I said, before, that three candidates came to mind when I considered future apprentices. They were good candidates, ageless, young and yet mature for their years, having been on an adventure before, trusted by and trusting me... And, perhaps most importantly, not tied intimately with the happenings of their World.
Certainly, they had friends, and family. But nothing like Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, with their obligations to Konohagakure and the long peace they fought and bled for.
It was morning by the time I arrived in their World. A bit unfortunate, but not particularly problematic.
It simply meant that I was left to observe them from the shadows for most of the day, deciding on how I wanted to approach this.
By the time of the afternoon, all three were no longer busy, and so all three went out together, as they so commonly did. It was an opportunity I took. To their homes I went, and from there started phase one.
"So... you want to recruit them?" Mayumi, Henry's mother, asked.
"Yes." I answered. "I have, somewhat recently, come upon a task that I cannot do by myself. In order to pursue that task, I need to recruit a number of people who have certain special qualities. Takato, Rika, and Henry have those qualities, and would make perfect recruits."
"What about their education?" Yoshie asked, frowning at me. "Their lives and future?"
"That is why I am talking to all of you, first." I noted. "In the case of their education, I have no intention of interfering with that. If you let me make the request, and they do indeed accept, then I will start training them in their free time to ensure they do not miss out on any of their educational opportunities. As for their lives and future... Well, I won't lie, chances are, if the offer is made and accepted, it's going to shift completely in a different direction entirely."
I raised my hand. "If they accepted, then I would take them under my wing. I am not, as you all know, a typical member of society. I wander between realities and dimensions in order to protect them. To accept the offer would have them do the same. It's unlikely that they'll become... let's call it 'normal'."
"Then why should we accept?" Seiko, Rika's grandmother, asked. Not bitingly. Seiko was a woman who liked to consider everything.
"Because, and we all know this, those three aren't normal anyway."
Silence went through the room, and I tipped my head.
"They haven't been since they were ten. Their partners, and the bonds they have established... 'normal' cannot be applied to them. They are exceptional in every sense of the word." I nodded. "I know they already plan to stay involved with it all. They intend to join Hypnos later in their life, because that's something where their abilities and exceptionality fit. Not, truly, that they have much of a choice. Governments all around the world have been snapping up every partnered child they can get their hands on, and Japan's no different. A normal life isn't the cards."
Janyu sighed. "You know about even that, huh?"
"I keep track on many things, Janyu." I noted. "Which is how I know all of you know it, too. The moment they're old enough, Hypnos will snap them up, because Digimon are a hot commodity, and those three? They basically saved two worlds. And, really? They're not going to enjoy the politics of it."
Yoshie grimaced, while Rumiko looked down.
"That's why I'm making the offer. Both an escape from that, and a higher purpose, too." I noted. "Even if you don't accept, I can always make the offer later; in thirty years or so when people start noticing they aren't aging."
"What?" Mayumi asked. "Not aging?"
I looked to her, before looking at them all. "None of you knew? Hmm... That's..." I paused. "Well, you know that three of them are Digital Lifeforms, yes?"
All six of them nodded, though Seiko was the only one who didn't do so slowly.
"Have you ever heard of a Digimon dying of old age?" I asked.
They blinked.
"No." Janyu catches on. "Digimon only die from violence, exhaustion, lack of nutrition, or from viruses. Are you saying that Henry, Takato, and Rika also share that trait?"
"Yes. That is exactly what I'm saying." I answered. "Those three will age only until they reach their physical prime, and then simply won't age anymore. They won't die until something kills them." And considering those three could turn into Mega-level Digimon with a moment of preparation, that was going to be a difficult prospect at best. "Which, indeed, is one the qualities I am looking for in my candidates. Being unaging means they will inevitably get involved in the business of other realities. I figured it was better to give them a leg-up on the matter."
"How-" Rumiko paused, taking a deep breath. "How did it happen?"
"It happened when the three were trying to achieve a Mega-level form." I said. "The first option, to draw upon Calumon's power, was refused, on account of being potentially unreliable. The second option, to fuse their Digimon together, was refused, on account of reducing the number of combatants they had not being a good idea, while also being unlikely to actually be possible in the first place. The third option, to biomerge with their Digimon and become Megas themselves, was accepted, but required that they be transformed into Digital Lifeforms in order to actually be possible."
"And you did that to them?" Mayumi's eyes narrowed.
"No." Janyu said. "Not Drich."
"Indeed. I told them it was possible, and I also told them what would happen to them. They still chose to do, and in order to make it happen, the three made a Wish to the DigiGnomes. It was a heartfelt Wish, and such a thing is incredibly potent. As a result, they were changed into Digital Lifeforms, mimicking their Human bodies, but maintaining all the advantages that Digital Lifeforms already have. You've seen a few; they heal quick, don't tire as much, need less sleep. The three have also affected minor aesthetic changes on their bodies, mostly in shifting their eyes colours." Takato had insisted upon his eyes being the same red shade as Megidramon's body. Rika's purple eyes matched exactly with Sakuyamon's gauntlets.
Henry thought the two were being too dramatic, but the reflective steel-grey shade in his eyes wasn't a natural thing, either.
"Anyway, I think we went off track a bit." I shook my head. "If you accept, then I will make the offer to them. If they accept, and let's be honest, they almost certainly will, then I will ensure that no matter what gets thrown at them, they'll come out on top."
I leaned forward.
"So, what do you say?"