't reach Gaara, meaning that the Ichibi Jinchuriki had to rely on what was left of his sand armor, which started to crumble apart at a frightening rate. It was simply impossible to keep up with those two as Lee punched and kicked Gaara around, leaving after-images behind. It was like watching seven Lees' beat the crap out of the ragdoll that was now Gaara.
'I can't keep up with him, he's too fast!' Shujinko thought as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. At this point, Lee had become a green hurricane of Taijutsu.
Neji wasn't fairing much better than Shujinko. 'Is that really Lee? But how… When…'
The spandex-wearing Genin could feel every muscle of his body tearing apart. He couldn't maintain his form for much longer. It was time to deliver the final blow, the one that would settle the fight once and for all. "It is time to finish this! Daigo Tomon! Kai!"
Gaara felt as if Lee's fist went through his stomach, and for a fraction of a second, he believed his existence was coming to an end. Suddenly, he felt something tied around his waist. Lee managed to wrap the bandages of his left arm around Gaara, immobilizing him. 'No human can move like this. I cannot defend myself…' Gaara thought in panic as Lee brought him closer and closer…
"URA RENGEEEEEEE!"
BOOOOOOM
The impact completely demolished the ground, creating a large cloud of smoke and dust that temporarily blinded everyone. Lee was sent rolling away with no control over his body, too exhausted and too weak to do anything. Every inch of his body was aching. Hell, even his eyebrows were hurting.
"I can't believe it! Bushy Brows, you won! YOU WON!" Naruto cheered at the top of his lunges. Gaara was nowhere to be seen, but Naruto couldn't care less about him. All he knew was that Lee won the match, even when the odds were against him.
"It's finally over." Sakura breathed out.
Oh, if only that was true.
Shujinko gaped at the scene. Somehow, somehow Gaara was still breathing. His skin was shattered and he barely seemed conscious, but he was alive nonetheless. Inside his crater, the Ichibi Jinchuriki was groaning in pain, shaking like a leaf in the wind.
"No way! How can Gaara still be alive after all he went through?!" Shujinko asked in desperation.
"Before making contact with the ground, Gaara's gourd turned into sand in order to soften his fall. The sand protected Gaara from what would've been his imminent death." Kakashi replied.
Slowly but surely, Gaara raised his hand and directed his sand towards Lee, who was trying to crawl away from him, but failed miserably. He didn't have a single drop of chakra left in his self-abused body. 'This cannot be happening. Even after the Ura Renge, he can still fight.' Lee thought in despair as he helplessly watched his left arm and leg getting covered by the sand.
"Sabaku Kyuu!" Gaara shouted as he closed his hand, crushing Lee's muscles, ligaments and bones. Lee screamed in agony before blacking out. The fight was over for him.
"Now die, you." Gaara whispered as he attempted to end Lee's life for good. Using what little chakra he had left, the Ichibi Jinchuriki manipulated the sand to destroy the rest of his body.
SWOOSH
The sand never got to touch Lee. Gai appeared in front of his unconscious student and smacked Gaara's attack away. It all happened so fast that it took Shujinko a while to figure out what happened. At first, Gaara seemed to be lost for words, but then he covered his temples with his hands and started groaning in pain as if he was experiencing a severe migraine.
"Why? He failed... He failed… Why save him?" he kept muttering, unable to understand why would someone risk his life for the sake of others. That was how mentally broken Gaara was.
"I saved him because he is my student, and someone very important to me."
Temari looked at Gai as if he had two heads. "He's important to him? A Genin?" Back in Sunagakure, the relationship between a sensei and his or her Genin team was a lot more professional and, unfortunately, it was a more accurate representation of the rotten reality of the shinobi world: No bonds, no attachments, no feelings. If you survived, you were merely doing your duty. If you died, then you were never fit to protect your village to begin with.
Once Gaara regained some of his strength, he stood up and walked away without uttering a single word, still too confused by Gai's actions. He didn't bother to make sense of what he just witnessed and assumed it had something to do with foolish human emotions, emotions he never had and never needed.
