12 Sadness and Sorrow

"This song that I'm about to play is for all of you here who had hardships in life. It's a song that tells the tales of your struggles. It's a song that helps you reflect on your sadness… and your sorrow. This song… is called: Sadness and Sorrow." Yasui chose this piece of music that occurred numerous times throughout the Naruto anime.

It's a song that evoked emotions very well. So, he hoped that everyone could enjoy this piece through his playing on the Koto.

"Sadness… and sorrow?" Katsumi sat next to Yasui and mumbled. She looked at her hands and then at the people who were watching her from the crowd. She wondered… why her life was so full of sadness… and sorrow.

The crowd also listened diligently. Was this lad going to make a fool of himself, or is he going to impress everyone here?

Yasui sat with his back straight, and his hands began to gracefully hover over the strings of the Koto.

He began to pluck and pull the strings, coaxing out a sorrowful melody that filled the room with a gentle sadness. His notes seemed to linger like a ghost, lingering in the air and echoing off the walls. As he plays, his eyes remain closed, lost in the music and the emotion that it brings.

He recalled all the bitter and sad moments that Naruto went through throughout his life. He remembered the many times that he cried while watching Naruto. There was even one time that he cried while eating food.

With each stroke of the strings, his heartache seems to grow, and his playing became more passionate and intense.

Everyone present felt distant and unfocused as they listened to the music goes on. Everyone had sadness and sorrow in life. They had just suppressed it. Even the Shinobis… Even the civilians, and working women too.

When they listened to this soft piece of music, they felt a deep ache in their hearts. Memories of their loved ones… friends… family… their past… Things that they wanted to forget came streaming out without their consent.

Eyes filled with tears emerged in the rooms one after another as they thought of their struggles in life. The music seemed to have captured their inner turmoil and reflected it back at them, amplifying their despair. They stayed in their spots, lost in thoughts.

Next to Yasui, Katsumi buried her face in her hands. Her body shook as she tried to soften her sobs. She had been through a lot lately, and the tears just seem to pour out of her. She felt embarrassed and ashamed for letting her emotions get the better of her, so she tried to cover her face with her hands, as if that would make her invisible.

The tears kept coming, and she felt her chest tighten with every breath she took. She wanted to be strong, but the sadness was too much for her. She curled up into a ball and continued to cry, trying to muffle her sobs with her hands.

Finally, after the song began to slow down. It's… coming to an end.

Katsumi forced herself to dry her eyes and tried to regain her composure. As she looked around the room, she found that she wasn't the only one crying.

Everyone's mood had made the room solemn, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere enveloped the people. The noise that was present here before turned into silence, and it's a little deafening. People were uncomfortable and a little unsure of what to say, or how to act.

Katsumi then turned her vision to the person that created this atmosphere. That young man had lifted his hands off the Koto. He opened his eyes… and she saw his funny look of shock when he saw everyone in the room.

"Hahaha. Why is everyone crying? I know that one's past can be bad at times, but it's also important for everyone to remember that you should work hard for the future so that there will be happiness and bliss. Hence, you shouldn't dwell on the past too much!" Yasui felt a little awkward after seeing everyone cry.

He wanted them to enjoy the piece of music, not wadding their eyes out. What's he to do in this situation? There's only one thing to do! Avoid it!

The crowd snapped out of their moody emotions and smiled. That's right! The lad is definitely right! They should look towards the future and not dwell on the past!

"This should be enough for you, right miss Katsumi?" Yasui held the hand of the teary-eyed Katsumi. He wasn't doing this because he is romantically interested in her. He just wanted to help her out because he admires both her beauty and her determination to disregard money for a moment of peace.

Katsumi nodded. Enough? It's more than enough… She couldn't even describe how much this meant to her. Not only did it help her face her past, but it also helped her have a renewed look at how one can play music.

"Alright, les gooo!" Yasui happily pulled the girl out of the room. To where? He did not know. He just wanted to be alone with this girl so that he could ask her questions.

"Wait!"

"Wait a minute!!"

Yasui was stunned when all of the onlookers blocked his path. Why were they doing this? He impressed the girl, and they can't get her anymore.

"What do you all want?" Yasui said with a frown on his face.

"W-we're not stopping you, sir! We're just wondering what your name is?" One of the girls that came in with him stepped up and said. She didn't mind that she was ditched. She felt that this person is way out of her league. She just wanted to know what his name is and how she can find him in the future to listen to his music.

"My name?" Yasui sighed at the people urging him to speak. Talent is such a burden. People will gather around you wherever you go.

"That's right!"

"Please tell us!" x100000

"Alright, quiet down, everyone. I'll tell you." Yasui made a chill-the-heck-out gesture and waited for them to quiet down.

Everyone did chill down and listened. They must know the name of this person.

Seeing that everyone is obedient, Yasui told them: "My name is Son Goku. I am a disciple of the turtle hermit school, and my master is called Master Roshi. It's great to meet everyone, but please move aside. I must go now."

Everyone nodded and made a pathway for Yasui to leave.

Yasui left. With the jet-black hair girl in his hands, of course.

What he didn't know… is that from this day forward, a legendary figure named Son Goku was made known throughout the shinobi world. His song echoed far and wide, but no one managed to play the song after only hearing it once.