章 76: 2/2

"Surprisingly he immediately apologized and begged me to forgive him for his actions. I hadn't even explained to him what the situation was yet. I was a bit perplexed because he obeyed every word and command I gave him. I remained by his side for a few days to ensure that he had recovered enough where he wouldn't need my aid anymore. Over those few days I learnt a bit about his past. He was haunted by nightmares of his mother's death which he personally witnessed when he was four. He was left orphaned on the streets starving and vulnerable, yet he continued to survive. I also confirmed a gnawing suspicion of mine. When I treated him his chakra system was strange. It felt like a mix of Ninjutsu and Senjutsu chakra. I wasn't sure of it at first but after spending those extra few days with him I became convinced that Zen was a unique existence on the Sage continent. The fact that both his Ninjutsu chakra and Senjutsu chakra could coexist inside his body without one overpowering the other is a testament to the fact that he had this condition since he was very young. I surmised that he was born with this condition and overtime his body adapted properly. I decided that I would teach Zen a little bit of Ninjutsu so he could better defend himself. After a month of teaching him I was preparing to leave. I suppose Zen had grown a bit attached. I was the first person to ever show Zen any sort of kindness after the death of his mother. He cried as I was leaving but accepted the fact that I couldn't remain by his side forever, however that was also when I took note of Zen's Sharingan. He hadn't told me he possessed such a power in the time I spent with him so I was quite shocked when I saw it. Instantly I knew that he must be connected to this person Itachi that I was searching for. Not only did he possess Ninjutsu chakra but also the Uchiha's Sharingan. In the end I decided that I couldn't leave him alone so I decided to make him my disciple. I spent a little more than a year teaching him as much as I could. Not just combative Ninjutsu, but about the world as well. I taught him about the Six Paths continent and what shinobi were. I taught him how to read and write. And perhaps most importantly I was able to help him overcome his anguish. I am most impressed with Zen's ability to learn and his sheer willpower. He rarely slept because he wanted to learn everything as much as possible and as fast as possible. He had a lot of catching up to do because he had to start at the very basics, reading and writing. In the time span of but a mere one year he had achieved an incredible proficiency level. He would train during the day and study at night. Over and over and over again. He was a very sensitive person. Contemplating deep and controversial philosophical views. He was thinking on a level that far surpassed what any child should have to think about and it was most likely due to the influence of his upbringing. Anyways that's how Zen and I met and how he became my disciple."