章 5: The Shinobi world

"zZ..

Ahem

The shinobi world is cruel!

During the Warring states period war had forced neighbors, friends, and family to fight to the death against one another. Thousands upon thousands of strong Shinobi met with death at every turn. There were many Shinobi far stronger than the worlds current Kages and yet they too met their deaths.

What they all fought for was peace believe it or not.

The first Hokage once said

"I dream of a time when all shinobi will cooperate with each other… A time when everyone's hearts will be together regardless of their countries. That's my… dream of the future."

He fought dreaming of that future. He fought with a simple belief that there would be a day without war. He fought for a belief that one day children would not meet gruesome deaths on the battlefield and the village fought alongside him. They supported him. They made him family.

It's just unfortunate the shinobi world is cruel.

After the first Hokage left this world the second Hokage did not surrender on the firsts dream. He created the ninja academy to secure the future. He created the Anbu as a sword to protect us from the other villages. He created the military police force as a shield to defend our homes.

But again the shinobi world is cruel.

The world was not ready for the first Hokages dream. They were not ready for the second Hokages hand reaching out for peace. Despite Konohas best efforts the First Shinobi war came to pass. Once again the world had to bury their children, their parents, their siblings.

Truest the shinobi world is cruel.

Before the second Hokage passed he said to me

"You must protect those who have faith in you and who love the village, and train up to those to whom you can entrust the next generation"

The other villages simply cannot accept our dream so they persist in attacking our home. So we train. Not because we wish to harm others, but so we can protect our homes. That is the dream that I entrust to you the next generation.

The first Hokages dreams were not wrong, the second Hokages hope was not wrong, so it is that we continue with this ideal, this dream, this will. So that we one day see a world at peace! A day that our homes will always be safe! That our neighbors will be safe! That our loved ones will be safe! That this village will be safe ! That this family will be safe!

So train young Shinobi and carry on this,

THIS WILL OF FIRE!".

The academy roars with applause and is filled with bright faces filled with fervor. This is image is one that Hiruzen commits to memory every year. This is why he does what he does as Hokage. It is all for them. All for the hope of their future.

A male instructor behind him says " I wonder why lord Hokage pretended to be asleep at the start."

The female instructor next to him gives him a nudge while leering with at him and says "You imagined that don't say such non sense!"

While lowering his hat and selectively choosing to forget the conversation behind him Hiruzen makes his way out of the academy.

The shinobi world is indeed cruel. These children need to hear that. War is looming. While the land of fire prospers, the other nations are in an economic decline and progressively gathering military forces.

They need resources and are bound to come our way. During these twelve years of peace my Anbu and Danzo's Root have managed to prevent some minor schemes quite easily but the escapades are growing and we are surrounded by enemies on all sides. A war will take a lot from us and I'll do whatever it takes to prevent that.

As Hiruzen walks out of the Academy he spots a child sprinting towards him.

Hmm late on the first day of school, seems like we have a trouble maker this year. Ahh the three I have are enough. I'll set this one straight before he gets to that point. Then the kid makes an immediate left.

As the breeze drifts by Hiruzen he is frozen mid air with his right foot forward. Did this kid just avoid me? Am I getting ugly? What just happened here?

Wait left? Is he heading towards the hospital? Hmm I need to make sure nothings wrong. Immediately upon arriving at the hospital he asks the receptionist "Did a boy just come in?"

"Ahh! yes lord Hokage he's meeting with a medical nin for treatment in room 4. Is there something wrong?"

"No everything should be fine I'll just check in on the boy, you can resume your duties."

As he walks near the door he can hear a young voice say "Is this enough to teach me medical ninjutsu?" Through the door Hiruzen can see the boy bring out 50,000 Ryo.

The attending medical-nin laughed "Young man don't take out so much money, people will say I'm robbing you haha!" "For immediate treatment it only costs 10,000 Ryo and I'm sure I can heal whatever scrape you got, keep the rest safe young man."

The boy responded "Mister please don't be offended but you can't help me with treatment. I need to learn to treat them myself. Please teach me!"

"Can't say I don't like your spirit young man but just let me see first I don't believe I can't treat your scrapes."

The boy then had a thoughtful expression. "Okay mister but you have to keep this a secret or it will get worse."

Hiruzen was immediately on alert and thought: Does this small kid have a cursed seal? Why would his wound get worse if it's not kept secret?

While Hiruzen was ruminating on the answer the boy removed his jacket. So far nothing seemed out of place but even midway through his t shirts removal Hiruzen and the medical-nin were left wide eyed.

As a ninja Hiruzen had seen some grizzly sights during the First Shinobi war. The sight of wounded children or some of these poor souls being blown up, decapitated, or even finding the corpse of a young Kunoichi, and in some odd cases a young Shinobi, that were played with to death were not uncommon. Needless to say the medical-nin had seen just as bad or worse.

After the war though they never expected to see something like this again. The boys torso was covered in scars from cuts, burns, lashes, what seemed like acid damage, to clear signs of swelling from broken bones. This was just his torso. His back seemed to contain twice as many scars. Were it not for his age they would have assumed this boy went to war.

The medical-nin soon recovered from the sight. Sternly saying "Son who did this to you? Immediately report the situation to the police force. The department of civilian affairs will help you. Come let us go right now."

As the medical-nin reached out to grab the boy.

The boy moved aside and said

"I'm sorry mister that's not possible. Just take my money and teach me medical ninjutsu so I can help everyone."

"Stop messing around son this is a serious matter we have to report to the police force!"

At this point Hiruzen was about to walk in but the boys next actions once again froze him in his tracks.

The boy slicked his bangs back displaying his forehead. "See this mister? It means I have no rights. So for the last time please teach me medical ninjutsu."

After those words he immediately fell into a dogeza his head slamming to the floor with a tremendous impact and a small pool of blood gathering.

"Please mister."

Hiruzen at this point walked in.

"Boy stand up I know someone that can teach you medical ninjutsu."

The boy stood up and with a slow drip of blood running down his forehead and coming down his nose bridge. He gave Hiruzen one of the widest and sunniest smiles he'd ever seen and said

" Thank you old man! Here's my money!" His little arms sticking the money out but before Hiruzen could react the boy pulled the money back, eye balled him like he was suspicious person, and eventually said "Wait are you a scammer old man!?"

An inexplicable breeze blew by.

Hiruzen's brain stopped functioning for a second and could only think the shinobi world is cruel…but children are crueler…