Chương 10: Chapter 10 : The Three Trials

Ha, a suh dude. Esketit.

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Kenji was flattened like a rock against the white hospital sheets. His mind was blank. He didn't feel anything. Nothing was worth feeling anyway. He just wanted to go home and hug his mom. He trusted his team with almost anything, but he had neglected to tell Aya everything and he knew he should have, but how would she react? Kenji was still nine years old. He didn't think of deserting his home or doing anything reckless towards the authority, and he knew what Aya was like when she was mad. To be honest, Kenji enjoyed his training with the Anbu to a certain extent.

Kenji sat up, hiding the relentless tugging of stitches and scars from his facial expression. His eyes were dim and the Commander waited patiently, trying to read Kenji. He attempted to pick up on anything to confirm his efforts. Body language, facial expressions. He couldn't pick up on anything.

"Will you serve your village?"

Kenji motioned his eyes towards the man in the corner, without any head motion. Kenji immediately said, "Yes, Commander." With the utmost respect and confidence of a future captain. The Commander couldn't hide his devious face.

"May I go home, Commander?"

"Yes, but...."

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Kenji hid his bandages the best he could with a long-sleeve shirt the commander provided. He tracked the way to his home with haste, ignoring the gazes of contempt from everyone for the first time. He didn't care what they thought of him anymore.

When Kenji approached his home, he stopped by the secluded watering hole. This place acted as his safe haven during the years. The place he could think, read, or just be alone which he cherished. But instead of doing the usual, he sat against the big rock bordering the water. He grasped his arms around his knees and burrowed his head in between his knees. And cried. This was too much. Kenji thankfully still had his head, but the thought of killing his teacher brought him the greatest happiness, and he hated that.

Kenji let it all out. He wept, wailed, and sat there in his own bubble. About that time, his eyes pained. Kenji made his way to the edge of the water and stared at his face. Behind the clear, sweat puddling his eyes was a red glow with three tomoe circling each other. One thing Aya was able to tell him was the three stages of the base sharingan. Kenji knew he had just unlocked the final stage. (That he knew about). Part of him was happy, but the other half didn't care. And speaking of Aya...

"Kenji!" Aya had a pep in her step with the greatest face of worry as Kenji quickly turned his head toward her, sporting his new eyes. She could still see the knew tears forming. Aya heard him wailing from her home, great ninja and all. She fell to her knees and hugged her son. Her first concern was what happened, but she waited while Kenji poured it out for a second time in her arms. He thought this was preferable to doing it alone. He was happy, but he knew Aya wouldn't stop until she got to the bottom of his anguish, but again, he didn't care. If he could share everything with someone, his mother would be the one.

Aya noticed Kenji's changing personality long ago, but she assumed it was him growing up, becoming his own person and didn't try to push too hard. Not every parent is perfect. And some things have to be learned from experience.

After their reunion, Aya led Kenji into the house and sat him thigh to thigh against her on the couch.

"Do you want to tell me?" She asked softly.

Kenji nodded.

Kenji told her everything. The torture, the 'weapon' team, the training, all of it. Aya just listened. Feeling a pain in her chest with every part of Kenji's tale. She looked towards her feet with disgust, for herself. She tried as hard as she could to be a good parent but she still failed him. When Kenji removed his shirt, Aya ruffled her eyebrows trying hard not to cry. Kenji removed the bandages and showed off his broken skin of semi-healed scars and elements of pain.

Aya filled with anger. She was literally going to kill that man that did this and attempt to do the same to Yagura if he played a part in this.

"Kenji, stay here. I'll be right back." Aya said with a fierce look.

Kenji knew exactly what she was thinking.

"NO!" He said with authority. Even he was suprised by his tone.

Aya turned back and gazed at him with a hint of fear and annoyance. Not fear of Kenji, but the fear of him disowning her for any reason was in fact her worst fear.

"I'm sorry." Kenji said. "I want to finish this. I still want to become the greatest ninja ever. For you and my friends." Kenji said with a newfound determination.

Her son reminded him of 'that man'. Aya looked at her son and remembered. He had told her everything, and she had told him nothing. Guilt, but she decided to wait. He had been through a lot today and she didn't want to add to it right this minute.

Aya gave a hurt smile. "Are you sure?"

Kenji nodded without changing his determined face.

"OK, but if something happens, I'm not holding back."

"Yes Ma'am." Kenji motioned his right hand at attention. He smiled.

Aya felt immensely better. Her son was still here. Her confidence of his success increased. If the Anbu Commander couldn't break him, how could anything else?

Aya started explaining that she would follow Kenji everywhere he went now. She spoke with a scary, motherly tone, which Kenji just nodded to. Afraid to disagree.

After the plan was given and Aya was satisfied she asked, "Is there anything important we need to worry about?"

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Kenji's mind flashed back to the commander in his hospital room...

"May I go home Commander?"

"Yes, but I want to inform you, about a year from now, you and your team will participate in three trials. It will determine your graduation or your sudden 'retirement' from the team. Be ready."

"Yes Sir."

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Kenji relayed his information to his mother. She was happy Kenji willingly told her. She gazed out the window into the setting sun.

She whispered, "It looks like we have work to do then."

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Note : Well, that pile of crap in my hand is Slllooooowwwwwllllyyyyy still getting pushed into the fan. lol. Patience young Skywalker, when the bubble pops, It's gonna burst. I'm out. YERRR!