"Why is Gaara leaving?" Sakura asked.
Kakashi sighed and covered his Sharingan. "It's too late for Lee now. Gaara won the match the minute Gai stepped in."
"The winner of the tenth match is…" Hayate started to say, but what he saw next made his and everyone's jaw reach the floor.
Without anyone noticing it, Lee managed to stand up and face Gaara with his head hanging down, his left arm and leg bleeding heavily. All of his body was shaking like a leaf in the wind. His extended right palm was randomly changing directions.
"I can't believe this…" Gai whispered to himself.
Kakashi was just as surprised as Gai, if not more. 'After all what he went through, he shouldn't be able to move, let alone stand up. Where does this boy gets his strength from?'
Gai approached his student in order to calm him down, but his composure and his self-control were burnt to ashes when he saw the look on Lee's face.
Lee was unconscious. His body was moving thanks to his developed muscle-memory and power of will. He was still standing.
All of his muscles were destroyed.
His left arm and leg were demolished.
His body was suffering the consequences of opening the fifth gate and unleashing the Ura Renge.
He wasn't even conscious…
… And yet, he was still standing.
The spandex-wearing Jounin couldn't stop the incoming tears as he understood the gravity of the situation. In his burning desire to help his student achieve his goals, he ended up neglecting Lee's wellbeing, and he was the only person at fault. Kakashi was right. Because of his selfishness and narrow-minded personality, he encouraged Lee to go the distance without stopping to think where would his path lead him.
This had to be, without a doubt, one of the most emotional and tragic moments Shujinko had ever seen in his life. The bond between Lee and Gai was truly intense. For a brief moment, his mind brought him back to the day when Zabuza died next to Haku, wishing to see him in the afterlife. Shujinko looked at his sensei, who was staring at Gai with a sorrowful expression. 'Is that all we are to him? Nothing but his students?' Shujinko couldn't help but wonder.
As Hayate declared Gaara the winner of the tenth match, a medic team placed Lee on a stretcher and carried him away so they could begin treating his injuries as soon as possible. Kakashi approached Gai and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier, Gai. I was completely out of line. Had I been in your shoes, I would've probably done the same thing. Come on, we have to go. The next match won't start until we leave."
With a slight nod of his head, Gai walked back to the higher level with Kakashi, although this time he kept a safe distance from the rest. Shujinko had the urge to ask him if he was alright, but instead he chose to respect Gai's privacy.
Neji closed his eyes and shook his head. Lee's defeat at the hands of Gaara only further proved the existence of a pre-designed destiny that reigned over every human being. Lee was destined to be a failure, and there was nothing he could do about it. His teammate had the ridiculous urge to be something he was never meant to be, and now he was paying the price for defying his destiny.
The final match between Choji and Dosu went on fairly quickly. Choji used his clan's trademark technique and attacked Dosu as a giant human ball, relying on his brute force. Dosu uncovered his metallic gauntlet and retaliated with his particular style of fighting, using the sound waves produced by Choji's constant attacks to his advantage. Choji became dizzy and accidentally crashed into a wall, knocking himself out in the process and leaving Dosu the last man standing.
"Akimichi Choji is (cough cough) unable to continue. Kinuta Dosu is the winner of the eleventh and final match of the Pre- (cough cough cough) Preliminaries."
"Congratulations." the Sandaime proclaimed to the winners of the Preliminaries after Choji was sent to the medical station. "You have all gained the right to participate in the third exam. After a written test and a survival test, you might be wondering what could possibly come next, and the answer is quite simple…
… The third exam will be an unrestricted one-on-one tournament between all of you. This tournament will take place in a month so you can all rest and prepare yourselves the way you see fit. You have witnessed the abilities of the candidates here present during these preliminary matches, and no one knows your own fortitudes better than you. Use this time to develop new skills or to improve the ones you already have."
