Katsuto was not a genius or a prodigy like Itachi Uchiha or Hatake Kakashi and certainly not like Minato Namikaze. He doesn't have insane drive like Might Guy or Naruto Uzumaki. He wasn't born in a wartorn era like Hashirama Senju or Uchiha Madara. So what made him dangerous? What where his selling points? His mental strength and unwavering emotions. Katsuto inherited his mother's unnatural stubbornness and when he was indoctrinated into the academy at five years old and learned about the will of stone and his beliefs were cemented. Katsuto went from someone who would rather shatter when bent to someone unbreakable. Katsuto was unmalleable and that was his greatest strength.
Katsutos earlier years were spent lonely and quiet. He would wake up, eat the simple breakfast his mother had prepared and the wait and mold clay until his mother came home six hours later, eat dinner in silence and then go to sleep. He often showed his sculptures to his mother however much to his dismay he almost never got and reaction from her anymore. Katsuto noticed that his mother always came both physically and mentally tired. Often with bloody fingers and hands. Everyday he spent at home trying to make his mother happy. When he first got the clay his mother had been happy that he was using it and that something was occupying his days. He tried once to replicate things around the house to make for his mother. By pure coincidence when he was four he decided to remake one of the pots that his mother always cooks the soup in. Toward the end of the day when his mother came home he ran up to her and showed her his creation.
'' here mother look what i made ''said katsuto in an excited tone.
Mio stared in shock before she almost hit her child. There was no way a four year old could make a cooking pot, so obviously he must have stole it. But before she hit him she realised that it was actually made from the clay she bought Katsuto.
'' Can you show me how you made it? '' Mio's raspy voice called out to her son. If he actually could make something like this that meant they could sell them and she could give him nutritious food and then they could fix the house as well… No! Mio thought to herself. Don't go fantasising and the be let down. She followed her son into the kitchen. They both satt at the dinner table and Mio motined the the lump of clay on the table and said ''make another''.
Katsuto had never gotten a request from his mother and eagerly set to work.
It took three hours of mesmerings handwork and silence before the pot was complete. Mio sat in contemplation staring back at Katsutos questioning glare. Mio sighed heavily before giving Katsuto a warm smile before ruffling Katsutos hair with her calloused hands.
'' that will do Katsuto, That will do '' she said softly with a warm smile still on her face.
After that Katsuto started selling his clay creations that his mother had deemed pieces of art.
Katsuto started selling them in the marketplace for a rather low price but the they quickly became a staple with the poorer parts of iwagakure.
Their living situation gradually increased and Katsuto gained weight in a good way and went from almost anorexic to a healthy size and Mio didn't have to work so much and they spent the extra time in each others company. Katsuto making sculptures and Mio was advising and criticizing. Their peaceful life abruptly came to an end when Katsuto turned five. Sometime during the hot month in Iwa a genin knocked on the large oak door of Mio's house. It opened with it's signature groan and Mio peered out. It was evening and the musty hot dust of iwa was thick and heavy in the air.
'' Hello miss, do you have a child between the age of four and five '' the genin asked neutrality.
'' yes i do '' Mio answers with an equality neutral tone.
'' according to lord Nidaime, Mū-sama all able bodied children must attend the academy '' the genin stated.
Mios face turned into a scowl '' why '' she asked with a bit of bite to her voice.
'' Do not question lord Nidaime civilian'' the genin bit back venomously. And continued with '' he starts just after sunrise at academy room 6 tomorrow. If he is not there this will count as insubordination and you will be executed ''.
Mio didn't answer but closed the door as quickly it would let her. Her legs shock and gave out under her before she started crying on the floor. Katsuto immediately heard his mother's tears and quietly padded into the hall with wide eyes and a quivering under lip. He had never seen his mother like this. She had always been so sure and straight forward that he didn't know what to do when his mother looked so hurt. He decided after a split second of thinking to hug his mother. She embraced him and hugged him as hard as possible while looking at him with tears in her eyes she said
'' Looks like you're taking after your father ''. Katsuto immediately knew something was wrong because mother never talks about father.
'' what happened, mother? '' he said in a scared voice.
'' you are going to be a shinobi ''