章 5: Shinobi and Death
It had been six months since Rai's rebirth in this mysterious new land, and in that time he had been awed by the diverse and breathtaking scenery that surrounded him. The magnificent mountains loomed in the distance, casting their shadow over the village, and the air was fresh and invigorating, a welcome change from the polluted city air he was used to.
The sky was an ethereal shade of blue that he had never seen before, and it filled him with a sense of wonder and awe. In these six months he was also able to gather some more info about the village he lived in due to some outings he had with his parents.
*
Since his earliest memories, Rai had lived in an orphanage. He spent his days with the other children, longing for the love and affection of a family. However, he was never adopted and remained there until he was old enough to leave. Unfortunately, he was left with nothing but the clothes on his back and had to fend for himself on the streets.
Throughout his childhood, he never knew his parents or any family members. This left him with a feeling of loneliness and abandonment. The pain of feeling unwanted weighed heavily on him, and he often wondered why he was never given a chance to experience the love of a family. Despite the hardships, he was determined to make something of himself and worked hard to survive on the streets.
"Initially, adapting to this new way of life was a difficult task for me. After all, I had been used to living as an independent adult with a job, watching TV, and spending time with friends. The routines and regulations of my previous life had become ingrained in me, making it hard to let go of the past.
However, over time, I began to see the beauty of my new life. The presence of my parents, made a significant difference. Shikaku and Yoshino have become the loving parents that I had always yearned for. They have shown me immense patience, kindness, and care, and have done everything in their power to make me feel cherished and appreciated. Their love has made me realize that I am truly blessed, and that I now have a second chance at life.
During my outings with my father, I began to observe the way people in the village regarded him with a mix of fear and respect, which indicated that he held a position of great importance in the community. I sensed a certain reverence in their tone and mannerisms whenever they spoke to him, often addressing him as "sir" and thanking him for his service. The admiration they held for him was clear, with many acknowledging his bravery and skill.
From these interactions, I couldn't help but surmise that my father was part of a militant organization, especially given the uniform he wears to work every day and the scars on the right side of his face that added to his fierce demeanor. Despite his rough exterior, he has become an important figure in my life and a great father. He is very lazy though and reeks of alcohol most of the time but these two things aside, I couldn't have asked for a better father.
It must have been several months since my rebirth in Konoha, and I have come to the realization that this place is vastly different from where I came from. It's a strange place, unlike anything I have ever seen. Although they have modern conveniences like electricity, refrigerators, and microwaves, they do not have telephones or mobile phones.
The medical facilities are quite advanced, but there are no cars or even bicycles for transportation. I have not seen any horses in the area either. All of these observations lead me to believe that I am no longer on Earth. The technological and social differences are too significant to be merely another country.
At least I don't have to remain stationary anymore. Crawling is probably the greatest thing I've achieved in the past few months. Although i am able to fumble out words now but I haven't done so in front of my parents yet. I wanted to surprise them. Call me childish but both of my parents were probably the greatest blessing in this life." thought Rai feeling content with the progress he had made in his mobility and speech development.
However, his peaceful thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a dark figure lurking in the corner of his room. He became startled and unsure of what to do. He wondered who or what it could be and why they were there. Fear began to creep into his mind as he waited to see what would happen next.
As the figure moved closer, Rai was able to make out that it was his father, dressed in all black. He heaved a sigh of relief. He was amazed at how his father could move with such grace and stealth. Rai couldn't comprehend how his father could appear in the corner of the room, without making any noise, despite the door being closed and only the window being open
Shikaku, sensing his son's curiosity, approached him slowly and carefully. He reached out a gloved hand and gently touched Rai's forehead.
At this moment, Yoshino walked in through the door with a spatula in her hand. "Why can't you just walk in through the door like a normal person would. Every time you do that you probably give Rai-chan a scare." said yoshino as her hair started to flair up.
Usually, Shikaku would playfully act scared to appease his wife, but this time he remained somber and serious.
Rai could sense that something was off, and he looked up at his parents with a worried expression. He wondered what was going on and why his father was acting so different.
*
One hour earlier->
Hatake Sakumo was an exceptional shinobi of Konohagakure, renowned as the "White Fang of the Leaf" for his immense strength and prowess in battle. Despite his status as a famous and powerful ninja, Sakumo remained humble and dedicated to his village and those close to him. He was greatly respected by many young shinobi in Konoha who looked up to him as a role model.
His loyalty and devotion to his allies was unwavering, and he always prioritized their safety and well-being above everything else. Little did he know that his commitment to his allies is what would spill his doom.