Ibiki waited for the Hokage's consent before taking the lead. "Now, there's a couple of things you need to know about the third exam. Unlike the other two, this exam will be public, so prepare yourselves to fight in front of a big audience. That's another reason for the one-month delay, so that civilians from all villages can attend to the tournament."
Shujinko wrinkled his nose in disagreement. This was supposed to be a shinobi affair, something that concerned ninjas and ninjas only. Civilians weren't supposed to meddle with things they had no business with, at least in his opinion.
"So what? We're just supposed to go from fight to fight until there's no one left? Is that how we become Chunins?" Shikamaru asked.
Hiruzen smirked. "Actually, it is quite different. We are looking for candidates who have what it takes to obtain the next rank. Intelligence, strategic thought, physical and mental strength, those are all qualities of a Chunin. It makes little difference if you win or lose. We are not interested in how many fights you can win, but how well do you perform in a real life-or-death situation. Following that logic, even if you lose in your first match, you might still become a Chunin. In fact, all of you here might become Chunins at the end of the tournament, but there is also the possibility that none of you do. A carefully selected group of proctors will be watching your fights, including myself and Kazekage-dono, our special guest. At the end of the tournament, we will analyze your overall performance and decide who deserves to become a Chunin. Anko, if you may…"
"Of course, Hokage-sama." Anko said as she approached the Genins holding a cardboard box with her hands. "Alright maggots, listen up. This is how we're going to pair you up. You will take a piece of paper from this box and you will say what number you got. If I see any of you exchanging numbers, you'll be automatically disqualified."
One by one, every Genin took a single piece of paper out of the box. Kakashi, who was representing Sasuke, also received one.
"Now, say your number loud and clear." Anko ordered.
Naruto had number three.
Shino had number seven.
Temari had number six.
Gaara had number one.
Shujinko had number nine.
Dosu had number eight.
Kakashi (Sasuke) had number two.
Neji had number four.
Shikamaru had number five
Kankuro had number ten.
Ibiki cleared his throat as he checked his notepad. "Very well, then. This is how the tournament rounds are going to be: The first match will be between Sabakuu no Gaara and Uchiha Sasuke. The second match will be between Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji. The third match will be between Nara Shikamaru and Sabakuu no Temari. The fourth match will be between Aburame Shino and Kinuta Dosu. The fifth match will be between Ozuma Shujinko and Sabakuu no Kankuro."
'Damn it. The only fight I missed was Kankuro's, and now I'm paired against him in the tournament.' Shujinko thought in distress. He then remembered he could've been paired against Gaara or Neji. 'Whatever, at least I'm better off than my teammates. Kankuro can't possibly be more of a threat compared to his brother or that Neji guy.'
"One last thing: If any of you fail to show up at the time of your match, consider yourselves out of the tournament." Ibiki warned. "After all, punctuality is a very important aspect in our line of job."
Shujinko nearly scoffed. 'Tell that to Kakashi-sensei'
The Sandaime nodded in agreement. "Considering we have no further issues to discuss, I believe you all deserve some rest. I hereby declare the Preliminaries over. Good luck, and don't forget to make the most out of this month. Your senseis will escort you out of the Forest of Death. Once outside this forest and until the day of the tournament, you are all on your own…"
(Back in the village)
The first thing Shujinko did when he reached the village was to visit a doctor. The gash on his leg needed some treatment if he wanted to avoid an infection, and he also needed medicine to stop the effects of the soldier pills he consumed during his fight with Kabuto.
The good thing about being a shinobi was the free healthcare. The village financed hospitals and doctors through taxes and the income produced by missions. A shinobi was entitled to free medical attention, and all Shujinko needed to do was to show his headband (and his wound) to the receptionist, who immediately searched for an available doctor. Fortunately, a doctor treated his leg wound with a special healing cream and some bandages. As for the soldier pills, he gave Shujinko a prescribed drug that slowly stopped its effects. In less than thirty minutes, the golden-eyed boy was cleared and free to go.
