Chapitre 48: Succumb
A remained silent at B's words, his mind churning. The room descended into a tense silence, the two brothers locked in a quiet standoff, the echoes of Ryomaru's words still hanging in the air.
The unspoken support in B's words for Ryomaru's cause left A in a sea of thoughts. It was a rare occurrence for B to counter him, to question his decisions. A part of him was irked, frustrated at the challenge.
He was never a man of love. A, the Raikage, needed an heir, and Miori, with her strong bloodline and exceptional Chakra control, was a suitable donor. This was his logic at the time of Ryomaru's conception, and his mindset hadn't shifted since. He bore no affection, connection, or any trace of emotion for Miori. In his cold, calculating eyes, she was merely a genetic reservoir from which to draw strength for his progeny. His aim was achieved: Ryomaru was born, exhibiting all the talent he'd hoped for, a perfect blend of their bloodlines. With his purpose fulfilled, as long as Ryomaru matured, Kumo would have its strongest Raikage yet.
A rolled his eyes, his gaze fixated on the closed door Ryomaru had disappeared through. His fingers drummed a steady rhythm on the table, betraying his internal turmoil. "A mere tool," he murmured to himself, the hardness in his voice matching the icy stare in his eyes. "She was used as such. And the boy, he doesn't understand."
B's stoic demeanor didn't change at A's words. Instead, he looked at his brother and responded calmly, "He understands more than you think. He has a heart, A."
An angry scoff escaped from A. "A heart will get him killed, just like it got his mother trapped here."
There was silence for a beat before B countered. "Trapped or not, she's still his mother, and he loves her. You can't stop that. And she loves him in return. It's not a tool's love, it's a mother's love."
A's eyes tightened, but he refrained from responding. His gaze drifted towards the photo on his desk, the only one in the room, showing him and Ryomaru during one of their rare shared moments. The boy, with his striking black hair and icy-blue eyes, bore a charming smile that belied his young age.
A knew of Ryomaru's feelings for Miori. The boy's unfaltering love for his mother was something he'd never been able to comprehend. Ryomaru's adoration for Miori, the way he called her "Mum" with such tender reverence, was as alien to him as the idea of loving Miori herself. A felt a pang of annoyance. Emotions. Love. What useless notions.
"Miori can go with Ryomaru," A finally voiced, his declaration surprising even himself. "Perhaps it'll do them both some good." The finality in his tone brooked no argument, but there was an undertone of curiosity, almost a challenge directed at Ryomaru.
B nodded slowly, his impassive gaze concealing the surprise he felt. "It's a step in the right direction," he agreed, hoping it was the first of many.
"B, call Samui and Mabui," A's voice then thundered through the room, his commandment ringing off the walls of the spacious office. The stone-faced leader turned his attention back to the strategic layout of Kumo on his desk, his steel-gray eyes skimming over familiar locations, mind teeming with thoughts of the upcoming mission.
"I have a mission for them," he added curtly, his tone noticeably colder as he mused over the exact details of this task. His gaze fixated on the marker signifying the Cloud Village's location, his fingers tracing the carved symbol of the village.
"Then get the hell out of my face. You irk me," he finished with a glower in B's direction, his patience with his brother evidently exhausted. The depth of his annoyance seeping into the harsh command, etching an icy finality that demanded adherence.
"Respect, you lack, you get flack, ain't no time to back track, hey!" B's baritone voice bounced around the room as he launched into his impromptu rap. He sauntered towards the door, a teasing smile on his face, deliberately crafted to further agitate his brother.
As he rapped, his words echoed the sentiment of his earlier argument. "Wise up, fool A, learn how to act today!" His voice was light-hearted, but the undercurrent of earnestness was unmistakable.
A's expression hardened at B's flippant mockery, the edges of his mouth tightening into a grim line. The audacity of B's defiance, his attempt to make light of the situation through his childish antics was borderline infuriating. But he wouldn't give B the satisfaction of showing his irritation.
B exited the room, his voice slowly fading as he got further away. The door closed behind him, cutting off the end of his lyrical banter mid-verse. "Won't be playin' your game, just ain't the same…"
The quiet after B's departure left A to his thoughts. He gazed at the Cloud Village's symbol etched on the table's surface. There was a glint of something akin to regret in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared, replaced with a steely determination.
He felt a sense of unease about his decision to allow Miori to leave with Ryomaru. His primary concern was for his son's safety and the preservation of the village. Miori, despite being the mother of his child, was an unknown variable.
However, A recognized Ryomaru's budding potential. The boy possessed exceptional talent, and if guided right, he would grow to be a formidable Raikage. His stubbornness was a trait A both admired and despised. He saw in Ryomaru a shadow of his younger self, filled with defiance, pride, and an unyielding spirit. It was this spirit that A wanted to cultivate, to shape into a formidable weapon that would secure Kumo's future.
Resolutely, A turned his attention back to the map, already outlining a mission suitable for Samui and Mabui. This would not only serve as a way to keep tabs on Ryomaru and Miori but also a test for them. He wanted to see how Ryomaru would handle the added responsibility and freedom he had granted him.
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone