353 Chapter 128

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Title: Encountering Another Sanin

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Shun's POV

A couple days have passed since school resumed and I've noticed a few... Nah. A lot of changes in some of the kids I usually see being all merry and all.

Most of them were often broody, most were recluse, most were agonized and MOST began looking for attention.

One of the ones I noticed was an upperclassman who had a scar up his nose... Iruka if I should guess... Which I am right... He began making obvious mistakes in things he could do perfectly well so that he would gain attention.

I don't particularly understand the need for attention children have. I was never like that, past life and this life. I always strived to live my life to the fullest. I had responsibilities no child should have back on Earth and even here, I just knew I had to get stronger so as not to become a victim in the battles between Indra and Ashura.

Perhaps this is the reason why I find them stupid. Yup. Very stupid. I mean, don't they know there are better things to live for than to gain approval from you mates? Your equals? And people you can actually be better than if you decide to put in some work?

"What are you thinking about Shun?" Hana's soft voice disrupted my train of thoughts.

"Just thinking that some children are wasting the golden time of their lives." I replied while still watching the scene playing in different parts of the academy.

"You sound like you aren't a kid either." Hana hit my shoulder and said in annoyance.

"You would be surprised." I simply said.

"So... What's this golden time you're talking about?" Itachi beside me asked.

"It's the time to put some work into yourself. Plan where you'll be in 5-10-15 years and begin working towards it." I replied to the curious genius.

"But we're still 6 years old... It was you who said we shouldn't think too much about the future at such a young age." Itachi asked back. Tch... The damn kid does really remember some tiny details huh?

"Well of course. But can't you plan on being better than you are today tomorrow?"

"Huh?"

"Don't you plan on being a better person, a better fighter, a better academic tomorrow than you are today?" I repeated.

"I guess?" Hana whispered and Itachi nodded.

"Exactly. We don't know what will happen but if we think about it, instead of dwelling in the frivolities of human nature, we would be ever evolving. We would be better. Remember what I used to say: The concept of Perfection is imperfect in and of itself. Perfection is being better than you were yesterday. To push past your limits, Continuously." I said and sighed as I withdrew my gaze from the idiots whiling away their time outside in the name of Chakra Control.

"Why the sudden talk?" Itachi asked.

"I just saw some upperclassman playing and purposefully failing in their tests so that they could get some attention... Nothing much." I said.

"I see." Itachi said. "Maybe it has to do with the Kyuubi attack aftermath."

"Of course it does, but so what? Sigh!" I rubbed my temples to actually calm myself down and bring my reasoning down to that of a child's. "I haven't lost my parents, that's one thing, but I lost Nii-san and Nee-san. I saw a lot of deaths, but do you see me behaving differently?"

They both shook their heads. "That's the mindset. You see the bad and still decide to focus on the good."

"What's the good?" Itachi asked as he suddenly looked sad. "It's just pain and more pain for those who survived while their loved ones died."

"Exactly. There's a saying that every calamity comes with its own bout of good fortune. If you look for good things, you'll find good things my friend. Meanwhile, if you look for the bad, you'll only find bad." I said. "Life isn't all peach and roses. It's a journey, or rather, it's like climbing a mountain without chakra... You'll face obstacles, you'll be injured, you'll be filled with dread at the height, you'll even have thoughts of quitting and just turning back... However, should you persevere and reach that mountain peak, you won't be the same person that once stood at the base of the mountain."

RING!

As if to give me a protagonist moment, the bell rang for dismissals as soon as I finished giving them food for their thoughts.

"Let's go to train. You lot haven't beaten me yet." I said to the duo who had a confused and contemplative expression respectively.

Itachi came out of his contemplation after hearing that and smirked. "That day isn't far off."

"Heh!" I snorted. "First try forcing me to pull out my wooden sword then we'll talk about beating me soon."

"Eh!? You use a sword too?"

"Of course I do... Who do you think I am?" I asked smugly.

"A genius, we know." They both answered at the same time.