Under normal circumstances, Shujinko would've been delighted to finally walk through the safe streets of Konoha after spending five days in a forest filled with disgusting creatures and shinobis willing to slit his throat in order to get their hands on a scroll. Under normal circumstances, he would've celebrated the fact that he was alive and still on the race for the rank of Chunin by visiting his favorite sushi bar and eating as much sushi as he could. Under normal circumstances, he would've gathered with his parents and sister straight away to tell them he was alright.
But these were not normal circumstances.
Our brown-haired hero was aimlessly walking through the village, unaware of where he was as he kept looking at the ground, hands inside his pockets. Every now and then he would lift his head and see little kids playing 'ninja', which was basically a glorified version of hide & seek. With a gloomy look on his face, he remembered the times when he used to play ninja. He was pretty good at it. He knew all the good spots.
Of course, that was before he became a Genin. That was before he was thrown into the real world.
Before he had to kill if he wanted to survive.
Hadeki's death set a before and an after in Shujinko's life. With only 12 years, he had already taken away someone's life, and he knew he would eventually be forced to do it again. During the Preliminaries, he managed to stay focused and avoid thinking about Hadeki since it would only make things worse, and he couldn't afford to look weak in front of the competition. But now that he was back, the emotional impact left him stunned.
He didn't blame himself for killing Hadeki. What was done was done, and feeling guilty for killing someone who tried to kill him first simply wasn't worth it. No, he wasn't feeling guilty or remorseful anymore. He felt… deeply confused.
Yes, confused, because the more he thought about what happened, the more perplexed he became. Two human beings fought against each other over a scroll, and one of them ended up dead. And somehow, in a way, that was completely fine. No one blamed him.
And that was what confused him to no end. He and the rest of his fellow classmates were taught at a very young age that a shinobi's first responsibility was towards the village, and that everything they did was for the sake and wellbeing of Konoha. But now, Shujinko didn't know what to do. He didn't see the point anymore.
What was so important about the village?
It took him a while to realize that he was walking through the street where his house was. As he looked up, he saw a group of three individuals walking in the distance. It was his family.
Nanami was happily walking between Daichi and Masumi, holding hands with both her parents. The Ozuma family was enjoying a nice little walk in the afternoon, apparently unaware of Shujinko's presence not too far away from them. Nanami was eagerly chatting with her mother, while the head of the Ozuma clan remained silent, but with a peaceful and satisfied expression on his otherwise stern face.
Something inside Shujinko's chest snapped in half. Before his family members could spot him, he took cover behind a wall and ran away…
(Hokage Monument, 23:00 P.M.)
Shujinko spent the rest of the day sitting on top of the Shodaime Hokage's head, throwing pebbles down the cliff. The night was cold and slightly windy, but the Ozuma was too busy thinking about what he saw earlier to care about that.
The last time he saw his family was before the first exam, and even though not even a week had passed by, Shujinko could barely recognize himself. Lots of things happened during the first and second exam, and many of those things weighted on his head. His encounter with Orochimaru, his fight with Hadeki, Sasuke's actions under the influence of the Curse Mark, his talk with Kakashi during the middle of the night before the Preliminaries and his match against Kabuto were some of the episodes he couldn't get out of his mind.
But seeing Nanami so happy and so full of life was like an emotional blow that struck Shujinko like a hammer. Knowing that his sweet and innocent little sister would eventually become a kunoichi and face adversities like the ones he just experienced felt awful. He wanted to protect her at all costs, but he knew he couldn't do that forever. He couldn't shield Nanami from the cruel world they were born in. Once she became a Genin, Nanami would be forced to risk her life and defend the village against whatever evil that tried to cause harm.
The thought of Nanami being in danger… Shujinko would never forgive himself if something happened to her. He loved his sister so much he would gladly give away his life if that ensured Nanami's safety.
"Quite an enjoyable night for a walk, is it not?"