Sakumo's heart was heavy with guilt as he made his way to the Hokage's office. He knew that he had failed his mission and that the consequences could be severe. Upon entering, he immediately lowered his head in deference to the Hokage, a person whom he deeply respected.
The Hokage regarded Sakumo with a solemn expression, clearly aware of the severity of the situation. "Sakumo," he spoke in a low voice, "I have received reports of your mission's failure. Can you provide me with an explanation?"
Sakumo took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "It was a trap, Lord Hokage," he began, "They were already aware of our presence. Although we did find the shipments, we were vastly outnumbered. The number of guards protecting it was at least four times greater than what was reported. Moreover, the enemy had set up numerous traps and had even stationed members of the explosion corps in ambush. It is clear that our operation was compromised, and our plans had been leaked to the enemy."
The hokage listened carefully to Sakumo's explanation, nodding his head as he spoke. When Sakumo finished, the Hokage leaned forward and spoke in a serious tone.
"Tell me Sakumo, with your strength and experience, wouldn't you still have been able to complete this mission? Then why abandon it? You of all people know just how important it was for this mission to succede."
Sakumo lowered his head, feeling the weight of his failure upon him. The Hokage continued, his voice calm and measured.
"Sakumo, I need you to understand the gravity of the situation. This was not just any ordinary mission. It was of utmost importance, and its failure could lead to dire consequences for our village. As a shinobi of Konoha, it is your duty to do everything in your power to ensure the safety and security of our village. Your actions have put us all at risk, and that is something that cannot be overlooked."
The Hokage's words weighed heavily on Sakumo's heart, causing him to feel a deep sense of shame and regret. He knew that the Hokage was right, and that his failure to complete the mission would have severe consequences for the village. As he sat there, head bowed in silence, he felt a sense of despair wash over him.
"Tell me Sakumo, what prompted you to abandon this mission and endanger the lives of the people of your beloved village?"
Sakumo took a deep breath before speaking, his voice laden with remorse. "As you said, Lord Hokage, I could have completed the mission, but it would have required sacrificing at least four of my comrades as bait, which I knew would have resulted in their deaths. I couldn't bring myself to make that call, to send them to their deaths without a chance of survival. They have families and loved ones who depend on them. I couldn't bear the thought of being responsible for their deaths."
He paused, his eyes filled with pain. "I understand the gravity of my actions, Lord Hokage, and I know I have failed my village and my comrades. But everything I did was for the well-being of my fellow shinobi. I couldn't abandon them in their time of need, and I couldn't turn my back on them. I know what I did is unforgivable, but I stand by my decision to protect my comrades at any cost."
The Hokage regarded Sakumo with a mix of sadness and respect. He knew that Sakumo's decision came from a place of deep loyalty and love for his comrades.
The Hokage took a moment to compose himself before responding, his voice measured and steady. "As Shinobi, we carry a great responsibility to protect our village and its people. We are the ones who must make difficult decisions, even if it means sacrificing ourselves or our comrades for the greater good. Death is not something we can fear, for it is a natural part of our duty."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "I understand your concerns for your comrades, Sakumo. However, they knew the risks when they became Shinobi. They were prepared to give their lives for the sake of the village, just as you were."
Sakumo listened carefully, his gaze unwavering. "I would give my life for this village without hesitation, Lord Hokage."
The Hokage nodded solemnly. "I believe you, Sakumo. However, we must remember that our duty is not just to our comrades, but to all the people of the village. We cannot let our emotions cloud our judgement and endanger the lives of those we have sworn to protect."
The hokage continued "We could have gained an enormous advantage over Iwa had we been able to destroy the shipment, but now we have no choice but to engage them in a direct confrontation.
Your comrades were prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the village, and as a senior member of the team, it was your duty to ensure the success of the mission. By abandoning it, you have put many lives at risk. While I understand that you did it to protect your comrades, it is not an excuse to put the entire village in danger."
Sakumo hung his head in shame, knowing that he had let down his village and his comrades. The hokage's voice softened slightly as he spoke again. "As things stand, you are not fit for duty. You will stay in the village until further notice. Dismissed."
As Sakumo left the room, the hokage said to seemingly no one in the room "Iji summon Shikaku Nara and send someone to fetch Jiraiya from Tanzaku town. It is time we stopped being on the defensive."
Iji, who had been silently observing the conversation from the shadows, replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage. I will see to it immediately."
The hokage knew that they had to act quickly to protect their village and its people. He trusted Shikaku Nara and Jiraiya to come up with a plan to counter Iwa's aggression. The fate of their village depended on it.
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