Burden and Peace

(重荷と平和)

What was hardship?

"It's something," Hayate continued, looking at the children, "that can weigh on you so much that it can break you. You must protect the village. However, can you make a hard decision? Naruto Uzumaki, everyone, anyone who inspire to become Hokage, let alone a jounin like me, can you do it? Say, if you were to send your own to an inevitable death?"

"Mister Gekkou!" Iruka retorted, but quickly froze. He felt Mizuki's hand on his shoulder.

"Wait. Let him test our children's courage. He isn't being strict, just frank." The white-haired chunin said with a smile. Even after his words, Hayate Gekkou was answered with silence; Naruto felt a chill inside. His stomach dropped; some of the children bit down on their lips. Trembling hands, held breaths, no words for Hayate.

"But, I do have a question for you Mister Gekkou?" The only one to break the silence was Mizuki who, even among the tense air, carried an affable smile. It was to be expected from someone whose catchphrase was "positive thinking". He wasn't tense and prone to outbursts like the adjacent Umino, and it was easy for him to contain his emotions when facing such a truth. It was a true skill of a chuunin, or was Mizuki incapable of showing concern?

"Yes?" The jounin turned to Mizuki.

"Can you tell the children what a village and nation needs to achieve true peace?"

Hayate's answer didn't come immediately, and the question caused him to bump his eyebrow. In his mind, he did find that an interesting question, but he wanted to be careful with his words. So far, he has been nothing but straight-forward, and would not mollify reality for upcoming soldiers, even if they were children. Hayate looked back at the class.

The way he thought about it and wanted to answer, Hayate wanted to believe that peace was possible and that vowing to risk a life had a purpose.

"That is a difficult one as there have been at least three wars already, and I am no monk," he said. "Maybe 'peace' means to adapt? Peace is no short of suspension in fighting. Armistice is usually due to there being many casualties or one exhibiting a strong homicidal power, and then there are negotiations. Sometimes, war is brought to those who don't fight. Perhaps those who think of peace the most are afraid of death? Everyone has their own sense of judgment, sense of enforcement, sense of human rights, good and evil. Konoha, children of Konoha, your home was established by the idea of civility. No matter what, against the inevitable, keep your vows."

After the panel ended, the children were allowed to leave the class. Everyone sighed as if a giant weight was lifted off of them. They managed to survive through Hayate's serious answers, but now the soon-to-be genin had much to think on. In other words, the feeling of pressure would return to them. Naruto didn't leave just yet. He walked up to the jounin and looked up to him with a smile on his face. He wasn't anxious at all.

"Hayate Gekkou, when I become Hokage one day, become my follower, okay? Swear it." Easily, the jounin could've nodded his head in agreement to create some kind of false hope. Something for a naïve child to go with so that he could leave quickly, but Hayate replied honestly.

"I'm not sure." Upon his drawl face, his mouth twitched.

"Come on! Be my retainer!"

Hayate sighed. "I doubt you'll become Hokage soon. You may need to give yourself at least ten or twelve more years. That's a rough calculation since, in hard times, many Kage were young. By the time you become Hokage, you may have other shinobi on your side."

"Aren't there older ninja like the old man Hokage?!"

"Naruto, question time is over!" Iruka interjected and ushered his genin out of the class. "Go train for your goal. But first, you need to pass your trial. It's no game!"

Indeed, it wasn't a game. The trial would come quicker than anyone would realize. Thinking too long, practicing too hard to forget, that day would arrive. In the early morning, at the rising of the sun, the chunin gathered in preparation for the final test. Mizuki and Iruka stood alone in the castle courtyard; it was Mizuki who wanted to speak with his colleague in private.

"Iruka, are you sure it's OK for Naruto to go along with this?"

"What do you mean? He is a part of the Academy, so there is no question."

"I mean, is it alright to pass him?"

"W-why?" Iruka sounded nervous. Twilight swelled across Konoha's horizon, highlighting the sky with a strange, deep orange. Even as night gradually faded, Iruka could discern the face of Mizuki. A gust of wind shook Mizuki's white bangs over his grave expression. There was no smile.

"You know why? If he partakes in ninja activity, what will befall on us?"

"Do you mean to say that Naruto is unskilled? Everything will be determined today. It is only fair," Iruka said, and then paused as something entered his mind.

"Mizuki," Iruka spoke somberly, "are you really worried about that?"