The Ozuma gasped as he heard a voice coming from behind. He turned around and saw the Sandaime Hokage standing behind him. He was smoking his tobacco pipe and wore his usual white and red robes, only this time he wasn't using his hat, revealing what little hair he had left. "Ho-Hokage-sama, what are you doing here?" Shujinko asked before mentally slapping himself. Who was he to ask such a question? The Hokage could walk wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted. "I-I-I mean… I wasn't aware of your presence. Please, excuse me for my disrespect."
"There is no need for you to apologize. You have done nothing wrong." Hiruzen assured him. "Although, I must admit I am rather curious. I have been standing here for the last ten minutes, yet you didn't notice me until I spoke. What is it that is troubling you?"
"Oh, it's nothing, really. I was just thinking about… stuff, I guess." Shujinko could barely believe how lame his answer was. "I hope you don't mind, but what are you doing this late at the Hokage Monument?"
"I could ask you the same thing. As for me, I often feel the need to clear my head, and an occasional night walk does wonders." The leader of the village made a pause to enjoy his tobacco pipe. "Every time I come here and see the faces of my predecessors and successor, it reminds me how much the village has changed since its birth and the sacrifices our people have suffered for the sake of a better tomorrow. Maybe they don't realize it, but the reason why hundreds and hundreds of men, women and children peacefully wake up in the morning and sleep in the night is because they know we will do anything to protect the village."
There it was again. Protect the village at all costs. Give away your life for strangers.
"Hokage-sama, I need to ask you something. What's so important about the village? Why do we have to risk our lives every day for people who don't even know our names?"
…
"You are right. Must villagers will never know you or your name, even if you die for them. It is something you must learn to deal with. However, we are shinobis. We do not seek recognition or gratitude from others. Our actions and our deeds often go unnoticed, but we keep on going because we are fueled by the Will of Fire."
"The Will of Fire?" Shujinko repeated.
"Indeed. The Will of Fire is our philosophy, our way of life. It is what gives us the strength to continue fighting against all odds, what helps us build willpower and strength of character. It is the spiritual heritage passed down by our ancestors, and we have the duty to pass it down to the next generation. Because of the Will of Fire, every Konoha shinobi loves, believes, cherishes, and fights to protect our village… Tell me something, who do you think the King is?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"If you had to associate the village with the pieces of a Shogi game, who would be the King?"
Shujinko thought about it, not really understanding what the Hokage was trying to tell him. The King was by far the most important piece of the game. If the King was captured or surrounded, it was game over. It also represented power and authority. "I'm not really sure. Aren't you supposed to be the King, Hokage-sama?"
The Sandaime chuckled slightly. "Just as I thought. I do not blame you for thinking that way. I am not the King. A village can survive without its Hokage, but there can't be a Hokage without a village to look after. Before we part ways, I will tell you one last thing: When you discover who is the real King, you will understand why the village is so important and why we follow the Will of Fire. Have a good night, Shujinko-kun."
With nothing left to say, the Hokage continued his night walk, leaving a thoughtful Shujinko behind.
As he finally came home and greeted his family members, Shujinko couldn't stop thinking about what the Sandaime told him. If he wasn't the King, then who was it? What man or woman could possibly be more important to Konoha than the Hokage himself?
Despite not being very long, his conversation with Hiruzen helped him ease his mind. There was a reason why the village was so important, and that reason was the King.
Now, all he needed to do was to find out who or what was the King.
Hello, everyone. Did you miss me?
I hope you're all aware of why it took me so long to update. But in case you didn't read my author's note (which I'll delete as soon as I publish this chapter), I'll give you the short version: This chapter got deleted two times during a very busy period in my life.
I apologize if this chapter seems a little rushed, but I wanted to get it over with as soon as possible so that the story can continue. Chapter 26 is almost done and will probably be out here this week.
Glossary:
Omote Renge: Primary Lotus
Ura Renge: Hidden Lotus
Sabaku Kyuu: Sand Coffin
Have a wonderful day, and remember to please like, follow and review if you're enjoying this story so far.
Ja ne!