"Of course. Of course but that isn't what I wanted to say. I'm the son of the strongest swordsman in the world right now, Hayaken Tengoku. Even the swordsmen of the Mist wouldn't dare fight him head-on."

"For real?" Hana asked in amazement.

"Yup. But I can feel you don't actually know him."

"Eh?" She blushed as she scratched her cheeks shyly. "Don't mind it, just ask your parents about him. You'll understand why I'm too much of a genius, sigh."

...

Fast forward a couple minutes and we were at our training ground. Izumi was already there waiting for us but Shusui wasn't. I couldn't feel his chakra close by either. Guess he was on a mission or something.

The aftermath of the Third Shinobi War was already a problem, but Kurama's Rampage further depleted their force so even Genins would probably be deployed to the borders.

Damn... The life of a Shinobi. I guess it has its fun parts.

"Heya Izumi-chan!" I greeted as we approached the sitting girl. As soon as she heard my voice, she looked up and smiled very brightly. 'Damn, depression must be getting to her that badly.'

Her father's death really did something to the poor girl. Being a half Uchiha and all, they weren't allowed to live in the Uchiha Clan, leading to his death when Kurama attacked.

This village was built in the opposite way Hanagakure was built. Here, clan compounds were in the inner parts of the city while Civilians lived on the outskirts. In Hana, Clan compounds as well as Captain Headquarters are on the outskirts while civilians are on the inside.

Civilians living on the outside defeats the purpose of protecting them after all. It was also the reason the Hanakage's office was in the center of the village. He was the Kage, he needed to protect the civilians from the Shadows as his title indicates.

Ever since that incident, she and her mother had been allowed back into the Clan, she had even awakened her Sharingan which we all knew, making Itachi look at her with even more admiration and respect.

However, it was draining on the little girl, so Itachi was still a notch better than her in real combat.

'And look at her Chakra. She had good motivations. If all Uchihas were like this girl, I doubt there would be a need for conflict at all.' I thought as I evaluated her spirit mark.

Unlike the usual Sharingan fuelled by the curse of hatred, hers are actually driven by the desire to protect. Quite Senju-like. I really will kill Itachi if he ends up killing this girl. Obito too. Canon be fucked.

"Hey guys." She greeted.

"Sigh. Izumi-chan, I've told you many times already. It is a good thing to cry." I said as I approached the girl and gave her a hug.

"Mh-hmm," she shook her head and maintained her fake bright smile. "Crying is for the weak. I'm going to be strong. I promised my father I'll be strong." She said and I couldn't resist giving her a knock on the head.

"Hey, what was that for?" Itachi came to her defense but I didn't pay him any mind. "Whoever told you crying is for the weak?" Looking at both Hana and Itachi, I asked. "Do you think so too?"

Hana directly said. "In my clan, when anyone is defeated and he cries, he's directly removed from the clan."

"Wow!" I said and looked at Itachi who also nodded.

Sitting down on the hard floor, I said. "Listen up you three. We're all children, we need to cry. Hell, even adults and old men need to cry. God himself cries."

"How do you know that?"

"Shh. Shh. I'm talking. You know, I like backing my words with wise words of my ancestors." I said and directly stole a saying I read up somewhere. I'd forgotten but I still remember the saying. So much for my wishes.

"Cruel men are weak while kind ones are the strongest. I know you don't understand it so I'll explain. Cruel men. They derive joy in putting their fellow humans through pain just so that they could receive a certain level of pleasure. This pleasure comes from the fact that they're weak and inferior. Hence, they feel like inflicting pain on others will make them feel better about themselves."

"The kind ones however. Even if they're as weak as a twig in winter, they know compassion. They know and understand the pain of others because they themselves have passed through it once. Hence they wouldn't want others to pass through what they have. They're strong, not because they are physically or mentally strong, but because they refuse to conform to the will of the world and inflict their pain on others."

"Take for example. A mother. A good mother who knows the pain and agony she passed through to bring her child into the world, would not stand or sit idly by when that child is in danger. Women, especially mothers, can actually kill Gods in anger just to protect their child. That is what makes them strong. That desire to protect. Not the desire to kill, or inflict pain... The desire to protect."

