Hajime Gekitsuden

Chapter 12: Roots~ Arc1: Start of a new journey

Waiting for the end, the invisible force immobilizing him suddenly vanished. Losing his balance, Hajime collapsed to the ground, hearing Satoru fall beside him. In disbelief, Hajime's gaze darted toward their attacker. Was he… toying with them?

"Why?" Hajime shrieked, barely managing to force the word out. His body felt impossibly heavy, his strength utterly drained. Even speaking was a monumental effort for the young boy, who could feel his last reserves of energy slipping away.

"I want to show you the reality of the world you live in," Kurogane replied cryptically, his tone calm yet menacing. "The village you cherish is built on secrets and lies. Your parents… they desperatly trying to hide the truth from you."

"What are you talking about?" Hajime demanded, his voice trembling with confusion.

"The Uchiha massacre," Kurogane continued. "The very event you've been investigating. I will tell you the truth behind it," he added with a sinister chuckle.

Hajime stared at the masked man, confusion and fear swirling in his mind. One moment it seemed like Kurogane was about to kill them, and now he wanted to talk? Something about this didn't add up.

"The problem began long ago—during the era of the Nidaime Hokage," Kurogane explained, his voice steady. "He mistreated the Uchiha, sowing seeds of resentment. The clan began preparing a coup d'état, a plan to seize control of Konoha. The village's leadership, sensing the danger, manipulated Uchiha Itachi into working for them in the name of peace. Shimura Danzō, ever the master manipulator, exploited Itachi's loyalty to make him slaughter his own clan."

Hajime and Satoru listened in stunned silence, their hearts pounding furiously.

"Uchiha Itachi… acted on Konoha's orders?" Hajime stammered, his mind reeling.

A part of him screamed that it was all lies, that he needed to find a way to escape. But another part, the part desperate for answers, compelled him to listen.

Suddenly, a flurry of kunai shot toward Kurogane, forcing him to dodge. In the next instant, Jiraiya landed in front of Hajime and Satoru.

"Looks like I got here just in time," the sage said, letting out a sigh. "That barrier was a real nuisance."

"Jiraiya-sama…" Satoru mumbled weakly. "We're saved…"

Relief washed over Hajime at the sight of the old hermit. With trembling arms, he tried to push himself to his feet.

"This journal…" Jiraiya said, tossing the journal Hajime gave him onto the ground. "It's fake. Some events in it did happen, but the rest were twisted to make you lose faith in Konoha." He turned to Kurogane, his expression sharp. "Was this your doing?"

"Not quite," Kurogane replied with a chuckle. "It must have been… that rat. We shared similar goals at first, but let's just say we didn't part on good terms. This must be his attempt to counter my plans."

"Fake?" Hajime whispered, his voice filled with doubt. "But Kodero-ojisan…"

"You never spoke to this Kodero," Jiraiya interjected firmly. "That must have been this guy or someone that works for him. The same goes for the fake Iruka who visited you that night."

The old hermit's usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by an intense pressure that filled the air around him.

"But why?" Hajime asked, his confusion mounting. "Why go to such lengths to deceive us and manipulate how we see Konoha?"

"He wanted you to resent your village," Kurogane answered. "He wanted you to see Konoha as the enemy so you wouldn't stand in his way in the future. As for me… consider me a mere observer."

Hajime wanted to scream: Stand in the way of who? Why would anyone see a kid like him as a threat?

"You mentioned the Uchiha incident," Jiraiya said, advancing few steps forward. "How does it connect to Hajime? You said his parents were trying to protect him."

Kurogane began circling them like a predator stalking its prey. "That Uchiha girl… she was the key. A connection to a power that could reshape Konoha's fate. The Uchiha massacre was, in part, a consequence of the clan's desire to control forces beyond their understanding. And you, Ise Hajime, carry a legacy that intertwines with these events."

Hajime's eyes widened in shock. "Legacy? What are you talking about?"

Kurogane raised a hand, dark energy swirling around him. "Your bloodline is special, Ise Hajime. There are forces at play—forces that see you as the key to unlocking dormant powers."

Hajime's mind raced, unable to process the clearly Kurogane's words. Then, a sudden realization hit him. "You… orchestrated all of this, didn't you? Mayumi, the Uchiha massacre—everything!"

Kurogane laughed. "I merely set the stage. The true players operate much deeper within Konoha's shadows. But you have a choice, Ise Hajime. You can live in blissful ignorance, or you can embrace the truth and shape your destiny."

What does this mean?" Hajime asked, his voice trembling as beads of sweat rolled down his face.

"The Ise clan… your clan had a special bond with the Uchiha," Kurogane revealed, his voice calm but cutting. "Your own clan was part of the coup d'état the Uchiha were planning. They intended to betray Konoha for their own gain!"

Hajime felt as though a dagger had been driven into his chest. His clan… involved in a coup d'état? It was unthinkable. His parents would never—could never—be part of something so treacherous. And yet…

He recalled their unease, their fear whenever the topic of Mayumi arose. Their reluctance to speak about anything tied to the Uchiha.

He didn't want to believe this man's words. He wanted to reject them entirely. But deep down, something about it all… made a twisted kind of sense.

"My own clan… how could my clan be part of a coup d'état?" Hajime muttered, his voice shaking.

Kurogane turned to look at him directly, his mask hiding his expression. "The past is a tapestry woven with deceit and ambition. Your ancestors, like many others, were caught in the power struggles of Konoha."

"Hajime, don't let him deceive you," Jiraiya warned. "He's the enemy—he has no reason to tell the truth."

Jiraiya's words pulled Hajime back from his dark thoughts that were about to consume him. Slowly, he wiped the sweat from his face.

"You said your former partner wanted to avoid having Hajime on his back. Why?" Satoru asked, breaking his silence.

"I mentioned the Ise clan's connection to the Uchiha," Kurogane replied. "To put it simply, Ise Hajime is one of the few—if not the only—person who can save her."

"Save… who?" Hajime stuttered, his heartbeat quickening.

"Uchiha Mayumi," Kurogane declared. "Your childhood friend is still alive."

THE END.