"Crying is a form of compassion. It shows that you care. It heals both the mind and soul. So whenever you feel like crying, let it all out. It just shows that you care too much for your father." Izumi was already sobbing in Itachi's arms before I could even tell her to cry.

Damn, guess my Talk-no-Jutsu is something.

"You just need to direct that desire onto others." I concluded.

"What if not everyone deserves your protection?" A voice asked, and me still being in my zone replied. "Everyone deserves your protection, you just need to know to what level. If you love someone, you don't EVER. EVER, be their source of pain."

"Interesting philosophy for a kid who hasn't seen much of this world. Don't you think so?" The voice asked again. Hmm? That voice sounds too old to be a kid's voice.

Turning around, I saw him. Orochimaru! The Snake Sanin. I hadn't seen him since I met them in their teens, but looking at him now, he's changed a great deal.

His spirit no longer held that passion to protect he once had as a kid. I guess the two wars did a lot to him. His chakra now felt dark. A dark that wasn't actually bad but... Bad.

Damn, even me a God can't describe it. It feels like he's doing the bad things he's doing for a legitimately good reason.

His most conspicuous characteristic is his snake-like appearance: he has very pale skin, golden eyes with slitted pupils, purple markings around his eyes and fang-like teeth.

He also has pronounced cheekbones and straight waist-length black hair with some locks covering and framing his face or to his shoulders. He was currently wearing his Jounin Flak Jacket.

Not looking away from his menacing eyes, I replied. "Well, isn't that obvious?"

"Hmm?" He tilted his head in confusion. "Why should it be obvious?"

"Heh. Because I'm a genius. I've been saying this for a good while now. It comes with the package." I said with an arrogant smirk.

The Snake Sanin stood rooted on the spot for a few seconds before laughing. "Kukuku. I see."

"Well then. What brings the famous Sannin of the leaf to this humble training site? You couldn't possibly be here to train could you?" I asked.

"No. Far from that actually. I heard of your escapade on the night of the Rampage and was intrigued." Orochimaru said.

"Escapade? Forgive me for not knowing which one you mean in particular." I answered.

"Fufufu. So you did have more than one escapade that night? Interesting, however, I'm here concerning your ability to render a seasoned Jounin comatose with just a glance." He said with his weird laugh again.

I could feel he felt nothing but genuine curiosity towards me but something about his gaze made it feel like he wanted to dissect me and find out my secrets.

"As I've said earlier... It comes with the package."

"I know, the perks of being a genius, right? I too was once a genius, however, your little group of friends here would put even us back then to shame." Orochimaru said.

"Being able to use a C-rank Jutsu three times without feeling exhausted at a mere six years of age..." He said while looking at Itachi.

"Awakening the Sharingan at such a young age." He said looking at Izumi.

"And actually being able to feel my threat level and be on guard... For a pup, you're actually something." He said, referring to Hana.

"I've felt worse." Hana bit out while glaring at the Sanin.

"I understand, now that I'm up close, even I feel threatened by this visitor of ours." He said as he eyed me once more, his gaze this time still contained his curiosity as well as a trace of caution.

"You don't have to put it that way, you know." I said while scratching my cheeks shyly. "It's something..."

"...that comes with the Package. I know." He interrupted. "But do indulge me for a moment. I've been curious about one thing. Could you answer me that question?"

"Hmm, if it's in my ability." I nodded.

"Then that's plenty." He nodded and sat down on the ground. Dunno his plan but I felt he was trying to show his lack of hostilities so I sat down too.

"I've been wondering... Humans, we're born, we grow, we love, we feel loved, we kill, for both love and necessity. We get killed in the process."

"Most don't even get the acknowledgement they deserve upon death, most don't remain complete upon death, most just die. In one moment, they're alive, smiling, laughing... In the next moment... Just a Single Jutsu... Snuffs that life away... Tell me... What do you think... Is the point of life?"

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